Thursday 23 Jan 2014

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,810

N150

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Workers’ strike grounds hospitals, patients groan From Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu), Emeka Anuforo (Abuja), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City), Joseph Okoghenun and Wole Oyebade (Lagos) EALTH workers nationH wide yesterday made good their threat to begin a three-day warning strike. The strike grounded Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), general hospitals and teach-

• Families move relatives to private health centres ing hospitals.

When The Guardian visited Ikosi-Isheri PHC in Ketu, Lagos, in the early hours of yesterday, the place was almost deserted except for a few workers of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) who were on duty.

The PHC is located in the LCDA secretariat along Ikosi

Road, Ketu. When The Guardian demanded to see a doctor, a man, who sought anonymity, said that it was impossible because health workers, excluding the doctors, were on strike.

Mothers who had come for immunisation for their babies were later seen leaving the centre dejected. A woman

who came with her child said that the strike had frustrated her plans to immunise her baby with vitamin A vaccine.

For the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba, it was a double tragedy, as health workers have been on strike in the institution for about two weeks for almost the same issues

that led to the nationwide warning strike. When The Guardian visited the hospital yesterday, save for the presence of some locum workers who were at the security post and cleaning department, the once bubbly hospital almost looked deserted.

The gynaecology department was locked. Patients were virtually absent from the outpatient department - a scenario that also hit the acci-

dent and emergency department. Some other essential departments like radiography, medical laboratory and oncology were closed at the time The Guardian visited. But an official of the hospital said that the Guinness Eye Centre operated in the early hours of yesterday.

Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) / AssemCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Students’ invention holds potential for foolproof elections

By Uju Atueyi N invention by two stuA dents of the Lagos State University (LASU) may be all the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to launch the country on the path to credible elections.

The students invented an electronic voting system, found to be fast and efficient.

It was used by the university’s students for the election of

DETAILS ON PAGE 49 their principal officers without any hitch.

Briefing journalists on the dynamics of the initiative, the institution’s Head, Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Prof. Olatunde Oni, explained that Jubril Issa, from Kogi State and Kolawole Majeed Abiodun, 28, a Lagos indigene, both final year Electronic and Computer Engineering students, developed a software for online voting, which the President Goodluck Jonathan (second left); Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze Akuabata (left); Chairman, Aliko Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland …yesterday.

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Reps move to compel release of varsity certificates From Adamu Abuh and Terhemba Daka, Abuja ELIEF is under way for R graduating students of the nation’s universities as the House of Representatives has passed a bill, which seeks to make it mandatory for the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure the immediate issuance of certificates to them after the completion of their programmes.

• Summon minister over Bonga oil spill • Want NSA, service chiefs to probe bombing in Borno The House passed for second reading a bill to amend the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to make it mandatory for immediate re-

lease of certificates to graduating students in all tertiary institutions in the country.

According to the sponsor of the proposed legislation, Dr.

Eddy Ifeanyichukwu Mbadiwe, when it is passed into law, the difficulty which graduating students face before their certificates are issued to them

years after leaving the institutions would be eliminated.

Mbadiwe who is the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety and National Security, received the support of other members who contributed to the debate and the

Agriculture, security, others top agenda at AU Summit –Page 11

bill was referred to the Committee on Education for further legislative action.

The House also condemned unequivocally the killings by nomadic herdsmen and local farmers and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently convene a meeting of stakeholders and leaders of concerned ethnic groups on how to put an end to this deCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Reps summon minister over Bonga oil spill CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 velopment.

Apparently disturbed by the incessant conflicts between herdsmen and local farmers in various parts of the country, the chamber, which adopted the prayers of a motion introduced by Sunday Karimi yesterday, also urged governments at all levels to implement the findings of all reports set up over time in the attempt to resolve the issue.

The House noted with sadness, the continued attacks on communities across the country by herdsmen and the counter-attacks, which have become almost a daily occurrence.

Leading the debate on the motion, Karimi specifically lamented the conflicts which occurred on January 3, 2014 during which the Emir of Jere in Kaduna State, Dr. Usman Sa’had, who is also the husband of Senator Nemadi Usman almost lost his life and was now critically ill in a hospital after he was brutalised while trying to mediate between the warring parties.

The lawmaker also drew the

cred duty of any government as enshrined in the country’s constitution was to guarantee the security and welfare of the people.

The House passed a resolution, which called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the InspectorGeneral of Police to urgently investigate the recent bomb attacks in Borno State, which killed over 40 people.

The parliament further urged the service chiefs to set up a committee that will investigate the causes of the wanton destruction of lives and property.

The House’s decision came following a motion introduced by Kaka Kyari Gujbawu (PDP, Borno).

While commending members of the ‘civilian JTF’ for their efforts in capturing the suicide bomber after the attacks, the lawmakers resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee made up of its “committees on security, army, police and lawmakers from the affected communities to visit the affected constituency for an on-hand investigation with a view to uncovering the immediate and remote causes of the dastardly act and report the same to the Honourable House in two weeks.” also be used for national elecThe House also urged the Nations, because it has zero toler- tional Emergency Manageance for manipulation.” ment Agency (NEMA) “to Issa, the project’s inventor, immediately deploy their men who will be 22 in June, is al- and materials to alleviate the ready looking forward to sufferings of hundreds of innowhen INEC would have a look cent victims so affected.” at his invention and adopt it.

Earlier in his motion, GuHe told The Guardianthat Abio- jbawu expressed concern that dun assisted him as they both at a time when the Maiduguri worked on their school proj- people were enjoying uninterect, which resulted in a sub- rupted peace for nearly nine stantial improvement on months, the bomb attack came what he had initially invented. to consume “about 50 innoattention of the chamber to the January 6, 2014 incident where more than 30 people were killed and many more were injured in an attack in Riyom Local Councl Area of Plateau State allegedly by gunmen believed to be herdsmen.

He further told the parliament that on January 8, 2014, a similar crisis broke out in Ketu of Yewa Local Council Area of Ogun State which led to the loss of lives and property as well as the incident on January 13, 2014 where herdsmen riding on about 100 horses raided the border towns and villages in Guma Local Council Area of Benue State killing two soldiers and 18 farmers.

“The conflict, which lasted for about three days left over 3,000 people internally displaced and are now living in various camps in Daudu, Ortese and Yelwatta areas of Benue, far away from their ancestral homes,” he said, adding that “about 30 people were also killed in an attack on Agatu community of Benue State.”

While urging the chamber to address the ugly trend, Karimi pointed out that the most sa-

Students’ invention for foolproof elections CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 university management found attractive.

He said: “The ICT department saw that it was a good innovation. We made some suggestions and the project was modified into what we have today.

“The application makes use of biometric features to curb multiple voting. The voting application has also been developed online and all the other LASU campuses in Epe, Ikeja and Surulere have been connected, so students (on those respective campuses) are voting (last Monday) in their various campuses, while the central server, on the main campus (in Ojo) is collating the results online.

The winners will emerge a few minutes after the voting.

What we have deployed can

cent souls and inflicted mortal injury to nearly 100 people.”

He said the House was aware of “the justifiable fear of the people that the explosion of January 14 is not unconnected with the preceding rancorous political events of two days that culminated in the bomb blast,” adding that “the wicked event generated anger, leading to the razing down of two central offices belonging to a political party.”

He said many attacks in the past went without any proper investigation, which he said “could portend a serious danger to the successful execution of the 2015 elections.”

Contributing to the debate, Abdulrahman Terab (APC, Borno) said the matter should be taken seriously, noting that “today it is Borno, tomorrow it may be another state.”

Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal subsequently referred the motion to the committees on defence, army, navy and air force for further legislative action.

In a bid to assuage the feeling of some communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta following the December 20, 2011 Bonga oil spill, the House summoned the Minister of Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The communities which have demanded compensation include Warri North, Warri South West and Burutu Local Government Councils of Delta State as well as Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Councils of Bayelsa State.

The initiative by the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Mrs Uche Ekwunife, was aimed at averting the

shutdown of operations of major international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta area.

The Coordinator of the communities, Mr Monday Amona, who confirmed the summons explained that the community and youth leaders in the affected communities were on the verge of picketing oil companies in the Niger Delta area and distrusting their services having failed to peacefully resolve the issue with Shell.

He said : “Fortunately, the affected communities got a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Environment inviting us and Shell as well as other regulatory and administrative bodies to a meeting on 28th of this month.

“Being law-abiding citizens, we have to stop our earlier plan because all we are asking is the opportunity to bring Shell to the table and let them do what is right for the people.”

Stating that the communities’ resolve to picket the IOCs was informed by allegations of connivance against some regulatory officials and Shell whose intention was to thwart compensation due them following the spill, he noted: “ NOSDRA, NIMASA, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as well as other administrative and regulatory bodies confirmed that the said pollutants did affect a large area of the sea, where our people carry out their fishing and other source of economic livelihood.

“Despite government authorities confirming the said pollutants and their effects on our health and socio-economic life, there is a need for a dialogue with a view to ensuring that the matter is resolved amicably,” Monday added.

According to him, part of the

reasons to picket the IOCs is as a result of the inadequacy of relief materials provided for the affected communities by NEMA. “We are appreciative of the efforts of NEMA that has given us some relief materials but they are grossly inadequate because the challenges facing these people can only be imagined.

“The affected communities with an average population of about 6,000 got a bag of rice, beans, salt, sugar, garri, a carton of soap and Milo . Other materials supplied were shared, while some communities did not benefit from the supplied relief materials.

“As such we are calling on NEMA and other organisations to still assist the affected communities with more relief materials to cushion the present hardship, hunger, etc that the communities are facing pending the National Assembly and/or government intervention in the matter with a view to calming the agitations and tension which may lead to possible breakdown of law and order.

“It is our hope the intervention of the federal lawmakers this time around will yield a positive result and lay the matter and suffering of these people to rest once and for all.”

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were also invited among others.

The minister and others were expected to explain their roles over the effects of chemical dispersants used by Shell in the said communities.

The affected communities alleged that the dispersants led to disruption of their fishing activities and other sources of livelihood .

Families move relatives to private health centres CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 bly of Healthcare Professional Associations had declared a three-day warning strike beginning from yesterday after a meeting it had with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in Abuja last week’s Thursday to discuss various agreements they had with government.

Declaring the strike last week, the workers said the action was aimed at “protesting against the grave injustice and persistent industrial discrimination against our members” by the government; discriminatory practices against health professionals in the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in favour of doc-

tors’ Consolidated Salary Structure (CONMESS); continued reign of impunity, arbitrariness and non-implementation of duly approved schemes of service of members in hospitals and ministries; and selective and discriminatory increases in wages and allowances of one group in a multidisciplinary sector without commensurate treatment of other members of the sector.

When the strike began yesterday, medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, information and record officers participated fully. Security personnel, gatemen, hospital engineers, hospital technicians, hospital administrators among other essential staff also participated nationwide.

At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), patients felt the presence of the strike as health workers withdrew their services. An anonymous doctor said that he and his colleagues had been trying to fill the vacuum.

At the Ikorodu General Hospital, Ikorodu, the strike was effective. Even though there were babies in the incubator in the hospital, there was no electricity supply at the time The Guardian visited. Hospital engineers and technicians were said to have joined the strike.

Doctors were, however, seen on duty savaging the situation.

At both the University College

Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and the Adeoyo General Hospitals, the health workers except medical doctors abandoned their duty posts and patients were left unattended to.

To, however, avoid total paralysis, doctors were seen in all the hospitals visited especially at the UCH and New Adeoyo State Hospital, carrying out skeletal services.

It was learnt that a similar industrial action affected activities at the community health centres at the local council level and it became intense at those places because of nonavailability of medical doctors to perform skeletal services.

Workers at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State yesterday joined in the strike. As early as 9:00 a.m. yesterday, notices about the strike by the UNTH branch of the health workers association were seen being posted at strategic locations while members began to withdraw their services.

But the Chief Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Cyril Keleze, told The Guardian that the management had made arrangements to ensure that services were rendered during the warning.

He said, however, that though the strike had been declared, its effect would only be noticed from today.

He further restated the appeal by management to the striking workers to embrace dialogue. At the University of

Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), patients were turned back at the various wards and clinics.

One of the patients, Kingsley Nwangbo, said that he came early from Warri, Delta State, to book an appointment with the consultant to enable him to return home. He said all patients who had already deposited their cards and made some payments were later told to withdraw them by the nurses who told them about the strike.

“One of the nurses, a matron, told me that the junior nonhealth workers of the hospital were on strike. She said it was a nationwide thing,” he said.

He lamented the difficulties patients were made to pass through in the hospital by the consultants who might not even show up at all.

The Chairman of the Edo State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro, however, said it would not affect medical activities in the hospital.

When contacted on phone, UBTH Group PRO, Mrs. Kehinde Ibitoye, said she was on casual leave and not on duty.

UBTH is the only functioning tertiary/referral health institution serving Edo and Delta states.

In most hospitals in Abuja, patients who were on admission were hurriedly discharged while doctors attended only to cases of emergency.

There were no nurses to offer ancillary services while records

of patients could not be accessed, as the workers responsible for them kept away from work.

The same scenario was at the National Hospital where doctors were seen attending to patients in need of dire emergency medical interventions.

But the situation was different in private hospitals where services were rendered in full, despite the high cost of services there.

A patient at the National Hospital, Kunle Babalola, urged the warring parties to consider the plight of patients and resolve the issues quickly.

He told reporters: “We should all put our own effort to make Nigeria great not to take from Nigeria. Everybody wants to take from Nigeria. We should circumcise our minds from the usual way of grabbing. I had an appointment in the hospital, but when I came they said the health workers were on strike.

“Everybody is mounting pressure on Jonathan. Is it because of where he comes from? Why are people bent on sabotaging his government?

“These health workers have a choice. If you feel you are not comfortable with the system including the salary and whatever, you can resign and look for an alternative work that you can be comfortable, with and leave others. We are bent on sabotaging the system. I

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Thursday, January 23, 2014 3

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4 | NEWS Thursday, January 23, 2014

News One feared killed in Borno • Boko Haram suspects arrested From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri IOLENCE again erupted V yesterday in Borno State, as gunmen suspected of Boko Haram insurgents, attacked Government Girls’ Secondary School, Wulgo in Gambouru/Ngala Council Area of the state, killing a teacher and injuring another.

In a related development, six Boko Haram terror suspects were yesterday arrested in Maiduguri by members of the state Vigilance Youths Group (BVYG) at a petrol station near the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot while buying fuel.

According to an eyewitness, Ibrahim Isa and police authorities at the Gambouru/Ngala Divisional Police Station, three terror suspects came on motorcycles and shot dead a teacher, Mallam Lawan Manga and injured his colleague, Akura Walbintu, resident in the school premises.

Rights groups want new constitution From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief EMBERS of the Nigeria M Consensus Group and Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) have canvassed a new constitution for the nation, saying that the 1999 Constitution, which the civilians inherited from the military, cannot not sustain Nigeria’s democracy.

The groups, in a statement yesterday, therefore, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to jettison the plan to send the resolutions of the forthcoming national conference to the National Assembly as part of inputs for the on-going constitution amendments.

The groups, in a joint statement signed by their spokesperson, Olawale Okunniyi, said: “Decree 24 of 1999 dubiously christened 1999 Constitution is at the root of the current political strife and tension in the land”, adding that “no amount of amendments can transform it to a constitution legitimately owned by the Nigerian peoples”.

NBA lauds Tambuwal over calming Reps’ rowdy session From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja HE Nigerian Bar Association T (NBA) yesterday commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, for calming frayed nerves during a rowdy session that marred the resumption of sitting at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

Although a statement by the President of NBA, Okey Wali (SAN), sought to “commend” the leadership of both Houses of the National Assembly for the sense of purpose and responsibility exhibited in their respective welcome addresses to their members”, it singled Tambuwal whom Wali described as a “professional colleague” for special praise.

Senior Food and Nutrition Security Adviser, New Partnership for Development (NEPAD), African Union, Ms. Boishepo Bibi Giyose (left), Governopr Rauf Aregbesola, Lord Cameron of Dillington, World Bank's Lead Health and Education Specialist, Professor Donald Bundy and the Chief of School of Feeding and Chronic Hunger Unit of the World Food Programme, Mr. Peter Rodrigues at the All Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development (APPG) and Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College, meeting in London... yesterday

Senate summons IG over Rivers crisis From Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

• PDP lauds Ikwerre youths on protest

ORRIED by the lingering W crisis, the Senate yesterday resolved to invite the Inspector

Rivers Movement (SRM) by the men of Rivers State Police Command, occasioned by sporadic shootings on January 12 at the Rivers State College of Art and Science, Obio/Akpo Local Council Area.

This followed a motion sponsored by Senator Wilson Ake, Rivers-West and 47 others, on the recent shootings and disruption of political rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ake, in the lead debate, noted that the state, under the present leadership of the Rivers Police Command, has witnessed too many attacks professionally unleashed on the citizens of the state.

He also observed that the increasing and continuous at-

General of Police, Mohammed Abukabar, on account of the recent fracas in Rivers State and the alleged involvement of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, in the feud.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended youths of Ubima, home-town of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and other youths of Ikwerre extraction, for protesting against the governor’s alleged maladministration.

Also, the Senate condemned the disruption and interruption of the proposed peaceful rally and gathering of Save

tack, disruption and arbitrary obstruction of peaceful gatherings in the state would create more anxiety, panicking and eventual loss of confidence in the security system, which are meant to protect and defend all citizens.

But for the timely intervention of the Senate President, David Mark, the debate would have resulted in a rowdy session as Senators Ahmed Lawan, Yobe-North and Alkali Jajare, Yobe-South, engaged Senator James Manager in a near fisticuff.

The cause of the broil, it was later gathered, was that Lawan, in an attempt to interrupt George Sekibo during his contribution on the motion, was

challenged by Manager.

The argument attracted the attention of Senator Jajare, who emerged from the rear in readiness for a physical battle with Manager. The two principal actors later apologised and embraced each other.

Sekibo, though not formally against the motion, took Ake and co-sponsors on some basic questions.

He demanded to know if the continuous violence or quarrels reported in Rivers State involved only one party, whether the rally was political in nature or organised by a non-governmental organisation as was reported and whether the organisers obtained Police permit as re-

quested by the law before embarking on the rally.

He said: “I will never support any of my colleagues being harassed because what happens to one senator today may happen to another tomorrow. But I have four basic questions to ask on the motion at the end of which we shall know whether I am in support of the motion or not.

“Does it take one man to create violence? Does it take one man to quarrel? I know it takes more than one person to quarrel, except in a case of a mad person.

“I raised this question because when we are talking about problems in Rivers State, it looks as if it is only one party that is quarreling. We don’t get to hear of the contributions of the other party.

World Bank, others provide N47.8b for jobs in N’Delta From Karls Tsokar, Abuja O tackle unemployment in T Nigeria, the World Bank and European Union (EU) have earmarked N47.86 billion ($300m) for the financing of job creation programmes in Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, under the State Employment and Expenditure For Results (SEEFOR) project.

The project is part of the two global bodies’ contribution to the amnesty programme and to improve the living standard of people in the four states.

This was disclosed yesterday in Abuja by the National Planning Commission (NPC) Secretary, Ntufan Ugbo, at the national dialogue on “The Imperatives for An Efficient Monitoring and Evaluation System for Effective Implementation of the SEEFOR Project”, organised by the NPC in collaboration with the World Bank.

Ugbo said the choice of the two areas, controlling unemployment and improving

public financial management, “is consistent with government’s commitment towards addressing the two issues of unemployment and governance”, as these have led the youth to vices that are inimical to national development and crime.

He said in realising the SEEFOR project objectives, there is need for all partners to deepen their relationships, “considering that the funding from the International Devel-

opment Association in the sum of $200 million and additional $100 million is critical to the realisation of the project development objective.”

“The overall objective of the project is to ensure improvement in standard of living of citizens and also enhance financial management process in the Niger Delta region and by extension, Nigeria.

“A credible monitoring and evaluation framework for the SEEFOR project has been es-

tablished under the guidance of the national project coordination unit with technical support from the World Bank office”, he stated.

The dialogue’s theme, is aimed at entrenching the principle of accountability and transparency in the management of projects in the respective states, besides to create the right synergy between the policy makers at the federal and state levels and of course, underscore the rele-

vance of monitoring and evaluation for the effective implementation of the SEEFOR project.

Also speaking at the event, the World Bank Lead Public Sector Governance Specialist and Task Team Leader, SEEFOR Project, Mr. Jens Kristensen, said all the beneficiary states’ governors have provided their counterpart funding in which the pilot phase of the programme would help to create between

Electricity local content law takes off next month, says NERC From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja O avoid what happened in the oil and gas sector where technology and capacity were initially imported, Nigeria’s local content law for the electricity sector will take off next month, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

A statement from NERC quoted the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi,

T

as disclosing this yesterday during a presentation at a forum in London.

Amadi said: “We have a local content regulation that by February should become law. We don’t want what happened in the oil and gas sector, where after 50 years Nigeria is still importing technology.

We have come up with a local content regulation that provides a framework for every

company to begin to localise both technology and services.”

He added: “For example, a meter provider should, within the next five years, set up a factory in Nigeria. This is to ensure that the spill-off from electricity reform goes to enhance the economy of the nation”.

Amadi pointed out that the power sector local content law in this early stage of the transition, was intended to avoid the

mistakes made in the oil and gas sector, which is still dominated by expatriates 50 years after.

Amadi also told the gathering that power supply is expected to hit 7,000mw by the end of this year as increased capacities are expected from the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) coming on stream, while generation benchmark is set at 20,000mw by 2017.

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NEWS Thursday, January 23, 2014

FEC okays N28.1b for FCT district’s infrastructure From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja OWARDS the provision of infrastructure in the newly opened district of Wasa in the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N28.1 billion for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to drive its expansion plans.

The new district is within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and covers 367 hectares of land. The FCT Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide, and Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, while briefing State House correspondents after yesterday’s FEC meeting, said the new district was being opened to enable more residents of the territory own their own houses.

Akinjide said the new policy was introduced having realised that the old policy of mass housing has failed to meet the desired objective of providing safe and affordable houses for the teeming majority of Nigerians living and working in the territory.

According to her, “the scope of the contract covers a total land area of 367 hectares in Wasa District and includes site clearance and earth works, road walkways, culverts, water drainages, sewage drainage treatment, water supply distribution network, electrical power supply and street lighting.

T

Muazu apologises to G-5 govs, others From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

• Lamido chides PDP NWC for ignoring defectors

N a tacit rejection of the approach of his predecessor to the administration of the party, the new Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Muazu, yesterday tendered a public apology to all governors, lawmakers and all who had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), appealing to them to return.

In his remark while receiving the Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who had paid him a solidarity visit at the PDP National Secretariat, Muazu assured that his leadership would look into all injustices and wrongs done to the defectors and other aggrieved members.

He asked Lamido to assist him in talking to the defected governors ahead of the delegation that the PDP leadership would send to them in the course of the proposed reconciliation drive.

“Whatever be the case, I appeal to them (defectors) to let

us correct it and move ahead.

We will look at the various things that made our party to shrink in size,” he said. “We are going to be bold to correct whatever injustice had been done.

“Please talk to the G-5 governors on our behalf before we go to them; appeal to their sense of patriotism; appeal to their sense of commitment to the PDP because PDP is Nigeria. Let us accept peace and move forward. I have seen the need to very soon form a high level committee to undertake genuine reconciliation in the party.”

He added: “I will like to appeal to you (Lamido) to be part of us, come with us to see all those who had been offended to tell them that we are sorry. Again, I appeal to all who had gone to come back home. We will deepen internal democracy so that if we succeed, anybody with our ticket will be sure of victory during elections.”

I

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Earlier, in a bitter but frank tone, Lamido described as very unfortunate the circumstances that culminated in the defection of five governors, National Assembly members and other key PDP members from the party.

Lamido, who was the first governor to pay Muazu a solidarity visit since he was appointed chairman last Monday, reviewed the situations that led to the formation of PDP in 1998, submitting that the party had no business indulging in exercises or taking decisions that could jeopardise democracy.

He reminded Muazu of the difficult task facing his leadership, pointing out that transparency and total confidence must be restored.

And turning to members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), who served under Bamanga Tukur, Lamido lamented that instead of making efforts to pacify the defected governors, the mem-

bers ignored them.

“It is too bad that you the NWC members were saying no problem when governors and parliamentarians were defecting,” he said. “But I am worried because the party’s primary goal is to keep winning. You (Muazu) must try to get them back.

“But the task of bringing them back will not be an easy one because ego is involved now. Their ego has been bruised, they felt insulted, discriminated against, rejected and embarrassed by their own party.

“Our brothers and sisters who left are in pains for leaving the party they so much loved. They will also be in so much pains to agree to come back to PDP. Please reach out.”

He further advised the PDP chairman to be independentminded and fair in carrying out his assignment, saying: “Don’t feel owned by anybody. If things are being done wrongly, say it.”

Oil marketer’s N963.7m subsidy claim fraudulent, says EFCC

By Bertram Nwannekanma N investigative officer A with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed, has told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril, did not import the petroleum product for which he obtained N963.7 million subsidy payment from the Federal Government.

In his testimony yesterday at the resumption of Jubril’s trial before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, Mohammed said he was a part of the special team that investigated the fraud in the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme.

Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Seidu Atteh, the witness told the court that investigation carried out by the team revealed that the defendant did not import the products as he had claimed to the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

According to him, the defendant actually obtained the products from other vessels within Nigeria, noting: “The defendant claimed that there was a ship-to-ship transfer of the product between the mother vessel, MT Overseas Lima, and the first daughter vessel, MT Delphina.

“According to him, the said transfer took place between January 26 and 27, 2011, at offshore Cotonou in Benin Republic.

However, our investigations showed that MT Overseas Lima was not in West African coast during that period hence it was impossible for the transfer to have taken place.”

President, Nigerian Economic Society, Prof. Olu Ajakaiye (left); Economic Adviser to the Governor of Cross River, Prof. Ndem Ayara and Mr. Moses Akpobasal, at the National Policy Dialogue on Monitoring and Evaluation of State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) project in Abuja…yesterday

Panic as accused killer of Funsho William slumps in dock

By Joseph Onyekwere T was confusion, panic at Ibosere, the Lagos High Court, Igyesterday as Musa Maina, a defendant in the ongoing trial of the alleged killers of Funsho Williams, slumped in the dock.

Maina, the second defendant in the suit, slumped during an argument on whether the prosecution should be allowed to collect fresh blood samples from the defendants for forensic investigation.

The suspect, standing trial alongside Bulama Kolo, David Cassidy, Tunani Sonani, Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariabie, has been in prison custody since 2006 and is suspected to be asthmatic.

He slumped barely 45 minutes after they were put in the dock and was assisted to his feet by is co-defendants. However, the incident drew the at-

Patients groan as strike bites harder

tention of Justice Adeniyi Adebajo, who ordered that he should be allowed to sit down.

When the trial proceeded, the now seated Maina slumped again, thereby creating unease in the court.

Worried at the development, as people made frantic efforts to save the situation, Justice Adebajo ordered his support staff as well as prison authorities to get an ambulance.

He was eventually taken to the clinic about 25 minutes after the incidence as a nurse, five minutes after the court had resumed sitting, carried him into a Lagos State ambulance, assisted by two prison wardens.

Consequently, Adebajo fixed February 20 for ruling on whether the prosecution could collect fresh blood samples for forensic examination from the suspects.

The state government had in

April told the court that the exhibits collected for forensic evidence from the defendants at the commencement of the case, including Funsho Williams’ eyes, have been damaged due to epileptic power supply.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to the state, E.I. Alakija, reminded the court of the pending application.

She also brought to the court’s attention a motion on notice dated October 28, 2013, seeking an order of court to take blood samples from the defendants for forensic examination.

Alakija said the prosecution relied on all nine paragraphs of its written affidavit, citing authorities that allow for samples to be collected when trial in a criminal case is ongoing.

Objecting her prayer, counsel to the defendants, Okezie

Agbara, in a nine-paragraph counter-affidavit, told the court that the prosecution cannot open investigation at this stage of the trial. He contended that there are no samples to match them eventually, “since the prosecution said the initial samples have been destroyed by lack of electricity.”

However, Justice Adebajo interjected, asking the defence counsel if he watches crime investigation on DSTV, adding: “Evidence obtained from crime scene can be kept for 12 years and still valid. Such evidences obtained from wood and clothes do not need electricity for preservation.”

All the same, Agbara contended that an accused person should be prosecuted within reasonable time, noting that since the matter has dragged since 2007, allowing the prosecution to collect fresh samples would further delay the

think this profession has ethics. But the only ethics here in Nigeria is money. A doctor or any other health worker can see a patient and walk pass, it is not proper. They don’t have human feelings but they have pocket feelings.

If you have human feelings, you will do your work.”

He went on: “If they are comparing themselves with councilors, governors or other professions, they should leave the medical field and join politics. There are bad eggs who are bent on disorganising the system.”

The Spokesperson for the National Hospital, Tayo Haastrup, confirmed that the strike affected major services at the hospital, urging the health workers to reconsider their action.

He said: “Resident doctors embarked on strike. At the end of the day, it was suspended. We also had the NMA warning strike. Government was able to meet with the doctors and it was called off.

“This year again, JOHESU, comprising the health workers is embarking on its own strike. I believe as others were called off, this also will be called off.”

He went on: “However, it should be noted that the health sector is a delicate and important sector; lives are involved and during the strike in the health sector, there can be loss of lives. That is why it is important to address issues in the health sector to ensure that everything is alright. We also call on all the health workers to please have a mind that their work is to save lives; this is very important. They should be able to listen to government, go back to the negotiation table so that this strike will be called off. And, consequently, we will not be having strike from time to time. What do you think the impact of this strike would be on public hospitals in Nigeria as private hospitals have been the usual beneficiaries of this type of development?

“You see, don’t forget that members of staff of the private sector do complain too; they do have their grievances which are amicably resolved.

But, hospitals in the public sector, of course, government has the mandate to take care of hospitals in the public sector. When we have issues about strike of this nature, of course, sickness is not palatable to anybody; people have to seek an alternative. And, the alternative is the private hospitals. Within the period of strike, either warning or full, there is no way it will not affect the patronage of public hospitals. It will also affect the full services in the public hospitals. People that cannot even afford to pay at the private hospitals come to the public hospitals. And, that will be a gap at that particular period.

“We are happy that this strike is not lasting too long but the most important thing is settlement. It is not the issue of whether the strike is affecting the public or whether the private sector is the beneficiary of this at this particular time, we should look at service to the people, service to patients and service to the health sector.”

Thursday, January 23, 2014 NEWS 7

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Prest promises to tackle insecurity in Delta

By Tunde Akinola N aspirant in the 2015 A governorship election in Delta State, Tony Prest, has

Over 20 thousand worshippers at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar during Pastor E.A Adeboye ministering in Calabar

Court to hear application on Nollywood leadership tussle

By Joseph Onyekwere

TLM, experts urge action against leprosy spread, rising diabetes cases From Charles Coffie Gyamfi (Abeokuta) and Itunu Ajayi (Abuja)

FEDERAL High Court, LaHE Leprosy Mission A gos yesterday fixed March T (TLM) Nigeria has re24, 2014 to hear an originating vealed that there are still summons filed by a Nollywood Actor, Emeka Ike, against The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) over leadership tussle.

The judge fixed the date to enable AGN file a counter affidavit in response to the plaintiff’s suit.

When the case was mentioned, Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Malcolm Omirhobo, told the court that the case was fixed for hearing of the plaintiff’s summons and prayed the court to proceed.

Trial judge, Justice James Tsoho, however, refused to hear the suit on the grounds that the defence was absent in court and had yet to file a response to the suit.

He, therefore, adjourned the case to March 24, to enable AGN file their counter affidavit to the suit.

Ike had gone to court on July 25, 2013, to challenge the formation of an “illegal” government coined “National Unity” to run the affairs of the guild. .

cases of the disease across the country, lamenting alleged lack of any concrete effort or political will power by the government to check its spread.

Similarly, diabetes experts yesterday warned of the rising cases of the disease in the country and urged Nigerians to undergo medical screening yearly.

At an event to mark the 2014 World Leprosy Day with the theme “Early detection, less disability, get involved” in Abuja yesterday, the National Director of TLM, Dr. Sunday Udo, said 3805 new cases of the disease were reported in 2013 alone, aside cases that may have gone unnoticed in villages and remote places.

Udoh, who explained that early detection of the

disease and prompt treatment would translate into less disability which would reduce the discrimination experienced by sufferers of the disease, decried alleged neglect of people suffering from leprosy by the government.

According to the TLM national director, 12 per cent of the recorded cases are already having deformities of various degrees due to lack of care while a whopping 10 per cent of those affected are children. He said the bacteria that spreads the disease is still very active in communities of those on the lower strata in the society, adding that the North Western part of the country accounts for the highest number of cases.

Udoh said part of the myth surrounding the disease such as the claim that it is usually spread through cockroach is unfounded and there is no truth in the insinuation that the disease is hereditary. He explained that children only

contact it after being exposed to their affected parents for a long period of time, unlike HIV/AIDS that could be transmitted from mother to child from the womb.

He stressed the need to search out for sufferers because leprosy is not a disease found if not searched for. This, he said, will help government not to be under the illusion that the disease is no longer in Nigeria.

Citing Liberia as an example of a country that is now under the scourge of the disease after declaring a no-case some years back, Udoh said the government of Nigeria needs to constantly cross check in order for the country to be given a clean bill of health in this regard.

He decried the negative attitude of people towards sufferers, saying there should not be basis for their continued separation from the rest of the people. According to him,

Anambra LP, PDP differ on cancelled Nnewi North council poll From Chuks Collins and Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka

• Govt liquidates N33b pension arrears

HE Labour Party (LP) in T Anambra State has called for release of the results of

sort at the GRA, Onitsha, added that he preferred laying foundation for projects when they have gone very high.

Obi explained that whether it is road construction or structural projects, he prefers to perform the foundation ceremony latter to avoid the past practice whereby people laid foundation for structures and soon abandoned them.

“Government had been able to meet her financial obligations, ranging from paying debts owned before I came into office, and liquidating arrears of pensions owned workers since 1999 to the tune of N33 billion, among others,” he said.

At a press briefing in Awka yesterday, a director in the Ifeanyi Ubah Campaign Organisation, Chief Maduka Okoye, warned against political unrest in Anambra should the electoral body insist on cancelling the poll.

He said: “It has become im-

the election in Nnewi North Local Council and swearing in of its chairmanship candidate, Lady Ifeoma Offodeme, as well as the eight LP and two All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) councilors whom the party claims won the election.

But the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has expressed dismay over the results being circulated by the LP after the council poll was called off by the State Independent Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile, Governor Peter Obi has expressed delight in government’s ability to liquidate all arrears accumulated by previous administrations in Anambra State from 1999 till date, which amounts to several billions of naira.

The governor, who spoke yesterday at the laying of foundation for the second arm of the Onitsha Hotel Re-

stated his resolve to address insecurity, which has become a major blight and a “recurring decimal” in the state.

According to him, security of life and property should be given priority if Delta State is to record meaningful development and establish conducive atmosphere that will attract foreign investors to contribute to achieving sustainable socio-economic development. “Delta has the resources and human capital to address our current state of insecurity,” he said.

Prest lamented that Delta, which was once a land of rel-

perative to shout out because LP will not allow a repeat of the Nnewi North Local Council election, which Labour Party won landslide before it was called off during collation at about 5.30pm on January 18, 2014 by the acting chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, when it dawned on them that the Labour Party was making a clean sweep of the poll.”

Okoye, who said he participated actively in the election, commended the police for dismissing the grounds on which the All Progressives Grand Alliance-led Anambra State government annulled the “widely acknowledged free and fair election.”

Okoye appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly, security agencies, community and religious leaders and other people of goodwill nation-

wide to prevail on Governor Peter Obi not to set the state ablaze through “a careless cancellation of an election that was free and fair.”

The Chairman of PDP in Nnewi North Council, Mr. Ifeanyi David, who spoke to journalists yesterday described the results being paraded by LP as “a frivolous claim capable of generating crisis.”

He wondered why anybody that is not an official of the electoral commission would arrogate the power to release such result to himself.

David pointed out that the election was called off before voting ended in some polling units, which, according to him, makes any speculated result untenable.

According to the PDP council chairman, the Nnewi North Local Council election remains in-conclusive while the PDP awaits the new date that would be fixed for the exercise. He, therefore, called on all the party faithful in the council to continue to be law abiding and wait for further directives on the election.

once a patient is cured of the disease, the only thing that could give such patient remembrance of it is the disability it left behind.

The diabetes experts spoke at the opening ceremony of a three-day Update Course on Diabetes and Hypertension, organised by the Talabi Diabetes Centre (TDC) in conjunction with the Ogun State Local Government Commission in Ijebu-Ode. The Coordinator of the TDC, Dr, Olubiyi Adesina, a consultant endocrinologist/diabetologist, in his opening remarks, lamented that many Nigerians who are diabetic are unaware of their condition until they undergo what he described as “opportunistic tests.”

Adesina suggested public private partnership to reduce what he described as a silent and major killer disease in the country, saying one of the ways of reducing the disease is through sensitisation of health workers as well as

ative peace and security, “has over the years become a haven for diverse criminal activities, including armed robbery, student-cult related violence, assassination, militancy, political thuggery, kidnapping, ethnic and communal violence.”

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, Prest said: “We will partner with Government Security Agencies (GSA) on better modern communication and surveillance equipment, and improved Logistics.

Community Policing will be given priority.

“We are determined to put an end to these and other types of criminal activities.

To this end, my administration shall enhance consultations and collaboration with registered trained local vigilantes, neighbourhood watch and communitybased security groups.”

The businessman said the Nigeria Police and foreign police units would be consulted for advice and assistance in crime fighting and deterrence, adding that state police units in the United States and Britain are already being considered for this purpose.

Prest, who is Chairman of Prest Group, said agreements would be reached with the Inspector General of Police to allow Delta State government retrain and equip all policemen deployed to state. “For example, Delta State will provide Wimax Radios for security organs, including vigilantes, and special anti-kidnapping units will be set up with SWAT training.

“We shall implement a statewide CCTV monitoring of hotspots, use of solar-powered street and community lighting, including full implementation of a Rogues Gallery Project whereby a database of all crimes and criminal activities will be captured and digitised. We are determined to put an end to these and other types of criminal activities,” Prest

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS Tuesday, January 23, 2014

20 out of 22 Kwara Assembly members defect to APC From Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin), John Akubo (Dutse) and Tunde Akinola (Lagos) WENTY out of the 22 members of the Kwara State House of Assembly yesterday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing Section 109 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution and Order 29 (b) of the House.

Presiding over the House, the Speaker, AbdulRasak Atunwa, who was one of the 20, had allowed each of the members to take their turn, explaining the reasons for them joining the APC, the party, which had before then been a minority party in the 24-member House.

The stand of the two members of the PDP in the House, Iliasu Mohammed (Olooru/Ipaye constituency) and AbdulFatai Salman (Ilorin-North) Constituency), could not be ascertained, as the two were absent at the sitting.

However, the Speaker cleared air on Mohammed, who is at present serving a three-month suspension from the House following alleged threat to a member of the House.

Atunwa said: “Mohammed had publicly made his stand known that he remained with the PDP but the other member’s stand (Salman) will soon be known.”

Meanwhile, the APC has said the party has not inaugurated the interim executive committee in Kwara and that anyone parading himself as the interim chairman of the APC in Kwara State is an impostor.

The party’s Interim National Secretary, Tijani Tumsah, said yesterday: “Our attention has been drawn to one Rev. Bunmi Olusona, who is parading himself as the interim chairman of the APC in Kwara State. We hereby state that our party has not inaugurated the interim executive committee in Kwara State and that the APC stakeholders in the state are working to find a convenient date for the inauguration.

And in Ondo, the state chapter of the APC, through the chairmen of the three legacy parties that formed APC, has

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• Confusion over authentic exco in Ondo • Jigawa CP orders arrest of party chief disowned media reports that presented Rotimi Akeredolu and Rotimi Fasakin as interim chairman and interim publicity secretary.

A statement by Noah Adesoji for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); Yemisi Aladesaye for All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Olalekan Obolo for Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said: “We, the chairmen of the three legacy parties wish to

state with all emphasis that nothing can be farther from the truth and those who are propagating this falsehood are on their own.”

The three chairmen stated that “the fact that this is coming at a time when the party is focused on mobilising enthusiastic party faithful for the forthcoming membership registration exercise, clamour for due process and civilised ethics, have reached

a deafening crescendo. In our dear country, we find this development a rather unfortunate and embarrassing distraction.”

In Jigawa, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Theophilus, has ordered that a chieftain of APC in the state, Alhaji Ishak Hadejia, be arrested and moved to the AIG Zone One office in Kano for questioning.

Theophilus, who gave the order yesterday on the directive of the AIG Zone One, Tambari Yabo Muhammed, during the post-election

Natural Gas (LNG) to Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation at Marmara LNG Terminal in Turkey.

The event was marked with a brief ceremony on board the NLNG Lokoja at the Marmara LNG Terminal, attended by senior NLNG officials including Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Babs Omotowa; Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Basheer Koko and Commercial Director, Mr. Patrick Olinma.

Also in attendance were Mr. Folusho Adeshida, deputy head of Mission at the Nigerian Embassy in Turkey, representing the Nigerian Ambassador and Botas Petroleum Chief Executive, Mr.

From Karls Tsokar, Abuja THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, has emphasised the need for members of the Police Command to see themselves more as representing Nigeria rather than their respective regions.

The IGP, giving this advice while decorating the newlypromoted Deputy Inspectors General (DIG) of Police and Assistant Inspectors General (AIG) of Police yesterday in Abuja, also told them that their new rank calls for rededication and recommitment to service more than before, as they are now part of the image of the Command.

“You are expected to conduct yourselves with high sense of responsibility, honesty and faithfulness at all times. You must do what you say and conduct yourselves in a manner that reflects you are representing Nigeria, not as representatives of the communities you come from. .

Aregbesola tasks govs on UBEC’s implementation From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo CALL has gone to governors A in the country to be committed to the implementation

Inspector General Police, Mohammed Abubakar (right) discussing with the DIG Administration, Suleiman Fakai and DIG CID, Peter Gana, during the decoration of the senior Police officers in Abuja … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

SERAP sues Fashola, seeks information on schools’ expenditure

By Bertram Nwannekanma (Lagos) and Kanayo Umeh (Abuja) ITING its right under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI), Lagos-based right group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has sued the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, to court over “alleged failure to release information and documents on the spending for the past five years on furniture and other facilities in some public schools in the

C

state.

The schools listed in the suit, which also had the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Ade Ipaye, as defendant include, Ewutuntun Grammar School in Mafoluku area of Oshodi; Ikeja Grammar School; Iloro Grammar School in Agege and Fagba Junior Grammar School, Iju Road.

SERAP, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, is seeking the order of the court to compel the Lagos State

government to release information on spending of the World Bank loan of $90 million meant to improve education in the 639 public secondary schools in the state and details of projects carried out to improve infrastructure and facilities across primary and secondary education in Lagos State.

The suit, marked F HC/L/CS/57/2014 was brought pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act and signed by SERAP Staff

NLNG delivers 3,000th cargo to Turkey IGERIA LNG Limited N (NLNG) has delivered its 3,000th cargo of Liquefied

meeting at Police Headquarters in Dutse, said it was due to an interview in one of the foreign electronic media credited to Hadejia.

