Thur 13 June2013

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,586

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Tributes as highlife maestro, Rolling Dollar, dies at 87

By Kabir Alabi Garba, Greg Austin Nwakunor, Anote Ajeluorou, Shaibu Husseini and Tony Nwanne E was like a tiger. His body H was always ready for action, even at 86. But yesterday, Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, a.k.a. Fatai Rolling Dollar, had the final action - he breathed his last at the Ahmadiyya Hospital, Agbado-Ijaiye, Lagos.

He was born on July 22, 1926 in Ede, Osun State.

According to reports, the 86year-old artiste had been ill for some time now. Days before he died, he had rubbished reports claiming he was in coma as a result of a protracted illness, saying he was never in coma.

The report had said that the oldest artiste on the Nigerian music circuit was receiving treatment at a Lagos State hosCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Experts warn of rising kidney failure in kids • Infections, diarrhoea, malaria, HIV, others implicated • Child needs N300,000 monthly for dialysis

By Chukwuma Muanya EDICAL experts have M alerted to the rising cases of chronic kidney disease in the nation’s children, which they blame on infections, diarrhoea, malaria, hepatitis, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

They called for screening programmes, manpower training and improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to address the situation.

In a recent study which has been accepted for publication by the Saudi Journal of Kidney CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Strike continues in 11 states, teachers vow Page 49

Pa Benedict Odiase, a retired Director of Music with the Nigeria Police is dead. He passed on Tuesday night in his sleep. He was the composer of Nigeria’s National Anthem.

Fatai Olagunju a.k.a. Rolling Dollar

June 12, a watershed, says Jonathan From Mohammed Abubakar (Abuja) and Joseph Okoghenun (Lagos) N unequivocal terms, PresiIyesterday dent Goodluck Jonathan declared that the June 12, 1993 presidential election widely acclaimed to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola remains a watershed in Nigeria’s political history.

He also identified the promotion of indiscipline as well

• Laments indiscipline, others in Police Force • Gowon faults zoning of elective offices as the elevation of mediocrity as some of the reasons Nigerians don’t have respect for the police.

Besides, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has faulted the zoning of elective positions in the country, saying such negated the tenets of democracy.

The President spoke yester-

day while swearing in the Chairman and members of the newly-confirmed Police Service Commission (PSC) led by a former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, at Aso Rock Villa.

“Today is also a unique day (June 12), a date that has changed the political history of this country in one way or

another. In some parts of the country, some state governments have declared public holiday to mark today but at the centre, it has not been formally recognised as a public holiday. We appreciate what happened on this day, that you are being inaugurated on this date, I think is a unique date.”

According to the President, “you will agree with me that Nigerians don’t have so much confidence in the police but Nigerian police are good. The Nigerian Police that work outside under United Nations (UN) are highly honoured, highly commended and Okiro will agree with me. But once we come back home, that is not reflected in what we do.”

The President alluded to the bombing of the Police Headquarters last year, saying CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

2 NEWS

Infections, others implicated in children’s kidney failure CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Disease, the paediatricians from the Department of Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, led by Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Dr. Taiwo Ladapo, noted that of all the children admitted over a four-year period (2008 to 2011) in LUTH, kidney disease accounted for 8.9 per cent of paediatric admissions with prevalence of 22.3 admissions per 1,000 child-admissions per year; and that yearly incidence doubled over the study period.

The study is titled “Paediatric kidney diseases in an African country: Prevalence, Spectrum and Outcome.”

The researchers noted that nephrotic syndrome, acute kidney injury (AKI) and nephroblastoma accounted for almost 70 per cent of admissions; and that the overall mortality rate was 12.6 per cent with AKI being the leading cause.

They observed that the prevalence of AKI was higher than that reported from other parts of the country; late presentation, inadequate diagnostic and therapeutic facilities and financial constraint negatively impacted outcome; and disease-specific prevalence varied between geographic sections.

Nephrotic syndrome is caused by different disorders that damage the kidneys. This damage leads to the release of too much protein in the urine.

Nephroblastoma or Wilms’ tumor is cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults.

The researchers in an earlier study published in the December 2012 edition of the journal PLOS ONE concluded: “Acute

kidney injury is common in children admitted to hospitals. The common causes remain primary kidney diseases, sepsis and malaria but the contribution of sepsis is rising while malaria and gastroenteritis are declining. Acute kidney injuryrelated mortality remains high.”

The results of the study titled “Paediatric Acute Kidney Injury in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria: Prevalence, Causes and Mortality Rate” showed that of the 4,015 children admitted into LUTH between July 2010 and July 2012, 70 episodes of AKI were recorded, equalling 17.4 cases per 1,000 children.

The researchers found, among other things, that: the median age of the children with AKI was 4.8 (range 0.1–14.4) years and 68.6 per cent were males. Acute kidney injury was present in 58 (82.9 per cent) children at admission with 70 per cent in ‘failure’ category; primary kidney disease (38.6 per cent), sepsis (25.7 per cent) and malaria (11.4 per cent) were the commonest causes; the primary kidney diseases were acute glomerulonephritis (11) and nephrotic syndrome (eight); 19 (28.4 per cent) children with AKI died; need for dialysis was associated with death.

Glomerulonephritis may be caused by problems with the body’s immune system. Often, the exact cause of glomerulonephritis is unknown. Damage to the glomeruli causes blood and protein to be lost in the urine. The condition may develop quickly, and kidney function is lost within weeks or months (called rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis).

Glomeruli (glomerulus is singular) are tiny tufts of capillaries, which carry and filter blood within the kidneys. A quarter of

people with chronic glomerulonephritis have no history of kidney disease.

Ladapo in an exclusive interview with The Guardian said the first dialysis section for children with chronic kidney disease costs about N40,000 to N50,000 for one and subsequently the child should have it

three times a week at the cost of about N20,000 per session.

Another study published in the January 2013 edition of the Saudi Journal of Kidney Disease and Transplantation concluded that the prevalence of renal disease in Highly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy (HAART)treated Nigerian children is

high and the majority of those with the disease, although asymptomatic, were at the advanced stages of HIV infection.

The researchers from the Department of Child Health, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, wrote: “It is therefore important that early detection of renal damage, in the asympto-

matic stage, is made in order to institute measures early, which may reverse or slow down the progression of kidney disease to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

This may be the most significant preventive strategy, especially as facilities for renal replacement care are limited and expensive in resource-poor countries.”

Ace musician, Fatai Rolling Dollar, passes on at 87 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 pital where he had been hospitalised for about three weeks. The octogenarian artiste was said to have been rushed to the hospital after performing at an event.

A guitarist, singer and exponent of the native thumb piano (Agidigbo), the 86-year-old veteran of West African folk music was one of the greatest living influences on West African contemporary music.

The ex-seaman was a walking encyclopedia of neo-traditional African music. Olagunju traversed the crest and trough of West Africa’s musical landscape in an attempt to track the sub-continent’s rhythmic genealogy.

He started his musical career in 1953, and with over seven decades’ career, he directly spawned and mentored some of the most successful musicians in West Africa’s history such as Ebenezer Obey and who directly influenced others like King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, the late Dr. Orlando Owoh and Bob Aladeniyi.

The son of an Ede chief, Olagunju grew up at Lagos Island, Isale- Eko, where he encountered the music of juju legend such as Tunde King and Irewole Denge.

One of the popular players of the music was Tunde King. He once had a problem and went

back to Freetown, Sierra Leone, from where he picked up another idea for the music.

On getting back to Lagos, he modified the palm-wine music. But the originator of this music form was a band called the Jolly Orchestra, popularly known as Atari Ajanaku. A musician called Harbour Grant led it. In his band was another musician that left for London where he played in a hotel called Hotel Afrique - Ambrose Campbell.

Olagunju’s musical style was a fusion of native Agidigbo with broader highlife and Latin themes, The Latin influence being as a result of his birth and background in Lagos, with a large immigrant Brazilian and Hispanic population in the mid19th century, up to the early 20th century. More lately, he experimented with Afro-Funk and Afro-beat.

His music evolved from a sound called ‘palm wine’ music and it was played far back 1939. By then, it consisted of the palm wine guitar — a box guitar, Yoruba vocals and the sekere.

Olagunju was known for his verve and dexterity on the guitar. His zest for life and energy, even in old age, was also a marvel to all that beheld him performing.

Years back, it seemed Olagunju was in the nightfall of his career, but he took many by

surprise and the Nigerian scene as he stormed back with his hit song.

He got a new lease of life after years in the doldrums, through Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who revived his career and fortunes, after his performance at the World Music Day on June 21, 2000 at the Maison de France, Alliance Francais, then on Aromire Street, off Kingsway Road, Victoria Island.

Between 2003 and 2004, he returned to Nigeria’s music scene with three landmark albums and was finally recognised as a virtuoso exponent of neo-traditional highlife rhythms and a precursor to juju music. Some of his hit tracks include Won kere si number wa, Iyawo Iyawo, Eko Akete (Agidigbo Blues), Morocco Special, Omolere Aiye, I’m Not A Banker, Saworo Maro, Feso Jaiye, Ori Wa Adara, Aduke and a whole lot of songs.

The late artiste, who married the actress of Yoruba home movies, Bunmi Akinbo Gold, last year, had been involved with two other women apart from his very first wife who died in 1999, one is a German and the other from Ibadan. He sired 16 children.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke, lamented the death of the veteran musician.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja, convey-

ing his condolence.

While reacting to the death of the musician, Orits Williki said Olagunju lived well and had gone to rest, noting: “Papa lived well and nobody can complain that an icon has gone home to rest. The way he lived in the last decade has been remarkable.

Although his passing highlife music has suffered a blow, but younger artists like P-Square and many others are happily doing a revival form of highlife in contemporary form.”

Chairman of O’jez Entertainment Limited, Joseph Odobeatu, owners of O’jez Music and chain of celebrity restaurants, said in a statement by his media company, Media Image Managers: “Well, it’s very sad to hear the news of the demise of the legend Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar. The O’jez family is still in shock because Rolling Dollar has been very much part of the family in the past 12 years.”

Others who paid tributes yesterday included Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Prof. Tunde Babawale; Sidney Esiri, popularly known as Dr Sid of the MAVIN; the Chief Executive Officer of Storm Record, Obi Asika; Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, General Manager, COSON.

Jonathan laments indiscipline, others in police force CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 when the incident occurred, he was advised to sack a lot of police officers from Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and above, but that he declined to do so.

According to Jonathan, “one of the responsibilities of the Police Service Commission is to instill discipline. Another thing I believe is that people who have no merit to certain ranks are being promoted to those ranks. One of your responsibilities is to handle promotion. I believe with you, only those who merit or deserve promotion should be promoted. Those who deserve to be disciplined or even dismissed must be disciplined.”

The President alluded to the recent appointment of the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) out of the several names sent to him for endorsement.

He said altogether, six names were brought to him for approval.

“Some were sent from the ministry, some were picked from among the most senior rank. When we reviewed the six names, from my intelligent investigation, most of them were supposed to have been dismissed. But those were the people that were being forwarded for appointment as Comptroller-General of Immigration.

“Among them, only one is qualified to even stay and serve, others ordinarily are supposed to be dismissed from the records. And I believe that the story of Immigration is the same with most of our services. I believe that is why the performance of some of our military and para-military officers is abysmal. Because the yardstick being used for promotion is not based on competence, merit and performance.

“And that is one area I believe you will go into. People who are promoted to assistant police commissioner and above must merit the rank. If you don’t merit the rank, you should be retired from the service because it is better for you not to have enough manpower than for you to have viruses and all kinds of characters in the police force.

“One other thing that we believe is responsible is the command structure of the police, which I will also urge you to look into.”

The President confirmed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the next one or two weeks would look at the police reform reports because we want to come up with a white paper on the police reform report.

He added: “But since we have just appointed you, we give you privilege to look at that document before we come

out with a white paper so that if there is a suggestion that you will bring, you bring it so that it will be part of the white paper since you are the one to manage the police.

I believe with you working with the Inspector-General of Police and other senior police officers, Nigeria police will be a better force.”

Gowon, who spoke in Lagos yesterday at an event organised by Centre for Democracy in Africa, urged Nigerians to be wary of zoning democratic positions even as he said such act would undermine the tenets of democracy in the country.

He said: “Nigerians have scored a test as being described as a country that has produced a terrorist organisation that is second only to those in Afghanistan. I wonder how diplomats would feel on the field. Now that an organisation has reared its head that is shaming the nation...I wonder how diplomats would feel.

“In democratic governance, there is room for debate and disagreements. I want to note that when we had the last elections, there were threats that the country would become ungovernable if certain people did not win.... I thought that was high-handedness and I expected that people who made such remarks, even though they

were high in the society, should have been called to order; they should indeed have been brought to book. But it seemed that the government decided that a liberal approach was the best for the country at the time. After the threat they issued, Boko Haram was formed and it has continued to spread its tentacles. My prayer is that it would be curtailed because there is no way a country can continue along this part. The objective of Boko Haram has been to destroy the society of Nigeria. With the threat of Book Haram, Nigeria will continue to march on.

“There are many people who clamoured that it is now their turn to govern this country; there are some who said if power did not shift to their region, they will make a hell for all of us. Democracy argues for the best; let the best candidate emerge and when the best candidate emerges, it will be for the benefit all of us. I do not subscribe to the thinking of those who feel it is their turn.

Let the people decide who should govern them. This is the heart of democracy. But if we say it must shift to one region, we will not be having a president that could enjoy the support of all. We would therefore be having a Benin president, Yoruba president or Igbo president or Hausa president. That is defeatist.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

3

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

4

Issues in the News

Granting autonomy to refineries will engen

Jonathan

Babatunde Ogun is the National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), an umbrella body of senior workers in the oil and gas sector of the economy. In this interview with DELE FANIMO, he spoke on the stalled Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and other sundry issues in the sector. Excerpts HAT is the major issue in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) W that has left it stuck in the National Assembly?

At the beginning when the PIB started, it created a lot of uproar and misunderstanding among many people. One of the knotty issues is transparency. The second one is fiscal

Diezani

regime, while the third is management of oil and gas industry.

There is no way the government would propose a law and all the policies, principles and processes of enacting it will not be transparent. The knotty issues need to be captured in the Bill. But whatever empowers a minister or the Presidency to give acreage to anybody without recourse to due process should be expunged from our laws. It should not be at the whims and caprices of the minister or Presidency or whoever is in office. These are the things that would create competition for other marketers to know that, for you to get acreage in Nigeria with this volume of oil, this is what you are supposed to do. The power given to the petroleum ministry, either through the minister or the representative of the President, is ambiguous. It has to be clearly defined with a rule that for you to operate in the oil and gas industry, these are the things you need to do.

Currently, Nigeria is groaning under government’s inability to fund its Joint Venture (JV) operations. If you go ahead

without looking for real stakeholders that can invest in this economy, then you create a problem by underfunding the oil and gas industry. This invariably can affect the prospect of oil and gas exploration and exploitation. Nigerians have not totally agreed on whether subsidy should go or not, and you are saying that Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) should exist. It does not work this way. The minister cannot sit down in his office and singlehandedly decide for all Nigerian oil and gas industry players the number of agencies they should have. One of the recommendations we made to them is that PEF should be merged with Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). Let them be for downstream. If you are using them for subsidy today, we can now transform PEF to an agency that is going to be responsible for infrastructure.

Now, you are building power plants, you are not working on distribution network. When you finish building gas plants, you will now start looking for gas to power the plants. And after getting gas, you start looking for thermal stations and how to transmit. I think Nigeria must start to think holistically.

Also, the fiscal regime has been a challenge. The core investors who are here, International Oil Companies (IOCs), strongly believe that a change may not be palatable. But we have advised them, as oil and gas workers union, that there is need for them to get a consultant that can advise them on the type of model they should use because I don’t see why there should be variations in result when you are using the same data. By our understanding, I think they are doing that because when you take too much and it is not competitive to other companies, it is a challenge. However, if we are taking what Angola and others are taking and that is what the government is demanding, we do not see why the IOCs should say it is too high. But with

The PIB must tell us the percentage of crude oil that must be refined locally. As a government, they must protect the industry, they should tell us the number of years we can import or export crude oil. This should be specified in the bill. The PIB should also be able to tell us how to share our income in the oil and gas industry. So if you have that type of formula, it helps you, and it is not going to be this minister or another government official dictating to you. All the problems of the country cannot be solved overnight, but if you have a template for planning, we can plan very well.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

5

Issues in the News

nder profitability, says PENGASSAN chief I think the court is just trying to play politics with the judgment.

The court said based on the law, deregulation is illegal, however, the government has a right to determine price. So if you say somebody cannot deregulate but can determine price, what does it mean? Nothing has changed. The court judgment is not for the government, it is not for the masses, it is more of a political thing.

Mark

the way things are, there is a serious gap between the government and the IOCs, and they have not been able to convince both PENGASSAN and NUPENG on the actual fiscal regime. But I think with the consultant we have engaged, we will be able to engage them and we will know where we are going.

There have also been a lot of labour issues.

Our experience is that a lot of companies that were privatised have not done well. Instances are many: the Delta Steel, Aladja and NITEL. Our fear, for instance in the case of the refineries, is that we believe they should not be under the NNPC, we believe that they should be run as companies on their own. When they are run as companies on their own, they can now declare profit. The NNPC will hold in

Ogun

trust the shares of the Federal Government in them. Some of them can also be privatised.

The PIB must tell us the percentage of crude oil that must be refined locally. As a government, they must protect the industry, they should tell us the number of years we can import or export crude oil. This should be specified in the bill. The PIB should also be able to tell us how to share our income in the oil and gas industry. So if you have that type of formula, it helps you, and it is not going to be this minister or another government official dictating to you. All the problems of the country cannot be solved overnight, but if you have a template for planning, we can plan very well.

The PIB does not really say anything about

the downstream. But there must be clear provision for downstream.

The constitution of the board is also important and should be provided for in the Bill.

When you have the Minister of Petroleum being the chairman of the boards of all the agencies, you will discover that there is a problem. You cannot have an NNPC where you make the minister the chairman. That is why you see that in the last 10 years, NNPC has had 10 GMDs. There is no way an organisation can be run that way. The recruitment and sacking of the group managing director of the NNPC has to go through a process. There should be specifications and requirements stated, the post should be advertised openly, and you cannot sack the person unless with the approval of the National Assembly. If not, you make someone a GMD and you make him a political person in such a way that the politicians can influence that person and he can be removed overnight. It should be that it is only the President that can make recommendation for his removal, not the minister, especially when he is angry.

Second, you need to look for competent Nigerians that can be chairmen of these boards while the minister will only represent the President at that level. With that, we can compare notes from the minister’s angle and the man that is superintending over some of these boards.

The host fund too must be explicit. We don’t want a Bill that is left for the people to go and interpret. There should be an addendum that states that we can see and sight how it is going to be managed. The initial feeling is that it is going to be for the host community alone. But everybody that has an oil installation in the country is a host community.

We think the whole of the petroleum ministry itself should be highly skilled and technical, and not just be a sector for all comers. Apart from the administrative cadre, it should be a different ministry staffed with competent people, and that is when they can perform the oversight function. They should also be saddled with the responsibility of providing laws and regulations and ensure compliance.

Why are our refineries not working? And why is it that, despite the granting of licences to private investors over the last five years, none has been built?

There is an issue with the refinery. The government itself promised to build new ones, but as we are speaking, about four years after, we are still waiting. This is to tell you that the level of commitment is not high even at the government level. If you consider the stupendous amount that is being expended on subsidy, then the government should be serious about it. The rate of recovery in refinery is very slow compared to other businesses. And that is why the government must be committed to building refineries. Several people will tell you that they will build a refinery but when they look at the profit margin, they will back off. That is why you see that most IOCs are more interested in the upstream. Another thing is that if they are doing it separately, and the Federal Government too is doing it separately, there may be conflict of business interest. So, the government must work out a process of guaranteeing crude supply to anybody who wants to build refinery. Also, there should be a provision to guarantee the person that when he produces, the government can buy from him at international rate. So with that, if the government now decides to subsidise, then it does it to whosoever it decides to sell to. Again, government must take up the responsibility of some serious social services such as power, rail

services, road and fuel. The government must take a larger chunk of those investments. That is the only way such things could be available. If we are waiting for those investors, they may not come. Some of them just collected the refinery licence in a bid to negotiate for crude to export. People should build their own refineries. They should not be interested in buying the ones built by the Federal Government. People are only interested in acquiring Federal Government’s own in an underpriced value. I think the government needs more commitment and it must include those conditions of giving acreages. Investors cannot come here without adding value to the citizenry. They must be interested in the way of life and economy of the country. They should not be interested in only making money without adding value.

A lot has been said about oil subsidy, whether to remove it or not. The court judgment is however not conclusive. What is labour doing about this?

I think the court is just trying to play politics with the judgment. The court said based on the law, deregulation is illegal, however, the government has a right to determine price.

So if you say somebody cannot deregulate but can determine price, what does it mean?

Nothing has changed. The court judgment is not for the government, it is not for the masses, it is more of a political thing.

That is why we have the PPPRA which is supposed to be a body where we can see the reality, but many factors are not playing out. If the government seriously wants to do that, it must call a stakeholders meeting where we will agree on the things we need.

Government must look inwards. There must be proper engagement of stakeholders. I think what is fundamental about it is that the government has to engage a broader stakeholder forum to look at things holistically. We must look at the cost and benefit of continuing to run the oil subsidy the way we are running it, the cost and benefit of having a change, ensuring that the money that would be saved from the subsidy is fully utilised. As we speak, we do not have confidence in the SURE-P, and do not envisage that the way they are running it will give us accurate return of our expectation.

In spite of government apparatus and all, there still exists oil theft on a large scale. Any hope that this monster will be tamed?

I think it is high time the Federal Government came out and let Nigerians know that it lacks the wherewithal to handle security problems in this country. Our advice over the years is to reach out to our foreign friends like the UK, the U.S. and Israel, for assistance. The Nigerian government security cannot handle it. Our security operatives are already compromised. Most of them, one way or the other, have connived with the people perpetrating these acts and they are deep into it. That is why most of the time they said that a barge has been seized and the crude oil burnt. How could you burn crude oil? Why can’t you return the crude to Nigeria? Who took the measurement? Who was there when it was burnt? There is no oversight function. There is corruption, ineptitude everywhere. Let us get foreign aid. We can pay for this if need be.

The amount of money we are wasting in Nigeria is too much. It should not be seen as colonialism, but the fact that unethical practices, lack of exhibiting work ethics and corruption have eaten deep into the fabrics. If you lose 3,000 barrels on a daily basis, it is more than what Ghana produces.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

6 | NEWS

Catholic women to collaborate with Muslims for peace From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia

ILO puts child labourers at about 11 million worldwide From Oghogho Obayuwana (Foreign Affairs Editor)

HE Catholic women in T the end of this year, there T Nigeria, under the aegis of Acould be as many as 11 milNational Council of Catholic lion children working in Women Organisation (NCCWO), rose from a threeday retreat in Umuahia, Abia State capital, resolving to work with their Muslim sisters in the North and other denominations in the pursuit of peace and cohesion in the country.

They also counselled the youth to note that all efforts by government and the adult society are geared towards giving them better and brighter future, hence they should reciprocate same and avoid acts capable of disrupting peace and progress.

They also tasked churches and spiritual leaders to realise that any position held in the church is for the service of God and mankind. While urging government at all levels to create more employment opportunities by facilitating growth of existing ones and setting up more industries, NCCWO tasked all women not to shun active politics.

“Christian women should not refrain from or fear to go into active politics, but in doing so, we should exhibit uprightness so as to become role models for others,” the group said.

Meanwhile, in his sermon during the mass at Mater Dei Cathedral, the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Dr. Lucius Ugorji, tasked Christian mothers to rise against the intrusion of the aspects of Western culture that negate value system.

homes, on the streets and other nondescript settings as child labourers, a new report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) revealed yesterday.

The report, released to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, said that no fewer than 10.5 million children

• Pope calls for stronger action against ‘modern slavery’ were currently working as domestic labourers worldwide. The ILO also interpreted the scenario of the under-aged working as “beasts of burden” in the world today, as reminder to global citizens of the deplorable days of slavery.

And denouncing the growing plague of child-labour yesterday, Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, in a swift con-

demnation of the trend, urged concerted global action against the scourge, which he described as “deplorable” exploitation of children in domestic work.

He called on the international community to take greater action against the phenomenon.

In a message from the Vatican to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, the

Pope spoke against the “slavery” of child labour, which he said, was on the rise in poor countries and affected young girls in particular.

“There are millions of minors, mostly young girls, who are victims of this form of hidden exploitation which often includes sexual abuse, poor treatment and discrimination,” the Telegraph quoted the Pope as saying.

U.S. council leaders join Nigeria to fight terrorism From Laolu Akande, New York OCAL council officials in Lhavethe United States (U.S.) joined the campaign to end terrorism in Nigeria as Nigerian Christians and their leaders from numerous denominations and associations in New Jersey came together at a rally over the weekend, clamouring and

praying for an end to the Boko Haram attacks in the country.

Empowered Newswire reports that elected local officials from city councils of Newark and Orange have now joined U.S.-based Nigerian Christians to demand that the U.S. designates the Islamist sect a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).

CITN gets new helmsman, officers EW officers have emerged N at the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to steer the affairs of the institute for the next two years.

The officers were elected during the institute’s 21st yearly general meeting, where the leadership baton was officially passed to the new president, Mark Anthony Chidolue

Dike by the former, Asiwaju John Femi Sunday Jegede.

Dike was unanimously elected the 11th president at an extra-ordinary council meeting. The other elected officers included Dr. Teju Somorin (Vice President), C. I. Ede (Deputy Vice President) and Adesina Adedayo, who returned unopposed as Honorary Treasurer.

TheGuardian SATURDAY, June 15, 2013

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

Rising Incidence Of Homicide!

The frequency with which citizens take the lives of fellow Nigerians has become worrisome.

What social or non-social factors are responsible for this trend? Clerics, psychologists, others speak

At the rally, elected local officials also pledged to support the Christian Association of NigerianAmericans (CANAN) in achieving its goals. Council Member-at-Large, Mildred C. Crump from Newark, and Council Man-at-Large, Elroy A. Corbitt, spoke at the rally at Dominion Cathedral of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Orange, NJ. Crump, who described herself as “a sister in the Diaspora,” said she was ready to go to Washington DC and carry CANAN’s message to the appropriate quarters of the U.S. Government. She said: “I pledge my complete and total support, I will go to Washington DC to plead your case.”

She further urged Nigerians in the U.S. to put aside differences, saying, “don’t let silliness keep us from working together. CANAN will take

Committee to publish names, as prominent citizens default in flood relief pledge IX months after the lunch, Sansmany prominent Nigeriare yet to redeem their pledges at the special appeal fund for victims of the 2012 flood disaster.

Interestingly, some of those who pledged but were yet to redeem their vows, have gone ahead to enjoy the tax incentives attached to their pledges.

Against this background, the Presidential Flood Relief and R e h a b i l i t a t i o n Committee, co-chaired by business mogul, Aliko Dangote, and frontline lawyer,

Who is afraid of revelations about the true state of Taraba State Governor,

Olisa Agbakoba, which put the fundraising together, is threatening to publish the names of the defaulters if they fail to redeem their pledges on or before June 30, 2013.

In a statement in Lagos on Tuesday, the committee said it would publish the names of defaulters in newspapers and other social media.

Entitled: “Public Notice: Redemption of Pledges,” the statement expressed the committee’s profound gratitude to all who answered the clarion call for help through their

generous donations and pledges at its fund-raising dinner in November 2012 for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in Nigeria.

“As we proceed to the implementation stage of the planned rehabilitation projects, we hereby call on all those who have not redeemed their pledges to please do so on or before June 30, 2013, as a mark of honour and integrity, as names of defaulters will be announced in all national dailies and social media blogs,” the statement read.

CBN asks banks to disclose details, dissociate from terror groups

By Chijioke Nelson

The Suntai Palaver

Nigeria back from the enemy. The genocide that took place in Rwanda was because people kept silent.”

Narrating how on a visit to Abuja, she narrowly escaped the Boko Haram bombing during the country’s 50th independence anniversary, she disclosed: “I was nearly killed if not for the U.S. Embassy that called us to leave in 10 minutes. We walked past the bombed site,” just before the bombing actually took place.

In his remarks, Corbitt, quoting the scriptures, identified with Nigerians in the struggle against terrorists, saying: “We all have a struggle on our hands.” According to him, Boko Haram is like the Talibans, cowards, and devils seeking to steal, kill and destroy, “but the Bible says no weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”

Addressing about 60,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly audience, Francis called for “ever more effective measures to fight this plague,” which he said, was “a deplorable phenomenon constantly on the increase.”

He added: “All children should be able to play, study, pray and grow in their own families, in a harmonious environment, one of love and serenity. It is their right and our duty. Woe betides those who stifle the joyous impulse of hope.”

According to the ILO, “many work in conditions that are sometimes verging on slavery.” The report is raising much concern because it suggests that 6.5 million of the total number of forced childlabourers are found to be aged between five and 14 years while over 71 per cent are girls.

The report further said that many are subjected to physical and sexual violence, just as others are sent into work to supplement the family’s income or pay off debts, yet they are often denied access to education.

Calling for new international regulations, the ILO further added that domestic child-labour remained largely hidden and difficult to regulate. The report maintained: “The child is working but is not considered a worker, and though the child lives in a family setting, she or he is not treated like a family member.”

Dambaba Suntai’s health? Or why would anybody head to court to stop an enquiry into his real state of health? Controversy continues to rage months after Suntai was flown abroad after injuries suffered in an air crash?

Cheating Dons…

Plagiarism, the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own, is becoming quite common among lecturers. Has this any link with the falling standard of education? The economy? General moral decay? What is going wrong?

These and many more in The Guardian on Saturday.

Book your copy now!

OLLOWING the proscripFIslamist tion and gazetting of some terror groups by the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned all deposit banks in the country to distance their operations from the proscribed groups and disclose whatever details that may be in the system forthwith.

The directive was contained in a letter to the banks and other financial institutions dated June 10, 2013, and signed by the CBN Acting Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department.

The move, which looked like backing the fight against ter-

rorism as perpetrated by the fundamentalist, has also been assessed as capable of greatly impacting the nation’s financial system and socio-economic wellbeing.

The Federal Government had on May 24, 2013, gazetted the official proscription of Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, and Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan or Ansaru.

The proscription order warned the general public “that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective inten-

tions or otherwise of the said groups, will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011, as amended, and liable to prosecution.”

This may have informed the apex bank’s directive to all the financial institutions under its purview to comply, adding: “All banks and other financial institutions are by this letter required to check their database for the names Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram and Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan,” as well as their associates, and report same to the CBN.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

News | 7

CBAAC may be worst hit by budget cut, says DG

By Ajibola Amzat and Gbenga Salawu HE Federal Government’s T plan to reduce overheads in many of its agencies next

President Goodluck Jonathan (fourth left); Vice President Namadi Sambo (middle); Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar (third left); Chairman of the Police Reform Committee, Mr. Mike Okiro (fourth right) and other members of the Police Reform Committee during the inauguration of the committee at the State House Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

year, as a way of tightening national budget, could worst hamper the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), its DirectorGeneral, Prof.

Tunde Babawale, has said.

Speaking during a visit by CBAAC’s principal officers to The Guardian’s Rutam House Headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday, Babawale hinged his fears on the fact that the agency, under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, is always the least budgeted for in the federal allocation.

According to him, a uniform application of budget, cut across all agencies, will bring dire consequences for CBAAC, which has always

Edo tightens security at Govt House From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

• To demolish kidnappers’ dens

DO State has put in place new security measures around principal government functionaries, covering particularly the governor, his deputy, Secretary to State Government (SSG) and Head of Service (HOS), as no one is now allowed into their premises without due appointment.

Even journalists have to put calls through to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, for clearance before being allowed into the premises. Though no formal explanation has been given for the new measures, The Guardian learnt that it might aim to check the unhindered access to the Government House by all and sundry.

And in an unexpected turnaround yesterday, the government also banned the use of commercial motorcycles, popularly called okada, in the three metropolitan councils of Oredo, Egor and IkpobhaOkha, effect from next Monday.

Meanwhile, the government

has identified some houses used by kidnappers as hideouts and has said the “marked” houses would be demolished in the next few days.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who disclosed this shortly after the state Security Council meeting in Benin City, said it was increasingly evident that the state was gradually becoming a safe haven for all manner of motorcyclists.

“In fact, there are confirmed commercial motorcyclists, who have been involved in kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes, including robbery,” he said. “We have tried as a government, over the years, to counsel commercial motorcyclists to observe certain codes, to watch out and ensure that criminals do not infiltrate their ranks and hide under commercial vehicles to perpetrate crimes.

“It is clear to me now that we have not been particularly successful. More and more commercial motorcyclists riders have been found to be

E

involved in various acts of violent crimes.

“Also, because of the influx of bike riders, arising from the decision of some of our neighbouring states where bike riders have been prohibited, Edo State has become a safe haven for all manners of bike riders and because they do not get enough commercial patronage, some resort to crimes in order to sustain a living while posing to be bike riders.

