Tue 4 Feb 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,822

N150

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Govt, manufacturers under attack over quality of cement

By Our Reporters IQUED by the collapse of P buildings allegedly linked to the poor quality of cement, among other factors, a coalition of civil society groups and professional bodies in the construction industry is set to launch a major campaign for the standardisation of the manufacturing and importation of the product.

The coalition will call on the relevant authorities to initiate

Stakeholders seek probe of importers, others actions to make 42.5 grade of cement the standard product in Nigeria.

The stakeholders’ argument is that nearly all the cement manufacturers and importers in the country are in the habit of taking advantage of the lax regulation and lack of enforcement to vary their pig-

mentation in favour of the lower grade cement (32.5) which in most cases is used in building and seen to be partly responsible for the collapse of houses.

They are of the conviction that the practice, which is quite prevalent, is usually overlooked by the Standards

Organisation of Nigeria (SON,) a situation they claim is partly responsible for the worrisome cases of collapsed structures in the country.

The coalition plans to take its campaign to the National Assembly with a plea that the lawmakers probe manufacturers and importers of ce-

ment for compromising standards in the building and construction sub-sector.

The stakeholders say they will enlist the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to prompt SON to be alive to its responsibilities by ensuring that strict standards are maintained and offenders punished. They

will also call for the enforcement of the National Building Code, stressing that it could go a long way in addressing the lax control by regulatory authorities.

The concerned civil society groups say they are equally reaching out to the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) to lend its voice to this campaign against the unCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Police ban political rallies in Rivers, APC kicks - Page 2

Another school fees palava…

- Page 17 Mandela left estate worth $4.1m for Graca Machel, others -Page 10 Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (left); Interim National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande; National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Adamawa State Governor, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako; and Maj.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), during the official launch and grand rally of APC at Muhammadu Ribadu Square, Jimeta, Yola.

INC, MOSOP want talks on nation’s unity at confab From Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) and Seye Olumide (Lagos) OR the Ijaw National ConFment gress (INC) and the Movefor the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the decision of the Federal Government to bar delegates to the proposed national conference from discussing the nation’s unity is ill-advised.

According to INC and MOSOP which have long faulted the 1914 amalgamation, if the national conference is aimed at

• Igbo group backs exercise • ‘Modalities negate constitution’ developing the country, then participation must be based on ethnic nationalities and the country’s unity must be negotiated.

The Publicity Secretary of the INC, Mr. Victor Burubo, told The Guardian in Port Harcourt that it was by discussing the

unity of the country that the existing contradictions in the polity could be addressed. He noted that it was erroneous for anyone to presume that if the country’s unity was discussed, Nigerians would willfully negotiate for breakup.

“Nigerians must agree to stay

together based on new terms, not this skewed and imbalanced system we are currently operating. What we need to do is to agree on the unity of this country based on new terms and realities. We have said that everything should be discussed. We have no hidden

agenda. We don’t intend to sneak out of Nigeria,” he said.

According to Burubo, failure to dialogue on fundamental issues affecting contending interest groups within a country and reaching an acceptable compromise, often leads to strife, distrust and disunity.

INC also observed that the allocation of 90 slots to the nearly 400 ethnic nationalities in the country was tantamount to the consolidation of the imbalances created by the military. The group insisted that the government should

reconsider its modalities and allow the conference to be based on ethnic nationalities’ representatives.

On his part, MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara, said the Federal Government should take into cognisance that it was the existing ethnic nationalities that made up the Nigerian state in 1914.

Thus for him, if the conference is for the attainment of nationhood, then all ethnic nationalities must be allowed CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

2 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Police ban political rallies in Rivers, APC kicks From Kelvin Ebiri and Ann ODWIN, Port Harcourt

• ‘Why indigenes shouldn’t join APC’

RIVERS State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, has banned all political rallies due to increasing political tension in the state.

Displeased by the police directive, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Mbu of hiding under the veneer of the directive to deliberately thwart the party’s on-going membership drive, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged people of the state to ignore the APC. The State Police Command’s spokesperson, Ahmad Muhammad, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, announced that as a result of increasing political tension, the commissioner of

police, has banned all political rallies in the state under whatever coloration or name.

“Accordingly, all public activities involving rallies of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), Save Rivers Movement (SRM), Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF) and whatever other names, are hereby banned. Rivers State Police Command will not, I repeat, will not provide security for any group in whatever guise. Party membership drive is allowed strictly as stipulated in Electoral Act 2010 as amended and INEC regulations,” the statement read.

In a swift reaction, APC spokesperson, Eze Chukwue-

G

meka Eze, told The Guardian that such directive is not acceptable to the party which is currently engaged in intense membership drive.

Eze, who recalled how the police have, in recent times, allegedly botched political rallies organised by supporters of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, but have turned round to provide adequate security cover for pro- PDP group like GDI, said the APC would resist any attempt by the police to infringe on the fundamental rights of Rivers State people.

“The police in Rivers State have been known for acts of illegality and this is the only police command in Nigeria that

has issued such directive.

Even in the states where emergence rule has been declared, nobody has banned political activities. The commissioner of police here belongs to a school of thought that does not respect the rule of law.

Such directive is unacceptable and it is a breach of the constitutional right of association of Rivers State people,” he said.

But the PDP said the membership registration by the APC in Rivers State is an exercise that does not have any positive intension for the people, and therefore should be disregarded.

PDP spokesperson, Jerry Needam, said participating in the APC membership registration in the state presents the people as supporting the excesses and politics of self – on-

ly allegedly being played by those he described as APC matadors, including Amaechi, Senator Magnus Abe and Dakuku Peterside.

“The party also describes the APC as not only an ethnic party but an Islamic group, as all its 13 national officers and leaders are Muslim faithful.

Rivers State cannot support a party with all its top hierarchy as only Muslims, who are bent on pursuing Islamic agenda without considering the interest of the Christian fold.

“The fact remains that for now, religion plays a vital role and a major factor in our politics or elections and that is why most top elective positions in government are paired up by both Christians and Muslims to reflect the unity of the country. The PDP,

Igbo group backs talks on nation’s unity at confab CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to participate in it.

Pyagbara, who pointed out that Ogoni people were among the first to complain about the imbalances in the Nigerian state, said everything was wrong with the 1914 amalgamation of the country.

And to that extent, he insisted that Nigerians should not be restricted from discussing their unity.

According to him, if the United Kingdom (UK) could avail the people of Scotland the right to determine if they want to remain part of the union, there should not be anything sacrosanct about various ethnic nationalities in the country deciding whether they want to continue to be part of the country.

“The very basis of our being

together from the beginning in 1914 is faulty. If we get to the conference and we agree to be together, that is a victory for the country. If a country as old as the United Kingdom is discussing its corporate existence, why not Nigeria? We have serious reservations about the no-go area. If we must move the country forward, everything fundamental, like the unity of the country, must be discussed,” he said.

He explained that the group had not determined yet whether it would participate in the conference, but would wait until President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State government made public their delegations to the conference.

Besides, the National Chairman of the Progressive Peo-

ple’s Alliance (PPA), Peter Ameh, yesterday said that the modalities for the conference were “empty and cannot stand the test of time.”

In a statement yesterday, Ameh said the modalities, as put together by the Presidential Advisory Committee and released by the Federal Government, contravened the provisions of the nation’s constitution as regards political parties.

“Our constitution did not discriminate or create division among political parties that are registered by law,” he explained. “The constitution stated clearly conditions that are to be met before any association can be registered as a political party and doing anything outside this law or provision could be termed mischievous.”

According to him, all political parties, irrespective of size, are equal under the law, “so it is unfair that leaders to whom we have entrusted the protection of our constitution are treating it with great disrespect and dishonour, and have decided to use it to achieve their own personal agenda.

“Over 20 political parties will

be denied their legitimate rights to contribute their quota at the conference; it is very unfortunate that those with the responsibility to work out the modalities have behaved in the most biased manner and have ruined our laws,” he said.

Ameh wondered how only 10 delegates drawn from five political parties outside the 25 registered ones would be recognised and this was still considered sincere.

“It is good to set the record straight that PPA has met all laid down requirements for a registered party, both in the constitution and Section 78 Sub-section 2 of the Electoral Act 2011 as amended, which states that a party must at least have a seat in the state House of Assembly.

“We contested and won a seat in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly at the 2011 general elections. Victor Prezi is a member of the PPA and represents Ekenemor II Constituency in Bayelsa State Assembly.

By this, PPA is a parliamentary party.”

Ameh added: “We expect that these obnoxious modalities be corrected before the conference commences or we will

be left with no alternative as a law-abiding entity than to approach the court to fight for our right.

“We deserve to be heard, the party has already suffered greatly in the misapplication of our laws and must be accorded the opportunity to also participate and air its grievances and views without any fear of intimidation.”

Meanwhile, an umbrella association for the Igbo in the Diaspora, the World Igbo Congress (WIC), said yesterday that Jonathan would have built for himself a formidable constituency across the country if he successfully organised the national conference.

The President of the association, Mr. Obi Barth Oyibo, spoke in Enugu. Oyibo, who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the congress, expressed support for the position of Prof.

Ben Nwabueze-led Igbo Leaders of Thought on the proposed national conference. But he stressed that the Igbo should participate in the conference despite their reservations over the modalities released by the Federal Government for the exercise.

therefore, reiterates its call on the people of the state not to have anything to do with the APC, starting with the rejection of the call by its leaders to register as members of the party,” he added.

Needam said the people of Rivers State have no justification joining the APC following its recent action against the nomination and confirmation of the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah. He said if the APC leaders in the state could kick against the appointment of Gen. Minimah, whom the nation is proud of, and was so nominated by the President, it goes further to show how unprogressive and evil-minded they are in APC.

Ekiti LP faction declares exco illegal • PDP ward leaders endorse Fayose From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado-Ekiti HE crisis in Ekiti State T chapter of the Labour Party (LP) is getting messier as a faction has declared illegal the newly-inaugurated State Working Committee (SWC).

Meanwhile, efforts by the former governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to clinch the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for this year’s governorship election has received a boost as 172 out of 177 ward chairmen endorsed his candidacy.

The ward chairmen, at a meeting held with Fayose yesterday, said only an experienced party man can defeat the incumbent. They spoke glowingly of sterling political credentials of Fayose.

A statement jointly signed by the LP factional Chairman, Obafemi Adedayo and Media and Publicity Secretary, Adedamola Temitayo yesterday, described the emergence of the Akin Omole-led executive as illegal, null and void, having allegedly been done without recourse to the

Stakeholders seek probe of cement importers, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 wholesome practice of cement manufacturers which according of them, is endangering the lives of the people. They vowed to confront the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN) for poor standard of locally-produced and imported cement.

They contend that their stance is not unpatriotic; rather, it should be seen as a fight not to compromise standards on the altar of monetary gain. They claim in their working document that in advanced countries, there is migration from the lower grade of cement or 32.5 to the higher level of 42.5 specification and even 52.5 with a uniform standard set by government, and manufacturers and importers can be held accountable whenever there is infraction or reduction in agreed specification.

The coalition spokesperson, Mr. Tunde Ojo, blamed the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, for condoning manufacturers’ unethical conduct and vowed

to mobilise block makers nationwide against manufacturers and importers of poor quality cement.

In the working document entitled “Cement: Standardisation, safety versus affordability and poor quality”, the coalition writes: “How do you identify good quality cement, is it by the manufacturer’s name, or by its composition, or pigmentation, if you like? Many a people, whether literate or not, identify cement merely by producer’s name. So, it is common to see most people, builders and non-builders alike, identifying with Eagle Cement for instance, or Elephant Cement, or Dangote Cement, Rock Cement, UNICEM, BUA and so on, just to mention but a few. It matters very little to most buyers, or customers, what the composition, or the contents, or pigmentation of the cement bag is. For many, what influences what brand of cement to buy is the price, and in most cases, the proximity to the point of usage.

“What that means is that, in a cement market where you

have displayed products from Lafarge, Dangote, UNICEM, Ibeto and Northern Cement Company of Nigeria, BUA, Ashaka for instance, buying anyone as experience has shown, would essentially be a function of price and proximity. Not many, without stretching the argument too far, would be concerned, or are even conscious about quality.

To them, they are all cement; the difference perhaps, is that between six and half-a-dozen.

But it is beyond that.

“Maintaining standards for all products’ range, there are standards. Cement may not be a drug, but it has fatalistic effects as it happens in bridges and buildings collapse when low quality specimens are used. And this has been a recurring decimal in Nigeria.

The unfortunate thing is, those who are charged with the responsibility of investigating these recurring mishaps, have never looked the way of the quality of cement used in some of these structures, rather, only the contractors bear the brunt. It

is important that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), if they are the ones in charge, should take a closer look at the quality of cement churned out by local manufacturers and also the imported ones as well.

“Types of cement: broadly speaking, there are two, or may be three types of cement common in Nigeria. There’s the CEM 1 42.5 R and CEM 1 42.5 N on one hand; and CEM 32.5 R, on the other hand. Besides, there are variants of these with different specifications.

The CEM I 42.5 R and CEM I 42.5 N cement are produced with clinker and limestone in the ration of 95 per cent: five per cent respectively. The gypsum that is added during the grounding process is for adjustment of the setting period, which is usually obtained at the end of 28 days.

“Among other applications, this cement is used when good strength concrete is required, especially in concrete productions requiring high strength, or early strength…”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

3

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

4 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Jonathan, service, security chiefs meet From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HEAD of their official decoration tomorrow, the newly-appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Alexander Sabundu Badeh, alongside the other two service chiefs, met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday on security issues.

The meeting, which was held behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, lasted over five hours and had all heads of security agencies and some ministers in attendance.

In attendance were the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosun.

There were also the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar; the Director-General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The ministers included the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,

A

Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN); Abba Moro (Interior); Labaran Maku (Supervising Minister of Defence); Prof. Viola Onwuliri (Foreign Affairs); Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs) and Navy Capt.

Caleb Olubolade (rtd) (Police Affairs).

Also present at the meeting were the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI).

Though State House correspondents were not briefed at the end of the meeting yesterday afternoon, it was gathered that President Jonathan used the opportunity to appraise them on the state of security in the country.

The appointment of the new service chiefs was confirmed by the Senate last Thursday and, as Jonathan hinted in Yola, Adamawa State, last Tuesday during the inauguration of Air Force Comprehensive School, the new service chiefs would be decorated before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting holding tomor-

Kwara varsity gets new registrar From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin HE Kwara State University, Malete, has approved the appointment of Mr. Surajudeen Oyedokun Oyebode as its new registrar to succeed Mrs. Modupe Akinrinmade who completed her tenure on January 31, 2014.

Born in Offa on September 28, 1958, Oyebode was until his appointment the Deputy Reg-

T

istrar, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, where he started his career as administrative assistant in 1982.

He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and obtained a post-graduate diploma in Public Administration from the University of Benin in 1985.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) (right); former governor of the state, Lateef Jakande (left); Asoju Oba of Lagos, Molade Okoya-Thomas (second left); former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State, Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Interim Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State, Henry Ajomale; and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Clintura Oil & Gas and Real Estate, Taiwo Johnson, during the launch of the Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday.

Fashola inaugurates Lagos HOMS’ board Targets 4,554 housing units Atiku denies presidential

By Tunde Alao N pursuit of its housing policy, especially for first time homeowners, the Lagos Government yesterday inaugurated a five-man board, headed by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, to manage the Lagos HOMS. The board has Dr. Akinde Kojo Segoe as secretary, while the Commissioner for Housing, Bosun Jeje; Bayo Forsyth and Mrs. Bola Fashola are members. Inaugurating the board, Governor Babatunde Fashola hinted that 1,104 such houses had been completed while 3,156 units were at various stages of construction.

According to him, the project commenced with 132 units at Iponri, 720 at Ibeshe, Ikorodu, 420 units at Ajara, 648 at Sangotedo Phase 2, 216 at Obele, 36 at Akerele, 48 at Oyingbo, 1254 at Ilubinrin and 1080 at Ijora Badia, noting that the

I

projects were fully funded with the monthly internallygenerated revenue (IGR).

To be qualified for the house, a would-be allottee must be a Lagos resident, with a proven evidence of registration with the Lagos State Residence Registration Authority (LASSRA).

Besides, applicants must show proof of tax payment for a continuous period of five years preceding the application, or in the alternative, payment of tax arrears from those that had been evading payment.

Part of the requirements is that successful applicants will immediately pay a deposit of 30 per cent of the cost of their preferred houses as equity, which Fashola said is in line with global best practices, while the balance would be paid on monthly basis for over 10 years.

“Accordingly, we will match house choices to applicants’

income sources to determine eligibility, and it is only eligible applicants whose forms will go into the ballot from which successful applicants will be picked,” he said, adding that mortgage counsellors have been trained to deal with the process.

Earlier, Fashola said that government believes that a home is not something one buys in one day but over time, in a way that individual ability to acquire it is tied to the buyer’s income and continued prosperity.

“Our view of a home is that it is something you pay for gradually and it is a place of safety, well built, safe and sound,” he stressed. “It is meant to protect you and your family from the hazards of nature such as rain and heat; a place that will not flood or suddenly collapse, an asset that outlives you.”

Senator charges citizens on maintenance culture

By Azeez Olorunlomeru IGERIANS have been called upon to adopt maintenance culture in all endeavours and thereby enhance infrastructure development.

Speaking at the commissioning of a personally-built staffroom block and mosque at Molusi College in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, the senator, representing Ogun-

N

East Senatorial District, Gbenga Kaka, said the neglect of various institutions and outstanding edifices in the country has invariably led to monumental wastages and is a cause for concern.

He said the model classroom block was donated to motivate the teachers for optimal output in their profession, which he disclosed he once practised as a Biology teacher

in 1979.

Reacting, the school principal, Mr. Adesanya Jinadu, said that Kaka’s gesture should be emulated by all well-meaning Nigerians for meaningful development in the country’s education sector.

The edifice was donated in honour of his late uncle, Popoola Okeowo, who brought him up.

ambition in APC

From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief OLLOWING the speculations that he has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) to boost his chances for the Presidency, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, said rather that he came in to nurture the party and ensure that good governance returned to Nigeria in 2015.

Atiku, who spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored in Kaduna yesterday, explained that if it were because of a presidential ambition, he had clear chances of occupying the number one seat when he was in office with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He noted that he even had opportunity recently when he was in the Action Congress of Nigeria but kept his ambition at bay in the interest of the nation. However, he vowed never to return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), having just left the party for the last time as it would no longer be what it used to be.

According to him, PDP was a party they built and nurtured to grow but unfortunately, some people have turned it into something else and have continued to disappoint Nigerians, with no remedy in sight.

F

Ajimobi urges APC members to endure registration discomfort From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan O ensure that the “unprecedented developmental initiatives of his administration” continue, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to endure whatever discomfort they might encounter during their membership registration, which begins tomorrow.

Speaking during a sensitization exercise held for party members at the Mapo Hall yesterday, Ajimobi said that inconveniences like long wait at registration centres and difficulties in getting registered,

T

among others that might be encountered in the five-day exercise, were necessary ingredients that would ensure the continuity of his administration.

“I want to appeal to you to endure any difficulty that you may encounter during the registration exercise, bearing in mind that you are all yet to become bonafide members of APC until we are registered,” he said. “You know it is only when you are duly registered that you can take part in the party’s activities.”

He further urged them to be

actively involved in party activities and to always attend meetings so as to be well informed of developments in the party. The governor also welcomed those coming in from new parties, stating that there is no old or new member in the party.

While appealing to aggrieved members to exercise patience, he assured that all their grievances would be addressed by the APC leadership. He urged members to put in extra efforts at ensuring that their party remained the darling of the people at the grassroots,

stating that APC is the party to beat in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Oyo APC registration team from the headquarters in Abuja, Shola Akinwumi, has assured that the exercise would be conducted without any hitch, stating that all registration materials would be supplied to all polling booths where the exercise would be conducted.

State chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, also urged all members to attend the registration exercise, stating that it was the passport to their being recognised as party members.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

5

6

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

NEWSINTERVIEW

Politicians must be wary of spikes on Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd.), former military governor of Kaduna State, human rights crusader and a critical and voice on public affairs, rarely grants interviews, preferring to use other channels of communication to counsel those in power. But when he decides to speak, even his ardent critics will listen. This he did when he spoke in Kuduna to Northern Bureau Chief, Saxone Akhaine, on issues of national significance. Specifically, he fielded questions on the crises and bickering among political parties and politicians; President Goodluck Jonathan and his efforts at transforming the polity and many other national issues including the forthcoming 2015 General Elections.

HE country is currently in T the grip of political turmoil evidenced by internal crisis in the PDP, the intensed struggle by the opposition party, APC for power barely one year before the 2015 general elections. People like you have been silent all this time, why?

Well, if is because politicians are talking and acting. The PDP is in government at the centre and it is the dominant party in many states of the federation.

The opposition is very active in trying to wrest power from the ruling party both at the centre and some of the PDP controlled states. This is healthy democratic process.

Are you not concerned about what appears to be the politics of brinkmanship that is already overheating the polity, particularly in a state like Rivers?

I am sure politicians are aware of the serious repercussions of the failure of this democratic experiment, not only to the nation in general, but to the individual politicians. We can all recall what happened in 1965-January, 1966 and also 1983. The military took over as a result of political crisis engineered by politicians. We hope that will never be repeated.

Politicians must behave responsibly to avert such eventuality.

How will you assess our sociopolitical and economic state?

In other words, how have we fared as a nation after about 15 years of democratic experience?

What you are asking in essence is how successful has our current democratic system been in terms of providing what are referred to as democratic dividends. Our extant

constitution, the 1999 constitution provides or guarantees certain rights and freedoms for all Nigerians. We can therefore gauge the success of our democracy by measuring the extent to which such are met.

A few examples, right to Life, dignity of human person, Freedom of speech (written or spoken), Freedom of association, Freedom of thought and conscience, right to acquire and own property, Freedom from discrimination, and many other guarantees. You can therefore generalize by posing the question, what is the state of the well-being of majority of Nigerians? What, for example, is the level of security of their lives and property. What is the state of their economic well being?

Does the system provide equal opportunity for all those willing and able to acquire and own their means of livelihood? How well is the system doing in providing and protecting the vulnerable; those who, due to certain physical and mental disabilities, cannot help themselves.

Are Nigerians free from discrimination of any kind? Are they free to peacefully associate? My assessment is that our democracy has, to a large extent, successfully guaranteed some of these rights. For example, we have one of the most vibrant press and social media, which means freedom of speech is observed. The system has so far respected our freedom of thought and conscience. We freely belong to different faiths even when some few miscreants or confused extremists are making futile efforts to force their belief on others.

Although, there are a few slips, like when some security personnel attempted to stop the meeting of the G7 Governors in Abuja and the recent assault on some Governor Amaechi supporters. People are generally free to associate. Right to life is also guaranteed. Extra judicial killings are a rarity, as in the case of the Apo Killing where some artisan killed by our security forces. So, when our political leaders talk about the success of our democracy as compared to life under military administration, they have in mind these rights and freedom. But our democracy or its operators has failed dismally in revamping our economy. It will appear that all other freedoms and rights are inconsequential and meaningless in the absence of a virile economy.

It may well be the case, as some economists report, that Nigeria is experiencing a GDP growth of about 6.5 per cent but this growth has so far no positive impact on the physical quality of life of the majority of our people. What is true is that oil still accounts for much of the growth of our GDP. It still accounts for over 90 per cent of governments’ (Federal, States and LGs) revenue. It also accounts for over 95 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings. Oil is still the engine of growth of our economy. This is pretty troubling considering the non-renewable nature of the commodity and its sensitivity to market shocks.

Technology is also getting more and more biased against hydrocarbon. This coupled with the fact that high energy consuming nations like the USA are discovering other sources of energy means that demand will continue to fall and consequently prices. We must therefore expect dwindling revenue from oil. So far, the utilization or investments of the oil revenue cannot sustain our current growth and lead to meaningful economic development. Over 70 per cent of our annual budget is allotted to recurrent expenditure.

Less than 30 per cent is invested in the expansion and maintenance of infrastructure. Only a few states are seriously investing in educational infrastructure. This is usually limited to the construction of primary and secondary schools without the provision of adequate teaching staff. Products of these ill-equipped schools are rarely qualified to gain admission into the ever-growing number of tertiary institutions which will ultimately turn into monuments of waste. Our financial market, particularly the banks can have no positive impact on the development of our private

Umar sector. You may want to ask; what viable and productive enterprise can thrive with a banks’ lending rate, hovering over 20 per cent? Over 60 per cent of the banking capital is owned by about 2 per cent of our population. Over 70 per cent of the population is living below the poverty line. Very negligible growth in the real sector and so much waste and corruption are a recipe for a declining economy which will lead to underdevelopment. It is easy to see why Nigeria has one of the highest youths unemployment rate in the world. This is definitely contributing to our growing security challenges.

For Nigeria to meet or fulfill the prediction of Mr. O’Neil, it has to diversify its economy. It has to upgrade its infrastructure and seriously invest in science and technology education.

President Jonathan is about completing his fifth year as both acting and substantive President of Nigeria. One of his Advisers, Dr. Doyin Okupe has scored him about 65 per cent in terms of achievement or performance. What is your take on this?

A 65 per cent rating by a Presidential adviser appears very low and a poor rating.

Their assessment is usually exaggerated for obvious reasons. Truth is that President Jonathan has not performed optimally due to the following reasons. The rot he inherited; for example corruption had

been raised to a historical high level under the Obasanjo administration. Consider the colossal investment in infrastructural development and the results. Over $15 billion invested in the upgrade of power generation achieved less than 200 mega watts (mw) increase. Jonathan administration inherited less than 3000 mw power generation capacity. The claim that President Obasanjo left behind robust savings in the form of excess crude account and other reserves is an exaggeration or even an accounting fraud. How can you quote savings that are much lower than the internal debt burden that the government refused to settle? The much vaunted foreign debt forgiveness was achieved with a payment of about $12 billion unverified debts leaving behind over 5 billion dollars outstanding, as money owed international oil marketers. It is not my intention to underrate President Jonathan’s capacity. After all he is a Ph.D holder who should have the intellectual capacity and nervous energy to effectively perform in the highest administrative capacity, but unlike all his predecessors President Jonathan lacked the requisite experience to hit the ground running because he was so rapidly promoted from the post of a Deputy Governor in a relatively low population and therefore uncomplicated state of Bayelsa to the

Presidency in less than five years. It is part of President Jonathan’s misfortune that he assumed the Presidency when the country faced its worst security challenge since the civil war - the escalation of the intractable and distracting Boko Haram insurgency and worsening Niger Delta Militancy and oil theft.

Coupled with these challenges, the President faced strident opposition from a group that would not even concede his constitutional right to serve as Acting President when President Umaru Yar’adua was clearly incapacitated. His decision to contest the 2011 election was considered sacrilegious as it was said to entitle only a Northerner to contest. I have always wondered at the fate of this zoning formula had President Obasanjo become incapacitated before the completion of his first term. Would a President Atiku Abubakar forgo the opportunity to contest in 2003 and for a second term in 2007 since the Presidency was zoned to the South for eight years, starting from 1999? It is surprising to see that some of the most vociferous agitators of the right of the North were senior members in the Abacha regime which denied the winner of the June 12, 1993 election, Chief MKO Abiola his mandate and incarcerated him till death. President Jonathan finds himself bogged down in this battle for legitimacy. By nature and per-

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

the path of democracy, says Umar (1) haps nurture, President Jonathan is an easy going person who has a tendency to do anything to protect his friends, most of whom have taken advantage of him. He is also easily intimidated by bullies.

Unfortunately even this easy personality can be transformed into a dictator by pressure from both the opposition and hawkish handlers.Unlike President Obasanjo, Jonathan has proven so far to be a more authentic democrat. This is evident in his consistent respect for the wishes of the electorate in all elections in which his party the PDP, was defeated.

The Gubernatorial elections in Ondo, Edo and Anambra are a clear example. Contrary to Gen. Obasanjo’s accusation, President Jonathan is not a despot. His administration is not infamous for human rights abuse. When the President made attempts to torment his opponents he always succumbed to public disapproval by pulling back. I shudder to imagine the fate of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the other G7 Governors or even the opposition APC members under an Obasanjo administration. He must however shun the temptation of abusing his enormous power by the use of security personnel to torment the opposition. The politics of Kowa Yabi (All concede or surrender) is inimical to the growth of democracy.

President Jonathan’s administration has also done fairly well in improving the nation’s infrastructure - Sure-P is doing remarkably well in roads maintenance. There is a general improvement in the power sector and fuel supply.

His privatization programme has been quite transparent.

You may not realize this but the greatest achievement of this administration is in the area of counter insurgency. It is a measure of its success that the Boko Haram has not been able to overrun most of Northern Nigeria, and started threatening the Southern parts. A lot remains to be done to free the North Eastern parts from this BH (Boko Haram) albatross.

We must not however, underestimate the onerous and painstaking task of counterinsurgency operations. As sophisticated as the USA is - as a foremost military power - it was unable to defeat Iraqi insurgents and was forced to evacuate. It is facing a similar outcome in Afghanistan. In spite of its success, this administration must investigate and punish abuses as they occur.

The recent Apo extrajudicial killing of innocent artisans is a case in point. This has led to massive exodus of labourers from Abuja and other urban centres. This will no doubt provide ready recruits for Boko Haram and other lawless organizations. The arrest and detention of a Kogi State University Lecturer Dr. Muhammad Yunus, falsely accused of being a Boko Harma member by the DSS, and other human rights abuses must be stopped. The authorities must also check the prevalent professional misconduct at military and police checkpoints.

Such checkpoints have since

Umar lost their security value, or how else was it possible for Boko Haram insurgents to successfully attack Maiduguri airport and the Bama Military Barracks with the multiple checkpoints in place. Did the insurgents bribe their way through or bypassed the usually static and therefore predictable checkpoints? The JTF has not been successful in stemming the rising tide of oil bunkering and theft. The fact that some of the security personnel have returned from JTF duties with unexplained stupendous wealth points to duplicity. This administration has not been successful in the war against corruption. In fact, the popular perception is that it has a deliberate laissez-faire attitude towards corruption. It is shocking to observe the reckless and callous attitude of public servants to corruption. This is to be expected in the absence of sanctions. Unlike the Obasanjo administration this government does not even make any effort to cover up or pretend to be fighting against corruption, instead, it relies on the effect of time lapse to silence public outcry. President Jonathan must be hands on in the war against corruption. He must demand more from the anticorruption agencies, particularly the EFCC. It would appear that all his achievements will be eclipsed by his administration’s failure to tackle corruption. I am sure you have observed our tendency to focus more attention on the role or performance of the President, while neglecting the contribution of the other arms and tiers of government. This may be explained by our long experience under military rule or General Obasanjo’s dictatorial leadership or strongman role in which the leader has undue visibility. So what has been the contribution of both the legis-

lature and judiciary? How effective has the legislature been in the exercise of its oversight functions? Why is it so willing to indict the executive while it is unable to ostracize and insist on the prosecution of its erring members? Can the legislature justify the huge amount the nation spends on its maintenance?

It is no exaggeration to say that Nigeria has one of the most corrupt Judiciary in the World.

What do you say of a Judiciary that has failed, in over 2 years to nominate the President of its second highest court - the Court of Appeal. A Judiciary that will not sanction its erring members on the excuse of their having retired after the fact. A Judiciary that delays and denies justice through abuse of the instruments of perpetual adjournments, injunctions, indecorous plea bargaining and the setting aside of convictions. The law in Nigeria is not anymore an ass but a Hyena.

Most of our state’s chief executives are mere feudal lords with elected or appointed LG Chairmen serving as their vassals. Most of the states exist for the mere purpose of receiving and mismanaging monetary allocations from the Federation Account. In those states Development plans and annual budgets are alien to their administrative process; for their lack of bearing to real development and white elephant nature states’ projects portray those chief executives as either clueless or irresponsible. A correct and holistic assessment of our democratic experience since 1999 will give a picture of a wide gap between principles and achievements.

Many have questioned the way we are practicing our federal system. What would you say are the problems militating against the smooth functioning of our federalism?

Every federal nation has its peculiar form of federalism.

There is no model fit-for-all federalism. It is however, expected, in what many refer to as “true Federalism”, that the federating units will retain a large measure of their independence. They enter into the federal arrangement in anticipation of the synergic benefits they stand to gain from such union.

In many federal set ups the units are expected to contribute in the maintenance of common services like Defence, Foreign Affairs, etc.

The problem with our federation has to do with our over reliance on one source of government revenue – oil. This commodity is so far, largely sourced from a section of the country, the South-South or Niger Delta. Revenue from oil is shared, in what many regard as an inequitable system which creates tension and resistance.

The negative impact of the industry on the oil producing communities’ excercebates this tension. I am referring to the environmental degradation which has destroyed their traditional economic activities like farming and fishing. Until recently, the oil industry has been operated as an enclave economy. Neither the indigenes nor other Nigerians participated. The only contribution of the industry had been limited to the payment of royalties and taxes by the international oil companies. It took strident agitations and militancy to achieve an increase in the derivation allocation to the oil producing areas, and create institutions tasked with the rapid development of those areas.

The idea behind the sharing of oil revenue among all states and local governments is the belief that the various federating units are endowed with abundant potentials. Shared oil revenue will therefore be utilized to develop those potentials for the benefit of all, including the oil producing communities. Consider the huge land asset in the North, rivers, lakes and streams all over the country, the solid minerals. All these have been neglected due to readily available oil wealth which is just enough to satiate the greed of our leaders.

So the major problem our federation is facing is the failure of the leadership to harness our resources for meaningful development. Oil remains, dangerously the main engine of growth of our economy. Elite’s political power struggle is a contest for the control of oil revenue.

Remove oil revenue from the equation and see the loss of interest in the contest for political leadership. Do you know that oil has so much impact on our unusual religiosity? All this junketing to Saudi Arabia by our governors and the sprouting of Pentecostal churches is encouraged or given traction by oil wealth. There is also this misconception about what makes for economic federalism, which expects all federating units to contribute money to the federation account. But the fact that all other resources, wherever located, are equally available to all Nigerian citizens

is a peculiar feature of our economic federalism. A Niger Deltan should be able to invest in the prospecting and mining of solid minerals in Zamfara or any other part of the federation without having to pay extra charges for being a non-indigene of the area.

Niger Deltans have, of recent, become the largest investors in mass-housing development in Abuja, paying the same land charges as the Gwaris and other indigenes of Abuja.

Aliko Dangote’s Industrial Projects are sited all over the country. We don’t expect him to pay any extras in any of the states for not being a so called indigene. Unfortunately, all sections have become so fixated with oil as the surest and fastest avenue to riches. Oil exploration is the latest craze even when, as mentioned earlier, we should be aware that technology is getting more and more biased against hydrocarbon.

This and the discovery of more oil sources in high energy consuming countries like USA will cause a sharp drop in demand and consequently prices. Nigerians must prepare for life without oil wealth. Of course, the solution lies in diversification of our economy. So far most states have failed woefully. We are content with what appears to be a parasitic federalism. This is not sustainable. This I imagine will be a major item, if not the only item on the National Conference Agenda.

The President created a Committee to advice on the modalities of a National Conference. The Committee has already completed and submitted its report and yet there is still resistance to the convocation of a National dialogue. So why do you think some people are rejecting the idea of a National Conference?

People are not rejecting the idea of the convocation of a National Conference. What I think most skeptics cannot understand is the need for a National Conference when we have in existence a democratically elected legislature. More so, when the decisions of the conference will still be subject to review by the Federal

Legislature. They also wonder how the basis of representation will be different from that of the National Assembly.

Whatever, the Presidential Committee on National Conference has submitted its report, which must have addressed these concerns? We should wait and see.

Some Nigerians are of the view that Boko Haram is a creation of some northern politicians intent on proving that President Jonathan lacks the capacity to lead the nation. In other words, it is intended to destabilize this government.

Could this be true?

This is mere idle talk that has no basis in fact. The question is, when did the Boko Haram insurgency begin to escalate to the national security challenge that it is? You may recall that it was towards the end of 2009 that the Late President Umaru Yar’adua gave the orders to security forces to deal decisively with the emerging national security threat of the Boko Haram sect. the excessive use of force by the Police in carrying out the President’s order, which led to the extra judicial killings of some of the sects members including its leader Mohammed Yusuf and his father in-law, resulted into the militarization and senseless escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency. It coincided with the spread of a virulent strain of militant Islam in many parts of North Africa with connection to Alqaeda, and of course poverty and high youths unemployment in most Sub-Saharan countries.

The ridiculous theory that Boko Haram is the creation of some Northern politicians should not persist in the face of the devastation caused by the insurgency on the socioeconomic life of the North.

How can any northern politician hope to benefit from an insurgency which has cost the lives of many northerners including respected elders like General Muhammed Shuwa?

You seem to suggest that Alqaeda is aiding Boko Haram.

Is Alqaeda in Nigeria?

TO BE CONTINUED

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

8 | NEWS Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Plateau CP threatens to arrest rulers

I have nothing against Utuama, says Gbagi

From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos)

By Seye Olumide

HE Plateau State Police T Commissioner, Mr. Chris Olakpe, has vowed to arrest

F

ORMER Minister of State for Education and Delta State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kenneth Gbagi, has denied having anything against the Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama (SAN), over the 2015 poll, other than protecting the interest of the people in the state and particularly the Urhobo.

In a statement yesterday, Gbagi lamented that people were blowing his advice that a septuagenarian should allow the youths to aspire for Delta governorship in 2015 out of proportion.

The former minister said it was a false and wicked fabrication that people were saying he claimed to be manipulating Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He explained that Utuama was his law teacher at the University of Lagos, adding: “I don’t have any problem with the Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama. I only made a simple statement that I know Utuama to be between 71 and 73 years old.

“The Utuama that I know will not say he wants to go and contest for governorship at 71. They are taking my advice out of proportion. Utuama told me he won’t contest. As my benefactor, I did not expect him to lie to me.

As my law teacher, I did not expect him to lie to me. It is sad that people are fabricating stories that I said I am controlling Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. I can’t say my last son, who is eight years old, is under my pocket, talk less of a man who has ruled a complex state like Delta for eight years.”

Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide (middle), Secretary, Human and Health Services Secretariat FCT, Ademola Onokomaiya (left) and other dignitaries during the take-off ceremony of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

any traditional ruler who promotes any breach of peace in his locality. He also said that traditional rulers in Plateau State have the responsibility of maintaining peace in their respective territories.