The commissioner, who expressed the disappointment of his Command over the report, which alleged that a police officer was seen carrying ballot boxes, cautioned the media against sensational reporting.

He said the police might be compelled to brief their lawyer on the matter if the interviewee fails to produce evidence to back his claims.

IGP decorates new DIGs, AIGs

Mehmet Konuk and other members of the company’s management team.

Omotowa said in his remarks: “Today, we deliver our 3,000th cargo of LNG to Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation. We take pride in the fact that this delivery demonstrates the consistency and reliability of NLNG as a world-class energy supplier. It also underscores the excellent relationship we have with our customers. I also wish to recognise the diligence and dedication of our staff, the kind support of the government, our shareholders and our loyal customers. We remain fully committed to our aspiration to help harness the nation’s gas resources, and our vision to help build a better Nigeria.”

LNG Lokoja, one of the 23 vessels in NLNG’s fleet, with a 148,471 cubic metre capacity, sailed from Bonny Island Terminal in Rivers State on January 7, 2014, carrying 47,778,900 Million British Thermal Units (MMbtus) of LNG. NLNG’s first cargo to Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation was delivered on board LNG Lagos at Marmara in November 1999.

NLNG has loaded more than 200 cargoes for the Turkish energy company since the start of production at the Bonny Plant in 1999. NLNG currently supplies nearly 25 per cent of Turkey’s LNG imports.

From 1999 to 2013, NLNG has converted over 4 Trillion Cubic Feet (tcf) of associated gas

to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) for both export and domestic uses. In doing this, the company has positively impacted on the country’s gas flaring status, helping to improve the environment while converting a previously wasted resource into wealth for the nation.

In addition, Nigeria LNG plans to construct a seventh train to complement the existing six-train structure.

When in operation, Train 7 will boost the company’s total production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG and potentially increase Nigeria’s supply of world LNG demand to 10 per cent, bringing more value to government, shareholders, communities and local businesses, among others.

Attorney, Oyindamola Musa.

The plaintiff is arguing that under the FoI Act, it has “the right to request for or gain access to information, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution regardless of whether they are federal or state institution.”

According to the plaintiff, “the disclosure of the information requested would give the general public a true picture and a clear understanding of how much the government has spent to improve education in the 639 secondary schools in Lagos State and also promote transparency, which the governor of Lagos State has expressly canvassed.

The organisation is seeking a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the 1st defendant is under a binding legal obligation to provide the plaintiff with up to date information as requested in a letter dated December 1, 2013, addressed to the governor of Lagos State.

SERAP further sought for an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the first defendant to rescind the suspension of anyone, including principals of any of the schools mentioned above, for blowing the whistle or allowing journalists to cover the decayed infrastructure across primary and secondary schools in Lagos State.

of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) programmes in their respective states in order to turn around the fortune of primary education system and give basic education to every Nigerian child irrespective of their status.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State made the call in his speech at the 11th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) in Nigeria holding in Osogbo, the state capital.

Represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Governor Aregbesola, speaking on “Assuring and Sustaining Quality Basic Education Delivery In Nigeria”, said if UBEC programmes are to be sustained, it is pertinent to review them and implement them effectively.

Adeniran Ogunsanya College workers threaten strike over welfare

By Ujunwa Atueyi CADEMIC activities at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) will be shut down indefinitely on Monday, January 27, 2014, if Lagos State government fails to meet the wage demand of the Joint Staff Union of AOCOED. The ultimatum as contained in the press statement signed

by Chairman, Caretaker Committee, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), AOCOED, Eleso Timothy Taiwo; Chairman of Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education (SSUCOED), Adeyemi Ayeni; and Chairman of NonAcademic Staff Union (NASU), Adebayo Femi, stated that academic activities have been suspended temporarily but will be total with students’ protest if government fails to give positive response before Monday.

Factors like poor funding, non-payment of pensions and non-payment of 18 months’ arrears on CONPOCAS/CONTEDISS as earlier agreed with government are among the issues in contention.

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Thursday, January 23, 2014 NEWS 9

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PFN lauds Jonathan on anti-gay law From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City ENTECOSTAL Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has comP mended President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly for passing the same sex marriage prohibition law.

President of the PFN, Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude, described the enactment of the law as courageous.

In a statement issued in Benin City yesterday, Omobude described the action of the President as historic, coming at a time when humanity, “by the encroachment of strange values is gravitating towards godlessness.”

“The Nigerian people celebrate marriages between men and women. How can they now be told otherwise? To canvass a marriage between two people of the same sex is strange to us. The National Assembly did what is right and the President has done very well by assenting to the bill. He would have upset the nation if he had done otherwise,” the PFN President added.

He appealed to all Nigerians to stand firm with the President and called on the international community to show a high level of understanding for Nigeria’s rich cultural values.

UK APC tasks govt, INEC on free, fair elections

By Azeez Olorunlomeru HE United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) (UK) yesterday charged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections next year, warning that 2015 will not be business as usual.

Rising from its maiden meeting held at No. 18, Great Guildford Street, London, attended by notable leaders of the APC UK Merger Working Committee, which included the interim chairman, Alhaji Garba Sani; general secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Emokpaire, and others, the party said it would not tolerate the well-known fraudulent winning formula of the past, which subverted electoral rules and processes.

In his opening remarks, Sani said for the legacy parties, namely: ACN, ANPP, CPC and a faction of the APGA to come together to form a mega-party like APC is a monumental historical achievement in Nigeria’s political dynamics.

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Police arraign bank official in Edo over alleged kidnap SENIOR official of a new A generation bank in Benin City, Victor Ayemere, was yesterday arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Benin City for alleged threat to life/attempted kidnapping.

Ayemere was arrested by the police in Edo State following a petition by one Emekeme Joseph, who alleged that the bank manager had in October 2013, given false information to the police, portraying the petitioner as a kidnapper and in effect threatening his life.

Police prosecutor arraigned the bank official yesterday before Magistrate P. E. Asemota with charge number MOR/27c/2014 where he pleaded not guilty.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State (middle) speaking with one of the yet-to-be discharged victims of the January 14 Maiduguri bomb blast at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital during the governor’s visit to the victims…yesterday

Subscribers figure hits 238m, says NCC

By Adeyemi Adepetun IGERIA’s teledensity is now 87 per cent, going by latest subscriber statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday.

Besides, the installed capacity of telecommunications operators in the country moved from 240.6 million in September to 238.4 million in October 2013.

Teledensity or telephone density is the number of telephone connections for every hundred individuals living within an area. It varies widely across the nations and also between urban and rural areas within a country.

Analysts have said that telephone density has signifi-

N

cant correlation with the per capita GDP of the area, adding that it is also used as an indicator of economic development of the country or specific region.

Installed capacity is the total number of telephone lines, which the operators have capacity to accommodate at a particular period of time. It is a function of the amount of investment made by telecoms operators to expand their networks.

Already, the telecommunications operators in the country claimed that they have provided mobile coverage to 64 per cent of the population, even as they said the sector has attracted over $25 billion Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

According to them, despite the tough business environment in the country, the Inand formation Communications Technology (ICT) sector, whose contribution to the country’s GDP in 2003 was 1.06 per cent, presently contributes cent. per 8.53 Besides, they disclosed that the sector has been able to create over 20,000 jobs directly and about 1.1 million indirectly.

The operators informed that Nigeria’s teledensity grew by 2500 per cent between 2003 and 2013, adding that the sector grew its subscriber base by over 3000 per cent within the same period.

Apart from the various FDIs

the sector attracted in the last 12 years, the operators also claimed to have paid over N160 billion in taxes to the government with the country’s mobile coverage above 60 per cent.

Indeed, according to the NCC’s October 2013 subscriber statistics, Nigeria’s total connected lines fell from 171 million in September to 169 million in October. Active telephone lines in the country recorded a slight upward movement from 121.2 million in September to 121.9 million in October.

Indeed, the GSM players including MTN Nigeria; Globacom; Airtel and Etisalat have 119 million active subscribers and have connected

159 million Nigerians on their network.

The Code Division Multiple Operator including Visafone, Starcomms and Multilinks, which have sustained a downward profile in the country, currently battle to retain the loyalty of 2.4 million Nigerians. The Fixed wired and wireless operators, where moribund Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) could have delivered efficient service currently have 362,549 subscriptions.

Furthermore, the NCC industry data showed that MTN controls 47 per cent of the GSM market; Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat control 21 per cent, 19 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

Court threatens to strike out suit against Abiola, others

By Joseph Onyekwere USTICE Okon Abang of the JonFederal High Court, Lagos Wednesday threatened to strike out the fraud charges filed against Dr. Doyin Abiola and three others, if by the next hearing date, the police fails to produce the accused persons in court.

Abiola and others were charged with misappropriation of over N500 million belonging to defunct Integrated Microfinance Bank.

Only one of the four accused persons, Mr. Oladapo Bello was in court on Wednesday, a development which stalled their scheduled arraignment.

Wednesday was the third time the arraignment had to be re-scheduled due to the absence of either the accused

or the prosecuting counsel.

The prosecuting counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. David Kaswe, yesterday pleaded with the trial judge, Abang to issue a warrant of arrest on the absentee accused persons, but the judge rejected the application.

Abang said the accused having not been arraigned before him; the court was yet to have jurisdiction over them and therefore lacked the power to order their arrest.

He said failure of the police to arrest the accused persons and produce them in court showed that the prosecution was not prepared to proceed with the case.

The judge also rejected requests by the defence counsel that the charges be struck out on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to

comply with constitutional and procedural provisions, which required it to serve the charges and proof of evidence on the accused for a valid arraignment to take place.

“I will definitely strike out the charges, not on the account of the argument of the defence counsel, if by the next date the prosecution is unable to produce the accused persons in court.

“The police have the capacity to produce the accused person in court. They should not come to seek the assistance of the court”, Abang declared.

Apart from Bello, others charged together with Abiola are a former Managing Director of the bank, Akinteye Ademola and Jerry Orimovuohoma.

Orimovuohoma and Bello, together with Abiola were di-

rectors of the bank between 2006 and 2008.

Orimovuohoma was absent from court and was not represented by a counsel at Wednesday’s proceedings.

Ademola’s counsel, Mrs. Toun Ashiri, told the court that her client could not be in court because he was hospitalised.

Ashiri was the first to urge the court to strike out the charges on the basis that her client had not been served with the charges and other relevant documents.

This, she argued, was in breach of provisions of sections 36(6)(b) of the Constitution, Sections 347, 348 and 349 of the Criminal Procedure Act as well as Sections 3(a) and 4 of the Federal High Court Criminal Procedure Practice Direction 2013.

Abiola’s counsel, Mr. Jacob

Ladipo, also aligned himself with the argument.

The defence counsel also told the court that they had filed separate notices of preliminary objection challenging the competence of the charges instituted against their clients.

But the judge said: “With respect to the objection to the charge, it is in law that the accused must be present in court before their objection can be taken.

“I am not aware of any law and the counsel for the accused persons have not cited any authority that the accused can stay in the comfort of their room and file an objection expecting the court to make a pronouncement on it.”

Consequently, the judge adjourned the matter to February 10 for arraignment.

10 | Thursday, January 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PHOTONEWS

Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II during a meeting with the governor over the Ugborodo community crises at the Government House, Warri.

Vice President, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Lagos Chapter, Tope Aladenusi (left); Managing Director, Digital Jewels, Adedoyin Odunfa and Information Director (ISACA), Lagos, Uzo Odunukwe, during the courtesy visit of ISACA to Digital Jewel in Lagos.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Director of Commerce, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Hakeem Adeniji (left); Managing Director, Nutricima, Suneel Vasudevan; Member of Council, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Batholomew Brai and Marketing Director, Promasidor Nigeria, Kalyan Bandyopadyay, at the official launch of Nutricima Consumer Reward Mega Cash promo in Lagos.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Director, Training and Administration, Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology, Dr. Hassan Idris (left); Deputy Chairman of the Institute, Dr. John Ndanusa Akanya; Federal Capital Territory Administration representative, Mallam Isa Modibbo and Facilitator, Performance Evaluation Management Course 01314, Mallam Nurudeen Mohammed, at a training organized by the institute at the Armed Forces Staff Command College, Kaduna.

National Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Dr. Femi Olomola (left); National President, Association of Town Planning Consultants, Moses Ogunleye and Chairman, ATOPCON, Lagos chapter, Bisi Adedire, during the 2014 annual general meeting of ATOPCON Lagos chapter in Lagos.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Publicity Secretary, PDP South West, United Kingdom/Vice Chairman, Atono Oodua Collectives, Akin Bucknor (left); Chairman, PDP South West, United Kingdom and President, Atono Odua Collective, Kenny Olajide Aluko and Lagos PDP chieftain, Yinka Amos, during Aluko’s arrival in Nigeria. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Nmaka Tijani (left) receiving the ACE for Corporate Impact from Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Olufunmilola Ayebae during the ACE awards ceremony.

General Manager, Mass Mancit, Wole Abu (left); Head Marketing, 7up Bottling Company, Norden Thurston; General Manager, Value Added Services, Airtel Nigeria, Victor Bannerman-Chedid; Marketing Manager, Pepsi Cola, Shakeal Akrum; and Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, Adefemi Adeniran, during the joint promo press conference between Airtel Nigeria and 7up Bottling Company in Lagos.

PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

Thursday, January 23, 2014 11

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

WorldReport Agriculture, security, others top agenda at AU Summit

By Bola Olajuwon OR the next two weeks, Fcommunity the focus of the global will be on Africa as the 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) gathers steams with the theme, “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture: Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.”

Aside the theme, issues of food security, election of

new chairperson, violent clashes in some key member states like Central African Republic (CAR) and the newest independent country, South Sudan, as well as terrorism in Somalia and Mali among others will feature prominently.

Discussions formally kicked-off on Tuesday at the new conference centre of AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the 27th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) while the 22nd

Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) will end deliberations from January 30 to 31, 2014.

According to information made available to The Guardian by Information and Communication Directorate of AU Commission, the PRC is discussing agenda to be submitted to the Executive Council for adoption in preparation for the upcoming Heads of State and Government Summit.

UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after their tri-lateral meeting in Montreux…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Fiery exchanges over Assad’s fate at Syria peace talks HE biggest drive yet to end in March 2011, the two sides claim to represent the Syrian T Syria’s bloodshed was could not be further apart at people. If you want to speak marked by fiery exchanges the “Geneva II” conference in in the name of the Syrian peoyesterday as the warring sides and global powers clashed over President Bashar al-Assad’s fate at a United Nations (UN) peace conference.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon opened the discussions in Switzerland with a plea for differences to be set aside, but there was little sign of compromise.

Branding the opposition “traitors” and foreign agents, Syrian officials insisted Assad will not give up power, while the opposition said he must step down and face trial.

“After nearly three painful years of conflict and suffering in Syria, today is a day of hope,” Ban said. “You have an enormous opportunity and responsibility to render a service to the people of Syria.”

Meeting for the first time since the start of the conflict

Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The opposition arrived with a sole aim – toppling Assad – while the regime says any talk of removing the Syrian leader is a “red line” it will not cross.

“Assad will not go,” Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said on the sidelines of the conference, accusing supporters of the opposition of backing radical Islamist militants.

“If you want to support AlQaeda, go ahead,” Zohbi said.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem wasted no time firing a broadside at the opposition in his opening speech, which went on long beyond the allotted time of less than 10 minutes, forcing Ban to repeatedly ask him to wrap it up.

“They (the opposition)

ple, you should not be traitors to the Syrian people, agents in the pay of enemies of the Syrian people,” Muallem said.

Ahmad Jarba, the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, called on the regime to “immediately” sign a deal reached at the last peace conference in Geneva in 2012 setting out “the transfer of powers from Assad, including for the army and security, to a transition government.”

He said that would be “the preamble to Bashar al-Assad’s resignation and his trial alongside all the criminals of his regime.”

Syrian state television broadcast Jarba’s speech in a split screen alongside footage of death and destruction under the heading “Terrorist Crimes in Syria”.

Egypt laments exclusion as Obama invites 47 African leaders GYPTIAN government said E yesterday it was “very surprised” by a decision by its longtime United States (U.S.) ally to exclude it from a highprofile African summit being convened by President Barack Obama.

With the exclusion, Egypt joins international pariahs – Sudan and Zimbabwe – in the list of African countries not among the 47 invited to the August get-together.

But U.S. officials said that Egypt was ineligible to at-

tend because it is suspended from the African Union (AU) following the military’s overthrow of elected president Mohamed Morsi last July.

However, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Badr Abdelbati, said the U.S. decision was a “mistake” and displayed a “lack of vision”.

“Egypt was very surprised by the U.S. statement about its reasons, especially as the summit is not being held under the auspices of the African Union and is simply a

summit between the United States and African countries,” the spokesman said.

Washington stopped short of describing last year’s overthrow of Morsi as a coup, which would have triggered the automatic suspension of all aid.

But it halted a slab of its $1.5 billion a year in mainly military assistance last October in protest at the army’s failure to move more quickly towards a return to elected civilian rule.

The opening session of PRC included among others, a speech by the Chair of the PRC, a welcome remark by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and a group photo of ambassadors with commission members and the secretary general of the commission.

Meanwhile, the 24th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will hold from January 27 to 28 J 2014 at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa. The ministers of external or foreign affairs and other ministers or authorities designated by the governments of AU member states will deliberate on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised by the AU Commission during the last six months.

They will consider the activity report of the commission; the recommendations of the PRC on the implementation of previous decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures.

The Executive Council will also consider the report on the implementation of the of the Solemn Declaration

on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA); the report of the Commission on the Situation in the Middle East and Palestine as well as the report of the Commission on implementation of Assembly Decision on granting competence to the African Court of Justice and Human Rights to deal with International Crimes.

Moreso, one of the high moments during the Executive Council meeting will be the election of the 10 members of the Peace and Security Council for a twoyear mandate, as well as the election of the president and vice president of the PanAfrican University Council.

Meanwhile, the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of will launch the year 2014 as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security, marking the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

They will consider the report of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa, including the activities of the panel of the Wise along side the renewal of its membership.

Israel busts E’ Jerusalem’s Al-Qaeda cell SRAELI security agents have Imilitant arrested an Al-Qaeda-run cell in annexed east Jerusalem, which was planning to bomb the United States (U.S.) embassy, according to a spokesman for the prime minister’s office. “(The) Shabak arrested a terror cell from east Jerusalem that was operated by AlQaeda and planned, amongst other attacks, to bomb the U.S. embassy,” Ofir Gendelman wrote on Twitter, using the Hebrew term for the Shin Bet internal security services.

In a joint operation, the Shin Bet and Jerusalem police uncovered “a global jihad group from east Jerusalem which was operated from the Gaza Strip with the aim of carrying out major terror attacks in Israel,” a statement said.

It said the attacks the group were plotting included bombing the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, a double suicide bombing at Jerusalem’s International Convention Centre, a kidnapping of soldiers from the city’s central bus station and a bombing of a block of flats.

12

Thursday, January 23, 2014 www.ngrguardiannews.com

Adekoya

A N50 NIPOST Stamp 2013 to assist us in alerting President Jonathan on our job-creation effort that was being delayed by CBN. But it was shocking that after our first and only meeting, Kashamu, using Kasmal Financial Services (an unregistered company) went to negotiate a ‘further agreement’ with NIPOST (back-dated two months to August 2013), to duplicate our responsibility of September 14, 2012, on the project, for an illegal commission deductible from Federal Government’s revenue.

“The matter at hand is therefore a criminal case of Prince Kashamu using a fake company goods purchased or services rendered should the stamp duty project since 14th September, on a back-dated agreement, to fake locus stanbe denoted by an adhesive postage stamp 2012, and any other one is fake. worth N50 issued by NIPOST.” According to Mr. Adekoya of SBH, he was seek- di, in obtaining a Court Order by ex-parte motion against 22 banks,” he stated.

The project consultant and head of School ing an audience with President Goodluck When The Guardian contacted NIPOST office of Banking Honours, Mr. Adetola Adekoya Jonathan to draw his attention to the delay FCA, told The Guardian that while the compli- from CBN when an Ogun State traditional ruler in Abuja, the Postmaster-General, Alhaji ance circular by the CBN to the banks is being advised him to seek the support of Prince Buru- Ibrahim Mori Baba, was not available for comment. While the legal brickbats continue, awaited, the federation account is deliberate- ji Kashamu, also from Ogun State, to facilitate interested parties await how President ly being denied an annual injection of over his meeting the President.

N2 trillion.

“We met with Prince Kashamu and his lawyer, Jonathan will intervene decisively on this first The sad reality of the present situation, Prince Ajibola Oluyede on Saturday, October 12, youth research project. according to him, is that a heinous economic crime is being committed against the Nigerian state, as the law has been in force since 2004, and a Federal Treasury circular issued to all Government agencies (including CBN) since 2006, while a preceding circular was also issued by CBN in 2009 for compliance of AGOS State government has es. providers, insurance compasubsidiaries of banks operating in the capital commenced the pulling nies, oil companies and othThe unit, though, has said it market. down of all unapproved would continue decommission- ers have been identified for However, the same CBN that is denying Fed- telecommunication masts in ing the masts until all marked owning faulty towers. eral Government its fair revenue on stamp the state. This follows the Members of the public have hollow structures in the state duties in money market and banking translapse of a December 31, 2013 previously sustained injuries are pulled down. Apart from actions, is allowing similar charges to be deadline that the state’s after masts collapsed during banks, telecommunication going into private hands through the back Urban Furniture Regulatory instances of bad weather. firms, internet service channels, and these run into billions of Naira. Unit (UFRU) had issued to all A new twist was added to the project when a telecoms mast owners. firm, Kasmal Financial Services Ltd (owned by Mast owners have to ensure a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party their structures comply with (PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu) on October 25, new industry standards. In 2013, obtained an Order by ex-parte motion November last year, the state against 22 Nigerian banks for their alleged government insisted that all failure to remit stamp duties by virtue of a hollow masts be replaced further agreement it had with NIPOST in with newly approved galvaAugust 2013. nized modern masts in a bid Kasmal obtained the Order through Justice to reduce incidents of colChukwuejekwu Aneke of the Federal High lapse.

Court, Lagos, with NIPOST and School of The exercise has thus far Banking Honours as defendants in the suit. seen the dismantling of masts Kasmal’s counsel, Prince Ajibola Oluyede, belonging to three banks: argued that the banks, having defaulted in First Bank Nigeria Plc, United paying the duties since 2004, prayed the Bank for Africa and Union court to compel the banks to pay a cumulatBank. ing amount of N70 on all eligible transacActions by the URFU to pull tions since 2004 till when judgment would down the masts had also led be delivered. to disruptions of banking The claim by Kasmal was however counservices. Customers have tered by SBH, who insists that it has the reportedly been directed to authentic Master Services Agent to NIPOST on transact at alternative branch-

School of Banking Honours…

The making of an enterprise

By Tope Templer Olaiya, Assistant Lagos City Editor ROM an obscure location in the Centre of Excellence is coming the biggest news of the year: 300,000 new jobs, plus annual revenue of over N2 trillion to the Federal Government.

Great things often come in small packages, and for most passersby, 74 Ogunnusi Road (All Seasons Place) at Ojodu Berger, does not command a second look as the building beside it, which is the Lagos Zonal Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), grabs all the attention.

But that is about to change soon as School of Banking Honours (SBH), an innovation enterprise institution (IEI) accredited by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to drive the country’s policy on banking skills and entrepreneurship studies, is set to lead the N50 stamping on all banking transaction receipts in form of electronic money transfers and manual banking tellers with values of N1,000 and above.

With its research since February, 2012, resulting in a Masters Services Agreement (MSA) between SBH and Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) to enforce the Stamp Duty Act 2004 and NIPOST Act 2004, SBH is set to make history with target 300,000 jobs that are expected to rollout with an immediate sign-on of 100,000 young graduates on its “em-Bankers” programme.

Also, ex-bankers that were recently disengaged from the banking industry will be absorbed to lead the re-skilling of young emBankers in a “shadow-banking” model across the country.

Several months after the agreement between NIPOST and SBH was signed, the project take-off has been delayed by nonrelease of a circular by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to back-up its approval letters to SBH, as Master Services Agent of NIPOST, for all banks and other financial institutions to comply with the Stamp Duties Act, which stipulates in Section 89(2) that “every receipt given by any person in acknowledgement of

F

Faulty telecom masts to go down L

A telecom mast, which collapsed after a recent rainfall.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014 13

Govt steps up effort to arrest youth restiveness, cultism

By Tope Templer Olaiya

Boys Scout, Boys Brigade, Man-O-War, Girls Guide, Red Cross, and this had a lot of impact in our upbringing,” he noted.

Mr. Babatunde Panox, special Adviser to the governor on Security and Community Policing, said youth restiveness and crime is a global nemesis, but the state is committed to tackling the challenge proactively.

“In Lagos, we have the Agric-Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric-YES) that has been engaging thousands of jobless and fresh graduates in various agricultural enterprises that has turned them into entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

“Also, the Lagos State Vocational and Technical Education Board (LASTVEB) has been instrumental in providing training opportunities for youths to participate in various opportunities open in the construction, manufacturing and industrial sec-

OUTH restiveness, cultism and crime have become a prominent issue in contemporary Nigeria, with increased incidence in the acts of violence and lawlessness such as hostage taking, arms insurgence, looting and cult clashes.

In Lagos, some flashpoint areas in residential communities have been notoriously linked to various cult groups such as Akala Boys, Fadeyi Boys, and Bariga Boys, among others. Last year, 322 murder cases were recorded in state, many of which were attributed to armed robbery and clashes between rival gangs.

Last week, the office of Youth and Social Development held a one-day stakeholders conference on youth restiveness and crime prevention at the Sam Shonibare Community Youth Centre, Surulere, to identify the root causes of the incidence of crime in Lagos communities and proffer solutions.

Special Adviser to the governor on Youths and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Enitan Badru, said the conference was organized with the aim of educating and sensitizing the youth on the dangers inherent in youth restiveness, cultism and crime, while encouraging them to channel their energy towards positive ventures.

“The rate at which young people are getting into cultism is too bad. Innocent people are being killed and maimed and the youths are wasting away. It has even gone so bad that cult groups now count scores of those killed from rival gangs.

When they kill one, the opposing group equalize, as if it’s a football match. They now flaunt scores like 3-2, 4-4 and the killings go on.

“One of the causes of youth restiveness is the many media images and games that lure the youth into high risk behaviours. They develop a sense of ‘fun’ from these, rather than being horrified or afraid. Secondly, many parents no longer have time to guide their children through life’s experiences.

“We cannot fold our arms as a government and allow this ugly situation to continue unchecked, we decided to nip it in the bud by involving all the stakeholders – parents, guardians, religious bodies, traditional rulers, voluntary youth organizations. When we were growing up, we joined groups like the Badru

Y

LAGOS ASSEMBLY DIARY

Assembly okays three outstanding bills

By Wole Oyebade HEAD of its rescheduled recess likely to A begin soon, Lagos State House of Assembly this week expedite action on outstanding bills. And in two days, the House passed three major bills.

They are: a law banning smoking in designated public places; a law to punish false alarmists using states emergency call command and control centre; and the third, consumer protection bill. Copies of the bills have been sent to the governor for assent into law.

At the plenary on Monday presided by Deputy Speaker, Taiwo Kolawole, the No Smoking and emergency call centre bills were read for the third time, and were immediately passed.

Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, repeated similar feat at Tuesday’s plenary, with the passage of the consumer protection bill after the third reading. Ikuforiji was particularly delighted with passage of the private member bill sponsored by himself since the fifth Assembly.

The bill titled: ‘A law to establish the consumer protection agency, provide for the protection of the interest of consumers, settlement of consumers disputes and for connected purposes,’ among other provision, is to protect the right of consumers against marketing of goods and services, which are hazardous to life; and seek redress against unfair trade practices or

unscrupulous exploitation of consumers.

On the other hand, the No Smoking bill titled: ‘A bill for a law to provide for the regulation of smoking in public places in Lagos State and for connected purposes,’ prohibits smoking in public places like libraries, public toilets, hospitals and healthcare premises, crèche, all schools including tertiary institutions, public transport vehicles within the state, private vehicles with more than one person in it and school buses.

Other No Smoking areas are restaurants, cinemas and stadia, hall of gatherings, shopping centres, retail shops, factories, place of work, common parts of flats and communal accommodation and any structure that is enclosed or substantially enclosed and is open to the public, among others.

While the bill also designated bars, nightclubs and hotels as No Smoking Areas, Section 3 (2) of the bill, however, granted that a space not more than 10 per cent of the premise could be designated as Smoking Area.

As penalties, Section 7 (1) provides that “any person who smokes contrary to the provisions of this law shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than N10,000 and not exceeding N15,000 or to imprisonment for a term not less than one month and not exceeding three months or both, or

other non custodial punishment that the judge might deem fit.”

Where owner or occupier of No Smoking area do not put up the sign, install smoke detector and stop anyone that is smoking, the same shall be liable to a fine of N100,000 or six months imprisonment or both upon conviction. Where the offender is body corporate, firm or organisation, the penalty is N250,000.

While the bill prohibits smoking in the presence of a child less than 18 years, offenders shall be guilty of an offense and liable to conviction to a fine of N15,000 or to imprisonment for a term of one month or both.

The emergency call centre bill, titled: ‘A bill for a law to establish the Lagos State emergency command and control centre, regulate the making of telephone calls to the centre and for connected purposes’, states that hoax callers, who call emergency telephone numbers – 767 and 112 – with the intention to deceive, commits an offence.

Section 14 (1) states that any person who knowingly gives or causes to be given a false alarm to a person acting on behalf of the centre or who uses emergency telephone lines in any way other than those stipulated, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500, 000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years.

Ladipo Market: Leaders trade words over performance

By Daniel Anazia N the bid to salvage Ladipo auto spareparts market from its Igovernment, present rot and prevent further clampdown by the Lagos State a group of stakeholders under the aegis of Ladipo Market Rescue Movement has asked the president-general of the market and chairman Ladipo Central Executive Committee (LACEC), Ikechukwu Animalu (aka Obosi) to resign.

This was contained in a release titled: ‘Obosi, Why Do You Want To Destroy Ladipo Market and Its People,’ and circulated round the market since last week.

Speaking on behalf of the group, immediate past president-general of the amalgamated Ladipo Auto Sparepart Dealers Association (LASEDA) and chairman of LACEC, as well as proprietor/operator of Conference Warehouse, located on the service lane of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Toyota bus stop, Daniel Nwafor (aka Connection), said the main aim of LACEC as a body is to foster good business cohesion among people who do business in the market.

“The Obosi-led administration has plunged this long-held reputation of the market into a serious mess, which culminated in the closure of Ladipo market last year. LACEC Exco has engaged in double taxation of members, while diverting funds generated for their selfish interests.

“Obosi and his executive team also encourage jungle justice and judge cases based on tribal sentiment and kindred/friendship ties. They engage in administrative rascality, which is contrary to the rule of law, thereby assaulting members of the market community.

He called on relevant law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hold the market leader responsible for the criminal acts committed against traders and the traders’ union, LACEC. When contacted, the Secretary-General of LACEC, Pastor Steve Ijeoma Paul, reacting to the numerous allegations of the group against the market leadership, said “all that is being done by the group is propaganda. People should investigate the antecedent of the arrow-head of the group, who was a former president-general of the market.

“The question that should be asked is, who is Daniel Nwafor and what are his antecedents? People should look into this and know if he is a peace-loving man or not. He claims to love Ladipo Market, but I urge Ladipo traders and indeed well-meaning Nigerians, particularly the Igbos, to look at him and see if everything around him is peaceful.”

Pastor Paul explained that Nwafor led the market for two years and two months, which was shrouded in secrecy. “Ask him how many times he convened executive meetings. He is only trying to make a mole out of nothing,” he stated.

Council kicks off grading of 70 roads JIGBO Local Council Development Area has begun grading of E 70 roads in the six wards of the council, the Council Engineer, Sunday Olaniyan, has said. Olaniyan explained that the local government decided to take advantage of the dry season to grade as many roads as possible out of the 400 local roads in the council.

He said grading and construction of earth drains began last Monday, and the works department of the council, in charge of execution of the project, has covered roads in three out of the six wards of the council, namely Fadu, Ifoshi and Aigbaka wards. He added that with the pace at which work is going on the project, all the 70 roads would be in better condition by the end of February.

He commended the Council Chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, for re-affirming his commitment to ensuring that the lives of the ordinary Ejigbo citizens improve, through the completion of all on-going projects and infrastructural renewal in the council area, as provided for in year 2014 budget.

TheGuardian

14 | Thursday, January 23, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

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 Before prisoner-swap deal begins OW that the coast is clear to return home hundreds of Nigerian prisoners in British jails to complete terms under a “historic” exchange agreement signed the other day between Nigeria and Britain, the Federal Government must exercise utmost caution in the choice of likely beneficiary prisoners.

The government has not sounded too convincing on the Prisoners Transfer Agreement (PTA) just signed between Attorney General Mohammed Adoke and British Justice Minister Jeremy Wright to authorize repatriation of inmates to their country of birth to serve out prison terms – subject to the agreement.

The terms of the agreement – which have been under review since 2011 – allow either country to repatriate a convict with or without his or her consent, well against the old order. In the new regime, only the consenting countries are relevant in a transfer deal. Quite unlike the Nigerian case with a population of 521 inmates in British jails, only one British national is serving in an undisclosed Nigerian prison. Reports suggested that only about 60 per cent of the 521 Nigerians in British jails may be eligible for the compulsory movement, mainly those who are serving terms of 12 months and longer. Nigerians with British citizenship and those with residency status in the United Kingdom and others convicted for small crimes would be exempted.

The real poser here is: how does the deal benefit Nigeria in an exchange that trades only one British national for well over 300 of the 521 Nigerian inmates? The deal appears strange and one-sided. Beyond that, is it not more sensible that anybody convicted in a jurisdiction should serve the term in that jurisdiction?

Among the Nigerians in British jails is Mr. James Ibori, a former governor of Delta State.

The problem that may arise from the return of such a high profile prisoner is that he could follow the examples that abound of jailed top political actors who lived like potentates in Nigerian prisons. In truth, any high profile convict should be left to complete his term in the jurisdiction in which he was convicted.

In spite of the suspect nature of the latest agreement interpreted in some quarters as a political cover for one or two convicts, the clause on “a good deal of (further) discussions” on individual prisoners still offers some hope that the suspected movement of high profile prisoners is not a done deal.

Reason must prevail on such cases because most Nigerians are still resentful of the actions of corrupt politicians and so, are rightly suspicious of government’s motive.

No one can fault the argument that where human conditions are appalling in the UK prisons, Nigerians serving terms could be returned in such circumstance. Ironically, conditions in Nigerian prisons are by all parameters worse than the UK owing to criminal neglect of the reformatories by successive administrations on one hand and unrestrained corruptive tendencies that permeate the system to deny inmates their dignity, subjecting them to inhuman treatment. Then, it is doubtful if any Nigerian would be eager to return to such debilitating condition, much unlike his British counterpart itching to get back home.

Among the identified shortcomings, overcrowding of cells has been left unaddressed for so long – with suspects awaiting trial for decades – owing in part to obsolete criminal laws or inadequate judicial manpower. Hardly is any new facility being constructed to complement existing ones. Health care delivery for prisoners is ever short of standards. Rationed meals of poor quality are still being served due to inadequate funding.

The proposal, therefore, by Britain to support reforms by about one million pounds is commendable, but only to the extent that the funds would not be mismanaged by a few itchy hands with access to government treasuries. Perhaps, some monitoring of the support fund is necessary.

However, the financial support by the UK does not detract from the fact that the exchange programme is an attempt by Britain to reduce its taxpayers’ money spent on maintaining the rising population of inmates in its facilities. Britain is justified in the pursuit of its own national interest, of course, and the onus is on Nigeria to define its own interest and protect same.

Britain’s goal of strengthened partnership and friendship with Nigeria is most welcome but the exchange of ideas that are more beneficial would be better appreciated than prisoners’ swap.

N

LETTERS

The Catholic Church in Nigeria beyond 2013 The Holy Catholic Father Umoh.

SandIR:Church in Nigeria is young However, we should not be growing. We have deceived in thinking that we become a great source for providing priests compared to Europe where call to religious life is on a decline.

However, some of our practices do not align with the Universal Church in Rome, especially in the areas of observing certain Feast days, non-use of the Latin mass in some parishes, treating the Choir as a society and not a liturgical arm of the Church.

Also there has been a barrage of attacks on the Church-verbal, environmental and even physical. This has resulted in death of members due to the incessant bomb blasts. The noise of loudspeakers of other churches and mosques has also been a great source of disturbance during mass.

It will be an understatement to say that the Church in Nigeria has been on holiday in the area of engaging the faithful especially via the different communication media. The recent removal of EWTN Channel 348 on DSTV was a confirmation of how dormant the Church has been.

While I acknowledge that there have been great efforts

by Catholics in creating their own programmes e.g mass on AIT TV, a few radio programmes etc, the efforts have not been concerted, organised and sustained. I also commend the decision of the Church to set up the Catholic Media Group headed by

have started yet. Pope Emeritus – Pope Benedict XVI has enjoined the use of every means possible to promote the gospel of Christ. Hence his own reasons for creating a twitter handle.

The media as it is today is rather dominated by stories that present the Church in a negative light. More often than not the media is bombarded with Nollywood

movies showing Reverend Sisters and Reverend Fathers falling into temptation and sin, Bishops exerting excessive powers and ignoring the lay faithful, the Church presented as on old, antique, outdated body no one should engage with. The Catholic Church in Nigeria today while it still remains a great source of conversion and transformation for many Christians is wrongly positioned.

• Lawrence Ayeni, Lagos Archdiocese.

A definitive, positive change IR: President Goodluck Sdoubt Jonathan leaves nobody in that he remains the same old GEJ, when he said in his New Year message that Boko Haram is part of a global trend. Yet, there is no Boko Haram in our neighbouring countries of Republic de Benin, Togo, Ghana, Senegal, etc. GEJ knows, deep within him, that Boko Haram owes its existence to his own inordinate ambition to become Nigeria’s elected President, taking undue advantage of the demise of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. That political disorder, which GEJ solidified by refusing to implement electoral reform, as well as unbridled corruption are all responsible for political Boko Haram.

Boko Haram was one of the most peaceful organisations in the world, until some intolerant fanatical Muslims who wanted uniformism in this

pluralistic world provoked the sect to take up arms in 2009, and the police unprofessionally killed its leader extra-judicially. The crisis however died down until GEJ allegedly truncated his party’s rotational presidency arrangement in 2011, and the name Boko Haram became adopted for the terrorist group.

Complications set-in when Boko Haram started bombing churches, probably because some bribed Christian leaders justified Jonathan’s inordinate ambition.

Yes, Nigeria needs zonal rotational presidency, to engender and sustain political order, a sense of belonging, equity, peace and stability.

Nigerians must not fail again to elect credible, visionary leaders for definitive positive change.

Pius Abioje, University of Ilorin.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

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Opinion Rule of law becomes rule of man

By Abiola Philips N Nigeria, our political practitioners (executive, Icept legislative and judicial) can resist everything extemptation.

The dichotomy between the rule of law and the rule of man demonstrates the reliability and impartiality of the former, in contradistinction to the vagaries and vicissitudes of the latter. When we look to the rule of law, we look to a yardstick that is fixed and inviolate; when we are subject to the rule of man, we are subject to man’s frailties, foibles and failings.

There are three arms of government: the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. The constitution seeks to calibrate their roles and responsibilities such that they act as check and balance on each other. We are accustomed to the use and abuse of our rights and their responsibilities by the Executive and the Legislature; the Judiciary however, continued a little longer to be regarded as inoculated from aberrant behaviour.

We are now reaping the harvest of our naiveté and find ourselves cruelly exposed by a judiciary increasingly demeaned.

In an age in which politics and political advantage are reincarnated as matters of life and death, we are witness in the travails of Rivers State to a Nigerian judiciary increasingly ready to find solace in the whims and caprices of a political class that knows few ethical boundaries. The truth be told, we are witness in Rivers State to a slide into lawlessness that promises a descent to places from which we may not be able to recover, in time for 2015.

Let us look closer at the attacks on the rule of law...from within. We have spoken of three arms of government; there are also three tiers of government in Nigeria – the federal, the state and the

local. In the last couple of years, the Federal Government has been at daggers drawn with the Rivers State government. In what has become a titanic struggle to assert and to defend, the federal executive has deployed heavy artillery.

The state governor has nimbly avoided most of the grenades lobbed in his direction (often delivered by a Trojan horse in the person of the state Commissioner of Police) from the centre. The governor’s adversaries range from a president intent on not brooking opposition to his second term ambitions from within his own party, to a local potential potentate biding his time in federal office, to local party members who dream of positioning themselves in places they couldn’t dream of.

The governor is rightly concerned that having failed in all attempts to delegitimise him, the centre may take the opportunity of the budget cycle to simply turn off the taps, financial castration if you will. As with all such things, a veneer of legality is required and the courts are the final arbiter of what is legal and what is not. The state House of Assembly has met and passed the 2014 budget and now needs to implement it; that will require moneys due being released by the centre. A premeditated and spurious legal time bomb is likely just round the corner.

The centre has descended upon the state with a fervour that would have been better expended on our socio-economic challenges, but that is spilt milk. What perturbs is the appearance of a pattern of willing engagement in judicial determinations that bear upon the political arena in Rivers State. If this is true, it does not bode well; if the overtly political class believe that they can bend the bench to their

will, we lose a vital pivot in that delicate system of checks and balance the form of government we have chosen affords and requires of us. And we lose it at a time when political adversaries with elastic ethics seek every advantage they can get: do or die.

An Abuja High Court sat in a matter it ought not to have, in respect of the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State.

There is a subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court barring courts from intra-party disputes.

Though it was drawn to the honourable judge’s attention that he lacked jurisdiction he was not dissuaded and assumed jurisdiction. This singular judgment opened the political floodgates, interpreted as it was by those it suited, as a licence to pursue destabilisation. The case has been appealed; it still awaits listing by the Court of Appeal. The high court judge has retired from the bench, not dishonourably.

Since that infamous case, the Obiakor local government dissolution, the defection of legislators, the fisticuffs in the Rivers House of Assembly have unsurprisingly thrown up more cases before the courts. The hand of the courts more than the hand of the law is evident. The least in society were never great believers that the courts are the last hope of the common man, after all, what had the courts ever done for them? It is the dawning on the self-declared cognoscenti that the evidence is compelling of a greatly diminished judiciary that is different this time.

With an election cycle certain to herald challenging times upon us already, we are all justly concerned that the courts do not readily and repeatedly allow themselves to be subsumed by our feral political class. The short-sightedness of those that pervert the course of justice lies in

their failure to see the erosion of the rule of law as an existential threat to nation itself.

If the Federal Government succeeds in bringing the Rivers State government to heel by denying it the lifeblood of appropriations properly due to it to meet its obligation to its constituents, it will have succeeded in effecting a coup against the 1999 Constitution by other means. If it does so with the active connivance of members of the judiciary willing to be subsumed and soiled, it will further cement the growing perception that the judiciary, if unchecked, will bring further ruination to an edifice already riddled with corruption. The courts are the only fig leaf we have left with which to mask the putrefying stench of corruption that our politicians led by the highest in the land have turned to a state of nature.

