Sun 09 June 2013 by The Guardian Newspaper

S U N D A Y NEWSPEOPLE 30 BUSINESS 46

Inside TB Joshua’s Nigeria’s

Synagogue… Future In The The Myth, Balance As The Reality Shale Oil

E D I T I O N NEWSFEATURE 24

COVER/POLITICS 49

Keke Napep Ban:

The Hypocrisy Of June 12

Lagos On High-handed Overdrive, Sends More To Unemployment Market

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,582

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N300

Airlines, Group Decry Political Interference In Aviation Sector • Fault Agency’s ‘Excessive Use Of Power’ • Edo ACN, PDP Differ On Oshiomhole’s Chattered Chopper Controversy • We Acted Professionally — NAMA • Helicopter Not Grounded, Says Dati By Wole Shadare and Chika Goodluck-Ogazi (Lagos), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) GROUNDSWELL of opposiA tion has continued to trail mid-air recall of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s chopper by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on Friday. Oshiomhole’s AOS chartered helicopter, meant to convey him and his aides to the burial ceremony of the late wife of Senator Ben Obi in Anambra State, was allegedly grounded for alleged non-payment of dues. Captain James Manahash said he was shocked that the chopper was recalled after it was airCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

APC To Apply For Registration This Week- Page 3

Raging inferno caused by vandals, at NNPC pipeline, Alaka village, in Elebu area of Ibadan… yesterday. Inset: Observers, Police officers, and a fire-fighting truck at the scene of the inferno PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Lagos, Kaduna Lead In $2.4bn Foreign Debt By Marcel Mbamalu (News Editor), Saxone Akhaine (Northern Bureau Chief), Kamal Oropo and Ikechukwu Onyewuchi (Lagos)

FTER paying a total of $76.78 million for debt service in 2012, the total external debt stock of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, now stands at $2,384,178 million, according to official figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO). The Director-General of the DMO, Mr. Abraham Nwankwo, also noted that the market for debt instrument on the domestic front, especially bonds, was moribund for 18 years because the Military era didn’t subject

• ‘Why Debt Instrument Was Moribund For 18 Yrs’ itself to the discipline of the market. Nwankwo was guest speaker at the Citizen Newspaper’s Annual Public Lecture in Lagos on Thursday. A detailed breakdown of figures from his office revealed that, as was the case in 2011, Lagos, Kaduna and Cross River States recorded the highest external debt stock of $611.25 million (25.64 percent), $215.68 million (9.05 percent) and $113.03 million (4.74 percent) respectively in 2012. Conversely, Borno, Delta and

Plateau States had the lowest debt stock, ‘booking’ relatively paltry $14.15 million, $18.99 million, and $21.93 million, representing 0.59 percent, 0.80 percent and 0.02 percent respectively. Additional information from the DMO shows that States borrowed more external loans last year than they did in previous years. The States’ debts, according to Nwankwo, were mainly Federal Government’s on-lent loans obtained from multilateral sources on concessional

terms to fund projects and programmes in education, health, water supply, housing and sanitation, among others. The DMO observed that total State Governments’ external debt stock as at the end of December 2012 represents 36.53 percent of the total external debt stock of the country. This is coming to support the position of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who puts the nation’s external debt at $6.67 billion, adding that the figure

represents just three percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has been under pressure over domestic and foreign debts incurred to finance various programmes, which the opposition considers as elephant projects. The State’s foreign debt stock has reportedly hit over $380 million and domestic debt N45 billion since the former governor, and now Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, handed over to the late former Governor, Patrick Yakowa. It is believed that debt servicCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

TheGuardian

2 | Sunday, June 9, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Taraba Group Demands Release of Gov. Suntai’s Medical History From Madu Onuorah, Abuja olITICAl pressure group, P Taraba Justice Forum, has challenged the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, to release the official medial report on Governor Danbaba Suntai to enable citizens know his true state of health and direction of governance. The Forum accused Alhaji Umar of collaborating with the

wife of the governor, Mrs. Hauwa Dababa, to deceive the public. The group said it is disheartening that, after eight months of the air crash involving Suntai, neither the Acting Governor nor the State House of Assembly has come clean on his state of health. It warned that it would not condone situation where the Governor is flown back to the State and hidden inside the

Government House just to quell agitations of the people of Taraba. In a statement released in Abuja, it stated: “This is eight months after. We are asking where is Danbaba? Where are official medical reports to prove his state of health? What is the State Assembly doing? What is the state executive Council doing? We want answers’’, the group said in a statement signed by its general

secretary, Barrister Abulus John. The group, which had issued a statement calling for application of section 189 of the Constitution, accused the acting governor of hiding under the guise of loyalty to deceive the public, adding “the public deserve to no especially as public fund is being spent on the governor. “Why is Umar playing along with those trying to stop the

State from moving forward? Why is he joining them in lying to the public? It is time for him to ask for the medical records and let the public know the truth so that we can progress”, the group said. While commending the Acting governor for remaining loyal to his boss and benefactor, the group warned that history will not forgive the Acting Governor if he fails to do the right thing at this critical point.

‘Why Debt Instrument Was Moribund For 18 Yrs’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ing took a toll on the State’s economy, dwarfing the developmental efforts of the deceased governor, Yakowa. The Kaduna State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) recently urged Governor Yero to resign if he could not run the State without foreign loans. State Chairman of the Party, Mohammed Soba, in a statement called on the State Assembly to probe all foreign loans obtained by Governor Yero with a view to ascertaining their economic viability. In lagos, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, explained why he could not give specific figures on the state’s debt profile. Akabueze said: “We are not talking of static figure. By the time we conclude today’s activities, the figure must have either moved up or down. “If you are expecting me to give you specific amount, I am not

going to do that,” he said. The commissioner described as immaterial, the issue of ascertaining the exact amount of debt. “What is going round as the figure is, at best, an aggregate sum. However, what is important is the sustainability of the debt. In lagos State, the aggregate debt amounts to less than one percent of annual revenue. Because of this, it is not correct to say the State is having financial problem”, the Commissioner said. Sources within government circles in Cross River debt profile of the Cross River State is estimated at about N80bn. Although no government official in Cross River is willing to comment on the exact debt stock of the State, it was gathered that much of its debt was incurred during the construction of Tinapa Business and leisure Resort, as well as the Cable Car in obudu Mountain Resort

under the administration of former Governor Donald Duke. The State Governor, Senator liyel Imoke, in his 2012 Budget presentation, had stated that, “as a state, we are committed to meeting our debt servicing obligations. In 2011, we spent over N10bn on servicing of our local and international debt obligations. “let me re-state our commitment to remain a responsible government by honouring the terms of our debt agreements and maintaining a sustainable level of debt commensurate with the rate and pace of our development as a State. We, accordingly set aside the sum of N13 billion for debt servicing in 2012. This represents 22 per cent of our total recurrent estimate for the year. “Encouraged by our progress and seemingly impressed by the management of our debt profile, we are expecting about N5.6bn as loans and grants from International Development organisations in 2012. We intend to continue to meet our debt servicing

obligations in 2012.” Making a presentation in lagos, Nwankwo, said government is prepared to moderate the growth rate for external and domestic debts. He, however, stressed that government would also use the paraphernalia of public debt to encourage the private sector “to take the lead in taking advantage of both the domestic and external market to mobilise resources to grow the economy, to generate employment/growth and reduce poverty. “It is important to say this, because each time we talk about debt in Nigeria, we focus on the amount borrowed, and not how you use what you have borrowed. But this has neglected the other benefits of debt that have continued to propel the progress of our economy. Nwankwo noted that inefficiencies in public debt management, prior to the establishment of the DMo in 2000, had pushed Nigeria into unsustainable external debt. According to him, “there were a lot of inefficiencies in

Nigeria’s public debt management to the extent that debt/credit auctions were scattered in the various departments of government. of course, that was one of the factors that caused our unsustainable external debt.” on the domestic front, the DMo boss said the market for debt instrument, especially bonds, was moribund for 18 years because the Military era didn’t subject itself to the discipline of the market. So, even if they needed to borrow, they didn’t do so by going to the capital market. Rather, they borrowed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through words and means. “Even when the CBN issued Treasury Bills on their behalf, the bills were underwritten and, given the shortfalls of pricing in the market at the time, you will expect that there would be under-subscription. Since the bonds are underwritten, they will soak up most of the money. So, for the external bonds, there were inefficiencies; and for the domestic bonds, there were inadequacies.”

US Expert Decries Infrastructure Decay By Ikechukwu Onyewuchi oRRIED by the slow pace W of Nigeria’s development amid abundant human resources, American trainer and life coach, lee Follender, has charged relevant agencies to support the development of infrastructure, especially those that help individuals develop their capacity. Follender, who made this charge in an exclusive interview with The Guardian, last week, also tasked Nigerians to take charge of their lives and be committed to actualising the kind of society they seek outside. She said: “What is surprising about Nigeria is that there are a lot of unfinished projects. Buildings just go up and then just stop. There is no completion; there is no support system. That is what is missing here. The people need support to make their dreams come true. In America, there is more in terms of support of structures and system to impact on individuals’ dream.” According to Follender, who has coached teams in Dell Computers and other bluechip companies in the United States, change has to start with the people. They need to take charge of their lives and be unwilling to continue the way they have been. “If the people take a stand and thousands of people say we are not buying your service because its bad, then companies go out of businesses and the people get the service that works,” she noted.

Airlines, Group Fault Agency’s ‘Excessive Use of Power’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 borne. oshiomhole was said to have remained in the chopper for about an hour and 15 minutes. When it was obvious that he would not be allowed to fly, the trip was aborted. National Youth leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Miriki Ebikina, and Vice Chairman, South South, osagie Ize-Iyamu, condemned the action taken by NAMA. Airline operators of Nigeria (AoN), the umbrella body for airlines and a renowned veteran pilot with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Captain Dele ore, who described the action of NAMA as ‘excessive use of power,” also criticised the alleged recall of oshiomhole’s helicopter. Deputy Secretary General of AoN, Mohammed Tukur, said what is playing out portends danger for the aviation industry. He said the pilot is not responsible for payment of dues and stressed that it would be laughable for NAMA to claim that the pilot did not submit his manifest but was given clearance for take-off. Tukur called on the entire management of the agency to tender their resignation for bringing the nation to ridicule. “We would like to use the opportunity to call on Mr. President to call these people to order. These people are causing damage to the aviation industry. “It is very annoying. We have

professionals in the system and it makes us look stupid in the eyes of the international community. Mr. President needs to act fast; they are doing more damage to him,” he said. Tukur said that both chartered and scheduled flights are paid for in advance, and that the policy of NAMA does not give room for owing. He described the saga as “a disgrace” and said that an air traffic controller will never clear an aircraft for take off, if there are issues to be sorted out. According to him, no pilot will be cleared for take-off unless air traffic controllers do so. He asked: “If an aircraft is already airborne, why recall it. Why don’t you ground it after it might have landed in its destination? Why subject the aircraft to danger by recalling it when there was no threat to national security?” He, however, called on FAAN to stop misleading the public, saying its utterances are capable of sending a wrong signal to the international community. ore said he is saddened at the entire saga, noting, “If you try to tell lies, you need a bigger lie to cover up.” ore, who is the President, Aviation Round Table (AoN), explained that for an aircraft that was already airborne, “you don’t do that except for fear of security threat”. He warned that Nigeria is treading on a very dangerous path by endangering an aircraft in flight. “We have charlatans that are

very incompetent and pretend to satisfy their principal. The entire world is laughing at us,” he said. The ART President said Nigeria is a signatory to the International Civil Aviation organisation (ICAo) convention and cannot be seen to be practising something different. He said that Nigeria could, however, activate Article 37 of the Chicago Convention, if it does not want to be part of the global aviation regulatory body’s rule on civil aviation. “You can file a difference, if you don’t want to comply with ICAo standards. I am very sure the hammer will fall on Nigeria very soon by the United States Federal Aviation Administration for huge political interference in aviation.” But NAMA yesterday maintained that its action on the issue was done professionally and in line with international safety rules and standards without any political undertone. Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, blamed the pilot of the helicopter for flagrant disobedience to safety rules and standards, stressing that such rule is recognised worldwide. Besides, the airspace manager of Benin Airport, Mr. lawrence okoye, alleged that immediately the governor left, the pilot requested that he should not file the report to his office, an appeal he allegedly declined. okoye said that when the pilot was asked of the flight plan and manifest, he simply replied, “I

have the governor on board.” Udoh told reporters that the helicopter was on ground at the Benin Government House for 55 minutes before the pilot was advised to come to the airport to file a flight plan and submit documents. Rather than submit the necessary documentations, Udoh stated that the pilot boasted that he was carrying the governor, an action he described as violation of the rule. He noted that what happened in Benin was a minor issue, which ought not to have been blown out of proportion, saying that since the new policy came on board, the agency has had issues with no fewer than 10 carriers including Air Maroc and Kenya Airways. He said: “Basically, as matter of rules, we need to know where the aircraft was going and how many people on board. NAMA is covered by legislation to demand for all these. But the pilot or his employer failed to comply with this simple procedure. Spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Yakubu Dati emphasised that the helicopter was never grounded by the agency. Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dan orbih, described allegations of Federal Government involvement in the matter as unfounded. He said Nigerians should rather commend the Aviation Ministry for steps taken in recent times to ensure safer airspace.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

NEWS

APC To Apply For Registration This Week From Leo Sobechi (Abakaliki) and Adamu Abu (Abuja) ARRING last minute B changes, a formal application for registration by the All Progressive Congress (APC) may be presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) this week. A competent source told The Guardian that an interim executive of the proposed party, comprising serving chairmen, secretaries and treasurers of the ACN, ANPP and the CPC have been constituted to achieve the goal. They have been mandated to pick from among themselves those who would positions of the chairman, secretary and treasurer of the proposed party.

ABUJA The old secretariat of NITEL, located at zone 6 Abuja, is being proposed to serve as the headquarters of the APC. Former Kano state governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, who is touted to serve as the secretary of the proposed party, is billed to make this known today. Meanwhile, kites are flying on who would occupy the position of protem chairman, which may have been zoned to the South East. A source within the APC’s top hierarchy confided in The Guardian that some notable politicians from the Northwest are not favourably disposed to the choice of former national chairman of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, to occupy the

Southeast Disagree On Role chairmanship seat. The source disclosed that Onu’s candidacy is also not enjoying support of the Southwest. According to the source, the initial suggestion for the former Kano State governor, Shekarau to head the fledgling political movement was deflated by politicians from the Northwest, so as to pave way for the emergence of one of theirs, as presidential candidate. He said: “One issue that is affecting the setting up of the interim national executive committee to see to the registration of the APC is which zone the presidential candidate and the running mate should come from. Initially, the Southwest wanted Bisi

Akande, but started backpedaling against the background of the provision that all those that would temporary hold executive positions should not contest any substantive position immediately the party is registered.” The source also noted that the little squabbles between promoters of APC in the South East have made it practically impossible for the zone to agree on what it wants, pointing out that Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s aspiration to run for the presidency is also militating against the team play of the zone. He pointed out that two distinct factions have become noticeable in the South East

caucus, saying that while former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, is leading former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stalwarts in the merger, Governor Okorocha and former Anambra State Governor, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, is leading the other. But reacting to the perceived wrangling in the South East caucus, former Enugu State governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, denied any zonal input “at this time”. He stressed that it is a party matter: “It is the party that would release the template; we are still talking. The major thrust in the arrangement rests on the parties forming the merger and only when there is a clash should the consideration of zone come

NASS Proposes Law To Speed Up Justice Delivery NATIONAL By Bertram Nwannekanma HE National Assembly is T planning a new law to address delay in justice delivery in the country. Several factors have until now been responsible for delays, like obsolete laws, lopsided mode of judges’ appointment, attitudes of lawyers, filing of frivolous applications, dilapidated infrastructures and ineffective use of technology. The law, which is at the instance of a bill sent to the National Assembly by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, is aimed at reforming the entire justice system. Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, told The Guardian that the AGF is working with relevant justice committees in the National Assembly to ensure easy passage of the bill. Ojo, who is privy to the information, on the strength of his being one of the country’s notable lawyers contacted for input by the chairman of the committee on judiciary, said the new law would address all hiccups against quick dispensation of justice. He hinted that issues, like prison reforms, suspended sentences and technological improvements will feature prominently in the new law.

Citinet To Hold June 12 Public Lecture ITINET has announced C plans to host a June 12 annual public lecture and din-

Police officers deployed for peacekeeping mission in Mali display before their departure at Police Headquarters, Abuja… on Friday.

PHOTO: NAN

Nigeria Maintains Top Global Position In UNESCO’s Out-of-school Children’s Rating By Kamal Tayo Oropo EW statistics by UNESCO shows that 57 million children were out of out of school in 2011; a drop of just two million from the year before. This is coming as Nigeria maintains the highest ranking of greatest number of children out of school.

Though, there is no new data for out-of-school children for 2011 (the latest year) in Nigeria, in 2010, however, there were 10.5 million children out of school – the highest number for any country in the world. The second bottom country for out-of-school children in the same period, 2011,

NATIONAL is Pakistan with 5.4 million out of school. Using the 2010 out-of-school figures, UNESCO claims that Nigeria would be home for almost a fifth of the world’s outof-school children -18 per cent. But despite being well at the

bottom of the list, the amount of aid to basic education the country received in 2011 was more than a quarter (28 percent) lower than it received in 2010. Nigeria is in the top 10 countries for the largest decrease in aid from 2010-2011. In 2012, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) estimated

that 61 million children of primary school age were out of school in 2010. In 2013, UIS revised its estimate for 2010 to 59 million children out-ofschool. The difference between the estimates published in 2012 and 2013, according to the UIS, is due to the availability of new national data.

MASSOB’s Sit-at-home Order: 6 Die In Onitsha, Residents In Part Compliance From Leo Sobechi (Abakaliki), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu), Uzoma Nzeagwu (Awka) and Gordi Udeajah (Umuahia) HREE members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were reported to have died, yesterday, when their bus somersaulted and crashed at Modebe Avenue, Onitsha, as they attempted to evade arrest by military personnel. There was total compliance on the sit-at-home order by

the group in Awka and its environs. This crippled commercial activities and also left commuters stranded. An eyewitness said some MASSOB members in a bus were monitoring and enforcing the order in Onitsha when they sighted a military patrol van. Another account by MASSOB’s Director of Information,

SOUTH EAST Uchennna Madu, said, three members of the group, Sunday Idum, Emeka Ibe and Okechukwu Okolo, were shot dead by soldiers at Bida Road, Onitsha, while five others were critically injured and are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. He said that three unconfirmed members were also shot dead at the bridgehead in Onitsha, while four others

were arrested by security operatives. Madu said: “We view the thousands of Army, Police, SSS and Civil Defence Personnel patrolling the streets on the cities of Biafraland as an act of cowardice. They are jittery over MASSOB’s activities. The level of compliance from Ndigbo on the MASSOB order shows that no mountain can stop our move to freedom and we know that we must achieve our aim.” Few people came out on the

streets. Commercial buses and motorcycles that operated had few passengers and most roads were deserted. The Eke Awka market and others, like Enugwu Ukwu, Nimo, Abagana, Nibo remained closed. Vehicular movement along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and Awka-Old Road was reduced to a trickle. Those that plied Awka metropolis, including Zik Avenue, Arthur Eze and Works Road were predominantly private vehicles.

ner themed: The Challenges Ahead of 2015. The event will take place 3pm on June 12, at Lagos Airport Hotel. Guest speaker will be Prof. Wole Soyinka. Others are Dr. Frank Kokori and Prof. Pat Utomi. The event is in collaboration with the June 12 Coalition for Democratic Formation and All Nigerian Auto Bike Owners and Workers’ Association, ANABOWA and the Ikeja Local Government.

Omidiora Is Chairman Of ICAN Past Presidents NOTHER recognition was A bestowed on the Balogun of Ile-Ife, Balogun Bisi Omidiora, who was elected the new chairman, The Body of Past Presidents of ICAN last Wednesday in Lagos. The Body of Past Presidents of ICAN is an advisory, supportive and a highly revered body to the Council of ICAN. Balogun Bisi Omidiora, a renowned, chartered accountant, is a Past President of ICAN. He held the exalted position between 1997 & 1988, and was decorated with ICAN Gold Merit Award in 2007.

THe GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

4 NeWS

NeWS Umuahia Market For Relocation ABIA From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia MUAHIA, Abia State capiU tal, will soon regain aesthetic beauty following the imminent relocation of market in the city to Ubani Ibeku, a community on the outskirts. The State Governor, Dr Theodore Orji, told traders at the urban market that the site would be re-developed for other purposes to improve the aesthetics of the city. Orji advised the traders be ready for the relocation, which comes up before the end of the year. He said 5000 shops /stalls were already in place at the new site.

Jonathan’s Aide’s Wife Buried

ANAMBRA By Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka PeCIAl Adviser to the PresSBenident on Inter party Affairs, Ndi Obi, yesterday expressed gratitude to friends and well wishers who joined him to give his late wife, Colette, a befitting burial. Mrs. Ben Obi, who was daughter Chief Murphy eujmudo of Warri, Delta state, died on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at the age of 59 years. She was buried on Friday. Obi, during the funeral ceremony in Awka, particularly commended his in-laws for granting him permission to bury his wife in his country home. Gov. Peter Obi described the death of late Mrs. Colette as painful, saying: “Death is a painful experience which leaves in its wake a nagging vacuum and disruption in the lives of the bereaved. It is a great loss also to those of us who are close to your esteemed family.”

A cross section of the 2013 graduates of the Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos… yesterday.

Foreign exchange Differential Claims Stall 2013 Oil subsidy Payment From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja

• PPRA Slashes Marketers List From 142 To 38

xeCUTIve Secretary, Pee troleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA),

ABUJA

Mr. Reginald Stanley, has attributed non-payment of oil subsidy to marketers since the beginning of the 2013 fiscal year to foreign exchange differential claims by marketers. Reginald, who was speaking at a meeting with the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) over the weekend, also stated that the number

of marketers has been slashed from 142 to 38 as at December 2012, as part of oil sector reform measures. His words: “There has been no payment for marketers importing petroleum products in 2013 because of delay in payment of subsidy claims by the Federal Ministry of Finance resulting in huge claims for foreign ex-

change differentials by marketers.” But Committee Chairman, Senator Magnus Abe, urged the Federal Government to implement earlier promise of resuscitating refineries to reduce importation of petroleum products. The Federal Government had allocated N971.138 billion for fuel subsidy in the 2013 budget as against the N888.1 billion allocated in 2012.

Abdulsalami Commends Jang’s Achievements From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos ORMeR Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has commended the pace of development in Plateau State since the inception of the administration of Jonah Jang. He gave the commendation while addressing participants at the Redemption II Mid-term Retreat for Top Government Officials held in Jos. Abubakar, who was in Jos at the weekend, paid a courtesy call on Jang at the venue of the retreat where he examined the democratic experience so far. He said he is happy that democracy has finally come to stay in the country. “My belief is that the security challenges concern all of us and we must do everything possible to ensure peace. When there is insecurity, there won’t be development.” “I want to commend Jang and the people of Plateau

PHOTO:OSENI YUSUF

PLATEAU State for the peace that has returned to the state I have not been on Plateau for quite some years.” Meanwhile, Jang said peace could only be guaranteed when sponsors the unending

ethno-religious crises in the northern are indentified and made to face the wrath of the law The governor stated this yesterday when the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution on the Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria paid him a cour-

tesy call in Jos. Chairman of the committee and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu-Turaki (SAN), who led the visit, said the team would engage in constructive dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect with a view to ending the perennial crises

The 2013 indicates that the N971.133 billion is for “domestic fuel subsidy (marketers) (carry-over from 2011& 2012 provision for partial subsidy). The PPPRA boss added that local consumption of PMS has also been brought down from 60.25 million litres per day in 2011 to 40 million litres per day. “Between 2006 and August 2011, total government expenditure on petroleum subsidy amounted to N3.7 trillion. expenditure on subsidies increased from N261 billion in 2006 to N673 billion in 2010, which represents an increase of about 160 per cent. “Additionally, there have been unprecedented payments in 2011 that amounted to N1.4 trillion due, in part, to two key factors: increase in subsidy per litre as a result of rising global oil price, and large arrears due NNPC for household kerosene imports.

“2011 was like a goldrush, where you had briefcase marketers. local consumption rose to 60.25 million litres per day in 2011 but dropped to 39.66 million litres per day in 2012. Most of the international traders, who did business with their Nigerian counterparts, were also briefcase traders, who would sell and run away. That practice, I can tell you, has since been cancelled. According to Reginald, one of the biggest frauds in 2011 was “Bills for Collection” which was used to trade for petroleum products. Speaking on some key challenges facing the PPPRA, he reiterated that the agency is yet to clarify the status of kerosene in terms of deregulation. “There is lack of clarity on PPPRA and DPR’s roles in regulating the petroleum sector. Besides, there is lack of clarity on the subsidy status of household kerosene. We don’t know whether it has been deregulated or not.”

N24b Glass Industry To employ 900 In Rivers Community From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt He N24-billion float glass T industry in egi community, Ogba/egbema/Ndoni local Government Area (Onelga) of Rivers State, will employ 900 persons, President of egi Peoples Assembly, Oris Onyiri, has disclosed. Foreign investors, including the Mara Group (Uganda), the Ghani Group (the United

States) and the JS Group of Pakistan, are major shareholders of the project while the community provides land and raw materials. At the factory site in Ogbogu during the unveiling ceremony last week, Onyiri said the project would complement several economic activities conceived and developed by the egi economic Development team as

RIVERS well as efforts of Total exploration and Production Company in developing the area. He described the community as a regional trade hub, adding that the investment of Total, which started production in the area in 1962, has given birth to several investments in the country. Onyiri said the community

people have remained peaceful even though the majority of them are unemployed despite the huge investments in egi. He said the partnership with the foreign investors would improve the economic life of the people while boosting entrepreneurship in the area. He explained that the float glass company would rely on basic raw materials like silica

and sombreiro, adding that the land is rich in natural endowments. He urged the people to support the realisation of the project, expressing hope that over 250 graduates would be engaged directly and indirectly as the project expands. The factory is expected to produce glasses used are used in offices, home and churches.

THe gUArDIAN, Sunday June 9, 2013

NeWS

Musa Fingers Foreign Interests In Boko Haram Ban From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief eADer of opposition parties and former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has said that the proscription of Boko Haram Islamic sect by President goodluck Jonathan has shown that the US and Israel are behind the security operations of the country. He noted that the ban of Boko Haram sect has finally ended Federal government talks on amnesty and dialogue with the group, querying why gov-

ernment constituted a committee to dialogue with the militant group, when it had plans to ban it. According to the former governor, the decision shows that the United States of America and Israel are in full grip of the nation’s security policy, adding that the ban should be linked to American’s position with Nigeria. He said, “America has predicted that Nigeria will disintegrate by 2015. America has already declared that Boko Haram is a terrorist organisa-

NATIONAL tion. America has also declared the person who is leading the group as a wanted person and has placed a ransom on him. “Now, we assume that America has seen Nigeria as a place to pursue terrorists and the action of Nigeria in proscribing the Islamic set is helping American policy.” The former governor disclosed that “there was a discovery of armoury in Kano, and the allegation is that, the

arms are meant for Hezbollah, an organisation the US and Israel are fighting.” He informed that “if the two countries are given the privilege of continuing to monitor the nation’s security operation that America would in no time threat Nigeria the way it is threating Iraq and Pakistan, adding that they will eventually invade Nigeria the way they have invaded the two Islamic countries. “Alhaji Musa stated that Dr. goodluck Jonathan, as the President and Chief Security officer of Nigeria, should have

asserted himself on the line of security option he wants to pursue, particularly when he had already declared a state of emergency in the three northern states and also constituted a committee to dialogue with the Islamic sect. “And from all indications the Amnesty Committee has started making progress by talking to members of the group, when government announced the banning of the group. This only shows that there is interference by foreign interests.”

NAPPS Wants Hard Measures Against Child Abuse By Oluwakemi Ajani

NATIONAL He National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos State chapter has urged Federal government to introduce stiffer penalties for Nigerians, who abuse the fundamental rights of the Nigerian child, as a way of checking the cases of child labour, child-trafficking and maltreatment. President of the association, Chief Abayomi otubela, made this plea during this year’s Children’s Day celebration, held at Tunwase School, Ikeja, Lagos. Chief otubela also called on government to make the day a public holiday, so that parents and guardians can celebrate with the children. According to him, the war against child abuse should be collective, decisive and effective, stressing that it is saddening that while some children are celebrating, others are in the streets hawking various items.

Borno raises Panel, Pays Pension, gratuities From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

BORNO eNSIoNerS and retired councils’ staff in Borno State have now cause to smile, as governor Kashim Shettima, on Friday, raised a 12-member committee to pay them, after the committee’s verification exercise in 27 council areas of the State. The sum of N500 million has already been released for the payment. Inaugurating the committee at the government House, Maiduguri, Shettima said, “the task before you is to verify all the outstanding pensions and gratuities of retired staff in the 27 Local government Areas of the State, in accordance to the State’s Civil Service rules and regulations and make the necessary payment.” He informed that the committee has three weeks to complete the verification and payments exercise. “I have heard a lot about some of our fathers and uncles, who retired decades ago, but are yet to get their legitimate entitlements for one reason or the other.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON (left); Minister of State for FCT, Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide, representing the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Group Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Stella Okoli; Mr. Fola Adeola; and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire at the Heart and Soul gala of the Chike Okoli Foundation held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.

Imo Assembly Passes 36 Bills, 87 Motions In Two Years, ends Legislative Year From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri He Imo State House of AsT sembly at the weekend appraised self, scoring it high for performance in two years of present Fifth House, Third Assembly. In his address during special session to end year 2012 /2013 Legislative year, the Speaker, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, also disclosed that a total of 36 bills and 87 motions were passed by the 27 –member assembly, urging enemies and destructive critics of the as-

sembly to stop dubbing them stooges in the hands of the state executive. He rather, explained that the lawmakers were working in synergy to make good laws that would in turn bring people oriented and democracy dividend, which he said, could only be achieved by peaceful co-existence. Uwajumogu, who spent some time to mention landmark bills either passed or considered by the assembly, including contract abandonment, four –year medium de-

IMO velopment plan bill and corruption checking bills, noted that the members had faired well in their qualitative contributions and debates. Meanwhile, the Speaker has adjourned sitting to August 27. In his address, the Imo State governor, Chief rochas okorocha, represented by his deputy, Prince eze Madumere, expressed joy that the two arms (executive and Leg-

islature) worked in synergy to achieve remarkable improvement in “rescue Mission” government. He opined that other state legislators should visit the Imo State House of Assembly to copy quality legislative work. According to okorocha, the executive has awarded contract for construction of ultra modern assembly complex, which would encompass facilities for modern day legislative work. In his lecture titled “The Leg-

islative Agenda for good governance”, a former House of representatives member (owerri Federal Constituency), Chief onyeaguocha, a Lawyer, called for improved ways of legislative quality work to serve people well. He criticised the discriminatory tendencies meted to the Higher National Diploma (HND) holders in the country, advocating for a law to make Imo State Polytechnic, degree awarding institution.

Landowners Demand Compensation over Acquired Land For Power Projects From Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna roTeSTINg landowners, yesterday, confronted Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who was on working visit to Kaduna State to commission power projects. Alleging that government is yet to pay for the land where the power projects are sited, leader of the aggrieved landowners, Mr. Francis Nwobodo, told the Minister that the incumbent Vice President, Alhaji Mohammed Namadi

Sambo had promised them that alternative land would be allocated to them. Nebo had to engage tact and diplomacy to calm the hundreds of protesters who claimed to be owners of the land on which the 215 megawatts power station was constructed in the Kudenda area of Kaduna State. According to Nwobodo, “when he (Sambo) was governor, the Vice President came here and told us that the government was interested in

KADUNA this land and that the power plant they will build will benefit all of us. He promised to give us another land and based on that, we willingly gave away our land. “Four years after, we have not heard anything. The late governor Yakowa came here and promised that they would do something. Some of our people have died, and we are yet to be given another

land.” Amid chants, Nwobodo and other protesters said they used to meet every Saturday near the power project to discuss the contentious land issue. They appealed to the minister to use his good office to address the matter. Nebo assured them that he would convey their message to the Vice President and commended them for the peaceful nature of their protest and for giving their land for the project.

Stressing that something must have happened to slow down the process, the Minister said government is willing to fulfill its promise of giving them another land. “I will talk with the governor on this matter when we meet. I would have seen him today, but he is travelling. I want to assure you that I will talk with him. The power project that is being constructed here will give you more power than what you are currently enjoying,” he said.

orogun grammar School Students Meet rogUN grammar School o old Students Association, Lagos branch, meets on Sunday, June 9, at No. 15, Awosika Street, off governor’s road, off Latol Private School road, by Mary Bus Stop, Ikotun, Lagos at 2.00 pm.

Delta Peers Club Meets eLTA Peers Club (DPC), D Lagos meets at the home of Chief Vincent Ahwi, No. 1, oladeide oduyemi Crescent, Silver estate, off ejigbo-Idimu road, by 3.00 pm. on Sunday, June 9.

TheGuardian

6 Sunday, June 9, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cityfile Rivers

Lagos

Communities Raise Alarm Over Fake Soldiers From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt HEY wear military fatigues and display corresponding Identity Cards. They look like it, speak like it and act like it. But they are mere impersonators. Such appearances have prompted Rivers State communities –Igwuruta in Ikwere Local Government Area, and four others in Ahoada West Local Council– to raise an alarm over the activities of persons who go about defrauding residents. A victim in Igwuruta, Mr. Prince Odu, described the suspects as a gang of three men, who claiming to be Captains in the Nigerian Army, visit homes to extort money. Odu said the ‘soldiers’ intimidate people and threaten to arrest them if they fail to meet their demands. “About two years now, my wife, children and I have been encountering these persons. They said that we should address them as ‘Captains’ and told us that they are soldiers. They showed us their ID cards. One of them kept coming to my house. One day, he asked that I should give him N200, 000 to enable him settle some issues. I told him I did not have such amount of money. “He threatened to make trouble with me, if I fail to provide the money. Aware that I could not afford such an amount, I became very terrified. I told a friend, who informed an army officer. The case was taken up. I am surprised to hear that the man who has been terrorising us for years is a fake soldier.” Another victim, Mr. Clement Udochi, said the fake soldiers force out money from people with promises to resolve land disputes for them. Public Relations Officer of Brigade Headquarters, Port Harcourt, Mr. Michael Etete, said he is yet to be briefed on the development. A credible source at the headquarters, however confirmed the story, saying several fake army officers have been arrested in relation to the complaint. He described the situation as sad, lamenting that the syndicate drags the image of the military in the mud. He said the suspects are being interrogated and would face prosecution. He also advised residents to be vigilant and cultivate the habit of making inquiries. The source, a senior officer, said efforts are on to curb the menace of fake soldiers. Reacting, the Director, Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws (IHRHL), Anyakwee Nsirimovu, said: “In an environment where corruption is rife, where there are no jobs for qualified graduates, where the society is not conducive to entrepreneurship and investment, such anomalies are inevitable.”

Protesters display placards during the first year remembrance programme for victims of the Dana Air crash at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos State... last week.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

One Year After DANA Crash:

Ignoring The Living, Remembering The Dead By Gbenga Akinfenwa AD a Boeing MD-83, operated by Dana Air, not crashed at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb on June 3, 2012, the community could have remained largely unknown. The tragedy claimed the lives of 153 passengers, including crewmembers and six residents. Prior to the incident, Iju-Ishaga, in Ifako/Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State received little government attention in terms of social amenities. There were no good access roads; a factor some say significantly increased the casualty figures. One year later, little has changed for the community. An outstanding feature, however, is a cenotaph erected at the crash site by the Lagos State government in honour of the victims. Another is an unfinished road, constructed hastily to facilitate access to the site. Last Monday, family members of the victims and residents gathered in tearful one-year remembrance. But there was also anger and protest. It dawned on many that the management of the airline has not compensated victims’ families, owners of destroyed houses, and has done nothing towards rebuilding the community. There was also complaint about delay in release of the final accident report. Early this year, aggrieved families converged at the Ikeja office of the airline to protest non-payment of their claims. They told reporters that they would continue to picket the office until appropriate response is received. A year on, only 11 families are reported to have received full compensation of $100,000 (N15m) each. Ninety-five others received an initial $30,000 (N4.5m) each, as at May 25. Forty-seven families are yet to receive any compensation, notwithstanding the fact that some lost their breadwinners in the tragedy.

An abandoned road at the community

Dana spokesman, Mr. Tony Usidiamen, said compensation would only be paid the remaining families when they present valid documents to back up their claims. He said the families of 20 other victims have submitted their letters from the Probate Registry of the Lagos State High Court. “The letters will be verified by the airline’s insurance firm, the Lloyds Insurance Company of London. Eight families did not submit any claim in respect of their deceased family members. They may file their claims later,” he said. Some of the families berated the airline for the questionable way it paid out compensations. They also accuse it of deliberately stalling the process. While the memorial service held, more than a hundred aggrieved residents, under the umbrella of ‘Ground Victims of Dana Plane Crash’, protested near the venue. They displayed placards with inscriptions, like ‘One Year Later No Compensation’, ‘While We Are Suffering, Dana Is Flying’ and ‘We’ll Like To Have Dana For Dinner”. Many were residents of Popoola Street, displaced by the crash and residents of neighbouring streets who had gathered in solidarity. They were not cowed by the presence of dozens of armed security personnel drafted to the area. While some complained of neglect following their displacement, others lamented the construction of roads linking the crash site, saying the shoddy work has resulted in flooding of homes. Road construction at Okunsanya and Akande streets were stopped abruptly after the stretch leading to the memorial site was completed. The site has been taken over by the Lagos State Government. But displaced residents say the authorities have failed to settle them.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

One of the displaced persons, Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, whose duplex and warehouses were destroyed in the crash, said: “I have not been compensated by the airline, one year after the incident. My demands remain that I should be reinstated to my former position or given a cash equivalent of property lost.” Omowunmi said that the government, without compensation, took from him the land on which the cenotaph is built, despite being in possession of his Certificate of Occupancy. The residents also blamed the Federal Government for insensitivity to their plight. Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Chief Adewale Oriowo, said there is no visible presence of the Federal Government and Dana Air, nor is there any attempt at helping the community repair drainages that were damaged during rescue operations. Another twist is the blame game between aggrieved residents and Oriowo. While the chairman claims that Dana Air has not responded to their demands, the residents say he has used the unfortunate incident to enrich his pocket.

...Widow Waits To Touch Promises By Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt RS Eunice Abbey-Kalio, widow of Commodore Datoru Abbey-Kalio, victim of the air disaster, received many sympathisers. Some of these were: Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi (represented by his deputy, Tele Ikuru) and the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker. Dr Abiye Sekibo, an elder statesman, also sent a condolence message to the family. Naval officers also visited the widow and the family. A year later, however, promises by the state government are yet to be fulfilled. During the visit, Amaechi had given assurance that the state government would do everything within its power to cushion effect of the loss. Parker, during the burial ceremony, promised to assist with the children’s education. But the widow, during the remembrance of the victims on Monday, expressed surprise that promises made by the state government are yet to be fulfilled. She said: “The state government, through the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ikuru, promised to give my children scholarship. But up till now, there has been no message from them. They also promised to provide jobs for us. Four of my children are graduates without jobs. I am a

sociology graduate without a job. If they can give us jobs, then glory to God. The Commissioner for Health came during the burial and made some promises also. But we have not heard anything from them.” When contacted, the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Godswill Jumbo, attributed delay in fulfilling the promises to the selfish interest of the victim’s relatives. He said that a faction from the family wrote to the state government, demanding that assistance should be given to them and not the widow. Another faction wrote in and disassociated itself from the first faction, and requesting that it receive the packages instead. He said that given the circumstance, the conflict of interest has to be settled before action can be taken. Reacting, the Commissioner for Health reiterated commitment to fulfilling the promises. Meanwhile, some members of the public who spoke to The Guardian berated the state government for delaying in fulfilling promises it made to the widow. Another respondent, Mr. Emma Brown, said it is laughable that family members would overstep the widow and her children to request support from the government. He urged government to ignore the relatives and assist the widow and her chil-

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

CITYFILE Residents, Commuters Groan, As FERMA Abandons Ikorodu-Parafa-Agbowa Road make detours through their premises. Worst disturbed are business interests along the road, such as fuel stations, hotels and finanESIDENTS of Ikorodu, Parafa, Maya, Imota, cial institutions, among others. Isiu and Agbowa might be experiencing a Expressing his anger over what he describes nightmare. Their only means of linking Ijebu-Ode, Lagos, as “the nonchalant attitude of FERMA offior Epe is the Ikorodu-Ijebu-Ode road. But since cials”, Mr. Emmanuel Adeyemi, who has just June 2011, sections of the road have continued opened a hotel in the area, said he regrets to prove tortuous for commuters, especially at moving there on account of the road. “Despite the huge investments I have made, rainfall. These include Parafa, Imota (close to clients are not forthcoming. It is not that we Caleb University) and NAFSAT Junction (after don’t have modern facilities, but where is the Ile-Epo Oba, in Ikorodu Township). road that would link customers to our premIn May, last year, before commencement of ises?” the rainy season, officials of the Federal Road Travelers from the eastern parts of the counMaintenance Agency (FERMA) visited the artry who usually make use of the road wheneas. Contract for the award of drainages was ever there is a traffic gridlock along awarded. That was the end of the story. Ibadan-Shagamu expressway bewailed such A community leader in Maya, Chief Ebisemi decision, last week, as their vehicles got stuck. Adigun, lamented that in early 2013, contracReacting to the allegation that FERMA offitors were mobilised to fix the drainages, as prelude to major construction. “But to our dis- cials are demanding gratification, Mr. Awodu, an engineer with the agency said: may, the work was abandoned around April. And till now, there is no presence of FERMA of- “The allegation of bribery before we do our work is not only funny; it is impossible. Noficials.” body from FERMA has courage to ask for gratiInvestigation by The Guardian revealed that the contractor abandoned the drainage work fication. I may say the insinuation is to hasten halfway because of what a source allegedly de- activity on the road. We are working on our plan to fix the road. We will introduce a remescribed as “demand for kickbacks” from dial measure before embarking on a permaFERMA, facilitators of the contract. nent solution.” Since March 2013, when the road finally colThe question people are asking, however, is lapsed, especially at the three locations, comwhen such remedial measure will materimuters have had to endure pains. Residents alise? also have to contend with motorists who

By Tunde Alao

Our Position On Lagos Roads, By Works Commissioner

Bad spots along the Ikoro-Parafa-Agbowa Road

Ebonyi

COAS Commissions Market From Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki factory is estimated at N500 million. “And we believe it would be completed and commissioned before the end of this year,” he said of the factory. ejected from the former market to make way. On how the military reciprocates gestures of support from state governments, Ihejirika said: Scattered, and having no alternative, the petty traders took their fate with equanimity “Like I said earlier, what we have to render is service. And in rendering this service, we collaborate and sought other places to buy and sell. with the state at governmental and communal But on June 4, 2013, the Chief of Army Staff, levels to ensure peace.” Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, took Governor Elechi disclosed that the N981m spent some time off from the second quarter Army conference he was attending in Abakaliki, the on the market was not generated in one fell Ebonyi State capital, to commission what has swoop, pointing out that it is not correct to say that the military is not covered by his mandate. become the new mammy market, con“At the National Economic Council (NEC), supstructed by Ebonyi State Government at the port for the military and the police are regularly cost of N981m. discussed. So, we are supposed to lend helping Ihejirika, who earlier accompanied Governor Martin Elechi to lay the foundation for a hands to the security forces, like the police, Decompo ration factory at Nkwagu military can- partment of State Security and the Army”. Earlier, the state Commissioner for Lands, Surtonment, explained that the contribution of vey and Housing, Mr. Friday Nwogha, told the the civilian populace to the welfare of the COAS that the market contains 640 lock-up stalls, military gives soldiers confidence to put in their best and even pay the supreme sacrifice, VIP toilet, fire-fighting station among other amenities. if need be. Officers of the military police had a hard time According to the Chief of Army Staff, compo chasing away enthusiastic market women who ration is another name for packed cooked wanted to show their joy over the new market. food ready for eating. He said the cost of the T was five years in construction. Many Ithetraders, including displaced persons from northern part of the country, were

Hamzat

Badagry Expressway, Isheri-Oshun-Jakande Road, which is now fully awarded to Hitech Construction Company to complement the bridge works that started some time ago. Also, the Blue rail line is another of such projects. The overall target of the state is to develop sufficient infrastructure portfolio across the length and breadth of the state that ultiHE challenge is that it is important that major roads are fully motorable before we mately allows for a competitive business envifix the huge number of inner ones. Hence, the ronment. “There are major roads across the state. Some state government has gone ahead and fixed a lot of federal roads, thereby reducing our abil- are federal roads while some belong to the state. The challenge is that it is important that ity to fix the state roads financially. However, these major roads are fully motorable before the state has embarked on and constructed a we fix a huge number of the inner ones. lot of major roads, and others are also under construction across the length and breadth of Hence, the state government has gone ahead the state. Last year, we started the construction and fixed a lot of federal roads, thereby reducing our ability to fix the state roads, finanof 156 roads, and majority of these are inner cially. roads. We have to manage the numbers of “As for the roads in rural areas, we use the roads we are constructing at a time to prevent same approach, that is, rehabilitate as many gridlock. “As a state, we are not struggling with our as we can. But because we also know that we might not be able to do all in just a short time, structural plan of infrastructural challenges. We have a master plan that we are implement- we decided to grade and surface dress some ing. We certainly will not finish all our plans in roads this year, as a palliative, so as to give relief to road users. Isuti Road, Powerline Road one calendar year. That is not realistic, given in Ifako-Ijaiye and Oke-Agbo Street in Ojo the backlog that exists. The state government Council are such roads. The essence is to albelieves that infrastructure development is a major plank on which poverty eradication can low for motorable roads because it will be a traffic nightmare if we shut down all the rest. “Hence, our concentration on major life and roads at a single time for rehabilitation or construction.” city/state changing projects, such as Lagos-

The Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, spoke recently with TUNDE ALAO,clarifying efforts to fix all Lagos State roads, explaining key challenges, and plans to meet the expectations of residents. Excerpts:

“T

Hunter Hunted of progress; yes, that’s what they are! ELastNEMIES week, these same enemies tried, without success, to impugn our number one drug control Agency and the good personality of its amiable oga at the top, who is even pushing for a sweet second shot at the cake. The news went round, at the weekend, that the social media (the Internet) had got some new stuff; and the gist was that Oga is enmeshed in corruption. Corruption in this Agency? Nothing really new then! After all, corruption is everywhere — even in Aso Oke or Aso Okuta. Our uniformed Olopas, the Sports Ministry, Pensions Office, etcetera… and even some godly places had been accused of corruption in the past. So what’s the big deal? But when the news continued to fly around, CC decided to check it out. Behold, Oga didn’t do it himself; he merely did it by proxy, that’s what the allegation says. His sin is that one connected woman, who works with Oga, operated a syndicate ‘within.’ The “information” is that the woman’s dealings bloated her account to some N700m. And the deal was in collaboration with the Oga at the top. The petitioner alleges “definite connections between the woman and her fake drug dealers,” as “several transactions were said to have been made on the account by those suspected to be perpetrating this dastardly act.” The petitioner also alleged that this woman runs Oga’s personal business and so Oga should really be at the top. Is this the handiwork of detractors, out to rubbish the good work Oga and the Agency is doing; another smoke without fire? Assuming that this allegation is true, then the Agency should give Oga a clean bill of health because, since cancer drugs don’t work by proxy, corruption, like the Green Passport, cannot serve two masters. The antelope, for its own life, shouldn’t try to hunt the hunter; let the lion do it. But where is the lion in this jungle; still sleeping?

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

CITYFILE Traditional Ruler Denies Culpability In Communal Crises By Gbenga Akinfenwa

ORMALCY has finally returned to Ajah in Lagos State, two weeks after a communal clash claimed the lives of about six persons and left several others dead. The clash is reported to have been sparked by a misunderstanding between youths known as Ajah, Olumegbon and Ilaje Boys, along the Lekki-Epe-Expressway, Lagos. When The Guardian visited the community, last week, residents who had fled because for fear of reprisal, had returned and business activities had resumed. There are different accounts on how the fracas started. A version said a fight broke out on a football pitch, following a misunderstanding between Olumegbon and Ajah Boys. Another said that Olumegbon Boys, on their way to a peacekeeping meeting at Ajah Motor Park, were ambushed by Ajah boys, who killed some of them in the process. A source at the community said that Ilaje Boys were not involved at the initial stage but they joined when fleeing Ajah Boys attempted to pass through their territory. The corpses of two Olumegbon Boys were reportedly taken to the palace of the traditional leader, where the youths mourned their loss, with each faction vowing a reprisal. Dangerous weapons, like broken bottles, axes, knives and locally made guns were reportedly used during the fight. It took the combined effort of regular policemen and reinforcement from Mobile policemen, drafted from the Area J Command, Ajah, to bring the conflict under control.

Men of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation stop traﬃc to repair a pothole in Egbeda. (Inset: Motorists wait ‘patiently’)

How Not To Rehabilitate Lagos Roads By Femi Alabi Onikeku F an ambulance with a critically ill patient Iwould had been stuck in the holdup that ensued, it not have mattered. A crucial task was ongoing; one of Lagos’ many roads was being repaired. And everything else must wait! It was at Egbeda, last week Monday. A tractortrailer carrying a heap of rocks and sand moved innocently along the road, like all other vehicles. Suddenly it stopped. Men of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), in their yellow overalls, jumped down, zealously, picked their instruments, and while other road users waited, tyres glued to the spot, they began the patching up of a pothole. Any government that conceives the idea of mending bad roads deserves applause. Equipping a team with a functioning truck and motivating them to work under a hot sun is also praiseworthy. If anything, it shows that at least some portion of precious state resources manage to miss the lining of unscrupulous pockets, and that leadership, though sleepy, may not have begun to snore. But should road users have to endure the trauma of halting or snail pacing for valuable minutes or even hours in traffic, while government agencies carry out rehabilitations? This is the unfortunate scenario; and residents, unwillingly, may have come to accept it as yet another of those things that make Lagos actually Lagos. In ridiculous instances, road maintenance has cut the semblance of a government desperate to assure the citizenry that it is working. Else, how might observers explain stopping traffic for rehabilitation during the city’s peak periods, Christmas or New Year holidays? It would seem the authorities, cornering thousands of passing eyes to advantage, want to hear: “Praise God! They are fixing the road at last! This government is indeed working!” LSPWC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Ayetutu, pleads with residents to “tolerate us”, saying that while the agency often engages in night operations to ease the sufferings of road users, “sometimes, we are not able to wait (till nightfall) in certain locations.” He explained that while one road user might complain over

hardship encountered in the course of repairs, another who passes through the same area, moments afterwards, applauds the agency. But that does not excuse the insensitivity of the Nigerian authorities in most matters. While momentary pains might not be unconnected with a government’s need to deliver dividends, halting traffic at midday in the name of ‘government in action’, can hardly be justified. “To recount late Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Lagosians and perhaps a lot more Nigerians are simply suffering and smiling. The business of government is the people, and so people must not die because a government wants to be seen as working,” says a motorist who was locked in the Egbeda traffic. A government is as powerful as it is able to deploy all resources to making life most tolerable for its people. And that includes ensuring that traffic flows unhindered in Egbeda and all of Lagos State, whether roads are being repaired or not. A geologist at the University of Lagos and winner of the 2008 edition of the NLNG (Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas) Prize for Science, Dr. Ebenezer Ajibola Meshida, says: “What we now have is like a total breakdown of normalcy. In the past, we didn’t have such attitude. It is very disturbing. I knew all that happened when the British were here, and after they had left. This is a sign that government agencies are not really concerned with the comfort of the people. The 72-year-old don stressed: “It is highly unprofessional. In the developed world, repairs are not done during peak hours; they are done during the night. And there is enough security, enough lighting and seriousness to finish jobs within shortest possible time and with very high standard. “During festive periods people come out and say they want to carry out repairs. They put up signboards that say: “Tax Payers Money At Work!’ This is funny and very undesirable. Taxpayers’ money should work on roads unnoticed, so that we simply see the final result and wonder when the work was done. Not disturbing us. I think the nearest word to describing this is hypocrisy.”

Potholed road at Raﬁu Williams Street, Surulere.