“Therefore, everything considered, we have resolved as a government, effective from Monday next week, that bike riders will not be allowed to operate in any part of Oredo, Ikpoba Okha and Egor local council areas. These three constitute the heart of Benin City. The law enforcement agencies have been informed accordingly and directed to strictly enforce this law.”

Though not foreclosing the possibility of extending the ban throughout the state in future, Oshiomhole said the other 15 councils would be

Govt officials jittery as ICPC goes after certificate scammers From Abosede Musari, Abuja FFORTS by the Independent E Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to authenticate academic certificates and its recent arrest of 41 members of staff of NIMC have left government officials jittery over the integrity of their names and security of their jobs.

An ICPC source confided in The Guardian yesterday that following the arrest and questioning of 41 officials of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), some officials of other government agencies were afraid that the commission’s action might be across board.

While disclosing that some agencies have been identified and would be investigated,

the source said many government officials were involved in certificate forgery, especially among those who claim to have obtained Master’s degrees, which they used for promotion on the job.

Meanwhile, a community development consultant to Shanga Local Council Area of Kebbi State, Garba Hassan Wara, has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for inflating his consultancy fee.

According to a statement from the ICPC Head of Public Enlightenment, Mike Sowe, Justice Zaiyanu Nagodi of Kebbi State High Court, sitting in Birnin Kebbi, gave the sentence in his judgment on a matter brought before the court by the ICPC in 2011.

It stated that Wara was con-

victed on four out of nine charges. He was accused of abetting a public officer to inflate the price of his consultancy fee for the establishment of Shanga Micro Finance Bank from N1.7 million to N5 million, among others.

left out of the ban for now. He appealed to the affected persons for understanding.

He said: “I am not in doubt that there are many motorcyclists who are not criminals, and have no criminal intentions. This is just one sacrifice we all have to make to make our state safer.”

been on the low rung of the allocation ladder. He said: “Government ought to have looked at it and said, if you have an overhead below certain level, it should be retained.”

Further decrying the budget cut, Babawale said the intangibility of cultural products makes decision makers unable to appreciate the efforts of cultural agency such as CBAAC. CBAAC, he said, showcases African culture as the arrowhead of cultural diplomacy.

“Our role is to influence people’s attitude, which does not produce tangible outcome like that of other ministries, but the role played by the culture sector is not in any way less significant,” he explained.

Recently, CBAAC completed a project seeking to harmonise and standardise cross-border languages among such African countries as Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Cameroun and Niger Republic. The initiative aimed at harmonising orthographies of four major Nigerian languages - Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Ijaw.

Babawale said the harmonised orthography was already available for teaching in Nigerian educational institutions, and that the centre would focus on the minority languages in the second phase of the project.

In his response, the Editor, The Guardian, Mr. Martins

Oloja, encouraged CBAAC to continue the campaign to attract respect for African culture. He decried the new fad among the youth that privileges the adoption of foreign language and accent to the indigenous ones.

Oloja, a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), advised CBAAC to collaborate with other organisations at home and abroad that promote African culture and civilisation, such as NABJ. He noted that The Guardian has always supported culture and art, especially through its “Cultural Ambassadors” such as Mr. Jahman Anikulapo and Ben Tomoloju, and would continue to do so.

Meanwhile, CBAAC has been contributing to government’s efforts to regain stolen cultural items and artifacts kept away in foreign museums. Such efforts, Babawale said, included establishing interaction with the British Museum to underscore the immorality of holding on to Nigerian artifacts any longer.

More so, he said the reparation movement once led by the late M.K.O. Abiola was still legitimate, noting: “At the level of our conference, we do canvass for it. But it is an issue that ought to be taken up at the level of African Union. The demand for reparation and compensation is legal and legitimate. Other countries that were so wronged have

Group plans documentary on Nigeria’s electricity supply situation

By Felix Kuye DOCUMENTARY on the efA forts at various levels of government and in different quarters, public and private, towards achieving stable electricity supply in the country will soon hit the nation’s television screens for all to watch.

Titled: “Electricity power situation in Nigeria: The true story”, the 45-minute film, which is being produced by a group, Project Light Up Nigeria, analyzes the electricity generation and supply situation in the country. It will also highlight the different views from different quarters on the realities in the power sector, and celebrate those making practical moves towards achieving a Nigeria of steady electricity supply and

well lit-up streets at night “as confirmed by the results of Nigeria’s Light Up Awards organised by the group late last year.”

National Coordinator of Project Light Up Nigeria, Mr. Frank Aja Ukpabi, told journalists in Lagos that the film, which he said, will also be shown on for-

eign television and various social media networks, is essentially to appreciate and encourage those making real contribution towards steady electricity supply in Nigeria and well-lit-up streets at night based on the age-long saying that encouragement leads to more achievement.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

8|

AfricanNews AU asks Egypt, Ethiopia to hold talks on Nile River’s row FRICAN Union (AU) has “If a single drop of the Nile A urged Egypt and is lost, our blood will be the Ethiopia to come together alternative,” Egyptian Presifor talks with the hope of solving a bitter dispute over the sharing of Nile river waters triggered by an Ethiopian dam project.

The appeal by AU Commission chief, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, came after Egypt angrily warned that “all options are open” over Ethiopia’s diversion of a section of the Blue Nile for the dam.

“There should be discussions around these issues... aimed at having a win-win situation,” she said. “Both countries need the water,” she added.

Ethiopia has pledged to press ahead with construction of the $4.2 billion (3.2 billion euro) Grand Renaissance Dam, set to become Africa’s biggest hydroelectric dam when completed, despite Egypt’s fury.

dent Mohammed Morsi warned on Monday.

“We are not warmongers, but we will never allow anyone to threaten our security.”

Egypt, which fears the project may diminish its water supply, said its “historic rights” to the Nile are guaranteed by two treaties from 1929 and 1959, which allow it 87 per cent of the Nile’s flow and give it veto power over upstream projects.

But a new deal was signed in 2010 by other Nile Basin countries, including Ethiopia, allowing them to work on river projects without Cairo’s prior agreement.

Talks between the two countries should focus on finding a solution “in a new context, not in the context of the colonial powers,”

Mandela ‘responding better’ to treatment, family touched by outpouring of support HEN South African PresiW dent Jacob Zuma appeared before the nation’s

lawmakers yesterday, he brought a cheering new that millions of his country were not expecting so soon.

Using ailing former President Nelson Mandela’s clan name, Zuma told the parliament: “I am happy to report that Madiba is responding better to treatment from this morning.

“We are very happy with the progress that he is now making, following a difficult last few days.”

The announcement, according to a report by Agence France Presse (AFP), was greeted with loud cheers from lawmakers, who, like millions of South Africans, have been on edge over Mandela’s latest health scare, as the frail anti-apartheid hero spent a fifth day in hospital.

However, Mandela’s family yesterday declared that they were “deeply touched” by the outpouring of support since the 94-year-old was admitted

to a private clinic in Pretoria on Saturday with a recurring lung infection.

Until now, the government had described his condition as “serious but stable”.

Mandela’s latest illness has led to a growing acceptance that the Nobel peace laureate may be nearing the end of his life, but Zuma’s announcement was greeted with relief in his home village of Qunu.

“I’m happy,” said 17-year-old Sibabalwe Mehlomane. “It’s good news.”

Members of his family, no strangers to internal feuding, have come together to be by his bedside in the Pretoria hospital.

“Since Madiba was admitted to hospital, the family has been deeply touched by the outpour(ing) of prayers and the overwhelming messages of goodwill from all South Africans and the international community,” said his grandson and clan leader Mandla Mandela.

Zuma paid tribute to Mandela, who was sentenced to

I am happy to report that Madiba is responding better to treatment from this morning. We are very happy with the progress that he is now making, following a difficult last few days. life in prison for sabotage 49 years ago yesterday, along with seven other antiapartheid fighters.

“Because of their sacrifices and the foundation that was laid for a free and democratic South Africa, our country is a much better place to live in now than it was before 1994, even though we still have so much work to do,” he said.

One of Mandela’s co-accused, Andrew Mlangeni, told AFP of Mandela’s resolve as they were sentenced.

“On that day Mandela accepted his fate and made it clear that he was prepared to die.”

Mandela instead spent 27 years in prison during white racist rule, walking free in 1990 before becoming South

Africa’s first black president four years later.

A stream of family members have visited Mandela at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital, where only close relatives are being allowed access.

His current wife Graca Machel has been at his bedside almost constantly since calling off a trip to London last week to be with her ailing husband.

His eldest daughter Zenani, who is South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, was seen entering the heavily guarded clinic yesterday.

Zenani, as well as his two other daughters Makaziwe and Zindzi, and his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, have visited him daily, as have some of his grandchildren.

Nigerian oil tycoon’s ex-wife wins landmark UK divorce ruling ASMIN Prest – the former Y wife of a Nigerian oil tycoon, Michael Prest – has won a landmark divorce settlement battle in the United Kingdom (UK)’s Supreme Court in a closely watched case that had raised concerns about the accessibility of corporate assets in wealthy divorces.

Following the verdict, Reuters reported yesterday that family law practitioners and wealth managers were watching to see how the

court could issue a fair judgment without piercing the legal “corporate veil,” which treats companies and their shareholders as separate entities.

In a decision that will affect anyone seeking to protect personal assets by putting them into a corporate structure, Britain’s most senior judges upheld a ruling which awards Yasmin Prest a share in seven properties controlled by her husband’s company, Petrodel Re-

sources Ltd. The court ruled the property, initially represented as assets of the offshore company, was actually held in trust for her oil trading former husband from whom she was seeking the balance of a 17.5 million pound ($27 million) divorce settlement.

“I’m delighted and relieved that the Supreme Court has ruled as it did,” Britain’s Press Association reported Yasmin as saying after the judgment in the case.

“None of this would have been necessary if Michael had been sensible and played fair,” she added.

Sandra Davies, head of Family Law at top British law firm Mishcon de Reya, told Reuters that although the court ruled the assets be transferred to Yasmin Prest, it did not set a legal precedent on access to corporate assets because the property was actually held in trust for Michael Prest.

“There has to be a situation where the husband has done something to evade, frustrate, put the company beyond his control with deliberate intention,” she said.

“There has to be some element of unfairness, illegality about it.”

Despite the careful ruling, family law partner, Sam Longworth, at Stewarts Law firm said yesterday’s decision would have a significant weakening effect on court powers when dealing with sophisticated wealth structuring in a divorce setting.

“This will encourage wealthy spouses to consider ‘divorce planning’ before and during marriage, which risks further undermining the institution of marriage,” he told Reuters in an email.

Solicitors for Yasmin Prest said that the court’s ruling left legitimate companies with little to fear, while restoring an element of fairness in the area of family law.

“This is a great result for Mrs Prest and for others who might find themselves in a similar position,” said Farrer & Co Partner Jeremy Posnansky.

9

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

WorldReport Flights cancelled as French air traffic controllers embark on strike HOUSANDS of travellers T yesterday faced flights’ disruption and cancellation as

Rescue workers assisting people during a chemical terrorist attack drill in the subway during “EU URBAN CREATS 2013” community exercises in Lyon…yesterday. The drill involves civil protection teams from Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Portugal, in close cooperation and collaboration with European Union and its other member states. The teams react, according to the defined scenario, to a series of major terrorist attacks involving the use of chemical, radioactive and explosive materials.

PHOTO: AFP

Syrian helicopter’s strike prompts Lebanese army’s warning ESPITE Hezbollah’s involveD ment in Syrian government’s war with the rebels, Lebanon’s Army warned yesterday it will hit back against any new attacks from the nation’s neighbour.

The warning came after a helicopter gunship struck a Lebanese eastern town yesterday, ratcheting up tensions ahead of United States (U.S.)British talks on the conflict.

The escalation, agency reports indicated, also came hours after the emergence of video footage showing the mutilated corpse of one of about 60 Shiites slain in the latest outbreak of worsening sectarian violence in Syria.

A Syrian helicopter gunship fired two rockets on the centre of Arsal, a Lebanese town populated mostly by Sunni Muslims, wounding one person, Lebanon’s army said.

In a rare warning against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, it said Lebanese troops “took the nec-

essary defensive measures to respond immediately to any similar violations”.

Most residents of Arsal, situated in the hills only 12 kilometres from the border with Syria, support the Sunni-led uprising against the Assad regime.

The majority of Syria’s population is Sunni but has been ruled by more than 40 years by the Assad clan, who belong to the Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

The Syria conflict erupted in March 2011 following a bloody regime crackdown on Arab Spring-inspired democracy protests.

Since then, there have been several aerial and shelling attacks of Lebanon by both sides, but yesterday’s army statement was the first of its kind in the nearly 27-month conflict.

Lebanon’s poorly equipped army normally coordinates closely with the Syrian military.

Damascus dominated

Damascus dominated Lebanon politically and military for 30 years until 2005, and still exerts significant influence through its allies in the Mediterranean country Lebanon politically and military for 30 years until 2005, and still exerts significant influence through its allies in the Mediterranean country.

Arsal has been used as a conduit for weapons and rebel

fighters to enter into Syria, while it has also served as a refuge for people fleeing the conflict for the safety of Lebanon.

Dozens of people wounded in fighting in Qusayr – most of

them rebel fighters – flocked to Arsal for treatment last week as Syria’s army and fighters from the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah overran the former insurgent bastion.

In a new macabre episode of the war, Sunni Islamist rebels celebrated the killing of some 60 Shiites, mostly pro-regime fighters, according to amateur video distributed by the Syrian Observatory for Human

Thousands march in Moscow, seek ‘divorce from Putin’ USSIAN opposition activists, announcement last week that activists currently on trial for R in their thousands, marched he and his wife, Lyudmila, of 30 crowd violence at an opposition through Moscow yesterday to years were divorcing. denounce President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian rule and call for the release of jailed antiKremlin protesters.

The protesters, who were led by anti-corruption crusader, Alexei Navalny, chanted “Divorce for Russia” and “Lyudmila without Putin. We should also divorce Putin,” in reference to Putin’s

Others chimed in with slogans like “One, two, three, Putin leave!” and “Russia without Putin” as they marched through central Moscow carrying antiPutin placards and flags of all hues.

The protest dubbed the “March Against Butchers” was aimed at supporting twelve

rally last year as well as jailed activists.

About 10,000 people participated in the march, according to Agence France Presse (AFP), while the organisers put the turnout at 30,000. Police said that some 6,000 people had turned up for the march, adding nine people had been detained.

Calm returns to Istanbul Square after police, protesters clash FTER a night of running batA tles with riot police, demonstrators in Turkey yesterday retreated from an Istanbul protest square as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan clamped down on mass demos against his Islamic-rooted government.

Hundreds of officers armed with riot shields and backed by water cannon trucks were clustered along the eastern side of the square by late afternoon yesterday, according to agency reports.

Just a stone’s throw away,

The nationwide unrest first erupted after police cracked down heavily on May 31 on a campaign to save Gezi Park from redevelopment, spiralling into mass displays of anger against Erdogan. demonstrators huddled up in Gezi Park but there were no fresh confrontations.

Office workers, tourists and curious passers-by milled around the square in a relaxed mood, some posing for pictures with smiling police, after a large cleanup operation cleared the site of stray tear gas canisters, anti-

Erdogan banners and makeshift barricades.

Meanwhile, protest leaders cancelled plans to meet with Erdogan yesterday in a fury over the violence that dispersed the huge demonstration on Tuesday night, the Cable News Network (CNN) reported.

But Erdogan went ahead meet-

ing some “popular artists” as well as figures from the protests in Istanbul’s Gezi Park, the semiofficial Anadolu Agency reported .

Protest leader, Eyup Muhcu, said those attending the meeting are friendly with Erdogan’s government.

Thousands of lawyers also marched out of their offices in several cities to rally against the arrests of attorneys in the protests.

While Erdogan was meeting with some leaders, many demonstrators said Tuesday’s unexpected crackdown on

Taksim Square, which had seen no police presence since June 1, had made them lose faith in any dialogue.

“We don’t accept it,” said Gezi Park protester, Anessa, a 29-yearold photographer, complaining that the government had cherry-picked the groups invited to the meeting.

The nationwide unrest first erupted after police cracked down heavily on May 31 on a campaign to save Gezi Park from redevelopment, spiralling into mass displays of anger against Erdogan.

French air traffic controllers went on strike for a second day over an European Union (EU) plan to update rules governing the bloc’s airspace.

About half the scheduled flights at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport were cancelled because of the strike, Reuters quoted the airport as saying.

There are usually about 600 flights a day from the airport at this time of year, it said.

Short and medium-haul flights were those most affected for the 200 airlines that operate out of the airport.

About 2,000 flights across Europe were also cancelled on Tuesday, the first day of the strike, the air traffic agency Eurocontrol said.

The strike also led to the cancellation of 27 flights yesterday from London’s Heathrow Airport – 14 arriving and 13 departing, the airport said.

Most of the flights were going either to or from Charles De Gaulle, Toulouse and Marseille airports, it said.

EasyJet said 66 flights to or from the United Kingdom had been cancelled yesterday.

Greece faces political crisis over state TV closure REECE faced a new politiG cal crisis yesterday as the government was hit with a storm of public protest and a looming general strike over its shock decision to shut down state broadcaster, ERT. The socialist and moderate leftist parties supporting the coalition government were to hold an emergency meeting to decide their response as Prime Minister Antonis Samaras refused to back down.

“We are eliminating a hotbed of opacity and waste,” Samaras said at a European Investment Bank event in Athens. “We are protecting the public interest.”

The broadcaster’s television and radio stations were abruptly pulled off air late Tuesday and its nearly 2,700 staff suspended as part of the conservative-led coalition government’s deeply unpopular austerity drive.

“The ERT lockup amounts to a coup d’etat,” leading union GSEE said in a statement. It announced a 24-hour general strike for today, the third in the crisis-hit country this year.

There was also a protest by journalists in neighbouring Cyprus, where there are fears that budget-straining broadcaster, RIK, could go the same way as the government looks to slash spending in the island’s own austerity drive.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

10

20 Years After June 12

Managing Director, Nation Newspapers, Mr. Waheed Odusile; former General Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPEG), Chief Frank Kokori; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos chapter, Mr. Deji Elumoye; former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; Legal activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Edo State, Mr. Abdul Oroh during a public lecture, Post June 12: The Good and the Bad, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the June 12,1993 presidential election in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO AYODELE ADENIRAN

Eminent Nigerians bemoan bad leadership at June 12 events

By Tunde Akinola CTIVISTS, politicians, professional bodies A and eminent Nigerians from diverse walks of life yesterday gathered in Lagos to honour

and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief Moshood Abiola.

It was a day stakeholders in the political system decided to analyse and chart a way forward for democracy in Nigeria. They also used the event to examine the lapses in the polity and plan ahead of the 2015 general elections.

At a gathering organised by the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) with the theme: ‘Post June 12: The Good and the Bad’, participants agreed that the dividends of democracy had not been evident and enjoyed

by Nigerians because of government’s inability to provide the basic necessities of life like electricity, healthcare system, sound educational sector for the citizens.

In the same spirit, another event was organised at Abiola’s Toyin Street, Lagos residence by the June 12 Movement of Nigeria, in collaboration with Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND).

The forum, tagged: ‘June 12 and the way out of

Nigeria’s instability’, demanded a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), that Chief Abiola be immortalised and that June 12 should be made a public holiday in commemoration of the sacrifice the late politician made for the country’s democracy.

Speaking at the meeting at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, the former General Secretary of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, noted that the reason common people had not been able to benefit from the actualisation of democracy was because the June 12 struggle was left at the mercy of “opportunists” in the guise of politicians that had no developmental vision for the people.

According to him, although the civil societies and other prodemocracy groups laid down their lives for the realisation of democracy in Nigeria, it was unfortunate they had to stay aside when the goal was realised because they had no intention of controlling political power but to make sure the democratic rule was entrenched.

He noted that the fact that successive governments decided to play politics with the generation of power in the country had distorted development in no small measures.

“Now, we have leaders that just come to

power by accident, but I believe one day, sooner or later, Nigeria will have leaders that will come with vision that will benefit the people of this country,” Kokori said.

He added that if the ideals of June 12 were imbibed in the coming 2015 elections, the polity would once again experience true democratic development because the previous election was free and fair.

According to former Governor, Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, there is an imperative need to position the country’s political parties, to be able to guarantee good leadership.

Osoba noted that the yet-to-be-registered All Progressives Congress (APC) would make sure that internal democracy, coupled with caucus arrangement, should determine the emergence of candidates as this process is a factor in the democratic systems of countries like Britain that has the biggest democracy and India that has the largest one.

He said he was not interested in political office, but would love to be a part of the process that would establish a democratic government in the country.

According to a lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Nigerians should cultivate the norm of respecting the outcome of elections if the country was to wit-

ness real progress in its democratic system.

Falana noted that the elements that annulled June 12 election are still within the system disrupting democratic processes in the country.

An example he gave was the recent controversy that trailed the election of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

He, however, said that the bid for Nigeria to secure a permanent seat at the United Nations’ Security Council was a joke because of all the representatives there; power crisis is not an issue in their respective countries.

Falana said: “It is a joke for Nigeria to bid for the UN Security Council permanent seat when it is still battling with problems of electricity at home. Those at that level have gone beyond that; now they have advanced in technology to the extent of visiting the moon.”

At the Abiola residence, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, recalled that the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) had stressed the need to organise a Sovereign National Conference before the return to democratic government in 1999, but anti-democratic forces in the polity neglected the calls.

Adebanjo noted the reason former President Olusegun Obasanjo never acknowledged Abiola’s sacrifices was because he belonged to the caucus that annulled the June 12 election.

To him, General Ibrahim Babangida only used Obasanjo to pacify the Yoruba people. “He (Obasanjo) was brought there without any merit and those of us who opposed him then were thought to be haters. He never believed in the June 12 struggle,” he said.

Adebanjo said the National Stadium or the Eagle Square should be named after Abiola if the Federal Government was sincere about immortalising him.

Also, a member a group of elder statesmen, The Patriots, Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN), emphasised the need for the country’s ethnic nationalities to sit down and negotiate the basis of the country’s unity.

He said the military governments succeeded in using religious groups and ethnic biases to destroy the polity, stressing that these factors that were supposed to corroborate democracy now compete with it.

Asemota asked: “Why did Abiola die? Why was Kudirat killed? Some people need to answer these questions. It is unfortunate we still live in the Nigeria of 1914. We need a modern Nigeria and not the ancient one.

“We need to sit down and talk because a lot of things have gone wrong; even our religious leaders do not say the truth again because they now enjoy political patronage from the oppressors of the people.”

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated that in no time, June 12 would be declared a public holiday because it was an election that depicted the essence of democracy.

According to her, Abiola would have made Nigeria better if he was made the president.

“I am sure Abiola would have provided a way for women to participate more in politics because he had compassion for the womenfolk,” he said.

“I hope the 2015 elections would represent the ideals the June 12 represented.”

‘Display Abiola’s photograph in the Villa as elected president’ Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), a leading civil rights campaigner and defender, took a deep reflection on the June 12 mantra, as it has become in the minds of the people, reports ABIODUN FANORO. OW would you reflect on the H lessons of June 12 as we mark its 20th anniversary?

The greatest lesson to learn from the June 12, 1993 presidential election is that if Nigerians are wellmobilised, they can always decide what would be in their interest without being influenced by ethnic, religious and any narrow sentiment.

That was the message from the election. But the military wing of the ruling class, which did not

want Nigerians united, decided to annul the election. Since then, the crisis of national integration, the crisis of social justice and the crisis of political stability have all combined to threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria.

It can, therefore, be provocative when forces of destabilisation, which carried out the treasonable act, turned round to say the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable.

If the gains of June 12 had been consolidated, by now, Nigeria would have been a leading country in the world in all ramifications. Now, nobody can predict the future of the country. It is as bad as that, no thanks to the terrorist political class and their military wing.

Till today, nothing has been done to immortalise this martyr of Nigeria’s democracy?

A country without heroes and val-

ues cannot appreciate the sacrifice made by patriots. There was even a president, who emerged from the ashes of cremated Abiola, who turned round to fight him even in his grace.

However, President Goodluck Jonathan deserves commendations for having the courage, last year, to recognise publicly, the enormous sacrifice made by Chief M.K.O Abiola. Even though the attempt to rename the University of Lagos after the late hero of democracy ran into contradiction, the Federal Government should not be discouraged from pursuing that matter to the logical conclusion.

First of all, the Federal Government has to release the result of the June 12, 1993 election officially. Secondly, M.K.O Abiola must be recognised as the winner

of that election. Thirdly, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Abiola’s photograph has to be hung as a former elected president, who was not

Falana

allowed to be inaugurated.

The Federal Government has to recognise that we are not running a military dictatorship; so, if it intends to rename an institution (after Abiola), there has to be consultation with the stakeholders.

The reactions of the students of the University of Lagos are not unexpected; we had the same reactions when the then University of Ife was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University.

Generally, people are sentimentally attached to the names of their institutions. But if the Federal Government cannot win that battle, there are other strategic national institutions that it can name after the late Abiola.

At the same time, I wish to appeal to all the stakeholders, to have a dispassionate consideration of the matter.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

11

20 Years After June 12

Those who should unravel ‘mystery’ of Abiola’s death

Abubakar

By Oghogho Obayuwana (Foreign Affairs Editor) the newly designated United States (US) Ia FNational Security Advisor Susan Rice needed critical mass of democratic chroniclers of Nigerian extraction to clear her on the floor of the American Senate (she does not require a Senate confirmation), she would certainly get ‘Nay’ voice votes!

Reason: Tomorrow, as the world joins the democratic movement in Nigeria to mark the 20th anniversary of the June 12 political watershed, her name would rankle as a visitor- harbinger of death mysterious!

On that date in 1993, Nigeria’s freest and fairest election was held and later won by businessman-politician-philanthropist and friend of the military, Chief Moshood Abiola.

But after a futile intrigue-laden struggle to actualise his popular presidential mandate, Chief Abiola passed on five years later (July 7, 1998) in a detention house in Abuja where he was held, by the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, for daring to declare himself president.

Dramatically, the chief died while receiving a high official delegation of the United States (US) government. Today, one of those officials — Susan Rice — is to become an even more powerful global personality given another springboard by President Barack Obama.

Yes, Rice who was later to become Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during the second tenure of former US President Bill Clinton, was in that eyebrow-raising delegation, led by then Undersecretary of State, Political Affairs, Thomas Pickering.

Between Pickering and Rice, a cup of tea was handed to the late chief, who did not recover from what was to be diagnosed later as a fatal heart attack.

As Rice gets set to succeed Tom Donilon as National Security Adviser (Donilon’s resignation having been announced on the 5th of this month), the intelligentsia in Nigeria is trying to interrogate the wind that could be blowing from the White House on this account.

She is the second woman to occupy the office after another Rice — Condoleezza, who served in the George W. Bush administration from 2001 to 2005 since 1955 when the office, as it currently operates, came on board.

The furore over Rice’s bigger coming has to do more with perception rather than substance. If the coroners, who fingered heart attack for Abiola’s death, did not detect any bruise on his body, how much water can the allegation by Al Mustapha (jailed chief security officer to the late Abacha) hold? Mustapha swore that he has the video clip showing how Abiola was practically beaten to death.

More questions: Why would the US stake so much to help Nigeria “solve” a “political problem” by taking out Abiola when agents of the Nigerian state, who were suffocating on

Rice account of the problem, could have also done that dirty job? Did the authorities then or the team of international coroners that carried out Abiola’s autopsy, probe for poisonous gas, or any colourless liquid like sarin? Or simply gave that up knowing that there could never be any trace?

Moshood Abiola sprang to national and international prominence as a result of his philanthropic activities.

The US Congressional Black Caucus of the United States of America issued the following tribute to Moshood Abiola: “Because of this man, there is both cause for hope and certainty that the agony and protests of those who suffer injustice shall give way to peace and human dignity. The children of the world shall know the great work of this extraordinary leader and his fervent mission to right wrong, to do justice... and to serve mankind.

“The enemies, which imperil the future of generations to come: poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, and racism have each seen effects of the valiant work of Chief Abiola.

Through him and others like him, never again will freedom rest in the domain of the few. We, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus salute him this day as a hero in the global pursuit to preserve the history and the legacy of the African diaspora...”

From 1972 until his death, Moshood Abiola had been conferred with 197 traditional titles by 68 different communities in Nigeria, in response to the fact that his financial assistance resulted in the construction of 63 secondary schools, 121 mosques and churches, 41 libraries, 21 water projects in 24 states of Nigeria, and was grand patron to 149 societies or associations in the country.

In this way, Abiola reached out and won admiration across the multifarious ethnic and religious divides in Nigeria.

In addition to his work in Nigeria, Abiola was a dedicated supporter of the Southern African Liberation movements from the 1970s and he sponsored the campaign to win reparations for slavery and colonialism in Africa and the diaspora. Chief Abiola, personally rallied every African head of state, and every head of state in the black diaspora to ensure that Africans would speak with one voice on the issues Now, Abiola passed on under funny circumstances shortly after the frenzied death of General Abacha. The chief was called away on the day that he was due to be released.

While the official autopsy stated that Abiola died of natural causes, Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, al-Mustapha, has alleged that Abiola was, in fact, beaten to death. AlMustapha, who is still being detained by the Nigerian government, claims to have video and audiotapes showing how Abiola was beaten to death.

Curiously, the final autopsy report, which was produced by a group of international

Pickering

coroners, has never been publicly released.

Irrespective of the exact circumstances of his kicking of the bucket, it is thought that Chief Abiola received insufficient medical attention for his existing health conditions.

The political and intelligence gathering initiative of the Nigerian intelligentsia who have a soft spot for Chief Abiola, is no doubt being helped by a supportive submission made by former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

The Ghanaian diplomat, in a most-revealing new memoir titled, ‘Interventions (A Life in War and Peace)’, detailed in December 2012, the role he played in the aftermath of General Sani Abacha’s death in 1998 and his encounter with the late Chief M.K.O Abiola a few days before the latter gave up the ghost.

Annan, who had also met with Abiola at his detention house shortly before his dramatic death, said: “On our return journey, everything seemed set for Abiola’s release. But tragedy struck a week later when Abiola collapsed and died during a meeting with U.S. Under-Secretary of State, Thomas Pickering.

Despite the earnest intentions, we had detected in Abubakar (Military head of state at the time) the timing could only be considered suspicious.”

Annan continued: “Once he realised who I was, he became more enthusiastic. He also became more explicit regarding his plans. He said he had no intention of claiming the presidency. All he wanted was go to Mecca to pray and give thanks. But he emphasised that he would make no commitment in writing. If he did so, he felt this would destroy his reputation. But he said he was willing to give the same assurance to President Abubakar.

“I conveyed this assurance to Abubakar the next day, but he was still hesitant. I explained that a free Abiola, who had no interest in upsetting the situation, would be a calming influence on his supporters, not an agitating one.

“I then told him that I would be announcing in my departing speech to the press that the president had promised me he would release Abiola and the other prisoners very soon.

Whether this speech reinforced his credibility or undermined it would now depend upon him.

“In the ensuing press conference, given shortly before our flight out of the country, I did as promised. But I also revealed that Abiola had, indeed, told me that he had no intention of claiming any right to the presidency, further removing any justification Abubakar held for not releasing him and also smoothing the path ahead with Abiola’s more hardline supporters. I was also trying to ease the concerns of those Nigerians who feared Abiola’s return.

“However, an international team of pathologists established that it was the result of heart condition, and there was no foul play — other than the fact, I thought, that Abiola had been denied adequate medical care throughout

his incarceration. Either way, he was yet another casualty of the systematic violations of a whole range of human rights that are inevitable under personalised and oppressive regimes...

“On leaving the country after the final press conference, we found the Nigerians had lent us a very different airplane than the one in which we arrived. It was old, run-down, and did not look entirely safe. On seeing it, Kieran Prendergast, my insightful and witty undersecretary-general for political affairs, turned to me, laughing through his beard: ‘Well, you’ve done what they needed you for. Who cares about you now?’ Indeed, within fifteen minutes of taking off, the flaps jammed in a mechanical failure, and the pilot told us that we had to return and change aircraft…”

Speaking to The Guardian on the issue, renowned international relations expert, Dr. Nwangwu Okeimiri, stressed the need to seriously decrease the number of “political things” being swept under the carpet in Nigeria.

“The things that I am referring to is not just about unsolved murders and other suspected state crimes,” he said. “The collective, sustainable investigative eye of the Nigerian people is being blurred by these sorts of happenings.

“There is so much distrust in the system and you would expect a responsible democratic government to make the effort at resolving what really happened to Abiola, as would have been the case in better climes. It goes beyond resolving murders and death many decades after. It is about investigating and following up on any funny happening.

“Look, the other day, Philip Radford, executive director at Greenpeace, wrote an open letter to the US congressional committee investigating politically motivated IRS audits. He was raising concerns on the scenario where the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) singled out ‘Tea Party’ groups for special scrutiny.

“In Nigeria, we hear about political witchhunt. But we just hear. And if public-spirited individuals write open letters to the men of power, how many of them do we see? How many gets published in the media and how relentless does our media, civil society organisations and NGOs do the follow-up and make men of power fear people power?

“Are we doing more than just romanticise with the Abiola issue before another incident like that happens again?”