If the rule of man as evidenced by the rolling tides of the Rivers State saga persists, the propensity for obeisance to the rule of law is disproportionately undermined and rendered impotent. The absence of that disposition will at some stage or the other come home to roost for all citizens of Nigeria, whether they are from Rivers State or not; whether they are supporters of Amaechi or Wike; whether the president has a second term or not; whether the PDP or the APC wins in 2015.

The price we will pay for the failure of our political practitioners to rise above their myopia and unbridled ambition is as I have said an existential one. Our ability to man the barricades will be greatly enhanced by a professional judiciary able to grasp the nettle and resist the suffocating embrace of politicians whose ambitions are first and foremost personal.

Rivers State is the front line in the trenches.

Nation as concept: Re-ordering Nigeria

By Kolawole Ogundowole HE heart and soul of a nationality it is that propel the people toT ward unprecedented heroic deeds and duties among a given people. It is the foundation of their spirituality. This is essentially very specific to the point of being particular to the collective spirit of a people. This is what a multi-national society such as the amalgam Nigeria lacks. It is artificial and superfluous. Where it ever appears to prevail, it is not deeply rooted in the individual. It is on this factum hinges the unhindered progress of a people, a nation.

What is a nation?

The nation as a concept is borne of a political and sociological theory which asserts: • that humankind is naturally divided into nations; • that there are determinate criteria of identifying a nation and recognizing its members, that each nation is entitled to an independent government of its own; • that states are legitimate only if constituted in accordance with this principle; • that the world would be rightly organised, politics wise, only if every nation formed a single state; • and every state constituted exclusively of the whole of nation.

With the above in mind, it is legitimate to state that in order to move out of the prevailing warfare status of Nigeria, the urgently needed reordering must take cognizance of the multitude of nations within it; make each and every one of them the component unit of the new society, its building block.

Ontologically, a nation is a stable community of people bound together by a common language, territory, community of economic life and certain peculiarities of social psychology, as expressed in the specific features of the culture of the given people, which distinguish its culture from that of other people.

Thus, language as a fundamental invention by humans is definitive and specific to the socio-cultural environment that invented it. The inventors, agents, carriers, the bearers of the language are not anonymous; they are concrete, specific and determinable in space and time. They are culturally identifiable. One of the crucial determinates being the language itself for being indigenous of a given people whose early forebears had brought forth the language initially. At the outset then scattered in few thousands in provincial settings as tribes in modern times in Europe, however, by the force of economic development which forced the concentration of the groups into a large market with the emergence of capitalism they became known as national groups and are called nations. With the emergence of nations, in its classical sense, came the notion of national language, language thus became an immediate symbol of the collective national and individual identity.

A clear distinction needs be made here between the classical notion of the nation here employed and the misconstrued notion by which the colonial amalgam constructs dotting the continent of Africa are called. Each of these amalgams consists of a number of

nations (miscalled tribes) itself, whence derived therefore the problem of language and national identity. It is understandable, therefore, that in Yoruba language the concept “nation” connotes oril ede which translates literally as “the land of a language” or the land of the bearers of a language. Appropriately in this context, colonial created amalgams as artificially created supra human communities may be said to be “lands without languages” – “awon orile ti ko lede”. This applies to all amalgams in Africa and/or beyond. The concept “tribe” is employed usually in sociology to describe a community of people certainly not in the sense in which current nationalities in Africa each constituting millions or even tens of millions of people are being miscalled tribes. Demography wise, a tribe is constitutive of a few thousand people inhabiting provincial settings with strong kinship ties.

In my work, The Amalgam, KAKISTOCRACY and WARFARE SOCIETY: The Options (2005), an attempt is made to determine some definable nationality areas that bear strict singular uniform identity, which may form the basis of transformational agenda of the nations in Nigeria. These are reproduced here without modifications: • Hausa-Fulani land (Sokoto, Kastina, Kano, Zamfara, Jigawa and relevant area of Kaduna State) or Hausa/Fulani Confederal area.

• Igbo land (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and related area of Delta State) or Igbo confederal area.

• Yoruba land (Ekiti, most of Kogi and Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, plus the Itsekiri area of Delta State, Akokoedo part of Edo State and Borgu area of Niger State) or Yorba confederal area.

• Kanuri land (Northern Borno and Northern Yobe) or Kanuri confederal area.

• Ijawland (Bayelsa State plus relevant areas of Delta and Rivers States) or Ijaw confederal area.

• Tivland (Benue excluding Idoma) and relevant area of Taraba State) or Tiv confederal area.

• Nupeland (Kebbi, Niger excluding Borgu and Gbagyi areas) plus Nupe parts of Kwara and Kogi or Nupe confederal area.

• Edoland (Edo State and appropriate area of Delta State excluding Akokoedo) or Edo confederal area.

• Ogoniland (relevant area of Rivers State) or Ogoni confederal area.

• Idomaland (relevant part of Benue) or Idoma confederal area.

• Urhobo/Isoko (Urhobo, and Isoko of Delta State) or Urhobo/Isoko confederal area.

• Ibibio land (Akwa Ibom State and other relevant territory) or Ibibio confederal area.

• Gbagyiland (all territories of Gbagyi people in Niger State, part of Southern Kaduna and the entire Federal Capital Territory of Abuja and environs) or Gbagyi confederal area.

Other nationalities that I have not brought out separately here are equally entitled to their own individual nationality identities and thus separate land areas as appropriate. I have listed separately here only those nationalities known to have been very vocal on the issue of self-identity or seem more or less self-evident and need not much further clarification.

On the basis of mutual historical affinity, sympathy and/or solidarity, the following temporary groupings of peoples and nationalities may be formed as integral units in the interim prior to the outcome of the conference of the sovereigns of ethnic nationalities: • Qua and Ogoja peoples (Cross River) as Quagojaland or Quagoja confederal area.

• An integral group of nationalities of Southern Bauchi, Gombe Southern Yobe and Southern Borno and Adamawa or Group confederal Area I. • The group of nationalities of Plateau, Nassarawa, or Group confederal Area II. • People of Rivers (excluding the Ijaw and Ogoniland) or Rivers confederal area) • To ensure equality, justice and fair play, each of the grouped confederal areas, the amalgamated groups of nationalities, shall operate a federal constitution.

• There within, each nationality shall constitute the federating unit of such a group, no matter how small the nationality may be.

Fortuitous and tendentious zoning is anathema to the historical needs and demands of the present Age. Zoning with the application of geographical terms clouds the fundamental issues involved – the attainment of nationality, self-determination, re-establishment of nationality, self-identity and the development of nationality’s language and culture and development and governance of a peaceful harmonious union.

The inclination towards haphazard zoning and the use of geographical terms to designate political entities demonstrates, or rather, betrays the hidden fear of the self to be self of the Nigerian politicians today, and their unpreparedness to adapt to scientific thinking and methodology while dealing with social–political life of the society.

The fear of the self to be self haunts the political leaders who when creating states refuse to group people of same ancestral origin together and name same by their chosen /known identities. Instead they direct that states so created should derive their names from flora and fauna while ignoring the human beings – the political animals - for whose purpose the states are created and who must govern such states. This is rather paradoxical!

If the peoples of Nigeria are to develop most rapidly and exert any commendable impact on the development of world civilization, now is the opportune time to bring every individual nationality out of the woods and out of their respective shells by helping to awaken them and set them free. It is in freedom that creative energy unfolds without impediment of any kind. Freedom is the basic requirement for sustainable advancement. A free, self-determined Ngas, for example, would contribute much more innovatively, creatively to the development of a self-liberated, properly reordered Nigeria than when that nationality is not given the opportunity for self-flowering.

• Ogundowole is Professor of Philosophy, Philosophy Department, University of Lagos.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Opinion Same-sex marriage and Anglican Church (2)

By Sunny Isu • Continued from yesterday HEIR monumental works like that of John Henry Newman (Anglican convert) opened the way to a renewed interest in Catholicism. William Shakespeare (1564-1616), who was obviously a Catholic, experienced the twists and turns of life to the full during the crisis period between the Catholics and Anglicans. The titles of his plays read almost like a symbolic biography, from Much Ado about Nothing, through Measure for Measure, right up to All’s well that ends Well. As a good educator, he delivered a recommendation at the end, something like the distilled essence of his earthly wisdom: “Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross,” an allusion to the Book of Revelation, Chapter 3:18 which was a way of asking Anglicans to return to the Catholic Church. But, the Romantics admired his freedom from literary convention, the sweep and grandeur of historical conflicts, his parabolic insight into the extremes of human predicament and his subtle conversion of many high profile Anglicans into the Catholic Church.

These high profile conversions including that of the renowned journalist, Malcolm Muggeridge, underscores the same truism which has guided other converts like this writer and Matt Frad in San Diego, California in saying, “As I studied the history, I came to understand that Jesus founded one Church, which is and was the Catholic Church. This was the decisive point for me: If Jesus founded the Catholic Church, I want to be in it” because “the gates of hell” in whatever form (same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, heresies, etc) “will not prevail against it” (Mt.16:18).

What about you? As the Fathers of 2nd Vatican Council reminds us: “This is the sole Church of Christ in the Creed we profess to be One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic, which our Saviour after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter’s Pastoral Care (Jn.21:17), commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it (see Mt.28:18) and which he raised up for all ages as the pillar and mainstay of the truth (1Tim.3:15). This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him”. This is the significant

T

truth which Time Magazine once brought out in an article on the fragmentation of Protestantism aptly entitled “Christian Chaos”. Time wrote “….The Church is the Church of Rome and no other… Let all who call themselves Christians submit to the authority of the Roman Church, they say, and the unity of Christendom will thereby be established.” And so let us take our salvation serious, the very reason why the Church is Catholic or Universal as Paul pointed out: “God wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”(1Tim.2:4). “All” here connotes universality or catholicity. God does not work in half measures nor does he cut corners, shunt or gate-crash. He does not thrive in confusion or disorderliness and his salvation is total.

Option 2: The second option is to take advantage of the special window grafted for aggrieved Anglicans established under the provisions of the apostolic constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus (Group of Anglicans) by the Catholic Church which has witnessed a lot of positive responses from willing and aggrieved Anglicans. Recall that the five Anglican bishops that first took advantage of this came as a breaking news as the Los Angeles Times reported it, was in response to their acceptance of an offer from Pope Benedict XVI to convert to Catholicism, primarily over their opposition to the Church of England’s decision to ordain female priests (even the first Anglican woman to be ordained as such became a Catholic) and gays as priests and bishops arguing that if the Catholic Church can frown at women ordination even when women are highly cherished and valued as Reverend Sisters, etc but not to be “clericalised,” is it homosexuals that she will ordain? The five Bishops, in a joint statement spoke of their distress caused by developments in the Anglican Church that they felt were “incompatible with the historic vocation of Anglicanism.”

In a press statement, the Episcopal Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference joyfully welcomed the decision of the Bishops to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church through the established Ordinate for England and Wales. “With the Ordinariate, canonical structures are being established

through which we will bring our own experience of Christian discipleship into full communion with the Catholic Church throughout the world and throughout the ages,” said serving Bishops, the Rt. Revs. Andrew Burnham of Ebbsfleet Keith Newton of Richborough and John Broadhurst of Fullham and retired Bishops, the Rt. Revs Edwin Barnes and David Silk.

In a brief statement, the then Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams as the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, accepted “with regret” the five resignations: “We wish them well in this next stage of their service to the Church and I am grateful to them for their faithful and devoted pastoral labours in the Church of England over many years.” Then came the icing on the cake that hit the world headlines, January 17, 2011 in a landmark event in a crowded ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in London witnessed former Bishops Keith Newton, Andrew Burnham and John Broadhurst being validly ordained Catholic Priests in a ceremony presided over by the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Catholic leader in England and Wales.

These high profile conversions have encouraged other Anglicans to follow suit including some of those that earlier embraced the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a laudable initiative of Nigerian Anglican Bishops to cater for those Anglicans in North America who are opposed to same sex marriage. Waoh! Praise the Lord! It is left for the remaining Anglicans to listen to what the Spirit is saying and take full advantage of this singular opportunity from the Catholic Church. Already, the College of Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) which represents about 400,000 people worldwide had earlier written to the Vatican “seeking full, corporate and sacramental union” to “cross the Tiber”, which the Vicar of Christ has graciously granted. And just after my good friend, Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of Britain became fully Catholic, Anita Henderson, wife of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam Killala and Achonry followed suit. Praise the Lord!

One major attraction of this cross-over offer for well meaning Anglicans is their conviction that the Catholic Church as the only Church

founded by Jesus Christ and the “voice of Christ on earth” cannot and will never ordain any gay persons as priests or solemnize same sex marriages because it sees homosexuality as a taboo which does not only violate the natural order but God’s normative order as well. Recall that the Catholic Church condemned in toto the abominable ordination (even though it never recognized the validity of Anglican Orders) of V. Gene Robinson, an openly confessed gay as Anglican Bishop of New Hampshire and the election of a Lesbian, Rev. Katherine Grieb, an Episcopal priest and a professor of New Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary both in America.

In fact, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, released a report in which it compromised on its opposition to abortion and opened up the doors to the acceptability of homosexual behaviour just like the Episcopalians and the Church of England and other forms of artificial birth control which the Lambert Conference of 1930 endorsed.

Whereas the Catholic Church teaches and upholds that abortion was always wrong, the Lutheran Church now started teaching that it was an unfortunate, but necessary fact of life for some women. Lutheran medical insurance even began paying for abortions for Lutheran pastors. In his first Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis explained that the Church can never change its teaching on abortion which a broader understanding of human dignity entails. Hear him: “Precisely because this involves the internal consistency of our message about the value of the human person, the Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question.” The Catholic Church cannot compromise its position as a bastion of truth especially with the crisis of faith ravaging large sections of the western world who are experiencing a widespread secularization and are cutting themselves off entirely from their Christian roots in what Edward Norman recently pointed out in his book, Anglican Difficulties – A New Syllabus of Errors which the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in direct opposition to the Lambert Conference, has been trying to distance itself from since its formation in 2008.

• To be continued.

• Isu, Fellow, Chartered Accountant, wrote in from Abuja

To Okotie, invitation to Catholicism

By Cosmas Odoemena I did not want to write this. For one, I never believed when people said that while preaching in your church you IsaiditNITIALLY, all Catholics will go to hell. That you did not stop there, you even went as far as calling Pope Francis an anti-Christ and a friend of Satan’s. And that the Church is a counterfeit church set up by Satan.

I still thought it a waste of my time because the organisation is too big to be shaken by a small time pastor, until you admitted the same statements in an interview in The Punch of Saturday, January 18, 2014.

Since Pope Francis brought in the new breath of life to the Catholic faith he has courted friends and enemies alike. And such enemies will not stop at anything to bring down the man of God. All sorts of writers and bloggers are on the Internet churning out whatever comes to their imagination. But if you had taken your time to crosscheck facts, you would have known that the statement credited to Francis never was. It was only a satire from a blogger that went viral. The satirist wrote a caveat which many failed to read.

Whenever we are ignorant of anything we create false impressions in our mind. But as the scriptures say “there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is destruction”.

I know people often say Catholics worship idols because of the images that Catholics use. In the interview, you also added the usual one of worshiping Mary. But if you read the same bible which people like to quote out of context, you will know that in Exodus 25:18-22; 26:1,31 - God commanded the Israelites to make the image of a golden cherubim. In Num. 21:8-9 - God also told the Israelites to make the bronze serpent. Even in Kings 6:23-36; 7:27-39; 8:6-67 – Solomon’s temple had statues of cherubim and images of cherubim, oxen and lions. God never condemned these images that were used to worship him. The world stood still when the revered Nelson Mandela’s statue was unveiled.

People, and tourists flock to see it, almost deifying him. Today, even atheists keep the picture of Mother Theresa in their homes.

And for Mary, we will not stop to honour her as we would honour anyone who is outstanding. Some football and music fans have given more honour to their idols. But any right thinking person will honour a woman whom God’s son took her flesh. It is proper to fulfill God’s words through angel Gabriel that she is “full of grace”, and that the Lord is with her. And Christ himself made us adopt her as our Mother when he spoke to Saint John on the cross. In Mary, perhaps, as a writer said, God the Father has a feminine side.

The contributions of the Catholic Church to the world cannot be quantified. Western civilization today owes a lot to the Catholic Church. Think of culture, art and philosophy. The Easter and Christmas holidays are Catholic heritages. Pope Gregory XIII’s Gregorian calendar is what is used internationally as the civil calendar; time is measured by the West from the date taken as the birth of the Church’s founder, Jesus of Nazareth: the Year One AD (Anno Domini). The Catholic Church fought against slavery, human sacrifice, abortion, incest, polygamy and infidelity in marriage.

But for me, it is not so much what you said about Catholics as the effect such utterance can have on your person. Unless your presidential ambition is a joke, no right thinking person who has his eyes set on 2015 will want to play with votes. As they say in politics, every vote counts, not to talk of the votes of Nigerian Catholics, and perhaps Nigerian Christians and non-Christians in general who have come to love Pope Francis. By your actions alone, you have committed political suicide even before INEC blew the whistle. Like many Nigerians, I still doubt the seriousness of your political ambition.

In America, serious politicians tread carefully when it comes to Catholics and votes, because they understand that faith matters in politics. They are careful with certain topics because though Catholics may be liberal with the economy, they are conservative when it comes to abortion, contraceptives and homosexu-

ality. Then imagine abusing their Pontiff towards an election year! Votes from Catholics helped make people like Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, John Kennedy, Bill Clinton and even Barack Obama win the U.S. presidential elections. And this list is not exhaustive.

In America’s politics, even the job of the College of Electors in deciding who becomes president has been likened to what is obtained in the Roman Catholic Church of the College of Cardinals that select the Pope. It does not really matter what you call Pope Francis. Christ himself said if He was called the king of demons what would they not call his servants.

I still believe you can retrace your steps. And so, I offer you the chance of being with us, so that you will be for us, and not against us. I enjoin you to embrace Catholicism. It is nothing to be ashamed about. Remember, pride goeth before a fall. Wisdom will be given to you freely, as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit at the Sacrament of Confirmation. And, there are still six more precious gifts in addition to that if only you will take the bold step. Don’t be afraid, Saint Paul did worse in prosecuting Catholics before you. You haven’t even got your hands stained with blood. But you know how Paul got converted and the height he reached with serving Christ whom he fought against.

If you have been divorced twice it doesn’t matter to us. Perhaps you were not meant to be married! This is an attribute of Catholic priests.

It is never too late. The Catholic seminary will be kind to you. But I must let you know that there is no crash course here. It is at least 8 plus X years before ordination. And X can be anything!

The Catholic Church awaits you still with open arms if you would take this leap of faith. Are you worried about your church and “flock”? Don’t you worry about that, it will save you your succession plan headache. And as you know, God works in mysterious ways. And remember, this is a message inspired by love and compassion. You needn’t come in sack cloth and ashes, come in your designer suit and shoes, we will still accept you.

• Dr. Odoemena is a medical practitioner in Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014 POLITICS

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Politics APC will disintegrate before 2015, says Mamman Ambassador Yaro Yusufu Mamman, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain and the Vatican, former National Chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD), and Chairman, Presidential Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution, turned 60 years last Saturday, January 20, 2014. The veteran journalist and owner of Hamada Radio International spoke to journalists, including Kamal Tayo Oropo, on a wide range of issues.

HAT is your position on current political W developments in the country?

I am a very strong supporter of a two-party system, and it’s very good for our democracy and development and it minimises centrifugal tendencies.

In a multi-cultural and multi-religious society like ours, there is need for equilibrium for the system to continue as a going concern. When IBB (Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida) started it, many people did not understand the wisdom behind it. The two-party system in Nigeria is central to IBB’s political doctrine.

Democracy in Africa has had its ups and downs, but we hope Nigeria’s democracy will go from strength to strength.

Fundamentally, there are no difference between PDP and APC. This is because of crossparty incursion, fluidity and mobility of members. In fact, APC is not a political party.

Why would you say this?

APC is not a political party or movement but an aggregate of individuals bound by resentment, hate and anger. It will consume itself by its own internal contradictions. 80 percent of APC is PDP. It’s the dissident arm of the PDP. In conflict studies, there is what they call Internally Displaced Persons (IDP); that is a euphemism for refugees. If you look at it, what is the motivation? No any clear direction today.

APC is full of people with low-level fascist tendencies, masquerading as democrats, like the five governors. I give you few examples.

Mallam Aminu Kano did not compel people to wear red caps. That was not the type of cap Mallam wore. Mallam was always wearing DARA. What the gentlemen in Kano are wearing is not DARA. They are wearing the red caps because it was the colour of the PDP. Why do you compel people to adopt you dress code, and punishing and terrorising people who have not complied? You are creating North Korean style calisthenics in Kano?

There is so much measure of dishonesty, and fraudulent attempt to give pseudo ideological legitimacy as progressives. There is nothing progressive about APC but hate and confusion.

With or without Jonathan in 2015 general elections, it will disintegrate. It has no any clear ideological or concrete agenda for change, transformation or alleviating our contemporary challenges.

The worst form of corruption is personalisation and abuse of power. Many of them are delusional with false messianic traits. The schools we attended, we did not know who built them, but we attended these schools. Now I ask, why should Kwankwaso write Kwankwasiyya on public school building?

The school he went in Madobi Local Government, they did write Audu Bako (Bakossiya) or Colonel Sani Bello (Bellosiyya).

I read a story of an old Bedouin, who was planning date trees on his farm and some children, playing around, came and told him, ‘if you plant these dates you will not live long enough to eat it. Dates are slow fruit yielding. Many who plant them rarely live to eat them.’

So, the old man retorted, ‘The ones I ate I did not know who planted them.’ The good works you do will speak for you.

Additionally, there is complete lack of standard in the conduct of Public Affairs. Take the case of education. You send students to Uganda and Dubai to unaccredited schools. When the National Universities advised him that globally schools are ranked, why don’t you seek the best and get value for your money?

They just don’t want to listen because of corruption. Corruption thrives where there is chaos and disorder and absence of standard.

Rabiu Ali and Gambo Mohammed are very good football players. They play for Kano Pillars.

Their dream is to play in major European Leagues. Tell me the logic and sense if they are to sign for a Cambodian Club side.

Despite the problems in Yobe, Governor Ibrahim Geidam made the Yobe University to sign a MoU with University of Wolverhampton

Mamman founded in 1835. That is commendable.

Let me give you another example. I was the chairman of Abuja street naming committee in 2010. We honoured many Nigerians in art, science, industry, religion, politics, etc., Fela, Ibrahim Imam, Wole Soyinka, Achebe, Mamman Shata, Oliver de Coque, etc.

So, it was suggested that President Umaru Yar’Adua and (the Vice President Goodluck) Jonathan should have streets named after them. Some of us objected, but out of courtesy, we wrote a letter to Umaru to inform him.

As expected, they flatly declined. When he (Yar’Adua) died, the Airport Road, which is the longest road in Abuja, was deservedly named after him.

Is this why you did not join APC, even though with the orientation you are known for?

When we started Alliance for Democracy (AD), we were very clear ideologically in terms of politics of opposition with an alternative platform for Nigerian people. But if you look at this one, what are they talking about? It is an irredentist agenda.

We are talking on behalf of the North. Who arrogated you that right to talk for and on my behalf? When you joined PDP, you negotiated and maneuvered yourselves to power; if you lose, blame yourself.

If you are playing a match and you have been accustomed to winning always, in one encounter you are a goal down at the first half, you don’t abandon the match; it’s un-sportsmanly. Leadership is tack wisdom, moderation, negotiation and capacity to remain relevant in the political spare.

Most of our public schools are in a very terrible state. You will feel bad. What is the budget for education, for instance? Tell me the wisdom in Sule Lamido committing N12 billion for an airport in an arid, agrarian state like Jigawa? How much is the monthly internally generated revenue of the state? What is the statutory allocation for education in Jigawa?

The convoy of an average governor in the North is 20 cars. Who fuels it? Who maintains it? You are spending $6 million equivalent to build parameter fencing on Sokoto and Kano government houses? Is it Pentagon?

Some governors have about 500 special assistants who they dole out hundreds of thousands per month for doing nothing. There is an agenda to further impoverish our people.

If we must liberate our people, we must start by confronting them. People must be accountable. They cannot come back the second time

and deceive us. Accountability is non-negotiable.

Education is the key to liberation What of Buhari? General Buhari is a man of impeccable character and integrity. A true nationalist, but when you enter a river, you will get wet.

Those people who fought him and helped rigged him out of elections continuously, like Adamu Aliero; the same people, who were architects of his political defeat and misfortune, now want to clothe him after stripping him in the market place. That is APC for you.

You don’t see these leaders forging a common front for the North?

These circles of deceit and treachery are becoming institutionalised in the mindset of politicians.

They said the PDP is the only political party, which accommodates all political tendencies and has the Nigerian spirits driving it. All others are irredentist or primordial.

PDP is Africa’s biggest party — at least, that’s what they say. However, the crux of the matter is internal party democracy, allowing level playing field, etc. The governors are also guilty of the same arbitrariness and imposition. APC is high-tech hypocrisy.

So you don’t see anything they are in bringing forth for 2015 general elections?

Mark my word. Can you shake a bottle of coke and attempt to open it without overflowing its content? There are so many internal contradictions.

At the beginning, there was a sincere effort to forge a merger of these political parties. Those who genuinely laboured for the merger of the mega opposition party are now orphaned. Some Tarzans are the party leaders.

Malcolm X had what I called the coffee theory when he wanted to march to Washington during the Civil Rights struggle in the sixties. He said, if you want to drink coffee, you can drink it as it is.

Because some white liberals joined the march in solidarity and sympathy; he said if you add a little milk it is still coffee. But if you put a cup of coffee inside one liter of milk you don’t even know there is coffee; not even the coffee flavour.

When they started, there was a sincere commitment to build an alternative political party and platform. But by the time these people from PDP or what I call the dissident arm of PDP, joined them, they confirmed the coffee theory.

What is the difference between dissent from a political party and you who is being considered a political rebel?

A dissident is usually selfish. When he loses out, he is desperate to recoup and recover lost ground.

But most of the times they fail, rarely do they succeed. If you say I am a political rebel, fair enough.

But a rebel usually has a cause or identify with a movement and it will outlive him, such as Mallam Aminu Kano, who wanted to uplift the living standard of our people.

Some of us subscribe to that position. Some are to the right and some to the left and some are centrist. But some have left that ideology long ago.

What is the future of APC in 2015?

It will not get to 2015; it will disintegrate. It has no internal mechanism of balance, momentum or self-control.

Can you give examples?

The parameters, conflict indicators and intraparty crises are all that anybody who is a careful observer knows what will inevitably follow.

Why did Wamakko leave ANPP to join PDP? It is because he wanted a ticket. Shekarau and Buhari factor made him the Governor against Kwankwaso. And now Kwankwaso is with Buhari and Shekarau is not.

Democracy is more than election and it’s not a substitute for law and order. Institutions need to be reinforced, to function properly and curtail these excesses and privatisation of power and authority.

These governors are imperial. If you see the cavalcade that accompanies their outings, they are more than presidential. They anoint and depose according to their whims and caprices.

What is your party now?

When we get to the bridge, we cross it.

When you were the AD National Chairman, you were given a post (by the ruling PDP) and you accepted…

I was chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. And we had three political parties, and I was elected chairmen. The three political parties had equal representation.

PDP sponsored the late Chief Ume-Ezeoke and AD sponsored me. The late Solomon Lar came with a powerful delegation but I defeated the PDP candidate and rewarded the ANPP candidate, Clement Ebiri, with deputy chairmanship.

Were the recommendations of the report you submitted adhered to?

The report was submitted and the government set up a smaller committee under the Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi and Bola Ige during President Obasanjo’s tenure. They all worked on the report. One of our submissions was five-year single term.

Are you happy with Nigeria’s Constitution or is there need for a review?

The president, in his wisdom, suggested that there is a need for a National Conference and Dialogue, to reinforce national integration and unity; it is very good.

What is your assessment of Vice President Namadi Sambo, as members are allegedly defecting from his party, PDP to APC? Vice President Sambo is a fantastic and loyal deputy. He is not a loud person. We left secondary school the same time in 1971; I know him since then.

He achieved a lot silently; he is not the type who wants to be noisy. Circumstance brought him into politics. He is a fantastic professional, an effective and efficient leader.

Kwankwaso said President Jonathan is incompetent and has no guts…

It’s sad because this made me remember an interview I had with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1983.

He said when you point an accusing finger at someone, four others are pointing back at you.

Northern leadership at all times exemplified decorum, finesse and well-thought out articulation on all issues. If you have no respect for traditional and secular authority, who then do you respect?

Jonathan is Nigeria’s President. Our actions must be always with decorum and etiquette; we shouldn’t mislead young people with our action or words deliberately.

The problem is, as long as you celebrate mediocrity and inhibit the growth and development or excellence in our public spheres, we will continue to have crises of leadership and failed community values.

18

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Adamawa: Gundiri, Nyako, Marwa battle for APC’s From Emmanuel Ande, Yola INCE Murtala Nyako joined the race to SStatecontest for the governorship of Adamawa in 2006 on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the politics of the state has not witnessed peace again.

He was not among the nine contestants that were to participate in the PDP primary election, which was slated to take place at the Lamido Cinema Hall on Galadima Aminu Way, Yola. But the poll was aborted on its eve.

How Nyako became the flagbearer of the PDP is still a mystery to the politicians and poll watchers in the state. Thus, many members left the party as a result of what majority of the contestants, including Senator Silas Jonathan Zwingina, described as “a coup against democracy and the rule of law.”

In 2011, the scenario repeated itself, as the Governor Nyako emerged as the candidate of the PDP in another controversial primary election that is before the Supreme Court for adjudication.

The governor finally cross-carpeted to the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) last November in yet controversial circumstances in Abuja.

He joined the APC without the consent of members and leaders of the three legacy parties, namely, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) that metamorphosed into APC. The state wing of the PDP that was crisisridden for years is now in peace, while the conducive political atmosphere in the APC prior to the entrance of Nyako has become a battleground.

The assault on Nyako HE leaders of the three legacy parties, headed by Mr. Marcus Gundiri, an engineer and former governorship candidate of the defunct ACN, who was adjudged by many as the winner of the 2012 governorship poll, is leading the political assault against the retired Naval boss (Nyako).

Gundiri said that Governor Nyako lacked democratic credentials to lead a democratic party like the All Progressive Congress.

Gundiri, who spoke to The Guardian in Yola, on the rumour that the national leadership of the party appointed Nyako as the leader of the APC in Adamawa State, said that the party could not embark on a political suicide by imposing the governor on the founding fathers of the APC, as their leader.

He said the party’s guidelines do not favour Nyako and that nobody could attempt to destroy the party by bending its laws because of an individual.

Gundiri, who expressed confidence that the national leadership of the party has the capacity to amicably resolve the crisis in the Adamawa chapter due to the Nyako’s entrance “to take political asylum in APC after his ruling Peoples Democratic Party diplomatically issued him quit notice,” said the leadership of the APC would put the interest of the party above individual interest.

He maintained that the only way the APC leadership could convince Nigerians that it is a democratic party, was to depart from the undemocratic activities of other political parties, and holistically embrace the rule of law and internal democracy, “which are the pillars and foundation of a sustainable democracy.”

“All members of the party must be treated equally, if the party wants to move forward and win the minds of Nigerians that APC is not a commercial venture for money-bag politicians, but a platform for quality leadership,” he said.

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Marwa hands governor conditions ORMER military administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), one of the top chieftains of the APC in the state, recently issued Governor Nyako three tough conditions to meet before he could be accepted into the party.

Addressing journalists in Yola, Marwa said that the governor must show evidence that he could embrace internal democracy, justice to all party members and abide to rules of transparency and accountability.

The former governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change noted that Nyako illegally smuggled himself into the APC, insisting that he

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• Tinubu, Akande linked to crisis

Nyako

Gundiri

Marwa

must follow the right channel if he wants to remain in the party.

Lacing his word with idiom, Marwa said: “If you come to someone’s house and you knock on the door, it is the owner of the house that will usher you inside.

“But Nyako just enter without any due protocol and go straight into the bedroom. It is unacceptable; it is against the rules of our party and due process.

“So, I advise the governor to have a rethink of his mistake and follow the right part into APC.” Marwa, who begged the aggrieved members of the party, who are reportedly planning mass exodus from the APC, as a result of Nyako’s controversial entrance into the party, assured them that the stakeholders of the three legacy parties, CPC, ACN and ANPP have the capacity to protect the party from being turned into a private estate by anybody that joined the APC. He debunked the claim, reportedly sponsored by Nyako’s group, that the governor is the leader of the party in the state.

Marwa said that Nyako did not meet the party’s guidelines to be the leader of the APC in Adamawa State.

“The APC guidelines are very clear. It is only those 11 governors from the three legacy parties that fused into APC that are automatic leaders of the party,” he said.

“In the case of Nyako, who is yet to be properly integrated into the party, he was not a member of any of the three legacy parties; so, he is coming into APC just like any other person that wants to join our great party.

“The governor cannot be the leader of our party based on the guidelines of the party.”

the state if the Akande-led leadership did not democratically follow the rules of the party to address the Adamawa crisis.

“Before the merger, we all agreed that the governors under the three legacy parties (ACN, CPC and ANPP) that formed APC would remain as leaders of APC in their states.

“But those from other parties that may join us could not be leaders of the party, like the case of Adamawa, Kano and Sokoto States.

The lawmaker said that the only way the party could survive the crisis was to allow the former leaders of ACN and CPC to lead the party in Adamawa State.

“It will be difficult for APC to survive the crisis; the party is going to scatter in pieces if the national leadership fails to backpedal on their action of imposing a liability on us,” Hananiya said.

“Tinubu and Akande should ask PDP; it took the spirited fighting of Bamanga Tukur several months to rescue his party from the claws of Nyako, but with deepbleeding injuries.”

NVESTIGATIONS by The Guardian revealed Igeared that the APC crisis in Adamawa State is towards the 2015 elections.

Nyako fights back BVIOUSLY embattled Governor Nyako, in his defence, launched a heavy attack on the state founding fathers of his new party, saying that they lacked legal and moral ground to challenge his entrance into the APC. Nyako, who spoke recently in Yola, when a group of his political appointees visited him to show their political loyalty, claimed that he merged into the APC together with the defunct ACN’s governorship candidate during the 2012 governorship poll, Mr. Markus Gundiri and the CPC governorship candidate, Gen. Marwa.

His words: “All of us are new in APC; nobody can say that he was there before another person; we merged into APC at the same time.

“So, there is no founding father here in Adamawa; we are founding fathers of this party. There are no old members and there are no new members; we are all starting on the same level.”

The governor assured his political aides that they should not be disturbed by any comments from any member of the APC, stressing that he could not be intimidated or harassed by any individual or groups to frustrate him out of the party he contributed to form.

“APC is not a private property of anybody; so, people should stop talking as if the party is a family estate,” he said.

“All of us are stakeholders. Politics is number; the higher the number, the better your chances of winning elections.”

Nyako called on his supporters to work hard to deliver the party during the general elections in 2015.

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Tinubu, Akande linked to crisis HE member of House of Representatives for Gombi/Hong federal constituency in Adamawa, on the platform of the former ACN, Mr. Haske Francis Hananiya, has blamed the crisis rocking the state wing of the APC on former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu and the Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande. He accused the duo of imposing decamped Governor Nyako on the founders of the APC in the state.

Hananiya said that the national leadership of the party did not only goofed in their decision to imposed Nyako, whom he described as a “political liability to APC,” but that their action would soon sink the party in the state, “if urgent steps are not taken to amend their action.”

“The national leadership of APC has erred in their decision to hand over the leadership of the party in the five states that the G5 Governors come from,” he said.

“We in Adamawa State under CAN defeated Nyako during the 2012 governorship election, but they used the court to collect our mandate. So, how can today Nyako become the leader of our party?”

2015 as tonic for crisis Hananiya said the APC could not survive

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It was gathered that the governor is preparing grounds for his in-law, Dr. Salihu Bakari Geire, who is the state Commissioner for Local Government, to take over the mantle of leadership from him.

However, the political arithmetic presently in the state may constitute a roadblock to Nyako’s political calculations, considering that he has over-loaded his political ship with people that have no political value not only in their constituencies, but also in their homes.

To confirm that the governor may go into the battle without a soldier is the recent political activities in the state.

Unlike in other new APC states, Governor Nyako decamped to the APC without his deputy and National and House of Assembly members.

Adamawa State PDP leaders loyal to Nyako also refused to follow him to his new political abode. This action, according Alhaji Abdularazaq Namdas, a chieftain of the APC, “is an indication that the governor has lost his political relevance in the state.

“It is time for him (Nyako) to quit the stage before it is too late,” Namdas.

Based on the political facts on ground, Gundiri will be a person to watch in 2015. He is from the Central senatorial zone where the next governor is expected to come.

The Northern zone had produced Mr. Boni Haruna in 1999 and in 2003 — for two terms of eight years.

Nyako, from the Southern zone, will complete his eight-year term next year.

Looking at the 2012 governorship results, which the Presidency recently confirmed that Nyako did not win, it is very clear that Adamawa people have interest in Gundiri, to pilot the ship of the state.

Meanwhile, the governor’s house is divided politically. His eldest son, Abdularaziz, a retired Naval officer, is allegedly warming up to challenge the preferred choice of his father in 2015.

The in-house crisis will be a big advantage to Gundiri, who is in charge of the real structures of the APC in the state.

There is also the allegation that the PDP is wooing Gundiri, whom the party believes has the followership to deliver the state to its fold, considering that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the backbone of the PDP in the state, has been cut to size.

However, Governor Nyako, who has a clean record of surviving big political battles, cannot be ruled even with his politically unequipped battalion because he is in control of the state funds.

The kind of candidate the PDP will pick during the poll will also be a deciding factor for Gundiri and other contestants in the race.

Thursday, January 23, 2014 19

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheMetroSection ‘How we robbed a church on New Year eve’ ‘By Odita Sunday PERATIVES of the State Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested six suspected armed robbers who raided Christ Authority and Power Evangelical Ministry, also known as CAPEM, at Ijanikin area of the state on New Year’s Eve. The robbers were alleged to have collected the offerings, tithe and other materials of the church that fateful night and still robbed all the worshipers who attended the crossover night worship.

One of the suspects simply identified as 0soja told newsmen that one Baba Usman, his mentor in the “business,” masterminded the church robbery.

Giving a vivid account of how the gang carried out the dastardly act, the suspect said: “We were eight that invaded the church. We were armed with five guns, which we bought from Cotonou. We are all members of a cult group called Eiye. One day, after robbing some girls who were going for Christmas party, Usman said that he was tired of going for small money. He now said we should target a big church that we would rob on the New Year eve. He discovered CAPEM at Vespa area of Ijanikin on Badagry Expressroad. We investigated and discovered that the church has a big congregation.”

“On the fateful day, which was on December 31, some of us entered the church and pretended to be members of the church while others laid ambush at the entrance gate to the church. During the offering time, we waited till one of the pastors announced that everybody should stand up for offering and tithe and we brought out our guns.

“We threatened to shoot anyone who would not stand up to give his or her tithe and offering. Usman seized the microphone from the Pas-

The suspects paraded by the police ...yesterday tor and started announcing to members that they must not mess up.

The congregation did not take our threat as a joke as they respected our orders and gave out their telephones and monies without delay.”

“We collected the offering box and robbed the church members one after the other, and we took off. I think it was the prayer of the church that found us out because we have participated in six robberies at the area and we were successful. But after the church robbery, we forgot two of our guns in one of the houses that we robbed. Ordinarily, we should have forgotten about the

PHOTO: ODITA SUNDAY

guns, but something was pushing us to go and look for the guns. After some argument, two among us went for the guns and some street boys identified them, arrested and handed them over to the police.” “ I keep asking myself why I participated in robbing the house of God but I can’t get an answer to it. I messed up because if I had not joined the cult group, I would not have met Baba Usman who put me in this mess.”

“I regret my action because I robbed God. Even though I am a Muslim, I am very sorry that I robbed Christians,” he said.

Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who paraded the suspects at the State Police Command, Ikeja said when the two suspects were handed over to the police, the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Manko ordered the Officer-in-charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari to arrest other members of the gang.

Braide said SARS operatives picked four other gang members.

She said the Police recovered two locally- made pistols, 50live cartridges and military camouflage uniforms from the suspects.

Govt urged to invest in education at the dedication of school in Ogun OVERNMENT has been urged to wake up and be fully involved in the system of education in the country with a view to ensuring quality education.

This statement was made by the President, Christ Apostolic Mission Church Worldwide, Pastor Adesoji Ajayi at the dedication of the sprawling Life-Baker College

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RS. GBEMINIYI Shittu of M No. 7, Oyebola Street, Ojota, Lagos, has been reported missing.

According to the Police Report: “Mrs. Gbeminiyi Shitu, aged 58, dark in complexion, left her home on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at about 10.00a.m. and has since not returned.”

“All efforts to trace her have proved abortive.

“Anyone with useful information should call 08055898618; 08058678610; 08054642431 or 08035713652.

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By Isaac Taiwo

Briefs Missing person

and Hotel Building in Ijoko, Ogun State.

Describing the structure as a cynosure, Ajayi the Chairman of the occasion, who also doubled as the Father of the Day, added that the contribution to quality education the school has been noted for would no doubt be further enhanced by the new site that would offer more comfort to both day and boarding students.

Dedicating the structure, Ajayi said the building with equipped school library, science laboratory, computer laboratory with 32 modern computers, music laboratory, home science laboratory among others, are commendable efforts the ownership of the school has made to ensure the school was structured in line with acceptable standards of secondary education in devel-

Chairman of the accasion/Father of the Day, Pastor Ajayi being conducted round the building

oped nations.

“How many private institutions of this type we are commissioning today can be found in this country?

This school would have been equipped with items worth millions of naira. We need a government that has interest in quality education at Federal, State and local government levels for our education to improve.”

“Assuming we have a project like this in all the 774 local councils, you can imagine what education would look like. But sincerely to achieve this, the syndrome of grab and grab coupled with personal interest would have to be discarded otherwise the dream of quality education would continue to be a mirage.”

“The development in education we have today in America, Korea among others has come to be because they have not regarded education only as integral part of their system but that education is the key to virtually everything, he noted.”

He also added that recurrent expenditure in the nation stands at 75 per cent while capital expenditure is fixed at 25 per cent, therefore, there is no reason why the budget on education should be less than 25 per

cent.

In the Public Lecture with the title: ‘Total Quality Education – Key to Poverty Eradication,” delivered by the Editor of The Guardian, Mr. Martins Oloja, he affirmed that in the absence of every controversy, quality and functional education remains the bedrock of success and the only antidote to poverty, adding that whatever any nation would become would be determined by the foundation of education laid.

“Whatever we want to make of Nigeria in the next 100 days, 100 months, 100 years, in the next few years or few months does not depend on what Abuja, people in Abeokuta or Alausa or anywhere can do, but solely on the way we all handle education,” he said.

He was also quick to stress the importance of Mathematics and English as core subjects that not only every proprietor should take note of but every parent, because while Mathematics is the language of Science and Technology, English is the language of business and very germane to becoming a medical doctor, an engineer, computer programmer among others and of course inevitable in the study of every subject.

Shittu

Ekiti Parapo meets Sunday HE yearly general meeting T of Ekiti Parapo, Lagos will hold on Sunday, January 26, at the Osun Hall, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

A statement by the President, Chief Kola Akomolede, says “There will be election of officers same day.

All sons and daughters of Ekiti Parapo are enjoined to attend.