The traditional leader of Ajah, Chief Fatai Lawal Olumegbon, was later arrested in connection with the unrest and taken to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja. He was accused of masterminding the crisis. A search for arms was also carried out on his palace. He has since been released. When The Guardian visited the palace to speak with the ruler on the allegation leveled against him, he was said to be away. But his media officer, Peter Fowoyo, debunked the allegation. He said that antagonists of the traditional ruler staged the arrest and fracas. He said that the traditional ruler had raised an alarm in a Save Our Soul letter to the Area J Police Command, a copy of which was shown The Guardian. The letter detailed how a caller, who identified himself as leader of a terrorist gang, had threatened via a phone call to “to gun down two or three people” to perpetrate a crisis. The Area Commander claimed he didn’t see the letter, however, the Commissioner of Police, who was copied, acknowledged receipt. “I would like to make a passionate appeal to you, sir, to do everything humanly possible to prevent any form of pandemonium rearing its ugly head in Ajah again,” the letter read in part. Fowoyo said that a report of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the tribunal of inquiry into Ajah land dispute, and the High Court of Lagos State confirmed the Olumegbon of Lagos as the overlord of Ajah and Okun Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

CITY SHOTS

A truck driver resists road check by a FRSC (Federal Road Safety Commission ) oﬃcer along Herbert Macauley Street, Yaba, Lagos... last week. PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

Senior Officer of Nigeria Police talking to press men at the scene of the vandalisation at Alaka Village in Ido Local Government of Ibadan… yesterday. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday June 9, 2013 conduct the election because an article in it says an incumbent chairman could seek re-election. One side is saying the provision was smuggled into the document to serve a pre-determined purpose of getting Amaechi re-elected as chairman. They say what the new constitution conAbraham Ogbodo tains instead, is a provision to move the chairmanship between the North and South and 08055328079 (Sms only) to make the office run for a non-renewable abogbodo@yahoo.com tenure of two years. Based on this understanding, Governor Jonah Jang was sourced and presented for adoption as a consensus candidate of the North after two other contestants from the HE matter of the controversial election of the region, Governors Ibrahim Shema and Isa Nigeria Governors Forum to choose a chairYuguda of Katsina and Bauchi States were adman is still raging. Now the parties are in court vised to step down. to prove an elusive point. I will explain why it That agreement on the surface offered Jonah an elusive point. Let’s work with the most Jang a head-start advantage of 18 Northern goverfavourable scenario, which is that the Supreme nors minus Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, who Court may be persuaded to declare Governor was absent. How did he then come so short of Chibuike Amaechi winner of the election and glory to earn only 16 votes against Amaechi’s 19? be sworn-in as the chairman of the forum. At The Jang camp explained that Amaechi, who least, that is what Governor Fashola of Lagos presided over his own election manipulated the State (SAN), who is reportedly leading the legal process to advantage. The truth nevertheless is onslaught wants. Does that rest the crisis? The that the Jonah Jang group was complacent and answer is no and we all know why. The court even naive. While they took the NGF election for and put all revenue accruals from overshot procan only take the horse to the river but it cana routine exercise where members would choose duction and price benchmarks from oil on the not force it to drink water. the next chairman by a voice vote or some form table for distribution among the three tiers of A bigger issue is the status of the forum after of agreement that would be devoid of vote castgovernment. the election. The forum right now is divided ing and the attendant rancour, Amaechi came down the middle and it is not in the place of the Naturally, the Presidency would be disturbed fully prepared to win the raging cold battle beby the rising profile and the seemingly exSupreme Court to force a healing of the open tween him and President Jonathan. wound if the wounded are reluctant. Put differ- panded scope of operations of the forum under ently, the Supreme Court cannot make a decla- Amaechi, who has never pretended to be a friend He carefully calculated every step to achieve that purpose. The governors of the opposition of President Goodluck Jonathan. At some point, ration compelling all the 36 governors to parties suddenly became more supportive of the 2015 general elections and who succeeds attend the forum’s meeting summoned by Amaechi than their PDP counterparts. He did whoever the court says is the chairman? What I Jonathan as president began to dictate momeneverything to win and he won. Now having won am saying is that the solution does not lie in the tum at the forum. No sitting president would the battle, it is proving even more difficult for fold his hands and wait to be overrun by an upcourt for the simple reason that a court lacks Amaechi to survive the peace. Suddenly, there is the power to compel a governor to remain in or start. To put it squarely, President Jonathan had no Governors’ Forum to chairman. We can safely good reason to be interested in who succeeds exit the forum. Amaechi as the chairman of the NGF. Stories that say this was the intention of the presidency; to The forum is not listed anywhere in the 1999 cast spanner into the works so that Amaechi Constitution. Membership or non-membership Amaechi had his eyes fixed on the Presidency as does not continue to walk tall as governor of govvice presidential candidate to Governor Sule does not attract any special benefits or disadernors. In which case, neither Amaechi nor Jang Lamido of Jigawa only helped to increase the vantages as such. The forum does not make is a winner; the real winner is Jonathan, who is laws for the good governance of the states. Even anger of the President. now greatly relieved that the burdensome NGF is if it makes law, same is not enforceable or bind- Ab initio, the NGF’s election became a ground off his back. for muscle flexing. It is also the reasons why the ing on members. The NGF is what it is; a loose An option is to accept the two factions and their platform for peers (the 36 governors) to review convention was not followed. Governor Peter chairmen so that instead of just a forum, it can operations and compare notes. And there were Obi of Anambra State, who claims to be the oldbecome forums of Nigerian governors. est member of the forum said the choice of the no hassles when the forum was operated Whichever way, the presidency is a key beneficiforum’s chairman years past had been by conwithin these parameters. It was an attempt to ary. Even the other regional forums are beginsensus and not election. This point is now load the forum with higher significance by an ning to cough from the ripple effects of the failed ambitious leadership that touched off the cur- drowned in the resultant cacophony. There is also the issue of a new constitution that was pur- NGF. A meeting of the Northern Governors rent crisis that is threatening to consume it. Forum last week could not hold because Jang Now the NGF is doing very little of peer review, portedly registered together with the forum’s name by Governor Amaechi at the Corporate Af- and 13 others refused to attend. It goes to show but doing so much of helping the National Asthat some of the Northern governors who had sembly to act as check on the Presidency. Gover- fairs Commission (CAC), but which was largely earlier endorsed Jang as consensus candidate unknown to members because no general sesnor Amaechi as the NGF chairman had been did not do so of their free will and when the opvery vehement in this crusade. Once, he rallied sion of the forum was held to adopt the docuportunity came for them to vote secretly, they ment for operation. the forum to force the presidency to abolish a moved against Jang to spite President Jonathan It was this same constitution that was used to savings scheme called Sovereign Wealth Fund

who is said to be behind Jang. It is also doubtful if the Liyel Imoke headed South-South Governors Forum and the so-called BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta) Commission are still standing firm in the face of the crisis. Still, the factions are digging deeper. Two different secretariats of the forum have been inaugurated in Abuja. Governor Amaechi has asked the director-general of the NGF and other workers to remain steadfast, assuring the thick dark cloud will soon leave the sky for the sun shall shine again. He can afford to sound big because he has oil money to fund the secretariat if subventions from the governors stop coming. Same cannot be said of Jonah Jang, who has a crisis ridden Plateau State to manage through with very lean resources. But let’s pause and do a post-mortem. When it all started, quarters that saw tomorrow, including this column had advised Amaechi to lie low, that in Nigeria, not too many people go into battle with a sitting president and return to tell a good story. Many of his colleagues had reportedly told him to drop the NGF chairmanship renewal bid since the position with all the attendant trouble was not going to add a kobo extra to the monthly allocation of Rivers State from the federation account. He chose to follow his mind. Now, he is all over town beating drums like a confused town crier, even as the PDP closes in on him and others it has accused of anti-party activities. He has threatened to defend the NGF mandate with the last drop of his blood. It sounds funny. Which mandate is he talking about? Is the mandate going to empower him to build roads and hospitals in Rivers State? It is like President Jonathan threatening to lay down his life in defence of a mandate to lead ECOWAS or the AU that is being scuttled by other heads of state. How does that kind of mandate help to fix the epileptic power supply in Nigeria? Governor Amaechi does not need to go to that fatal extreme to make any good point. I mean, someone should forcefully and quickly note the point that the NGF mandate is not another June 12 mandate that was defended with human lives and that if he, Amaechi, by mistake dies defending it (God forbid), he will die, as they say in local parlance, for nothing sake. Not even a primary school, not to talk of a university will be named after him. His beautiful wife, Judith and their children as well as his kinsmen at Ubima in Ikwerre local government area are going to be very angry with him. Fighting to reclaim an NGF’s chairmanship mandate is a misadventure, to say the least. Amaechi is on a wrong path and he should be reminded that no matter how fast a traveller moves in the wrong direction, he never gets to destination. It can only be added that it is never too late to retrace from a road that leads nowhere.

readers of this page last week queried SonOME the narrative’s scoring of President Jonathan his mid-term report. I knew it would be so,

entirely at the mercy of airline owners, all in the name of market forces would cause some airlines to offer subsidies that could lower standards. The big players could also take advantage of that to muzzle small players. Aviation is too sensitive to be left to market forces alone. On ground the scorecard is also not encouraging. Here is situation report regarding the dualization of Abuja-Lokoja expressway. Mr. President needs this information so that he would adjust his timetable. That project, at the pace it is going may not be completed in 10 years. Work is ongoing, has always been ongoing, but the contractors work at their own pace, like workmen hired on credit. They will do what they can until they are paid reasonably and in good time. To have a clear understanding of this particular project, it should be noted that this administration did not sign the first contract. Reviews may have taken place to add more money since earlier contracts had either lapsed or are no longer tenable, given inflationary trends. At least three ministers have made empty promises on this same road. There was Senator Mohammed Sanusi Daggash; there was Hassan Lawal, who has a case of embezzlement with the EFCC. Lawal was said to have misappropriated N6.4bn, so they want him to explain what he did with the money. We have had ministers of works who are so lousy and non-performing, but nobody disturbs them. This particular one, Lawal had issues with the PDP and left to join the CPC in Nasarawa, to torment his former party. That is why he has some explanations to do. Then there is the current minister, Mike Onolemenme, making three ministers who have made empty noise on this road. The work is done in bits, having been shared to different contractors – Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), Bulletin Construction Company, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Nigeria and Gitto Construction Company Ltd. The Gwagwalada end is fairly okay, but not open to traffic because several portions are not linked yet. The portion around Abaji is not touched at all; apparently, the ministry is scared of compensation cost to property owners that must give way. The Kotonkarfi end is where the real job is. Here, a contractor needs plenty of money to overcome the confluence swamps, amount which government, given its penchant for fiscal indiscipline cannot pay in 10 good years. This road was mentioned as one of those paved with bitumen in 2012 by the finance minister on May 29. True talk. When last did she travel on that road?

Backlash

having provided a somewhat noncommittal headline (Mr. President Didn’t Fail, He Didn’t Pass Either) and then going on to score Mr. President 39. Some said 39 percent by all standard is failure, urging I should ask WAEC. Another asked if what I meant was -39percent, which is less than zero. Truth is, Nigerians have wasted precious time and are no longer going to take just anything. Citizens want immediate delivery of dividends of democracy and are no longer in position to indulge media men who fail to speak truth to power. But let me explain. What Mr. President presented was a mid-term report, meaning that the final scores will come in May 2015. Whatever anybody records now is just a fraction of the final aggregate, which will be due in another two years. I was mindful of that and that explained why the headline and the conclusion seemed contrasting. According to government, there are ongoing investments in the power sector, policy changes and investments in agriculture, renovations in the aviation sector and interventions in the road sector. So, let Nigerians wait and see whether ongoing efforts will mature in two years for a definite score. What should be said here, is that, you do not need the whole of four years to show the stuff you are made of. Take Gen Yakubu Gowon for instance, he was a young, carefree man when he found himself in the saddle as Nigeria’s Head of State. He grabbed the opportunity, showed charisma and gallantry. He prosecuted a civil war, without prior experience in such deadly matters and saved the country from dismemberment. And he invested wisely and prudently, without being rapaciously greedy. Murtala Muhammed did not have one year to show that he could turn things around. Within six months, his swagger was felt all over the country. He was a great man, who had a mission to execute, no excuses. The idea to create a new federal capital territory, Abuja, where politicians are now wasting precious time and money is credited to Muhammed. The Second Republic, as discredited as it has been in the annals of Nigeria’s politics recorded great achievements that are still monuments till date. The Shagari administration may have failed in other sectors, but it delivered sprawling, high and low cost housing

NGF: A Path That Leads Nowhere

SUNDAY NARRATIVE Alabi Williams williams.alabi@ngrguardiannews.com 08116759790 (Sms only)

Still On Mr. President’s Mid-term Report estates all over the place, for civil servants and other average citizens. Those houses were not constructed for politicians to acquire and resell to hapless citizens. Free education was available to citizens in the UPN states; free books, scholarships, bursaries were offered to lure children to school. State governments in UPN states competed to build quality state universities, which were substantially subsidised to enable poor parents send their children to schools. No student was sent home or denied access to examination halls until their parents were ‘forced’ to pay fees as high as N350, 000 and N500, 000, as we have today in public schools. That was the Second Republic for you, when leadership, in part, was aggressive and patriotic. The Buhari/Idiagbon government scored very low on rights and civil liberties, yet, it did not have up to two years to show a direction and Nigerians haven’t forgotten the duo. They brought discipline to the public space and revived citizens’ sense of patriotism and national pride. On May 29, ministers of the Federal Republic felt on top of the world and they challenged citizens to see what they have done in two years, which no other government in Nigeria’s 52 plus years could do. And what did they do? They printed copies of what they are doing and intend to do before the expiration of the tenure of this government. LAST week, yours sincerely had the opportunity to fly to Abuja and it was on June 3, the day the Federal and Lagos State governments held memorial services for victims of the ill-fated DANA plane crash of June 3, 2012. I had no idea what airline would be available at the time I walked into MM2 at about 3.00pm that day. Looking around, it occurred to me that it was only DANA that met with the specification of time and finances that were available to me. The DANA counter was not

exactly a beehive, like some other ‘highbrow’ airlines, which were outrageously costly, as far as I am concerned. I opted for DANA, not because I wanted to show macho, but simply because that was what the economy and the aviation ministry made available to persons in my station. I saw sneering looks, but it didn’t deter me. I checked in, ready to board, but the flight was delayed for 40 minutes, not an unusual announcement in our airports. I would have preferred to have it done with in 50 minutes or one hour, rather than having extra time to contemplate my choice and become weak at the knees. After 40 minutes I boarded and discovered that scores of Nigerians bought the same ticket, I got encouraged, but did not summon courage to call my wife to say, ‘here I am, inside DANA.’ I thought it was healthier to do that when we touched down safely at Abuja. It turned out to be a beautiful flight and the crew, clad in red and white was just as courteous as they were before last year’s crash. They served fairly good light refreshment, which others would rather sell on board, in addition to their costly fares. The following day, a message (sms) came, apologising for the delay of flight 9J 357 of June 3, which they said was due to late inbound of the operating aircraft. Whatever that meant, I did not care, but it was refreshing that some service provider remembered to say sorry to some Nigerians. The point is that the aviation industry is one of the sectors where this government pounds its chest, for having turned around infrastructure at some airports. That is visible work ongoing, waiting to be supported with strong regulations, so that aircraft will no longer drop so recklessly from the skies, killing over a hundred people in a flash. Regulations should take into account citizens’ welfare vis-à-vis what is normal as profit for operators. To leave ordinary citizens

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

CITYFILE IGAWA State might not be as popular as Jing,some of its counterparts. Notwithstandit is endowed with one of nature’s blessings that attract tourists all the way from Europe. One of these is the Baturiya Birds’ Sanctuary, which harbours different bird species. But while it continues to draw tourists to the state, more could be done to tap into its full potentials. It is on record in the sanctuary’s visitors’ book that the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, once traced his birds to Baturiya, some years ago. Fun-seeking owners in Europe tag some of the birds, like the one shown in the picture. And when eventually they come to the sanctuary, they are able to easily identify them. This link between Africa and Europe holds significance for research, tourism, climate change, human health and biological conservation. The birds migrate from Europe at the onset of winter and come to Baturiya at about October. And when the weather begins to get too hot for comfort, they fly back, around January. The chief game ranger of Baturiya, who conducted our reporter round, said the centre once had animals, like monkeys, jackals and hyenas, but they are now extinct. He also said that many medicinal plant species abound. Mallam Hassan, who was proud to show to The Guardian the visitors’ book that has dignitaries, like Prince Philip and one time British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Philip Thomas, among others, said the centre plays host to tourists, researchers,

Baturiya Birds’ Sanctuary: Nature’s Gift To Jigawa conservationists and students from Europe, America and other places. He, however, said poaching consti-

Police Give Assurance To Festac Residents Amid Robbery Attacks By Omiko Awa and Oluwakemi Ajani O believe the police or not is one decision residents of Festac Town, Lagos, will have to make. Following alleged robberies by a gang residents describe as the notorious ‘One Million Boys’, the police say they have made arrests and have also declared the area a no-go premises for criminals. Dan Okoro is Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP), Command Headquarters, Festac, Lagos. He said: “My men and I have been on the trail of the robbers. We have not just arrested two of them, but have also captured their leader, who was hibernating in Okoko. He is in our cell. But I won’t make it a public thing, yet until I have briefed the CCP. We also recovered some guns and ammunition.” On whether the community is under-policed, Okoro said: “I don’t think so. Criminals may run, but they can’t hide in Festac, unless they choose not to operate. In fact, Festac remains a no-go area for them. I have my men on ground, and we act at the slightest information. All we need is the corporation of residents. We are out to make the community crime free. So, it is clear, Festac is not under-policed.” But speaking on a recent attack on 512 ‘I’ Close, Mr. James, a resident, said the police always arrive when the robbers have done their worst and fled, accusing them of not doing enough to protect the people. “The police patrol every night, but it is certain that they cannot cover the nooks and crannies of the community; they cannot be everywhere at the same time. If the police for instance are in 501, the thieves may be somewhere else, operating without their knowledge. Again, the police only patrol the main roads and not the Closes.” Concerns about the police’s inability to provide adequate security has moved residents to seek alternatives, as James put it: “We are thinking of organising a special security squad, probably the OPC, because they are handy.” Contrary to assurances by ASP Okoro, James said the community is under-policed. “It is a known fact that the police lack personnel to handle the situation because the population of the community is expanding daily.” Mr. John Akindele, Chairman of ‘F’ Close

tutes a major threat to the animals. Conservationist and Principal Wildlife Superintendent, Mallam Ibrahim Muhammed, said Baturiya stands unique with its Savannah vegetation. Muhammed also listed a number of bird species that are resident and others that are migratory. He described the inhabitants of the area as predominantly fishermen, farmers and herdsmen. In a bid to take advantage of this endowment, the Jigawa State government has commenced the construction of a major road, known as the Eastern Bypass, which will make the tourist centre

accessible. Located in KiriKasmma Local Government Area, Baturiya covers an area of 320 sq km, with a buffer zone of a half kilometre, which provides natural habitat for 378 species of migratory birds from regions as far as Europe and Australia. Director General, Nasir Haruna Roni, said: “ “A lot of foreigners come. So, the government has embarked on what we call ‘sustainable tourism development’. This means that the state government is all out to ensure balanced development of the area.”

Okoro

said: “The armed robbers came on April 30 and on May 14 in 512, 511 and G Close. They repeated their visit two weeks later. This time, two of them were caught, beaten and handed over to the police.” He said: “These robbers are so young. When we interrogated them, they said that they are part of the ‘One Million Boys’ gang from Ajegunle, and that they have chosen to operate in Festac because the Kaka-led OPC group made things difficult for them in Ajegunle, hence they migrated to Festac. He also said that they usually meet at a popular hotel in 41 Road, Festac, to strategise.” Akindele revealed that Mr. Leo Njoku, Chairman of 401 Road Residents’ Association, summoned a meeting of all the chairmen of Closes to deliberate on how best to curtail the activities of the robbers. Recalling similar incident in 1983, Akindele said: “The boys operated with impunity, breaking doors and taking their time to search for money and other valuables. They made people with HBP to stay awake all night or have to depend on drugs to sleep. They made us feel Festac is under-policed. We are calling on the DPO and the Area Commandant to look into this and checkmate crime in the community.”

Chief of Army Staﬀ, Azubuike Ihejirika, ﬂanked by others during the commissioning of a market constructed by Ebonyi State Government.

Indiscipline... A bus driver shoves rubbish into a sewage following an early morning rain in Enugu.

TheGuardian

Sunday, June 9, 2013 | 11

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Outlook Obama’s Tour For America And Africa By Boima Rogers RESIDENT Obama has announced that he will be making a homecoming African tour and hopefully this is the beginning of a series of such tours. Africa’s son and the most powerful man on the planet will crisscross the continent from Senegal in the west to South Africa in the south and Tanzania in the east, a grand safari. The choice of countries is possibly based on the criteria outlined in my previous paper on how Obama can engage Africa, namely, size of countries and their importance to the US; the long term relationship as an ally or foe; economic interests; security interests; how aligned are these countries with the values of America and; the needs of these countries, namely, their need for foreign aid. A major criterion must be added to this list, namely, the China factor. Since I wrote the paper the Chinese leader has made visits to the continent and America is realizing that China is making a major effort to engage Africa. Obama’s visit is no doubt an effort to emphasise that America is a major player on the continent and wants to be a partner in developing the resources of the continent. What should be the wish list for the countries visited and what are the implications for the rest of the continent, other countries, which will obviously look forward to a visit by the President? In particular, what should they do to merit a visit? The exposure that it gives the countries visited and in particular, the opportunities in terms of investment and tourism cannot be underestimated. Why Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania? Why were these three countries chosen? A quick review demonstrates how the criteria noted above played a significant role in Obama’s choice. Senegal is a regional hub, playing an increasing role in security issues in Mali and the Sahel region as a whole. The bitterly fought recent election, which saw a siting president, accepts defeat to a challenger established the democratic credential of that country. Senegal has been stable since independence albeit with a long running insurgency in the Cassamance region. The US has economic presence; it is among the top five destinations for Senegal’s exports, with the US accounting for 4.8 per cent of that country’s exports, the fifth largest destination. South Africa is the guardian of the Cape of Good Hope where a significant proportion of American trade is routed through. South Africa, the continent’s largest economy conducts significant trade with America, with the US being the second largest destination (8.6%) for South African exports, after China the leading destination. The US, accounting for eight per cent of South Africa’s imports is the third largest source after China and Germany. Tanzania’s position in the group has security implications in the still volatile region, notably Somalia and Yemen. The country, which has also made strides in governance and economic liberalisation, has seen impressive economic growth rates for over a decade. It is a richly endowed country with vast potential in oil, uranium, gas, agriculture and tourism.

CONversation

Obama may also be sending a message to Kenya, the neighbouring country where his father hails from, notably, that Kenya should get its act together to merit a visit. Tanzania, which has borders with eight countries, is in a good position as a regional hub. It does not have significant trade relationship with the America, at the moment; the US does not feature among the top five countries in terms of destination for exports or source of imports. The wish list and implications for other countries All three countries possess resources that would be of interest to the US, are of interest to US security concerns and are within Obama’s stated views on making the world a better place. What should be the wish list of these countries and how should they prepare for Obama’s visit? The overall objective should be to market their countries with regard to governance, opportunities for US investors and the market for goods and services in those countries and the US. A key consideration should be on how the US should assist in the development of the infrastructure, a major impediment to economic development and trade. Senegal must emphasise its position as a regional hub and base for US investment and security projects. It’s relatively good (particularly compared to neighbouring countries) infrastructure and links with countries in the region gives it a strong edge. The Senegalese President stated in a speech in July 2012 that his government wanted an optimal energy mix, with a view to reducing supply costs over the medium and long term through diversification — natural gas, hydropower, and renewable energies — as well as through regional integration. American companies should be well placed to play an important role in energy projects. Senegal has vast solar energy potential and American companies who have pioneered shale gas franking techniques should be invited to make explorations and invest-

ment. Other opportunities that should be explored include investment in fertilizer production and other downstream activities for the country’s phosphates. Investment opportunities should also be explored for manufacturing using cotton, groundnuts and fish, commodities where Senegal has abundant raw materials. US investment and markets can also be explored for the country’s ship construction and repair industry. The country’s tourism industry could benefit from US investment and visitors. South Africa will be looking for acknowledgement and concrete measures to develop and expand its position as the largest; most developed and diversified economy on the continent. It should be looking at getting US companies to invest in production for the home market and exports to the rest of Africa and the world. US investment in power generation and support in marketing South Africa as a tourist destination should be areas to stress. US support for regional integration would also be appreciated. Of particular importance is US help in addressing the dichotomy in the country, a first world advanced economy and a third world developing economy existing side by side. Despite steady but relatively low economic growth and sound macroeconomic and fiscal policies the economy has a daunting problem of skill shortages co-existing with very high unemployment. The US help in revamping the educational sector with emphasis on math, science and technical skills and assistance in the regulatory and delivery framework of the industrial and labour markets should be a priority. The country scores quite high, 39th, in terms of the World Bank’s ranking on ease of doing business. The worst individual rankings are: getting electricity; trading across borders; resolving insolvency, enforcing contracts and registering property. South Africa needs to do a lot to rise up in rankings in these areas where it currently lags behind. Tanzania is well endowed in minerals, agriculture and tourism potential. The country will be looking for US investment in a wide range of sectors and in particular, in mining and processing and manufacturing the plethora of raw materials for the domestic, regional and world market. It would be looking to develop its huge tourist potential in terms of investment in facilities and marketing the country to US tourists. Investment in the agricultural sector in a country with a huge area and a wide range of agro-climatic conditions would be welcomed. Agricultural production has been stagnant because of low yields even with this huge potential and US support and investment should be considered. Tanzania is ranked 134th in terms of ease of doing business. In terms of the individual indicators the country ranks lowest in: dealing with construction permits; registering property, paying taxes; resolving insolvency and; getting credit. The country needs to take measures to improve these and other indicators to demonstrate that it is open for business. All three countries need to make preparation for Obama’s visit so that they can

get the maximum benefits. They must prepare an agenda long before the visit to ensure that Obama’s team is made up of the relevant staff and potential investors. They need to highlight the sound macroeconomic and fiscal policies that all of these countries have put in place and measures that they are taking to make them more attractive to investors. They need to highlight their importance in terms of security issues. This trip will hopefully be the start of other African tours and countries should try to gear up for future visits by Obama. Countries, which could be next on the list, need to closely monitor developments in the three countries and prepare for visits. Obama as a “change” President is likely to visit countries that meet his progressive agenda and America’s interests. Other countries need to find out what are the prime motivators for Obama to come calling. A country with democratic, legal, press and economic freedom, sensible macroeconomic policies is likely to attract Obama’s attention and if he decides to pay a visit it could give that country an opportunity to sell its attributes to the world and attract investors and tourists. Obama is star attraction and countries he visits need to make use of the brand. Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania must do their best to get value from the brand. This means doing an Obama on Obama, who would have done considerable research on countries he is visiting. They should do their homework by letting him, members of his team and business executives know what their countries priorities are; do media campaigns involving print, broadcast or digital slot to engage a wider pool of potential investors and policy makers and; and get the home team aware and prepared for the opportunities before and when they meet with the American team. As noted in my previous paper, the emphasis must be on the infrastructure, including physical, governance and education and regional projects. Obama is keen on infrastructure projects and so he should be eager to discuss how America can help build and maintain Africa’s infrastructure. Obviously, he and his team and business executives accompanying them would need to be convinced of the viability of proposals, benefits to the US and the position of the competition. African countries must emphasise that America is losing out in the current scramble for the continent’s resources and that the US needs to up its game. Africa has got resources that are in strong demand and other countries, including China, India and Brazil are taking a keen interest in the continent. For Africa the competition is good and it would welcome America taking an active role in developing its resources. The US has certain attributes that make the country a good partner in aid, investment, trade and security. The emphasis must be on investment and trade, to explore, discuss and decide on areas, projects and business deals by African and American participants in meetings. Other African countries must take note and try to be next on the list, which will give them a spotlight and opportunities. • Rogers is the principal consultant at Media and Event Management Oxford (MEMO).

By Obe Ess

TheGuardian

12 | Sunday, June 9, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Editorial Plagiarism As A Plague In Varsities T

HE recent sack of a professor and demotion of two others by the Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) underscore the worsening phenomenon of plagiarism by academics in Nigeria’s institutions of higher learning. The trend is a frightening dimension to the scourge of corruption in Nigeria for, more than its material equivalent, intellectual corruption is detrimental to national development aspirations. Though, plagiarism is a global problem, the degree differs from place to place. With the frequency of occurrence in Nigeria, the authorities must rise to the challenge by not only sacking the offenders but also prosecuting them in the court of law. Stealing the intellectual property of another person is the academic equivalent of armed robbery and is regarded as the greatest crime in scholarship. It is heartening that the authorities of some universities are beginning to expose plagiarism lest it becomes an epidemic in the nation’s university system. Only last month, the Governing Council of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) took a drastic action by dismissing and demoting 10 of its academic staff over plagiarism. The University of Benin had in 2008 suspended its Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences for plagiarism. Within the same period, one Professor Victor Dike, a US-based Nigerian scholar accused two academics of the Department of Economics, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) of plagiarising his work. The same Professor Dike, not long ago, accused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of also copying his work without attribution in a lecture he delivered at a university in 2010. Dike has since gone to court to seek redress in both cases. These are isolated cases that have added to the growing list of intellectual dishonesty in the country. In the latest FUNAAB case, the authorities took the decision to sack the professor during its 76th statutory council meeting. The sacked professor was a Reader in the Department of Chemistry. Two other lecturers in the same department were also demoted from Lecturer I to Lecturer II, while an assistant lecturer in the same department had his appointment terminated. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole decried the falling standards. According to him, “If we fail to tell ourselves the truth, we will be deceiving ourselves. Our standard has gone down”. This is the tragedy of the academia in Nigeria today. Laziness on the part of some lecturers, acute under-funding of the universities, poor academic infrastructure, lack of well-equipped laboratories, poor quality postgraduate studies and research output and, of course, the penchant for cheating, which is now a national malaise, are factors responsible for the current state of affairs. That people in academic high places, including professors are involved in this infamy is most depressing. It diminishes the image of a scholar. The problem must obviously be worse at the undergraduate level where less rigorous checks are available. Solution to the problem may not be far-fetched, using appropriate computer software. The plan by the Committee of Vice Chancellors to deploy the highly rated anti-plagiarism software by Turnitin is a step in the right direction. Turnitin is an academic plagiarism software for teachers and students. It is used to detect instances of plagiarism in academic work. Individual universities should, however, work towards deploying this technology to fight this plague. There is an urgent need to check the fast declining standards of education in Nigeria and all the universities have a duty to restore quality. Funding, of course, is crucial. The government, perhaps through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), should inject more funds into the institutions with a view to revamping research and training and rewarding sound scholarship. While the system may be in place to check and even punish wrongs, ultimately, integrity is a personal choice that every human being must make. And in no other place than the citadel of learning, where the destiny of a people or a nation is moulded, is this more imperative. Integrity must return to scholarship.

LETTERS

Gaidam And Yobe ANPP Are Assets The desperate tone of an SlineIR:article with the above headby one Hassan Gimba Ahmed clearly shows that Ahmed was given a script to act. It was bereft of substance and confuses opinion journalism with the journalism of reportage. There is no advantage in dignifying that solitary holler with a response. There is no question that an APC wind is blowing across the country. Given the failure of the PDP-led federal government, this new alliance will surely make the greatest impact as major opposition forces join hands together to provide a credible alternative for millions of hapless Nigerians. It is clear that in this attempt to bring change to Nigeria in 2015, the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), one of the parties in the opposition merger called APC, has played a very active role. And because Yobe State is an ANPP state, its governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam continues to play a very prominent role in ensuring that the APC got the kick-start it needs to launch on a successful note. Contrary to Gimba’s laughable claims, Governor Gaidam enjoys a groundswell of support across Yobe State. Gimba’s own reference to PDP stalwarts moving into Gaidam’s ANPP and being personally received and welcomed by him is pointer to the governor’s popularity. Where he got it wrong was his claim that the decampees to the ANPP were all former members of the ANPP who went to the PDP and then returned. But more remarkable is the fact that some of the decam-

pees were actually in the ANPP but left for the PDP before they returned to the ANPP under Gaidam. As many of them said, they left the ANPP first because of issues relative to their constituencies. While in the PDP, they saw confusion, ego and a run-away, egregious ambition, which has power, and not integrity, as the be-all and end-all of its focus. So, they fled back home now that the house is reorganised under a caring and humble leader. Poet Hafeez Shirazi said in one of his oft-quoted lines, ‘I went in search of heaven, did roam, return and find my heaven is here at home’. Across Yobe State, from Dapchi to Dokshi and Jakusko

to Dakasko, ordinary people know that Governor Gaidam is a leader they can trust. It really doesn’t matter that a lone voice in the media has tried repeatedly, albeit unsuccessfully, to show that Governor Gaidam is not who the people knew him to be. Regardless of the boundless frustration of those bent on historical revisionism, Governor Gaidam will continue to forge ahead with the mandate that the people of Yobe State have entrusted him with. Gaidam and the Yobe ANPP are valuable assets to the APC. Those who know the underpinnings of the APC and those working to ensure its success know this much. •Yaya Jajere Yobe State University, Damaturu

The Problem With The North IR: Some northern leaders turning their backs against one Scians have just banned their politi- of Nigeria’s most honest men, not to support President General Muhammadu Buhari. Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged ambition to re-occupy Aso Rock. They mistakenly called it second term ambition. I believe that whoever has spent eight years in Aso Rock as President, VicePresident, or Secretary to the Federal Government has exhausted his or her chance in that place, unless there is no other competent person in the land. The north should seriously reexamine its conscience. The socalled leaders have had enormous opportunities to rule the country, and for the most part, they had misruled, and there is no clear sign that they have repented. Look at what happened in 2011; they tried to field controversial persons while

Buhari has never been associated with materialism or self-aggrandisement, only service to humanity. He has demonstrated it all his public life. The same cannot be said of those other ones who were parading themselves as leaders. Obasanjo is a chief ally of the northern imperialists. Rather than urge the north to support Buhari, he is beating the drum for another confusionist. If the north divides itself between Buhari and another northerner in 2015, they may be sorry forever. I don’t know any northerner who is more popular than Buhari in the perception of downtrodden northerners. •Pius Abioje, University of Ilorin.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

Of Pedagogy And Marking Scheme By Adidi Uyo

Y First encounter with that word was in the title of Paulo Freire’s very popular book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, long, long ago. Content with its well-written review, I did bother then to find and read the compact red book whose cover signaled unorthodoxy, because the title was written diagonally atop the cover, instead of horizontally, as is the case with books I had read hitherto. I am talking about 30 plus years ago. And, believe me, all these years I did not have the urge to find out the root of the word, “pedagogy,” that is, its etymology, assuming all along that I knew the word, truly. I stress the word, “truly,” because etymology itself comes from the Greek word, etymon, which means “true” Gosh, nobody who truly wants to learn the labyrinths of language should do a thing like that: Assume that s/he knows what a word means, not knowing that s/he is truly wallowing in ignorance. My lexical complacency concerning pedagogy was finally broken last week – more than three decades, that is - when one thing led to another, as my mind got working on all that it had absorbed and absolved after I watched President Goodluck Jonathan and his Jang, I beg your pardon, gang, present his Administration’s mid term report on the “Transformation Agenda.” To be exact, what actually broke my complacency about the word was the characterization of the report by Misan, my bosom friend and alter ego. Late in the afternoon of Wednesday, May 29, 2013, a visibly infuriated Misan burst into my office, hollering: “Gee, did you see what I saw on NTA International?” “You mean President Jonathan and his men presenting an account of their stewardship to the Nigerian people?” Oh boy, never have I seen this side of Misan! “Stewardship, did you say?” he retorted. “What stewardship? I hear the president used to be a teacher. But how could he and his ministers make many viewers endure such a long and painful pedagogic presentation.” Strong words, indeed! After trying to calm Misan down, I said to myself, “Not again! Before I do any other thing today, I must try to find out the root and the meanings of this word, properly, instead of living in a fool’s paradise.” To the available thesaurus and dictionary I went, immediately, and here is what I now know, for sure. The word, “pedagogic,” is the adjectival form of “pedagogy,” the noun. Pedagogy itself has a kin primary noun, “pedagogue,” which comes from a Greek word that combines “child” and “to lead.” A literal definition of pedagogue, therefore, is “a person who leads a child,” hence, “a teacher.” There is one connotative definition of pedagogue, though, which I believe will not be wellreceived in atop the Rock. It states that a pedagogue is “a person who likes to teach people things, especially because they know more than other people.” But lest I digress, let me quickly return to the main word, pedagogy — a most noble word, and one that anybody like

me, who does what I do for a living, should be hugging all the time, and employ its principles. It is defined by one dictionary as “the profession or function of a teacher; teaching.” More technically, pedagogy is “the art or science of teaching; especially, instruction in teaching method.” Upon this personal enlightenment, I intoned, “Aha, now, I can see where all that talk by President Jonathan comes from!” The teacher that he was, the president must have decided to resort to the language of the teaching profession when the time came to presenting his report to the people. For, as we all know, teaching is not complete without examination. And one thing we all know that teachers do in that regard is setting questions. However, one thing most people do not know that teachers do with regard to examinations is that they also prepare “marking schemes.” You see, to ensure that teachers are fair to students in marking their examination scripts, the profession, or, to be more exact, some educational institutions have an orthodox practice of making teachers prepare a marking scheme. This is a skeleton of the correct answers to the examination question, stipulating what the students are required or expected to provide as answers. Besides, the marking scheme allocates the specific marks for the correct answers. As such, the marking can be used by anybody - an external examiner or an internal moderator - to ensure that the teacher - the internal or original examiner - has been fair in his marking. After educating myself properly about the etymology and meaning of pedagogy, and given what I know about marking schemes, as a teacher, I started to reflect on the language of the president. Specifically, I reflected on the president’s insistent plea that “those who want to write (about) and assess us” must prepare a “marking scheme.” But the more I reflected on it, the more I got worried about the president’s language, that is, his invocation of marking scheme. “What is the logic of this language,” I ruminated, for it is the teacher who sets an examination and prepares a marking scheme, not the external examiner or internal moderator whose duty is to assess how the teacher has marked the scripts. Certainly, it is not the student. And in this case, who is the person that chooses to assess or criticise the president, analogically speaking? Is he the teacher, external examiner, internal moderator, or the student? The more I mulled the president’s usage of marking scheme over, the more logical I found this headline in The Nation of May 31, 2013: “ACN TO JONATHAN: NO NEED FOR MARKING SCHEME.” Anyway, since politics is the sweetest taboo on the language train, the substance of the news story is absolutely of no interest to us. That is why I jettisoned the original title of today’s LOP, which was overly long and had a political undertone: “Marking Scheme as Pedagogy of the Oppressor.”

LANGUAGE ON PARADE

Past President of the International Union of Architects (UIA), Femi Majekodunmi (left); President, Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), Tabansi Anslem and Managing Director, Aframero Limited, Mrs. Yetunde Oghomienor at the opening of IDAN’s home and design exhibition tagged; ‘Guide 2013’, organised to celebrate the 2013 World Interior Day.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

ISSUES

OKOROR: Beyond Emergency Rule, Government Must Tackle Issues Of Extreme Poverty In North And Elsewhere • Nigeria Is Being Serially, Viciously And Mercilessly Raped By Our Leaders Mr. David Okoror, criminologist and Director General of the African Diaspora Initiative (ADI), spoke on the security situation in the North, which led to the declaration of emergency rule. He spoke to The Guardian Northern Bureau Chief, SAXONE AKHAINE, AN you do an evaluation of the emergency C rule imposed on three states in the Northeast? WE must commend the President for once, for standing up to his high office, while at the same time avoiding major controversies. For me, among several pluses of this bold decision is the opportunity it has given to the very highly professional and globally respected Nigerian military to redeem their name and image. The legendary success and reputation gained by our soldiers in peacekeeping operations around the globe, has been damaged by their seeming inability to deal decisively with this insurgency. With the clear directive by the Commander in Chief to hunt down the insurgents, the Nigerian military will have themselves to blame should they fail this time. I believe they have the overwhelming support of Nigerians in this important assignment. More importantly however, is the need for Mr. President to follow up this bold action by bringing forward the various Penal Reports on Crisis in the North and other parts of Nigeria and implementing them holistically and dispassionately. This is the only way to sustain whatever victory the army will achieve on the long run. Yes, some of the President’s political friends and associates would be hurt if he takes this course of action, but which does he prefer, to hurt his friends or see Nigeria destroyed under his watch? Finally, the President must ensure that the condition of extreme poverty and hopelessness that provided fuel for this type of insurgency are rapidly and holistically addressed alongside the ongoing military action. As a criminologist, how have you watched the state of affairs in the last 12 months? Over the past couple of months, I have come to the painful conclusion that the leadership of this country is completely miss-reading the mood of the nation. And unbelievably so. Nigerians have their backs against the wall. They are angry. They feel betrayed and taken advantage of, they are shouting in pain and hopelessness and no one seems to be listening to them. The political leaders and public officers are helping themselves with the common wealth of the people. They are much like drunken sailors partying in a sinking ship. People are looking up to the President, because they handed this country to him in trust. He therefore, has a sacred personal responsibility to steer this Ship called Nigeria to safety at all cost. Nothing less is expected of him. Before our own very eyes, our leaders are serially, viciously and mercilessly raping Nigeria. Ruthless men and women, who were entrusted with her care. Meanwhile, while she groans and cries for help, the rest of us look the other way and pin her down firmly, while the abuse goes on, refusing even to lift a hand to help her, but rather calling her very unkind names and using very unkind words at her, such as God forsake country, useless, good for nothing, accursed, etc. In her period of pain, sorrow and great distress Nigeria needs the help of all her children and friends. Nigerians must stand up to rescue her. They must not abandon her to wicked and vicious men and women. They must say never again. They must mobilise and contend with the enemies of Nigeria at the gate. And time to act is n o w . Do you agree that corruption in Nigeria has been institutionalised and there is nothing the present government can do about it, because as some people say, the syndrome has overwhelmed everybody? Some people say corruption in Nigeria has been democratised. Indeed corruption in Nigeria is deep-rooted, very well structured and oiled. The only industry working effectively here today is c o r r u p t i o n . It is paying huge dividends. My brother, in Nige-

Over the past couple of months, I have come to the painful conclusion that the leadership of this country is completely missreading the mood of the nation. And unbelievably so. Nigerians have their backs against the wall. They are angry. They feel betrayed and taken advantage of, they are shouting in pain and hopelessness and no one seems to be listening to them. The political leaders and public officers are helping themselves with the common wealth of the people. They are much like drunken sailors partying in a sinking ship. People are looking up to the President, because they handed this country to him in trust. He therefore, has a sacred personal responsibility to steer this Ship called Nigeria to safety at all cost. Nothing less is expected of him. Before our own very eyes, our leaders are serially, viciously and mercilessly raping Nigeria; ruthless men and women, who were entrusted with her care. Meanwhile, while she groans and cries for help, the rest of us look the other way and pin her down firmly, while the abuse goes on, refusing even to lift a hand to help her, but rather calling her very unkind names and using very unkind words at her, such as God forsake country, useless, good for nothing, accursed, etc. In her period of pain, sorrow and great distress Nigeria needs the help of all her children and friends. Nigerians must stand up to rescue her. They must not abandon her to wicked and vicious men and women. They must say never again. They must mobilise and contend with the enemies of Nigeria at the gate. And time to act is now ria, corruption pays handsomely. There used to be this phrase - live and lets live, but today it has been rephrased ‘steal and let me steal, Oga at the top no go vex”. Are we winning the war against corruption? Ok, read my lips. Over 80 percent of choice properties in Abuja today are owned by civil servants and their cronies; indicted persons or ex-convicts are preferred candidates for public offices and national hon-

Okoror

ors; it is now the rule that, getting a job or being promoted in government agencies is cash and carry go or who you know; civil servants are the biggest government contractors; public officers are licensed to steal, and nobody is monitoring anybody; the unwritten rule now is, come, take your share and go. No shaking. So, Nigeria is not winning the war against corruption?

Good question. Hear this. Today, corruption is now a multi-trillion naira industry in Nigeria. Meanwhile, this government is working very hard to frustrate every anti corruption effort. It has continued to shield and protect top officials accused of graft; it has refused to probe the sources of the stupendous wealth traced to top government officials; even Mr. President is yet to publicly declare his assets. In the 2013 appropriation, all the anti corruption agencies combined got a total capital vote of less than N9 Billion to chase ‘Trillion naira thieves’ and bring them to book. The Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC), with over 1000 staff and offices to maintain around the country has a capital allocation in 2013 budget of about N150m; the Federal Audit Office called Auditor General of the Federation, has been deliberately crippled, it has no vote to undertake its critical function of a Gate Keeper of federal government finances. Laughably, it depends on the auditees, (that is, those government agencies whose books are to be scrutinized) to pay its auditors normal duty tour allowances and to provide their accommodation. Even Mr. President’s comments and body language does not inspire anti corruption zeal in anyone. Now, you ask me, is the Transformation Agenda winning the war against corruption? I dey laugh. For goodness sake! Dr Goodluck Jonathan is the de facto President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander in Chief of its Armed Forces. He is not only in Government, he is also in Power. The constitution has given him so much power, because it envisaged that he would someday require the use of such powers to move the nation forward. Presiding over a country like Nigeria is not a pepper soup and gulder affair. This President sought for power from Nigerians and it was freely given to him, with the understanding that he would at all times be courageous enough to take critical and difficult decisions for the survival of this country. But what are we seeing now, the President wants to take a decision and a vocal few with vested interests, and who want the President to fail so they can say, ‘we told you he did not have the capacity to run this country,’ now says, ‘no, you must not take this cause of action because if you do, the heavens will fall.’ Even though we all know that is the best way to go. And our President sits there, waiting for consensus and a politically correct moment, which will never, never come. This President might not be a Lion or an army general, but Nigerians expect their President to be courageous, resolute, firm and decisive in his actions. There are new threats about 2015. Asari has threatened, others are threatening. What do we do? I really do not see the reason for the hysteria about Asari Dokubo’s comments, as condemnable as it should be. Prior to the 2011 presidential elections, prominent northerners, including Buhari, Kaita and Ciroma threatened mass violence should Jonathan contest and win. At that time, this National Assembly did not pass a resolution or issue threats of warrant of arrests. Indeed when Jonathan won that election, some part of the North actually went up in flames and blood was shed, but none of those who made the threats were ever called to account for their statements. So, why the noise now? Indeed, the seed sown by those threats and the subsequent bloodshed and the Boko Haram insurgency gave birth to the sorry state of our nation now. Already, other ethnic militias are now seeing that the use of violence or threat of it against the Nigerian State is gradually becoming an effective way of negotiating for sizeable economic and financial space; knowing that they can conveniently levy violence against the Nigerian State and end up with the amnesty trophy, complete the prize money, recognition, political patronage and pardon from the consequences of violent and criminal acts. So, these acts of violence and terrorism have effectively taken on the federal character toga. In the midst of this turbulence, what is the way forward?

Sunday, June 9, 2013

JUNIOR GUARDIAN P/18 Pupils On World Environment Day In Rivers

NEWSFEATURE

P/24

Lagos On High-handed Over-drive

T.B. JOSHUA MOVIEDOM

P/33 PERSPECTIVES

Screen Actorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Award For Nollywood

P/28 SPOTLIGHT

Chance To Probe Relationship Between Profit And Welfare

P/32

Women In Leadership Takes On Empowerment

TheGuardian

THE GUARDIAN,Sunday, June 9, 2013

Junior Guardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Pupils making presentation to mark the Nigerian Conservation Foundation/Nigeria LNG Limited 2013 World Environment Day in Bonny Island, Rivers State

HOSPITAL Solutions To Brain Teaser (8) OCCUPATION

CONTINUE

PRISONER

DISORDER

ECLIPSE

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCE

Mrs Aderonke Ige (Registrar, Lagos Poly)presents the trophy to Kosisochwuku Umerena of the Yellow House as the winner of the 9th Interhouse Sport Competition LASPOTECH Staff School, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Marios Thanks Children With Fun Party O say ‘thank you’ to her loyal customers, Marios, under the name Marios Cheese Ball and Marios Barbeque Snacks, recently hosted children under its brand to a fun party at Union Bank Sports Complex, Surulere, Lagos. Marios ready-to-eat corn based snack, is manufactured by Flour Mills of Nigeria. The event saw children in primary schools across Lagos excitingly participated in games such as bouncing castle, riding kids train and truck amidst a relaxed atmosphere full of fun. The young guests, who also ate and drank satisfactorily, danced to different music tunes played by a disc jokey (DJ). Eleven–year-old Okeagu Kelechukwu of St. Jude Private School, Festac Town, Lagos, said he was excited and grateful for the merriment offered by his favourite brand. “I feel excited because of the different games. I want the organisers to keeping doing what they know how to do best,” he said. The feeling of Juliana Joseph, 9, of Placid Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, is

Cross section of children at the event

COMPILED BY KIKELOLA OYEBOLA

(You can contact us on events for this page through: e-mail: jideoojo@yahoo.com

not different as she said she “likes the fun and the delicious meal served at the event.” Glory Oleku, 12, of Alakoto Nursery and Primary School capped it all when she said: “I feel happy participating in the event because I am catching fun. Marios should continue to entertain us this way every year.” The Product Manager, Snacks, Deji Alonge, who described the Marios brand as a character, which is outing, witty, adventurous and friendly, said the event was one of the ways the brand tries to say thank you to the children who have been the loyal customers of the brand. He described children as the world’s most valuable resource and best hope for the future. “They are like precious and adorable gifts; they smile when they receive love and admiration. They signify nothing but bundle of pure and faithful love,” he said.

— Joseph Okoghenun

THE GUARDIAN, Monday, June 10, 2013

THE GUARDIAN,Sunday, June 9, 2013

Junior Guardian Charles Lorie Academy Celebrates Children’s Day T was celebration galore recently for pupils and management of Charles Lorie French Academy, Festac Town, Lagos, as the pupils gathered to celebrate Children’s Day. The children were thrilled to the fullest, as the management organised music dance and funfair pavilion for the pupils to enjoy themselves to their hearts content in the school premises. Mrs. Onyeka Albert, proprietress of the school noted that children are the bedrock of any society. “We take everything that concerns children seriously, and if you look at the situation in the country presently, many children are hawking as a result of poverty in the land. “We strive to produce excellent future leaders who will not only lead this nation but also break communication barriers and take on great challenges, which the ordinary child would not dare,” she said. She urged the children to be hopeful and have the mind that things will turn out be better no matter what they might be going through presently. She also advised them to face their studies in order to excel in their academic pursuit. “If you look at the recent West African Examination Council results that were recently released, it was not impressive. The truth is that parents love their children but the children should also be focused and face their studies. Their paramount task is to study their books’’. The proprietress stressed that the school focus more on French and trilingual language apart from the normal subjects to broaden “the children’s because we don’t know where they might find themselves in the future. Language barrier used to be an im-

N marking the annual Children’s Day celebration in Lagos, The Reading for Development Initiative organised an event where children not only had fun through dancing and partying, but were also told about the importance of reading. Aside the Executive Director of the organisation, there were other guests who encouraged the young guests on the need to cultivate good reading habit. The Executive Director, Mrs. Chinyelu Anyiam-Osigwe, giving reasons for the emphasis on reading said that apart from having a passion for reading, “I find out that a lot of our young children are not reading. And it is important we inculcate in them at this early stage the habit of reading. So the earlier they start, the better.” She said that her organisation felt the occasion should be an opportunity to talk to the children and encourage them on the need to read and develop a good habit of reading. “It does not mean that they are not going to enjoy Children’s Day. They also have all the snacks, drinks, dancing and partying, but while doing that they are also learning.” She urged every adult who interact with children to do their best to encourage them to read. “Teachers should encourage library hours. As an NGO whenever there is an opportunity, we go round schools to teach children and encourage children to read. “The way you can stay informed is not only through television but also be through reading. And we have authors who spent hours and days to put their creative thoughts together and nobody is reading them. Rather, people are complaining that there is no reading culture in Nigeria. We have to start at an early age. All our children can dance very well but if they could do the same with reading, Nigeria will not be in the situation it is now.”

Cross section of children at the event

pediment with job seekers in the society. But if children are able to speak two other international languages such as French and Spanish, they will have more

advantage than children without such opportunity.”

—Oluwakemi Ajani

Kids Recognised For Efforts To Fight Malaria WELVE young artists were recognised for applying their creative talents in the fight against malaria through arts competition that took place last week, at the Victoria Island Secondary School (Kuramo Senior College). The students, ranging from age nine to 14, participated in the competition with the theme: “Creative kids against Malaria” student art competition, which was organised as part of ExxonMobil’s longterm commitment to Roll Back Malaria in Nigeria, to eliminate the disease that is responsible for more than 300,000 preventable deaths annually. The competition honoured children and youths in two categories: “Draw the lines against malaria” - a drawing competition for primary school students; and “Write off malaria” - an essay compe-

Reading Development Initiative Celebrates Children

tition for secondary school students. In the senior category of drawing, Keji Omotosho, Ashimu, and Janet Stephen emerged in the first, second and the third positions while from the senior category of the essay writing, Abiola Nihinlola, Oyeneyin Mary, and Chika Kelechukwu, all from the Methodist Girls High School, Lagos, emerged in the first, second and the third positions respectively. The Creative Kids Fight Malaria Art Competition opened on World Malaria Day and generated a total of 80 essay entries and 107 drawings from across Lagos and beyond. An independent panel representing ExxonMobil staff judged the entries. The Public and Government Affairs, ExxonMobil, Omawumi Gomwalk, in her remarks expressed her satisfaction with the level of effort

and details the children put into their works. “Creative art has always been an important medium for information sharing and these children clearly communicate the importance of protecting themselves and their families. It is very encouraging”. Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI) facilitated the programme. It is an NGO dedicated to introducing innovative and effective development strategies that foster growth and development in Nigeria. The initiator of YEDI, Charlotte Obidairo commended the efforts of the children for fighting the malaria scourge in their own little way. She noted that with this initiative, awareness against malaria would definitely be on the high side.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, Cross section of the kids during the Pepperoni Foods Limited organised party to mark Children’s Day in Lagos.

— Kayla Grage

Foundation Challenges Pupils of Aguda Grammar School N celebration of this year’s Children’s Day, a non-governmental organisation, Total Child Education Foundation has called on the SSI students of Aguda Grammar School, Surulere, to gear up for the challenges ahead. Speaking at a one-day seminar organised for the pupils at Teslim Balogun’s Sport Complex, Lagos, a Principal Transformation Strategist of the Olakunle Soriyan Company and motivational speaker, Olakunle Soriyan, informed the pupils that if they fail to make the right decision or effort in life, it would affect their career. Acknowledging the fact that public school students might not always have the most conductive studying environment or access to the best ed-

Cross section of students at the occasion

ucation and other comfort of life, he said this is not enough for them to be unsuccessful in life. “The people that are doing well today will always do well tomorrow. And with your report cards, I can predict the students that will do bad or good in the future. But if you learn to follow instructions, ask questions and read books, the sky is your limit and you will be grateful to the Lord.” Kehinde Adeniji, a pupil of the school said: “I learnt so many things here. Even if you are born with a sliver-spoon, you still need to go out and achieve something for yourself because if you rely on your parents’ wealth, it might fail. Anything you do in life, you must be prayerful,

submissive and hardworking. With the help of God, I wish to become an engineer in the future. “We have no access to computer or the Internet in the school but this could help us to make more research. We need more text books and computer.” Adesina Akintola said: “I came to believe that there is none God cannot raise up in life. He could use anyone and it is never too late to change for better. We have many radicals around the school premises. They could endanger our lives, especially the female students. We need our teachers to be more committed to helping the students develop better.”

—Bukola Apata

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

CAMPUS Afe Babalola Gives Scholarship To Indigent Students From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti LEADING Legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola has announced a scholarship scheme for indigent but exceptionally brilliant students aspiring to attend the institution. The scheme, which is open to all Nigerian students with at least six distinctions, will afford them the opportunity of being trained in the elitist institution. Speaking to The Guardian, Babalola said there were many brilliant students in the country who aspire to attend a top rated university like ABUAD, but their parents are financially handicapped to pay the fees. “I want to assist them and ensure they are trained alongside other children in the school. I cannot forget my past, I gained admission

Dancers at the World Cultural Day 2013 held recently at the department of Sociology and Anthropology, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

to attend secondary school at Christ School, Ado Ekiti, but my parents could not afford the school fees. I know we still have many brilliant young boys and girls in that category and we can’t allow them to be frustrated. We would assist them to realize their dreams,” he said. Babalola, whose philanthropic gestures have been widely acknowledged, said the scholarship was an extension of his annual award scheme instituted to reward students and staff of the institution. At the end of 2012/2013 academic session, N28.5 million was given to 264 students and staff of the school. Interested students can visit the school website www.abuad.edu.ng before registration closes on June 21, this year.

UI: New Governing Council Pledges More Development HE newly constituted Governing Council of the University Ibadan has pledged to expand the frontiers of knowledge in the oldest and foremost institution in Nigeria. This was disclosed by the ProChancellor and Chairman of Council, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) during the inaugural meeting of the council last Wednesday. Adebayo told members to bear in mind the sanctity of the council’s central role, which is to transform the university to a world-class institution. He noted the outstanding achievements of the immediate past Governing Council under the leadership of Chief Wole Olanipekun. According to him: “Council performed

excellently during his tenure having put in place a policy framework for the university administration to function effectively and operate in a conducive environment.” He charged staff and students to see the institution as their collective heritage, which must be sustained. Welcoming the new council members, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac, said the university management would work closely with the new council. The VC later took members on a general tour of places of interest on campus, which included the International Conference Centre, UI Water Factory, Fire Station and Ajibode Extension. Other places visited were some ongoing proj-

ects, which included the Fish Farm, channelization of Oba Stream and the vertical extension of the medical Library of the College of Medicine. Accompanying the chairman on the visits were Amb. Lawrence Ekpebu, Senator Doguwa El-Jubril, Samuel Nwatu, Dr. Uche Mba, and Dr. Nathaniel Merenu. Other internal members of council on the delegation included Prof. Arinola O. Sanya, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration); Prof. Idowu Olayinka, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic); Prof. Bayo Okunade, Prof. Bankole Oke, Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola, Prof. Oluwole Abatan, and Mr. Olujimi Lagos State University Students’ Parliamentary Council (LASUSU-SPC) in a group photograph with the Speaker, Lagos State House of Olukoya, Registrar and Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji (middle) and other legislators during a courtesy visit by the students to the House recently. Secretary to Council. PHOTO: NURUDEEN YUSUF

NOUN Rusticates 50 Over Exam Malpractices • Matriculates 200 In Imo UTHORITIES of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have rusticated 50 students of the institution for various offences ranging from examinations malpractices to acts inimical to the academic standard of learning and research in the institution, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, has said. Represented by a senior official in counseling unit of the Owerri Centre of the institution, Dr. Theresa Ettu, during the 9th matriculation ceremony of over 200 students held at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, near Owerri, Imo State recently, the VC said the senate in its last sitting approved the rustication, noting that it would serve as deterrent to others who indulge in such acts. In her speech, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Dr. Celestina Njoku, represented by a Deputy Registrar, Ever Nwosu, said the institution was glad to accommodate NOUN. He urged the Cross section of graduates at the 11th convocation ceremony of Babcock University held last week at new students to abide by the regulations of NOUN Illishan-Remo, Ogun State, with Miss Oduyoye Oyebola, a graduate of Public Health Department emerging and the host institution. the best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.92.