Olakpe, furious during a stakeholders’ meeting with traditional rulers in Jos, yesterday said he would not hesitate to clamp down on any traditional ruler guilty of fanning the embers of rancour and disunity among their subjects.

“I will personally go after any traditional ruler that promotes violence in his domain, I promise not to tolerate any killing again in the state,” he said.

The police commissioner said he would make sure that peace is permanently restored in the state before he retires.

He also charged all the local council interim administrators in the state to support the traditional rulers financially to promote peace in their respective domains.

53 per cent of rural dwellers lacks ‘safe’ drinking water From Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) and Joke Falaju (Abuja) HE prevalence of waterT borne and related diseases in rural areas may have been partly explained by the latest data released last week

• Situation costs Nigeria, other African nations $28.4b • Disparity widens between males, females in HIV prevalence, access to education • UNICEF seeks new innovation on children’s rights by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which showed that in Nigeria, only 47 per cent of people living in rural areas have access to improved drinking water, against 75 per cent of urban dwellers.

According to the report that came ahead of the 25th anniversary of Children’s Rights Convention and entitled “The State of the World’s Children 2014 In Numbers: Every Child Counts Revealing Disparities, Advancing Children’s Rights,” the disparity continues even in Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence.

The report put HIV prevalence among young girls at 1.3 per cent while only 0.7 per cent among boys. Access to education also shows some disparities in favour of boys, with net enrolment for boys into primary schools at 60 per cent but 55 per cent for girls, while net attendance is 72 per cent for boys and 68 per cent for girls.

Similarly, a United Nations World Water Development report has listed Nigeria among other African countries that lose $28.4 billion yearly to lack of access to potable water and basic sanitation.

Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, disclosed at the launch of Water Operators Partnership (WOP) in Abuja that the figure represents five per cent of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She noted that Nigeria has the lion share of this loss and that continuous delay in the sector’s development would only make the figure worse.

She lamented that water supply infrastructure and distribution networks were

deteriorating due to poor management and neglect.

“Performance of the water agencies is not good, cost recovery is still a distant dream for virtually all the agencies,” Ochekpe noted.

“As of today, there is hardly any city in our country where 24/7 water provision is guaranteed.”

However, she tasked the WOP-Nigeria to address the challenges by ensuring increased efficiency and professional management of water utilities, change the utility’s financial structure, and ensure more vigorous sector governance for improved accountability.

World Bank’s Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist, Hassan Kida, said the major problem was data management and utilisation, noting that most water supply instruments in the country were imported.

“If we are able to know the amount of raw materials needed for water supply in the country, a lot of manufacturers would seek to establish their companies in Nigeria,” she said.

The latest UNICEF data noted that though vast progress has been made, reaching the unreached children would require sharper focus on disparities.

The report also noted the ongoing violations of children’s rights and called for greater effort and innovation to identify and address the gaps that prevent the most disadvantaged of the world’s 2.2 billion children from enjoying their rights.

The children’s agency, in the report released last week, highlighted the importance of data in making progress for children and exposed the unequal access to services and pro-

tection that mars the lives of so many.

According to UNICEF’s chief, Data and Analytics Section, Tessa Wardlaw, “data have made it possible to save and improve the lives of millions of children, especially the most deprived. Further progress can only be made if we know which children are the most neglected, where girls and boys are out of school, where disease is rampant or where basic sanitation is lacking.”

The report noted that “being counted makes children visible, and this act of recognition makes it possible to address their needs and advance their rights,” adding that innovations in data collection, analysis and dissemination are making it possible to disaggregate data by such factors as location, wealth, sex and ethnic or disability status, to include children who have been excluded or overlooked by broad averages.

It further urged increased investment in innovations that right the wrong of exclusion, stating: “Overcoming exclusion begins with inclusive data.

“To improve the reach, availability and reliability of data on the deprivations with which children and their families contend, the tools of collection and analysis are constantly being modified and new ones are being developed. This will require sustained investment and commitment.”

Much of what is known about the situations of children comes from household surveys, and in particular, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). Designed and supported by UNICEF, MICS are conducted by national statistical authorities and

provide disaggregated data on a range of topics affecting children’s survival, development, rights and experience of life.

According to the report, tremendous progress has been made since the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was signed in 1989, culminating to the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.

The UNICEF report shows that some 90 million children, who would have died before reaching the age of five, if mortality rate had stuck at their 1990 level, have instead lived. In large measure, this is because of progress in delivering immunisations, health, water and sanitation services.

Improvements in nutrition have led to a 37 per cent drop in stunting since 1990, while primary school enrolment has increased, even in the least developed countries.

Whereas in 1990, only 53 in 100 children in those countries gained admission, by 2011, the number had improved to 81 in 100.

However, the report noted ongoing violations of children’s rights, stating: “Some 6.6 million children under five years died in 2012, mostly from preventable causes, in violation of their fundamental right to survive and develop.

“Fifteen per cent of the world’s children are put to work that compromises their right to protection from economic exploitation and infringes their right to learn and play; 11 per cent of girls are married before they turn 15, jeopardising their rights to health, education and protection.”

Data also revealed gaps and inequities, showing that the gains of development are unevenly distributed: The world’s poorest children are nearly three (2.7) times less likely than the richest ones to have a skilled attendant at birth, leaving them and their mothers at increased risk of birth-related complications.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

9

PHOTONEWS

Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke (second right) supported by Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim (right) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio (left) while presenting an award to Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru Olagbegi, at the Nigerian Law School Class of 88 Silver Jubilee celebration in Calabar.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (left); Corporate Vice President of Microsoft, Alli Faramayi; Microsoft Manager for Lagos, Kabelo Makwane and Senior Director, Microsoft Middle East headquarters, Yesser Elaba, at the briefing on progress on the Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and Microsoft, in Lagos.

Former Minister of Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia (left); President, Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), Denzil Ketenbe and Prof. Pat Utomi, during the IPA dinner and awards night in Lagos.

Company Advisor for Strategic Sales, Panafrican Equipment (Nigeria) Limited, Austin Oyowe (left); Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Graham Clark, and Group Managing Director, Panafrican Equipment Group, Scott McCaw, during the equipment handover of 118 new machines at Josepdam Port Facility, Lagos.

Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uresi (left); Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and Commissioner for Accident Investigation Bureau, Captain Muhtar Usman, during inspection of the ongoing re-modeling of Port Harcourt International Terminal in Port Harcourt.

Guest of Honor, Otunba Olutola Senbore (left); Chairman, Board of Governor, Dowen College, Dr. Olumide Phillips and Retired Provost of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Dr. Yinka Omololu, during the dedication of a new digital organ for Dowen College.

Operations Director, Nigeria, Dharmendra Jain (left); CEO, West, East & Central Africa, Adeola Tejumola; Head of Field Work Efficiency, Global, Dorota Binmoeller and Regional Operations Director, Tyson Mckeown, all of TNS RMS, after the launch of TNS RMS Computer Aided Telephone Interview (CATI) Centre at the company’s head office in Lagos.

Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Lagos, Dr. Ibrahim Oreagba (left); member, Initiative for Safe Use of Medicines (INSUM) Board of Trustees, Mrs. Margaret Obono; (member, INSUM Board of Trustees), Mrs. Victoria Adedipe; Founder, INSUM, Mrs. Nneka Egbuchulam; Chairman, INSUM Board of Trustees, Oladotun Amosun; Chief Executive Officer, Pharmanews, Mr. Ifeanyi Atueyi; (Vice Chairman, INSUM Board of Trustees, Dr. Nkiruka Asoegwu and CEO, Livewell Initiative, Mrs. Bisi Bright, at the first consultative forum of INSUM in Lagos.

10 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

WorldReport Kenyan port city again hit by riots over mosque raid

Mandela left estate worth $4.1m for Graca Machel, others

OLICE in Kenya yesterday P fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse Muslim youths rioting for a second day over a raid on a mosque used by firebrand preachers in the port city of Mombasa.

Reuters reported that the youths hurled rocks at the police and shouted “release our brothers,” referring to more than 100 people arrested in the same run-down area of Majengo on Sunday.

Riot police patrolled the deserted streets after the unrest subsided.

Smashing Islamist recruitment networks among its Muslim minority has become a priority for Kenya, a country still reeling from a September raid by Somali militants on a luxury shopping mall in Nairobi. At least 67 people were killed.

SUMMARY of Nelson A Mandela’s Will released yesterday claimed that the global

Lebanese emergency personnel inspect the wreckage of a minibus at the site of an explosion where suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt inside the minibus, wounding two people…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Student kills two in Moscow school hostage drama MID security jitters ahead A of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, an armed student yesterday briefly took 20 teenagers hostage in a Moscow school.

The student reportedly killed a policeman and a teacher before being detained.

Witnesses said the suspect – described as a ‘straight A’ pupil named Sergei Gordeyev – charged into the school wielding two rifles and ordered a security guard to lead him to a specific classroom in the two-

story building on the northern outskirts of Moscow.

The hostage-taker bolted himself inside with about 20 teenaged pupils and the class teacher.

He then opened fire through a window at scores of police who had rushed to the scene.

Security officials said the student made no demands during the broad daylight attack.

“He killed a policeman and wounded another,” Russian interior ministry spokesman, Andrei Pilipchuk, told the state-

run Vesti-24 news channel.

“He also killed the teacher.”

The Russian interior ministry said the hostage-taker had been detained during a police raid on the school and that all the students were now safe and unharmed.

“None of the students has been harmed,” Pilipchuk told Vesti 24. “They are all alive and well.”

Live footage showed a group of children running from the white-and-pink building and an emergencies ministry police helicopter hovering above the snow-covered schoolyard.

Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and Russia’s powerful Investigative Committee chief Alexander Bastrykin both immediately rushed to the

scene of the crisis that underscored the security problems facing Russia as it prepares to host the Winter Games in Sochi on Friday.

Security has been a prime concern for President Vladimir Putin – his personal and political prestige linked closely to the success of the Games – because Sochi is located near the volatile North Caucasus region where Russia has been battling an Islamic insurgency for most of the past two decades.

Islamists who want to carve out their own state in southern Russia have vowed to stage deadly attacks during the Games that would undermine Putin and show that he lacks control over the vast country.

icon left his roughly $4.1-million estate to his wife, Graca Machel, family members, workers, schools and the African National Congress (ANC).

But two months after the death of the 95-year-old South African statesman, lawyers said Graca was likely to waive her right to half of the estate, opting instead to receive four properties in Mozambique and other assets.

Agency reports asserted that royalties from his books and other projects, as well as his homes in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Qunu and Mthatha were left to a family trust.

The home in Houghton, Johannesburg where Mandela died on December 5 will be used by the family of his deceased son, Makgatho.

“It is my wish that it should also serve as a place of gathering of the Mandela family in order to maintain its unity long after my death,” the former statesman wrote.

Mandela’s children each received $300,000 in loans during his lifetime and will have that debt scrapped if it has not been repaid.

The will was first written in 2004 and last amended in 2008.

Even before his death, Mandela’s children and grandchildren frequently clashed over who leads the family and who should benefit from his investments.

Several have already put the Mandela brand behind com-

Divisions among S’ Africa’s opposition members hand ANC lifeline MBATTLED South Africa’s E African National Congress (NC) may now enjoy a lifeline following divisions among members of recently merged opposition parties just months before a general election.

The implosion which is coming days after centrist parties announced that black consciousness stalwart, Mamphela Ramphele, would be their joint presidential candidate, the agreement was buried in a slew of personal recriminations and political point-scoring yesterday.

The deal would have created

a unified front against the might of the ANC, which has won every fully democratic election in South Africa by a landslide.

The opposition is not expected to win the vote, but their more modest aim of pushing the ANC under 60 per cent and wresting control of key provinces now appears to hang in the balance.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille – who had described Ramphele’s appointment as a “gamechanging moment” in South African politics – struggled to limit the fallout.

“It was a risk and in politics one has to be prepared to take calculated risks,” she said, amid calls for her to resign.

“I am the leader. I have to take responsibility,” she added.

In Ramphele, the DA – which has large white support – appeared to believe it had found a leader who could neutralise ANC allegations of racism and tap into deep voter unease.

The death of former ANC leader Nelson Mandela and the upcoming 20th anniversary of democracy have only served to underscore the ruling party’s failings.

Mandela gave around $4,500 each to members of staff, including long-time personal aide, Zelda la Grange. The will also provided around $9,000 each for Wits and Fort Hare universities, and the same amount to three other schools. mercial projects including wine, clothing, artwork, a social network and a reality television show.

Executor of the Will, Dikgang Moseneke, the deputy head of South Africa’s Constitutional Court, said the reading of the will to the family had been “charged with emotion” but no one had yet contested it.

Mandela’s other bequeathments reflected a life in politics and championing education.

Mandela gave around $4,500 each to members of staff, including long-time personal aide, Zelda la Grange.

The will also provided around $9,000 each for Wits and Fort Hare universities, and the same amount to three other schools.

The African National Congress, which Mandela led to victory in the first democratic elections in 1994, could receive between 10 and 30 per cent of his royalties.

The cash will be used specifically to promote “policies and principles of reconciliation amongst the people of South Africa.”

However, it is unclear if the will can prevent family battles over who controls the Mandela name, which have seen family remains exhumed and reinterred and exhumed and reinterred again.

Eldest daughter, Makaziwe, reportedly had the locks changed on Mandela’s rural home after his death to exclude his eldest grandson, Mandla, the head of Mandela’s clan.

Makaziwe and Mandla both lay claim to lead the family following the death of the antiapartheid hero in December.

Makaziwe is backed by his second wife, Winnie, and Mandla has the support of the royal family of his tribe.

Three executors will now be tasked with winding up the estate and carrying out Mandela’s wishes.

Israel offers $20m to Turkey flotilla victims, says report SRAELI government has Imillion allegedly offered Turkey $20 in compensation to the families of those killed and wounded in its botched 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, Haaretz newspaper, citing unnamed Western diplomats briefed on ongoing negotiations with Ankara, reported yesterday that Turkey is yet to respond to the Israeli offer.

The Turkish foreign ministry said only that the talks were

continuing, but Hurriyet newspaper quoted an unnamed diplomatic source as saying there were “positive developments” in the negotiations on compensation.

“An agreement is almost ready and is waiting for the finalisation of some minor issues before being submitted to the two countries’ leadership,” the Turkish paper quoted the source as saying.

Meanwhile, Palestinian

President Mahmud Abbas would support a five-year Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank provided a NATO force is deployed to ensure security, the New York Times has reported.

Abbas, in an interview published by the paper, shifted from his insistence on a threeyear time frame for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories under any future peace deal.

“At the end of five years my country will be clean of occupation,” Abbas said, insisting however that NATO forces should be deployed during this period to undertake cross-border security and anti-terrorism duties.

“For a long time, and wherever they want, not only on the eastern borders, but also on the western borders, everywhere,” NATO could be stationed, he said.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 11

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Focus Stemming rip-off at Nigerian seaports

By David Ogah HEN the idea to reform and restructure W the Nigerian port sub-sector in 2002 was conceived, the intention then was to promote competition needed to reduce the cost of services to port users at the gateways.

Before the reform which culminated in the concession of the 26 port terminals to private concerns for certain number of years, the Nigerian Ports were among the costliest in the world because of plethora of charges, tariffs and levies added to the cost of imported goods to the detriment of the final consumers.

There was widespread discontent with the operations of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) ,which constituted the single most important bottleneck in the operations of the ports. There were complaints of obnoxious levies charged by NPA which was considered the world’s highest then. The shipping companies and various agency fees added to statutory import duty, trade development surcharge, shipping and terminal charges, cargo handling charge, port operation surcharge, transfer charges, various union charges, commission on turnover among others, which do not include illegal levies charged by officials of NCS all became the hydra-headed monsters that importers must cope with NPA, Police, SSS, NDLEA, SON, NAFDAC, and plant quarantine were not left out in the fray.

Eight years after the privatization of the port terminals, government is yet to actualize its major objective of port privatization as the cost of services continue to remain on the roof top.

The Nigerian Ports are still considered the most expensive business environment in the world.

Although the government has been able to improve on the efficiency of port operations, there are some emerging factors which make the port expensive.

Analysts are of the opinion that the new port handlers and shipping companies should be blamed. The new factors as they continue to frustrate port users in their bid to maximize profit. A report on conflict resolution released recently by the ombudsman of the shipping sector, the Nigerian Shippers Council.

Confirmed cases of alleged rip- off and fraud against service providers. The councilt said it helped importers to recover a whooping N220 million illegally collected from them by the service providers (shipping companies, and terminal handlers).

The recovery which covered a period between 2011 and 2013 could have been lost to the service providers often accused of excessive charges and failure to refund container deposits collected from shippers, among many other alleged fraudulent practices.

According to reports on the council’s mediation activities in the last three years, it was able to record N161.9 million, $3,000 and Drh 2,946 savings for the Nigeria shippers in 2011, $17.4 million in 2012 and N26 million, $30,000 last year.

The council said in its latest mediation arbitration report that savings were made possible after a successful arbitration between parties over 60 petition received in 2011, 98 in 2012 and 146 complaints in 2013.

According to the council, of this 146 complaint it received last year, 111 of them were settled amicably between the parties involved, while others are still pending with the hope of resolving them finally early this year.

The complaints from shippers which led to the recovery by the shippers council ranged from excessive storage and demurrage charges by terminal operators and shipping lines, punitive and unjustifiable charges for state container deposit refund, excessive and illegal demurrage charges by some off-dock bonded terminals and slow and lackluster handling of claims, including deliberate attempt to unjustifiably limit liability by shipping agencies and terminal operators.

The shipping companies were also accused of fraud by their deliberate refusal to receive empty containers from consignees in order to continue deductions from their container deposit, unilateral and indiscriminate increase, as high as 900 per cent, in rate of container deposit, imposition of indemnity requirement on consignees and unjustifiable detention of containers.

In 2012, complaints from shippers were main-

A port terminal ly on damaged cargo for which service providers refused to pay claims.

‘The complaint on damage cargo was much in 2012. There was this complaints relating to damage to cargo on transit and wrong application of the per package limitation of carrier’s liability clause of Nigeria’s carriage of goods by sea Act, Cap 44 laws of Federation of Nigeria, 1990 (COGSA) Article 4(5) of the Hague Rule leading to an offer of a grossly inadequate $1,000 as compensation for liability for damage to cargo against $15,000 which was paid to the consignees after our intervention, that is just one example of what we were able to do that year,’ said a source at the council.

In 2012, the council also received complaints on outright cargo loss, exploitative charges by groupage cargo handlers, delay by terminal operators in positioning containers for examination in other to collect rent refusal to refund transaction balances to shippers.

In 2013, there was a complaint on the delivery of export consignment at a wrong destination leading to unforeseen charges against the shipper, excessive delay in deconsolidation and delivery of LCL consignments by groupage cargo handlers leading to accumulation of demurrage and rent charges and consequently loss of the cargo due to abandonment by consignees. These resulted in vandalisation, fraudulent cargo clearance by means of forged document, delay in the issuance of Risk Assessment Report (RAR) leading to delay in clearing and consequently accumulation of avoidable cost against shippers, among others.

Representatives of importers, a customs license clearing agent who spoke on the matter few days ago, expressed disgust at the exploitative tendencies of the service providers saying all of them indigenous and foreign service providers - were guilty of the offence.

The National President, Council for the Managing Directors of Customs Clearing Agents, Mr. Lucky Eyis Amiwero, who had a telephone conversation with The Guardian at the weekend said the report of rip-off, by service providers of importers, “is incontrovertible”, adding that the shipping companies are the worst culprit.

“Shipping companies and terminal operators are ripping-off Nigerian importers. They are not supposed to collect all these local charges from importers because this charges have been embedded in the contract of carriage. But you see them collecting the same charges that the terminal

operators are collecting. They collect N11,000 per day on 20feet containers from importers. They collect demurrage, delivery charges and all forms of illegal charges when they don’t have equipment even the deposit you pay on each container, by the time they want to refund, they collect administrative damages, demurrage, damage charges. At the end of the day, they make sure they don’t pay the exact amount you deposited on the return of the same container.

These are mere agents to clients abroad. They don’t have equipment to warrant the charges they are collecting. It is all fraud. Government must stop it by putting in place a commercial regulator for the port sector.”

On charges by terminal operators, Amiwero said although they had all invested in their respective terminals, they still continue to exploit importers and patrons of their services, thus making the ports the most expensive in the sub-region.

“Sometimes they will deliberately push charges ahead. Some will give you two weeks to collect your container even when you are ready to collect it immediately and they will still charge demurrage for those period that you will be waiting for them to position and release the container. This delay is the trick they use in collecting rent and demurrage which the importer may not have budgeted for. A lot of things are going wrong at the ports. You cannot get the deposit on container because they all collect administrative charges. By the time they deduct all other charges which to me is fraud, you are left with just a little refund. So they are operating without considering the importers. Some can charge up to N3 million as demurrage and that make one to ask, how much is the actual cost of a container that you are collecting N3 million as demurrage? These are obstacle to trade. The shipping companies don’t even pay claims when there is need to do so.’

Another licensed customs agent who last year petitioned the Nigerian Shippers Council, Alhaji Bashir Haruna of Waliu Waziri and Sons Investment Limited on behalf of his client, MDL Distribution, said one of the methods being used to defraud and extort money from Nigerian importers by service providers is unnecessary delay and fraudulent billing. He leveled this allegation specifically against Tin-can Island container Terminal Management.

The recovery which covered a period between 2011 and 2013 could have been lost to the service providers often accused of excessive charges and failure to refund container deposits collected from shippers, among many other alleged fraudulent practices.

In his letter to the Nigerian Shippers Council in 2013, Haruna said: “Our client’s consignment, 2 x 40ft containers with B/L number FR 3381553 berthed on the 24th August, 2013 and the ship was allocated to TICT extension, but the containers are yet to be transferred to TICT extension up till today, thereby denying our client the opportunity to honour an order from his customers.

Surprisingly, TICT has fraudulently issued an invoice on the same consignment even when the containers are yet to reach the terminal. We consider this as criminal and unfair.’

According to Haruna, who commended the council for its prompt intervention, the terminal management had since refunded N341,334 to his client.

He said ‘Your response and intervention yielded justice and fairness as N341,334 out of N379,310 was paid by TICT to our client,” adding that it was a landmark achievement on the part of the council.

Although the matter was resolved amicably, Haruna still has another case of N6 million fraudulent charges, against another terminal operator still pending at the Nigerian Shippers Council.

Sulaiman Sari of Nes and Cardini Limited also confirmed allegation of fraudulent charges and extortion against service providers at ports, especially the shipping companies.

He said, in his recent letter to the Nigerian Shippers Council, “I applied for stripping of 1 x 40ft container which arrived in March 2013 and they granted me my request. They then gave me bills which I paid. I paid N105,000, another N202,193 as terminal charges and shipping company charges of N128,987 to make a total of N435,987 on 22nd of March, 2013. They shipped the tractor out of the container and loaded it into our low bed that same day. The next day I applied for my refund and three weeks after they wrote me that my consignment damaged their container and I replied them that they are the one that shipped my consignment inside their terminal. I did not go out with their container and so should make a refund.”

According to him, he only got a refund when I petitioned the Nigerian Shippers Council. If not for the council, they would gone with my money and that is how they would have defrauded me. I am very sure many innocent Nigerians must have been duped in this way .

Other importers who spoke on the matter said at the weekend that the new trend now is the refusal by shipping companies to refund deposit on container after six months of being in custody of the shippers.

These fraudulent practices and exploitative tendencies of the port services providers will continue unchecked until a commercial regulator is put in place for the port industry by the government.

12

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Politics Cold war in Senate over defection From Bridget Chiedu Oochie, Abuja HEN the Senate President, David Mark, W told his colleagues in his resumption speech recently that the manner they handled the prevailing political situation in the country would determine their level of patriotism and statesmanship, he, perhaps, had a premonition.

The unfolding drama in the Senate, over the defection of 11 Senators, leaves no one in doubt that all is not well with the upper legislative chamber. These Senators are hell bent on defecting from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but the Senate leadership appears reluctant to act on the matter based on some prevailing circumstances.

The delay could be as a result of a pending court case, which must be decided before further steps are taken on defection and its accompanying implications.

The defecting lawmakers from both Chambers of the National Assembly had approached the court, seeking to stop the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, the Senate President Mark, as well as the PDP from declaring their seats vacant due to their defection.

While waiting for a ruling on the matter, the court urged all the warring parties to maintain the status quo, implying that there should be neither defection nor declaration of seats vacant, pending the outcome of the case later this month.

On the other hand, the defecting Senators, in their joint letter to the Senate President, had cited Section 68, sub-section (1)(g) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), as leverage for defecting.

This Section provides for defection of a lawmaker without losing his seat only on a condition that there is crisis or division in the former party that sponsored such candidate.

It says: “The Section 68 (1) of the Constitution stipulates that a member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat if (1)(g): Being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected: “Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

The 11 senators comprised Senators Bukola Saraki, Adamu Abdullahi, Shaba Lafiagi, Ibrahim Gobir, Aisha Al-Hassan, Magnus Abe, Wilson Ake, Jibrilla Mohammed Bindowo, Danjuma Goje, Ali Ndume and Umar Dahiru.

The already-charged Saraki first raised Order 15 of the Senate Standing Rules, last Thursday, challenging the delay in reading the letter.

The Order provides that: “Any Senator may rise at any time to speak upon a matter of privilege suddenly arising, and he shall be prepared to move, without notice, a motion declaring that a contempt or breach of privilege has been committed, or referring the matter to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, but if the matter is raised in Committee of the Whole Senate, the Chairman shall leave the Chair to report progress.”

But the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the sitting, stood down the letter till another legislative day. His argument was that Senator Mark, who was away in Jigawa State for the commissioning of some projects, was engaged in an on-going discussion with Saraki over the letter.

As such, only the Senate President was in a position to read the letter on the floor pend-

Mark ing the outcome of their discussion.

He said: “The Senate President had travelled and before he travelled, he told me you (Saraki) had a discussion with him and agreed to have a meeting on Monday. So, that was what he told me on the subject.”

“Today, Mark is not here and before he travelled, he told me that there was a discussion he had with Saraki and I have appealed to Senator Saraki to wait until Mark comes back,” Ekweremadu said.

“My own understanding is that the discussion had something to do with the letter. So, there is no way you will tell me to believe somebody who is here and I don’t believe somebody who is not here. That would be unfair to Senator Mark.

“My appeal is that we leave all these matters, make progress and by Tuesday, Mark would be here. So, if there is any need to read the letter, then we would read the letter.”

However, Senator Saraki denied any discussion between him and Senator Mark over the letter.

He said: “That is not the case, sir. I submitted the letter as of yesterday and he (Mark) indicated the intention that it would like to meet with senators.

“But the two issues, submitting the letter and his request for the meeting do not seem that the meeting was subject to the bringing of the letter.

So, I felt that the two are two separate issues.”

But Ekweremadu retorted: “Unfortunately, this is my own understanding of your dialogue with him (Mark) and he is not here. So, I believe that we would stand down any issue relating to that until he comes back.”

Even when Senator Saraki appeared to have resigned to fate, others such as Senators Danjuma, George Akume, Anthony Adeniyi and Oluremi Tinubu, did not. They insisted the letter be read irrespective of the purported discussion between Saraki and the Senate President.

Goje said: “It was their right and privilege that the letter be read without further delay.

“Yesterday, myself, Senator Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe Central and 10 others presented a letter to the Senate President, formally informing him to inform the chamber that we have defected from the PDP to the APC. “We thought the letter would have been read yesterday but it was not and we feel that it should be read today. I feel it is our right and privilege for that letter to be read.

“Myself, I have defected and 10 other senators have also signed that letter, defecting from PDP

Saraki to APC. So, I demand that that letter be read.”

Senator Akume: “Mr President, I speak on behalf of those of us who have sworn to protect the Constitution of this country. Mr President, you are not new to this system.

“We are all Senators of the Federal Republic.

This country operates a bicameral legislature.

This country has only one Constitution that guides the country. Therefore, what is constitutional in the House of Representatives (where some members defected in group and were so recognised) cannot be unconstitutional in the Senate.”

Senator Adeniyi: “In the absence of the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President shall perform all the duties and functions of the Senate President. Fortunately, the Senate President told this chamber that he is aware of the letter.”

Senator Tinubu: “Order 14 (b) stipulates that whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be taken up immediately.”

BESIDES pending court rulings, some PDP Senators had faulted the defection process adopted by the Saraki-led group over a joint letter.

According to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe, the letter would have been addressed personally to the Senate President.

He argued that without correcting that anomaly, the letter would remain a speculation, adding that if senators wrote personal letters to the Senate President, it should remain strictly personal.

His words: “I have had cause to say this before, that the process for anybody to move from one party to the other is very well stated in the Constitution and the process is open, clear and not in a way that can be misunderstood by anybody.

“So, until we get an open letter from each senator - don’t forget that every senator did an election on his own, there wasn’t a joint election; so, senators can’t write a joint letter to the Senate President about defection; it must be individual.

“And every person who has to leave, for whatever reason, will have to state his reason and also do it personally. And until we see that, we assume that nobody is yet to go anywhere.”

The said letter stated in the first paragraph

thus: “We, the undersigned Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, elected under (on) the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wish to notify you that we have severally and jointly joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

It also made reference to a segment of Section 68 (1)(g), claiming that their decision was as a result of division in the party.

Interestingly, as explicit as that portion of the Constitution appears, it has continued to attract diverse interpretations and opinions depending on which side of the divide a senator stands.

While the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, interpreted it to mean that whosoever defects from the political party, in which he was elected to the Senate, to another party, would automatically lose his seat; Senator Olusola Adeyeye warned that Enang’s position was only a cheap blackmail that woud backfire with time.

Enang: “It (Constitution) clearly mandates that any member of the legislature, who intends to defect to another party, must prove that division exists in the party of which he was a member or that his party has merged with two or more parties or factions. Unfortunately, there was no division in PDP, as ruled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“The mere fact that similar cases of defection in the past were ignored does not validate the action. Any concerned Nigerian can challenge the action with a view to addressing it and that is what I am doing now.”

In his reaction, Adeyeye said: “We have watched with keen interest some pronouncements, on the proposed defection of some members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), emanating from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.

“Senator Ita Enang would do well not to arrogate powers, which he does not have, to himself.

On this matter, Senator Ita Enang is speaking for himself. He does not even have the mandate to speak for the entire Senate on this matter.

“We also want to make it abundantly clear that nobody can detract or subtract from the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freedom of association and the National Assembly is the institution designed by the Constitution, not only to encourage, but also to enforce the rights of Nigerians.

“The National Assembly should be the foundation of freedom in this country. It is supposed to guarantee the freedom of Nigerians... subject, of course, to the rights of the constituents of a lawmaker if he’s not following the dictates of his people.

“We warn those attempting to blackmail lawmakers that that tactics will backfire. Legislators should be free to stand by their conscience without any threat of blackmail. The laws of the land are clear on movement from one party to another and nobody should assume a position of authority he does not hold.

“Senator Ita Enang has been in the National Assembly since 1999 and he didn’t voice any opinion then when members defected from other parties the PDP; isn’t it curious that he has now found his voice when the reverse is the case?

“At a time like this when Nigeria needs statesmen, Senator Ita Enang should know by now that blackmail and threats of declaring seats vacant will not work in an atmosphere where members want to assert their rights by moving from the PDP to another party.”

For now, there is apprehension in the Senate over further delay in reading of the controversial letter. Would the Senate President defy court orders and go ahead with the announcement, as did his counterpart in the House of Representatives?

Whichever side of the coin he turns, the coming legislative week definitely would be an interesting one.

But the truth remains that except adequate measures are taken to contain the temperament of the waiting Senators, the relatively quiet Senate may witnesses an unprecedented showdown when the chamber reconvenes on today.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 13

Religious leaders chart way forward for 2015 elections

By Seye Olumide in Abuja HEAD of the 2015 elections, the leaders of faithA based organisations have stressed the need for Nigerians, particularly the political and the religious class, to eschew violence and other social vices that may lead to the collapse of the nation.

At a one-day Christian/Muslim Interactive Conference on Peace, Unity and Justice with the theme, Think Nigeria, in Abuja on Tuesday, the clerics stressed the need to urgently address tensions in the polity, the lingering Boko Haram crisis in the North, insecurity, ethno-religious mistrust and conflicts, implosion within the political circle and the controversies surrounding the planned National Conference.

Besides major speakers, others present at the conference were Mr. Suraju Haske, a lawyer, from Sokoto; Malam Isa Fakai; the National President of The Apostolic Church, Pastor Gabriel Olutola; and Muslim and Christian youth representatives from the northern states of the country.

The programme’s convener and National President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and the facilitator, Alhaji Ahmed Isiaq, canvased urgent approach to resolving some salient issues before the 2015 elections.

In a communiqué, co-signed by Prof.

Mohammed Al-Amin and Prof. Peter Agogo, the conference noted that in view of the current social challenges in Nigeria’s drive for development, the one-day conference was organised to discuss the critical issues that could enhance sustainable peace, harmony and social justice in Oritsejafor (middle), with other participants during the conference Nigeria.

Among others, the conference expressed the ers from Kaduna State, said there was no way tion year.” need to: According to him: “I have had the privilege of . Re-invent the goodwill of Nigeria’s founding the role of religion could be overemphasised in travelling wide and far the nooks and crannies of father’s such as patriotism, commitment and sin- nation building.

He said it was expedient to start, as early as pos- this nation and I can boldly say that no nation in cerity for Nigeria. sible, by building a means through which the world is as endowed as we are in terms of . Use of religion to promote the unity of Nigeria. . The 2015 general elections are crucial to the unity Nigerians can peacefully coexist before the 2015 human and natural resources, which are Godgiven. of Nigeria and Nigerians should strengthen the elections.

“While it is the responsibilities of the political process through supporting qualitative candida- “Never in the history of the country would anytures, irrespective of religion or regional inclina- body want to witness a repetition of the after- class to formulate policies towards the developmath of the 2011 elections where a section of the ment of the country, it is our duty to always tell tions.

In his opening address, Pastor Oritsejafor nation erupted in crisis,” he said, stressing that: them the truth.”

A Chief Imam from the North, Mallam emphasised the need for religious and political “2015 is critical in the Nigerian journey to unity, Nurudeen Ashafa, said what Nigeria needed was leaders in Nigeria to stick by the truth and remain peace and development.”

Accordingly, he said: “The need to start discus- “frank talk” without minding whose ox is gored. honest and committed to the project, Nigeria.

“Until we set religious and ethnic sentiments He said that the participants merely coming to sion on unity, peace and development early the conference, “eat and take group pictures and cannot be overemphasised. This is especially so aside and confront ourselves with the truth, the go back without the mind of telling their follow- when viewed in relation to the unfortunate and reason for which we are gathered here today, the unguided utterances by some unpatriotic ele- country may find it difficult to achieve its ers the truth” would not help the country.

According to him: “As the theme suggests, we ments among us, and happenings in the politi- desired purpose,” Ashafa said.

“Where Nigeria is today, politically and socialshall identify and discuss issues that sometimes cal and socio-economic fronts that characly, religious leaders remain the saving grace, if threatened the cooperate existence of this nation terised the years 2013.

“There is the urgent need to halt the drift to only we would from now endeavour to tell the and those that make us live as if we are aliens in the land that God has given us, with a view to social anarchy, which is achievable through politicians the truth whenever they come to us.”

The cleric noted that, “Nigeria is very important appreciating and upholding national interest intensive dialogue and constructive engagement forum with religious leaders across among the black nations and we cannot thereabove others.” fore allow it to disintegrate based on our selfish Oritsejafor said the conference was aimed to board.” articulate, harmonise and pursue an agenda that Sharing similar view with Oritsejafor, Isiaq said and religious sentiments.”

Similarly, Prof. Muhammed Al-Amin and would at all times “make Nigerians see one anoth- a careful study of the root causes of religious Tijani Iman, Chairman er as stakeholders of equal rights and opportuni- disharmony shows that they are tied to the Ahmad inability of direct and frank interactions Christian/Muslim Association in Kano State, ties in the Nigerian State.”

The cleric posited that the interaction offered between all societal strata, especially the reli- share opinions on what they classified as tangible and intangible developments in a nation. practitioners of both faiths an opportunity, not gious leaders.

To Prof. Al-Amin: “The tangible aspect of develPointing out that the signs were already obvionly to familiarise, “but also an opportunity to share and articulate our views, convictions, con- ous the country would most likely snowball opment is the building of infrastructure like cerns and our love for the corporate existence of into another, but bigger crisis on or before 2015, road, education, health sector and others, which this nation with a view to providing a road map, he said the solution to it would be through is the responsibility of politicians in government as honest religious leaders and scholars, wider and continuous “frank consultations but the intangible area of development, which towards the attainment and sustenance of peace, that would be followed by concrete steps of bothers on love, peace, unity, truth and social religious understanding and respect for human implementing resolutions and findings of such justice is the responsibility of religious leaders.

“If we agreed that politicians have failed the consultations.” dignity.”

On the timeliness of the conference, Oritsejafor He recalled the selfless efforts of the founding nation in providing the tangible development, said Nigeria was experiencing serious security fathers of Nigeria, such as Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, we should also look back and ask if religious challenges, as the fast-approaching 2015 elections Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, leaders have not also failed in playing their were more or else creating tensions and other Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and others, Noting that roles?”

Indicating that it was the responsibility of relisocial vices, culminating, in most cases, in wan- these people had challenged the present leaderton destruction of life and property, disrespect for ship by the legacies they left behind and gious leaders to guide the political class with the word of God, Al-Amin said: “We command influreligion of others, disregard and infringements of through the values they practiced. other people’s rights and sometimes with “They have also challenged us in all our lives, to ence and power, if we remain honest and comimpunity, corruption, misguided inflammatory replace honesty with transparency, to replace mitted; but unfortunately today, religious sentiand provocative utterances that often than not pessimism with hope, to replace mistrust with ment has permeated our politics and the danger occasion negative and unpalatable conse- friendship, to replace division with reconcilia- is staring us in the face, ahead of the 2015 crucial tion and to replace selfishness with love,” Isiaq elections. quences.

“We need to nip this in the bud. I will say it bold“Of course, innocent Nigerians are always at the said.

“We should join them working for the better- ly that it is a crime to introduce religious sentireceiving end, whom, you seated here today, repment into politics.” resent,” Oritsejafor said, reiterating that his love ment of our people.”