PAFAC begins programme RAISE and Fire Apostolic P Church (PAFAC) yesterday began its two-day programme tagged Nissiniyi. It will end today from 5pm 7pm daily, at Plot 3, Prophet Taiwo Olaseinde Street, Sagamu Road, Greenfield Estate, Ori Ewu, Mogaji Bus Stop, Simawa, Ogun state.

Host is Prophet Francis Olasande.

TBS hosts ODM world anointing night Jan. 31 HE much-awaited gospel T international crusade, Our Daily Manna (ODM) World Anointing Night will hold at the Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos, on Friday, January 31, 2014, from 6.00p.m. till dawn.

Hosted by the renowned Healing Apostle and General Overseer of the Manna Mountain (Inter-denominational) , Ogudu Orioke, Lagos, Bishop Chris Kwapkwovwe, the yearly crusade is the first to be held this year at the TBS. Bishop Chris, author of the popular daily devotional, Our Daily Manna, said the theme of this year’s crusade is: Turning Point ( A Night of 5,000 mantles).

According to the publicist of the ODM publisher / minister, this crusade will attract thousands of participants across denominations, from different parts of the world as is usually the case.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

20 Thursday, January 23, 2014

Mary Slessor Foundation rescues 16-year-old twin girl caged for 30 months

Blessing

The cage From Willie Etim, Yenagoa GROUP, Mary Slessor Twins Foundation, yesterday rescued a 16- year-old girl, Miss Blessing Olokumo, locked in a wooden cage for over two and half years by her parents, over her alleged strange ailment, which they attributed to witchcraft.

Blessing, who is a twin, according to the preliminary investigations conducted by the group, was diag-

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nosed with a strange illness over nine years ago. The ailment always triggered convulsion.

The illness, according to the acting President of the group, Tonyon Ebitei Robert, led to the isolation of the girl by her parents, because she was always “soiling the house.”

The father of the caged child, who is a also a twin and a security guard at the Niger Delta University

Teaching Hospital in Okolobiri, allegedly built the cage and locked up her daughter to keep her away from the main house.

“She was kept like a rabbit.

She was given food when it was available and was allowed to sleep in her vomit, faeces and urine. She had lost weight and could have died”.

The father was said to be an indigene of the Ayibatari Community in Kolokuma /

Blessing with her parents Opokuma Local Council of the state.

Ebeitie Roberts told reporters that the group, which is known for its campaign against maltreatment of twins in the state, was contacted by concerned indigenes of Okolobiri community where the Olokumo family resides.

It was also gathered that the first trip of the members of the group to the Okolobiri community nearly ended in tragedy

with some strange occurrences and refusal of the father to let them see the caged child, “but during the next trip, he handed the child to us.”

The child has been taken to the Teaching Hospital for proper medical treatment on the bill of the Mary Slessor Twins Foundation.

Attempts to speak with the girl’s parents failed. But some indigenes of the community condemned the act,

describing it as callous and wicked.

Ebitei Robert told newsmen that the group would lodge a formal complaint with the state headquarters of the Nigeria Police and the Welfare Department of the State Ministry of Women Affairs, “criminal child abduction, inhuman treatment, child molestation and failure to enroll the child for proper education would be brought against the parents,” he said.

were said to have committed the offence between June 2009 and December 2009.

Asuquo had told the court that the accused obtained various sums of money totaling N9.8 billion, from a number of people, especially businessmen at the

Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos.

He said the accused falsely represented to the individuals that they will get back 50 per cent of their deposits after 21 days.

According to the prosecutor, the accused could not

repay either the deposited sum, or the “multiplied sum” as represented.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 1 (1) (a), 8, and 2 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004.

Police re-arraign two for defrauding traders at Alaba

By Joseph Onyekwere HE Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) onTuesday, rearraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, two persons charged with N9.8 billion fraud.

The accused, Fortune Etaba and Godwin Nwaiche, are standing trial alongside their bank, Establishment House Ltd, on an amended three-count charge bordering on the offence.

The accused were first arraigned in 2010 on a 300count charge of fraudulently obtaining large sums of money from various individuals.

The case, however, suffered some set backs due to the absence of the then trial judge, Justice Mohammed Liman, who was assigned to an Election Petition Tribunal.

The case was later transferred to Justice Ibrahim Buba in 2011, and the accused were re-arraigned.

The second accused (Nwaichie) had pleaded guilty to the charge, while the first accused (Etaba) pleaded not guilty.

T

Justice Buba granted bail to the first accused, but had refused to convict the second accused, after a review of the case due to a conflict in his plea.

The second accused had pleaded guilty to the charge, but maintained that the amount of money he fraudulently obtained was less than the sum reflected in the charge.

The judge had, therefore, refused to convict him on his plea, and ordered his remand at the Kirikiri prisons.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the prosecutor Mr Effiong Asuquo informed the court of an amended three-count charge, and prayed the court to re-arraign the accused.

Both accused pleaded not guilty to counts one and two, while the second accused pleaded guilty to the count three.

Justice Buba, however, also refused to convict the second accused due to a defect on the charge.

The judge said that several offences were lumped in the third count, instead of

being distinctly charged.

He, therefore, ordered the prosecution and defence counsel to address the court on the propriety of the charge and adjourned the case to January 29 for hearing.

In the charge, the accused

Adeboye consecrates Int’l Convention Centre N a prophetic declaration to Icrowd the over 20,000 mammoth who thronged the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has predicted that this year would mark a turning point for Cross River State, as her stolen destiny would be restored by God. Earlier, Adeboye had consecrated the multi-billion naira Calabar International Convention Centre under construction within the newly developed area known as Summit Hills.

Adeboye, who was conducted round the construction site by Governor Liyel

Lawmaker to empower 2,000 widows, indigent perFrom Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo IDOWS and indigent persons in Eket Federal Constituency will soon smile as member representing them in the House of Representatives, Obong Bassey Dan Abia, has concluded plans to empower them.

Speaking with journalists in Eket at the weekend, he said the empowerment programme was aimed at alleviating poverty, thereby creating wealth and self-employment.

He said the programme would affect about 2,000 persons within the Federal

W

Constituency, adding that the growth of the Nigerian economy and stability of democracy, “depend largely on the generation of wealth through entrepreneurship.”

The Federal Constituency is made of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno Local Councils.

He noted that within his one year in the National Assembly, “there is an urgent need for him to brief his constituents on his achievements so far and as well empower some of them as a fulfilment of a social contract entered between him

and the people.”

Abia, a lawyer, stressed the need for people to be selfemployed through commercial ventures and other microeconomic activities.

“My priority is to teach as many people as possible how to fish, which is better than giving them fish. This is why I have bought items such as grinding machines with generating sets, tricycles, welding machines, sewing machines, motorcycles, cars and other productive agents to be distributed to them, having trained over 200 persons on various skills,” he said.

Adeboye Imoke, prayed: “I consecrate this edifice and dedicate it to the glory of God for the purpose which it is intended to serve and may it bring glory, not only to the state, but also to those who will come from far and near to make use of it.”

He prophesied that the Centre would be a showpiece not just in Nigeria but the whole of Africa.

Speaking during ministration at a special service with the theme “Wind of Change”, Adeboye said “2014 is a year of restoration and revival for the state.”

He noted that when the wind of change would start to blow across Cross River State, her people will begin to sing a new song.”

Quoting from the Bible, he stressed that “whenever the wind of change blows, something new happens.”

According to the man of God, all the enemies of the state from within and outside, who have conspired to delay its greatness would be vanquished like the Egyptians of the Pharaoh era.

The 72-year-old clergy said like the Biblical Lazarus, whose relations had given up on, after his death, God would cause something extraordinary to happen in the state, emphasizing that “when there is a wind of change, life becomes complete.”

He prophesied that “those who work against the state’s destiny will be wiped away as her travails would be turned into victory and sorrows to joy, because it is fully backed

by God.” The General Overseer thanked the state government for inviting him to undertake the one-day crusade, adding that having been told the full meaning of Calabar, which is ‘Come And Live And Be At Rest’, he was certainly going to be more frequent in the state.

Governor Liyel Imoke in a goodwill address said the choice of Adeboye, to preside over the special service was borne out of the deep and wider respect that he commands, both in Nigeria and abroad, adding that the state believes his visit and prayers would further hasten the pace of development.

Imoke, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Effiok Cobham, noted that the theme of the service, “The Wind of Change”, was significant to the state because the government was deeply committed to bringing about a marked change in the socio- economic status of its people.

Brief NDDC builds hostels for FCE

WO blocks of 52 room modT ern hostels built by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, at the Federal College of Education, Technical Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council of Rivers State will soon be handed over to the school authorities for the use of the students.

The completed hostels were inspected by some members of the NDDC governing board led by the Executive Director Projects, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, with the representative of Rivers State, Chief Ephraim Sobere Etete and Engr Etim Enyang, the Akwa Ibom state representative in attendance.

Addressing newsmen after the inspection of the hostel complex at the college permanent site in Omoku, Omatsuli commended the contractor handling the project for doing a good job and completing the hostels within the stipulated time.

The Executive Director noted that the hostel project had thrown up some technical challenges, which the NDDC will promptly address, to ensure that similar projects being handled by the Commission were not hampered in the future. He, therefore, directed all NDDC contractors to liaise with the state offices of the commission in order to eliminate the bureaucratic bottlenecks, and facilitate the proper supervision of projects.

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Thursday, January 23, 2014 21

Business ‘Nigeria’s cement industry attracts $8b new investments’ IGERIA’S cement indusN try has attracted additional investment worth $8 billion, driven largely by the implementation of the Federal Government’s Backward Integration Policy.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, who disclosed this during a meeting with the Indian business community in Lagos, recently, added that the Federal Government was targeting an increased production capacity in the sector, from about 28.5 million metric tonnes in last year to about 38 metric tonnes in 2014.

Aganga, said: “We have had

New textile policy underway a major success in the cement sector. For the first time ever in the history of Nigeria, we exported cement in 2013. We had capacity of 28.5 million metric tonnes last year.

“Our current demand is between 18 to 20 million.

However, this year, it should be about 39 million metric tonnes, and we should have one of the largest, if not the largest cement factory in the world in Nigeria.The success recorded in the cement sector is what we want to replicate in other sectors under

the National Industrial Revolution Plan.

“According to the latest information from cement manufacturers, total investment into the cement is between is between $7 billon and $8 billion and employs about 1.6million people. The impact of the success story in the cement sector will be felt more with the inauguration of the new mortgage refinancing institution that will support building and construction in housing. The housing sector has a lot of potential in terms of job creation.”

The minister noted that in line with the Federal Government’s Industrial Revolution Plan, a new policy that would revamp and fast-track the growth and development of the cotton, textile and garment sector would soon be unveiled.

He said that the policy would address the multifaceted problems facing the sector, including access to long-term finance to help textile manufacturers increase their production capacity.

Aganga added: “The new policy on Cotton, Textile and Garment should have been out last year but we have decided to do one

more round of consultation this month. I hope that by February this year, the policy on Cotton, Textile and Garment will be out.

“Already, there are certain aspects of it that we have started implementing. For instance, in the area of finance, the Federal Government provided N100bn CTG Fund but there a case from the textile industries that they needed it at lower interest rate and for a longer term.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has graciously approved that the Bank of Industry implements this by converting the loans to

equity. We have started implementing this already but we hope the new policy on CTG, which will be out soon , will address most of the challenges facing the sector.”

In order to boost job creation, the minister added that the government would address the imbalance in the tariff structure between raw materials and finished goods as part of renewed efforts to encourage value addition through processing of local raw materials.

According to the minister, “we want to increase and

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Marriot to acquire Protea Hospitality Holdings for $186m

By Adeyemi Adepetun NITED States of America U based Marriott International Inc. is to

President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu (left); Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; and representative of the Indian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mrs. Rani Mallick, during the India Professional Forum in Lagos.

Govt to complete East-West gas pipeline project by 2016

By Roseline Okere HE Federal Government T has unveiled plan to complete the East-West Gas pipeline project, which is expected to evacuate the over 250 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) of gas stranded in the east by 2016.

The project, which is part of a network of gas pipelines under construction around the country, is expected to boost the start-up of hundreds of new businesses, reduce the cost of doing business in the country by as much as 30 per cent, and generate several jobs, within a few years.

The East –West gas pipeline is about 120km x 48inches and will pass from Ob/Ob in Rivers State to Oben, Edo State.

This development was contained in a document made

available to The Guardian by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The document stated that are many on-going projects, which are expected to bring in additional supply to bridge the growing demand by the power sector.

“By the end of second and third quarter of 2014, additional 200mmcf/d of gas is expected from two Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) projects at Utorogu and Oredo”, it added.

It noted that the gas master plan, which was initiated by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, involves complete revamp of the commercial framework for gas, an acceleration of gas infrastructure development and accelerated gas supply development in the form of the

emergency gas Initiative of 2012.

According to the document, the objective of these reforms was to set the basis for a sustainable growth in domestic gas supply, notably to Power, but also for industrialization.

“Today, gas to power price is more sustainable at $1/Mscf from $0.1/Mscf a few years ago and it is expected to rise to $1.50/Mscf by midyear.

“Similarly, in the last three years, over 300km of gas pipelines have been completed and commissioned, a further 450km is funded and under construction, whilst 1400km is in project development phase.

“This is the most aggressive expansion of the nation’s gas infrastructure since the construction of the ELPS system about 25 years ago. As of today, all power plants are

connected with permanent gas supply pipelines”.

The document, noted that these interventions have resulted in an increased supply capacity, now 1500mmcf/d from less than 500mmcf/d three years ago.

“A significant portion of this supply is directed at the Power sector. In addition, supply to non-power sector such as cement, among others, has more than doubled in the time period”, it added.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison–Madueke said recently that the government, in the last one year has specifically invested close to $1 billion in almost 1,000km of gas pipeline development, adding that the 136km x 36inch permanent gas pipeline from Oben to Geregu has been completed.

She said that the line would

provide arterial supply to the North once the AjaokutaKano line is completed.

She added that two other critical pipelines that will be concluded shortly are the Itoki-Olorunshogo 31km x 24inch gas pipeline and the 104km x 24inch EscravosWarri gas pipeline expansion.

According to her, when the two pipelines are completed in the next few months, they will create a permanent solution to the challenge of gas supply to the PHCN and NIPP power plants at Olorunshogo, as well as supply to Ewekoro, Abeokuta and environs, for industrial capacity growth and double the existing transmission capacity to 600 mmcf/d and immediately add about 80mmcf/d additional gas supply to the grid from Escravos.

acquire South Africa’s Protea Hospitality Holdings for $186 million.

According to the definitive agreements, Marriott will purchase Protea’s three brands and management company.

Under terms of the agreements Marriott will pay approximately 2.02 billion rand, or approximately US $186 million at current exchange rates, subject to normal closing adjustments. The purchase price represents approximately 10 times anticipated pro forma 2014 calendar year EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) excluding transaction costs.

According to a statement announcing the deal yesterday, rhe transaction is subject to receipt of certain third party and governmental consents, including exchange control approval from the South African Reserve Bank and competition approval from the South African Competition Commission and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (“COMESA”)and satisfaction of other customary conditions for transactions of this kind.

The statement informed that should these conditions met, Marriott and Protea plan to close the transaction on April 1, 2014.

Marriott does not expect the transaction will have a material impact on its 2014 results.

Currently, Protea has 116 hotels with 10,148 rooms in seven African countries including South Africa.

Going by this arrangement, Marriott will become the largest hotel company in the Middle East & Africa region, nearly doubling its distribu-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Dufry signs 10-year airport duty free concession pact with FAAN

By Wole Shadare ufry AG, a leading global D travel retailer company, based in Basel, Switzerland, has signed a 10-year concession agreement with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to operate three duty free shops in two of the country’s major airports.

For effect, the company has entered into a partnership with Novignis, an investment and consulting firm

with a significant presence in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

As a result it has signed a ten-year concession agreement with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to operate three duty free shops in two of the country’s major airports.

Novignis specialises in new business set-ups and multi-national new market entries in Africa.

The new agreement will

tick many boxes for Dufry.

Not only is Nigeria a fastemerging market with rapidly growing passenger traffic but the spending power of Nigerians at airports abroad, such as London Heathrow Airport, has been assessed considerable considerable.

Throw in the opportunity to improve an underdeveloped commercial offer underpinned by a long-running concession and the potential is very significant

indeed.

The first duty free shop will be located at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where Dufry will operate a 380square meter store in the departure lounge area. The shop will offer core categories, including perfumes, wine and spirits, confectionery, fashion and accessories, watches and jewellery, tobacco and souvenirs.

This is the country’s largest airport. In 2012, it handled

2.9 million international passengers, a rise of over 3 per cent year-on-year. More tellingly, passenger traffic rose by over 24 per cent in the first six months of 2013.

Dufry will also operate two duty free shops, totalling 85sq m, facing the First Class lounge and VIP lounge at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

This will offer spirits, confectionery, perfumes & cosmetics and tobacco.

This is the second largest airport in Nigeria. In 2012, it handled 0.7 million international passengers, a rise of over 23 per cent over 2011.

In the first half of 2013, international passengers increased by over 32 per cent year-on-year. Both shops are expected to start operations in the first semester of 2014.

Dufry Chief Executive

Officer, Julián Díaz said: “We are pleased to extend our duty free operations in Region EMEA & Asia through this strategic concession in Nigeria which will enhance our presence in Western Africa, adding a new operation to those already managed in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

“This partnership with Novignis will also bring their expertise in order to explore new business opportunities as well as develop the existing operation.”

Dufry operates around 1, 400 duty-free and duty-paid shops in airports cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and downtown tourists areas.

The firm operates in 47 countries in Europe, Africa, Eurasia, Central America and the Caribbean, North America and South America.

New textile policy underway CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni (left); Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holding, Sola David-Borha; and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic Stockbrokers Limited, Dele Sofubo at the Briefing on 2014 Standard Bank West Africa Investors Conference with focus on Power Sector in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

improve the level and quality of trade between Nigeria and the rest of the world. If you look at Africa today, it accounts for about three per cent of global trade because it operates at the bottom of the value chain, exporting most of its raw materials instead of finished goods. “ Our focus is to improve the quality and quantity of our trade as a country through value addition so that we can export more finished products, create jobs and earn more revenue for

the government.

“We now have a robust Common External Tariff that we all have agreed to.

Nigeria played the leadership role in putting this in place. The new CET, which is expected to take effect in January 2015, will involve a re-classification in tariff structure of some raw materials and address the imbalance, which makes it easier and more profitable for people to import goods rather than process our abundant raw materials because the tariff on some raw materials are higher than that on

Marriot plans $186m acquisition of Protea CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 tion there to more than 23,000 rooms.

As part of the transaction, Protea Hospitality Holdings will create a property ownership company to retain ownership of the hotels it currently owns, entering into long-term management and lease agreements with Marriott for such hotels. The

property ownership company will also retain a number of minority interests in other Protea-managed hotels.

At closing Marriott will manage approximately 45 per cent of the rooms, franchise approximately 39 per cent of the rooms, and lease approximately 16 per cent of the rooms.

Marriott and Protea announced on November 7, 2013 their intent to enter the agreenent.

Marriott International, Inc. is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with nearly 3,900 properties in 72 countries and territories and reported revenues of nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2012.

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BUSINESS Thursday, January 23, 2014 23

BOA disburses N80m loan to cassava farmers in Nasarawa From, Msugh Ityokura, Lafia HE Bank of Agriculture T (BOA) has disbursed N80 million as loan to 530 cassava farmers in Nasarawa State, as a collective moral responsibility to reduce poverty in the state.

The farmers are to repay the loan after the next farming season when it is expected that they would have harvested and sold their cassava produce and realized profits thereon.

Also, no fewer than 30 farmers who belonged to the cassava growers association in the state yesterday, received the sum of N150,000 each from the bank as the first batch of beneficiaries to the agricultural loan scheme of the bank which main thrust is credit delivery.

According to the Executive Director of the bank, Ahmed Waziri, who was represented at the occasion in Lafia, the state’s capital, by the Director, Classified Risk, Ahmed Yaaya, the bank, which 40 per cent shareholding is owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria, also

participates in all agricultural value chain activities as well as gender mainstreaming.

He noted that the inclusive finance policy of the bank makes it different to other banks.

This, he said, means that the bank reaches out to the society across all strata more than any other of it’s kind in the country with the main focus however, being the small scale farmers.

He said the bank does not engage in profiteering and stressed the need for state governments to partner with it so as to reduce poverty and encourage large scale farming in the country even as he lamented that governors of the Northern states are not cooperative like their Southern counterpart in the bid to fight poverty which he noted is more endemic in the North than elsewhere.

Available statics indicate that Nasarawa State is the highest producer of cassava, accounting for two mil-

lion metric tonnes with an area of 120, 751 hectares of land.

This according to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Danladi Musa, necessitated the devotion of 10 per cent of this year’s budget to the agriculture sector.

Govt urged to streamline grants of waivers

By Roseline Okere

HE issue of waiver and concession given to importers of finished products over locally manufactured goods in the country must be stopped if the Customs Service is to actualize the projected revenue of N1.2 trillion in 2014.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Gas and Steel Limited, Hasib Moukarin, who made this assertion in a media statement yesterday in Lagos, stated that the encouragement of indigenous companies would assist in solving the challenge of unemployment in the country.

Reacting to a statement credited to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Diko Inde Abdulahi, that the Customs Service intends to generate the sum of N1.2 trillion in 2014, Moukarin urged the Federal Government to encourage local manufacturers in the country.

He stated: “When duty is removed from foreign finished goods, we are directly creating employment for workers of the foreign com-

T

pany because such goods imported with waivers will become cheaper than the locally produced goods.

This will escalate the demand and sales of the foreign manufactured goods.

“This type of scenario has forced many companies to retrench substantial percentage of work forces with the consequence of worsening the unemployment situation”.

He stressed the need for proper investigation before granting waiver to any importers of foreign products. “The applicant must be investigated by the Federal ministries of Finance and Trade and Investment to verify the authenticity of the items in respect of which the applicant is seeking waiver or concession.

“The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) should be contacted for their expert opinion on the issue. Also professionals like Quantity Surveyors and Civil Engineers should be contacted for their expert opinion to determine the actual materials needed for the project in question.

An oil rig

Crude oil export ban may stall U.S. output, says IEA EAVING the United States’ L ban on crude oil exports intact could eventually stall domestic production, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday.

Although U.S. production is booming — it rose 15 per cent last year, the largest yearover-year gain by any country in two decades — the regulatory roadblocks to sending unrefined crude overseas could suppress drilling, according to a Wall Street

Journal story that cited IEA’s monthly oil market report.

“The growing volumes of light tight oil that cannot leave North America are increasingly posing a challenge to industry, putting the spotlight on the U.S. crude oil export ban,” the IEA said.

The report comes as the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans to tackle the export issue at a Jan. 30 hearing, the first salvo

in a hot topic that’s grabbed the attention of both chambers.

Currently, the Commerce Department allows a trickle of crude exports into Canada. But for the most part, the only way oil gets out of the country is as refined products, such as gasoline, jet fuel and propane.

That business is booming, which has led some refiners to resist lifting the ban. And lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are keen to hold onto the specter of energy independence, noting that despite increased production — the IEA estimates output will rise 780,000 barrels per day this year — the U.S. imports roughly 40 percent of its oil.

Still, some lawmakers and industry groups are pushing to loosen export restrictions.

They say blocking exports creates bottlenecks that prevent oil from fetching the highest possible price, in turn discouraging drilling.

“There will come a time, however, when we will have an unsustainable supply of this light crude. It may be next year, it may be sooner than that — it may be a matter of months. The free market works wonders, but it can’t work magic here,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the top Republican on the energy committee, said earlier this month at a Washington speech advocating relaxing crude oil exports.

24| Thursday, January 23, 2014

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Focus Arresting dearth of indigenous pilots through local training

By Abiodun Fagbemi HEY are ubiquitous in their immaculate white shirt T adored on the shoulders with stripes akin to naval officers and black trousers.

They are the envy of patrons of airports across the globe.

Until recently, only one or two in ten of these special breed of professionals are black, while the rest are either whites Hispanics or causasians.

Their training also is elitist such that you can only find them in Europe, America and part of Asia.

However, today, things are changing for the better as training of pilots is gradually being localized.

Indeed, back home in Nigeria it used to be the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria, until the erstwhile governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is currently a senator, mooted the ideal of establishing the International College of Aviation (ICA) in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Establishing the college was not in isolation. If came with the rescucitation of Ilorin International Airport, which was until 10 years ago, a haven for dangerous reptiles and destitute, due to utter neglect.

Like many other new concepts, the establishment of the ICA attracted criticisms especially among those who believed that the state government, lack enough resources to bankroll such a capital intensive project.

Kwara till date, in terms of Federal Government monthly allocations, is listed 33 among the 36 states of the federation At present, the college has not only come to stay but has become a haven of sort for all Africans who crave for training in flight operations. Already, the ICA has sealed Memoranda of Undertanding (MOU) with such countries as Gambia, Sudan, Morocco and India.

Located some 1,500 meters away from the airport to enhance its serenity, the college with many cute architectural designs remains a conducive environment for learning, just as its aesthetic value stands out among many public buildings in the area.

According to the Acting Rector of the college, Abdulkarim Nuhu Abdulmumin, the buildings within the institution, though not the most expensive in the country, remain unprecedented in terms of designs. Besides, he believed the college has become a pride and a legacy for the people of the state.

Abdulmumin, who has a wealth of experience in flight crew training, crew resource management, human factors and safety management training, praised the former Governor for the vision just as he extolled the incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for sustaining the goal.

He told The Guardian in a chat that, “the idea of this international institution was conceived as far back as year 2006 by the then Governor of Kwara (Saraki). He is a widely travelled man, thus exposed to what the world is saying most of the time. He loves his people and through the college, he has connected Kwara with the rest of the world.

“Many people initially thought this could not be done.

They claimed that Kwara state had no capacity to float it, but the rest is now history. You can see the edifice it is a future building. There is none like it in the country. The equipment is modern; class rooms are of international standard and the environment is very peaceful.”

In January 2012 the school opened its door to the first set of students. Even though the school had advertised a course duration of 14 months, the students graduated 12 months after having successfully completed their various programmes. The students were six in number.

The school at present has capacity to admit 60 students but has on its list for admission 45 candidates who will in few days resume full academic works. The Acting Rector said the state government is assisting the college by leasing out some of its chalets to the school pending the time the second phase of the hostel will be completed. The minimum entry requirement is five ‘O’ Level credits in relevant subjects, especially Geography and Physics.

Besides, the government would, according to Abdulmumin, purchase two more aircrafts for the college before the end of March this year. One of the aircrafts already booked for purchase would be an addition to the ones used for training while the other one would serve as a replacement for the one that had an incidence few weeks ago.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications, Dr Muideen Akorede, said the government, having started the project, would ensure its huge success. According to Akorede, “this government is highly encouraged by the success of the aviation college. It is good here and it can only get better.”

One area of concerns to Abdulmumin is the dearth of Nigerian pilots. The Flight Instructor of high repute, with certificate in ICAO English Rater/Assessors Course from the United Kingdom gave an alarming population of expatriate operating Nigerian aircrafts.

An aircraft in flight... Abdulmumunin inset According to him, “if we have enough pilots of Nigeria origin, we will not have about 99.5 per cent of non Nigerian pilots flying Nigerian jets. It got to an alarming rate two years ago when we had more foreign pilots employed in Nigeria. Each of them collected about 10,000 Dollars per month. They spent six weeks at work and four weeks off duties. We were paying for their feeding as well. They will tell you that Nigerians could not fly modern aircraft , which is a ruse.”

At the college, Abdulmumin disclosed that Diamond 40 and 42 types of aircraft are used in training students of this institution. These type, he noted, are very easy to maintain.

Besides, he added that the Aviation school uses Full Authority Digital Engine Control “FADEC) thus allowing the entire system to be run under digital system. For him therefore, the present type of training modules at the college would allay the fear of alleged obsolete training of pilots in the country. He mentioned the other engine as Theillett, a Germany made machine that uses Jet A. He believed that Aviation Gasoline type is very expensive and no longer in vogue.

Because of the belief of Governor Ahmed in government’s abstinence from direct involvement in business, the Acting Rector noted that the state government only churned out “Super Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), by creating an aviation college for the state in particular and the nation at large.”

On whether or not the huge investment has started yielding the expected dividends, he said, no quick turnover should be expected in aviation business even where the economy of such a hosting nation is rated as one of the best in the world.

He explained, “aviation venture requires patience and time to break even. It is not like salt and pepper business where you will ordinarily expect quick profits. It is nonetheless a profitable business, I mean aviation school, when you are patient. You should pray to break even, that is our target and we shall accomplish that.

“Already, government has stopped spoon feeding us. We are on our own now and we can only go to the government if the need is capital intensive. This needs can be the provision of infrastructure, like the building of hostels or classrooms or the purchase of aircraft. We all, as professionals, have the desire to make the dream of the government realisable in this respect. I, in particular being a native of this state, (Kwara) has a stake and by the grace of God, it must work here.”

As someone with requisite knowledge on aviation, having trained in such countries as United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, among others with over 30 years experience in the kitty, Abdulmumin said the training at the Ilorin college could compete favourably with the best aviation schools the world over.

He said, “ our aviation college is one of the cheapest in the world in terms of the fund needed for training. The profit margin is minute. We are therefore surprised seeing some

parents and guardians still sending their wards abroad for training. Apart from the fact that this type of attitude is too expensive, the right type of training might still not be given.”

While instalmental payment is allowed depending on the type of training programme applied for, a guardian, Mr. Leke Ogungbe opined that the development has no doubt, given both the parents and the guardians some respite.

Ogungbe, who said no such opportunity could be granted in other aviation colleges across the world, thanked Kwara state owner of the college “for making it easier here”.

The Chairman Governing Council of the aviation college, captain Edward Boyo, described the institution as one of the best in the world with a promise to sustain the standard noting that “aviation vision of excellence” any where in the world should not be compromised.

While pilot training is at the front burner at the Ilorin college, certificates such as Private Pilot Licence,(PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence, (CPL), are given at the end of the training. Besides, training in Multi Engine Instrument Rating (flying under exclusive use of instrument without making reference to object) is also done at the college.

Also, any of the itemised courses can be modular.

Abdulmumin added, “we have a Standard Pilot Course.

There is Executive Private Pilot License for busy men and women who don’t have the luxury of time. These set of trainees mostly come to school at the weekend for their training without compromising the expected standard.”

Despite the picture painted so far about the International Aviation College, the school like any other man propelled institutions, no doubt has its own general and peculiar challenges.

According to the Acting Rector, “for everything new, especially in a society like Nigeria, there is bound to be inherent risks, frustration and setback but we thank God for the supports of the visioner and supports from relevant Federal Government agencies. We are poised for whatever challenges yet to be overcome after all any system devoid of challenges is bound to fail.

“More people want to come in but the facilities are limited. We don’t want to exceed what our capacity can cope with. So we can say for now that it remains the greatest of all the challenges we are facing.”

Although whenever there is any air mishap especially in developing countries the conclusion would always be on pilots’ errors, Abdumumin an expert in Safety Management believed that reasons for air mishaps are more latent.

He opined, “the pilot in the past, being the last man at the end of the line, usually receives the blame of any mishap, whereas the accident could have been caused before getting to him. Today, we look at regulations, environmental and human factors. We look at the engine, the designs and the likes. In fact we need to be reactive now. You need to take care of the headache rather than boasting of having in your possession panadol tablets.”

Thursday, January 23, 2014

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Appointments BOI partners NYSC on youth entrepreneurship From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja HE Bank of Industry (BOI) T has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) on youth entrepreneurship.

The pact according to the two parties was informed by the need to encourage self sufficiency among graduates without the possibility of waiting for already scarce white collar jobs.

The Managing Director of the bank Evelyn Oputu said the

Olawunmi

move would help entrench the culture of self-reliance and social responsibility on youths.

She explained that the bank was determined to drive the initiative and make a mark in the development of youths and the rural communities

Oputu

EU lauds unified identity scheme From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE European Union (EU) T has commended the initiative to create the unified identification system for Nigeria, saying the issuance of national identity numbers to Nigerians would bring copious benefits to the country as well as boost foreign investment.

The Ambassador/Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Michael Arrion gave the insight in Abuja when he paid a courtesy call on the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

He said that the potentials in the venture when fully implemented would engender all round growth and development.

“I see potentials for the NIMS project; the NIMC objectives and mandate, when fully implemented will boost the nation’s economy and help drive foreign investment.

“The European Union (EU) also has links with the INEC, the EFCC and other

Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and will together with the NIMC, create a database of all Nigerians who do business with members of the European Union (EU),” he pointed out.

While cautioning the Commission on the need to protect individual data of all registered Nigerians in respect for their human rights, Arrion said that the quest to create a standard shift from conventional identity card issuance to the National Identity Management System holds all the aces to set the stage for the desired growth.

According to the a statement issued by the Commission Director of C o r p o r a t e Communications, Anthony Okwudiafor, he “cautioned the Commission to be careful with human rights issues and protect data captured from citizens and legal residents of the country with every sense of authority and discipline.”

The Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Chris Onyemenam said that since establishment, the Commission had made efforts to create relationship with the interna-

The European Union (EU) also has links with the INEC, the EFCC and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and will together with the NIMC, create a database of all Nigerians who do business with members of the European Union (EU),” he pointed out.

tional community in order to tap into experience of other countries and the resources of their institutions.

Onyemenam started that creating such relationships was important for NIMC, because “the mandate to create a NIMS and harmonise the captured data into a national database is more or less a green field for the Commission, which was centered on card issuance in its previous efforts.”

Noting that Commission should be able to leverage on the experiences in Europe and America, as well as draw support from the international institutions to scale up the NIMS enrolment exercise, and the verification and harmonisation process.

Meanwhile NIMC has started establishing Enrolment Centres in Nigerian Universities, already Nassarawa State University (NASU) and Lagos State University (LASU), two universities that have provided the office space for this have had their enrollment centres opened for business.

Beside the desire to meet the deadline of ensuring that all Nigerians are enrolled on or before December 2014, the deployment of the centres to tertiary institutions is to facilitate the enrollment of members of this community who are largely young adults and others residents in university communities.

through the Village Renewal and SAED, adding that it would give the needed support to any MDA that is willing to come up with initiatives that would develop Nigeria and its populace.

She noted that the signing of the MoU was basically to for-

malise and strengthen the partnership that started about ten months ago.

Besides, Oputu explained that a good number of Nigeria youths had ideas they wished to showcase but were in dilemma on how to go about bringing those ideas to laudable projects.

She said that the level of work done in the NYSC skills acquisition centre had encouraged the bank to want to go into partnership with it, adding that the bank would continue to develop youths in the urban cities as well as those dwelling in rural communities across the country.

“I had the passion to impact my community when I served, but I did not know how back then.

“The quality of work done by corp members is amazing so we feel we were in a good position to add value to what NYSC is doing. We have always believed that Nigerians are relented, but to earnest these talent have always been the challenge.

“Given what NYSC have done with skill acquisition, we are sure that the bank can collaborate with the corps. We believe the young people have what it takes to change the lot of the country. We will be able to put hope in the young people and not only the rural

dwellers alone.”

Simon Ucheni, a corp member who was able to access a facility of N3.8m from a bank during his service year in 2012, said that he came up with a business idea of packing Nigerian foods, starting with the packaging of garri, adding that he was able to set up a factory and he had never for one day thought of looking for job in any office.

Now with a factory in Lokoja, he advised serving corp members to leverage on the opportunity given by the bank and NYSC and take their eyes off the certificate they had acquired in their various institutions.

In his response, the Director of NYSC Brigadier General Johnson Olawunmi said that the good vision the bank had towards the development of Nigeria had clearly shown that the country still had people who were committed to taking the country to the next level and giving hope to the youth who were the future of the country.

He said that the objectives of establishing NYSC of building up the youth and by extension the economy, give credence to the fact that Nigeria youth given all the opportunities they require can attain any height they desired to attain.

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APPOINTMENTS Thursday, January 23, 2014

Group commends FRSC’s safety enforcement

By Yetunde Ebosele HE National Executive T Council of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers arm of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has commended the Federal Road Safety Corps for its high level of commitment in road safety management especially during last year’s Yuletide, which resulted to seamless flow of traffic road crash reduction across the country.

According to the National Chairman, Timothy Ogbu, “the commendation became more imperative given all the measures taken by your men at the recent Yuletide period.

We give kudos to the Commission for all its efforts during the Christmas and the New Year, which was marked into very minimal mishaps.

Not only was the occasion hitch free with free flow of traffic, the road safety officials ensure that virtually all the major highways across the country were patrolled to check excesses by road users and improve sanity,” Ogbu said.

Meanwhile, the FRSC Corps Marshal/Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka has unveiled the Corps’ strategic goals for 2014, which includes improved supervision and monitoring of the Corps’ activities across the country and scale up our capacity building (training programmes) to enhance productivity and ensure staff personal development.

Speaking further, Chidoka added, “this year will witness improved regulatory and enforcement capacity with projected target of reducing

road crashes by 15 per cent and fatalities by 25 per cent.

Under this arrangement, massive use of the breathalyzers will be promoted, strengthen the use of radar guns at critical corridors to regulate speed of motorists, increased monitoring of motor parks, implementation of the standard school bus, compulsory use of the retro-reflective tapes and rear light by commercial vehicles, among other corporate strategies.”

According to him, this year will also witness improved road safety audit and motor vehicle administration and improved public communication and road use education.

Determined to curb the activities of scammers who had allegedly created a fake recruitment portal aimed at defrauding job seekers into the safety agency, one of the fraudsters, Ogidi Uko Ezekiel was recently given a four years’ jail term by a Magistrate in Lagos State.

Ezekiel, who had been extorting money from unsuspecting young Nigerian job seekers, was arrested at Ekiti on November 6th, 2013 following a tip off of his involvement in fake FRSC recruitment racketeering around the South West Zone of the country.

He was subsequently arraigned before the Magistrate court in Lagos,

charge no: MDD/222/2013 on a three-count charge to wit, false representation with the intent to defraud contrary to section 484 of the criminal code, unlawful possession of FRSC official documents contrary to section 430 of the criminal code and obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 419 of the criminal code.

The accused pleaded guilty to all the counts charged and was sentenced to four years imprisonment with an option of fine of N100, 000.00 by the presiding Magistrate, Taiwo Oladiran for willfully extorting money from several members of the public under the

Plateau trains perm secs, special advisers From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos HE Plateau State T Government has begun the training of its permanent secretaries and special advisers on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to facilitate its transformation agenda.

Governor Jonah David Jang stated this at the launch of the one-week training workshop for the government officials.

Jang said that ICT knowledge was crucially needed in achieving government’s programmes. Jang, who was represented by his Deputy, Ignatius Longjan, explained that ICT was an integral part of human life as it had become the core of modern civilisation and that the state government would not be left behind.

According to him: “This administration believes that through effective utilisation of the ICT tools, we can bridge the digital divide between the government and the governed and to also keep pace with modern service delivery.

“The growing interest in egovernance activities by all governments all over the world also makes it necessary to deploy ICT to drive efficiency and transparency in government.”

According to him, the Plateau Government had executed some ICT projects that were already yielding positive results for the state, listing the projects as automation of operations of the state Ministry of Finance, automation of the Plateau Board of Internal Revenue Service and the completion of biometrics capture of the

state civil servants.

The state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Prof. Comfort Piwuna, whose ministry organised the training in collaboration with the University of Jos, said that the training would help participants to get fundamental skills.

“It is expected that all participants would acquire efficient fundamental knowledge and skills on the application of ICT to achieve their set goals leading to improved productivity. It is government’s efforts to equip its current and emerging civil servants with valuable knowledge and skills around digital literacy.

“The essence of this training is to enable top level civil servants to be conversant with the use of basic software applications in simple window environment,” she said.

guise of enlisting them into the services of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Reacting to the judgment, the Corps Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Jonas Agwu commended the Nigerian judiciary for the trial, recalling an earlier publication where the manage-

ment of the Federal Road Safety Corps discountenanced itself from the illegal practice and advised the general public especially job seekers to disregard such unauthorised and mischievous publications as the Corps was not embarking on any recruitment exercise.

NiMRA honours doyen of marketing research

By Bankole Orimisan OR his immense contribuFmarketing tion to the growth of the profession through researches in the country, the Nigerian Marketing Research Association (NIMRA) has honoured the Chief Executive Officer of Marketing Research Support Services Limited, Mr. Tony Adedoyin.

The NiMRA president/Chief Executive of CMRG Ltd, Lanre Fasakin, eulogized Adedoyin for his professionalism and staying power and said that the industry was in a situation where the business of generating credible data in Africa was an issue.

He, therefore, said that for Adedoyin to have excelled over the years in generating credible data, which helped clients to take important business decisions deserved commendation.

Fasakin said that beyond generating credible data for clients, Adedoyin had distinguished himself as a model in the industry especially with his commitment to NiMRA both in moral and financial support and said that having

him honoured was to imbibe in the younger practitioners those qualities that had made the guest of the evening remain ashore in the murky waters of the Nigerian marketing research industry.

Speaking on the outlook of marketing research industry for 2014, Fasakin said that the year promised to be very interesting as there’s a whole lot of transition going on in the industry today.

He said that procedure for data generation was gradually moving away from pen and paper interview to Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) and Computer Aided Personal Interview (CAPI) platform even as he harped on the deregulation going on in the industry with indigenous marketing research agencies doing business with foreign clients and the presence of good number of foreign marketing research agencies in the country.

Above all he assured that the growing consciousness on the relevance of marketing research as a profession in Nigeria would continue to maintain an upward trend in the country. He said:

Thursday, January 23, 2014

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Govt enforces indication of weights and measures on goods and services From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja n its determination to ensure nigerians get value for their money and transact business in a safe and more convenient environment, the department of Weights and Measures Department under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has mandated supermarkets with foreign origins to print actual weights of products on the packages.

The head of Monitoring and Surveillance unit, Engr.

Mohammed Sidi during a monitoring exercise told journalist that part of the routine activities of the department is to beam searchlights on open markets and retail outlets to check their weighing and measuring instrument used for trading. He decried the

I

idea of retailers dishing out whatever measure they like and in the same breath dictate prices to unsuspecting buyers.

While on an inspection of pre-parked goods at Park “n” Shop, the team requested the manager Mathew Agabi to ensure that weights was indicated in their bakery products and imported goods to reflect the exclusive metric measure indicator of weights and measures in conformity with the weights and measures act.

Sidi explained that, ”We need to check the accuracy of the equipment, the legality of those equipment and the preparked goods being sold in the market which might be short measured and short weighed”.

Sidi said the department is

Cadbury elevates Bala Yesufu OOD beverage and confec- Moving Consumer Goods FWesttionery company, Cadbury (FMCG) industry. His counsel Africa, has announced and participation in the team the appointment of Head Corporate and Government Affairs West Africa, Bala Yesufu to the membership of the West Africa Leadership Team (WALT).

This team is responsible for operational issues and oversees the affairs of Cadbury business in West Africa on a day-to-day basis.

In a company statement, the Managing Director, Cadbury West Africa, Emil Moskofian, said: “Bala brings to WALT tremendous experience and clout in the Corporate and Government Affairs space for West Africa, as well as the Fast

will be valuable. This is a welldeserved appointment.”

Prior to joining Cadbury West

Bala Yesufu

already winning the war against unwholesome practices by retailers as a court judgement was delivered in its favour recently.

“We have just succeeded in winning one of the cases last week as announced by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, others are in progress and we are definitely going to prosecute a good number of them”.