WISECRACKS Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude. Ralph Marston Determine never to be idle. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. Thomas Jefferson People spend their lives in the service of their passions instead of employing their passions in the service of their lives. Sir Richard Steele Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you learn to do it well. Steve Brown

LET US KNOW Every week, LIFE CAMPUS reports on events in students’ communities across the country. You can contribute by sending stories, gossips, reports on events and your pictures for Campus Faces to us at: templer2k2@yahoo.com or guardianlife2005@yahoo.com

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

HEALTH

How To Stay Health By Moji Solanke

T is a fact of human experience that there are some individuals who stay healthy regardless of the lifestyle they adopt, while some who take every known health precaution, still end up struggling to stay healthy. This shows that, while it is important to do what is right in terms of moderation and temperance, there is more to staying healthy than meets the eye - literally. There have been many theories to explain this difference in the state of health of individuals, the most prevalent of which, according to modern day research, is genes. Other schools of thought ascribe better health to the level of the development of a region, or the spending power of an individual; while some attribute it to race, gender and age. The fallibility of these theories is quite evident, since there are too many exceptions, for any one of them to be the

general rule. Being healthy and staying healthy is desirable for everyone, regardless of where they live, their bio-statistics or economics. It is becoming evident to the best thinkers that spirituality has a definite positive bearing on good health. This spirituality is defined as faith in a Supreme Being, usually called God. Indeed, scientific research is proving this to be the case, and this has started to generate more than a cursory interest in what spirituality is, and how it works. In 1866, an American Christian woman discovered, through conscientious study of the Bible, almost unceasing prayer, divine revelation through the unction of the Holy Spirit, and, most importantly, by practical demonstration — restoring health to hundreds —, how spirituality works to preserve good health. She subjected her discovery to the broadest tests, healing cases of acute, chronic,

incurable and terminal disease, injury and accident. She found that race, age, gender, economics, and all the etceteras that would militate against staying healthy, became subordinate to spirituality. She thus found that spirituality is applicable universally, in preserving or restoring health. Mary Baker Eddy shared what she discovered in her internationally recognised book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, published first in 1875. This system of spiritual healing, as elucidated in the book, continues to heal around the world today. More than this, the ideas presented by Eddy enlightens the reader in a way that results in better health and morals. Reports show that it has a beneficial, even life changing effect on health. Readers have attested to the fact that the book gives them a spiritual and more practical sense of the Bible, as well as a better understanding of

their relationship with God. The Women’s National Book Association cites it as “one of the seventy five books by women whose words have changed the world”. As research continues to seek ways and means in order for man to be healthy and stay healthy, the ideas presented by a nineteenth century Christian woman continue to blaze the trail. Thousands readily testify [over 10 million copies of the book have been sold], that spirituality, based on God, heals, especially when following the example of healing taught and practiced by Christ Jesus, the system of which is laid out in Eddy’s book. Furthermore, the system teaches, with practical proof, how anyone, regardless of their current state of health, and in spite of genes and circumstance, can stay healthy. m_asolanke@hotmail.com

Health And Your Mind

Mind And The Kingdom Of Heaven (3) By Babatunde Ayo-Vaughan

N previous article, I touched on what the concept of heaven in concrete terms ought to mean. It ought to be recognised as the storehouse of intelligence. I went on to explain this especially in its relevance to this discussion. Intelligence in its relevance to this discussion is about the mechanism of operational laws. The operational laws whose empirical certainties can be substantiated in a discernible linkage between cause and effect. This can be said to be the primary method of how God operates and it has equally been scientifically substantiated. You may have heard it before particularly through religion that ‘whatever you sow you will reap’. This is the principle of ‘cause and effect’ . To religion, it is the principle of justice. It can even be referred to as the principle of love. This is what the concept of law is all about. It is about the principle of ‘cause and effect’. The principle of ‘cause and effect’ will tell you that you must sow corn to reap corn, you must sow wheat to reap wheat. You cannot sow wheat to reap corn and vice versa. This is the scientific validation of the principle of ‘cause and effect. It is about a discernible order of operation. This is what is meant by the rule of intelligence. It is

about the link between cause and effect. It leads to empirical certainty that cannot be faulted. I stand to be corrected if in all my confidence, I tell you that this is the scientific explanation of how God Almighty created the universe. This is because underlying the universe are operational laws whose mechanism of operation is based on the principle of ‘cause and effect’. The primary method on which God operates is resting on the discernible linkage between cause and effect. This linkage establishes order. That is why it has been easy for man today to see the relationship for example between the earth and the sun and that having recognised that the earth rotates round the sun, we have been able to calculate its twenty-four hour cycle to give us what we call one day. It has been used successfully to let us know that three hundred and sixty-five days cycle gives us what we call one year. The facts pertaining to just this astronomical knowledge alone help us to know our rainy season and dry season; our winter, summer and autumn. One should then be able to appreciate what was going on in the mind of King David when he wrote in Psalm 19 that ‘the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handwork, day unto day uttereth speech and night into night

showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth’. This is a simple and beautiful way to acknowledge God and His method of operation. A method of intelligence rings through what David wrote in a way that can best be ‘appreciated from the scientific stand point. There is no religious sentiment to befuddle it. It talks about the empirical certainty of the ways of God. The ways that can best be captured in one word — order. So if you have never really appreciated what it means all this while to say that — order is the first law in heaven, then you should know that this statement is not about Christianity, Islam nor any religion for that matter, it is a statement trying to make it clear to you that the ways of God are about the operation of intelligence that can be scientifically substantiated for the wellbeing of all and so therefore, ‘order is the first law in heaven’ can only mean that heaven in its true concept is the storehouse of intelligence that operates the principle of ‘cause and effect’ for results.

Ayo-Vaughan, a psychologist, lives in Lagos. babatund_2@yahoo.com

Practical Psychology By Passy Amaraegbu

S uncanny as it sounded, he recounted the ugly story of how his wife used to assault him. He was a victim of marital violence. The signs were evident for any doubting Thomas to see. His eyes were bloody and his face showed rough scratches. Next, he unbuttoned his sleeves and displayed wounds in both arms. According to him, all these were proofs of marital violence. Most of us are familiar with one form of marital violence. The type whereby husbands (males) are the oppressors while their wives (females) are victims or the oppressed. We are familiar with wife beaters or batterers. But what of husband beaters or batterers? Marital violence is also known as spousal, family, domestic or intimate partner abuse. The violence can be verbal or non-verbal. Females may be more guilty of the former while males are more prone towards the latter. It is defined as a consistent pattern of abusive behaviours by one or both partners in the marriage relationship. Examples of non-verbal violence include; hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects at. Other manifestations of non-verbal marital violence include, sexual abuse, intimidating, domineering and controlling behaviours against one’s partner. Verbal violence manifests in the form of threats, curses, abuses, nagging and other forms of verbal provocations. Marital violence is a pathetic and troublesome malady. What turns love into acidic hatred? What causes affiliation, affirmation and affection to become crude poison? What provokes someone to hate and punish one part of his/her own body? Why does sweetness turn around and become sourness? What turns a caring and loving partner into a ferocious beast? Why become violent and harbour intensive destructive tendencies towards one’s partner? Lack of self-control is one major cause of spousal abuse. It is virtually impossible for a couple to live together day and night for years without provoking or offending each other. Yet, love demands that the hurt or offended partner bears and forbears. One must be ready to bring oneself under control by counting the cost of indiscipline. It is terribly wrong for the two partners to become offenders or insane at the same time. A childhood friend of mine’s immediate younger sister’s sibling rivalry was so intense that she became a daily thorn in his flesh. However, their disciplinarian father forced my friend never to raise his hand against her without first reporting the grievances to him. Failure to abide by this rule attracted heavy punishment in

Causes Of Marital Violence spite of the righteous stand one had. Though it was a torturous experience, that measure permanently dealt with the issue of raising hands against a woman in his life. Of course, some of us didn’t have the privilege of such paternal discipline. We will therefore have to enforce it personally. No doubt, ignorance is a major cause of spousal violence. Most people enter the marriage relationship with a heavy dose of ignorance or at best, half-truths on many issues. Many are ignorant of theirs’ and their partners’ character weaknesses, temperaments, idiosyncrasies, mindsets and worldviews. Many others desire that their partners become a clone of themselves. They fail to understand that unity isn’t the same as uniformity and that variety is more beautiful than monotony. Ignorance of these issues tends to cause strife in the relationship which can deteriorate to violence. Mortals are spiritual, mental as well as social beings. Negative socialization can predispose people to spousal violence. First from the point of view of family history. Children raised in violent homes are more likely to repeat the cycle in their own marriages than those raised in non-violent homes. This occurs through the process of socialization and vicarious learning and not necessarily through genetic inheritance. Again, keeping company with spousal batterers will likely influence people to engage in the dastard act. It is true that evil companionship corrupts good manners. A third socializing influence towards marital violence is the media apparatus. Societies that promote spousal abuse through the electronic and print media contribute significantly towards the growth of this malady. The role of the media is so crucial in determining the type of homes we build in our societies that we can attribute a significant percentage of cases of marital violence to them. This understanding becomes clearer when we consider the concrete ways and means the media influences every age group in our society. Remember the daily newspapers, periodicals, magazines, and journals, novels, plays, poetry, films, dramas, operas, Internet, phones and DSTV. What is the prevailing and predominant message of the global media? Do they promote the sanctity and sanity of marriage or its’ devastation and destruction? Not only do they promote the latter, but also glamourise it.

The hardship and hazardous milieu of this season also tends to promote spousal violence. Many breadwinners have become bread losers. Many providers have been reduced to helpless dependants. Roles have so much been demystified and demeaned, misused and misappropriated, and abandoned that several homes today are fed by abused children. Many wives are bitter against their financially liability husbands. Some of these wives have so nagged their husbands that presently, they have began to use their fists to hit the men to see if these men can be aroused to some profitable actions. Others have resorted to marital infidelity because they can no longer bear the weeping and wailing of their children. Yet there is no respite in view. Failure to achieve, frustration and feebleness can predispose others to marital violence. This is a case of misplaced aggression. The inability to handle the oppression and opposition in the office or business, inability to stand up to the aggressive forces in the market place or the selfish capitalist tendencies of human organizations in our contemporary world can make some degenerate into marital violence as a form of catharsis (letting off steam). We all are products of peculiar mindsets. A mindset which views women as necessary evils or the source of sorrow, cannot escape from the practice of marital abuse. Or one who sees women as part of a man’s property or posses-

sion is already a fertile ground for violence. Also women who view men as being violent, mean or oppressive are already predisposed to vengeance behaviours. Of course, martial violence can be a product of an insane mind. It can be momentary as caused by alcoholism or indulgence in other drugs. Marital abuse resulting from a history of neurosis or psychosis is the source of immense trauma since the victim will need prolonged attention. Consequently the partner of such a oppressor will need specialist attention in order to cope with the problem. In examining the causes of marital violence, it is important to note that some causes are simply reactionary behaviours or acts of vengeance against the partners’ behaviours. A typical example is the story we began with. The wife of that man after seven years of assuming the role of a breadwinner and suffering ingratitude and pungent verbal abuse from an indulgent and insolent husband, decided to fight for personal survival. While condemning her for her intransigency and undisciplined behaviour towards her husband, the man isn’t less guilty. Marriage is a sacred institution that needs two healthy minds to make success out of it. Where one fails, the other should hold him or her up. The two shouldn’t fail at the same time. We consider the consequences before discussing how to handle marital violence.

drpassy@yahoo.com

President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Victor Famuyibo with Edwin Bankole and Hammed Bello at the 14th induction held in Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

SPECIAL REPORT

Events Promotion, Little Developm

Nigeria’s 4x400 metres quartet celebrating after finishing second at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The team later took the gold medal following the disqualification of the USA for doping offences.

In recent times, the country has witnessed a raft of international competitions, where participants from all over converge in Nigeria to vie for honours and the cash that goes with them. Most times, such events, which cost thousands of dollars to organise, do not ultimately lead to the development of local talents, who can challenge their foreign counterparts effectively for the prize monies. CHRISTIAN OKPARA, GOWON AKPODONOR and OLALEKA OKUSAN take a look at the phenomenon and its impact on the country’s sporting landscape. HILE addressing the Nigerian community W recently in London, sports minister/chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi, promoted the Federal Government’s programmes aimed at ensuring that Nigeria regained its place among the top sporting nations of the world. One of such programmes is the Rhythm ‘N’ Play, which aims to utilise dance and fun to lure at least two million students back to sports. The minister said the strategy has become necessary if the country desired to raise future stars, who would then place Nigeria in its right position among the comity of sporting nations. The minister also said that government’s commitment to sports development would soon manifest in new laws to deal with those who frustrate the wheels of progress in that sector. The sports development agenda, he said, required that talented youths are trained at least two and half-hours everyday and also exposed to competitive environments to steel them properly so that they would be ready to compete successfully at the highest level when the time comes. “We will take advantage of what we have to get what we need. We may not have the kind of facilities they have here in the UK and other developed countries, but we will ensure we harness every opportunity at our disposal and partner with other countries for success,” he said. Admitting that the country cannot excel in

sports “when we are not learning from other countries,” Abdullahi cited Kenya and other countries as examples that have little or no resources compared to what Nigeria has, but are excelling in track and field events. According to him, the National Sports Commission is working on building a sustainable system, as the only way to success. Looking back at the last Olympics in London, Abdullahi said the Games taught the country valuable lessons, which would serve the country well in the long run. “The London 2012 Olympics was really traumatizing because I trusted people who came to boast of their many years of experience in sports and at the end I saw where their experience got us to,” he reflected. “Now we know that nothing happens by chance and so we are trying to build a system that will lead us to sustainable success.” In the pre-colonial days and the years just after independence up until the late 1980s, Nigeria relied on the structures erected by the British colonial government to harness its abundant resources for success in sports. Thus, the various divisions (states) had ready facilities with which to train their budding youngsters in almost all the Olympic sports. Even with minimal technical knowledge or teaching ability, games masters were able to churn out competitive youngsters, who went on to do well for the country in international competitions. In the good days of Nigerian sports, every com-

munity, state and local council had its own competitions, which threw up its representatives in regional and national competitions, such that states’ sports festivals were as competitive as the National Sports Festival, which in turn rivaled the All African Games in the interest it generated among the people. Those were the days when Nigeria had such world beaters in boxing like Dick Tiger, Abraham Tonica, Eddie Ndukwu, Lat Darasin, Davidson and Tony Andeh, Hogan Jimoh, and Dele Jonathan, among other great Nigerian boxers. In athletics, Nigeria was almost at par with the United States in the number of worldclass sprinters, jumpers and quartermilers it produced for all occasions. For instance, just before the 1976 Olympic Games, the country was rated among the top contenders in the boxing, long jump, 400 metres race, and the relays with Charlton Ehizuelen, Obisia Nwankpa, Bruce Ijirigho, among others being in the A list of athletes going to the Montreal show before the country pulled out of it. But since the late 1990s, the country has been on a free slide in sports, prompting questions as to what must have gone wrong. Since Nigeria had its best outing in the Olympic Games at the Atlanta 1996, she has not managed more than one silver medal in the world meet. In fact, the last Olympics marked the worst performance since Moscow 1980. Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, agrees that Nigeria needs urgent surgery if she must be in the position to compete for major honours. Abdullahi believes that as a country, after 52 years of taking part in a competition, Nigeria should sit back and re-examine her strategies to know what has gone wrong. The minister, however, is optimistic that Nigeria will claim its rightful position in the comity of sports nations with the right approach to participation in competitions. He added: “When I came into office I asked for the template used in winning the Atlanta Olympics football gold medal, but I could not get it because there was none.

“We did not plan for that victory, which came against the expectations of many Nigerians. I believe that we will start doing well when we invest in the right resources. We have not achieved as much as we should because we have not invested as much as we should. The argument is that most states and organisations spend so much on organising competitions without thinking of developing athletes to participate in such events. Some even argue that many competitions held in Nigeria are merely for the benefit of foreign athletes, who come into the country to win laurels and take away the rewards, which in most cases run into thousands of dollars. The Federal Government is statutorily charged with providing facilities and the enabling environment for sports to thrive, while the local councils and states have the duty of harnessing talents within their domains, after which the federations assemble such talents for further development and competitions. But a sports lawyer, Sabinus Ikewuaku, says those arms of government are not doing enough in grassroots development. According to Ikewuaku, “some states’ sports councils are mere civil servants’ enclaves, where people go to mark the register and wait for the month end to collect their salaries. “Most of these sports councils do not have qualified personnel, so what you find there is a situation where relations of politicians are sent to the sports councils to mark time. “Abia State has produced so many national and international athletes, but there is no single tartan track in the whole of the state. Ebonyi is a different case entirely. “So, it is only by providence that an outstanding athlete can emerge from these states. But they take part in the National Sports Festival and other competitions because bit has become a routine.” To a former board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Jide Josiah, Nigeria should reorder its priorities to ensure if it desired positive sports development. Josiah says that given the opportunity, he will

HE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

SPECIAL REPORT

ment, Bane of Nigerian Sports ensure that some state governors and corporate organisations operating in the country limit their spending in sponsorship of events such as long distance races. To Josiah, who is from Ekiti State, what some of the governors and corporate organisations have done over the years are mere sports promotion and not sports development. He reasoned that the nation’s sports is not in any way reaping from the millions of naira being channelled into the sponsorship of events like the Obudu Marathon, which has consumed about $2 million as prize money from its maiden edition in 2005 till the 2012 edition. “It is obvious that marathon races are alien to this part of Africa,” Josiah told The Guardian in an interview shortly after the Okpekpe Road Race, where athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia swept the prize monies at stake. “People just misconstrue the races’ motives. Obudu marathon is just to showcase the ranch resorts to the rest of the world, while Okpekpe Road Race was a political event meant to show that Governor Oshiomhole is also developing roads in the hinterland. “In the past, the MTN and Glo marathon were for mass participation and fun run in competitive terms. The races were of no use as no past Nigerian winner has ever come in the first 100 positions in any international marathon outside the country. So, it was just an advert stunt. The only benefit to local athletes is just the little cash money they won after the race,” Josiah stated. In recent years, some Nigerian state governors have turned the country into a ‘gold mine’ for long distance runners from countries like Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. They stroll in from different African countries to pocket thousands of dollars in competitions they have comparative advantage in, over their Nigerian counterparts. The rush to stake huge amount of dollars on long distance races seems to be on the increase since former governor Donald Duke of Cross Rivers took the first initiative in 2005. In that year, the country witnessed the birth of Obudu marathon race, which has become an annual 11.25 km race competition, where athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and other parts of the world easily pick dollars. It usually holds in late November. The Obudu marathon has the largest total prize-money available of any mountain race and is known as “the world’s richest mountain race”. The competition winners receive US$50,000 each, and there is a total prize pot of around $250,000 annually. The race was created by the ex-governor who devised it as a means of raising awareness for Obudu Cattle Ranch – a tourist resort. Another ‘gold mine’ was opened for long distance runners about two months ago, when Edo State Governor Adams Oshomhole staged the maiden Okpekpe road race in a community near Auchi. It is the second largest in terms of prize money. Kenya’s duo of Moses Masai and Rono Georgina came first in the male and female categories at Okpekpe race, pocketing $45,000 in the process. Athletes from Uganda and Ethiopia also smiled home with dollars from the race. Some Nigerians who have the interest of the nation’s sports at heart are expressing worry over the unprofitable trend of marathon races in the country. To them, the governors are ‘directly’ nurturing other country’s athletes to stardom in areas they are already masters, leaving the short distance races, where Nigeria has a comparative advantage, to suffer. To them, if half of the money channeled into Obudu marathon and Okpekpe road races are invested in short distance races (100m, 200m), quarter mile, jumps and the relays, the nation would continue to reap the fruits. In the good days of Nigerian athletics, Cross River produced the likes of Emilia Edet, who went on to rule the 100m hurdles after losing the gold to highflying Modupe Oshikoya at the 1973 All Africa Games in Lagos. Apart from Edet (now a coach), Cross River also produced great sprinters like Ikpoto Iseme, who was part of Nigeria’s 4x100m gold medal winning team at Brisbane ‘82 Commonwealth

u Mountain Race edition of the Obud g the way in a past din lea s ian iop Eth

Games, Gabriel Okon and ex-African female sprint champion, Mercy Nku. They did not rise through marathon races. Edo State, on the other hand, has produced great athletes who went on to rule Africa and the world in the short sprint from the days of old Mid-west region to Bendel. Midwest, from which Bendel and Edo State metamorphosed, was the bedrock of Nigeria’s sports. The likes of Charlton Ehizuelen, Maria Usifo, Isaac Akhioye, Abraham Ordia, Jimmy Omagbemi and Awoture Eleyae ruled Africa and world athletics at different times. They were not marathon runners.

er State. in Obudu, Cross Riv

Some athletics buff have argued that state governors could as well draw world best runners in short distance races to their domains if top facilities are put in place. To them, a Nigerian sprinter will go the extra mile to train in order to meet any standard set at any 100m or 200m event, if such mouth-watering prize money as $25,000 is at stake. “From the way some of our state governors are going with promotion of marathon races, our traditional stronghold in sports, which is short distances races, may suffer more and Nigeria’s athletics will be in trouble,” one ath-

The London 2012 Olympics was really traumatizing because I trusted people who came to boast of their many years of experience in sports and at the end I saw where their experience got us to

Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi.

letics coach reasoned said. “There is urgent need to change direction from sports promotion to sports development as quickly as possible because there is no way we can beat Kenya, Ethiopia or Uganda in long distance races. We are just deceiving ourselves. We have our area of strenght, which is the short distance race. Why develop events, where the Kenyans will easily come and clear everything from time to time? I’m sure no governor in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda will finance an event for short distance runners. I expect our governors to reason the same way? Beijing 2008 Olympics taekwondo coach, Osita Egwin, believes the country would become a better sporting nation if conscious efforts were made to put down programmes for athletes development. He said, “I want to say in the last few years, we have been doing more of sports promotion because all the basics for development have been neglected. We like to stage competitions and attend tournaments, but we are not taking any lesson from the major competitions we have attended. “In terms of facilities, coaching and athletes’ welfare, which are the basics of development, nothing tangible has been done to correct the wrongs holding us down. “New sports facilities are not being constructed while the old ones are not even maintained. Nobody talks of educating the coaches, who are supposed to be retrained and sent to zones. The athletes, who are actors, are not even given adequate attention. So if all these are not there, we are just doing promotion rather than focusing on development,” he said. The University of Ibadan tactician added: “Even when we organise competitions, we hardly take any lesson from them. Rather, our priority is just how to outshine other nations. “The question we should ask is, ‘What do we derive from the results?’ We need to start focusing on development, the way China has done. The coaches should be encouraged to affect the athletes positively by sending them out for coaching courses so that they can impart the knowledge on the athletes. “It is the knowledge that the coaches impart on the athletes that they display when they go for major competitions.” The President, Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), George Ashiru, says the inability to fashion a clear sports policy has made it impossible for the country to have a clear programme. “There has not been any clear sports policy that will guide our activities. But in the last three years, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has set up dual programmes for grassroots sports and elite programmes, each with its own department. This is commendable. But before then, the federal government has left development for states in terms of facilities and we should also know that these states are faced with challenges of providing necessary amenities for their citizenry. “So only a few states like Delta and Edo pay attention to sports development, which has reflected on their performance at major competitions,” he said. National junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale, blames selfishness for the country’s decline in sports, saying the managers of the sector dwell only on sports promotion because it is lucrative. “I think if we have been focusing on development, we will not be where we are today in sports. Those in charge of sports are not just interested in development because they know they cannot get anything from it. “So their attention is always on promotion because most times nobody is called to give account of the fund spent on such activities. “Some of our managers go abroad for sports activities and they see how other nations are doing things to develop their games. But our people are not bothered to replicate such experiences in Nigeria,” he said. Ubale believes the country has enough raw materials to challenge the leading nations in sports, adding, however, that most of the talents are left to rot away or take to other things to make ends meet.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

NEWSFEATURE

Keke Napep Ban: Lagos On High-handed Over-Drive, Sends More To Unemployment Market By Gbenga Salau RETIOLA Ajibolorunsoro lives in Ejigbo. She works in Victoria Island. Everyday, she wakes up at 4am to prepare for office. On this day, she over slept and woke up at five am. By the time, she had finished preparations for office and boarding a bus, it was like taking a walk to the beast, the ugly of transportation. The ordinary drive from Ejigbo to Island was almost like a journey to hell. And there was no Okada to ride on. But her case is far better than that of Ladipo Adedina. He went through hell when he visited a family member staying on Ologun Agbaje Street, Victoria Island. According to him, when he got to CMS, he was told he had two options to link his cousin’s house. It was either taking a bus going towards Eko Hotel and alights at Bar-beach or through Adeola Odeku to alight at Post Office. He said that he preferred the Bar beach route, he had to walk not less than one kilometre. When he was going back, he was told to go through Adeola Odeku. He still had to walk not less than five hundred metres, because his cousin’s house is at the beginning of the street. In banning tricycles, the State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa said that the action

was meant to protect the lives and property of the residents. He warned that tricycles were not a replacement for motorcycles, as it is not a sustainable means of transportation for the state especially Lagos that is a megacity. Lagos is called a megacity not because of its huge land mass or the level of infrastructure but due to its population. It, therefore, means that the city would experience some challenges occasioned by the presence of these residents and those who interface with the city. These challenges, no doubt, would be more peculiar considering Lagos as a city is not endowed with appropriate landmass. Also, situated in a developing country with huge infrastructural challenges and poor maintenance culture, it therefore implies that commuting within the city surely would be problematic. It is also a fact that majority of those who gave the city the mega status are the middle and low class status, which constitute the majority in the city. Some residents have argued that it seems the state government and its machinery sees the megacity status as one of beautification and class rather than helping the residents, mainly the mid-class and the poor, who gave the city that categorisation the room to live and benefit from the grading.

When the state government banned motorcycles from plying some roads, it was not done pragmatically. There was no alternative means in many of the routes. It was the operators of the motorcycles who felt they should remain in business through operating tricycles. And this is evident in the sudden pronouncement by the state government that tricycles are also banned from some routes. Even the ban on motorcycles as many Lagos residents are trying to fully come to terms with the ban on Okada as they are still adjusting to the consequences of the ban. When motorbikes were banned, many saw tricycles popularly Keke Napep as alternative means of commuting. Many riders of motorcycles also bought tricycles to started plying some of the routes to cater for commuters who were stranded as government never made any concerted effort to provide alternatives on these routes. Those who thought it was government who provided the alternative means of tricycles in these routes would have a change of heart about that thinking now with the ban on tricycle by government weeks after. Yet, many places where okada used to station or ply, Keke Napep had not started plying the routes. A rider of commercial tricycles, Mr. Isaac Chukwuemeka, who spoke with annoyance, said that

government should do whatever it likes. And if it wants to punish the people, it should go ahead to implement it though he maintained that the policy was not a well thought out one. He wondered if the government does not know that there are low-level people in the society, who could not afford to buy car to hire a taxi when going out. When The Guardian tried probing further, he declined comment. Another tricycle operator, Mr. Bassey Sunday, begged the state government to rescind its decision because it would have negative effect on not only the commuters but also the riders. Using himself as an example, he said that he used to ride motorcycles but when it was banned he was still riding because he had no alternative means of providing for his family. According to him, it was only about two months ago that somebody stood as a surety for him to allow a microfinance bank in Ogba to finance the purchase of a tricycle on loan to be repaid through a weekly contribution. He further said that he was shocked by the news because he has only worked two months and had paid back less one hundred thousand naira to the microfinance bank. For Mr. Onyema Onovo, a commuter, the government has no reason to ban keke since it has banned okada. He said that the action is not proper because keke does not pose any security threat. Mr. Ifeanyi Ebie said that the decision would cause a lot of hardship except government is willing to provide an alternative means of moving people in the places where the ban would be enforced. He wondered how people who cannot afford to buy a car or rent taxi would survive when they need to visit the areas keke were banned. To Segun Adeola, the policy is a harsh one and when government is making its policy, it should know that apart from the upper class in the society, they should also know that there is the middle and lower class in the society. He argued that the decision would increase the stress of Lagos residents who visit or ply those routes but cannot afford a taxi. He however said that if government is banning tricycle, it would do well to help the masses to provide a viable alternative. On why he prefers Keke to bus, Samson Adedapo said it saves time. According to him, a bus needs fourteen passengers to get filled but most Keke with three passengers they move out of their park. He said it would take four times the minutes spent waiting to get the Keke filled for bus to get filled. “So, you see why people would naturally go for Keke instead of bus. To me, Keke should even be preferred by the state because of space. Tricycles and cars could accommodate the same number of passengers but the space a car occupies is twice that of a Keke. So a state like Lagos that is challenged in terms of space should prefer a means of transportation that will occupy less space on road.”

‘Government Needs To Make Buses, High Capacity Vehicles Available’ hicles, which is not very good. What can be done is to limit them to secondary roads or residential areas. But unfortunately government has not done enough in conjunction with other stakeholders to make sure that buses and high capacity vehicles are available. In some places, especially Asian countries, where we the idea of tricycles came from, they have banned their use just because HEN you look at transportation, what it is supposed to give is efficiency, adequacy and capacity. In terms of road they are not efficient means of transportation. What you need in a place like Lagos are high capacity vehicles that can make efusage, tricycles are not better option. Viewed from the road space usage perspective, they are not effective use of space. For example, if you put three tricycles together, the space they ficient users of road space. Again, if you look at it in terms of cawill cover in terms of length, that will take approximately pacity, most of them are not high carrying capacity vehicles. about two cars or buses, but if you take the number of passenThey carry between three and five passengers. Under normal situation, for a city like Lagos, you need efficient gers two buses will carry, in terms of space now, you will notice vehicles of high carry capacity to be able to move people. But in that buses can carry more passengers and space more efficase of tricycles, most of them ply on major highways and they ciently. So you look at it vis-à-vis congestion, you will find out are slow moving vehicles so they compete with fast moving ve- that the more the number of tricycles you have on the road, the Prof. Adesanya Adesoji Adesanya is Head, Policy Engagement Division, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan. In a chat with GBENGA SALAU, he spoke on the action of the government against the commercial use of tricycles and the challenge of transportation in a growing megacity like Lagos.

greater the problem of congestion they create, as they are slow moving, not fast. Unfortunately, this is coming at a time things are a little bit difficult. People will say it is a means to provide temporary employment, yes; but in terms of efficiency, quick movement of people, they are not at all. What Lagos can do is to allow tricycles to provide interior services for now. The problem is that things are very bad and as alternative, people just have to use them. If the transport system were well planned, clearly buses and other vehicles would have been provided. It is just that we are not forward thinking in this country; otherwise alternative means would have been made. More buses could have been put on those roads so that at least those who are public transport dependent could have a means of moving themselves. I will say that high capacity vehicles should be encouraged, because of its advantage in terms of space usage, efficiency and pollution.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

NEWSFEATURE

Skating: Fun Stunt, Fast Route To Suicide By Bisi Alabi Williams, Gbenga Akinfenwa and Ikechukwu Onyewuchi ELE Jones is a young Nigerian with a lofty D ambition. He carries this ambition on his gentle shoulder. With a rolling, motion-laden footgear called roller skate that is only glided on smooth surface, Dele practices, and sometimes, does some stunts. In his teenage years, he wakes up early everyday to glide and skate, not just for pleasure, but also, in the hope that some day he will be crowned national champion, and possibly, have a shot at the African crown. “I want to be a world champion,” he says. But Dele is not the only one with such ambition. Paul Ikechukwu Orusa and Emmanuel Mbachu are also aiming at becoming champions on the skateboard. A new generation sport, skating has enjoyed tremendous growth since its introduction into the country. It is widely embraced in Lagos and other major cities in the country by young Nigerians. Seen as alternative to football, basketball and other sports, it’s fun to skate, and all it requires to be on top of the game are stability and balance. Highway skate rolling is quite a unique recreation game that is being transformed into an interesting sport in Nigeria. Its attraction is the dexterity and guts of roller skaters along highways. In fact, it is becoming rather fashionable to see young lads these days on the highways clinging on to the rears of commuter buses in a bid to either increase their strides or to attract attention of onlookers to them (possibly to show off their skating expertise). At other times, they skate in between two buses and move along, only to disengage moments later. The real reasons or attraction for these dangerous acts are still unknown. In fact, when skaters are in full gear demonstrating different styles, it is always interesting for onlookers and passers by who are fascinated by the moves and expertise that they bring to bear on their skating. For the everyday people, they stand and watch wondering if what the skaters are doing is actually real or something they see in movies. One is compelled to ask: How safe is the skater? What of other road users? What is the major attraction to skating in Nigeria? Why are more and more young people taking interest in this fun game? What are the possible risks attached to the sport? How can skating (highway or not) be adequately regulated for the safety of all? ASIDE from the great fun derived from it, it also has commercial attraction. In recent times, following the ban of Okada on highway in Lagos, some companies and small business owners now ‘contract’ these youths to deliver letters or documents for them while parting with a few naira. In other words, these youths are sent as courier service providers. These young ‘contractors’ are seen as cheaper alternatives to these real ones in paid employment. On the other hand, these boys don’t mind the fact that they are paid peanuts as long as they get paid for the services. At other times, they get jobs from companies to participate in road shows, hired for adverts and products launch. Currently, these skaters can be seen on Airport, Ikorodu, Oshodi, Mushin, Ojuelegba and National Stadium and other places, gliding alongside the sidewalks, on the streets, around some business districts and sometimes carelessly hanging on rears of speeding vehicles. Sometimes, many of them form single lines on the road and hold on to one another at the waist as they glide along. At times, they holdon to motorcycles, commercial vehicles or tricycles in motion for two to three kilometers at a stretch. At the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos where they usually train, investigations revealed that there are six clubs: United Gliders, Crazy Wheels, Wonderous Move Skaters, Extreme Wheels Club, Young Quality International Skaters Club and Inline Skaters, all under the umbrella of Roller Sports Federation of Nigeria (RSFN). They have their distinct gears, hence, each corner of the stadium is coloured by different groupings — green, yellow, red and purple. There seems to be no age restriction as kids and grown ups are seen strutting their stuffs in their skate canvass or plastic adorned glid-

ing footwear, which is another material the roller skate is made of. Despite its fun and benefits, skating looks like a dangerous stunt because it is being abused in Nigeria. Skaters go to the extreme of experimenting their skills on busy highways, putting their lives at risk while indulging in needless stunts. The Guardian gathered from some of them that the decision to skate on busy roads was a strategy to avoid hopping buses and parting with transport fare, others claimed that bets are usually placed on the risky adventure. One of the skaters, Orusa, who is in his early 20s, said he has been skating for two years. A member of the Wonderous Move Skaters (WMS) with his twin brother, he skates to keep fit, saying some of his colleagues in the stadium actually make a living out of it. According to him, “skating has been wonderful, worthwhile and joyful too. One of the major gains is that it builds morals. You leave your home and come down here to involve yourself in something worthwhile, instead of being involved in something immoral. Basically, skating keeps me fit, busy and focused.” Esosa Idehen, another skater, said he has made up his mind to take it up as a career. He noted that he got motivation while watching TV, particularly ESPN. Asked if he had done anything extreme, the teenager said he had hung-on to a moving bus before, but was afterwards advised against it. He said he did so because he wanted to do something out of the ordinary. Another teenager, Mbachu, who has been skating for seven years, said he’s been injured while skating. To him, skating is risky, that is why he trains with the club. He said life itself is about risks and one takes risks to learn, so he takes the risks to learn. His greatest achievement in skating is coming third in a marathon organised at the National Stadium and he hopes to project Nigeria to the world through his skate shoes, if given opportunity. Mr. Chidozie Nwankwo, coach of WMS, who spoke with The Guardian at the heat of a training session, said the sport, which has two categories of people, those who joined for recreation and others who want to make a living out of it, is so much embraced that it has become a family affair. “There is nothing fatal about skating. If it were fatal, nobody would come and join us. And also, as a parent, if you know something is risky, you wouldn’t allow your kids into it. But here, you have some parents who bring their children from different parts of Lagos to learn how to skate. Sometimes, the entire family comes to skate here. They do it for recreation and fun,” he said. On the safety angle of the sport, the coach revealed that his students are trained and warned to avoid bad moves when they are in motion and, if they eventually make these moves, they have been equipped with the requisite knowledge on what to do to avoid serious injuries. Said he: “There are no hazards for skaters on the highways. That is why we have strategies we teach in clubs. We train them on how to dodge vehicles, how to move on their own, and what to do when they hear sounds of oncoming vehicles on the highway. Aside from these, we also train them on how to move on sand as well as in the rain. Since the tyres are quite slippery on water, it takes special caution to skate in the rain. But more importantly, it’s only professionals that are allowed on the highways. We have three level of expertise here and it’s only the professionals, who are experts and have been licensed, that can skate on the highways.” He noted that the FRSC sometimes advises and accommodates them in some of their programmes, adding that they are both working together to address the menace of unauthorised highway skaters. “To do this, every skating club in Lagos State has volunteered professional skaters to form a Taskforce that monitors the highways. When they identify unauthorised skaters, they either seize their skates or arrest them. The Road Safety people are supportive and they monitor some of the competitions we organize,” he stated. But the FRSC claimed it has no official collaboration with them as claimed by the coach. Mr. Adeoye Irelewuye, Sector Head of Operations, Lagos Unit, told The Guardian

PHOTOS: Gbenga Akinfenwa that skaters are part of the road users but not aware of any collaboration with them. “All I can say is that they are more at risk because they are exposed road users, they are more or less like pedestrians, they run higher risk of crash or injury because of the speed at which they move. Skating has safety rules, if you want to skate, you must avoid major roads and busy routes too. You are expected to wear protective clothing like bright or reflective clothes, safety helmet, elbow, kneel and chin guards to prevent injury to the skaters,” he said. Irelewuye claimed that there are rules guiding skaters, just like pedestrians and cyclists because they are part of road users, adding that anybody using the road must observe all traffic rules and regulations. He stressed that one of the peculiar rules applicable to skaters is that they must not hold-on to moving vehicles, they must not

zigzag or cross the road without checking for on-coming vehicles, because it is a dangerous act. He declared that skaters are subjected to more rules than other road users. “The most important thing is for Government and other relevant agencies to enlighten skaters on the risk attached to unguided or unsupervised skating especially highway skating in Lagos. While it is advisable to skate within the GRAs, Estates, and inner streets and in sparsely populated areas of Lagos, care should be taken to largely avoid the major roads and highways to avoid injuries or undue loss of lives. On the whole, the watchword is “caution”. Any body living in Lagos would readily attest to the fact that Lagos roads are not the best for the skating business. But if the sport must thrive, government and club owners and leaders must collaborate to set the operating rules.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday June 9, 2013

NEWSFEATURE

Onitsha River Port

Onitsha River Port In Limbo As Concessionaires Lobby For Job • Eight months after completion, government yet to make income By Chijioke Iremeka IGHT months after commissioning for use, the Onitsha River Port Complex, which situated east of the River Niger at Onitsha, Anambra State, it is yet to resume operations as skimmers on concession from Presidency and Federal Ministry of Transport are jostling to be considered for the task. The Guardian gathered that there has been a clash of interest on the concessioning, as some people are said to be lobbying the presidency, while others the Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) among others. Following a recent public statement that the concessioning of the port is awaiting the completion of Oguta River Port, located at Osse Motor in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state, and that of Baro in Kogi State would be concessioned together, it was gathered that only the Onitsha port is at the last stage. According to the resident engineer of both river ports, Engr. Aguda, it is not possible to concession the three ports together due to certain processes that they will follow. “Concession takes certain stages and that of Onitsha is at the last stage. Oguta and Baro are likely to be completed this year. We have missed the March completion date for Oguta due to delay in release of funds.” Aguda explained that to open a discussion on concession of Oguta port, it has to be completed and commissioned, before the issue of concessioning will be brought into the picture. He noted that the concession of Onitsha river port will soon be over. According to him, the trio would not be considered for commissioning and concessioning at the same time because they are being created to serve the same purpose but in different ways and locations; they do not have the same completion date and therefore, will not work.

“Those in charge of the concessioning have ge of providing regulations for inland navivisited thrice, likewise the World Bank. The gation and registering of motorised boats in port will soon take off. I do not know how the waterways is losing much for non regislong more it will be. We have gone far with tering of more boats, and other vessels on the Oguta project; at least, the port is at 82 the waterways due to non operational of the per cent completion. It would have been port. According to the Deputy General Manager completed by now but there was a little delay due to the challenge of fund scarcity. So, I and Area Manager, Onitsha River Port, the would say that non operation of Onitsha ministry is losing money due to paucity of River Port is traceable to delay on the conces- working capital. To him, the agency makes between N20m sioning.” He noted that the 82per cent completion and N30m monthly for the government yet quoted is on the average, adding that some gets only N120, 000 as monthly working capof the buildings at the site have gone beyond ital. The agency, which makes between that. He maintained that 82per cent repre- N240m and N360m per annum, out of which sents the extent of work done in proportion to the amount of money released. “No fund has been released this year for the job. If fund is released, the project would be completed before the end of the year.” During the visit to Osse Motor River Port in Oguta, it was discovered that work is in progress at the port but work on the ground does not show an advanced pace and nowhere near completion. The structures such as the arrival warehouse and quay platform are yet to be fixed. However, there are a number of completed warehouses. Some surveyors were seen at the site taking records but claims on completion of the port this year is in doubt, from our findings. The Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIWA, Mr. Tayo Fadile, confirmed that the delay was as a result of concession. He noted that the port is undergoing necessary concessioning stages, which he believes would soon be completed take off operations but claimed he was not aware of the idea to concession the Onitsha port alongside Baro and Uguta ports. Meanwhile, non operation of the multibillion naira facility is yet to earn the government any income as NIWA, the government The Oguta inland port under construction

only N1.440000 is given it as an annual operational fund, would generate more revenue if the port were operational and more vessels registered. “When we chase after those owing us without much success and our working fund finishes, the work stops. Most times, they capitalise on this, knowing that we do not have the resources to sustain our debt recovery programme. They tend to evade payment until we give up,” said Iloba. He noted that the operation of the Onitsha port would earn more money for the government and create jobs for citizens. “Well, upon concession, we hope that the concessionaire would help us do this by alerting us on arrival of unregistered boats, barges and other vessels at the port.”

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

LEISURE

When Next You Go On A Holiday By Kikelola Oyebola ELAXATION. Holiday. Needless to say these two form a crucial component of a good, meaningful and fulfilling life. For, not only do they determine the health and general wellbeing of individuals, they also contribute in no small measure to their productivity, which in turn decides how successful they become. When compared to what obtained in the past, findings have shown that more Nigerians are now aware and understand the need for regular exercise and relaxation though the percentage of those that do so is still relatively small. The pertinent questions here, however, are: Do Nigerians really relax? Do they holiday in the proper sense of it? Greg Nwoko, a top journalist says there is no doubt Nigerians relax and holiday. They only observe these the ‘Nigerian way,’ which serves the purpose all the same. “I have devised my own way of resting. Everyday after work, I lie on the bed for as long as possible, sometimes drifting off to sleep in the process. And on weekends, I switch off my phones after coming back from church and sleep for two hours or more. When I wake up, I go to a nearby joint to watch football. Of course, I drink beer, which is another way I catch fun,” he says. Greg also loves travelling frequently to his hometown, especially to attend family meetings and do some other things required in his village. For Fola Adebayo, a middle-class banker, the wherewithal to travel abroad for his vacation constitutes no problem. He has come to appreciate the need to take a break from his hectic profession and go on annual vacation with his family. So, every year, they travel to London or the United States where they stay with relatives. “I enjoy and always look forward to the yearly break because it affords me the chance to be with my family uninterruptedly, which I really treasure. The nature of my job doesn’t permit me to spend much or quality time with my family, especially my two kids.” On such trips, Fola and his wife seize the opportunity to shop for what the family may need till the next vacation. Babajide Richards hasn’t gone on leave for over six years. A top executive in an oil and gas company, he simply has no time for such ‘luxury.’ “My job is so demanding that I can hardly spare the time to go on holiday. I can’t recall when last I went on vacation. I would have loved to do so though, but there is simply no chance. I often go to the club to relax with friends,” he says. He, however, ensures that his family don’t lack in this regard, as they frequently travel to different parts of the world and go to relaxation spots and amusement parks. These three scenarios portray the typical form of relaxation and holiday of an average Nigerian who bothers at all. Greg, Fola and Babajide are convinced they are giving their bodies and mind the necessary break. But are they? No, they are not says Wale Akinboboye, Founder, La Campagne Tropicana and La Campagne Beach Resort. Relaxation and holiday, in the real sense of it, goes deeper than this. “The basic problem in this issue is the concept the average Nigerians’ have of what holiday is. Perhaps we should start with the definition of what holiday is. In the general sense, holiday is putting behind you all forms of work and stress, which also involves leaving one’s environment totally for a different one. An average Nigerian’s concept of holiday might be to go to a party on weekends or go to the church to clap and dance. And even when they go on holiday abroad, they only go for shopping, which is a lot more stressful. Strictly speaking, however, all these are no way to properly holiday. “The important point to note here is the need to go to an entirely different environment when the individual is desirous of having a proper holiday. Unknown to many, their immediate or familiar environment constitutes a form of stress. Going to another, more cheerful environment for holiday eliminates this. For instance, when people lose their loved ones, this tends to bring worries, depression, sadness and negative memories generally. But when they go to another environment, they are able to put all the gloomy memories behind them and relax,” he says. No less stressful is the human contact, which is attached to the regular environment. “This has an influence on people, especially where the extended family culture is practised such as Nigeria. You have relatives coming around to share and discuss their problems, which burdens and impacts your life negatively, especially when you cannot provide solutions to their problems. This puts a lot of pressure on you.” This is where going on holiday in an entirely different environment becomes imperative; as peo-

ple are thus able to avoid both the human contact, work pressure and other routines. “The whole family or the man and his wife can disappear for two weeks and go to another place and come back. By the time they come back, they are refreshed and rejuvenated.” Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, an Associate professor, department of medicine, University of Lagos agrees entirely with Akinboboye’s stand on the issue. “In the third world, which includes Nigeria, people don’t relax. We don’t have a holiday culture and so, Nigerians don’t holiday in the real sense of it. This is due to several factors including economic, which sometimes makes people to keep three or even four jobs to make ends meet. Again, people working far away from their places of work also place their bodies and mind under serious stress,” he says. No doubt, Nigerians live in very stressful environment occasioned by economic, social and other factors. And this is the more reason they should take good care of their bodies and mind through appropriate means to replenish what is lost through so much demand. “All these factors place the body in a state of chronic stress. While a little stress is good for the body in that it keeps it alert and energetic, too much of it leads to chronic stress with its resultant adverse effect on the hormones, nerves and heart. “Stressed hormones leads to the accumulation of fats in the system. Then there is the problem of high blood pressure and blood sugar, which gradually rises. The individual in question begins to put on weight and diabetes develops. The cholesterol level also rises, which leads to heart dysfunction. The blood thickens and there is generally an increased risk of cancer,” says Fasanmade. Akinboboye paints a sad picture. “The lifespan

of an average Nigerian, which has been pegged at 45 to 50 years is tied to the non-observance of the required care and maintenance of the body, aside other factors such as polluted air and the likes. After undergoing so much stress from hectic traffic on his way from work, there is no electricity at home. He then reaches for a can or carton of fruit juice to ‘cool down’ after eating junk food, which he managed to grab on the way. Now, you can see the issue of malnutrition coming into the picture. An average Nigerian worker returns home from work as late as 11pm in the night and goes to bed around 12 midnight only to wake up at 5 o’clock latest in order to arrive early for work. It is a vicious cycle that weakens the system and kills. “Compare him with his European counterpart, who lives in a better and more conducive environment, eats fresh foods and fruits, goes on proper holiday when due. An average Nigerian worker is more or less like a robot, working mechanically because his brain and other parts of his body are not functioning properly due to the enumerated factors. His creativity as well as productivity cannot be brought to bear on his work and society generally. He only works to earn salary.” But this worrisome fact is not affecting only the individuals; the rippling effect is reflecting equally on the economy. “The productivity level of the average Nigerian worker is less than 25 per cent and even 20 per cent among those in the lower class. This should not be surprising because with all these problems, they simply cannot be creative or add value to their work. “It is particularly sad because people in the age bracket of 45 to 50 years should be the job

Why Nigerians Don’t Take Time For Leisure Dr. Bamikole Fagbohungbe, a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology, spoke to GBENGA SALAU on reasons Nigerians don’t take time for leisure. Why do you think Nigerians do not see holidaying as leisure? T is simply what they define as leisure. If you define horse racing as your leisure, that is what you do. If you define sitting down and gisting at a round table with alcohol in a beer parlour as your leisure, that is what you do. If you define womanising as leisure, which many of our men do, that is your own leisure. If you define it as visiting people, that is what you do. So, our definition of leisure here is different from what the average White person defines as leisure. If you look at our environment, you see that it has a lot of things that makes the Europeans want to come to Nigeria for leisure. We have all of that but we do not value it. We define our needs and place value on the needs. Maslow says we arrange our needs in order of hierarchy so that the one that is of paramount importance to you is the one you accord your energy. So it has to do with the definition. We can also look at it from the cultural background. For a very long time, Nigerians have lived in condition of inter-tribal war that does not encourage fluid movement, but restrictive movement. And so, in order to preserve that sense of security, people do not usually move about anyhow. There are a lot of constraints. Remember when Cynthia was murdered in Lagos, many people blamed her, asking why she

would leave her parents to come to Lagos, whereas a White person would want to go to anywhere to fulfill leisure. Culturally, we are expected to cling to that attachment, do not move so far away from your people because of that collective preservation. You may want to ask why do we still cling to that after so many years. It is simply because it does not fall into what we define as leisure here. In the village, after returning from the farm, people there eat pounded yam and drink wine. Afterwards, they tell stories within the family. Does upbringing contributes to it? Since we have a restrictive culture, the culture of dependency, it is part of it. The culture also covers upbringing. We are not trained to be independent. Others want to take decision for you; before you pick your wife, they must intervene if the family is the regular one. Most of the decisions that have to do with your existence are done collectively. We are not trained to think and act independently and through the process of cultural transmission, how our forefathers did it during their time, they passed it to us and then we also pass it on to the younger generation. Is it the economic condition that makes Nigerians not to create time for leisure? It is not. Even when the economy was buoyant, many Nigerians used to travel out on holiday but when they do, they go to do menial jobs to enable them buy things, which are shipped back to Nigeria. Those who enjoy travelling for holiday could be plan and save towards it for two or three years, but we do not do that in Nigeria.

creators in the society. Having absorbed so much through formal education, work experiences, wisdom and maturity bestowed on them from youth to this period, they should be enhancing the fortunes and development of society and the country through plowing it back in terms of their wealth of experience and financial capacity. Unfortunately, this is when they drop dead. It is all so sad, making the future looks bleak.” Akinboboye says everyone can have a proper holiday with good planning and determination. “In the tourism industry, there are the domestic and international. The latter is expensive and those that have the money don’t have the time while those that have the time don’t have the money. But people don’t have to travel outside Nigeria to enjoy a good holiday. “There are so many interesting places in the countryside that can serve the purpose. For instance, people can travel to places as Idanre, Ikogosi, Ile Oluji and such other rural areas in other parts of the country. At these places, you can get a nice hotel for as little as N5, 000 to N6, 000. And aside the fresh unpolluted air, people can eat well-prepared pounded yam with fresh bush meat and palm wine at a relatively cheap price. In the morning, they go for sightseeing and walking and interacting with the natives. All these go a long way to refresh and rejuvenate the system and body. “Like any other endeavour, however, it becomes necessary to plan and save towards a good vacation. A European can plan and save towards his vacation for as long as three years. So, people should learn to put aside a little of their earnings towards holiday.” And because we don’t have a holiday culture, Akinboboye is of the view that individuals have to cultivate the habit of going on holiday, as it is a mindset. Government should play its role by providing a conducive environment that is less stressful for the citizens. Fasanmade is, however, of the opinion that holiday and relaxation should not be restricted to an annual event. “Nigerians should learn to rest at weekends and as much as possible all through the year. They should also learn to exercise appropriately. A minimum of 30minute exercise three to four times a week is all that is needed. Physical activities such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming and table tennis keep the heart pumping and the body and health in top shape. Then there is the issue of getting adequate sleep, which should be six to eight hours for adults. Children need even more,” he says. While Akinboboye says more Nigerians now patronise the gym, he laments the fact that majority of middle-class Nigerians still live a largely sedentary lifestyle, which does not augur well for their health and wellbeing in the long run. “They go from their air-conditioned houses to their chauffeur-driven air-conditioned cars, take the elevator instead of the stairs to their air-conditioned offices. The same process is observed again when going home. At the weekends when they should engage in workouts to burn all the accumulated stress and fats in the body, they go to church and owambe parties where they don’t even dance vigorously enough.“ But this lack of physical activities takes its toll on the heart, which is made to pump thickened blood to the brain and body and when the heart is overworked, heart attack is the result. Exercises lighten the blood and for this reason, the Europeans came up with the idea of Sauna apart from physical exercises. We in Africa are blessed with sunny countries and should make the best of it, as it is another means of making the blood light to flow easily through the veins thereby reducing the workload of the heart.” For an effective holiday, people should be picky about their relaxation choices because it will be of no use if the relaxation or holiday spot is unable to free the mind and body from tension and stress. In this regard, the proliferation of bars and joints, where people go to watch their favourite football team may not be such a good idea after all. “Watching suspense, horror and adventure movies or going to football clubs may not serve the purpose of leisure or relaxation,” says Akinboboye. “All these have the power of transporting the viewer to their various locations, which may even put more tension and stress. For instance, someone who watched a horror movie during the day might end up having a nightmare at night. Is that relaxation?” he queries.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

28 |

PERSPECTIVES

Besieged Igbos And Principle Of One Righteous People By Chigachi Eke ABBI Yochanan ben Zakkai was a Jew of unusual intelligence who out reasoned Roman General Vespasian whose order it was to lay waste Jerusalem in 69 AD. Unable to unite the feuding Jews of his days against a common foe he decided to go it alone. Firstly, he never lied to himself. He knew the end was near for Israel, as only an unconditional surrender would satisfy the invader. Already the long siege had halved the population by starvation and pestilence. Every night Rome soldiers allowed the dead to be brought out for burial after which the city gates were bolted again. Anyone venturing out would be shot by Roman archers, assuming the defending Zealots failed to kill him first. Secondly, Roman policy of Pax Et Securitas for loyalty is matched with war and exile for rebellion. When Nebuzaradan, acting for Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, conquered the Northern Kingdom with its capital in Samaria centuries ago, nothing was heard again of the ten tribes carried into exile. If the remaining two tribes now known as Israel were to survive Roman captivity then emphasis must shift from defending Jerusalem and the Temple to putting in place structures to sustain them in exile. Jewish history records he risked his life sneaking out of the gates to talk to the Roman man of war. Face to face with Vespasian the sage did not beg for his own life. Neither did he ask for Jerusalem to be spared. He made three innocuous requests to the great white man. The Rabbi had asked that (1) the family of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel be spared; (2) Rabbi Tzadok be given medical attention; and (3) the Sanhedrin which he, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, headed be spared promising to reorganize it into a mere institution of learning without political curriculum. Strange Romans were sticklers for Rules of Engagement not limited to battlefield banters with an enemy before a great slaughter. Vespasian was no exception and talking to the old Jew lifted a great load off his mind. He readily granted the wishes before riding off to Rome where the Senate summoned him to become the next Emperor. The Rabbi smuggled himself back into the city for the bloodbath he knew was coming. It would be the responsibility of Vespasian’s son, Titus, to raze Jerusalem and carry off the survivals into exile. A thousand, nine hundred and seventy nine years later another old Jew, David ben Gurion, reestablished Israel in 1948 after making similar wishes before powerful white men. As it was in the beginning so shall it be in the end world without end. This is how the Jewish historians Berel Wein and Yaakov Astor interpret Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai’s action: The victory of Rome would be nullified because the line of Hillel (the line of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel) would live and provide spiritual leadership for the Jewish people. By keeping the holy man Rabbi Tzadok alive, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai relied on the principle that one righteous people can influence and protect an entire generation. Finally, by allowing the Sanhedrin to reconstitute as an academy in Yavne the Jewish people were able to survive throughout the ages. Whereas Vespasian thought he was giving him nothing, in reality he was giving him everything. Despite the destruction of country and Temple, the Jewish people emerged from the conflict with their religious leadership and religious infrastructure intact, elements that would allow them to outlast Rome, not to mention numerous other situations and tyrants in ensuing history. With the way and manner the gentle Emeka Aseme was kidnapped and murdered alongside a pregnant woman by his own Igbo brothers, fresh bodies floating on the Ezu river, the borrow pit of Mgbirichi converted into a mass grave, Umuada Igbo ululating when abortion was legalized by the Anambra legislature only to weep when Umuulu Igbo mercifully set up baby factories where Igbo children could be born and sold rather than wasting them in abortion clinics run by Umuada Igbo, catholic priests protesting with their parishioners

against the appointment of Monsignor Ebere Peter Okpalaeke as Bishop-elect of the Ahiara Diocese but retired for siesta when Moslem clerics incite Boko Haram to kill Igbos, we must concede that we are a besieged nation whose conquest is near. In other words, the sheep-without-shepherd situation Ndigbo (Igbos are called Ndigbo, which means “Igbo people” but their language is called “Igbo”) find themselves in this second millennium is not dissimilar to the Jewish experience of the first century AD. Worst, they are entering the long night without bitterness because they are bitter. At the worst of time the Jew still loved his country, “If I ever forget you, Oh Jerusalem, let my right hand whither.” The Masada Complex seen in him today is all about patriotism dating back 70 AD. But this cannot be said of the Igbo who vows, “If I ever set my foot there again let Amadioha kill me!” His very village evokes in him not love but anger because of the many attempts on his life. My thinking here is to come up with measures capable of guaranteeing that Ndigbo outlast globalization, Nigeria, kidnapping, abortion of/trade in Igbo babies and ephemeral democracy. In espousing new solution my first impulse is to enquire why this epoch, which found a relative fertile ground even in the desert, producing the Dangotes, somehow got sick in Igboland. How come that a people who produced Louse Philippe Odumegwu-Ojukwu are now saddled with lazy bones who murder and blackmail when they’re not blaming their dead ancestors for their lackluster performance, how come? When you configure the Igbo man today the picture that readily comes to mind is that of a criminal caught up by nemesis, for what crime? There is a total lack of feelings for his plight. Any attempt at salvaging him must be an exercise in behavioral pathology in understanding his problems, which include: • The excessive anger in his heart that tends to frighten friends while reducing him to a predictable opponent before foes. I attribute this