One of the Islamic clerics from the North, who In his contribution, the Primate, Church of for the Nigerian State and humanity, including Muslims and Christians and even non-adherents Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend chose not to have his name in print, said he had of the two religions “is the reason for calling the Nicholas Okoh, appealed to all stakeholders in always found it difficult to join the fray of those the country to be careful in whatever “we do” criticising President Goodluck Jonathan. gathering.”

His words: “Despite his religious background, “It is my firm belief that Nigeria can be great if the before their actions destroyed all the God-given Jonathan has done to the northern Al-Majeris over 160 million of us resolve to be one another’s endowment to Nigeria. keeper, and ready at all times to tell one another The cleric said the political and religious lead- what the previous Muslim leaders from the the truth, in love under any circumstance,” he erships in Nigeria “have serious role to play, as region failed to do. He recognised them and the country is moving towards a crucial elec- even went ahead to build schools for them. said.

He attributed some of the challenges in the country to the inability to say the truth, stress and The tangible aspect of development is the building of infrastructure like road, eduemphasise on it, when and where necessary, emphasising, “this is the only ingredient mostly cation, health sector and others, which is the responsibility of politicians in governlacking in our national life.” ment but the intangible area of development, which bothers on love, peace, unity, “Because everyone wants to be politically correct, truth and social justice is the responsibility of religious leaders. If we agreed that we constantly sacrifice truth,” said.

On his part, Alhaji Isiaq, the facilitator of the pro- politicians have failed the nation in providing the tangible development, we should gramme and one of the prominent Islamic lead- also look back and ask if religious leaders have not also failed in playing their roles?

“He also considered the plight of the Fulani herdsmen from the North, whom the political class from the region failed to consider.”

The cleric said that the only way to foster unity, love and harmony in Nigeria was to encourage a paradigm shift by shunning the inducement of politicians on religious sentiment.

“Let us use the 2015 elections to tell the entire world there is no religious discrimination in Nigeria,” he said.

The Vice President of CAN, Oke Ayokunle, said it was high time Nigerians appreciated “their religious and ethnic plurality, if we must move forward.”

Ayokunle urged Nigerians, “particularly those politicians, who are experts in playing on religious and ethnic sentiments to achieve their inordinate ambition,” to consider the fact that God did not make mistake when He created us into different ethnic backgrounds, adding, “we are all human beings.”

“We must appreciate our political diversities; the fact we are from different political backgrounds should not make us enemies,” he said.

“We must stand up to speak against evil, not bothering about the religious or the ethnic background of whoever is involved.”

Meanwhile, Mallam Mohammed Saidu said that until Tuesday when the conference was held, he was one of the millions Muslims in the North, who got exasperated any time Oritsejafor’s name was mentioned “because my perception about you was that you hate Muslims and you always speak against the interest of Islam.”

Saidu, however, promised to go back and educate his followers better in the interest of the country.

“This is very important, as Nigeria is moving close to another crucial election year in 2015 and I will also want my Christian brothers to take the same message to their followers,” he said.

In their contributions, the Primate of the African Church, Emmanuel Udofia and the Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Uche, stressed the need for justice and equality, and due punishment to culprits without religious or ethnic sentiments.

In a phone chat with The Guardian on the roles of religious leaders as the country drives towards 2015, the former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, agreed there was a role faith-based leaders should play but shared contrary opinions on how they should play the role.

Musa, who concurred with the aim and objectives of the conference, said, what the religious leaders are doing is right, and they should continue to advocate for peace.

“But beyond that, it is also important they tell their members not to collect money from politicians or fraternise with any politicians based on religion or ethnic sentiment and they should sanction any cleric who is found culpable of doing that,” he said.

Musa said he was not in doubt that the Christian/Muslim conference would go a long way to influence positively people’s attitude towards the elections, “if it is based on truth and honesty.”

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

14 | Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011) Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816

Editorial The politicians Nigeria needs RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s casual P observation, the other day, that more than half of those in politics had no business being in it is a candid admission of the obvious degenerate quality and moral bankruptcy of political leadership in recent years.

Employing a trade analogy to drive home his point, the President had stated: “Politics is just like some kinds of trade. More than 50 per cent of us, who are into politics, are not supposed to be politicians. For example, in the professions of nursing and teaching, people with wicked hearts and unforgiving spirits are not the kind of people who should be nurses and teachers, but we find them there.

So, most of us who are in politics are not supposed to be there, but because we have no other thing to do.”

Though lacking in eloquence with its inappropriate analogy, this observation is largely correct. Before now, an audacious proposal that public service aspirants should undergo psychiatric tests had been submitted by many Nigerians. “The extent of aggrandizement and gluttonous accumulation of wealth that I have observed suggests to me that some people are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for public office. We have observed people amassing public wealth to a point suggesting ‘madness’ or some form of obsessivecompulsive psychiatric disorder.” This was one of such submissions by Farida Waziri, then chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Devoid of any form of posturing, this in itself is an invitation to all Nigerians to reflect on the true purpose of political leadership. Like other forms of leadership positions, political leadership is a noble call to commit oneself to the service of the common good. Being a commitment that is other-directed, it is laden with some moral demands, contrary to misconstrued views that politics is a game of numbers by means foul or fair. It demands the virtue of integrity, the freedom to exercise control over mental deception and appetitive craving, and the ability to conquer ego.

Political leadership is a sacrificial service, whose reward lies in the wholesome development of the society in which the political leader or actor belongs.

In times of crisis, such as Nigeria faces, true political leaders emerge to direct the affairs to

the best possible attainment. However, given the facts of Nigeria’s contemporary history, characterised by the nation’s terrible state of decadence and of looming paralysis in the face of amazing potentialities, the political space has been populated by some of the basest characters.

How did Nigeria find itself in this leadership quagmire? Is it the decadent society that bred this unfortunate political leadership? Or is it the mediocre leadership at the political helm that is responsible for the pervasion of the polity?

If Nigerians would be circumspect enough to tickle their memories and not live in denial, they would see that the current integrity deficit has persisted since the beginning of this re-awakened democratic experience. Since 1999, the recruitment process for aspirants into political parties has been dogged by selfish mundane pursuits. The quest for quick wealth, driving everything into government being the sole repository of the nation’s wealth, the unwillingness to develop indigenous capital, inferiority complex, acute selfishness and the imperviousness to a conference of reason have conspired to throw up mediocre persons in the polity. In the continuing sequence of this entropic trend, political banditry, administrative insensitivity, moral ineptitude and graft have become the standard for collective existence, and the consequence has been a cesspool of mediocrity and ineptitude.

Moreover, it may also be true that part of the Nigerian predicament is the unwillingness of good people to join the fray and take on the mantle of political leadership. The argument here is that good people are dissuaded from vying into political offices because, even if they win, the entrenched powers that be could upturn their victory as experience has shown.

If President Jonathan is to be taken seriously then, Nigeria should not remain this way.

Good people and genuinely potential Nigerian leaders must step forward and be counted. But the problem is: How can the good people get in?

If the President is genuinely worried, as wellmeaning Nigerians are, about the quality of political leadership, he must express it by ensuring the integrity of the oncoming elec-

LETTERS

Amaechi and Rivers’ people IR: I have watched with SRotimi amazement how Governor Amaechi has of recent taken every opportunity to impress on Rivers people how his defection to the APC would serve them well. He has given the curious impression that the PDP is anti Rivers people and one wonders how this is so and finds it surprising that a man would seek to confuse and present distorted position to enlightened people, of issues clearly personal to him and dress them as issues about the Rivers person.

One finds it particularly sordid and in poor taste, that the Governor and his political associates should make a sharp descent to the ridiculous as they have found it fashionable to pour vituperation on the person of the President of this country at every turning in their self

inflicted political travails.

They attempt in mischief to trivialize the office of the President as though the governance of Nigeria is all about the governance of Rivers State.

The Governor, in a manner laughable, attempts to deride before the Rivers people, the President, as though he is more Rivers than the President and more loving of them. He has talked about oil wells allocation and the attendant monthly inflows to the coffers of the state and has descended to fanning the embers of inter-ethnic discord in the Rivers/Bayelsa divide as though issues arising from allocation of oil wells are resolved by such crude means.

The Governor and his cronies ought to know that President Jonathan, being a Bayelsan, is essentially a Rivers man; that the President, in the very spirit of the Presidency, would not

undo one state for another and where issues arise between states, they should be resolved in the best legal and administrative ways. The Governor should know that the genial disposition of this President ought not be taken as a passport to making unguarded and vacuous comments about his person as no political mileage can be so achieved.

Governor Amaechi has chosen a path which he knows is at variance with the mood of a wide majority of Rivers people especially as it relates to a President who is quietly but clearly charting a path for enduring development of this country and any desperate attempt to make them think otherwise would certainly collapse in the face of realities of the time.

• Owunari Erekosima, Lagos.

tions in the first place. He must, with other political leaders and aspirants, demonstrate both in word and deed that election into political offices is not a do-or-die affair but a moral crusade in which the means must be noble for the end to be noble. He can also start by leading with example, by stripping elective political positions of their cultic appurtenances and useless mystification. Unfortunately, as Jonathan’s touted body language to recent happenings seems to suggest – the invidious bickering, the paralysis of governance, tackiness of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and the cacophony of shifting political spaces, and rampant corruption on his watch – all eyes are too fixated on 2015.

And Nigerians have been sensitized to live their lives tailored along the dictates of this political body-clock. So, his words notwithstanding, little or nothing may change.

If the saying, ‘a people gets the leaders it deserves’ is anything to go by, then there is need for cognitive restructuring of the masses through proper education to demand the kind of leaders they need. Even though Nigerians are all too aware of the generally woeful report of yesterday’s political leaders, as manifested by the low quality of life, they need to be adequately enlightened about the implications of their choices of political leaders. They need to keep themselves abreast of the dynamics of state affairs; that it is not enough to be imbibers or conveyors of political mantras of deceit; that they should endeavour to raise critical questions on their survival, and interrogate high-falutin and vacuous pronouncements from whatever quarters.

To drive this home, Nigerians should draw insight from their own traditional communi-

tarian practice of monitoring the pedigree and antecedents of public office aspirants.

Taking a cue from this tradition, Nigerians should endeavour to speak out against, and denounce any aspirant from their neighbourhood or community with questionable character, or antecedents injurious to their collective well-being. The usual crowd support accorded aspirants on the basis of their affiliation to their community or neighbourhood should be critically examined this time around so that adequate judgment about the credibility and eligibility of a political aspirant could be made. In this way, the people would be participating more fruitfully in the recruitment process of their political leaders, and thereby owning the process.

Besides, there is need for a constitutional means to reduce and de-emphasise the monetary rewards and scandalous perquisites for public office holders which drive the current phenomenon of murderous desperation and greed.

This reduction of pecuniary rewards would attract people who genuinely are interested in public service, and dissuade political scavengers. Truly, the political space is not occupied only by redundant and money-hungry politicians. There are many well-meaning persons who are morally upright, politically sagacious, determined, courageous and selfsacrificing enough to transform Nigeria.

These are the visionaries and change agents that Nigeria direly needs. Nigerians must seek them out and encourage them.

As it is in stable and progressive democracies, the power to determine quality of political leadership lies with the people. Nigerians must now choose to exercise that power for good.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

15

Opinion The Abuja World Economic Forum on Africa

By Luke Onyekakeyah th

HE 24 summit of the World Economic FoT rum on Africa scheduled to hold in Abuja, from May 7 – 9, 2014 is a historic opportunity for Nigeria to showcase her plans for economic and social transformation. Enough is enough of this crawling syndrome. Interestingly, the theme of the meeting: “Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs”, encapsulates Nigeria’s current economic reality. Nigeria’s lackluster economic performance, especially on the micro level, robs her due recognition among wealthy and powerful nations. It is meaningless for the country to present positive macroeconomic indices when poverty is ravaging the masses of the population. That is the irony of Nigeria which stuns the world. How to ensure growth in all sectors is a challenge for the country’s economic planners.

The World Economic Forum (WEF), founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, a German engineer and economist, as a non-profit organization, has its base in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization is dedicated to improving the state of the world through positive engagement between governments, businesses and civil society. Annually, it holds a winter time forum in the small Swiss resort of Davos, attended by more than 2,500 personalities, including Heads of Government of the leading economies, chief executives of major corporations, leading global financiers and heads of multilateral organizations, such as the World Bank and the United Nations, where the most pressing issues facing the world are tabled and discussed. Besides, regional meetings are held annually in Africa, Middle East, East Asia, Latin America and North America, as part of a wider global engagement.

Since 1990, when the first World Economic Forum on Africa was held in Switzerland, all the subsequent meetings (17 altogether), have been held in Cape Town, South Africa, except just one shot each for Zimbabwe (1997); Namibia (1998); Mozambique (2004); Tanzania (2010) and Ethiopia (2012). Nigeria is having a shot for the first time. The reasons for the dominance of South Africa are not far-fetched. South Africa is perhaps the only leading emerging market in sub-Saharan Africa. While Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia are being classified as emerging markets simply because of the commodity boom and increase in foreign direct investment, especially from China,

none of their individual economic performance matches that of South Africa. South Africa remains the leading economic powerhouse in Africa.

With the highest gross domestic product (GDP) of US$ 408.074 billion, (according to 2011 calculations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), South Africa’s economic indices have more recognition to the global economy than any other country in Africa. Nigeria’s GDP in 2011 was put at US$ 238.920 billion, which is nearly half that of South Africa. Many other African countries are not reckoned with in world economic calculations. Many depend on foreign aid for economic survival. Consequently, they are ignored despite the abundant natural and human resources endowment that remain undeveloped. The World Economic Forum seems to focus on countries that have made steady remarkable progress and still are front runners.

However, the regional meetings may have been designed to give room for the integration of the economically transforming poor countries.

The Abuja World Economic Forum presents a historic opportunity for Nigeria to tell the world how she plans to transform her dormant wealth of natural and human resources into tangible economic benefits. How do we develop the untapped wealth of natural resources? Legal strictures have frustrated the exploitation of mineral resources by the states. What plans are there to change the laws? How do we develop the abundant human capacity wasting in Nigeria? Sadly enough, Nigeria’s teeming youthful population is shot out of development policies?

The youths appear to have no future.

That brings me to the theme of the meeting, “Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs”. As I said earlier, the theme sums up the critical economic realities confronting Nigeria. Forging inclusive growth presupposes equitable distribution of resources in the process of economic development such that every section of society benefits. Under this paradigm, micro and macro determinants of the economy are linked with economic growth. While the micro dimension includes a deliberate structural transformation of the society, the macro aspect includes the Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

From the foregoing, it is obvious that inclusive growth as an economic development paradigm is lacking in Nigeria. There is no equitable allocation of resources; micro and macroeconomic

determinants are not linked to economic growth. Policies are skewed in favour of macroeconomic growth. Rather than be transformed, the real sector, which has direct impact on society, is totally neglected. All pronouncements about economic growth in Nigeria pertain only to macroeconomics, which have no bearing to the real sector. That is why Nigerians are confused whenever the claims are made about the economy growing at seven per cent or more. There is no impact of the elusive growth on ground; the man on the street doesn’t feel it. Nigerians are poorer.

Infrastructure is decrepit. Economic growth in Nigeria needs a redefinition.

Creating jobs, the second issue in the theme, is equally critical. Joblessness is one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria. It is at the root of ravaging crimes. Gross mismanagement of Nigeria’s oil wealth coupled with virulent corruption has stunted the economy.

Whereas, in an attempt to create more job opportunities, government has intervened in some cases by granting financial stimulus to farmers, airports, roads, and textile industries, among others, the efforts yielded no success, as the funds were unaccountable. Consequently, massive unemployment reeks in Nigeria. The 23.9 per cent unemployment rate released by the National Bureau of Statistics is suspect.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that the WEF meeting is an opportunity for Nigeria to “showcase” her wealth of natural endowments to the world. These resources have been showcased uncountable times at different forums since independence in 1960. Faced with mounting economic challenges, the time has come for Nigeria to move from potentiality to actuality. Showcasing the same dormant, untapped and wasting human and natural resources over and over again without taking steps to develop them is meaningless. The world wants to know how Nigeria intends to lift herself form the quagmire.

Mismanagement, profligacy, greed, selfish interest and corruption have dwarfed Nigeria in the comity of nations. The result is that the ironic co-existence of mass poverty with wealth remains an anathema. But South Africa, which does not have one-tenth of Nigeria’s natural endowments, is an economic giant in Africa. This situation ought to spur Nigeria into action.

South Africa’s post-apartheid experience has

proved to be better than Nigeria’s post independence era. The black leadership in South Africa has managed to sustain a vibrant economy better than Nigeria did. Besides, South Africa has not fallen apart as did Nigeria six years after her independence.

There is no doubt that some economic reforms initiated in Nigeria since 1999 have caught the attention of global investors who are seeking higher returns in emerging markets. The result is that Nigeria has become more or less an investors’ paradise, attracting, according to reports, $20 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which is just 10 per cent of the entire African continent FDI. The outlook ought to be better. Together with the huge annual budgets running into trillions, the concern among the citizenry is why the huge capital outlays have not translated into improved economic and social life. The quality of life of Nigerians remains abysmally low. Mass poverty and gross infrastructural deficit blight the economy. Electricity, a critical factor in economic development, has since 1999, defied all projections anchored on reforms. The privatization of the power sector, which many thought would provide leverage, has turned out to be a disappointment. Epileptic power supply has worsened and Nigerians appear to be in quandary, not knowing whom to hold responsible.

As the world focuses on Nigeria under the Abuja WEF summit, the country should be wary not to expose her enduring economic and political failures that project her as a “never do well”. The meeting Steering Committee has a great task at hand. Remarkably, the meeting is holding in an election year; a time when politicians are at their “best” in whatever they want to do! The polity is heated up. By May, when the visitors would be arriving, the tension might be more.

It would not be out of place for the Steering Committee to seek audience with the leaders of the various political parties with the aim of assuaging them to maintain decorum at least for the sake of the meeting. It would be absurd for political vituperations to rent the air while important visitors are in the country. There should be a multi-stakeholder engagement involving government, politicians, civil societies, labour leaders and the business community, to ensure a successful meeting. Nigeria would be embarrassed should any aggrieved party stages protest in Abuja, be it for poor power supply, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) or the proposed privatization of the refineries, while the meeting is on-going.

National security and stakeholders management (2)

By Sylvester Akhaine • Continued from yesterday ECTION 214 makes provision for Nigeria Police Force “with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the State…”1 Section 217 provides for The Armed Forces of the Federation.

• There shall be armed forces for the federation which shall consist of an army, a navy and air force and such other branches of the armed forces of the federation as may be established by an act of the National Assembly.

• The federation shall subject to an act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of • defending Nigeria from external aggression; • maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea or air; • suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the president, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

• Performing such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.2 Preliminary Conclusion: Towards Stakeholders Management The constitution provides the matrix for the management of the various sections of society. The challenge really is to synergize the energies of the component stakeholders in society to achieve the goal of peace and security in the society. This can be addressed at two levels: a) Improved governance and b) security sector reform.

Improved Governance Improved governance calls for a philosophical transformation of the goal of governance. Governance at all times is about the people and logically policies are about people. The failure of economic policies in Nigeria is partly as a result of the non-creation

S

of the enabling environment which encompasses the stakeholders’ participation “in concept and formulation of the policy.”3 This point is also captured in the notion of local governance which entails rule of law, justice, popular participation, transparency and accountability. Among these attributes of local governance popular participation is especially accentuated because according to Celina Souza it is “…a form of political consciousness that is both critical of existing inequalities and injustice and yet, at the same time, aware of the promise of collective action in achieving progressive reform.”4 Leadership has to be socially responsible for the people. The reality is that no tier of government is performing marvelously well. Due to non-performance, Nigerians are alienated at all levels of government; their votes do not count and their inputs into policy process are undesirable. Patrick Wilmot once captured the notion of alienated consciousness as well: Consciousness is said to see itself reflected in a society or in a social structure if that society or social structure provides it with the means for satisfying its basic desire. Consciousness is said to be alienated from society if it is a member of a society, if it has basic desires, and if the society which has the means to satisfy those desires refuses to do so. Consciousness is said to be oppressed when the society does not simply deny it the means of fulfillment, but even attempts to diminish consciousness by extirpating desire.5 The alienation of our people has reached levels of security threat to the state. Through corruption we create alienation and through alienation we create an army of the unemployed and fundamentalists who are demanding a theocratic state. Governance needs to be dialogic in ways that the people become part of the search for the solutions to the social problems of the community. It is high time we turned to our people and make them the alpha and omega of policy planning in our country. Only then can they become masters of their own development.

Security Sector Reform

The history of the material force of the state, namely the armed forces and the police is that they are perceived as antagonistic to the civil society. The cause of this perception which may be objective is the colonial origin of these institutions. Both the Police and the armed forces are characterised by the Glover syndrome, i.e., a force for the pacification of the people in defence of the establishment.6 This formational indoctrination is today a major contradiction. It needs transformation such that the military institution is embedded in the people in such a way that it sees itself as guardian of the popular sovereignty, not the state qua state or the state as Shakespearean ambitious stepladder.7 This is also desirable for the police. Many have advocated the reform and transformation of the police into a community police.

According the Ambassador Moukhtar Gashash: The role of the police in a democratic society is to be more tolerant of their diverse clientele community members), build trust between officers and citizens, improve community relations and invest more resources in crime prevention. The police and the public have a relationship that is circular in nature. If the public help the police, the police can be effective, and if the police are effective, the public will feel secure and they will be willing to help the police.

If one link is broken, the whole arrangement will be broken. As such, for the police to be effective and tackle crime within the community: the community must help the police, and it is only through this relationship that community policing can be possible.8 Overcoming our country’s security challenges demand shared responsibility among the sub-systems of the state. More importantly, a responsible state is important to achieve this goal.

• Concluded.

• Dr. Akhaine, a visiting member of The Guardian Editorial Board, delivered this keynote address at the opening session of the training on stakeholders’ management strategy organized by Alchemy Business Intelligence (ABI) and National Orientation Agency, Lagos, November 2013.

16

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Opinion The Durumi experiment in rural electrification

By Ikeogu Oke OR close watchers of the Nigerian power secFtialtor reform who consider electricity as essento modern life and so would recommend its egalitarian distribution, the question of how to create reliable access to electricity under the reform for Nigeria’s rural dwellers and urban poor would have arisen soon rather than later. The question would apply mainly to such underprivileged class of citizens whose communities remain inaccessible to electricity from the national grid due to various unfavourable dynamics. To those who would raise this question: The poor cannot be justifiably excluded from any balanced equation of national development.

And, in a sense, the power sector reform is an attempt to balance Nigeria’s equation of national development from the angle of the provision of electricity.

The said equation, actually an inequality (to use the exact mathematical term for it), can be expressed as “AP < D” (i.e. AP is less than D, where AP stands for available power and D for demand). And in the current Nigerian situation, where about 4,000 megawatts are generated relative to an approximated current need/demand of 25,000 megawatts, the differential between AP and D is so large as to be embarrassing, especially for a country aiming to become one of the world’s 20 most industrialised nations by 2020.

Needless to say that the country should be in a hurry playing catch-up in power generation by such means provided under the power sector reform whose cardinals goals include establishing a reorganised power industry driven by the private sector, propelled by the need for efficient service delivery, and sustained through its regulated profitability for all stakeholders, especially the private investors who recently took over the management of its distribution and generation companies which they purchased as winners of competitive bids.

For the originators of the reform and its managers, the conditions that warranted one’s formulation of the above inequality would have to so change as to justify its alteration to AP ≥ D (i.e.

AP is more than or equal to D, where D is at least 25,000 megawatts) for the “equation” to be considered balanced or the inequality solved.

Even at that, the question would still be relevant as to what becomes of such underprivileged citizens whose communities are located off-grip and so can be considered as being circumstantially excluded from the grand, mainstream programme to permanently solve Nigeria’s problem of chronic power shortage through the reform. And the askers of the question would, I think, be right to invoke the sentiment that, in addition to being Nigerian citizens deserving of

access to the good life which electricity can provide, they are also part of the electorate whose votes may have helped bring the Jonathan administration to power with its promise to extend “democracy dividends” like constant electricity to all Nigerians.

With President Goodluck Jonathan’s launch on January 13, 2014, of the Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria initiative in Durumi community on the outskirts of the Abuja metropolis, an answer to the question seems to be crystallising. The programme, according to the President (while speaking at the launch), was “initiated under the second phase of our power sector reform programme” and had the symbolic value, as the first project he commissioned in the New Year, of signalling the commencement of the year by “giving light to our people, especially in the rural communities.”

In effect, the initiative provides an answer to the pertinent question of how Nigeria’s rural dwellers and urban poor to whom electricity cannot be extended through the national grid may still have electricity for domestic and other uses and so not feel excluded from the government’s developmental programme or its distribution of “democracy dividends” such as electricity.

In his speech delivered at the launch, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, described the initiative as “a fast-track mechanism to deliver electricity to thousands of rural communities in Nigeria that are not yet connected to the national electricity grid and also to those communities so far flung from the national grid that the challenges of [its] delivery to them remain daunting for quite a while.” In essence, the initiative expands the scope of the power sector reform with what may be described as an electricity outreach programme to communities in remote urban and rural locations, suggesting the government’s plan to truly democratise access to electricity, to render its distribution genuinely egalitarian even under the new business-oriented culture ushered in by the power sector reform.

Besides, the initiative provides a clue as to how the country can maximise the efficient use of its vast resource of renewable energy in the forms solar, wind and biomass, especially solar. For while these three are the projected sources of energy for the entire range of projects under the initiative, the first stage, which includes the pilot stage launched at Durumi, intends to utilise 100 per cent solar energy to power hundreds of communities. Other communities that have benefitted during the first phase are Shape and Wura, also near the Abuja metropolis. And there are prospects of the initiative spreading beyond the Abuja environs before long, as Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State was present at the launch of the Durumi facility and had visited Shape to personally observe the facility and discuss its possi-

ble replication in remote communities in his state with the Minister of Power and the engineers who constructed it.

There are two models of the facility. The Durumi facility, produced with the support of Schneider Electric of France and Phillips Electronics of the Netherlands to deliver electricity to over 1,000 households, is the first model. It is a “detached system”, where each household has its own solar panel that supplies it with electricity. The second model is called a “localised mini-grid system”, where the community energy hub uses solar/inverter systems to power the entire community, providing more energy to every home for such appliances as fans, television sets, computers, sound systems, etc. More interestingly, as Prof.

Nebo revealed in addition to the preceding details, the technology is home-grown and 100 per cent engineered and deployed by Nigerians.

In addition to the general improvement in communal lighting which I personally witnessed during my pre-launch visit to the Durumi and Shape facilities, Prof. Nebo also highlighted some major benefits of the facility to the host communities. They include “a community energy hub equipped with enough power outlets for charging devices and refrigeration of perishables”, houses provided with energy-saving bulbs of the light-emitting-diode variety, charging points for electronic devices and energy-saving fans, and quality lighting for streets and pathways covering the entire community to eliminate dark corners especially at night.

Also, the community centre is well lit to enhance socio-cultural and economic activities (even at night); schools are equally well lit and equipped with charging points for computers and other electronic devices and to allow for adult education/literacy classes for interested persons during off-school hours. And there is a maintenance crew especially trained to service or repair the equipment, as applicable, and ensure its continuous operation, creating a huge potential for job creation for such technical manpower with the anticipated widespread adoption of the facility for similar locations nationwide.

So what could essentially pass for a government’s welfarist experiment in providing or enhancing rural electrification in innovative ways also doubles as a stimulus for nationwide job creation. But beyond its welfarist beginnings is a plan, according to Prof. Nebo, “to invite the private sector to fully participate and eventually take over the entire operations to ensure that saturation is attained quickly and that no community is left behind in Nigeria”. Expectedly, the participation of the private sector will reorient the initiative as a business venture and align it with the regulated profitability for investors that is a cardinal feature of the power sector under the reform.

One of the dignitaries present at the launch (of the Durumi facility), which doubled as the flagoff of the Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria initiative, was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed. A passage from the speech he delivered at the event should resonate with all those who believe in the significance of such a project. Thus: “It is generally agreed, among development experts, that one of the dynamic ways to stem rural-urban drift and improve life in the rural areas is by providing reliable infrastructure, public utilities and social amenities.” He went on to describe the initiative as “a welcome reinforcement to our commitment to speed up [the] development of [the] FCT grassroots”.

Indeed, any true believer in the dignity of all human beings who has visited the grassroots of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), fringe communities like Durumi and Shape, and witnessed the measly and squalid lives foisted on some of their inhabitants by extreme poverty, not so far from the seemingly unconscionable and aloof opulence that characterise life in choice districts of the main city, would readily endorse the further acceleration of the development of the grassroots mentioned by the FCT Minister, not only in the FCT but also in other parts of the country where such poverty exists. And the Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria initiative, I think, provides a good starting point for the development, which should in due course be complemented with programmes to provide other social amenities like potable water affordably and on a large scale to the inhabitants of such places and turn them into genuine partakers in the basic comforts that our wealthy nation can afford to provide for all its citizens. The indigenes of Durumi are obviously happy with the positive transformation that has been brought to their doorstep through the Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria initiative. But the enthusiasm of some witnesses of the commissioning was mixed with doubt about the sustainability of the project. “It’s a good thing, but what matters now is its sustainability. We have seen many good programmes in this country which fizzled out after being flagged off with such fanfare,” said a journalist with whom I discussed the initiative after the commissioning.

And I hope President Jonathan and others behind the Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria initiative will not miss the positive message in such scepticism – that it is sustainability that would transform the initiative from a mere experiment in rural electrification to a real developmental programme, and justify the investment involved.

• Oke, a public affairs analyst, worked as a maintenance crewman in the Nigerian power industry.

NGOs and the risk of believability

By Charles Iheanacho FTER reading an article in the Harvard Business Review (HBR) A about how the CEO of Timberland (makers of boots and foot wear) dealt with an attack of their business operations by the nonprofit organization (NGO), Greenpeace, I was struck with the thought that there is something not quite right about the relationship between NGOs (or civil society organisations as they are sometimes also called) and their communities. Communities in this case being the corporations, government agencies and members of the public who are usually on the receiving end of their agendas and programmes. The raison d’etre of NGOs is to get people and/or institutions to do something, start something, stop something, and/or believe something but in quite a number of cases they go about this with a limited perspective.

The article, which covered the resolution of a real life environmental problem flagged by Greenpeace about the impact of Timberland’s business, raised three ethical questions. These questions centre on issues which most NGOs, including those in Nigeria, must find ways of dealing with. The first is the issue of funding. The second is the issue of strategy (confrontation instead of negotiation) and the third is the issue of sustainability.

On the issue of funding, because most NGOs are not set up to make money and thus have to rely on the benevolence of others who support their cause, NGOS are often accused of dancing to the tune of those who fund them. The allegation is that what gets picked up by some NGOs as the focus of their advocacy is less about what might be most important or beneficial to a community and more about the founder’s agenda. While this is not a crime, it is not quite ethical. This situation breeds suspicion in

the communities within which the NGOs operate and leads to the tiresome questioning of the basis of how or why certain causes and not others get picked up on. Despite the fact that citizens, activists and NGOs have a right to choose their cause based on life experiences and/or ideology such questions persist and weaken the impact of advocacy.

In situations such as this – i.e., where the dependence on funds dictates the cause, then societies also find themselves with NGOS whose strategy is confrontational and geared towards drama – this is the second problem. For instance in the HBR article, the Swartz points out that Greenpeace never approached Timberland to explain what Greenpeace had judged them guilty of. Instead Greenpeace’s strategy was to launch a very public online attack on Timberland and other corporates – the type of action that is not ideal for negotiations and agreeing on joint solutions, but the sensational type which donors and founders love. Public actions with catchy headlines are considered incontrovertible evidence of NGOs being busy and passionate about the cause. Besides, loud action also attracts loyal supporters – who will donate to the cause and volunteer. In Nigeria, any study on the public or media based communication between NGOs and corporate entities will show that the type of language many Nigerian NGOs use when communicating their grievances about the operations of some corporations is extremely hostile and counter-productive. While some say this is a carry-over from the military era when NGOs had to be confrontational to get the attention of the authorities, it is quite plausible that the ‘go-to-battle’ tactic has more to do with the attention grabbing, funding attracting objective.

Unfortunately, this strategy, which is a favourite of a fair num-

ber of NGOs, does not lend itself to the type of solutions or compromise that turns things into a win-win for everyone. Instead, with public attacks, they put the target on the defensive and only rarely can the parties turn around from the bitterness of initial aggression and counter attacks to fashion out solutions which will benefit the larger community.

This leads to the third question: how sustainable are the current operations of NGOs if they do not change? The founder as agenda setter and the public confrontation style means not only that NGOs are less effective than they could be, but also they are coming under increasing scrutiny. Already, there are a growing number of countries, particularly those where democracy and human and social development are weak, which have enacted regulation to track the flow of funding for NGOs. This is with the belief that funding determines agendas. Other regulation attempts to cap what NGOs can get from international donors or provide internal government funding for NGOs. All these developments are dangerous, because it also strips the NGOs of independence from the interference of governments which some of them are watching over.

In Nigeria, all the scenarios are applicable and therein lays the opportunity for our NGOs. There is a need for careful consideration of these three ethical issues in order to craft innovative ways of moving forward and securing a sustainable future where the engagement with governments, corporations, people, systems and institutions is genuine and focused on a holistic approach to problem solving. Otherwise NGOs risk a steady decline in their believability, which will ultimately impact on their effectiveness. A word is enough for the wise.

• Iheanacho is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja.

Tuesday, Februar 4, 2014 17

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Another school fees palava…

• Season of protests, as students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College protest against increased tuition fees

ARELY two weeks after their colB leagues at the Lagos State University (LASU) went wild over increase in school fees and their inability to register for ongoing exams on the school’s portal, the students of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) in Ijanikin, Lagos also took to the streets yesterday morning over a sudden increase in their tuition fees for the second time in three years.

The angry students shut down the gate of the school and took to the streets to call attention to their plight.

They complained bitterly that the management first hiked tuition costs in 2011 but reversed the attempt following the intervention of the Students Union, but this year re-imposed the high fees.

The rampaging students also complained about a high level of infrastructural decay occasioned by the school management’s gross neglect, citing as an example, school toilets that have been locked for six months, forcing the students to defecate in the bush.

An eyewitness who plies the route to work everyday to work told The Guardian that the students’ protest caused a heavy gridlock along the Badagry Expressway. “The students barricaded the road for over three hours causing severe traffic jam for road users on the axis. There was no single policeman in sight to help free the traffic despite the several police

Some of the protesting students stations at Ijanikin and Agbara. One of the lecturers said the students were protesting against fees and against the provost whom they accused of maladministration.”

Efforts to get the management’s side of the story failed as the Provost of the College, Mr. Bashorun, shouted rashly at some journalists

who called him on the phone yesterday, refusing to answer any questions.

It would be recalled that a similar crisis broke out at the Lagos State University (LASU) recently as the management shut the registration portal against students, who said they simply could not pay the expen-

sive fees early enough. That institution was closed down indefinitely.

AOCOED students were still in the streets as of the time of filing this report. The police, who usually manage such situations by shooting both bullets and teargas at the unarmed students, had also reportedly arrived on the scene.

Navy denies ‘invasion’ of Warri hotel From Chido Okafor, Warri HE Nigerian Navy Delta Command yesterday denied the alleged invasion of a hotel, Kayriott, in Effurun, near Warri, Delta State last week and abducted a staff after a naval officer was allegedly assaulted by the hotel staff and policemen attached to the hotel, over payment of food and drinks consumed by the officer and his brother.

Addressing the media yesterday at the Warri Naval Base, the Commander NNS Delta, Commodore Mohammed Garba, said “at no time did our personnel shoot, assault and abduct three staff of Kayriott hotel”.

Garba, who was miffed by a report in a national

T

daily (not The Guardian) at the weekend, which reported that the navy invaded the hotel after a naval officer, Lt Uche Akalezi, was assaulted by armed policemen providing security at the hotel.

The commander said the incident that happened at the hotel was still under investigation and was a case of assaulting a commissioned Naval officer which necessitated admission of the officer in the hospital.

He said the hotel staff were invited to write statements on the incident voluntarily and were allowed to returned to their business afterwards “The Navy returned to the hotel as a further investigation by demanding the recordings of the

CCTV footage of the unfortunate incident, which the hotel management misconstrued. However, the hotel management claimed that the CCTV could not record events due to the malfunctioning of the hard disc.

But the owner of the hotel Efe Afe, a former legislator in the Delta State House of Assembly, in a separate statement, alleged that he and his staff were whisked away forcibly by the navy after disarming and arresting the police officers who assaulted the naval officer.

The commander of NNS Delta said he (Efe Afe) was not arrested but invited to give statement on the incident and he could be invited again as investigation continues.

Briefs AAROFAN to flush out unregistered members HE Association of AluT minum Roofers and Fabricators of Nigeria (AROFAN) has resolved to begin the enforcement of the Aluminum Roofers’ Law as a way of sanitizing the industry. This latest initiative was revealed by the National President of – AAROFAN, Adeyemi Lukman during the inauguration of the New National Exco in Sapele Delta State recently.

On enforcement of the law, he said it had become a criminal offence for anyone to involve in aluminum roofing and fabrication in all forms, without being registered by the association.

He stated that, it was mandatory for all aluminum roofers and fabricators to be members of the association as a pre-requisite for biding for aluminum contract or taking aluminum jobs.

Also, as a way of getting further support and recognition for the law, the AAROFAN President states that the association will write to all the state governors and the Federal Government to intimate them on the law.

The National executives elected included Adeyemi Lukman as National President Akpoyibo K. Omas, National Public Relations Officer; Osakwe Steve, National Publicity Secretary among others.

School holds inter-house sports HIS year’s inter house T sports competition of Ifelodun Comprehensive High

Lagos Assembly stalls demolition of Ogba Retail Market

School, Mushin Lagos holds on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Federal Institute of industrial Research (FIRO), Cappa, Oshodi-Lagos at 10.00a.m. under the chairmanship of Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Commissioner for Education Lagos State.

The Chairman Planning Committee, Mr. Taiwo Olusola, said the event would bring all stakeholders together. Heat holds on Friday at the same venue.

•Wades into Egbin/Ijede boundary dispute

Oviasu holds Feb. 7

By Wole Oyebade ENDING further directive, the Lagos State House of Assembly has stopped planned demolition of Ogba Retail Market by Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The House also warned Chairman of the LCDA not to eject about 250 existing traders in the market without alternative for their means of livelihood.