The US mission in Nigeria is also averse to any comment on the link between Rice’s visit and Chief Abiola’s painful passing away. A senior official in Abuja simply told The Guardian, “we respect the genuine democratic inquiry on this matter but as you know, all information on that important visit way back in 1998 has been sent out. The fact that there were two different things happening in the same period, we wish to respect that also at this time.”

12

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

TheMetroSection 20 years after, pro-democracy activists reminisce on June 12

Briefs Rotary holds Evening with the Media June 14 HE Rotary International, T District 9110, Nigeria will Friday, June 14, hold An Evening with the Media, at the Rotary Centre, 8, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos at 5.00p.m.

Some distinguished Nigerians will be given an award at the event. They include: Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, Mr. Sam Amuka, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola and Prince Nduka Obaigbena.

Chief Host is the District Governor, Dr. Kamoru Omotosho while Chairman, Public Relations Committee is Larry Ogose.

Adeboye to dedicate RCCGNA Welcome Centre HE Redeemed Christian T Church of God, North America (RCCGNA), will be dedicat-

A cross-section of activists at Abiola’s grave site...yesterday

By Tope Templer Olaiya, Assistant Lagos City Editor UNE 12 was yesterday elevated to an industry as five southwestern states, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti declared the day a public holiday to mark the 20 years of the annulled mandate of late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who died in detention on July 7, 1998.

Commemoration of the historic date, preserved in Nigeria’s history as the freest and fairest election ever conducted in the country, took centre stage in Lagos as the June 12 movement and pro-democracy activists took over popular event centres in Lagos to reminisce on Abiola’s struggle to reclaim his mandate and sacrifice his life for

J

democracy.

Those who wanted to be reminded of Abiola’s place in history were spoilt for choice as June 12 events organized by different prodemocracy groups, held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja; Blue Roof Hall of Lagos Television, Ikeja; Excellence Hotel, Ogba; Freedom Park, Lagos Island; Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos; and most importantly, Abiola’s residence in Ikeja.

At his residence on MKO Abiola Crescent, it was a solemn assembly of students, activists and politicians who gathered to pay tribute to the memory of Abiola. Held in his ground floor sitting room, which has been converted into a hall, the gathering coordinated by Olawale Okunniyi under the chairmanship of Chief Ayo Adebayo,

PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF

took turns to make speeches about the June 12 struggle and life and times of Abiola.

At the end of the symposium, where members of the Abiola family were conspicuously absent, wreaths of honour were laid at Abiola’s tomb by dignitaries in attendance, which included the Commissioner for Information, Akwa Ibom State, Aniekan Umanah, who represented Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Once upon a time, MKO Abiola Crescent, tucked in the hearts of Ikeja, was paved literary with gold, as it served as a Mecca of sorts to the unending crowd of those who visited the man with a large heart to curry favours and tap from his wealth of knowledge and resources.

He was indeed, a man of the people and the pillar of strength not only for individuals, but also for groups, organizations and critical sectors of the country, most especially in sports and education. This was long before he won the hearts of the whole nation in the historic election that has become a benchmark in Nigeria’s history.

Twenty years after, as memories fade away and with pockets of democratic activists still gathering in remembrance of their hero, the family residence was stealthily quiet yesterday. Against the clatter from the streets, particularly Toyin Street and Allen Avenue, which encircle the expansive residence, the highbrow crescent was an illustration of tranquility with no unusual movement.

NDLEA arrests first cousins over cocaine hidden inside shoe sole

By Odita Sunday ARCOTIC officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have apprehended two brothers over alleged smuggling of 430 grammes of powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.

The drug, which was ‘craftily’ hidden inside a shoe sole, was detected during the outward screening of Etihad passenger flight to India.

The first suspect, Okechukwu Samson Agwueze, 23, was arrested when the drug was found inside the sole of the shoe he wore during The suspecs,: Okechukwu ...Ogbonna screening of passengers on the flight to India.

His cousin, Ogbonna Onwumere, 38, who spontravel documents and facilitated the drug deal sored his trip was also arrested and currently was equally apprehended.” being interrogated by narcotic investigators at Okechukwu Samson, who is a casual worker, said the NDLEA office at the airport. that his grievance has to do with the fact that his NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport Comcousin lured him into drug trafficking. His words: mand, Mr. Hamza Umar expressed delight over “I work on construction sites as a labourer to earn the seizure. a living. I had wanted to travel out of the country According to him: “It is gratifying that the coin search of greener pastures but I was swindled caine which was concealed inside the sole of a of my hard-earned N360, 000 naira while trying shoe worn by the suspect was promptly deto get my travel documents. My cousin, Ogbonna tected. The second suspect who procured the

N

Onwumere promised to sponsor me to India so that I can work and further my education. He invited me to Lagos that everything was set for me to travel and gave me the shoe to wear that mine was old. He never told me there was drug in it.”

The cousin, Ogbonna, who is an importer of textiles, said that he wanted to use Okechukwu in smuggling the drugs to India.

“I wanted to use him in smuggling the drugs because I used my money in processing his travel documents. I was doing him a favour but I will have to get my money back. Why must I sponsor him if there is no benefit,” the suspect said.

Both suspects are from Enugu.

NDLEA Chairman Ahmadu Giade urged members of the public to be wary of relatives and friends who make offers of sponsoring them abroad.

“Members of the public must be cautious of the antics of drug barons. They are not philanthropists but criminals in disguise looking for drug mules to use in advancing their sinister activities,” Giade said.

The NDLEA boss added that the Agency would investigate the case to a logical conclusion.

ing the Welcome Centre/Phase One of its auditorium at the Redemption Camp, Greenville, DFW Metroplex on June 19, at 5.00pm.

The Centre seats about 10,000 people but the Worship Auditorium itself is expected to seat over 100,000 when fully completed.

The General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye will be dedicating the Pavilion Centre at the start of the church's 17th North America Annual Convention holding at the Camp ground.

Pastor James Fadele, Chairman of the RCCGNA, other pastors of the church and guests from all around the world would also be present alongside thousands of RCCG members in the United States and Canada.

Church hold Praise Night MAZING Grace Baptist A Church will on Friday, June 28, hold its praise night tagged: “Great Is The Lord” – from 10.00p.m. till dawn at 49, Adeshiyan Street, Ilupeju Lagos.

Host is Pastor, Rev. Bisi Martins Olatunbosun.

Gbobi MFM dedication HE official opening /dedicaT tion of the ultra-modern building of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Gbobi Region, S/W 40 Adesan, Mowe by the General Overseer, Dr. Daniel K Olukoya holds at noon on Sunday, June 16, at Ajike Street, off Omo-Onile Bus Stop, Adesan Mowe.

Pastor in charge is Deborah Adeyemo.

Lagos gets six new High Court Judges AGOS State Governor, BaLapproved batunde Fashola (SAN) has the appointment of six new High Court Judges for the state, which brings to 56, the number of judges in the state judiciary.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Spokesperson for the Lagos State Judiciary, Grace Alo. According to the statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the newly appointed judges include: Folashade BankoleOki, Sedotan Ogunsanya, Oyindamola Ogala, Michael Savage, Wasiu Animahun and Ganiyu Safari.

METRO 13

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

JUNE 12 ANNIVERSARY

Chief Ayo Adebanjo (left), Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Umana Aniekan, Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, son of late MKO Abiola, Jamiu, Wale Okunniyi and Alhaja Aminat Irawo laying wreath on MKO’s graveside

Former General Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, former governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba, and legal luminary, Femi Falana at a public lecture on June in Lagos... yesterday.

June 12 rally led by Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun (middle) in Abeokuta.

Mr. Kola Abiola (right), Pastor (Mrs.) Laide Bakare, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and Minister of Information,Mr. Labaran Maku at the June 12 Democracy Audit 2013 held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

Police investigate mysterious death during fight From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin.

OLICE authorities in Kwara State have begun investigations to unravel how a 25-year-old man died somewhat mysteriously after he engaged in a fight with a primary school teacher in Ilorin, the state capital.

The deceased, simply identified as Kolawole Olanrewaju, was reportedly engaged in the duel with the teacher, Bashir Aduragba, 39, after an argument caused by dumping of refuse near the deceased’s home.

The refuse dump is said to be close to Olanrewaju’s window, which is also near the school Aduragba teaches at Oke-Aluko area in the town.

It was learnt that the deceased, whose wife had recently gave birth, decided to clear the site with an expectation that nobody would dump refuse there any longer since the site was constituting a health hazard.

P

It was, however, gathered that after clearing the refuse, a pupil from the school came to dump refuse at the site, despite the fact the refuse had been cleared.

This action infuriated the deceased, who reportedly beat the pupil, with a warning that he should no longer dump any refuse at the place.

It was learnt that when the pupil returned to the school and narrated what had happened to the teacher, he came to the deceased and challenged him on his action.

A fierce argument ensued and degenerated to physical combat between them.

An eyewitness said that while the rowdy situation was still on, the teacher went away and came back first, threatening to kill the deceased before he allegedly hit him with a charmed ring that caused him to collapse and subsequently, died on the spot.

Spokesman of the police in the state Olufemi Fabode confirmed the development with an account of the police investigation that corroborated that of the latter eyewitness.

Mrs. T. Ikhidero (right), Mrs. Anne Yetunde Abraham, Mrs. Subuola Owokaniran and Mrs. Iyabo Tobun at the swearing-in ceremony of Mrs. Folashade Bankole-Oki as Lagos High Court Judge ...

Group laments hardship to Lagosians from restriction on Keke Marwa

By Adeniyi Adunol and Tolulope Okunlola

GROUP of human rights A organisations under the aegis of Concerned Human Rights Nigeria, has appealed to the Lagos State government to lift the restriction it placed on the operation of commercial tricycle operators also

called Keke Marwa in some areas of the metropolis.

The restriction, it says has brought suffering to the operators, who depend on it for a legitimate livelihood as the families of those affected are now going hungry.

The restriction at present is being enforced in the

Government Reserved Area (GRA) Ikeja , Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Obalende and Victoria Island among others.

The National Cordinator, Concerned Human Rights Nigeria, Declan Ihekaire, who addressed journalists recently at the venue that was surrounded by the po-

lice, lamented that the restriction had also brought immense hardship on people, particularly women, the aged and children who are having difficulty finding affordable means of transportation.

The group wondered why the government that claims to have the interest

of the masses at heart could go ahead and inflict so much pain on its citizens.

According to Ihekaire, “Lagos cannot lay claim to being a mega city than major cities in India, China and Korea where tricycle is being used as a means of transportation.

14 | THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

TheGuardian Conscience Nurtured by Truth

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

Editorial The House and how to impeach a President HE House of Representatives never ceases to amuse Nigerians with its controversial positions on important national issues. Or how else can its latest effort to tinker with the impeachment process of the President in a way that makes it less rigorous and gives the House unfettered discretion to get rid of the President at will,be described? The bill, which seeks to amend Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution “to remove the ambiguities in the process of removal of the President and the Vice President from office on allegations of gross misconduct and to provide for a more transparent and democratic procedure for impeachment…” has passed the second reading.

The objective of the bill is to alter the present requirement where the CJN is expected to constitute a panel of seven persons to investigate any allegations of gross misconduct made against the President.

There is really nothing to make this amendment compelling at this time if not for the ego of the House and its insatiable penchant for seeking relevance. There are more important bills, which will have direct and positive impact on the lives of Nigerians begging for its attention, but which have remained largely neglected. For example, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has yet to be passed. How then can a bill aimed at simplifying the impeachment proceedings of the President be of major concern at this point? Of what benefit is such an Act at this time when poverty is on rampage, unemployment is rife, insecurity of lives and property is the order of the day and infrastructures are in a decrepit state. It needs restating that what can make sense to Nigerians now is any step that will address this anomaly, and bring about improvement in their lives; and not power struggle between two arms of government, which obviously is the overall objective of the selfseeking bill. Worse still, the reasons adduced so far are nebulous, objectionable and lack credibility. They do not inspire confidence in the least.

It is difficult to explain what the “ambiguities in the process of removal” means, as the House is not the interpreter of the constitution. Those whose duty it is to do so have not complained about any ambiguity and have applied the provision as it affects governors. Even if such an amendment were desirable at all, it cannot be entrusted to the House as presently constituted, considering its antecedent of arm-twisting, vindictiveness, self-serving and overbearing disposition generally in its relationship with other arms of government. The House’s constitutional power of oversight functions has been richly abused to curry favour for itself even when members are richly rewarded for their little contribution to the well-being of the country. This oversight function has become a huge avenue for self aggrandizement and a veritable opportunity to exploit its victims and deal with antagonists or perceived enemies. Two of its members are standing trial for abuse of these oversight functions. It will therefore be preposterous to entrust the important business of removing a democratically elected President solely in its hand without external checks as contemplated by Section 143 of the Constitution, which the bill seeks to amend.

Suffice it to say that the mechanism put in place by the constitution is well thought out and patterned after the 1979 Constitution authored by eminent and highly patriotic Nigerians, in the days when men of conscience whom the spoils of office did not kill, abound in their numbers.

These measures have proved to be good enough as a check on the excesses of both the President and the organ constituted to address such excesses.

This is the essence of the principle of checks and balances, which this amendment in effect wants to kill.

The argument of the sponsors of the bill that because the CJN is an appointee of the President and therefore cannot take rational decision in respect of the power given to him or her to constitute a panel of seven members to investigate allegations of gross misconduct made against the President is non sequitur. It undermines in no small measure the integrity of the office or that of the person occupying it. Besides, it is not exactly correct to describe the CJN as an appointee of the President. The role of the President in the appointment of the CJN is minimal and only consistent with the constitutional principle of checks and balances, which makes the Legislature to pass the law, the Executive to implement and the Judiciary to interpret it.

It is absolutely rare in a democracy for the President to go out of his way to appoint a person of his choice as the CJN. The practice, which has more or less become the norm in Nigeria is that the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court takes over as the Chief Justice upon the retirement of the incumbent. It only needs the ceremonial approval of the President through whom the name is forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. And no one becomes the CJN without the approval of the Senate. Will it then be right to say that the CJN is equally an appointee of the Senate considering that the last act in the appointment chain is performed by it? Or is there a law that makes it obligatory for the Senate to confirm even if it feels that the appointment is questionable?

It is gratifying that the bill is not popular within the legislative chambers and stands little chance of success. Let those who are in support have a rethink. Those who are poised to shoot it down should not relent. They are the ones who speak the minds of Nigerians on this issue. And only they will posterity score high.

T

LETTERS

Kagame does not deserve all accolades you for the opportuSwithIR:nitytheThank to comment on your article above title, which appeared in The Guardian of Sunday, May 19, 2013. Let me start by saying that I concede to you the right to eulogise to the high heavens any of our African leaders that you perceive to be doing well. This is necessary because in the present day Africa it is a rarity to find an “astute, patriotic, visionary and eminently qualified soldier-statesman”, Kagame is no doubt a soldier but I do not agree with you that the other adjectives are appropriate to describe him because the foundation on which he built his regime is very undemocratic.

In Kagame’s Rwanda, the Tutsis, which are mere 20 per cent of the population are ruling the Hutus, which are 80 per cent of the population. The Belgian colonial masters made the Hutus to be serfs to the Tutsis and all attempts after independence to reverse this undemocratic setup had been resisted by the Tutsis, the ethic group of Kagame who seized power through the barrel of the gun. The Tutsis in their arrogance could not tolerate a president of Hutu extraction even though they were and still are controlling all the facets of life in Rwanda. This is the root cause of the unfortunate genocide of 1994, which you referred to without you telling us the cause.

Kagame has done nothing tangible to give the Hutus their rightful place in the scheme of things in Rwanda. Kagame may be riding high now in Rwanda because he has the support of the military, which is virtually dominated by his ethnic minority group, but this is not likely to last forever. The situation in Rwanda is not different from the situation in apartheid South Africa where the mino-

rity white people were oppressing the majority black people.

We know that apartheid collapsed like a pack of cards to give way to majority black rule.

Majority rule will certainly come to Rwanda one day in spite of the antics of the Tutsis led by Kagame.

I would have very much liked to see your comments on Kagame’s attitude to press freedom and his level of tolerance to members of the opposition most of whom are

in exile. I certainly do not think there is anything in Kagame’s rule, which is undemocratically propped up by his minority ethic group in the military that can create “a new heart of lightness whose illumination will hopefully over time enlighten the entire continent.” Minority rule supported by ethic military outfit as practiced by Kagame can only impede democracy in Africa.

• Prof. Olabode Lucas bodlucs@yahoo.com

Justice Rhodes-Vivour, Ombatse and security question IR: The kidnapping of the wife, justice prostrate. It is a symbolic daughter and the driver of SJustice stripping of our highest institution Olabode Rhodes-Vivour of of justice of its aura and inviolabithe Supreme Court has introduced a dangerous dimension into the hitherto intractable security challenge of the country.

The development is a symbolic representation of the infernal depth to which law and order has sunk and a worrisome reminder of the speed the nation is moving towards a failed state status. As one unfortunate incident follows another in seemingly perpetual succession of woes, it has become imperative for governments at all levels to rise to rescue the nation from the brink of utter failure.

After all, the safety of lives and properties is the duty of a government. Imagine the height of national embarrassment that is spawned if a judicial officer of the highest institution of law is being blackmailed to offer ransom to some faceless and lawless elements as an inexorable barter for the safety of members of his immediate family! It is tantamount to laying the institution of

lity.

This is so because the development is bound to generate some disquiet among the judicial officers, and once the emotion of fear is thrust into the judicial parlance, the administration of justice is automatically endangered. If the state fails to protect the judges, the judiciary would not be able to protect the people.

Every day, the now famous “America’s prophecy” that putatively hinted at Nigeria’s implosion and disintegration in 2015, which has attracted heavy criticisms and denunciation from the Nigerian establishment, is becoming a probable theory.

The current rulers of Nigeria therefore need to do all within their power to re-orientate and rescue the nation from the fatalistic fulfillment of unwanted, but seemingly ineluctable destiny.

• Kayode Ketefe, usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.co m

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

15

Business Appointments P27 Unemployment, poverty rates still high, govt admits Egbin to raise electricity output to 1320mw by November

By Roseline Okere

Nigeria’s Internet security profile rises on global list

By Adeyemi Adepetun

HOUGH Internet security HE management of Egbin T Power Plc has concluded Tattacks remain unabated. has however plans to increase power gen- Nigeria eration from the plant from its present 1080mw to 1320mw before the end of the year.

Already, the company has contracted Marubeni Nigeria Limited to kick off the repair works before the end of July to enable ST-06 to be available by November this year.

The Managing Director of the company, Mike Uzoigwe, who made this disclosure recently at Egbin, Lagos, said that the plant, which is the biggest in black Africa, has been fairly well managed by knowledgeable and dedicated managers/engineers through the years of its operation.

According to Uzoigwe, out of the six units, the plant has at different times lost one or the other due to unavoidable failures encountered in operating the units.

He noted that most of the failures followed system disturbances and collapse, which he said, normally introduce imbalance and unnecessary control failures in the system resulting in either boiler explosions or turbine bearings being wiped out. “The good news however is that in each situation, we have always found a dexterous means of getting the machines back into operation at the shortest possible time and at a very well managed cost. Presently, the plant is available for 1080mw from our five units out of our installed capacity of 1320mw.

“The remaining 240mw will be added to the grid when ST06 which is down now will be repaired before the end of this year. The contracting company is making final arrangement to kick-off the repair works before the end of July, this mean that ST-06 will tentatively be available

by November this year. The repair of this unit is really the lowest hanging fruit of the Nigeria electricity supply industry and we are doing all what we can to fulfill this noble dream”, he stated.

Uzoigwe said that funding the repair of the power plant remained the biggest challenge to the company. “We are presently constrained by lack of funds and cannot maintain this plant as we well as we wish. Paucity of funds is causing a hypoxia type of situation in our operations and if nothing is done soon to ameliorate this situation, we may not be good for it.

improved on its Internet security rating, despite raging cyber attacks around the globe.

Indeed, the latest Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), showed that the country’s overall security threat profile has improved from being ranked 59th globally in 2011 to 68th globally in 2012.

Within the African continent, Nigeria is ranked sixth on the ISTR profile after South

•Mobile platform now most vulnerable Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Mauritius. Nigeria is ranked third in Africa for virus activity.

The report, which was authored by United State of America’s Symantec Corp, a global leader in the provision of security, storage and systems management solutions to customers, noted that attackers have shifted their focus to mobile phones, making it more vulnerable than even the PCs, Laptops among others.

Besides, the report, which is Volume 18 in the series, revealed a 42 per cent surge during 2012 in targeted attacks compared to the prior year, which are designed to steal intellectual property.

The report revealed that the first five global vulnerable countries are USA; China; India; Brazil and Germany.

The report, which said there has been surge in cyberespionage attacks, disclosed that these targeted attacks are increasingly hitting the man-

ufacturing sector as well as small businesses, which are the target of 31 per cent of these attacks.

“Small businesses are attractive targets themselves and a way in to ultimately reach larger companies via ‘watering hole’ techniques. In addition, consumers remain vulnerable to ransomware and mobile threats, particularly on the Android platform.

Lucia Aesthetic and Dermatology Center”, it stated.

According to Enterprise Account Manager, Indian Ocean Islands, West, East and

Central Africa at Symantec, Oseme Osobase yesterday, in Lagos, “This year’s ISTR shows that cybercriminals aren’t slowing down, and they continue to devise new ways to steal information from organizations of all sizes. The sophistication of attacks coupled with today’s IT complexities, such as mobility and cloud, require organizations to remain proactive and use ‘defense in depth’ security measures to stay ahead of attacks.”

Osobase hinted that targetCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Managing Director, Quaint Agencies Limited, Bambo Ademiluyi; Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofiq Ajibade; Chief Executive Officer, Oando Marketing Plc, Awobokun Abayomi; and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, during the inauguration of Liquified Petroleum Gas in Lagos on Tuesday.

PHOTO: GABRIEL IKHAHON

Underwriting firms predict growth in premium income

By Joshua Nse HERE were indications T that underwriting firms in the nation’s insurance industry may record increase in premium income this year as full implementation of the “no premium, no cover” regulation will resolve the issue of unpaid premium in the industry.

Besides, it will bring about better balance sheet for the underwriting firms for better services especially in prompt payment of claims.

Insurance managers who spoke to The Guardian on the impact admitted that the

enforcement of the law for business underwriting of insurance contract was a positive development for the industry, as more than 80 per cent of the premium income for this year has been collected.

For instance, DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Olorundare Thomas said the new development is a major regulatory requirement for the industry and we believe it will have a positive impact on the performance of the industry. However, he said, it is too early to predict, but it will further enhance the

industry service delivery including prompt payment of all genuine insurance claims.

Also, the chairman and Chief Executive, Prestige Insurance Brokers Limited, Dr. Feyi Soyewo, explained that the ‘no premium, no cover’ law is not new in the market as it has been in existence for close to a decade.

According to him, it is the strict implementation that is just coming up and I make bold to say that this is one law that if strictly implemented would lift the insurance industry in Nigeria significantly. It will remove com-

pletely the usual disagreement between brokers and underwriters especially on premium collection and premium remittance.

He said: “It will restore and sustain healthy and cordial dealing between brokers and underwriters. It will resolve once and for all, the issue of unpaid premium. It would bring about better balance sheet for operators and a robust industry where all stakeholders, especially the insured, insurers and brokers would be happier for it.”

The Managing Director/Chief Executive, FBN Life, Val. Ojumah, commend-

ed the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for the bold decision it had taken to enforce the provision of Section 50(1) of the Insurance Act 2003, on the issue of premium payment.

He said, “We support the commission wholeheartedly, it is in the best interest of the market. It will impact significantly on the performances of underwriters. Therefore, we have to underwrite their business according to what the law stipulates as it will definitely take off our head the problem of unpaid premium in the industry.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

16 BUSINESS

Nigeria’s crude oil production slides in May

By Roseline Okere IGERIA’s crude oil production declined from the 1.923 million barrels per day (bpd) it recorded in April to 1.902 million bpd in May. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (0PEC) disclosed this in its monthly report released on Tuesday.

N

According to OPEC, total crude oil production from member countries averaged 30.57 mbpd in May, representing an increase of 106 thousand barrels per day (tdpd) over the previous month.

It noted however that the increase came mainly from Saudi Arabia, Angola, and the UAE, while crude production

from Iran, Libya, Iraq, and Nigeria declined. “OPEC crude oil production, not including Iraq, stood at 27.45 mbpd in May, up 128 tbpd from the previous month”, it added.

Africa’s oil supply is forecast to average 2.38 mbpd in 2013, an increase of 70 tbpd from 2012, flat from the previous month.

The report stated that despite the steady state, there were few upward and downward revisions that offset each other compared to last month. “Congo’s oil production forecast experienced a downward revision on the back of changes to the expected output in the second half.

Oil supply from Congo is

expected to average 0.28 mbpd in 2013, a decline of 20 tbpd from previous year.

“Equatorial Guinea’s oil supply encountered an upward revision of 10 tbpd on the back adjustment to actual production figures in the first quarter that was carried over to the rest of the Year. Output from Equatorial Guinea is seen to average 0.31 mbpd in 2013, steady from the previous year.

South Sudan’s and Sudan’s oil production is expected to increase by 80 tbpd in 2013 and average 0.19 mbpd, steady from previous assessment”.

The report believed that demand would expand by 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second half, up from 700,000 bpd in the first six months of 2013.

"The second half of the year is expected to see higher demand. In terms of demand growth, the expected global economic recovery in the second half of this year could also

add more barrels to seasonally higher global consumption.

"Overall, existing fundamentals portray a market with ample supply, which is further reflected in comfortable crude oil stock levels," the report said.

The 6.8 per cent fall in the price of the OPEC Reference Basket in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter in 2012 is expected to have a less-proportional impact on OPEC countries’ overall growth rate due to the comfortable cushion of reserves maintained by some OPEC members.

It added that growth this year is foreseen to be at 4.2 per cent, which may seem far below last year’s 5.3 per cent. “However, after removing the distortion caused by Libya’s strong comeback, which also inflated the figures for 2012, growth in 2013 is likely to in line with that experienced in the previous year.”

...Mobile platform now most vulnerable CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 ed attacks are growing the most among businesses with fewer than 250 employees, stressing that small businesses are now the target of 31 per cent of all attacks, a threefold increase from 2011.

While small businesses may feel they are immune to targeted attacks, the Symantec official said cybercriminals are enticed by these organizations’ bank account information, customer data and intellectual property, stressing that attackers hone in on small businesses that may often lack adequate security practices and infrastructure.

Accordingly, the report noted that web-based attacks increased by 30 per cent in 2012, many of which originated from the compromised websites of small businesses, stressing that these websites were then used in massive cyber-attacks as well as “watering hole” attacks.

It explained that in a watering hole attack, the attacker compromises a website, such as a blog or small business website, which is known to be frequently visited by the victim of interest.

On the improvement from Nigeria, Osobase tied this to increase security awareness, especially from the financial sector, stressing that the

Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cash-less economy initiative made the banks, service providers to improve on their security profiles, thereby rubbing on the economy.

He also disclosed that some government agencies, which were hitherto porous, have subsequently improved their security features making it difficult for hackers and others to penetrate.

Shifting from governments, manufacturing has moved to the top of the list of industries targeted for attacks in 2012.

Symantec attributed to an increase in attacks targeting the supply chain – cybercriminals find these contractors and subcontractors susceptible to attacks and they are often in possession of valuable intellectual property.

In the area of mobile platform, the report noted that last year, mobile malware increased by 58 per cent, and 32 per cent of all mobile threats attempted to steal information, such as e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

Surprisingly, it said these increases cannot necessarily be attributed to the 30 per cent increase in mobile vulnerabilities, stressing that while Apple’s iOS had the most documented vulnerabilities; it only had one threat discovered during the same period.

Ivorian oil firm seeks oil block pact with Lukoil FRICAN Independent oil A and gas company, Taleveras, has signed a farmout agreement with a subsidiary of LUKOIL, Russia’s largest private oil company, for block CI-504 in Ivory Coast.

PETROCI, the national oil company of Ivory Coast, also holds interest in the block.

Block CI-504 is located in close proximity to the producing Baobab field. The area of the block is 399 square kilometers, water depth ranges from 800 to 2100 meters. In the south CI-504 borders on block CI-205, which is already operated by LUKOIL. The committed work programme includes three periods, the first exploration period calls for the interpretation of historical 2D and 3D seismic data as well as additional

3D seismic acquisition by January 2014. Two other periods covering five years in total provide for the drilling of two exploration wells.

Taleveras signed an MOU with PETROCI for collaboration in upstream activities in Ivory Coast in July 2011. Since then Taleveras has signed Production Sharing Contracts with PETROCI for 3 exploration blocks offshore Ivory Coast.

Taleveras is a diversified energy and infrastructure conglomerate concentrating on oil & gas exploration, production, trading and supply, with further activities in power and construction.

Active across the globe, Taleveras’ offices are located in London, Geneva, Abuja, Lagos, Abidjan, Cape Town and Dubai. The company is privately owned.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

17

18

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

BUSINESS

19

NDIC sets up N16b fund for MFBs From Anthony Otaru, Abuja HE Nigeria Deposit T Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has set up a N16 billion special fund to augment the deficit in the premium paid by operating Microfinance Banks (MFBs) across the country The move was initiated to pro-

tect the financial institution from systemic failures. Total premium paid to the corporation by operating microfinance banks was put at N1.6 billion; an amount the corporation described as paltry and a far cry from what is needed to pay depositors of 103 MFBs

whose operating licences were revoked by the authority.

Managing Director of NDIC, Umaru Ibrahim, stated on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ workshopinAbujafortheoperators of the microfinance banks in the country.

The corporation put total insured deposit liability of

MFBs at N4.5 billion while close to N2.5 billion had been paid as insured deposit to depositors of closed MFBs. Ibrahim said that NDIC is considering a more ingenious way of recovering unpaid premium by enforcing a Memorandum of

Bankers Committee endorses Over-the-Counter regulations HE Bankers Committee has T endorsed regulations for Over-the-Counter (OTC) transactions.

Managing Director, Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the committee’s meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that bonds, fixed income, treasury bills and foreign exchange transactions were still being done over the counter in Nigeria without proper regulations.

As the market becomes more sophisticated, over the counter activities have to become better organised, otherwise, we would have unfortunate developments as market disruptions and so on.

The bankers committee, a few months ago, actually supported the Financial Market Dealers Association towards

Computer professionals want govt to tackle unemployment via ICT

By Adeyemi Adepetun HE Computer Professionals T Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) has called on the Federal Government to explore the potential of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to bridge the growing unemployment gap in the country.

CPN believe that Nigeria is under exploring the various opportunities and segments that ICT has.

The Registrar of the Council, Sikiru Shehu, who made this call in Lagos on Tuesday, while intimating the public about CPN’s forthcoming General Assembly/Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled for Abuja next week, stressed that the country can significantly bridged its unemployment gap through IT. Shehu said while government had been making efforts to provide jobs for the unemployed youths, it still needed to do better for optimal result.

“We want all efforts to be complemented with the dedication of this year’s assembly to fashioning out ways in which IT could be harnessed to tackle unemployment, through wealth creation.

“IT as a tool for job creation which has not been properly explored at this time when many educated youths are roaming the streets in search of jobs.

“Therefore, the council decided to dedicate this year’s IT assembly to the exploration of the huge potentials in IT in creating wealth and nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship in our youths,’’ he said.

sponsoring an over the counter self-regulatory organisation.

The good news today is that having obtained its registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a few months ago, a lot of work has been done and this body is about to commence business,’’ he said.

Aig-Imokhuede attributed the recent shot down in operations in the bond and money markets to lack of appropriate regulations to regulate developments in the market.

He said that the committee was briefed on the developments, adding that the market rules were being drafted and would be sent to SEC for review

and approval.

The bank boss said that the body had also finalised the selection of the Chief Executive Officer and would be inaugurated in August.

This is an extremely critical development in the growth of the Nigerian financial market that has grown quite exponentially in size.

Understanding (MoU) agreement between MFBs, the NDIC and their corresponding banks to enable the Corporation deduct premium at source from the account of microfinance banks kept with corresponding banks.

He was however miffed that MFBs’ operators had derailed largely from the basic concept of the financial system, conceived to address needs of rural dwellers and operators of informal sector of the economy.

The NDIC boss told MFBs operators that most the operators would rather put their money on treasury bills and “go to sleep because of risks associated with lending”. But that is not the essence of microfinance banking. The level of premium collected by NDIC, which is N1.6 billion by way of premium since 2005 is a paltry sum if one

considers the insured, and insured deposit liability of microfinance banks.

He pledged the corporation’s financial assistance to deserving MFBs especially those faced with serious financial liquidity problem with a minimal cost including granting them some financial exemptions.

The NDIC boss further berated microfinance operators for non- rendition of returns to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a development he said was worrisome to regulatory authorities. He said part of the reason for conveying the stakeholders’’ meeting was to enable the forum thrash out some of the impediments inhibiting practice of micro finance banking in Nigeria.

The workshop for MFBs operators, first in the series, would be replicated in the five geopolitical zone of the country.