My thinking here is to come up with measures capable of guaranteeing that Ndigbo outlast globalization, Nigeria, kidnapping, abortion of/trade in Igbo babies and ephemeral democracy

‘

to the war crimes he suffered under the Yakubu Gowon government. • His dabbling into global business still trapped in his petty trader mindset. The newly arrived Asian who understands expansion and warehousing has taken over benching him as a security. • The collapse of his family while he idles away abroad. Prolonged separation plays havoc on his lonely wife who must be human, “Person body no be firewood.” Fragmentation also makes it possible for his daughter to be sequestrated for commercial baby breeding. When you carefully reflect on the above you begin to understand why Ndigbo are sliding down the slippery path in tranquility. A people could be destroyed in peace and prosperity and victorious under evil and adversity. South African blacks who underwent the worst kind of evil were triumphant under Apartheid sticking to their culture. Their defeat came with freedom when the black family was destroyed. Under the influence of Steve Bantu Biko’s Black Consciousness Movement, Soweto School children burnt down the country in June 1976 than being taught in the white man’s language called Afrikaans. But under Thabo Mbeki’s democracy thirty years later the succeeding generation rooted for white homosexuality while pouring scorn on Comrade Jacob Zuma for practicing African polygamy. In “Thekwane” the young Xhosa musician called Zahara today warns: “Umuntu ongazi laphumakhona ngekazi la ayakhona/Indake Zulu iyangilandela…./Steve Biko uyangilandela.” (“A person who does not know where he’s coming from will not know where he’s going to/Indake Zulu (African god) is following me…. /Steve Biko is following me”). Likewise, the greatest harm was done us in times of peace and the evidence is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, report warning that Igbo could die by 2025. Here, then, is a disturbing omission. For a language spoken by 40 million people

to suddenly die on its home soil while its speakers continue to live is to admit that such speakers were not master of their own fate. The implication is that such language had become a burden to be done away with for another that truly empowers them if they were to be socially relevant. Yoruba is not in danger not because Yorubas love it more but because those who speak it are privileged in corporate Nigeria. Again, to say that Igbo could die while failing to admit that Igbos were equally at risk is faulty reasoning. Igbo is in danger because Igbos are an endangered people. Hausa is not on the extinction list because there is no Hausa Holocaust. The United Nations, UN, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon must closely scrutinize the reports of his own United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR. The demographics of West African refugees of the past forty-three years will show that Igbos top the list worldwide for the very fact that they are victims of state sponsored genocide. The Biafran/Nigerian war did not end in 1970. It persists. Now, the wicked thing about war in general is its corruption of moral. This happens when women are forced to compromise if only to save their starving children from its pangs. The moment an invader sleeps with the local women, by rape or consent, he has truly conquered the land. Are women not the custodian of morality? Their corruption, by token of same logic, becomes the worst. At some point in our recent history an event, or the lack of, altered the psychological makeup of the Igbo woman. This brash wheeler-dealer is not the same species that fought the British at Aba in 1929. Call a spade a spade, ho-ha! A marked people are ever wary and Ndigbo cannot be an exception. Such group responds to their condition by defiantly holding fast to their culture, like South African blacks of the ‘70s cited above; or deliberately wearing the mask of what WEB du Bois calls “patent defence,” like Jews of the Middle Ages. Patent defence involves encouraging their children to learn other people’s language while discouraging them from speaking their own because it carries a stigma. It involves using the newspaper to publicly denounce and curse their own race while praising members of the master/superior race if only to advance economically. It involves, also, living two-life where they pretend to be morons while their real selves are mentally imprisoned as a way of staying out of physical prison. Wycliffe Jean captures this ambivalence in “Diallo,” “Have you ever died/Only so you can live?” Only after analyzing the reports of the UNHCR and talking to psychologists on how oppressed people behave would the esteemed Secretary General be in a position to understand why Igbo is on the extinction list and Angas spoken by a quarter of a million people is not. I mean, Ndigbo could not have given up on their language without a life and death reason. They stopped speaking it to remain alive as speaking it killed them, eminent Prof. Innocent Eleazu of Asusuigbo Teta Association International please take note. It logically follows that removing the hazard associated with speaking it is the best medicine a genuinely concerned UN can administer. Start by looking into the social condition of its speakers in the period 1966 till date. I return to the subject matter, namely, how Ndigbo can survive the present actors and their ghastly prescriptions. The complexity of our situation is such that Ndigbo have no foundation, institutional or ideological, to build a future on. The Japanese domesticated Western technology with their language. Americans have their vast territory and the freedom to make mistakes. A strong leadership ushered Indians into the nuclear club. The English have their Anglican church that does not take orders from any pope. But Ndigbo have neither their language, territory, freedom nor indigenous church. We are a dislocated people perpetually responding to others as we have no cultural compass. The resultant disorientation makes it impossible for you and I to conceptualise a national faith, which is the building block of every civilization. This is where we admit the wisdom of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai as it reflects our own unheeded existential philosophy. Ndigbo believe death can never wipe out a people; what wipes out a people is stupidity. A “prudent” race will survive a disaster that claims a “foolish” one, in other words. An extended interpretation means that a cautious people CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

|29

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

PERSPECTIVES

A Chance To Probe The Relationship Between Profit And Welfare By Bishop Matthew Hassan KUKAH EING from the creeks of Bayelsa and used to B water, little Priye was delighted as he took his WAEC results to his uncle. The old man looked at the results and smiled. Had your parents been alive, they would have been proud of you. Now, I think you should apply to the new University in Otuoke to study medicine so you can become the first medical Doctor in the family. No, uncle, the young man said, I do not want to be a Doctor, I want to join the Navy. His uncle gave him a stern look and yelled: What, Navy? No, no. Please, think of something different but not the Navy. If you want to join the Army, Airforce, or whatever, but definitely not the Navy. I owe it to your parents who are no longer alive. You cannot join the Navy. I will give you one week, go and think carefully and come back to me. I will use my influence to speak to anyone to help you in any way, but stay away from the Navy. The young man left his uncle and of course, one week later, he came back in the morning of the said date. He discovered that his uncle was still asleep. He woke up his uncle to tell him his final decision. Yes, his uncle said, tell me what you have finally decided. I still want to join the Navy, the young man said. My dear son, he said to the young man calmly, I told you that I can never allow you to join the Navy. You see, your mother died while fishing and your father drowned in a well. I cannot allow you to make a career out of anything to do with water. The young man, still confident said; But uncle, how did granddad and grandma die? Why do you ask? You know, we still thank God that each of them died peacefully in their sleep. What can be better than that, my son? In reply, the young man calmly said to his uncle; Since both your mum and dad died peacefully in their sleep, why do you still go to sleep? Are you too not afraid of dying in your sleep? When air crashes happen, many ordinary citizens either swear not to fly again or they say they will rather fly another airline. The aviation experts continue to tell us that we should not be afraid because aeroplanes are the safest means of travel in the whole world. But for our beloved fellow citizens whose lives ended a year ago, that is the exception to the rule. Yet, life goes on. Shakespeare was right when he said, Death is a necessary end, and it will come when it will come. We can only continue to pray for God to give us the grace to be ready when it comes. In fleeing from Boko Haram, some have died on their way home. Death is the most loyal companion. Others forget you when you are no longer rich or powerful, death does not. It stands by you. Others forget you after a bad quarrel, death does not. Others abandon you after a divorce, death does not. Some abandon you in pain and sorrow, death is there, always faithful. Death is like a true Catholic marriage. Despite trials, it remains faithful. Imagine this very day, one year ago. Most people woke up with hardly any premonition about what lay ahead. For those who planned to travel, getting ready and setting out was normal. They woke up, had breakfast, went to Church on that Sunday, thanked God, said the day’s prayers, and then went about their normal businesses for the day. Later on, bags packed, loved ones were kissed or hugged, amidst quick goodbyes with promises of dates and times of return or arrival. As they set out to the airport, personal or taxi drivers gathered speed, passengers cursed the

Kukah slow traffic and prayed to be able to catch their flights or prayed that the flights be delayed. Finally boarding the ill-fated Dana flight, some phoned their loved ones to say thank God that they had made the flight. Then, some put calls through to Lagos to say that they were on their way. After a silent prayer, the plane took off. The pilot and the cabin crew made the usual announcements, reading out the usual safety instructions. The rest of course is now history. We know that we cannot bring back the dead. No amount of tears, so called compensation, condolences, acrimony, litigation and so on can bring back the dead. Despite it all, this is a chance for us to be honest with ourselves as a nation and as a people. This is a chance for us to ask the hard questions about the worth of human life, about the relation between profit and welfare, about the quality of regulation and the honesty and patriotism of regulatory agencies. Indeed, the real question is, what is the worth of human life in our dear country? How much premium are we prepared to place on this precious gift of God called life? How much is a life worth? So much has been said and more still will be said about these tragedies. This is not the place for us to enter into any insinuations, or assumptions. It is the duty and responsibility of the Aviation Ministry and Dana Airlines to show the world that it is doing all that is humanly possible to get to the truth of what happened. The truth will free everyone, Dana Airlines, the Aviation Ministry and its regulatory bodies. It will heal the deep injuries and bring healing to all. There is no alternative and as they say, truth has no senior brother. Nigerians have earned every right to be cynical and they do not trust that public officers will put their interests and those of the nation first. Public officers must work hard to restore this confidence. The honest truth will restore confidence in our country, in the aviation industry, and in government and its capacity to protect

us from the profiteers who flood every nook and cranny of our country where a penny can be made at the expense of the sacred lives of our citizens. From Oil Companies, Aviation practitioners, textile manufacturers and industrialists, importers, etc, the general feeling is that our country is fast becoming a dumping ground. Foreigners believe that in Nigeria, the rules can be bent and broken for a fee or a favour. Foreigners have come to believe that everyone has a price. This is condemnable and totally unacceptable. The safety week embarked upon by the Aviation Ministry is commendable as a means of restoring this much-needed confidence. First, we need to pause and think about what is happening to human life in our country. This is perhaps one of the most difficult moments in our nation’s history. Our country is going through a trial by ordeal, we are in the refiner’s fire, we are like Daniel in the lion’s den, as trouble encircles our land. Happily, we are making progress and by God’s grace, soon, we shall see clearly when the rains of pain are gone. I commend the President, the National Security agencies and everyone who is working so hard to end this ugly tragedy. We shall come out a stronger and united nation. The blood of the innocent will not be in vain. The Federal Government must ensure that those regulatory agencies whose greed gets in the way of the enforcement of international standards and regulations are publicly punished. The National Assembly must make the laws that will help drive efficiency and ensure that airlines conform to international safety standards. Running these agencies must not be subjected to political cronyism and clientelism. Those who run our key institutions such the Aviation and other Ministries and Agencies that directly impact on human lives must have the professional, intellectual, moral capacity and the patriotic reflex to rise beyond the narrowness

of selfishness which panders to the corrosive influence of corruption by powerful business interests. Professionals must be allowed to do their work unencumbered by the overbearing greed of political contractors who simply see their appointments as their own turn to eat. Their suffocating greed is retarding our progress. I want to commend the Honourable Minister and her team in the Aviation Ministry for the new changes that we are witnessing in our airports now. The external renovations of the various airports across the country are a source of great pride for me as a citizen. It will inspire confidence in us as citizens and showcase our nation positively. We hope that the inside of the cup is equally getting thoroughly cleansed. For those of us without Private Jets, air travel still remains a serious burden and a heavy cross. Passengers require more protection and comfort than they are getting. After paying so much for a ticket, passengers do not get much quality service in terms of comfort within the airport premises and inside many aircrafts where air conditioning is a luxury. It is not uncommon to be told in the plane that water is finished, there is no sugar, or that a cup of coffee is an extra luxury! What is more painful is the fate of passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled. Airlines do not believe they owe passengers any favour and so you can wait for a flight for four five hours and worst case scenario, a flight can be cancelled at 7 or 8pm and all passengers are told is to come to the counter to collect their refunds. To be told to find your way back into Abuja or Lagos where one has had to come from Keffi or Abeokuta is totally unacceptable. Those with the power of enforcement know the international regulations, but in Nigeria, there is always a conspiracy against the poor. Finally, I commend the Aviation ministry for undertaking this project. People will continue to die in the air, on the ground, in their beds or their desks, walking or sitting. Death is inevitable but how society reacts is important for those who grieve. We pray that we do not have to erect any more cenotaphs anywhere again in Nigeria for many years to come. We must also appreciate and commend those gallant Nigerians who continue to put their own lives at risk in trying to save thousands of victims of accidents on our roads, air, water and other accident sights across the nation. Those men and women who rushed to the sight of the DANA flight at the risk of their own lives, deserve to be honoured and appreciated. We see this all the time in places like Europe and America, how public tragedy has a way of bringing society together. Our security agencies, men and women who give their lives to protect the rest of us deserve to be appreciated and immortalized when they die or are injured. Their families must never be left alone. When this is done, it gives great succour to the family. We recall, the other plane crashes, such as Donier 228 Airforce plane, Harka airlines, Nigerian airways, ADC, EAS, Bellview, Sosoliso Airlines. As with the memorial of the Jewish holocaust in Jerusalem, we shall imbibe the immortal words: Earth cover not their blood. May their souls rest in perfect peace. May God console their families and may their blood offer us a safe and peaceful nation. Amen. Being remarks at the Special Prayers in commemoration of the first anniversary of the victims of the DANA Air Crash on June 3, 2013 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International

Besieged Igbos And Principle Of One Righteous People CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28 under attack will endure while a reckless one will destroy itself even without an attack. Are Igbos prudent or foolish kidnapping and killing their greats whose opinions are respected at the UN, World Bank and world capitals? Will Ndigbo endure or perish aborting their unborn and selling the born? Our indigenous belief meets the Rabbi’s half way as both agree that common sense can nullify any catastrophe in the life of a nation. How then do we apply this to the Igbo condition? Every person is imbued with qualities natural to him. Likewise, every given group is known for a particular preference. Ndigbo have certain

negative/positive traits peculiar to them. To transcend we must carefully filter out our negatives while emphasizing our strong points. I list these positives as our (1) spread or Diaspora (2) imitativeness or creativity, and (3) industry or entrepreneurship. These qualities constitute the Igbo quiddity; being activities Ndigbo love doing without compulsion or prompting. Based on newspaper reports, I profiled ten Igbos caught doing serious crimes as well as those who legitimately achieved milestones by examining the interplay of these positives in their circumstances. The Igbo with attributes 2 and 3 less 1 is dangerous. He kidnaps at home. The Igbo with attributes 1 and 2 less 3 is redundant. He peddles drugs

abroad. The Igbo with all three attributes is resilient. He is resourceful at home and abroad. Logically, therefore, if Ndigbo must see the light of tomorrow care must be taken that all three attributes are working simultaneously for them. Nos. 2 and 3 must be encouraged wherever No. 1 takes them to. It simply means establishing more Igbo markets at home and abroad, in particular, since commerce is their second nature. For the umpteenth time I call on Igbo governors to intervene in the economic live of Ndigbo by using state fund to build Igbo markets overseas. China and India are doing just that. When they build their shopping plazas

they lease only to their citizens who are then launched into the mainstream of their host country’s economy. Lift the siege by creating the enabling environment for Igbos to carry out legitimate business and these talks about drug trafficking, defrauding others, kidnapping and trade in Igbo babies will stop. Any Igbo, who is economically self-reliant in Berlin, Miami, Prague, Ikeduru, Johannesburg, Sidney, Dakar, etc, constitutes that “righteous people” to influence and protect the entire generation. Eke is an Igbo Rights Activist chigachieke@yahoo.co.uk

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

NEWSPEOPLE

Inside TB Joshua’s Synagogue… By Chuks Nwanne ROPHET Temitope Balogun Joshua, or TB Joshua, as he’s fondly called all over the world, is like a prism, offering different perspectives to different viewers. He is an enigma that is yet to be fully understood by many including members of his church — The Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN). Yes, he’s a very controversial figure, especially among Lagosians, who seem not comfortable with his man of God status. But outside Lagos, and beyond Nigeria, TB Joshua is treated like a ‘god’, with popular figures, including African heads of state, trooping in and out of his Synagogue on a daily basis. Controversies aside, TB Joshua is a man you can’t ignore in Nigeria. Aside from his large followership, the prophet is known for his charity deeds, a trait that has endeared him to many, especially the poor folks, who look up to the Prophet for daily bread. In fact, his Emmanuel TV, which shows his church’s activities, is very popular across the globe, except in Lagos. Unlike the days when orthodox Churches held sway, the coming of Pentecostalism in Nigeria has given religion a new outlook. The pastors and bishops in town are distinguished by their flamboyant life style: impeccable suits, jaw breaking grammar and you know? Private jets. You need to live big — expensive outfits and designer’s perfumes — to belong, unless, you’ll be a ‘backbencher’. Prophet TB Joshua is very endowed with these high tastes. He is perhaps more interested in preaching the word of God because there is one verse in the bible that says it will be easier for camel head to go through a needle eye than for the rich man to make heaven. Dorning designer clothes, speaking through the nose, riding on SUVs and globetrotting in private jets are not part of the things that marked him out. Could this be the reason TB Joshua is not getting acceptance from his fellow men of God? Well, no matter what, people still look forward to his football predictions, especially when it favours the Super Eagles. On June 12, Prophet TB Joshua will be marking his 50th birthday. I bet you, a lot of people will have a

big smile on that day. Yes, Joshua’s birthday is usually an opportunity for some people to eat or be happy. I don’t mean just laying hands on people; some pockets will surely swell that day. In fact, by now, workers will be struggling with the bagging of Joshua’s Rice, which will be shared on that day; the bakery boys too will be on duty 24/7, baking bread for the poor. Erh, I doubt if any casual worshipper would be able to make it into the church’s auditorium. International guests should be arriving by now, including top dignitaries; I bet you, one or two presidents would come. As usual, the security will be tight, no cause for alarm. Notwithstanding, you might just hang around the church’s corridor if you persist. A lot of people prefer to take positions close to the prophet’s altar. Generally, anointing would flow! Well, in case you won’t be able to make it to his Ikotun, Lagos Synagogue, Emmanuel TV will be screening the event live! Now, I know you will be wondering where I got all these info? Okay, calm down. I’m not a member of SCOAN; I’m just an observer, who had the opportunity of being a ‘special’ guest of the ever-busy Prophet in 2010. That day, all protocol were relaxed, even with the long list of visitors waiting to see the man of God, I got the first slot, a VIP one for that matter. It took over a month to get that link

to man of God. All previous efforts had failed. The plan was to have an exclusive interview with him, something he hardly does. “I’ve spoken to his people, the Prophet has agreed to grant the interview. I will take you to him. Just call me on phone when you get there,” my link’s man said. Driving to TB Joshua’s Synagogue that day was not an easy task. The heavy traffic that characterises the Ikotun-Ejigbo route worsened that day and vehicles crawled. The long stretch of road was in terrible condition. As I drove to see the prophet, I kept wondering if that axis was actually part of Governor Fashola’s Lagos Master Plan. For more than two hours, I was in the heavy traffic, for a journey that would have lasted between 25 and 30 minutes. For fear of missing Joshua’s appointment, I had to squeeze my tuketuke into one of the adjacent streets, praying that LASTMA boys won’t do their worst. Thank God for okada; that was the only option to the Synagogue within a short time. Unfortunately today, okada is banned from major roads in Lagos. That evening, the Synagogue was bubbling with activities; guests were trooping in and out in their numbers. While some Nigerians were heading for South Africa that night to be part of the 2010 Nations Cup opening ceremony, a large group of South Africans, numbering over 700, were in the Synagogue to celebrate with the prophet. From the gate into the main building, excitement filled the air. Somehow, we looked like strangers; even the congregation knew that. At that point, I made contact with my guide, who later ushered me into the Prophet’s special room. Though not your massive apartment, the room is properly furnished, with a connecting door from the back. I was still admiring the furniture, when TB Joshua, dressed in a

simple three quarter short, a polo shirt and a slip on sandal, stepped in from the back door. To be honest, his simplicity baffled me. I expected some little drama and razzmatazz before the coming of the man of God, but it was not like that. If not for his Afro hair and beards, I would have mistaken the Prophet for some lowly member of the congregation. “Sorry for keeping you waiting; I had to leave some of my important visitors just to grant this interview. I like The Guardian newspapers; if you go to my house, that’s the paper I read. So, when they told me about this interview, I felt it’s something I should do. What do you want to know about me?“ he quizzed, beaming with smiles. Look, Prophet TB Joshua is a fine man. Oh, yes, he is. Imagine if that Afro hair is trimmed down a bit and the beards shaved? Right, have you taken time to look into his eyeballs? Albright, imagine Joshua dressed in one of those expensive suits, like the ones Pastors Chris Oyakhilome and his brother Chris Okotie usually wear? Now, you see. ORN into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Kolawole B Balogun of Arigi village, Ondo State, Joshua was brought up as a Christian. His farmer father was then the secretary of St. Stephen’s Church in his community; he played the role of a translator, whenever there was a visitor that couldn’t speak Yoruba. “He was not well lettered, but was better than most of his peers around then. Though he died while I was still small, I was like his pet. He would carry me to the Church and as a little boy; I would always run around and jump from the choir stand to the catechist’s table. I miss him dearly,” Joshua said. With early exposure to Christianity, young Joshua developed interest in Bible knowledge; it was his favourite subject in school. He finished the New Testament book twice while still in primary six. “My interest in the subject grew to the extent that I could read the whole Bible on the average of two months during my secondary school days. I was also the leader of the Scripture Union (SU) of my school,” he informed. From all indications, TB Joshua’s large heart has little to do with his status as a prophet; it is an inborn thing. “I had always wanted to be like any other person; when others are crying, I cry, when they are happy, I would be happy. I was really concerned about humanity; I mean people’s interest. I always want to make people happy by helping them.” In school, Joshua’s charity heart was always at work. On many occasions, he used his school fees to settle other students’ fees. “Not that I was rich, but because I could not withstand their tears. After giving out my school fees, I would go to the farm or construction sites to do menial jobs to settle mine. I did that many times and missed my classes, too,” he recalled with a smiling face. And your mother is happy with you? “Well, the first time I did that, my mother was not pleased with me because she was the only one financing my education. My father died when I was still a boy.” Instead of endearing him to his mates, Joshua’s kindness yielded negative results. “I was alone;

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

NEWSPEOPLE

The Myth, The Reality they derided me, called me names and described me as a dunce that could give out any of his property to people. I repeated a class for about five times because I was always outside looking for menial jobs to pay my school fees. Then, I was propelled to do good by forces. But today, all that has changed; what I do right now is to help people to stand on their own and to be a channel of blessings to others,” he said. From all indication, the ‘hatred’ on Prophet TB Joshua is actually not a new thing to him; the man seems to be used to it. “As for me, I want to help people; I really want to help them. Not for anything, but because Jesus Christ wept with those that were weeping and celebrated with those celebrating,” he harped. At what point did you realise that God wanted you to serve Him? “The moment you start obeying His instructions, you’ll start hearing His voice. The moment you begin to obey that voice, He will start using you,” he said. According to the prophet, Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) is beyond the physical structure; it’s more than that Gothic architectural masterpiece you see along Ikotun Road, Lagos. “It started right from my childhood. It goes beyond the physical structure you see, but that which comes out of the structure. My mission is to see people succeed in life; I’m not cut out to be materialistic, but to make people happy. For every thousand Naira I get, there are a thousand people to spend it on. So, making people happy, putting smiles on the faces of the downcast is my mission,“ he said. If not for his calling, Joshua would have been a soldier; he would have perfectly fitted into the army with his stout frames. “My first school was Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Ikare, Ondo State; I couldn’t finish my studies there because of my magnanimity. And my mother, who was the secretary of a co-operative society, was not happy with it.” Left with no other option, he obtained the form for the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. He passed the examination and was actually invited for the interview. “Going for the interview, the train I boarded broke down at Jebba. As I had no money to continue the journey, I stayed there for the train to be repaired. By the time that was done, I set off to reach Kaduna, only to discover that the interview had ended. That was how I missed the army,” he recalled. Like Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America, TB Joshua’s Coming to Lagos is another interesting story. I wonder when Nollywood producers would discover the synopsis of the Prophet’s journey to Lagos. This will surely make a good movie script. “How I came to Lagos was a very long story. I came through the buses that carried farm produce such as cassava and cocoa. We spent five days on the way before getting to Lagos. When I alighted at Mile 12, I stayed about 10 days washing the feet of traders coming out of the muddy market for money, until I came across some people speaking my native dialect,“ he breathed. He quickly introduced himself. “I told them I was from Arigidi and could not trace my sister. Luckily, one of them directed me to some people that linked me up with my sister at Egbe, a suburb of Lagos. I have done different menial jobs including being a conductor. And today, I have an NGO for motor park boys, because I was once among them,” he narrated. While in Lagos, Joshua made efforts to complete his secondary education, but somehow, it never happened. “I attended many schools in Lagos, but the ones I could remember are the New State High School, Mushin; Metropolitan College, Isolo; and AnsarUd-Deen College, Isolo.” Why the frequent change of school? “This is because I don’t want to see people suffer. I was always sacrificing my comfort, including my school fees, to make people happy. Whenever I see people suffering, I always feel bad even though I’m poor; I would get out the little I have to save the situation and go without anything. It was this path of life that made me to change school so frequently. I attended one school for two months, only to be sent away because of school fees. I was contented with what I was doing, using my fees on others.” And you repeated classes? “Oh, yes; in fact, I couldn’t finish my school. I left secondary school and decided never to go back to

This is because I don’t want to see people suffer. I was always sacrificing my comfort, including my school fees, to make people happy. Whenever I see people suffering, I always feel bad even though I’m poor; I would get out the little I have to save the situation and go without anything. It was this path of life that made me to change school so frequently. I attended one school for two months, only to be sent away because of school fees. I was contented with what I was doing, using my fees on others. it. But when I started gathering children between the ages of five to 10 years, I felt the need for it and enrolled in adult education class in Mushin. I would teach the children from 8am to 2pm, then leave for my evening classes at the New State High School, Mushin. It was the money realised from the morning lesson that I used to pay my school fees and registered for GCE. I attempted entering the University several times, but it didn’t workout.” Done with academics, Joshua took up his first major job in a poultry farm. “I was among those taking care of the birds and clearing their droppings. I did the job with some foreigners from Niger Republic, Ghana, Cameroun and Benin Republic; I was the only Nigerian among them and I never let people know I was a Nigerian. I declared myself a foreigner too; in my own country.” How much were you paid then? “I did it for a year to raise money for my GCE and to do other things. Let’s not talk about that because the amount was too small, but I was able to keep some for my studies,” he said. Asked to give a brief assessment of his progress so far, TB Joshua simply said, “Well, I don’t know, but let’s put it this way. As we all know, the race is not always for the swift, and the battle for the strong. It’s too early for me to assess myself. If God raises you, you are to raise people, who would be able to do what you are doing or do even better than you did. If today were your last day on earth, what would people remember you for? Is it properties or what,” he quizzed rhetorically. In case you don’t know, the prophet loves football; he’s been churning out stars; the likes of Daniel Amokachi, Ogeyi Onazi and Sunday Emmanuel have links with the Prophet’s football team. However, football is just an aspect of his activities in the Synagogue. “It’s not only a club; we are into different areas

of life. All the carpentry works you see here (the Synagogue) are all made within the church premises. We empower people to be self-reliant,” he said. One of the controversies about TB Joshua is his wife. While some said he has none, others alleged the women left him so many years ago. But in the room, his wife portrait is conspicuously hung on the wall — a pretty, tall, fair lady. You wonder how they met in the first instance? “She is better placed to tell you; she will surely tell you that whenever you meet her,” he responded with laughter. What really attracted you to her? “What exactly do you think would attract a man to a woman other than her virtue? Nothing, but virtue of God in her.” In some quarters, it is believed that TB Joshua has no child. But that day, we saw one of his daughters, a first class material in the United Kingdom, who was on break in Nigeria at that time. Joshua invited her to the room, but did not mention his media guests. Minutes after that call, the young lady stormed the room playfully. But seeing her father in the midst of strangers, the ebony black lady withdrew to her shell, though she kept on beaming with smiles. “She’s one of my daughters; she just came in for holidays, but she’s helping with works in the Synagogue. I have a very big family. All the children you see here are mine; I don’t think you have a larger family than I do,” he said jokingly. At the end of the session, SCOAN members, including two Japanese volunteers, conducted us round the premises. From the private room, we moved to the Synagogue proper, where those miracles you see on TV happens. We also got the opportunity of seeing the Emmanuel TV studio, with young chaps busy with buttons; their editing suit is fully loaded. From the studio, we were at the rice bagging session, where a group of young men were pack-

aging bags of rice for the poor. On our way to the bakery section, where thousands of loaves of bread were baked on a daily basis, we met a young guy constructing a special car; he is under the sponsorship of the prophet. “This car will run on the road, on water and will also fly,” the ‘engineer’ said. Well, we saw the construction process, though we are yet to see the vehicle on Lagos roads. Yes, we also saw the mini football pitch, where some of those star were made. The hotel section is massive; the furnishing was in progress when we visited. From the rooms to the laundry section, kitchen... the facility is finished to taste; I’m sure the structure is complete by now. So, behind that structure called Synagogue, there are hundreds of activities going on; both spiritual and physical. Behind the man TB Joshua, there’s more than just a religious leader. How it all started HE Synagogue, Church of All Nations did not just come by chance. Many years ago, a small gathering of eight members came together to hold their first meeting in a humble shelter in a squalid, swampy jungle, in the location of Agodo-Egbe in Lagos, Nigeria. As time went on, it became increasingly clear that T.B. Joshua was not just an ordinary pastor, preaching ‘ordinary’ words and doing ‘ordinary things’; clear evidence of outstanding miraculous occurrences began to arise. The lame began to walk, hopeless cancer patients were lifted from despair, and desperate situations were turned to scenes of life, joy and peace. Questions started rolling in: ‘Can this be true in our days?’ ‘Can a human being perform such feats?’ ‘Is the Bible still true for us today?’ Purportedly, on the instruction of the Holy Spirit, The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations moved to a large expanse of land in IkotunEgbe, in the outskirts of Lagos. Thousands began flocking to the services as they heard about the miraculous events taking place there. In a very short space of time, an area without walls and barely a roof was transformed into a mighty cathedral. Hard benches were replaced with comfortable chairs; poor lights were turned to intelligent lighting; fans were exchanged with refreshing air conditioning. The great changes that took place in such a limited time span have become a subject of debate.

THE GUArDiAN, Sunday June 9, 2013

SPOTLiGHT

MOriAM... Making Her Mark in Pr Moriam Musa, a fashion publicist and the CEO, Morsi Concept, has learned how to make things work for her. From her days as a fashion reporter with Encomium Magazine, the University of Ibadan trained Clinical Nutritionist who also had a brief stint as a dietician, has always set her eyes on a high goal. She spoke recently with GERALDINE AKUTU about the problems of PR in Nigeria and other issues. Or five years, while working as a journalist at Encomium Magazine, Moriam Musa tried to give it her best shot, while trying to find her feet in the journalism profession. in the course of her duty, she discovered a passion for public relations. This made her leave print journalism to set up her own Public relation (Pr), lifestyle and advertising business in 2007. Ever since, the fashion publicist has not looked back, as she continues to do what she knows how to do best. “i knew there was so much in me to offer. While at Encomium magazine, as a fashion reporter, i tried to make my mark trying my hands on different things including organising exhibitions, seminars, and awards and putting together a fashion directory. i had my own column in the magazine then. “Along the line, a lot of people started asking where they could find what. i tried to proffer solutions and translate certain dress codes. At a point i felt there was more i could do aside reporting fashion. i also noticed there was a huge gap between the fashion industry and the consumer. So, i decided to set up an agency to bridge that gap. This gave birth to Morsi Concept,” says Moriam, narrating how it all started. Her career path was shaped by her childhood experience. “My mother was a fashionconscious woman. She made me dress well and ensured that my siblings and i came out looking our best. This changed my orientation so much that all through medical school, i was always dressing impressively. When i was working as a journalist, i was called the ‘main fashionista’ because i never went to any event, looking dowdy. i was never seen as the regular journalist because i was always gorgeously dressed and this has helped me to date.” Morsi Concepts is a publicity firm that is into the publicising of events, products and serv-

ices via the media. it is the first fashion, beauty and lifestyle Pr firm in Nigeria. “We have the editorial, on-line arm, event arm and Pr arm. At Morsi Concepts, we help fashion professionals, beauty experts and other businesses put their brands out there,” she says. Moriam whose clientele cuts across hairstylists, designers, makeup artists, salon owners, clubs, bars and everything relating to fashion and style, says she tries to get as professional and personal as possible with her clients. “l try to know things like their children’s names, schools and so on. Basically, i treat them like my own family and that way they tend to open up and confide in me. For some of my clients, i play the role of a creative di-

rector when they come with their issues. For instance, i have helped my clients to name their collections, come up with designs and turn their businesses around.” interestingly, the hardworking lady had to make some choices before leaving her job. And in her view, wanting to be different is the reason for taking that bold step. “i got many job offers with better pay pack but i turned them down. My colleagues laughed at me but i stuck to my guns. Though it was tough at first, but now i am thankful i took a positive move.” According to her, the issues affecting Fashion Pr in Nigeria are mediocre coming into the industry. ‘They have no professional know-how of how to run

events. i see them in their numbers. They assume what we do is all there is to it and they offer services at a lower rate. At the end of the day, we have a lot of wounded clients because they have been disappointed,” she says. in proffering solutions, she says: “if you know you have what it takes to do this job, then leave the one you are doing and face it squarely instead of deceiving people. i left mine and concentrated on the one i am doing today. You cannot be earning salary, charge absurd fee and make the profession look bad. i have met clients who complained that they met so and so people for Pr services but they did not meet up to expectations. “i cherish everything. i know that there are great prospects for this job. The fashion industry is growing tremendously. More designers are springing up with creative designs, more magazines are out there and we now have more across the border news. For me, everyday is a plus. The way we deliver, treat our clients like family and the quality services we render make us unique. in overcoming the initial challenges posed by the nature of the job, she says: “Honestly, it is the Lord and the passion i have for the job that saw me through. Though it wasn’t easy at first but as time went by things became better and i am really grateful for my success so far. in terms of rewards from the job, i will say i am blessed. At least, i am paying my bills.” On what inspired her, Moriam says with a beaming smile: “Betty irabor inspired me greatly because she started this whole thing about making your mark. i had the opportunity of interviewing her once and she said to me: ‘Make your mark’. That statement stuck and this helped me a great deal.” With fond memories, she talked about her growing up days. “i was brought up by christian parents who ensured that we were well catered for. Growing up for me was fun, colourful, exciting, as we are a close-knit family.” Moriam, who describes herself as openminded, playful and shy, unwinds by watching movies, reading magazines and going for facial treatment. She advises upcoming entrepreneurs in the business to be passion driven and find a professional publicist from whom to learn the ropes. They should also be focused and not let anybody discourages them.

Women In Leadership Takes On Empowerment At Uyo Summit • First Ladies of Nigeria, Ghana, Equitorial Guinea, Zimbabwe expected. A By Fabian Odum

FricAN Women leaders and women in the continent and diaspora are steadily rising to the occasion to go beyond affirmative action and empower themselves in the global market place. in line with this expectation and positioning, the African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO), a non profit, NGO is taking on the 5th edition of African Women in Leadership conference (AWLc), which it would host at the Le Meridian Hotel, Uyo, Akwa ibom State. The three-day meet, which will be flagged off by the wife of Nigeria’s President, Dame Patience Jonathan and graced by first ladies of Ghana, Equitorial Guinea, and Zimbabwe is to examine issues relevant and significant to women of African heritage in harnessing their leadership capabilities. According to the conference coordinator, Mr. Elisha Attai there will be networking sessions, the main conference sessions and a day of beauty, style and wellness from carefully selected speakers. These include political women leaders, women in business, women legislators, professional women and entrepreneurs. On the benefits of the forum to women, Ms. Edith Uyovbukerhi said the participants would be primed to pursue their goals with a renewed vision. Judging from the issues to be discussed such as Active Participation and Engagement of African Women in political leadership, The woman as a Leader: Breaking the Glass ceiling, Mentoring: So Many Mentors, little or No Mentoring, Domestic Abuse: Breaking the Silence and culture clash: African culture Vs Modern idealism. Others are The Emotionally Healthy Woman, Entrepreneurship and Leadership from Blueprint to Finished Product among a long list. According to release from the organisation, speakers during the summit include Biola Alabi, MD, MNet Africa; Olajumoke Adenowo, Awesome Treasures Foundation; Senator Jewel Taylor, Alisha Babangida, Dr. Hajo Sani, former Minister of Women’s Affairs & Social Development; Senator Flora ita Giwa, and Prof. Uduak Achibong of the University of Bradford. The conference is holding from 11-14 June, 2013 at Uyo, Akwa ibom State.

Dame Patience Jonathan

Dr Hajo Sani

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

MOVIEDOM

BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI

shaibu70@yahoo.com

Around and about Nollywood... brought glory to the nation... It is going to be a reward night for the successes recorded by these men and women,” Ibinabo said, while assuring that the award has a lot of sponsorship opportunity for individuals, corporate bodies, governments and their agencies.

Desmond Elliot assures on new comic flick, The Place IVING a very rare money-back-guaranG tee, Desmond Elliot has said that he is ready to refund people’s money if they find his new movie, The Place, wanting. In a statement issued last week, he said, “I know this is not the kind of thing people say in Nollywood, but I’m staking all on this movie, if you buy the DVD and it’s not ‘very funny’ to you, contact me, I will refund your money in full.” Without sounding immodest, the director said, The Place is his biggest movie project so far. “I know this will come across as chest-thumping to some people, but it is not. I am 110 per cent sure of this movie. This is my biggest project so far, and is different from everyone I have done. It is not only a comedy, the script is ‘lively and engaging’; you won’t be able to do any other thing while watching the movie. If it falls short of your expectation, I will refund your money. That is a promise. You can contact me on Twitter or through the store you purchase the DVD, but it has to be the original,” he stressed. Written by the comedian Mr. Patrick, it is the story of a book stolen from ‘The Place’ by an evil man. It needs to be retrieved before the evil man destroys the world. Who will save the world from destruction? Two unlikely heroes — Bishop Imeh and Mr. Patrick — decide to take the bull by the horn. The unfolding plots, dialogues and special effects form the basis for the ‘biggest comedy movie in recent times’, according to producer and director, Elliot. Co-produced by Uche Jombo Studios and Denziot Production, The Place will be released directly to DVD nationwide tomorrow. The movie features Uche Jombo, Gordons, Mr. Patrick Onyeka, Bishop Ime-Umoh, Jude Orhorha, Ruth Kadiri and Helen Paul.

Screen actors’ award for Nollywood EEKS after she announced the comW mencement of re-registration exercise for all members of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberisma, president of the guild, has announced plans to hold an award’s ceremony to be called Screen Actors Award. The award will take the form of a similar one organised by Screen Actors Guild of the United States. However, in

Dubai filmfest to launch encyclopedia of Arabic cinema O celebrate its landmark 10th edition, T the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has launched an online poll of the

Ibinabo addition to rewarding screen actors that have excelled, it will recognise individuals, corporate bodies, government and its agencies that have contributed to the growth of the industry. Already, a committee to organise the first edition has been inaugurated by the AGN President. The maiden award has, as chairman, Don Pedro Aganbi, while Julius Omije is vice chairman. Other members of the committee are, Tony Akposheri (PRO), Ejiro Okurame (Mobilisation), Cynthia Agholor and Amaka Eze will be in charge of marketing the event. The 10-member committee has the responsibility of organising the Screen Actors Award, which, according

to Fiberesima, is going to be the biggest in the industry. The AGN President also disclosed that entries or nominations for the award would be conducted through a dedicated website designed for that purpose as well as the social media, traditional media and text messages. “This award should be to the glory of Nigerian actors and thus should have the clapping of excellence in terms of organisation, class and appeal. AGN wants to use the Screen Actors Award to specifically bring to national notice that the industry today is a high contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria. Hence, there is need to celebrate the men and women, who, through their talents, have

AFRIFF 2013 Entries begin Audience Choice Award, which will be given to the producer of the movie, voted as most liked, HE Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) at the screenings by viewing participants at the has called for entries for its 2013 festival hold- festival. ing between November 10 and 17 in Calabar. Monetary prizes for best films in the compeAccording to film festival’s founder, Chioma tition will range between $2,000 - $6,000.” Ude, submission of films for the third edition Conceived by Ude, it is a world class showhas begun. case that presents a complete immersion into She said that entries could now be submitted the world of film making with participation and would be accepted up until July 30. She stat- from local and international, actors, directors, ed that as usual there would be four categories scriptwriters, cinematographers, sound engiof films accepted into competition. neers, musicians, editors, light engineers, stuThese are Features, Documentaries, Animation dents, equipment manufacturers and businessand Shorts. She also confirmed that details and men. application forms were available for download The objectives are to develop the film induson the AFRIFF website, www.africafilmfest.org. try to a level where the products compete She announced that exciting changes had favorably with their contemporaries all over been made to the festival’s award structure. world; provide a growth opportunity for these “This year and henceforth,” she said, adding, film industry professionals to eventually “the awards for excellence in the four film cate- export their products to the world; facilitate gories at AFRIFF have been increased from five to access to investors, equipment, technical and 11. These now are Best Feature Film, Best skill acquisition through Festival organized Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best fora and several capacity development workActress, all under the Feature Film category shops; complement government’s efforts at while the Documentary Film and Animation revamping small and medium scale enterprisFilm categories will offer awards for Best es (SMEs). Documentary and Best Animation respectively. First held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in The Short Film category on the other hand now 2010, the festival is growing to become a platoffers two awards, Best Short and Best Student form for the world to zoom in on the talent Short. The latter is a new award created as an and beauty of Africa. incentive to students and young filmmakers The Festival’s programme comprises: Film aimed at recognizing and encouraging their cre- screenings in cinemas, technical training series ative expressions. aimed at enhancing skills as well as raising A new eclectic award called the Special Jury local industry standards, business sessions and Award has also been instituted and will be given networking events, discussions and excursion. to the producers, in the opinion of the jury, of Rita Dominic (Nigerian actress), who has been the most outstanding film, cutting across all the a regular feature of the festival, is this year’s categories of movies submitted. Lastly is the ambassador. Members of AFRIFF steering committee

By Gregory Austin Nwakunor

region’s most prominent film critics, writers, novelists, academics and other cultural figures, who will collectively nominate the best 100 films of Arab cinema from its beginning to the present day. The resulting 100 films will be documented in an Arabic-English cinematic encyclopedia, to be released during the festival’s 10th anniversary edition, which holds from December 6 to 14. DIFF Chairman, Abdulhamid Juma, stressed the importance of this unique project, the first of its kind in the Arab world: “The encyclopaedia project provides an exceptional opportunity to identify the glorious milestones in the history of Arab cinema as judged by today’s most prominent cultural commentators. Since DIFF’s inception, our core mandate has been to support and nurture Arabic cinema, and we yearly recognise its greatest practitioners with our Lifetime Achievement Awards programme. A poll of this nature is key in documenting, promoting and preserving the Arabic cinematic legacy, for Arabs and non-Arabs alike.” The Cinematic Encyclopaedia will list the best 100 films, accompanied by scholarly and critical text from the Arab world’s most prominent critics, including historical data, information on the conditions of the productions, and background on the key creatives that made the films possible. The finished Encyclopaedia will be released during the DIFF 2013 and distributed to international and regional libraries as an indispensable reference to the study of Arab cinema . The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is the leading film festival in the Middle East and Africa. Since its inception in 2004, the festival has served as an influential platform for Arab filmmakers and talent at an international level, by spearheading the cinema movement in the region.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

LAFETE

APWEN in ‘Introduce A Girl To Engineering’ programme By Gbenga Akinfenwa HE Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), an arm of Nigeria Society of Engineers, has begun on a rigorous process of launching the girl-child into engineering profession, with the introduction of ‘Introduce A Girl To Engineering’ programme. Aimed at encouraging more female participation in the profession, the inaugural event held at the Lagos City Hall on Tuesday. It attracted 22 different schools across the state, who came to draw from the wealth of experience of women engineers. It was also meant to mentor the schoolgirls to passionately follow their chosen career and assist them in the study of engineering. All the schools participated in different activities to develop them on the practical aspect of engineering. The first practical activity was the construction of a bridge, where each school was given opportunity to prepare its budget, determine the necessary measurement and weight needed in the construction work. Another activity was the Disposal Diaper Dissection. National President of APWEN, Engr. Olayinka Abdul, disclosed that the programme is part of its career talks, which is geared at tutoring them about engineering as a career. She added that at the end of every talk, they always have a sort of Mentor-Mentee to monitor the progress of each of the students. “APWEN was 30 last year and part of what we did was to assess ourselves to see what we have done and what we need to do, which was part of what we are doing. What we are doing is to introduce the girl-child to engineering and this would be an annual event. It would also be replicated in all our chapters, in the states,” she said. She flayed people’s aversion for engineering, adding that it is not as difficult as people see it, hence the urgency of catching the girl-child at a tender age. To her, engineering complements in-born talents of an individual; it makes people happy, energetic and fulfilled.

She continued, “engineering teaches teamwork, it is a beautiful career, and that would makes one meticulous and an embodiment of life.” The older crop of women engineers who have contributed immensely to the profession include Mayen Adetiba, Nkechi Isigwe, Ebele Okeke, Joy Nwaoko, and they all have shown through their achievements that engineering is a fulfilling course, down to earth and an all – encompassing course, she said. The younger generation, the likes of Patricia Iheanacho, Valerie Ifueko, Ini Usoro, Olayinka Abdul and Felicia Agubata, among others, has also begun to toe that line. A former National President of APWEN, Ifueko believes engineering is in every human daily endeavour.

“From pen to paper, the cool air to the sun that shines, what you see is engineering. Technology is nothing but engineering. Engineering solves the problem of disease and pain. Engineers are problem solvers. Engineers love to see life becoming better. Anything that brings about breakthrough is engineering. History has shown that Engineers are one of the most creative and most adventurous people on earth. No wonder that the world is today better because of engineering,” she remarked. She noted that for APWEN, therefore, the best legacy is to leave foot prints in the sands and lives of the young, hence, to “catch them young” because the young are the future, the pride of the nation, with the belief that if the older generation of Nigerians would do more of this Nigeria will be a strong force to reckon

with in the comity of nations. “This is the real motivation for the women engineers, who believe that there is urgent need to empower Nigerian women especially young girls both economically and intellectually. This cannot be over emphasised bearing in mind the fact that women are specially endowed by God to be multi tasked in nature. “A woman has been so designed to be able to do so many things at the same time. Without sounding biased, giving a woman a job is like giving five people a job. Hence, it is very important for women to support other women. We need to encourage ourselves. Women should work hard for all they get. Hard work still pays even in Nigeria. If people would use their brains, remain steadfast; they will achieve a lot more.”

National Vice President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE)Engr, Valerie Agberagba (left) President (NSE) Engr, Mustapha Balarabe Shehu, President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) Engr, Olayinka Abdul, Former Chairman NSE Ikeja Branch, Kunle Adebajo, and his counterpart from Lagos Branch, Engr, Yetunde Holloway at the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day “ Engineering in Action” in Lagos on 04/6/2013 PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Foundation brings succor to the less privilege By Florence Utor EACH a man to fish rather than giving him fish, this way; you would make him independent and self-reliant, it will also make the society a better place. This is what President/Founder, HRH Appolus Chu Foundation, Chief Appolus Chu, who recently inaugurated his organisationis doing. He is stopping at nothing to engage the society particularly the youths to give them a self-reliant life. According to him, establishing the foundation was necessitated by the pains the less privileged of the society go through on a daily basis. Informed by this ugly situation, the thought of floating a foundation through which he can assist them find succour and relief so that they can live meaningful lives became necessary, he said. Conceived in August 2011, the thought went through the process of maturity and having fully developed was inaugurated recently in Okori Town Square, Eleme, Rivers State. Being a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit making and social welfare organisation poised to reposition the less privileged to function to full capacity, the Foundation will also help beneficiaries to contribute meaningfully to the development of the society. Since its establishment, the foundation has impacted positively on some lives, which include award of scholarship to nine Eleme undergraduates in specialised area of study for two years valued at the sum of N7.2 million. The scheme is intended to run throughout the years of study. The selection process, Chu was quick to explain, was done with utmost sincerity and carefulness, which saw two law students and seven engineering students emerging. The foundation also intends to award scholarships to Law and Medical students if they emerge at the end of the day. During its formal inauguration, the foundation empowered 50 petty-traders, at Akpa-oeh Market, Ogale as well as the

issuance of 100 brand new laptops to 100 graduates of the Foundation’s free computer literacy programme. A landed property with total area of 1,453.88 square metres worth N22.5 million was presented to the community to use as the Okori Town Square as well as a Mobile Clinic/Health Delivery Van to assist some patients that require immediate attention within Eleme land. Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, Chu’s advice was that since they have been given a net to fish, they should all put their nets to fish and never keep their fortune to depend on others, adding, “my candid advice to everyone is to be self-reliance, which is the best way to grow in life. “You all have been given a net to fish, note that not all achievement in life needs a sacrifice. I therefore encourage you all to put your net of today to fish and never keep your fortune to depend on others.” Chu said the opportunity given to them would give birth to bigger ones if managed properly. Recalling what informed his decision to establish a foundation, he said, “ when I considered how nine communities that constitute Okori community come every year to appreciate and celebrate me as their paramount ruler during the festival time and my birthdays, I realised that my people are actually taking cognisance of my support and the developments I have brought into the community. Then the thought to formalise this foundation came to my mind.” Since the foundation was inaugurated, the entire Eleme has not been the same again and a few indigenes have had one or two good things to say about the Foundation and its founder. For Princely Emeka Chujor, a lawyer, the foundation has three major components: security, health and education, noting that the patrol van donated to the Police is to enhance security in the area, while the ambulance is to cater for the medical needs of the people.

“Chu has provided an ambulance, not only that but it is fully equipped with drugs and facilities that can deal with any emergency. As a matter of fact, it is first of its kind within this area.” Chujor said further that with another foundation of such in place in Eleme it will go a long way in touching the lives of Eleme people, adding however that, “there are other people whom God has blessed in Eleme and who have the capacity to do what Chu was doing but are not forthcoming.” Another indigene of Eleme, Chief Baba Osaro Awala, described Chu as a gifted child that has decided to use his blessing to bless others. “That is what God requires from us because when he blesses you, in return He expects you to bless others and that is what

Chu is doing,” he noted. “Chu from childhood has been kind-hearted humble, very industrious and diligent. He is a very honest man who renders services to different people free of charge,” said Emere Festus Ngochindo. He noted that the assistance offered by the Foundations does not stem from a show of extreme wealth by the benefactor. “The existence of poverty is good enough for the activities of the Foundation. In its most extreme form, poverty is the lack of basic human needs … poverty leads to terrible suffering and eventually death. Crime and violence, which are among effects of poverty, may be transmitted to the rich. We do ourselves a favour, therefore, if we assist the poor,” Ngochindo said.