The lawmakers disclosed this during a visit to the market, in response to the plight of the traders that had earlier petitioned the House against the planned demolition and re-development of the market.

In a related development, the House has set up a fiveman ad-hoc committee to investigate boundary issues between Egbin and Ijede communities in Ikorodu area of the State.

The committee, led by Deputy Majority Leader, Lola Akande, was fallout of a petition written to the House, by Egbin Joint Community Devel-

P

opment Association over position paper on the boundary between Egbin and Ijede communities.

Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Bisi Yusuf, during the visit said the House took the decision, to protect affected traders and ensure their businesses do not sufferer.

Yusuf said: “Our visit here today is not to witch-hunt anyone but to give succour to your plight. Government must provide a temporary relocation for you to do your business, pending the completion of the new Ogba retail market,” he said.

The lawmakers also charged the Council boss and contractor handling the re-development of the market to ensure that the temporary relocation would accommodate 250 shop owners without complaints.

Member of the House, Yinka Ogundimu, added that no construction should take place until every trader is relocated into available contain-

Yusuf ers, to be provided by the Council management.

According to the contractor handling the project, Kehinde Fajana, a sum of N1.7billion would be spent on the re-development of the market that would last for 18 months.

Chairman, Ojodu LCDA, Julius Oloro explained to the lawmaker that the Council would provide 250 containers to be used by the traders pending the completion of the market.

He also promised the Committee would abide by the House’s resolution, adding that the Council would not do anything that would attract bad feeling from the traders.

In a petition to the House and read on the floor of the Assembly, Egbin Joint Community Development Association explained that some “ungazetted” Baales: Baale of Ipakin, Mustapha Lasisi and purported Baale of Iponmi, Julius Baraka, both of NEPA resettlement Scheme, Oko Elebu, Egbin, were acting under the directive of Ijede Chiefs and hiding under a court judgment (against which an appeal is pending in court) “have formed the habit of writing fictitious petitions against our king and some community youths, with a view to getting them arrested and embarrassed.”

The petitioners alleged that Ijede Chiefs have always liked to see Egbin as part of Ijede and “its resources as theirs to tap freely.”

“They therefore see facilities like Egbin Thermal Station, Nigeria Gas Plant (NGP) barges and Chevron project, established solely on Egbin land, as theirs.”

They added that “The immediate cause of our protest is the recent petition written by

Mr. Julius Baraka Igbekele, in which he alleged that our king sent some indigenes of Egbin to kidnap him and some of his visitors of Obateru of Egbin and seven of his subjects were invited for questioning.

“He further made some unfounded heinous allegations against our monarch to pave way for them to bring a dredger to Egbin.”

The community, therefore, called for delineation of boundary between Egbin and Ijede to forestall the aggression of Ijede people and also the release of government’s position on the report of the panel of enquiry into the crisis between Egbin and Ijede.

The joint community also called on the police officers in Area “N” Police Command not to be used as instrument of intimidation against their monarch and Egbin people.

Other members of the ad-hoc committee are Sanai Agunbiade, Kazeem Raim, Segun Olulade and Yinka Ogundimu.

The ad hoc committee is expected to report back in two weeks time.

EACONESS (Mrs.) Rebecca D Nobiomoano Oviasu (nee Bazuaye), who died on November 27, 2013 at the age of 80, will be buried on Friday February 7, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Funeral service holds on Friday, February 7 at No. 7 Medical Stores Road in Benin at 2.00 p.m. to be followed by interment.

Outing service takes place on Sunday at Church of God Mission, Iyaro Parish at 8.00 a. m.

She is survived by her husband, children and grand children among them is the Dean of Medicine, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Efosa Oviasu.

Oviasu

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

18 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Tribute

Encomiums as Bawo Okotie-Eboh goes home

Rotary predicts end of polio as it marks awareness month

By Isaac Taiwo

From Chido Okafor, Warri

FFORTS towards the eradiE cation of polio in Nigeria was the highpoint of the Dis-

Bawo’s wife, Iyabo, daughter, Meyiwa and family members at the graveside

Adolo Okotie -Eboh, Olorogun Oscar Ibru and others at the event

trict Governor, Rotary International, District 9110 (Lagos and Ogun States) Olugbemiga Olowu’s media parley on the programme of activities marking the celebration of Rotary Awareness Month that has just ended.

The programme, which also drew the attention of the District Governor-Elect, Dr. Dele Balogun, District Governor-Nominee, Bola Onabadejo and members of various Clubs in the District was put together by Eboigbe Olaye, the Chairman, Planning Committee and the Committee members.

Line up of activities marking the programme included Rotary Awareness Carnival, which was flagged off at the National Stadium and took participants through Ikorodu Road to Maryland towards GRA, Ikeja.

There was also Rotary Clubs Bulletin and Magazine Exhibition, followed by Rotary information and quiz session, press conference as well as Awareness Dinner/Awards to round off the program.

Addressing the media during the programme, Olowu disclosed that Rotary International top goal was to eradicate polio worldwide.

“Rotary, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, national and local governments and in Nigeria, the Dangote Foundation is close to eliminating the second human disease in history after small pox with a 99 per cent reduction in polio cases worldwide since 1985.

“Rotary members have contributed more than $1 billion and countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than two billion chil-

dren in 122 countries.

“An estimated five million children have been spared of disability and over 250,000 deaths averted.

Rotary is raising an additional $200 million to match a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Olowu said.

The governor added that through concerted and collaborative efforts of Rotary and its implementing partners and funders, object to kick polio out of Nigeria will be certainly achieved, adding that new cases of infection dropped from 122 to 53 between 2012 and 2013 and more organizations, like the Dangote Foundation, are getting involved to ensure total eradication of polio in Nigeria.

Olowu enumerated six

areas of focus by Rotary to include water and sanitation, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development and peace and conflict resolution.

In education which is very key to economic development in every nation, Olowu described Rotary as the world’s largest privatelyfunded source of international scholarships under its Basic Education Literacy programme.

“Each year, about 1000 university students receive Rotary scholarships to study abroad while Vocational Training Teams travel out to teach or to learn special courses that will later be useful in developing communities.

“Rotary’s Youth Exchange program fosters international goodwill by enabling 8500 secondary school students to live and study abroad each year in 115 countries” he said.

Olowu also added that Rotary builds peace and international understanding through education.

The governor who described Rotary International as a global organisation of professional, business and community leaders who come together to provide service to their communities, promote high ethical standards in business and professions and advance global peace, good will and understanding highlighted the requirement of members to readiness to sacrifice their time, treasure and talent.

District Governor, Olugbemiga Olowu (right), President, Rotary Club of Maryland, Sidney Osaebu, Tunde Ojo, Assistant Governor, Bola Oyebade, Past President, Kunle Muftau and Assistant Governor, Niyi Adesanya as Osaebu received the overall best award of the Awareness Month program organized by Rotary International, District 9110 from the District Governor, Olowu...at the event

Firm tasks workers on corporate governance HE Managing Director of their interactions and activi“In addition, employee ensation’s success story lies in T Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) the quality of its employees - a ties and revealed the acronym gagement activities have been Plc, Paul Gbededo has stressed

Ovie Omo-Agege and other family members at the event PHOTOS: CHIDO OKAFOR

HE remains of Bawo Okotie-Eboh, a.k.a, Jamascopi, who died on January 18, 2014 at the age of 60, was on Friday committed to mother earth at the family compound, the famous “Omimi Villa” of Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh fame at Ogorode, Sapele, Delta State.

The funeral service at the First Baptist Church, Sapele, was well-attended by people from all walks of life.

Bawo was born into the family of Chief Festus Samuel Okotie-Eboh and Madam Janet Ajiringhorun EkwejunorEtchie on May 31, 1954.

He grew up with his siblings at the Omimi Villa compound.

He attended Okotie-Eboh Primary School, Sapele and proceeded to Eghosa Grammar School, Benin City for his secondary education and went for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) at Obokun Grammar School, Iboku, Ilesha, Oyo State.

His quest for further knowledge took him to England where he attended the prestigious Bond Street Television Training Centre (TIC), London, and obtained a Diploma in television programming and production.

On his return to Nigeria, he established Akali Nigeria Limited, which he managed successfully for several years. He forged ahead and obtained an honours degree at the Lagos State University (LASU) in Public Administration and International Relations.

He married former Miss Iyabo Enitan Idienumah and was blessed with a lovely daughter, Miss Meyiwa Devine OkotieEboh.

T

the need for its employees to key into the company’s new core values scheme, called ‘PIILOT,’ if the company wishes to be at the front burner of the nation’s conglomerate industry.

Gbededo stated this at the kick-off of two-week employee sensitisation and mobilisation programme at all the company’s locations across the country, culminating into the launch of the ‘PIILOT’ logo.

According to him, the company has demonstrated strong commitment to best practices in corporate governance, professionalism and high ethical standards in all aspects of its businesses, including transactions with customers, vendors and suppliers.

The group managing director said it was ideal to formally launch the process of reinforcing and promoting its redefined core values across board within the organisation, its subsidiaries and associated companies.

Gbededo stated that since 1960, FMN has provided Nigerians with top quality products.

He further pointed out that the main secret of the organi-

dedicated workforce made up of men and women of integrity working in tandem to meet consumer needs.

He explained that the core values are those principles that support the vision, shape the organisation’s beliefs and reflect what it stands for as a business entity.

He, however called on FMN employees “to live up to these values, be these values” in all

‘PIILOT’ represents the five main thrusts of FMN core values of Performance, Integrity, Initiative, Leadership, Ownership and Teamwork.

“The communication process is planned to continue with a six-month multidimensional employee engagement series in all operational sites of the company, its subsidiaries and affiliated businesses pan-Nigeria.

Gbededo (middle), with members of staff at the launch of the company’s new core values, “PIILOT” at the company’s Head Office, in Lagos.

lined up for the forthcoming months to further drive “PIILOT’ communication through the entire organization and ensure that employees key in to the expected behaviours, leading to an alignment of the organisation’s business processes with objectives and the eventual achievement of the company’s mission,” Gbededo added.

Tuesday, Februar 4, 2014 17

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection Another school fees palava…

• Season of protests, as students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College protest against increased tuition fees

ARELY two weeks after their colB leagues at the Lagos State University (LASU) went wild over increase in school fees and their inability to register for ongoing exams on the school’s portal, the students of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) in Ijanikin, Lagos also took to the streets yesterday morning over a sudden increase in their tuition fees for the second time in three years.

The angry students shut down the gate of the school and took to the streets to call attention to their plight.

They complained bitterly that the management first hiked tuition costs in 2011 but reversed the attempt following the intervention of the Students Union, but this year re-imposed the high fees.

The rampaging students also complained about a high level of infrastructural decay occasioned by the school management’s gross neglect, citing as an example, school toilets that have been locked for six months, forcing the students to defecate in the bush.

An eyewitness who plies the route to work everyday to work told The Guardian that the students’ protest caused a heavy gridlock along the Badagry Expressway. “The students barricaded the road for over three hours causing severe traffic jam for road users on the axis. There was no single policeman in sight to help free the traffic despite the several police

Some of the protesting students stations at Ijanikin and Agbara. One of the lecturers said the students were protesting against fees and against the provost whom they accused of maladministration.”

Efforts to get the management’s side of the story failed as the Provost of the College, Mr. Bashorun, shouted rashly at some journalists

who called him on the phone yesterday, refusing to answer any questions.

It would be recalled that a similar crisis broke out at the Lagos State University (LASU) recently as the management shut the registration portal against students, who said they simply could not pay the expen-

sive fees early enough. That institution was closed down indefinitely.

AOCOED students were still in the streets as of the time of filing this report. The police, who usually manage such situations by shooting both bullets and teargas at the unarmed students, had also reportedly arrived on the scene.

Navy denies ‘invasion’ of Warri hotel From Chido Okafor, Warri HE Nigerian Navy Delta Command yesterday denied the alleged invasion of a hotel, Kayriott, in Effurun, near Warri, Delta State last week and abducted a staff after a naval officer was allegedly assaulted by the hotel staff and policemen attached to the hotel, over payment of food and drinks consumed by the officer and his brother.

Addressing the media yesterday at the Warri Naval Base, the Commander NNS Delta, Commodore Mohammed Garba, said “at no time did our personnel shoot, assault and abduct three staff of Kayriott hotel”.

Garba, who was miffed by a report in a national

T

daily (not The Guardian) at the weekend, which reported that the navy invaded the hotel after a naval officer, Lt Uche Akalezi, was assaulted by armed policemen providing security at the hotel.

The commander said the incident that happened at the hotel was still under investigation and was a case of assaulting a commissioned Naval officer which necessitated admission of the officer in the hospital.

He said the hotel staff were invited to write statements on the incident voluntarily and were allowed to returned to their business afterwards “The Navy returned to the hotel as a further investigation by demanding the recordings of the

CCTV footage of the unfortunate incident, which the hotel management misconstrued. However, the hotel management claimed that the CCTV could not record events due to the malfunctioning of the hard disc.

But the owner of the hotel Efe Afe, a former legislator in the Delta State House of Assembly, in a separate statement, alleged that he and his staff were whisked away forcibly by the navy after disarming and arresting the police officers who assaulted the naval officer.

The commander of NNS Delta said he (Efe Afe) was not arrested but invited to give statement on the incident and he could be invited again as investigation continues.

Briefs AAROFAN to flush out unregistered members HE Association of AluT minum Roofers and Fabricators of Nigeria (AROFAN) has resolved to begin the enforcement of the Aluminum Roofers’ Law as a way of sanitizing the industry. This latest initiative was revealed by the National President of – AAROFAN, Adeyemi Lukman during the inauguration of the New National Exco in Sapele Delta State recently.

On enforcement of the law, he said it had become a criminal offence for anyone to involve in aluminum roofing and fabrication in all forms, without being registered by the association.

He stated that, it was mandatory for all aluminum roofers and fabricators to be members of the association as a pre-requisite for biding for aluminum contract or taking aluminum jobs.

Also, as a way of getting further support and recognition for the law, the AAROFAN President states that the association will write to all the state governors and the Federal Government to intimate them on the law.

The National executives elected included Adeyemi Lukman as National President Akpoyibo K. Omas, National Public Relations Officer; Osakwe Steve, National Publicity Secretary among others.

School holds inter-house sports HIS year’s inter house T sports competition of Ifelodun Comprehensive High

Lagos Assembly stalls demolition of Ogba Retail Market

School, Mushin Lagos holds on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Federal Institute of industrial Research (FIRO), Cappa, Oshodi-Lagos at 10.00a.m. under the chairmanship of Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Commissioner for Education Lagos State.

The Chairman Planning Committee, Mr. Taiwo Olusola, said the event would bring all stakeholders together. Heat holds on Friday at the same venue.

•Wades into Egbin/Ijede boundary dispute

Oviasu holds Feb. 7

By Wole Oyebade ENDING further directive, the Lagos State House of Assembly has stopped planned demolition of Ogba Retail Market by Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The House also warned Chairman of the LCDA not to eject about 250 existing traders in the market without alternative for their means of livelihood.

The lawmakers disclosed this during a visit to the market, in response to the plight of the traders that had earlier petitioned the House against the planned demolition and re-development of the market.

In a related development, the House has set up a fiveman ad-hoc committee to investigate boundary issues between Egbin and Ijede communities in Ikorodu area of the State.

The committee, led by Deputy Majority Leader, Lola Akande, was fallout of a petition written to the House, by Egbin Joint Community Devel-

P

opment Association over position paper on the boundary between Egbin and Ijede communities.

Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Bisi Yusuf, during the visit said the House took the decision, to protect affected traders and ensure their businesses do not sufferer.

Yusuf said: “Our visit here today is not to witch-hunt anyone but to give succour to your plight. Government must provide a temporary relocation for you to do your business, pending the completion of the new Ogba retail market,” he said.

The lawmakers also charged the Council boss and contractor handling the re-development of the market to ensure that the temporary relocation would accommodate 250 shop owners without complaints.

Member of the House, Yinka Ogundimu, added that no construction should take place until every trader is relocated into available contain-

Yusuf ers, to be provided by the Council management.

According to the contractor handling the project, Kehinde Fajana, a sum of N1.7billion would be spent on the re-development of the market that would last for 18 months.

Chairman, Ojodu LCDA, Julius Oloro explained to the lawmaker that the Council would provide 250 containers to be used by the traders pending the completion of the market.

He also promised the Committee would abide by the House’s resolution, adding that the Council would not do anything that would attract bad feeling from the traders.

In a petition to the House and read on the floor of the Assembly, Egbin Joint Community Development Association explained that some “ungazetted” Baales: Baale of Ipakin, Mustapha Lasisi and purported Baale of Iponmi, Julius Baraka, both of NEPA resettlement Scheme, Oko Elebu, Egbin, were acting under the directive of Ijede Chiefs and hiding under a court judgment (against which an appeal is pending in court) “have formed the habit of writing fictitious petitions against our king and some community youths, with a view to getting them arrested and embarrassed.”

The petitioners alleged that Ijede Chiefs have always liked to see Egbin as part of Ijede and “its resources as theirs to tap freely.”

“They therefore see facilities like Egbin Thermal Station, Nigeria Gas Plant (NGP) barges and Chevron project, established solely on Egbin land, as theirs.”

They added that “The immediate cause of our protest is the recent petition written by

Mr. Julius Baraka Igbekele, in which he alleged that our king sent some indigenes of Egbin to kidnap him and some of his visitors of Obateru of Egbin and seven of his subjects were invited for questioning.

“He further made some unfounded heinous allegations against our monarch to pave way for them to bring a dredger to Egbin.”

The community, therefore, called for delineation of boundary between Egbin and Ijede to forestall the aggression of Ijede people and also the release of government’s position on the report of the panel of enquiry into the crisis between Egbin and Ijede.

The joint community also called on the police officers in Area “N” Police Command not to be used as instrument of intimidation against their monarch and Egbin people.

Other members of the ad-hoc committee are Sanai Agunbiade, Kazeem Raim, Segun Olulade and Yinka Ogundimu.

The ad hoc committee is expected to report back in two weeks time.

EACONESS (Mrs.) Rebecca D Nobiomoano Oviasu (nee Bazuaye), who died on November 27, 2013 at the age of 80, will be buried on Friday February 7, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Funeral service holds on Friday, February 7 at No. 7 Medical Stores Road in Benin at 2.00 p.m. to be followed by interment.

Outing service takes place on Sunday at Church of God Mission, Iyaro Parish at 8.00 a. m.

She is survived by her husband, children and grand children among them is the Dean of Medicine, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Efosa Oviasu.

Oviasu

Tuesday, FEBRUARY 4, 2014 19 77

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Business Airtel claims $1.5b investments in Nigeria Stories by Adeyemi Adepetun LTHOUGH, it projected to spend about $600 million on its Nigerian arm within five years of taken over Zain’s assets about three years ago, Airtel Nigeria has however, said that the exigencies of the market had allowed it increase the spending to over $1.5 billion (N240 billion).

Besides, Airtel has initiated plans to expand the expenditure further to deepen its services in Nigeria.

However, the telecommuni-

A

. May not bid for 2.3GHz spectrum . Allays fears of job losses in telecoms sector . Sector needs 50, 000 BTS to improve services cations firm said it may not bid for the 2.3GHz broadband spectrum, saying that it will look at other options to expand broadband reach in the country.

Speaking at a media interaction with journalists on Monday in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel

Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, who has spent one year first as the indigenous CEO of the telecommunications firm, said since rebranding from Zain to Airtel about three years ago, Airtel has contributed significantly to the growth recorded in the coun-

try’s telecommunications industry.

Indeed, Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has attracted about $25 billion Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and currently boasts of about 87 per cent teledensity.

The operators in 2013, claimed to have provided mobile coverage to 64 per cent of the population.

Besides, Ogunsanya said the sector must be protected adequately, stressing that as at last year, the industry contributed 8.53 per cent to GDP

from 1.06 per cent some years back.

The Airtel CEO, who allayed fears of job of losses in the sector over mast sales, noted that Airtel is out to create a competitive environment, targeted at expanding ICT frontiers in the country.

On the multi-billion dollar auction for broadband spectrum in Nigeria, Ogunsanya said, “we may not bid for the 2.3GHz spectrum, but we shall explore other options to boost broadband in the country. We are still thinking.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa (left); Country Director of the World Bank, Marie Francoise Marie Nelly; and Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson at the kick off of the Open Data Initiative in Abuja.

NSIA commits $10m to SMEs for agric business HE country’s agricultural T sector development got a boost yesterday, with the announcement by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) through its Nigeria Infrastructure Fund to commit about $10 million to the Fund for Agricultural Financing in Nigeria (FAFIN or The Fund) to aid its growth.

However, NSIA said it would be doing this in partnership with the Nigerian

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (“FMARD”) and KfW, the German government-owned development bank.

NSIA in a statement said the Fund is an innovative initiative, designed to transform the agriculture finance landscape in Nigeria.

“With a $100 million target, FAFIN will provide tailored equity and debt capital and technical support solutions to commercially-viable small

and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and intermediaries across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

“The Fund will be dedicated to catalyzing an agricultureled inclusive economic growth in Nigeria through enhanced agricultural productivity, value-added processing and market linkages.

The $100 million target will be reached through further contributions from private sector investors”, it stated.

NSIA noted that its participation in this initiative is a firm demonstration of its agriculture strategy as one core area of focus alongside power, housing, healthcare, motorways among others.

Stressing that through this strategic act, it hoped to support the realization of the Federal Government’s agriculture transformation agenda and facilitate Nigeria’s food security.

Chief Executive Officer of

NSIA, Uche Orji commented “Agriculture is a sector of strategic importance to the NSIA and an area we see opportunities for significant growth and profit through the facilitation of the enhancement of Nigeria’s critical agriculture infrastructure.”

The statement informed that Sahel Capital, an indigenous agriculture-focused investment and advisory firm, was selected by the Fund Sponsors to be the

Speaking on the perennial issues of quality of service challenges, Ogunsanya reiterated that Airtel and other operators have not stopped investing, stressing that service providers have been installing tools targeted at boosting customers confidence.

According to him, QoS is not about the regulator sanctioning at all times, saying this has not really addressed the challenges, which contributes to the downturns.

“But the challenges in this part of the world are enormous. Operators had to cope daily with vandalism; multiple regulation, legislations; approvals for Right of Ways; power generation problems among others.

“The operators combine share 25,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), we need twice that number. It is not as if we don’t want to expand, but approval to install base stations has remained a challenge. It takes about one to one half years to get approval.

This differs from the encounter you will have with miscreants (Area Boys); Federal, State and Local government officials and host of others. All these limit us. But we are not deterred. We will do our best to improve on what we have now. The investment in BTS is not the issue, but on licensing.”

Contrary to reports that massive job losses loom in the sector over sales of telecommunications mast by some telecommunications firm, including Airtel, Ogunsanya allayed this fear, saying, “Categorically, the fears are not found. For us at Airtel, we have increased the number of employees at our call centres.

In Ibadan, we have over 90O employees and these cuts across other parts of the country where we have our centres. Outsourcing doesn’t lead to job losses. In fact outsourcing has created more jobs.

“Selling of towers doesn’t mean people will lose their jobs, we only want to increase our efficiency in service delivery. Mark my words, no job losses.”

Corroborating Ogunsanya’s views, the Regulatory Affairs Manager, Osondu Nwokoro noted that the telecommunications firm is doing everything possible to meet the growing demands of its subscribers, stressing that the networks are not synergized enough, but more investments will unlock more fortunes in the industry.

Nwokoro informed that Airtel has invested significantly in BTS, transmission capacity and others.

20

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Vehicle manufacturers jostle to take over ANAMMCO

By Taiwo Hassan ERHAPS, motivated by the new automotive policy of the Federal Government, The Guardian yesterday learnt that about three automakers are already jostling to take over the production lines of the moribund Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company, (ANAMMCO), Enugu.

The Chairman of the company Chief Godwin Okeke, however said the organisa-

P

tion is awaiting the final decision of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)’s on the bidders.

He said agreement had been reached on how much should be paid to the former owners to hands off the plant, which previously produced Mercedes Benz trucks and buses.

“We are waiting for BPE to say `pay off’ and the deal is done. We are ready with the money; what is delaying it is BPE approval,’’ he said.

The renowned transporter declined to name the automakers that are involved in the deal, but said they were ready to move in if given the approval.

“Once these people are paid off, two or three companies are ready to move in,’’ he said.

Okeke had last year appealed to the National Automotive Council to intervene in the acquisition process in the spirit of the new automotive policy ini-

tiative of the government.

He said that the former owners of the company were unduly delaying the process.

ANAMMCO is a joint venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Daimler Chrysler AG. Before it became moribund, ANAMMCO manufactured commercial vehicles and led in the commercial vehicle market with five tonnes capacity and above in Nigeria.

House Committee Chairman, Finance and Appropriation, Delta State House of Assembly, Daniel Mayuku (middle); flanked by Chief Taleb Tebete (left); and Daniel Yingi, during the state’s 2014 budget defence in Asaba.

Verdant Zeal acquires majority stake in Ghana, Gambian firms ERDANT Zeal Marketing V Communications Ltd has extended its operations within the West African market as it acquires majority stake holdings in two marketing communication firms – Brands and Products, and Mofix in Ghana and Gambia respectively.

Following the acquisitions, Verdant Zeal will be the first Nigeria indigenous marketing communications company to buy over and own majority stake in other foreign advertising agencies across the African conti-

nent. The acquired Brands and Products; and Mofix will now be known as Verdant Zeal Marketing Communications, Ghana and Verdant Zeal Marketing Communications, Gambia respectively.

Speaking about the acqui-

sition, which saw Verdant Zeal acquire a 60 per cent stake in Brands and Products, Ghana and 70 per cent shareholding in Mofix, Gambia, the Group Managing Director, Verdant Zeal, Tunji Olugbodi noted that “the acquisition

processes,which had been on for about a year, have now been fully consummated. The Nigerian Marketing Communications industry has evolved as a dynamic and vibrant one over the years and we need to break new grounds”.

New ethanol plant hires 8,000 cassava farmers HE new ethanol manufacAmosun, has hired over and indeed the whole of T turing plant, built by Allied 8,000 cassava farmers for its Africa, it will produce cassava Atlantic Distilleries Limited operations in the area. based Extra Neutral Alcohol (AADL), at Igbesa, Ogun State, which was formally commissioned by Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle

The plant is a product of the backward integration policy of government on cassava.

First of its kind in Nigeria

(ENA), otherwise known as ethanol, as it will also supply raw material to distillers, pharmaceutical and other related industries. In addition to the ethanol plant, AADL will produce carbon dioxide (CO2) for use in various industries including the soft drinks Industry.

The Chairman of the company, Ola Rosiji disclosed at the commissioning ceremony that “AADL currently engages over 8,000 farmers in Ogun and Oyo states, providing indirect employment to more than 40,000 people.”

According to him, AADL had earlier expanded its farm support services to farmers through the provision of agronomy package practices, improved variety, seed planting, mechanisation and harvesting support.

He said: “Having pioneered the development of technology and know-how and having proven that cassava can be used to economically produce ENA of international quality standard, we are already in the process of developing other projects which will be located in the cassava production area such as starch, glue and glucose factories. Our aim is to reduce dependence on imported ENA with the resultant saving in foreign exchange, production of jobs in the industrial sector and improving the farmer’s income.”

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 BUSINESS 21

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

BPE initiates measures to monitor privatised power firms

By Roseline Okere HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has initiated measures aimed at monitoring the privatised power companies in the country.

These agreements include share sale and purchase agreements (SSPA), performance agreement (PA), BPE’s post privatisation monitoring template and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s terms and conditions of licensing.

The BPE stated that the Share Sales SSPA clearly spells out the terms and conditions of sale of shares to the investors while the Performance Agreements contain terms of payment and Post

T

Acquisition Plans (PAP) implementation. “It also stipulates clear milestones the investor must achieve within a specified period,” it said.

The Director General of BPE, Benjamin Dikki, pointed out that NERC’s reporting compliance regulations clearly outlines the level of compliance to set standards by the companies and NERC’s license terms and conditions is the document that shows the mandatory requirements for acquiring a license and the violation of the terms will lead to NERC’s withdrawal of the license.

He made this known in a presentation at the 6th Power

NERC partners Brazilian agency on information exchange

By Roseline Okere HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has entered into an agreement with Agencia Nacional de Energia Electrica (ANEEL) of Brazil, to co-operate on information exchange on energy.

The collaboration dates back to 2011 when the National Electrical Energy Agency under the special scheme established by law resolved to partner with the commission in the area of regulation of the electricity sector.

The agreement focuses on organisation and furthering of regulatory bodies, exchange of technical and legal documentation, personnel training, tariff determination, electricity market monitoring and development.

Other objectives are consumer protection issues and surveys, quality standards and renewable energy among others.

In line with the agreement, three members of staff of the commission, nominated from three divisions, Renewable Research Development, Legal and Consumer Affairs, led by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Muhammed Lawal Bello.

Bello disclosed that ANEEL had a comprehensive customer redress mechanism worth emulating, stating: “ANEEL has a very comprehensive mechanism for customer complaints, which encompass mediation, dispute resolution and stakeholder engagement.”

He noted the use of a call centre as one of the network of direct contact with electricity customers.

According to him, “the call

T

AIICO introduces einsurance IICO Insurance Plc has A introduced an online service called AIICO e-insurance.

According to a statement, “this platform will provide the much desired convenience in the purchase and renewal of insurance policies by our customers at the touch of a button. The service will also allow customers to pay premium, manage policies, request for quotes, and report claims online from the comfort of any location with Internet access.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Edwin Igbiti said, “the introduction of the AIICO einsurance platform is part of our quest for service excellence. AIICO is committed to continuously deliver improved service quality and value to our customers.”

centre involves the use of an out sourced agency, which has a dedicated telephone/fax system that receives calls and responds to from customers during workdays from 8 a.m8 p.m.”

He also indentified other avenues such as the use of a mail system, online chat support as well as face-to-face contact amongst other methods, which he revealed was already being practiced in NERC.

Bello the Brazilian electricity sector has achieved 99 per cent electrification of their country, a feat made possible by regulation backed by a good policy environment.

Summit for Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Forum held in Abuja from January 30 – 31, 2014.

He reiterated that compliance monitoring gave the BPE express right to enter and monitor privatised enterprises every six months upon five days notice to the company, adding that it also empowered the Bureau to carry out an audit or review of the business once every six months.

Dikki added that the performance obligations and liquidated damages mandates the purchaser to ensure the company achieves the minimum performance targets, failing which the purchaser shall be made liable to pay liquidated damages for performance below agreed standards.

He noted that the purchaser must comply with Post Acquisition Plan and initial budget, adding that the consent of BPE was required for annual revisions to budgets and plans for first five years and afterwards, BPE would have the veto rights regarding certain expenditures as provided in the reserved matters.

The DG pointed some of the key objectives of the reform and privatisation of the sector as reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria so as to attract new investments through provision of quality and dependable power supply to the economy for industrial, commercial and socio-domestic activities.

22 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 BUSINESS 23

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Ogun, German agency seal pact on rural electrification HE Ogun State Government and the German Agency for International Corporation (GIZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the provision of renewable solar power energy and hydro power in the rural area of the State between now and 2017.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun signed on behalf of the state, while the German ConsulGeneral to Nigeria, Michael Derus signed on behalf of GIZ. The governor described the event as another demonstration of his administration’s resolve to bring sustainable development to the rural areas of the state, saying assess to electricity in the rural areas would go a long

T

way in reducing rural-urban drift within the state.

Amosun recalled that the state government in collaboration with GIZ had earlier implemented a project on pro-poor growth with emphasis on the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises and other value chains.

Welcoming representatives of GIZ earlier, Special Adviser on Governor the to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello said that the desire to give a new lease of life to rural dwellers like their urban counterparts informed the decision of the state government to partner with them, saying the government’s commitment to ensuring even development of the

When installed, the renewable solar power and hydro power device would supply electricity at an affordable rate to drive economic activities which hitherto had been impossible and generally enhance the welfare and lifestyle of dwellers of such rural community state is unwavering.

“When installed, the renewable solar power and hydro power device would supply electricity at an affordable rate to drive economic activities which hitherto had been impossible and generally enhance the welfare and lifestyle of dwellers of such rural community,” she said.

In his presentation, GIZ’s Programme Director, Daniel Werner, indicated that five state’s in the country were captured in a survey under-

taken earlier and that Ogun State was selected because it has over time demonstrated unparallel willingness to enhance the standard of living of its people.

He disclosed that the project had four components which focus on policy reform on-grid renewal energy, energy efficiency, rural electrification and capacity development, saying its pilot would be implemented in two rural areas to be selected by the state government.

‘Marginal fields critical to oil production growth’

By Roseline Okere

DEQUATE development of marginal fields across the country would help the nation to achieve substantial growth in its oil and gas resources, the Managing Director of Seplat Petrolum, Austin Avuru, has said.

Avuru said that marginal fields should be seen as the first step to achieving meaningful indigenous operators participation in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking at the Nigerian Marginal Field Workshop in Lagos on Monday, with the theme: “Changing The Game To Deliver A Producing Asset”, he stressed the need for the federal government to assist marginal field operators in its quest to increase crude oil production in the country.

According to him, a marginal field is exploration plant,

A

which has oil and gas reserves, which have been reported at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and has remained un-produced for a minimum of 10 years.

“Usually marginal fields are portions of the oil blocks given to large companies which contains reserves, but have not been developed due to various reasons, mostly, economic consideration,” he said.

Avuru said that marginal field had recorded huge success, adding that the ability of the indigenous operators to ensure sustainability of Marginal Field’s production becomes paramount.

“Today Marginal Field is recording success, but the question is, in the next 10 years from now how many indigenous producers will still be active in it,” he queried.

24 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

25

Appointments Travails of retired military personnel From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos ETIRED military personnel are officers and men who during their youthful and vibrant days fought gallantly either in the first and second worldwars or in the Nigerian civil war.

They are people who staked their lives for the survival of the country. They committed their youthful energy for the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity. They sacrificed their lives to keep the country united.

They endured “life threatening pains and discomfort in the jungles and swamps” during combat operations. They bore all these pains with “macho p r i d e . ” It is on this note that the former Coordinator of Zone 3 of the Retired Army, Navy, Airforce Officers (RANAO) Association of Nigeria, General Yakubu Rimdan (rtd) spoke with The Guardian, recently in Jos, Plateau State.

The zone comprised Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe states.

Under the present arrangement, the zone has been divided into sub-zones. He is equally the founder of the Plateau State Chapter of RANAO. According to Rimdan, the retired military personnel believe in dialogue and not confrontation.

He explained that as people who served the nation patriotically to the best of their ability, they deserve respect and honour since they are a part of the heroes of the nation. “We, the surviving patriots, are not dead yet and should not be treated as if our continued existence is constituting a nuisance and unnecessary expenses to the nation.”

Rimdan is quarrelling with the federal government over its refusal or failure to pay military pension arrears, saying the issue has been agitating their minds.

He said that military pensioners wanted to believe that any policy matter and any decision that had been promulgated or pronounced by the Head of State of any country was a directive and as such an order which could not be flouted.

According to RANAO boss: “We find it impossible to believe that Nigeria is so poor that it cannot pay the very basic constitutional entitlement of its veterans who have sacrificed their youth in patriotic service to the nation. It is even more painful with the fairly-regular news of doubledigit billions of naira being stolen (including from pension funds) or fund in the private bank accounts of government office holders and keyplaced public servants, almost always with little or token consequences to those caught, tried and found

R

guilty.”

He said: “The government should not pretend to be unaware of the seed it may be sowing by meting out such treatment to the nation’s veterans. Even the serving personnel that are receiving

attention today will instinctively be aware that they could be discarded once they leave service sooner or later. Our heads are bloodied but remain unbowed. We must continue to demand our right even with the last measure of life-force in us.”

He alleged that the federal government is using “smart semantics and bureaucratic” measures to deny them their rightful entitlement, adding: “As they stock money and prepare for the forthcoming election, we are also prepared to protest.

“We cannot be intimidated to keep quiet over our full entitlement. If we get our full entitlement, we will rest in appreciation and gratitude to the nation we have so well served.”

Rimdan also points out the social implication of training energetic young men and women only to dump them.”

To him: “The security and human implication of engaging large numbers of ablebodied young men and women, trained to very high standards of physical ruggedness and courage, committed to military operational tasks, and disengaged even when still in their energetic years are well understood by sane policy makers in any normal nation. That is why governments (of other countries) go the extra miles in efforts to provide post-service benefits to veterans. Nigerian government appears to have an opposite mindset in that respect.”

Rimdan who went down memory lane recalled that before the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, his government had approved increment of pensions for armed forces personnel to 53 per cent, adding that the decision was taken at the highest level, which should be implemented by those who are concerned without hesitation. He pointed out that the approval was in the 2010 appropriation, adding that the payment had not been effected.

In 2011, according to Rimdan, it was captured in the budget

again. “Armed Forces pensioners were duly notified and promised that payment would be made before the end of that year. But to the greatest disappointment of military pensioners, this was not done throughout the year. In 2012, this same very issue was budgeted for. Again it was not implemented. In 2013, 30 per cent which was

just part of the 53 per cent was implemented. We are compelled to wonder what had happened to the balance of 23 per cent when the budget covered the total of 53 per cent!

The total increase that covered the period of July 2010 till now, January 2014 has not been paid to military pensioners.”

He added: “Has Mr. President

rescinded the decision jointly taken by his predecessor? We do not know our fate as regard the non-implementation of our arrears on the one hand and the non-payment of the balance 23 per cent, which we believe ought to have been done by now on the other.”

According to him, worries and agitations among the military pensioners border main-

ly on two problems, noting that a number of them were ageing and dying due to neglect by the federal government.

He added that they had to care for their immediate and extended families, payment of school fees, feeding, medical attention and payment of other bills like water, electricity that their present pensions are inadequate to cover.

Cross section of legioniaries

African Union proposes extraordinary summit on employment

By Yetunde Ebosele PPARENTLY worried by the A ravaging effect of unemployment on the continent, Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is to hold a new Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Eradication, in September this year in Burkina Faso.

The decision to declare plan of action on employment and poverty alleviation was endorsed recently by African leaders who attended the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The proposed extraordinary summit is also expected to set in motion the implementation of the 2004 Ouagadougou declaration.