On the concern raised over duplication of functions by different agencies, Sidi stated that the department is the only agency recognised by law to handle, regulate, set, inspect certify all weighing and measuring equipment in nigeria adding that the department is not just within nigeria alone but has link with the international weights and measures organization in Paris.

Africa in June 2013, Yesufu, an alumnus of the University of Lagos/Lagos State University, was the Public Affairs Manager of nigerian Breweries at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

He managed various portfolios during his 20 years career in nigerian Breweries. The high point of his career in nigerian Breweries was the management of the Heineken Brand, which is regarded as the crown jewel of the Heineken family.

Yesufu, with over 30 years varied experience in the FMCG industry has expansive high level network within the tiers of government, parastatals, agencies and the legislature.

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Govt to professionalise civil service’s HRM system From Anthony Otaru, Abuja n continuation of its Ifederal Transformation Agenda, the government has concluded plans to professionalise the Human Resources Management (HRM) system in the federal service.

To this end, the office of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has already engaged the Administrative Staff College of nigeria (ASCOn) to conduct a skills and knowledge inventory of current HRM practitioners as well as administrative officers in the service.

Inaugurating a five man committee to develop the new HRM curriculum and matrix of continuous education programme for practitioners in the Federal Civil Service recently in Abuja, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms , Dr. Joe Abah said that the intention was to use the inventory to identify skills and knowledge gaps of Human resources and Administrative officers in the service.

The committee is also saddled with the responsibility of recommending appropriate training needs for current HR practitioners and Administrative Officers.

The five man committee which has the DirectorGeneral of ASCOn, Ajibade A Peters as its chairman and approved for constitution by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is expected to submit its report within three weeks Dr. Abah noted. ‘’The Head of the Civil service of the Federation approved the constitution of this committee of experts drawn from ASCOn, Centre for

Management Development (CMD), nigerian Institute of Management (nIM) Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) to develop a new HRM curriculum and matrix of continuous education programme for HRM practitioners in the Federal Civil Service.’’

According to the DG of BPSR, the public Service Human Resources Management occupy a strategic position in the development of any country stressing that however, in a number of counties including

nigeria, human resources management practice in the public sector was not strategic or professional. ‘’In the nigerian Civil Service, generalist administrators within an administrative cadre commonly discharge the personnel management functions, their general approach to the work is often bureaucratic and restrictive, confined largely to routine decisions about staff discipline and welfare,’’ he noted.

Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Ajibade A Peters, promised that the committee would deliver on schedule.

Lagos Assembly tasks new recruits on professional conduct

By Wole Oyebade

AGOS State House of LnewAssembly has tasked its recruits on the virtues of diligence and professionalism in the legislative workplace.

The House, during a special induction ceremony for Muslims staffers, also urged them to follow exemplary leadership qualities of Prophet Mohammed (SAW), by promoting peaceful coexistence in the society.

Clerk of Assembly, Ganiyu Abiru said Muslims should live in peace and harmony with workers of other faiths, to earn the blessings of Allah.

Abiru stressed that Islam is a religion of peace, hard work and obedience, stressing that it does not promote violence.

He said: “You must be diligent, transparent and hard-

working as well as discharge your civil responsibility to the rules and regulations guiding the civil service.”

Abiru added that religion is a personal relationship with God, as he advised the workers not to allow religion to affect their official engagement.

He implored the new workers to be punctual and remain dedicated, if they must add value to the Assembly.

In the induction lecture titled, ‘The civil service challenges and prospects’, Director of Finance and Administration, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Bashir Ibrahim advised the workers to devote their time to self development, instead of watching home video that would add no value to their knowledge-base.

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ScienceGuardian New imaging technique shows how brain functions new brain-imaging techA nique now enables people to ‘watch’ their own brain activity in real time and to control or adjust function in pre-determined brain regions.

The study from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital — The Neuro, McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre, published in NeuroImage, is the first to demonstrate that magnetoencephalography (MEG) can be used as a potential therapeutic tool to control and train specific targeted brain regions.

This advanced brain-imaging technology has important clinical applications for numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.

MEG is a non-invasive imaging technology that measures magnetic fields generated by nerve cell circuits in the brain.

MEG captures these tiny magnetic fields with remarkable accuracy and has unrivaled time resolution — a millisecond time scale across the entire brain.

“This means you can observe your own brain activity as it happens,” says Dr. Sylvain Baillet, acting Director of the Brain Imaging Centre at The Neuro and lead investigator on the study.

“We can use MEG for neurofeedback — a process by which people can see on-going physiological information that they aren’t usually aware of, in this case, their own brain activity, and use that information to train themselves to self-regulate. Our ultimate hope and aim is to enable patients to train specific regions of their own brain, in a way that relates to their particular condition. For example neurofeedback can be used by people with epilepsy so that they could train to modify brain activity in order to avoid a seizure.”

In this proof of concept study, participants had nine sessions in the MEG and used neurofeedback to reach a specific target. The target was to look at a coloured disc on a display screen and find their own strategy to change the disc’s colour from dark red to bright yellow white, and to maintain that bright colour for as long as possible.

The disc colour was indexed on a very specific aspect of their ongoing brain activity: the researchers had set it up so that the experiment was accessing predefined regions of the motor cortex in the participants’ brain.

The colour presented was changing according to a predefined combination of slow and faster brain activity within these regions. This was possible because the researchers combined MEG with MRI, which provides information on the brain’s structures, known as magnetic source imaging (MSI).

‘Blame changing landscapes for flood risk, not global warming’ AJOR flood events occur M around the world every year, but with international loss databases documenting increased incidents of flooding, more material loss and greater fatality rates are these events on the increase, and are they getting worse?

A new study published in Hydrological Sciences Journal examines the key reasons for increasing frequency and severity of floods; considering whether this is due to improved reporting by the media, an increasing and expanding global population, or whether climate change is the crucial factor.

The authors combine the outcomes of the IPCC Special Report on “Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation” (SREX report) with more recent research to give a rounded view of the cost of flooding (both human and material), the causes of increased flood risk and predictions of future

global flooding patterns.

Studies have shown that there is a clear link between population density and flooding. Currently 800 million humans are living in areas vulnerable to flooding.

This is predicted to rise by a further 140 million during 21st Century as we see continued economic and population growth. At the same time reduction of woodland, changing river flow and the urbanisation of flood plains will increase flood risk in many regions.

The SREX report established a link between the human impact on the global landscape and occurrences of heavy precipitation leading to greater flood risk, and predicts an increase in rain generated flooding this Century.

At the same time the report concluded that there was a lack of research identifying, in a persuasive way, an influence of anthropogenic climate change on global river flooding.

Researchers find new route for better brain disorder treatments CIENTISTS at the UNC SScripps School of Medicine and The Research Institute

MEG is a non-invasive imaging technology that measures magnetic fields generated by nerve cell circuits in the brain. MEG captures these tiny magnetic fields with remarkable accuracy and has unrivaled time resolution - a millisecond time scale across the entire brain. (Credit: McGill University) “The remarkable thing is that with each training session, the participants were able to reach the target aim faster, even though we were raising the bar for the target objective in each session, the way you raise the bar each time in a high jump competition.

“These results showed that participants were successfully using neurofeedback to alter their pattern of brain activity according to a predefined objective in specific regions of their brain’s motor cortex, without moving any body part. This demonstrates that MEG source imaging can provide brain region-specific real time neurofeedback and that longitudinal neurofeedback training is possible with

this technique.”

These findings pave the way for MEG as an innovative therapeutic approach for treating patients. To date, work with epilepsy patients has shown the most promise but there is great potential to use MEG to investigate other neurological syndromes and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., stroke, dementia, movement disorders, chronic depression, etc).

MEG has potential to reveal dynamics of brain activity involved in perception, cognition and behaviour: it has provided unique insight on brain functions (language, motor control, visual and auditory perception, etc.) and dysfunctions (movement dis-

We can use MEG for neurofeedback — a process by which people can see on-going physiological information that they aren’t usually aware of, in this case, their own brain activity, and use that information to train themselves to self-regulate.

Our ultimate hope and aim is to enable patients to train specific regions of their own brain, in a way that relates to their particular condition.

orders, tinnitus, chronic pain, dementia, etc).

Dr. Baillet and his team are collaborating presently with Prof. Isabelle Peretz at Université de Montréal to use this technique with people that have amusia, a disorder that makes them unable to process musical pitch.

It is hypothesized that amusia results from poor connectivity between the auditory cortex and prefrontal regions in the brain. In an ongoing study, the team is measuring the intensity of functional connectivity between these brain regions in amusic patients and aged-matched healthy controls.

Using MEG-neurofeedback, they hope to take advantage of the brain’s plasticity to reinforce the functional connectivity between the target brain regions. If the approach demonstrates an improvement in pitch discrimination in participants, that will demonstrate the clinical and rehabilitative applications of this approach. The baseline measurements have been taken already, and the training sessions will take place over this year.

have discovered how salt acts as a key regulator for drugs used to treat a variety of brain diseases including chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, and depression.

The finding, published online January 12 in the journal Nature, has cleared the way for more precisely targeted therapies for a host of diseases with the potential of fewer side effects.

“There’s a reason why certain drugs, for instance, work well for some people but not others and why those drugs can cause serious side effects, such as seizures, addiction, and death due to overdose,” said Patrick Giguere, PhD, cofirst author of the Nature paper and UNC pharmacology postdoctoral fellow. “The reason is that we haven’t known the precise biological markers for those drugs.”

Markers represent the biological abnormalities that drugs aim to treat. Currently, many approved drugs including morphine, oxycodone, and heroin — target opioid receptors, which use a variety of pathways to transmit chemical signals in the brain.

“These drugs activate all of the receptor pathways,” Giguere said. “None of them modulates just one pathway.”

This ability of opioid medications to indiscriminately target receptor pathways is likely responsible for the beneficial and harmful effects associated with these addictive and commonly abused medications.

But now, Giguere and colleagues found a way to modulate just one pathway. They discovered that tweaking specific amino acids — the building blocks of receptors

—could drastically change how opioid receptors control chemical signals.

The finding offers a way to create more precisely targeted therapies with the potential for enhanced beneficial actions and fewer side effects.

And since the opioid system is key for many brain processes, drugs that target these receptors could be useful for many diseases, including depression, chronic pain and Parkinson’s Disease.

At the heart of the finding is a simple element — sodium — the main component of table salt. Forty years ago scientists figured out that altering sodium concentrations in the brain changed the activity of opioid receptors. But since then, no one had figured out precisely how sodium did that.

That’s because no one could create a clear picture of what the receptor looked like; researchers couldn’t see what sodium was doing. What they needed was a high-resolution crystal structure of the deltaopioid receptor. None existed until two years ago.

A crystal structure of a tiny piece of brain anatomy is similar to a snow crystal. Both have adopted a solid form that is the most stable form.

Water, under specific circumstances, is most stable as a snow crystal. A protein, under certain circumstances, is most stable in a crystal form.

Yet, snow and protein crystals are formed very differently.

A snowflake forms when water freezes onto a dust particle. To create a crystal structure of a protein — such as a receptor — scientists have to use x-rays and liquid nitrogen to keep the protein stable. For years, this proved difficult in the case of the delta opioid receptor protein because it’s an extremely fragile part of a brain cell’s membrane.

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NATURALHEALTH Thursday, January 23, 2014

Study reveals prevalence of staphylococcus on naira notes

By Mary Ogar IRECTOR-General (DG), D Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) Ibadan, Dr. Ighodalo Folorunso Ijagbone and Principal Scientific Officer, Odeseye Adebola Olayemi have drawn attention to the prevalence of staphylococcus species on the Nigerian currency notes.

According to a recent study conducted, findings revealed heavy load of bacteria with staphylococcus aureus having a comparatively highest percentage among other isolates.

Ijagbone in a paper published by the institute disclosed that the results of the investigations revealed that the highest bacteria load was found on the N100 note while N5, N10, N20, N50 and N200 notes had lesser load of staphylococcus in that order.

According to the study, six isolates of bacteria from different microbial growths were identified in all the naira notes.

His words: “Six isolates of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus from different microbial growths were identified on all the naira notes. Each isolate was further subjected to laboratory investigations. While the pathogenicity of these isolates was yet to be determined but Staphylococcus aureus has been confirmed by previous studies to be highly pathogenic bacteria specie.

“Staphylococcus aureus is a known cause of some major diseases in human. These diseases include meningitis, osteomyletis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Chest pain and sepsis.

Diseases that could be caused

by Staphylococcus aureus infections include furuncles, cellulitis, pneumonia, bones and bacteraemia.”

Ijagbone further explained that the institute decided to undertake the study in view of the manner the naira notes are handled and traded, adding that “Scientists at the NILST considered it as a potential means of spreading pathogenic micro-organisms among the users.”

According to him, the major contributory risk factor is the unhygienic behaviour exhibited by members of the public.

He highlighted some of these behaviour to include; unwashed hands after the use of toilet, wriggling of nose and ear with bare hands, using bare hands to wipe sweat off the body, using of brassiere as purse and direct contact of money with wet skin and other human items among others.

In the 2013 study undertaken to investigate the presence of micro-organisms on the naira notes, which might be harmful to man, he pointed out that massive growths of bacterial were found on all the notes used in the study.

Noting that the sources of the bacterial contaminations on the notes were not determined, he was however of the opinion that they might be as the results of high rate of direct (hand-to-hand) exchange of naira notes among already contaminated hands, bags, purses and pockets.

Besides, he said mentioned that the study further revealed that less bacterial

loads were found on the newly introduced polymer Naira notes such as N5, N10, N20 and N50.

According to the DG, these notes were observed to have insignificant bacterial loads when compared to the bacterial loads obtained from the old notes of the same denominations (N5, N10, N20 and N50).

The reason for the low microbial loads observed on some notes according to him was traced to the nature of materials used in making the polymer naira notes.

“It was discovered that the slippery nature of the material used in making these naira notes could not sustain a high load of microbial growth.

Suffice to say that the ‘papery’ nature of the material used to manufacture the old notes promotes susceptibility to high microbial contaminants, which suggests that the material used in producing the polymer naira notes is safer with respect to bacterial contamination,” he added.

Ijagbone stressed that the main objective of the investigation was to point out the health hazard associated with the handling of naira notes from persons to persons in the society.

Apart from the currency serving as a medium of financial transactions, it also serves as a medium of transmitting communicable disease pathogens to humans as has been revealed in this study.

He said, “This finding is very significant particularly in the banking sector where much of the currency is handled and processed for distribution. This essential commodity may be the source of many

undisclosed and undefined disease ailments, which are now emerging, and common in the society. Therefore, there is the need for more advocacy on best practices in the handling of naira notes in the face of increasing unhygienic attitudes and behaviour usually exhibited by people all over the place.”

As preventive measures, he advised that workers in the banking sector should be provided with appropriate Personal Protecting

Equipment (PPE) to reduce direct contact with naira notes during processing in the bank.

Also, he expressed approval over the e-payment system and cashless policy adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) describing it as good measures that would have positive health implications on Nigerians by reducing direct contact through naira exchange.

To promote further studies as well as detailed research on

the health implications in the course of processing and distribution of naira notes among Nigerians, he craved the support of all stakeholders to assist the institute in facilitating more work on the topic.

“The scientists in the Institute are using this medium to solicit funding assistance from stakeholders and donor agencies to support this laudable initiative,” he said.

Why bacteria contaminate hospital water taps EW research finds signifiN cantly higher levels of infectious pathogens in water from faucet taps with aerators compared to water from deeper in the plumbing system.

Contaminated water poses an increased risk for infection in immunocompromised patients.

The study was published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

“Aerators are a reservoir for drug-resistant bacteria and a source of infection for patients at risk,” said Maria Luisa Cristina, PhD, a lead author of the study.

“Safe water is vital to ensuring patient safety where waterborne infections increase morbidity, mortality, treatment costs, compensation claims and prolong hospital stays.”

Researchers from the University of Genova in Italy and collaborating universities

studied cold and hot water samples at two tertiary care hospitals for a year from faucets used by healthcare professionals for hand washing, surgical washing, and washing of medical equipment.

This study assessed growth of bacteria at both the faucet and deeper within the water distribution system. Cold and hot water sampling was carried out first with the aerators in faucets in place to assess the risk at each outlet point and then after disinfecting and flame-sterilising the outlet point and letting the water run for two minutes to analyze the microbiological features of the plumbing system.

Researchers found the total microbial load was up to 10 times greater when aerators were in place than after they had been sterilized. Their findings show that opportunist microorganisms like Legionella spp., Acinetobacter spp. and other Gram-negative bacteria were significantly higher at the faucet than in

the

plumbing system.

Throughout the study, researchers consistently noted chlorine levels that were too low and hot water temperatures that were below the minimal temperature needed to prevent the growth of Legionella. Both of these factors promote the growth of waterborne pathogens.

In a commentary published alongside the study, Tara Palmore, MD, notes the need for additional research on the topic: “Hospitals tend to have large, complex waterworks with low-flow areas that produce stagnation and biofilm formation; hot and cold water temperatures that are not well regulated may be ideal for bacterial growth...the work of Cristina et al. is valuable in quantifying the frequency, magnitude, and location of the potential hazard to patients from hospital water in their facilities. There is still a significant gap in our understanding of how and when such risk translates to patient infections.”

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NaturalHealth Herbal combo tackles drug-resistant malaria, cancer, diabetes, others Herbal preparations made predominantly with lemon leaf, sesame seed, garlic bulb, bitter leaf, Aloe vera leaf, sugar cane leaf, zobo leaf, guinea corn seed and soya bean seed have been validated as effective treatments for drug-resistant malaria, prevention of cancer, management of diabetes and other non communicable diseases. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

IFFERENT combinations of D local herbs have shown promise in studies endorsed by the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, and National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as the next best drugs for drug-resistant malaria, cancer, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases.

Some of the herbal combinations are also among the local drugs selected for thorough scientific verification by the Committee on Verification of Herbal Claims set up last year by the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii.

The different herbal combination with bitter leaf as the most active and predominant ingredient include: SAABMAL for drug-resistant malaria which contains-lemon leaf, sesame seed, garlic bulb, bitter leaf, Aloe vera, Love-lies bleeding leaf and sugar cane leaf; SAABFAT7 a novel and attractive alternative in the treatment of cancer containszobo leaf, white pepper seed, sesame seed, bitter leaf, Aloe vera, garlic bulb and Love-lies bleeding leaf; SAABFAT6 contains guinea corn seed, soya bean seed, sugar cane, sesame seed, bitter leaf, Aloe vera, garlic bulb and Love-lies bleeding leaf; SAABFAT5 contains lemon leaf, sugar cane, sesame seed, bitter leaf, Aloe vera, garlic bulb and Love-lies bleeding leaf; and DAABS 2 for diabetes contains maize seed, bitter leaf and white yam tuber.

Nigerian researchers from Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Technology and Raw Materials Development at NIPRD, and Halamin Herbal centre, Abuja in a study titled “Standardization of SAABMAL: An ethnomedical polyberbal formulation for treatment of malaria infection in the tropics” found that SAABMAL caused 97 per cent reduction in drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, the

causative agent for malaria.

The researchers were led by Prof. Martins Emeje of NIPRD and Dr. Ben Amodu of Ben Amodu Farms and Halamin centre.

Amodu who is also a pharmacist told The Guardian that the paper has been accepted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (NECA) and Health Innovation for Development (ANDi) for publication. “The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also excited about the findings,” he said.

The pharmacist said: “The poly herbal preparation has been accepted by the Committee on Verification of Herbal Cure Claims set up last year by the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, for further probe and clinical trials.”

Meanwhile, other researchers have assessed extracts from the leaves and root bark of Vernonia amygdalina for antimalarial activity against drug-sensitive Plasmodium spp in mice.

According to the study published in the British Journal of Biomedical Science, a standard inoculum of infected erythrocytes was used, and leaf and root-bark extracts of 500 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg or 125 mg/kg are used in a four-day suppression test and a Rane test of established infection.

Bitter leaf extract produced 67 per cent suppression of parasitaemia in the four-day test, while root-bark extract produced 53.5 per cent suppression. These results are significant when compared to a placebo.

According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science Invention by Nigerian researchers led by Dr. Ben Amodu of Ben Amodu farms, “the presence of blocking bioactive activities of SAABFAT 7 with bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) as it active ingredient opens new perspectives in the treatment of this disease by means of the use of blocking or specific modula-

Cancer is considered at the moment one of the main causes of death worldwide. The current tendency in the treatment of cancer pursues to obtain a more successful treatment that do not increases alone its effectiveness but rather it diminishes its adverse effects .One of such that provides a better alternative is naturaceuticals, tagged as natural products.

They are able to scavenge free radicals, induce detoxification, inhibit stress response proteins and interfere with DNA binding activities of some transcription factors

Bitter leaf tors of these radicals. The affectation in the expression of these radicals and other important markers in tumoral cells of epithelial origin confirms the anti-tumoral effect and they reaffirm to this cocktail of natural antitumoral products as a novel and attractive alternative in the treatment of cancer.”

The study titled “Phytochemical and Biological Study on Saabfat 7 with a Focus on Vernonia Amygdalina” was conducted

by Amodu B. and Musa D. E. of Halamin Herbal centre, 10 George Innih Crescent, Apo District, Abuja and Itodo S.E. of the Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Jos. They wrote: “Cancer is considered at the moment one of the main causes of death worldwide. The current tendency in the treatment of cancer pursues to obtain a more successful treatment that do not increases alone its effectiveness but rather it diminishes its adverse effects .One of such that provides a better alternative is naturaceuticals, tagged as natural products.

They are able to scavenge free radicals, induce detoxification, inhibit stress response proteins and interfere with DNA binding activities of some transcription factors. In

Amodu these new therapeutic slopes the treatments are included that modify the biological answer, starting from emergent pharmacological agents able to modulate the transduction of signs inducing a selective death of the tumoral cells.”

Bitter leaf, botanically called Vernonia amygdalina, is a medicinal plant, which grows in the humid tropical secondary forests of Africa. Bitter leaf is among several natural products used by traditional healers in Western Nigeria to treat a number of bacterial infections. The leaves are used as a leafy vegetable for preparing the popular bitter-leaf soup and the juice or extract serves as a tonic drink.

Phytochemical analysis shows that bitter leaf contains 18 per cent protein, 8.5 per cent fiber in a dry matter, and a good composition of macro

elements.

Moreover, Vernonia amygdalina has been used in traditional medicine as an antihelminth, an anti-malarial, and a laxative herb. It was observed that an apparently sick wild chimpanzee chewed this plant to extract bitter juice and after a while it seemed to return to its normal activity.

The researchers further stated: “These observations stimulated research on the chemical principals of Vernonia amygdalina. Several stigmastane-type saponins such as vernoniosides A1, A2, A33, B2, B3, A44, and C5 have been identified in the leaves. It was shown that the A series of these saponins were bitter, mixtures of saponins as well as vernonioside A1 were shown to affect body and liver weights, urine and fecal output, and plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations in mice fed diets amended with these compounds. “The

antiplasmodial activity of some sesquiterpene and steroidal constituents of Vernonia amygdalina was tested, and some were proved to be active against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. The current search for potential anti oxidative principles to replace suspected tumour-causing synthetic analogues such as BHT necessitated this investigation.

“Antioxidative principles have been implicated as parts of anticancer formulations and patents. Although luteoline has been reported to be a strong antioxidant, no report has so far been given on the antioxidative potentials of its tannin, alkaloid, anthroquinone, anthracyanosidic and glycosidic derivatives.

“The present paper characterizes flavonoids, tannin, alkaloid, anthroquinone, anthracyanosidic and glycosidic derivatives of SAABFAT 7 with Vernonia amygdalina leaves as one of its active ingredients. This study is therefore designed to determine the clinical activities of (SAABFAT 7) with Vernonia amygdalina as one of its active ingredients, on animals infused with carcinogen.”

The researchers in another study titled “Synergy of Polyphenols as Strategy for Enhancing Bioavailability and Therapeutic Efficacy” concluded: “ SAABFAT 5 with Vernonia amygdalina as it active ingredient had been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments,it has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, haematoma, malaria, inflammation, cancer etc. The methanolic extract of the leaves was investigated on the histology of the liver and kidney. The kidney section demonstrated by Perls Prussian blue reaction shows no iron deposition. The liver sections show more of iron deposition with the carcinogen. There were no significant histological deviation observed in the kidney and liver section of experimental animals compared with control demonstrated by Haematoxylin and Eosin staining technique.”

Meanwhile, a bitter leafbased herbal anti-diabetic medication, just like DAABS 2, has passed human clinical trials and received a United States Patent 6531461 for the treatment of diabetes. Also, NIPRD, Abuja, is presently conducting a multi-centre human clinical trials of a similar drug, ADI.

These observations stimulated research on the chemical principals of Vernonia amygdalina. Several stigmastane-type saponins such as vernoniosides A1, A2, A33, B2, B3, A44, and C5 have been identified in the leaves. It was shown that the A series of these saponins were bitter, mixtures of saponins as well as vernonioside A1 were shown to affect body and liver weights, urine and fecal output, and plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations in mice fed diets amended with these compounds

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NATURALHEALTH Thursday, January 23, 2014

Ashiru reveals secrets of ageing gracefully

By Chukwuma Muanya O you want to be attracD tive, beautiful, young and healthy in your 60s? You may have to go for regular detoxification with fasting, drinking vegetable broth and increasing your physical activity.

A Mayr nutritionist and Managing Director of Martlife Detox Clinic, Mrs. Idowu Ashiru, who just marked her 60th birthday in an exclusive interview with The Guardian ahead of the 50th year memorial of the death of her father, Chief Samuel Olatunbosun Shonibare (SOS), the first Asiwaju of Ijebuland and treasurer of the defunt Action Group, ‘launch’ of a Scholarship Foundation, small business grant and Book titled Memories of my Father said: “The secret is the Detox Clinic. When you remove all the toxins from your body, then all your face and body becomes fresh and vibrant.

“Well you should fast once a week, detox once a week, maybe every Monday after you must have indulged over the weekend. If you do that, it will be 52 days in a year and divided by seven you can have an idea how many weeks. If you do that in a year, that will be very helpful. You can imagine that the body does accumulate toxins very fast.”

When you do that fasting, how do you break it? Is it with fruits? Ashiru said: “No. We do not do so much fruits because although fruits are very healthy, they have vitamins and so on but the same fruits they were eating before are not the same we are eating now. Look at this pineapple, it is sweet. You might as well be eating raw sugar. So you can imagine that the health benefits are nullified by the amount of sugar. So there has been so

Ashiru much genetic engineering of fruits so that they will be so sweet. People do not want to eat sour or bitter foods. So how healthy is that. So we do not do so many fruits.

“If you fast once a week you can go on herbal teas; we have some herbal teas, we have some special herbal teas with a little bit of honey.

We have broth, which is lots and lots of different vegetables, you put a lot of water into it and then you just remove the water and drink it. So you can imagine that all the vitamins and minerals and water from the vegetables you are able to get it.

“We do not eat the vegetables, it is just the water. We boil the vegetables for about an hour, we get all the nutrients and then we drink the broth. You can do that all day and plenty of water. Of course by the time you starve yourself for one day then you would not want to spoil it the next day and start eating the whole house.”

How about the place of exercise? The nutritionist further explained: “It is very important. We do exercise but not too much because if you do too much exercise you can make your muscles sore and you develop lactic acid,

which is toxic. Every day I like to walk may be for 45 minutes just around my area which is very hilly and that is it.”

What other things do you thinks besides detoxification that Nigerian men and women should do to keep optimal health as we age?

She said: “Yes in this day and age that there is so much cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, all these ailments are due to toxins. Gone are the days where we had infectious diseases like cholera and tuberculosis. They have cured all that. The ailments we have now are caused by our lifestyle especially what we are eating.

“Dr. Mayr was an Austrian doctor who lived a 100 days ago in Austria and he treated all these people with high blood pressure, diabetes and so on. He looked at them and said, ‘let me do an experiment and I believe I will be right. Let me remove food from these people.’ So he put them all in a fast and in every single case they got better.

“So he realised it was the food, the way they are eating the food, the way that they are cooking the food. So he started doing different kinds of food and different kinds of experiments to cure his patients and that was how the Mayr protocol in Medicine developed.”

Well you should fast once a week, detox once a week, maybe every Monday after you must have indulged over the weekend. If you do that, it will be 52 days in a year and divided by seven you can have an idea how many weeks. If you do that in a year, that will be very helpful. You can imagine that the body does accumulate toxins very fast.

‘Hours of sitting can harm your health’ NE would think that make it more difficult to make O squeezing in an hour of up for it later in life. While hithardcore spinning at the gym ting the gym and lifting every day would make up for a long day of sitting in front of a computer at work and a few hours of watching TV at home.

But doctors are finding that the negative health effects of being deskbound and glued to the sofa for long stretches of the day are such that they override the benefit of daily exercise.

The health consequence of inactivity was particularly evident among postmenopausal women, according to a Cornell University study that spent 12 years following a large, ethnically diverse group.

Nutritional scientist, Rebecca Seguin, and colleagues looked at 93,000 postmenopausal American women between the ages of 50 and 79 years and found that those who spend the most time sitting and resting (sleeping excluded) died earlier.

This trend held up even when taking into account differences in physical mobility and function, chronic disease status, demographic factors and general fitness. Altogether, it means that a lot of idle time takes a toll even on those who have a consistent exercise regimen.

“The assumption has been that if you’re fit and physically active, that will protect you, even if you spend a huge amount of time sitting each day,” Seguin explained in a press release. “In fact, in doing so you are far less protected from negative health effects of being sedentary than you realise.”

Seguin and colleagues reported their finding in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, which concluded that women who have more than 11 hours of sedentary time every day up their risk of premature death by 12 per cent in comparison with those who have only four hours or less of inactivity. Specifically, the less active group increased their chances of dying from cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and cancer by 13, 27, and 21 per cent respectively.

A sedentary existence can even set your physique back and

weights certainly makes a positive difference, Seguin’s finding underscores the importance of movement throughout the day.

“If you’re in an office, get up and move around frequently,” she said. “If you’re retired and have more idle time, find ways to move around inside and outside the house. Get up between TV programmes, take breaks in computer and reading time, and be conscious of interrupting prolonged sedentary time.”

The health benefits of simply standing more throughout the day was further established by a recent Kansas State University study in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, which looked at almost 200,000 people between the ages of 45 and 106.

Sara and Richard Rosenkranz found that standing for most of the day reduces the risk for many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, and colon cancer.

Sara Rosenkranz explained Kansas State University’s news service that excessive sitting involves minimal muscle contractions. This causes an enzyme molecule called lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to become less active in its role in ensuring fat or triglycerides get used up for energy.

“We’re basically telling our bodies to shut down the processes that help to stimulate metabolism throughout the day, and that is not good,” she said. “Just by breaking up your sedentary time, we can actually upregulate that process in the body.”

The study authors identified the challenges of convincing younger, healthier people to be more pre-emptive about their health with regard to aging and chronic disease since it is something that is far removed and in the distant future. They also saw the value of sit/stand desks in schools and offices, which are tables that have tops that can raise to enable work to get done while on your feet.

‘Fast exercise’ even more powerful than thought, expert says Can exercising for just 60 seconds a week transform your health? The BBC’s Dr Michael Mosley says ‘fast exercise’ is even more powerful than experts thought HE men in my family are T not long-lived. My grandfather died in his early 60s (though the fact that he was a Japanese prisoner in Burma during World War II can’t have helped), while my father passed away at the relatively early age of 74.

When he died, he was on a dozen medicines and suffering from a range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart failure, prostrate cancer and what I suspect was early dementia.

At his funeral, a number of his friends commented on how similar I am to him. This was both flattering and disturbing, because I fear, along with his prominent nose, that I’ve inherited many of his more unhealthy tendencies.

But I also believe that although genes play a significant role in how well we age, lifestyle is just as important.

Down the centuries there have been lots of anti-ageing therapies, from injecting

monkey glands to megadoses of vitamins. But only a few things have consistently been shown to influence how well we age.

These include not smoking, moderate drinking, eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, doing exercise and keeping your weight down.

I’ve never been a smoker or a heavy drinker and I like fruit and vegetables, so that’s not a challenge. But when it comes to doing more exercise and staying slim, well, that has been far trickier.

I found the standard advice eat less and be more active largely ineffectual. I kept trying and failing.

Then, a couple of years ago, I began looking into a radically different approach to exercise called High Intensity Training (HIT). The idea is that instead of trying to shed weight and get healthier by jogging for hours, you can get many of the more important benefits of exercise from as little as

three minutes of HIT a week.

Everyone agrees that getting more active will add years to your life (around 2.2 years, to be exact).

But, more importantly, it will significantly reduce your risk of developing a range of chronic diseases, from cancer to heart failure, dementia to diabetes.

Exercise will also help you sleep better, improve your mood and even perk up your sex life, according to the wellregarded Mayo clinic in the U.S. But how much should you do? In 2008, a committee of U.S. scientists recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, while cautioning the necessary amounts ‘cannot yet be identified with a high degree of precision’.

‘In trials, most people say they prefer HIT to conventional exercise, not least because it is over so quickly.’ These 150 minutes a week remains the recommended level despite the fact that less than 20 per cent of us do anything like that. The most common excuse is a lack of time. That has certainly been mine which is why the idea of HIT appeals to me.

Roger Bannister was a ‘fast’

exerciser The principles behind HIT are not new. In Fifties Britain, a young medical student called Roger Bannister was determined to become the first person in the world to run a sub-four-minute mile.

He didn’t have lots of spare time for training so he would go down to the track and do interval sprints.

These consisted of running flat out for one minute, then jogging for two or three minutes before doing another one-minute sprint.

He would repeat this cycle ten times, and then head back to work. The whole thing normally took less than 35 minutes.

In May 1954 he became the first person in the world to break the four-minute mile.

Since then almost every middle-distance runner has done interval sprints as part of their training.

Jamie Timmons, Professor of Systems Biology at Loughborough University, has spent many years researching the benefits of what has come to be known as HIT in normal people.

He assured me that three minutes of HIT a week have been shown to improve the

body’s ability to cope with sugar surges (i.e., your metabolic fitness), and how good the heart and lungs are at getting oxygen into the body (your aerobic fitness).

Just three sessions of HIT a week for four weeks (12 minutes of intense exercise in total made a difference).

You’ll want to eat fewer calories Intrigued, I had blood tests taken and went through some baseline tests to assess my starting point fitness-wise.

Then I began to do HIT. I got on an exercise bike, warmed up by doing gentle cycling for a couple of minutes, then started to pick up the pace.

At the same time, I increased the resistance on the bike by setting it to the hardest level and then went flat out for 20 seconds.

I cycled gently for a couple more minutes to catch my breath, then did another 20 seconds at full throttle.

Another couple of minutes’ gentle cycling, then a final 20 seconds going hell for leather and that was it. In no more than seven minutes my exercise for the day was complete.

I did three sessions of HIT a week for four weeks (12 min-

utes of intense exercise in total) and then went back to the lab to be retested.

The first surprise was the effect it had on my insulin sensitivity. This is a measure of the amount of insulin your body has to produce in response to a sugar surge to get that blood sugar back down to normal.

The less your body has to produce, the better. After 12 minutes of intense exercise, my insulin sensitivity had improved by a remarkable 24 per cent, something you would be unlikely to see after many hours of conventional exercise.

But although I was able to cycle longer and harder, I didn’t see the 10 per cent improvement in aerobic fitness that typically happens when people do this regime.

Why not? Well, it turns out that when it comes to aerobic fitness, I can blame my parents.

I’ve had a genetic test, which reveals that, like 20 per cent of the population, I am a socalled ‘non-responder’ when it comes to aerobic fitness.

This means that however much exercise I do, in whatever form, I will never become incredibly fit.

Thursday, January 23, 2014 SCIENCE & HEALTH

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Chukwu faults health workers over planned strike

By Emeka Anuforo, Abuja and Wole Oyebade, Lagos INISTER of Health, Prof.

M Onyebuchi Chukwu yesterday described as “patently untrue” all allegations by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) that the Federal Ministry of Health had failed in implementing any of the issues in contention.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister urged the Union to shelve its planned strike, stressing that government has shown great commitment and faith in addressing the issues.

He also urged the Union to address their grievances over the planned appointment of a Surgeon General directly to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The statement noted: “Prof. C. O. Onyebuchi Chukwu is in receipt of a letter dated January 17, 2014 from the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) threatening to proceed on a 3-day warning strike based on an alleged non implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the end of the meeting held between the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and JOHESU on the 7th and 8th of January, 2014 at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Health Headquarters, Abuja.

“On the 15th of November, 2013, the FMOH in a memo conveyed to all Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and (Medical Directors) MDs for their compliance, the Circular

Ref. No. HCSF/EPO/EIR/B.63755/T1/19 dated 4th November, 2013 from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

The said circular dealt fully with this aspect of the judgement of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria pending the outcome of the appeal filed by the Federal Ministry of Health.”

On the issuance of circular on consultants in line with the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Chukwu stressed that the matter had been dealt with by the Ministry’s Circular No. MH/PM/138/VOL.11/78, dated 9th January, 2014.

He said: “The affected officers are to be paid Specialist Allowance and the arrears accruing, as applicable, until the final outcome of the matter pending before the Court of Appeal.”

He added: “The Ministry has written a circular on promotion from CONHESS 14-15 issued on 9th January 2013 to all CMDs and MDs instructing them to promote eligible officers where vacancies are available in line with the various Schemes of Service and other extant rules and regulations.”

The minister said the withdrawal of circular on Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee had been reviewed by the minister of and a general guideline has been issued on the subject to all Federal Tertiary Hospitals for their compliance.

Collective Bargaining

Committee to review the 2009 Collective Agreement to be set up by the Federal Ministry of Health with the Federal Ministry of Labour and National Salaries and Income and Wages Commission as observers.

He went on: “The last item on the MoU under reference stated inter alia: In view of the above understandings which were reached in good faith and commitment to industrial harmony, the meeting agreed that the ultimatum issued to government by JOHESU is hereby suspended.

“All other equally important issues not in the MoU but raised by JOHESU, namely, increase in the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years and the demand for the placement of Medical Laboratory Science Interns on CONHESS 8 Step 2 and Laboratory Scientists postNYSC on CONHESS 9 are already being treated through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

“The Federal Ministry of Health, having demonstrated great faith and commitment to the implementation of the MoU strongly appeals to JOHESU to do same. A warning strike is totally unnecessary and unwarranted. JOHESU should heed the appeal of the Minister of Health and the appeal of concerned and well meaning Nigerians not to embark on the needless strike, bearing in mind that human lives are involved.”

Ekocorp upgrades hospital facilities N a bid to further advance Idelivery the quality of healthcare in the country, Ekocorp group of hospitals has begun upgrading of its facilities to international standards.

The group took another stride recently when it upgraded state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging suites, and full automation of its laboratories.

For instance, 2013 German Haematology and Chemical Analyzers is able to process 200 samples, at the same time, and give results within minutes, so many patients do not have to come on a different day for physicians review of laboratory result.

Also undergoing major medical improvement in technology are the X-ray suites in all the centres, having acquired Digital X-ray equipment worth around N100 million, at the Head Office in Ikeja with Surulere and Ikoyi locations soon to be fully refurbished.

Chief Medical Director and CEO, Ekocorp Plc, Dr. Odukoya explained that the aim of the private multi-specialist tertiary hospital, The Eko Hospital group, was to provide a “one stop” centre of medical excellence, where most medical conditions, diagnosis, treatment and management can be provided under a single roof without compromising time and getting optimal outcomes.”

Chief Operations Officer, Ekocorp Plc, Dr Ademolu Owoyele, added that the

hospital group is now poised to deliver the medical excellence the Nigerian people have long deserved, and its facility upgrades was

just a first phase in its repositioning strategy as envisioned by the Board of Directors of the organisation.

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CSOs task Jigawa govt on maternal, child health bill

By Wole Oyebade IVIL Society Organisations C (CSOs) have urged the Jigawa State government to fast-track passage of the Free Maternal Newborn and Child Health Bill, for the health of the populace.

The group, at a recent roundtable meeting on maternal health in Jigawa, said the delay in its passage by the State Assembly has threatened sustainability of maternal health services in the state.

The meeting, organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), with support from Mac Arthur Foundation, noted that though the state has witnessed positive developments in health, most of them are currently threatened.

The group observed that from 2007, Jigawa state has witnessed decreasing cases of maternal mortality

through the joint efforts of the State government, Civil Society and Developmental Partners. Maternal Mortality Rate in the State is estimated at 1,100 deaths per 100,000 live births.

In the 2014 appropriation, Jigawa State has also allocated 12 per cent of the State budget to health sector, coupled with progressive increase in health workers in the State.

But out of 6,000 medical facilities in the State, only 230 provide maternal health services.

Poor awareness, the CSOs noted, has hindered accessibility to maternal health services.

According to Executive Director CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, “Inadequate infrastructural facilities have increased the chance to maternal mortality and reduced accessibility to medical facilities. Existing cultural and religion beliefs have

discouraged effective accessibility and attendance for maternal medical services.

“Inadequate scrutiny and supervision of the existing medical facilities have increased shortage of medical attention for maternal mortality in the State. Lack professional commitment and unethical attitudes among medical personnel towards healthcare delivery have sabotaged the State Government’s efforts at reducing maternal mortality,” he said.

The CSOs, however, recommended that there was need for improved participatory policy formulation, resource allocation and utilization towards healthcare provision and delivery in State, coupled with full-fledged political commitment and budgetary allocation to health sector in the state.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the group called for massive sen-

Efferflu C tablet debuts in Nigeria

By Olushola Ricketts tablet manufactured in A South Africa for cold and catarrh, Efferflu C, has recently been introduced into the Nigerian market. Efferflu C tablet is a combination of vitamin C for catarrh, paracetamol for cold and chlorphenamine maieate for allergy.

Although, it is already a household name in South Africa and has sold over 400,000 units, the Nigerian German Chemicals (NGC) partnered with Pharma Dynamics, a South African pharmaceutical company, to bring the product to Nigeria.

Speaking during the launch at Protea Hotel, Lagos, the Executive Director, NGC,

Benson Inabowa, said when the tablet is put in a glass of water, it dissolves instantly and gives relief the users in few minutes.

Speaking during the launch recently at Protea Hotel, Lagos, Executive Director pharmaceuticals of Nigerian German Chemicals (NGC), Benson Inabowa, said the partnership was targeted at producing a product that would be highly efficient for cold and catarrh. He added that the tablet is an effervescent product.

According to him, the tablet would do a lot of good during the harmattan seasons due to the hazy and dusty condition of the atmosphere.

His words: “Cold and catarrh is associated with other dis-

eases like malaria. During rainy season, cold and catarrh is so rampant. The product has vitamin C that is a good antioxidant to cure catarrh. It is also made up with paracetamol to help fight cold and there is chlorphenamine maieate for allergy. It takes care of cold, pain and catarrh.”

Also commenting on the efficacy of Efferflu C tablet, a Business Consultant for Pharma Dynamics, Fungayi Chamba, said that Efferflu C is an effervescent preparation for cold and catarrh with aspirin and it is also sugarfree.

“To move the Efferflu C brand in the market, we rely on the NGC marketing strategy for penetration,” he

sitisation, public education and enlightenment, positive attitude and proper orientation among women, especially at grassroots on reproductive health and general health issues.

Also, “There is need for intensified advocacy and sensitisation campaign by Civil Society among traditional and religion leaders on maternal accountability.