Chu Foundation Scholarship awardees display their dummy cheque

The GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

LAFeTe Caught in the Storms … A Compass For Mentoring Youths By Celey Okogun AUGHT in the Storms by Amaka Lucy ezenwankwo , an enthralling third person narrative, is a 171-page novel in 20 chapters, which I prefer to group into four stages of five chapters each, namely; the good, the bad, the ugly, and the endgame. The first stage (chapters 1 – 5) introduces the key characters in their innocence; the second stage (chapters 6 – 10) reveals in details the escapades of the lead character, Sandra; in the third stage (chapters 11 – 15), Sandra is torn between greed and the thought of settling down to a blissful marriage; while in the final stage (chapters 16 – 20), Sandra goes diabolic and fast-forwards her disaster. The plot of the novel grips the reader and pulls him/her through the story, in a compelling manner, till the end. Sandra overcomes her tertiary admission challenges by settling for a polytechnic and she is determined to make the best of it by focusing on her studies, at least initially. Sadly, she soon forgets ‘the daughter of who you are’, a phrase re-echoed many times by her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Smith Nwafor. Nudged by her new found friends (Oge, Linda and Tina) and propelled by her personal greed, Sandra satisfies her opulence, which Mr. Brown Johnson readily provides. To avoid perceived academic dissonance, she enlists for a university degree after her compulsory one year post-ND internship. The arrival of Mike, the handsome public relations executive, on the scene presents Sandra with a unique opportunity to settle down and redeem herself. Rather, she gambles again and begins double dating. The consequence of such an unholy act is all too familiar. Soon, Sandra is caught red-handed in the arms of her aristo. expectedly, Mike ends the relationship and takes a walk. But Sandra is desperate to eat her

cake and have it. Spurred by the matrimonial successes of some of her friends, especially Oge, the repentant wayward lady, Sandra becomes even more desperate to get married; and so engages the services of Mama Nnukwu, the witch-doctor, to cast a spell on both Mike and Mr. Brown. The spell is later broken by the prayers of Mrs. Brown, who fights to save her home and wins her husband back; and Mike’s pastor, who is fully aware of Sandra’s evil intentions. In the end, Sandra runs mad in the aftermath of her impotent spell. As a moral lesson for teenagers, especially young girls, Caught In The Storms is right on point. Out of the girls that energise the storyline, only Oge escapes, but with scars, as she is married and sober. The rest are not so lucky. Tina dies due to complications arising from too many abortions. Linda’s marriage crushes once her husband realised that her womb disorder is a result of earlier contraceptives abuse. Of course, Sandra’s spell on Mike boomerangs, prompting her to go mad. There are few African stories without superstitions and Caught In The Storms is not an exception. The supernatural powers of good and evil clashed in the novel as seen in prayers by Mrs. Brown, Mike’s pastor; and charms, incantations by Mama Nnukwu and then, Sandra. Similarly, the author attempts some proverbs (p.60, p.81), although her dexterity in this is doubtful, but commendable given her Lagos-aje-butter-girl status. however, the novel raises a few concerns. Why did the male characters walk away free without even a reprimand? After all, it takes two to tango! At least, society would expect Mr. Brown Johnson to be punished for his infidelity. Secondly, I do not think there is a justification for Sandra’s waywardness; and any attempt by the author to link her immoral acts to her earlier heartbreak with

Nigerian Idol , Moses, sings old tunes for Pepsi T was fun time recently, as work was tements for over 20 years, including giving ISeven-Up porarily halted at the headquarters of them full scholarships to study and play in Bottling Company (SBC) Plc, Lagos, when Moses Obi-Adigwe, winner of Nigerian Idol season three, paid a courtesy visit to the management and staff of the company for sponsoring the platform that has given him a voice in the entertainment industry. Speaking at the event, executive Director, human Resources, SBC, Mr. Femi Mokikan expressed the company’s delight in contributing to activities encouraging Nigerian youths to discover their innate abilities and aspire to become what they want to be. Mokikan used the occasion to stress the company’s love for youth development in music and in football. “Just recently, our Pepsi Music Campus Challenge produced a winner from Delta State University and we are currently in the process of producing a music video for him. Through the Pepsi Football Academy, the company has been discovering and nurturing young Nigerian tal-

top high schools in the United Kingdom,” Mokikan said. Also speaking at the event, Mr. Rotimi Pedro, Managing Director, OMG, organisers of the Nigerian Idol, commended the management and staff of the company for buying into the idea from the first season to the just concluded season three. According to him, “by accepting the offer for sponsorship from Season one, your organisation has really being of immense benefit to the realisation of the international idea at home, adapting it to suit our environment. Pepsi has really helped us to nourish that idea, which has now become a big idea that is fast spreading across the shores of Africa.” he noted that the youthfulness of thebrand has made this possible: adding, “we are very delighted that Nigerian Idol is the

Ken, her first ex-boyfriend, begs the question. Besides, Sandra had two clear chances to retrace her steps and chart a new course. For instance, the change of institutions (Polytechnic to University) and cities (Oko to enugu) presented an opportunity to break with her past, dislodge some bad friends and cut off bad influences. Again, the arrival of Mike on the scene was yet another. Both Sandra and Mike, mutually though at separate times, contemplated

second most watched reality TV show in Nigeria with great followership on facebook and twitter.” highly elated Moses was full of praise for the soft drink company for giving him a platform to voice his dream to pursue his early childhood passion. In his words, “I feel very honoured in this place and right from the gate when I saw myself on the flex banners all around the premises, the joy in me knew no bounds. That is why I am really grateful to Pepsi for making me who I am today. I appreciate the fact that the entire company is rejoicing with me for emerging the winner of season three.” The climax of the event was when Moses thrilled Pepsi staff with a live performance of some of the songs he did during the competition. he was later presented with an illuminated portrait of himself as a gift from the company.

settling down to a happily married life. As usual, Sandra missed the chance; and sadly, the events of this scene led to her doom. Another of my concerns was the three chapters (chapters 2 – 4) devoted to Mr. Smith Nwafor’s early childhood, his hard work, her intelligence which I feel didn’t add much to the storyline beyond the simple fact that Sandra was from a humble background. Mr.& Mrs. Nwafor, in the novel, failed in their parental guidance to their daughter. Need I mention that the teenage years or adolescence, which occurs between end of secondary school and tertiary institutions is the critical period most parents lose control of their children. The reasons are two folds: first, at this stage, children tend to go to boarding houses away from the prying eyes of parents, aunties, and neighbours. Secondly, and more importantly, even if your children were schooling from home, they are not exempted from adolescence crisis, which is often marked by emotional, physiological/psychological changes and personality rediscovery. The author tells us that throughout Sandra’s five years in both Oko and enugu, her parents were too busy to visit and see things for themselves — they are too busy to care for their daughter. Beyond contributing to the body of literary knowledge, the author is providing parents, guardians, as well as teacher a moral lesson to reflect on. I therefore recommend this novel as a teaching tool. Sandra may have been caught in the storms of life; but the storms of life can be weathered by those who have prepared themselves. Okogun is an Organisation & Management expert with specialisation in leadership. He is CEO, NOVELPOTTA Y&R.

Imo Show Of Fame hits UK BY CHIKA ONWUKWE

Ogbuagu he cities of London, Manchester and Birmingham in the UK will play host to seven Imo Bongo artistes in a concert titled, Imo Show Of Fame, which holds from July 27 to August 3. Initiator of the music carnival and Special Assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha on entertainment, Uche Ogbuagu, informed that artistes, including King Owigiri, ND Arabanko, Sharma Melody and others would thrill their fans at the Queen’s country. Bruno Iroanya, a sound engineer, who is the brain behind most of Bongo’s hit songs will accompany the singers to produce an album to be voiced by the entire artistes at the end of the programme. The humour merchant stressed that he usually package comedy shows in the UK or America every summer, but has decided to go the Bongo way this time with the help of G29 Music & KC Records, his foreign partners, whose mandate is to sell African flavour in europe. “We have agreed to make this a yearly event as a way to explore the potentials of Imo entertainers globally. Nevertheless, this is the first of it’s kind since the creation of the bureau of Imo entertainment,” he said. Ogbuagu informed that Governor Rochas Okorocha and his entourage will be at the show to cheer the artistes, adding that the trip is part of Imo State contribution to the development of entertainment in the state.

Executive Director, Human Resources, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Femi Mokikan, Nigerian Idol season three winner, Moses Obi-Adigwe and Key Accounts Manager, SBC, Mrs. Patricia Odia-Iletogun during Moses’ visit to SBC Headquarters, Lagos... recently

THE GUARDIAn, Sunday, June 9, 2013

36 BY BENSON IDONIJE benidoni@yahoo.com

All That Jazz

ARTSVILLE

The Legendary Eric Dolphy ... In Concert

BY TOYIN AKINOSHO

In Temptation, Kardashian Plays Shallow OU know the girl who plays the dumb, shallow character in Y Temptation, the new film by Tyler Perry? It’s Kim Kardashian. Of the six main characters in this emotional story of far- fetched love and searing pain, Kardashian’s character has the least intelligent lines and, what’s worse, she even struggles with the standard, basic material she’s given, including quotes like: “This is the best day of my life”. The African American flick, released in late March, has pulled in quite some audience in Lagos Cinemas. With movie goers having taken in enough of all that action in Iron Man3 and all the gore in Olympus Has Fallen, they are filling all the seats in the rooms whereTemptation is showing(on two weekdays last week, it was near standing room only at Screen 5 in Silverbird and Screen 3 in Genesis at The Palms, both on Victoria Island). Love films sell in Lagos, particularly when it’s about betrayal of marriage vows. Jurnee Smollett-Bell is absolutely brilliant in the lead role of the philandering wife. She knows how to handle the emotional range. There’s one reason why the movie may have appealed to Lagos. It’s drama and neo-realistic story -telling, very much the ingredients that make nollywood so successful. True, in new York and Johannesburg, the press is writing a lot about The Great Gatsby, the movie adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel. But here, everyone is going to see Temptation.

national Theatre: The Idea Or The Built Environment? OETHE Institut, the German Cultural Centre, is hoping to G revive the long dead building that once hosted the Federal Government Printing Press and declare it as national Theatre Of

CAn’T think in terms of wrong ILittle notes,” said trumpeter Booker in a Metronome interview. “In fact, I don’t hear any notes as being wrong. I think you are thinking completely conventionally – technically and forgetting about emotions. And I don’t think anyone would deny that more emotion can be reached and expressed outside of the conventional way of playing which consists of whole steps and half steps. There are more emotions that can be expressed by the notes that are played flat.” Booker Little was speaking the mind of his co- avant garde conspirator and saxophonist, Eric Dolphy in terms of the free and unconventional nature of the new music which they had both embraced - in 1961. And with a formidable rhythm section unit of pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Richard Davis and drummer Ed Blackwell, the quintet knocked their audiences out at The Five Spot, venue of their regular concerts. Eric Dolphy, who, like Ornette Coleman or John Coltrane was in himself enough to make the word “standard” inapplicable in any group he worked in, was a master of all the reed instruments although he often limited himself to the alto saxophone and the bass clarinet. He was one of the most shatteringly intense players of contemporary jazz. At the time of this recording, although he had just won the Down Beat International Critics Poll as new Star alto saxophonist, the Five Spot engagement was the first regular work he had had since leaving Charles Mingus several months before. Since that time, he became the center of considerable controversy as a member of the group led by John Coltrane. Trumpeter Booker Little was a good match at the frontline where they had dissonant as well as consonant exchanges. A new voice on the instrument, he was particularly interested in the possibilities of dissonance, believing that the more dissonance, the bigger the sound.

With two such men in the frontline, a stabilizing element was required to keep the music going in understandable patterns. The catalyst for this stability was pianist Mal Waldron who performed the role to perfection. Waldron had had considerable experience at exactly this sort of thing, having sat on the piano chair for Charles Mingus for a long period of time. He was one of the most consistently excellent of contemporary pianists, and, unfortunately one whose excellence was too often taken for granted. This album contains brilliant examples of Waldron at his best, spinning out very few notes to their fullest implication (in the manner of Thelonious Monk or Ahmad Jamal), and keeping a powerful pulse present at all times. Bassist Richard Davis first came to prominence working with pianists Ahmad Jamal and Don Shirley whose outfits did not necessarily equip him for the skills he demonstrated here. He also spent quite a bit of time working with the celebrated female jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. Thoroughly grounded in classical music, Davis was one of the few players who, like Ray Brown and Paul Chambers, made the expanding role of the instrument an interesting phenomenon. Drummer Ed Blackwell was apparently influenced by Elvin Jones; and later became an apostle of ‘Black Music’ and prominent member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Music presided over by Lester Bowie of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. At the time of this recording, he was already quite familiar with the farthest reaches of the new jazz, having come to prominence as a member of the Ornette Coleman Quartet. Coleman had a high opinion of Blackwell, describing him as “one of the most musical ears of playing of anyone I’ve heard.” It is quite fitting that since this was a cooperative group, that each of the major soloists contributed one of the three compositions heard. Fire Waltz composed by Mal Waldron has Eric Dolphy on alto. It reflects the growing

nigeria. “For one week, in December 2013, it will be a mockup of the cultural heart of nigeria hosting performances, exhibitions, lectures, talks, concerts, and parties – a visionary think tank on the future of art spaces in nigeria”, the centre says in a press release. The colonial structure, built in 1896, had gradually gone to seed since the Printing Press moved to Malu Road in Ajegunle in the 70s and then finally, most of the printing work journeyed to Abuja in the 90s. The Germans are not interested in this journey. What they are interrogating is what constitutes a national Theatre?. German video artists Constanze Fischbeck and Daniel Kötter, familiar with the Lagos art scene since 2007, will, in the week beginning Monday June 3, 2013, start interview sessions in the Printing Press, asking artists, researchers, performers, filmmakers, sociologists and urbanists to develop their first ideas about the following topic: “If the Printing Press would be concern of young players with declared national Theatre of nigeria for one week, what would rhythms other than the basic 4/4. you want to do in it?” Booker Little’s Bee Vamp where The collection of first ideas should open up the think tank for the Dolphy switches to alto is a beautineeds of the art society in nigeria and describe the relation ful tune. As the title implies, it is between artists and society. One of the main focuses will also be concerned with another aspect of the newest jazz, its chordal suspen- to discuss cultural spaces in a city like Lagos. Each interview session. Entitled The Prophet, the entire sion will involve a team from two different disciplines which will be filmed by the artists on location in the Printing Press. The film second side of the album is taken will act as a first contribution for the public presentation in up by a composition of Eric Dolphy’s, a semi - ballad dedicated December. to Richard Jennings, a friend of his called Prophet. Lala’s Second Show At Taruwa Festival The individual moments of excellence on this LP are too many to HE Taruwa Open Mic Show, which popped on the scene six enumerate; and are even more staryears ago, helped to concretise the Open Mic tradition in tling considering the in- person circumstances under which they were Lagos. now that Taruwa (“The Gathering”, in Hausa) is kicking off an annual Arts Festival, next week, it’s as well that an Open Mic recorded: The shattering sound of session would be a part of it. “Open Mic Theatre, The Taruwa Edition the alto saxophone and bass clar“ will be presented by Lala Akindoju’s The Make It Happen inet by Eric Dolphy – with interminable solos and choruses on the Production company which, incidentally, had its first production VMonologues, The Nigerian Story at the Muson Centre early in May. Prophet reaching breaking point The event holds on Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Terra Kulture Centre and the crescendo of agonizing on Victoria Island. humiliation; trumpeter Booker Little’s experiment with the possibilities of dissonance – to create a Long Way To Go For Profits In Movies bigger sound; the effective notes and rhythms generated by pianist UnDE Kelani, the widely respected filmmaker, says it is exhibiMal Waldron; the enhancement of tion of films at the Cinemas that is the way out of the current rhythmic exploration engendered lack luster earnings of the nigerian movie. Current statistics do by the moving bass line of Richard not help Mr Kelani’s argument, but he thinks that a robust investDavis; the technical patterns of ment in the exhibition infrastructure would dramatically drummer Ed Blackwell in terms of improve the fortunes of the filmmaker. The experience of Kunle defining free form and spread Afolayan helps to clarify things. A second generation producer, rhythm. Afolayan has made three films: Irapada, Figurine and Phone Swap. In format, it was a standard quin- He says that his last offering, which he made for 60Million naira, tet of the kind that the bop era had grossed 22Million naira in Cinemas, “of which only seven(7) milmade traditional – saxophone – lion naira came back to me”. There are just about eight standard trumpet and three rhythms – but Cinemas around the country. “Imagine if there were 50?”, he the music hinted at developments asks. Film exhibition thrived in the sixties and seventies in going far beyond that concept. nigeria, but that was when the nigerian movie itself was not the Members of the quintet had chosen default movie that nigerians saw. While the low priced Cinemasto make the group a cooperative Jebako, Super- exhibited Chinese and Indian films, the posh one, which meant that the music Theatres-Metro, Roxy- screened American movies. The nigerian itself would be more important movies that came up in the late 70s to 80s(Ola Balogun’s Ajani than any one man’s quest for starOgun, Owo Lagba; Ogunde’s Aiye, Olaiya’s Mosebolatan, etc) were dom. exhibited, true, but the widespread viewing of the nigerian film All of this is what jazz at its best is today is associated with the CD format as a distribution platform. supposed to be. It could continue “The CD format, as a vehicle for distribution, is no longer workin that tradition to its utmost ing”, says Kelani. “Every good movie has been pirated, and there reaches, as long as there are musiare some we can’t even talk about..Pirated copies sell for as little cians like these – to play it. But, as it as 50naira. How much further downslope can you get? ”. is, ‘the harvest is plentiful, while the labourers are few!’ Compiled by staff of Festac News Press Agency

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

ARTS

THE READING NATION

‘And The Man Cried’… Wole Soyinka, Almost (2) By Segun Oyekunle OR they too countersued for giving the rights to NTA for the miniseries production of Things Fall Apart, with an all-star cast that includes Pete Edochie as Okonkwo, and the NTA miniseries icon, Peter Igho as the Supervising Producer. “Didn’t you give them the rights?” “I did. For only Things Fall Apart. But not for No Longer At Ease or A Man Of The People.” It is my conjecture that Things Fall Apart was never their interest after all, that they were never interested in the dignity of the African hero, flawed though he may be, which Okonkwo projects in it, and that they merely wanted to ride on Things Fall Apart’s fame and coattails to the bank, by focusing on the love story and cultural conflict in No Longer At Ease and the political satire and prophetic drama of A Man Of The People, which will be more appealing to the Hollywood crowd. In other words, in spite of the popularity of the book all over the world, some ignorant script writer who knew nothing about the box office potential of Things Fall Apart, who was incapable of exploring the depth of its cultural and pioneering reach in opening the eyes of the world to Africa beyond stereotypes, in opening the whole world to an alternative view to their “noble savage” concept of an African hero, the writer and the producer accepted the line and made the film for Hollywood rather than the whole world. And they misfired woefully. It has always been an uphill task for a filmmaker to match the ingrained, deeply entrenched reader’s vision, the film in the reader’s inner-mind, the conception of a book that sticks in the mind after reading it, when s/he takes on a popular novel. It is even more so when s/he takes on such a world book as Things Fall Apart, especially when the filmmaker is ignorant of the culture that forms the base of the film he is making. Everyone who saw that film was sorely disappointed. And wished it had never been made. Why? Because the film had totally destroyed, forever, their fantasy of Okonkwo and the village of Umuofia. The film has also blocked the opportunity that could have followed it to make the film of the legend’s other works. Moreover, there was a racist element inherent in the decision of the studio to combine No Longer At Ease and A Man Of The People with Things Fall Apart — without permission. You can say anything about Hollywood IP-stealing, but they know where to draw the line when it comes to the material of established writers in the western world. Hollywood would not have done that with the works of any writer in the West without a clearly specific written/contract permission. Period. You could see now why the man cried! “But you should have written the film script yourself sir.” “I don’t know how. And I trusted them.” Trust Hollywood! Before anybody blamed him for giving the rights of Things Fall Apart to a major Hollywood studio, rather than trust it into the hands of the Ousmane Sembenes of that era, one must realise that this is Things Fall Apart, and not just any book. Things Fall Apart has become the book of the world. It is said to have been translated into about sixty languages. And sold at least 10 million copies. It has therefore been taken out of our hands and given to the world, and the world has accepted this gift with open hands, wholeheartedly. Those who have read it would be thrilled, anxious to see it on the screen, potentially over 10 million of them. And the attraction of the rest of the world seeing it in film, the most popular medium in the world, that attraction and the desire to reach it is very real, would be very real for any writer in his shoes. Hollywood was certainly the right place to which to entrust it. Imagine the possibility of its reach, if it had been done right. Remember this was before Nollywood. Long before Africa Magic in its multidimensional, multilingual form. Before YouTube. Monetary gains apart, remember its further impact if they had concentrated just on Things Fall Apart, explored it to its depth and presented it to the owners of the book, the world, in its filmic form. Again remember this was preNollywood, pre-Africa Magic. And with the power of Hollywood behind it, its publicity

Oyekunle machine and its worldwide distribution network at work, Things Fall Apart could easily have added to its laurel as the most watched African film in the world. But that opportunity may be lost forever. Why wouldn’t the man cry! As it always does, Hollywood treats African culture, African stories and themes with impunity, and willy-nilly will handle its subject matter with the same ignorance and laziness it has always handled African current affairs, issues - the African entity. They did it to Prof. Soyinka with Kongi’s Harvest, to the extent that he disowned the film and insisted that they should not as much as credit him even though he acted in it. Steven Spielberg did not spare any cost on research into the making of Schindler’s List, and did pay Consultants to remain on the set to make sure he was true to his story and the Jewish culture he was presenting to the world. He should be commended for doing the same for Amistad starring Djimoh Honshu, which he also coproduced with Debbie Allen the Dance Choreographer, known to be a diehard Africanist in Hollywood. Steven Spielberg was and is a rare breed in Hollywood. [I was one on the set of Tears of The Sun and appealed, when they went astray, to the Sony Studio that made the film, the Executive Producers, the Director, and the African star with clout in the film. I put my career on the line. The script that actors auditioned for was not the film that was shot. And with the way the Director shot “Tears...”, rewriting the script and making the day’s shoot available early in the morning to only those in the scene that day, it was not possible to accurately discern which direction he was taking the story, until the special screening to selected people. That was when I challenged the stakeholders on the so-called Nigerian facts presented to the world in the film. Yes there was a repercussion. For example, I was edited out so much that if you blinked, you would not see me in the film. But my petition forced some little changes nonetheless]. A Consultant on the set of Things Fall Apart, who is knowledgeable not only of the book but also of the culture that gave birth to it, would

have been able to challenge the stakeholders on the direction it was going]. Producers of Things Fall Apart did not show that they cared, and ended up making an old genius cry. The film did not star anyone familiar with the culture in Things Fall Apart. Only one Nigerian appears in the film, and not in a starring role, only one Nigerian, from the Nigeria, which gives the world Things Fall Apart. Is it any wonder then that the man cried! The experience of Prof. Achebe and, I dare say, Prof. Wole Soyinka with Opera Wonyosi motivates me in the campaign to attract Nigerian authors into the Nigerian film industry. The future of the Nigerian film industry depends on it. We are the only film culture whose writing luminaries abandon its film industry, a creative field whose most creative and experienced creative minds refuse to tread and chart. I believe Prof. Wole Soyinka went back to school, as it were, after his Nobel Prize, and learnt how to write screenplays. A wonderful and tough act to follow. Nigerian great and award-wining authors can do the same, if not go back to school, at least attend workshops, organized with experienced screenwriters they would respect from established film industries in the world. They have their great works to convert into screenplays, or fresh works directly into screenplays, written by they themselves, and shot into movies, perhaps themselves. If not themselves, at least the line would have been drawn and the framework structured for any Director who takes on their work. The best films qualitatively in terms of how many Oscars won, the most grossing films in the world from many years past have been adaptations from books. The Godfather Series, Jurasic Park series, The Lord of the Rings series, Titanic, Avatar, Harry Potter series, etc., are adaptations that have had tremendous success. Not only qualitatively, but at the box office also. Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison made more money with Beloved when she sold the novel that won her the Nobel Peace

Prize for Literature to Oprah Winfrey, than she ever made with all her works combined. Even though the script was not written by the author herself, it was written by an African, the Ghanaian Princess Akosua Busia, who understood both the African culture, the root of the story, and the southern American culture, where it was set. It wasn’t that Oprah first gave it to her, in her search for a “named writer”, and Beloved was Busia’s first ever screenplay. But Oprah was knowledgeable enough to know that all the Hollywood star script writers that wrote copies, for which she paid millions, did not accomplish what she felt, why she bought the book, until she went back to what Busia had submitted. Nigerian authors have to write the scripts to their famous works themselves, because Nigeria does not have the screenwriting culture, which Hollywood built, the writing culture that allows Toni Morrison and other great authors to sell their works and sleep well at night, not fearing whether or not they will be violated liked they raped Prof. Chinua Achebe. The man was therefore, in a way crying out to other Nigerian writers to be careful if they don’t want to have with their works the bitter taste of his experience with Things Fall Apart the film. It is a shame that the Nobel Foundation does not give a Nobel Peace Prize posthumously, having given the last to Dag Hammarskjold in 1961, [the Foundation’s statues changed and stipulated in 1974 that it could no more award the Peace Prize posthumously]. This will hit hard those who are unaware of that fact and would like to renew their lobby for a Nobel Prize for him. Mahatma Ghandi, the ultimate symbol of non-violence struggle for democracy and freedom in our time was never awarded the Prize, despite the fact that he was nominated every year from 1937 – 1939, in 1947, and again in January 1948, a few days before he was murdered. For if there ever is a writer who is well deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature, Prof. Albert Chinualumogu Achebe is the one. Just as there have been many speculations on the reason the Nobel committee shunned the most worthy representative of the vision and goal of the Peace Prize, most prominent among which was the rumor that Great Britain was strongly against giving the award to Gandhi because of his antiBritish colonialism stand in India, and the Committee was afraid to thereby ruin its relationship with Great Britain at the time, the rumour for denying Prof. Achebe is as regards his “active” participation in the Nigerian Civil War, war in general, which the non-violence organization is totally against. It is a shame that the Nigerian civil war should have cast such a long shadow over such an illustrious literary career. The Nobel committee has remained quiet, as always, on why it actually refused to give the award to either Gandhi or Achebe. The closest effort of the Nobel Committee at recognizing Gandhi was when the Dalai Lama received the award in 1989, and the Chairman of the Nobel Foundation committee said his award was “in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi”. But why must Prof. Achebe’s illustrious literary career be defined, be remembered for a Nobel Prize NOT received? For no matter what awards are received or not received, Achebe’s lofty height in the world literary terrain remains secure and permanent, and, like for those who are even more famous after they are gone, his fame is just about to multiply in geometric proportions! As a postscript, I was able to attend his Funeral at Ogidi, thanks to my Hon. Minister, Senator Bala Moahmmed, who understood and allowed me to go. It was a funeral for a king, attended by two Presidents, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who turned a learned critic of three of the Prof’s works, and John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, for whom the Prof. was also a mentor. Where Prof.’s wife, Prof. Christie Chinwe Achebe summoned that courage and fortitude to still sing during the funeral no one else but she will ever know. Because the decision had been made not to have an open casket at church, a very tight few of us had been allowed to view his open casket in his house, lying-in-state in perfect peace. And everyone cried!

Oyekunle, MD/CEO Abuja Film Village International Ltd. 3arufa@msn.com

TheGuardian

38 THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

IbruCentre Yussuf

Waive

Madubuko

Akintola

Sitting Arrangement Is To Maintain Full And Undiluted Concentration’

With modernity and changing society, one would expect some of the ethos associated with our social, religious and cultural institutions to also change, alas these institutions have not only upheld them, but are equally promoting them. For example, the Jewish customs, where men and women sit separately from each other are still practiced in some churches today. However, this common practice is also found in the mosques. Clerics from both faith spoke to CHRIS IREKAMBA and OLUWAKEMI AJANI on the rationale behind the practice and why they still adhere to it. (DR. SUNDAY OLA MAKINDE, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria)

(Alhaji SHERIFF YUSSUF, National

T is a common practice in Iknow our church, but I don’t why. Each time I go to

President of Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT)

ITTING arrangement from Sbeenthe inception of Islam has like that. Reason is that when you are in a place of worship, you are standing or sitting in the presence of your creator and full concentration is required. So, the order is that men and women should sit separately. You know, as human beings, we are subject to distraction, especially for men, by the time you start seeing women very close to you, by your side, in your front, you start admiring them, and before you know it, your concentration is lost, you will not be able to sustain that intense communication between you and God. That is why men are in front while the women are at the back. If you put the women in front and allow the men to sit at the back, men will still look at the women and that will distract them. The sitting arrangement does not signify that men are superior to women. It’s just to make sure that men being who they are, will not be distracted by looking at women when they are praying. Sitting arrangement in mosque is as old as Islam. When we are in the mosque to worship, we are there to show total submission to Almighty Allah. It is not a sign that women are inferior to men or they are not to be seen. We are both equal before Allah. The essence is that you are in total communication with your creator and you don’t need an intermediary. If there is full concentration and no distraction then it’s more likely that your prayer will be answered. But if you are asking God to do something for you and you are eyeing a woman or thinking of the money people are owing you or are supposed to give you or one contract you are chasing, then your attention is broken. That is what we want to avoid. Women are as equal as men

‘Why Churches And Mosques Have Separate Sitting Arrangement For Men And Women’

Muoka in standing before Almighty Allah.

‘Those Practicing These Things Are Still In Bondage’

(Apostle ANSELM MADUBUKO, General Overseer, Revival Assembly, Ogba, Lagos)

HE ancient practice still exT ists today, all in the name of religion. So, it’s still religion. Religion is the problem. There is nothing wrong with women preaching. Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty and we should walk in that liberty and not in bondage. It is not proper to say because one is a woman she won’t mount the pulpit or sit in some places and all of that. In Christ there’s no male or female, we are all one. Those practising these things are still in bondage.

‘Most Times Women Menstruate’

(Senior Evangelist YUNUSA IDOWUParish Pastor, Celestial Church of Christ, Ogo Oluwa Parish)

HE reason women and men sit differently in Celestial Church of Christ is as a result of the setting. If you look at Celestial Church generally you will know that it is not anyhow Church. Women and men sit apart, especially during church services because most times women menstruate, and as such, they are not allowed to enter the church until they have finished it. I also believe that is how the Muslims operate too.

‘God Has Not Taught Us Not To Sit Together’

my home church in Ibadan, my wife always sit where other women are sitting. I have been asking why, but answers are not forthcoming. That is how we met it, but in Tinubu Square or in other churches in Lagos, you sit with your wife. In fact, I don’t know how it came about. Separate sitting arrangement is a tradition, it is not a rule, and God has not taught us not to sit together. It’s a man-made tradition. There is nothing wrong for you to sit with your wife. In Port Harcourt, people sit with their wives, I don’t know why some people keep that tradition. You don’t talk about it, because they have been practicing it for long time and I think, one should leave them alone. We have not told anybody not to sit down anywhere; people just decide to sit separately. Some sit with their wives and nobody has told them to go and sit the other side. It doesn’t apply in all the churches. I have toured all over the churches in Nigeria, men and women sit together, but I think sitting together is good because some people may be widows and when you isolate them, they feel bad. To me, it’s not the problem; your mind is the problem. Why do we have to worry ourselves with sitting arrangement? Whether you sit separately or not, it doesn’t mean you are segregating the women from the men. To me, it doesn’t enhance salvation or is it sinful. If you say Christ had abolished the old order, that is true, but why is Osu caste system still go on in the East? Did Christ not die for them? There are some old traditions that still take place in some local churches, of which sitting arrangement is a non-issue. What I know is family pews in those days and we have abolished that. This is my family sit or pew and

therefore, nobody has the right to sit there; we have abolished all that. You can sit anywhere because there’s no longer family pew in Methodist Church. Actually, it’s high time we stop those traditions that are incompatible with Christianity. Just like Achebe’s kinsmen wanted to bury him in the night, but the Vicar of the Church insisted that he must be buried in the day. Arguing that the man died as a Christian and must be buried in a Christian way. We should only christianise traditions that are compatible with Christianity.

‘Preachers Use The Pauline Epistles To Justify Their Discrimination Against Womenfolk’

Idowu

Makinde

Osu

Ifeacho

Ogunde

anity, but Judaism.

‘Precept Not Manmade, But Divinely Arranged’

(Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries)

the sake of orderliness FCo.asOR14:40, we are admonished in 1 “Let all things be done

(REV FRANCIS EJIROGHENE WAIVE, General Overseer, Fresh Anointing Missionary Ministries Inc., Warri Delta State)

decently and in order” men and women are advised to sit according to their genders in the church. The precept is not man-made, but divinely arranged.

HE practice of allowing T women to sit separately from men is an ancient Jew-

‘Men And Women Sit Together’

ish customs, which are still common in the Middle East. It has no spiritual or physical implications. In those days, it served the purpose of observing traditions regarding women in their menstrual period and the discrimination against women, which was a common thing. In Christ there is no male or female Gal 3:28. The old order is only in existence in places where men have refused to accept the word of God, thereby exalting their tradition above God’s word - Mark 7:13. We do not have such practice of segregating women in our church sitting arrangement. This is because we are not into selective and subjective interpretation of the scripture. We base our doctrine and practice on the whole counsel of God’s word. We interpret scripture with the scripture. There is also the need to balance the Old Testament with the New or else, we will not be practicing Christi-

(Very Rev. MSGR. GABRIEL OSU, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos)

HE Catholic Church does T not segregate between sexes in terms of sitting arrangement. Men and women are allowed to sit together in the Church, as it is convenient.

‘Separate Sitting Enables Men And Women To Concentrate Without Distractions’

ªBROTHER GODWIN IFEACHO, Chairman Executive Board, God’s Kingdom Society (GKS)

OMEN are made to sit W separately from the men in places of worship for purpose of decency and orderliness. This arrangement also gives the women freedom to relate with one another. (1 Corinthians 14:40) Bible understanding and experience show that it is better to do so than to allow them to sit to-

gether. The Temples built by Solomon, Zerubbabel and Herod had a section called The Court Of Women, referred variously as the ‘New Court,’ (2 Chronicles 20:5), or the ‘Outer Court,’ (Ezekiel 46:21). The Court Of Women was the appointed place of worship for women, according to the American Tract Society Dictionary. There is no doubt that separate sitting enables men and women to concentrate on the service without distractions. The Bible enjoins ‘worshippers to be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools,’ Ecclesiastes 5:1. See Luke 8:3; Matthew 26:6-13; Philippians 4:3. If we want to serve God we must do as He has enjoined us to and not to please ourselves, for His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8,9)

‘Not Every Man Can Allow Another Man To Sit Beside His Wife’

(MRS. OGUNDE REMI, Parish Pastor, Cherubim and Seraphim, Oke-Igbala Tedo)

HE reason women and T men sit apart in our church is because not every man that can allow another man to sit beside his wife. For instance, we have another temple for men where women are not allowed to sit with them. After the service men and women can talk together. In my church, it is a laid down rule by God — women sit separately and men sit separately. Though I have not read it in the Bible that men and women should sit apart.

‘IT’s The Culture Of Islam’

(Professor ISHAQ AKINTOLA, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

T is the culture of Islam, in Imen the mosque, women and sit separately. That is to avoid unnecessary distractions and things women will be doing, which they would not want men to see. There are also things men will be doing that they won’t want women to see. But, when they sit separately, they can do whatever they like among themselves.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

IBRUCENTRE

Sunday School Setting The Captives Free Memory Verse: “That then the Lord thy God will turn the captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee,” Deuteronomy 30:3. Bible Passage: Psalm 126:1-6. Introduction APTIVITY here is the spiritual incarceration of a person’s destiny; an arrest of progress in life. Many captives are oblivious of their captivity. They may be vaguely aware of their limitations in spite of their strenuous efforts, but they may not know why. There are several ways to captivity. And there are willing captives.

...With Pastor Enoch Adeboye

Cases of captivity It can manifest in many ways. One may be held down by chains or walls, Acts 12:6-8; by sickness, 2 Kgs. 13:14, Lk. 4:3839, Jn.5:5-6, or by wrong location, Lk. 10:39-40, Jonah 1:3-4, 2 Sam. 11:1-2. It may be foundational, I Chron. 4:9-10, Gen. 32:2628, or by strong adversaries. Gen. 37:18-20, 26:18-22 or by error in the area of marriage or sexual perversion, I Kgs. 16:31-32, 11:1-3 or by curses in or on the environment, I Kgs. 16:34, Exo. 15:23. Captivity may also be self-induced Num. 13:30-33, Lk. 16:2021, I Sam. 1:4-6, Gen. 16:1-2. Eze. 37:1-2, Mt. 25:24-25, or by circumstances beyond his/her control, Esth. 6:1-3, I Sam. 16:10-11. However, the greatest captivity is when one is tied

down by sin and wilful disobedience to God or uncontrolled lust and fornication, Judges 16:1, 18-21. Way out of capacity To get out of captivity, you need to repent from all your sins and be converted, Acts 3:19-20. You also need to examine yourself, restitute and worship the Great deliverer, 2 Cor. 13:5. You need to call on Jesus for deliverance. Holiness will make you immune to captivity, Pro. 18:10; Ps. 11:3; Jn. 16:24; Eph. 4:30. Conclusion Jesus said the Prince of this world came unto me and found nothing. As a branch of the vine, you can be free too.

What Shall We Do?

If you are close to God or His prophets, you can always receive warning each time there is an imminent danger. The spirit of “…Ah, my lord, what will we do now?’ he cried out to Elisha. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ ElGod sends you the alert. It can come through dreams, visions, isha told him. ‘For there are more on our side than on theirs!’ ‘O Lord, open his audible voice, discernment or warning from other people. But eyes and let him see!” 2 Kings 6: 15-16 He makes it a duty to tell you of the plan of the enemy (physical or spiritual) against you or your loved ones. And sometimes, He OME ignorant people argue that the time of the prophets has goes beyond that to give you specific information about other past, which is not true! It is also not biblical. Even in the New people. I experience a lot of this. Sometimes, he tells you about Testament you have the prophet Agabus, prophetess Anna and individuals, communities, nations and others. He would want others. And I hope you know that Jesus and even the apostles you to intercede or communicate the message to them. Other also operated on the prophetic frequency. There are assigntimes, He may want you to know, learn or do a few prophetic acments you cannot achieve without a powerful prophetic auctions concerning the situation. God does not leave His people in tion upon your life. There are some levels of spirits you cannot the dark. This is also why the enemy is so much afraid and hates confront without the prophetic. And there are also circumthe prophetic with passion. He finds it very difficult to operate stances in life that would remain impregnable and unsolvable in that kind of environment. The prophetic is a defense! without the prophetic. In 2 Kings 6:8, the Syrian (Aramian) king would plan with his By Gabriel Agbo

military officers on how to invade Israel and immediately prophet Elisha would pick the signal in the spirit and promptly warn the King of Israel, telling him in details, the exact plan, timing and the place. And the Israelites would immediately mobilise and guard the particular place. This happened severally, frustrating the plans of the Assyrian king. The man became angry and summoned all his officers asking them who were betraying all his plans to the king of Israel. And his officers told him, ‘Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!’ Wow! Indeed, nothing is hidden before God. He takes what the King discusses in his bedroom and transmits same to His servant in Samaria! What God has not told you is just what He does not want you to know. When we come close to God, He will make us know the things beyond the physical and also build hedge around us. I can’t remember when last things happened around me suddenly. God will always tell His servants what He is about to do or what the enemy is up to. It all depends on your relationship with Him, His grace upon you or His divine purposes. His words come for direction and protection. If you are not in tuned to His word, you will invariably grope in darkness, as far as the issues of this life are concerned.

Rev. Agbo is of the Assemblies of God Nigeria. gabrielabo@yahoo.com

‘Ban Of Hijab In Public Schools Is Gross Injustice To Muslims’ By Omiko Awa ASRUL Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), an Islamic sect, with N members across Lagos State and abroad has said the recent pronouncement made by the Lagos State Commissioner

Methodist Bishop of Badagry Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Sheubo Ahisu (fifth left); Prelate, Methodist Church, Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde; representative of Lagos State Governor, and the Commissioner for Rural Development, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; Conference Secretary, Methodist Church, Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Raphael Opoko and other Bishops, during the 31st Bishops’ Council at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, Lagos… on May 31, 2013.

Believer’s Heritage By Prophet S. K. Abiara HE life of Israelites was full of miracles, signs and wonders. At the time God delivered them from their enemies, God brought judgment upon the enemies of His people, He punished them. The God of old is still the God of today. He is interested in your case, as He was to the Israelites of old. If you depend on Him, you will be delivered from all oppression of life, including your enemies. Hunger is also an enemy. If you are on the Lord’s side, God will never allow you to lack the good things of life; he will feed you — physically and spiritually— just as He fed the Israelites on their way to the land of Canaan. “Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained

down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven; men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. (Psalm 78:23-25) Jesus is the corn. God fed His people, He never leave them in hunger. In their journey to Canaan they ate the food from heaven ‘Corn’ and were not sick. (Exodus 16:31,35). Though the Israelites faced several challenges in their journey to Canaan land, God

gave them victory. Whatever challenges you may be passing through, be assured He will see you through; He will never forsake you. (Deuteronomy 8:3-4). As much as God loves the Israelites, He detests sin. There was constant warning that they should flee from sin. Likewise, you too need to avoid sin to allow God wrought signs and wonders in your life. “Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain until morning. (Deuteronomy 16:4). Manna was typological of the word of God. The corn from heaven is manna and the manna is word and word is Jesus Christ. “Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is

written; `He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Jesus said to them, `I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father, who gives the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Sir, they said, `from now on give us this bread.’ Then Jesus declared, `I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty... I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:31-35; 49-51)

Prophet Abiara, General Evangelist, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). skabiaraofciem@yahoo.co.uk

of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, on the wearing of hajib in Lagos State public schools, is a gross injustice to the Muslims. According to a statement signed by the National President of NASFAT, Alh. Sheriff M. Yussuf and the General Secretary, Lukmon Folorusho, the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, in a news conference outlawed the wearing of hijab by Muslim female pupils in Lagos State public schools, except during prayer times and when the students want to read the Quran. The statement quoted Oladunjoye as saying, “allowing pupils to wear the head gear could cause confusion and break-down of the law, and advised parents that would want their children to wear it at all times to send them to private Muslim schools. Reacting to the decision, the statement said, “NASFAT strongly object this strange regulation, as we cannot fathom how dressing in a respectable and noble way as prescribed for the female gender by Islam, could cause confusion or offend anyone or any law. “We advise the Commissioner, Ministry of Education and the Lagos State Government to review or rescind the decision, as it is offensive to the Islamic faith and its followers. We have not heard or read about any incident in any of our public schools, where wearing of hijab has caused confusion or led to break down of law and order. We see such presumption as an affront on our faith by equating hijab with the cause of confusion or break down of law and order. “It is also insulting to the large population of law abiding, tax paying Muslims, in the state that they may be denied the right to free education in public schools for their daughters, for mere reason that they would wish that their daughters dress in line with the dictates of their religion. The group, then called on the state government to allow the religious obligations and practices of Muslims to flourish without hindrance, saying the policy on hijab as announced by the Commissioner for Education is undoubtedly impractical and cannot pass the test of compliance given the sensitive clash with Islamic code of dressing for female Muslims and suggested that the hijab be designed to fit into respective uniforms of the various schools in terms of colour, saying any Muslim female students, who wish to wear it should be allowed to do so. Calling on its members to show some maturity on the decision, it said: “We implore all our members to show maximum restraint and obey the authorities in their respective places.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

IBRUCENTRE The Crisis Of Leadership In Nigeria As A Source Of Insecurity In The Country: The Way Forward (2) USTICE is a dynamic characteristic, which each Muslim must Jdin:1991:24) strive to develop whether as a leader or a follower. (Umar-Ud“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for God as witnesses to fair dealing and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice,” (Al-Maidah.:5:8) “Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness… You shall not follow the crowd to do evil, nor will you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice...keep yourself far from a false matter do not kill the innocent and righteous...” (Ex. 23:1-2, 7-8). The need to achieve a balance and to take a middle road is quite important in a leader, and is stressed repeatedly by God in the Bible and the Qur’an. The Qur’an describes those ‘who will be rewarded with the highest place in heaven’ as: Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between those two extremes; (Al- furqaan,25:67-68). Application of justice to leadership The principle of justice must be observed by all Muslim-leaders and followers alike. For example, God admonishes Muslims thus: God does command you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due; and when you judge between man and man that you judge with justice (An-Nisaa.4:58) You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor ... you shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land, which the LORD your God is giving you (Dt. 16:18-20). This is why the Prophet (saw) emphasized that justice must never be compromised by personal affiliations or other considerations. • Trust This concept of trust stresses the idea of responsibility towards organisational stakeholders, and holds true whether those entrusting something to Muslims are themselves non-Muslims. “O you that believe! Betray not the trust of God and the apostle nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you. (Al-Anfal.8:27) As a core value, trust fits within the overall Islamic etiquette governing social relationships. Application of trust to leadership Trust is explicitly linked to leadership in the Qur’an. We refer to the story of Prophet Joseph (as). After the king had indicated that he placed great trust in him, Prophet Joseph (as) deliberately asked to be put in charge of the granaries and storehouses, and the demanding task of establishing them and guarding them. As one translator of the Qur’an, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, points out, Prophet Joseph (as) understood the need to build reserves better than any one else, and was prepared to take on this task himself rather than throw on to another the burden of restricting supplies in times of plenty. (Ali, comment 1716). Once an individual has accepted to be the leader of a group or organisation, he has become their trustee. In a for-profit Muslim organisation, the management of the organisation is entrusted with the shareholders’ investment. In a non-profit organisation, the management of the organisation is charged with watching over the properties in the trust. Consequently, any managerial decision must be balanced with respect to this trust. The concept of trust can be extended to other dimensions of one’s work as a leader or a follower. Should one be wasting time or organisational resources in performing one’s task, one is violating his/her employer’s trust. • Righteousness Righteous behaviour is described as follows: It is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for your kin, orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, those who ask [...]; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts, which you have made; and to be firm and pa-

tient in pain (or suffering) and adversity (Al-Baqarah.2:177) Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Prov.14.34) Application of righteousness to leadership Based on the above verses, several moral attributes of righteous leaders become salient: •They act justly and do not allow their personal feelings to hinder justice. •They have imam. •They take care of those in need, and do so for the love of God. •They are steadfast in prayer and practice charity. •They observe all contracts, and are patient no matter what type of adversity they may be experiencing. In general, then, organisation participants of all faiths are entitled to be treated with basic human decency and dignity and with the maximum of fair play and justice. In an Islamic organization, a leader is expected to be sensitive to their needs. •Promise-keeping. “All Muslims-whether leaders or followers-are urged to keep their promises. They also cannot make promises that are unislamic in nature. O you who believe! Fulfil (all) obligations,” (AlMaidah.5:1) “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, Whatever things are just, Whatever things are pure… whatever things are of good report, meditate on these things,” (Phil.4:8). Keeping one’s word characterises a Muslim. Breaking one’s word is tantamount to hypocrisy. Application of promise-keeping to leadership Based upon the above discussion, keeping promises is very important for all, and a leader is not exempted from this important principle. I bought something from the Prophet (peace be upon him) before he received his Prophetic commission, and as there was something still due to him I promised him that I would bring it to him at his place, but I forgot. When I remembered three days later, I went to that place and found him there. He said: I have been here for three days waiting for you. (Abu Dawud) Leader characteristics The characteristics of a leader affect his/her behaviour. (Kouzes and Posner 1995). We will now relate the top four characteristics identified by these researchers to the model we want to suggest to Nigerian leaders-Christians and Muslims: Honesty Leaders are considered honest to the extent that there is ‘consistency between word and deed. ‘They do what they say they are going to do. In the Qur’an, the Prophet Moses (as) is himself labelled as ‘strong and trustworthy’ by one of the damsels (Al-Qasas. 28:26) and the Prophet Joseph (saw) is described as one who is truthful (Q.12:46). Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to be called Sadiq (the truthful) and Amin (the trustworthy) during his youth. Why is honesty and integrity so important with respect to leaders? As people of faith traditions, both Islam and Christianity teach that leadership is more than an assignment or a job; it is a trust — as already pointed out earlier. Idowu-Fearon Ph.D (ABU), delivered this piece at the Arewa Media Forum Yearly Lecture on April 13, 2013.

SEE Inspirations Mag Now Evangelising Tool By Chris Irekamba RIENDS and partners of the SEE Inspirations magazine, two Wednesdays ago, witnessed the transition of the magazine from a soft sale to a not-for-sale one. The event, which was held at SEE Centre, Lekki, Lagos, saw the presentation of the latest edition of the magazine with spectacle testimonies of people, who have repented from armed robbery, drugs addiction, occultism, prostitution as well as special interviews on some men and women of God. According to the Editor-in-Chief, Mrs. Lawretta Sam-Ogrih, “the magazine aims at encouraging the afflicted, the discouraged, the weak and those who are still struggling with one form of addiction or the other. Making it free, we will be able to place it in the prisons, hotels, hospitals, airports, embassies and other places. “Before it was highly subsidised, but right now, we’ve got a confirmation that it should not be for sale rather to be used as a tool for evangelism and a way to glorify God.” On some of the challenges facing the publication of the 40-

Lawretta Sam-Ogrih

page magazine, the editor, said, “we are trying to make people partner with us, so that, we can remain in circulation. Though, we’ve been

doing it in our own little way by sourcing for adverts, with the partners we will do more. Calling people to partner with them Sam-Ogrih, said, “when you encourage some of these ex-armed robbers or ex-cultist to share their testimonies and make their listeners born again, you that have contributed to it would be the foundation testimony. People don’t know it goes beyond just advertising their businesses, it also means evangelising the good works of God.” The magazine has been in circulation for three years.

Springs Of Wisdom By PASTOR W.F KUMUYI

Taming Your Tongue ANY people get into trouble because of the careless use of M words. They talk uncontrollably; they speak most times, without thinking about the repercussion of their words. In the event, they engender disharmony in families and cause ill-feeling among friends. John Wesley, the famous preacher, had the best advice on how to deal with our speech. He said: “Speak evil of no man; hear evil of no man. If there were no hearers, there will be no speakers of evil. The word that we speak can kill at a distance. The stroke of the whip makes marks on the flesh, but the stroke of the tongue makes marks in the soul and breaks bones.” John Wesley’s words echo those of Apostle James on the danger of the misuse of the tongue. “Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their body. Even, so, the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” There are different kinds of tongues. One is the lying tongue, deceptively uttering bared-faced lies, unabashedly. Next to it is the reviling tongue, which belittles other people and makes fun of them. There is the angry tongue, which cuts others to size, and the flattering tongue, which praises other people with a good deal of insincerity. There is the chattering tongue, which wastes time on inconsequential matters. There is the indecent tongue, which churns out ribald jokes and obscene words. There is the sarcastic tongue, which speaks with contempt and pride and the slanderous tongue, which takes pleasure in trading and spreading scandals that can destroy other people’s reputation. Ordinarily, it is difficult to tame the tongue. In fact, the uniform testimony of the Scriptures is that the tongue is untamable, humanly speaking. “What shall be given unto thee? Or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper,” the Psalmist wondered. Conflicts in the home, frictions in the church and anarchy in the society, all caused by the misuse of the tongue, show that man is incapable of controlling this vital organ of the body. Once, while addressing religious Jews, Jesus Christ exclaimed: “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Though the natural man cannot effectively control the tongue, God can transform our hearts and as well touch and tame our tongues. Once He touches your heart, it will reflect on the way you speak. If we pray sincerely, the Lord can purge us like He purged the lips of Isaiah. A good tongue is the gracious work of the Lord. If you ask Him, He will make yours one. If you surrender your tongue to Him, He will order your speech. Everything about you and every word you speak will be under the control of the Spirit of God. References: James 3: 3-6; 1:26; Psalm 39:1,2; 141:3; 120:3,4; Matthew 12:34; Jeremiah 9:5; Psalm 57:4; 52:2-4; 59:7; Isaiah 6:5-7; 50:4; Colossians 4:6; All scriptures are taken from Kings James Version of the Bible.

RCCG Province 4 Ends Talent Hunt, Group 10 Wins Star Prize By Chris Irekamba HE God’s Children Got Talent (GCGT), a platform that enables children to showcase their talents was recently organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 4. The event at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, brought children from the 97 parishes together to compete in the topmost position, which Group 10 emerged the star prizewinner. The programme, which was targeted at encouraging and developing the talents in children as well as spreading the gospel of Christ started audition in March with 783 children at the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos. This number according to Adedoyin Odunfa, one of the coordinators, was later pruned down to 100. Birthed in the City of David, two years ago, the programme has since grown to comprise other parishes. Speaking on the selection, Odunfa said: “we prune the number from 783 to 35 at the quarterfinal, but at the end 47 children were showcased because some of them featured as groups.” The children whose age ranged from five to 19 showcased their talents in dancing, singing, use of musical instruments such as the base guitar, the violin, the drums and saxophone. Other areas included writing and drawing as well as drama. The star prize-winner went home with N1m, while second and third positions went home with N750, 000; N500, 000 respectively aside other consolation prizes and gifts.

Group 10 with their star prize of N1m cheque, as they pose with Pastor of Province 4, City of David, Victoria Island, Lagos, Idowu Iluyomade at the occasion

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

IBRUCENTRE

Make Charity A Way Of Life By Gabriel Osu ‘God loves a Cheerful Giver’ (2 Cor. 9:7). HERE was this story of a rich man who had always desired to have a personal encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. The man was very dedicated to Church activities and always eager to share the gospel with others. He fasted often and always tried to keep to the Ten Commandments as laid down through Moses. One day, while waiting on the Lord, he received a divine message that Jesus would be visiting him at home on a certain day and time. The man was very excited. It was an answer to the prayer he had been praying for a long time. He began to prepare for the Lord’s coming and cleaned his house to give it a new and more appealing look. On the appointed day, a haggard looking beggar approached his house, begging for alms. The rich man drove him away. ‘Please leave my house before you contaminate it with your filth. Do you not know that Christ, himself, would be visiting me today?’ For the rest of that day, the rich man waited in vain for Jesus to come. Much later, he began to feel dejected and enquired while the Lord never showed up. ‘But I did come, Jesus said to him, ‘I took the form of that wretched beggar, who came begging for alms. You threw me out.’ ‘But I never knew it was you,’ cried the man, horrified at the news that he had closed his door on his saviour. ‘Whatever you do to the least of my brother that you do unto me’ Jesus said to him. Many of us are like the rich man stated above. We earnestly want to have a personal encounter with God, but fail to real-

ize that God rarely come to meet us in His full majesty and glory. Rather, He comes to us daily in the guise of our fellow men and women in need; in the shape of our neighbour, who can barely feed his family; in the guise of that wretched beggar looking for crumbs from our dining table. He seeks to reach us in the form of a hopeless widow looking for a miserly sum to kick-start a petty trade. We should ask ourselves: how well have we welcomed God into our lives and homes? Have we ever welcomed Him at all? This is where charity comes in. In its simplest form, charity means sharing with others, to alleviate their pains and sufferings. It entails opening wide our arms of hospitality to those who may need our help at all times. There are, specifically, seven corporal works of charity listed by the Church. This includes: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to befriend the homeless, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick, to console the captive, to bury the dead. When we do all these, with sincerity of purpose, we invite the favour of God in our lives. We must note that when we render charitable actions, our purpose must be genuine and not borne out of ulterior motives. For instance, when we want to help someone in need, we must do so cheerfully and out of fraternal love. It must be done in such a manner that the person we are helping would not feel insulted or belittled. We must also give with caution, for there are many who pretend to be in need when in actual fact they are merely being lazy. Prudence should be the watchword. Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos

Beyond The Threats Of Your Enemies (4) By Seyi Ogunorunyinka HEN you stop being afraid of God, your fear of God will W be replaced with the fear of man. You must be afraid of something, which is usually your source. One thing that made Elijah to run was because Jezebel was not just an ordinary woman, but a satanic agent, 1 Kings 19:1-4. Women can hold the power to make or mar; any woman in Christ is a blessing to her household. How do you overcome the threat of the enemy? • You must trust in the ability of God to deliver you. In Daniel 3:13-18, Bible says, “furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So, these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? …Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter...” These three Hebrew men trusted in the ability of God to deliver them. Do you trust in the ability of God to deliver, provide and make the impossible possible for you? Two things that are crucial to God are His love and His name. The Lord loves us to the point that even when someone wants to take advantage of the fact that He is angry with us, he will prove to that person that even though He is

meting out punishment to us, He still loves us. For example, in Obadiah 1:8-14, the Bible says, ‘in that day,’ declares the Lord, will I not destroy the wise men of Edom, men of understanding in the mountains of Esau? Your warriors, O Teman, will be terrified, and everyone in Esau’s mountains will be cut down in the slaughter…You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor look down on them in their calamity, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble.” God got angry at the Edomites for standing aloof and not helping their cousins, the Israelites, in their time of need; rather they joined the enemies of Israel to plunder them. We should realise that those the Lord loves, He chastises. The Lord also demonstrated His love for us by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross. How else do we want God to demonstrate His love to us?

Pastor Ogunorunyinka, General Overseer, The Promisedland Restoration Ministries, Surulere, Lagos. pastorseyiogunorunyinka@gmail.com

By Pastor Lazarus Muoka

Keeping Your Eyes Off The Vanities Of Life (1) 1 Cor. 7:29-31 says, “but this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not. And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” ANY people believe so much in the things of this world, as if they will be forever. They sleep and wake up thinking of what they would gain from the world. This attitude has made them to run away from God and also failed to realise that the things of this world come and go; that we all came into the world naked and naked shall we return. The fashion of this world has blurred their vision to the numerous evils in the world, thus making them fall prey to the devil that uses the things of this world as a trap to enslave man. Many have been enslaved by what they see. They think, they have come to stay forever in the world, and as a result forget that many before them have come and gone. In fact, like a stage, individuals will interchangeably play their parts and leave. But there is a world to come, where we shall live forever, where the fashion never changes or passes away. So, if we know that the sorrows, joys, comforts, conveniences, marrying, banqueting and crying will one day pass away, it will make us not to set our hearts upon the things of this world, but to focus on God. This is because if the eye, which is the gate into a man’s heart, does not see, the heart may not conceive. We know that sin first entered into the mind of man through the eye; as such the eye has remained till date the favourite gate of Satan’s allurement. Therefore, if we can keep our eyes away from the things of this world, we would be saved from loving iniquity. Remember that Adam and Eve were deceived by the devil with what they saw in the Garden of Eden. (Gen 3:1-3). It was when the woman saw that the fruit was good and pleasant to the eyes that she collected it, ate and gave to the husband and who did eat. Beloved, what we see and eat are objects the devil would want to use to deceive people. And if you haven’t overcome this deceit of the devil, it means you are under the bondage of Satan. But if you keep your eyes away from the vanities of this world, it shall be well with you.

A Release From The Valley Of Death HE gripping story of divine intervention in the life of T Ekene Igwenagu of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Lagos, would make anyone still doubting

Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, poses with representatives of the children to mark the World Children’s Day at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos…on Wednesday, May 27, 2013.