According to the

International Labour Organisation (ILO), with 10 to 12 million young Africans looking for jobs each year, the objective of the “Ouaga+10” Summit is not only to make a comprehensive review of progress and constraints in the implementation of the 2004 Ouagadougou declaration and Plan of Action but also to consider, revise and propose new policies and programs on employment and poverty alleviation.

“Over the past 10 years, Africa grew by an average of five per cent per year but this rapid rate of growth has not benefited the largest share of the population as youth unemployment remains persistently high in the region.

“Ouaga+10 Summit will therefore aim at adopting a concrete roadmap for the

decade 2014-2024 and develop a common position of African leaders as part of the agenda for the post 2015 development,” said ILO. A statement issued by ILO explained that during the 9th Ordinary Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in April 2013, the Ministers decided to hold in March 2014, a special ministerial meeting and recommended the holding in September 2014, of an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government for stocktaking on the 2004 Ouagadougou declaration and plan of action, ten years after the Ouagadougou summit on employment and poverty alleviation.

The statement said:

“Namibia was chosen to host the special ministerial meeting in March 2014 and Burkina Faso to host, in September 2014, the Extraordinary Summit. This decision was overwhelmingly recommended and supported by Member States of the African Union and by the International Labour Office (ILO).

“The first Ouagadougou Summit of the African Union was held - on the initiative of President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso – in September 2004. The Summit was preceded by a Social Partners’ Forum as well as a ministerial meeting,” ILO added.

Meanwhile, ILO has advised every African country to place employment creation as a central objective of its macroeconomic policies.

26 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

RTEAN to establish drivers’ academy, seeks support for automotive policy From Collins Olayinka, Abuja HE National Road T Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has concluded plans to establish a drivers’ academy where professional drivers would be trained.

This comes as the union expressed its support for the new automotive policy of the federal government.

The Executive National President of the union, Musa Isiwele Shehu, disclosed this in Abuja, recently.

The RTEAN boss submitted that the decision to establish the academy was influenced by the need to curb unprofessionalism that had become the bane of driving profession in the country.

Shehu also urged the federal government to consider granting waivers for transporters to import vehicles before the new automotive policy takes effect, saying the step will generate massive jobs in the transport sector of the economy.

However, he was quick to explain that employers in the road transport sector support the initiative saying the manufacturing sector would also benefit from the policy when it takes effect.

His words: “We support the automotive policy because it will bring development and increase our revenue generation. If you buy a new vehicle, you don’t need to buy spare parts often or visit the mechanics over little problems. So, it is to our own

advantage as a union and we encourage the government to ensure that the policy comes to life.”

Shehu urged government to consider some waivers to enable Nigerians bring in vehicles with ease until when the policy has taken effect.

Speaking on some of his achievements since assuming office, the RTEAN boss said that the union had created numerous job opportunities for graduate youths since he assumed office.

He explained that 24 graduates were employed by the union as an employer of labour at the national secretariat.

He added: “When we came on board, we said we were coming to make a change; we said we will work hard to put food on the table for our members.

That is why we focus on welfare for our members and also equip the secretariat with qualified staff to ensure high quality of our operations.”

Shehu described the lawlessness that is associated with transport workers, saying the union is a peace-loving organisation that abhors violence and arsons.

“We embarked on an aggressive corporate image marketing of RTEAN, enforcement of discipline and to give a new orientation to all members nationwide. Our parks are not about thuggery and that we have been able to prove. In fact, any of our members who smells alcohol or has odour of alcohol in his body would never be allowed to drive.”

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 APPOINTMENTS 27

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Stakeholders seek extension of health scheme

By Wole Oyebade S the six-year developmental programme of Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS2) winds down in the country, the private sector has canvassed for an extension of the programme in its five focal states.

The call was made at the weekend, as the sector, under the aegis of Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), commended the improvement PATHS2 has brought to the structure and functioning of health sector in the country.

The programme, sponsored by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), has also donated N7.6 million worth of drugs to private hospitals in Lagos, to support client services in these facilities, providing about 70 per cent of health service delivery in the s t a t e .

Chairman of the AGPMPN, Lagos Branch, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo told The Guardian that PATHS2 had most positively impacted the healthcare delivery in Lagos, and “if we’d have our way, we will recommend that they have more years to their stay.”

The reason, according to him, was to enhance continuity, adding that both public and private sector were still getting re-positioned for the transformed health system.

Arigbabuwo said: “If they go now, what happens? Have they really finished training

A

the trainers? They thought they have trained us, but are we well equipped to stand on our own?

“I think there must be a weaning stage. There are areas where we really need to catch up with the system development that they have brought and we need some more years to do that,” he said.

Arigbabuwo noted that since the programmed debuted in Nigeria about six years ago, the rate of improvement had been sporadic. “The templates have been set, no doubt, but we need more capacity. If you build the human capacity, that personnel can go and build the structure,” he said.

PATHS2 is a health system strengthening initiative in five pilot states: Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and Lagos. It would be recalled that PATHS2, through its Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) programme, began the distribution of £1.8 million worth of drugs, medical equipment and consumables to Lagos public and selected private hospitals in December 2012.

Arigbabuwo stressed that the private sector plays a crucial role in development of the sector, but often overlooked by development partners in the country.

Continuing, he said: “This is what PATHS2 later realised that focusing on the public sector is like giving all attention to 30 per cent of the healthcare delivery. They approached the private sector and we came into partnership with PATHS2.

“Since then, capacity has been improved, coupled with

drug donations to facilities, which we now give to our

patients for free. Our members are quite excited that PATHS2

realised that private sector also needs support,” he said.

Oyo shortlists YES-O cadets, begins screening From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan HE screening exercise for the shortlisted candidates for the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O) commenced yesterday and would end on Friday, February 7, 2014 at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

A statement issued in Ibadan on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo said that the exercise was part of government’s efforts at reconstituting the scheme, which was dissolved in October 2013 by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The governor had, while announcing the dissolution of the scheme which was inaugurated on December 1, 2011 to serve as a stopgap for the teeming unemployed youth, hinged it on the need for the state government’s drive and quest to re-invigorate it for optimum performance.

According to the statement, candidates from six local government areas of Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Egbeda, Iseyin, Ona-ara and Oluyole will open the screening on Monday, while those from Ibadan South-East, Ibadan North-west, Ibadan South-West, Akinyele, Ido and Afijio Local Government Areas would hold theirs on today.

It would be the turn of candidates from Irepo, Orelope, Ologunsogo, Ori-Ire, Ogbomoso South, Ogbomoso

T

North and Ogo Oluwa council areas on Wednesday, while the screening would be conducted for those from Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Kajola, Iwajowa and Surulere on Thursday.

The screening exercise will be rounded off on Friday with

the candidates from Ibarapa north, Ibarapa South and Ibarapa Central while candidates from Lagelu, Atiba, Oyo West and Oyo East Local Government Areas will be screened at a later date.

The organizers however advised candidates to come

along with their YES-O registration print out.

According to the statement, only candidates who had their names on the shortlisted list released online are eligible for the screening exercise.

Group offers interest free loan in Kwara From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin ROUP known as Kwara G Citizenship Development Initiative (KCDI) has given a sum of N1 million interestfree loan to 50 small-scale business owners in Kwara State.

The first beneficiaries of the loan scheme were from Kwara central, while attention will be shifted to Kwara south and north in the next batch, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of KCDI, Dr. Amuda Aluko has said.

He spoke this in Ilorin, the

state capital at the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries.

Dr. Aluko, who is the Tafida of Ilorin, added,“more programmes in the areas of capacity building and skills acquisition will be made available so as to make the beneficiaries self-reliant and economically viable.

“Today, we proceed with a financial empowerment scheme. This involves the provision of an interest-free loan to 50 small scale business owners across five local councils of Ilorin West, Ilorin

East, Ilorin South, Asa and Moro. This gesture will be extended to other senatorial districts of the state in due course.

“This modest contribution underscores the commitment of the NGO to alleviating poverty or improving the conditions of living of the people, thereby complementing the efforts of government at all levels.”

The BOT chair of KCDI, a medical doctor added that the group conducted free medical services in Ilorin last year.

28

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 29

30

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

31

32 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

33

34 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 35

36 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

37

38 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 39

40 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

41

42 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 43

44

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 45

46

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 BUSUNESS 47

Govt seals $350m power financing pact with GE

By Femi Adekoya HE Federal Government has sealed a $350m power financing deal with General Electric, to support the construction of small-scale power projects across Nigeria.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said, during the signing ceremony in Abuja on Friday that the deal would fast-track the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts towards providing adequate power supply to industrial zones, as well as Small and Medium Enterprises across the country, in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan.

Aganga and his counterpart at the Ministry of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while the Global Chairman, GE, Jeff Immelt, and the Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC, Sola David-Borha; signed on behalf of their organisations. The fund will be managed by Stanbic IBTC Nigeria.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, Aganga said that the new initiative was in furtherance of the ‘Country-to-Company’ partnership between Nigeria and GE in the area of attracting investments into critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The minister said, “We are very excited about what GE is doing in Nigeria. I was truly more excited when last year, the Global Chairman/ CEO of GE, Jeff Immelt and I signed the $1billion commitment to invest in Nigeria. In fact, that commitment became a reality when in June 2013, the ground-breaking took place in Calabar. This is a demonstration that the Country-toCompany partnership between Nigeria and GE in attracting investment into the critical sectors of our economy is on course.

“Today, we are signing the $350million financing deal for small-scale power projects in Nigeria. These small-scale

T

power projects are quicker to do because they can be accomplished within one year. What has happened today is the kind of initiative that we need to drive our economy in terms of providing power to our industrial zones across the country, especially in places like Kano where there are big textile industries, where the cost of production is not as competitive as it should be due to the lack of uninterrupted power supply.”

He added, “Therefore, I am much more excited than anyone else because this initiative is aimed at financing a critical sector that will be a catalyst for our country’s economic development because it will not only support our Small and Medium Enterprises and our Industrial Revolution Plan. Finance is a big constraint for infrastructural development in Nigeria. So, having this in place will address one of the enablers to growing the power sector.

“The interesting thing is that GE is not looking at investing in the power sector alone, but they are also committed to investing in locomotive assembly, establishment of health care and diagnostic centres, and enterprise development. This is why I regard our partnership with GE as a productive Country-toCompany partnership.”

Speaking during the event, the Global Chairman/CEO of GE, Jeff Immelt, said the company’s interest to invest in Nigeria had been bolstered by the power sector privatisation, which he said was one of the most transparent globally.

Immelt said, “GE is a global infrastructure company with businesses in 160 countries around the world. Electricity is one of the great enablers of economic growth and development. First of all, I must commend the Nigerian government because I have visited many countries and I want to say that the privatisation programme in Nigeria is one of the best I have seen.”

Dangote acquires $35m equipment to boost sugar production

By Taiwo Hassan OISED to achieve an estiP mated production of 1.5 million metric tonnes of sugar per annum, Dangote group has acquired $35 million Komatsu construction equipment from the Panafrican Equipment Group.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony in Lagos, the Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries, Graham Clark said the equipment was part of the company’s efforts to achieve 1.5 million metric tonnes of sugar per annum, from locally produced sugarcane in the country.

“This purchase is in line with the Backward Integration Policy (BIP) of the Federal Government of Nigeria and National Sugar Development Council (NSDC). This is another milestone in the Dangote Sugar journey as we work towards our master plan to produce 1.5 million metric tonnes of sugar per

annum, from locally produced sugarcane in Nigeria.”

Group Managing Director, Panafrican Equipment, Scott McCaw, noted that the sale of the equipment was the company’s largest ever within the agricultural sector and in Nigeria.

McCaw noted that apart from the equipment helping Dangote’s operations, it is also a move, in line with the Nigerian transformation agenda to drive growth in the agricultural sector.

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Dangote Sugar as a major supplier for their agricultural expansion project in sugar production in Nigeria.

“We look forward to building on this relationship and being their partner for development in Nigeria now and in the future. As the sale includes a long-term maintenance support and parts supply contract, we fully expect to maintain a critical role in helping Dangote achieve their goals,” he added.

Company Secretary, Techno Oil Limited, Kenneth Onyejiaka (left); Managing Director, Techno Oil, Tony Onyeama; Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji; Deputy Governor, Emeka Amanaba; Executive Vice-Chairman, Techno Oil, Mrs. Nkechi Obi; and the Head, Strategy and Legal, Techno Oil, Kenneth Abazie, during the company’s courtesy visit to Abia State Government.

48

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 49

50 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

51

52

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 53

54

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 55

56 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 57

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWSINTERVIEW

We’re on course in Delta, says SSG Full text of interview of Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, with journalists on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 in Asaba E read with interest W the report about the signing of prisoners’ transfer agreement between Nigeria and United Kingdom and the rumour about the return of our former governor, Chief James Ibori who is also a prisoner there published in front page of Urhobo Vanguard. What is your opinion and what is your position as relates to the implication for Delta politics prior to the election of 2015?

Ibori’s matter is a national issue. So I would not want to tie that to Delta politics. Before the travail started, Ibori had gone beyond Delta politics and no matter the circumstances, it Macaulay will be unfair for anybody to reduce his person; he was there minimize to what extent comfor everybody to use to enter munity issues should affect politics. But most seriously is the fact that there is an agreement which will make it possible for Nigerian people in UK to come home to serve their jail terms, as well as for British citizens to go back to the UK to serve their jail terms in United Kingdom. So, he is just one of them as a victim hence his name is being used to sell the newspapers. He is a big fish. For me, it is not a decision about James Ibori as a person.

Concerning the 16 million-dollar project in Ugborodo community. Now that they have already restored peace in the community and those fighting for the chairmanship of the trust were invited to Abuja, what is expected of the project and what does the government have on ground?

As we talk, the project is not in any way affected. The take-off for that project has not been affected. I was in Abuja with the Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector-General of Police where we invited the community. Fortunately, it is not an issue between Itsekiri and Ijaw or Ijaw and Urhobo or whatever. It is purely an Ugborodo matter – a family affair. And as I talk to you, I have started consultations with the various factions. Tomorrow, I want to discuss with the second faction.

By Sunday, the full sitting will start. But in the interim, the company, Julius Berger, was asked to go back to work and both parties agreed that nobody will do anything to affect the continuation of the job. The community has agreed that the project must take place. Of course, it is a project that is beyond Itsekiri as a nation, it’s beyond Delta State.

It is the largest gas project in Africa. So it is not a project that only one community can say no, it should not take place.

But at the same time, as a government that is very responsible, we will want to do what is needful to the community. To me, I do not even see the crisis the way it is being magnified.

Even as we are seated here now, if you just throw one million here now, all of us will not leave here the way we came not to talk of a project of 16 million dollars. I am not a mathematician so I will not be able to translate it into naira. You know what that is, trillions of naira for a small community like Ugborodo. Of course what is due the community alone is enough to cause crisis. And you know in this country, we lack leadership. Having said that, we are doing everything to

the project. That is why we have an undertaking that no matter what the community insists on, the job must be allowed to continue. So that is where we are.

As follow up of the Ugborodo issue, there is an allegation that the government is supporting some of those who are fueling the crises in that community?

Well, you said it is an allegation. When there are issues like this, people must put blames.

Those parties accusing government; some are saying the Government did not take a decision when it ought to have taken a decision. Some are saying it is the government fueling the crisis. But the question I ask is why is why did you start

the crisis at all? Were you peaceful and then the government just came and started fueling it, if at all it’s true that government is fuelling the crisis? Which responsible government will want to fuel crisis and start to manage the crisis? I abandoned my job here as a secretary to the government and travelled to Abuja for a whole one week. Is it for my interest or for the interest of the state? Is it the governor who is not having sleep that will want to create crisis and start managing it? As you can see, that was totally a lie and they could not substantiate it and I think, and I believe and I will emphasize that there is no truth in it. Government is only trying to mediate to minimize

the problem. But like I said, from my consultations with the parties, there is a headway.

Kokori community is still under military siege. Why is that?

The governor has emphasized and reiterated it repeatedly that for as long as the Kokori community continues to harbour criminals, the military will remain there to do the needful. Kokori community is not the largest community in this state and it is not the richest in the state. Government has nothing to gain by putting the military there. Instead, government is losing money because the military is not there free of charge; we pay for their upkeep. We pay all the logistic bills. But one of the

duties of the state government, or any government as you know, is to make sure that lives and properties are secured. And if there is threat to lives and properties, like you know, you report cases of people being kidnapped; is it a thing of pride that the king of kidnappers in Nigeria is a Kokori man? Is that what you want to put in your CV? And for me, I think the Kokori indigenes themselves by now, like is traditional in our society, should have come out in one voice, not just to condemn the act of some of their children, but to bring them out.

Immediately they bring them out, of course the military will

CONTINUE ON PAGE 59

58 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

InsideTax

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 59

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

We’re on course in Delta (1) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57 leave there, then, hand them over to security agencies.

I believe that if they can kidnap a 75-year-old man, if they can kidnap 82-year-old woman; if they can cut the finger of a human being and post it to his people, it is one of the worst crimes one can commit. If they can kill, what sympathy do they deserve? You are al witnesses of these atrocities.

Nobody is in the struggle more than myself. When we talk of struggles, struggles are based on principles and none of them includes taking another person’s life. I have spent 20 years of my life in service in this country before I was invited to government and till today, I am still struggling to make sure that there is peace, there is fairness and there is justice anywhere. Those are the principles of struggles. What is the principle behind this struggle of killing people, kidnapping people, wasting lives, depriving investors of coming to the state and you say there are no jobs? So, I really don’t understand what people are saying that there is military siege in Kokori; what else will be there?

It was becoming a national scandal, not just state. You forget that a Supreme Court Justice’s wife and child were kidnapped by this same group of people. What cn be more scandalous than that? What is our pain about what is happening in Kokori? Our pain is in the lives that these people have consumed -innocent lives and journalists are putting editorials and stories condemning the presence of the Military in kidnappers’ den. I think we are losing our focus, if we continue on that struggle.

In 16 months or less, this administration will be over and there are still projects not completed especially the Ughelli-Asaba dualization road and the Sapele-Abigborodo road. What assurance do we have that the projects will not be left for the next administration?

If we finish all projects, we finish the issues of development, there will be no government again. This government will do the much that it can do. Just as the present government inherited projects and continued with those projects and has completed some of them, so also it initiated its own projects; it cannot complete all the projects. Even in this year budget, 2014 budget, projects are being thrown up; and these are not “kekerebu” projects.

These projects cannot be completed in 12 months. Of course the budget will come out may be April and we have barely 12 months to go. So, we are not putting down these projects so that we must complete them but we will endeavor to fast track them to complete as many as we can. So anyone that we cannot complete, what is important is that the next administration should be able to take off from there. And the projects we are talking about are projects that nobody can say forget it. The Ughelli Road dualization, I’m very sure that if not completed, at least 70 to 80 per cent would be completed. That I know because the Ughelli end of it has been terminated and a different con-

tractor has moved in and I pass there every other week and they are working according to schedule. The middle section is sector B; they are going into the other part of it. You know that is the area the flood of 2012 affected; they are now working, if not that 2012 flood, by now it would have been completed.

The Ode-Itsekiri Road project, you know every day, there are additions to the initial concept just to make room for areas that were not taken care of and to make sure that tomorrow, we don’t go back to that project. Now and again, the project is reviewed as issues come up.

So I don’t have any doubt, if you begin a great project, you know for everything there are additions to the initial concept, just to make room for areas

that were not even heard of in the initial plan and tomorrow we don’t want to go back to that project; so it’s being reviewed every now and then as issues come up. The second Niger Bridge that was conceived when I was still in the secondary school has not yet taken off.

Orokpor/ Igboro bridge is very bad.

Is it that the road has not been rehabilitated because I know at the point a project is taking off, we put a contract signboard to explain the details. Tomorrow, I will direct you to see Comrade Igbiye because that is his area. I know he is from Agbarho; go and ask him. Go and confront him with it, he should be able to give account.

As a follow-up on the issue of

projects, I understand what you have explained about projects initiated by this administration. What about the projects that this administration inherited such as the Asaba Township Stadium?

The Asaba township stadium work has not stopped. Don’t forget at a stage there was litigation on that project.

Anthonini and state government had some issues but today, the contract has been terminated and the job is going on. I am aware that contract was started by the previous contractor and today, another contractor is moving into the place. No job, no project inherited by this government has been abandoned.

I want you to talk on this Delta Beyond Oil initiative. What is

the strategy of Delta Beyond Oil? I thought that by now we can all speak on Delta Beyond Oil. The strategy is in line with the plan of the government. It concerns building infrastructure, building projects that will sustain this state when oil is no more there; which will also open the hinterland to the rest of the society and the world. You will be able to bring produce from the farms and it will attract investors to that area. The Ughelli-Asaba dualization of course is tied to the East-West Road. In other words, you will import your goods through the Warri Port, and from Warri, of course there are trailers to bring them down to Asaba here, taking advantage of the dualized

road. It’s part of that dream. The new gas plant being sited at Ugborodo is part of that dream.

The Koko Free Trade zone is part of that dream. The Asaba Airport is part of that dream. It is an amalgamation of many projects that can sustain this state in the absence of oil. The first successful kidney transplant in Africa was conducted in Oghara Teaching Hospital.

That is a major achievement.

Ughelli-Asaba road is not a state road but federal. This government is dualising it because it will help commerce in the state. We have built schools and given out numerous scholarships. If our governor was the type that likes to receive awards, he would have collected countless ones.

TO BE CONTINUED

60

NEWS EXTRA Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Two remanded over N2.1m alleged fraud

Group, police differ on arrest of suspects in Edo community attack

By Tolulope Okunlola

By Bertram Nwannekanma

N Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a man and woman in prison for allegedly blackmailing a cleric and defrauding him of N2.15 million.

The accused, Makanhuola Ologunji (50) and Latifat Balogun (54) both of Akowonjo area of Lagos, are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, assault, threatening violence, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

The prosecutor, ASP Nicholas Atumonye, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 13, 2013, at No. 11 Shagari Estate, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb.

He said the accused conspired with others now at large to assault one Adewoye Iranloye by forcefully pulling off his clothes and taking nude photographs of him.

He said the accused threatened to publish cleric’s nude pictures and unlawfully obtained N2.15 million from him to prevent the publication of the pictures.

A

ITING mischief, youths in C Okhuoromi community in Oredo Council of Edo State yesterday faulted the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, for disregarding the state Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) advice to arrest known suspects in the recent invasion of the town, which led to the death of two persons and the destruction of property.

However, the police faulted the group’s position, saying

they doubted if such order was issued.

Alleging complicity on the part of the police, the youth leader, Ewuare Erese, alleged that some of the masterminds listed in the DPP’s advice still roam freely in broad daylight, thereby posing terror in Okhuoromi community and its environs.

The DPP had in the legal advice marked CR: 988/2013 and dated January 8, 2014, sought the arrest and prosecution of one Joshua Edo Okhuere, Irowere Emevbose

(a.k.a) “Eboh”, Osamuyi, Rufus Igbinovia (a.k.a) “Dogo” and other fleeing suspects.

The advice was signed by G.A. Egbemhonkhaye on behalf of the DPP and addressed to the Commissioner of Police.

But Erese claimed: “The police have declined to enforce the advice and thereby flouted a directive from the chambers of the DPP of the state Ministry of Justice.

According to the document made available to The Guardian yesterday with a reference No. 01/S.7061/17 and

charge Nos. MOR /623C/2013 and MOR/634C/2013, it stated thus: “I am directed to refer to a letter dated November 22, 2013, from the Oredo Magistrate’s Court with Ref. No: MOR/21/348 with which the duplicate case file on the above subject matter was forwarded to this office and to inform you that after a careful study of the facts contained in the duplicate case file, this office is of the opinion that a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder and arson is out against

Renowned photographer, Ojeikere, dies at 83

By Tajudeen Sowole ENOWNED portrait and R documentary photographer, J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, aged 83, is dead.

According to his family’s spokesperson, Ehiz Ojeikere, the photographer passed on in Lagos on February 2, 2014, during a brief illness.

Born in 1930, in OvbiomuEmai village, Owan-East Local Council Area of Edo State, Ojeikere, was trained by a local photographer, Albert Anieke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Between mid-1950s and 1961, he was a photographer with the then Ministry of Information, Western Region and Africa’s premiere television station, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Ibadan.

After working for government, he took up another job as chief commercial photographer and head of photography department at Lintas Limited (now Lowe Lintas).

And after leaving Lintas in 1975, he set up Studio Foto Ojeikere.

As one of the most exhibited African photographers, within and outside the continent, Ojeikere has been documented in J. D. Okhai Ojeikere: Photographs, a book on African hairstyles and culture authored by a French curator, Andre Magrin, Among his international outings was a tour exhibition held as Nigerian Traditional Hairstyle at Goethe Institute, Lagos, 1999 and as Hairstyles at Wedge Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2002; Blaffer Gallery, Houston, U.S., 2005; Maison de France, Lagos 2005.

Ojeikere

Chairman, Zungeru Community Relations Committee on Hydroelectric Power Project, Alhaji Isa Jibrin (left); Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godsknows Igali, during the inauguration of the committee at the Ministry of Power in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

the suspect: Ovbokhan Iginovia.

“However, no prima facie case is made against Eware Erase, Omorogbe Igbinidu and Osato Osifo; they should be released if still in custody.

“I am further directed to request you to arrest and interrogate the following persons: Joshua Edo Okhuere, Irowere Emevbose (a.k.a.) “Eboh, Osamuyi, Rufus Igbinovia (a.k.a) “Dogo” and other fleeing suspects”, the DPP advised.

Erese disclosed that these individuals masterminded the attack on Okhuoromi community where two lives were lost, over 18 vehicles and several houses were razed including his property in a nearby community of Amagba.

“I am overwhelmingly surprised that following the legal advice by the DPP, the Edo State Police Command has declined to make any arrest.

These individuals still roam about in broad daylight posing threat to our lives and residence of Okhuoromi community.

“The police had flouted the DPP’s advice without any arrest; the police flouted the DPP’s advice as with persons still go about unleashing terror and distorting the existing peace in Okhuoromi community”, he added.

But Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Moses Eguavoen, in reaction, said he could not give a categorical statement on the matter as he did not know if such order was issued.

Zungeru Power Plant project in progress, says Nebo

From Bertram Nwannekanma (Lagos) and Emeka Anuforo (Abuja) CHERRY disclosure came yesterday that the construction of the 700 Mega Watts Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project flagged off by President Goodluck Jonathan in May last year, has advanced.

And to facilitate the settlement of communities and those to be affected by the project, the Federal Government yesterday raised a community relations committee.

Meanwhile, the Social and

A

• Govt raises compensation panel, denies cost hike • Right group sues Ikeja Disco over outage Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC) has dragged the Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) before a Lagos High Court over alleged epileptic power supply to residents in the state.

Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, said in Abuja yesterday that following the execution of the China Exim Bank loan for the project, the project had commenced in earnest.

He said the construction design and drawings, contractor’s camp facilities, topographic survey/drilling works, exploration for construction materials, sub-surface investigations, crushing and batching plants and site clinic, have all been completed.

He noted that the diversion of the river would commence this year while action was being expedited in the resettlement of persons to be

Court rules on competence of Fani-Kayode’s trial Feb 10

By Joseph Onyekwere the accused, his counsel, Mr. then ruled that both parties FEDERAL High Court, Lagos, yesterday said it would on February 10, 2014, rule on the competence of a criminal charge filed against former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an amended 47-count charge bordering on money laundering.

When the case was called yesterday, Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia said she would deliver her ruling on a subsequent date, because counsel in the suit had filed their written submissions out of time.

She, therefore, said she required time to rule on the issue and fixed February 10.

At the last adjourned date on January 27, the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, informed the court of an amended charge containing 40 counts and applied that the plea of the accused be taken.

After count-one was read to

A

Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), raised an objection, arguing that the accused cannot plead to charge since it was invalid.

Adedipe argued that countone states that the accused “accepted cash payments of over N10 million” without stating the donor of the said money.

He stressed that it was alleged throughout the charge that the accused “accepted various sums of money without mentioning the names of the person from whom the monies were received.

He had, therefore, submitted that the charge was invalid, persecutory and oppressive.

Keyamo in response, argued that the charges bordered on money-laundering in which monies involved has no source, as opposed to conversion or stealing, where there is a particular source.

He, therefore, submitted that he was prepared to file a written address on the issue.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had

were at liberty to either file written addresses or address the court orally on the issue.

She had, however, added that the addresses should be filed two days from January 27.

Fani-Kayode was re-arraigned on February 11, 2013, on an amended 47-count charge.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail.

In the charge, the accused was alleged to have transacted with funds exceeding N500,000 without going through a financial institution.

The accused was also alleged to have accepted cash payments in the tune of about N100 million while he held sway as Minister of Aviation and Minister of Culture and Tourism respectively.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 15(1) (a) (b) (c) (d) and 15 (2) (a) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

affected by the project.

Among other things, the committee will liaise with all stakeholders to ensure transparency during the payment of compensation and resettlement of the affected persons.

Nebo said at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja: “The ministry has worked closely with qualified valuation consultants to conduct the enumeration and valuation of persons, property and economic trees affected by the project. The valuation report indicates that a total of 22,100 persons, 15,958 farmlands and 6,762 property domiciled in 98 communities would be impacted by the project. This is not unexpected in a project of this magnitude. The ministry has accordingly developed a strategy of ensuring that the environmental and social risks of the project are managed in accordance with the Equator Principles as adopted by the international commu-

nity.

He stressed that though the Niger State government had already constituted a high level committee for the resolution of all community-related issues that may arise from the execution of the project, the Federal Government Community Relations Committee would work to ensure a smooth and timely completion of the project.

The minister also used the opportunity of the inauguration to refute a media report (not The Guardian), which described the project cost as inflated.

The committee is chaired by Alhaji Isah Jibrin and draws membership from the Nigeria Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the local governments around the project site, the Minna Emirate and neighboring emirates, the Niger State government, Ministry of Education, among others.

Imo partners agency on community health From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri O reduce maternal death, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and nutritional cases, Imo State government yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States funded Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS).

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Edward Ihejirika, signed on behalf of the state government while the Executive Director of ECEWS, Mr. Andy Eyo, signed for his agency.

The pro-

T

gramme will cover the six councils in Okigwe zone.

Speaking after signing the document, Ihejirika said the ECWS, as a new partner, would complement and collaborate the efforts of the Clinical Care and Rescue in Nigeria of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC provides services for Orlu and Owerri zones.

He also advised the two agencies to attend to women in the health challenge category and assured them of the state government’s support.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 61

INTERVIEW

Integrative medicine is solution to poor health outcomes in Nigeria, says Familoni Dr Damilola Familoni is a United States Board certified naturopathic medical doctor, acupuncturist and nutritionist.

Damilola graduated from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut United States of America (USA) with a Doctorate in Naturopathic medicine, MSc in Nutrition and Acupuncture. She spoke to The Guardian on how integrative medicine could be applied to improve health outcomes in the country.

CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes. Excerpts: Natural medicine has been hailed as the future of medicine. What is your take on this assertion?

ATURAL medicine is actually the future of medicine. Right now in America, it is actually becoming less alternative medicine and more of go to medicine that the conventional medicine. What we seen in America is that natural medicine saves a lot of healthcare cost, it prevents people from getting sicker, it helps motivate younger people to go into the wellness sector. There is a huge motivation now to be well and there is a huge following now on anybody that is practicing wellness.

There is a paradigm shift now that is occurring with people going into wellness. Even little things like fitness centres are opening up in various places. In Nigeria now, you just drive across the street you can see a lot of gyms, a lot of fitness centres, you can see people doing nutrition and all kinds of things. So we can see in our neighbourhood that there is this paradigm shift. The shift is actually coming from the patients themselves. The patients are the ones requesting for these therapies. So I feel we as practitioners need to meet the patients where they are which is being educated and being able to provide this type of medicine when it is requested.

Another big issue in the country is that of poor health indices. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria is ranked 187th out of 194 member nations. What does natural medicine hold in terms of trying to reverse the trend and boost life expectancy in the country?

With the WHO statistics the top countries that are rated number one and two are countries like France, Italy and Spain. Those are the countries that have been rated to have the best health outcomes. United States of America where I got my training is rated number 37 even though we spend more per capita than any other country on healthcare. So I will say the solution, which has been pushed around is really not the key and that is pump more money into the healthcare industry. You can take America as an example of that not working because America has the most expensive healthcare system yet we are number 37, even little countries like Cuba are higher than us in terms of healthcare.

So what we need to do is to follow the way Spain, France and Italy have taken. From my little research on these countries they do a lot of prevention and a lot of wellness. Within their healthcare system they make sure their patients see somebody that is very vast in nutrition, somebody that is very vast in lifestyle changes. It can even be as little as how many alcohol intake should you have in a day, per week? A lot of people don’t have that information. They just consume too much of a certain group that they should not eat. There is something new going on in America; it is called a Healthy Plate where they teach you what amount of carbohydrate versus protein, versus vegetables should be on a plate when you are eating. I can give you an example, for a diabetic patient, they are normally advised to stay away from carbohydrate because of the sugar content.

So for diabetic patient, the advice given is that if you are going to eat carbohydrate that is not more than the palm of your hands. But how many diabetic patients now this, they don’t know that because even we as practitioners are not educated on that to even teach the patients. That is where I think that practitioners can come into helping the healthcare system and also reducing mortality in our patients. I was reading an article by WHO published a while ago on maybe one of the latest statistics they have on Nigeria.

Right now WHO says about two million people died in 2005 and out of that about

N

Familoni 140,000 died of a chronic disease. When they looked further into the statistics, they saw that of those chronic diseases about 40 per cent died of diabetes alone. They extrapolated the results to ten years later and they were saying that we are going to see increase in death of patients that have high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic diseases increase by 26 per cent.

Basically how do intend to apply this branch of medicine or this knowledge to address these issues?

I have a company called Healthylifestarts Basically what we use is that we integrate natural medicine modalities with pharmaceuticals and other conventional medications. The reason why we do this is that from my experience as a health administrator I have seen that the best form of medicine is team-based medicine.

This is medicine that people can come together; different practitioners from different fields can come together and look for the best solution for a patient. That solution is what I have found to be what is called integrative medicine, which is the use of conventional medicine alongside other complementary and alternative modalities. So that is the solution I am trying to bring to the corporate world as a start.

I feel that most people in the corporate world once they get that knowledge they can transfer it to their family members, they can transfer it to their children, they can transfer it to their spouses. So I think that corporations, schools, churches are really the places to start. Schools definitely to catch them at younger age, offices definitely to catch busy adults while they are there and basically just teach them simple lifestyle changes that can help impact their health very well; do physical exams on them.

Let them know what their blood pressures are, let them know what their blood sugar readings are and from there they get treatment and from there their productivity increases and the company profit increases and everybody benefits. So it is a win-win situation for everybody.

How does Healthylifestarts go about reaching out to Nigerians?

We are a medical company that provides services, which includes nutritional counseling, pharmaceuticals, physical medicine, Chinese medicine, and weight loss management. We focus on supporting health naturally and encourage patients’ to be empowered with their own healing. We wish to create lifelong health and prevent chronic disease by inducing health one patient at a time. We have a special interest in serving anyone from infancy to the elderly, in their homes, places of work, places of worship and schools. We focus on cardiovascular health, chronic diseases like hypertension, arthritis and diabetes, women’s health, Men’s health, pediatric services, pain management, weight loss and elder care.

This wellness concept, what is it all about?

Naturopathic schools take pride in training students, not only to be adequate primary care physicians but also to learn how to globally

integrate Naturopathic medicine modalities in a safe and effective manner into the conventional medicine model. In 1983 the WHO recommended the integration of Naturopathic medicine into the conventional health care systems. In response to these initiatives and the rising cost and prevalence of chronic illness, health promotion and disease prevention programmes have proliferated over the past 30 years. The U.S. public health system, guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leads in prevention efforts, funding prevention research, and partnering with communities, worksites and private organizations. These changes are coming into effect because of the emerging awareness that people are becoming more obese, more sedentary, and less healthy despite the increased technological advances and costs.

Naturopathic physicians are taught to prescribe a combination of drugs, botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets and stress-management techniques that have been shown in numerous research studies to alter the development and progression of chronic disease. Most chronic illnesses are multifactorial, they do not develop based on a single factor but on the complex interactions of several processes.

The heterogeneity, complexity, and chronicity of most diseases pose many challenges that Naturopathic medicine is well designed to meet since it focuses more on the mechanisms of diseases as imbalances, defects or alterations in human physiology.

Many researchers and clinicians have identified many diseases like arthritis, lupus, autism, diabetes and many more as consisting of varying symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations, toxicities, neurotransmitter imbalances, cellular oxidation-reduction imbalances and problems with energy metabolism in cells. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability, with nearly 19 million people reporting activity limitations. Diabetes continues to be the leading cause of kidney failure, non-traumatic lower-extremity amputations, and blindness among adults, aged 20 years to 74. Naturopathic physicians treat these patients by taking into account the individual responses, which may be altered by toxins, immune system regulation, cellular inflammation, and alterations in cellular membrane and function. Even though none of these abnormalities are clearly unique to every disease, they impact the functioning of the patient and their response to drug therapy.

How about the Corporate Wellness concept?

The State of Vermont, USA, has benefited tremendously from the use of naturopathic modalities to reduce state health care spending. These savings were demonstrated in a 2005 wellness program put together by a naturopathic medical doctor named Bernie Noe. He and his staff conduced biometric screening and developed individualized health risks appraisals (HRA) for the employees of the Vermont’s automobile dealers association (VADA).

In 2006, Dr Noe conducted another health screening for VADA employees. The event was attended by 848 employees held at 60 locations and again included the biometric screening and HRA. In analyzing the screening information for the period year 2006 vs. 2005 he found a 36 percent reduction in the incidence of high blood pressure, 35 percent decreased risk for multiple cardiovascular diseases, 24 percent decrease in highrisk stress, 17 percent decrease in high cholesterol and 15 percent decrease in obesity. There was also significant financial savings within the one year period totaling $315,817 for direct health care savings and an indirect savings of $1,143,657, with a combined direct and indirect saving of $1,456,474. Based on the financial and clinical results Noe found, VADA approved the second phase. Recognizing that high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease were VADA’s most costly employee health conditions, Noe proposed that individuals with these conditions be allowed to receive care from a naturopathic physician. In July 2006 the pilot programme set up as an outcomes study was implemented with a network of 15 participating naturopathic physicians.

To further consider the cost effectiveness of Integrative programmes, company wellness programs can offer a good framework.

Rather than simply cutting benefits or shifting costs to employees, more companies today are starting worksite wellness programsme as a way of controlling high healthcare costs.