We seek increased ExecutiveLegislative oversight on healthcare sector and immediate passage of Free Maternal Newborn and Child Health Bill by Jigawa State House of Assembly.

“There must also be constructive collaboration among Legislators, Ministry of Health, CSOs and various stakeholders to enhance provision and service delivery on maternal health in Jigawa State,” the statement read in part.

The CSOs added the need for adequate healthcare infrastructural facilities to restore human dignity, rights and provide accountability for maternal health; and massive recruitment of additional skilled health manpower.

“Effective utilisation of the existing medical services; workable implementation of Safe Motherhood Programme; and strengthened Primary Healthcare System, especially at grassroots across the State.

“Strengthening of Community Health Committees to ensure adequate supervision and deliverable oversight of local health facilities in the State.

Increased attention towards youth-adolescents contributions on maternal accountability and access to effective information on family planning and reproductive health.”

NEMA bemoans shortage of medical personnel From Joke Falaju, Abuja HE National Emergency T Management Agency (NEMA) has expressed worry over inadequate medical personnel to assist the agency during emergency situation.

Director General of the agency, Mohammad Sani-Sidi, at the training of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday in Abuja, said because the agency does not have adequate medical personnel, it had to make do with some junior personnel in the agency after series of training.

He said the aim was to equip them with the necessary skills needed to manage disaster situations.

The Director Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade stressed the need to train and re-train workers so as to equipped them with relevant information in line with international standard.

He said: “Nobody prays for disaster but when it happens we want our personnel to be well-equipped with adequate skills, so that it would not meet them unprepared. To this effect, we renew their knowledge every quarter, by bringing in experts for the knowledge upgrade.”

Continuing, he said: “We are challenged in terms of manpower as we don’t have the number of medical personnel that we need but what we do is to train some of our personnel and give them rudimentary training. I can assure you that the feedback from the populace has been wonderful,” Otegbade said.

The training exercise, which

would span for four days, would train over 45 personnel.

Meanwhile, a medical expert at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr Gryang Sha, has attributed the reason hospitals in the country often reject victims of emergencies to lack of comprehensive medical insurance policy in the country.

He said there are so many challenges confronting hospital managements in the country making it difficult to sometimes receive these casualties even when emergency management agencies or first responders to disasters bring them to the hospital.

Sha, who is a Consultant Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgeon/Lecturer at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital said, “In places where these things are working, there are protocols on ground; cooperation guidelines and protocols apart from the human resources, the infrastructure, among others.

If you take Gwagwalada, for instance, where I am coming from, that hospital was commissioned in 1992 with 350 beds and you can understand the population of Gwagwalada as at then compared to what it is now, that is one.”

“Two, it is noticed that the hospital is at a strategic location on that Lokoja-Abuja Expressway and then there are lot of victims that are brought in but the Accident and Emergency aspect of that hospital contains just about 19 cubicles out of which just about 15 are operational.

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Stakeholders set agenda for better health sector in 2014

Chukwu

By Chukwuma Muanya and Wole Oyebade S far as Nigerian health secA tor and its’ stakeholders are concern, the year 2013 was a golden opportunity to make a great push in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ending in 2015.

But, given the government’s failure to accent the National Health Bill into law; total silence on the National Health Act (that will enable vulnerable Nigerians including women, children, the disadvantaged and the elderly and those in the rural communities, to have ready access to health care facilities/resources); long delay in inaugurating the Governing Board of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as well as the delay in appointing a substantive Executive Secretary of NHIS among others, the sector did not seize the opportunity.

Consequently, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said, “the aggregate performance of Nigeria’s health sector in 2013 was not remarkably different from that of 2012 despite some efforts made to address the challenges carried over from 2012.”

Coming from the private sector, Prof. Oladapo A Ashiru added that the sector should have done better, considering enormous opportunities as well as challenges before her.

Enabulele, in his assessment of the health sector performance in 2013, said it was clear from the outset that the “unsatisfactory amount” allocated to the health sector in the 2013 National budget and the slow process of release of funds was not going to impact on the quality of health of Nigerians.

He observed that the poor funding of the health sector manifested in the country’s inability to give expression to some laudable initiatives in the health sector, including postgraduate Residency Training Programmes.

However, it was not all gloomy in the health sector in

Enabulele 2013 as there were some progressive developments like the eventual reconstitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and other Health Professional Regulatory Councils as a result of the agitations and committed efforts of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA); medical professionals also led expert teams that undertook some highly skilled interventions such as Kidney transplantation, Stem cell transplantation, and Cardiac surgeries and so on.

The President observed that in the critical area of Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), there were some developments, particularly the launching of more Community Based Social Health Insurance Schemes in various Nigerian communities, including the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, these efforts paled into insignificance considering that the Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria is still less than six per cent.

“Perhaps the non-passage of the National Health Bill with fundamental provisions for financing the health of Nigerians, the long delay in inaugurating the Governing Board of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as well as the inexplicable delay in appointing a substantive Executive Secretary of NHIS slowed down efforts at expanding Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.

“Now that a substantive Executive Secretary for the NHIS has been appointed it is expected that the application of more innovative and socialbased health financing mechanisms in 2014, together with strong commitment and transparent leadership of the NHIS Management, will propel the administrative wheels

Ashiru

• Score sector low in 2013 of NHIS in 2014 towards accelerating the enrolment of more Nigerians into the scheme as well as boost financial access of all Nigerians to a minimum healthcare package.

In the areas of HIV/AIDS, Nigeria still has a lot to do in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “It is imperative that the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA) and his management team learn from experiences garnered in 2013 to hopefully devise better strategies of securing improved results in Nigeria’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in 2014.

“Besides seeking to improve the level of public education and access to Anti-Retroviral medications

by PLWHAs, NACA needs to do much more to reduce the significant level of Mother-ToChild-Transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

‘Time has come for Nigeria to review her dependence on donor agencies so as to prevent the calamitous consequences of their eventual exit for whatever reason. I believe Nigeria is rich enough to make treatment of HIV/ AIDS truly free without relying on donor agencies. I therefore strongly advocate that Government should give a budgetary headline to TB and HIV at the hospital level if any meaningful impact is to be made in 2014 and subsequent years.

“I also call on the Government to thoroughly investigate the complaints by PLWHAs about the FGN supplied combination drug—Nevirapine, Lamivudine and Zidovudine. If the drug is found wanting, it should be withdrawn immediately.

NMA is prepared to make her

informed contributions in this regard.

“The war against Tuberculosis (TB) seems not to be enjoying the momentum desired. Rather than the government to invest more on the active treatment of TB at the community level, they have found peace with investing funds (pre-eminently donor funds) in Multi-drug Resistance TB (MDRTB). An insignificant proportion of cases of MDRTB arise without first line drug management failure.

‘There is therefore the need for agencies of government saddled with the responsibility of protecting Nigerians against TB to realize that the best weapon against MDRTB is effective prevention, early diagnosis and adequate provision of drugs for the management of Tuberculosis. Just like HIV/AIDS, treatment of TB deserves to be truly free,” he said.

In the area of research, Enabulele added that it was not surprising that there was no appreciable breakthrough in operational research. He said this might not be unconnected with the fact that Nigeria still has no strategic research policy, and probably does not consider research as a necessary tool for national development.

He added that investment in research by government, corporate bodies, and individuals were still at low ebb in Nigeria such that potential Nigerian researchers and inventors were enveloped in a state of diffidence.

“Those who have the capacity to sponsor research in Nigeria do not believe in it. Although this is not peculiar to health but it is worse in the health sector.”

“In terms of infrastructural

development in the nation’s health institutions, the year 2013 witnessed some efforts to upgrade existing federal health infrastructure and equipment with the aim of improving the capacity of the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions. There were also efforts by some state governments to upgrade their state hospitals. However, these efforts were not significant enough, thus leaving the aggregate performance in terms of public health infrastructural upgrade and development in Nigeria below par.

“Again, the private healthcare sector did not witness significant push in terms of health infrastructural development. The federal government of Nigeria through the President has accepted the proposal of the Nigerian Medical Association for the establishment of a Hospital Development and Intervention Fund (HDIF), which will help provide a platform for the establishment of world-class health facilities in both the private and public health sectors. The NMA has called on the Federal Government to urgently give effect to the active development and implementation of the proposal in the year 2014.

Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world with a population of about 167 million. Nigeria is also one the biggest nations of the world in the oil market – 4th biggest exporter; exporting about 2.1 million barrels each day.

With this, Ashiru, the Chief Medical Director, MART Group of Health Services, noted, “one would expect that basic needs of life such as good roads, hospitals, sound educational system etc would be in perfect condition.”

Continuing, he said: “Nigeria health system ranked very poor when compared with other nations of the world.

This is evidenced by the poor

Now that a substantive Executive Secretary for the NHIS has been appointed it is expected that the application of more innovative and social-based health financing mechanisms in 2014, together with strong commitment and transparent leadership of the NHIS Management, will propel the administrative wheels of NHIS in 2014 towards accelerating the enrolment of more Nigerians into the scheme as well as boost financial access of all Nigerians to a minimum healthcare package

health indices such as Infant mortality rate, under five mortality rate and maternal mortality rate- 2nd highest in the world.”

In his blow-by-blow assessment of the sector, Ashiru observed that service provision was extremely poor at primary health care, secondary and tertiary institution.

“The ratio of patient to doctor in most of the public hospitals is appalling. Referral linkages are still very poor. Service provision is often hampered by incessant strikes of the health workers due to poor remuneration of staff and unhealthy rivalry among the health professionals. A good example is the just concluded Nigerian Medical Association five days warning strike. Also remember that the Lagos State government sacked over 700 medical doctors this year before they were recalled.

There have also been similar strikes in other states,” he said.

Continuing, he observed that health facilities especially in government hospitals were still in deplorable condition. “Basic facilities are still lacking in our hospitals. Most tertiary hospitals do not have the best of sophisticated medical equipment for proper diagnosis and treatment, for instance Magnetic resonance imaging MRI – only very few tertiary institutions have this in Nigeria.

While the sector groan under perennial poor funding and high cost of care, Ashiru reminded the citizenry that National health insurance Scheme is key to providing quality health care benefits to an ordinary Nigerian.

“The presidential target of 30 per cent coverage of Nigerians by 2015 is attainable if the approach to its implementation is pragmatic and relevant to the Nigerian health system.

“In other words, NHIS in America for instance should not be directly implemented in Nigeria without considering the peculiarities of the Nigeria Health system. Most of our work force is largely in the informal sector when compared to the former. Stakeholders in the NHIS have different complementary roles to achieve its overall vision of quality Health care to the man on the street.

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Ex-Nigerian athlete, Olusola proffers solution to arthritis, stroke, diabetes, others

By Gowon Akpodonor ORRIED by the increasW ing death rate of young Nigerians, especially from heart-related diseases, arthritis, diabetes and stroke, one of Nigeria’s most gifted high and triple jumpers in the late 1970s and early 80s, United States (U.S.)-based Benedict Olusola says that ‘Stem Cell Therapy’ could go a long way in solving the problem.

Olusola was one of the high jumpers that rose from the Nigerian school sports system to the national level, winning two gold medals and setting a national record in the triple jump event while representing Lagos State at the Oluyole ’79 and Lagos ‘81 National Sports Festival. He later got a silver medal for Nigeria in the triple jump in 1981, when he competed at the West Africa University Games held in Cote d’Ivoire.

He relocated to America, where he later won numer-

Researchers find caffeine enhances memory some, it’s the tradition FbrewOR of steeping tealeaves to the perfect cup of tea.

For others, it’s the morning shuffle to a coffee maker for a hot jolt of java. Then there are those who like their wake up with the kind of snap and a fizz usually found in a carbonated beverage.

Regardless of the routine, the consumption of caffeine is the energy boost of choice for millions to wake up or stay up.

Now, however, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have found another use for the stimulant: memory enhancer.

Michael Yassa, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins, and his team of scientists found that caffeine has a positive effect on long-term memory in humans.

Their research, published by the journal Nature Neuroscience, shows that caffeine enhances certain memories at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed.

“We’ve always known that caffeine has cognitiveenhancing effects, but its particular effects on strengthening memories and making them resistant to forgetting has never been examined in detail in humans,” said Yassa, senior author of the paper.

“We report for the first time a specific effect of caffeine on reducing forgetting over 24 hours.”

The Johns Hopkins researchers conducted a double-blind trial; which participants who did not regularly eat or drink caffeinated products received either a placebo or a 200-milligram caffeine tablet five minutes after studying a series of images.

Salivary samples were taken from the participants before they took the tablets to measure their caffeine levels.

Samples were taken again one, three and 24 hours after-

ous titles, including the AllAmerican Masters Track and Field award in triple jump, as well as gold and silver medals at the 2004 World Medical Games, among others.

Olusola, now a cosmetic surgeon, was still active when he sustained a kneecap ligament injury, which resulted in knee surgery some years ago. But he has since recovered and has been actively involved in golf, after receiving the Stem Cell Therapy.

Speaking with The Guardian from his base in Texas, the Ondo State-born ex-athlete said his discovering of using the Stem Cells technology treatment to heal injured athletes and fixing various ailments such as arthritis, joint injuries, diabetes, hyperten-

sion, kidney disease and stroke had saved many people within and outside the United States.

Olusola is an indigene of Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti State, but grew up in Surulere area of Lagos State. He is at present the Managing Director of PA Desoto Company in Texas.

“A few years ago in Boston, I ruptured my kneecap ligament while I was participating in the master indoor championship. It resulted in knee surgery. But I later received a stem cell therapy, using my own stem cells. I am now jumping again, more energetic and my vision have improved. I can produce more than 300 yard drives in my golf game now. I am on my way to winning more

medals,” he said.

Speaking further, Olusola, who won many medals for Eko Boys High School, Mushin, during his post elementary school career in the early 1970s, said that the use of stem cell therapy has proven that it could alleviate the symptoms in a number of medical conditions, including arthritis, diabetes with anti-aging benefits.

“Stem cells are regenerative cells, or the cells that do the repair work when any part of our body breaks down. As we age, the stem cells stop working as they did when we were young and this causes our bodies to start breaking down, slowly, with resulting medical conditions like arthritis, aging skin and dia-

betes. Other diseases such as stroke, liver/lung diseases and Indigestion and heartburn can also be taken care off through the usage of stem cell treatment.

“What we normally do at our surgery center is to remove approximately l00mls of fat from the abdomen by liposuction under local anesthesia. The abdomen has a high concentration of Stem Cells.

“The Stem Cells are then separated from the body fat, they are activated with platelet rich plasma, and LED light and re-injected into the body to continue the repair work in the body. Most patients will then experience alleviation of their medical conditions, increased energy and less joint pains. Some

patients will experience such significant relieve and see reduction in the amount of medication, or stop taking the medication all together.

Patients without any medical problems, can also benefit from the anti-aging effects,” he added.

According to him, the effect of Stem Cell benefit lasts from several months to years.

“Repeat treatments in three (3) to six (6) months may be necessary in certain patients.”

On the precaution a patient needs to take after undergoing a Stem Cell treatment, Olusola said: “No vigorous exercise for three weeks after the treatment. This will allow the stems cells to move to the areas of the body where repair work is needed.”

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SCIeNCe HeALTH Thursday, January 23, 2014

Firm embarks on pharmaceutical research for new therapies

By Chijioke Iremeka eSPITe the challenges of drug manufacturing and business environment in the country, Tyonex Nigeria Limited is embarking on medical research on reproductive public health and herbs to further bring solutions to health challenges of Nigerians.

Medical research or discoveries in drug may involve researching on public health, fertility medicines, biochemistry, clinical research, microbiology, physiology, oncology, pharmacology, surgery, microbiology and many other non- communicable diseases such diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

For Canadian-based Centre for Drug Research and

D

Development (CDRD), its role in medical research is to derisk discoveries stemming from publicly-funded health research and transform them into viable investment opportunities for the private sector, thus successfully bridging the gap between academia and industry, and translating research discoveries into new therapies for patients.

According to the Managing Director, Pharm emmanuel Agba, plans are under way to put all the company’s range of products into the West African Pharma Market, which is being driven by the zeal to innovatively satisfy all area therapeutic requirements in the disease management and treatment.

He said, while thanking God

during the company’s 2014 thanksgiving service, held at its premises at Igando, Lagos, “With Tyonex proven track records in the delivery of qualitative pharmaceutical products and the experienced workforce, we are well positioned to create and add value to all Nigerians pharmaceutical needs.”

He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure more stringent measures that would help to protect the local drug manufacturers.

“The importation of drugs that we are expertise in is merely helping to keep the foreigners on jobs, while suffering Nigerians with scourge of unemployment.”

Commending President Jonathan for his drugs poli-

TAM tasks FG on challenges of ART regime

By Gbenga Akinfenwa GAINST the background of A the suspension of several brands of Antiretrovials (ARVs) in all ART centres in Nigeria by National Agency for Food Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Treatment Action Movement (TAM), a coalition of HIV treatment activists has tasked government to address the core challenges impeding the success of the Nigeria ART regime.

Before now, TAM in collaboration with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF-Nigeria) and Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NePWHAN) have cried out through a rigorous campaign on the need to stop the supply of substandard ARVs at treatment centres in the country.

According to a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Obatunde Oladapo, TAM alleged that a company supplied the substandard ARVs with funding from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the Federal Ministry of Health, noting however that distributing a product meant to save and prolong lives could easily be bogged by an integrity deficit in basic physical requirements.

“The strongest signal, to date, about a lack of true commitment to promises made is the unending controversy surrounding the purchase and supply of a local brand of ARVs, which was funded through the MDGs pool and being supplied by the Federal Ministry of Health.

Now, TAM is asking government to address the issue of drug supply, which has become inconsistent; eroding the gains that were previously recorded while cases of ARV drugs stock-outs are now a frequent occurrence.

According to Oladapo, the essential drug regimens are no longer being provided at treatment centres across the country, as patients are being indiscriminately switched to other regimens due to non-availability of their line of drugs, adding that changes in regimens normally are as a result of drug failure.

“Stock-out of Pediatric ARVs is rampant with children being made to take adult tablets broken into pieces in the absence of specific children sensitive formulations. ART and PMTCT sites being run by state governments and mission hospitals have no provision for drugs for treatment of opportunity infections. Some still charge

patients for services that are provided free in other ART sites.

“To be sure, the treatment environment is also plagued by compromised quality of service delivery; inadequate funding for service delivery; and increased in patientprovider ratio compounding stress and burnout incidences among healthcare workers in ART sites.

She stressed that while they are witnessing the disappearance in training and updating

by IPs for officials involved ART management, unacceptably high and increasing cases of loss to Follow-Up (LTFU) with some ART sites experiencing as high as 38 per cent LTFU. “The reason for this is not farfetched. Funds are no longer being released for tracking defaulting patients in many ART sites.”

Said she, “We are losing Fixed Dose Combinations (FDC) and going back to higher pill counts. There is no Atripla in stock (What’s this drug for? We must state why it is important). Some 2nd line drugs are unavailable, especially pediatric formulations, no new patients being put on 3rd line drugs and there is ZeRO salvage therapy for those failing 3rd line.

cies, which make it possible for the local drug manufacturers to enjoy the patronage of government and parastatals under their watch, he noted, that he does not have issues with foreigners in the pharmaceutical retail business in Nigeria as long as they comply with the rules and regulations governing legitimate drug business in the country.

“I have entered into drug manufacturing for obvious reasons, especially to encourage the local industries and that is what the P h a r m a c e u t i c a l Manufacturing Group of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), which I am a member is advocating,” Agba said.

He commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) regulation policy, while congratulating the NAFDAC Director General, Dr. Paul Orhii on his re-appointment.

“NAFDAC has done well in reenacting people’s confidence in patronizing locally manufactured drugs. This is one area NAFDAC has played a tremendous role.”

“I thank God for His protection and providence for my company throughout 2013. It hasn’t been easy but God saw us through. In the midst of our serious accidents and adversaries, God saw us through. The year 2013, came with so many challenges but the Lord stood by our side,” he added.

However, the General Manager of the company, Mr. Patrick Dunkwu commented the level of achievement of the company, which he ascribed to the God’s mercy, adding that the company would do everything in the right direction to ensure that the standard raised by Tyonex would continue to be adhered to in all their endeavours.

He also, commented the staff and management of the company for the giant strides the company has made in the area of drug manufacturing, discovery and production, praying God to keep Tyonex in the business till it gets listed in the stock market.

NAFDAC boss optimistic of WHO pre-qualification * To redouble efforts against counterfeits in 2014 From Emeka Anuforo He National Agency for Food T and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii has promised not to relent in its efforts to ensure that Nigeria secures World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification of some indigenous pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria.

The WHO prequalification of diagnostics programme aims to increase access to affordable diagnostic technologies of assured quality that are appropriate for use in resource limited settings. The programme provides Member States, UN agencies and other partners with technical information and advice on the quality of currently available HIV/AIDS, malaria and hepatitis B and C test kits and technologies.

According to NAFDAC, prequalification of diagnostics is a prerequisite for UN procurement ensuring that public monies are spent in a cost effective manner, on quality diagnostics.

Director General of NAFDAC, Paul Orhii said at a briefing in Abuja at the weekend, that the agency was optimistic that

efforts were intense to ensure that a number of Nigerian drug firms would be pre-qualified by the WHO this year.

He also spoke of his agency’s plan to double the fight against drug abuse and misuse, especially in the northern part of Nigeria.

Orhii, who was recently reappointed for another term of five years, stressed that the agency ensure the promotion and development of verified and approved herbal medicines while Intensifying the fight against misleading advertisement.

He said: “In keeping faith with our own tradition, I have decided to unfold our renewed action plan on regulatory and enforcement issues that NAFDAC will continue to consolidate, dedicate and com it herself towards achieving the lofty goal of eradicating counterfeit drugs and other substandard regulated products.

“We will increase and sustain activities of Member State Mechanism (MSM) on Substandard, Spurious, FalselyLabeled, Falsified and Counterfeit ( SSFFC) medical products.”

Night work ‘throws body into chaos’ OING the night shift D throws the body “into chaos” and could cause longterm damage, warn researchers.

Shift work has been linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and cancer.

Now scientists at the Sleep Research Centre in Surrey have uncovered the disruption shift work causes at the deepest molecular level. experts said the scale, speed and severity of damage caused by being awake at night was a surprise.

The human body has its own natural rhythm or body clock tuned to sleep at night and be active during the day.

It has profound effects on the body, altering everything from hormones and body temperature to athletic ability, mood and brain function.

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, followed 22 people as their body was shifted from a normal pattern to that of a night-shift worker.

Blood tests showed that normally six per cent of genes -

the instructions contained in DNA - were precisely timed to be more or less active at specific times of the day.

Once the volunteers were working through the night, that genetic fine-tuning was lost.

“Over 97 per cent of rhythmic genes become out of sync with mistimed sleep and this really explains why we feel so bad during jet lag, or if we have to work irregular shifts,” said Dr Simon Archer, one of the researchers at the University of Surrey.

Fellow researcher Prof.

Derk-Jan Dijk said every tissue in the body had its own daily rhythm, but with shifts that was lost with the heart running to a different time to the kidneys running to a different time to the brain.

He said: “It’s chrono-chaos.

It’s like living in a house.

There’s a clock in every room in the house and in all of those rooms those clocks are now disrupted, which of course leads to chaos in the household.”

Studies have shown that

Study finds decreased life expectancy for MS patients He first large scale study in T the U.S. on the mortality of patients with multiple sclero-

Chairman Governing Board, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Bashar Aminu Iyan Zazzau (right); Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu and Executive Director NPHCDA, Dr Ado Muhammad at the Polio Eradication Initiative Meeting with High Risk Local Government Areas in Kaduna State recently

sis (MS) has been published and provides new information about the life expectancy of people with the disease.

The study appears in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.

David Kaufman, ScD, of the Slone epidemiology Center at Boston University, is the lead author. The work is the result of a collaboration between the investigators at BU and their colleagues at University of California San Francisco, the University of Alabama, Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Care-Safe LLC, a consulting firm and the sponsor of the research, Bayer

HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system which progresses into a degenerative phase in the majority of affected patients. There are 250,000-350,000 patients with MS in the United States, giving an overall prevalence of roughly one in 1,000.

The investigators used health insurance claims data to identify a series of patients with MS and a comparison group of individuals from the same health plans who did not have MS. A total of 30,402 MS patients and 89,818 nonMS subjects who were in the OptumInsight Research (OIR) database from 1996-2009 were included in the study.

Data on deaths was

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Strategies for living disease-free lives (2) ATER - the most important W nutrient in the body. As we continue our discussion on strategies for living disease-free lives, it is important that certain fundamental truths are settled and understood by all.

Simply put, the human body is made up of different chemicals held together by numerous chemical bonds. In other words, the human body is maintained by numerous ongoing chemical reactions, using chemicals from the earth, from where God made man.

The earth can therefore be viewed as a big reservoir of these minerals for the body; for the replacement of deficient ones or such as have been used up. God in His wisdom, passes the minerals and nutrients to man through the plants and as this happens toxins and other harmful products that could give rise to side effects are eliminated.

The earth is not one very dry crust of sand totally devoid of water. The sand and all other components therefore are surrounded by and soaked in water. This is the same arrangement that God transferred to the human body at creation.

Water is the most important nutrient and most voluminous component of the human body.

The importance of water has been down played for centuries and as if to fight its own battle, water is today being discussed more and more. More like a paradigm shift and it is becoming a lot clearer that you cannot be talking about the state of health and wellbeing of an individual without considering the role of water.

Why not? Water, the solvent, accounts for 65 – 75 per cent of the adult male body (55 – 65 per cent in women). This means that the solutes, mainly chemicals make up the remaining 25 – 35 per cent (35 – 45 per cent in women).

If that be the case, it is only reasonable to consider that such an amount of water will defi-

nitely have an important role to play in the wellness of humans and that lack of it, will most likely be responsible for the diseases and sicknesses that man suffer from.

The body is made up of 100 trillion cells, each of which is microscopic. They become visible as they congregate together. Embryologically, the source of life is one single cell at the time of fertilization of the egg by a sperm cell.

The sperm cell and the egg mingle together to form that one cell. Each of the 100 trillion cells, is 85 per cent water and at full capacity it is as blown up as a fully inflated balloon. This state is very conducive for the processes that take place inside each cells; smaller structures, known as organelles, together with the nucleus of the cells complete the structure of the cell.

A cell that is full to capacity is a product of a system that is functioning well; ongoing metabolic and biochemical reactions that utilize water, nutrients and oxygen to produce energy and release of waste products.

These nutrients and others arrive in the cell from the blood circulation through the extracellular fluid compartment and the waste products are filtered through the cell membrane to the extracellular compartment and back to the blood stream. These wastes must never be allowed to accumulate in and around the cells.

In order to achieve this optimum performance in the cells, water must continually be replenished as it is used up and since there is no reservoir of water in the body, replenishment of water must come from external sources by the continual drinking of it.

Now, the question we must ask ourselves is, Are we drinking enough water for the use of the body? The answer is no!

When there is insufficient water in the body (in each cell of the body), a condition known as dehydration ensues.

Dehydration at the cellular level, which is our focus, is characterised by retention and congestion of wastes in the cells which then become flabby; no longer as inflated as a fully blown balloon, biochemical reactions begin to fail and the cell and its surroundings become acidic and toxic. Finally, the state of disease begins to set in.

The cell, (the body), is no longer at ease. Certain symptoms herald this state of unease and the first of these is pain. Headache, migraine, dyspepsia, arthritis in its early stages and almost all kinds of pain anywhere in the body are signs of regional dehydration in those regions of the body where the pain is felt.

Next week Thursday, by the grace of God I shall consider other diseases caused by dehydration and their management.

God bless.

ICCON reiterates commitment to tackling addiction

By Paul Adunwoke HE acting registrar of the T Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON), Taiwo Bammodu has reiterated the institute’s commitment in reducing the rate of addiction among young Nigerians.

According to her, the institute’s new campaign would also help to reduce health hazards of drugs among school children.

She said this during a sensitisation seminar on Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labeling of chemicals and Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) for public secondary school in Lagos State.

The institute will be in Oriwu College Ikorodu, Lagos on Thursday 23 January 2014 in continuation of the campaign.

Bammodu explained that chemicals are indispensable component of modern man’s daily life, adding that both chemical practitioners as well as users are aware that chemicals can be both beneficial and detrimental to mankind,

depending on the usage, “but a man is not destroyed by what he knows but by his ignorance.”

She said: “The campaign is designed to checkmate the acquisition, distribution and dependence on drugs. All measures are put in place to eliminate the contact of victims with drug and also their full rehabilitation.

“The imperative cannot be over emphasized, when viewed in the light of the enormous havoc being inflicted on society’s manpower by drug abuse. It is particularly painful that this undesirable trend is most prevalent among the younger generation, the supposed leaders of tomorrow.

“A good percentage of today’s drug addicts are victims of the non- availability of enlightenment programmes; hence, they indulge narcotics, stimulant, cannabis, sedative, hallucinogens and others.

These victims have useless to themselves and a nuisance to themselves, their families and society. While it is common and convenient in our society to condemn youths who are involved, I make bold to say that education rather than

condemnation may make all the difference. We cannot talk of sustainable development in a drug- ravaged society.”

Bammodu noted that corruption is the major challenge of the campaign against abuse in Nigeria. “We need to join hands together to reduce the demand on drug and know that Nigeria is assigned into globally harmonized way of naming any chemicals, so that we will have knowledge of hazard part of it, so that we will be careful in using of drugs.”

Head of public health safety and environment ICCON, Elochukwu Okonkwo said the programme was to sensitize people on the dangers that are inherent in the misused of chemicals.

According to him: “If chemicals are used the way they should, it can benefit man, but because of ignorance many people misused chemicals and it leads to untimely death. The institute has decided as corporate social responsibility to sensitize the public, workers, children, men, youths and others on the dangers of misused chemicals using globally harmonized system, which is internationally accepted concept.”

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Education LASU students’ invention produces election winners in minutes

By Uju Atueyi FTER so much turbulence engineered by the A familiar but controversial unions, which had put the Lagos State University (LASU) in reverse gear over the past several months, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared on the horizon, last week, from the most unlikely source.

Word came from the University authority, at the weekend, that something unusual that would set LASU apart was going to happen last Monday.

Students, the course hinted, were in the course of electing their president and other principal officers, using an entirely new method.

With many students’ union elections leading to the breakdown of order in many universities in the past, why should anyone expect something different from LASU? Interestingly however, what unfolded last Monday is, indeed, changing the equation about LASU’s reputation. It turned out that two students of the university invented an electronic voting system, found to be fast, efficient and foolproof. The students’ union elections thus provided a perfect platform for the university authority, which had bought the idea, to test its efficacy.

Briefing journalists on the dynamics of the initiative, the institution’s Head, Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Prof Olatunde Oni, explained that Jubril Issa, from Kogi state and Kolawole Majeed Abiodun, 28, a Lagos indigene, both final year Electronic and Computer Engineering students, developed a software for online voting, which the University management found attractive.

He said: “The ICT department saw that it was a good innovation. We made some suggestion and the project was modified into what we have today.

“The application makes use of biometric features to curb multiple voting. The voting application has also been developed online and all the other LASU campuses in Epe, Ikeja and Surulere have been connected, so students (on those respective campuses) are voting (last Monday) in their various campuses, while the Central Server, at the main campus (in Ojo) is collating the results online. The winners will emerge a few minutes after the voting. What we have deployed can also be used for national elections, because it has zero tolerance for manipulation.”

Meanwhile, Issa, the project’s inventor, who will be 22 in June, is already looking forward to when INEC would have a look at his invention and adopt it. He told The Guardian that Majeed assisted him as they both worked on their school project, which resulted in a substantial improvement on what he had initially invented.

Explaining the background, Issa said: “It started in my fourth year, when I was made chairman of the electoral commission for the Faculty of Engineering’s election. I wanted to do something different, so I developed the software and used it for the faculty’s election and it worked! Students, lecturers, everybody liked it and suggested that we do something bigger for the school, not just the faculty anymore. I later adopted as my project with Majeed and this is what we came up with.”

Issa said he touched a computer for the first time while in primary school, but only played on it at that time. Later, while attending Anwaru Islam Model College, Agege, he had more exposure to computers, but did not consider studying computer engineering in the university.

“They used to call me a doctor right from childhood, and I wanted to study Medicine. But I did not meet up with the cut-off mark. But today, I’m very happy.”

Majeed, a former student of Falomo High School, Ikoyi, Lagos said: “Actually I had a different project which I presented to my supervisor but he cancelled it. So, we decided to go back to the e-voting software and do something massive. That was how I assisted him (Issa) on the project.”

According to him, the software “offers people the opportunity to make their choices. It will be a herculean task for anybody to manipulate it. But just like every project, there is still room for improvement.

Issa added: “The software has a tracking machine, where every activity carried out, including the facilitators that handle the exercise, can be recalled.”

Meanwhile, voting was conducted peacefully in

A female student having her fingerprint screened during accreditation, just before the Students’ Union elections held at the Lagos State University on Monday.

Issa all the six Faculties in Ojo campus. The Guardian observed at the Faculty of Law that both the accreditation of voters/students and voting proper took place in a matter of minutes.

Students were enthusiastic about the new voting system and there was orderliness at the centre.

The electoral officer and also LASU student, Olalekan Segun Emmanuel, said everything went on smoothly, except for a minor server error caused by electricity fluctuations. He said the institution “provided generators for all the voting centres and we are expected to capture everyone within five-hours.”

On how the system works, a 200 level ICT student, Olawale Bolaji, whose duty was to guide and direct voters during the exercise said: “After accreditation, which is done with the student’s matriculation number, a password called a token, is automatically generated. Each accredited student is expected to log in with the token, which allows that student to vote only once, using his or her phone number. Then a platform, like a ballot paper will appear, from which the student can click on the candidate of his or her choice. Then the student can go to the next platform, until he or she has completed the exercise. A page will then appear, showing all the people the student voted for. A Short Message Service (SMS) alert is then sent to the voter’s phone, confirming that he or she has voted.

A security officer, Mr. Bello Joshua, described the atmosphere as peaceful and affirmed that the students complied with the guidelines. “This voting system will be good for all the institutions in the country, including national, state

PHOTO: UJU ATUEYI

Majeed

Prof. Obafunwa

and local government elections because there is no form of manipulation.”

However, The Guardian observed that electoral officers and facilitators faced an initial challenge at the Faculties of Arts and Management Sciences with server connectivity and fingerprint capturing, which were eventually resolved. But at the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, voting was successful.

At the location where the ‘Central Server’ was domiciled, all the agents, including the project originators, observed the voting exercise across all the centres with keen interest.

The Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Kabiru Olusegun Akinyemi, who was obviously overwhelmed by the project remarked: “When the students proposed e-voting, the management

saw it as a good idea and supported the project with over a million naira, with which they were able to overcome the problems initially identified with the software. It is, indeed, a good project loved and accepted by the LASU community”.

A student, Sao Daniel, said: “It is a wonderful exercise. This is the first time we are using this kind of system. With this, we are sure our vote will count. I recommend this system for general elections in 2015.”

Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who also witnessed the exercise, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, as a matter of urgency, adopt the new invention by LASU students.

He noted that if students could develop such a software that worked successfully as witnessed by many last Monday, including LASU’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, “then it means that with right leadership and good hands, Nigeria will get there. INEC should not bother about hiring foreigners; they should adopt this project, invest massively in it, correct any imperfection associated with it and then finetune it for 2015.”

“If students can do this and we as government at all levels cannot learn from it, then shame on us. This is an institution that was noted for negative things in the past and today, its students are making history for the country. I believe (Prof.

Attahiru) Jega can make good use of this opportunity.”

Few minutes after the voting exercise ended, Nurudeen Temilola Nurudeen beat four other contestants to emerge as the new Students’ Union President with 558 votes (see box).

Results of Lagos State University Students’ Union’s (LASUSU) elections, held on Monday, January 20, 2014, as released by the LASUSU Independent Electoral Committee PRESIDENT 1. Nurudeen Temilola Nurudeen (aka Optimist) – 558 votes (Winner) 2. Lawal Adedayo (aka Daddy Fresh) – 516 votes 3. Agbomeji Olatunji (aka AIT) – 291 votes 4. Alakija Olakunle (aka Alakija) – 100 votes 5. Ojetayo Okikiola (aka Otalenu) 72 votes.

WELFARE DIRECTOR 1. Adetoro Adetunji – 711 votes (Winner) 2. Elewuro Oladeindde – 656 votes 3. Jokomba Olusanya – 179 votes Candidates for all other posts were returned unopposed.

50 EDUCATION Thursday, January 23, 2014

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Ogun’s 20 best students for overseas leadership training OME 20 lucky SS3 students, Odubela advised the beneficiS20from each of Ogun State’s aries to emulate the virtues of local councils, who made the best West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results in the 2012/2013 diet, will be attending a leadeship programme abroad between now and April, thanks to Ogun’s first lady, Mrs Olufunsho Amosu.

Her Upliftment Development Foundation intends to seceure sponsorship from corporate bodies to finance the initiative, now in its second year. The foundation’s goal is to motivate young students and also reward hardwork.

Speaking at the ceremony where the stduents were honoured in Abeokuta recently, the First Lady said education was at the fore-front of the state government’s agenda, which also “places higher premium on the welfare of children and youths.”

She explained that the advertisement placed in the media early in the year contributed to the success story of the beneficiaries, adding, “my dear students, please bear in your mind that to emerge best in your various local governments comes with a lot of responsibilities, because the whole of Ogun State, Nigeria and the international world will identify and label you as ambassadors of the state. So we expect you to be well behaved, and comport yourselves respectfully in the society.”

The state’s Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Bar. Segun

the last set, by taking good advantage of the programme.

And on behalf of the students, Master Sobowale Bukola expressed appreciation to the First lady for fulfilling her promise as advertised in the media. He also thanked her for giving Ogun State students the opportunity to travel outside Nigeria. He pledged that all the beneficiaries would be of good behaviour durign their training.

The students were thereafter presented with their respective certificates of recognition.

They include: Animashaun Israel (Abeokuta North); Sobowale Bukola (Abeokuta South); Aderoju Kudirat (AdoOdo/Ota), Eguabor Davidson (Yewa South), Yusuf Kabirat (Ewekoro), Oladeinde Olatunji (Ifo), Momoh Boluwatife (Ijebu East), Yinusa Munirudeen (Ijebu North) and Rosenje Abdullahi (Ijebu North-east).

Others are:Abdulkabir Madina (Ijebu-Ode), Adeniyi Kehinde (Ikenne), Adebayo Funmilayo (Imeko-Afon), Ojo Shamsudeen (Ipokia), Akinwole Elijah (Obafemi/Owode), Karounwi Aminat (Odeda), Abimbola Seun (Odogbolu), Badekale Yinusa (Ogun Waterside), Kolawole Ibrahim (Remo North), and Oparinde Olayemi (Sagamu).

In 2012, the foundation secured sponsorship for the pioneering 20 best students and took them to the United Kingdom for a two-week leadership training programme.

Rivers to unify academic calendar for public, private schools HE Rivers State T Government says it will unify both the academic calendar and curricula for both public and private schools in the state, according to the Commissioner for Education Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi.

Speaking at a meeting with the Rivers state chapter of the National Association of Private School Proprietors (NAPPS), All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and Association of Primary Schools Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) in her office in Port Harcourt recently, LawrenceNemi said the plan would take the education sector in the State to a greater height.

“Education cannot be left in the hands of the government alone and the need to have a synergy with the private sector and principals of schools is most welcomed. As we discussed in our draft policy, we are looking at having a uniform academic calendar for both private and public schools in the State. The State Government will also adopt a uniform curriculum for both public and private schools in the State. The reason for this uniformity is for effective management and implementation of educational development plans,” she said.

The Commissioner also listed some achievements: her words: ‘’The year 2013 was a remarkable year for the Ministry because of the numerous achievements we recorded last year. Some of

our achievements in 2013 include, the drafting of our education policy, establishing of Quality Assurance Agency, setting up of School Based Management Committees (SBMC), setting up of the Port Harcourt Technical/Vocational Centre, opening of Ambassador Nne Furo Kurubo Model Secondary School and above all the recruitment of 13,201 new teachers.

“Also, the issue of out-ofschool children has been addressed.

The State Government has approved and commenced the construction of 20 classroom blocks that will accommodate more pupils per school. The aim is to ensure that no child is left behind.”

The Commissioner also up a committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Barr Michael West and has three weeks to submit its report on the harmonization to the Commissioner.

President of NAPPS, Mr. Victor Green said that unifying the academic calendar in the state was a welcome idea.

Commending the commissioner for always involving the association in decision-making process, he stated that the Private School Proprietors would implement the academic calendar whenever it is ready.

The President of ANCOPSS Dr. Augusta Fubara also said the unification idea would lead to better planning and implementation of education goals in the State.

Kabiru Tuwanse flanked by prison officers during National Open University’s third Convocation, held at National Theatre, Lagos at the weekend.

Prisoner among 4,308 graduates at NOUN’s convocation

By Ujunwa Atueyi

• Govt may grant pardon, says minister

F the offence he commit“I ted is not capital, we will plead to federal government

of the federal government to educate large number of people in the country. The root cause of violence in every society is ignorance and that is why ODL is seen as a veritable tool in achieving developmental goals and having started… there is no going back.

“NOUN is already carving a niche for itself at the international level. This administration recognizes the vital role education plays in human development, it also recognizes ODL as a means of broadening scope and access to education of the masses, and FG is not relenting in that regard.”

He charged higher education providers in the country to be more innovative by constantly seeking other avenues of improving the system and complementing government’s effort for a better society. He urged graduands to put to good use the requisite knowledge gathered at the institution.

Meanwhile, Tuwanse, who was commended by many for his doggedness in achieving success, is serving a life jail term. So far, the native of Epe, Lagos State who is married with a kid has spent 11 years in the prison. He remarked that his relationship with prison officers has kept him going both in having a reason for living and in achieving academic success.

“My hope in God and the cordial relationship I have with prison officers helped me a lot, though I have HND

to grant him pardon. His achievement has proved that, the mere fact that one is in prison is not a hindrance to achieve success”.

This was the submission of the visitor to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the Education Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the third convocation ceremony of the institution.

The ceremony, held at National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos, at the weekend, featured conferment of certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees on 4,308 graduands, including an inmate of Kirikiri Maximum prison, Mr. Kabiru Tuwanse.

Honorary degrees, (D.Sc. Honoris Causa) and (D. Litt.

Honoris Causa) were also conferred on two eminent Nigerians, Prof Grace Alele Williams and Alhaji Muhammed Ali Kwara, respectively.

Wike, who spoke shortly after Tuwanse received his certificate in company with prison warders and officers, remarked that Tuwanse’s feat has proved that indeed, transformation and rehabilitation exercise is going on at Nigerian prisons, while Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is achieving its purpose.

He said: “The success of NOUN underscores the effort

before I was convicted, but today to the glory of God I have B.Sc in Human Resource Management. It is for man to plan and for God to perfect it.

Everything is in God’s hand,” he added.

The Assistant Comptroller General, Chuks Ray Afujue, while stressing the import of rehabilitating offenders, appealed to government to look into Tuwanse’s plight since he is totally reformed.

“Ours is to keep the law of the land but we are taking leverage on his success and appealing on his behalf. Presently we have 48 prisoners in our four study centres across the country and it has been quite exciting and productive.”

However, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe, has while reiterating the effort of the institution to make education accessible, announced the establishment of two special study centres for National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Nigerian Police. “Both centres have already started academic activities, NOUN will continue to ensure attainment of its set objective of taking education to the door steps of Nigerians. We are also happy to announce the establishment of two brand new schools, School of Agricultural Sciences and Health Sciences with effect from this session.

“It is also my pleasure to announce the graduation of first set of our Law and Mass Communication students. I

am glad to inform us that NOUN’s Law students are the current National Champion of the National Moot Court Competition among all Law students of Nigerian universities. They will be representing Nigeria at the International Moot Court Competition in Mumbai, India at the end of this January.”

Tenebe used the school’s achievement and several kinds of joke to convince the congregation that open and distance education is very imperative in rebuilding Nigeria as the course contents are of high quality and facilitators are made up of well qualified and experienced lecturers.

He called on federal government and Nigerians to strongly support the institution so that all qualified graduates of NOUN would be allowed to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

He said: “The present practice of issuing letters of exemption to our graduands even though appreciated is not good enough.

NOUN is a full-fledged federal university, offering degree programmes as approved and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), just like all other universities in Nigeria. It is therefore fair justice to allow all young Nigerians of NYSC specified age to participate in the scheme, while those above 30 years should be given exemption letters. This is our submission. Give us a chance”.

Pensioners commend NERDC over funds management CORES of workers who Obioma came on board about ciation and speech.”

Pensioners’ Union Secretariat at According to Eromosele, the the Head Office in Abuja.

SEducational retired from the Nigerian nine years ago.

Eromosele said: “This award welfare programmes which Obioma, who has just one Research and Development Council (NERDC), gathered in Lagos recently, to honour its Executive Secretary, Professor Godswill Obioma with an award as their own way of appreciating the manner he had been handling their welfare.

According to the representative of the NERDC pensioners, Lagos Axis, Mr. Daniel Eromosele, there has been prompt payment of their monthly pensions since

of appreciation we are giving to Prof Obioma is in recognition of the special way he has been putting smiles on our faces. He has paid all our retirement benefits and our monthly pensions are paid regularly. He is a great money manager. The bags of rice and other items, which he gives to us every December, are a lot of relief to our family members.

He is also a democratic leader, as he has done a lot to enhance our freedom of asso-

Obioma has implemented for the pensioners include: pulling NERDC pensions from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), setting up a functional pension Office/Board of Trustees (BOT) secretariat directly under the supervision of the Executive Secretary, who is also the Chairman Pension BOT, thereby reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks in handling pensioners’ issues; as well as setting up and equipping a befitting

more year to finish his second term, expressed gratitude for the award, saying the corridor where the award came from makes it unique.

The Professor of Mathematics Education and Evaluation explained that before he assumed duties at NERDC in 2005, months of arrears were owed pensioners and their gratuities not paid, adding that some of the pensioners were owed for as many as 120 months in pension arrears.

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51

Kolade decries exclusion of youths from leadership positions

By Mary Ogar OR emerging nations such Fdevelopmental as Nigeria to fast track its plans, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr. Christopher Kolade has canvassed for the emergence of younger people in leadership positions, through a wellthought-out plan.

Speaking on the theme, The Management Of Leadership Opportunity at the Caleb Leadership Academy Distinguished Lecture, held at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos recently, Kolade described the attitude of current leaders who are adamant to relinquish power as deplorable, insisting that many of them have actually run out of time.

Kolade drew attention to trend in the developed nations where younger people are taking over leadership positions, insisting that worthy leader should actively work for a future of sustainable good performance.

He said: “As we look at all the countries around the world, we must be struck by the fact that leaders in the nations that are regarded as advanced

seem to be getting younger, while a higher proportion of leaders in the emerging nations appear to have been in charge for quite long periods.”

In Nigeria, he observed that the real strings of leadership were pulled hither and thither by older hands behind the curtain. But he noted: “If current signals reflect the truth, two or three of the contestants for president next year will be people who first became leaders, or have been contesting for leadership for the last 25 to 30 years! This implies the total absence of one entire generation in what should be the natural succession to leadership in our nation.”

In what he referred to as the misuse of leadership opportunity, Kolade was of the view that one of the reasons why leadership is failing in the country is that the candidates between 30 and 50 years were not as active as they should be in taking leadership responsibility.

Rather than a lukewarm reaction, he argued that it up to the true candidates for today’s leadership to stand up and register a credible contention for their opportunity.

He said: “The validity of this

Kolade

Olukoju

argument does not rest only on the age factor. The real justification lies in the fact that current leadership practice reflects a large number of ideas and concepts that have outlived their usefulness.

Take, for instance, the obvious confusion of priorities among some current leaders, whereby they pursue self interest above the interest of the corporation or community that they have volunteered to lead.”

Kolade, who is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University, condemned the disdain for truth and justice by the current generation of leaders.

His words: “Take also, the apparent disdain for truth and justice, reflected in the reality that the system does not seem capable of sanctioning leaders who misbehave.

Indeed, we actually promote irresponsible leadership by

granting leaders immunity from any crimes they may commit while in office!

Surely, this provision goes against the trend of responsible leadership in the rest of the world.”

Going by the current trend in the country, he noted that leaders have placed their focus on politics at the expense of governance. He said: “Is it not also clear that selection for advancement to higher responsibility in many places is now driven more by patronage than by performance?”

Kolade reiterated that the failure of leadership in Nigeria today was twin-pronged: with many of the current leaders failing because they have exhausted their fitness for the leadership responsibility, while at the same time, the younger generation that should now be leading actively is largely absent.

According to him, the younger generation lacks the courage to embrace the leadership challenge, thereby submitting to the methods and self-interest preferences of the ones who have outlived their relevance and entitlement.

Calling for new opportunities and new leaders, he urged

LIRS essay winners get scholarships, Fashola highlights benefits of tax proceeds

By Mary Ogar OMPETING against 2260 C students from 315 schools, Chidinma Illo of Eletu Odibo Senior High School and Queen Rita Edevbie of Western College, Yaba last week clinched the first position in the Senior and junior categories the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) essay competition, now in its seventh edition.

Also, in the Senior category, Blessing Okeke of Aquinas Private College and Shalom Olayemi Bola of State Senior High School, Ibereko came second and third respectively, while David Uwoziya of Muslim Junior College 1, Egbe and Adesuwa Inegbenebo of Ogba Junior Grammar School came second and third respectively in the junior category.

For their feat, each of the first price winners got a scholarship award worth N250, 000 each while the second place winners received N150, 000 each. The third place winners received N100, 000 as scholarship grants each. Their schools also got computer set each.

Governor of Lagos state and

chief host of the event, Mr. Babatunde Fashola used the occasion to enlighten stakeholders on the dividends of tax payment in the state.

Fashola said the tax payment has enabled the state government to gain financial independence and distribute wealth to provide basic amenities and cater for the vulnerable in the society.

He further disclosed that Lagosians have advanced the state’s budget from a paltry N14 billion Naira 14 years ago to half a trillion annual in recent time.

With the dwindling of resources to states, he said for this year, out of the more than N467 billion budgeted, about 70 percent is now being funded by individuals through internally generated funds.

He said: “This shows what we can achieve when we are committed to something and that is the independence you have gained by taking your destiny in your hands.”

He noted that with many states resorting to borrowing to pay salaries, Lagos State has continued to pay the salaries of its workers without having

to borrow money from anywhere.

“Today we are beginning to see dwindling resources to states. 400,000 barrels of crude oil are beginning to disappear. In the morning we will hear that $69 billion has not been accounted for, in the evening they would say it is now only $12 billion they are looking for. It is bad enough to look for one dollar of public fund. But the result of all this, is that the resources to the states are dwindling,” he said Presenting a paper titled “Women and Taxation”; Former Minister of Industries, Dr. Onikepo Akande encouraged women not to use their gender as an excuse not to pay taxes.

A proud recipient of the 5th Lagos State Tax Compliance Awards for 2011, Akande said women must pay tax irrespective of their gender, as the law does not exclude women from paying tax.

Speaking on the role of women in helping to deepen the tax base, she noted that because women have become professionals in different fields and earn wages, they

UK: Viral video helps boost students physics knowledge viral video seen by A almost three million people is helping boost students’ knowledge of physics as part of a new resource funded by Britain’s Department for Education (DE) A statement by department, dated January 17, noted that Cambridge University Professor Mark Warner is encouraging A level students to solve the physics problems behind the popular BBC science clip - which shows a chain in a jar appearing to defy gravity by leaping up in the air before falling to the floor as part of the £7 million project.

As well as giving a formal explanation of the physics involved in the ‘chain fountain’ in a science journal, Warner and his colleague, Dr John Biggins have

published a collection of problems online, which require sixth-form students to use their subject knowledge to explain the problem.

The challenge is part of a five-year project to prepare students better for university courses in physics, maths and engineering, and widen their access to top universities.

The Rutherford Schools Physics Partnership (RSPP) sees Cambridge academics tutor students online or through regionally-run faceto-face classes, and offer support to teachers.

United Kingdom’s Education Secretary, Michael Gove, who welcomed RSPP’s approach to getting students interested in physics problems also said: “Professor Warner’s brilliant project will give state school pupils access

to advanced materials so they can develop problem-solving skills in maths and physics.

“Cambridge University physicists will provide support for science teachers and online resources, enabling many more state school students to succeed at university.”

Warner said: “This project was only possible with the encouragement and funding that the Department for Education provided. It aims to raise standards and to make academic subjects and places at top universities available to all. We hope that by showing how the problems studied at school relate to real academic challenges, young people will develop confidence in their ability to solve physics problems and be inspired to continue studying physics to a higher level.”

should pay tax as much as the men, rather than seeing themselves as mere housewives.

Chief Executive Officer, LIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler said the government was charging 12 legal practitioners, 13 oil and gas executives, 26 individuals from different sectors, one medical practitioner and one sports personality to court for refusing to pay their taxes.

On the awards to winners of the Secondary Schools Essay Competition on Taxation in both Junior and senior categories, he said the goal is to bring up a group of youngsters who would soon be future leaders of tomorrow and instill in them the culture of taxation.

Winner in the senior category, Chidinma Illo, who attends a public school and is

also the head girl, said tax payment has brought about significant changes in her school.

She said: “My school was initially nicknamed ‘tambolo high school’ because we were constantly ravaged by ants.

But all that is now history.

Former students of the school could hardly believe it when they visit the school. The entire school environment has changed, we have new classrooms, we have a poultry and fish farm, we enjoy free extension class and our WASSCE fees have been paid for by the government.”

Adesuwa Inegbenebo, who attends Ogba Junior Grammar School, said she particularly enjoys the free textbooks, better sitting space and the basketball court built in her school.

the youths who are yet to claim their place in leadership roles to strive to become visible in the general public space. He said: “You, and your contemporaries up and down the country, are the ones upon whom we must build our hopes, and construct the programme of good management of leadership opportunity in the coming years.”

He also listed qualities such as sincerity, good values, high standard and self-discipline among others, as fundamental to managing leadership opportunities.

Kolade said despite arguments on whether leaders born or made, he said every individual has some seed of leadership performance that has been planted early in life in the family setting. He enjoined students of the university to seize every opportunity to learn the right things, and develop their capacity for applying what they have learnt to leadership activities.

“Leaders should always remind themselves of the National Pledge, wherein we offer to serve the country rather than ourselves, and wherein we volunteer to use all our strength and other resources to uphold the dignity of our fatherland,” he added.

Earlier in his address, Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Ayodeji Olukoju explained that the Caleb University Leadership Academy, which organized the lecture, came into being in 2011 to fill a gap in the training of students.

Engaging eminent speakers to share their experiences and views with the students in addition to the four modules handled by the ViceChancellor – “The Essentials and the Essentiality of Leadership;” “The Making of a Leader and Change Agent;” “Profiles in Leadership;” and “Decency and Etiquette in Leadership” he said the university had, over the past few years, nurtured students for leadership in various callings.

“It will challenge all of us to undertake self-assessment at a time that many in leadership positions in Nigeria have mismanaged God-given opportunities to make a difference” he said.

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winners emerge in national arts competition From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba Ow best to insightfully H and creatively interpret the old adage –There is Dignity in Labour – through painting, informed Chevron Nigeria Limited’s (CNL) reason for recently organizing a National Arts Competition for Senior Secondary School Students throughout the country in Asaba, Delta State.

The students who came from far and near, had their gaze firmly fixed on the ultimate prize. A winner had to emerge. The works of the young finalists were hung on the wall at the venue of the

ceremony. And in search of fame and fortune, the young artists took time to explain how their paintings conveyed the message in contention to the audience.

After a pulsating moment, the winners were reeled out.

For a graphic painting of a man eking out a living as a labourer, undeterred by the limitation of his environment, 15 year old Darl Uzu Otitodirichukwu of Day waterman College, Abeokuta, Ogun State came first followed by Olapegba Olaifa of Peaklane College, Akute, Ogun State, the second best and Raphael Onyekachi

of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Demonstration Secondary School.

The General Manager of Chevron, Mr. Andrew Fuawthrop explained that the decision to stage the competition was borne out of the company’s policy to celebrate academic excellence ad for that the management of the multi-national oil company decided to shower scholarship and prize awards on secondary school students that distinguished themselves in the 2013 National Art Competition.

The annual competition

was attended by 20 secondary schools across the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The overall winner of the competition, second and third positions respectively were awarded scholarship to complete their secondary school education and undisclosed sum of money Fawthrop explained that 533 entries from secondary students across the nation were received when entry for the competition closed out of which 20 students were chosen for the final award ceremony.

ABUAD appoints acting VC, matriculates 1003 From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti the expiration FtheofOLLOwING a four-year single term of pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) Ado Ekiti, Prof Sidi Osho, the Board of Trustees (BOT) and Council of the institution has appointed Prof Michael O. Ajisafe as the acting VC of the four year old school.

Besides 1003 students matriculated into all its seven colleges that recently secured full accreditation from the National University Commission (NUC).

Speaking at the colorful matriculation ceremony held at the multi purpose hall of the institution, the Acting VC said “let me refresh your memory that this 5th matriculation ceremony is a symbol-

ic and formal acceptance of the lucky 1003 students into our university out of the several thousands of students who indicated interest here and who would have loved to be here today”.

He, however, advised the new students, “to take maximum advantage of the great opportunities your admission to this university has offered you by facing your studies, doing exactly what your parents have sent you to do here.

Like our Founder is wont to say, you can become anything you want to be in this university through the instrumentality of serene and violence-free environment, student-friendly, approachable, fatherly and motherly academics of international repute and hard work which doesn’t kill anyway”.

In a release signed by the

Head of Public Relations of the school Tunde Olofintila,he disclosed that “Prof. Osho’s release for a four-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor was negotiated with former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, which was agreeable to all parties.

Ajisafe, the first Professor of Sports in Africa who has worked in many universities in Nigeria, until his new appointment doubled as Deputy Vice Chancellor and the Provost, College of Sciences.

The former Director of the National Institute of Sports, Lagos, who has since assumed duty, will remain in office until a substantive Vice Chancellor is appointed.

After obtaining a Doctorate Degree in Sports Science from Temple University in

Philadelphia, U.S.A, Ajisafe returned to Nigeria and joined the University of Ife (Adeyemi College of Education) where he pioneered the establishment of the Department of Sports Science. He was Head of the Sports Science Department from 1973 to 1975 when he left for the University of Ibadan where he and two other colleagues founded the Sports Science Department of that University.

He taught in the University of Ibadan from 1975 to 1977 before he left for the University of Benin where he pioneered the establishment of the Sports Science Department and was Head of Department and Dean of Education in that University for six and three years respectively. For five years, he was Director for the National Institute of Sports Lagos.

Continuing, he said that the competition was conceptualized as part of the company’s desire to contribute positively to the life of the Nigerian youths, as children are indeed the future of the country and the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture was very proud to sponsor the competition that cuts across schools from different parts of the country.

Represented by Mr. Raymond wilcox, General Manager, Chevron Nigerian Content Unit, Fawthrop said that the competition was conceptualized as part of the establishment desire to contribute positively to the life of the Nigeria youths.

The Managing Director said that the aim of the competition was to support the engine for sustainable growth, investment in children and the youths adding that it was also in compliance with its corporate social responsibility.

He declared: “The NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education has hosted the Arts Competition since 2004. it is my pleasure today to be here amongst young artistes and arts enthusiasts from around the nation. we are proud of this collaborative effort with the government for the overall development of Nigerian youths and the growth of art appreciation.”

He said that the competition allowed youths from different parts of the country to forge bonds of friendships that would enable them to network, share ideas, and

work together in building the nation of their dreams.

Fawthrop disclosed that in 2012 more than 2,900 students benefited from the NNP/Chevron Joint Venture scholarship scheme and scholarship for the blind just as pointed out that it also sponsored the Awokoya memorial Chemistry competition and Chris Ikomi memorial essay competition to support the study of English Language in secondary schools in Delta State.

He remarked that over 140 students have so far emerged as winners of the competition since inception in 2004.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom wike who apparently savoured every moment of the show said that time was when art was seen as just a mere pastime but that with the changing fortune of artists, they are bound to soar to the sky. wike said that after a careful survey of the works on display by the promising young artists, he had no shadow of doubt that the competition which was more of an exhibition was a tremendous success.

He said there was no better way for the oil company to show its commitment to Nigerian youths by sponsoring the competition and was very happy with the interest and passion generated by the show.

For winner Otitodirichukwu, he was living his dream and was very grateful to his parents for the unflinching support and his art teacher who nurtured and stood by him all the way.

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Drama as police arrest lawyer in court From Lemmy Ughegbe HERE was drama yesterday at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division as armed security operatives struggled to arrest a legal practitioner, Okeke Nnodu who allegedly defrauded his client, a retired Army officer.

A team of security operatives comprising plain clothes policemen, the regular police officers and some armed anti-

T

riot policemen had laid siege at the court to await Nnodu’s arrival.

But as he made his way through the steps after going pass the security post to the third floor of the court building, the security men pounced on him immediately the alleged victim, Colonel Jeff Onyejegbu (retired) identified him.

However, Nnodu was able to wriggle off the grip of the secu-

rity men and ran into one of the court rooms and was followed in hot pursuit by the security men and the colonel, who all retreated wary of breaching the sanctity of the court.

While others waited at the corridor leading to the entrance of Court Seven, Onyejegbu went closer and when he pipped into the court and saw that the court was not sitting, the retired soldier

went into the courtroom and pulled Nnodu out.

His action attracted the sympathy of other lawyers in the court for Nnodu. They accused the retired soldier of acting in contempt of court and trying to embarrass a lawyer.

Even when the lawyers tried to discourage him, as Nnodu denied knowing those chasing him, Onyejegbu kept shouting that Nnodu had defrauded him and that he (the lawyer) was trying to escape arrest.

Onyejegbu brought out an arrest warrant from his pocket, insisting that the lawyer was evading arrest.

“You think you can eat my money and run away? You have been doing it to other people, but I will not allow you to do that to me. The police are waiting for you outside,” Onyejegbu kept shouting, until some of the policemen later came closer, brandishing guns and handcuff.

On sighting them, Nnodu ran again, towards another court room. He was however, stopped before he could enter the court by a policeman who outran him.

It took the policemen sometime before they could overpower the lawyer, who they literally dragged through the stairway unto the first floor and, later into a waiting vehicle packed within the court premises.

It was gathered that the lawyer alleged defrauded the retired soldier in relation to a transaction over one of his properties.

Nnodu, The Guardian learnt, was in court in respect of a separate case in which he is being tried for allegedly defrauding another person over another property deal.

The lawyer, it was learnt, was also fingered in an earlier property related dispute that resulted in the sacking of some senior officials of the Abuja High Court, and on which basis the National Judicial Council (NJC) found the court’s former Chief Judge, Justice Lawal Gummi guilty of misconduct last year.

When the case, for which Nnodu was in court, was called, the prosecution lawyer, James Nwadike told the court that the accused had been arrested in relation to a separate case.

Nwadike also told the court that he has filed a motion exparte in respect of Nnodu’s coaccused, Obinna Kanu. He said the Interpol was currently working on bringing him back from the United States, where he allegedly ran to.

Mrs R. I. Chris Garuba, who appeared for Nnodu, said she was appearing in the case for the first time and sought time to enable her familiarise herself with the case.

Justice Olotu adjourned to February 11 for hearing of the prosecution’s motion.

Nwadike told The Nation that Nnodu was arraigned last year on the 10-count charge before Justice Olotu. He pleaded not guilty to the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/30/2012 and in which he was accused of defrauding Chief Elochukwu Ernest in property related transactions in Abuja.

According to Nwadike, Nnodu spent about 21 days in Kuje prison, Abuja before he was recently released on bail.

He said Nnodu was in court in continuation of his trial when he was arrested by the police in relation to a separate case.

UNN Pro-Chancellor sets up scholarship scheme

By Kodilinye Obiagwu HE Pro-Chancellor of the T University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuka Ukala (SAN), has set up a scholarship fund for indigent students of the university, whose studentship could be truncated by financial difficulties.

The scheme, according to a statement from the universi-

ty, would run throughout the four-year tenure of Ukala, “who it is obvious has come to contribute positively to the development of the institution.”

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bartho Okolo, praised the Pro-Chancellor, who is also the chairman of the Governing Council of the UNN, “for such noble and selfless commitment to students’

welfare and scholarship,” and appealed to other Nigerians to emulate the philanthropic gesture.

Meanwhile, the university administration has appointed a six-man committee, headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof.

P. E. Chigbu to administer the selffunded scholarship fund, which is worth N2 million annually.

Thursday, January 23, 2014 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY 63

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Norway’s sovereign wealth fund hits $829 billion VERYONE in Norway became a theoretiE cal millionaire in the country’s local currency,courtesy of oil and gas prices that ballooned its sovereign wealth fund,which is now the biggest in the world.

Set up in 1990, the fund owns around one per cent of the world’s stocks, as well as bonds and real estate from London to Boston, making the Nordic nation an exception when others are struggling under a mountain of debts.

A preliminary counter on the website of the central bank, which manages the fund, rose to 5.11 trillion crowns ($828.66 billion), fractionally more than a million times Norway’s most recent official population estimate of 5,096,300.

It was the first time it reached the equivalent of a million crowns each, central bank spokesman Thomas Sevang said.

Not that Norwegians will be able to access or spend the money, squirrelled away for a rainy day for them and future

generations. Norway has resisted the temptation to splurge all the windfall since striking oil in the North Sea in 1969.

Finance Minister, Siv Jensen told Reuters the fund, called the Government Pension Fund Global, had helped iron out big, unpredictable swings in oil and gas prices. Norway is the world’s number seven oil exporter.

“Many countries have found that temporary large revenues from natural resource exploitation produce relatively short-lived

booms that are followed by difficult adjustments,” she said in an email.

The fund, equivalent to 183 percent of 2013 gross domestic product, is expected to peak at 220 percent around 2030.

“The fund is a success in the sense that parliament has managed to put aside money for the future. There are many examples of countries that have mot managed that,” said Oeystein Doerum, chief economist at DNB Markets.

New loan strategy leaves path for higher risk borrowers ICK Wormald, a 29-year-old plumber N with good credit, said he was shut out of the housing rebound until he asked the government for help.

Wormald, who bought a three-bedroom home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, for $215,000 in December, was required to provide a down payment of only three per cent. That’s far below the standard 20 per cent down, which he couldn’t afford.

And he was spared the burden of buying mortgage insurance. The plumber got the fixed-rate deal through MassHousing, his state’s housing-finance agency, or HFA. “It’s good that I didn’t have to exhaust all my funds,” said Wormald, who had to spend about 40 per cent of his retirement savings for the down payment. “My family helped me out with bed sheets and things for the house. They’re great people but nobody has got $10,000 kicking around to give.”

Every state has one of these little-known agencies, which legislatures set up in the 1960s and 1970s to promote affordable housing. Now, as regulators tighten mortgage rules and big banks resist lending to riskier middle-income Americans, HFAs across the U.S. are rapidly expanding to restore the fading dream of homeownership.

The state agencies got a boost from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which exempted them from stricter mortgage regulations that it rolled out this month.

Some groups like MassHousing buy mortgages from lenders and send them to government-sponsored Fannie Mae to package into securities that the HFAs then sell to investors. The Boston-based group more than doubled its mortgage volume to an all-time high of $1.25 billion in the year ending in June, fueled by the introduction of mortgages that require no insurance.

HFAs in states including California, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia also are expanding.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority funded more than 3,000 mortgages in 2013, a record, up 60 per cent from the prior year.

“We believe that housing-finance agencies will be able to play a bigger role in whatever the restructured mortgage market looks like in the future,” MassHousing Executive Director Tom Gleason said. “HFAs have already demonstrated that they’re ready to step up to the plate to absorb the risk associated with low down payment borrowers.”

The growth in lending may also help bolster the housing recovery, which hasn’t included many first-time buyers like Wormald. The homeownership rate for U.S. families earning less than the median income — about $51,000 — was 48.5 per cent in the third quarter. That compares with 53 per cent during the peak of the housing boom in 2006, according to Census Bureau.

“First-time buyers have not been participating in the market recovery,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, said.

“Housing-finance agencies could provide a channel for these buyers.”

HFAs are growing even as the White House and Congress vow to reduce the government’s role in the housing market. In early 2011, according to data firm Black Knight Financial Services, the government backed about 93 per cent of new home loans though agencies and

A house for sale in Denver, Colorado, United States

companies including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were rescued by taxpayers. The government guaranteed about 84 per cent in mid-2013.

The financial protection bureau’s new qualified mortgage rules are designed to prevent a return of the loose lending practices that spurred the housing crash of 2008. The regulations provide a measure of legal protection to lenders that meet guidelines and expose them to legal liabilities if their loans fail certain tests, like charging high fees or requiring payments that, when combined with other debts, exceed 43 per cent of the borrower’s income. Exempt HFAs can make any type of loan without exposing themselves to liability under the CFPB’s rules.

As stricter regulations make giving mortgages to some lower income borrowers more difficult, banks may increase their lending through HFAs, said Ben Olson, who helped write the CFPB guidelines before leaving the bureau in May. Olson said the loans also would help the banks meet their affordable housing obligations under the federal Community Reinvestment Act. “One of the things being discussed is taking advantage of the exemption for housing-finance agency loans,” said Olson, an attorney who now represents lenders for BuckleySandler LLP in Washington.

Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), the biggest U.S. home lender, already is doing business with the state groups, spokesman Tom

Goyda said. Quicken Loans Inc., the fourth-largest originator last year, is looking to build relationships with HFAs, Bob Walters, vice president of Quicken’s capital markets group in Detroit, said. The agencies have become far more attractive since getting the exemption, he said.

“The question is, if the industry gets really interested in this and wants to expand lending, are the HFAs ready for this influx?” Olson said.

Anthony Sanders, a professor of real estate finance at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, said the HFA loans may fail if home prices fall again.

“There are still enormous risks to low down payment loans,” Sanders said.

“You’re putting borderline borrowers into risky products again. We’re going to repeat the same experiment, this time at the state level.”

The state groups can expand without a jump in defaults if they maintain their focus on loan servicing, said Stephanie Moulton, an associate professor of public policy at Ohio State University. The agencies have kept defaults relatively low by screening applicants diligently, underwriting loans at affordable terms, requiring borrowers to go through homeownership counseling and contacting them as soon as they fall behind on payments, she said.

The average proportion of loans 90 or more days delinquent was 3.1 per cent on June 30, 2012, according to a survey of 30

housing agencies in an October paper by Moulton and University of North Carolina’s Roberto Quercia.

That’s lower than the 4.8 per cent produced by the FHA, the mortgage insurer that permits down payments as low as 3.5 per cent, and the 9.2 per cent for subprime loans. The rate was only 1.86 per cent for prime borrowers, who tend to have higher incomes and bigger down payments.

“Right now we can tell a story and stand by it that says HFA loans perform better than the same loan made through a nonHFA lender with the same demographic profile,” MassHousing’s Gleason said. “The challenge is how to maintain quality as we get bigger.”

Wormald, the plumber, makes about $80,000-a-year, $4,000 more than the average income of MassHousing borrowers. His credit score of 720 is below the average of 741. In rare cases the agency makes loans to people with scores below 660, the industry standard for subprime mortgages.

MassHousing’s mortgages are backed by Fannie Mae, which raised its minimum down payment to 5 per cent in November.

Fannie Mae guarantees 3 per cent down mortgages from the state agencies because of their low default rate.

MassHousing and other HFAs also benefit from Fannie Mae’s risk-sharing program, which allows them to avoid requiring mortgage insurance.

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64 Thursday, January 23, 2014

MarketReport EQUITY MARKET SUMMARY

AS AT 22-01-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA www.primera-africa.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014 MARKET REPORT 65

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MARKET INDICATORS

AS AT 22-01-2014

PRIMERA AFRICA

Profit taking takes toll on Exchange, as investors’ wealth depreciates by N148b

By Helen Oji ROFIT taking by investors P on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, yesterday pulled market indices, causing investors’ wealth to drop by N148 billion, even as major blue-chip stocks depreciated in price.

Yesterday, Activities on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday returned to bearish trend as market capitalisation dipped by N148 billion or 1.10 per cent to N13.288 trillion from N13.436 trillion recorded the previous day.

Also the NSE All Share Index (ASI) declined by 461.69 basis points to 41469.94 points from 41931.63 points traded the previous day.

Volume of shares traded also dropped marginally, as investors exchanged 327.162 million shares worth N3.371 billion in 5904 deals against 276.437 million shares valued at N3.056 billion exchanged hand the previous day in 5698 deals.

Analysts attributed the drop in indices to profit taking by investors’ on the NSE. According to them, they leveraged on the marginal appreciation recorded in the past few weeks to recoup their investment Further analysis of yesterday’s trading showed that Forte Oil led the gainers table with N90.24 kobo to close at N82.43 kobo, Julius Berger followed with a gain of N70.00 to close at N65.10 kobo while Presco Plc, Betaglass and Berger Paint appreciated by N43.11 kobo, N17.67 kobo and N9.08 kobo respectively to close at N41.06 kobo, N16.83 kobo and N8.65 kobo.

RedStarExpress added

0.35kobo to close at N5.00 per share. IHS garnered 0.33 kobo to close at N3.63 per share.

Arbico gained 0.25 kobo to close at N5.30 per share while Trans Express added 0.14 kobo to close at N1.61 per share.

Conversely, Nestle Nigeria Plc topped losers chart for the day, shedding N14.99 kobo to close at N1160.00, Nigerian Breweries trailed with a loss of N1.58 kobo to close at N164.32 kobo while FBN Holdings loss N1.00 to close at N15.10 kobo.

Zenith Bank shed 0.76 kobo to close at N24.35 per share while Guaranty Trust Bank lost 0.55 kobo to close at N28.25 per share.

EcobankTrans National Incorporated dropped 0.52 per cent to close at N16.84 per share. Oando lost 0.50 kobo to close at N26.00 per share.

Other stocks that recorded price depreciation were Zenith International Bank and Unilever Nigeria Plc as they dropped by N0.76 kobo, N0.64 kobo respectively to close at N24.35 kobo and N53.36 kobo. The result for the day further indicated that United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded the highest volume of activities, exchanging 23.499 million shares worth N210.038 million, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) followed with account of 23.425 million shares valued at N94.822 million while FBN Holdings recorded 22.666 million shares valued at N344.430 million.

Zenith Bank exchanged a total of 21.096 million shares worth N505.513 million and Skye Bank traded 19.099 million shares cost N77.199 million.

Sterling Bank’s rights issue over subscribed

By Bukky Olajide TERLING Bank Plc has concluded its rights issue with 103.3 percent subscription.

The rights issue of 5,888,949,162 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each offered at N2.12 per share, according to a statement from the bank, opened on June 24, 2013 with strong support from shareholders; as a result of which the shares were oversubscribed.

Total valid applications received totaled N12.9 billion - 3.3 percent above the expected N12.5 billion. The new shares were listed today on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange; following which Sterling Bank became the 31st most capitalized stock (from 38th position) with a market capitalization of N52.9 billion.

Speaking on the rights issue, the bank’s managing director and chief executive officer, Yemi Adeola, expressed delight with the outcome of the rights issue,

S

What Happened?

The NSE All-Share index decreased by 110bps (1.10%) and closed at 41,469.94. This represents a year-to-date performance of 0.34%. Market Capitalisation also depreciated 1.10% to close at N13.288 trillion.Total value traded increased 10.28% to N3.37 billion and total volume traded increased 18.35% to 327.16 million units.

Where?

At the close of trading, the banking sector represented 58.81% of the total market value traded, while the breweries sector represented 4.56%. The Top 5 stocks as a % of total market value traded were: ZENITHBANK (15.00%), FBNH (10.22%), GTB (10.09%), NESTLE (10.02%) and OANDO (6.95%).

On a volume basis, the Top 5 most traded stocks for the day were: ZENITHBANK (30.79m), FIDELITYBK (28.53m), TRANSCORP (24.95m), UBA (18.58m) and ACCESS (18.01m).

saying the success rate reflects shareholders’ confidence in their strategy and execution capabilities.

In his words: ’We are also in the process of concluding a private placement of US$120 million to further strengthen our capital position. These are part of our US$400 million capital raising plan comprising US$200 million each in tiers 1 and 2 capital respectively. The US$200 million tier 2 capital will be raised through a multi-currency debt issue expected to come through this year.

‘Our goal this year is to increase our capital position to an excess of N100 billion, with the funds deployed to support our growth plans.

We will invest in information technology, distribution outlets and alternative delivery channels; while leveraging the enhanced capital position to support lending.

‘We are very optimistic about our capital plans and would continue to deliver superior returns to shareholders,’ he said.

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66 BUSINESS Thursday, January 23, 2014

Govt needs to save Nigeria’s N280b distillery

Kumar

A compendium on manufacturing activities in Nigeria, published by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), indicates that local distilling and blending sub-sector constitutes about 40 per cent of the manufacturing sector’s capacity valued at N700 billion. But today, activities of importers and smugglers of cheap foreign brands into the Nigerian market are daily giving operators in that sector sleepless nights. However, the Managing Director, Grand Oak Limited, Akshay Kumar, in this interview with Business Editor, ADE OGIDAN, proffers strategies that could save the N280 billion industry.

Excerpts.

OW would you assess the nation’s business environment?

Business environment in Nigeria is fairly interesting. It is exciting and challenging at the same time.

It is exciting because it is the largest economy in the African continent; the population is growing very well. For an economy to keep growing at six per cent, in today’s world, means there is something unique about it. It is not a small task, and most countries would be delighted to have a 6 per cent growth rate.

Although there are challenges too; Infrastructure issues in the country make it difficult for business to thrive. Power is clearly another constraint to business in Nigeria. Almost every business in Nigeria runs on generators and the cost of diesel adds so much to the cost of production and without power, you cannot produce. So, if we as a country could make remarkable improvement in that situation you would find out that pro-

H

duction could become less cost intensive.

Today Nigeria is seen as a high cost market even though doing business here remain very exciting, as I have said. We are the largest spirit company in the country; a fully Nigerian company and people working for the company are largely locals with a few professionals from outside Nigeria. And we are happy to be here, despite the challenges.

To which extent have adulterated products impacted on distillery industry?

The impact of adulterated products is negative because faking is a very serious problem in this country. It is evident in the concern being expressed by the government. The regulatory agencies like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC are concerned about the fact that so much faking happens in this country. It happens in the pharmaceutical business, it happens in mattresses, which is why there is a mattress company, which

tells you before you buy their mattress, you should sent a text to find out if it is genuine or not. So the issue of faking is a very serious one.

Most people feel unconcerned about the problem, often because they can get some of the products at cheaper prices. What they don’t realize is how much damage they are already doing to the economy by patronizing fake products’ manufacturers. A lot of people don’t bring their products into the market because they wouldn’t want it to be adulterated.

Such people prefer to invest elsewhere; they don’t just do business in the country because of the high rate of faking.

Apart from doing damage to the economy, fake products also do a lot of damage to the health of the citizens especially if it is food and beverage products. It is a sad situation in this country. Though in every country or market, there are some faking that happens but where the incidence is small, it can be managed but in Nigeria, the rate of faking is very high and difficult to manage. Companies should work hand in hand with the government to curb the menace. To me, faking is an important issue because it can affect the lives of people. People can die by drinking poor quality spirit.

How effective is the

Standard Organisation of Nigeria in tackling this menace?

Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other regulatory authorities are trying their best but the problem is that there are some individuals that think about their pockets and some with vested interest make things difficult. But I don’t think faking can be eliminated completely anywhere in the world. If you read many of today’s magazines, you will find that some French wines have been sold to unsuspecting people around the world at huge prices and they are fake wines. So, faking would not go 100 per cent. But if you ask if faking can be

But I don’t think faking can be eliminated completely anywhere in the world. If you read many of today’s magazines, you will find that some French wines have been sold to unsuspecting people around the world at huge prices and they are fake wines. So, faking would not go 100 per cent. But if you ask if faking can be curbed, then I would say, yes. I think if we just have a lot more coordination and very strong punishment for people who are caught faking, it will be curbed.

curbed, then I would say, yes. I think if we just have a lot more coordination and very strong punishment for people who are caught faking, it will be curbed.

How healthy is the competition in the industry?

Competition is always good. No economy does well without competition.

It is good for a monopoly company to work where there is no competition but if you have monopoly, you tend to become inefficient and it encourages you to be slow. So, it is very good to have healthy competition.

Of course we have competition but we are very far ahead of the competition.

The fact is that since they are there, we have already got the might, to catch-up.

So you must be a step ahead.

And you would be happy to know that at recent function in Sheraton Hotel Ikeja held by a company in collaboration with the Institute of Research and Government Leadership, we received an award as

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industry from faking, dumping, says Kumar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 66 the Best Schnapps and the best Gin producers in the country. Yes, in some ways we have to thank our competitors because they keep us on our toes, they keep us thinking about what else we can do to be the preferred choice of the consumers.

Under the current scenario, are you contemplating expansion of your company’s production capacity?

We do have plans but it’s a little early to talk about it, because it is the company’s confidential information.

But we want to make sure that our home base which is Nigeria is well covered.

And then obviously the most logical area would be West Africa and other countries around Africa.

What’s the extent of local content in your production?

Yes, we produce locally, that is why we have three distillers in the groupNigeria Distillers, Supreme Distillers and Allied Distillers. Now, we have established a plant which will be commissioned this January and this plant will be used for production of ethanol. This will be the first time in the world that an agricultural produce, cassava can be used directly in making alcohol.

Nobody in the world has converted cassava into alcohol. This is what we will do in the plant. The other factories in the world use cassava chips, but none have used cassava directly. We are the first in the world to do that.

Do you consider government’s fiscal policies as supportive enough for growth?

The government fiscal policies affect everybody in certain ways. It is from these government policies that taxes are determined, duties and concessionary funding of projects which can affect investments are also determined. I think one of the things that could be done better is that the Manufacturers Association (MAN) should make presentations to the Presidency detailing manufacturer’s problems so that policies can be more favourable. They have seen the factories; not just our factories, but they should realize that we provide so much employment. And often there are foreign brands who just dump their goods into the country, and that disturbs the pricing structure, the profitability of our company and everything else.

Our consolation is that government is not sleeping about this. There have been sensitisations being made by the government, which shows massive seriousness in trying to look out for the best policies that will ensure that you don’t have unnecessary dumping of foreign brands in the country. No one is saying it must be Nigerian products alone in

the market but the government needs to protect its own people first, every country does that. So, there is no reason why Nigeria shouldn’t be doing that. The objective is to make sure that dumping of foreign brands is not there, to rationalize the import duties in such a way as to encourage domestic production and create extra employment, extra opportunity for the economy to grow and all of that. Government also needs to make the infrastructure available; land, power, safety and security among others. As far as we are concerned we would be based here, not coming in from outside. Our product is essentially for local Nigerian population and we are proud to be a Nigerian company as well.

How are your brands faring in the market?

Indeed, they are doing very well in the market because we offer customers a good range of high quality products. I have a portfolio of minimum of 10 brands and we have a few more, which nobody else has. We have 40 pack sizes available to customers, so that if they want it in bottle, they will have a bottle, if you want to just drink it as a shot, we have them and we have the sachets available. We have a range of sizes of schnapps Seamans; best known in Africa for its traditional value.

So, we offer every good quality product at the right price. We make sure we sustain the innovation.

Innovation is something that is permanent in our company. So, realising that Nigerian economy and population is large, we also think that there are rich people, there are very rich people, and there are poor people and the middleclass income people. So, we are forced to get sachets, some also comes in smaller packs so you pay less money and you can have the same drink, so you don’t have to buy a whole bottle to have the drink.

Recently, we launched Cool Twista. It is a phenomenal innovation. It is matching packaging, it is matching modernity. It is an anti-fake programme.

And even the focus of the anti fake I was talking about, it is an anti faking product.

Provisionally, nobody can fake it especially the packaging aspect. So that is a lot of reason for us; large range of portfolio, quality products at appropriate prices, constant innovation, good communication.

We engage with our partners, we manage our trade well; we look at the media as a very important partner. So, we spend time with you because we know your people would read the news.

Nigeria is an exciting spirit market, because there is a larger segment of the country that likes alcohol, beverage and spirits. The wines and spirit business is a very exciting market

and we are proud to be part of the entire value chain from basic alcohol to the finished brand.

By virtue of our largest distribution network in the country, we have people who would import brands and come to us for partnership and they often say that we have the largest network and professionals working for us. We spend a lot of time in training our people.

What’s the profile of your company’s manpower training and development programme?

We have a small sales academy were we recruit graduates, train exceptional ones among them for one or three years, and then absorb them into the company. We are a very forward looking company. It took a lot of effort, money and persistence to set up the cassava plant which has not been done anywhere in the world.

Which are the major challenges being faced by the industry?

We have spoken about one, which is faking that have a very negative impact on businesses. For instance, in the East, you will see a shop that has full stock of products that are supposed to be yours but

Kumar

The impact of adulterated products is negative because faking is a very serious problem in this country. It is evident in the concern being expressed by the government. The regulatory agencies like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC are concerned about the fact that so much faking happens in this country. It happens in the pharmaceutical business, it happens in mattresses, which is why there is a mattress company, which tells you before you buy their mattress, you should sent a text to find out if it is genuine or not. So the issue of faking is a very serious one. the products are faked.

This happens not just to us but to other companies also. But, because we are leaders in the business, we have devised strategies to combat that. Secondly, a large crop of organized information system on the distribution trade is a challenge. It is very difficult to say; there are so many outlets which are selling our products but so many outlet selling alcoholic spirit products. So, we can be very happy saying we cover 100 per cent or 70 per cent of whatever there is to cover, but this is difficult because there is no published data available to gather such accurate information. There is no retail census available. The infrastructure is a challenge we have also mentioned.

Safety of workers and secu-

rity of life and property are major issues. Just recently we have cases where some of our distributors and agents were injured in the cause of their duty. So you work hard, you want to be there in the market place, and this is kind of product a lot of people consume in the evening, you need to be close to market to watch the consumption pattern, so there are many challenges in that way.

And the other one is consumer education. Nigerian consumers seem not to understand the impact of patronizing goods dumped into the market, they just see them as imported and then conclude that they are better.

Not everything imported is good and not everything imported is bad either but there has to be consumers’

wise choices. These are the challenges we are facing in the business.

What was your experience like when you first time in Africa?