Living Waters

the saving powers of Jesus Christ to make a rethink. Hypnotised in the vehicle he boarded on Thursday, March 28 from Oshodi enroute Ijeshatedo, Ekene, as generally called, found himself in a forest in Ilorin, Kwara State. Recounting his experience in the hands of his captors, the young man said, “I saw them bring in a young girl of about 13 years old and before me, she was headed. Another, lady despite praying in ‘tongues’ also had her head mercilessly cut off.” While this was going on, Ekene remembered that his General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries always tells them, in church, to declare: ‘I am a Chosen’, three times and ask the danger or any situation, ‘Who are you? Whenever problems suddenly arise. And if the danger persists, they can then say, ‘God of my Pastor, where are you?’ While Ekene fearfully waited for his turn of the butcher’s machete, he fell asleep. And in a trance saw an angelic being, in the likeness of Pastor Muoka looking angry. Narrating the message, he said the heavenly being reprimanded him for not believing in the testimonies and as such not qualified for mercy, except drawing from his G.O.’s qualification. At this point, he woke from his sleepy state. Finally, the dark hour came for Ekene as he was dragged into the death chamber, where he met the executioners; a dwarf and a giant, both were men. As he was brought in they began to argue whether or not to shave his hair because they thought his power was deposited there. The second man now took over from the dwarf as the chief executioner and according to Ekene, asked: ‘Who was the boy that said he was ‘the son of Baba Ijesha?’ The executioner boasted that nothing would save the victim from his hands and ordered the hapless young man to walk up to him. However, as he took some uncertain steps, he remembered the impression from the trance, then he declared, “I am a Chosen”, three times and followed by asking the huge executioner, “Who are you? The God of my Pastor, where are you?”

Then the incredible happened, according to Ekene, a fierce wind blew into the large space, lifted the huge man and flung him to the floor. It was spectacle. The whirlwind took the man up from his feet the second and third time hitting him hard each time till he bled from the mouth and nose. It was only then, the ritual killer, in a total daze asked that Ekene be released. Led to a bush path he did not know, he slumped out of hunger and exhaustion of about three days terror. Regaining consciousness, an elderly man met him and asked what he was doing there and where he was going. It was this old man that told him he has been in Kwara State all the while and also arranged for a vehicle that brought him back to Lagos. It was a return into the jubilant arms of his parents, friends and loved ones.

igwenagu

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

IBRUCENTRE T is a wonderful thing to be involved in God’s Iworthy business. It is more wonderful to be found sharing in the business of the master in a servant leader relationship. Jesus our example had said: ‘…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many,’ Matt. 2ov28. There are some who desire to be part of God’s business, but are full of excuses: Luke 9v57-62. Of course, these persons are not fit for the business of the Lord. However, the work of the Lord must be done according to His standards. In Gen. 6, God told Noah to build an ark of Gopher wood. That meant only Gopher wood; Exodus 26v30 – to build the Tabernacle, God said to Moses, ‘you shall construct the tabernacle according to the pattern; Heb. 8v5 – God said to him: see that you make all things according to the pattern shown you). Jesus God Himself observed, ‘My Father is always working, and I too must work,’ John 5v17. It is the desire of God that believers should join hands with Him to do His business in His way. In the parable as recorded by St Matthew 25v14-30, we were presented with three characters of persons who received talents from their master according to their ability. The spirit of

From The Rector Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

Doing God’s Business God gives to each member of the household of God gifts according to his ability (Rom. 12v6-8; I Cor. 12v4-11). To the first, He gave five talents; second received two talents and the last, one talent. Their master now embarked on a journey and expected them to occupy or do this business till he comes (Luke 19v13). Interestingly, the person with five talents traded and added value of more five talents. The second person followed suit. Whereas, the last too judgmental and lazy: ‘Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So, I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ Matt. 25v24-25 – no returns.

Impliedly, the first two persons were genuine workers, committed and dedicated as they traded; they shared the vision of the owner of the estate and made profits. Unfortunately, the last person with one talent was a hard man, too judgmental, not a genuine worker, not committed/dedicated, was not interested in the vision of the owner of the estate and therefore made no profit at all. He was selfish; he hid the money and did no investment at all. No wonder, he received no commendation but instant judgment and loss of his position. Matt. 9v37-38. The business of God in the present dispensation requires those who would share in the vision of the owner of the work (Prov. 29v18). They should be dedicated and committed. Prov. 6v6-8. It is important that they should be prudent (Matt.

‘When I Left Chevron Job, Many People Thought I Was Mad’ Rev. Abiade Adeniji is the Vicar of Archbishop Timothy Olufosoye Memorial Anglican Church (ATOMAC), Ogba, Lagos. Recently, the church dedicated an edifice to the Lord. He spoke to GBENGA AKINFENWA on dedication of the building, why he left his lucrative job with Chevron, his ministry and problems facing churches in Nigeria, among other issues. Significance of the dedication T is to consecrate the lectern, pulpit, baptismal font and other items, which are for specific purposes. Besides, we are not supposed to put all these items into use until they are dedicated. It was the vision that was borne out of the crusade that was held in Ogba in 2003. After the crusade, members were gathering for service in one of our parishioners’ house. They were spurred to look for a piece of land. We saw one, bought it and moved in 2009; but we began constructing the building in July 2011. The vision inspired us to put all resources together to complete it within 22 months of laying the foundation, and it is indeed a record in the annals of the Diocese of Lagos West. Lessons from the construction Yes, one of which is, we can’t do anything on our own. I won’t forget in a hurry what happened one Sunday, when one of the contractors handling the project came for his money and we couldn’t pay him. At that period, a song, Raise Help For Me Lord, came to my mind. I sang it repeatedly and in the evening of it, a cousin of mine credited the church’s account with N750, 000. That same evening, one of my aunts issued a cheque of N600, 000 to the church. Two days later, another cousin of mine in the UK sent me N400, 000. Though, we needed about N1.2m, we ended up having about N1.7m within 72 hours from three individuals. That confirms that it is the Lord, who builds. The building is the demonstration of God’s faithfulness because we lacked

Adeniji

the capacity to put it up. Leaving Chevron for the ministry That’s a million dollar question, but do you know, I ran for three years, when the Lord called me? As the Community Relations Adviser to Chevron, I was always traveling, but one day, my late uncle, who was with the Anglican Communion, may be having heard from God, said to me: ‘Abiade, you are running away from serving God because of your secular job. What would happen if the Lord takes the job from you this evening?’ I asked why he was speaking that way and he said, ‘the Lord called you over two years ago, but you have refused to yield.’ That conversation made me go to the Anglican Seminary, Emmanuel College of Theology, Ibadan. When I left the job, in fact, many of my colleagues thought I was mad because I had access to a lot of good things. I could take my family to anywhere in the world on vacation. The day I told my General Manager of my leaving was the day I was supposed to resume in Warri on transfer. I remember, a friend discouraged me from retiring; he advised, I should collect the transfer allowance, go on the transfer and six months after I should put in my resignation. I turned the advice down, on the grounds that it would cast aspersion on the name of Jesus Christ. Then, the fear of what would life be for me and my family came upon me; I had three of my three children in the university; one was doing her PhD in the UK and the tuition alone was £22,000. In this situation, I called on God and He drew my attention to a

portion of the scripture that talks about birds of the air not sowing or reaping, yet they feed. I got the message and dedicated myself for His service. Since I left my job in April 2008, the Lord has been supplying my needs; I never lacked anything. Did your duties as a priest not conflict with your job? There was no conflict, whatsoever, because I signed to work with Chevron, and when I became a priest, I started to dress to the office in my clerical suit. I was allowed to do that. Initially some of my colleagues said, ‘Abe, why should you dress like this? This is not a church.’ I went to the General Manager, Public Affairs to clarify that, and he said, the MD said there was nothing wrong with that, as long as the dressing is smart. And of course, on many occasions when we had to gather, I was called to lead prayers. There was no conflict, whatsoever, with my role as an employee of Chevron and my role as a priest in the church of God. In fact, being a priest really added value to my work, especially when I was working in the Niger Delta area. On many occasions, the community people would say openly at meetings, ‘Reverend, we are agreeing to do this because we know you will not tell us lie as a man of God.’ So, there was no conflict whatsoever with my work. What motivates you? The spread of the Gospel is my goal. There are seven billion people all over the world and statistics has it that over one billion of them are yet to hear about Christ. I am much more interested in nurturing people. What we have dedi-

cated today is just an edifice; we must build people to be wonderful ambassadors of Jesus Christ. It’s not just worshiping in a Cathedral or in a good place that adds to the glory of God, but the people’s quality of life. I would be delighted to pastor a church of 20 people, who are sure of making heaven than a large congregation of 500 where not even five of them are sure of heaven. My priority is to teach people about the way of the Lord; make disciple of them, so that, they can in turn go out and make disciples in all the nations of the world. Highpoint as a priest My focus is to please God; I don’t want to miss heaven because there is so much suffering in this part of the world. Dedication can only bring people, but teaching the undiluted word of God and being a worthy example for people to emulate increases the church. There are so many non-Christians masquerading as Christians, today, than we had five years ago. So, we need to teach the people to know why they are in the church and to truly worship God. Proliferation of churches There are many business concerns that are hiding under the canopy of churches. The word of God said by their fruits we shall know them. But we still thank God for many of the churches that are still doing well; had they not been there, you would imagine what would have happened out there. To say the truth, there are many churches today that are not doing the will of God. I am not here to judge anybody, but all I know is that we would all give account of what we do here on earth, whether it is good or bad, and our reward would start right from this earth. Nigeria There is a greater hope for Nigeria, if only we would come together and cry to the Lord; repent of our unrighteousness and truly please God. We are experiencing some challenges because the fear of the Lord is not yet in the heart of many people, not only out there, but also in the church.

25v20-23), innovative, know their limitations, should always be accountable awaiting day of reckoning, should be humble. Luke 22v27). However, doing God’s business in His own way as believer, we need to avoid the following: pride, selfishness, uncharitable thoughts, must not be a gossiper, laziness – physical and spiritual, unholy living, over-estimating of one’s importance, lack of commitment and dedication among others. Remember, ‘there is a priceless reward for those who do God’s work faithfully.’

Ven. Ernest Onuoha Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. www.ibrucentre.org.

Onaiyekan, Others For Episcopal Ordination From Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) RCHBISHOP of Abuja DioA cese, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan will lead over 50 Bishops from the Conference of the Nigerian Bishops for the Episcopal ordination/installation of the new Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Prof. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, billed for July 4. The Diocese has said that the Bishop-elect, who had lived over two decades in Rome, would use his contact with friends and colleagues to impact positively on the growth of the Diocese. Disclosing this in Enugu, Chairman of the Ordination/installation General Committee and former Minister of Information, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, said that

over seven governors, senators, ministers and 1000 priests among others were expected at the event. He said over N300 million had been budgeted to ensure the success of the event, adding that beyond planning, the committee was also overseeing the renovations of the residences for the new Bishop and Bishop Emeritus, Dr Francis Okobo. Bishop Onah, who replaces Bishop emeritus Okobo, will be the second Bishop to be produced in the Diocese since it was created in 1991. Prior to his appointment on April 13, this year, Onah is the first African to be the Vice Rector of the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, Italy.

Makinde Faults Amnesty Package For Boko Haram By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku HE Prelate of Methodist T Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, has faulted the proposed amnesty package for the Islamic sect, Boko Haram by the Federal Government, stating that it is pervasion of justice on the victims of their evil acts. At the end of the 31st Bishops’ Council of Methodist Church Nigeria held at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) last Monday, the Prelate said the Reconciliation Committee set up by the government is concentrating more on the offenders, leaving the offended unattended to. “We are saying that the victims of Boko Haram must be compensated, the churches and the houses of the victims that were destroyed must be rebuilt, and Nigeria must be talking about those who are maimed. “We do not support amnesty for criminals and for faceless people. We are in support of the reconciliation committee and dialogue, but the committee should know that some people have been killed in their places of worships, in the garages and so on, some churches were razed to the ground while shops and

property were destroyed. They should not be silent on that. They are concentrating too much on the offenders than the offended. “Any dialogue without compensation to those who have been offended is void. You cannot just be dialoguing with the offenders when the offended are neglected. It is unfair. It shows there is no justice and where there is no justice, there can be no peace,” he said. Makinde also urged Christians not to return evil for evil, saying that the war can only be waged with fervent prayers. “It is a spiritual matter, we will wage the war with prayers. Don’t forget, Christianity grows and thrives along persecution. The more they kill us, the more we multiply. The more they destroy our churches, the more elegant ones are built. We leave the matter in the hands of our Master, Jesus Christ. They cannot kill Christianity, no amount of Jihad can kill Christianity. “ The church of God is one. Denominations cannot divide us. This is a very terrible time for Christians to be divided. If we are divided, our enemies will break us one by one and Christianity will have no voice again. Only unity is what we want as Christians in this country,” he said.

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

TheGuardian

Sunday, June 9, 2013 43

Business Work Place Culture: Difference Between The UK and Nigeria (2) By Helen-Linda Azodoh EEDLESS to say, I did not wait around for that apN pointment and have never been back. If I had called up the hairdresser in England and she was running late,

‘How Organisations Can Leverage Training To Boost Performance’ By Ikechukwu Onyewuchi O succeed in an unstable business environment like Nigeria, entrepreneurs have been advised to build sustainable work ethics, seek appropriate training and patiently nurture their dreams. The charge was made by American business trainer and life coach, Ms Lee Follender, in an interview with The Guardian, last week, at Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, where she facilitated a two-week training organised for select business executives by Purpose Power and Lifestyle Design International (PPLD). Follender said one of the major reasons why entrepreneurs find it difficult to survive is because they are not trained in the art of business management. She said: “Somebody gets out of school and say, ‘I want to be an entrepreneur.’ They buy products and go on to the street corner to start selling. They don’t know the strategies of running businesses. “They don’t know how to keep track of what they buy. They don’t know how to manage inventory. They don’t know how to manage their daily receipts. There is no system to train them to do that. One of the things that training does is that it gives insight into the missing pieces that will make them successful. It doesn’t matter whether they are entrepreneurs or they are working for large companies, the same things are missing; things like working as a team. If you have two or three people working together, they can accomplish a lot more than one single individual.” She said organisations and entrepreneurs would be more successful if they work together, stating that because there are missing links; people don’t know how to work together. “You know, the more individuals are successful, the more successful the country is going to be. And it is just the same in the corporate environment, the more individuals are successful in the corporate environment; the more the company will be successful. It makes much difference if some of these entrepreneurs would go to work for companies for one or two years and get some training on communication skills, book keeping and those things that are important

to run a business. Then when they go out to do businesses on their own, they will be better prepared. “Now they don’t have such knowledge; they only go out and try to run a business. It is very difficult when you are not trained to do that,” she said. Follender, who has put in 30 years to top management training, commented specifically on the just-concluded one. She said: “The training is experiential and transformational. What it would theoretically do is to have people see their own power; see a possibility they didn’t see before they did the training. The training is about the process of transforming the work environment in Africa. “The programme is about training the trainers. The normal programme is delivered in a very unusual way. It is delivered one day a week for six weeks unlike most training that take you off work. The way we looked at it was that many times people don’t come to trainings because they don’t want to miss work. In our model, they can come one day a week, 9 to 6 and they have assignments to carry through the rest of the week. On how business organisations can leverage the skills of their employees, she said: “Executives need to leverage the skills and abilities of their subordinates; they do that through appropriate training and development. There is not much of that going on. This is because systems thinking and innovative thinking and team work aren’t about what you do. It is about who you are. It is about people taking responsibility and getting their own power to make a difference in the environment.” She jokingly hinted that the most challenging carrier decision she has taken was coming to Nigeria. According to her, “what I heard was that it was very dangerous in Nigeria and I shouldn’t come, and that I would probably get kidnapped, that the country was very backward. The people will not be interested in hearing anything about growing and changing. “But that has not been my experience; the people are amazing. They put up with things that are extraordinary and frustrating and they keep smiling. They are the warmest, most friendly, enthusiastic people I have ever met. I haven’t met anybody that hasn’t been nice.”

She continued: “I think they are just tired of struggling and they don’t know how to get out of it. It is like a vicious cycle. My first encounter was in the airport, when I saw that they had no system to manage the baggage. People were stumbling to get their suitcases. The people that worked there didn’t seem to know how to help the travelers. The man that was trying to help them was dropping the suitcases faster than they were coming down the ramp. He was struggling to keep up with the speed of the luggage that was coming down the ramp. It was crazy. And the amazing thing was that in all this the people were smiling. And the traffic is unbelievable. In all, the people are great; the conditions are terrible.” Follender has coached teams in Dell computers and several other blue-chip companies in the United States. Few weeks ago, she had an encounter with a crop of Nigerians. Comparing her experience with trainees in her home country and those in Nigeria, she said: “the people of Nigeria are remarkable. I can tell you that they are inspiring to be able to put up with what they put up with and are still smiling. I told my host yesterday that there is a special door in heaven just for Nigerians and when they die they are definitely going to heaven, because they have had hell dealing with the streets of Lagos. I think the biggest difference is that in America we have systems. “We are not perfect and we have a lot of growth in many areas. At least, our business environment is conducive to listening to people, giving people power and having progress. Well, you can see the progress. “The thing that is surprising about Nigeria is that, as I look around, there are a lot of unfinished projects; buildings just go up and then just stop; complexes that people start building, then the building just rot; there is no completion, there is no support system for those things to succeed and that is the thing that is missing here. The people need support in making their dreams come true and in America, there is a little bit more in terms of support in structures and systems to fulfill on peoples dream.

she would actually tell me so, thus, giving me the option to wait or reschedule. The issue is, this lack of appreciation of the need for people to manage their time is very common in all walks of life in Nigeria. I wonder if this is down to the lack of awareness of time management skills. And on my part, I realise that if I keep up the habit of not returning to an establishment when they mismanage my time, I will very quickly run out of places to go. The other work culture I find difficult to cope with in Nigeria is the dress code. I find the fact that some employers determines how you dress weird, assuming it’s not a job that requires uniforms. I understand the need for people to dress smartly and decently, which also applies in the UK, but for the employer to give stipulations on the length of the outfit, type of outfit, i.e. trousers or skirts and styles , e.g. short sleeves, long sleeves etc., I find pretty strange. I once went to an organisation in Nigeria, and after signing in, the security man pulled me to one side and told me my knee length dress was too short. He went on to describe the acceptable length to me. I was flabbergasted. I told him I did not own any such outfits and would not invest in a new wardrobe for the sole purpose of visiting their establishment. He duly informed me, I would not be allowed in next time I visited. I did not believe what I was hearing. I later made a complaint to my contact, who informed me no such dress code existed. The security guard was simply expressing his personal dislike to my style of dressing! This is simply wrong. The fact that the security guy was quite happy and felt able to tell a visitor off, knowing fully well it was not policy is totally unacceptable. Even if it was policy, should it be down to the security guy to enforce it? This sort of behaviour is unfathomable in the UK. It could never and I repeat never happen. So what is wrong with our system, where this is allowed to happen? One of the great perks we enjoy at work in the UK, is flexible working. Now, I realise some companies in Nigeria do this, but it is not widespread. Flexible working schemes go a long way to reducing the incidence of absenteeism amongst employees. It is a well known fact that some employees call in sick, when all they need is a little extra time for one reason or the other. If most employees realise that they can work from home on a day when they cannot for various reasons make the journey into work, there will be no reason to play truant. This perk is obviously open to abuse, but the way to combat this would be to set clear tasks for the employees to do whilst working from home. Another great aspect of a flexible working scheme is flexi-time. Flexi-time system works really well and also helps combat absenteeism. However, there has to be a system of recording and monitoring the hours the employees work on a weekly basis. Under flextime, there is typically a period when employees are expected to be at work. This is called Core time. For instance, employees might be expected to be at work between the hours of 11am and 3.30pm. They can thenwork flexi-time within the other periods, subject to achieving the required total weekly or monthly hours as stipulated in their contracts, typically 37 hours a week in the UK. Where they have worked longer than the stipulated hours, they are allowed that as a credit towards another day, or if they have enough extra hours, can take a day or half a day off in lieu. Staff can also skip their lunch break and use this to count towards the hours worked.. A flextime policy allows staff to determine when they will work to fit in with their domestic and other issues. This could be a way forward for a lot of organisations in Nigeria, especially the public sector as this system helps improve motivation in staff thereby leading to increased productivity. I have also noticed that in Nigeria, employees can leave the office and essentially go off to do their own things without their colleagues knowing where they are. In the UK, it is the culture to let your colleagues know where you are going whenever you leave your desk. This makes it impossible for people to disappear for any length of time to do their private business. In fact, you cannot go on a lunch break without your colleagues knowing. This is because, lunch breaks are coordinated, so that at any point in time, there is someone in the office. Lunch breaks are typically 30 minutes to an hour and people adhere religiously to this, knowing that if you overstay your lunch break, you would be eating into someone else’s time.

Azodoh, Chartered MCIPD (London), is a human resource consultant based in the UK. She is also MD of Orchardview HR Solutions, accompany that provides HR training to organisations in Nigeria. Email:helen.azodoh@virgin.net

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

BUSINESS

Nigeria’s Future In The Balance As Shale Oil Rattles OPEC T By Geoff Iyatse

HERE is, frequently, a debate on whether the world could, one day, find a replacement for sweat crude. What is, however, not disputable is that the discovery of streams of non-conventional fuel will have enormous impact on the demand for oil and gas and, perhaps, the price. Sooner than earlier expected, there is jittery over mind-boggling discovery of non-conventional (especially shale) oil and gas. Shale oil and gas has received unprecedented publicity in recent months. Media organisations, all over the world, are feasting on the reality of shale oil deposit as well as the possibility of its absolute alternate to crude deposits. And the interesting question (though disturbing in the circle of oil-producing community) is the practicability of using shale extract to power, safely, industrial machines and drive automobiles with minimal extra costs (on the environment, most especially)? The thought of its prospect sends shockwave through countries that depend on earnings from crude oil. And it did send some quiver last two weeks. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a cartel frequently accused of price-fixing, openly admitted it can no longer pretend all is well with its members amidst changing realities, globally. It set up a committee to consider the effect of shale oil on the global market for crude “in not-too-distant future.” Wikipedia defines shale oil, as unconventional oil produced from oil shale by pyrolysis or thermal dissolution; it is known also as kerogen oil. Through the three processes, organic matter within the rock (kerogen) is converted into synthetic oil and gas. The extracted oil can be used immediately as a fuel or upgraded to meet refinery specifications by adding hydrogen and removing impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen. The refined products can serve the same purposes crude oil serve. Shale, in its earliest record, was used in Switzerland and Austria in the early 14th century. It was used to light the streets of Modena, Italy, at the turn of the 17th century. The British Crown granted a patent in 1694 to three persons who found a way to extract and make great quantities of shale deposit out of stone. Later sold as Betton’s British Oil, the distilled product was said to have been used by persons in Aches and Pains with reasonable benefit. Modern shale oil extraction industries were established in France in 1830s and in Scotland during the 1840s. The oil was used as fuel, lubricant and lamp oil. During the late 19th century, shale oil extraction plants were built in Australia, Brazil and the United States. Also, China, Estonia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland produced shale oil in the early 20th century. But the discovery of crude oil in the Middle East in the middle of the century crippled most of the shale extracting companies, leaving only those in Estonia and Northeast China to stagger into 21st century. Most recently, in response to rising cost of crude, interest in shale oil utilisation has been renewed. Shale deposit in the United States, which started like a fairly tale, is driving the country’s breakthrough in energy sufficiency, with a global energy strategist, Dr. Kent Moors, predicting that it may not be lifting a barrel of crude from the international market by 2050. At least, US’ medium-term plan is to achieve self-sufficiency. While President Barack Obama, in the past few years, stepped up campaign towards achieving key production targets, the North American country has, in earnest, started cutting down on importation. Its production has risen to a 21-year-high as a new combination of technologies has unlocked large deposits previously trapped in shale rock in North Dakota and Texas. US mastery of hydraulic fracking (or fracturing) and horizontal drilling techniques has led to a slump in energy imports from some OPEC nations, most notably those in Africa, which typically produce lighter grades of oil similar to that of the North America. US crude production jumped 20 per cent in a year to 7.37 million barrels a day in early May, the highest level since 1992, said the country’s Energy Information Administration data. Consequent upon increase in production, exports from three of OPEC’s African members — Nigeria, Algeria and Angola — to the US have fallen to their lowest level in decades, dropping by 41 per cent in 2012, as established by the US Department of Energy.

Nigerian delegation at one of the recent OPEC’s meetings.

While shale has revolutionised the world energy sector in much of North America, Britain and Europe move with caution. In Britain, the government has been trying to balance the need to find alternative sources of energy with growing concerns about the environmental friendliness of hydraulic fracturing, the technique used to extract the gas. In spite of that, the country seems set for the US-style shale boom. IGas, an energy firm exploring the UK’s shale gas, said it found a deposit containing as much as170 trillion cubic feet of the natural resource in its licensed area in northwestern England. This is far higher than nine trillion cubic feet it earlier estimated. IGas has been drilling in the Bowland basin, a large rock formation that stretches across much of England. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Austin, suggested the entire basin could contain 500 trillion cubic feet. “Even if the industry can only extract a fraction of that, combined with North Sea reserves, it could make the UK self-sufficient in gas for decades to come,” Austin disclosed last week. Another company, Cuadrilla Resources Incorporated, which is exploring the same basin from a different point, announced earlier that it has located 200 trillion cubic feet of in-place gas. Britain currently uses about three trillion of gas yearly and imports roughly half that amount. Normally, about 10 to 15 per cent of in-place gas is extractable. This implies that if Bowland is as rich as Austin suggest-

In China, already, there’s animated feeling that the next energy gold rush is about to begin. The US Energy Information Administration was reported to have observed that beneath the mountains of Sichuan province, the deserts of Xinjiang and elsewhere, China contains twice the shale gas reserves in the US territory. Chinese natural gas accounts for four per cent of the country’s total energy mix. But the Chinese government promises to double the share by 2015. And that is just for a start

ed, it could feed, at least, 50 trillion cubic feet into British economy. The cheering news will certainly add to an already heated Britain’s long-simmering debate about the future of shale. But it has succeeded in bolstering the views of those on the positive side of the new development, and reveals that the country has sufficient deposit to power its economy for decades.

depend on oil revenue for sustenance. Crude oil exploitation and production, a sector said to have absorbed only 0.14 per cent of the labour force, accounted for about 94 per cent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings last year. The statistics has not changed significantly in the past 14 years despite promises to diversify the economy. By implication, a major shock in oil demand or price could puncture the economy, ability of the ONG before now, it has been clear that the country to honour financial obligations and fate of OPEC and, ultimately, the survival of capacity of public institutions to discharge its members, lie in Asia. But there is a snag. their responsibilities. The Chinese triumph in shale poses a threat. The new global trend in the sector “is a In China already there’s animated feeling concern,” Petroleum Minister, Diezani that the next energy gold rush is about to Alison-Madueke, admitted at the recent begin. The US Energy Information OPEC meeting. Although she accepted that Administration was reported to have Chinese advancement in shale discovery observed that beneath the mountains of could not be overlooked, she was confident Sichuan province, the deserts of Xinjiang and that Asia remains alternate market. While elsewhere, China contains twice the shale shale supply threatens to sap the demand gas reserves in the US territory. Chinese natu- for crude, the minister said the country ral gas accounts for four per cent of the coun- must, most importantly, “look inward and try’s total energy mix. But the Chinese govcreate alternate markets” in Africa. ernment promises to double the share by 2015. And that is just for a start. UT, just how viable is the regional marThere’s a lot of excitement about the ket? In North Africa, there are Algeria and prospect, said Zhou Xizhou, who heads IHS Libya. If Africa becomes a viable market, Cera’s China Energy, a research firm. “In Nigeria will have to wrestle Libya and Beijing,” Xizhou noted hilariously: “If you Algeria for the North African economy. And, work in energy, you probably receive a shale of course, Libya and Algeria have proximity gas conference notice every week.” That is advantage in the area just as the Middle East the level of euphoria Chinese shale gas procould also conveniently give a shot. duction prospect has received. Today, every part of sub-Saharan Africa The Asian gaint has 1,275 trillion cubic feet smells oil. Angola, Gabon, Guinea Bissau of shale gas reserves compared with 637 triland, most recently, Ghana are exploiting. lion cubic feet owned by the US. But output There are also measures of exploitation or in China has been trickled by a number of reasonable deposits in Cameroon, Chad, factors, including geographical challenge Congo Brazzaville, Congo Kinshasa, Cote and monopolistic structure of its oil and gas D’Ivoire, Niger and South Sudan. There is an sector. ongoing Exploration in Mauritius much as China country recently outplayed neighthe east coast of the continent is also makbouring Japan to emerge world’s second ing positive headway in petroleum. biggest economy. Economists predict that it Thus, Chief Oz Emoyon Iredia, a Port would overtake US economy in less than a Harcourt-based oil/gas consultant, disdecade if it sustained last year’s growth missed the assumption that Nigeria has a momentum. Expectedly, the country wants market in Africa. He lamented that the counto chart a path for self-sufficiency in oil protry has neglected the development of gas, duction. But just how ready is China, the sec- where lies the future of the country’s petroond oil consumer, is to breaks away from the leum because “crude is cheap to exploit. burden of erratic crude prices and take to the “Let us assume we should look into African uncommon path to fuel its bourgeoning market, what is the amount of consumption industries? Producers of crude like Nigeria of the regional economy? Angola is producwho take solace in the fast-growing Chinese ing; Ghana is coming into the market. economy as America takes its future into its Cameroon and Chad are producing even hands can only ponder the question in though they are small players. Libya and unease. Algeria are in charge of North Africa. Which Obviously, there is growing concern about CONTINUED ON PAGE 45 the fate of economies of countries, which

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

BUSINESS ROM battery-powered cars to solar panels, Falternative energy has made enormous strides during the past decade. But a string of unconnected successes has barely put a dent in the US oil economy. A worker installs solar panels at the Lieberose Solar Park in Lieberose, Germany. While there’s no easy road ahead for green energy, experts say, some solutions exist in scalable technologies with government support — a combination that’s so far eluded America’s energy complex. “We need a holistic approach to energy analysis,” says Doug Aren’t, head of strategic energy analysis for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, based in Golden, Colo. “It’s not just one technology versus another.” Second-generation biofuels and concentrated solar power generation could become cost competitive in a few years, according to a Boston Consulting Group report. Still, it’s not a question of which alternative fuel will replace crude oil, but which renewable sources will help reduce America’s reliance on it. “The bottom line: Conventional energy sources will remain the lion’s share of the world’s energy mix for at least the next couple of decades,” concludes the Boston Group report. How quickly stakeholders can reach consensus on that energy model will determine how fast existing and new technologies can work together as the world faces the prospect of

No Heir Apparent To Crude Oil But Lots Of Alternatives dwindling oil reserves. In that scenario, oil extraction ends and supplies collapse. “There’s an almost irrational opposition on the part of many conservatives towards the electrification of the automobile, alternative energy sources — and many of these things are being laid at the foot of the Obama administration,” said former General Motors vice chairman Robert Lutz on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Robert Lutz, former General Motors vice chairman and Fred Smith FedEx chairman & CEO, discuss improving energy security in the U.S. and finding alternatives to fossil fuels. Statements like that from a former Big Three auto executive suggest attitudes about energy may be changing. Other cleaner-burning fossil fuels are extending into more industries. Jim Hackett, chief executive of Anadarko Petroleum, says American energy independence can be achieved through natural gas and increased domestic oil production. While efforts to drill offshore and in the Alaska Arctic Wildlife Reserve have stalled, hydraulic rock-fracturing technology, also known as fracking, has allowed tapping of major reserves in North Dakota. The same technology is changing the natural

Biofuel development is also advancing. Unlike first-generation applications, new biofuel can be derived from algae; and there is now a range of energy crop feedstocks that can be grown on marginally productive land and don’t compete with food-oriented grains and beans. More homeowners, meanwhile, are adopting small-scale solar, as prices fall with increased competition. But alternative resources collectively are only part of a larger solution that includes Big Oil. “We need to as an industry, and as a country and as a world, find more oil resources. We just have to,” Hackett said on CNBC. He added that crude oil prices are likely to be above $100 a barrel for the next four to five years, which should encourage Washington to create favorable domestic production policies. Policy change, though, is never easy. Congressional Democrats recently joined Republicans in backing the controversial Keystone pipeline project that would transport crude oil from North Dakota and the Canadian oil sands to the U.S. President Barack Obama’s opposition — partly based on environmental concerns — is drawing more criticism, as retail gasoline prices tick above $4 per gallon and unemployment remains high in many states.

gas industry, with some experts estimating the U.S. now holds a century’s worth of reserves. With so much inventory, natural gas is gaining momentum as a transportation fuel as prices have dropped below the $2 MBTU levels from the $5 range. “You’ve got an opportunity to use it [natural gas] in the transportation sector to displace oil,” said CEO Hackett on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Flex-fuel vehicles — those that run on a variety of fuels, including natural gas, ethanol and gasoline — already are a reality. Metro bus fleets across the country are powered by natural gas, as are a growing number of light trucks, because they fit the central refueling station model. What’s impractical is widespread passenger car use. To solve the dilemma of which comes first — the infrastructure to spark demand, or the demand to trigger the build out — Hackett says highway infrastructure could be built for several billion dollars through private equity and a little fiscal stimulus. “All of this can be done in the space of three years with any kind of real effort and policy Courtesy: CNBC commitment,” Hackett told CNBC.

Why The Country May Not Survive Major Shock In Oil Price, Demand CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44 country is Nigeria going to sell oil to in Africa? Is it Rwanda or Central Africa Republic that doesn’t even have money to cover its essential undertakings? Our best market is still the west. Looking into African market is like shooting ourselves on the leg.” He noted that adequate local refining that is spearheaded by the private sector remains the most assuring forwardlooking strategy. When local refineries come on board, he said, the country would be able to save the huge resources frittered through subsidy payments and feeding neigbouring countries. He continued: “If the refineries are working and you have government agencies playing regulatory role, chances are that we will be able to manage future shock. There are staterun agencies that are doing well. For instance, the Venezuelan Oil Corporation has fuel outlets even in the United State. Brazilian Petrobras operate both upstream and downstream. But is not a model Nigeria can adopt because of corruption. The surest means of circumventing the danger ahead is assisting private refineries to come on board.” Also, a lead consultant to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Ken Ife, said the government must be courageous to give grant to operators that got licenses to build private refineries some years back. According to him, the proposed refineries require about N600 billion to come on stream. And the government, he said, must choose between squandering over N1 trillion on

subsidy yearly and converting part of the payments to soft loans for the private refinery projects. Unlike Iredia, Ife said there is, indeed, huge market in Africa for Nigeria’s crude resources but that the market requires immense political will to harness. He suggested that the best way the government could leverage on the regional market is to assist needy countries get facilities from the African Development Bank (AfDB), where it has enormous influence, to build refineries and grow their capacity. After that, he said, Nigeria could sign a crude sale agreement with these countries. He also noted that the laying of networks of pipelines, in addition to existing ones, could be funded by Nigeria for the purpose of supplying refined products to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. But before them, he said, Nigeria must grow its refining capacity to harness the full benefits of the value chains in oil and gas exploitation. TILL, Ife is worried that whereas countries such Ghana Sconstitute has be able to diversified such that about 10 products 70 per cent of its foreign earnings, Nigeria’s bunch disease persists with oil and gas contributing about 95 per cent of its foreign earnings. Oil and gas employs less than 0.2 per cent of the countries workforce; it contributes less than 14 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Yet, it is virtually the only source of the country’s foreign earnings. Worst still, the country exports the resources in its crude form while it imports the finished products to fuel its economy. This is

Executive Director (Market Operations and Technology), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Group Managing Director/CEO, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, at the bank’s presentation of Facts Behind the Figures to NSE in Lagos… on Friday.

the point at which many regard the oil discovery as a curse rather than blessing. Ife said not until the unfortunate trend is broken and the economy fully diversified, the economy faces gloomy future. He called for institution of the right policies that can promote balance growth and create opportunities for the larger number of people. He wondered how the country expects to experience real growth when policies are skewed to help few individuals feed fat in the face of widespread poverty. Despite surging shale growth, there are those who believe Nigeria’s market remains intact. The Guardian reported last week that some of the oil companies said they are proud of Nigeria’s sweet crude, which has been categorised as one of the best offers in the international market. top official said: “Our traditional customers may have alternative sources, but the quality of the products will A always be there. Besides, the need for energy is a global phenomenon so it is not segmented to a certain country or a particular customer. There may be alternatives such as shale oil, but I must remind you that our product is easier to produce and easier to refine, compared to heavy crude.” Another said: “Shale oil is not really a problem to Nigeria. Losing the United States market does not mean the country can not exploit other markets. Demand for energy is growing worldwide and we can always get markets to fit in, depending on how we position the industry. President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), George Osahon, stated: “The discovery of shale oil is all over the world, but the United States is the country, which has actually started the production of the commodity. Anything that happens in any part of the world in respect of energy, must affect the global energy mix. For me, there is nothing to worry about concerning the discovery of shale oil. Nigeria should not fret over this new way of oil exploitation. In fact, we should be worried finding out way to continue to be relevant in the global oil market. “Don’t forget that when it comes to oil and gas, we have not fully exploited what we have in the country. We have so many basins in Nigeria, which have not been exploited. We have shale oil in Nigeria, which can be exploited, but the question is ‘what is the cost of exploiting a barrel of shale oil compared to the cost of exploiting conventional oil?’ What we need to do is to concentrate on exploiting the conventional oil, which is cheaper, before going into the exploitation of the more expensive shale oil.” Director, the International Energy Agency, Maria van der Hoeven, also allayed fear about the possibility of shale impacting significantly on crude. He said the alternative source would improve global energy supplies but that the importance of OPEC would not diminish, as demand from developing countries is growing. “Given the known resources in OPEC, the importance of OPEC will not diminish, definitely not, but trade routes will change,” Hoeven said. According to him, shale oil will complement the spare capacity held by OPEC, particularly Saudi Arabia, and this would make the market more comfortable than in the past few years. Just as the traditional market of crude looks splitting, there is growing worry analysts that the emergence of the same non-conventional fuel could cause ripple within the fold of OPEC. Moors, during an online television show last week, suggested that 80 per cent of the oil Saudi Arabia will be pushing to international market by 2015 will come from non-conventional means. If OPEC has no control over how non-members tackle the growing energy need, it will not, sure, be comfortable with its top member endorsing shale extraction. How is the cartel going to react to members who

ThE GUARDiAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

BUSiNESS ‘Food Wastage, Price increase Responsible For Climate Change’ Policy on Drought and Desertification, supported major policies such as; Change Adaptation and National Erosion National Biodiversity Strategy, Climate National Environment Policy, National and Flood Control Policy. hE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, has said that climate change in form of extreme weather events, floods, production shocks, population growth, increasing global affluence and natural resource constraints will all impact on food prices. Mr. Toure, who made the disclosure last week at the World Environment Day celebrations, said that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year and this amounts to the tonnes of food produced in Sub-Sahara Africa, including Nigeria. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki – Moon also disclosed in his own address that the problem of about 870 million people who are undernourished with millions of children who suffer from childhood stunting has become a silent pandemic. Ban ki-Moon said that we must ensure access to adequate nutrition for all, double the productivity of small holder farmers who show the bulk of food in the developing world. he regretted that one third of all food produced fails top make it from farm to table and this represents a massive environmental cost in terms of energy, land and water. The Secretary-General also linked the problem of food wastage to climate change because in advanced countries, food thrown, away end up in land fills where they release significant quantities of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that causes global warming. Nigeria’s UNDP Resident Representative, Daouda Toure whose address was read Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet (left) and Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, at the Forbes Philanthropy Summit held at the United Nations, New York, the by Ms. Ade Lekoetje Mamonyane, Country United States... last week. Director, regretted that one in every seven people in the would go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of five die daily from hunger. Toure said that the UNDP is determined to training centre, part of the integra- state is considered ‘Pepperoni’s help Nigeria to combat its challenges and fledged catering school and farm By Geoff Iyatse tion process being undertaken by home’. he said Bayelsans welthat was why the UN systems in Nigeria had to serve “our offices and raise hiEF Executive Officer of the comed him with open arms Pepperoni. entrepreneurs in the food and company, Pepperoni Foods when he was in the state to open culinary industry.” At the pre-opening ceremony, Limited, a fast growing restaurant which coincided with the compa- business in 2005, a disposition idogun said the desire of the chain in the Niger Delta region, that made him see the area as ny’s yearly Children’s Day party, Pepperoni team is to groom busiMr. Eric idogun, said the industry idogun was optimistic at home. ness owners who recognise no has the capacity to create millions prospects of the business, especial- “here in 2005, despite absence of limits in their skills/abilities and hiEF Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock of jobs for unemployed youths if ly in Bayelsa. any record and collateral, the trust their ingenuity to take them operators are encouraged through Looking back to its humble Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema, has promcompany took a risk and applied to rare heights in the food indusincentives to expand. ised that the organisation would continue to beginning in a market previously for funding from the state govtry. idogun made the observation in dominated by others, it seemed an ernment under the hospitality enforce corporate governance rules to build “Our business is built around a chat shortly after the company confidence among investors. he made the and Tourism industry Funding uphill task to create a niche for our customers as they are the reaopened a new branch at pledge last week at the presentation of facts itself. But idogun said the compa- Programme and received support son we open our doors everyday. Mbiama/Yenagoa Road, Bayelsa. behind the figures by Union Bank of Nigeria ny was able to weather the storm for expansion from President As an organisation, we have idenhe attributed the success of his Jonathan when he was governor. tified service excellence as a prodPlc. “because of the uniqueness of its The fund, alongside existing pru- uct of different factors. Capacity products and services.” Onyema recalled that NSE has in the past years operation to free-interest loan Bayelsa State Government gave dent and efficient management building at our outlets does not he continued: “The company focused on cleansing, restructuring and makhim about eight years ago when gradually gained wide acceptance system, enabled the company to only focus on skills but worlding the market more accessible transparent he started operations. among various demographic stra- remodel and expand its operaclass service delivery.” and fair. The efforts, he said, would continue. The mega service outlet in ta and soon became the preferred tions in the state. it catapulted us As part of its Corporate Social “As Union Bank continues to expand its Yenagoa, where it started operato the enviable level we are today. Responsibility (CRS), Pepperoni, restaurant in its locations. From growth targets, we challenge you to strive to tions eight years ago, is the biggest beginning, our objective was very As a result, we have been able to on yearly basis, organises improve accountability and disclosure that of the six outlets in Rivers, Akwa, build a successful business; the clear – to provide quality healthy Children’s Day party where it gives permitted the achievements. it should consoli- ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and company has been able to build gift items to kids. During the food service to people in a warm date on the goal of building Nigeria’s leading Rivers states operated by six modern outlets across key and friendly environment. This recent celebration, children’s end-to-end financial services organisation, Pepperoni. The facility in the new Niger Delta states, making it one party was organised in all its outhas continued to drive leveraging on its competitive advantages in the branch houses a fast service point, vision Pepperoni, which is the reason the of the fastest growing and leadlets including the new one. various business segments,” he said. a full-fledged in-house secluded brand has remained consistent in ing brand in the food service secThe restaurant was among winOnyema called on banks to partner the relerestaurant, upscale bar and ultra its product offerings across locator,” idogun said. ners of the 2011 Africa Awards for vant agencies in the country in unlocking its modern photo studio. it is he noted that the outlet is crutions.” Entrepreneurship. it was selected growth potential to accelerate socio-economic designed to accommodate warehe explained that the third out- cial as it marks a major step in its based on its robust CSR prohousing facilities and catering development. vision towards establishing a full- gramme. let is sited in Bayelsa because the

By Tunde Akingbade

Govt Should Support Fast Food industry, Urged idogun

‘We will Continue To Enforce Corporate Governance’

Expert Seeks Regulatory Framework To Combat Cyber Crime o combat the growing T threat to technological development in Nigeria, an expert has canvassed an urgent development of national regulatory framework to secure the country’s cyber space. This is to protect the economy against cyber crime. At a workshop organised by Digital Jewels in partnership with SANS institute Africa in Lagos last week, Director of SANS institute for Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Mr. Craig Rosewarne, said the increase in cyber criminal activities coupled with inef-

fective legislation and law enforcement pose challenge to security of global computer infrastructure. Using South Africa as a case study, Rosewarne, in his presentation entitled Combating Cyber Threats: An African Perspective, suggested the formation of a regulatory body to oversee the industry as part of measures to ensure quality and consistency in security practice and competencies of professionals working in the industry. The South African-based information security expert noted that the growing

security threats to the cyber space include information leakage, identity theft, social media attacks, corporate espionage, malware infections, phishing attacks, insider fraud, botnet infections and state sponsored attacks. Others are organised crime, child pornography and advanced persistent threat among other threats to the cyber space. he also recommended the establishment of a national cyber security training academy to help address the growing need for information security professionals at the national level.

“investment in cyber security to prevent far greater losses in the near future, outweighs the cost of such investment,” Rosawarne said. in response to his submission, participants acknowledged that major challenges facing Nigeria’s cyber space are similar to what obtained in South Africa, hence it was agreed that concerted efforts by professionals in the information and technology industry are very critical in the battle against cyber crime and internet insecurity in the country. it was noted that conscious

effort must be made by stakeholders on researchbased information for ease of prosecution where cyber crime is established; and such data bases which could be useful to establish the existence of cyber crime in the country should be generously shared by practitioners in the information technology industry. Digital Jewels has been passionate about information security in the country and has facilitated the attainment of international Organisation for Standardisation (iSO) accreditation for many

organisations; and remains the first indigenous consulting firm in Africa to achieve iSO 27001. in its commitment to the advancement of information technology, the firm organises a quarterly information value chain (iVC) forum, a gathering of iCT professionals, which holds every second Wednesday of the last month in a quarter. it provides a platform for knowledge sharing, information exchange and networking for executives as they climb the corporate ladder.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

BUSINESSAGRO

PZ Wilmar In N100bn Oil Palm Investment, Job Creation By Fabian Odum HE business marriage between PZ, a household name in Nigeria and Wilmer International, known global player in the palm oil industry, in 2011, is rubbing off positively in the economy with the acquisition of 50 hectares plantation and the planned development of 20 hectares more in Cross Rivers State. The goal, according to the Chief Executive, PZ Wilmar, Mr. Christos Giannopoulos is three fold, that in reviving the palm oil industry in Nigeria the company will invest in new plantation and refining facilities to international standards resulting in job creation and production of quality, healthy cooking ingredients. The other aspect, Giannopoulos revealed is ‘supporting and facilitating the development of local agriculture and industry, in alignment with the government’s 2020 vision, through

• Embarks on 70,000ha plantation, modern refinery investment, education and collaboration. The network, over the next few years, is expected to reach N100bn with a snowball effect of ‘creating about 12,000 direct and over 33,000 indirect jobs at various skills. But the refining aspect, in which modern facilities are already in place, is taking life at the company’s Ikorodu (Lagos State) plant, where the boilers are set to fire up soon, on completion. For this, the CEO says, as the company’s team interacted with the media in Lagos during the week, would cost N10bn to package the plant. When fully operational, the refinery is expected to process crude palm oil to fill the significant demand gap in the Nigerian market. However, from the plantation stage, the vision is to address the current national short-

age of palm oil, create new markets and income for local industry and communities with the resulting job opportunities. So far, over 600,000 high yield palm plants have been transplanted, uprooting the old, low yield ones with 2.1 million seedlings raised from four nursery sites. In November 2012, a 32,000ha plantation was commissioned in Cross Rivers State with a manpower development back up of building a training school for plantation management on the site in Calaro Estate at Mbarakom, with the support of the government of the state, according to Giannopoulos, 60 trainees have passed out of the school. The corporate arrowhead of PZ Wilmar says, to develop a win-win arrangement between small scale farmers and the company for pur-

How To Achieve Better Transformation of Agricultural Sector, By Agric Deans O make the agricultural sector T of the Nigerian economy attractive and also better implement the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government, the sector must be adequately funded. This was the mind of Deans of Agriculture of Nigerian Universities at its 57th Annual General Meeting recently held at

the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State. The Association in a communiqué released after the meeting said “government at all levels should enhance allocations for Agriculture and Agricultural training and increase the budgetary allocation to Agricultural sector from the present 1.7 per cent to at least 10 per cent in line with Maputo

Declaration in order to ensure food security, create jobs and wealth. Also, budgetary allocation to Agriculture and Agricultural Training should be released on time to ensure proper training of Agricultural personnel so as to fast track the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.”

The Deans also called on the Ministry of Agriculture at all levels to facilitate the establishment of properly equipped research and training farms for agricultural training Institutions with a view to providing adequate entrepreneurial skills to Nigerian youths, who are tired of agriculture of hoes and cutlasses as it is currently practiced locally.

pose of self support and enhance local capacity through skill transfer, a palm out growers scheme is already in motion. This is to ensure that small holder farmers have a ready market for their produce. This is a network between PZ Wilmar, and the State Ministry of Agriculture and National Resources and promoted under the Cross Rivers Agricultural and Rural Empowerment Scheme (CARES). With a 1000 per day capacity refinery, the CEO assures Nigerian mothers and those in culinary business of a 100 per cent pure oil that would be affordable as ‘a wide range of consumer packs to suit every budget will be launched, to complement all the patronage and investment.’

Nigeria’s Cocoa Re-positioning To Take Lead By Fabian Odum HE cocoa industry in Nigeria is re-positioning to compete favourably in the world market. This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akin rd Adesina, at the 23 partnership forum organised by the World Cocoa Foundation in Washington, DC., on Wednesday, according to a release by Dr, Olukayode Oyeleye, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Communication. At the forum, titled “Meeting Tomorrow’s Demand: Productivity, Quality, and Farmers’ Livelihoods,” Dr. Adesina told the stakeholders how Nigeria, is “developing a sustainable vehicle built on a public-private partnership platform to coordinate the whole cocoa sector that will be public sector-enabled but private sector-driven with all stakeholders playing active

role.” To demonstrate the commitment of Nigeria in developing the cocoa industry, the minister disclosed the plans on rehabilitation of “200,000 hectares over the next four years through an aggressive plan developed in partnership with private sector to provide employment for skilled professionals called ‘Professional Cocoa Doctors and Grafters’ over the next five years, who would be able to deploy their skills to earn a decent living and rehabilitate at least 200,000 ha cocoa farms in Nigeria.” He said, “with the support of MARS Incorporated, some personnel were sent to Indonesia to study Indonesia’s impressive cocoa plantation rehabilitation strategy.” Explaining the Nigerian Cocoa Investment Plan, the minister said “the theme of this partnership meeting very important to consider how to

improve productivity, quality and livelihood to meet the growing demand for cocoa products estimated to reach some 5.0 million MT in 2020, some additional 1.0 million MT to the current cocoa beans output. He highlighted major problems, which have militated against progress in cocoa business in Nigeria. “Despite these challenges,” he said, “we see a great opportunity in the face of emerging realities of the global cocoa economy. That is why we have put in place a Cocoa Transformation Agenda (The CocTA PLAN) with a vision of ‘Growing Nigeria’s Share of the World Cocoa market.” Peter Aikpokpodion, team leader for the Nigerian cocoa transformation agenda, observed that “entrepreneurship in cocoa programme, hitherto lacking in Nigeria, is now being emphasised, as government is working towards facilitating stake-

holders to recognise agriculture and cocoa production as business.” Nicko Debenham, director and head of cocoa at the London-based Armajaro Trading Limited, observed

that “what the minister said was important: guarantee funds, finance at farm level, provide enabling environment for private sector, removal of volatility caused by subsidy. If everyone in the sup-

ply chain management in Nigeria is working to move and engage in commitment, we will be able to move up to the level of 500,000 metric tons the minister talked about.”

Integrated Approach To Agriculture, Food Systems For Sustainable Future By Kamal Tayo Oropo ACkLING hunger and food insecurity remain major development priorities, made worse by climate change, price volatility in globalised food markets and over-consumption in wealthy countries. Existing agriculture and food systems are central to sustaining poor people’s livelihoods and are technically capable of producing adequate food for all, but according to reports published by the (International Institute for Environment and Development) IIED, they place major stress on environmental assets including soils, water, fisheries and biodiversity. Post-2015 MDG goals and agendas need to support a

transformation of food systems to make them more productive, environmentally sustainable and resilient while preserving and enhancing these livelihood benefits. On how to stimulate quality investment in sustainable energy for all the paper noted that governments and donorcountries are looking to the private sector to help generate the US$1 trillion of additional investment required to achieve universal energy access by 2030. Crowd funding is an exciting new way to link individual investors to local projects. Governments and donors still have key roles to play in leveraging investment and stimulating the market. More demonstration and validation of innovative business models

will increase investor confidence. Ultimately, better energy access should lead to better health, livelihoods and resilience — a key aim of ‘quality investment’. The report which also dwell on future urban poor groups needs as well as addressing inequalities and governance post-2015, stated that successful urban centres provide advantages for private enterprises, but economic success does not, of itself, reduce poverty or address unmet needs. Many prosperous cities in low and middle-income nations have one third or more of their population living in informal settlements on inadequate incomes, with very high infant, child and maternal mortality rates and high levels of under-nutrition.

Oyo AFAN Members To Beware Of Political Farmers HE All Farmers Association T of Nigeria (AFAN) in Oyo State has alerted its members on the existence of ``political farmers.’’ The Secretary, Oyo State Election Planning Committee, Mr Abisoye Olajire, said AFAN was aware that some faceless individuals with political motives had been claiming to represent farmers. Olajire urged the government, private institutions and members of the public in the state to be wary of such ``political farmers’’ so as not to be duped. He said that only AFAN was recognised as legally representing farmers’ interests and warned against the dangers of

dealing with political farmers or their representatives. ``The political farmers or their representatives have been staining the respected esteem of which true farmers are held in our communities, especially in Oyo State. ``People should wake up to the fact that Nigeria’s agriculture is being done more harm than good if such politically motivated farmers are accorded recognition over genuine farmers,’’ Olajire said. On the election, the scribe urged members from the 33 Local Government Areas to remain united and elect credible leaders in the June polls. Olajire also maintained that

there was only one AFAN in the state led by Mr Emmanuel Elegbede. He also dismissed speculations that the association held an election earlier, saying the upcoming poll was the only one to be held after approval was secured from the national secretariat. Olajire said that for now, following the dissolution of the state executive as required by AFAN’s Constitution as precondition for the election, only the 33 local government branches existed for now. He assured that the body would intensify publicity for the election as required to mobilise members for the poll.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

Birthdays OKOGIE, Emeritus Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi, clergy, social critic and retired Archbishop of Lagos (Nigeria) Catholic Church will be 77 on Sunday, June 16, 2013. Born on June 16, 1936 in Lagos to a royal family in Uromi, Edo State, he was educated at Holy Cross School, Lagos; St. Patrick’s College, Lagos and St. Theresa Minor Seminar, Ibadan, Oyo State. He later proceeded to Urban University, Rome. He was ordained a priest on December 11, 1966. He holds a licentiate in Sacred Theology. Following his ordination, Cardinal Okogie planned to continue his studies in Rome, but was unexpectedly called back to Nigeria where he served for a short time as pastoral assistant at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos. He was then drafted into Nigerian Army as a chaplain. He served again at the Cathedral and was appointed Catholic religious instructor and chaplain in King’s College, a state secondary school. On August 29, he was ordained titular Bishop of Mascula and Auxilliary of Oyo. He was transferred to Lagos, first, as Auxilliary Bishop, on April 12, 1973 nominated Archbishop. After another period of service at Holy Cross Cathedral, he became an instructor. As Bishop, he was the President of the Catholic Bishop Conference and Christian Association of Nigeria. He was

Okogie

Abubakar

George

Joshua

proclaimed Cardinal by His Holiness, late Pope John Paul II in October 2003.