You say you are a naturopathic doctor (ND)?

What is that?”

The US Department of Labor defines Naturopathic Medicine as a system of practices, which diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases using the natural healing capacity of individuals. We may use physiological, psychological or mechanical methods. May also use natural medicines, prescription or legend drugs, foods, herbs, or other natural remedies. These practitioners receive education that is on par with their conventional medical peers (Occupational Information network, 2009).

Both the Department of Education and the Carnegie Institute classify the ND degree as a First-Professional Degree under the Clinical Doctorate Profession on par with MD and DO. Education and training requirements for all licensed physicians require successful completion at one of the five four-year graduate-level naturopathic medical schools.

The Council of Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), a programmatic accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education, accredits all Naturopathic Medical Schools in the country. The regional accrediting authorities recognized by the State also accredit each one of the schools. The standards for naturopathic medicine are on par with that of conventional medicine. Like the Liaison Committee on Medical Education who accredits for MD programs, the U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes the CNME. The CNME was most recently re-recognized by the Secretary of Education in February 2011 for a term of five years, the maximum allowable term.

Naturopathic medicine is a system of medicine that is based on the healing power of nature. These practitioners focus on the ability for the body to heal itself and on empowering individuals to live healthy lifestyles. NDs treat illness but they tend to focus more on the prevention of illness and the education of their patients. These practitioners are not only involved in knowing the patient, but are interested in knowing the patients’ family and living conditions. They reason that there are several aspects that could contribute to a patient’s illness, such as family members, stress, living conditions and personal habits.

What is the difference between Naturopathic Doctors and Naturopaths?

Remember, naturopathic doctors go to real medical school. We take real board exams. Our medicine works, and what we do is becoming less “alternative” and more “conventional” everyday. Naturopathic physicians are trained to investigate the nature of a disease by delving into the family history, childhood and work history of the patient. They take their time to really understand the pathogenesis of a particular chronic disease based on an individualized approach. They undergo intense training in biochemistry, pathology, immunology, embryology, neurology, environmental medicine, pharmacology and the rest of the basic and clinical sciences. In their last two years of schooling, they undergo intense specialized training in integrative therapies that have contents suitable to a residency program. Internal surveys show that naturopaths spend, on average, approximately 45 to 60 minutes with new patients and 30 minutes with established patients per visit. This amount of time is necessary in a holistic practice and leads to a more patient-centered approach and more physician satisfaction.

Naturopathic Medical Doctors (NMDs) in large part are practicing as primary care providers, but some go on to specializations with residencies and fellowships in certain specialties. The Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) is one of such specialty. It was founded to bring naturopathic doctors into standard medical oncology practices through a seamless integration. To achieve this, the organization has created a credentialing process to assure a level of expertise in naturopathic oncology. Naturopathic physicians who meet standards representative of advanced experience and knowledge in cancer care are eligible for board certification and credentialing as a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology. Other recognized professional organizations include the American College of Naturopathic Obstetricians, the Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injection, the Naturopathic Association of Environmental Medicine, and the Pediatric

62 Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

63

64

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 03-02-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

MARKET INDICATORS

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 CAPITAL MARKET 65

AS AT 03-02-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

NSE market capitalisation rises by 1.96 per cent

By Bukky Olajide qUITY transactions opened for the week in an upward trend with the market capitalisation growing by 1.96 per cent.

The All-Shares Index rose by 794.8 points or 1.96 per cent, to close higher at 41,366.42, against the 40,571.62 recorded on Jan. 31.

Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N13.005 trillion, appreciated by N255 billion or 1.96 per cent to close at N13.260 trillion.

Market turnover closes positive as volume traded appreciated by 15.77 percent against -0.13 percent declines recorded in previous session.

For sectoral indices, NSE Oil records 5.16 percent to top the sectoral performance among others while NSE IND is the worst hit with -0.22 percent loss recorded yesterday.

For corporate earnings, Flourmill, in its q3 ’13 earnings report, records positive growth of +29.8 percent in its Revenue with negative growth of -27.4 percent in its bottom-line.

An analysis of the price movement chart indicated that Forte Oil recorded the highest gain to lead the gainers table

by N9.20, to close at N99.40 per share.

It was followed by Dangote Cement

E

with a gain of N8.81, to close at N243.30 per share.

Nestle appreciated by N5 to close at N1,130, while Julius Berger gained N2 to close at N71 per share.

Conversely, TOTAL Plc topped the losers’ chart, losing N9 to close at N171 per share.

Lafarge Wapco trailed with a loss of N7 to close at N107 per share.

Flour Mills depreciated by N1 to close at N87, while Stanbic IBTC lost 50k to close at N20.50 per share.

In all, the volume of shares traded increased by 15.77 per cent with an exchange of 396.955 million shares worth N5.45 billion, traded in 5,446 deals.

This was in contrast to the 342.886 million shares valued at N4.35 billion, traded in 5,401 deals on Friday.

Transcorp emerged the most traded stock with 92.16 million shares valued at N390.15 million in 484 deals.

It was followed by Zenith Bank with 74.47 million shares worth N1.73 billion in 342 deals, while FBN Holdings accounted for 27.79 million shares valued at N409.47 million in 588 deals.

Similarly, Diamond Bank sold 22.64 million shares valued at N152.87 million, traded in 136 deals.

Forte oil records N128b revenue, N5 b profit last year Raysun acquires 57 percent stake in Champion Breweries

By Helen Oji

ORTE Oil Plc (formerly AP Plc) has postFoperations, ed revenue of N128 billion in its 2013 against N91 billion achieved in

What Happened?

The NSE All-Share index gained by 141bps (1.41%) and closed at 41.366.42. This represents a year-to-date performance of 0.09%. Market Capitalisation also appreciated 1.41% to close at N13.260trillion. Total value traded increased 86.77% to N 5.44 billion and total volume traded increased 53.45% to 396.96 million units.

Where?

At the close of trading, the banking sector represented 64.16% of the total market value traded, while the breweries sector represented 8.34% The Top 5 stocks as a % of total market value traded were: ZENITHBANK (31.92%), GUARANTY (8.94%), FBNH (7.51%), TRANSCORP (7.16%) and ETI (5.88%).

On a volume basis, the Top 5 most traded stocks for the day were: TRANSCORP (92.20m), ZENITHBANK (74.47m), FBNH (27.79m), DIAMONDBANK (22.64m) and ETI (21.61m)

2012.

Specifically, the company’s performance for the financial period ended December 31, 2013, showed a revenue of N128 billion, higher than N91 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2012, while profit after tax rose to N5.00 billion from N1.01 billion achieved in 2012.

The company’s profit before income tax also increased from N1.15billion to N6.52 billion during the year under review while earning per share stood at N4.32 compared to N0.93 posted in 2012.

According to the company, the per centage increase in revenue was 41 per cent, while profit after tax and earnings per share grew by 397 and 365 per cent.

Based on the improved performance, the directors of the company are proposing a dividend of N4.31 billion, culminating to N4 per share due to every shareholder of the company.

The company attributed the improved performance to capital reorganization to offset accumulated losses of more than N55.98 billion against share premium, as well as its successful diversification into Nigeria’s power sector with the acquisition of 414MW Geregu power plant under the FGN-led privatization programme.

Other factors include the introduction of new synthetic lubricant - synth10000 and re-packaging of its entire lubricants range to offer customers additional value, improved and optimised logistics across its entire distribution network, streamlined business processes to improve overall business efficiency and enhance superior customer service delivery among others.

Commenting on the performance, the Group Chief Financial Officer of the company, Julius Omodayo-Owotuga said: “We closed 2013 with a 41per cent, 467per cent and 365per cent growth in revenue, profit before taxes and earnings per share respectively. These growths are by-products of a well executed business transformation strategy in the last 24 months covering corporate governance, risk management and controls, business revitalization, development and expansion.

“Our 2013 PBT of NGN6.52bn is a clear demonstration that Forte Oil Plc is on a clear path to dominate our primary mar-

ket; the downstream petroleum marketing sector. Our capital reorganization approved by our esteemed shareholders during the year, has also put us in a position to continually guarantee distribution to our shareholders without jeopardizing growth opportunities. We shall continue to pursue initiatives that spur business growth and efficiency, liquidity management and aggressive diversification into related high margin business that would continue to increase shareholder value and distributions on an annual basis.

“We consolidated the operations of our newly acquired power plant in the 2013 financial statement and we expect this subsidiary to be our major growth driver going forward. Our unflinching commitment to financial and business disclosures has resulted in the filing of our audited December 2013 financial statements in the month of January 2014 which we now understand has set a 50year record on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. If you may recall, we were and still is the first company to present audited half year results in the downstream petroleum sector. The timely presentation of our financial is hinged on our drive to create value to the ultimate benefit of the investment community.”

Meanwhile Consolidated Breweries Plc has completed the sale of 513,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in Champion Breweries Plc to Raysun Nigeria Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heineken International BV. Following the approvals of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), as well as completion of all conditions precedents, the transaction, according to a release from the company was successfully implemented with the crossing of the shares in Champion Breweries from Consolidated Breweries to Raysun on the floor of the NSE on 28 January 2014 with Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited as adviser on the transaction.The Managing Director of the company, Boudewijn Haarsma said: “As a result, Raysun now owns a 57 percent equity stake in the total issued share capital of Champion Breweries” The shareholders of Consolidated Breweries had previously approved the transaction at Consolidated Breweries’ Extraordinary General Meeting held on 23 August 2013.

66

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Obi urges more investment in agric, donates to prisons From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has called for aggressive investment in agriculture to tap the potential to boost food production in the country.

Obi, while exchanging views with the visiting team of experts from the National Programme on Food Security yesterday at the Government House, Awka said, “effective harnessing of agricultural potential in the country would ensure food security, provide employment opportunities and strengthen the economy.”

Team leader and Chief Technical Adviser of the agency, Dr. Oyesola Oyebanji, said they were on comprehensive supervision mission to assess the progress of implementation and achievements that have been made.

Meanwhile, Governor Obi has donated three new vehicles and two power generators to the Nigeria Prison Service in the state, saying the gesture was in line with the policy of his administration to assist all state and federal agencies operating in the state.

Court reserves judgment on FRSC’s new number plates

By Joseph Onyekwere

G

USTICE James Tsoho of the Jyesterday Federal High Court, Lagos, reserved judg-

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Interim Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed (left); Vice Chairman, North Central Zone, APC, Gen. Abdullahi Ahmed (rtd); Senator representing Kwara Central, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, during the inauguration of the state Interim Executive of the APC in Ilorin… yesterday.

Kwara APC• ‘PDP forges unity among old, new members is real party for Kwara’ From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

HE Acting National T Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the emergence of the party on the nation’s political scene as “a very big movement.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, has described the party as the future of Kwara people, noting that playing opposition to the ruling party at the federal level would “fetch us nothing in the state.”

Mohammed, in a chat with journalists in Ilorin after a meeting between old and new members of the party, said the movement is good enough to take the nation to its expected democratic heights.

The Sunday night parley, held at Ahmadu Bello Way Government House in Ilorin, was attended by prominent members of the party across the 16 local councils. They include Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Senator Bukola Saraki and former Chairman of the defunct

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Kayode Olawepo.

Conspicuously absent at the meeting was former governorship candidate of the ACN in Kwara State, Dele Belgore (SAN). His media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, declined comment on the development.

It was indeed a paradoxical meeting as those who were in the past throwing political ‘missiles’ at each other were seen together.

According to the APC spokesman, “today’s meeting was for all members to truly actualise their coming

together as a new movement in Nigeria. As it is today, we don’t see APC as a political party but a movement. Crops of political personalities have come together across the nation and in Kwara, so it has been a very big movement of the people.”

Mohammed, who expressed belief that the APC could not be defeated by any other political party in the state in any current or future election, said, “there is no credible opposition in Kwara politics again. Very powerful people are on board a train leaving one station for the other.”

He described the recent

defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the APC as “a deadly blow” to the PDP, considering his status within the ruling party and his profile as a former vice president.

Also yesterday, APC inaugurated a nine-member interim executive committee to oversee the affairs of the party.

Those elected as the interim executive members include Ishola Balogun Fulani as chairman, Abubakar Suka Baba as vice chairman, Yemi Afolayan as secretary, Hajiya Muslimat Ibrahim (woman leader) and Salihu Muhammed as youth leader.

ment in a suit filed by a Nigerian, Ofoegbu Emma, challenging the decision of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to issue new number plates to motorists.

Justice Tsoho reserved judgment following the adoption of written submissions by counsel representing both the plaintiff and the respondent, Mr. Ogedi Ogu, and Vincent Ogunmola respectively.

The judge said that the date for judgment would be communicated to parties by hearing notices.

The plaintiff, Emma, had filed the suit on September 30, 2013 seeking for a declaration that the threat by the respondents to impound vehicles of motorists who failed to acquire the new number plates is invalid and unconstitutional.

In his statement of facts, the applicant averred that the old number plates were issued under the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2004.

He said that the NRTR 2004 is a subsidiary legislation made under the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act, Laws of the Federation as revised in 2004.

According to the applicant, the NRTR 2012, in Regulations 230 (2), provides that the revocation of the 2004 Regulations shall not affect anything done, or purported to be done pursuant to that Regulation.

Ofoegbu averred that there is no law made in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which prohibits the use of the old number plates, or declares its use as an offence.

Tambuwal, Ihedioha ask court to dismiss PDP’s suit From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja PEAKER, House of STambuwal, Representatives, Aminu some members of the House and members who defected to the All Progressives Party (APC) yesterday prayed the Federal High Court, Abuja Division to dismiss the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to prevent a change in the leadership of the lower House.

In a preliminary objection brought by Tambuwal and 52 other defendants, they challenged the competence of PDP’S action and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain.

Arguing the objection, defence counsel, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) contended that besides the fact that PDP lacks the locus standi to initiate and sustain the suit, it amounted to an abuse of court process.

They also argued that the subject matter of the suit is not justiceable as it touches on the internal affairs of the House over which the court has no authority to venture into.

It is also their contention that the court lacked the

jurisdiction to dabble into the internal affairs of the House, and that the case amounts to an academic or hypothetical exercise. The above formed the core of submissions by the defence team, who argued it’s objection at the resumed hearing of the case yesterday before Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

Other defence counsel, who include Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Sebastine Hon (SAN), Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and Eric Apia joined Akintola to pray the court to either dismiss or strike out the suit.

Magaji (for House of Reps, Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha) argued that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process because it was predicated on a similar suit pending before another judge of the same court.

He submitted that the PDP lacked the locus standi to institute the suit because it is not a member of the House of Reps and could not interfere in the internal businesses of the House.

Magaji prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

Akintola stated that the defendants were challeng-

ing the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case in view of the provisions of Sections 23 and 30 of the Legislative House’s Powers and Privileges Act, Cap L12 Laws of Nigeria 2004. He argued that by virtue of those provisions, all courts are barred from enquiring into how principal officers of a legislative house exercise their powers.

Akintola argued that the exercise of such powers could only be questioned if they are exercised in breach of constitutional provisions.

He contended that it was unlawful for the PDP to seek to preemptively restrain the principal officers of the House, and other defendants in the suit from exercising their constitutional powers. He also noted the similarity in the suit and the earlier one before Justice Mohammed.

He argued both cases were seeking primarily, the interpretation of Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution.

Akintola argued that the reliefs sought in both cases were intertwined and urged the court to strike it out on ground of abuse of court

process. Hon queried the plaintiff’s right to sue on behalf of members of the APC, who are also principal members of the House.

He argued that even where the PDP could sue to protect the position of its members in the House, it cannot act in similar manner in relation to other principal members who belong to APC, without their consent. Relying on the provision of Section 50(1)(b) of the Constitution, Hon queried the right of the PDP to bother itself about how members of the House of Reps organise themselves when it is not a member.

“In this case, PDP is a meddlesome interloper. Section 50(1)(b) of the Constitution has created a vested interest that belongs to a certain class of people, who are members of the House. PDP not being a member of the House, has no standing to institute this action,” Hon said.

Relying on the provision of Section 60 of the Constitution, Hon argued that the House has the powers to regulate it’s own procedures. He added that by virtue of the provision of section 60 of the

Constitution, the “PDP lacks the powers to dabble into the internal affairs of the House.”

Owonikoko argued that the case was an abuse of the process of court because it was predicated on the existing case before Justice Mohammed.

He urged the court to dismiss the case.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola has adjourned to February 14 for plaintiff to respond to the objection and argue its substantive suit.

The PDP, in its originating summons, wants the court to determine whether, in view of the mandatory provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, and in view of the pendency of an earlier suit by the defecting law makers, they (the defecting legislators) can participate in any proceedings to remove the House’ principal officers.

The party equally wants the court to determine whether, in view of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution and the pending suit by the defecting legislators, they (the defecting law makers) can lawfully alter

the composition or constitution of the House’s leadership. It is praying the court to declare that in view of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution and the pending case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013 the defecting lawmakers “cannot lawfully vote and contribute to any motion for the removal or change of any of the principal officers” of the House. PDP also wants the court to declare that the defecting lawmakers, who are plaintiffs in the earlier suit before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same court, “are not competent to sponsor, contribute or vote on any motion calling for the removal or change in the leadership of the House or the removal of any principal officers of the House. “It prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from “altering or changing the House’s leadership. The PDP equally filed an application for interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from altering the leadership of the House pending the determination of the substantive suit.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 67

Law

Quote of the week I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against.

——Malcolm X judicialeditor@yahoo.co.uk/ 08033151041 Desk Head: Ibe Uwaleke

Why Midwest Bar Forum should produce next NBA president, by Alegeh Although, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidency is yet to lift the ban for electioneering campaigns into national offices for the elections coming up in July this year, various intrigues and alignment have already started by some groups in the South West caucus, who by the zoning system of the association, has made them interested candidates to take over from the incumbent president, Mr. Okey Wali, (SAN). The South West caucus, Egbe Amofin, on January 18, 2014, held parallel meetings in Ibadan and Lagos concurrently in furtherance of the group’s effort to produce a candidate to fly the flag of the zone for the next president of the NBA. Top among the contenders considered for the position are: Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN), Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN), Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and the first vice president of NBA, Osas Erhabor.

While the Ibadan meeting ended without adopting any candidate, the Lagos gathering, christened the ‘Central Working Committee’ of Egbe Amofin, reaffirmed its Akure adoption of Adesina. But in this encounter, a top contender for the NBA presidency from Mid West Bar Forum, Mr. Augustine Oyaekhua Alegeh, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration (FCIArb), and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said “while it is still early to saturate the system with the issue of adopting a consensus candidate, it is morally right for the Egbe Amofin to concede the NBA presidency to the Mid West Bar in the interest of equity and fairplay since it has taken it twice thereby monopolizing the privilege that is meant for both the core West and the Mid West. He however refused to submit himself for Egbe Amofin screening.

INTERVIEW

By Bertram Nwannekanma SKED to assess the judiciary in 2013, Alegeh said the judiciary did creditably well in the past year.

According to him, cases generally were moving faster in the judiciary. Judicial officers took their jobs more seriously, while people that had some complaints regarding erring judges had their matters addressed accordingly.

“You found out that those complaints were being dealt with promptly, timeously and with results by the NJC led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar.

“It shows that the judiciary is on the rise, and we just keep praying that the judiciary should keep getting better and better.

“For 2014, I don’t expect less from the judiciary. I expect that the judiciary will do much more better than it has done in 2013.

“In 2014, there are going to be a lot of cases leading to 2015 general election, which will be topical. But I have no doubt that with the experience that has been gained by the judiciary in the other matters handled during the last election, the service delivery is going to be better than ever before, and Nigerians will have the reasons to be happy that the judiciary is upholding the tenets of democracy and the principle of rule of law”.

On the forthcoming Bar election for which he is a contestant, Alegeh, who is also the Chairman of NBA Database Committee said, “The issue of being a contestant in the election does not arise now because one doesn’t have to be a candidate in any election, when there is still a sitting NBA president in the person of Okey Wali (SAN). “ Until he formally lifts the ban on electioneering campaigns, I am sorry, I will not like to comment on the NBA elections.

However, I know that the election is becoming topical.

“We understand the election and everybody knows that the new NBA president will come from the West and the West has two groups, the South West, the Egbe Amofin and the Mid West Bar Forum. I am grateful to God that my people, brothers and colleagues in the Mid West Bar Forum had in their wisdom decided to put me forward on their behalf to aspire for the position when the Ban is lifted. “ So we await for that time and I strongly belief that I will not fail them because they have reposed their confidence in me. I will not fail the Bar Association and I would do all that I can to continue with the good works that are being done in the Bar in order to take the Bar to the greater height because our association is a foremost organisation in Nigeria that stands firmly for the rule of law. As an association that stands for the Rule of Law, members need to be equipped and enabled. The welfare of lawyers will also be a paramount inter-

A

Alegeh (SAN)

est if the opportunity arises. But for now, we are not in election period yet, so I will not comment on it.

Asked to give his view on the vexed issue of practising fees, which has torn the association apart, the astute lawyer has this to say: “ You know that the matter is subjudice because the matter is in court. “ A judgment has been delivered by a Federal High Court, the judgment has been appealed by NBA as a party, until the court decides, it will be inappropriate as a senior counsel to comment on matters in the law court. So we have to wait for the quick resolution of the matter, it will be in the best interest of the Bar so that those who want to pay their own practising fees

could go ahead and pay.

On the issue of endorsement by the Egbe Amofin as well as the idea of consensus candidate for the NBA’s presidency, Alegeh said, they were not yet in an election period.

According to Alegeh, “There is only one thing that is certain and that is that the presidency of the Bar has been zoned to the South West and the Mid West. South West has taken the presidency twice and it is now the turn of the Mid West to take the presidency of the NBA”

There is only one thing that is certain. The presidency of the Bar has been zoned to the South West. The South West has two groups, South West and Mid West. Core West has taken the presidency twice and it is now the turn of the Mid West to take the presidency of the NBA

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

68 LAW Tuesday, February 4, 2014

LawPeople

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.

———-David Brinkley

Orbih to Egbe Amofin: ‘Support Midwest NBA presidential candidate’ Chairman of Mid-West Bar Forum Mr. Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) has restated the position of the Mid-West Bar Forum that the Mid-west Bar Forum consists of Lawyers from the Midwestern region of Nigeria and its membership includes lawyers practicing in Edo and Delta states. He said the 2014 presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association has been zoned to the Western region of Nigeria, which comprises the Southwestern zone and the Mid-western zone respectively.

CCORDING to him: “During A the tenure of Mr. J.B. Daudu SAN (2010 – 2012) and as a result of the agitation of the Mid-west to be granted a presidential slot which was also supported by other groups within the NBA and which would have resulted in the creation of more zones for the NBA presidency, the South-west led by Chief Bandele Aiku (SAN) conceded and accepted the fact that the Mid-west is part of the West and whenever Presidency is zoned to the West, both the Midwest and South-west will be entitled to contest for the position.

This was the position of the Midwest not minding that the Southwest has always insisted before this concession by Aiku that the Orbih (SAN) West was only the South-west.

Aiku on behalf of the Southwest, offered to work out a rota- We are surprised that despite all our entreaties, lawyers from tional policy between the Midwest and South-west zones with the South-west are still jostling for the 2014 NBA presidency respect to whenever the NBA and the Mid-west Bar Forum notes that the Egbe-Amofin has presidency is zoned to the West.

Subsequently, the Mid-west Bar broken into factions. While this development is none of our Forum led by its Chairman visit- business, we state that the present deluge of text messages ed the South-west Bar Forum (Egbe Amofin) at the residence of and emails, which are uncomplimentary, do not augur well for its Chairman, Aiku in June 2012 the entire NBA. We, therefore, urge our brothers in the and informed them that in view of the fact that the South-west South-west to sheathe their swords and in the spirit of brothzone had produced the past pres- erliness, support the candidate of the Mid-west as 2014 is idents of the NBA on two occa- certainly the turn of the Mid-west and not the South-west to sions the presidency was zoned to the West, it accords with rea- produce the next president of the Bar. son, equity and fairness that the 2014 presidency should go to the they would like to produce the Akpomudje (SAN) of the Mid-west Mid-west zone.

He continued: “Chief Wole next NBA president when it is who declined the offer. Orbih Olanipekun (SAN), responding zoned to the West in 2014. And said on this basis, the West conon behalf of the Egbe Amofin that the Egbe had in 2008, offered cluded that the Mid-west had no group at the meeting, stated that the position to Mr. Albert other viable candidate for the position, thereby making way for Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) from the South-west who became the NBA President in 2008.

Further more, Orbih stated that the chairman of the Mid-west Bar Forum at that time, Akpomudje OVERNOR Sullivan Contemporary Land Law Oluwole-Smith (SAN), confirmed the offer to him and Chime of in Nigeria, authored by will review the book stated that the Mid-west now has Enugu State; Deputy the Chief Judge of Enugu while his counterpart at viable candidates for the race and Governor Delta State, State, Justice Innocent the Rivers State further drew the attention of the Prof. Amos Utuama Umezulike (OFR), University of Science South-west to the existence of a (SAN) and Bishop of FCIArb, on Friday, and Technology similar rotational policy in the Enugu Diocese, Anglican February 7, 2014, by 11.00 (RSUST), Prof. Uche Jack- Eastern Bar Forum between the Communion, Rt. Rev. a.m. at the Enugu State Osimiri, will give the majority South-eastern States E.O. Chukwuma, are High Court Auditorium, remarks.

(Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu and among the dignitaries Enugu.

The 586-page book is Ebonyi) and the minority expected to grace the Dean, Faculty of Law, dedicated to two grand- Riverine states (Rivers, Crosspublic presentation of a University of Lagos (UNI- masters of Property Law river, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa). book ABC of LAG), Prof. Imran in Africa: Prof. Jelili He stated that the first time NBA Adebisi Omotola (SAN) and Prof. R.W. James.

Chime, Utuama, others for book presentation on land law

G

presidency was zoned to the East in 2000, the slot was given to Chief O.C.J. Okocha (SAN) who hails from Rivers State. The second time in 2006, it was rotated to Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) from the South-east. On the third occasion in 2012, the Eastern Bar Forum in line with the principles of equity and fairness accepted Okey Wali (SAN) from Rivers State to pilot the affairs of the NBA. “Akpomudje appealed to the leadership of the Egbe Amofin to tow the same line of honor like the Eastern Bar Forum as their proposed sharing formula of 3:1 is inequitable and unfair. The meeting ended with an understanding that both groups should consult their members and convene at a later date.

“However, no other meeting has been held and the Mid-west Bar Forum acting in good faith and along the lines of equity, fairness and good conscience have adopted Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) as its candidate for the 2014 NBA presidential election and expects that the South-west (Egbe Amofin)

Do you know…

should act as a big brother in honoring its earlier pact.

“NBA is one family and has in the past produced presidents of Midwestern extraction. These included: Dr. Mudiaga Odje (1974 – 1975) and Mr. Charles Idehen (1989 – 1991) and any attempt to exclude the Mid-west from the three consecutive rounds in which NBA presidency has been zoned to the West, will be unfair. We are surprised that despite all our entreaties, lawyers from the South-west are still jostling for the 2014 NBA presidency and the Mid-west Bar Forum notes that the Egbe-Amofin has broken into factions. While this development is none of our business, we state that the present deluge of text messages and emails which are uncomplimentary, do not augur well for the entire NBA. We therefore urge our brothers in the South-west to sheathe their swords and in the spirit of brotherliness, support the candidate of the Mid-west as 2014 is certainly the turn of the Mid-west and not the South-west to produce the next president of the Bar”.

Election petition: A complaint by the petitioner against an undue election or returning of a successful candidate at the election: See All Nigerian Peoples’ Party v. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) [2004] 7 NWLR (Pt. 871) 16 at 55-57, [C.A.].

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

FamilyLaw

69

Marriage equality is about more than just marriage.

It’s about something greater. It’s about acceptance.

——-Charlize Theron

Legal perspectives of marriage (11) Paternity and modern science Separation and Separate Maintenance What is a legal separation?

A “legal separation” means that the husband and wife are living separately, and they have formalized the arrangement by a court order or a written agreement between themselves. The order or agreement usually will state that the parties are living separately, and it will specify what support, if any, one spouse will pay the other. If the husband and wife have minor children, the agreement or court order usually specifies arrangements regarding custody or visitation.

A legal separation is not the same as a divorce. A separation recognizes the possibility that the couple might reunite. In any case, its terms could be modified by the parties or

the court when the couple divorce.

Most importantly, persons who are legally separated may not remarry.

They must wait until a divorce is final before marrying again.

Does a person have to be legally separated before obtaining a divorce?

No. In most states a couple can proceed straight to a divorce without first seeking a legal separation. While waiting for the divorce, the couple might live separately (without a formal agreement) or, in some states, they could even live together pending the final divorce.

Is there an advantage to a legal separation?

That depends on the needs of the parties. A legal separation offers a structure for the parties while they are waiting for a divorce (or while they are considering a divorce). If one spouse is paying support for the other spouse or for the children, the spouse receiving the support may want the terms put in writing.

Similarly, one or both parties may want a fixed schedule of who will be with the children at what times. If

these terms are part of a written agreement or court order, the parties know what to count on, and a party can go to court to seek enforcement if the other does not abide by the agreement or order.

Are there any tax advantages to a legal separation?

Yes, potentially. If one spouse is paying support for the other, the payer can deduct that money from his or her income for tax purposes. The payment will then be considered taxable income to the recipient. If the payer is in a higher tax bracket than the recipient, this will reduce the couple’s combined tax liability. In any case, it will reduce the payer’s taxes and raise the recipient’s. To obtain such a deduction, the parties must be legally separated by written agreement or court order. The deduction is not available for those who have an informal separation.

Why would a spouse who is receiving support agree to this arrangement if it results in more taxes for her or him and a tax advantage to the other spouse?

The tax advantage to the payer may encourage paying support in the first place and it may result in a greater amount of support. Some couples and their lawyers may calculate a tentative amount of support that would be paid without any tax benefit to the payer. Then they calculate the tax benefit of creating a deduction for the payer and income for the recipient. They split the tax savings by increasing the level of support. The increased support usually exceeds the added taxes the recipient will pay, and the payer will have less money out-of-pocket for the year because of the tax savings.

TO BE CONTINUED

NBA’s festering democratic deficits

By Iwilade Akintayo

NBA Politics ‘We have always preferred the reputation of being democrats to the notorious inconveniencies of practising democracy.

Now, we can enjoy the reputation without the inconveniences of practising democracy because we have trivialised democracy to the extent that it is no longer threatening to those in power or demanding on anyone’ ——-(The late Professor Claude Ake) XCEPT we urgently begin to exemplify true E and unfettered practice of democracy in the running of our national professional association, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), our claim to being the ‘conscience of the nation’, ‘the voice of the voiceless’, ‘the bulwark against state tyranny’, ‘guardians of our nation’s democracy’, etc, might likely become totally untenable. To regain our place among the leading ideological and organisational lights seeking to genuinely advance the course of liberty, individual freedom and true social development and progress for all Nigerians, we must urgently recreate ourselves and unarguably become shining examples of what we advocate for Nigeria in the area of genuine and unfettered democratic practice.

Regardless of the many distortions the concept has undergone, one agreeable point is that democracy aims, among other crucial things, at enabling the people the unfettered freedom to exercise their inalienable rights to equal and direct participation in the actual choosing of those to lead them through free, fair and transparent processes. One efficacious way to pursue the attainment of this ideal is to give every member of every community the unfettered right to cast a single equal vote to determine who to lead them. Simply put, the way to democracy is to practise universal adult suffrage as one of the first preconditions for democratic progress, that is; one person, one vote, one woman, one vote, one man, one vote, one lawyer, one vote!

In this wise, the delegates’ voting system, through which national officers of the NBA have emerged for over a decade, woefully falls short of this pivotal democratic test. The system needs to be discarded if the national Bar is to become the democratic inspiration it ought to be for the rest of Nigeria. Representative voting is an aberration of true democracy or at best, an abridgment of it.

Many reasons have been adduced for the adoption of the delegates’ voting system currently in use. One is the need to avoid a re-occurrence of the Port Harcourt stalemate that saw the national leadership go into non-existence for some years. Another is the view that granting

universal suffrage will make Bar elections rowdy, unwieldy and time-consuming. Some other views have been canvassed that universal suffrage will create a sort of ‘mob’ electorate, who may dislodge the Senior Advocates from the leadership positions they hold and offer at the Bar. This latter point has, however, been most effectively demobilised by the deeply engaging thoughts expressed by eminent Professor Chidi Odinkalu (now chairman, National Human Rights Commission) in his insightful piece, ‘Modernising the Bar: A Necessary Debate’.

Reacting to a view reportedly expressed by a former National President of the Bar, Professor Odinkalu had these in response: “In an effort to clothe an anodyne idea with an adverse animus enough to elevate it to a nonexistent danger of existential proportions, the learned Senior Advocate attains undesirable genius with a line that gratuitously insults Senior Advocates and simultaneously gives offence to juniors in claiming that “The only way to dislodge the leadership offered by the rank (of Senior Advocates) is to go for universal suffrage where by way of example juniors who will then be in the majority can be persuaded to vote for the Chairman of the Young Lawyers’ Forum or any other aggressive junior or any of the midlevel seniors who are in the forefront of the clamour for universal suffrage”. In completely dislodging the above argument, the professor clarified that: “This line of argument manages - rather painfully - to imply that Senior Advocates lack the capability to win through to the Presidency of the Bar unless they are protected from competition and also that juniors lack the judgment to discern from among competitors the ones with serious credentials. Yet, it is clearly the case that even in the current system, Senior Advocates make up less than 18 per cent of the presumptive electorate and thus, have shown themselves to be much more durable and competitive leadership materials - but not as a right of birth, tribal hygiene or patronage as the learned Senior Advocate implies”.

ON the fears of avoiding a repeat of the Port Harcourt debacle and in consequence, uncritically sticking to the current undemocratic ‘delegates’ system, Prof. Odinkalu argued very courageously that; “the benefits of the present “Jamboree” are neither clear nor demonstrated beyond its historical links to an admittedly painful historical episode in Port Harcourt 20 years ago. But the world has moved on from 20 years ago. Do we have to get stuck in the past?” On the biggest argument in favour of discarding the current delegates’ system in favour of Universal Suffrage, Professor Odinkalu concluded that; “if a lawyer pays practising fees and branch dues, which, in turn, are the mainstay of the NBA’s finances, why should he or she be compelled to proxy their votes to someone when they can, by themselves, exercise the right to decide who leads their Bar and how?”

No attempt is made here to add to the eru-

dite professor’s responses above as they are at once principled, profoundly analytical, and, as usual, delivered with uncommon and attractive erudition. However, on the fears that granting universal suffrage will make Bar elections rowdy, unwieldy and time consuming, we must say that to build an organisation that would be timeless, democracy’s tenets must be fully operationalised and practised no matter the inconveniences encountered in the process. If there are real or imagined inconveniences on the path to practising genuine democracy, it is the inconveniences that must be circumvented, defeated and put out of the way, not democracy itself.

Logistical inconveniences are to be put out in favour of democracy and not democracy being put out, undermined or abridged in deference to or in uncritical fear of so-called logistical or veiled ideological inconveniences.

After all, these exaggerated logistical inconveniences are easily surmountable by a coherent deployment of technology and sincere administrative expertise in our electoral process. One way is to adopt a system that ensures elections into the national offices of the NBA are simultaneously held across all the NBA branches on any convenient day(s) designated and valid returns for each candidate for the said elections sent to a Central National Collation Centre funded, staffed and accountable to the NBA. Rather than having an unwieldy situation of having over a 100,000 lawyers gathering at a single venue to elect their national officers, elections into the national offices ought to be simultaneously held across the branches with the same structures through which branches have often held their local branch elections. Results of every branch can then be sent to the Central Collation Centre to determine the winners through simple mathematical computations. But such elections need to be held on the basis of the fundamental acceptance and adherence to the principles of universal suffrage, i.e. every member of the Bar having a right to a single equal vote and nothing more.

Still on this exaggerated scare of rowdiness, I do not suppose anybody holds the thousands of learned men and women that constitute the NBA at the various branches, with as much baseless condescending contempt as to think they would be incapable of conducting credible elections for national officers in their branches just the same, or even better ways, as they have conducted their own local branch leadership elections.

As the NBA desires to lead the clamour for opening up Nigeria’s democratic space, so must it open up its own democratic space to allow every lawyer have equal right and say in determining who emerges as their national officers. The distortion of democracy continues to threaten the development prospects of Nigeria and as the clamour for true democracy promises to eventually become a more engaging, long and perhaps bitter one, credible organisations like the NBA must shore up their credibility by serving as moral guides who not only speak for democracy but practise it in a manner that inspires the

nation.

It was America’s former President Bill Clinton who admonished his fellow citizens, while presenting his first inaugural speech that: “Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world, but the engine of our own renewal”. If this is true for America, which despite its enviable leadership in the world, continues to work at perfecting its democratic union, how much true it must be for our brutalised nation? And how true this must be for the Nigerian Bar Association if it is to renew itself, revitalise its members, and open up its electoral spaces to broaden the progressive leadership choices available within it!

As we commence 2014 (another election year to decide the national officers to lead, and speak for the Nigerian Bar), we should rethink the permutations that go into the selection of our officers at the national level and take sincere steps to democratise the processes completely. The NBA must become a democratic oasis from which members and aspiring participants in Nigeria’s desolate governance desert can draw inspiration. More than speaking for democracy, we must practise it. More than theorising on the concept, we must set examples in democratic conduct among ourselves and thereafter beckon on our countrymen and women, to emulate us.

More than saying we are democrats, we must be indisputably seen to be so. And having enjoyed the reputation for long, now is the time to act and live up to it.

• Akintayo is a Lagos-based legal practitioner.

QUOTE: If there are real or imagined inconveniences on the path to practising genuine

Okey Wali (SAN)

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com 81

70 LAW Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Nigerians and UK visa tuberculosis test: A lawful requirement?

Immigration Law

By Eddie Onyeka HE endless fleecing of Nigerian visa applicants by the British government will continue until the Nigerian government shows that it has the guts to rise in defence of her citizens.

Nigerians are targeted for raw treatment around the world largely because our government is unresponsive.

Tuberculosis test is the latest in the rounds of what seems a systematic and calculated policy to exert the heaviest toll on Nigerian visa applicants.

Nigerian UK visa applicants, including pregnant women and children, applying to be in the UK for a period longer than six months are to go for TB test at the cost of 130 US Dollars (N20,850). In some cases, an applicant will be asked to pay additional fees.