THE GuArDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

20 BuSINESS

Six months after, prominent Nigerians yet to redeem pledge for flood victims ANY of the prominent M Nigerians who made ...Presidential committee threatens to publish defaulters pledges in the presence of President Goodluck Jonathan and the special appeal fund launch for victims of 2012 flood disaster are yet to redeem their promises, six months after.

Interestingly, some of those who pledged but are yet to redeem it have gone ahead to enjoy the tax incentives attached to their pledges.

A Presidential Flood relief and rehabilitation Committee, co-chaired by business mogul, Aliko Dangote and frontline lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, which put the fund raising together, has therefore read the riot act to the pledge defaulters threatening to publish their names should they fail to redeem

their pledges on or before June 30.

It would be recalled that the 34-man Presidential Committee targeted to raise N100 billion and held a fund raising dinner at the Presidential Villa, during which donations and pledges made by prominent Nigerians amounted to N11.35 billion.

The Federal Government and Dangote topped the chart with the donation of N2. 5 billion each,whileJimOvia,Chairman of Visafone and Tony Elumelu followed suit with N1 billion each.

MinisterofPetroleum,Deziani Alison and her Telecommunication counter-

part had pledged to mobilize the indigenous oil companies and Telecommunications firms, which were invited but conspicuously absent at the dinner, to respond to the donation.

To encourage members of the audience to donate generously, President Jonathan

announced tax incentives for all corporate organizations that would donate into the flood relief fund meant to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians who were affected by flooding in the country that year.

The nation witnessed the worst ever flood disaster in the

fourth quarter of last year when the occurrence swept through several states, with 59 communities reportedly sacked, 38, 228 displaced and about 160 people feared dead.

The President undertook a tour of some of the affected areas and promised that government would help them in the provision of reliefs and rehabilitation.

Also the President of Dangote

group, Aliko Dangote went round some of the affected states and made a personal donation of N430 million through his Dangote Foundation.

He had earlier made a donation of N50 million each to Lagos and Oyo states to assist in the rehabilitation efforts after flooding in the two states rendered many homeless and destroyed properties.

Our billboards not illegal, Bi-Courtney tells FAAN

By Wole Shadare I-COurTNEY Aviation B Services Limited on Monday said that it did not

Wants agency to abide by rule of law need the permission of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to place adver-

tisements on its structures at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2).

This is coming as the aviation firm said that it would go ahead to erect the advertisement billboards the FAAN pulled down last week Thursday.

Spokesman for FAAN, Yakubu Dati had described BiCourtney’s billboards as, adding that the placement of such advert material infringed on advertisement rights of FAAN, since the company or organization responsible for the placing of the advert material did not receive FAAN’s permission to do so.

“Every advert placement within the airport premises, including the internal and access roads must be done with the authorisation of FAAN, which has the right over all airport land as contained in the act establishing the authority,” he said.

He explained that the exercise to remove all illegal advertisements at all airports was informed by the fact that the companies that have advert concession with FAAN have all refused to honor the terms of agreement for the concession, and in defiance, have continued to collect money from third party companies for advert placement without paying FAAN its due.

Bi-Courtney described as uncharitable for FAAN to classify, ‘our advert billboards as one of the illegal billboards in the airport environment and consequently vandalise it.”

In a commando like style, security officials attached to the aviation agency had last week embarked on the removal of outdoor advertisements placed by the concessionaire.

FAAN deployed its trucks and officials and forcefully removed the giant advertisement billboards on the link bridge, connecting the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) and another of its hotel facility that is still under construction.

Contrary to the argument of FAAN, Head of Litigation for BiCourtney, Tola Oshobi faulted the agency’s claim.

He said: “We do not need permission from them before putting our adverts on the structures at MMA2.The matter has already been settled by Justice Stephen Jonah Adah of the Federal High Court, Ikeja Division, in November 2011.”

Oshobi stated that by virtue of the concession agreement the firm has with FAAN and the lease agreement on the hotel project,theydonotrequireany permission from the agency or any other government agency to place adverts on the bridge and our ongoing hotel/ conference centre projects.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

21

22

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

23

24

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

BUSINESS

25

Experts seek financial re-engineering to bolster economy

By Chijioke Nelson XPERTSin the financial secE tor have stressed the need to develop effective financial system that is capable of boosting economic agents for growth and development in the country. This was the consensus of the operators at an industry forum in Lagos.

The Managing Director of

FirstBank Plc, Bisi Onasanya, in his presentation titled: “Promoting Financial Inclusion and a Responsible Credit Culture Through Credit Reporting,” at the first national credit reporting conference, in Lagos, said that efficient financial system promotes economic growth.

Onasanya, who was represented by the bank’s Head, Credit Risk Management,

Omolade Olawore, noted that there was low productivity in the economy, with youth employment not growing, hence opted for effective financial system that could help to boost all economic factors.

He routed for the development of the financial inclusion strategy, which is aimed at bringing financial services to the poor and disadvan-

taged at efficient and cheaper cost.

According to him, this means the development of right products and calculation of risks involved, structured to manageable size, for the group, which included domestic workers, petty traders along the road, rural farmers and dwellers, among others, that make up the 75 per cent of the unbanked in the

‘How GITEX 2013 will channel FDIs into Nigeria’

By Adeyemi Adepetun ARTICIPATION of Nigeria at P the 2013 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai, UAE, is expected to improve the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) index of the country.

According to Pinnacle International Consulting of Iowa, USA, which is focused on promoting investment in the country as well as providing international business opportunities for Nigerian based

companies with the aim of facilitating FDIs, the Consulting Executive, Akande Ojo hinted that the country’s establishing a pavilion at the event would aid its knowledge economy drive because of the global audience it will attract.

Ojo, who said that Nigeria was working strategically with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to expose indigenous companies to the international business community by creating a Nigerian Pavilion at the GITEX Technology Week

Fidelity Bank wins award for supporting SMEs OR continually supporting efforts of small businesses’ Fefforts to grow wealth and raise a new generation of entrepreneurs in the Fidelity Bank Plc has been adjudged the best bank in Support of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

The organisers of the Businessday Banking Conference Awards said that Fidelity Bank came tops amongst three other banks – Access Bank and Diamond Bank that were nominated for the award after a critical assessment of their loan portfolios and overall contribution to the SME sector.

According to a news statement made available to The Guardian, the awards was instituted as a credible way of rewarding banks that were supporting economic growth in the country without putting the financial sector at risk.

The awards, according to the organisers, thus serve as a positive incentive for banks to

support the economy in a credible way while recognising and rewarding banks that had adopted best practice in delivering services to the Nigerian people.

Receiving the award, Head, External Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ejike Ndiulo who represented the Group Head, Marketing Communications, Emma Esinnah thanked the organisers for believing in the bank.

He said that the award was a testament to the board and management of the bank’s commitment to efforts geared towards the growth of the economy and poverty reduction.

He stressed that the bank believed that SMEs were the engine room of the development of the economy and was therefore, committed to supporting the sector, as it was the only way to ensure the country’s economic development and reduction on its dependence on oil.

Honda introduces new product to Nigerian market O cater for the growing T demand of motorcycles in Nigeria, Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited has launched a new motorcycle – Dream 110.

The company noted that the move was part of its determination to take over the two wheelers’ market largely dominated by Chinese manufacturer and Bajaj Boxer from India.

The presentation of Dream 110, held at the Ota, Ogun State office of the company, was witnessed by the company’s top officials, clientele, private and commercial motorcyclists.

The Country Managing Director, Osamu Ishikawa described the new motorcycle as the best for Nigerian market.

Ishikawa said that the vision behind the new Dream 110

motorcycle included excellence and user -friendliness.

Honda, he said, had intensified efforts, both high quality and affordable products.

“Our study has shown that the demand for personal user of motorcycle is increasing. The best motorcycle must also be affordable, economical and durable to withstand high terrain considering Nigerian road condition,” he said.

Explaining the features of the new bike, Honda’s Sales Manager, Amos Ogoigbe, said that the motorcycle had 110 CC-engine and developed as a part of the strategy of low price, models for newly emerging markets with focus on ease of handling, fuel efficiency, elegance and durability while leveraging Honda’s global network to increase cost competitiveness.

2013, noted that the five-day event would give participants the opportunity of networking with 25,000 C-level executives from key progressing industries and become part of game-changing ICT trends such as big data, cloud security, financial technology and digital strategies.

He said that at GITEX, the high-

est expectations of first time exhibitors and long-term supporters of the show were surpassed, stressing that from tangible deals conducted onsite to new partnerships and future business leads, exhibitor feedback had reinforced GITEX as one of the most influential ICT exhibitions in the world.

country.

But the Credit Bureau and Risk Management Advisor, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Peter Sheerin, said that the development of credit bureau system in the country had become critical, but presently mitigated by various challenges.

According to him, reluctance/resistance to data sharing among banks, lack of capacity appreciation of the value of credit bureau for risk management, data quality issues, lack of enabling environment- legal and regulation, enforcement of credit reform and regime and weak consumer protection, have impeded the system’s contributions.

However, the Chairman of Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria, Taiwo Ayedun, said that private credit reporting

started in 2001, but took a dramatic turn in 2008, with the establishment of its regulatory framework, including microfinance policy regulatory and supervisory guideline, though reviewed in 2011.

According to Ayedun, three licensed credit bureaux had emerged- XDS Credit Bureau Limited, CRC Credit Bureau Limited and CR Services Plc, with the permission to serve any creditor with defined permissible purposes to access consumer credit files.

This will also be with the consent of the customer.

“While the positive impact of the credit bureaux is already being felt, the widespread impact in terms of expanding credit opportunity to hundreds of thousands of small businesses, millions of consumers and helping banks to diversify risk are yet to be felt greatly.

26

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

27

Appointments Unemployment, poverty rates still high, govt admits

President of Otunba Tunwase Foundation, Ladi Balogun, Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Founder of the Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre (OTNPC) Ijebu-Ode, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun and Provost of the College of Medicine of University of Ibadan, Prof. Olusegun Akinyinka, at the signing of the Deed of Total Gift of the OTNPC to the College of Medicine of the university.

From Anthony Otaru, Abuja HE Federal Government T has berated the growing poverty and unemployment rates in the country, which it described as unacceptable, noting, however, that despite the challenges, the economy remains strong, promising and stable.

Speaking at the Ministry of

Finance Ministerial press briefing in Abuja, the Co-ordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, noted that government was looking for other means of solving the problems.

“I want to report that the economy is strong and stable. But of course, we are facing challenges of inequality and inclusion, meaning that

even though the economy is strong, we have problems with jobs and unemployment. We have problems with wanting to eradicate poverty. We need to move faster in order to tackle these problems. So, we are not saying that everything is solved.

But we know that the stability provides a platform on which we can use to solve other problems” she said.

Govt partners private sector on TVET … Equips poly labs with N15b From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City S part of efforts to churn A out productive manpower for Nigeria’s socio-economic development, the Federal Government said it has entered into partnership with the private sector to support the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which it said would enable the sector make input into the training of the manpower it needs for employment.

Relatedly, the Federal Government said it has spent N15 billion as first instance to equip laboratories of the 51 federal polytechnics and the training of their personnel “to enhance effective use of the modern equipment in the laboratories” Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqqayyatu Rufa’i stated this when she commissioned a second campus; Philipa Idogho Campus at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.

The minister also disclosed that not less than 12 Federal and state polytechnics in the country have so far received the sum of N1 billion each from the Tertiary Education Fund High Impact Fund initiated by the Federal

Government with a view to strengthening the running of polytechnics in the country.

She recalled that in 2012, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund granted a total of N9.3 billion to polytechnics and monotechnics, adding that lecturers in the polytechnics are also benefiting from workers development programmes, which according to her is geared towards producing more lecturers with doctorate degrees.

The minister also said that with the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF), which she said has been approved by the Federal Executive Council, there would be a comprehensive system of education, which she said would be “directly relevant to the needs of employers and the individual.”

While calling for sustenance of the developmental strides in the polytechnic, the minister said: “I would like to commend the management of Auchi Polytechnic; the polytechnic is gradually turning into one of the top institutions in the country. It is as a result of this that I must reiterate my assertion during the inauguration of the

Governing Councils of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education that Governing Councils must follow laid down guidelines and promote merit across the institutions. Appointment of principal officers must be on merit.

This is why we are witnessing this progress today in Auchi Polytechnic” In her welcome address, Dr. Idogho said that the institution decided to embark on the new campus project, after it found out that it lacked the basic infrastructures, which would help in the expansion of the institution.

She said the project was part of four priority areas of expansion of infrastructure, human capacity development, provision of teaching facilities and expansion of entrepreneurial studies for students. “These buildings we are commissioning today are not just structures.

They are structures with modern furniture and electronic boards for the comfort of students. Impressed with the rapid rate at which this campus was developing, the student’s body through the SUG made a representation to the Governing Councils requesting that this campus be named Philipa Idogho Campus.

To substantiate her facts, she pointed out that the exchange rate is stable because the dollar exchange has being between N155 and N160 over the last two years

even as the rate of inflation is slowing down to 9.1 per cent from 12.4 per cent in May 2011.

The minister pointed out that external reserves have risen from $32.08 billion in May 2011 to $48.4 billion as at May 2013 while Excess Crude Account (ECA) has risen from about $4 billion in May 2011 to around $9 billion at the end of 2012, now at about $6 billion in May 2013.

According to her, the ECA has been helping the government since oil production fell from the projected 2.53 million bpd to between 2.1 – 2.2 million bpd.

The Gross Domestic Products (GDP), she also stated has been growing steadily at 6.75 per cent in 2013.

“We are much higher in GDP growth of 6.75 per cent in 2013 than most of the countries in Africa which are presently growing at five per cent adding that without the GDP growth, no one can begin to solve the problems of the economy.

GDP, she said, is the amount of the cake available.

Speaking on the 2013

Budget, the minister noted that the budget was prepared earlier than ever before and also passed early by the National Assembly.

She however added that there are still some areas that needed to be resolved by these two arms of government for full implementation to take place.

Nevertheless, the minister announced that so far, government has released N400 billion for the capital vote for the first quarter and N300 billion for the second quarter in 2013.

Okonjo-Iweala explained that the government has prioritised some projects making it possible to reduce the total recurrent expenditure to 68 per cent in 2013, stressing that the non-oil revenue has increased appreciably even as the ministry is now granting waivers to sectoral sectors only.

On tax reform, the she said that government has recovered about 704.8 million tax arrears.

According to her, tax investigation and enforcement activities led to the recovery of over 10.65 billion.

28 APPOINTMENTS

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

Govt targets 370,000 jobs yearly From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja INISTER of Information, M Labaran Maku, has said that the current administration is implementing deliberate policies aimed at expanding the economy to create employment for the teeming youths of the country.

Maku who stated this on Tuesday in Abuja when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Vanguard presented a letter of appointment to the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, as the patron of the organisation in the North-Central Zone, observed that the sustenance of the ongoing reforms in key sectors of the economy would open up opportunities for youths empowerment and job creation.

He said: “PDP in the last 14 years in Nigeria has done so much to transform Nigeria particularly under the leadership of Mr. President, Goodluck Jonathan. We are beginning to see a country that is growing once again; we are beginning to see economy that is growing faster than any other economy in Africa, even faster than India and Brazil. We are growing at 6.7 per cent, which is above average in emerging economies, which are about five per cent.

According to him, “178,000 jobs are going to be created this year under the SURE-P alone while the target is 370, 000 annually”.

He urged the youth group to be the vanguard for justice and equality in the nation’s polity by insisting that every part of Nigeria is given the opportunity to lead the country with the support and active participation of other constituent units in the federation.

Maku noted that President Jonathan deserves the support of the youths to consolidate on the progress recorded under the Transformation Agenda in order to expand the frontiers of development and wealth generation in the country.

“We believe also in justice that every part of this country will have the opportunity to rule Nigeria, and the people of the South-South are just there now for one term and you know in this country, once power moves, it is expected that they will have full measure of their own opportunity and the South South being the part of the country that is producing almost 70 per cent of our national income, needs the support of the rest of the country to complete their natural term of eight years so that when it moves to another part of the country, definitely, they will also have the opportunity to do same. It went to the South West, they spent their eight years, it is now in the South South”, he explained.

He said the North Central Geo-political Zone has stood resolutely by the PDP since

1999 and would always go with the PDP. Speaking after accepting the offer to serve as the patron of the PDP Youth Vanguard in the North-Central, Moro said he would use the position to champion the emergence of a vibrant youth group in the party that would mobilise all sections of the country to pursue a common cause of development.

He urged the PDP youths not to be daunted by the criticism of the opposition but they should remain steadfast in their support for the party to retain the leadership of this country and win over more states in the hands of the opposition in the 2015 general elections.

“Because we have been in power for quite some time in Nigeria, trying to move this country forward, the PDP definitely is a vulnerable organisation that becomes the subject of attack especially from those permanent opposition members that will seek to continue to criticise every step taken by the Federal Government controlled by the PDP and the states controlled by the PDP for the sole purpose of wrestling power from their hands”, he stated.

Furthermore, Moro remarked that the PDP is waxing stronger, and the youths being the major catalyst for change and development, should complement public enlightenment to convince Nigerians about the progress being recorded in the various sectors of the economy under the current

SON tasks freight forwarders on efficient services

By Faith Oparaugo HE Director General of T Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, has stressed the need for freight forwarders to have a more assured cargo delivery services in all situations.

Speaking at the Presentation of NIS ISO 9001: 2008 Certificate to RedLine Logistics Nigeria recently in Lagos, Odumodu said the ever changing freight forwarding works need to meet requirements that have made it mandatory for organisations to establish and implement a robust management frame to guaranty effective performance and improvement in terms of customer satisfaction and profit.

According to him, an organisation without an enduring

and reliable system cannot survive for long especially, when considering the challenges in delivery efficient cargo services.

He noted that the freight forwarding challenges of the global world including its attendant effects is of great concern to world leaders and their well meaning subjects.

“Any freight forwarding company today that wants to gain a respectable position in the market place will have to work hard to satisfy its customer’s current needs and also be ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

“The relevance of quality management in ensuring effective freight forwarding of goods cannot be over emphasized.

The NIS ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System approach provides a globally recognized and acceptable solution to the

challenges associated with quality management.

“The surest way to maintain relevance, remain competitive and gain more market share in the global market and more importantly guarantee customer satisfaction is through provision of acceptable services this making the NIS IS 9001:2008 standard the key for achieving successful business”, he said.

Odumodu added that the new model of the quality Management System standard NIS ISO 9001:2008, to which companies are being certified, shifted emphasis from conformity to rules and regulations to actual performance output which aims at the development of a quality management system that is customer focused and provides for continual improvement with emphasis on accuracy

Access Bank appoints Awosika director A leading voice in corporate her career.

CCESS Bank has practice A Reacting to her appointannounced the appoint- governance ment of Dr. Ajoritsedere described the appointment ment, Awosika said: “It is Awosika as its second independent non-executive director following the approval of the bank’s board of directors and Central Bank of Nigeria.

Commenting on her appointment, Chairman, Access Bank, Gbenga Oyebode, said: “We are delighted to have Awosika join our Board. Her impressive credentials and vast experience will be of significant value to the bank in the years to come.”

Analysts have described her appointment as “commendable and impressive”.

of the experienced public servant whose service to the nation transverse several federal ministries as “ensuring gender balance on the Bank’s Board and a rich harvest of integrity”.

Awosika has over 35 years experience in public health and possesses extensive experience in public sector governance. She was elected the first female secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and was a resource person for the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria at various times in

pleasing to serve on the Board of Access Bank Plc. I consider my appointment a great honour and assure stakeholders that I will work with other Board members as we build a world class financial institution.”

Awosika has held a number of key public sector positions including being permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and until her retirement, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Power.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

APPOINTMENTS 29

Govt to pay N384b benefits to PHCN workers

By Roseline Okere HE federal government has set June 17, 2013 for the commencement of the payment of the N384 billion benefits to the workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, made this disclosure during the tour of Egbin Power Plc, in Lagos, recently.

Nebo explained that barring all unforeseen contingencies as well as documentation lapses by the over 50,000 PHCN workers, payment would begin on June 17.

He said: “For several months, the Technical and Implementation Committee on payment of severance benefits have been meeting on the issue, and we thought by now we would have gone far in the payment.”

He, however, said that the insistence by the power sector labour union that casual workers numbering over 12,000 should be fully integrated into the system and given appointment letters actually delayed the process.

“I can authoritatively tell you that the appointment letters of the casual workers have been signed and payment would begin by June 17.”

The minister said that a form had been circulated for verification among the workers with a 14-day ultimatum for them to fill and send to Abuja.

“We need a lot of cooperation from you so that the information we get will be authentic.”

Addressing the fear of being short changed during the payment process raised by the

T

workers, Nebo allayed the fear, saying, “your leadership signed documents and no one is going to give the workers less than what is stipulated in the condition of service.

Very soon, the money will start hitting your account,” he insisted.

Advising the workers not to be skeptical about the privatisation process, Nebo urged those that might be called upon by the new owners of the power firms not to hesitate to serve their fatherland.

He observed that inadequate manpower remained a major problem in the power sector,

saying the country might not be able to meet the manpower demands of the new power plants springing up across the country.

He, however, assured that local content policy would be embraced in the post-privatisation power sector in order to ensure that Nigerians were given fair share in man power engagement.

“We believe in local content and not many foreigners will be allowed to work in the sector,” he said.

He said: “We are doing much to ensure Egbin Power plant is kept afloat. We discovered

that power plants were not provided for in the 2013 budget. That is why we have been crying loud for intervention funds to ensure that power plants are kept afloat.”

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Egbin Power Plc, Mike Uzoigwe, said, though the power plant had a installed capacity of 1, 320MW, he lamented that 1, 080MW was currently being generated.

He attributed this to damage caused by incessant system failures to one of the six turbines in the power plant.

ILO partners musicians to tackle child labour From Collins Olayinka, Geneva, Switzerland HE International Labour T Organization (ILO) is to partner with some leading global musicians in its efforts at combating child labour.

The partnership tagged, “Music against child labour initiative” calls for orchestras, choirs and musicians of all genres worldwide to dedicate one concert in their planned repertoire, between October 2013 and December 2014, to the struggle against child labour.

Supporters include the renowned conductors Claudio Abbado, José-Antonio Abreu, Daniel Barenboim, the Mozart Orchestra, the International Federation of Musicians, and Fundación Musical Simon Bolivar El Sistema.

They launched the “call to batons” at a concert at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on Tuesday, June 11.

Signatories to their campaign manifesto point to the 215 million children worldwide, who are trapped in child labour.

The manifesto highlights the transformative power of music and the positive effects of engaging vulnerable girls and boys in musical activity.

The ILO insisted that music can play its part in easing the suffering of children trapped in forced labour.

“Music – in all its forms– is a universal language. Although we sing in every tongue, it also expresses emotions we cannot say in words. It links us all. Together, the world of music can raise its voice and instruments against child

labour,” it added.

The opening day of the upcoming Third Global Conference against Child Labour in Brasilia on 8 October, will mark the start of a series of concerts as part of the Initiative.

A new module on music education will be included in an ILO programme, Supporting Child Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media. A documentary film on the power of music education to contribute to combating child labour will also be developed in the coming months.

The Director of ILO International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, Constance Thomas, said: “We very much welcome this partnership with musicians around the world.”

Stakeholders laud oil workers on rescue mission

By Sulaimon Salau OR being proactive in safeFsaved ty skills that eventually lives of about 13 crew member of a fuel laden vessel that exploded offshore Nigeria recently, crew members of the Transocean rig have been commended by stakeholders.

Although, it was reported that one out of the 14 crew members of the tanker MT Okiki was still missing, the survivors were immediately transferred to the Sedco Express ultra-deepwater semi-submersible rig owned

by Transocean, where they were checked by the rig medic and provided with dry clothes and basic needs.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was said to have given the Sedco Express rig an ‘Attaboy!’ in quick appreciation of bringing 13 crew members of the burning vessel safely to land.

The team has further received commendations from the management of the oil company and other stakeholders.

It stated: “On Tuesday morning, May 7, the bridge crew received a report from one of field security vessels that the tanker MT Okiki had caught fire about eight nautical miles east from the rig. The tanker was in the area in order to offload fuel to supply vessels so installations operating in that block could be refueled.

“FSV Abraham was dis-

patched to the scene and Captain Romulo Oliveira and his EXS team assumed the role of on-scene coordinator for the response and ultimate rescue of the crew.

Mayday-relay messages sent by the rig were acknowledged by MV Al-Kat, which promptly proceeded to the distress location. Al-Kat engaged in remote firefighting after the crew abandoned the tanker.”

After safe rescue, Sedco Express crew arranged for two helicopters to take the survivors into town for further medical checks.

Commenting on the incidence, the OIM, Sedco Express, Mr. Jelle Gepkens, said: “The key to the effective assistance during this difficult situation was good coordination of the situation by the EXS team and the full support received from our customer deploying every available resource at the time. The timely response combined with the team spirit has truly saved lives.”

Transocean’s Managing Director, Gulf of Guinea, Mr. Gabriel Oramasionwu, said: “The entire crew of the Sedco Express performed safely, efficiently and quickly to help rescue 13 people. I am proud of how the crew acted without hesitation, using the resources available to save the tanker crew members.”

He thanked the crewmembers for displaying to customers and partners that safety was everybody’s priority at Transocean.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

30 APPOINTMENTS

Firm extols retiring MD’s virtues N recognition of his contriIGrand butions to the company, Oak Limited, (GOL) one of the marketing companies in the wines and spirits sector in Nigeria, recently honoured its pioneer and former Managing Director, Babatunde Bajulaye, as he retires after 20 years of service to the company.

Speaking at the event held at Ikeja recently, the Chairman of Lexcel Group, Ola Rosiji, said the event was organised to honour the company’s boss who had contributed immensely to the growth of the firm since GOL was created out of Nigerian Distilleries Limited (NDL) in 2007.

He said: “We are here to celebrate the retirement of a man who has served the company meritoriously and has positioned it as one of the leading marketing companies in the country.

LCAN to address unemployment through mentoring programme

By Tony Nwanne O further reduce the numT ber of unemployed in the country, Life Coaches Association of Nigeria (LCAN) has concluded plans to facilitate a capacity building exercise for the unemployed through individual coaching and mentoring.

According to the association, the move to empower Nigerians can be boosted through the use of life coaches for career building and to prioritise coaching profession in the country.

Speaking at the inaugural launch of the society recently, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, LCAN, Fifehanmi Bankole, said LCAN provides opportunity for a mentoring exercise through a coach who offers advisory support for professionals and business leaders

Seminary gets new president R. Ezekiel Emiola Senior Secondary School D Nihinlola has been Examination (WASCE) from appointed the president of 1973 to 1977. He also proceedthe Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, a foremost theological and ministerial training institution of the Baptist denomination.

Prior to his appointment, he was the rector, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos. Born on September 12, 1958 in Ogbomosho, Nihinlola attended Ilorin Grammar School for his West Africa

ed to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he bagged a B.Sc. in Biochemistry.

He proceeded to the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary where he bagged his Bachelor of Theology, first class degree and Masters Degree and his PHD degree specialising in Systematic Theology.

in all spheres of life.

“The greatest investment usually is in human molding,” he said. “If you can empower a person on how to think and do the right thing, then the possibilities are limitless. I will say we are investing in the human mind. The success of our association is evident in the achievement of our aims and objectives, which is almost obvious.

“Life coaching is a highly sophisticated and specialised profession that draws inspiration from different disciplines such as sociology, psychology, positive adult development and career counseling.

“In Nigeria today, life-coaching practice has witnessed increased participation in the last five years, and the need to drive the nation forward through molding and defining individual’s mindset towards a better nation, individuals and intellectuals cannot be over emphasized.

“LCAN is a platform registered to standardise and regulate the activities of life coaches in Nigeria with several modules and programs for individuals to be rolled out soonest. The destiny of the nation lies in our hands because coaching is very essential in ones live and career building. Life coaches help people to grow; hence, the association will help transform lives. People need balance in their career, marriage, home and as a nation that is what gave birth to the association”, he noted.

31

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

ScienceGuardian Meteor caused biggest earth impact, rock samples suggest

Meteor hitting earth HEY came from outer T space. Fragments of rock retrieved from a remote corner of Siberia could help to settle an enduring mystery: the cause of the Tunguska explosion.

On June 30, 1908, a powerful blast ripped open the sky near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Russia and flattened more than 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

Eyewitnesses described a large object tearing through the atmosphere and exploding before reaching the ground, sending a wave of intense heat racing across the countryside.

At an estimated three to five megatonnes of TNT equivalent, it was the biggest impact event in recorded history. By comparison, the meteor that struck the Russian region of Chelyabinsk earlier this year ‘merely’ packed 460 kilotonnes of TNT equivalent.

TNT equivalent is a method of quantifying the energy released in explosions. The “ton of TNT” is a unit of energy equal to 4.184 gigajoules, which is approximately the amount of energy released in the detonation of one (short) ton of TNT. The “megaton of TNT” is a unit of energy equal to 4.184 petajoules.

Numerous scientific expeditions failed to recover any fragments that could be attributed conclusively to the object. Hundreds of microscopic magnetic spheres have been found in the 1950s and 1960s in Tunguska soil samples, but there is continuing debate

about whether they are the remnants of a vapourised meteor. “There’s really not much out there, and nothing that’s definitively Tunguska,” says Phil Bland, a meteorite expert at Curtin University in Perth, Australia.

This rock fragment from a Siberian peat bog appears to have been exposed to extreme temperatures and pressures, possibly pointing to the violent impact of a meteor on the atmosphere.

The lack of samples has allowed wild speculation about the cause of the event, with some of the more esoteric explanations invoking antimatter and black holes.

But most geoscientists think that part of an asteroid, or perhaps a comet, broke away and fell to Earth as a meteor.

Now, researchers led by

Victor Kvasnytsya at the Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine in Kiev say that they have found a smoking gun. In what Kvasnytsya describes as the most detailed analysis yet of any candidate sample from the Tunguska event, the researchers conclude that their fragments of rock each less than one millimetre wide - came from the iron-rich meteor that caused the blast. The study was published late last month in Planetary and Space Science.

“If these are Tunguska fragments, it could end any doubt that it was an asteroid impact,” says Gareth Collins, an Earth-impact researcher at Imperial College London. “We would

have convincing proof that this was an extraterrestrial event, and it would rule out a comet.”

Kvasnytsya says that Ukrainian scientist Mykola Kovalyukh, who died last year, collected the fragments in 1978 from a peat bog close to the epicentre of the blast. Research on the fragments in the years following their discovery found that they contained a form of carbon called lonsdaleite, which has a crystal structure somewhere between graphite and diamond, and forms under extreme heat and pressure.

But the grains also contained less of the dense metal iridium than is typically found in meteorites the meteor fragments that are actually recovered on the ground - so researchers CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

NASENI unveils first ‘100%’ made in Nigeria motorcycle From Kanayo Ume, Abuja with its drive to proIingNvideline necessary engineerand technology infrastructure for industrial development of Nigeria, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has the launched first ever wholly made-in-Nigeria motorcycle called “NASENI M1”.

The 80C engine motorcycle was conceived, designed and manufactured, using local materials by Nigerian engineers at the National Engineering Design

Development Institute (NEDDI)-one of the nine (9) research and development (R&D) Institutes supervised by NASENI. In a statement issued yesterday by the agency, while launching the motorcycle, Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Dr. Mohammed Sani Haruna disclosed that the product was basically one of the targets of the Agency in response to President Goodluck Jonathan’s vision 20:2020 economic transformation agenda.

He remarked that by NASENI’s reckoning, a coun-

try could only be self reliant and economically developed only when her citizens begin to exercise and assert their ingenuities in productive capacities or real time manufacturing toward technology advancement of the country. He said as a nation, Nigerians must demonstrate real capacities for engineering technology development, and production of manufactured goods and services. He said that is why NASENI had taken this bold step to demonstrate to Nigerians that the president’s dream is both realisCONTINUED ON PAGE 39

ASTRONOMY With J.K. Obatala

Another asteroid flyby- ‘Awesome!’ (2) HIS is a revised version of a chart, lifted from United T States National Aeronautic Space Agency (NASA’s) Near Earth Objects Programme posting of June 4, 2013.

“Near Earth Objects” or “NEO’s” include comets. But the concern of the White House Geeks, as well as this series of columns, is only with Near Earth Asteroids or “NEA’s”.

Once again, an NEA will, at some point in its path around the Sun, pass within 1.3 AU (149 million km) of Earth. This potentially perilous proximity usually occurs at perihelion, the object’s closest approach to the Sun. But in a few instances, it happens at aphelion, when the satellite is farthest away.

Astronomers have divided NEAs into “close approach” and “Earth crossing” types, each category containing two subgroups. NASA statistics show that 68 per cent of all NEAs are Earth Crossing, with 62 per cent falling into a group designated “Apollo” and the rest “Aten”.

These names are derived from prototype asteroids—the first object observed, with the orbital characteristics of the group. Thus the nomenclature of the Earth Crossing class comes from asteroids (2062) Aten (after an Egyptian Sun deity) and (1862) Apollo (Greek God of Light).