My first time in Africa was in 1999-2000. I came and lived in Mauritius for a short while and I have just concluded a year in Nigeria. I have lived in various countries; obviously I have worked in India. I have lived in Singapore. I worked in Indonesia, Hong Kong. It’s been an exciting time. So, going into a new place or a new country is not difficult for me. I quite enjoy that because it gives me a chance to meet people of different countries, different habits. It is just exciting to see how different people play around the economy and work in the market.

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ISSUE

Legal validity of 2014 Budget Session of Rivers House of Assembly

By Professor Itse Sagay, SAN. N Monday, January 6, O 2014, the Rivers State House of Assembly met and sat at the Rivers State Government House Auditorium, to receive the 2014 budget of the state from the governor and thereafter approved the budget. The Appropriation Bill has since been signed into law by the governor.

The fact that the House met outside its designated Chambers, has resulted in a strident condemnation by the state’s branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the Assembly session was null and void.

The PDP has even gone so far as to call on banks not to honour the cheques of the state government.

In determining the legal nature and effect of the January 6 sitting of the House, certain issues must be taken into consideration.

• Sections 90 to 129 of the Constitution which provide for the composition, powers and operation of a State House of Assembly make absolutely no reference to the building or Chambers in which the Houses will function. The Constitution is concerned with the House as a body of Legislators, and not a House as a building made of brick and cement.

• Although there is a designated House of Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Police Command has made it physically impossible for the House to meet there.

This is in spite of a Court Ruling that the House was free and entitled to resume its legislative duties. Every attempt by the Law Makers to resume their work in the State House of Assembly Building has been violently repelled by the State Police Command under Paul Mbu. • For there to be governance and economic activity in the State, the Legislators must carry out their legislative duties.

• Before resorting to the use of the State Government Auditorium for legislative activity, the government first officially declared that auditorium as a temporary legislative venue and this declaration was formally gazetted.

In the light of the above factors, no one, can in good faith, challenge the legitimacy of the House sitting in the temporary venue. It is clear that the strategy of economic strangulation of Rivers State is the objective of those challenging the validity of the House 2014 Budget Session.

It will be most futile for those who are hostile to

The fact that the House met outside its designated Chambers, has resulted in a strident condemnation by the state’s branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the Assembly session was null and void. The PDP has even gone so far as to call on banks not to honour the cheques of the state government.

In determining the legal nature and effect of the January 6 sitting of the House, certain issues must be taken into consideration.

Prof. Sagay the normal functioning of government in Rivers State to rely on the case of Adeleke v. Oyo State House of Assembly [2006] 52 WRN 22 to justify their stand. In that case, the Court of

Appeal at Ibadan did not just declare the purported sitting of a rump of the Oyo State House of Assembly, invalid, null and void merely because their sitting took place outside

their designated Chambers. That sitting was declared null and void for far more than that, namely: • It was held in a private hotel room.

• No principal officer (Speaker or Deputy Speaker) was present.

• The Clerk of the House was absent.

• The meeting was not plenary and open to all members, but was exclusive and held in an atmosphere of intimidation and violence.

• The 18 members who participated in that ‘session’ were less than two-thirds of the 32 member House, and therefore did not meet the mandatory requirements of Section 188 of the Constitution.

The above five factors were responsible for the invalidity of the Oyo State House of Assembly Session in De Rovans Hotel. In the present case of Rivers State, the session took place in a Government facility, duly gazetted for that purpose; the Speaker presided at the sitting; the Clerk of the House was present; the meeting was plenary, open to all members and free from intimidation and violence. Finally, 23 out of the 31 members of the House were present at that session.

In the light of above, no one can question the validity and legitimacy of the Rivers State 2014 Budget Session.

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ISSUE

‘Amaechi lacks leadership qualities, commits illegalities’ Factional House of Assembly Speaker, Evans Bipi, speaks on the political situation in Rivers State and some national issues. Excerpts: HAT necessitated the defection of the WWegovernor to another party? all know that Governor Amaechi had been a mole in our midst before now. Crosscarpeting is good for democracy, especially only if the opposition is constructive and has an alternative idea. Amaechi’s exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been long overdue; he had insulted elder statesmen of the party in Rivers, even at the national level, including his mentors who brought him to politics, believing that he would be given a plum job by the bunch of strange bedfellows whose only interest is to grab power at all costs for their bellies. Show me one progressive in their midst? Show me one progressive in Nigeria? They are all crying foul because the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is not only focused but determined to change the destiny of Nigerians through various transformations in various spheres of our nation.

I am saddened and pained when people refer to Amaechi glowingly with regard to the development of Rivers State. Amaechi right from day one has not meant well for the Rivers people; he had harmed the people, starting from demolition of the waterfronts, to people’s houses and shops, and yet he is consistently buying media space and feeding the public with propaganda. Can you call his actions achievements? Or is it the monorail you can call an achievement when it has no economic value to the state?

With every sense of duty, Amaechi has done more harm than good! Rivers PDP was one of the strongest in the South-South before he became governor. But look at what he succeeded in doing to the party that took him to a place he never imagined in his lifetime. He has failed the people, polarized the people across ethnic, religious and geographic lines, but we are ready to build the party to where it was before. His exit is a good riddance to bad rubbish.

And back to your question, nobody drove him away; he became power drunk, obsessed by the little money he had seen and decided to dance naked in the market square.

Is this move a right decision?

Well, for a drowning man like Amaechi, it was the right decision because no matter what, he would have been chased out of our party whether he liked it or not for his various nefarious and anti-party activities. How can a man betray his people, all for a mere mesh of porridge. That shows you the calibre of person he is, always thinking about himself alone and not for the collective good of the people.

Now that the governor has gone, how can you rate the party?

We are very strong at the grassroots and with leaders like the former governor of the state, Sir Peter Odili, elders, senior party faithful, stakeholders and the present Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, the party is right back to recovering its lost glory. We are more than focused, united in our common goal and objectives and ready to face any splinter group, whose sole and only purpose is to castigate every policy and plan of the Federal Government, including throwing stones at or name-calling the President.

Amaechi and his ilk are so lucky. This is the most educated, forthright, God-fearing and good-natured person Nigeria has ever had as a president. If not, by now all those in government stealing the people’s wealth would have been rotting in jail. Could they have tried this during OBJ’s days?

So we are talking to our people, Nigerians and the entire world that this group of people are opportunists and do not mean well for our nation. Look at their pronouncements, body language and antecedents, you will agree that they are self-serving and greedy.

Their only ideology is their stomach and the ‘I and my family’ slogan. None of them is a nationalist in approach, not to talk of ideals.

Nigerians know them very well. They are no

Bipi alternative to the PDP-led government but a bandwagon of people who have pauperized their people for their own benefit and selfaggrandizement in their various leadership positions.

The governor said recently that the PDP has failed the nation. What is your opinion?

How has the PDP failed the nation? When they go about funding different groups to disrupt development and change the focus of government. We thank God that in spite of all their plans the government is focused and on the path to recovery from the security challenges, which are not only peculiar to Nigeria but across the world. The present government is just two years in power and has done a lot for Nigerians in terms of agriculture, power, education, economy, among others. And if not because of the flurry of their planned and systematic distractions, by now the Jonathan administration will have taken Nigeria to Eldorado. But all is not lost, as the administration is daily working on some national issues to see how Nigeria can be better compared to what we inherited.

The governor insinuated that the Federal Government had never given him free hand to govern the state, how true is this assertion?

I had said this before that the President has a lot to cope with at the national level and will not bog himself with small issues of Rivers State. Instead of blaming himself for not being able to govern a state successfully, he goes about looking for people to hang his ineptitude on. All the stories emanating from Rivers today, if the governor was mature, forthright and steadfast, the problems should have been all resolved by now. But because he does not have leadership quali-

ties, he is busy governing Rivers on the pages of newspapers and television, and throwing stones at the President for his personal failures. Up till today, has the President said a word or replied him? The answer is well known to all Nigerians.

Amaechi is the cause of all the problems confronting Rivers State; nobody has held him down, but he has held himself down due to his nonchalant attitude and disrespect for superior authorities, and his vituperations against the elders of the party both at state and national levels. Looking at the body language of Amaechi, do you think he is mature? The answer is capital NO! He does not have what it takes to be a leader. He had been weighed in the scale of governance and found wanting. He cannot give what he does not have.

The bomb blast at the courts was instigated by you, according to the governor.

For Christ’s sake, I am still the Speaker of the House, and as a noble man from a good background, you do not expect me to behave in an uncivilized manner like Amaechi. I will never do such a thing, not to talk of contemplating doing it or sending people at my level to do it. It takes a minute to destroy but years to rebuild or build anything that is tangible, so how can I decide to bomb the court, my last hope, which is the conscience of the common man? The people should ask the governor because he is the Chief Security Officer of the state. He is the person orchestrating all you are seeing in Rivers State just to elicit sympathy and public support, all in a bid to achieve his selfish ambition and to satisfy his paymasters.

I want to say this for all to hear: how many

Look at how my other colleagues hurriedly passed and assented to the budget behind closed doors. It was a sad day indeed for democracy; it is very unfortunate and undemocratic. The governor is treading on a path very alien to the state and I say it with all sense of purpose that he shall surely crash.

Knowing full well, what I intend to do next, they went bombing the court. On the day of the bombing, I was supposed to have been heard at the court. Then how can I stop myself from getting victory or how will I plan against myself? So it was Amaechi and co that bombed the courts to disallow me from getting a fair hearing and justice in my case.

governors do you see fighting with their Police Commissioners, and shouting everyday on the pages of papers? There must be definitely something wrong with Amaechi that people should pause and take a second look at! You cannot see a single respected elder in the state behind him or supporting him because he is fighting a lost battle and cannot be trusted. Look at how my other colleagues hurriedly passed and assented to the budget behind closed doors. It was a sad day indeed for democracy; it is very unfortunate and undemocratic. The governor is treading on a path very alien to the state and I say it with all sense of purpose that he shall surely crash.

Knowing full well, what I intend to do next, they went bombing the court. On the day of the bombing, I was supposed to have been heard at the court. Then how can I stop myself from getting victory or how will I plan against myself? So it was Amaechi and co that bombed the courts to disallow me from getting a fair hearing and justice in my case.

Look, let me tell you – all the drama going on in Rivers State, including the bombing, the melodrama acted by the senator, about teargas or not, and everything you see today, is being orchestrated by Amaechi, all in a bid to paint the President in a bad light. The police in Rivers State do not use rubber bullets and I thank God you heard it from the Commissioner of Police himself. Magnus Abe is just acting a script written by the All Progressives Congress (APC) because he is being promised a governorship slot, all to drag the good name of the present administration into the mud. But they will certainly fail because the truth cannot be hidden for long.

Can you comment more on the passing of the budget in an office in Government House?

What a rape of democracy, trying to get legitimacy for fleecing the state funds, the budget approved by the House is null, void and illegal! You cannot pass a budget without the Speaker on seat. I am still the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly; Nigerians can attest to that and the fact that it was conducted in a Kangaroo office in Government House shows you the desperation of Amaechi regarding the people’s wealth. So, whosoever has financial dealings with Amaechi as regards the budget is doing so at his/her own risk. The endorsement is a private arrangement and a grand gangsterism by Amaechi and his rubber stamp loyalists, who do not mean well for the people. Where have you seen that brazen act by any governor or President endorsing a budget outside the hallowed chambers of the State Assembly or National Assembly and without the presence of the Speaker? It is unacceptable, unlawful and inconsistent with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is ultra-vires, null and void and cannot be acceptable to Nigerians.

Where in the world have you ever seen a governor presenting a budget in his residence or office? It then means the President of a country can as well present a budget in the Presidential Villa. You can see people condemning it from far and wide and prominent lawyers and persons across the country have castigated the illegal approval in its entirety.

But you can see how silent APC has become as regards this shameful act. Lai Mohammed and others known for always shouting nunc dimitis and crying foul are now shamelessly silent. But because it concerns them, they have all kept quiet so as to continue to rip off Rivers people.

We will not accept it and whatever money that is spent out of this illegal budget will be returned by Amaechi and his co-travellers.

You can see the exit of commissioners from his cabinet. It shows that he is leading them to nowhere. The will of the people will prevail over Amaechi’s maladministration in Rivers State and he will be made to account for every kobo he spends in Rivers State.

Mark my word. We have decided to challenge him in the court of law. Amaechi has failed the people, the voters. He has exhibited his real melancholy to the people and he can do anything and everything to corner the funds meant for development of the state to his personal use and for cronies in APC.

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‘Jonathan not using Labour Party as The leadership of People’s Democratic Party both at the national level and in the South West has continued to explore new strategies that could help the party regain the control of the region believed to be very crucial to the re-election bid of the party at the centre in 2015. The need for new strategies has led to the emergence of new and young political leaders in the region who are determined to mobilise resources and people to achieve this onerous task. Chief Kasamu Buruji from Ogun State is one of those young new leaders in the region. He spoke with ABIODUN FANORO and SEYE OLUMIDE on why the PDP must dispense with those he called the old and non grassroots politicians who he accused of being responsible for the setback for the party in recent times. He also spoke on the allegation of anti-party activities some people are insinuating against President Goodluck Jonathan. Excerpts

Jonathan HAT is the state of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State at present?

Before I make any comment on that, I would like to say there is no reason for any Nigerian, whatever the status, to disparage President Goodluck Jonathan. I found it very embarrassing to hear people talking down on the person of the president of their country as if we all do not have our personal life. That is what politics has turned into today; and I find it very uncomfortable.

In respect of the PDP in Ogun State, I can assure you that the party is very stable.

Although, there are minor crises and that is in respect of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Some of the coordinators of the state’s SURE-P funds, whom we believe are supposed to use the funds to empower the people in Ogun, were using the money for other purpose. Apart from this, the party is stable and we are mobilising people to join us. We are also solving various problems among our members. A lot of people are defecting into the PDP now. If any election holds today in Ogun, I can say boldly that the PDP would clear not less than 90 per cent of the votes.

How is that possible in a party that is seriously divided, where former President Obasanjo has been relegated, former governor Gbenga Daniel has moved to Labour Party and Gen. Idowu Olurin (Rtd) is no longer heard in the party’s affairs?

Chief Obasanjo is not a politician and this is what many people do not know. We are the grass-root soldiers. We have leaders but they are not grassroots politicians, we referred to them as Abuja politicians. Most of them can hardly spend their personal money to fund politics and the politics of today requires leader who can listen to the people and share in their problems.

On a more serious note, are you not concerned that Obasanjo, whom you claimed to be your father and a leader in Ogun politics and also a former president is today not in good term with President Jonathan?

Who told you that Obasanjo is not in good

W

Buruji term with Jonathan?

Who told you they are fighting? That is not true. Apart from areas where they have differences over some issues, you will recall that when the new PDP went to see Obasanjo over the issues in the PDP, he told them to go and resolve them with the president. Are you saying if Obasanjo leaves the PDP today, he will go and support or join the All Progressive Congress (APC), where the likes of former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu who were looking for his head, domicile?

Or is it the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar that is going to support? If any of these people takes over control of power today in Nigeria, except for Obasanjo to relocate to America or London, they will get back at him. So, we all know there is no way Obasanjo will work against the interest of the ruling PDP. Secondly, Jonathan whether we like it or not is Obasanjo’s ‘boy’.

Obasanjo’s boy! Was it not the same Obasanjo who said you could only help someone to look for a job but not to assist the person in doing the job?

You have already finished the whole matter.

If Obasanjo could come out openly to say that he was the one that helped Jonathan to get the job, that confirms that Jonathan is one of Obasanjo’s political sons because for Obasanjo to pick Jonathan out of the millions of people, if there is no trust; he would not have done that.Out of the governors

investigated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) then, it was only Jonathan that was cleared, that was why he (Obasanjo) proposed him to Nigerians and that was why most people supported and voted him to power in 2011. So, there is no way Obasanjo could turn round now to say Jonathan is this and that. As I have said that it is possible for a father and a son to have misunderstanding, but they will settle it.

For Olurin, he is not a politician and he is still not a politician. He is a military man. It was Obasanjo who dragged Olurin into the whole matter. Daniel is no longer an issue in Ogun State politics, when he floated the People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN) in 2011, what did he achieve? He went to the local government election after that and the PDP defeated his party. So I am not afraid of them because they really do not know anything about grassroots politicking.

To the surprise of many Nigerians and even within the circle of the PDP, you have suddenly emerged as a rallying point in the South West PDP, what is your driving force?

God is the most powerful. He is the creator and He knows from the beginning to the end.

Former President of South Africa, Dr. Nelson Mandela was a hero today because of the role he played in the life of the people of his country. It is the Lord’s doing for whatever I am today.

All the old politicians in Nigeria have cheated the people so much; they are the ones creating problems for us. Whenever the younger ones strive to grow, the so-called leaders will do everything possible to pull them down. What is paramount to these leaders is their personal

I don’t react to rumour. I do not belief that President Jonathan can make the error of trying to fund LP against the PDP in any region.

It wasn’t the LP that made Jonathan to become president but the PDP. So there is no reason why he would do that. Those who managed the party before him did not do that, so there is no reason for us to think that the President is funding another party other than his own party. For me, the President will never do that.

interest and their children. They sit down in Abuja with their babariga, they are not ready to fight the course of the common man. If God had destined me for a particular purpose to help his people, then, it is not by my power. I always make people understand that nobody brings politicking from heaven. What I have achieved today in politics is through the help and assistance of the Almighty God. I love my party, I love the people of Ogun State and I have passion for Nigeria. At present, I have over 421 cases in court and out of it, only 13 cases are mine, the rest are for the people on the street whose fight for justice I have taken over.

Are you saying Daniel and the LP are no threat considering what happened in Ondo State when Governor Segun Mimiko used the LP to defeat the PDP and the ACN through alleged assistance from the presidency during the governorship election last year?

You cannot to compare Mimiko with Daniel because they are different people.

How will you react to reports that President Jonathan is planning to use the Labour Party as an alternative inroad to the South West in the 2015 elections?

I don’t react to rumour. I do not belief that President Jonathan can make the error of trying to fund LP against the PDP in any region. It wasn’t the LP that made Jonathan to become president but the PDP. So there is no reason why he would do that. Those who managed the party before him did not do that, so there is no reason for us to think that the President is funding another party other than his own party. For me, the President will never do that.

But the incident in Ondo and Anambra States where the allegedly supported rival parties was a good example?

That is not true. Mimiko is a PDP man, I am telling you the truth, whether Mimiko likes it or not; he is coming back to the PDP. His body is just LP, while his soul is PDP. He only used LP to get what he wanted; he is coming back to his base.

Looking at how the PDP has been beaten to an almost a state of non existence in the Sourth West, is it there any hope for its resuscitation?

Yes, It is not just that there is hope, but we are actually going to regain the region. It is about

Thursday, January 23, 2014 INTERVIEW 75

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

alternative vehicle to regain South West’ strategy, organization and mobilization. I won’t disclose the rest to you. We can win the region with good planning. If all these old politicians who are fond of traveling to Abuja to go and deceive .the President would stop and allow us, the foot soldiers to work and mobilise the people, you will see changes.

What are the implications of the decision of the Court of Appeal, which returned Oyinlola as the secretary general of the PDP? If you don’t understand things then you ask.

The Court of Appeal did what it did in the case of Oyinlola because it did not understand the matter. It did not understand the issue involved, otherwise it would have done justice but I can assure you that the Supreme Court is going to do justice. Secondly, if you lose a case in the Appeal Court, as soon as you appeal to the Supreme Court and is recorded, the whole issue stopped; that is what we call return to status quo.

That means the judgment of the Federal High Court is still subsisting until the Supreme Court comes up with a new decision.

Don’t also forget that while Oyinlola was in the Court of Appeal, he came out openly to declare that he was now a member of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje’s new PDP which he also emerged as their scribe. By this act, he has lost his chances of laying any claim to any office in the PDP. You saw the copy of Oyinlola’s letter and also the response of INEC, what are we then talking about? The fact that Oyinlola made this kind of declaration and in addition is now romancing with APC, convinced the PDP that he has fully turned his back against the party and the party had no choice than to discipline him by suspending him.

With the new strength of the APC, is there no fear that it could displace the PDP at the centre in 2015?

APC may be deceiving itself but you must not fool yourself. In the 2011 presidential election, we knew the millions of votes the PDP polled.

ACN did not have up to two millions. If five governors defected to APC, which I doubt would hold because all they are doing now is ‘film show’, APC will soon collapse.

What makes you think it would collapse?

It is simple because they will not be able to agree on power sharing. For instance, do you think it is only Bukola Saraki that controls the PDP structure in Kwara State, the answer is no.

Most members of PDP in Kwara State and many others are still with Gbemi Saraki.

His father, Olusola Saraki was a strong and founding member of the PDP. The people of the state love PDP and there is no reason they

Obasanjo

will not support the party. Nigerians are also aware that whatever the defected governors and their colleagues are today was achieved through the PDP. There is no reason God will allow them to collapse the party.

What is your view about the planned National Dialogue, which APC and some people have already said would not work?

We all know what is right and what is not right. What do you expect the opposition to say about the conference? They have made up their mind to oppose whatever programme or project the Jonathan administration embarks on no matter how lofty and beneficial it is to the people.

What the defected governors are trying to do is to portray Jonathan in a bad light, that he is not capable to rule the country.

They are the enemies of this country because it was the decision of several millions of people through their votes that Jonathan should rule for four years, with the right to seek reelection. Those people are deceivers and I believe Nigerians will never allow then to succeed.

Has Jonathan performed enough to deserve second term?

I only believe in justice, I love the PDP, I have passion for Bamanga Tukur and I also have passion for Jonathan. I swear to you and I can spill my blood for Jonathan. Don’t let anybody deceive you, how can you say that the president is not performing? The most brilliant professionals are around him, would the Minister of Finance; Okonjo Iweala put her hands in anything dirty?

All the allegations are because it is no longer business as usual; they are no longer able to get what they used to get. Instead of listening to gossip, I think the media should move round to see what the government is doing.

How many property belonging to the country has Jonathan sold since he became presi-

dent? We should not be deceived, the president is intelligent and is working. If they say he is not performing, then they should list those things he has not done.

This interview will not be complete if you do not clear the issues bothering on your alleged extradition and the alleged drug traffiking around your personality?

When you came here, you met me in my office do I look like a criminal? How many people in this country that have stolen a lot of our money? How can criminals be coming out to label me a criminal? I have never in my life visited America, I have never obtained American visa and the time they were talking about that I carried N20 million worth of drugs or there about, I was one of the richest people in the Republic of Benin. The issue does not concern me and I do not give a dam on it. Do you want to tell me that America doesn’t no that I am in Lagos State or that I am in Nigeria or is it that I am not popular enough to know where I work? I don’t have any case to answer in America. It was my brother who we look alike that lived in America and Chicago before.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo mentioned your name in the letter he wrote to President Jonathan, what is yopur reaction on the way he referred to you in the letter?

In the 18-page letter, Obasanjo said how can the presidency be working with me? It is not the fault of Obasanjo, the former president was my partner in 2010 and in 2011. Almost all Nigerians were aware that I worked for Obasanjo, he used me to fight against Gbenga Daniel, who had relegated and dethroned Obasanjo in Ogun State politics. I risked my live for Obasanjo and I spent over N3 billion before I could take over the control of the PDP in Ogun State from Daniel. I took back the party machinery from Daniel and returned it to Obasanjo.

It was also Obasanjo who introduced

All the allegations are because it is no longer business as usual; they are no longer able to get what they used to get. Instead of listening to gossip, I think the media should move round to see what the government is doing. How many property belonging to the country has Jonathan sold since he became president? We should not be deceived, the president is intelligent and is working. If they say he is not performing, then they should list those things he has not done.

Iwuanyanwu

Mimiko

General Olurin and told me to work with him so that we could win the 2011 governorship election in Ogun. But I insisted Olurin was an old man and that we could not win the election. He said my son, my partner, go and work with him. Everybody is aware of this. Then, myself and Iyabo, Obasanjo’s daughter worked together for Olurin Unfortunately, the same Obasanjo is now calling me criminal, someone I dined with in his house more than 30 times, I have entered Obasanjo’s bedroom, living room and also his office.

Obasanjo was the one that introduced me during the South West meeting of the PDP held in his house to the Minister for Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, Alao Akala, Segun Oni and many other leaders.

He told them to thank me that I assisted him in fighting Daniel to a standstill. Obasanjo was my partner. I spent over N3 billion to return the PDP structure in Ogun state to him. It was also Obasanjo that introduced me to the National Working Committee of the PDP then.

He introduced me to Alhaji Kawu Baraje. He was the one that took me to the Presidency and said I was the one fighting on his behalf in the South West and that I was the one mobilising for him in the region and that with me, we could deliver the area for the PDP. Baraje is alive. During our crisis, the President instructed the party to resolve the problem between me and Obasanjo and Baraje was appointed as the peace maker. Baraje scheduled a meeting for Hilton Hotel where we met for about two hours. It was sad development that after this reconciliatory meeting Obasanjo still went ahead to create another parallel PDP in Ogunn State.

How can Obasanjo now turn around and label me a drug dealer? When the going was good, he did not know me as a drug dealer.

I am a clean businessman and as at the time they said I committed the offence they are talking about, I was the richest person in Benin Republic. What is my business in dealing in drugs? I have always been a businessman, I have over 800 people working for me both in Nigeria and in Benin Republic. I do not know anything about the allegation levelled against me.

I was arrested, prosecuted and I won the case in a London court where they said it was mistaken identity. I returned to Nigeria to continue with my business before I joined politics. I went for interpretation of the judgment I won in London and at the end of the case, I got a clean slate. I am not a drug dealer, I am a business man and whatever Obasanjo is saying, is a cheap blackmail.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

76 | Thursday, January 23, 2014

Sports New Ambassador to Brazil visits NFF HE newly-appointed T Ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil, His Excellency Adamu Emozozo, yesterday pledged that the Embassy of Nigeria in that country will give every needed diplomatic support to the Super Eagles to make a big impact at the 20th FIFA World Cup finals, taking place this summer.

His Excellency Emozozo, who has concurrent accreditation to Paraguay and Bolivia, replaces Ambassador Victor Okoedion, who was recently posted to another country.

Speaking during a visit to NFF President, Aminu Maigari, at the Glass House, Emozozo declared that while the Embassy would facilitate several things in the diplomatic sector, it would not interfere with technical and administrative issues that would be entirely left to the NFF. “I am coming into this position at a time that Brazil is staging several major events, including the FIFA World Cup this year and the Olympic Games in 2016. While carrying out the transformation agenda, we are also committed to seeing that our football continues to rise.

Zimbabwe fans dread Eagles • Nigerians mobilise support for team HE Super Eagles have T become a team to fear, as the Zimbabwe fans were happy that they would not be meeting the Nigerian team in the quarterfinal stage of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

Some of the fans, who spoke with The Guardian stated that they were happy to have avoided the Nigerian team who they tipped as the favourite. They said the Eagles did well in the game against South African and we are happy not to play them in the quarter-final.

One of them who called himself, Ndlovu stated that the Nigerian team has always proved too difficult for their team to beat and was glad both team would not meet at this point.

“Your team is the best in Africa and it has shown that they have what it takes to win this championship. Though, I wish my country well, but it will be difficult for us when we meet Nigeria.”

While recalling some of his country’s defeat in the hands of Nigeria, he stated that Nigeria had come a long way in the game of soccer and wondered why it is easy for Nigeria to put together good teams from every competition.

And when the Super Eagles take on the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the first quarterfinal game on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium, the team will not be short of support, as the Nigeria Union has concluded plans to give free tickets to members who hope o be at the stadium to cheer the Eagles to victory.

A member of the union, Obinna Evans, who spoke to journalists at the Cumbas

Lounge and Restaurant at Long Street said that they would provide about 150 tickets for Nigerians, who would team up with the Nigerian Football Supporters Club to cheer the Eagles to victory.

He said that the Super Eagles had brought pride to Nigeria by beating South Africa in the last Group A game hence the need to give them the support they need to defeat the Moroccans.

“The Nigeria Union is happy with the performance of Eagles and just like they did last year, they will win the trophy.

“We are behind them and the tickets will be available for Nigerians, who want to be at the stadium. We will ensure that the tickets will enable us stay close to the Nigerian supporters clubs so that we can all cheer the Eagles to victory,” he added.

He also said that he would provide 50 tickets and distribute it to more people at the stadium, saying Morocco would be no threat to Eagles.

Casmir Ejike, who owns Cumbams, commended the Super Eagles and said that they have done well by qualifying to play Morocco on Saturday.

He said the Eagles have proved their class and would continue to get maximum support as long as they remain in the tournament.

“What makes me happy is that the Eagles beat Bafana Bafana to show that they have what it takes to become champions.”

Ejike urged the Eagles to approach Saturday’s game with the seriousness it deserves so that they can win the trophy for their teeming fans.

No way…Super Eagles’ Ifeanyi Edeh heads the ball in contest with a Mozambique player in their second group game at the on-going CHAN. They will face Morocco on Saturday in one of the quarterfinal games

Our World Cup preparation starts here, says Keshi

By Adeyinka Adedipe, Cape Town OACH Stephen Keshi has C said that there is nothing wrong for Nigerians to hope for a semifinal finish for the Super Eagles at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup in June.

Keshi stated that it showed the belief Nigerians have in their team but added that beyond the belief, the fans have to be realistic and pray that the team does well in Brazil.

According to Keshi, the World Cup would be a different ball game but assured fans that everything would be done to put the players in the right mental and physical condition

Players eye professional contract abroad OME of the Super Eagles players have expressed readiness to take their skills to Europe, as they eye the trophy at the African Nations Championship.

Ejike Uzoenyi, who has won two man of the match award, said that after playing at the CHAN, he would love to get a better contract with an European clubside.

He described his experience with Rennes where he played for six months as ‘difficult’.

The Enugu Rangers International winger, said the contract he had with Rennes was not a good one, while

S

expressing hope that he would get a better one soon.

“It wasn’t a good contract but I hope that my performance here would help me get a better offer.

“It is the dream of every Nigerian footballer to play abroad and after the unpalatable experience with Rennes, I would hope to take go back to Europe, but I will be very careful this time,” Uzoenyi added.

3SC striker, Gbolahan Salami, who has spearheaded the Eagles attack in Cape Town, stated that he was hoping he would get another

chance to play abroad.

Salami, who was expected to join Memelodi Sundown before the beginning of the 2013 league season before the deal collapsed, expressed hope that he would get a foreign club soon.

“I am hoping to get a contract with a good club so that I can better my game and lay a claim for a World Cup place because apart from playing abroad, I also want to be part of the team to Brazil. I am happy to be in this team and must commend the coaching crew for the good job there are doing,” Salami stated.

for the game.

“I am excited that Nigerians believe in the team, but we need to work hard to achieve success at the World Cup because of the caliber of teams that will play in Brazil.”

He said the CHAN was an opportunity to see players who can battle for places in the final squad to Brazil. “I am here in south Africa to work with the players and see the ones that can be invited to camp for the World Cup. “If I don’t believe in them, I would have been holidaying in the USA. However, I realise the need to be with the team and start the World Cup preparation here. With what I have seen here, two or three of them

should make the trip to Brazil provided they continue doing well,” Keshi added.

The former Eagles captain also expressed sadness over the inability of Victor Moses to play regularly at Liverpool FC. He said the situation had caused him a lot of grief, lamenting that it does not augur well for the Eagles aspiration in Brazil.

He said, “you will all agree with me that Moses is one of the good players in the Eagles.

He has proved that he is a reliable player with his performance at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). So he is inability to break into the Liverpool team is a source of worry for me.”

Tandoh tasks technical directors on sports development HE Director of Sports, Lagos Ttasked State, Kweku Tandoh have Technical Director of 36 Sports Associations under the supervision of Lagos State Sports Council to be more proactive in the discharge of their responsibilities, as the state will be hosting and participating in many sporting events this year.

According to Tandoh, “the state would stage Ibile Games in April, host the South West Games in May, Quarterly Grassroots Sports Competitions from March to October. Also, the state will participate in National School Sports, National Youth Games and National Sports Festival among others.

He tasked the technical directors to as a matter of urgency together with their coaches design a template for developmental training programs and also to do a technical analysis and detailed assessment of contract coaches’ performance in each sports associations.

Man United bid £35m for Mata ANCHESTER United have M made a club-record bid in the region of £35m for Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata.

Mata, 25, has been linked with a move from Stamford Bridge having struggled to hold down a regular starting place under Jose Mourinho.

United deny making an official offer, but an initial bid has been tabled through intermediaries acting on behalf of the Premier League champions.

Mata did not train with Chelsea’s first team yesterday.

On Tuesday, Chelsea insisted that Mata, who has been voted the club’s player of the year two seasons in a row, was not

for sale.

But the playmaker, who was part of the Spain squad, which won the World Cup in 2010 and European Championship in 2012, has been substituted in nine of his 13 Premier League appearances for the Blues this season, prompting speculation other clubs could bid for him in the January transfer window.

The initial offer, which exceeds United’s £30.75m signing of Dimitar Berbatov in 2008, is likely to be rejected with Chelsea holding out for as much money as possible with more than a week to go until the transfer window closes.

However, United have big plans to rebuild their team under David Moyes and are prepared to pay a premium for top players if it means securing them now rather than waiting until the summer.

Chelsea boss, Mourinho, 50, said last week that whilst he understood it was “hard” for Mata to sit on the bench, the Spaniard still had a “big role” to play at the club.

The Portuguese has trusted Eden Hazard, Oscar and summer signing Willian in attacking roles this season and while his relationship with Mata is healthy, he has conceded Chelsea’s system does not fit

SPORTS Thursday, January 23, 2014 | 77

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AFN sets standard for athletes ahead Glasgow C’wealth Games

By Gowon Akpodonor O meet President T Goodluck Jonathan’s target of improved performance in this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the leadership of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) yesterday released what it termed ‘qualification standard’ for athletes expecting to make Team Nigeria’s contingent to the Games.

President Jonathan had said recently while receiving the Commonwealth Games baton in Abuja that Team Nigeria must strive hard to improve on the country’s best performance so far in the Games. Nigeria’s best moments in the Games came from Manchester 2002 and New Delhi 2010.

The AFN Technical Director/Chairman Technical Committee, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama told The Guardian yesterday that the ‘qualification standard’ were the minimum, as athletes are still required to attend the National trials where the final team will be selected.

According to Nesiama, who is also a member of the Confederation of Africa Athletics Technical and Competition Commission, male sprinters expecting to make the trip to Glasgow must run 10.25 second. The standard for the girls in 100m is 11.45 seconds.

For those wishing to compete in the 200m, the standard set by the AFN is 20.80 seconds for male and 23.55 seconds for female. In the 400m, the male must run 45.65 sec and the female 52.40 seconds.

Those competing in 800m must run 1.47.50 seconds (male) and 2.02.80 sec (female), just as the AFN set a standard of 13.90 seconds for male in the 110 hurdles and 13.50 seconds for the women’s 100m hurdles.

Those in 400m hurdles must run 50.50 seconds (male) and 57.90 seconds (female), while the set standard for high jump is 2.17 meters (male) and 1.80 meters (female).

According to Nesiama, athletes in the long jump event must leap 7.65 meters (male) and 6.20 meters (female). For those in triple jump, the standard is 16.10 meters (male) and 13.25 meters (female).

For an athlete to compete in the pole vault event, the male must leap 5.20m and the female 4.05 meters, just as shot put athletes must throw 17.60 meters (male) and 15.50m (female).

The standard set for discuss throwers is 56.00m (male) and 55.00m (female), while competitors in the Hammer events must throw 65.00m (male) and 61.00m (female).

Those in javelin event must throw 70.00m male and 51.00m (female).

In the same way, decathlon

athletes (male) must be able to gather 7,300 points, while their female counterparts (Hepthalon) must gather 5,600 points to make the list.

The male 4x100m relay team must run 39.50 seconds and the female 44.55 seconds to be in Team Nigeria’s contingent to Glasgow, just as the AFN said those wishing to compete in the 4x400m relay team must run 3.04.50 seconds (male) and 3.36.60 seconds for female.

All the standard, according to AFN, must be achieved between January 1, 2013 and June 23 this year.

Blessing Okagbare leaps to 6.99m to win silver in the women’s long jump at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow last year. She is one of the athletes Nigeria is banking on for medals in Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Ahead Canada 2014 FIFA World Cup

Falconets jet out to South Africa for final qualifier IGERIA’S U-20 women team, nicknamed Falconets, will fly into Johannesburg this morning for their final leg of African qualifying series for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, against South Africa’s U20 women side, known as Basetsana.

Runner-up of the world in 2010, the Nigerian girls take a handy 6-0 advantage into Saturday’s return leg, due for the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto – the venue where the U-20 boys of Nigeria, Flying Eagles, won the African Youth Championship in 2011.

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Football Federation notified the High Commission of

N

• Maigari splashes N1 million on players Nigeria in South Africa about the arrival of the delegation, which will fly out of Lagos aboard a South African Airways airplane yesterday night.

An hour before the Falconets left for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja yesterday, on their way to Lagos, NFF President, Aminu Maigari was at the team’s camp to commend players and officials for their excellent fighting spirit since the qualifying series began and charged them to conclude the series in emphatic fashion.

“I am delighted at the way you have taken the challenge of qualifying with steely resolve, and how you have not been shy to score a lot of goals in your matches. My humble self, the entire Executive Committee and Management of NFF and indeed, the Nigeria football family are proud of you.

“My charge to you, technical crew and players, are not relent at this stage. South Africa is a major power in African women football, so do not under-rate them.

Even though we have a 6-0 advantage, we must play the return leg match as if it were

the first leg,” Maigari urged.

Maigari, who also met with the U-17 girls, Flamingos, splashed the sum of one million naira on both teams to spur them ahead of coming challenges.

The U-17 girls are due to embark on a tour of four states of the Federation to play leading women clubs in the country, preparatory to their departure to Europe for final training camp ahead of the 4th FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, taking place in Costa Rica between 15 March – 4 April.

Slated to tackle the Flamingos are Nasarawa Amazons, Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels and Delta Queens.

TheGuardian

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Simon Abah F elections are won on calculations then it I(governor would have been difficult for Bill Clinton of a poor state and a draft dodger) to upstage George Bush, a World War 11 veteran and an incumbent President in the presidential elections of November 3, 1992 in the United States of America.

Free and fair elections are won or lost based on demonstrated leadership by incumbent officials or the lack of it. Sincere democracy as a system of government promotes fairness, equity and justice. It empowers man economically, socially and makes it possible for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed.

The major impediment to the growth of Nigeria is the lack of a stable, organised political order. A political order based on fairness, equity and justice. This lack of order has promoted rivalry among tribes leaving a lot of people overwhelmed in most states of the country.

The lack of this order is the reason political elite love to assail compatriots with the same rhetoric designed at seeking votes and, after attainment, abandon their countrymen to the gallows tree. It is also the reason that there has not been an all-inclusiveness of people in our democratic experience.

For illustration, almost all indigenous Christian minorities’ in the North East and North West are politically disenfranchised and discriminated against in the political and economic corridors with no plans by the mainstream political behemoths in-and-out-of office to correct this prejudice.

If ethnic people can be treated inhospitably, one wonders what hope there is for the ‘settler’ in these states. Can we ever, as a people, right this worsening wrong?

By comparison, Presidents Harry Truman ended segregation in the military in 1948 and John Kennedy/ Lyndon Johnson asked for the Civil Rights Act bill and signed the Civil Rights Act law, outlawing discrimination against blacks in the use of public conveniences and the right for blacks to vote and be voted for.

But for the efforts of these visionary leaders, the United States of America may not have had General Colin Powell rise up to the position of National security adviser and later chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and, indeed, Secretary of State, or Barrack Obama as President of the United States (Both of whom are from the minority black race of that country).

The governmental class must begin to fight bigotry vigorously. Bigotry has destroyed so many countries in the world because they failed to realise that what holds a country together as a nation are more than what separates it.

Demagoguery in politics is today worse than at the time of liberation from Britain.

Ironically, while the British are rather more civilised now even though they had a long and bloody history of genocide, cruelty and barbarity, Nigerians still work with stereotypes in the polity.

Colonists, especially the British, had a policy of divide and rule. Some of these divisions included economical/religious/political/social.

Colonialists usually divided the population

The major impediment to the growth of Nigeria is the lack of a stable, organised political order. A political order based on fairness, equity and justice. This lack of order has promoted rivalry among tribes leaving a lot of people overwhelmed in most states of the country

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Nigeria: Demagogues and the lingo of patriotism

into two sides: North/South, East/West, Catholic/Protestant, and Christian/Muslim.

Failed states always follow this fractious path. This is why countries such as Bosnia, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, etc., are reference points in history for transgressions to fellow citizens of mind-boggling proportions caused by the

unabashed and vile conduct by visionless leaders.

Consequently, we need to see real statesmen who care deeply for country and citizens.

Statesmen such as Nelson Mandela and President Lyndon Johnson both of whom were not despoiled by the frills of power; vacated the offices of the presidency even

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when they were still constitutionally empowered to run for another term.

We need influential people who believe in the impact of ‘people power’ in a democracy and fight against injustice and discrimination of the minority.

Every nation that plans to succeed must educate the mass of its people continually on nationhood. Nigerians should be socially aware and ask questions. The exercise of questions-and-answers brings administration and governance closer to people.

It is, therefore, imperative that we start proselytizing on the importance of a strong leadership. A leadership that can be provided by strong-willed people whether they are atheists, agnostics, prognostics, Christians, Moslems or traditionalists.

Espousing religious views and claiming belief of a faith is not conducive to good governance.

If this were true, all inventions in history would have been credited to religious people.

Cases abound in this country of religious men who have committed blatant larceny of the country’s resources and monstrous deeds against citizens.

As we march forward to the greatness highway, we must realise that teaching is best done by living an exemplary live. A life lived this way is appreciated and talked about for generations.

It is not by accident therefore that our founding fathers are still being talked about because of the spartan lives they led in spite of the huge amount of state funds they had at their disposal. In contrast, some people today with the same opportunities are depriving the next generation from reaching the top by gleefully looting the funds meant for that generation.

If Nigeria hopes to attain greatness among the community of nations, then the establishment must: • Celebrate leaders who are acquainted with the history of this country; enough to know how we got to where we are, the challenges to be faced and likely solutions.

• People whose stock in trade is not to bow down to the forces of partisan-group thinking and fan the embers of division without reference to the solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

• Statesmen bold enough to correct the census fraud in all regions of the country. One major point to mention is the ‘Almajiri’ who daily wander in the North. The government must invent a way to capture their nomadic numbers accurately in a census if they hope to plan for their welfare and reduce poverty. A proper census must be promoted and conducted, possibly with the help of international observers.

• Leaders who appreciate what politics is all about: solving problems. This understanding will propel such leaders to bring our public schools up-to-standard to serve children from poor and middle class backgrounds that are reputed through history with renowned inventions and development of countries’ economies.

The major reason that most people seek elective office without any agenda is that they know agenda or not, money from oil will continue to line their pockets. Formulating policies for the development of states and the nation becomes a tortuous mental strain.

We are earnestly waiting for that day when Nigerians can confidently say they can do business with the political class the way Margaret Thatcher once said she could do business with Mikhail Gorbachev because of his openness on Glasnost and Perestroika.

Nigeria needs leaders who will be inspired to believe something has to change, motivated to positively influence the lives of people; stirred by anger and frustration at how corruption is ruining the country; moved by hopelessness when they look at the future and the future of yet-unborn children.

• Abah is an executive team leader, Rinasham Multi-Services Ltd, Port Harcourt. abah_s@yahoo.com 08023792604, 07035017922.