A child under 11 may or may not be tested. If the child is recommended for testing, the child will pay full fees as an adult. If the clinician decides not to test the child, the child will nonetheless be required to pay 52 U.S. dollars.

The 52 U.S. Dollars is the cost of paper given to the child by the clinician to confirm that the child was not tested!

TB test is simple and can be undertaken at any average laboratory in Nigeria at a cost that can be as low as N3,000. Yet, only one foreign entity, Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) was licensed by the British government to undertake this process, undermining and dishonoring all medical institutions in Nigeria and receiving from Nigerians N20,850 for a service that is locally available for N3,000.

A visa applicant must book for appointment with MHAC and must travel either to Lagos or Abuja as these are the only testing centres in Nigeria! The cost of travel, hotel accommodation and loss of income are some of the incidental burden that an applicant must bear.

It is very curious that in going through the UK Border Agency website on TB testing in Nigeria, there was nothing to explain why this test has become necessary at this time nor any effort made to justify it. It is equally curious that this programme is foisted upon Nigerians by stealth and in a manner that dishonours the proper conduct of international relations. It does not seem that the Nigerian government was given a prior notice nor the issue debated at the House of Commons nor discussed at any stakeholders’ forum. A lot of student visa applicants will be unable to apply for visa because presently, appointment for the TB test takes about three weeks.

My research and contacts has not shown any rise in TB rate either in Nigeria or in the United Kingdom. I have not seen any evidence linking any Nigerian migrant with TB outbreak in the UK. It seems to me that this policy is politicallymotivated and the British Government must convince Nigerians that this is not a sanction against Nigeria for its position on same-sex marriage.

Trans-border movement of people with communicable disease of public health significance is generally discouraged. Serious minded countries around the world legitimately try to protect its citizenry from trans-border communicable diseases through Immigration control. Paragraphs 51 (ii), 320 (7) and (8) of the UK Immigration Rules justifies the refusal of visa and refusal of entry on consideration of health. Health is a factor for which a person may be excluded from the United States under its Immigration and Nationality Act. South Africa demands Yellow Fever card as a condition to grant visas to Nigerians. The Nigerian Immigration Act has no provision by which an alien or non-national can be excluded from Nigeria by reason of communicable disease though the Act prohibited the entry into Nigeria of a category of non-nationals, including “insane” persons. However laws are generally not worth the papers on which they are written except those laws are brought to life through application and enforcement. There is no doubt that international relations, diplomacy, politics and economics are key factors that drive the application and enforcement of Immigration Laws.

Nigerians are often singled out to bear the harsh brunt of international immigration laws because our government lacks interest in defending its citizenry home and abroad. I have no record of a single reprisal from the Nigerian government in response to the barrage of unfriendly laws and policies that discriminatorily targets Nigerians around the world.

I am aware that the World Health

T

Jonathan (Nigerian President)

Cameron (British Prime Minister)

Organisation Global TB Database listed Nigeria as having high TB burden. But a lot of other countries are so listed and I am not aware that a mandatory test is required for all such countries. Indeed, the WHO Website suggests that TB has been on consistent decrease in Nigeria over the years and that the prevalence/mortality ration to the population is very low.

To demand for TB test from all Nigerians who intend to spend more than six months in the UK is to presume that all Nigerians have tuberculosis and that the burden is on him that claims otherwise to produce a TB-free certificate. This is a gross violation of our human dignity and an economic crime against Nigerians. It is also surprising that under this policy, a Nigerian who disputes the result issued by the MHAC cannot seek a second opinion elsewhere as the decision of the MHAC is final.

It is public knowledge that the opprobrium, which greeted the proposed visa deposit of £3000, forced the British government to back off from the policy. The dust has not settled and now, we have the TB certificate.

UK Immigration practitioners struggle these days to keep abreast with the incessant and erratic changes in the UK visa process, all geared at making visa application more expensive and cumbersome. The General Visit Application Form (GVAF) has no less than 119 questions. A lot of the questions are tricky and laden with banana peels. If you slip and give a wrong answer, you are rewarded with 10 years’ visa ban.

If an applicant is lucky enough to secure a visa,

he must pray for the luck to continue with him at the airport in Lagos. Liaison officers of the British Embassy are there to interview him all over. If he slips, his visa will be cancelled. If he is lucky and boards the flight, he must face another interview upon arrival in the UK. If mother luck has left him behind in Nigeria, he may be denied entry into the UK and repatriated to Nigeria on same or next available flight. The right of appeal has been removed and in the few category that appeal still avails, an appellant must now pay fees to the Immigration Tribunal. English Language test is now required in a long range of applications including students and settlers. The test is under the auspices of the British Council and a fee of N38,000 is required. It needs be pointed out that so many countries that are not English-speaking are exempt from the English Language test.

As it stands today, a Nigerian UK visa applicant, say an HND holder applying for visa to join a spouse in the UK, would be required to pay the following non-refundable fees: Visa Fee, N226,000, TB certificate, N20,850, English Language test, N38,000 and VFS charges.

There are visa fees that are as high as £1906 (N514,000). Visas are often refused without sustainable grounds. If an applicant has a right of appeal and decides to exercise it, he must be prepared to pay a fee of £140 for hearing to the Immigration Tribunal.

Nearly all the platforms hitherto open for Nigerians to lawfully live and work in the UK

have been removed. Nigerians no matter how highly skilled are no longer welcome to settle in the UK. Those already lawfully resident are finding it unusually difficult to extend their stay.

Nigerian students who have spent years and fortune to study cannot get post-study visas and face deportation upon expiration of their status.

There are new hurdles facing those settled in the UK who want to bring their families to join them. There is clear policy discrimination against African migrants in preference for those from the European Economic Area countries (EEAC). UK prisons are bursting with Nigerian prisoners, many of who are victims of racial prejudice. The British government has pulled another fast one off the naivety and myopia of the Nigerian government by getting Abuja to accede to the repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in the UK to Nigeria to complete their sentence.

Everywhere Britain stands with Nigeria, seems an exploitative relationship.

The Federal Government should seek immediate suspension of this policy and engage the British government with a view to reviewing its entire immigration policy that discriminatorily targets Nigerians.

Tuberculosis is not a Nigerian, nor a Nigerian invention. As far as I can see, the TB test has no justification in good conscience. It puts Nigerians to unnecessary task, cost and inconvenience. It violates the human dignity of Nigerians. It is discriminating in scope and thus not in conformity with international law.

If this test must stay, the least the Nigerian government must insist upon is the decentralisation of the testing centers, a downward review of the cost and the inclusion of competent Nigerian health institutions. If the British government wants to sponsor the activities of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which is the operator of MHAC, let them in honour appropriate funds from their treasury and not to receive from Nigerians under false pretense.

Fear must be expressed that if the Nigerian government does nothing or fails, the programme may be extended to involve all visa applicants including visitors. Other Nigeria-phobic countries would adopt similar or more measures desperate. The Federal Government should set up a committee of competent practitioners to review our Immigration Law to make it more responsive to global challenges and to ensure that the principal of reciprocity fully applies.

Let the Federal Government put off the garb of timidity in the global arena. That way, it will earn some respect for itself and the citizenry.

• Onyeka is an immigration solicitor and founding partner, Harvard Chambers, Western House, Broad Street, Lagos.

Branches should drive NBA policy - Adekoya ic NE of the contenders to the mountable.

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) She disclosed that the committee and capable of throwing up the O Presidency, Mrs. Funke Adekoya had successfully held workshops on best candidate, adding that the (SAN) took a look at the role of NBA branches at the weekend and said that they have the mandate to drive change within the lawyers’ organization.

According to the foremost arbitrator, the NBA model is built on a framework whereby the national body should be implementing resolutions adopted by the branches.

Her words: “It is the branches that should drive NBA activities.”

She noted that the current legal challenge by the NBA leadership to the directive mandating lawyers to submit details of transactions by their high networth clients to the SCUML/Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was orchestrated by NBA Lagos Branch through a resolution to the national body. The resolution which was spearheaded

by Adekoya, was unanimously adopted by the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC).

Adekoya, who is also the Chair of NBA Capacity Building Committee, said that her committee work has offered her a unique opportunity to appreciate the myriad challenges facing NBA branches, adding however that the problems are not insur-

fund raising initiatives that could be adopted by branch leaders, adding that this has started yielding the desired dividends. She said: “One of the committee’s terms of reference is to organise capacity building training for branches on the basis of the six geo-political zones in the country. We focus on holding these training workshops for the branches in the six geopolitical zones. The topics focus on branch administrative issues, fund raising and investment strategies and providing membership benefits at the branch level.”

Going down memory lane, she recalled that as NBA 1st Vice Chair incharge of the NBA Human Rights Committee, she worked closely with branch vice chairmen in successfully implementing a prison decongestion programme. She advised that this model should be replicated across board to fully integrate branches into the mainstream of NBA activities.

Adekoya, who was called to the Nigerian Bar almost 40 years ago, also urged the zonal bar fora to ensure that the process of adopting candidates for the forthcoming NBA General Elections is democrat-

zonal fora should strive towards a “unified Bar.” An advisory board member of the International Bar Association (IBA) African Regional Forum and Life Member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Adekoya warned that globalisation is sweeping across jurisdictions, adding that Nigerian lawyers cannot afford to be left behind. “It is the internet that has broken communication barriers between countries, and made the world a smaller place,” she said. “The Nigerian legal profession needs to become technologically proficient as the use of ICT in our practices will enhance practice delivery by making turnaround time faster. We must establish a presence on the web, and use mobile technology for practice delivery.”

On the recently controversial rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adekoya who is one of the candidates seeking to replace current NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) when his tenure lapses in July, said that members of the Inner Bar should constantly remind them-

selves of the duties that go with their exalted positions. “They (SANs) must be role models to our colleagues in the Outer Bar by way of legal scholarship, mode of legal practice, comportment and most especially, by way of ethical behavior,” she said. “The rank should not just be seen as a means of enhancing one’s income by charging exorbitant fees. I advise the new entrants not to become involved in any unethical behaviour.”

Adekoya (SAN)

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 LAW 81 71

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Need to adhere strictly to rule of law in resolving Rivers crisis

By Iheanyichukwu Maraizu HE political situation in Rivers State is currently volatile.

Everybody is in suspense as no one can correctly predict what will happen the next minute. This is because each side does everything humanly possible to outwit the other. The unhealthy competition currently being witnessed in Rivers State is not unconnected with the quest by the combatants to capture and or retain political power in the state at all costs.

It is apparently for this reason that the opponents of the state Governor Chibuike Amaechi are constantly threatening to impeach him. In furtherance of this threat, a fracas broke out in the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013. The combatants in the fracas were the legislators opposed to the governor and those supporting him. In the aftermath of the conflict, the legislators opposed to the governor (five out of a total of 32) purportedly impeached the Speaker Otelemaba Amachree and installed one of their own (Evans Bipi) as Speaker. The latter has since been parading himself as such.

It is obvious that the main aim of installing the governor’s opponent as Speaker is to facilitate his (governor’s) impeachment.

But it is necessary to remind the combatants in Rivers State that we are in a constitutional cum democratic dispensation. It is, therefore, imperative that everything must be done in accordance with the law.

Everybody must equally subject himself to the dictates of the law.

This is the simple meaning of the rule of law.

Being a constitutional government, the 1999 Constitution and other extant laws have laid down the procedures for exercising governmental powers.

Today, two people are laying claim to the Speakership of the Rivers state House of Assembly. This situation has compelled the Speaker to go to court to challenge his purported impeachment.

It is apposite to state here that this is the right step to take not only because it is the constitutional duty of the courts to resolve such disputes but also because it will avert a possible breakdown of law and order. The first thing the “impeached” Speaker did was to obtain an injunction restraining his rival (Evans Bipi) from parading himself as Speaker.

The latter has, however, kicked against the ruling of the court, insisting that he remains the authentic Speaker of the House. This is notwithstanding the Ruling of the Court, which restrained him from parading himself as Speaker. He (the said Bipi) also raised questions as to the competence of the court to issue the order.

This is where the situation becomes extremely worrisome. If a dispute of this nature cannot be resolved in the court, where else will it be resolved?

In the first place, the rule of sub judice forbids parties to a case or indeed any other person from making comments or taking steps that are likely to prejudice or jeopardise the effective, unbiased and expeditious determination of a pending matter. It also requires parties to a case not to foist a situation of helplessness on a court.

Secondly, the attention of the combatants must be drawn to the fact that the decision of a court remains valid, binding and subsisting until set aside either by the court itself or

T

Amaechi

Jonathan by a superior court.

Thus, in Madumma vs Jambo (2001) 15 NWLR 461 at 467, the Court of Appeal declared in Ratio 7 as follows: A judgment of a competent court of law remains subsisting and binding on the parties thereto until it is set aside on appeal or by itself…

In ratio 8, the court declared more forcefully as follows: A judgment of a court of law is presumed valid and the parties concerned are not only bound to obey it but the authorities charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of judgments are also obliged to enforce it unless it is declared a nullity or set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction. It has never been the law of Nigeria that there is no need for an order of court, which is void to be set aside by a court there by implying that all and sundry have the right to disobey the order.

In the light of the foregoing, my candid advice not only to Bipi but also to any other person affected by this particular order (or indeed any other unfavourable order) is to either approach the very court that made the order or a superior court to set it aside. This is the only option available to aggrieved persons in the instant case, as well as the only step that will ensure that law and order do not break down.

It is hardly necessary to point out that legislators, being lawmakers, should never be seen to be lawbreakers. This will not only be unfortunate but also horrendous and despicable. It will equally portray the affected lawmaker as not being a fit and proper person to occupy the position he is occupying.

It is against this background that concern should be expressed on the role allegedly being played by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who is a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC) (and who hails from Rivers State) in the crisis currently ravaging the state. This SAN was alleged to have been the first to warn High Court judges in the state not to accept the position of Acting Chief Judge from the governor or have the NJC to contend with.

Shortly thereafter, the latter officially wrote to all the judges in the state, affirming what the SAN said. (See a press release by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner

for Justice Rivers State, Worgu Boms.

The Nation, Thursday December 19, 2013 pages 14 and 15).

The same SAN is alleged to have advised Bipi (The rival claimant to the Speakership of the Rivers State House of Assembly) not to obey the Order of a Rivers State High Court, which restrained him (Bipi) from parading himself as Speaker (Again see The Guardian, Tuesday December 31, 2013, page 5).

One is not in a position to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the comments credited to the Learned Silk. It will, therefore, not be proper to jump to any conclusion at this stage.

Nevertheless, I believe and strongly too, that this is a case in which the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should take very serious interest.

This is because the NBA prides itself as being a body that promotes the rule of law.

Today, the rule of law is facing its greatest challenge in Rivers State nay Nigeria. Only recently, courts in Rivers State came under bomb attacks. This is utterly condemnable.

As the National President of the NBA Okey Wali (SAN) rightly pointed out, this is tantamount to desecration of the Temple of Justice.

It is, however, pertinent to note that it is not only when court buildings are physically attacked that the hallowed Temple of Justice can be said to have been desecrated.

The lawlessness that currently prevails in Rivers State, the utter contempt with which the judiciary is being treated, as well as the impunity with which the rule of sub judice is being violated all amount to desecration of the hallowed temple of justice.

The NBA has understandably been cautious in commenting on the political crisis in Rivers State because most of the issues in dispute have been submitted to the courts for adjudication. Such matters are therefore sub judice. To this extent, the silence of the NBA can be said to be golden.

However, in view of the unprecedented affront on the integrity and independence of the judiciary, the NBA must now go the extra-mile to ensure adherence to the rule of law.

This it can do by mounting pressure on the Presidency (which is apparently an interested party in the cri-

sis), as well as the governor of Rivers State to call their loyalists to order.

If this is not done (and a halt immediately put to the affront on the judiciary), anarchy will be the natural consequence.

Does it not beat the imagination of every right-thinking person that the same people who submitted issues to the judiciary for adjudication are not willing to give it a free land to do its job?

No doubt, the bombing and other acts of lawlessness that have been witnessed in Rivers State are aimed at cowing the judiciary into submission or subservience. If this nefarious aim is achieved, then, the entire polity is done for.

The NBA is, therefore, duty-bound to do more than merely issuing statements and condemning the lawlessness in Rivers State. It must go all out to ensure that the integrity and independence of the judiciary are not trampled upon.

In particular, the NBA should, as a matter of urgency, institute a probe into the alleged comments credited to the Learned Silk above. This is with a view to calling him to order if the allegations are found to be true. In the unfortunate situation in which Rivers State has found itself today, a Learned Silk is expected and indeed has a sacred duty to speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored. He should not be seen to be a part of the problem.

In Madumma vs Jambo (supra) it was clearly stated that the authorities charged with enforcement of court orders/judgments are mandatorily required to ensure that such orders/judgments are obeyed. There is no doubt that the authority referred to in that case is the Police.

It is, therefore, the responsibility of the Police to ensure that the Judiciary is not ridiculed in Rivers State. This it can do by ensuring that validly made orders of court are obeyed. Those who are aggrieved by such orders should do the right thing by following due process.

This applies to both sides in the political ‘war’ in Rivers State.

In addition, the Police must not only remain neutral but must also be seen to be so in the Rivers political crisis.

Unfortunately, recent events in the

state (particularly the shooting of unarmed citizens at a rally in Port Harcourt) have seriously called to question the neutrality of the Police in the entire saga. The shooting was absolutely unnecessary and unprovoked. It reminds one of the dark days of the apartheid regime in South Africa when the racist Police mowed down innocent and defenceless citizens with impunity.

The government of President Goodluck Jonathan must now rise above partisan interests and call the Police in Rivers State to order. If the President fails to do this, it will be crystal clear that he is using the state’s instruments of coercion against his political opponents.

This will not only be reprehensible but will also fuel calls and agitations for the creation of state police.

Even those threatening the governor with impeachment are reminded of the utmost importance of following due process (as enshrined in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution) if and whenever they decide to do so.

Failure to do this will make the exercise void ab inito. This is because the Supreme Court has made it clear in Akoju vs Adeleke (2007) AFWLR (part 353) page 3, that an unconstitutional impeachment must be voided notwithstanding the ouster clause in Section 188(10) of the 1999 Constitution.

Those who hold or seek to hold important offices in the land must be seen to epitomise due process, honesty and transparency. They must be seen to put the collective interest of the polity above their own personal or selfish interests.

This is the only way they can convince the rest of us that they really deserve to be where they are.

Much as I do not want the Judiciary to be ridiculed, it (the Judiciary) must also not ridicule itself. It must, therefore, rekindle public confidence in it by maintaining its neutrality and discharging its duties with the highest sense of responsibility and patriotism.

On its part, the NBA must rise to the occasion and be counted, otherwise its much-vaunted claim of “promoting the Rule of Law” will amount to an empty propaganda.

• Maraizu is principal counsel, Iheanyichukwu Maraizu & Co, Abuja.

72

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Russian economic growth slower than 2013 projection USSIA’S economy grew at R less than half the previous year’s pace in 2013, missing economist forecasts as investment fell amid a record slump in Europe.

Officials warned the outlook remains weak for this quarter.

Gross domestic product advanced 1.3 per cent, the least since a 2009 recession, compared with 3.4 per cent in 2012, the Moscow-based Federal Statistics Service reports its first estimate in an e-mailed statement. That fell short of the median 1.5 per cent forecast of 19 economists in a Bloomberg survey and the Economy Ministry estimate of 1.4 per cent.

The $2 trillion economy decelerated for a fourth year as consumer spending, the mainstay of Russia’s recovery, failed to make up for sagging investment and a drop in global demand for oil and natural gas. The slowdown may extend through the first quarter, Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Klepach told reporters in Moscow recently.

“This destroys any hope left about a consumption-driven economy in Russia,” Vladimir Miklashevsky, an economist at Danske Bank A/S in Helsinki, said by email. “Sustainable economic growth in Russia will be possible through expansion of private investments only.”

Russia’s dollar-denominated RTS stock index has lost 9.7 per cent this year, underperforming the MSCI Emerging Market Index, which has dropped 7.1 per cent, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The ruble has lost seven per cent

against the dollar, making it the third-worst performer this year among 24 emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

The probability of a recession in Russia in the next 12 months is 33 per cent, according to the median estimate of 10 economists in a Bloomberg survey. While the Economy Ministry sees 2.5 per cent growth this year, GDP will probably expand 2.2 per cent, according to the median estimate of 39 economists in a separate survey.

Russia is struggling amid meager growth in investment, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said January 29. Fixed-capital investment rose 0.3 per cent from a year earlier in December after a 0.2 per cent increase in November and a 1.9 percent drop in October, the Federal Statistics Service reported January 27.

Capital expenditure including value-added tax at OAO Gazprom fell to 782 billion rubles ($22 billion) in 2013 from more than one trillion rubles the previous year.

The gas export monopoly, which built a biathlon center and energy infrastructure for next month’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, plans 701 billion rubles of capital spending this year.

“A dramatic reversal happened last year,” Vladimir Pantyushin, a Moscowbased economist at Barclays Plc, said before the data release. “The main reasons are state companies’ investment, which fell primarily due to the completion of Olympic facilities, and

household consumption, which began to gradually slow.”

Even as the economy lost steam, policy makers refrained from cutting borrowing costs, leaving the main interest rate unchanged for a 15th month in December as inflation held above their goal. The

central bank is targeting a five per cent increase in consumer prices this year.

“Additional fiscal measures from the government are unlikely,” said Vladimir Osakovskiy, the chief economist at Bank of America Corp. in Moscow. The central bank “might also fail to deliver any support on fail-

ure to meet the inflation target.”

Economic growth of 1.5 per cent to two per cent is becoming the “new norm” for Russia, Bank Rossii Chairman Elvira Nabiullina said in November. Russia should pin its hopes on an increase in investment as the central bank ensures

price stability, the former presidential aide said.

Weaker expansion represents a higher risk than inflation, according to Ulyukayev. “I’m almost sure we have a good chance to keep inflation at less than five per cent this year,” he told reporters January 28.

Sony, Lenovo in talks on possible PC business alliance

Etihad’s headquaters in Abu Dhabi, UAE

APAN’S Sony Corp and Jpany Chinese technology comLenovo Group are in

Etihad in final due diligence stage for Alitalia stake buy

talks about a possible joint venture to take over Sony’s loss-making Vaio PC business overseas, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.

The Japanese electronics and media giant called the report inaccurate while acknowledging that it was looking at various possibilities for the unit.

“Sony continues to address various options for the PC business, but the press report on a possible PC business alliance between Sony and Lenovo is inaccurate,” the company said in a statement.

Sony has said it plans to revise its product and manufacturing strategy for the Vaio unit as it faces a slump in its PC business, hit by the popularity of smartphones and tablets.

Sony, which will release results next week, had previously predicted its PC business would be in the red for the year to end-March, without disclosing figures.

Moody’s Investors Service cut Sony’s debt rating to

junk status last week, highlighting challenges in its television and PC businesses and pressure on profitability at its entire core consumer electronics operation.

Lenovo earns about 80 per cent of its revenue from personal computers but has been aggressively diversifying into more promising markets.

Last week, Lenovo said it would buy Google Inc’s Motorola Mobility handset unit for $2.91 billion, the fourth-largest U.S. acquisition by a Chinese or Hong Kong company ever, to face off against Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Apple Inc in the smartphone market.

TIHAD Airways and E Alitalia are in the final phase of a due diligence process that may result in an investment by the Abu Dhabi carrier in the troubled Italian airline, both companies said in a joint statement on Sunday.

Alitalia and Etihad have been in talks for weeks on a possible investment by the Gulf carrier, which sources close to the matter say could involve Etihad buying a 40 per cent stake in Alitalia for as much as €300 million ($404.6 million).

The two companies and their advisors will deter-

mine a common strategy that meets the objectives of both parties in the next 30 days, the statement said.

“Any issues that may prevent the establishment of an appropriate business plan will have to be resolved to ensure the plan can be implemented to move Alitalia to sustainable profitability,” the statement added.

The announcement comes as Italy’s Prime Minister Enrico Letta is on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates to boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

Alitalia and Etihad have been in talks for weeks on a possible investment by the Gulf carrier, which sources close to the matter say could involve Etihad buying a 40 per cent stake in Alitalia for as much as €300 million ($404.6 million) A spokesman for the Italian premier’s office confirmed that Alitalia has been among the topics discussed in Abu Dhabi. More details on the talks are expected to be released at a scheduled press conference later this evening.

Loss-making Alitalia successfully completed a vital 300 million euro capital

French network operators agree to share infrastructure The agreement needs to be WO French mobile net- work in an area covering 57 The companies will create a T work operators, per cent of the French popu- dedicated joint venture to approved by the regulator, Bouygues Telecom and SFR lation (France excluding its manage the shared base sta- Arcep, although it has have signed an agreement to share a part of their mobile access networks, following a period of negotiations that started in July 2013.

The two networks will now roll out a new, shared net-

32 biggest urban areas of more than 200,000 inhabitants and blind spots).

The agreement will enable the two operators to improve their mobile coverage and generate significant savings.

tion assets and will then enter into a RAN-sharing agreement covering 2G, 3G and 4G services in the shared areas mentioned above. The shared network is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

already responded saying that it welcomed the agreement. Mobile network sharing deals are encouraged, under certain conditions, in the terms of the 4G spectrum licences that it established in 2011.

hike in December, which analysts said then would keep it flying for six months.

But a decision by its former top shareholder and partner Air France not to subscribe to the emergency cash call means the Italian carrier is seeking another industrial partner to help revive its fortunes.

A tie-up with the Gulf carrier could boost Alitalia’s liquidity and allow it to invest in a new strategy focused on long-haul routes that could make it profitable again.

Etihad, on the other hand, is looking to expand its global reach through strategic stake purchases in other airlines. It has already bought minority stakes in several carriers including Air Berlin (AB1.DE), Virgin Australia (VAH.AX) and Aer Lingus.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 | 73

INTERVIEW

‘Only UPN can bring the needed change’ In this interview with The Guardian, the Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and founder and coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun, speaks to OBIRE ONAKEMU on the preparation of UPN towards 2015 general elections; President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition; the national conference; Boko Haram, among other sundry salient issues. Excerpts: OW prepared is your party the Unity Party H of Nigeria (UPN) toward 2015 general elections?

The people are yearning for a change; a positive change for that matter and only the party that can provide that change is the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

Though the party has not been fully registered.

The powers that be are sending millions and millions of Naira to ensure that we were not built with favourable minds. We have complied with all the necessary documentations and it is now left for INEC to carry out its own part.

The mega platform, the All Progressive Congress (APC) appears determined to upstage the PDP and all other political parties in 2015.

Can APC really achieve this?

I wish them luck! The APC is like a face that doesn’t see itself except by reflection. Those characters don’t even know that Nigerians have no time for them. One may think they are serious and determined. No! But one thing is that every political platform in the country is serious and determined. There is no doubt about that. It is not only APC that is serious and determined. They are not what they think they are!

Then, how do you see to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s stance against the PDP and his romance with the APC at the moment?

Is Obasanjo romancing with the APC? I don’t think so! His ideological commitment to the PDP and his being highly principled person, I don’t think he would exonerate any other political platform.

Obasanjo was once the president of this nation. He understands the constitution of the country. And he realizes that President Jonathan has the constitutional rights to go for a second term. I have always believed that Jonathan has the rights – an alienable right to go for second term. And Nigerians also have the obvious constitutional rights to vote against him or for him.

Anyone or group, that is trying to deny Jonathan of his rights to second term is committing an atrocity against our constitution.

And again, is the cry of marginalization in South-West really justifiable?

It is very very justifiable. Our people have not been really considered favourably in Federal Government appointments. We applied four years ago for the security of the pipelines. We have been invited by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to come for an interview and of which we went for the first, second and third times. And four years after that application, the contract has not been awarded to us.

And similar contracts are going on in other parts of the country. So, shouldn’t the Yoruba people feel marginalized? Who is taking charge of the security of pipelines in our part of the country? And if you want to give it out to foreigners, then, give everything to foreigners and let us know that Nigerian government is selling out his own people!

How would you task scholars, leaders on restoring the moral and ethical values in the country?

There is need for complete metanoic – complete change from every calculated sides and from every calculated angles – of body, soul and spirit. Even in our schools curriculum, we need a complete change. The old methods should be encouraged and brought back with horns to our school curriculum; where our culture predominated, where children obey their seniors; where parents play dominant parts in bringing up their own children and where parents don’t sue teachers to courts for castigating on ultravires or children in schools.

And do you think there is generation of goodwill among people in Jonathan’s government?

Yes! They are there! A friend of mine is there; the minister of information, Labara Maku whom I know his stake, he stands for righteousness. I have always known him to be very righteous person. And he has no reason to change.

As a matter of fact, I understand he is holding an acting ministry in addition with his own ministry of information. So, that must be an

Fasehun indication that he has been performing well indeed.

Then, how do you see to the issue of the country’s politics and economy?

Well, it helps to listen to hostile opponents; the people that are very aggressive to the government of the day are given us incorrect statistics. We know when things are getting improved. Things that have not improved for decades are being improved now.

The railway lines from Lagos to Ibadan is

under construction, electricity transmission is getting more better day by day and even security situation of the country has improved tremendously. President Jonathan is not a man who stands on roof top to declare what he does or what he doesn’t do. He is a silent worker and an achiever.

Now, what is your take on the controversies that greeted the proposed National Conference?

Really, people are just playing politics with the

There is need for complete metanoic – complete change from every calculated sides and from every calculated angles – of body, soul and spirit. Even in our schools curriculum, we need a complete change. The old methods should be encouraged and brought back with horns to our school curriculum; where our culture predominated, where children obey their seniors; where parents play dominant parts in bringing up their own children and where parents don’t sue teachers to courts for castigating on ultra-vires or children in schools.

National Conference. Even those who went into exile because they were agitating for National Conference came out to criticize the convocation of the National Conference. These are some people who have been agitating for National Conference for decades. They are now kicking because their party is not in power when the conference is now being summoned. Whether it is good or not, theirs is to talk against it!

Some of us who have been original agitators for the National Conference since 1983 still believe that the only panacea for Nigeria’s problem is the convocation of a National Conference to enact a new constitution fully for the Nigerian people. And this is why we say that under no circumstances may any order other than ethnic nationalities factor being consider supreme in the selection of the candidates or delegates to the National Conference.

All ethnic nationalities must be included; no other factors should work as much as the ethnic nationalities factor. We may have an aggregate of ethnic nationalities where there is no water-type compartment between them.

Those who are going against the National Conference are inconsistent; they are not constant and probably lack principles or maybe, they don’t understand what the National Conference is all about.

Can their fear be attributed to the fact that the National Conference may have link with the 2015 election?

It doesn’t matter; when you hold the National Conference, it would have some links with the elections. Our elections are four years interval.

So, it doesn’t matter when you convoke a National Conference; it would always have an influence on our politics and our politics would also have influence on the national conference.

What is your position on the continuous security challenges in the country?

There are security challenges in every country of the world. But how one manages its security challenges is what matter. Nigerian security at the moment is rather strenuous; although it is getting better. Even in the military era, were there no security challenges? There were security challenges!

With the threat that Jonathan would not be allowed to govern very well if he won the election is something we have to contend with.

And of course, Jonathan won the election under free and fair election. If only we are to be honest, short of the Boko Haram issue, the current government is the best we have ever had.

Roads, power, ports and others are being repaired. Agriculture is on the front burner and so many others.

So, the slug – the recent slug on government performance is really high. And I quite concur that no group – whether government or teachers would hold our children to ransom.

And again, would you attribute economic crises to weak federalism?

Well, true federalism is called for, but we don’t have true federalism and it may be responsible for some of the problems we are now having. True federalism encourages even development. And if you have oil in your backyard, nothing stops true federalism. You can explore and explore and explore and only pay prescribed tax to the Federal Government and that goes to every other commodity.

And that is what we should be aiming at; because that is not the practice now, there is always that attitude of don’t care. Some people even found gold, minerals at their backyard and they just cover it up because they don’t want to notify the Federal Government. So, obviously the economics would improve with true federalism.

The last word?

Nigerians should pray for peace and should be determined to have peace especially in the year 2015. It’s a year that have been suspected to be the end of Nigeria.

But it is only Nigerians that can prove the American prediction wrong. And I think Nigerians should be determined to say we love our country and we wouldn’t allow our country to fade out.

74

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PHOTONEWS Images during the presentation of the book; Civil Litigation; A Quick Reference Guide to Substantive Law and Procedure by Hon. Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie at The Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos.

PHOTOS: OSENI YUSUF

Special Adviser to Governor of Lagos State on Central Business Districts, Mrs Derin Disu (left); Author, Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie and Publisher, Guardian Newspapers Limited, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru

Aderemi Desalu left and Author justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie

Olufemi Adefope left Author Hon Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie and Chairman of the ocassion Hon Justice Emmanuel Ayoola

Author Civic Litigation Hon Justice Oludotun-Adefope (left) Hon Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour and Justice Emmanuel Ayoola Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 | 75

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sports LMC sets standards for clubs’ sponsorship, advertising

By Christian Okpara HE League Management T Company (LMC) has reminded clubs preparing for the 2013/14 Glo Nigeria Premier League that they are required to submit all their existing and new sponsorship contracts to the LMC for verification and approval.

Reacting to the spate of poor sponsorship deals signed by some of the clubs in recent times, the LMC said it was unfortunate that some managers have not taken advantage of the progress made by the league and warned that clubs must comply with the existing directives on partnership with sponsors or face weighty sanctions.

LMC’s Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, who said the directive is a reminder to the clubs on previous communication on the issue, assured them and their legally contracted partners that the league body will protect all existing contracts it sanctioned, but will also insist on strongly protecting existing benchmarks for the brand to ensure equity for all in the League.

“LMC is expecting to evaluate the validity of all commercial

deals/sponsorship to protect existing contracts in line with the rules and established benchmark for commercial value of all commercial platforms in the NPFL,” Abubakar stated.

Although he affirmed the LMC decision to waive its 10 per cent accrual from all club sponsorship deals, he added, “we will also insist on deriving true value for our league and its associate products and services.”

Abubakar warned that the LMC would not allow the use of shirts with identical product advertising by two teams in the League or in a match, adding, “the League will not allow any one commercial sponsor for more than two clubs.

“Also, no identical advertising elements may appear on the shirt of two teams in the same match and where this occurs, the visiting teams must change shirts and may wear shirts with a different product of the same sponsor.”

Abubakar insists that these decisions are designed to prevent the devaluation of the league brand and to also assist the clubs to properly evaluate and price their assets to derive the right commercial value.

Nigeria Premier League now ranks fourth in Africa • Morocco on top, Egypt is second, Ghana drops

By Gowon Akpodonor with agency reports HE Nigeria Premier League T managed by the Nduka Irabor League Management Company (LMC), is now ranked fourth in Africa, according to MTNfootball.com, which quoted the International Federation of Football History and Statistics yesterday.

The Tunisian League has become Africa’s strongest league, while Egyptian Premier League, which is boosted by Al Ahly’s exploits of winning the CAF Champions League a few months ago, returns to the Top 10 and is placed second in Africa.

It is followed by Morocco, Nigeria, Mali, South Africa, Algeria, Angola and the Cameroonian League in ninth place.

But Ghana Premier League has dropped from being the sixth Strongest National League in Africa to 10th position. The Ghanaian top-flight also slid 12 places and now ranked 77th in the world.

The fall is attributed to the inability of Ghanaian clubs to make a meaningful impact in Africa and the World during the period.

The World ranking for the Strongest National Leagues for 2013 has the Spanish

Primera Division (La Liga), which retained its first place position for the fourth time in a row since 2010.

The English Premiership, German Bundesliga, Italian and Brazilian leagues follow each other in the top 5.

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari had said shortly before the Homebased Super Eagles defeated Zimbabwe in their third place match at the just concluded CHAN in South Africa that the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) was back to life.

Enyimba taking on Nasarawa United in a 2012/2013 league game. The LMC has warned clubs to ensure they get the true value of their products from sponsors.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI.

NFF wants changes in CHAN format, as Eagles rejoin teams From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE Nigeria Football T Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the home-based Super Eagles were decamped upon arrival in Lagos early yesterday to enable them rejoin their clubs in preparation for the Glo Nigeria Premier Football league, which is expected to kick off on February 15.

The players and officials, who left South Africa on Sunday night, arrived the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos in the early hours of yesterday, were decamped by their coaches on the orders of the NFF. Meanwhile, NFF has urged the African football governing body, CAF, to introduce changes in the CHAN format that will give players playing in other African leagues outside their home country the opportunity to be part of the championship.

NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu told journalists yesterday in Abuja that there were so many African players, who are doing well in other countries in the continent, stressing that CAF should also give them the opportunity to play for their home countries in CHAN since they are not playing outside Africa.

Positing that doing so would in no small way raise the standard of the championship, as well as give it more prestige, Amadu urged CAF to look into the proposals before the commencement of the 2016 edition, which is billed for Rwanda.

“We will take the 2016 edition, which will be hosted by Rwanda very seriously, as soon as the World Cup is over.

Alongside the preparations for the 2015 Nations Cup in Morocco, the coaches will commence the camping of the

Eagles’ Brazil 2014 World Cup camp opens May 25 From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HE Super Eagles will begin T full camping for the Brazil 2014 World Cup on May 25 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disclosed yesterday.

The camp opens three months after the March 5 international friendly against Mexico also in the United States of America.

While in Atlanta, the Eagles are also billed to play two other friendly matches against Croatia and a yet to be identified country, before departing to Brazil on June 11 for the World Cup group matches.

The NFF also disclosed that the Super Eagles’ technical crew would use the opportunity of the Mexico friendly to try out some new players in the coaches’ radar, adding that the coaches would draw the list of players for the US camp after the friendly.

NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu said at the weekend in Abuja that the federation has concluded plans to ensure that the Eagles have enough time in camp before they move for the World Cup. “I am sure that we have a game against Mexico, which is over a month from now in Atlanta Georgia. I believe that the coach should use that

game to extend invitations to all the players he has in his programme… that is those that did not get the opportunity to play for Nigeria during the World Cup qualifying matches to give them the opportunity to stake a their claim to the Mundial list.