The largest category of Close Approach types (32 per cent of all NEAs) bears the unlikely appellation of “Amor”: Its prototype, asteroid (1221) Amor, being a namesake of the Roman God of Love. This is ironic because, like other NEAs, the Amors have the capacity to unleash devastating cosmic fury on our planet.

In 2003, the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) programme, at the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, announced the first ever observation of an asteroid revolving between Earth and the Sun. They are called Atiras, after the Pawnee Indian Earth-goddess and the evening star (Venus).

The prototype is asteroid (163693) Atira—known variously as Apohele (in Hawaii) and the first Inner Earth Object (IEO). The six confirmed Atiras (now a sub-class of Atens), venture out as far as one AU from the Sun, which places their aphelion at Earth’s orbital distance. . “Atiras do not cross Earth’s orbit,” Wikipedia notes, “and are not immediate impact threats; but their orbits may be perturbed outward by a close approach to either Mercury or Venus... [which would then make them] Earth-crossing asteroids...”.

According to NASA, astronomers have identified 1,397 NEAs as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), because of their close approach to Earth. The U.S. Space Agency counsels though, “this does not mean a PHA will impact the Earth. It only means there is a possibility for such a threat”.

That possibility is what brought the Geeks to the White House. “The White House used Friday’s flyby as a teachable moment to talk about the potential threat posed by asteroids,” NBC News reported, “as well as the potential for scientific discovery and economic exploitation”.

As if to enhance White House hype, asteroid (2013) LR6 whirled between Earth and Moon on June 8th (a week after QE2), coming to within 105,000 km of our planet. If someone’s fist came correspondingly close, your face would feel the wind. Awesome! (Now the Geeks have got me saying it!!)

Earthlings received QE2 with great fanfare, because it was long anticipated and, more importantly, kept a commendable distance from terra firma. But LR6 was a true party crasher: Rushing in, just one day after NASA’s asteroid watchers scrambled to post an alert!

Fortunately though, the intruder was merely 10 meters across—about the size of a small lorry. Hence it probably would have disintegrated violently in Earth’s atmosphere, as the stress exerted during its passage exceeded the forces binding it together.

“When the object is…less than 50 meters,” notes the Federation of American Scientists, in a paper on Planetary Defense, “the collision is usually mitigated by the Earth’s atmosphere, where it burns up or explodes into tiny pieces before it can physically impact the surface”.

Actually, such explosions are quite common. But only meteoritic scientists, together with top security and intelligence officials in industrialized states are aware.

Asteroid expert Benny Peiser, of Liverpool John Moores University (U.K.), revealed this in 2002.

Peiser told BBC: “Two to three of these explosions happen each month in the atmosphere”. He noted further, that between 1972 and 2000, the U.S. military had observed 520 explosive asteroid collisions, amounting to approximately 30 a year.

Here it comes again oh!…Awesome!!

To be continued.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

32 SCIENCE HEALTH

Apple juices, cereals with excess levels of mycotoxins detected ESEARCHERS from the R University of Granada (Spain) have analysed the presence of patulin, a type of toxin produced by fungi, in several commercial apple juices. The results show that more than 50 per cent of the samples analysed exceed the maximum limits laid down by law.

They have also discovered a sample of rice with more mycotoxins than permitted.

For their part, researchers from the University of Valencia have also found these harmful substances in beers, cereals and products made from them, such as gofio flour.

They are not very well known, but mycotoxins top the list of the most widespread natural contaminants in foodstuffs at the global level. They are toxic and carcinogenic substances produced by fungi, which reach the food chain through plants and their fruit.

Mycotoxins have also been linked to the growing cases of organ damage.

Now new analytical techniques developed in universities such as Granada and Valencia (Spain) show that some foodstuffs exceed permitted levels of these harmful compounds.

Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) according to the study published this month in the magazine Food Control have used their own method of ‘microextraction and capillary electrophoresis’ to analyse concentrations of a kind of mycotoxins, patulin, in 19 batches of eight brands of commercial apple juice.

They differentiated between conventional juice, organic juice and juice designed specifically for children.

Co-author of the study,

Monsalud del Olmo, said: “The results show that more than 50 per cent of the samples analysed exceeded the maximum contents laid down by European law.”

The maximum levels of patulin established by the EU are 50 micrograms per kilogram of product (µg/kg) for fruit juices and nectars, 25 µg/kg for compotes and other solid apple products and 10 µg/kg if those foodstuffs are aimed at breast-fed babies and young children.

However, some samples of conventional apple juices had as much as 114.4 µg/kg, and one batch labelled as baby food had 162.2 µg/kg, more than 15 times the legal limit.

Patulin is produced by several species of fungi of the Penicillium, Aspergillus and Byssochylamys varieties, which are found naturally in fruit, mainly apples. They are transferred to juices during processing because of their solubility in water and stability.

The neurotoxic, immunotoxic and mutagenic effects of this substance have been confirmed in animal models.

“Even then, it is not one of the most dangerous mycotoxins for health and it is included in group 3 within the categories laid down by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),” Monsalud del Olmo pointed out.

This World Health Organisation (WHO) agency classifies mycotoxins and other compounds in four groups according to their carcinogenic potential for humans: 1 (carcinogenic), 2 (probably or possibly carcinogenic), 3 (not classifiable as carcinogenic, although it has not been proven that it is not) and 4 (probably not carcinogenic).

Apple juice Some mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, are in group 1 and can be found in dry fruit, such as peanuts and pistachios, and cereals. UGR scientists have also detected concentrations of this compound above the permitted levels in a sample of rice, and they have already informed the relevant authorities of this.

Other toxins from fungi, such as fumonisins and ochratoxins, are also included in group 2. They are found in maize, other cereals and even beer, as researchers from the University of Valencia (UV) have proven.

Mycotoxins in beer A team from that university has used a new technique called HLPC-LTQ-Orbitrap - to detect the presence of fumonisins and ochratoxins in samples of beer in Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic,

Italy, Ireland, Poland and Spain. The study is also published in Food Control.

“They are minute quantities, although we cannot determine whether they are important because beer is one of the drinks which is not directly included in European law on

mycotoxins,” said Josep Rubert, UV researcher and coauthor of the study.

“What this study does show is that merely controlling the raw material — barley, in this case — is not enough,” added Rubert, “and that these toxins are present throughout the technological process, where it has been proven that mycotoxins that are legislated for can become hidden by joining wit glucose, so this needs to be taken into account for future research.”

The same Valencian team has also analysed 1250 samples of cereal-based products from Spain, France and Germany to see whether there are differences between organic and conventional foodstuffs in the case of fumosins.

One of the most striking findings is that samples of gofio flour, commonly used in the Canaries, had concentrations of this mycotoxin in quantities greater than 1000 µg/kg, the limit established by European law. A couple of years ago, those researchers also identified a consignment of wheat flour with concentrations of ochratoxin above the permitted level.

When the limits laid down by the EU are exceeded, scientists inform the relevant authorities, especially the European

Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Then the contaminated batch must be withdrawn.

The results of the study of cereal-based foodstuffs show that almost 11% of the organic products examined contain fumosins, whereas in conventional products this percentage is reduced to around 3.5%.

This data has been published in the magazine Food and Chemical Toxicology.

“The explanation could be that organic foodstuffs do not contain fungicides or other pesticides, so fungi may have a more favourable environment and increase their toxins. However, in any case, there are other important factors such as climatic conditions – heat and humidity benefit these microorganisms and storage conditions which also influence the production of mycotoxins,” said Rubert, who recognises that analysis must be done on a case-bycase basis.

In fact, in the study of apple juices, the opposite happened, and the organic products had fewer mycotoxins than the conventional ones. What the researchers do agree on is the need to keep defining the toxicity of each of these harmful substances, studying their effects on health and developing more and more exact methods of analysis.

NIMR seeks zero tolerance against child abuse

By Chukwuma Muanya ORRIED by the rising W cases of child abuse in the country, scientists at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) have advocated for zero tolerance for any form of violence against children.

Scientists the aegis of the Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health Research (MaRCH) Group of NIMR at a Symposium to mark this year’s Children’s Day said direct experience with violence and neglect during childhood, increases the risk of violent behaviour during adulthood.

Director-General of NIUMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah, called for the implementation of United Nation (UN) convention on the Rights of the Child and several national and state policies and programmes.

Ujah said: “We advocate zero

tolerance for child abuse which includes violence. We are also mindful of several children, who for no choice or fault of theirs are not within the education system but are exploited in the trade and other businesses in order to fend for or contribute to their livelihood. Some are even the breadwinners of their families, in spite of their tender age.

Such practices expose them to several forms of abuse.

“The family is the accepted and ideal institution for bringing up and protecting children, but unfortunately, in a number of instances, this institution can be the cause of violence, pain and suffering.”

Head of the MaRCH Group at NIMR, Dr. Oliver Ezechi, said the Group is committed to ensuring that Nigerian children live healthy and fulfilling life and strive to contribute to ensuring that all children, regardless of race, creed or circumstance achieve their full potential.

“Our dear children as the future leaders of our dear country, Nigeria, let help stop the abuse of children today.

But remember that the desired change start with us.

Say no to bullying others,” Ezechi said.

Chief Research Fellow at NIMR, Dr. Nkiru David, in a lecture titled “Health Implication of Child Abuse” noted that the immediate effect of child abuse could manifest as physical, psychological and social deficits while long term manifest as maladjusted adults.

To manage child abuse, she advocated for legislation on child protection, adopting the articles of the child’s rights convention into law, prosecuting child abusers to serve as deterrent to others, legislating against corporal punishment in schools/homes and that all schools should have rigorous anti bullying policies.

33

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

NaturalHealth How tomatoes eases night-times for prostate patients OMATOES have already T been credited with a host of health benefits – and now another one can be added to the list.

Lycopene, the antioxidant, which makes tomatoes red, has been found to reduce agerelated enlargement of the prostate and thereby pressure on the bladder.

The revelation will bring comfort to those men troubled by the need to visit the toilet frequently, especially at night.

Tomatoes – packed with vitamins, natural anti-inflammatories and other goodies – have been previously identified as helping to combat cardiovascular disease, stroke and prostate cancer.

The latest benefit emerged from research in Queensland, Australia. A three-month study was carried out into the effect of lycopene in combination with other natural compounds.

A total of 57 men aged 40 to 80 were given pills containing active ingredients or identical dummy tablets.

They were not told which ones they were taking.

African pepper, goat weed endorsed for cancer treatment

EW advice to pregnant N women says painting the nursery and buying fur-

African pepper or Ethiopian pepper (Xylopia aethiopica)

Watching TV increases children’s desire for sweetened drinks by 50% HILDREN who spend a lot C of time watching television consume more fizzy drinks, according to new research.

For every hour they stare at the screen, the chance they will consume sweetened drinks in large amounts increases by 50 per cent, a study at the University of Gothenburg revealed.

Parents who don’t try to curb the number of TV adverts their children watch are twice as likely to have children that consume such beverages every week.

It could be down to exposure to adverts, say researchers - or simply that children enjoyed these drinks while watching TV. The study found children with higher exposure to food adverts on TV were more likely to consume sweetened beverages on a regular basis (posed by model).

The parents of more than 1,700 two-to four-year-olds were asked to respond to questions about their children’s TV and screen habits and consumption of sweetened drinks.

About one parent in seven indicated that they tried to reduce their children’s exposure to TV adverts. The same parents stated that their children were less prone to drink soft drinks and other sweetened beverages.

Why pregnant women should avoid paint fumes, new fabrics, furniture, cars

Goat weed or billy goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides)

More researches have validated the use of African pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) and goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides) for use in the prevention and treatment of cancers. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

S Nigerians and indeed the A rest of the world continue to live longer because of new innovations in medical care and with improved health promotion and education, a report forecast from the United Kingdom (UK), released last week, has predicted that the number of people who will get cancer during their lifetime will increase to nearly half the population by 2020.

But recent studies suggest that eating food prepared with African pepper and other spices and goat weed can prevent cancer.

German and Camerounian researchers following laboratory experiments conducted at Johannes Gutenberg

University Mainz (JGU), Germany have concluded that African medicinal plants contain chemicals that may be able to stop the spread of cancer cells.

The study was published last week in the journal Phytomedicine.

The researchers said the plant materials would now undergo further analysis in order to evaluate their therapeutic potential.

Prof. Thomas Efferth of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biochemistry – Therapeutic Life Sciences at Mainz University said: “The active substances present in African medicinal plants may be capable of killing off tumor cells that are resistant to more

than one drug. They thus represent an excellent starting point for the development of new therapeutic treatments for cancers that do not respond to conventional chemotherapy regimens.”

Nigerian and Chinese researchers have also in a study published recently in Pharmacognosy Magazine showed that Ageratum conyzoides (goat weed) possessed anticancer and antiradical properties in most cancer cell lines. The cancer cell lines include: Human non-small cell lung carcinoma (A-549), human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29), human gastric carcinoma (SGC-7901), human golima (U-251), human breast carcinoma

(MDA-MB-231), human prostate carcinoma (DU-145), human hepatic carcinoma (BEL-7402), and mouse leukemia (P-388) cancer cell lines.

The study is titled “Anticancer and antiradical scavenging activity of Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae).”

In another study published recently in Phytotherapy Research, Nigerian and Indian researchers concluded: “These results indicate that Xylopia aethiopica (African pepper) fruit extract (XAFE) could be a potential therapeutic agent against cancer since it inhibits cell proliferation, and induces apoptosis Continued on Page 35

niture may put their unborn babies at risk from exposure to chemicals. It warns them to avoid paint fumes, or buying new fabrics, furniture and cars even non-stick frying pans while expecting or breastfeeding.

Using fresh food rather than processed food will cut down exposure to chemicals in packaging, says a new report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

And it’s not only the kitchen that is a potential minefield - the dressing table harbours products ranging from cosmetics to perfume that could pose a risk, it says.

Women are advised to ‘minimise’ their use of moisturisers and shower gels and regard the tag of ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’ with suspicion.

Other risks to be avoided are using garden pesticides and fly sprays - and taking painkillers ‘unless necessary’.

The report provides a long list of what pregnant women should not be doing - yet has little evidence that any of it can harm the unborn child.

The RCOG admits pregnant women are surrounded by a complex mixture of hundreds of chemicals in everyday products, most of them unavoidable and low level.

Many are worried about the potential effects on their baby, says the report, so the right approach is ‘safety first’.

It accepts little is known about the true dangers from environmental chemicals during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Studies in the lab, or involving animals, often don’t apply to humans, while research that shows a link between chemicals and hazards to the baby in the womb are not proof of causation.

‘On present evidence, it is impossible to assess the risk, if any, of such exposures’, says the report.

A section headed ‘dealing with potential, but unproven, risks to child health’ says women are faced daily with ‘chemical scare’ stories.

It says they may find it difficult to ‘effectively deal’ with the uncertainty - particularly when there is ‘scientific uncertainty’.

But the report claims women should be given information about the uncertainties so they can make informed choices and take ‘positive action’.

34 SCIENCE GUARDIAN

‘

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

‘Nigeria can compete in race for energy efficient cars, systems’

Considering the peculiar challenges the Nigerian team faces in terms of bringing forward a made in Nigeria car that can compete favourably with their counterparts from all over the world as best environment friendly and fuel efficient car, what part is Shell going to play in helping them overcome these challenges? think certainly one of roles is that when a new team enters the competition is to provide them significant technical advice. To be very clear about the kind of rules of the competition but I think to a large degree also to liaise some people to come and start working with the teams, doing some coaching to the teams on what it takes to be successful and how the technologies work to the students and faculty. I think one of our roles is to help in the model on how a team can form and can deliver a product that can be competitive and successful. I think one of the important things is not about winning but it is about for the students, achieving breakthroughs for their universities and exploring new areas of technology so that the teams can feeling their learning experiences what it takes to create fuel efficient cars and how they are going to take that forward in their own thinking and their own engineering careers for the future.

A big issue that has emerged in this Shell Eco Marathon is the dream for a made in Nigeria car. How far will this concept help the country’s dream?

I think it is reflected because this is the first time any African country is taking part in this event, it is the first time that a fuel-efficient and environment friendly car has ever been designed in Nigeria we understand. So this is a breakthrough. For us we had a long presence in

I think it is reflected because this is the first time any African country is taking part in this event, it is the first time that a fuel-efficient and environment friendly car has ever been designed in Nigeria we understand. So this is a breakthrough. For us we had a long presence in Nigeria and it is great that over these years and looking forward as Nigeria develops and grows as a nation that it can also play its part in the world in designing cars, in designing fuel efficient ways to go about life. I think that is just an important step forward for the country to be making that move and for Shell it is great that we can be part of that journey

Nigeria and it is great that over these years and looking forward as Nigeria develops and grows as a nation that it can also play its part in the world in designing cars, in designing fuel efficient ways to go about life. I think that is just an important step forward for the country to be making that move and for Shell it is great that we can be part of that journey.

The debate on the future of energy is raging and their have so many discussions on this. It seems like Shell is shifting its focus now to students.

On the long run what do you intend to achieve?

The broader question will be how does Eco Marathon fit into an energy company like Shell’s future and what role do we play? I think our position is clear. The world is growing in population, a lot of countries including places like Nigeria, energy demand is growing very fast and we are concerned that there would not be sufficient energy to keep propelling the countries forward. So energy efficiency is really important. It is embedded in the design of cars.

It is embedded also in behaviours of people of young people and their aspirations for the future. I think you can ‘doesn’t Shell want to sell a lot of fuel and should not be looking at efficiency’, absolutely not. We believe our future is

I

Brown

‘

Andrew Brown is the Director of Upstream International Operations of Shell since April 1, 2012. Brown joined Shell in 1984 after completing his degree in Engineering Science from Cambridge University. The following year he was posted to New Zealand, where he worked as a project engineer. In 1988 he moved to the Netherlands to work at Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM), first as a process engineer and then as a construction manager. Brown joined Brunei Shell Petroleum in 1993, leading the mechanical engineering for Offshore West.

In 1996 Andrew moved to Petroleum Development Oman, where he held roles in planning and oil field management.

In 2000 Brown was appointed as Senior Advisor for the Middle East and Former Soviet Union, before becoming Private Assistant to the Executive Chairman of Shell a year later. In 2002 he was chosen to head up the Pearl Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) project in Qatar. Pearl is by far the biggest GTL plant ever constructed, surpassing the 34,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Oryx facility at Ras Laffan and, at 140,000 b/d, 10 times the size of Shell’s only other facility, in Malaysia.

He became executive vice president for all of Shell’s activities in Qatar in 2009 and joined the Upstream International Leadership Team. From 2002 to 2011 under Brown’s leadership Shell invested $20 billion in Qatar, becoming the country’s largest foreign investor.

Brown was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012 for his services to British-Qatari business relations. Andrew has a wife, Julie, and four children.

He enjoys skiing, walking, sailing and golf.

Brown in this interview with The Guardian Newspaper during a side event of the European version of Shell Eco-Marathon on Wednesday May 15, 2013 tagged ‘Powering Progress Together, Forum on Energy-WaterFood: In Search of Resilience” said gas is the future of clean energy, more gas-powered vehicles will be coming through within the next ten to 20 years, Europe is the major contributor to the rise in carbondioxide (CO2) levels, and there is enormous demand by the growing world population on food, water and energy, which is going to double by 2035 and the world needs over $38 trillion to meet its demands on energy by 2035.

Meanwhile, the Mauna Lao Observatory in Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, where researchers have been recording levels of CO2 in the atmosphere since 1957 on May 10, 2013 reported that the concentration of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere has passed 400 parts per million (ppt) and climate scientists including the panelists at Shell Forum are worried that increasing levels of CO2 will cause average temperatures to rise which have a significant impact on the planet’s climate system.

Brown blamed Europe for this rise. He said Europe is burning more coal, while demand for gas, which emits less CO2 is declining. Brown also said with the participation of Nigerian engineering students and their professors from three top universities in the country at the 2013 Eco-Marathon, the country is in the right track towards building a more competitive locally made fuel efficient and environment-friendly cars by participation at the first ever Africa/Asian Eco-Marathon coming up in Doha, Qatar in November 2014. Excerpts: From Chukwuma Muanya, who was in Rotterdam

here many decades to come and we believe efficiency is going to occur to continue the energy systems of the world for the future. What we can do is to inspire young people to do something about efficiency. I think that is one legitimate role that we play and it has to happen not just in the Netherlands but also on other countries, particularly countries such as Nigeria with such a large population, with so much growth ahead to instill fundamental belief in energy efficiency is important for your country but also the future of energy companies that hope to serve these nations.

How much of that do you think have been galvanized over the years among these young sets of people especially those in the universities?

We been running this programme for sometime now and we have put some momentum behind it. You see what is happening here today and it is not just here in The Netherlands, it is global. I think that it is a small part of what needs to be done on the global scale. It is something that Shell is doing to help people to think about energy efficiency and it captures the innovation and the creativity of the young people.

We got to start with the young people, the future is in their hands therefore encouraging them to think about energy efficiency is important for

all of us.

It has been said that the world needs about $37.5 trillion to meet its energy needs by 2035 and also it is recommended that combining green energy with natural gas as main energy success will reduce emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and equals to clean energy. I seek some clarification on these?

Shell is a company that processes much gas as it does fuel nowadays and in Nigeria it is a very large gas producer as well as oil producer. It provides a lot of gas and a lot of gas for domestic use as well. You know our fundamental belief is that as the energy systems develop over the coming decades, gas will play an increasing role. We believe that our gas position is a leading position and one that gives us a good future. But you also think that gas can be used in applications such as in transport. So we have done a lot of work already this year on applications where we put Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in vehicles. Here in Rotterdam we are looking to putting it in badges that go and round the ride. So we see energy systems evolve and we see as Dick Benschop said a future of energy system with gas very much as the largest of fuels for the future in ten to 20 years time. Clearly we are working mainly on liquid fuel vehicles here but we think that we are going to see more gas vehicles coming through in the future. We think as an energy company we have to stay ahead of that curve, we need to innovate; we need to be creative on what we think the future of energy systems are.

In Nigeria, we fundamentally believe we have a role to provide gas for domestic use. We build the Afam Power Station as you are aware, which provides about 17 per cent of the countries electrical energy. So how can we play a role in providing fuels that help countries such as Nigeria develop but also providing new technologies for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

I still need clarification on the $38 trillion. Is it the amount the world needs to spend on energy?

Yes! Yes on energy supply by 2035. Because of the growing energy demand so we think that between now and 2060 we can expect global energy demand to double. So that means that we will have to continue to create sources of energy and there will be a lot of fossil fuels too.

There will be a lot of gas, there will be a lot of oil but there will also be quite a bit of coal. Our belief is more gas and less coal is good. So we are fundamentally boosting how much gas we are producing to provide a better environmental future. But we do think that the world is going to struggle to keep up with the energy demand that it will have as it grows, as it develops, as the population expands. As countries like Nigeria moves to a more prosperous era and also an era where there will be more energy demands, more people will have cars, more people will have washing machines, more people will have televisions and providing the energy to fuel all those things is a big challenge and will require the $38 trillion.

There is a little bit of contradiction here. Fossil fuels like coal are still being use widely and there are fears that the world is about crossing the threshold of CO2 emissions and talking about green energy. Where do we strike the balance?

We are saying and we have shown different scenarios that the CO2 concentrations will rise and this is a concern. We are also pretty clear that energy efficient necessary for the future, are necessary to mitigate this impact of CO2 levels. We are also clear that more gas is going to help reduce the CO2 as compared to coal.

Actually what is happening at the moment is that the Shell gas is causing the CO2 in North America to decrease. But what it is doing is creating very cheap coal, which Europe is starting to use more of. That is a bit of an irony because Europe is now using more coal and CO2 is therefore getting pushed up whereas the United States is getting the benefit of the Shell Gas. Nigeria has enormous gas resources.

Nigeria has enormous opportunity to use gas as part of its energy transition for the future.

Shell plays a role in that. I think we do need cleaner energy sources. We do need to start thinking about carbon capturing storage.

When we are burning gas in power generation, can we capture the CO2 from fluid gases and inject them unto the ground again and Shell is doing a lot of projects in that area. So we do need to move the energy system to a cleaner and more sustainable future and I think this event hopefully gives you a sense that Shell wants to be a leading part of that journey towards a more sustainable energy future.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

35

African pepper, goat weed for cancer prevention, treatContinued from Page 33 and cell cycle arrest in human cervical cancer cell line C33A.” The study is titled “Anti-proliferative Action of Xylopia aethiopica Fruit Extract on Human Cervical Cancer Cells.”

Also, French and Cameroun researchers have confirmed the confirmed the cytotoxic activity of Xylopia aethiopica extract against a panel of cancer cell lines and identified the main compound responsible for this cytotoxic effect: ent-15-oxokaur-16-en-19-oic acid (EOKA).

The study published in Cell Division is titled “Characterisation of the antiproliferative activity of Xylopia aethiopica.”

Xylopia aethiopica, commonly called African pepper or Guinea pepper belongs to the family Annonaceae.

In Nigerian Arabic, it is called kyimba in, kumba in ArabicShuwa, kenya in Bokyi, akada in Degema, unie in Edo, ata in Efik, kimbaahre in FulaFulfulde, kimbaa in Hausa, ata in Ibibio, uda in Ibo, tsunfyanya in Nupe, kimbill in Tera, eeru in Yoruba.

Xylopia aethiopica, a plant found throughout West Africa, has both nutritional and medicinal uses.

The cloves of the plant Xylopia aethiopica, a member of the custard apple family, Annonaceae, are used as a spice in various traditional dishes of Western and Central Africa. The plant is also used in decoction to treat dysentery, bronchitis, ulceration, skin infection and female sterility.

According to The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa by H. M. Burkill, “the powdered root of Xylopia aethiopica is used as a dressing for sores and to rub on gums for pyorrhoea and in local treatment of cancer in Nigeria, and when mixed with salt is a cure for constipation.

“The powdered bark is dusted onto ulcers, and a decoction of leaves and roots is a general tonic in Nigeria for fevers and debility, and enters an agbo prescription.

The leaves have a pungent smell. A decoction is used in Gabon against rheumatism and as an emetic, and as a macerate in palm-wine it makes a popular intoxicating drink. In Congo powdered leaves are taken as snuff for headaches, and used in friction on the chest for bronchio-pneumonia.”

Commonly called goat weed and billy goat weed, Ageratum conyzoides L. belongs to the plant family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae). It is native to Central America, Caribbean, United States, Southeast Asia, South China, India, Nigeria, Australia, and South America.

It is traditionally called ufu opioko and otogo by the Igedes in Benue state, Nigeria.

In Southwestern Nigeria, it is known as Imí esú. It is called ebegho-edore in Edo, ikoun ifuo eyen in Efik, agadi isi awa in Ibo, huhu in Tiv, ako yunyun in Yoruba.

Ageratum conyzoides has been used in folklore for the treatment of fever, pneumonia, cold, rheumatism, spasm, headache, and curing

wounds. It is gastro-protective, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, anti-analgesic, antipyretic, anticoccidial, and anticonvulsant properties have been reported.

According to The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa

by H. M. Burkill, “the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides are considered to be antiseptic.

Preparations are commonly applied to craw-craw in the Region, and to itch in South East (SE) Asia. In Congo the sap is put onto prurient affections of the skin. The leaves are cicitrisant. They are applied to chronic ulcers, to bruises, cuts and sores, and circumcision wounds in Nigeria; to cuts and sores in Gabon, Tanganyika and in Ethiopia; as a haemostatic topically on wounds and haemorrhoids and intra-vaginally for uterine bleeding in Ivory Coast.

“The sap or the plant, dried and powdered, is a wounddressing in Tanganyika, and is valued especially for burns; similar uses are recorded in SE Asia. The leaves may have some analgesic action: powdered leaves are applied to the forehead for headache in The Gambia; the whole green leaf is so used in Nigeria; the sap in Congo, and mixed with clay in Ivory Coast-Upper Volta for headache and chestpains. Leaves baked in palmoil are used for rheumatism in Gabon.”

Currently, over 50 per cent of drugs used in clinical trials for anticancer activity were isolated from natural sources or are related to them. A number of active compounds have been shown to possess anticancer activity; these include flavonoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, and alkaloids. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the cancer-preventive effects of plants. These include inhibition of mutagenesis by inhibiting the metabolism, inhibition of Deoxy ribo-Nucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material adduct formation, free-radical scavenging, and effects on cell proliferation and tumor growth.

Meanwhile, for the past four years, Efferth and biochemist Dr. Victor Keute of the University of Dschang in Cameroon have been studying the active substances in African plants such as the giant globe thistle, wild pepper, speargrass, and Ethiopian pepper.

The researchers of the Ageratum conyzoides study wrote: “In the present study, the petroleum ether and ethylacetate extracts of ethanolic extract of A. conyzoides showed inhibitory activity on a wide range of cancer cell lines with ethylacetate extract having the greatest activity. It could therefore be deduced that the ethylacetate and petroleum ether extracts of A. conyzoides possess anticancer properties.

“Flavonoids have been implicated as responsible for the anticancer activities of some medicinal plants. The study showed that the flavonoids cis-2,5,7-trihydroxyflavanonol-3-O- -D-glucopyranoside and chrysin-6-C- -Dglucopyranosyl-8-C- -L-arabinopyranoside exhibited significant cytotoxicity activi-

ty on A-549 and BGC-823 cancer cell lines. Thus, flavonoids may be responsible for the anticancer activity of A. conyzoides.

“Studies conducted by reported a high correlation between DPPH radical scavenging potential and total phenolic content. Kaempferol (3,5,7,4 -tetrahydroxyflavone) is one of the most commonly found dietary flavonols.

Kaempferol has also been found to be a blocker of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by low K+-induced apoptosis in cerebella granule cells.

“According to previous reports, antioxidant activity of kaempferol was believed to have cytoprotective function against oxidative stress. It seemed to suggest that kaempferol may not only protect cells from free radical

damage via antioxidant effect, but also induce apoptotic cell death, via pro-oxidant activity, in malignant cell lines and to inhibit tumorigenesis.

“The antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer activity, and HIV protease inhibitory activity of kaempferol have also been reported.

“The result of the present investigation showed that A. conyzoides possesses antiradical activity and the property resides on the ethyl acetate extract. Kaempferol, which was isolated from this extract, was found to scavenge DPPH radical. It could therefore be deduced that the bioactive compound responsible for the antiradical activity of A. conyzoides is 3,5,7,4 -tetrahydroxyflavone (kaempferol).

“Further research is needed

to unravel the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the anticancer properties of the extracts of A. conyzoides.

In conclusion, the study has not only established the anticancer property of the extracts of A. conyzoides but also its antioxidant activity.

Thus, the plant could be employed in ethno-medicine for the management of cancerous diseases.”

Meanwhile, several studies have shown that X. aethiopica extracts possess antibacterial, antifungal and anti-plasmodial activities. X. aethiopica extract contains an antioxidant activity; it also increases antioxidant defense and protects rats from the adverse effects of irradiation.

Although some extracts of this plant have antioxidant properties, others have cytotoxic effects on a wide range

of cancer cell lines. A recent study of various Cameroonian spices found that extract of X. aethiopica had cytotoxic activity against pancreatic and leukemia cells sufficient for the plant to be considered a potential source of cytotoxic compounds, according to the plant-screening program of the National Cancer Institute.

“In this report, we confirm the cytotoxic activity of X. aethiopica extract against a panel of cancer cell lines and identify the main compound responsible for this cytotoxic effect: ent-15-oxokaur-16-en19-oic acid (EOKA).

Furthermore, we show that EOKA triggers DNA damage and accumulation of the cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, followed by apoptosis,” the researchers wrote.

36

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

37

38

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

SCIENCEGUARDIAN

Jonathan inaugurates National Space Council From Madu Onuorah, Abuja RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan Tuesday inaugurated the National Space Council, saying that the federal government was poised to take advantage of space technology towards enhanced national security, communications and industrialisation.

The 13-member board, which would oversee the activities of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA), is the nation’s highest policy making body on space development.

President Jonathan charged the Council to accelerate the development of policy guidelines for activities in space and monitoring the implementation of the national space programme.

The council, he stated, should work out an action plan in which Nigeria would utilize space technology to accelerate industrial development to enable the nation to start the manufacture of boats, aircrafts and

other industrial goods.

According to the president, “We must evolve clear cut initiatives that will not only fast track our industrialisation process but one that will also see us within the shortest possible period to be able to build our own motor vehicles, our own boats and our own aircrafts and of course launch our own satellite manufactured in Nigeria, from a launch site in Nigeria on a launch vehicle made in Nigeria.

This is a challenge not only to the members of the council but to all Nigerians, we should dedicate ourselves to building a better technologically advanced stable and prosperous Nigeria for our children.”

The Council, Jonathan added, must work towards “actualisation of the definitive goal of our space programme and find ways that will enable the country to maximally benefit from our huge investments in the development of space technology. Given the critical place of space technology in the areas of national securi-

NASENI unveils first ‘100%’ made in Nigeria motorcycle CONTINUED from PAGE 31 able and is even being realised.

Haruna called on the Federal Government to put a ban on the importation of motocycles into Nigeria the Nigeria market as he declared bravely that Nigeria has perfected the technology and manufacturing capacity to produce motorcycles in mass in Nigeria.