1982, after which he was promoted to Colonel in August 1984. Later, he was appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu and became a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC). From Enugu, he was moved to Kaduna, as GOC of the Strategic One Mechanised Division. On November 17, 1993, he was appointed Chief of Defense Staff, the position he held until his appointment as Head of State. Abubakar is one of the few generals in the Nigerian Army who rose to the top without holding political office. He was appointed head of state upon the sudden death of his predecessor, Sani Abacha. He became Nigeria’s eight military Head of State in 1998, after Ironsi, Gowon, Murtala, Babangida and Abacha, since the country’s independence from Britain in 1960.

former president of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors will be 65 on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Born in Enugu, Enugu State on June 11, 1948. He attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied Surveying and graduated in 1970; Ohio State University, USA, where he earned a Masters Degree in Geodesy in 1975. He was the first Surveyor General of the defunct Gongola State; Chief Executive of Geodetic Positioning Service Limited and Founder/Chief Executive of Geodetic Informatic Systems Limited and Tomel Integrated Services Limited, among others. He is a fellow and past president, Delta State Chamber of Commerce. He is a recipient of many international and national awards, which include, 2007 Professional Excellence Award by All Professional Bodies in Nigeria (APBN), ECOWAS International Gold Award, 2007; Patrotic Achievers and Niger Delta Merit Award. He is currently the Publisher of Socio cultural magazine, OMANIA. He is the Okwuluoha of Asaba

Town and Regional Planning at The University of Melbourne, Australia in December 1972. Between 1973 and 1979, she was Project Planner at Lagos State Development and Property Corporation. Consultant Planner on Housing Estate in Ajaokuta -Technocrete Limited (1982 – 1985); and on University of Uyo Master Plan (1993). She served as external examiner/moderator to Ogun State Polytechnic (1990 - 1991); Kaduna Polytechnic (1992 -1993); The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1998-1999); University of Lagos (2001 – 2002); Yaba College of Technology (2002 - 2004). She is the first female Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) 1987 and the first female African Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute of Britain (RTPI) 1990. She was the pioneer and first female Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Planning Authority (1998 - 1999), and first

ABUBAKAR, General Abdulsalam (rtd), administrator and former head of state will be 71 on Thursday, June 13, 2012. Born on June 13, 1942 in Minna, Niger State, he had his primary education at the Native Authority Primary School, Minna between 1957 and 1962; he attended Provincial Secondary School, Bida. He was also at the Technical Institute, Kaduna. He enlisted first into the Air Force but quickly switched to army. Besides other local training course, he was in the United States between 1975 and 1977 on training course. He was appointed commander of the 3rd Mechanised Brigade in Kano between 1969 and 1979. He also served as a Nigerian contingent to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon between 1981 and

ASHIOFU, Anthony Ike, philantropist, administrator and

GEORGE, Mrs. Catherine Kehinde (nee Sogunro-Pitan) will be 65 on Friday, June 14, 2013. Born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on June 14, 1948, she is an alumnus of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode, (1958 -1963); and Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, (1964). She obtained the Diploma in Town Planning in December 1967 at The Technical College (now The Polytechnic Ibadan) and her postgraduate Diploma in

female Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of NITP (1998 2000). Director/Head of Planning Division, Spectroplan Konsult Ltd. She authored The Challenges of Urbanisation in Nigerian Urban Centres: THE LAGOS MEGA-CITY SITUATION – A Town Planner’s Perspective, 2009; Wedding Message, 2010 among others. J OSHUA, Prophet Temitope Balogun, philanthropist, bible teacher, humanitarian author, founder and General Overseer of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOANS) will be 50 on Wednesday, June 12, 2012. Born on June 12, 1963 in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, he had his primary education at St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School, Imo/Agbaluku, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State. During his elementary education at the school, he was the leader of the Student’s Christian Fellowship. He also attended Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Ikare, Akoko, Ondo State. He broadcast Christian televangelism via SCOAN’s Christian Television station, Emmanuel TV, and on the Internet via the Streaming Faith broadcast portal. His ministry has taken him round the world to preach the goodnews to the beggars, sinners, poor and destitute and the homeless. Compiled by Gbenga Akinfenwa, gbengaherkin@yahoo.com

Mr Adebowale Adesanya representative of Promasidor, makers of cowbell milk presents who gifts to Fashola Oluwaseyitan, a student of Mhaster Probity College, Ijoko, Ogun State came 3rd in the Cowbell Mathematics Competition Junior Level.

Minister for Trade & Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom (left); former President Olusegun Obasanjo; and President, ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Quedraogo during the third ECOWAS Investment Forum in Lagos.

Friends on Traffic & Emergency Solutions Initiative: From left, James Adeniran, Prince Fatai Quadri, Victor Oteri (Radio Presenter, Traffic Radio), Samson Adamolekn, Israel Ogunlade (Station Director, Lagos Traffic Radio), Ayodele Asaju, Deroju Adepoju, (G.M Radio Lagos FM), Lukman Lawal (Director Admin, Lagos Traffic Radio), Yinka Adagun (Deputy Stations Director, Lagos Traffic Radio), and other staff of Eko FM during a year anniversary of Lagos Traffic Radio. The Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Olukayode Amund (left), Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, The Dean of Arts, Prof. Adebayo Lawal; Mr. Femi Macaulay (representing the Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Mr. Sam Omatseye) at the launch of ‘Our Legacy of Madness’ held at The Arts Theatre, University of Lagos... on Tuesday.

General Oversea of Christ Power Evangelical Ministry Prophet Gideon Adenuga and his wife Mary, and other members of the church choir during the 9th years anniversary/thanksgiving service in Lagos.

Chairman, Bariga Local Council Development Area, Hakeem Sulaimon (middle) and women who took a fitness walk to celebrate his 50th birthday under the aegies of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA)

TheGuardian

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013 | 49

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

MKO Abiola

By Gregory Austin Nwakunor th

EDNESDAY this week the 20 edition of W June 12 will be commemorated. June 12 was hope. It was everybody’s dream. Everybody believed that the outcome of its interaction within the political space would usher in a new Nigeria. Indeed, it did, but for only 11 days. And then came June 23, 1993. It wiped off all about June 12. Via a military fiat, June 23 turned June 12 ‘visual agnosia’ and redrew Nigeria’s political landscape, making it a ravenous dinosaur that eats up new ideas. In sum, June 12 became the celebratory epitaph of a lost heritage — A somewhat painful, empty past. A once upon an election. Twenty years after, as it was in that beginning is now — stalemate. Things have still not changed and the country still looks like a terrible battlefield. The landscape cratered by skirmishes and vituperations. However, victory for actualisation of the dreams of June 12 has never seemed more distant after two decades. Except for civil society and some progressives, the call for immortalisation of June 12 and its winner has remained evanescent storm. Like the Tornado that scours one block, but skips the next until it dissolves, the call seem to have become nothing, but instant wish. It was assumed after May 29, 1999, with the emergence of democratic rule, political forces would coalesce in the spirit to honour the symbol of June 12 — Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. While waiting for the conservatives, who have continued to ghost in the shadows, Alliance for Democracy (AD) governors in South West began to immortalise the winner of the undeclared June 12, 1993 election result. Not done with naming some structures in their domain after Abiola and other victims of the June 12 election, they declared the day a public holiday. The assumption also was that government, in a matter of time, would recognise June 12. And the winner, though dead, be accorded due rights. However, June 12 begs serious

way to immortalise their late breadwinner, who died in the cause of claiming his mandate is for him to be declared an ex-president of Nigeria. The National President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. (Mrs.) Joe Okei-Odumakin, also advocated a post-humous declaration of Abiola as an ex-president of Nigeria. The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) also said that the only honour worthy of the late Abiola is to officially declare him the winner of the June 12 1993 election, being the only free and fair election ever conducted in this country. The executive chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran, said such an official declaration was the only suitable honour the federal government could bestow on the memory of the late hero, which would lead to Abiola receiving the honour and entitlements due past Heads of State. President Goodluck Jonathan last year renamed University of Lagos after Abiola. A decision not wholly accepted. Beyond naming Abiola ex-president, proponents of June 12 sentiments have continued to canvass for a national holiday to immortalise Abiola. They note that if a black man —Martin Luther-King — has his birthday as a public holiday in the US because of the supreme sacrifice he made in growing the nation, why can’t the same be done to Abiola? In a paper presented in honour of Moshood questions: What really does the day stand for? that are essential for social re-engineering. Abiola, organised by the African Studies Many analysts say that failure of succeeding Association at the Hyatt Hotel, Chicago, on Is it still relevant even after Abiola? governments to address the principles on Political and social commentators point out October 31, 1998, titled, Moshood Abiola and the which the day stands for has not only under- Unintended Consequences Of June 12, Prof. Ebere that beyond Abiola, the day stands for certain mined competitiveness in the political space, Onwudiwe of the Central State University, basic principles of governance: justice, equity but brought an incoherent, myopic vision. and fair play. Wilberforce, Ohio, said that Abiola’s couraThey note that without all these, democracy in They note that the large chunk of present geous insistence on the mandate given to him Nigeria, for all its forces, will continue to rage. political elite of today did not make any sacri- by Nigerian voters would ultimately benefit fice and were never involved in the struggle Its currents will continue to have weaknesses Nigeria’s political development. for the enthronement of true democracy. and vulnerabilities that becloud vision. That’s Onwudiwe remarked this quality is imporHence, they are abusing the power. the burden here. tant because changes do not occur in counJune 12 also created the opportunity for They harp on the fact that there’s deep social tries where courage is in short supply. dislocation, distortion of history, corruption in Nigerians to think about the past, the present “He saw himself as a custodian of a sacred every aspect of the country and endless experi- and their yearnings for the future in order to mandate that was freely given to him by mentation with policies, both local and nation- get the country of their dream, some day. Nigerians and one which “I cannot surrender Only last year, members of the immediate al, that are not in tune with immediate reality family of the late Abiola insisted that the best CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 because of poor understanding of variables

June 12:

The Burden Of Democracy

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

COVER

MUBASHIRU ABIOLA: My Brother Procured This Democracy With His Blood • Only Obasanjo Can Explain His Aversion To June 12 Chief Mubashiru Abiola is the immediate younger brother to M.K.O Abiola. He told GBENGA AKINFENWA some hard facts regarding the June 12 debacle. O you think Nigerians have shown enough D appreciation of the immense sacrifice your brother made regarding June 12? I am not really aware of efforts of other states in the country, but Ogun and Lagos states have really tried their best in ensuring that MKO’s sacrifices are remembered and we the family members are happy about it. As big as Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital is, on every June 12, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun would trek over 30 miles to our family house in Oja-Agbo. I am not aware of what other states are doing, but these two states have really tried their best. But that has not sufficiently addressed the issues and the sacrifices MKO made. If the Federal Government really understands that it is sitting on MKO Abiola’s blood, then they must put up things that would immortalize his name and assist his family, to keep his memory alive. None of the past civilian presidents ever showed interest; none of them showed concern about his family, it is painful. What do you think should be the place of June 12 in this political dispensation? What is presently happening can be likened to the story of Jesus Christ in the Bible, who shed his blood to take away the sin of the whole world, it is the same thing that I believe MKO has done. He shed his blood for Nigerians to be free from slavery and the claws of the military dictators. If not for him, Nigeria would still be under military rule, but now if our people really know the essence of his sacrifice, his family should not be neglected. It shouldn’t be only Ogun and Lagos states that would be extending gestures to the family. Nigerians as a whole should cater for his family. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was MKO’s kinsman and ought to be at the forefront to champion recognition for June 12, but he never did. His successor, Yar’Adua did not. What do you think is the problem? I believe in one thing, that whatever we sow that is what we shall reap, there is nothing that has no gain, either good or bad. When General Olusegun Obasanjo was the president, though he is our elder brother, his aversion to Abiola’s

case was a surprise, maybe Nigerians can ask him why. Whenever he sees us, he receives us with open arms, whenever I went to his house, he welcomes me well, but his inability to do something tangible on MKO’s case is left to him. It is between him and God. I believe there is something he has refused to divulge that to us. I visited him twice while he was in office and we had private talks and he treated me well. So it’s only him that can tell us his reasons. Were there promises made by the Federal Government; were they fulfilled? Nobody made any promise to us; aside the two states that I mentioned, the two states that have always been there for us. They have always rendered assistance to us. I just passed a proposal to Governor Amosun on the rehabilitation of MKO’s house and he told me to come on Tuesday. Except we didn’t put anything forward to him that he would not do. He was very close to the family before he became governor and he has never denied us. Based on his sacrifice, aside the yearly ritual of marking June 12, what do you think government can do to immortalise MKO? Marking the June 12 is a mere commemoration; the most important thing that should have been done has been neglected. They should try and ensure that every year the federal government has something meaningful to do for his family. It was government that killed him and they abandoned his family, we’ve seen nothing from the federal government. You seem to be angry? Our first grievance is that the Federal Governmen has refused to pay debts owed MKO. After his death, I met former President Obasanjo when he was in office and I told him that the money owed should be paid to the family on installments to cater for members. He promised to try his best, but till he left the place we received nothing. He might say the money was not borrowed during his regime, the money was actually borrowed during General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s regime, nothing stops Obasanjo from paying the debt while in office. Before my brother died, Babangida paid part of that money and I know about it. The remaining balance should have been paid since. Our main grievance is that the Federal Government should have something tangible to do annually for this family. Though the Mubashiru Abiola

commemoration of June 12 is okay, but is that what the family would use to survive? When the former governor of the state, Segun Osoba was in office, he was very close to the family and was very helpful, like Amosun is doing now. We just thank God for giving us a good wife in the family in the person of Alhaja Moriamo Adebisi Abiola, who has been taking good care of the house, Doyin is also supporting. Do you really miss your brother? There is nobody to play his part, what he was doing for the family nobody can do it, except God gives us another person. Not all his children are okay now and there is no assistance from anywhere, apart from the two states. Most of the companies and business concern of MKO have packed-off, is there any plan by the family to resuscitate some? Most of them have really closed down, its only Radio Communication of Nigeria (RCN) on airport road, Lagos that is still functioning. If it were in a civilised country where MKO died in this type of course, the family wouldn’t suffer at all. We see a lot of jamboree and spending spree by our politicians, if MKO didn’t die who among them could face the military; he decided to die for the liberation of his people. He was released in 1995 on bail, but it was the NADECO people that didn’t allow his release. Their action then, though brought money to their pockets is already having negative effect on them; they are already suffering for it. We are just appealing to the Federal Government to come to our aid. If not for MKO’s death there wont be this democracy? Our people said it was Babangida that killed him, was he the president when MKO died? Babangida was not involved in MKO’s death, some Yoruba people are responsible for his death, I know many of them but I won’t mention names. Even the annulment, Yoruba were responsible for it. On many occasions they had meetings with Babangida. Babangida doesn’t want to talk, if he talks the Yoruba race would break, he has nothing to do with what is on ground at all, he was pushed into it. Though he later regretted his action but he was warned that if he refused to annul the election MKO and his family would be bombed, but because of his interest in MKO he took that decision and annulled the election, to save MKO and his family. He was forced to do it. When the man was telling this, he was close to tears.

The Burden Of Democracy In Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 unless the people so demand’. That he never betrayed this promise is a tribute to more than his courage. It also points to many other admirable qualities that are in short supply among our ruling elite today: consistency, perseverance, honesty, sincerity of purpose and bravery,” he had noted. For the academic, “Abiola’s exemplary courage to die for something is a lasting contribution to the future of one Nigeria. What he died for is more than the chance to become the president of Nigeria. He died for the voice of the ordinary Nigerian voter. In this sense, his struggle and death, symbolically shot the first bullet for Nigeria’s second struggle for independence and self determination from internal colonialism. Nigeria can only truly be one great country when this war for the right of individuals is permanently won.” For Dr. Ore Falomo, personal physician to the late Moshood Abiola, “it is going to be difficult to replicate June

12: The conduct of June 12, how it became so free, even the two opposing sides were talking to one another when everybody lined up to vote. There was no rain on the day, no rigging; the election was open and transparent.” Falomo said, “it could not have been a Southwest thing because it was not only the Southwest that voted. The celebration will be on forever. It is an issue that could not go away. It is only that the Southwest has been stable to accord its due.” According to the physician, “the people who took over from then have not practiced the philosophies of June 12. And who are the people to emulate Abiola, they are the presidents we had, General Abdulsalam Abubakar came in to fulfill a mission and he said he was not going to do anything new. The things he did to fulfill some of the philosophies of June 12 was that the rumples in the country, between Abiola and the army, was resolved. They

brought in two Yoruba to contest and they thought Obasanjo was the better person because he is their senior in the army.” In the words of former Secretary General of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and promoter of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Chief Ayo Opadokun, “the fact that the Nigeria military decided to ignore and undermine the collective will and aspirations of the people when they voted for Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Babagana Kingibe constitute a testimony that we are not ready to run a modern state.” He said, “Next only to the military government that annulled the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, which the late Abiola won; and next only to the other Military Junta that incarcerated, tortured and killed the late June 12 icon, was the unforgivable dragging of the late icon’s name right in the mud of political-seeking by the present administration when it unilaterally renamed University of Lagos

as Moshood Abiola University.” Opadokun continued, “the Nigerian state, which is an offshoot of the military oligarchy, is busy using central authority in every phase of our activities and yet call itself a federation. I think June 12 had been rubbished.” Former Lagos State Deputy governor, Senator Louisa Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, a former NADECO chieftain, is not satisfied with the efforts made so far on immortalisation of June 12. She noted, “this is because June 12 struggle was an epic one, which gave us the democracy we have today and I do not believe that the government has done enough to immortalise those participants in the June 12 struggle, particularly Chief MKO Abiola.” To the former National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, Malam Mamman Yusufu, the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election represents just one of the episodic events in the annals of the country’s history. “As a nation, we have passed

through vicious milestones and these vicious milestones are indeed numerous. For example, we don’t celebrate the end of the civil war, the assassination of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa and so on. These are some milestones. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 has come and gone and later events have come to justify the basis of the struggle itself. June 12 is just one aspect of our national struggles. Attentions it has attracted, in my opinion, are okay. It is just a reminder of what we have been as a nation, so that we don’t forget our past as we move ahead in nationbuilding,” he said. Fourteen years on, and the country has already performed the third of its four-year ritual of electing a president but there is nothing to show that the politicians have learnt anything good from June 12.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

COVER

BUCKNOR-AKERELE: Declare June 12

Moshood Abiola National Day • If People Want Freedom, They Should Fight For It Senator Louisa Kofoworola BucknorAkerele, former Lagos State Deputy governor and NADECO chieftain, was one of the women in the frontline for restoration of June 12 mandate. She told KAMAL TAYO OROPO that the best way to appreciate the date is to declare a public holiday in the name of ‘the winner’, Chief MKO Abiola. Twenty years after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, how well will you describe the journey towards ensuring those ideals that the day represents? We are still evolving democratically, and I hope that sooner than later, we will, in fact, have true democratic norms and culture that will stand the test of time. How well have politicians been able to handle affairs of governance, especially in line with fairness and justice, which Junes 12 represents? There are two sets of politicians: those in politics to serve and the ones that are there to serve their pockets. Though, I am still a politician myself, I will say the vast majority of the politicians we have the moment are those who merely want to serve their pocket. There have been various efforts in the past to immortalise the June 12 struggle and advocacy, how satisfied are you with the efforts so far? Well, I am not satisfied with the efforts made so far. This is because the struggle was an epic one, which gave us the democracy we have today and I do not believe that the government has done enough to immortalise the participants, particularly Chief MKO Abiola. But there was a particular effort by the present administration to rename the University of Lagos after Abiola, which met with a lot of disquiet especially in the Southwest. Are you saying such an effort was insufficient or misplaced? I will not say that the action was misplaced, but I do not believe that Abiola has got his rightful place in Nigeria. I mean, people talk about those who fought for the country’s independence, but Chief Abiola too was one of those who fought for the independence; he gave his life so that we will gain independence from the military rule and oppression.

Dr. Ore Falomo, personal physician to the late Moshood Abiola, speaks with GBENGA SALAU on the philosophies of June 12 and if there had been efforts to sustain them 20 years after.

Bucknor In specific terms, what will you like to see done to immortalise his name? As far as I am concerned, declaring Moshood Abiola Day will be a right step. There is Martin Luther King’s Day in the United States, why should it be so difficult to have a similar day in the memory of those who paid the supreme price for our democracy? And as far as I am concerned that should be on June 12. Are you calling on the authorities to declare every June12 Moshood Abiola’s Day? Yes, that’s exactly what I am saying. And why not? How confident are you seeing this happen, especially in view of the nature of politicking in the country? I don’t know whether it will happen or not because there is still a section of the country that has blinkers in its eyes and do not want to accept that Abiola won that election. The people are still deluding themselves that he didn’t and that the election was inconclusive. And the press, especially, are not making things better. I am not happy with the way media still write about the election, referring

to the winner as ‘ the presumed winner in the inconclusive’. But the results are there. The election was conclusive. Because they were not declared does not mean the result were not there. Also, those of us who were in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) already had the full result. If the government at the national level failed in this regard, would you like to see the Southwest governors take a step further? I don’t think the steps Abiola took and the sacrifice he made was a Southwest affair. It is a sacrifice for democracy in the entire nation. The May 29 is not the true democracy day; the real democracy day is June 12. In view of what you have experienced so far since the advent of this democratic experience, are you convinced this democracy is worth sacrificing one’s life for, the way Abiola and many ordinary Nigerians did? Yes, one should be able to stand for something. And I think if you want freedom you have to be ready to sacrifice your life for it. But how do you feel about ordinary people who were also in the forefront for the actualisation of

this democracy, but who are now feeling short-changed by the system, which appears to only benefit those in government? Do you think politicians appreciate the sacrifice ordinary people made for June 12? First of all, if the masses are complaining, I don’t think politicians are entirely to be blamed. After all, it is the same masses that put them there. So, they have to share part of the blame. If they were the ones who put them there, and they are now complaining, they know what to do next time; they should take them out! What can they do in a system where it is practically impossible to get them out? What other option is available to them, especially when some of the politicians rig or manipulate themselves into offices and sustain their stay using hired thugs? These things exist, but there is such a thing like the people’s power. We see it happening everyday in other parts of the world… if we are not ready to fight for our rights or too weak to do something about our situation, we will continue to be short-changed. Don’t you think people are rather impotent under this system? I think some of the blame should also go to the media; they are as much to blame as the people. The media are only ready to pander to whims of those in power and those who have money. And as such they not necessarily ready to speak the truth. I am not saying all the press, but I believe a large part of the blame should go to the press. When they see what is right, they are often not ready to say so because they have been bought over. The press has been bought over, the police too have been bought, the judiciary has been bought and everyone has been bought over, don’t you think it is rather a societal problem? How do we restore societal value? Those who have value should be in the forefront of restoration of the value. We have to fight for the restoration of our values. How do you mean by that? Well, how did we fight for June 12? Are you advocating for a revolutionary challenge? I am not advocating violence. I am completely against violence. Of course, there must be other forms of revolution to effect a desired change. But that does not mean such approach has to be violent. For example, I don’t think NADECO fired a shot when we were fighting for the restoration of Junes 12, and by extension for the restoration of democracy. In the end, we achieved our aims and we got democratic rule, which regrettably some of our politicians are abusing.

FALOMO: June 12 Philosophy Is Not A SouthWest Issue

O doubts, the mass movement that came with June 12 must be a product of philosophy that Abiola symbolises, what will you say this is? The philosophy was nurtured as far back as 1982, when some people told Abiola that presidency was not for sale. He told them that he was not going to buy the idea, and the people would give him the mandate. He felt that to execute his philosophy to the fullest, he had to be president. Abiola knew it was the president who had power; the constitutional backing and claim to put into practice what would transform the country. So, he had already started it that time when he left the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and later joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during Babangida’s transition programme. Falomo He saw that the conservatives were not listening, and always wanted to do things their own way. This did not This was why he pitched tent with go down well with his philosophy. SDP in 1992. For June 12, he decided

to go to the people. Of course, during the campaign,

he laid before the country what he was going to do from food product, creation of jobs, lowering prices of clothing, oil, infrastructure –– maintenance and building of new ones, oil –– to the point of telling the people how much kerosene would be sold to allow the poor benefits and the refineries. Everything. The records are there, as he used different platforms to project these ideas, television, newspaper, and it is even in government custody what he said he would do. And this showed that he had done his homework very well. One of the things he said was that he would probe all the military officers who had been corrupted, it was one of his campaign promises. Abiola actually put his opponent out of consideration because you could see that Tofa did not prepare. It seemed as if they just went to pick him to be presidential candidates because in every respect, Abiola outscored him. Though Abiola showed him respect

as they both were going into a field of unknown. From that field, Abiola religion must not be an obstacle, which was why he chose another Muslim to run with him. It had never happened. Yet they won the election convincingly. However, we thank God and Jonathan for having the courage to say it out. It is assumed by some people that Musa Yar’Adua would have done the same thing because he promised so before his death. Fine, but let us thank the man who did it, who said, it is true that he won. He won convincingly and extraordinarily, that must be accepted and acknowledged by the government, though some people thought they were annulling a reality. It is a reality, because he won. Annulling means as if it did not actually happen. That is in their own theory because it happened. So, we thank God and Jonathan for that. Where do we go from there? The people who took over from then have not practiced the philosophy of June 12. And who are the people to emulate Abiola, they are the presidents we had, General Abdulsalam Abubakar came in to

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

COVER

‘… On The March Again… Looking For Mr. President’ By Gbenga Salau On the march again, On the march again, waiting for Mr. President, MKO is our man o, was the theme song during Chief MKO Abiola’s presidential campaign. The Guardian visited the sprawling resident and headquarters of Hope ‘93 at Abiola Crescent, Ikeja, last week. For somebody visiting the area for the first time, the thinking might be that the street was named after him as an honour. But that was where he lived. Like Abiola, who was a unique personality, the street also appeared unique. Not the conventional long stretch of road, just a circle street with an entrance. Walking round to locate the compound where the man who held Nigerians spellbound with the Hope 93 slogan was not difficult. The building stood out not only in colour, but also in shape and space. Though it is not the tallest building within the vicinity, it puts on an aura of what Abiola stood for. The white colour in which the building is painted is sparkling and still tells the story that a great man once lived there, especially the serenity within the abode. The compound is well planned with a storey building duplex and two bungalows. The interlocking concrete floor added colour, shape and taste to the design of the compound. It also complemented the tombs, white and black, of Abiola and Kudirat sited in the middle of the compound and in front of the one-storey building. Abiola was regarded as a compassionate man and more than a decade he left the scene the philosophy is still being carried on by those he touched. There were two gates into the compound. But The Guardian decided to take the one, with the signpost advertising one of his daughter’s projects, KIND. The Guardian knocked, hoping that it would take getting attention from a security man to be let in. But all it took was to push the walkway gate to the security post by the gate, where one of the security officers asked what was the mission of the reporter and after narrating the reason for coming, he directed the reporter to the appropriate person. One of his children, Abdul Mumuni Abiola engaged The Guardian thus; “I remember the dynamics of the era. How people were so happy to be around my father and he made people feel good when they came around. He was a humble man, and was very simple in most ways. I remember a man who just wanted to see people improved. He did not believe in boundary, neither did he discriminate. He just wanted to help people, not minding where they came from. Most of the things he did were not because he wanted people to replicate that for his children, he just did them. He did them because he felt if he did not do it, who else would do it? I think there was no one at that time that was as philanthropic and generous as my father. I also remember that he was a disciplined man who remembered and

Abiola’s residence. (Inset Abdul, one of Abiola’s sons).

right. We are the people who voted them and we should be able to caution them when they are going astray. “Our politicians are not abiding by the June 12 doctrine. My father had an agenda and that agenda should be really looked at because my father was not just a mere man, he was a great thinker and I am sure he must have gone over that agenda. And I believed it would have solved many if not all the challenges we are grappling with now and we would have moved forward. Everybody knows what to do, we know what is right or wrong, I just pray that God will help our leaders to make the right decision that will help the country. understood that life is for a very short time. mal people, they come, splash a couple of “The country has not done enough to pay And if you are in a position to help other peo- naira notes and everybody shouts, which respect to him because there could be more ple, there should not be a reason not to do it. would do us no good. And 20 years later, noth- that could be done. But what they can do to During the incarceration of father, I want ing has changed; things are getting worse. honour the man, I think, if they can just implepeople to know that he was very steadfast This tells that when people say time will heal ment some of the programmes in his agenda, about the mandate because he knew that if he wounds, Nigeria is not a country where time he would be happier. So I would like to see did not defend it to the end, the scenario heals wound. And that shows that there is changes, children not hungry in schools, better could be repeated. And I was also proud that something wrong and we need to go back to facilities in schools, better healthcare and many were really standing up for the manthe drawing board for a strategy that would things that would allow the ordinary man live date. Now, it is like we have forgotten what move this country forward. My father believed better, executing projects that touch the lives happened then and anybody that forgets the in a united Nigeria and I believe in a united of the masses. That is where the honour of my past does not have a future. Nigeria and I hope and pray that the country father will come out, even if no structure is “Our leaders are more like gods to the nor- moves forward and we are able to fight for our named after him.”

The country has not done enough to pay respect to him because there could be more that could be done. But what they can do to honour the man, I think, if they can just implement some of the programmes in his agenda, he would be happier. So I would like to see changes, children not hungry in schools, better facilities in schools, better healthcare and things that would allow the ordinary man live better, executing projects that touch the lives of the masses. That is where the honour of my father will come out, even if no structure is named after him

June 12 Is A National Event – Falomo and then received by the people or benefit them. So, none, for reasons best known to them, had gone to that position of president and fulfill a mission and he said he was exhibited the watchword of Abiola, not going to do anything new. not for me, but for others. The things he did to fulfill some of How do you think the June 12 the philosophies of June 12 was that could be made a national issue? the rumples in the country, between It is going to be difficult to repliAbiola and the army, was resolved. cate June 12: the conduct, how it They brought in two Yoruba to con- became so free, even the two test and they thought Obasanjo was opposing sides were talking to the better person because he is their each other when everybody lined senior in the army. Obasanjo came up to vote. There was no rain on in, did eight years. Yar’Adua came the day, no rigging; everything was and we have Jonathan and these are open and transparent. Obasanjo’s protégés. None of them It could not have been a had touched on Abiola’s proSouthwest thing because it was gramme. At least, to start implenot only the Southwest that voted. menting it, to see how it would go The celebration will be on forever.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

It is an issue that cannot just go away. It is only that the Southwest has been the mostly stable to accord it. What is May 29? Obasanjo’s selection! Obasanjo was not the one who brought this democracy; he was in prison at that time. It was because some of us aroused and alerted people that Obasanjo was going to be eliminated that saved him. The people who brought democracy are those who fought the military. He was part of the military, only that he stepped on the wrong toes by trying to demonstrate that he was the best military man ever, which annoyed Abacha. It was because of that he was arrested and tried. We also have to be fair to Obasanjo that it was God’s way of doing things

that he was given the chance to redress some of the things he knew were very bad. And nobody was better suited than somebody who actually saw it at close quarters; he was lucky to still be alive. So, I do not begrudge him for that because I do not think any civilian would have been better suited than what Obasanjo and Danjuma did for the country. And we would always refer to it and be grateful to them. How do you think that philosophy can be institutionalised from the federal level? Whoever becomes the president, should swear on oath and accept that as long as s/he is in that office, s/he would not do things for self, but for others. That would be the

watchword before s/he takes a decision, just like the Rotary, is this thing fair to everybody, if it is not, do not do it. The summary is, do not think for yourself alone, if it is not good for other people, discard it. As the president, you have your salary and pension for life, what else do you need? Let people know that God has put you there, and so, you are going to make sure that people can say this was the position they were when you got into office and when you left, they had moved upward. And the person coming after you would have no reason to do less, it is either s/he maintains the tempo or a higher one; then we would know that we have woken up.

TheGuardian

Sunday, June 9, 2013 53

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Abiola, 1914 And June 12 By Dele Akinola XACTLY 20 years ago, there was a country! Nigerians of all persuasions – Christians and Muslims; Northerners and Southerners; Arewa, Afenifere and Ndigbo, OPC, MOSOP, MASSOB and even Boko Haram — so decided. That appeared to have effectively sealed and delivered the holy matrimony solemnised and signed by Lord Frederick Luggard in 1914. Unfortunately, the kernel of the Sermon on the Mount by American Baptist minister and civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, ensured there was no country. The former Democratic Party presidential aspirant delivered the sermon at a media forum during his recent visit to Nigeria. According to him, “Nigeria is divided not so much by religion, region and tribe but by greed.” With that powerful submission, as clearly demonstrated on June 12, 1993, Rev. Jackson was deadlier on target than in his ambitious attempt at the White House. Right, religion, region and tribe are only demonic and destructive tools in the hands of egocentric power mongers and self-proclaimed champions of violence to nourish, pamper and institutionalise their greed for loot and power — loots captured majorly for the perpetration of evil, power just for the sake of it. The eternal message of June 12, personified in its martyred symbol, Bashorun MKO Abiola, decisive and demystifying barrier breaker, was on its way to ousting such obnoxious regime. A new dawn of progressenabling environment was emerging on the horizon to place the country among the comity of nations that be. In October, 1990, the Berlin Wall fell and East and West sections of Germany came together again as one people. Today, no position of power rotates between the two sections. The East is gone, the West has been confined into the refuse dump of history, save for mere identification of places. There is now only one country – Germany. Only one president

came in between father and son George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush in the world’s most powerful nation. Nothing oscillates, as a must, between the North and South or East and West. There is only one nation – United States of America – and only the best, the most qualified, wherever he comes from, is good enough at any point in time. But not so in the “mere geographical expression” that found June 12 unacceptable! The North, South, East and West, 100 years into a turbulent marriage, still hold on tightly to their distinct identities. And so, if Ebele Jonathan deployed his good luck to break the gentleman’s agreement among the power cabal to deny the North its turn, “we shall make the country ungovernable.” And so it was and has been. Jonathan must, whether you like it or not, be re-elected or else “ the country would cease to exist.” Which nation exists that would cease to? “Under the PDP zoning policy, the North allowed the South to produce the president for eight years” Allowed? By those who own the country? “Jonathan must be allowed to govern the country for two terms like other presidents have done.” But how many such presidents exist? Shehu Shagari was not allowed to rule for two terms. Death did not

allow Umaru Yar’Adua to complete even one term. Abiola was not even allowed to rule at all. What a tragic-comedy: 1914 without June 12! “Government did not declare a state of emergency in the states in Niger Delta. General amnesty was declared and those who wanted to take advantage of it were asked to come out and lay down their arms and get some booties.” And so a dedicated website was opened: www.amnesty-booties-must-rotate-to-theNorth.com. While regional elite and elders have continued to terrorise the people with the anthem that “”the use of force had never solved the problem of terrorism anywhere in the world,” they have failed to show where in the world amnesty booties had. It is absolute deceit and hypocrisy to equate the then militancy in the Niger Delta with Boko Haram’s terrorism. But then, take it or leave it, “if Jonathan is not good enough to rule Nigeria for two terms of four years each, then Niger Delta is not good enough to be in Nigeria.” In addition, “Nigeria cannot continue to feed fat on our (?) oil and still treat us as second=class citizens.” But Nigerians had no such thoughts in 2011 when many openly confessed they would have rejected the PDP but

for Jonathan. And, in a June 12 republic, if the people savoured the sentimental leverage to embrace Jonathan in spite of the PDP, they also reserve the socio-political latitude to reject the PDP in spite of Jonathan. These are definitely not the best of times. For the selfish purpose of capturing political loots and booties, do-or-die power mongers have established a monstrous demonic industry of ethno-religious, tribal and political blackmail, thriving on the platform of violence. Barrier-breaking feats, like as performed by Abiola, are being made increasingly unlikely even by many who are supposed to be intellectuals. The terror of corruption sponsored by greed has almost completely enveloped the land, festering with gruesome assassinations and political gangsterism in high places. The one who many observers consider to be the strong man the country needs at this crucial point continues, disappointingly, to make pronouncements that portray him as a religious bigot, instigator of violence and supporter of terrorism. Should a sacrifice be made to the prowling ghost of June 12 in this secret cults-infested land? If June 12 was not good enough to confirm 1914, then the prevailing atmosphere is not good enough to sustain the subsisting sociopolitical arrangement. Therefore, revisit the gay marriage of 1914, not by rolling out the drums and the vuvuzelas in celebration, but by holding an inevitable family meeting to decide on whether you want to form a genuine nation or remain “a mere geographical expression.” There is nothing to celebrate in a long marriage in which each partner still prioritize, in a deadly feast of blood, his pre-marriage identity. But meanwhile, take a lesson from the Holy Bible and let he that thinketh he standeth as the Barcelona of violence take heed lest he falls, yakata, before a Bayern Munich. This, from his famous armoury of proverbs, is President Abiola’s new message on June 12. •Akinola wrote from Ikorodu, Lagos.

AGF, EFCC Wrong On Bafarawa By Samuel Ime-Ojo

HE office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, and that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been speaking on Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the governor of Sokoto State from 1999 to 2007, who has been facing incarceration and injustice in the hands of the two government departments. The bone of contention is the controversy surrounding the N11.8 billion Bafarawa bequeathed to his successor, Alhaji Aliyu Makatarkada Wamakko. The EFCC was the first to betray its ignorance or mischief on the matter when it stated that it was not aware that Bafarawa, at anytime, petitioned the commission over the controversial N11.8 billion. Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesperson had said: “I am not aware of any petition from Bafarawa addressed to EFCC chairman at any time….I have no knowledge of such petition”. We are amazed because Uwujaren obviously spoke for his boss, Ibrahim Larmode in particular and the entire commission in general. As a public relations person engaged by a government agency, we expect Uwujaren to understand the environment in which he operates. Such an understanding is very important if he must discharge his responsibilities diligently. If he had bothered to carry out a little research, he would have known about the Bafarawa case. But now, he has only succeeded in embarrassing the commission. It is important to recall that Bafarawa, on May 30, 2007, petitioned the EFCC chairman over the claim made by Wamakko on his inauguration day (May 29, 2007) when he claimed that he met an empty treasury in Sokoto state. Bafarawa reacted swiftly the very next day (May 30, 2007), drawing EFCC’s attention to his (Bafarawa’s) financial transactions as the governor of Sokoto state. In the petition, Bafarawa stated that he left the sum of N11.893, 624,428.54. Since Wamakko was disputing inheriting this sum of money, Bafarawa in the petition asked the EFCC to freeze the account of Sokoto state government and investigate the

matter with a view to establishing who was telling the truth between him and Wamakko. The records are there at the EFCC. Is it not a shame then for the commission to say that it is not aware of any petition from Bafarawa? Perhaps If Larmode had accepted to speak on this matter himself, he would have been in a better position to put the records straight. It can be suspected that Uwujaren and his commission feigned ignorance in order to run away from the wrongdoings of the commission. Nigerians of goodwill are still wondering why EFCC refused to act on Bafarawa’s petition one year after he wrote it only to turn round to arrest him on trumped allegations handed over to it by Sokoto state government. EFCC has, since 2008, been unable to explain its action especially since it could not prefer charges against Bafarawa. Was the EFCC trying to cover up in this matter? Before our very eyes, Bafarawa, the complainant, was made the accused. Will EFCC ever explain its action in this regard? Then came the office of the AGF. Following the unfair trial he has been facing at Sokoto State High Court, Bafarawa had petitioned the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke, requesting that the case be transferred to a Federal High Court. Bafarawa’s petition to AGF was predicated on the fact that he cannot get Justice in a court where his accuser (the Sokoto state government) is also the prosecutor and the judge. Bafarawa wants a Federal High Court where the likelihood of the outcome of his trial being influenced by the Wamakko government is low. Besides, Bafarawa argues that the case in question is between him and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not Sokoto state government. Bafarawa argues further that he is the only ex-governor whose case is being handled in a state High court. Based on these reasons, Bafarawa urged Adoke to transfer this case to a federal High court. Bafarawa’s petition has been with Adoke since June 20, 2012. After one year of prompting, Adoke has spoken through his aide, Peter Akper. What did he have to say

after 12 months of silence? He said the issue raised by Bafarawa in the petition fell outside his jurisdiction. He said: “the issues raised in the petition are in the realm of state laws and the AGF has no jurisdiction on state laws”. Now, we ask: Is this what took the AGF one year to say? Why did the AGF not deem it fit to respond to Bafarawa’s petition dated June 18, 2012, telling him that he has no jurisdiction over his case? We have said time and time again that public office is a trust. Those who occupy it do so on behalf of the people. They are not there for their own sake. Adoke as a learned gentleman ought to know this. He should have known that he has a responsibility to serve the public. Responding to petitions such as that of Bafarawa is one of the things he ought to do. Ignoring Bafarawa or any other petitioner as he has done is contemptuous. It shows that he has no respect for the people he is serving or the office he occupies. This kind of attitude is unhelpful to the good cause government is supposed to pursue. That is why we have been saying that the likes of Adoke are not helping the Jonathan administration. They should not be allowed to drag everyone down. On the issue of jurisdiction, we really do not agree with Adoke. The case in question is between Bafarawa, 15 others, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. How can the Attorney General of the Federation not have jurisdiction over a matter that involves the federal government? We do not understand this claim. It is patently false. We believe that the AGF is putting up such a show to cover up his tracks. We do not believe him. Adoke should stop pretending. Public office does not admit of such ignoble acts. His attitude towards Bafarawa and his petition is suspicious. He is giving the impression that the Jonathan government is an interested party; and that is why we say that Adoke is giving the government he serves a bad name. We expect him to change his attitude and do the right thing over Bafarawa’s case. History reserves a harsh verdict on those who choose to be on its wrong side. •Ime-Ojo is of Good Governance Initiative and contributed this piece from Abuja.

TheGuardian

54 | Sunday, June 9, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Christianity, Homosexuality And Society By Mike Ekunno HE recent signing into law of a gay marriage bill by the French President, Mr Francois Hollande, and the passage of an anti-gay legislation by our own House of Representatives have framed the issue of homosexuality once more in terms of for and against. Hardly would any other aberration, say paedophilia, claim the kind of successes the gay/lesbian lobby has recorded in having its marginal tendency forced into the mainstream of society’s consciousness. Western civilisation is at a decadent cusp whereby godly precepts are being upturned and satanic ones brazenly enforced. Many sympathisers to the homosexual mutation like to argue that the social aberration could have been induced by biology at embryonic stages of life. The jury on the biological or natural origins of homosexuality is yet out. But whenever science chooses to come out with its conclusions, it will only line up with the word of God at best. If we accept for the sake of polemics that homosexual tendency is a question of which hormones were overproduced or repressed at some point in the development of the embryo, what does it change concerning the word of God? Nothing. The biblical locus classicus on the matter is in the first book of Romans. There in verses 26 and 27, it says that: “For this cause God gave them up into vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” The “cause” being referred to at the beginning of the passage is about those who reject God and worship the creature instead of the Creator even when they know better. Does it not amaze us that majority of lesbians and gay men today still remain atheists, agnostics and free thinkers? Now, the logical question that flows from this is: What if these ones were predisposed by biology from birth to have the homosexual tendency? The answer is that even biology and our genes are subject to God who tells the Prophet Jeremiah that “Before l formed thee in the belly, l knew thee.” The next logical question to be expected will be: Why would God give an innocent foetus the tendency for homosexuality and turn around to condemn it? Here, it is necessary to say that there is nothing like “innocent child.” Innocence only relates to the life history of a human, which we ordinarily reckon from the day of delivery. But life does not start from the date of birth and this misconception, which neonatal imaging technology has confined to the archives is at the foundation of the Pro-choice campaigners in abortion. Though re-incarnation is not a mainstream Christian doctrine, the Scriptures

JAW JAW By Didi Onu

It is not sufficient that they have chosen a lifestyle that is abhorred by the majority; they now want that majority to validate and celebrate it. They hinge their campaign on tolerance, liberalism and human rights. Pray, is it not an invasion of my own human rights to force me to adopt your choice against my will? While a secret infringement of society’s moral code may be tolerated for not being openly known, it is a different thing when deviants embark on a brazen campaign to mainstream marginal counter cultures. This is what many lesbians and homosexuals have done seeking instead to victimise the moral majority if possible. Western society and cultures have indulged this tyranny of the minority to their hurt and peril. are replete with oblique references to it. If God knew Jeremiah before he was conceived in the belly, it stands to reason that the foetal Jeremiah was not a human tabular rasa. What if this experienced foetal “Baba kekere” had spurned God before and acquires the homosexual tendency in retribution at conception, how is he innocent? What science has been able to establish is that at some point in its development, the embryo has both male and female tendencies in the Wolffian or Mullerian ducts. It is the further greater development of the one and the corresponding recession of the other that determines who becomes male or female. However situations arise that the hormones malfunction and are not able to achieve a clear winner in terms of gender. Conventional wisdom dubs this an accident of biology but does the Almighty say so? Science may therefore exhaust all the research under the sun on Mullerian and Wolffian ducts and hormones, it will never be able to make the connection about how and why some embryos catch the homosexual hormones and others don’t. But the word of God, which is always ahead of science, has given us the answer which science is searching for. It was much the same scenario with the shape of the earth, which cost science much in research and human lives before it came to realise that “It is he (He) that sits upon the circle of the earth.” Even if one were minded to disbelieve the scriptural explanation of the origins of homosexuality, the contemporary evidence of most of them being atheists and agnostics proves that. Though we are far from living in a theocracy, those

that are caught up in the other sins like stealing, lying and adultery are a mixed multitude of humanity. On the other hand, the homosexual group is almost exclusively peopled by the proselyte/atheist/agnostic types. These are haters of God whom the Almighty has allowed to reap their just desserts. In the 2012 US presidential election campaigns, support for and against same sex marriage was a topical issue. But the gay lobby so intimidated the aspiring candidates that none dared openly express their opposition except after opting out of the race. Yet if a poll were to be conducted, the percentage of American gay and lesbian population may not be up to 10 per cent of the whole. But by trying to be civilised, the saner majority of the population has allowed the aberrant minority to intimidate it into self-censorship. Initially too, the US military in appeasement to the gay lobby adopted a Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. This half way house has been hewn down by the inexorable gay lobby that today, homosexuals have been granted the freedom to wantonly advertise their aberration in the army. As a disciplined group, this licentiousness will greatly imperil esprit de corps and impair the army’s ability to cohere in battle situations. In a platoon, a male corporal may be the homosexual “wife” of the commanding officer. How can the unit fight well? The insidious move to mainstream homosexuality is creeping across the world. Here, it makes a subtle move, there, an audacious one. But everywhere it is the benign lethargy of the silent majority that provides acquiescence and legitimises this ascendance and tyranny of the minority. In the interval since the Nigerian

Science may therefore exhaust all the research under the sun on Mullerian and Wolffian ducts and hormones, it will never be able to make the connection about how and why some embryos catch the homosexual hormones and others don’t. But the word of God, which is always ahead of science, has given us the answer which science is searching for. It was much the same scenario with the shape of the earth, which cost science much in research and human lives before it came to realise that “It is he (He) that sits upon the circle of the earth.”

Senate decision, an orchestrated whispering campaign has been going on to brand the supporters of the Senate decision as intolerant, homophobic, bigoted and un-civilised. With the latest concurrence by the House of Representatives, coming in the pejorative shadows cast by the French example, such campaign is bound to gain traction. The issues involved in the debate revolve around how the larger society should relate with deviants. Are social deviants to be sanctioned, tolerated or encouraged and allowed to over-awe the majority? Should the minority be indulged to, not only have its say but its way? Between one man who eats meat and dozens for whom meat is poison, whose human rights should society uphold? The answers to these questions are necessary for constructing a roadmap to the matter of handling homosexual adherents. While cannons of faith condemn the practice, it will not be the only thing condemned by morality but flourishing today. Morality is against stealing, adultery, drunkenness and a lot more. Why is the case of homosexuality more egregious and emotive? In attempting to answer the question, we must make a distinction between an evil that is in permissive existence and one that is actively encouraged. Adultery is condemned by all faiths but nonetheless exists, even flourishes. But it is a different thing altogether for people to come together under a “Union of Adulterers” and poke their banners in the face of society. That is what homosexuals are doing. It is not sufficient that they have chosen a lifestyle that is abhorred by the majority; they now want that majority to validate and celebrate it. They hinge their campaign on tolerance, liberalism and human rights. Pray, is it not an invasion of my own human rights to force me to adopt your choice against my will? While a secret infringement of society’s moral code may be tolerated for not being openly known, it is a different thing when deviants embark on a brazen campaign to mainstream marginal counter cultures. This is what many lesbians and homosexuals have done seeking instead to victimise the moral majority if possible. Western society and cultures have indulged this tyranny of the minority to their hurt and peril. The popular case of Roe V Wade in which abortion was legalised across the United States in 1973 readily comes to mind. Two decades after the judgment, the woman who was the plaintiff, Ms Norma McCorvey, has recanted her position and instituted another suit to overturn the judgment. She has renounced her lesbian status and become a Roman Catholic and Pro-life campaigner. Is this the kind of demonised advocacy that advocates of same-sex marriage wish for Nigeria? Mike Ekunno writes from Abuja.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

COVER

OPADOKUN: Nigeria Must Convene A Conference Before Another Polls Chief Ayo Opadokun, former Secretary General of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and promoter of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), tells SEYE OLUMIDE that Nigeria has not learned anything from June 12, 1993 election debacle. WENTY years after the June 12, 1993 election T debacle, do you think the country has gained anything from it? Certainly no. That is my reaction. The fact that the most credible, freest and fairest election was annulled by the military oligarchy, and they have not been brought to book, shows that we did not learn from that experience. Ironically, those who were responsible for the act are still dominating the political atmosphere in the country, either directly or indirectly, which speaks volume of our inability to be masters of our destiny. The fact that the Nigeria military decided to ignore and undermine the collective will and aspirations of the people when they voted for Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Babagana Kingibe constitute a testimony that we are not ready to run a modern state. The Nigerian state, which is an offshoot of the military oligarchy, is busy using central authority in every phase of our activities, and yet, calls itself a federation. I think June 12 had been rubbished. Some of them even say that June 12 is just like any other day. They remind us that Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s victory during the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries was also annulled, and so, what is the big deal about Abiola? I reply them that they are being hypocritical. Yar’Adua did not go for the direct vote of Nigerians and who knows whether the SDP people voted for him. In the case of Abiola, over 14 million people voted for him across the country. The fact that our system provided opportunity for a group of people, military caucus to annul the wish of Nigerians people has placed us deeply among the group of the failing nations. If we talk about failed nation, we are still in it, considering that nobody could have done what the military did if we don’t have a flawed, skewed and lopsided structure that gave room for what they did. Since the era of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the average oil export has been around 2 million barrel everyday and the price has never been

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin HOUGH Kwara is considered part of North Central geo political zone, majority of the people in the state have never pretended about their South West roots. Culturally and linguistically, majority of them share same traits with the Yoruba of South West. However, despite the striking degree of affinity, Kwara politics, over the years, have remained different from those of their kith and kin. Especially, when it comes to progressive ideals. Be that as it may, a sizeable population of the state share same view of South West states that Democracy Day, currently being celebrated on May 29 should have been June 12, commemorating the day Chief Moshood Abiola won overwhelming votes in the undeclared Presidential election. Abeny Mohamed (SAN) and Alhaji Abdulkarim Olola Kasum, in separate interviews with The Guardian in Ilorin, said substitution of June 12 for May 29 is a rape of the wish of Nigerians and an imposition by autocrats disguised in democrats’ cloak. Human rights’ lawyer, Mohamed, and

Okpadokun lower than 75 dollars per barrel. If you now multiply this by 2 million barrels everyday imagine what that will give, and yet over 70 to 75 per cent of our people are living below the poverty level — less than a dollar. That cannot be reconciled, we are selling so much oil, but there is so much poverty. Few elite in the country are not only over-exploiting, but turning us into spectators while they play the game. With the scene you painted, don’t you foresee a situation where Nigerians may be forced to revolt? I will say that the challenges are onerous. Whether these cabal believe it or not, this current situation is unsustainable. We are so rich, but we have the most decayed social service and the people are extremely poor. We need

to ask ourselves what is responsible for our situation? The answer is simple because we have a round peg in square holes in our political landscape and in such a situation anything could happen. The late Gen. Sani Abacha told Nigerians when he was announcing the coup of December 31, 1983 that Nigeria health centres had become consulting clinics in several parts of the country. Today, the situation is far worse than how he described it, then. This is in opposite to what happened to our public office holders and elite. They travel abroad to specialist hospitals for treatments while the majority languish in the country. Sometimes, they are taken abroad by air ambulance paid for by the country. Obasanjo was in office for eight years and could not build or commission one road. Tony Anenih, in collaboration with Obasanjo, spent so much money on

road rehabilitation, and yet there are no good roads. They even organised some meetings with the Chinese to work on the railway and what they did were not completed, but to make Nigerians happy with the old narrow gauge railway system. Human society have not developed a better means of transporting large number of population from one point to the other than the rail system, but we are different. Almost every Nigerians today is a local council to himself providing basic social amenities such as water, electricity and others while government does nothing. We have too much governance in the country and yet there is no government. Put it in perspective, do you foresee revolution? That would be my wish, but unfortunately, I cannot say it will happen in my lifetime. The reason is because in every developed economy, those who would have made up to what you asked are the middle cadre people. They occupy the space between the elite and the poor; they provide leadership for the lower cadre, who takes their destiny in their hands, by going on the streets to make the leaders accountable. As long as we do not have these categories of people in the country, I am afraid we may never have an ordered society that would respond to its destiny. It is unfortunate that we have the largest population of the black race and we are expected to live by example, yet we constitute a disgrace. Everything about Nigeria is negative. We export what we do not have and import what we have. We go to other African nations to help them conduct free and fair election and we do not have here. What I am saying is that the chances of remaining the way we are, are strong. I pray it does not happen, but the fact remains that the current situation is not sustainable so anything can happen. Everywhere in the world where political office holder either the military or civilian force varieties of people to be governed together has resulted that things would never last. USSR and Czechoslovakia are no longer on the world map. Great Britain, a great colonial master, has been forced to concede significant freedom to the Scottish and Irish people. The Nigeria state is busy coaxing people together but that will not solve the issue we need to get back and convene a sovereign national conference for us to deal with the national questions. Not until we do that the possibility of Nigeria going under is becoming closer and closer everyday.

‘May 29 Is Imposition Of An Autocrat’ Kasum, a social commentator, did not spare former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, saying he is a culprit in this regard. According to Mohamed, while identifying three symbolic importance of the day, it was the day eligible Nigerians exercised their true franchise beyond religious boundaries voting massively for Abiola, a Muslim and Baba Gana Kingibe, his running mate, who is also a Muslim. He noted, “June 12 characterised the date when Nigerians came out to vote for candidates of their choice in an election viewed as the fairest and freest in the nation’s history. They closed their eyes to the fact that both Abiola and Kingibe are Muslims. This was unprecedented in our political history. Nigerians believed in the abilities of these great men. “Again, unlike previous elections held in the country, Nigerians believed that the election was devoid of massive rig-

ging. This was applauded even outside the country and the hope of having a more united nation and people was very high.” For the senior member of the bar, one major characteristic of the election remained its annulment, thus, preventing winners from emerging as the nation’s President and Vice President respectively. He added, “what Abiola did was a major sacrifice. Remember that he had every opportunity to renounce his mandate, but he defended it to the point of his death. His actions made Nigerian democracy to thrive. He refused to waste his mandate. Therefore, why should we prefer May 29, a date in which Obasanjo was merely sworn in as the nation’s President, to this unique June 12? It was an imposition on us by autocrats, who are pretending to be democrats. “May 29 has no significance in

Nigerian history than being the date Obasanjo was sworn in. It was not a deliberate choice, but an imposition. We need to do away with it if what we are practising is true democracy.” Though he was not sure if the May 29 was an Act of the Parliament, the legal practitioner said even it was, it could still be reverted, noting that the will of the people, should be superior to any Act in the extant case. He sharply criticised the impression given to the date as if it was a regional affair as only the people of the South West region have adopted June 12 as their own democracy day. For Mohamed, since the whole nation voted for Abiola on the said date, then it should assume the status of a national event. He described last year’s re-naming of University of Lagos after Abiola by President Goodluck Jonathan as an alleged shallow act. Instead, he canvassed the re naming of Eagles Square

in Abuja after “the fallen hero of the Nigerian democracy. That is more nationalistic in attitude. That university is in South West, but I think Abiola embraced all ethnic groups.” On whether an action could be instituted at any law court of a valid jurisdiction to compel the government to change the date to June 12, Mohamed said the situation was more of a political development rather than a legal issue. For Kasum, Abiola died a hero and should be treated as such. “Who among those parading themselves as democrats today are true heroes of our democracy? How many of them fought the military at the risk of their lives? How many of them suffered one degree of incarceration or others? “Those who made it possible laid down their lives. Abiola was the greatest among those who delivered the nation from the wicked hands of the military junta. We should not distort history. June 12, commemorating the date of his annulled election, should be celebrated as Democracy Day. I don’t reckon with May 29 at all.”