“After the Mexico friendly, the team will reassemble on May 25/26 and play a friendly match with Croatia in the United States of America before they proceed to Brazil for the World Cup.” Amadu said the Eagles were planning to include some of the CHAN Eagles in the World Cup team, adding, “a lot of the players have the potential to make the main team.

home-based players with a view to preparing the team for the Rwanda2016 edition of the CHAN. “I think that this particular tournament shows that we have very good players that are plying their trade in the various African leagues. Libya was a pleasant surprise to everybody; they went all the way to win the championship. I think there should be a change of format by CAF. If you are a Nigerian, playing in another African country, you can also

play for your country because you are still based in Africa.

“If CAF will be able to do that one, it will also raise the standard and prestige of the tournament. The first edition of the CHAN is quite different from what we saw in South Africa. I expect the executive committee or the relevant sub committee of CAF to consider this so that it can be implemented before the next edition in Rwanda in 2016. I know also that CAF is thinking along that line,” he said.

MTN Lagos Street Soccer team meets Leventis FC today From Olalekan Okusan, Johannesburg, South Africa HE U-15 team of the MTN T Soccer Street Lagos Championship will this afternoon meet South Africa’s second division side, Leventis FC, in a friendly game in Johannesburg.

The team is on a five-day training tour of South Africa.

After watching the team’s training session yesterday, Leventis FC’s Coach, David Babakemi, as said he was surprised to see a team as young as the Lagos side so impressive training. in “I think I will first of all commend MTN Nigeria and the Lagos State government for giving these young players this rare opportunity to be exposed early in life. I am thrilled and fascinated by the skills displayed by the players.

“As a Nigerian, I am proud that these are true under-age players and I must commend the organisers for doing a thor-

ough job in ascertaining the true ages of the players. Most of them, including the coach, are eager to learn, which alone will give them an edge. But the few lapses I noticed can be corrected through more exposure to the team,” the former 3SC star said.

Babakemi, a level one licensed tactician, believes this kind of exposure would aid Nigerian development. football He added, “during our days, we never had this kind of competition, not to even talk of travelling out of Nigeria for a training tour. I am confident that if other states in Nigeria and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) can start and support this kind of initiative, Nigeria will surely be among the best in the world.

“I have noticed a few of the players and I look forward to seeing them play our team tomorrow (today) in a friendly to be able to assess them and also consider them to join our team.”

76

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPORT Tuesday, February 4, 2014

CHAN bronze medal not good enough for Eagles, says Onigbinde

By Alex Monye HE Super Eagles team B T has been receiving accolades for winning the bronze medal at the just concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN) despite the little time the team had to prepare for the competition, but apparently, not every Nigerian is happy with the third place finish.

Nigeria beat Zimbabwe 1-0 on Saturday to win the Bronze medal in its first appearance at the CHAN held in South Africa, but former Super Eagles’ Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde says the scorecard is not good enough for a country that sees itself as the best -footballing nation in the Africa continent.

While reviewing Nigeria’s participation at the competition, the FIFA and CAF technical adviser told The Guardian that the team was hampered by the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) failure to organise programmes to educate the country’s footballers on the

modern techniques of the game.

He pointed at the Eagles’ inability to raise the standard of their game to suit the occasion as one of the factors that stopped Nigeria from winning the CHAN. Onigbinde posited that Nigeria’s performance in South Africa showed that the country’s football authorities were not building on Nigeria’s African Nations Cup victory. ‘’I was not impressed with the third place position the Eagles earned in CHAN. It is time we started facing reality in this country. How could a country that just won the AFCON last year come third in an African championship this year? Are we moving forward or backward? The result in CHAN is a fall out of the fact that Nigeria is not consistent in major championships. ‘‘After winning the AFCON, Nigerians believed we were on course in football development. The reality on ground is that we don’t have

More fans win DSTV’s ‘Let’s go to Brazil’ promo ORE football fans have M won the right to travel to Brazil to watch the 2014 World Cup courtesy of the MultiChoice, the leading provider of premium payTV on the DStv, GOtv, mobile and online platforms.

The mouth-watering prizes include all expense paid trip to Brazil and a DStv Explora decoder.

The 10 winners from the northern part of the country were presented with their prizes yesterday at a ceremony held at the MultiChoice office in Abuja.

They emerged from the third draw of the season, which took place on a SuperSport live programme known as Monday Night Football January 27 through supervision of officials of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and Alexander Forbes; leading actuaries and consulting firm.

The lucky subscribers won

prizes ranging from DStv Explora decoders to DStv Walka devices, Samsung mobile phones and tablets, soccer jerseys among others.

Agorom Queen, Feyi Dienye, Chukwudum Ugonabo, Philip Adoga all won mobile phones, Wale Lawal and Uzoma Unakalmba won tablets, Ikenna Okpala won a DStv Walka 3.5, while Paul Oweh and Cado Kovicjka won DStv Walka.

Augustine Egbedi won the grand prize of a trip to Brazil.

Speaking at the prize presentation, MultiChoice Nigeria’s General Manager, Marketing and Sales, Martin Mabutho said, “MultiChoice takes delight in rewarding its loyal subscribers not only by bringing them premium local and international content, that are informative, educative and entertaining, but also by rewarding them with life enriching opportunities and products.”

a solid football developmental programme for players.

“If the right structures were put in place, the Eagles would have won CHAN and be ready to surprise the world in Brazil,’’ he said.

Onigbinde said Ghana was able to beat Nigeria because the Black Stars knew the Eagles’ weak points and deliberately slowed the game down to end it in a penalty shoot out.

“The local boys lacked the technical confidence and knowledge to curtail the Ghanaians. Viable structures should be put in place to produce quality players that would make Nigerians proud,’’ he counseled.

CAF Inter-club competitions

Delay of 2014 league may hamper Nigerian teams, Obuh warns

By Eno-Abasi Sunday IGERIAN teams to this year’s CAF Champions League and the Confederations Cup may not fire at full throttle as they would lack the needed edge that comes with involvement in competitive games, when the competitions eventually get underway.

N

Consequently, football authorities have been advised to take steps to mitigate hiccups that hamper seamless commencement of the league as at when due.

These were the views of former Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh, while doing a postmortem on Nigeria’s performance at the recently con-

Team Delta celebrates after winning the EKO 2012 National Sports Festival in Lagos. Edo State newly appointed Sports Commissioner, Chris Okaeben, says Team Edo will come out tops in Calabar this year.

cluded African Nations Championship in South Africa.

Obuh, who won silver with the Golden Eaglets in 2009 said, while the performance of the Super Eagles in the championship showed the quality and depth of our domestic league, it was imperative for us to always prepare ourselves adequately for such outings.

“It is very important for us to prepare and keep our players in top form for competitions like these because if these players had played up to seven or so matches for their respective clubs before CHAN, they would have done extremely better than what they did. Everyone saw how match rusty the boys were in the earlier part of the competition before they picked up,” Obuh, who coaches Rangers Football Club of Enugu stated.

He continued, “my fears now is that since the Nigerian league is still yet to commence, the country’s flag bearers to the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations’ Cup may likely suffer the same fate the Eagles suffered, that is being match rusty, which may hamper our chances of

a good outing.”

On how to address this situation especially on a long term basis, he said, “we should learn to plan for the next league season before an ongoing one comes to an end. What we have in the country is a situation where there is always a challenge at the end of a particular season. Sorting out these challenges end up delaying the commencement of the new season.

“For instance, at the end of last season, there were issues like ‘should the League Management Company (LMC) continue or not’ among other things. Things like these contributed to the league not being on by now.

So we should cultivate the habit of settling our issues while the league is on so that the next season’s league commencement would be seamless and the clubs as well as officials can rest, plan well for the kick-off of the new season,” he added.

Commenting on calls for the inclusion of some of players from the CHAN squad in the Brazil World Cup squad, Obuh noted that indeed, some of the players merit a place in the Brazilbound squad.

Edo will rule Calabar 2014 Sports Festival, new Sports commissioner boasts

By Gowon Akpodonor HE newly appointed Edo T State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Chris

Multichoice Nigeria Public Relations Manager, Caroline Oghuma, presenting a Samsung Tablet to one of the winners of the DStv Samba 2014 ‘Let’s go to Brazil’ promo, Wale Lawal, in Abuja…yesterday.

Super Eagles’ Abdullahi Shehu of Nigeria holds off Kudakwashe Mahachi of Zimbabwe during their third place match at the just concluded African Nations Championships at Cape Town Stadium.

Nigeria beat Zimbabwe 1-0 to win the bronze medal.

PHOTO: MTNFOOTBALL.COM.

Okaeben has declared that the state will return to its winning ways in the National Sports Festival, beginning with this year’s edition holding in Calabar, Cross River State.

Since Edo hosted and won the 2002 edition of the festival, the state had been battling to maintain its position among the top four. Edo was second behind Delta State at Abuja 2004 and Gateway 2006 and since then, it had been one bad outing to another for the state’s contingent in the festival.

Things were so rough that Team Edo was pushed to the

• Plans big for Insurance FC fourth position at the last edition held in Lagos, where it could only managed to gather 25 gold, 23 silver and 44 bronze, a far cry from the 116 gold, 97 silver and 75 bronze medals by the winner, Team Delta. Edo was third at Garden City Games held in Port Harcourt in 2011.

Outside the National Sports festival, Edo State has been having it rough in football, leading to the relegation of one of Nigeria’s traditional clubs, Bendel Insurance FC to the lower division and all efforts to bring it back to Premiership had been futile.

However, the new Sports Commissioner says the good days are here again for all

sports-loving people of Edo State.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Okaeben said his major priority was to take Team Edo to an appreciable position at Calabar 2014 National Sports Festival and also return Insurance to its glorious position as the flagship of Nigeria Football.

“The government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the good people of Edo State want results. By God’s Grace, Team Edo will put smile on their faces beginning with this year’s National Sports Festival in Calabar. We have the talents and good coaches, so there is nothing to worry

about,” he said.

Three states, Edo, Oyo and Plateau are bidding to host the 2016 edition of the sports festival and Okaeben is of the view that the state stands a better chance of winning the bid, considering the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the state government.

“We will take them one at a time because the governor is fully ready to give sports the support it need for Edo take its rightful position. I am aware the present state of Bendel Insurance has remained a source of worry to the soccer loving people of Edo State and even some Nigerians, who are fans of Insurance. But I am assuring everyone that things will soon take shape,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 SPORTS 77

Ronaldo’s red card unfair, says Madrid EAL Madrid bemoaned R the “unfair” dismissal of Cristiano Ronaldo against Athletic Bilbao as they missed the chance to move above archrivals Barcelona in the Primera Division standings.

Ronaldo was controversially sent off in 75th minute of the 1-1 draw at San Mames following an off-the-ball incident involving Athletic Captain Carlos Gurpegi.

The Portugal international was pushed by Gurpegi after appealing for a handball in the area and responded by brushing his hand into the Athletic man’s face.

Gurpegi tumbled to the turf and a melee between the teams ensued with Ronaldo confronted by Athletic midfielder Ander Iturraspe, who clearly pushed his head into the Madrid player’s face.

Iturraspe ended up with a yellow card while Ronaldo was shown a straight red card - something his teammates believe was undeserved.

Madrid defender Marcelo said on his club’s official website: “It’s tough to lose a player in an unfair way. The second-off of Cristiano wasn’t fair, although I’m not going to talk about whether the referee had a good match or not.

“We’re tired of trying to talk with the referees. They talk with us and we listen to them and it would be good if they also listened to the players.”

Midfielder Xabi Alonso added, “it wasn’t aggression, the red to Cristiano Ronaldo is excessive. Gurpegi helped a lot and the referee was affected by the reaction of the fans throughout the match. That always happens

here, it’s nothing new.

“Cristiano shouldn’t have done what he did but it is not a sending off, that went against us. We came here with the intention of winning because it was a good opportunity to pick up points in the league but we knew it was going to be a difficult trip.”

Ronaldo’s red came moments after Athletic had equalised through Ibai Gomez’s piledriver after Madrid had taken a 65thminute lead through Jese.

The result left Madrid in third place in the standings, level on 54 points with defending champions Barcelona, who were surprisingly beaten at home by Valencia on Saturday, with new leaders Atletico Madrid now three points clear.

It was undoubtedly a missed opportunity following Barca’s unexpected slipup, but Madrid Coach, Carlo Ancelotti was nevertheless happy with his side’s performance.

He said, “we played well. It was a high intensity match and we hardly let them have any chances. We did especially well in the second half.

Anelka agrees to stop controversial celebration EST Brom striker, W Nicolas Anelka has agreed not to use the

Ronaldo after receiving red card at the weekend

Juve gave us a lesson, says inter Milan coach Mazzari Milan Coach, Walter IhisNTER Mazzarri acknowledged team had a lot to learn from Juventus after the Serie A leaders’ 3-1 triumph over the Nerazzurri 3-1 in Turin on Sunday.

The result kept Mazzarri’s men winless in 2014 and saw them drop to sixth in the standings, and left the boss full of admiration for the victors.

“We needed to focus on

every little detail with great determination, the way Juventus did,” Mazzarri said to Sky Italia.

“When the going gets tough, Juve get going. Juve were more determined and aggressive, whereas we were sluggish and lazy.

“I was annoyed at the way we conceded the second goal, as we could have cleared the danger and we were simply too slow.

Poor form frustrates Benitez APOLI Coach, Rafael N Benitez is frustrated by his team’s recent dip in form but is confident they can maintain their high position in the Serie A standings.

The Azzurri suffered one of their worst defeats of the season at Atalanta on

Benitez

Sunday, falling 3-0 after failing to capitalise on opportunities in attack and making three defensive blunders.

Napoli are 15 points behind league leaders Juventus after collecting just two points in their last three matches but are still third

and holding onto to the last Champions League qualifying spot.

“We had three or four promising counter-attacks in the first half,” Benitez told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We then started the second half with a mistake.

“We had a chance, then a mistake, then another chance and another error.

Of course it becomes very difficult to get back into a game after making so many mistakes.

“I don’t think these errors have happened before, but they completely changed the game. If we don’t take our chances and the other team does, then of course we are going to lose.

“It is difficult to find space against teams like Chievo, Bologna and Atalanta, but we must learn to score more goals.

“We need to analyse these individual mistakes, but the defeat is not down to any systemic problems in the construction of the squad.”

Fourth-place Fiorentina also lost over the weekend and lie three points adrift of Napoli, who take on AC Milan next.

“Juventus were quicker to the ball. Unfortunately, we have a lot to learn.” Inter again struggled in front of goal, much to Mazzarri’s frustration.

“We created chances,” he said. “We cannot forget that (Inter’s top scorer) Rodrigo Palacio twice could have made it 3-2 and reopen the game.”

Inter have won just one of their last 10 league games and sit two points behind fifth-placed Hellas Verona, who hold the last Europa League qualifying spot.

However, Mazzarri is not ready to give up on his team’s season just yet.

“I have faith,” said the 52year-old, whose side next face Sassuolo at the San Siro on Sunday night.

“We’ve got the right attitude, tactical approach and the younger players are growing. It’s just a pity that results are not coming our way.

“As I said in the past, this is a year of growth and evaluation. We just need a victory to turn things around - that is all.”

“quenelle” gesture again when celebrating goals.

Anelka, 34, made the sign described as an inverted Nazi salute - after scoring his first of two goals in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at West Ham. France’s sports minister accused him of a “disgusting anti-Semitic” gesture.

A statement from West Brom said, “he club has asked Nicolas not to perform the gesture again. Nicolas immediately agreed to adhere to this request.”

The French government is trying to ban comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala’s shows over his use of the gesture and Anelka confirmed on Twitter he did it in support of the performer.

But West Brom instructed Anelka not to use the gesture again after acknowledging “the goal celebration has caused offence in some quarters.”

The club will continue to consider the Frenchman for matches while the matter is being investigated internally and by the Football Association.

“Nicolas was asked to explain his goal celebration by caretaker head coach Keith Downing within minutes of the game finishing at West Ham,” the statement read.

“Nicolas said that he performed the gesture to dedicate his goal to a friend and vehemently denied having any intention to cause offence.

“Upon reporting for training this morning, Nicolas was asked by Sporting & Technical Director, Richard Garlick to give a full explanation about his goal celebration, during which he again strongly denied intending to cause offence.”

West Brom have told the FA they will help with their enquiry, as well as holding their own investigation, a process which they say “will remain confidential between the club and Nicolas”.

Juve’s coach still looking for more UVENTUS Coach, Antonio Jhave Conte feels his team still room to improve despite the Bianconeri’s 3-1 triumph over Inter Milan.

Juve took control through goals from Stephan Lichtsteiner, Giorgio Chiellini and Arturo Vidal inside 60 minutes and although Inter pulled one back through Rolando, it was not enough to deny the hosts their 19th league win of the season.

That victory left the reigning champions nine points clear of second-placed Roma, whose match against Parma was abandoned because of heavy rain, but Conte is still looking for more from his side.

“It’s great that we won,” Conte said to Gazzetta dell Sport. “We prepared for this game down to the last detail.

“We knew that Inter would use Mateo Kovacic and Ricky Alvarez to mark Andrea Pirlo and we prepared for that too.

We played well and it’s just a shame we conceded that goal which created a bit of anxiety.

“People ask me why I contin-

ue to wave my arms on the touchline when it’s late in the game and it is because I know it takes one moment of luck to score and for a game to be reopen.

“We are the top scorers in Serie A, but could have scored more goals against Inter. “(Inter goalkeeper) Samir Handanovic did very well on several occasions and we

Stephan Lichtstaner

were not as accurate as we could have been, but I was more interested in the performance and I’m happy with that.”

Regarding his side’s prolific scoring in Serie A this season Juve’s tally of 54 goals is nine more than second-best Roma - Conte added, “as a player and as a coach I have been a believer in attacking football.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

78 | Tuesday, February 4, 2014 SPORT

Tax regime determines highest paid players’ fees The tax arrangement of big-name players is coming under increasing scrutiny as players wages rise across the globe. of gross salaries does not tell authorities, under pressure allowing Arsenal to exploit cent, a 20 per cent reduction ETTO, I always talk netto,’’ lion, expected to be hit with a the full story. on the normal top tax rate from European Union part- the players’ images, a purpose ‘N was the famous response tax bill of an additional €20 Ibrahimovic, having played ners, are determined to clamp entirely different to playing there of 35 per cent. Didier of Ruud Gullit when negotiat- million. That will be considering a new contract with Chelsea in 1998.

The Dutchman had insisted that Chelsea pay the tax on his salary, so when he told them he expected an annual remuneration of £2 million, he was actually asking for a salary in excess of £2 million, once his tax liabilities were taken into account. Gullit and Chelsea could not agree on splitting the difference and he departed the club.

Gullit was used to receiving his salary ‘netto’ in Italy, where the figure for player wages are routinely reported as being after-tax. In Gazzetto dello Sport’s annual review of player salaries lists, Daniele De Rossi of Roma is Serie A’s current highest-paid player, on a reported annual salary of €6.5m ‘netto’. However, his actual gross salary is over €14 million – broken down on basic salary, plus regional and municipal taxes, as well as a ‘solidarity surcharge,’ a temporary Italian wealth tax. The gross figure also includes a loyalty bonus spread over his current contract. Stripping these out, De Rossi’s gross would be €10.22 million.

Shockwaves The issue of tax and football has been placed firmly in the spotlight in recent months following developments in France, which have sent shockwaves through the country’s sporting elite.

Francois Hoilande’s socialist government intend to introduce a 75 per cent tax rate on earnings over €1 million per year. It is scheduled to be in place for two years. Clubs initially had hoped to be exempt, but in September sports minister Valerie Fourmeyron confirmed this would not be the case. Ligue 1 clubs threatened to go on strike over the issue (though they have since backed down) and claim the tax will bring about an exodus of top talent.

French league president Frederic Thiriez called the move ‘‘profoundly regrettable,’’ adding: ‘The consequences will be very heavy for our clubs in the years to come.’’

Paris Saint-German, the biggest spending club in the French league with 21 employees earning more than €1 mil-

Ibramovic

ably more than the likes of Marseilles (17 employees, €5 million), Lyon (13, €4.9 million), Lile (14, €4.8 million) and Bordeaux (14 €3.3 million).

At the bottom end of the pay scale, Evian, Lorient, Nantes, Reims and Sochaux have no players earning over €1 million a year and will not be affected by the change. Nor will PSG’s biggest rivals Monaco, who have a dozen players who would be subject to the tax if they played in

in five different countries, is well versed in the complex and various tax rates in operation across the continent. As a resident in Barcelona from 2009 to 2010, Ibrahimovic benefitted from the so-called ‘Beckham law,’ whereby foreign employees of Spanish companies paid income tax at a rate of 25 per cent for their first six years in the country, instead of the 52 to 56 per cent now paid by the highest earners. These people, including David

down on tax evaders.

High-profile players are increasingly paid in two ways by their clubs; a basic salary and an image-rights payment.

At Real Madrid, the high-profile galactic signings, including the most recent Garent Bale, have shared image rights on a 50/50 basis with the club.

During his brief spell with Paris Saint-German, David Beckham was lauded for his decision to donate his salary,

football, for which they were paid a salary via the payroll.

The decision enabled many other clubs and players to exploit their image rights.

Only recently has public pressure forced the Premier League to discuss a potential ‘‘deal’’ with the Inland Revenue.

Over in France, Monaco have long benefitted from their tax-free status in the Principality. Any club hoping to lure Colombian striker, Radamel Falcao, away from Ligue 1 will have to offer at least twice his current salary (around €12 million) in order to compensate for the tax that will be due.

Overall, England, Spain and Italy are the leagues which pay the highest salaries, although the economic difficulties being experienced in Spain and Italy is likely to result in drastically reduced contracts over the next two to three years.

Of the major footballing nations, Russia has the lowest rate of income tax, at 13 per cent, which has helped their clubs sign a number of highprofile players, notably Zenit’s Brazilian International, Hulk.

In order to attract and retain top sporting talent, Turkey have introduced a special income tax rate of just 15 per

Beckham during his time at Real Madrid, were not taxed at all on non-Spanish income (such as money earned from endorsements in their native countries).

At the end of 2009, Spain amended the law so it applied only to employees earning less than 600,000 euros a year. But after lobbying from football clubs, players who arrived before 2010 remained covered under the old law, exempting some of the highest-paid players in Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed a new contract with Real Madrid last year worth €17 million a year, is among those who qualified for the exemption.

However, Lionel Messi may have, inadvertently become a victim of the Spanish government’s determination to get tough with wealthy foreigners living in Spain.

Last September Messi and his father were accused in a Barcelona court of evading €4.2 million in taxes on payments from Adidas, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, and other companies. According to court documents, the Messis diverted €10 million to tax havens Belize and Uruguay between 2007 and 2009.

Messi’s father, Jorge, placed the blame on Rodolfo Schinocca, a sports agent hired by the family in 2005.

The family has since paid €5 million – the amount prosecutors say they evaded, plus interest – as a ‘‘corrective payment.’’

Messi may have been an entirely innocent party but the case has been seen in Spain as a sign that the

around £700,000, to a children’s charity. However, cynics also observed that Beckham based his family in London for the duration of his five-month stay in Paris, meaning that he was not liable for any French tax on earnings from his extensive portfolio of worldwide endorsement contracts.

Image-rights deals have attracted controversy because clubs, notably in England, have used them to avoid paying tax by making payments into player’s offshore bank accounts.

Image rights are paid to companies set up by players in return for using their images in commercial sponsorship deals from which the club benefits.

Because the money is paid into a company, there is corporation tax at 19 per cent for small companies. Some players have paid next to no tax on payments to offshore accounts, either claiming they are for pensions or, with foreign players, that they are overseas earnings and not taxable under Britain’s tax rules offering non-domicile status.

In 2000, the then Arsenal players David Platt and Dennis Bergkamp won a test case against British taxman (HRMC).

HRMC said that the arrangements whereby Arsenal payments made to David Platt and Dennis Bergkamp for use of their images, were simply a ‘‘smokescreen’’ for paying them money offshore to avoid tax.

However, the tax Special Commissioners decided that the payments were legitimately made in return for

In France, Lique 1 challengers, Monaco, have long benefited from their tax-free status in the Principality.

Drogba and Wesley Sneijder are unlikely to be the last bigname players to make the move there.

Several eastern European countries have low income tax rates – Bulgaria 10 per cent, Czech Republic 15, Hungary and Romania 16 and Ukraine 17 – but as a general rule, players in these parts do not enjoy regular employment contracts. Clubs often employ players on their books as sole entrepreneurs or on the basis of a service agreement. Such procedures save on social security contributions, but obviously are several lacking in player rights and financial reliability.

While players in Holland’s Eredivisie have to put up with a relatively high tax, there is an up-side to this, namely the best, most efficient pension plan in professional football, customized for each individual. Spain are strong on the pension front too, although that may change as financial austerity impacts on La Liga clubs.

What seems certain is that the issue of tax – and how much of it footballers actually have to pay, is destined to be an important issue for many years to come.

• Culled from WorldSoccer magazine.

Messi and Ronaldo France. But since they are resident in the Principality, which does not have income tax, they are exempt, it would have cost Monaco some €5 million.

In total, 116 players and eight coaches come into this superstar category. PSG, who are facing increasing scrutiny over the ability to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fairplay regulations, will not have to find extra expenditure in order to continue with their high-profile recruitment strategy.

Swedish Start Ziatan Ibrahimovic currently earns €14.5 million a year in Paris, placing him behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in a table of Europe’s highestearning players, in terms of basic salary. But Zlatan’s net salary is guaranteed by PSG, irrespective of tax.

However, a pan-European list

These days, high profile players are increasingly paid in two ways: a basic salary and an image-rights payment.

Drogba

Top 20 leading annual after-tax salaries Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris Saint-Germain - £12.08m Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid £11.87m Radamel FAlcao, Monaco £11.66m Thiago Silva, Paris Saint-Germain £10m Lionel Messi, Barcelona £8.75m Gareth Bale, Real Madrid £7.8m Xavi, Barcelona £6.66m Andres Iniesta, Barcelona £6.66m Wayne Rooney, Manchester United £6.54m Didier Drogba, Galatasaray £6.38m Robin Van Persie, Manchester United £6.29m Yaya Toure, Manchester City £6m Neymar, Barcelona £5.83m Luis Suarex, Liverpool £5.72m Daniele De Rossi, Roma £5.42m Eden Hazard, Chelsea £5.29m Fernando Torres, Chelsea £5m Hulk, Zenit £4.96m John Terry, Chelsea £4.8m Sergio Aguero, Manchester City £4.8m All figures are estimated net basic salaries, and do not include bonuses and incentives.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 SPORTS

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

79

Sports Spectacular: Chuka Momah’s gift to sports world

By Olalekan Okusan ITHOUT doubt, the dearth of authoritative books on sports writing can be blamed for the poor quality of articles churned out daily by sports newspapers.

In addition to this, sports writers’ over-reliance on foreign stories culled from the Internet has turned every Tom, Dick and Harry to publishers overnight.

Among other reasons, the entrance of Sports Spectacular into the Nigerian market is to fill this vacuum that has existed for years.

Indeed, the 1224-page book written by one of Nigeria’s most-informed sports writers cum administrator, Chuka Momah, has been described as a compendium of sports information, stories and analysis by former Green Eagles’ star, Segun Odegbami.

The book is a collection of the author’s columns in the defunct National Concord, The Guardian and Newswatch Magazine, as well as numerous lectures delivered on various topical sports issues over the years.

The compendium, at a glance, shows the author’s versatility in these sports.

In his goodwill message, prolific poet, dramatist and literary critic, Niyi Osundare, advertises the book, which dwells on athletics, basketball, cricket, football, boxing, golf and most especially, tennis as “witty, bounteous and joyously literate.”

In the compendium, the author displays deep knowledge of these sports and also focuses on salient issues that affect each of them.

Deploying straightforward language, the author elucidates every topic for easy reading, while his authoritativeness in these sports makes the book a delight for sports columnists and reporters.

In the foreword, Bisi Lawrence, doyen of sports writing, says the book is not only for the young, as it also excites reminiscences among the ‘old cougers’, that rusty guild of sports addicts whose passion cannot be diminished by time.

In flashback style, the book explores the happenings of the past, coupled with the present, as well as

W

projecting into the future.

In Section One, the author dwells extensively on major highlights of the Olympic Games, most especially the feat achieved by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Germany. In the chapter, a section is also devoted for Florence Griffith Joyner “Flojo,” whom the author describes as the ultimate sprint queen.

For athletics buffs, the memories of the third World Track and Field Championships, held in Tokyo, Japan, was documented in the book for budding athletes. The significance of this article is the accuracy of time and events listed by the author.

Section Two focuses on basketball with the story of Hakeem Olajuwon opening the section.

Olajuwon, who left Nigeria unknown in search of the Golden Fleece in United States through the slamming and dunking game, became a global superstar.

The story of how Olajuwon just wanted to acquire education, but became a global star through basketball is well documented there.

The role of the media in any filed of human endeavour cannot be over-emphasised and the author in this part, attests to that by highlighting the significant impact the media has made in basketball leagues.

A portion of this section is also devoted to the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs of 1987/1988 season, with Olajuwon and Larry Bird enjoying prominence, while the exit of Magic Johnson is also documented in the section as well.

For novices willing to embrace cricket, Section Three gives them basic tips on the sport with pictorial representation of each action.

This section also embarks on extensive write-ups on cricket within and outside Nigeria, especially the rivalry among schools in Nigeria.

According to Dan Agbese in his preface, the author wrote in “effusive, superlative terms” about sports men and women and this was reflected in all the sections.

Football, which many say is the opium of the people,

Sports Spectacular and Mohammed Ali is a must read for students of Nigerian sports. is treated with gusto by the author. Here, he pays a lot of attention to Nigerian football.

From the return of Segun Odegbami to the exit of Christian Chukwu, Patrick Ekeji, Emmanuel Okala, the author x-rays the contribution of these Trojans to Nigerian football.

This section receives an extensive review from the author, who chronicles different issues in football ranging from coaches, players, matches to clubs and stars.

The section retrospects on football locally and interna-

Chuka Momah (left), Bisi Lawrence and Dele Adetiba at the media presentation of Sports Spectacular and Mohammed Ali…recently.

tionally, with the author trying to consider the evolution of football over the years in Nigeria.

“Those doyens of soccer included giants such as ‘Thunder-bolt’ Teslim Balogun, Dan Anyiam, Sam Ibiam, Isaac Akioye, John Dankaro, etc were imbued with patriotism and an unquenchable spirit for adventure. These luminaries “assaulted” the “white man’s” land. Playing often barefooted, they made commendable impressions,” the author writes.

As a historian, the author summarises how Nigerian football has grown in leaps and bounds churning out stars. What transpired during the 1998 World Cup is also captured in this section, which also touches on racism in football.

With his deep knowledge of boxing, the author gives an insight into some rules guiding boxing.

The section takes a broader look at the lives and times of great boxers like Sugar Ray Robinson; Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, as well as some of Nigeria’s greatest pugilists including Obisia Nwankpa, Hogan Bassey and Dick Tiger. From this section, it can be gleaned how from being a world military champion, Nwankpa became a gold medalist at the 1974 Commonwealth

Games in Christchurch, New Zealand.

With boxing taking up a sizeable chunk of the book, the author uses this section to display his thorough knowledge of the sport, regaling the readers with his rendition.

As a former president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and Confederation of African Tennis (CAT), the author devoted Section Seven for extensive reports on the game. Particularly, Nduka Odizor, whose feat in tennis is yet-to-be equaled by any Nigerian player (both living or dead), is celebrated here even as the minds of readers

are refreshed on Odizor’s achievements.

Articles bothering on tennis personalities like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Boris Becker, Monica Seles, Pete Sampras, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are also on parade. With this, the author recalls the past to report the present.

One significant feature of this section is the expository on the rivalry between Nadal and Federer, especially at Wimbledon.

The book, fascinating as it is to read, is also spiced up with pictures, which apart from illustrating some of the stories, also add to its aesthetics.

With his knack for details, the author has been able to put together a book that is sure to inspire young sports writers, as well as educate them on earlier happenings in the sports circles.

Additionally, the book shows the author’s versatility as well as his deep knowledge of sports generally.

As a unique collection, the book will remain evergreen with enlightened essays and commentaries, which Osundare believes has enriched and energised sporting discourse in Nigeria in the last three decades.

Perhaps, that prompted Lawrence to note that the author has exhibited “the knowledge of an expert; the exposition of factual detail enamoured of historians; the unpretentious delivery of master storyteller creating excitement with deadpan dexterity.”

To say the least, Sports Spectacular is a presentation of a variety of sports and sparkling recount of great moments and those athletes that made them.

For the younger generation, the book is a source of inspiration and a veritable booster of ambition.

As an “unputdownable” masterpiece, the book is for all ages and a standard for sports writing and reporting.

Momah has contributed enormously to sports development in the country. But just as Agbese put it, “This book is a celebration of one aspect of the author’s contributions – sports reporting.”

The book dwells extensively on the life and career of Mohammed Ali.

TheGuardian

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Adejoh Idoko Momoh

The Nigerian society does not encourage whistle blowers, if anything, it isolates them; refers to them as not loyal and bringing disrepute to their government or institutions. In truth, whistle blowers are passionate about organizational or national growth; they know that more accountable societies are the ones that function maximally. They also know that keeping official secrets or hiding acts of corruption only benefits a few individuals while exposing corruption works for the good of the whole of society.

WOULD often hear my friends say that ignoINigerians. rance is the biggest problem with Nigeria and I would giggle and imagine they were the ignorant ones. For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria’s principal dilemma is not ignorance, it is willful blindness.

If there is information that you should know and you somehow manage not to know the law concludes that you have chosen not to know and therefore are willfully blind. Perhaps, no country or government takes advantage of this concept more than Nigeria’s current government or its social media handlers. When you accuse the government of corruption, they quickly point you to the Freedom of Information Act and Nigeria’s relative press freedom. They argue that all the information you need is at your disposal if only you would ask for it.

Willful blindness is evident in Nigeria’s Finance Ministry where the Minister would boldly proclaim that $10.8 billion as opposed to $49.8 billion is unremitted to the Federation Account from Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation and feel like she owes no one an explanation. Willful blindness is evident in Nigeria’s Presidency where the President has ignored the National Assembly’s recommendation to sack a serving Minister who forged both her Master’s and Doctorate degree certificates just so she would be qualified for a Ministerial position. Or in Nigeria’s Independent Electoral Commission whose National Chairman would come on television, admit irregularities with the Anambra elections, yet refuse to cancel results from the same flawed elections and dare political parties to go to court. Willful blindness exists on large scales like these but it also exists on small scales.

An organization does not enroll its employees in its country’s Health Insurance Scheme the employees overlook this, being only too grateful that they have jobs in a country where more than half of its population is unemployed. A family that lives in Abuja’s metropolis does not have tap water, instead of complaining to the Water Board whose duty it is to provide water, they go buy an automatic water pumping machine only too grateful they can afford it. An employee gets paid half of his salary for a full month worked and instead of demanding an explanation from his employer, he is only too grateful he has some money to settle bills. All these are not examples of ignorance; they are examples of willful blindness.

The sad thing is, everywhere you go, they refer to the problem as uniquely theirs; the civil servant would say it’s a Nigerian problem. The family would say water scarcity is an Abuja

Just look at recent Nigerian examples and you would see why most Nigerians think whistle blowing is futile. The ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protests started in the face of a New Year fuel price increase; Nigerians came in unison, raised demands of an outright reversal of the increase amongst others, fast forward several years and all Nigeria has seen is a slight reduction in the increased pump price, a reduced number of fuel subsidy firms that still receive humongous subsidy payments and the retention of a corrupt oil Minister whose resignation was demanded by almost every Nigerian

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

Of willful blindness and whistle blowers

President Goodluck Jonathan problem. The underpaid employee would say it is an ‘XYZ organization’ problem. But the truth is it is a human problem. We are all under certain circumstances willfully blind. Most out of fear, some say it is futile to speak out, some just

conclude it is better not to see these things because sometimes considering everything that goes wrong would leave you truly horrified.

Just look at recent Nigerian examples and you

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’’.

Also join our on-line conversation

RISE GROUP

@risenetworks

21676F3E

Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com

Editor: MARTINS

OLOJA

.

ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125)

would see why most Nigerians think whistle blowing is futile. The ‘Occupy Nigeria’ protests started in the face of a New Year fuel price increase; Nigerians came in unison, raised demands of an outright reversal of the increase amongst others, fast forward several years and all Nigeria has seen is a slight reduction in the increased pump price, a reduced number of fuel subsidy firms that still receive humongous subsidy payments and the retention of a corrupt oil Minister whose resignation was demanded by almost every Nigerian.

See also the Oduah BMW scandal, as the story broke the Aviation Ministry released a statement saying it would launch an investigation aimed at finding the person who leaked official documents to the press, and then there is the wide media criticism that met Obasanjo’s open letter to Jonathan or the backlash that met Sanusi’s claim of the NNPC’s $49.8bn unremitted funds. When courageous whistle blowers speak out, it ceases to be about the message and all the questions it raises, it becomes about the messenger and his personal flaws.

The Nigerian society does not encourage whistle blowers, if anything, it isolates them; refers to them as not loyal and bringing disrepute to their government or institutions. In truth, whistle blowers are passionate about organizational or national growth; they know that more accountable societies are the ones that function maximally.

They also know that keeping official secrets or hiding acts of corruption only benefits a few individuals while exposing corruption works for the good of the whole of society. Take as example, as in the case of the NNPC and Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, if questions are raised as to the unremitted $49.8 or $10.8bn and the sum eventually is reclaimed from the few people who have pocketed it, wouldn’t that lead to funds for the development of National Infrastructure that would profit all Nigerians?

Imagine if the family described above makes the decision to demand the provision of water from the Water Board as opposed to purchasing an automatic water pumping machine; it benefits larger society as opposed to providing for only one family.

As things are, the Nigerian constitution guarantees basic freedom. The freedom of movement, even though venturing into a Boko Haram stronghold would be at your own risk: The freedom to speak or write without fear provided you do not accuse the government of corruption: the freedom of association provided the society approves of your association. What whistle blowers know is that true freedom does not exist if it is not used. This is why they are courageous enough to use this freedom, expose corrupt practices and are determined not to be blind or silent. As citizens of this great nation, if we all would see this country firmly placed on the path of sustainable development, we must make the conscious decision to shun willful blindness and to a large extent, all become whistle blowers.

• Momoh, 0816 933 9550 www.adejoh.blogspot.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

I

II

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

III

IV

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

IX

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

V

VI Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 VII

VIII Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

X

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

XI

XII

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 XIII

XIV Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

XV

XVI Tuesday, February 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com