He said: “Imagine the large number of jobs that will be created if only Nigeria could close her boarders against importation of motorcycles and allow Nigeria entrepreneurs to invest in the manufacturing of the parts including production of the motorcycle locally.”

His words: “Nigeria, no

doubt, has all the materials needed to produce motorcycle in Nigeria, 100 percent.

NASENI has both the raw materials survey, their locations, equipment and the critical human capacity, design, feasibility studies and the business plan for running a successful plant for producing motorcycle; what we are waiting for now is for Nigerian entrepreneurs to come forward to take advantage of this profitable investment in manufacturing of the motorcycles.”

NASENI executive vice chairman used the opportunity of the launching of ‘NASENI M1’ motorcycle to call on the federal government to challenge the agency the more.

Meteor caused biggest earth impact, rock samples suggest CONTINUED from PAGE 31 had concluded that they were terrestrial rocks altered by the impact. The findings, published in the 1980s in Russian, went largely unnoticed by Western scientists at the time.

Kvasnytsya and his colleagues decided to take a closer look at the fragments using a battery of modern analytical techniques.

Transmission electron microscopy showed that the carbon grains were finely veined with iron-based minerals including troilite, schreibersite and the iron–nickel alloy taenite.

This patterning and combination of minerals is very similar to that in other ironrich meteorites. “The samples have almost the entire set of characteristic minerals of diamond-bearing meteorites,” says Kvasnytsya.

“An iron-rich, stony asteroid fits with our understanding of Tunguska,” says Collins.

Over the past 20 years, several modelling efforts have concluded that a stony asteroid was the only culprit that could have produced the effects reported on the ground2, 3. However, a small but significant minority of scientists still backs the comet hypothesis, he adds.

“They’ve got some interesting stuff here,” but the team does not yet have conclusive proof, says Bland. The low levels of iridium and osmium in the samples are “a red flag” that raises doubts that the fragments originated in an asteroid, he says, and the peat sediment in which the samples were found has not been convincingly dated to 1908. “We get a lot of meteorite material raining down on us all the time,” adds Bland.

ty, communications, industrialisation and sustained socio-economic development, the critical need to properly structure and drive our national space programme cannot be overemphasized.”

Members of the council include the president who is the chairman, the vice president (deputy chairman), Ministers of Science & Technology, Communication Technology, Education, Defence, Interior, National Planning and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Others include Professors Elijah Mshelia, Vincent Olunloyo, Francesca N. Okeke and the director-general, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA).

39

40

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

41

42

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

43

44

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

Sickle cell NGOs inaugurate N500 Million fund raising project for patient care WO Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI) and Progeny Foundation Nigeria, have launched a fund raising project tagged “500 By 1 Million”. The project, which seeks to raise N500 million through a minimum individual donation of N500, will be used to support sickle cell victims in Nigeria.

To kick-start the project, a flash mob launch was held at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos recently. Speaking at the event, Executive Director, SAMI, Ms Toyin Adesola, said the need to provide support for victims, most of who are usually overwhelmed by huge medical bills, is the main objective of the fund raising initiative.

These two organizations, Adesola added, have a vision of creating awareness and educating Nigerians about Sickle Cell disorder. They also counsel and provide financial and emotional support to victims and their families.

Adesola explained: “Our experience over the years working with them has shown that they need all the support that the society can provide. Some of the problems they face include huge hospital bills, neglect, societal stigma, ignorance, among others,” she said.

“Through our work, we have been exposed to various adversities of victims

T

and their families. Can you imagine a poor family with five children living with sickle cell disorder? How about a woman who was abandoned by her husband because of a child who has the disorder?

“Some families spend half of their productive time in a year in the hospital catering for their victim-children.

These and many more are the predicament of sickle cell sufferers in Nigeria. And there are about five million people living with it in this country. That’s why we launch this appeal fund so we could provide medical and material support for poor victims, funds for researches to help advance the chances of proper healthcare or cure, create more awareness and advance treatments”.

For this project, SAMI and Progeny are targeting individuals, because, according to them, an average Nigerian can afford to donate N500 to this cause.

Some beneficiaries of the NGOs benevolence were also on hand at the event to give their testimonies.

According to Mrs Eniola Ajala, “I have two daughters with SCD. If not for SAMI and PROGENY initiative, we would have been homeless.

They paid our house rent, made sure we get drugs and we get periodic financial assistance. Without their assistance, life for me and my children would have been miserable.”

Firm unveils healthy drinking water solution

By Tony Nwanne N an effort to create affordIwater able and drinkable clean in the country, a firm, Revelations Water Technologies Inc, last week introduced its portable Primeau water filter into the Nigerian market with the primary objective of helping Nigerians get safe drinking water in a consistent and affordable manner.

The Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Ron Moser, said at the launch of Primeau water that there is nothing more important than the business of life because water is about the most crucial component of life.

According to him, “There is nothing much anyone can do without water, yet mil-

lions of people all over the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Some who do have access do not consistently enjoy safe drinking water; hence, the various issues associated with drinking water inspired the design and production of the water filter.”

With the creation of good and healthy water, the water filter has eleven stages of filtration using the most advanced form of nanotechnology. Water filtered through these eleven stages is guaranteed safe to drink as the filter removes taste and odour as well as kills 99.99 per cent of bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause typhoid fever, cholera and other waterborne diseases.

Group seeks tolerance among persons with HIV From John Okeke, Abuja civil society organization, A Noble Mission for Change Initiative (NMCI) has called for tolerance among people living with Human Immunodficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), PLWHA, as it described the discrimination among those living with the disease as a “Stigma” that deprives them socio-economic benefits.

National Coordinator NMCI Charles Omofomwan at the 30th International AIDS Candle Light Memorial in

Abuja recently said that HIV should not be a death warrant if well managed adding that the victims should be cared for to give them a sense of belonging in the society.

Omofomwan also stressed that stigma are treated in different ways in the world today as the scourge has been labeled to be a death gate way when it could be managed He said, “ People carrying HIV/AIDS should not be assumed to have reached to their end. We should give them a sense of belonging.

They are all human being created by God.”

SCIENCE & HEALTH

45

‘OAUTHC offers affordable kidney care, transplant’ Chairman, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Matthew Urhoghide recently spoke with reporters on new development in the institution and its potentials for Nigerians in need of kidney care services and transplantation.

WOLE OYEBADE was there.

Excerpts.

Why is the institution regarded as ‘complex’?

AUTHC or Ife is peculiar as the only teaching hospital in Nigeria that is not located in one place. It is complex because it has about six health facilities that are scattered all over in a landmass of about 65 kilometres. We have three facilities here in Ife, two in Ilesa and the other facility in Imesi-Ile, a rural community. All these facilities offer comprehensive healthcare – primary, secondary and tertiary health care.

Besides the complex nature of the hospital, what would you describe as the area of strength in terms of services?

The Federal Government has a transformational agenda for health; instead of our people going to access healthcare abroad, we should have specialized services in our hospitals. For instance, OAUTHC has the best facility in the area of kidney transplant.

Nobody is aware that the teaching hospital as far back as early 2002 has done successful kidney transplant.

There are other institutions that do kidney transplant in Nigeria, but they either depend on this teaching hospital or access foreign assistance. But for us, we are 100 per cent indigenous in kidney transplantation. Like Ilorin Teaching Hospital that does transplant, we take our specialists there to assist them.

Again, ours is the only place where we have organ transplant theatre. Kidney transplant is not just taking someone to the theatre and harvest the kidney. The process that is required is that you’d use the right theatre and the specialists required are kidney surgeons. Before they can remove a kidney and replace it, there are other specialists, like the Nephrologists that must be present.

We also have a Tissue Typing Laboratory where you first have to do some preliminary work of taking a part of the tissue, not necessarily the kidney, to match it with other person’s to see if the donor kidney will be compatible. Ours is the only hospital that has the Tissue Typing laboratory in Nigeria.

Today, we’ve developed ours. We used to send samples to Egypt, but since our technology had improved and the specialists are in place to render such services, we have stopped sending samples abroad; rather, people send their tissue samples to us.

More on daily basis, we now see Nigerians complaining of kidney diseases and asking

O

Urhoghide for help. They would say they have opened an account and in need of N8 million to go to India for kidney transplant.

The truth is that renal disease has become so rampant in Nigeria that we are looking at a statistic that one out of every 10 people has a compromised kidney. So, because of that problem, the government wants us to help Nigerians.

People are trouping to India, but they are not better than us. Our experts are everywhere including the United States where we have over 4000 Nigerian specialists. People who have gone to India would tell you that even the environment is not better than what we have here.

How affordable is renal care services and transplant in OAUTHC? In this place, it actually cost less than N3 million to have a kidney transplant. The cheapest in India is about N7 million. The problem that goes with transplant in India, unlike when at home is that the patient has to be accompanied there. There is need to buy ticket for the person. By the time you are through, you have spent close to N10 million. But this is what we offer here. Medical services forbid advertising, but we need to create awareness on services that we now have here.

Since 2002, how many transplants till date?

We have done 12 successful transplants. We have done two this year. Others are coming up, now that we have a brand new organ transplant theatre. There are other renal services. It is only the kidney that is totally bad that will need transplant. There are others that have lesser problems and in need of dialysis.

We do renal dialysis.

Cost of hemodialysis In every hospital in this country, up to University Teaching Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, it cost between N30, 000 to N40, 000 to do a session of dialysis. Here, we charge N15, 000. Why we charge that low is because of an existing tradition here to charge the locals low to help them afford it. Again, we know that majority of the people who use this facility are not from here but attracted by our lower prices.

Besides transplantation, we also do endoscopic surgery, with minimal incision on the body. It is highly specialised surgery and we have had 100 per cent success rate.

What we do in teaching hospitals, unlike private hospitals, is that we don’t want a doctor to manage a patient; rather a full complement of the medical team. This makes wrong diagnosis impossible. Teaching hospital is indeed the place to go.

In line with the objective of

More on daily basis, we now see Nigerians complaining of kidney diseases and asking for help. They would say they have opened an account and in need of N8 million to go to India for kidney transplant. The truth is that renal disease has become so rampant in Nigeria that we are looking at a statistic that one out of every 10 people has a compromised kidney. So, because of that problem, the government wants us to help Nigerians. People are trouping to India, but they are not better than us

President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda in the health sector, we want to try as much as possible to reduce medical tourism because capital flight is involved. With overseas medical care, a patient spends up to two or three times of what is require here.

It is no longer an excuse that the health facilities are not available here, actually they are.

Instead of our political appointment holders going abroad or sponsoring people for foreign treatment, they can spend small fractions of the money and get the same services here in Ife. The benefit is not just in the wellness of the patient, though not less important, but also the wellness of the nation.

Again, it can improve the economy of this whole community, Osun State and Nigeria as a whole. But before we can do that, people must be aware of what we can do. It is not the money we can make from it that is important but the value that we can add to human lives.

Challenges of sustaining the kidney programme The first challenge is raising the cost for transplant; N2.5 million is much but N8 million for Indian care is far more traumatic. Second, we don’t have kidney donor readily. This is because the procedure has not been done rampantly. By the time people come in and see what we are doing, it will get better.

There was a time when people were so afraid to donate blood. But now, people freely walk to the Hematology department to donate blood. We believe that after sometime, people will have the awareness and the humanitarian disposition to donate their kidney, because it can save anybody’s life.

46

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

47

48 NATURAL HEALTH

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

Multiple taxation, high rent threaten survival of Lagos private hospitals, clinics

By Godfrey Okpugie, Lagos City Deputy Editor ACED with hostile operatFsioned ing environment occaby frequent house rent by landlords and multiple/arbitrary taxation by government, private hospital operators in Lagos are afraid that unless urgent steps are taken to come to their rescue otherwise many of them may be forced out of operations soon.

Investigation by The Guardian revealed that Lagos private hospitals/clinics have been contending with escalating house rent, multiple taxation and dwindling patronage caused by clients’ resistance to high consultation fee and other charges that they (doctors) are compelled to charge as a result of high cost of running their businesses.

A medical director, who owns a private hospital at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, who pleaded anonymity, said running a private hospital in the city these days is very tough and that survival is by divine providence.

According to him, many operators are always apprehensive of survival and to overcome this, they often resort to prayer and fasting.

Another medical director of a clinic in Surulere, Lagos, who corroborated his colleague at Amuwo Odofin, said the Lagos State government compounded the private sector health operators’ challenges by the introduction of multiple taxation.

He declared: “When I opened this my clinic in 1999, the rent per three bedroom flat in this four-flat building was N70,000 a year. Some years later, the landlord increased it to N250,000, then to N300,000 and now it had been raised to N400,000 per flat.

“In addition to the rising rent, the state government, without justification or consultation with the operators, slammed personal income tax of N350,000 per annum on doctors, who operate private hospitals in highbrow areas and N150,000 on those in areas considered as lowbrow.”

Lamenting that it is not proper to do so without establishing how much the doctors make from their hospitals, he said the government also imposed a charge of between N20,000 and N50,000 as health facility fee on the private hospital operators, depending on the category they place the hospital.

Other taxes include con-

, Lagos State Commisssioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris sumer protection council’s tax, tenement rate, and advert rate of N25,000 a year charged by the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) and several others.

He asked: “Where do you expect us (doctors) to raise the money to pay these levies? If we pass the charges to our clients in form of increased consultation fee and other means, they (clients) would scream: ‘The amount is too high!’ Some would say ‘Let me go and look for the money, I will come back later.’ And they will never come back.”

He lamented that, whereas in developed countries doctors are encouraged to establish private hospitals through government grants but here in Nigeria, such incentive is rare; not even the banks are willing to give loans to doctors to enhance their operations.

Dr. Peter Okpevbo, who said he had folded up his clinic in Lagos in view of the hostile policy of the state government/shylock landlords, said what obtains in Lagos health sector is not encouraging the realisation of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation that there should be one doctor to every 600 patients.

According to statistics, there are 6,400 patients to one doctor in Nigeria and this is a grave threat to the physical and mental wellbeing of the country’s populace.

A recent report stated that since the inception of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), there have been 65,000 registered medical doctors but presently, only 25,000 medical doctors are

practicing in the country. To meet the WHO benchmark, Nigeria needs to have 283,333 doctors, going by 170 millionpopulation base. This means that the country needs 283,308 additional doctors at present.

Okpevbo revealed that the multiple taxation and high rent, which is compelling private medical practitioners to charge clients high fee is pushing people to quacks, who charge low rates.

According to him, this has the tendency to increase mortality rate, adding that even

those who do not want to go to quacks often go to the already overcrowded government hospitals, where facilities and personnel are grossly inadequate.

Official record from the state health ministry stated that operators of private sector of the healthcare delivery provide service to 60 per cent of the state’s population. It stated that there are 904 private hospitals, 803 clinics, 73 ophthalmic centre, 57 dental clinics and 221 maternity homes in the state.

When The Guardian visited the secretariat of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Lagos State chapter, at Sam Shonibare Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos, to get its reaction to the issue, the General Secretary, Dr. Austin Aipoh, was very illusive and failed to even respond to the questionnaire sent to him through his personal email. Requests to him to speak to us through phone were also tacitly refused.

But a source close to the association said the organisation was aware of the challenges and that it has made its position known to the government but that the newly established Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) was yet to make its recommendation to the

New weight-loss method with patch sewn onto tongues And according to Time, PLASTIC patch sewn, A which is sewn onto the some patients have trouble tongue and makes it very sleeping and difficulty movdifficult to eat is the latest in extreme weight-loss methods.

The ‘miracle’ patch, which is secured to the tongue with six stitches, makes consuming solid food so painful that users are forced to resort to a liquid-only diet.

Launched in 2009 by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Nikolas Chugay, the procedure can apparently help you lose up to 30lbs in one month - but not without uncomfortable side effects.

Chugay’s website warns that patients may experience swelling of the tongue and difficulty with speech after getting the patch.

ing their tongue at all following the procedure, which has yet to be United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approved.

What’s more, the patch can only be worn for a maximum of one month, since after that time, the tongue’s tissue begins to grow back, and the patch can then become incorporated into the tongue.

But during that month, Chugay provides an ‘easy to follow’ liquid diet of 800 calories a day, which ‘fulfills nutritional needs’ and ‘maximizes weight loss results’, according to his website.

Functions of liver and need for cleansing

HE liver is the most T important organ in the body when it comes to the issue of reducing the risk of diseases from microorganisms and toxic substances that some how find their way into the human body.

Civilisation is good and all human beings have welcomed it.

However, it has come with a lot of negative situations that have affected man adversely over the years. The increase in the number of cars in the big cities of the world today together with the increase in the number of factories all around us have perfected the case of air pollution every where.

Population of human beings has so increased that farmers have to use fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides to increase their yield to supply to the teeming population of the world.

The water human beings drink is also contaminated, not only with chemicals, but by microorganisms and this is the case with the food as well.

Drug manufacturers have also contributed their quota in these things that the liver must handle to detoxify before they can freely move around in the body. Drugs for the chronic diseases like, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis etc.

Others are the OTC (over the counter) drugs such as analgesics. These all being chemicals have to be neutralised by the liver as they get into the body through the stomach.

Whatever passes through the stomach, food, water, beverages, alcohol and drugs have to be carried in the blood after absorption to the liver for detoxification. Detoxification is one of the primary functions of the liver. Other functions of the liver are storage of minerals like copper and iron, Vitamin B12 and the fat soluble vitamins A, D E and K. Thirdly, the liver produces red blood cells.

Specifically, the blood from the intestines to the liver is

loaded with the following items: nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats), toxins from the intestines. toxins stored in fat tissues and other toxins generated by the metabolic processes that take place in the body.

The toxins that are stored in the fat tissues can be released during exercises, fasting and stressful moments in ones life.

The need to store toxins in fat tissues is the genesis of obesity and one who is obese may have to contend with liver problems as a result of excess toxins in circulation. Other items coming from the intestines to the liver will include: microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. These could be coming from contaminated water and food prepared in unhygienic conditions.

Along with the bacteria are bacterial endotoxins, antigen-antibody complexes and other toxins.

How the liver detoxifies The liver detoxifies by a complex series of chemical, enzymatic reactions, which are beyond the scope of this article to discuss. Be that as it may, the bottom line is for the liver to convert the fatsoluble toxins to water-soluble forms that are less harmful and easily excreted through the urine and bile.

There are three major pathways by which the liver detoxifies. Firstly, it does so by the filtration of the blood from the intestines. As the blood passes through the liver in the first passage, more than 90 per cent of the toxins and chemicals are filtered off. In its passage through the liver, it is estimated that about 100 gallons of blood pass through the liver daily.

Secondly, the liver detoxifies by the production and secretion of bile and cholesterol into which the fat-soluble toxins dissolve. This bilecholesterol-toxin complexes are transported to the intestine where they are absorbed by fiber and excreted in the stools.

Badly-fitting underwear linked to headaches, rashes, hernia, others EALTH experts are warnH ing about the serious health problems that can be triggered by wearing an ill-fitting bra.

They say that seemingly unrelated conditions including skin rashes, tendonitis and even indigestion can be caused by poorly fitting undergarments, especially if you have large breasts.

It is thought that four in five

women wear an ill-fitting bra because they tend to underestimate the width of their back, while overestimating their cup size.

Lorna Mills, a chiropractor practising in Oldham, said: ‘Women come into my clinic on a regular basis showing rounded shoulders, curves in the back, indigestion due to the diaphragm and lungs being restricted, marks from

straps and underwires, dents in the shoulders: all the signs of an ill-fitting bra.’

She says that one of the biggest problems is that women are regularly fitted with bras that are far too big in the cup.

‘This then means the straps are too big so they are continually tightened, which then pulls the shoulders and neck down, curving the spine and

creating tension and discomfort.

‘The underwire can creep up because of straps that are too tight and pressure builds around the stomach and lower oesophagus. Tissues that end up being pushed and pulled in unnatural directions.’

One woman who has suffered the effects of an ill-fitting bra is Shirley Brailey.

Shirley, a 62-year-old retired teacher from North London,

said her hiatus hernia, IBS and indigestion were all caused by wearing an ineffective underwired bra.

‘For years. I have suffered from a range of complaints, which, after speaking to specialists, I now realise are largely a consequence of wearing bras that never properly supported me.

‘I have suffered from hiatus hernia, heartburn, IBS and

indigestion that I can pinpoint as starting when I first started wearing underwired bras.

‘I have indents from the straps that have even affected how my clavicle bone ‘sticks up’.

Shirley was also told that her back had been flattened by her bra because the muscles down the front of her body and legs had shortened as her chest pulled her forward.

49

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

Education Strike to continue in 11 states until demands are met, says NUT

Rufai

Olukoya

Fayemi

By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi and Muyiwa Adeyemi Ado Ekiti

Ekiti agrees to pay 15 per cent

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, P Mr. Michael Olukoya has debunked the allegation that the union did not explore all avail-

On what the NUT is doing to address the security challenges faced by teachers and pupils in the north eastern states where the State of Emergency was declared, Olukoya said: “The security personnel are taking care of that. We are in touch with our members there, (and) so far, we have been impressed.”

On the state of public primary schools across the country, he said there was still some room for improvement. But he would like to see seminars, workshops and international exposure facilitated for NUT members across the country. Asked to suggest the way forward on the provision of basic education of good quality, Olukoya said: “All tiers of education should organise education summit every year. Adequate infrastructural facilities should be provided. Finance should be provided to fund public education.

Various (state) governments should stop politicising public education, and government should employ more school supervisors.”

The NUT and the troubled Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had agreed that the 27.5 increment in salaries would be implemented. While some states have complied, about 18 states were alleged to have been dragging their feet. But 11 states were singled out for their unwillingness to do something.

Rising from a meeting in Abuja recently, Olukoya described the action of the governors of the affected states as “derelict, unpatriotic and self-serving.” Apparently unhappy about the situation, Olukoya wondered why the affected states paid other workers the minimum wage and deliberately exempted the teachers.

However, the Ekiti State government has

able options before asking its members to proceed on strike on June 1 in 11 states: Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Kogi, Niger, Borno, Benue, Zamfara and Sokoto.

In an interview with The Guardian, Olukoya insisted that all options were indeed explored and that the state governments concerned had no reason to leave the teachers in a lurch.

On the argument in certain quarters that the state governments concerned might not have enough resources to pay the 27.5 percent allowance being demanded by the union, Olukoya declared that this position “does not hold water.” To him, the states only need to reorder their priorities to get the required funds to pay the teachers.

On how long the teachers were willing to maintain the strike, Olukoya responded: “This struggle started in 2008. We have been patient enough. The strike shall remain until we are paid.”

But is the NUT considering going to court over the matter? “No court option,” Olukoya affirmed, “since we see the elder statement honouring (the agreement).”

The president regretted that despite repeated promises, the welfare of public primary school teachers nationwide “is nothing to write home about,” although he was also of the opinion that “there is room for improvement.” He also averred that despite numerous challenges, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme “is on course,” however, “what our leaders need to do is to prioritise their activities,” to ensure that “education is not further threatened.”

denied rumours making the round that some of the striking teachers in the state would be sacked. The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mr. Kehinde Ojo said instead of sacking the teachers, the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi had about three weeks ago, approved the recruitment of new teachers to fill vacant positions.

Teachers in Ekiti State last week Monday joined the nationwide strike in 11 States over the payment of the 27.5 percent Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance, which coincided with proposed recruitment of teachers in State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), thereby fuelling the apprehension that it might be allegedly intended to weed the teachers.

When newsmen visited TESCOM at about 11.20 on Tuesday, large numbers of applicants were seen at the venue struggling to procure the forms for the advertised vacancies. But Ojo maintained that the decision to employ about 1600 new teachers to fill the consequential vacancies in the teaching profession was taken about three weeks ago when there was no insight into any impending strike.

The commissioner said: “I am a teacher, the Deputy Governor of this State, Prof Modupe Adelabu is a teacher of note. Even the Chairman of TESCOM, Chief Bayo Adeniran is a member of the NUT, so who among us would work for the sack of any teacher? All these are lies.”

He said the state government had declared its intention to pay 15 percent out of the 27.5 percent being requested by the NUT, as a way to end the teachers’ strike in the state, which he said had already punctured any fear that teachers might be sacked. The Commissioner

praised the teachers for reasoning with the government that it won’t be able to pay the 27.5 percent that would gulp a sum of N172 million monthly, due to its low financial profile. But with 15 percent as was done in Ogun State, he stated, the government would be paying N90 million monthly, pending the time others will be implemented fully.

The Commissioner said Fayemi had already paid the allowance to teachers for nine months before it was stopped when the 33 percent Relativity Allowance, meant to buffer the effect of minimum wage meant for workers on grade levels 01 and 06, were paid across board. He said teachers would be retrained every three years in a dignified manner and made to pass a prescribed assessment examination to earn promotion.

However, confusion trailed the strike embarked upon by teachers in both primary and secondary schools owned by the Ogun State Government on Monday, when the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) asked its members to disobey NUT’s directive. While some teachers complied, others did not. The union’s President, Tunde Folarin told reporters in Abeokuta that secondary school teachers were not on strike in the state. “We don’t want anybody to mingle ASUSS members with NUT members,” he declared. “You would have seen now that NUT membership in secondary schools is very few.

So for now, there is no strike. Ogun State is not on strike. Primary schools teachers may be on strike.”

However, the Ogun State NUT chairman, Dare Ilekoya countered Folarin, insisting that teachers were indeed on strike in the state.

Also in a swift reaction, the NUT in advertorials placed in two national newspapers on Monday, described the ASUSS as “illegal,” with no basis for countering its order.

Beware of cat-fish pepper soup, Don warns Nigerians

By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi ROFESSOR Sylvia Ajagugha Uzochukwu of the Federal P University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has warned lovers of catfish pepper soup to be cautious of the danger inherent in taking the specie of fish.

Delivering the institution’s 41st Inaugural Lecture titled, “Biotechnology Capacity Building: The Gateway to Food Security,” in Abeokuta recently Uzochukwu disclosed that cat-fish lacked the much needed Omega3 oil, that is good for health.

According to her, people should eat more of Sardine, which contains omega3 oil. The University don also called for improved food security

through biotechnology, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, which, she noted, account for almost 90 per cent of the undernourished peoples of the world.

She lamented Africa’s failure to join the green and new gene revolution, insisting that spending on agricultural research and innovation was one of the most effective means of investment and sustainable poverty reduction strategy.

Uzochukwu observed that 29 countries in the world have now adopted the use of Genetically Modified (GM) crops, stressing: “this is acceptable because they offer significant and multiple benefits such as higher yields, less chemicals and labour input, soil conservation and more nutritious food; resulting in

increased wealth, cheaper food, cleaner and safer environment and a healthier population.

The Professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology underscored the need for Nigeria to embrace available emerging technologies in agriculture “to produce enough food for her teeming populace.” She continued: “To do this, Nigeria needs to build up a critical mass of scientists with competence in modern agricultural Biotechnology to drive its various agricultural transformation strategies. Our agriculture cannot be rebuilt for the long term without massive agricultural biotechnology as well as Research and Development (R&D) capacity building.”

The don debunked the notion that genetically modified-food products

were not safe, saying that they have been available and consumed for over 16 years with no single report of adverse effects, traceable to any genetically-engineered food. She added that GM food products were more economical and faster to prepare.

Other advantages, she explained, include helping to increase the levels and availability of desirable diseaseresisting and health promoting constituents in food, High Omega3 fatty acid food, high Oleic acid oils, improving the sensory and nutritional qualities of food, and reducing pesticide and herbicide usage among other benefits.

Uzochukwu, who is also known as the “mother of FUNAAB palm wine,” was of the opinion that agricultural students should be practically exposed to

mechanised farming because “knife and hoe farming cannot feed any nation today,” while university administrators, she insisted, should ensure that grants are properly managed and intellectual property patented.

At the occasion, Uzochukwu offered a Subject Prize for the Best Undergraduate student in Food Biotechnology in the Department of Food Science and Technology, describing the Lecture as a valedictory one for her.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole said that Uzochukwu was the first Inaugural Lecturer from the College, adding that the Lecture was the fifth he would be presiding over as the ViceChancellor.

50

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUArDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

EDUCATION 51

Governor lauds corps members for transforming rural areas

By Ujunwa Atueyi Or engaging in massive Fagainst awareness campaign dreadful and terminal diseases in various Lagos communities, Governor Babatunde raji Fashola has commended the Batch B National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who completed their service in the state.

In his farewell speech at the passing out parade of the 4010 corps members, held last week, the governor said the corps members’ contributions in the rural areas of the state have left the people more informed and enlightened on several issues that affect their health. represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Fashola noted that the corps

members’ efforts, especially the group that served in the creeks of Amuwo-Odofin, Ibeju-Lekki, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Ikorodu, would remain indelible in the state’s rural health scheme, adding that residents in those areas would always have fond memories of their great transformation.

His words: “Your tireless awareness campaigns against the endemic HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, diabetes, high blood pressure, breast cancer and other killer diseases, have left our people better informed. You were also committed to the implementation and actualization of the Millennium Development Goals in the State. Your laudable contributions to the education sector are also well noted.”

“I urge you not to take lightly the various vocational skills

that some of you have learnt in the course of your service year, as they would prepare you to be self dependent in the short rather than long term, and reduce the level of unemployment in our country. Your stay here would have availed you of the numerous business opportunities that abound in the state and I encourage you not to hesitate to grab any of them that come your way.”

The Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi noted that 19 corps members would face disciplinary actions, ranging from repeating the service year to extension of service for infractions. She said: “while 11 corps members absconded from service, eight are to have their service year extended, ranging from two to four months, in line with NYSC bye-laws.”

PZ Cussons unveils Chemistry competition o improve the performancT es of students in the sciences, the PZ Cussons Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, has introduced a chemistry competition for secondary school students.

The competition, which began on June 3 and would end on June 21, is only open to SS1 and SS2 students in all public and private schools in Lagos State.

Speaking at a media launch in Lagos recently, the

Chairman of PZ Cussons Foundation, Prof Emmanuel Edozien disclosed that plans were also underway to launch the initiative at the national level.

He said: “Chemistry is central to our daily lives as the basic understanding of the subject aids in the processing and manufacture of several household products in the PZ portfolio. As part of our education intervention, the Board of Trustees agreed to sponsor a programme that will address the seemingly declining interest in

Chemistry, and science in general. We hope this will rekindle the interest of our children in the study of Chemistry and find it not just stimulating but more exciting.”

The ultimate winner of the three-stage competition, which would run from July to September, would be rewarded with N700,000 worth of scholarship, a laptop and gold medal; while the teacher of the pupil would get N100,000 cash prize and the school would be presented with N100,000 worth of chemistry books.

Director, Debirus College, Lagos, Mrs Margret Oni, (middle) assisted by an Environmental officer, Mrs Bolanle Akinleye, the Principal, Mrs. Caroline Obodoeshike with staff and students of the college, during the tree planting exercise tagged “Sustaining our Environment Through Tree Planting,” as part of activities to mark the College’s Founder’s Day, held in Lagos recently

NICO advocates sustainable strategies to foster national integration

By Mary Ogar OrrIED over the rising W incidence of ethnic clashes and insecurity in the country, the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma has called on all key stakeholders to adopt sustainable strategies that would foster national integration and peaceful co-existence across the country.

Speaking an event held in Akure to mark the World Day for Cultural Diversity, organized by the South West Zonal Office of the Institute in col-

laboration with Ondo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ayakoroma who was represented by the Head, South West Zone, NICO, Mr. Ohi Ojo noted that the institute was advocating the entrenchment of culture of peace and non-violence in Nigeria.

According to him, the event, also known as Diversity Day, was declared by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on November 2, 2001, following the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris.

He explained that the event

usually celebrated on May 21, creates an avenue for the international community to appreciate cultural diversity as a major key for national development.

Ayakoroma described the theme of this year’s celebration - Creativity; A Tool for Peace and National Development- as appropriate, considering the security challenges currently confronting the country He suggested that in order to establish a culture of peace and non-violence, government and all relevant agenContnued on Page 53

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

52 EDUCATION

Stakeholders canvass creative teaching skills at Edumark’s seminar

By Mary Ogar ARIOUS suggestions on how to make Nigerian V schools competitive in the 21st century, especially in the deployment of teaching and learning resources, formed the crux of the Total School Support Seminar and Exhibition, organized by Edumark Consult in Lagos recently.

With an impressive array of government officials, school owners, administrators and other stakeholders in attendance, Mrs. Adewunmi Adefowokan, in her paper titled “creative Teaching for the 21st Century Teachers,” contended that just as comedians and musicians have devised various creative skills to attract patronage, teachers must also now devise creative ways to get their students interested in the classroom.

According to her, the days of just standing in front of a class and delivering lessons are long over. She said: “As teachers, we must bring humour to the classroom, but that doesn’t mean you have to be funny.

Creativity is all about doing things differently. Let us vary the way we do things. If you are a one-way traffic teacher, your students will also be one way. All it takes is the willing-

ness to work and the drive to make things work”.

Adefowakan who also expressed concern over the high rate of unemployment in the country, said teachers must brace up and teach their students to be critical thinkers. “There was a time in this country when jobs would be waiting for you after graduation, but this is no longer the case,” she said. “We need to work on ourselves and teach our children to be problem solvers. We need to teach our children how to survive, irrespective of the economic situation, because education is not just about passing examinations.”