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

COVER

YUSUFU: June 12 Remains Part Of Our History To the former National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, Malam Mamman Yusufu, annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election represents just one of the episodic events in the annals of the country’s history. Speaking to KAMAL TAYO OROPO, the chairman of the Committee for Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the challenge before the country is to now strengthen the institutions of governance under democratic norms. T is 20 years since the annulment of the June 12, Ifairness 1993, presidential election, in view of justice and associated with the struggle for the revalidation of the election; do you think politicians have been able to meet with delivering of expectation? What is your perception of the reality on ground? Is the sacrifice worth it? Basically, June 12 threw up two things: the need for a free and fair election and legitimacy of the democratic structures. We must understand that democracy is not only about election, but a comprehensive well-articulated set of programmes supported by acts of governance and separation of power. And these acts of governance and concrete dividends of democracy have not met with general expectation. Over the years, things have not gone as smoothly as they ought to have gone. The most important challenge before us now, as we move on 14 years of democracy, is to strengthen the institutions of democracy and make them all time enduring in terms of

Yusufu accountability, integrity and performance; and not personalising them. These are part of the challenging scenario in our contemporary politics. To be more specific on issues pertaining to June 12, there was perception that the struggle

was more of a Southwest challenge as against national. Do you think the struggle was properly situated? Does it come to you as a national matter? Usually, political crisis in post-colonial Africa tend to gravitate towards ethnic colouration

even when they start on national platform. This is because of the differences in sentiment and sensibilities as well as pressure on centripetal and centrifugal forces in contention for prominence. In that regard, however, I still don’t believe the June 12 was reduced to Southwest affairs. Agreed, the voices of dissension might be louder in the zone than in other parts of the federation, that is to be expected and easily understandable. There has been some contention over the proper place in history of the country the place of June 12. Do you think it has been properly and duly recognised? As a nation, we have passed to vicious milestones and these vicious milestones are indeed numerous. For example, we don’t celebrate the end of the civil war, the assassination of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa and so on. These are some milestones. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 has come and gone and later events have come to justify the bases of the struggle itself. June 12 is just one aspect of our national struggles. Attentions it has attracted, in my opinion, are okay. It is just a reminder of what we have been as a nation, so that we don’t forget our past as we move ahead in nation-building. There has been agitation and effort to immortalise the symbol and winner of the June 12 election. Last year, President Goodluck Jonathan made attempt at renaming University of Lagos after him. Do you think this attempt is sufficient? Does Abiola need to be immortailised? What step do you think is important to be taken? One thing is this, whether we like it or not, Chief MKO Abiola and June 12, 1993 presidential election have become part of the contemporary Nigerian history. The issue of immortalising Abiola should not necessarily be over-flogged. One of the major highway roads in Abuja is named after Abiola, and some other things. It is not about Chief Abiola as a person alone, but the process the election represents is what is being celebrated. That, for me, is more important than anything else. One of the processes is the principle of check and balances as represented by a vibrant legislative arm. To what extent are you satisfied with the performance of the National Assembly? First thing, I will like to say that, regardless of 14 years into the life of this democracy, it is still a learning process. Generally, I think they have not fared badly, both the legislative arm and the executive in their relationship with each other. Now, the check and balances is being brought to fore, particularly in terms of separation of powers. I will say, I am satisfied to a certain extent.

‘20 Years After, Nigerians Still Hail June 12 Election’ From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City S has been the case since annulA ment of June 12, 1993 presidential election, the civil society in Edo State has lined-up a series of activities to mark the day that changed Nigeria’s democratic process. However, curiously, there has never been any deliberate programme on the part of the state government particularly since the coming into power of Adams Oshiomhole as governor. The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), in collaboration with the Correspondents Chapel of the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), will hold a programme to mark the day, same for Conference of Non Governmental Organisation (CONGOS), whose president, Jude Obasanmi, told The Guardian the day remains the people’s Democracy Day. “That was the day people came out on their own to vote their candidate and were not coerced or begged to come out. They came on their own volition, so, to us, that day remains the authentic democracy day for Nigeria, not May 29, which we think it is for the bourgeois.” In the same vein, Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor and former member of the House of Representatives, Patrick Obahiagbon, said: “The Nigerian political class has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing, save for an insignificant number of governors that are making revolutionary strides in the positive transformation of their respective states and may be this is the position because at the inception of this

democracy, political scavengers and jobbers who were strangers to the history of the working class struggle hijacked the political process from those who gave their lives for the struggle to enthrone democracy. “It’s my opinion that June 12 is our authentic democracy day. No doubts about that, at all, no matter to what extent apostles of political prebendalism and agents of atavistic conservatism shy away from this fact. So, for me, I have always called and would continue to call on the Federal Government to recognise June 12 as our democracy day I remain optimistic that this would be so when a progressive people’s party comes to power in this country.” The President, Etuno Solidarity Forum (ESF), a body of young Edo professionals of Igarra extraction, Dr James Adanini, said June 12 remains sacrosanct to Nigeria’s democratic development. President, Coalition to Save Nigeria (CSN), Dr Philip Ugbodaga, said: “Consolidating Nigerian democracy through the conduct of credible elections has remained an albatross since independence from British colonial rule and universally, election is regarded as the heart of representative and participatory democracy. A free, fair and credible election not only confers legitimacy on eventual winners, it is also important to the sustenance of democratic order and national development.” According to the then chairman of June 12 Movement (Edo State), since June 12 1993, “we have been unable to get it right electorally. Nigerians have

since retreated to their ethnic shells and allowed religion bigotry to becloud their sense of electoral judgment. Ballot snatching, illegal thump printing of ballot papers, multiple voting, falsification of election results and outright declaration of illegal results have since become our culture. All these electoral vices were absent in that election. It was a watershed election. Christians massively voted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. There were no reports of snatching of ballot boxes and other electoral irregularities that pervade our conduct of elections today and to cap it all, the weather was very clement all over Nigeria. “June 12 represented the victory of light over darkness, representative democracy over military dictatorship, truth over falsehood and optimism over opportunism. President M.K.O Abiola displayed unparalleled courage and uncommon candour in defence of the mandate reposed in him by 14 million change-seeking Nigerians who defied all odds to vote for him in 1993. The annulment of the June 12 election by a despotic cabal represents the greatest injustice ever done against the Nigerian people. That distasteful and cowardly act will continue to haunt us in our march to true nationhood and Nigeria may never really recover from it. “We have carried on as a people as if nothing happened on June 12. The memory and the symbolism of that day cannot be wiped away from our memory. We should continue to celebrate June 12 as a day of freedom and national revival. We should entrench June 12 as a day of national

rebirth and we should commemorate June 12 as our authentic Democracy Day.” Ugbodaga proposed that the late Abiola should be proclaimed as a duly elected president of Nigeria “with all the paraphernalia of a former president and his photograph conspicuously placed at the council chambers in Aso Rock. The late Abiola paid the ultimate and supreme price for the entrenchment and consolidation of our democracy. Without his selfless and courageous struggle, we probably would still have been enmeshed in unbridled military dictatorship till now. It is very well known that the events that culminated in the historic election of June 12, 1993 are directly responsible for the enactment of Democracy Day by the ruling elite in Nigeria. The declaration of May 29 as the official celebration of Democracy Day by the Nigeria ruling class while relegating June 12 to the dustbin of history is a disservice to Nigerians and a monumental rape of our democratic evolution as a people.” Former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Festus Iyayi, summed up the frustration that has bedevilled Nigerians developmental strides whenever it seemed set to start. “June 12 remains an inspiration to generations of Nigerians because if we have won on June 12, the destiny of the country would have been totally different. All these IMF, World Bank, this Okonjo Iweala programme of selling the country to foreign interest would not have been there because Abiola learnt his lessons after winning that

election and while he was in prison. The situation would have been different.” To former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, and also, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Osagie Obayuwana, “the principle that June 12 represents is the sanctity of the ballot box, the choice of the electorate, that incident of June 12 1993 marked a watershed in the political development of Nigeria whereby those who sought on account of inflated assessment of their wards to circumvent the clear choice and decisions of the electorate were met with protestations never before in this country and on account of that, the political fortunes of such characters became sealed for the present generation and for posterity. I know that if General Ibrahim Babangida had a second opportunity, if he knew that the people of Nigeria will be so resolute, he would have had a second thought so all this bravado of not apologising and all of that is just what it is; an attempt to put up a false impression, we know he regrets it. “It is a sad testimony that our people are torn between marking May 29 as democracy day vis-a-vis June 12 as the authentic peoples democracy day. The fact that celebration of June 12 is now relegated to a section of the country, gives an impression of that heroic struggle as if it was sectional, it wasn’t sectional at all it will be my hope that programmes will be held in places other than the south-west.”

| 57

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

POLITICS

OMISORE: Police Report Exonerated Me On Bola Ige, It Is AD That Played Politics With It • Action Congress Is A Failure, Osun People Know The Truth Dr. Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governor and former senator from Osun State means different things to different people. To some, he used to be an enfant terrible who put ‘fire’ in Okefia Government House, Osogbo, when he was deputy governor. He made the place ungovernable for chief Bisi Akande, who was his principal. To others, Omisore is the man whose name became synonymous with the death of chief Bola Ige, simply because they had some political altercations at some point. In spite of that, he won election from detention and went to the Senate to attain some good height. Now the man is in the news again. ABIODUN FANORO was there to ask the politician what he is still looking for. OU were former deputy governor and also a Y senator; yet you seem not done with politics. What else do you want to contest? I was deputy governor in Osun State between 1999 and 2003. On the heel of the emergence of our government in 1999, I was persuaded to step down for Chief Bisi Akande as the party’s (Alliance for Democracy) governorship candidate. In absolute respect for the party and the elders, I stepped down, hoping that my turn would come. I think it is now my turn to take charge of government affairs in Osun State. From my experience in the past few years, few issues of serious concern have come up, especially now that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is in charge in Osun State, there are a lot of things that have gone wrong, that require somebody of my caliber, my experience, my exposure, my pedigree and my background to take charge and correct the malaise created by this unfortunate government now in Osun State. Talking about pedigree, many still hold the view that when Bisi Akande was in charge, you two had a frosty relationship, to the extent that you did everything possible to physically chase him out of office; why? If you could recall what led to the collapse of my relationship with Chief Bisi Akande, it was about pro-government policies on one hand, which Akande championed and the pro-people policies on the other hand, which I represented. There was a time during the Workers’ Day, while Baba Akande held a rally with his staff; I held another rally with workers from all over the state. From the first day in office, Akande had let it be known to all that he was anti-people in his policies. As a young man, I know that I have my future career to protect; I wouldn’t want my name and career to be rubbished by the antics or suppressive policies of one man. So I opted out to carry my own cross and that was our point of separation. Part of his anti-people policies were the sacking of workers, sacking History teachers in the state, refusal to pay approved minimum wage. All these led to the loss of fortunes by AD in Osun State. If I had not been careful, I could have perished with the Akande government. So, I thank God that I opted out at that time. That is why I could come out today to say I want to vie for the office of the governor. You failed to subordinate yourself to your boss and respect him, yet you want to occupy the same office; don’t you worry about what would people say about you? You would respect people to the extent that it would not damage your career. Baba Akande, I give him his maximum respect till today and he too appreciates that. However, when it comes to issues of governance, for the stand I took, certainly it is nothing personal. What Baba Akande did then was a blatant anti-people policy. Those that associated with Akande during this antipeople policy till today cannot raise their heads politically.

Omisore

Well, people ought to know that I went on trial (for Bola Ige’s murder) for three years, and at the end I was discharged and acquitted. The facts are known to everybody; especially people in my state, Osun. The original Police Report after investigation recommended that I should not be tried at all, that I had no business with Chief Bola Ige’s death. It was the AD, which made it a political case, went on a wild goose chase and sought a scapegoat in me. Since then, I have won elections in that state five times. That shows the credibility I enjoy in the hands of the people of Osun State. It shows their sensibility and a proper understanding of what truly happened in the murder of Ige, which is of no consequence in electoral issues in my state. I even won election when I was in detention Looking at the resources available to Osun then, was it not the case of pragmatism, rather than being anti-people? Are you saying it was good to sack workers, that it was good not to pay salaries to workers? What is pragmatic about that? Government exists primarily for the welfare of the people. It is a government by the people and for the people. It is not a government by the leader and for

the leader alone. At that time, Ekiti State too was receiving far less than Osun State from the Federation Account, yet there was no single industrial crisis in Ekiti. Talking about background and pedigree. Don’t you think people would ask you question about your role in the death of Chief Bola Ige? That people may ask question? Well, people ought to know that I went on trial (for Bola Ige’s

The problem is that some Nigerians lack the sense of history. Most of you peddling this viewpoint are just students of Tinubu politics. Tinubu has captured the media space in Nigeria, especially the Lagos axis. I repeat for the umpteenth time that AD was formed in my suit in Abuja in 1998. You cannot be more Catholic than the Pope. Tinubu and his group destroyed Afenifere to cut a niche for him and give him a platform in the Southwest. Under Afenifere leadership, you cannot have this kind of thing you have in Lagos today, where everything is for sale, same as it is in Osun State. We were born into Afenifere, it is our birthright; it is the right of the original Yoruba people, not people who have no pedigree. Yoruba people are identified with truthfulness, with credibility. That is what is called the virtuous Yoruba (Omoluwabi). Not the mis-use of Omoluwabi as being done by (Rauf) Aregbesola (Osun State Governor). Omoluwabi must not be violent, must not steal, must be above board; must not deceive the people. Afenifere is our heritage; we would use it to our own advantage.

murder) for three years, and at the end I was discharged and acquitted. The facts are known to everybody; especially people in my state, Osun. The original Police Report after investigation recommended that I should not be tried at all, that I had no business with Chief Bola Ige’s death. It was the AD, which made it a political case, went on a wild goose chase and sought a scapegoat in me. Since then, I have won elections in that state five times. That shows the credibility I enjoy in the hands of the people of Osun State. It shows their sensibility and a proper understanding of what truly happened in the murder of Ige, which is of no consequence in electoral issues in my state. I even won election when I was in detention. Nigerians are really funny people. When they see people (such as me) they should celebrate, but they will rather be envious. This is unfair. But to some people your victory while in detention was a fluke, and part of the ‘capturing’ policy of the PDP. Is that not why you lost your re-election bid? I won all my elections. I have never lost any election in that state. The last election, which I contested is still a matter in court, it is in the Court of Appeal. In this last election, the ACN candidate lost at the tribunal, he is now on appeal at the Court of Appeal. You were in AD and in Afenifere, which made you a ‘progressive’ at that time, but what is the story today, are you, still a progressive? I was one of the founding fathers of AD. It was conceived and delivered in my hotel suit in Abuja. I have always been an Afenifere at all times. At no time did I leave Afenifere. Afenifere people today are in ACN, they are in Labour Party, they are in CPC (Congress for Progressive Change); they are in the PDP as well. The issue of progressive does not arise now. Afenifere is not ACN. ACN is (Bola) Tinubu’s ego and that of his co-travelers. But at a point you left Afenifere and your return gave birth to the recent Afenifere re-union meeting, which held in Akure recently? Let me put the record straight. It was absolutely impossible for me to attend Afenifere meetings while I was in detention (for alleged murder of Bola Ige). So, for that period I could not be physically present in Afenifere meetings. Also, don’t forget that when our leader (Pa Abraham Adesanya) passed on, there was a little crisis (especially of succession) in Afenifere. That was what gave rise to the re-union you spoke about. What would you say about Afenifere and the emergence of the Renewal Group? Eh, eh, you want to expose these people again. Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) today, is being brandished by Wale Osun. Wale Osun was expelled from Afenifere by our late leader, Pa Adesanya. They would have to wake him from death before Wale Osun can become Afenifere member again or lay any claim to Afenifere. He was expelled when (Lagos) AD was to hold its convention in 2002, he was used by Bola Tinubu to deceive Baba Ganiyu Dawodu’s group. He gave two venues for the convention and went ahead to attend that of Tinubu. That was the genesis of what destroyed AD. So, how can a prodigal (expelled) son claim the position of a regular son? There is only one Afenifere, if he (Wale) wants to work for Tinubu, let him go and seek a different platform. Many believe that you are returning to Afenifere only to use it for the purpose of your political ambition. This is very interesting. The problem is that some Nigerians lack the sense of history. Most of you peddling this viewpoint are just students of Tinubu politics. Tinubu has captured the media space in Nigeria, especially the Lagos axis. I repeat for the umpteenth time that AD was formed in my suit in Abuja in 1998. You cannot be more Catholic than the Pope. Tinubu and his group destroyed Afenifere to cut a niche for him and give him a platform in the Southwest. Under Afenifere leadership, you cannot have this kind of thing you have in Lagos today, where everything is for sale, same as it is in Osun State. We were born into Afenifere, it is our birthright; it is the right of the original Yoruba people, not people who have no pedigree. Yoruba people are identified with truthfulness, with credibility. That is what is called the virtuous Yoruba (Omoluwabi). CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

58 |

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

POLITICS

AREMU: We Have Democracy, But Without Democrats Comrade Issa Aremu, vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) spoke to Northern Bureau Chief, SAXONE AKHAINE on Nigeria’s 14 years of Democracy. He also reflected on the quality of leadership and the challenges. How will you assess Nigeria’s democracy after 14 years, particularly under President Jonathan? YES, from 1999 we have had uninterrupted civil rule without some lawless militicians (i.e. partisan soldiers) cowardly taking power through the windows. Nobody should ever rule us again without our mandate through free and fair elections. However, our history in democratic process as a nation dates back to 1940s and 1950s, when the nationalists through series of parliamentary elections sought people’s mandate to engage the British Colonialists on decolonialisation. Democrats fought for independence, namely Zik, Tafawa Balewa, chief Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano and others. Of course before the senseless coup of 1966, Nigeria was democratic for six years. Between 1979 to 1983, we also had a robust democratic Republic with five ideologically distinct political parties, namely NPN, UPN, PRP, NPP, GNPP and Tunji Braithwaite’s NAP. So, Nigeria is rich in democratic heritage that is longer than 14 years. However, back to the last 14 years, of course, it could be better, but we are not short of democratic efforts. With almost five democratic transitions – four federal elections, scores of state elections and possibly hundreds of local government elections, Nigeria, to me is a fast growing democratic destination. Everything is contestable here, including informal forums like the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). Even

Aremu the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is not immune from votes counting and at times with scandalous acrimonies that you will witness in local government elections. Trade union organisations hold elections periodically. So also women associations and professional associations like NUJ and NBA. We are truly democratic people. We might discuss the quality of elections and even the outcomes, but in quantitative terms, we have done well. The principle of one man, one vote initiated by comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshimhole is already getting acceptable. Godfatherism is on the retreat and votes

seem to be counted in a number of states. However there are still problems. Elections are still do or die for many. We still don’t have issue-based democratic politics. There is poverty of ideological politics and abysmal deficit of patriotism. Nigerian politicians are still largely insular, parochial playing religious and regional politics. Africa just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU). No known Nigerian politician has raised a pan African perspective. Very few politicians know what is going on in Sudan - Southern or Northern or the

Congo. No debate of African relevance in the Senate or House of Representatives. The socalled religious crisis and ethnic militias are the inventions of politicians who take dubious shortcut to power, rather than mobilising their peoples for development. Herbert Macaulay, Zik and Awolowo could not have imagined that a Nigerian president or governor would occupy visible seats in churches and mosques, rather than failing their communities for development through mass mobilisation. Very few quotable political leaders. Indeed Nollywood actors and footballers are more popular than most governors. To this extent we have democracy without popular democrats! Do you think there is really what we can call democratic dividends for Nigerians after such number of years of civil rule? I don’t believe in the concept of democratic dividends. It promotes a sharing idea. It also assumes that if you serve the people that elect you, you are doing them a favour. Instead of democratic dividends, let’s talk of democratic gains. Even in a democracy, you don’t get anything unless you fight for it. Nigerians have fought against the incessant fuel price increases. That is one democratic gain, without the protest of early last year, led by NLC, Nigerians were already paying the increased prices anyway. Some state governments have delivered on their campaign promises; they built and are building roads, reinventing public schools etc. President Goodluck Jonathan, commendably signed into law a new minimum wage in 2010 after the demands and struggle of the organised labour. That is another democratic gain. But we also have democratic losses. It seems we have democratized corruption! It is now in trillions with lawyers and some judges slamming economic criminals with miserable sentences, as if to say public thefts pay. We must severely punish corruption as much as the damage it does to lives and public property.

Action Congress Is A Failure, Osun People Know The Truth – Omisore CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57 Not the mis-use of Omoluwabi as being done by (Rauf) Aregbesola (Osun State Governor). Omoluwabi must not be violent, must not steal, must be above board; must not deceive the people. Afenifere is our heritage; we would use it to our own advantage. But your return is said to have polarized Afenifere where elders such as Pa Olanihun Ajayi, Ayo Adebanjo, Femi Okurounmu were reported to have abandoned the group? You people are just peddling rumour all round the place. Senator Okurounmu resigned from Afenifere about two years ago. I have personally paid him a visit with a view to bringing him back into the group. Chief Adebanjo went abroad for medical check-up he is back now. You accused ACN States of commercializing everything, what is the alternative the PDP has to offer? What is the PDP doing that the ACN is not doing? How are the ACN states different from PDP controlled states, in terms of meeting the welfare of the people? Why are Nigerians being fooled? Now they are going into All Progressive Congress (APC), telling Nigerians they are going to form a party that is different from the PDP, yet they are wooing PDP members all over the place, urging them to join APC. They are confused; they are simply out to deceive the people. Where is the ACN ideology? The other day they were chasing Atiku (Abubakar) and at another time it was Nuhu Ribadu. PDP is faring better in the states under its control than the ACN states. ACN is just a party for Tinubu to make money, that is all. But PDP critics say the party was in the Southwest for eight years with virtually nothing to show in the lives of the people. What do you mean by that? In Osun State for instance, the PDP was there for about eight years. Aregbesola is now there for three years. For all these three years, what he has done is to make noise. His achievement includes increasing the states debt profile to N219 billion. Throughout PDP’s 7 and a half years in Osun, it only borrowed N7.5 billion, which was paid back. Last time in a press interview he (Aregbesola) said it was not up to N219 billion.

Let him tell us how much he has borrowed. ACN in Osun State awarded the dualisation of Osogbo-Ila-Odo-Kwara boundary Road for N17.9 billion, which the Federal Ministry of Works had earlier earmarked to cost N11.2 billion. It is a Federal Ministry of Works’ project, ACN is reimbursed for the project. Why can’t Aregbesola go and do state roads, there are so many state roads crying for attention. The GbonganSekona-Osogbo Road is being rehabilitated by the Federal Government, but the ACN is claiming credit for it. ACN has procured a Helicopter for the personal comfort of Aregbesola at N4.2 billion. Oshogbo ACN spends N1.6 billion annually on hotel bills for visitors from Lagos State. Aregbesola spends N420 million annually on aircraft charter between Lagos and Ibadan. There has never been additional one litre of portable water since the PDP left government in 2010. Are you saying for these three years, there isn’t anything to celebrate in Osun? Go to the State and see for yourself. Right now, Osun students are on the streets, on protest. He promised mega schools. Only two are about to be ready out of the many he promised. Aregbesola’s mega school is being built at about £3 million per one, whereas in England it costs just about £500,000 for same building. From your view, there is contract inflation in Osun? What is happening is stealing galore. They have used so much money to bribe the judiciary, they have a debt portfolio, so they have to recoup. They are on a recouping mission. What is baffling their primitive acquisition tendency; stealing the money they don’t need. Look at how he is fooling the people on Opon-Imo. Aregbesola says he is off-loading 63 texts books per students. Have you ever seen where a secondary school pupil uses as much as 63 text books, how many subject does a secondary school pupil offer? Our people have gone beyond that deception. Whenever Aregbesola wants to do any project, be it building or road, his driving force is what he would steal and not delivery. He does not have the capacity to deliver anything, he lacks capacity. He has poverty of ideas. The only thing he knows is stealing. We (Osun) are in serious crisis. Education is in comatose in Osun

State today. There is no single development in the health sector, no additional hospital in my state today. The youth empowerment he is doing under ‘OYES’ has become an issue. He is being driven by greed and stealing. What about his urban renewal programme? Let us be dispassionate in the assessment? What is your own there, are you from Osun? What is urban renewal? I have not seen urban

In Osun State for instance, the PDP was there for about eight years. Aregbesola is now there for three years. For all these three years, what he has done is to make noise. His achievement includes increasing the states debt profile to N219 billion. Throughout PDP’s 7 and a half years in Osun, it only borrowed N7.5 billion, which was paid back. Last time in a press interview he (Aregbesola) said it was not up to N219 billion. Let him tell us how much he has borrowed. ACN in Osun State awarded the dualisation of Osogbo-Ila-Odo-Kwara boundary Road for N17.9 billion, which the Federal Ministry of Works had earlier earmarked to cost N11.2 billion. It is a Federal Ministry of Works’ project; ACN is reimbursed for the project. Why can’t Aregbesola go and do state roads, there are so many state roads crying for attention. The Federal Government is rehabilitating the Gbongan-SekonaOsogbo Road, but the ACN is claiming credit for it. ACN has procured a Helicopter for the personal comfort of Aregbesola at N4.2 billion. Oshogbo ACN spends N1.6 billion annually on hotel bills for visitors from Lagos State. Aregbesola spends N420 million annually on aircraft charter between Lagos and Ibadan. There has never been additional one litre of portable water since the PDP left government in 2010.

renewal in that state. Which one is urban renewal, tell me now. Where is it being done? Is it Okefia, Gbogan Road, Alekun-Odo, tell me now. There is no urban renewal going on in any of the state’s urban centres – Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ilesha, Iwo, Ikirun, Ila etc. It is just on the pages of newspapers. The Olaiya Junction to Okefia was done by the former governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Go to Osun State and see things for yourself, don’t rely on media hype. They are only using drawings and proto-type in newspapers to deceive people. Students are roaming the streets of Osun, buildings have been destroyed, no replacement. They have to trek for about 10 kilometres every morning to get to school. This has increased students’ dropout figures; the rank of thugs, drug carriers would increase also. What gives you this quantum of confidence? The first governor in Osun State was from the Western Senatorial district. The second and the third were from the Central Senatorial district. The fourth, who is the incumbent, Aregbesola, is from Osun East. Osun East is only just having the first slot. Both the West and the Centre have had it at least once. In fact, the Central has had it twice. But couldn’t Osun West say it is now entitled to it to make its own two slots as Osun Central? This is the first time Osun East is occupying the governorship seat. The East has a right to eight years of governance. Through Aregbesola, the East is just doing four years, out of which three years is about to be completed. So, the East after Aregbesola is still entitled to another four years to enjoy just half of what other districts had enjoyed. This is why I told you that I am the most suitable. But won’t Aregbesola go for a second term? He will try to go for a second term, but he is going to lose. ACN lost in Osun Central. The governorship contest is going to be between Osun West and Osun East. The two aspirants we have from the PDP are from those two senatorial districts. Are you now saying you may go for four years? That is not an issue. I don’t answer hypothetical questions. I have an election before me. Let me win the election first before I know what I am going to do.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

FOREIGNNEWS

Drone Strike Kills Seven In North Waziristan PAKISTAN SUSPECTED US drone attack has A killed seven people in northwest Pakistan, officials say. Two missiles hit a compound in a village in the North Waziristan tribal area, close to the Afghan border. It is the first drone strike since Nawaz Sharif took over as Pakistan’s prime minister and demanded an end to the attacks. The government summoned a

senior US diplomat, Richard Hoagland to protest over the attack. The foreign ministry said it strongly condemned the drone attacks, which were a “violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Last month President Barack Obama announced stricter targeting rules for the drone campaign against militant suspects. The missiles reportedly hit the remote village of Shokhel in the Shawal valley, some 45km (27 miles)

west of Miranshah - the main town in North Waziristan. The troubled border region is a known stronghold for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. It is unclear who the target of the attack was, but several militant groups have camps in the area, including the Pakistan

Taliban whose deputy leader was killed in a drone strike last week, according to a BBC report. The timing will be uncomfortable for the country’s new prime minister, our correspondent adds. Earlier this week, Mr Sharif said Pakistan’s sovereignty must be

respected, and that it was necessary to work out a joint strategy to stop US drone strikes. “We must learn others’ [American] concerns about us, and express our concerns about them, and find a way to resolve this issue,” he told MPs in his first address after being re-elected.

Five Dead In Santa Monica Shooting Rampage T least five people are dead and A several others injured after a gun rampage in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, police say. The attack began at a house and ended on a college campus where police say they shot the gunman in the library. Police initially put the death toll at six, but later revised it to five people dead, including the shooter. The gunman was in his late 20s and had been carrying an assaultstyle rifle, say witnesses. President Barack Obama was at a fundraiser not far from where the

UNITED STATES shooting unfolded just before noon on Friday. The gunman, dressed in black and wearing an ammunition belt and bullet-proof jacket, began by firing shots at the house, witnesses said. The property was then engulfed by fire although it is not clear how the blaze started. The Los Angeles Times reports that the first two victims were the gunman’s father and brother.

‘Insider Attack’ Kills Americans AFGHANISTAN WO US soldiers and an T American civilian have been killed in a possible insider attack in eastern Afghanistan, the NATOled force says. A man wearing Afghan army uniform was said to have opened fire on them in Paktika province, close to the border with Pakistan, ISAF forces have taken a series of measures to try to halt such attacks. An Italian soldier died in a separate attack in Farah province in the west of the country, Italian officials said. There was a spate of insider attacks on foreign troops last year but the last was more than a month ago, the BBC reports from Kabul. Coalition forces train, mentor

and fight alongside Afghan soldiers and that makes them vulnerable, the report says. “An individual wearing ANA (Afghan National Army) uniform turned his weapon against the ISAF service members,” an ISAF statement said. ISAF soldiers returned fire but it was unclear whether there were further casualties. “Today was a very difficult day for ISAF,” said spokesman Brig Gen Guenter Katz. He said they were conducting investigations, but it was too soon to give more details. Meanwhile, the NATO-led coalition said the soldier killed in western Afghanistan had been killed “during an attack by an enemy of Afghanistan“. It was an “insurgent attack”, ISAF said, rather than an insider incident as initially thought.

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping head for their bilateral meeting at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, on Friday, June 7, 2013. Ditching the crushing formality of US-China summits, Xi and Obama met in Rancho Mirage, California, a playground of past presidents and the powerful. Allegations of Chinese cyber hacking and espionage, North Korea's nuclear defiance and constant trade niggles between the world's two single largest economies and possible future superpower rivals reportedly dominate the talks. PHOTO: AFP

Bus Fire Probed As ‘Criminal Case’ DEADLY bus explosion and fire A in south-east China is being treated as “a serious criminal case” and not an accident, state media said. At least 47 people died and more

Hundreds Flee Kismayo As Clashes Reignite SOMALIA UNDREDS of people are fleeing H the southern Somali port city of Kismayo after fighting broke out between two self-declared leaders of the region. At least 10 people were killed yesterday as clashes between the rival militias flared for a second day. Seven were killed on Friday, residents said. Fighting began when one of the leaders tried to meet the defence minister, who is seeking to resolve the situation. African Union troops are in charge of security in Kismayo.

The city was captured from Islamist militants last October. A new UN-backed government in Mogadishu is trying to regain control of the country after more than 20 years of conflict with the help of the AU force. Kismayo residents say the fighting is intense, with militiamen firing continuously from pick-up trucks mounted with heavy weaponry. There are many different clans in the region –– known as Jubaland –– who compete for lucrative port revenues in Kismayo and access to the most fertile land in Somalia. Currently there are several selfdeclared presidents of Jubaland

and the government has said it recognises none of them. It wants the groups to attend a meeting in Mogadishu to resolve the issue - this is why Defence Minister Abdihakim Mahmoudis Haji went to Kismayo. Friday’s fighting started when fighters loyal to Ahmed Madobe stopped his rival Istin Hassan from meeting Mr Haji, who was staying at a hotel in central Kismayo. Mr Haji told the BBC Somali Service that the fighting “would not be tolerated and should stop forthwith”. He denied allegations that members of the Somali army had joined the rival militias.

Mandela Admitted To Hospital ORMER President Nelson Mandela has been admitted to hospital in South Africa with a lung infection. A presidential spokesman said he is in a “serious but stable condition”, although he was able to breathe on his own - a “positive sign”. Mr. Mandela, 94, has been ill for some days but deteriorated overnight and was transferred to a hospital in Pretoria. He led the fight against apartheid and is regarded as the father of democratic South

SOUTH AFRICA Africa. He has recently suffered a series of health problems and this is his fifth visit to hospital in two years. In April he was released from hospital after a 10-day stay caused by pneumonia. His illness was described yesterday as a recurrence of a lung infection, which has troubled him repeatedly. Mandela was taken to hospital, from his home in a suburb of

Johannesburg, at about 01:30 local time (23:30 GMT Friday). Mac Maharaj, South Africa’s presidential spokesman, told the BBC he was receiving expert medical care. Doctors were doing everything possible to make him comfortable and better, he added. “What I am told by doctors is that he is breathing on his own and I think that is a positive sign,” he said. Maharaj said at least one close member of Mandela’s family was with him in hospital.

CHINA than 30 were injured after the fire in the port city of Xiamen on Friday. Investigators found traces of petrol on the bus although it was dieselpowered, Xinhua news agency said. Officials closed the entire express bus system, in which buses run on tracks above the city centre. The incident happened during the Friday evening rush hour at about 18:30 local time (10:30 GMT). Images posted on social media showed survivors with burns and blood-stained clothing. A plume of smoke is seen rising above the city and the bus is later seen as a burnedout wreck. A local government official quoted by Xinhua said the incident was being treated as a serious criminal case and further investigations were under way. An initial police investigation

showed that the tyres of the bus and the fuel tank were intact, the report said. A team led by Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun has been sent to oversee the investigation, it added. The BBC report in Shanghai says there have been a number of attacks on buses and public buildings in China in recent years by people with personal and sometimes political grievances. In 2009 an unemployed man ignited petrol on a bus, killing himself and 26 others. Another 24 people died the same year in a shuttle bus fire started by a disgruntled steel worker. Xiamen is in Fujian province and has a population of more than three million. Its express bus system was built in 2008.

Shining Path Leader Jailed For Life For Terrorism PERU COURT in Peru has sentenced A the last of the original leaders of the Shining Path rebels to life in prison. Judges in the Peruvian capital, Lima, found Florindo Flores, who’s known as Comrade Artemio, guilty of terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $183m (£117m). The Shining Path rebels were severely weakened in the 1990s after failing to install a

Communist state, but some remain active in southern Peru. After hours of sentencing, Judge Clotilde Cavero said: “It was proven that he (Artemio) ordered the execution of a number of civilians, police and soldiers. “It was proven that he belonged to the Central Committee of the Shining Path. “It was proven that he was the top leader in the (Alto) Huallaga (Valley),” she said. During the trial, which lasted six months, Artemio, 51, had denied the terrorism charges but referred to himself as a “revolutionary”.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor T is a big annual interface between (first world) Japan and third world, Africa. In a sense, that old Asian tiger is in some kind of alliance with the countries mostly in the south of the hemisphere, to see if there can be some coaching on how to exit underdevelopment. African leaders take pride in attending. This year’s event had as much as 52 African countries, the United Nations Agencies as well as so-called development partners in attendance. Japan has even tried to give it a near global ownership as it is currently now co-organised by the United Nations (UN), World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as well as the African Union Commission (AUC). Nigeria’s delegation led by vice president Nnamadi Sambo and consisting of ministers led by foreign affairs minister, ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru sought to build on the gains of the last convergence, when Nigeria laboured to convey to the summiteers that the domestic environment was conducive for foreign investments. Can Nigeria start counting gains? Not so early. What should be of concern is whether the human development indices coming out from Nigeria (and most African countries who like to make the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) another form of World Economic Forum), point to something positive on account of these exchanges, TICAD in TICAD out! Development cannot be measured by the amount of grants received by countries who would rather like to appear beggarly to certain other countries all of the time. And so it happened last week that the fifth TICAD held this time in Yokohama, with leaders from Africa and other parts of the globe brainstorming essentially on how the rest of the industrialized world could help Africa boost its social and economic development through the good old route-industrialisation. Patron host Japan again did as many from Africa had expected. The country committed over $32 billion into Africa’s transformation for the coming five years, apparently the biggest amount of money the country has ever contributed to the continent since TICAD’s birth over 20 years ago. Leaders from Africa and other parts of the world discussed how Japan and the rest of the industrial world could help the continent boost its social and

What Gains From Nigeria’s Visit To TICAD, Japan this point home when he declared that the continent already has an industrialisation blueprint seeking to cast away the image of Africa as a commodity exporter and importer of finished goods. Pointedly, he explained that there is now some level of unease revolving around the fact that while Africa is looking forward to seeing effective transformation of its economy into manufacturing with the backing of TICAD, “little has been done towards realising that noble goal” Investing in agriculture and infrastructure appeared to be Nigeria’s mantra in Yokohama. Calling for increased trade ties between Japan and Africa to sustain economic development and growth, Sambo noted that if Africa was to sustain her recent economic development, the expansion of trade within the continent and with the rest of the world, including Japan, was critical. He said “While the value of total twoway trade between Japan and ASEAN countries was over $205 billion (about N31.98 trn) in 2012, trade between Japan and Africa was a paltry $29 billion (about N4.52 trn) in the same period...to enhance the level of trade between Africa and Japan, therefore, there is an urgent need to promote economic development through “Many African countries have put in private sector interface between Japan industrialization. What characterised place measures to fight corruption, and Africa under TICAD.” the conference were the impassioned security has improved and conflict Stressing that it is a momentous pericalls by delegates for a new form of within and between countries is rel- od for African citizens, Sambo heaped economic interaction between Africa atively down. The continent is much customary praise on Japan for the and Japan, away from aid and just more secure for our people and for country’s commitment to Africa and mere trade, to help the continent investors,” he said. But that was not went on to ask Japan under TICAD to industrialise. In other words, the the only assurance intended to lure sustain her partnership with the assembly was prevailed upon to recJapanese businesses to “extend their African continent by addressing ommend new modalities of ensuring wings” into Tanzania and the rest of Africa’s infrastructure and employthat Africa industrialises after failure Africa. ment deficit. by aid and trade to do so. The African people have for decades He said this could be done through Before Nigeria opened up on what got acquainted with and consumed increased investment, repositioning of she has been doing back home and a wide range of Japanese goods, agriculture as a business enterprise, what she needs from the organ, notably automobiles, farm equipyouth and women empowerment as Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete ment and electronics. But irritating- well as human capital development. painted what looked like a rough outly, there is still not a match in invest- He added that it could be achieved by line of the current realities on ment activities, nor some reciprocity engaging and interacting with Africa’ s ground in his country, as well as in in terms of goods of equivalent private sector through purposeful many African states telling the convalue being exported from the conti- trade missions to the continent. ference that more trust in public-prinent to Japan. “We believe that addressing the infravate partnerships was needed and Ethiopian Prime Minister structure gaps, including sustained that it was high time Japanese Hailemariam Desalegn, who is curprivate investment in infrastructural investors capitalised on the fact that rent chairman of the AU and doudevelopment will unleash the potenAfrica’s business environment is bled as TICAD co-chair, hammered tials for future growth of the continent improving.

and contribute to the mutual benefits of the TICAD aspirations. Skills acquisition and transfer of technology were essential avenues to create jobs for Africa’s teeming population and also fast-track the transition from informal to formal economic environment” When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded to Nigeria’s submissions, he stressed that Japan will continue to support Africa, while focusing on partnership between the public and private sectors. The submission made by Nigeria had hinged on the fact that the country is currently putting enormous efforts in developments in the fields of electricity, transport, health and ICT. Apart from pledging to cooperate in promoting investment from Japanese companies, Prime Minister Abe maintained that Japan commends efforts made by the Government of Nigeria towards the eradication of polio. What should Nigeria be doing at such gatherings? International relations expert Dr. Nwangu Okeimiri said in an interview with the Guardian that the TICAD business has also been “infested by too much talk” “Nobody has said anything about transfer of technology. And this has been a major expectation for us. Also, there is technological wealth hidden in Africa. Countries should go there and put specific challenges on the table.” Zimbabwean President, old man Robert Mugabe also showed up in Yokohama, saying that foreign firms operating on the continent are not willing to pass on to African countries the technology and expertise that would facilitate the process, thereby, thwarting Africa’s move towards industrialisation. Observers think that the most touching observation came from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank President Kim Yong Jim, who both submitted that it was appalling seeing that Africa’s growth has been more impressive for years now and yet poverty is still prevalent. Although the Yokohama Declaration 2013 and Action Plan 2013-2017 came with many sound resolutions on how African development can be fostered with foreign intervention, what happens in the next three years in the cooperation between Africa and Japan would determine the relevance of TICAD.

Nigeria Is An Amazing Country, Says Turkish Ambassador The new Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mustafa Pulat, who recently presented his letters of credence to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, was in Lagos recently. He attended the Lagos Motor fair and Spare Parts Exhibition at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. He spoke with BAYO OGUNMUPE and YEMI OLAKITAN on Turkish business interests in Nigeria and other issues. Didn’t you have some apprehension as you were being posted to Nigeria, in view of the present security challenges in the country? VERY country has its own problems. Nigeria is not an exception. Turkey has problems. I am not new to Africa. I have served in Sudan and Germany but this is my first time in Nigeria as an ambassador and it is amazing. Nigeria is an interesting country, I have made a lot friends. I have met many Nigerians who are ready to partner with Turkey in businesses, manufacturing and other issues of trades. It is very interesting because Nigeria has enormous human and material resources. There is a lot of Turkish presence in Nigeria. We have 16 Turkish companies in this auto parts exhibition for example. What advice do you have for Nigeria on her security challenges? Terrorism is a global phenomenon. Each

country has to tackle it as best as it could. They all come down to one thing; providing adequate amenities for our citizens. The government must accede to the yearnings of the people and provide justice for all. What is the extent of Turkish business interest in Nigeria? We have many business interests in Nigeria. We have established the Turkish international university in Abuja. We are working on the establishment of a Hospital in Abuja. Turkish businessmen are also building factories in Nigeria. I have a mandate to set up a consulate in Lagos that will take care of Turkish business interests in the southwest. The only challenge we face is the dearth of property in Lagos and that has been limiting us. We are going to establish a joint Nigeria-Turkish Commission to promote economic cooperation between the two countries It has been observed that there is consular constraint in getting Nigerian businessmen to obtain visa to enter Turkey. How are you addressing this problem? We are going to establish E-visa regime soonest so that Nigerians can apply for visa online. We have already started the programme with few countries, but Nigeria is not included yet. Now, we will include

Nigeria. We are not restricting Nigerians from going to Turkey. What is responsible for the delay in Turkish entry into the European Union? We have almost fulfilled all the requirements. The delay seemed to be a blessing in disguise. If Turkey had been admitted during the present economic crisis rocking Europe, Turkey would have been affected. We have no political issues with any European nation. The suspicion about our economic status has been removed by the delay. We are now poised to entering the EU since we have no problems with any European country. What has become of the legacy of Bulent Ecevit? He was a great Turkish Leader and reformer. His legacy is continuing. His party is now in power. His economic policies are still been pursued in Turkey. He gave Turkey rapid economic development. His policies attracted foreign companies into Turkey. Turkey has no car brand and we manufacture Toyota and many other brands. The people of Turkey are very demanding. If the politicians do not satisfy them, they will change the government.

Pulat

TheGuardian

Sunday, June 9, 2013 |61

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports French Open Tennis Final

Ferrer Dares Nadal For Crown ODAy, seven-time French Open champion T Rafael Nadal will face off against a fellow Spaniard, David Ferrer, in the finals of the French Open tournament, with many odds makers having their money on 27-year-old Nadal to beat the number four seed, Ferrer, who is 31. Following a great semifinal round that saw Nadal take down world number one Novak Djokovic and Ferrer upend Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2013 Men’s French Open final looks inter-

Ferrer

esting. A tournament that saw plenty of action involving many of the world’s best players, this year’s French Open certainly did not disappoint. Tsonga’s upset of Roger Federer in the quarterfinals was one of the most exciting matches this season, while the highly anticipated semifinal between Nadal and Djokovic lived up to the hype and more. Nadal goes for his fourth-consecutive French title against fellow Spaniard Ferrer and

Roland Garros will surely see a great match between two worthy opponents. In a match that had the feel of a final, number one Novak Djokovic and number three Nadal gave fans in attendance at Roland Garros one heck of a show. Expected to be close, the match went the full five sets before Nadal was finally able to survive. The second semifinal between number four Ferrer and number six Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was not as eventful as the previous semi. Looking

Nadal

to advance to his first Grand Slam final, Ferrer closed the first set in timely fashion, blowing through his seemingly outmatched opponent 6-1. Tsonga attempted to gain some momentum in the second, taking a quick 2-0 lead, but the resolve of Ferrer was simply too much. Fighting back to even the second frame at five-all, the 31-year-old Spaniard took a 2-0 set advantage by closing out JWT 7-6 (7-3 tiebreaker) and then finished off the man who took down Roger Federer in the quarterfinals 6-2 in the third and final set. Ferrer was previously 0-5 in Grand Slam semifinal matches and as he enters today’s final yet to drop a set in 6 French Open matches, he is ready for the challenge fellow Spaniard Nadal poses. “I am not tired,” Ferrer said to ESPN after the win. “This is very important playing against Rafa, because I need to be 100 percent to do well against him.” As both players aim to make history, Nadal puts his 21-match win streak on the line, while Ferrer looks to keep his perfect streak going in this year’s tournament. Will Nadal win his eighth French title or will Ferrer win his first major?

THE GUaRdIan sunday, June 9, 2013

European Round-Oﬀ

neymar Will share Messi’s Goal-scoring Burden, says Pique aRCELona defender B Gerard Pique says new signing neymar can help

Torres

I’m not Leaving stamford Bridge, Torres declares Torres says he FingERnando has no intention of leavChelsea and is looking forward to working under Jose Mourinho. speculation ahead of the summer transfer window has once again suggested that Torres could be tempted to try his luck away from stamford Bridge after a testing two-and-a-half years in west London. The spain international is, however, tied to a long-term contract and he claims to be willing to honour that agreement. Torres has no issue with reports that Chelsea are looking to bring in further striking reinforcements, with napoli’s Edinson Cavani said to be a top target, with it healthy for top clubs to have competition for places. He is also ready to give his all for Mourinho, with the Portuguese tactician having returned to Chelsea for a second spell as coach. Torres said: “I’m looking forward to the chance of working with Jose. “It is the same every summer, there is talk and rumours every day. When I signed for Chelsea I signed for five-and-a-half years and I want to be there for all of that.” Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic is another relishing the opportunity to work for Mourinho, with Chelsea being hotly tipped to challenge for domestic and European honours once again next season. Ivanovic, who was signed four months after Mourinho’s first spell came to a close, said: “I’m so happy because it is a pleasure to work with one of the best and most successful managers in the world. “I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m happy and look

forward to that. “He is the best for what we can expect at Chelsea.

Everyone who loves the club is so excited. a lot of fans will be so happy.”

share some of the goal-scoring burden felt by Lionel Messi. The argentina star scored 46 league goals, which was 10 more La Liga strikes than Cesc Fabregas, david Villa, alexis sanchez and Cristian Tello managed together. Pique believes neymar can help shift some of the weight of expectation placed on Messi as the samba star will give defences more problems to deal with. “The presence of neymar will help Leo,” Pique told Mundo Deportivo. “Messi often has a crowd of opponents around him, but with neymar on the pitch too at least two of those opposition players will have to be aware of him. “We then also have players like (andres) Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc and Pedro as well.” The 26-year-old spaniard also discussed rumours linking Barcelona with a number of the world’s best centrebacks, saying that although he admires some of the names linked with the league champions, he is purely focusing on his own game. “Most of the players that are being linked have experience in the top flight. Thiago silva, (Mats) Hummels, (Vincent) Kompany, they are all very

good players and are at great clubs,” he continued. “deciding who to sign is not my decision though. I have to devote my time and thoughts to training and playing.” Reflecting on the Blaugrana’s campaign, Pique feels it was excellent, especially given coach Tito Vilanova’s battle with illness. “I think the team deserves a very good rating,” he added.

“We won the league, we matched the record for points and we have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. “all that despite Tito’s disease and injuries to key players. It’s frustrating how we lost the tie against Bayern (Munich) but in summary I think the season has been remarkable.” Bottom of Form

san siro Will Be ‘Beautiful’ again assIMo Moratti has M revealed that Inter are considering the idea of redeveloping the san siro in the near future. The Nerazzurri have long been expected to move away from the 90,000-seater venue, which has attracted dwindling numbers in recent times along with the perception that the arena has become dated. However, according to the Inter president, there could be plans afoot to renovate the ground rather than build a new stadium from scratch as he believes their current home could become “beautiful” again. “There is a nice project (in the pipelines) for san siro. It can become a beautiful stadium again and bring a financial

return. There is an immediate need for a new facility,” Moratti was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello sport. Moratti then admitted to holding talks with Indonesian tycoon Erick Thorir, who has reportedly tabled an offer in the region of €300m to purchase the club, but was quick to add that there were other interested parties. “The main topic we discussed was how to take the club forward, but the Indonesians are not the only ones [looking to buy the club], there are others,” he added. “I’ll see who else comes forward and whether or not we can take an important step in regards to selling Inter shares.”

Ronaldo says no Talks on Madrid’s Future RIsTIano Ronaldo claims he has held no talks regarding his future at Real Madrid since the exit of Jose Mourinho. speculation has linked Ronaldo with a return to Manchester United and the player has also been criticised by outgoing Real boss Mourinho who claimed he “thinks he knows everything.” and with rumours of unrest at the Bernabeu, the 28-yearold forward admits he has not yet had any discussions with the club over an extension to his contract. “I have not spoken with anyone yet but the most impor-

tant thing is the team,” Ronaldo told reporters in the mixed zone following Friday’s World Cup qualifier between Portugal and Russia. The Portuguese star helped his country secure a vital 1-0 win over Russia in their crucial Group F game and laughed off suggestions he would be worried by Mourinho’s comments at such a time. He added: “You think I’m worried about that? I’m concerned with the national team, that’s what matters most to me not the opinion of others.”

Neymar

Lahm Hungry For More Titles after Treble aYERn Munich captain pelled fears the spaniard will cial position and now we have B Philipp Lahm insists his inherit a side whose motiva- Pep Guardiola, a world-class side are not satiated by win- tion has been drained by win- coach, arriving.”

Ronaldo

ning the treble this season and believes they will be hungry for even more titles next year. Bayern became the first side ever to win a Bundesliga, dFBPokal and Champions League treble this year and will begin the defence of their titles under new coach Pep Guardiola in august. Guardiola has big shoes to fill when considering the achievements of his predecessor Jupp Heynckes, but Lahm has dis-

ning everything in 2012-13. “The most beautiful thing for me is that I am convinced that these three titles are not the end, but rather the beginning,” he said. “We have an exceptional squad, we have top characters in the team and an excellent mentality. “and almost every single one of us has a long-term contract. The team is going to remain intact and even get stronger. “We are in an excellent finan-

Lahm believes solid foundations have now been laid and that Guardiola can help establish Bayern as “the spain of club football.” “We are a team who can collect titles for many years to come,” he told the suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. “We need to make an era out of this memorable year. our best years are still to come, as strange as that may sound after winning the treble.”

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, June 9, 2013

TheGuardian

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Don’t Lose Focus, Maigari Charges Eagles • Team Arrives Windhoek FTER scooping the maxiA mum points against Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari has charged the Super Eagles not to lose focus of the three points at stake when they confront Namibia Wednesday. Speaking before just before the players departed Nairobi for Windhoek, Maigari said, “It is important that we keep our focus. There are no longer small teams in international football and I believe you will approach the match with your usual seriousness and total dedication, which saw to the fall of the Harambee Stars. “President Goodluck Jonathan, the Sports Minister and Nigerians are happy and proud of you for the result against Kenya. Let us put the icing on the cake by winning in Namibia.” He insisted that Nigerians are expecting the Eagles to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil after triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. Top officials of the Nigeria High Commission in Windhoek, including Ambassador Nath Olorunfemi, received the Super Eagles on their arrival on Friday, and the High Commissioner immediately assured the team and the NFF of adequate support before, during and after the match with the Brave Warriors. “We will mobilize all

Nigerians in Windhoek, through the Nigeria community, to come to the Stadium on match day and support you,” Olorunfemi said. Nigeria tops Group F of the 2014 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers with eight points, and will qualify for the twoleg final qualifying fixture if they win on Wednesday and Malawi fail to beat Kenya in Blantyre same day. Malawi have six points, followed by Namibia with four, and Kenya have only two points. Meanwhile, Eagles arrived Windhoek, the capital of Namibia on Friday and immediately moved to the Country Club Resort, Windhoek. They will be there for six days, training for the match on Wednesday and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament, which begins in Brazil on Saturday. On Thursday night, the delegation was hosted to a dinner at the Nigeria House in Nairobi by Ambassador Akin Oyateru. Oyateru, urged the team to show similar guts and go-go spirit as they did against the Harambee Stars. “This is a big opportunity for myself and other officials of the Nigeria High Commission here. You really made us proud. We all have faith in you and you have shown what you can do by rejuvenating our football with that triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. And you have not let us down since then.

Serena Williams of United States, holds up the Suzanne-Lenglen trophy after winning the 2013 French tennis Open final against Russia’s Maria Sharapova at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris …yesterday PHOTO: AFP/PATRICK KOVARIK

11 Years After First Victory, Super Serena Wins French Open Williams cemented StheERENA her status as far and away best player in women’s tennis by winning a second French Open title 11 years after her first. Roland Garros has been the American’s most troublesome Grand Slam venue but she looked the champion in waiting all fortnight and beat Maria Sharapova 6-4 6-4 in a high-level final. Sharapova won the title for the first time last year and played extremely well but, as she has been for the last 12 months, Williams was just too good. The world number one has earned the support of the Paris crowd over the past fortnight by speaking French in her on-court interviews, although the emotion of victory seemed to get the better of her language skills. Instead of saying, “It is unbe-

lievable”, Williams said, “I’m unbelievable”. No-one who watched her performance would disagree. The 31-year-old went into the final on a 30-match winning streak and unbeaten against Sharapova for nine years. But Sharapova was desperate to hold onto the trophy and began the match by showing Williams she would not be intimidated. Things did not bode well for the Russian when she lost the first three points on her serve, but she fought back impressively to hold and then became only the second player this tournament after Svetlana

Kuznetsova to break the Williams serve. Sharapova was fist-pumping and yelling “Come on” after every point won, and she was on the verge of moving into a 30 lead when she led 40-15 on her own serve, but back came Williams. The American won four straight points to break, and her immense power helped her win the next three games as well. Sharapova’s serve is both a strength and a weakness, but she dug in to stop the rot, and then exploited some nervousness in her opponent’s play to level at 4-4.

The level was very high but when they traded from the baseline, as they did in a titanic rally in the next game, the feeling was the advantage was with Williams. A crunching forehand winner gave her another break to leave her serving for the set, and the world number one’s awesome serve helped her take it, with Sharapova drifting a backhand wide on the final point. The last time Sharapova beat Williams in a final was at Wimbledon in 2004 when she was 17. In the Olympic gold medal match last year, the Russian managed just a single

game. Sharapova knew she needed a good start to the second set, and two double faults did not bode well, but, like the first, she dug in impressively, saving five break points. Williams has been a woman on a mission for the past year, though, winning 74 of 77 matches since a shock firstround defeat in Paris by Virginie Razzano. She knew she would never have a better chance to win a second French Open title, and everything Sharapova threw at her opponent was coming back with interest. Williams won three games in

Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotline Lagos: 7736351, Abuja: 07098513445 All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria. (ISSN NO 0189-5125) Editor: E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com ABRAHAM OBOMEYOMA OGBODO • A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation •ABC

a row, but the one thing you can guarantee from Sharapova is fight and she survived another long service game to hold for 3-2. But the defending champion could get nowhere near the Williams serve, and there appeared no nerves at all as she smashed three aces in the final game to win in an hour and 46 minutes. Sharapova said: “I played a great tournament and ran up against a really tough champion. She’s been playing so well throughout this year so a big congratulations to her. “This court has brought me so many nice memories. Last year was incredibly special for me and to be back on this stage and be one of the last two players in the tournament is special. “I would have loved to have won it but I’ll be back next year trying to win it again.”