Mr. Kayode Sobanjo in his paper titled: “Effective Use of ICT for Learning, ” observed that ICT has made learning dynamic and also allows for learning customization. He said: “There is so much rich educational content online written by the best professors.

The role of the teachers is now that of a facilitator and a mentor. Any teacher who wants to make meaningful impact on the students should not just adopt the conventional method of standing in front of the class to teach, but should be resourceful and up to date in teaching methodology and educational content.”

However, Dr Mary Iyayi who spoke on “Challenges for school Administrators in the 21st Century,” drew attention to some of the internal factors that could affect the effective running of a school.

She advised school administrators to always carry their owners along in the operations and decisions concerning the school, to avoid conflicts of interest.

She said: “Administrators should not be autocratic or overbearing. They should let their owners know of major decisions so that they (owners) can make contributions. If you are performing in that capacity, you must be a motivator to succeed. No school owner would be against a school administrator who is exhibiting executive intelligence.”

Representing the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the state’s Director of Basic Education, Mr. Semasa Setton commended the organizers for taking the initiative. According to him, the exhibition/ seminar has, over the years, provided a platform for fashioning out solutions to some of the challenges in the education sector.

The exhibition, which

Chief Executive Officer, Support Bridges Initiative, Mrs.Sade Adetiba (left),Principal Consultant, Edumark Consult, Mrs Yinka Ogunde, Proprietress, Supreme Education Foundation Schools, Dr Adenike Adamolekun and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan at the Total School Support seminar/exhibition, organised by Edumark PHOTO: OSENI YUSUF Consult in Lagos, recently.

attracted visitors and exhibitors from West Africa, featured educational products and services ranging from ICT, Computer Software, Hardware, Multimedia, Play Equipment, Banking and Accounting Services, to School Trips and Travel Activities, Special Education Needs Resources among others.

Edumark’s Principal consultant, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde said: “Our exhibitors were carefully selected and each of

them has something of value, needed for the growth of schools. The seminars have also been expanded as an avenue for human capacity building, to target school owners, administrators, finance controllers and teachers.”

With plans to take the exhibition to Ghana, she said the exhibition had become a training ground to improve the education sector. Her words: “We want to prove that Nigeria can actually be the

hub of education in Africa and all we need to do is to get our acts right. This is an international exhibition, where everybody would come together and share ideas, products, innovations and services. I believe that a lot of organizations are developing very innovative products and services in the education sector. You would be amazed at some of the things you only hear of but are here on exhibition.”

Fashina, Azikiwe, Seriki shine as Corona graduates 71

Fashina

Graduating students of Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun state and some members of the school’s management team, at the graduation ceremony held last week

By Mary Ogar EMEMBER Dr Dipo Fashina, the indomitable former R National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)?

Also known as Jingo, Fashina, who was well loved by his students at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun state, where he taught Philosophy for several years, became ASUU’s President in 2001 and fought the federal government’s bad policies on several fronts, including leading the famous battle between the UNILORIN 44 (the 44 University of Ilorin teachers who were sacked for going on strike in 2001) and the UNILORIN authorities, in which the teachers eventually emerged victorious. He retired from OAU recently,

after teaching for 40 eventful years.

It was Fashina’s turn to dance at the weekend, when his daughter, Ifeolutembi Adiete Fashina, emerged the best graduating student at Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State.

Proving that great things can also come in small packages, Ifeolutembi did not only make her parents proud, she also became the toast of her colleagues, parents, guests and teachers at the school’s graduation and valedictory ceremony, held at the weekend.

Described in her citation as a young lady with “excellent values, good conduct and a focused approach to her studies,” Tembi, as she is also popularly called, bore the academic tie – reserved for out-

standing students at Corona; enjoyed scholarship owing to her consistent academic prowess and scored seven distinctions in Mathematics, English, Economics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and ICT; including a B grade in Further Mathematics, at the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination, held in November 2012.

Besides, she scored 112 out of the maximum 120 marks, in the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) held in January this year.

Like all human beings, Tembi could also be given to emotions. As she spoke as the valedictorian, she broke into tears. Attributing her success to her parents, teachers, mates and friends, who consistently encouraged her in

trying periods, she said” “I feel happy for this shower of honour and the fact that I have made those who believed in me very proud.”

With an admission letter from both Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and the University of Toronto, Canada already under her armpit, Tembi, who was also a prefect and captain of Kingfisher House which she led to victory at this year’s inter-house sports competition said she would love to study Forensic Science because of her love for investigation.

“I want to be involved in people’s lives,” she said. “I don’t want to work where I would just sit at a desk and do nothing.”

On what she would miss after graduating, she responded: “I would miss

Corona and the community. It was fun, especially with my set. I would forever have fond memories of all the things we have shared, including all the laughter. I want to thank our teachers for making us attend the classes we didn’t want to attend and I want to thank my friends for being my greatest encouragement. They all really brightened my life”.

Second best overall, Chinonyelum Azikiwe was also among the top10 as a result of her performance in last November’s IGCSE, scoring A* in English Language, 5 As in ICT, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, B in Further Mathematics and C in Art and Design.

Ganiyat Omoselawa Seriki, the third overall best, is also among the top-10 IGCSE-ranking, with an impressive: 3A* in Economics, History and English Language, 2 As in ICT, Literature and 2 Bs in Biology and Mathematics.

Speaking on the theme - Veni Vidi Vici, meaning “ I came, I saw, I conquered,” chairman of the school’s board, Mrs. R.I.B Adebiyi admonished the

graduating students: “As you leave Corona and move to the next stage of your lives, the values you have imbibed here will be required to be utilized at each opportunity and every challenge. Integrity, high moral standard, hard work are what would stand you out. You cannot all be the same. We are all different and your paths and destinies are all different. Remember that your attitude will determine your altitude. Your attitude to the problems you encounter is what would make you a success or failure.”

Adebiyi further encouraged the students not to follow the bandwagon, but to shun all corrupt practices. “In our country at this time, where it appears that corruption pays, do not be fooled. Those corrupt officials may appear successful, but they have only succeeded in tarnishing their names,” she stated.

Parents of the Head Girl, Titilope Kukoyi, who are both resident in the United Kingdom (UK), said they have no regrets sending their daughter to study in Nigeria.

According to her father, Mr. Kehinde Kukoyi, the decision to bring Titilope back home to study was unanimously taken, to offer her an education that is not only based on academics, but also on morals.

On the mass drift of Nigerians to the UK for education, he said, “Our preference for Nigeria is because we wanted our daughter to be in tune with our own culture and heritage. Over there (UK), you are educated in their own culture only. But in Corona, you get the best of education, including (the best of) your culture and you can still fit anywhere in the world.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

53

54

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

55

56

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

57

58

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

59

60

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

61

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

62 BUSINESS

Fuel subsidy: House of Reps lifts ban on Adekanola HEHouseofRepresentatives T has revoked its resolution calling on the Federal Government to blacklist and prosecute a firm of chartered accountants and tax practitioners, Olusola Adekanola & Co., for alleged involvement in the petroleum subsidy regime.

The decision by the House to quash the resolution, a fall-out of recommendation by its adhoc committee on fuel subsidy probe, was as a result of petition by Olusola Adekanola & Co., which, according to the House, showed that the accounting firm was never in anywayinvolvedinthesubsidy regime before the investigation by the House and eventual cessation of service to its employer, Federal Ministry of Finance.

According to the transcript of Votes and Proceedings of the House, number 98, dated Wednesday, 5 June, 2013, the House in the Committee of the Whole chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, considered the report of its Committee on Public Petitions to reconsider the House resolution on the petroleum subsidy report, as it affected Olusola Adekanola & Co. The petition was presented to the House by Uzo Azubuike (Abia North/Abia South Federal Constituency).

When the question was put to

vote by the House Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who presided during the plenary, the House adopted the report and thereafter quashed the earlier recommendation and subsequent resolution to the government to blacklist and prosecute the firm of Olusola Adekanola & Co. Olusola Adekanola & Co., had in various publications protested its indictment by the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on petroleum subsidy regime, chaired by Farouk Lawan, declaring that it was innocent of the allega-

tion of wrong doing against it.

“We hold the House of Representatives committee on fuel subsidy in high esteem and we are sure that it did not have valid information within its reach to premise its recommendations on. We are therefore prepared to avail it information and evidence to assert our innocence on this subject”, Otunba Olusola Adekanola, executive chairman of Olusola Adekanola & Co had announced in one the publications.

Agency gets commendation for Delta’s rising IGR From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba ITH a monthly figure of W over N1.5 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from its erstwhile figure of N1.2 billion, the Chairman of Delta State Civil Service Commission (CSC), Emmanuel Tetsola, has commended the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue for being resourceful in generating revenue for the state government.

Tetsola, who spoke in Asaba during a visit by Tetsola and other members of the

Commission to the Chairman and members of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, disclosed that the state Civil Service Commission has been keenly following the activities of the Board, which he noted has been doing remarkably well in generating revenue for the state.

Apart from strengthening its revenue generating capacity for the state, the CSC chairman added that he was equally pleased to observe that the Board is taking good care of its civil servant workers.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

63

64

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

NigeriaCapitalMarket NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at Wednesday PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS TRADED FOR 12/06/2013

65

66

CAPITAL MARKET

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 12/06/2013

LOSERS

PRICE GAINERS

NASD partners CSCS, six settlement banks on OTC market

By Helen Oji ASD Plc has signed a partN nership agreement with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) and six Nigeria banks to enhance a transparent and efficient Over-The-Counter (OTC) market.

The six settlement banks are First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank and Sterling Bank.

Speaking at the ceremony in Lagos recently, the Vice Chairman of NASD, Chike Nwanze said the event ”marks a major milestone in the NASD OTC market and indeed the Nigerian Capital Market. The NASD OTC initiatives started 19 years ago, under the direction and assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

For platform of this nature, there must be transparency and integrity in our transactions and we are happy to partner with CSCS.“ The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Bola Ajomale explained that the collaboration wit CSCS would enhance transparency in transactions and make its operations

more efficient.

With the platform, according to him, securities that are not listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) but PLC can be traded upon, verified and submitted to the CSCS in a digital form.

“Every single securities will be verified and submitted in a digital form, no paper certificate which means that there is no risk of loss because there will be a record for the transactions.

“The transaction will be more transparent with a lot more safety and can be settled within a three-day’ cycle and once the payment is made, the whole settlement process goes to the settlement bank.”

He explained that about 200 companies are already on its list, adding that the company would continue to interface with stockbrokers and other key stakeholders to enable them understand the operations and extend it to their clients.

He said the selected banks have the technology and processes to drive its operations, with sound understanding of the market.

The Managing Director of

CSCS Plc, Kyari Bukar explained that with 200 companies already in place and effective business development efforts , there are huge opportunities for the company.

He pointed out that CSCS is a separate entity of NSE, adding that it can partner with any platform that comes to the market.

On whether the CSCS platform is capable of clearing

volumes of transactions in both NSE and NASD, Bukar explained that the platform was built in such a way that it can take multiple Exchanges.

“Even if NSE grows by 10 per cent and NASD the same vol-

ume, we have the capacity to handle all. We would bring in other things like risk management from state of the art technology and there would be transparent price discovery mechanism put in place to drive efficiency.” He said.

Executive Director, CDL, Akinola Odedina (left); Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Adeleke Shittu; Chairman, Emeka Emuwa; and Company Secretary, Mrs. Larai ClaudeEnnin at the company’s yearly general meeting in Lagos.

67

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

Opinion Contemporary problems of democracy (4)

By Edwin Madunagu HE third segment of this appreciation of AnT thony Akinola’s Democracy in Nigeria ended with my presentation of the author’s views on state welfarism, which he defines as the assumption of “responsibility of providing for the health, happiness and general well-being of the individual”. It is indeed pleasing to see that Akinola relates welfarism to democracy or, as our politicians would say, “democracy dividends”. But, as we also saw in the last segment, Akinola was of the opinion that, as at 2001, there were no funds to inaugurate a welfare programme in Nigeria (page 157). Ten years later, in 2011, Akinola was still of the same view.

To promise to mount welfarism at this time, Akinola argues, would be “tantamount to dangling a carrot before the eyes of the hungry and playing on the ignorance of the people” (page 157). This is a very strong view and it is correct – but only if you assume the inviolability of the current capitalist political economy – which the author implicitly does, as noted in the opening paragraph of the preceding segment. In his second essay on welfarism, The Pandora box of welfarism, Akinola offers a more effective and realisable solution to the problems to which welfarism is being considered: “The various governments should be supporting small-scale industries, investing in agriculture and education, with a determination to taking our young men and women off the streets and into the employment market” (page 159).

The author argues very perceptively and convincingly that “our young men and women should not th be made to wish for their 65 birthday to come sooner that it should be” – a reference to Ekiti State government, which announced a plan “to provide” state pension “to citizens aged 65 and above”. He believes that the idea of state pension is at present unrealistic in Ekiti State, “one of the poorest states of the Nigerian federation, a state that totally depends on ‘handouts’ from Abuja for its survival” (page 158). Again, the author is right if the present political economy is decreed as fixed. (We may here simply define political economy as the system of production and class and sectoral distribution of wealth in a polity).

There are two other comments I have on Akinola’s views on welfarism. As I asked at the close of the

last segment: Why are there no “funds” or “wherewithal” to mount a welfare programme in Ekiti State or, indeed, in Nigeria as a whole? My reading of Akinola on this question is that he blames a number of factors, including corruption (countrywide), government’s dependence on “handout” (Ekiti State) and general economic “downturn” (global). But there is no consideration of the political economy, the existing systems or structure of production and distribution of wealth (“market economy”).

There is no critique of the contract system (which I may describe as a breeder of corruption on a massive scale), the unequal exchange between Nigeria’s national economy and other economies, the national structure of income distribution including the massive, but “legal,” appropriations by “public officers”, the ruling socio-economic philosophy and the predatory class character of the Nigerian state which has mounted a “permanent war” against the masses of our people. These – and, of course, corruption – are some of the main sources of surplus appropriation in the Nigerian economy. I would therefore propose: When you consider all these factors, you are likely to come to the conclusion that there may never be the “funds” or the “wherewithal” to institute welfarism in the country. That is, assuming that the existing structure of production and distribution has no alternative.

Akinola’s critique of “state pension” and his counter proposal – investment in agriculture, education, etc – brings to my mind two different perspectives on satisfying urgent human needs. One was offered by my late father long ago and the other by Paulo Freire in his book Pedagogy of the oppressed, also long ago. My father’s perspective comes as a poser: “Dried meat is, indeed, delicious; it would have been wonderful to allow this piece of fresh meat to dry. But then, what shall we be eating while waiting for the meat to dry?” I think the Ekiti state Government was trying to answer my father’s poser by instituting state pension for the aged while planning productive investments, which we see as medium-term projects. And we must not forget that investment in people-oriented programmes requires an ideological and political shift since it involves massive class re-deployment of national resources.

The second perspective on “poverty alleviation”, the one from Paulo Friere, rests on the difference between what he calls “false charity” and “true generosity”. True generosity, he says, “consists precisely in fighting the causes which nourish false charity. False charity constrains the fearful and subdued, the “rejects of life”, to extend their trembling hands. Real generosity lies in striving so that those hands-whether of individuals or entire peoples – need to be extended less and less in supplication, so that more and more they become human hands which work and, by working, transform the world”. Paulo Friere wrote from his base in rural Latin America where he was working with landless peasantry, the poorest of the poor. This type of statement, which, I believe, Akinola would endorse - as it generalises his own position - cannot, however, be directed at the Ekiti State Government under Governor Kayode Fayemi. But it can be directed at Nigeria’s ruling classes and Nigerian state as an entity.

The author tries throughout this book to be “level headed”, to be civil, decent and non-combative, to make his points as strongly as possible but without antagonising or deliberately courting antagonism. He is a convinced constitutional democrat who would want Nigeria to develop peacefully through continuous reforms, without revolutions or military interventions, convinced that “democracy, even as crude as it is in Nigeria, is more acceptable than the most benevolent of dictatorships”. (page 22). But Akinola almost lost his temper while discussing the “monster of corruption” (pages 131-153). He is not alone. It is on the question of corruption that he mentions the possibility of massive revolt and “violent revolution” in Nigeria. He warns at a point: “Corruption itself is one culture that could soon compel violence in the Nigerian polity”.

In the essay titled The iniquity of corruption, written in July 2011, Akintola says: “Nigerians now call for a revolution, which is to say that there can be no peace when the majority of our peoples live in abject poverty, while a tiny minority lives in gluttonous greed”. This is a categorical statement. It is as categorical as it is philosophical and radical. But he goes on to add: “The majority of our people love democracy and are peace loving; however, disruptive tendencies can find easy recruitment in the

ranks of the uneducated and the impoverished. It is both in the short-term and long-term interest of our nation that we enrich our people educationally and economically. To be able to do this, we must put an end to corruption and greed”, (page 139).

In the latter statement, we see something that looks like ambivalence: to be for revolution or to be against it? Akinola is, however, different from some latter-day “liberal democrats” who know, deep down in their hearts, that only a revolution or direct divine intervention that can check the tide “iniquitous” corruption in this land and begin to reverse it; but they regard revolution, its leaders and its agents and foot soldiers as evil; actual revolutions are regarded as “disorders in nature”. Akinola’s dilemma is genuine. One can offer an opinion on this dilemma. But fake liberal democrats often behave like cats, which would like to eat fresh fish but would not want to wet their feet.

Under the essay Beyond mere grumbling, (still on corruption), the author says – in anger, I believe: “There is this assumption that politicians have sacrificed their time and resources to get into public positions because of their patriotism. This may be true elsewhere but not in Nigeria. Most of those who hold public positions in our society today are where they are because of the alluring prospects of power, fame and fortune. They would not be in politics if it were otherwise” (page 151). Then follows a “call for action” a page later: “if we are genuinely concerned about our plights and rights, maybe it is time we organize our lives into a non-partisan group, subscribed to by patriotic Nigerians across the various divides. The trouble with Nigeria is significantly that of a followership that would rather grumble, than act collectively in pursuit of desired objectives” (page 152). The essay was written as recently in October 2011. We shall return to this simple, but important, proposal.

In addition to its other attributes already listed, Democracy in Nigeria is also a narrative in the history of politics in contemporary Nigeria, particularly in the current political dispensation – which they call the Fourth Republic but I continue to refer to Obasanjo’s Republic. The book will be particularly useful to students of history and political science.

• To be concluded next Thursday.

As vultures applaud imminent debt trap

By Henry Boyo ATELY, the Federal Government’s enthusiasm for further national Lthedebt accumulation has become more strident, especially after International Monetary Fund (IMF’s) suggestion that Nigeria is currently under-borrowed, and therefore recommended increasing borrowing threshold of 20 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, to about 56 per cent of GDP. Furthermore, IMF-affiliate, the World Bank, also “promoted” Nigeria to a borrowing window, where cost of funds are higher than the former concessionary window we enjoyed!

On the heels of the IMF’s recommendation, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, the Debt Management Office (DMO)’s DG called for a restructuring of the national debt, because the interest payable on domestic debt (which constituted 88 per cent of total debt) was too high, as it should normally not exceed 60 per cent.

Consequently, the DMO decided to establish a sinking fund for retiring local debts as they mature, and also seek to borrow more from foreign sources at cheaper rates. Government has therefore put the first leg of this strategy in place, as it has provided for a N100 billion sinking fund annually to pay domestic debts in this year’s budget.

Curiously, at this rate, it will require about 60 years to repay our domestic debt of over N6,000 billion! Obviously, in consternation, CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, paradoxically also decried the reality that we are borrowing more money today at high interest rate (for risk-free sovereign borrowings), while leaving the debt burden for our children and grand children to pay!

The oppressive burden of domestic debt service has fostered the initiative to borrow externally, at cheaper rates of interest. In reality, so long as we borrow to fund our critical infrastructure deficits and also sustain sound institutions and human capacities, the positive returns, over the years, from such loans will ultimately liquidate such debts painlessly!

Nonetheless, the DMO boss is obviously unperturbed by the poor social impact of our debts, as Nwankwo noted that, “the time of high borrowing from the domestic (market) has served its purpose, which included developing a market structure and culture for long term savings and investments.”

Evidently, the DMO was not primarily established to fund infra-

structure deficits; rather, the main objective was to open up and deepen a long-term bond market and fund budget deficits! Inexplicably, in spite of consistent actual revenue surpluses for many years, the domestic debt burden now exceeds N6 trillion, with $6 billion as external debts!

Incidentally, we had criticized the myopic and unhealthy functional object of DMO’s borrowing as reflected in its early prospectus, in an article in December 2009, titled “Budget 2010: Mugu Smiles Back into Debt Trap”.

Nonetheless, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, has confirmed that his Ministry’s strategy for addressing “the debt imbalance and the high cost of servicing domestic debts included four options; i.e., long term borrowing to pay short-term debts; long-term borrowing that could be used to pay long-term; accessing of concessionary windows as well as borrowing outside to pay domestic debts”.

Obviously, the underlying deduction from the preceding is that, in spite of government assurances, our capacity to service and repay our debt has become a critical issue, as the Minister’s options do not include the specific objective of impactful enhancement of infrastructure or social welfare.

Indeed, in November 2012, former Presidential Candidate of the National Action Council, Dr. Olopade Agoro, was equally worried at the high cost of the borrowings, and observed in a release that “it was high time we wake up as a nation to the reality of the fact that we cannot go on borrowing at 15 per cent rate of interest, while deposits barely attract three per cent, and expect to make headway economically and productively”.

The President of Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Goodie Ibru, in similar vein, also observed recently that “The high yield Federal Government bonds and treasury bills contributed to the high level of debt service of almost N600 billion in the 2013 budget”, while noting that “this amount is equivalent to about 36.5 per cent of our capital budget”.

Furthermore, the LCCI boss was equally worried that the debt figures inappropriately excluded billions of naira owed to local contractors by MDAs and the additional N4,000 billion bonds issued by AMCON! Consequently, the LCCI recommends that all these debts should also be captured so that the true position of public debt and its sustainability would be better appreciated.

On his side, Osita Okechukwu, the Secretary of the Conference of

Nigerian Political Parties observed that it is curious that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who midwifed the controversial $12.4 billion pay out to the Paris/London Clubs in 2006, when the debt GDP ratio was less than 30 per cent is incidentally now the driver of the proposition for increasing debt accumulation, with her Ministry’s demand for a fresh $9 billion loan, which would push total external debt alone above $15 billion.

Okechukwu, also echoes concerns expressed in an article titled “Why are We Still Borrowing?”, in this column in August 2012, when he wonders that “How come a country, which normally earns well over $20 billion from oil and gas, N5 trillion from domestic tax revenue and almost a trillion naira from customs duty, with an excess crude account of almost $10 billion and Central Bank’s own reserves of over $40 billion still remain embattled with 70 per cent of Nigerians living below the poverty line”, consequently, the CNPC Secretary, concluded that Nigerians have no good reason to borrow, and in fact, should stop borrowing!

Mr. Osita Okechukwu may have said it all; it’s good to borrow, if such loans are directed to socially productive ventures; but it certainly does not make sense to borrow to repay existing debts! Indeed, it would be a great comedy plot, if not for the tragic impact of deepening poverty nationwide, that, in spite of the existence of over $10 billion in our excess crude account and over $40 billion of CBN’s self-styled idle “own” funds, the National Assembly obviously has no qualms that the DMO will additionally borrow over N1 trillion domestically in 2013 at outrageous rates of interest and similarly add about $10 billion external loans also secured, at rates of interest which exceed the rates paid on our idle/low-yield excess crude dollar account and CBN’s dollar holdings.

Regrettably, also, there is no apparent attempt to determine why domestic borrowing costs are so high; however, it is not contestable that the fresh inflow of hundreds of billions of naira, with monthly substitution of naira for dollar allocations instigate a bountiful cash surplus in the banks, which ultimately induces high CBN monetary policy rates and high domestic cost of borrowings, with government debt also as an unexpected victim!

• Boyo, a public finance analyst, wrote from Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

68

Opinion Jonathan’s two-year performance in office (3)

By Ben Nwabueze Continued from yesterday INAL remarks • Mr. President needs the best people available to enable him carry out successfully the onerous historical assignment set out in this statement.

He will need to re-construct his Government immediately and appoint a competent, energetic, selfless, patriotic team similarly imbued with a revolutionary ardour for the transformation of the Nigerian polity, economy and society.

• Furthermore, to enhance the President’s authority and give him a freer context unconstrained by vested interests, we urge that the President must immediately affirm to the nation that he will not be again a candidate for the office of President and that he will end his service to the Nation as President, with the help of God, in May 2015.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

SIGNED Professor Ben Nwabueze For and on Behalf of The Patriots Lagos January 10, 2013.

The Patriots’ State of the Nation Statement, issued on January 10, 2013, was given prominent coverage on the front page of the Daily Independent and The Nation newspapers of January 11 and on the inside pages of the Vanguard newspaper on January 15. It was also carried, though less prominently, in all the other national newspapers on January 11. So the President and his aides cannot have been unaware of the criteria em-

F

bodied in the Statement when he said on May 30 that his critics did not state the criteria used in assessing him.

The Public’s reactions corroborating The Patriots’ State of the Nation Statement The criteria embodied in The Patriots’ State of the Nation Statement are not those of an isolated group of old men and women completely detached from the views, experiences and expectations of the generality of Nigerians. The Vanguard newspaper issue of January 15, 2013, under the caption The Patriots’ call raises dusts, carried the reactions of various eminent citizens to The Patriots’ Statement. Parts of those reactions are reproduced here to corroborate the criteria embodied in The Patriots’ Statement.

• Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Governor of Anambra State: “The Patriots had hit the nail on the head and could not be faulted in their assertions. ”From the beginning up to now, anytime The Patriots meet, I take them seriously. Apart from being eminent persons and elders, they don’t talk carelessly, they are always meticulous.”

• Professor Pat Utomi: “There are no doubts that issues raised at the meeting remain of immense concern on the mind of many Nigerians. The security situation in this country is embarrassing and there is no professionalism in the way we handle things in this country.

“The issue of corruption and security is worth reflecting on and it has shown how dysfunctional Nigeria has been. Professor Nwabueze and oth-

ers were very correct on their stand on Nigeria and it is sad that people behind the insecurity situation in this country walk free today.

“It is not only when someone steals N10 billion pension money and transfers it to his personal account, it is beyond stealing or abuse of our commonwealth but the fact remains that corruption has been so legalized in this country now that every politician sees it as a right thing to do in office. We need strong institutions to be able to curb Nigeria’s many problems that are affecting us today.”

• Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, former Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari: “The Federal Government needs to evolve a proactive strategy to fight corruption in Nigeria… I would like to say without fear of contradiction that the Federal Government has not given the impression that they are fighting the scourge.”

• Chief Ebenezer Babatope: “For me, the opinion of top citizens of this country cannot be discarded...”

• Mr. Peter Ameh, National Secretary of PPA: “The Federal Government had not shown the will and desire to fight corruption. This lack of will and desire has given rise to the current disdain for the law, impunity, outright and unbridled theft of our common wealth which have led to increase in poverty level.”

• Mr. Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, National Director of Publicity of APGA: “APGA sees corruption as not only in the misappropriation and embezzlement of public

Funds by government officials and their cohorts, but also in the manner and the general attitude to life of an average Nigerian, where indiscipline is a way of life and the order of the day and being encouraged by those in and outside the government without qualms. For Nigeria to really develop, this government should develop strong muscles and sharp teeth to fight corruption in every facet of life.”

• Ahmed Ciroman Tangaza, Sokoto State Chairman of Labour Party: “President Jonathan has leadership problem on the issue of tackling corruption. Although he cannot be everywhere, he is supposed to do more in exerting his constitutional powers on the agencies charged with the responsibilities of tackling corruption.”

• Alhaji Abba Sidi, Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties: “President Jonathan is too slow in tackling corruption in this country. Of course, his inaction could be linked to the fact that he has ambition for which he wouldn’t want to step on the toes of some corrupt people whose support he is counting on.”

• Umar Falke Tambuwal, a PDP Stalwart in Sokoto: “If you are a leader and you want something done or stopped, it must be done or stopped if you truly mean it. There has virtually been no punishment on those that have been found deeply engrossed in corruption to serve as deterrence for those intending to do so. To my understanding, only songs of fight against corruption are sung but no active measures are taken by the presidency to tackle corruption.”

• Concluded.

• Professor Nwabueze, SAN, writes on behalf of The Pa-

Lamentations of an unsure democrat

By Pius Isiekwene HE profile of the unsure democrat is fairly familiar. He belongs to a growing tribe of once hopeful but now disenchanted and T disillusioned patriots. He is to be found in every neighbourhood, nay household, of the Nigerian state. He was an enthusiastic cotraveller in the pro-democracy convoy. But the convoy does not ever seem to make its destination. The drumbeats of democracy dividends make no difference and offer no comfort. Most of the chanters of democracy dividends – overfed and insatiable opportunists – were never, part of the original struggle. They only jumped unto the convoy when the unending sail got smoother, leaving the rough tracks of intense struggle and martyrdom behind. Now, they have hijacked the convoy without any hope of ever reaching Uhuru amidst the chants of the new mantra – democracy dividends.

To the unsure democrat, democracy has become a nightmare.

An endless orgy of misrule, thievery, impunity and exploitation by a callous and insane elite. It would have been bearable if they only failed to deliver democracy dividends. But it is much worse. The unsure democrat and the dregs of society have to bear the brunt of maintaining this gluttonous elite – secret salaries, allowances, cars, chauffeurs, cooks, stewards, jets and pilots, far in excess of what their own statute books declare.

And why not? Someone must foot the bills. Someone must pay higher petrol pump prices and electricity tariffs; obtain overpriced vehicle plate numbers and drivers licence. For the nonmembers of the ruling class who can still afford to fly, the airfares have doubled since the take-off of this current democracy ferry in 1999. So has the cost of international passports. Road travel is not a viable alternative in many cases. Physical confinement and economic impoverishment are no democracy dividends, except in reverse.

That magic date – June 12, 1993 – was not really the beginning of the democracy journey. But it was a watershed. A milestone. It is true Chief MKO Abiola won the elections but his greatest wish would have been to see Nigerians reap the fruits of genuine democracy rather than idolise him or that date. Before then, there had been a groundswell of opposition to military rule, championed by the now unsure democrat. Old and young of all tongues and tribes. Their singsong: the military must go. They chanted, they rallied, they mobilized against military rule at great personal risk and danger. Finally, the military receded. First was the annular himself aka IBB. And then his crony – the dark-goggled maximum dictator, swept off five years later by a conspiracy of man and nature. Their own, the nondescript Abubakar survived to organize elections in what turned out to be Nigeria’s shortest military-to-civil rule transition.

It seemed too good to be true. Democracy at last. High hopes, high expectations. But with the benefit of hindsight, the hopes were misplaced. There was neither a deep foundation nor commitment to true democracy and accountability. And no wonder, too. The military had handed over to their fellow comrade. A man

versed in the art of unitary governance with no real commitment to true federalism. Baba Iyabo dripped with patriotism and good intentions but he was at best just being weaned from dictatorship.

Rather than deepen the foundations of democracy and true federalism – he did not seem to know how nor care to do it – he amassed more power at the centre. The supposed federating units – the states – became mere appendages of Abuja. It was little different from the unitary military structure except that it cost much more to operate. And the gladiators wore agbada rather than khaki. The emasculated states also had to fund their own legislatures and other units of the bureaucracy. It was a unitary government run at the cost of a true federalism. Now, the presidency is so amorphous and overbearing that everyone and every region seeks to grab it at all costs.

The ideals of one man, one vote and separation of powers are strange to Nigeria’s brand of democracy. Elections have been variously rigged since 1999. International monitors’ reports have been qualified. Even the 36 governors could not stand by the results of a recent supposedly fair election in which only 35 votes were cast.

Local government council polls in most states have been characterized by manipulation, rigging and violence. The political parties have been poor crises managers bogged down by the absence of internal democracy and incoherent ideology. The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) cannot seem to gets its bearing. Many of its policies at federal and most state levels are shipwrecked by petty executive – legislative feuds even where it is in the majority.

The opposition parties have not fared better.

But perhaps the greatest failure has been in the wrongful or nonexercise of oversight functions, an essential part of the separation of powers doctrine. Many state governors have simply silenced the lawmakers with financial inducements, annual globe-trotting rounds and other bogus incentives. Disagreements between state governors and their legislatures have had more to do with the lawmakers’ welfare than the act of governance or the well-being of the citizenry. Thus indulged by passive law makers, the governors play emperor, dispensing doses of carrot and stick as they deem fit, not necessarily according to the law. The same game is played in Abuja on a grander scale.

The National Assembly’s failure in the exercise of oversight is best illustrated by the fuel subsidy scandal. While allegations of cash – for – clean slate deals had been rife since 1999, the subsidy scandal took a dramatic turn. At the core of the subsidy scandal were petroleum products importers who claimed whopping sums of money from the national treasury through the over-invoicing of actual imports or fake papers for imports that were never made.

The colossal fraud came to the fore in early 2012 following the hike in petrol pump price from N65 per litre to N122 and later N97 per litre. The efforts of the National Assembly to unearth the multi-billion naira fraud have been mired in intractable controversies, culminating in judicial intervention. The NASS’ muted allegations that the executive sabotaged its conclusive investigation of the scandal cannot stand in the face of the legislature’s record of corruption. The subsidy scandal remains unresolved even as faceless anti-subsidy agents of government sporadically hint on “total re-

moval of subsidy.” They are wont to get even louder with the reported recent removal of petrol subsidy in neighbouring Ghana.

While the failure of politics is serious, it is by no means the only concern of the unsure democrat. He bears the brunt of the inevitable failure of the economic system. Leaders who fail to get the political kingdom right have no chance of succeeding with the economy. The concern has not been, and is not, with how to bake the cake but how to share an increasingly diminishing one. The smaller the cake, the fiercer the fight and the greater the perceived injustices in the allocative arithmetic. While many of the recent national crises and fresh echoes of self-determination have ethnoreligious underpinnings, the economic factor cannot be dismissed. The crises are fuelled by regional perceptions of inequality and injustice as defined by the access or lack of it to the national treasury. The militants and terrorists are merely foot soldiers, bearing the banners of their faceless elite sponsors.

The failure to manage the inter-ethnic and inter-regional cleavages bothers the unsure democrat. To him, democracy was an ideal – the government of all Nigerians by all Nigerians and for all Nigerians, to borrow from one-time United States President Abraham Lincoln. If democracy so unites the Americans and their European kit and kin, why should it leave Nigerians more divided than ever? Why are Nigerians more divided 100 years after the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates? Even if the soldiers’ guns kept the diverse nationalities together for the most part of post-independence Nigeria, have Nigerians not learned to co-exist?

It is the more saddening for the unsure democrat that democracy seems to work elsewhere, even in Africa. It works in Ghana. Or how else can the exodus of Nigerians to Ghana for education, business and leisure be explained? Democracy is working in South Africa, a country Nigeria helped to rescue from Apartheid rule. It works in a number of other much less endowed African and third world countries. Why should Nigeria not get it right with the abundance of cheap labour and administrators? For how long should Nigeria continue to blame Britain – the same colonial masters to Ghana – for the nation’s political woes, 53 years after the Union Jack was lowered and replaced with Nigeria’s green-white-green harbinger of hope?

The celebration of Democracy Day on May 29 or June 12 remains a hollow ritual without the right dividends of democracy. A company with a record of perennial losses and non-payment of dividends to its shareholders has no business organizing an annual general meeting (AGM). Such a company would need to look inward, re-examine its vision and mission statements, review its products and pricing policies. It would need to save the cost of the annual jamborees and instead, offer tangible dividends to its shareholders. Nigeria can yet turn the skepticism that has characterized her democracy into optimism, the hopelessness of an uncertain future into a brighter tomorrow and the divisive tendencies into an indivisible nation state. Only then can democracy have meaning. Only then can its tottering convey make Uhuru.

And it can happen without bringing back the soldiers or colonialists. Or can’t it?

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

69

70

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

71

THe GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

72

Sports Ahead Brazil 2014 World Cup

Eagles inch closer to last qualifying round, as Kenya hold Malawi

By Christian Okpara IGeRIA moved closer to N the last round of the Brazil 2014 World Cup even before kicking a ball in their game against Namibia last night in Windhoek.

As the eagles were preparing for their game against Namibia yesterday, news of the result of the other group game involving Malawi and Kenya filtered into camp. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, which means that Nigeria only needs a draw in the last match against Malawi in Calabar to qualify irrespective of what happened in their game in Windhoek last night.

Malawi missed the chance to go top of African World Cup qualifying Group F as Chimango Kayira’s late owngoal earned Kenya a 2-2 draw in Blantyre.

The Flames were looking to depose leaders Nigeria, who played Namibia in Windhoek later yesterday night, and Robin Ngalande’s opener in the 46th minute put them on the right track.

Jamal Mohammed equalised for Kenya six minutes later but the hosts thought they had the winner when Robert Ng’ambi found the back of the net nine min-

utes from full-time.

Kayira, though, put through his own net with one minute remaining, leaving Malawi a point shy of top spot, while Kenya remained bottom with just three points from five games. That was before the Super eagles met Namibia last night.

Though Harambee Stars remain rooted at the bottom of group ‘F’ with three points after the tie, Coach Adel Amrouche was a proud man as the result has given him a positive platform to begin a process of rebuilding his squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The Super eagles started yesterday’s game against Namibia with 10 of the players that beat Kenya last Wednesday with Brown Ideye dropping to the bench In his place, Coach Stephen Keshi opted for Cologne’s Anthony Ujah.

Ujah came on for Ideye in the last match against Kenya in which Ideye had an opportunity to put eagles in the lead as early as the second minute but he failed to capitalise on a cross from Ahmed Musa.

The Super eagles are expected to move to South Africa today from where they fly to Brazil for the Confederations Cup, which begins on Saturday.

Super Eagles’ John Obi Mikel.

Okagbare leads five African champions to Calabar 2013 Athletics Championships Roberts rules Prime Atlantic Squash tourney IKe a true champion, Sope Roberts confirmed his superiority over the chairman of the Squash Section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Soddie Pepple, when the young player emerged winner at Prime Atlantic closed tournament held at the weekend.

Roberts defeated Pepple 3-0 to be crowned the champion of the tournament.

An elated Roberts said he had to wrap up the match to avoid a comeback. “It wasn’t easy, I figured that if I didn’t wrap up the game it would have been a

L

battle. I remember the last time we played a five-setter so I didn’t want to go through that this time again.”

In other groups, Olumide Odutayo defeated Rasheed Jaiyeola 11/9, 11/7, 11/8 in the Group C men’s final, and in the men’s veteran division Sam etomi walked over Darlington Mgbojikwe.

In Group B men’s final, Ladi Bada defeated Ifeanyi Maduka 11/7, 11/9, 9/11, 6/11, while in the ladies’ event Funke Babatola beat eziafa Nwokolo 11/9, 11/5, 11/7.

FRICA’S fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare, is expected to lead four other continental champions to this year’s edition of the Cross River state-sponsored All Nigeria Athletics Championships, which holds in Calabar next week.

Okagbare, who picked the gold medal at the biennial African tourney last year in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, will be hoping to extend her record as the first Nigerian woman to win the 100m gold

A

eventer, Okoro Chinwe, who won two gold medals at the last African championships, will also be aiming to make two podium appearances in Calabar.

Triple jumper, Tosin Oke, who is a two-time African champion in the event, is also confirmed for the Calabar festival of athletics.

This year’s championships will be used to select Nigeria’s team to the 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics this August in Moscow,

Magate, Tiwa Warriors, others for MISTON semi-finals AGATe Football Club of M Ibadan has qualified for the semi-final of the maiden Mimiko International Soccer Tournament (MISTON) after defeating Young Stars of Akure 1-0 with the goal scored in the 45th-minute by Issa Ibrahim.

Also through to the semifinal is Tiwa Warriors, which defeated Vocam Revival of Makurdi 3-2 on penalties.

Dollars prize money at Warri CAA Grand Prix motivates Nigerian athletes

By Gowon Akpodonor He lucrative prize money T on offer at the Warri 2013 Confederation of African

Ogho-Oghene Egwero leading other athletes during a recent international competition. Egwero is one of the athletes billed for the CAA meet in Warri.

five times consecutively.

Also confirmed for the flagship event of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is another sprinter, Gloria Asumnu, who will be competing in her third national championships following her change in allegiance from USA, her country of birth to Nigeria, her country of origin.

Asumnu will be joined by 400m barrier runner, Muizat Ajoke Odumosu, who will be defending her title at the championships, while field

Athletics (CAA) Grand Prix holding tomorrow in Delta State is a major target for Nigerian athletes.

The one-day event, which holds at the Warri City Stadium tomorrow will be attended by some best runners from the United States, Great Britain, Jamaica, Mauritius, Fiji Island, St. Vincent and African countries like ethiopia, Morocco and

Ghana.

However, some Nigerian athletes boasted yesterday that they have what it takes to march the visitor strength for strength in the quest for dollars at stake.

The meet’s premium events for men are 100m and 400m while the women will do battle in the 100m, 400m and 400m hurdles. The winner will go home with $4,000. The second placed athlete will receive $3,000, while those that finish third to eighth position will get $2,000, $1,500, $1,000, $800, $500 and $ 400 as cash prizes.

For the Classic events, the men will battle in the 5000m, Javelin and long Jump, just as the women will fight in 100m hurdles, high jump and long jump event. The winners will receive $2,500 and second placed athletes will get $ 2,000. Those that finish third to eighth will receive $1,000, $800, $600, $500, $400 and $300.

For the promotional events, the men’s events are the 110m hurdles, 3000m steeple chase, 4x100m and 4x400m, while the women events are 800m, 5000m, 4x100m and 4x400m. Winners will go

home with $2,000, second $1,500 and third $800. Those that finish from fourth to twelfth will receive $600, $400, $300, $250, $250, $200, $200 and $200.

Those who spoke with The Guardian shortly on arrival in Warri yesterday afternoon were full of confidence that no matter what happened, they must go home with some dollars at the meet.

“This is a golden chance to grab some dollars and we have been training hard for it.

I don’t the foreigners stopping us,” one Nigerian athlete, a jumper, said yesterday.

SPORTS 73

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

Zenith Bank Women Basketball League

First Deepwater, Sunshine Angels ignite Sportscity

By Adeyinka Adedipe HE big stage is set as the ninth edition of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League semi-finals holds today at the sports hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos with defending champion, First Deepwater Basketball Club set to face Sunshine Angels of Akure.

The semi-finals clash between the champion and Sunshine Angels promises to be explosive against the backdrop that it would be the third meeting of both sides this season with First Deepwater having the upper hand in the first two occasions, first during the regular season in Abuja (First Deepwater 56-44 Sunshine Angels) and later in Asaba (First Deepwater 94-58 Sunshine Angels).

T

• First Bank, Dolphins also clash This makes the semi-finals duel between the two sides to be an interesting game to watch.

Head Coach of First Deepwater, Lateef Erinfolami is confident his girls have what it takes to pick a final ticket at the expense of the Akure-based Angels, who will be searching for their first title since the inception of the league nine years ago.

Erinfolami, who was recently made an assistant coach of the nation senior women national team, believes Sunshine Angels cannot stop his ladies’ ambition of booking a continental ticket reserved for the finalists of the league.

The team has dominated the

domestic scene since 2010 to date and also finished third at the Africa Champions Cup in 2011.

“We are set for every opposition in this year’s league because we want to remain champion for a fourth consecutive time and our semi-final game against Sunshine Angels on Thursday will be treated like every other game we have played so far, but with more seriousness as the semifinal is the most crucial stage of any competition,” Erinfolami said.

The second semi-final will be between First Bank and Dolphins at 5.00pm also today.

France’s Yakhouba Diawara drives for a shot attempt against Nigeria’s Ejike Ugboaja during the Men’s Basketball Preliminary Round match of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Basketball Arena in London, England.

Building Nigeria’s future national team is my goal, says Ugboaja FRICA’S first player to be A drafted to the NBA from the domestic league, Ejike

FIIRO’s Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gloria Elemo, and Mastersports’ Managing Director, Ejiro Omonode, after signing the RIGAN 2013 MOU in

National taekwondo team returns, relishes European training tour

By Olalekan Okusan FTER more than 20 days of training in Europe, the national taekwondo team yesterday arrived the country fulfilled by what they called a worthwhile trip.

Aside the training sessions in Stuttgart, Germany, the team took part in the Austrian and Swiss Open championships with Uche Chukwumerije, who is the current African champion, claiming silver and bronze respectively, while his brother and Beijing 2008 Olympics medalist, Chika won gold at the Austrian Open.

The trio of Segun Olushola, Sunday Onofe and Joy Ekhatore believe the trip was worthwhile considering the experience they garnered during the exercise.

At the Austrian Open, Olushola fought bravely but lost out in the second round, while Onofe and Ekhator were edged out in the quarterfinals.

At the Swiss Open, the trio put up a good fight after amassing some experience from the Austrian Open, but despite their superb tech-

A

niques, they could not scale the first round of the competition.

“I had a fantastic experience.

I learnt a lot, and was really exposed. Back in Nigeria, I thought that my technique was good, but when I came here, I realised I was making many mistakes during the training sessions here. I loved the training camp completely.

“During the first tournament in Austria, at first I was very nervous as it was my very first time in such a big arena with many foreigners. But at least, I did well, but not to my own satisfaction. In the second tournament, the Swiss Open, I think I did well because my confidence was a lot higher.

“I was corrected a lot after Austria, and the training helped me to improve my fighting skills. I look forward to doing well in the world championships and prepare myself for the All African Games and the Olympics.

With the kind of training I got here, and experience, if I get more of it, I think I will keep doing better,” Olushola said.

Ugboaja has said his goal with the Foundation is building a future national team for the country that would be as competitive as any other national team in Europe and America.

With over 90 Nigerian kids in high schools and colleges, in America to the credit of the Foundation, Ugboaja says he is hoping that in the next three years, some of the kids would be ready to represent Nigeria in various national team assignments.

“I derive great source of joy from what I’m doing with the Foundation by being able to give back to the society through my camps. Getting schools to provide athletics scholarships for Nigerian kids is not easy but I thank God for what He is doing through us. I look forward to someday see a good number of these players graduate from school and play basketball to the highest level and someday return home to represent our country Nigeria.”

Though, he admits that not all that are in schools at the moment would end up playing professional basketball or American Football. He noted that the joy of the Foundation is in providing a

means to an end for younger players, who would replace the older ones in the national team in a few more years.

“In a few years from now, most of the players in our national team would no longer be able to face the fire power of other nations and as such, we must start planning for replacements. Given the talents that we have in high schools and colleges, I see some of them being good replacements for the older

players that would soon retire.

“My objective trough the camps we run is to give education to others and have good replacements for the national teams men and women. What most countries have over us is organisation and planning but if we start now, we’ll be able to compete effectively at all levels,” he stated.

Ahead the Africa Nations Cup in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire

come August, Ugboaja said that he is looking forward to a good outing for the country noting that with proper planning, Nigeria would be among the top contenders.

Meanwhile, former Coach of the Seattle Super Sonics in the NBA and President of the Ejike Ugboaja Foundation, Greg Hendricks, has admitted that Nigerian athletes are ranked above their American counterparts in terms of athleticism.

Mastersports partners with RIGAN for Research Institutes’ Games EADING sports marketing LInternational, outfit, Mastersports is now the official media marketing consultant to the forthcoming Research Institute Games, tagged: ‘RIGAN 2013.’

Making the announcement at the memorandum of understanding signing cere-

mony, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), the host of the 2013 Games, Dr. Gloria Elomo, cited the company’s track record as an outfit that has delivered in similar projects in the past, as the reason for

the appointment.

“The appointment of a reputable organisation like Mastersports International underlines the importance we attach to RIGAN 2013.

Lagos is a megacity and also the economic capital of the country, so we want to host a game befitting of the status of the state.

Borno earmarks N500m for El Kanemi’s sign-on fees, builds five mini-stadia From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri ORNO State Sports B Commissioner, Isa Buratai has described the state

Governor, Kashim Shettima, as the best inspiration for sports in the state since it was created in 1976.

Speaking at a press briefing

Chika Chukwumerije (left) dresses up Sunday Onofe for his preliminary fight against Germany at the Austrian Open…last week.

Onofe won 6-1. The trip was facilitated by Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) with support from the National Sports Commission (NSC).

in Maiduguri as part of second year in office of the Governor, Buratai said, “despite the security challenges we are facing here in this state for the last three or four years, our youths are engaged in sporting activities with outstanding performances at national and international levels.

“It is only in Borno State that the 50 per cent sign on fees of professional players have been settled. These are in addition to the increment and payment of salaries of El Kanemi Warriors players and officials.”

Buratai further disclosed that El Kanemi was able to qualify for the Premier League because the state offset the outstanding sign on fees of N48 million owed the players.

He also disclosed that N2 billion has been released to the contractors handling the ultra modern stadium, near Kano Motor Park, saying that the stadium has reached 60 per cent completion.

74

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

SPORTS 75

Nigeria National League

Abia Warriors commend players as team nears Premier League promotion LAYERS and coaches of Abia P Warriors of Umuahia have very good reasons to be proud of their achievements this season, the management of the club has said.

Abia Warriors are currently on their way to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) following their superb performance in the on-going season, which has seen them topping the Nigerian National League table with 38 points.

The club, otherwise called Ochendo Babes, on Tuesday in Nasarawa spanked Dandaura of Katsina 4-0 to assume leadership of the log.

The club’s Secretary, Oliver Ndife said in a statement in Umuahia yesterday that the management had assured the players of its commitment to their welfare, adding that residents of Umuahia were desirous of watching Nigeria’s big clubs play in the Abia State capital.

The statement extended the warm felicitations of sportsloving Governor Theodore Orji to the players and urged them to maintain the current winning tempo. The team will be away to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles FC of Lagos in its next match.

The Ochendo Babes defeated the UniCem Rovers of Calabar 3-0 at the Umuahia Township Stadium last weekend.

Meanwhile, the Technical Adviser of

• COD eyes Federation Cup City of David United (COD) FC of Lagos, Austin Eguavoen, says he wants to win the Federation Cup with the team.

The Lagos State Federation Cup champions moved to the next stage of the Federation Cup after defeating FC Lokoja 2-1 in round of 64 at the Akure Township Stadium on Tuesday.

Eguavoen in a post match

interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said he was a relieved after his team came from a goal down to qualify for the round of 32.

“I am relieved a little bit in spite of the fact that we struggled to get the victory. No game comes easy in the Federation Cup; all the teams are out to prove a point but the game has come and gone.

I am happy we won,’’ he said.

Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Guinness signs pact with Nigerian broadcast media NE of the main sponsors O of the Super Eagles, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, has concluded broadcast sponsorship arrangements to bring matches of the Brazil 2013 Confederations Cup live to Nigerians throughout the duration of the tournament.

The brewers recently signed the partnership agreement with Optima Sports Management International (OSMI) to ensure Nigerians do not miss out on any of the action from the tournament, which kicks off on June 15, 2013.

Announcing the partnership, the Managing Director /Chief Executive Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, said the partnership typifies

Guinness’s commitment to providing unforgettable football experiences for fans of the Super Eagles and African football.

He added, “this partnership with OSMI will bring the Confederations Cup action to Nigerians on the following channels, Silverbird Television (STV), African Independent Television (AIT) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).”

Adetu explained, “when we launched the Fly with the Eagles Campaign, we promised our esteemed consumers and fans of the Super Eagles, our continuous support for Nigerian football, particularly the Super Eagles.”

Participants going for glory in a recent ECOWAS tour. The Cycleshop is working with the NCF to revive cycling in Nigeria.

Organisers roll out programme for Cycleshop/NCF bike championship HE Cycleshop and Nigerian

TCycling Federation (NCF) have concluded plans for the

maiden Cyclefest National Cycling Championship slated for Lagos on June 16, 2013.

According to the organisers of the event, the race, which will be of international standard, will cover 270 kilometers within the Lagos metropolis with 16 teams and four recreational cycling clubs taking part in the championship.

A release by the organises indicate that Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Kaduna, Gombe, Nasarawa and Borno will participate in the race. Others include Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Rivers and Imo, while the cycling clubs billed for the competition are

Lifestyle Cycling Club, Port Harcourt; Cycology Cycling, Lagos; Road Runners and Recreational Cycling Club, Lagos and OldBastids Nigeria.

According to the Team Principal of Cycleshop, organisers of the bike race, Inyang Effiong, the “championship is open to participation from professional cyclists as well as female and male recreational cyclists.”

The race kicks off from the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos and course through Eko Bridge, outer Marina, Bonny Camp, Ahmadu Bello – Bar Beach – 1004 – Falomo – Bourdilon – Foreshore – Third Mainland Bridge – Oworoshoki - through Ojota – Otedola Gardens – Alausa -

Awolowo Way – Allen/Opebi –Sheraton – Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way – Airport Road – Oshodi – Anthony – Maryland – Ikorodu Road on to Western Avenue back to the National Stadium, Lagos.

Also speaking on the championship, Nigeria Cycling Federation’s (NCF) Technical Director, Bashir Mohammed, said “the federation will use the opportunity of the championship to select male and female cyclists that will represent the country at the African Cycling Championship holding in Cairo, Egypt and at the ECOWAS International Cycling Tour from Lagos to Senegal in the months of September and November 2013 respectively.”

76

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

77

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

78 SPORTS

European Round-Off

Messi accused of tax fraud in Spain ARCELONA footballer, B Lionel Messi and his father are being investigated in Spain for allegedly defrauding the state of more than 4m euros (£3.4m).

The 25-year-old Argentina forward and his father, Jorge Horacio, are suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns for 2007-09, officials say.

The World Player of the Year has so far made no comment on the allegation. His net annual salary at Barcelona is said to be 16m euros, making him one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

Yesterday, a complaint signed by prosecutor, Raquel Amado was filed at the courthouse in Gava - the affluent Barcelona district where Messi lives.

Judges at the courthouse must accept the complaint before the suspects can be

charged, reports say.

Messi and his father are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use the footballer’s image.

The accusation is that by using companies based out-

side Spain where he lives and plays club football, Messi and his father avoided paying more than 4m euros in tax.

If convicted, Messi could face up to six years in prison and a large fine, according to Spain’s EFE news agency.

Messi (right) with dad

I will play anywhere for Chelsea, says Essien HELSEA midfielder, C Michael Essien says he is prepared to play anywhere under Jose Mourinho on his return to Stamford Bridge.

The Ghana international was

reduced to a bit-part player under Roberto Di Matteo after a serious knee injury, but was offered a lifeline at Real Madrid by then-manager Mourinho in a second-long loan deal.

Essien

Bendtner set for Arsenal exit ICKLAS Bendtner is set to N leave the Emirates within the next fortnight after Arsenal received a number of bids for the striker.

The 25-year-old, who arrived in North London eight years ago, turned down a move to Hamburg in January, but Arsenal are understood to have lowered their asking price to around £3m for the Dane.

Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt and Besiktas are thought to be among the teams to have agreed terms with Arsenal for the forward.

Speaking to Danish newspa-

per, Ekstra Bladet, Bendtner said, “Arsenal has agreed with five clubs so now it is up to me to make a choice.

“I will make that choice within the next 14 days. They are all good clubs. It is a hugely important choice I’m faced with. I must go where I am wanted. As a footballer, there is only one thing that can make you happy: playing time.”

Bendtner has not played for Arsene Wenger’s side since 2011, following two seasonlong loans at Sunderland and Juventus. And, for the first time, the Dane indicates his next move may not be to one

Galatasaray fail to land Nani ALATASARAY say they one year left on his contract, G failed in a bid for Nani but claim they cannot meet because Manchester United United’s valuation. wants £8.5million for the winger.

The Portugal international has never really fulfilled his potential at Old Trafford and new boss David Moyes is thought to be ready to sell this summer.

Galatasaray are among the clubs, who are interested in signing Nani, who has just

The Turkish club’s Chairman, Unal Aysal, said, “we offered €7million (£6m) for him. But they didn’t accept. We can’t give more than this.

“We are not going to follow Nani anymore. We can’t give more than €7m for him. They want €10million (£8.5million).

Because of this he is not on our transfer list anymore.”

Essien, who hailed Mourinho’s talents following his unveiling on Monday, played at the back and in midfield at Santiago Bernabeu and is ready for whatever the Portuguese needs.

“I don’t mind playing anywhere for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho,” Essien told Goal. “I am always positive and I will work hard and make myself always available for him.

“Where I play doesn’t matter just put me on the pitch and I will do the business for the club. I don’t have much to prove. I have done it all, so I just go out there, work hard and win games.”

The 30-year-old was signed from Lyon for 29 million euros

by Mourinho in 2005, a thenclub record fee, going on to make nearly 100 appearances in all competitions - winning two Premier League titles along the way - before the manager left the club in September 2007.

El Shaarawy sale not ruled out C Milan Vice-President, A Adriano Galliani has refused to rule out the sale of Stephan El Shaarawy, despite his agent stating otherwise.

The sought-after striker is thought to be attracting interest from Manchester City as the Blues may lose Carlos Tevez, possibly as part of the El Shaarawy deal if reports are to be believed.

Galliani is adamant he wants to keep one of his most prized assets. He knows that should a tempting offer come in then he would have to consider it.

“El Shaarawy is the most sought-after player on the market but I have not yet received any proposal,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “But I cannot rule out he could be sold, because in this market everything can happen.”

However, El Shaarawy’s agent Roberto La Florio insisted that there is nothing in the rumours, and that his client is happy at Milan.

“The player is fine and he hopes to stay at Milan,” he told Sportitalia. “Offers from City?

Nobody called me.”

THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, June 13, 2013

79

TheGuardian

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

By Obi Ebuka Onochie IGERIAN politics is becoming annoyN ingly uninteresting and is seriously lacking in character and morality. There is no intellectual discourse or involvement in the way and manner politics is being played in Nigeria currently, making our political firmament only financially attractive. No wonder the good, the bad and the ugly are working tirelessly hard to have a portion’s grip of the polity. The opposition parties have constituted themselves in what could be described as a “conclave of political muggers” who are not hiding their desperation to take over the Presidency, they thereby politicise every policy of the Federal Government.

On January 20 of this year, Ahmed Bola Tinubu made his way to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, blustering in the media of having been invited by Democrats as a guest. The brouhaha and hissing that followed confirmation of his invitation really got on the nerves of serious minded Nigerians as the issue was hugely unimportant to the nation.

Senator Bola Tinubu, currently the leader of opposition parties in Nigeria and other notable opposition figures will not tell us that they do not know how government opposition activity is conducted in other places. The Democrats were the opposition party under George Walker Bush and we saw how ranks were closed during their national security calamity when WTC and PANTAGON were attacked. The Democrats gave the Republican-led government of George Bush all the necessary support to crush and defeat terror which attacked the symbol of free market economy, their pride and their security.

By Uzoukwu Dennis Chiemeka HE only problem we have in this coun‘T try is leadership’. ‘Our leaders are responsible for the pitiable condition of this nation’. ‘Our leaders are so wicked and corrupt that we can no longer expect anything from them’. These and many more are the lashes we use to whip our leaders for their inefficiency. But each time I come across such statements, I ask myself if truly leadership is the only problem of this country, then what about followership?

The long history of the nation’s woes has been communicated by activists. They always recite the masses concurrent hardship in this nation as a result of our leaders’ inefficiency and corrupt mindedness.

They would often relate how our leaders plunder the public service in order to sustain individual survival. In a sense, this has ingrained a mental conditioning which has resulted in virtually all the masses becoming activists.

We cry of a corrupt government, whereas corruption is tangled in every aspect of our everyday lives. Our defence mechanism: a system of self criticism while removing ourselves as the object of criticism has been laudable over the years.

This negates the morality of always taking responsibility for your actions. I do not say this in a bid to excuse our leaders’ flaws, but upon a critical refection on the screen of truth, we would admit that the issue of corruption is not just a leadership issue, but a communal one.

We easily overlook the boss in the office who would manipulate figures in order to enrich his bank account, or the businessman who would bribe his way to collect contracts, or the student who engages in examination malpractice, or the parent who is very much involved in his or her child’s act of malpractices just to gain admission at all cost, and one would wonder if these are not all acts of corruption.

Come to think of it, where do these corrupt leaders emanate from, and where did they inherit this corrupt nature from?

They are all everyday citizens like you and me who got to where they are through

Please send reactions and feedback for YOUTH SPEAK to:

editorial@risenetworks.org and 07067976667- SMS ONLY

State of emergency: Beyond opposition criticism Democrats’ support for the Republican government did not in any way inhibit them from wrestling power from the Republicans which they did in a historical way by producing the first black American President. We are yet to see the impact and lessons of Tinubu’s hobnobbing with the “Democrats” especially as the opposition under his charge is going haywire.

The other day, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to quell incessant terrorist attacks going on in those areas, attacks which have put Nigeria in bracket with Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, etc. Before and after the state of emergency declaration, opposition parties as led by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) through its Publicity Secretary, Lai Muhammed severely criticised the decision of the

President. This was not the only time they unjustifiably criticised the actions of the President even when they knew such criticisms would expose their intentional ignorance. They have called him all sorts of names inclusive of “weak and clueless resident” who has failed to make use of military resources to fight Boko Haram. Immediately he declared a state of emergency which was going to put military to use, their argument and criticism changed. Prof. Ango Abdullahi of NEF was quoted as saying “the President has declared war on Northern Nigeria”. In the same line of action, Balarabe Musa said, “there is no evidence that the youths are revolting against the Nigerian state. The youths rather have been misused”. He went further to state that “the insecurity in the northern states does not validate a state of emergency declaration”. ACN took the laugh-

Nigeria’s woes: Are our leaders to blame? hard work or chance. Nobody ever got corrupt by virtue of assuming a public office, but these acts have always been hidden in them and waiting to be manifested. When a child who steals from the mother’s pot is not properly scolded, and he eventually grows up to stealing with the pen, what do you expect from that child when he assumes public office? Give a thief a public office, and he will become a bigger thief.

I recall going through the simple, honest and accountable lives that our First Republic leaders lived in a national daily, one would wonder how we had the likes of Zik, Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, and the rest, noble and just men, all in one generation. Little wonder one soon realises that the society as at then was one that held morality in high esteem.

Unjust and dishonest acts were frowned at and quickly condemned, and many lived a life of contentment. This bespeaks the fact that a leader is a reflection of its society.

Today we live in a society where the principles of delayed gratification are no longer appreciated. Virtually everyone is entrapped by the snare of the get rich syndrome. Even family members and local community would applaud you if you got rich overnight irrespective of the means. So why would anyone want to be sincere and honest in his acts. Even the little child in primary school would make you understand that there is no time in life, and wants to make it fast. The fabric of morality upon which our society was held together is completely broken. When a society is morally right, it will produce leaders that are morally right, but when the society is morally sick, it will produce leaders that are morally depraved. The ‘’upright’’ then is the one who makes the loudest noise, is the one who is quick at pointing out the failings in others! Go into their records, private and public, you would be surprised at the mountain of rot!

The times we are in our nation’s history

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, and powered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantial advocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engage Society and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are peculiar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way of well crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical and non-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should be sent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus past publications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visit www.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

Also join our on-line conversation

RISE GROUP

@risenetworks

21676F3E

Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotlines: Lagos 7736351, Abuja 07098513445; Circulation Hotline: 01 4489656 All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com

Editor: MARTINS

OLOJA

.

ABC (ISSN NO 0189-5125)

able criticism to a more hilarious level when it issued a statement saying, “we hereby reject the declaration of emergency rule in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, and we call on the National Assembly to also reject it and not allow itself to be used to rubber stamp a declaration that is largely cosmetic”. No action of the Federal Government is justifiable and right in their eyes and nothing pleases them.

There is something fundamentally wrong when an organisation fails to see beyond the confines of their nomenclature. Opposition does not mean undermining all the actions of a government inclusive of the one taken in the interest of the nation. The government of President Goodluck Jonathan was produced by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but is not government for the PDP alone; it is a government for all Nigerians and as such, needs and must have every necessary support from well meaning Nigerians to succeed. We know that PDP is not an umbrella of saints and in fact it is riddled with cutthroat politics and impunity but we will not burn down the house because of our anger over rats. This is the time to look beyond party politics more so as there is no ideological difference between one party and the other in Nigeria as it is between the Democrats and Republicans in United States. Only the heavy traffic of turncoat politicians crossing from one party to the other is enough to tell us the uniformity of ideology that exists among political parties in Nigeria. Opposition should look inward and ask themselves if they are on the right track.

• Onochie wrote from Port Harcourt. are desperate. It is not a time of apportioning blames on who is responsible for our sorry state. Desperate times calls for desperate measures, and we have to be desperate in our resolve. We all have a stake in this, to restore and uphold those values upon which our society was founded. It starts with you, it starts with me. Perhaps, our very first place of assignment is with ourselves, then our families, and then in our neighbourhoods, and our offices. We need to teach the young ones the value of hard work and patience. We should make them understand that it is more honourable to fail and try better than to maneuver our ways. As the Holy Bible states, ‘’Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it’’.

Our media also have a stake in this, to promote those programmes that uphold moral justice. Needless to say, the media (either print or electronic) is the greatest influence on our today’s child. In our offices, we also have to stand for that which is just. Probably we are afraid of losing our jobs; maybe we should be more afraid of the despairing future of our kids than losing our jobs.

If we are to be resolute, then we find ourselves in a revolution in which we must partake. It is not a revolution that is characterised by carrying placards, or burning down vehicles or public properties, but a mental revolution. A revolution that is achieved by constantly speaking and standing for the truth until it is ingrained in our subconscious, for we can only alter the face of our destinies by altering the frame of our mindsets.

If this be achieved, then we can build a measure of faith and hope, a hope that against every wind of despair, the aspiring child would rise beyond the prevailing circumstances of his birth and immediate environment, and would be aligned with a sense of national allegiance. If this be the case, then would the desired transformation be achieved? It may not be in this generation of leaders, perhaps in the future generation of leaders to emerge.

• Chiemeka is a graduate of Federal University of Technology, Owerri.