Sun 16 Mar 2014

Are Tokunbo Goods Worth The Trouble?

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NEWSFEATURE 51

BUSINESS 33

How Banks Fleece Customers

Unsure Footing For N1trn SURE-P Fund

CITYFILE 6

COVER ??

The Gains, The Pitfalls Of A

Desperate Confab

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,862

Immigration Job Stampede

20 Applicants, Nursing Mothers Die From Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) Karls Tsokar, Ezeocha Nzeh, Joke Falaju (Abuja), Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City), Murtala Muhammed (Kano) and Fabian Odum (Lagos)

TAMPEDE involving some 90, 000 applicants for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) job, yesterday, killed, at least, 19 people and injured many others in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Edo, Minna and Kano.

The applicants were struggling to gain access into the

S

• As 90,000 Job Seekers Squeeze Into Abuja, PH Stadia • NEMA Recovers 7 Bodies

stadia, the recruitment test venues of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Three, including a pregnant woman, died in Kano, while the stampede also claimed three in Minna.

About 65,000 (well over the stadium’s sitting capacity of 60,000) job seekers fought to

enter the National Stadium Abuja venue of the aptitude test in the ensuing surge, many of them were trampled underfoot and some of them died as confirmed by the National Hospital.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it recovered seven bodies and hospitalized 40 in Abuja,

Immigration Job Deaths

Abuja 8 Edo 2 (unconfirmed report says 20) Port Harcourt 4 Minna 3 Kano 3 (including a pregnant woman) Total 20 (unconfirmed 39 including a pregnant woman) even as another stampede at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium venue for the recruitment exercise in Benin Zone claimed two victims.

There were conflicting

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reports about actual number of deaths at the Benin stadium. An online report, for instance, claimed that 20, including a pregnant woman, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

UNEMPLOYMENT PUTS THOUSANDS OF NIGERIANS IN DANGER

Gunmen Kill 100 In Kaduna Fresh Attacks From Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna S the nation braces for a A controversial national dialogue tomorrow, the reign of terror that has kept the North East geopolitical zone in abeyance, yesterday, moved over to Kaduna, North Central Nigeria, leaving 100 dead people on its trail. This followed Saturday morning report of Abuja stampede involving 90, 000 applicants for immigration job that killed, at least, eight people and injured many others. Unidentified gunmen, numbering about 40, attacked three villages in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where they killed about 100 inhabitants after setting houses on fire in pursuit of fleeing residents.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

A Conference To Save Nigeria:

The Hopes, The Fears

By Abraham Ogbodo HE dice is cast and there is T no going back on the National conference, which will be inaugurated, all things being equal, tomorrow by President Goodluck Jonathan.

If it was meant to be a huge joke, the conference has transformed to a huge reality and the challenge now is how to manage efficiently, for good purpose, all the issues that may arise from the engagement.

The breathtaking build-up has underscored the need for the dialogue. Every component of the Nigerian arrangement is unhappy with one thing or the other. Even the North, which other stakeholdCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NEWS 2

Crowd of job seekers at the National Stadium Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Fireworks As Confab Kicks Off Tomorrow

2 | NEWS Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS Gunmen Kill 100 In Kaduna Fresh Attacks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has ordered immediate investigation into the fresh attack, saying that the long arm of the law would track down perpetrators of the evil act.

Yero also described the attack and killing of the innocent souls as “barbaric and ungodly”, just as he urged the people in the affected communities to be calm and law abiding.

Trouble started in the affected communities when the attackers invaded Ugwar Sankwai, Ungwar Gata and Chenshyi villages shooting sporadically and setting houses ablaze. Residents, who attempted to escape were either gunned down or matcheted to death.

An inhabitant of Chenshyi Village, Mr. Nuhu Moses, told journalists “the attackers were more than 40, and were armed with dangerous knives, guns and other sophisticated weapons of mass destruction. Over 50 people were killed in our village alone and there is no house standing.”

“All the houses were burnt by the attackers, while people who attempted to run were gunned down. I was just lucky to have escaped but our Pastor’s wife and kids were among the people that were butchered.”

Another resident in Ungwar Sankwai, Mr. Jonathan Bako, said he did not know how he managed to escape the attack, which he described as massacre.

Besides, Vice Chairman of Kaura Local Government, Mr. Daniel Anyip, said countless homes were set ablaze.

According to him, “from our records, in all the three villages attacked, only five houses are standing while people killed are about 100.

These are villages that housed a lot of people but they are now homeless.”

Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mallam Aminu Lawan (DSP), confirmed the attack, saying that security men have been mobilised to the area.

Also, the Southern Kaduna Indigenes Progressive Forum (SKIPF) while expressing grief and shock on the attack described the unfortunate incident in the three Kaduna South villages as barbaric act that has further exposed government insensitivity to the plight of the people of the area.

Chairman of the group, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Fireworks As Confab Begins Tomorrow From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) ITH the proposed inauW guration of the 492 delegates for the controversial National Conference tomorrow, Nigerians will finally sit down to iron out their differences; but not without ‘landmines’ threatening its success. Knotty issues of resource control, composition of delegates, divergent group/ethnic interests as well as legality of the process and its outcome are major issues that the Federal Government will have to grapple with.

Nigerians, at the weekend, expressed mixed reactions; with many of them saying that the dialogue would be holding amid confusion.

Leaders of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Aka Ikenga, Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiri and Isoko groups all expressed divergent views on the conference billed to begin tomorrow, admitting that it would be dogged by challenges.

Anthony Sani of the ACF, however, advised that rather than continue “to war,’ it would be better to go ahead with the conference and ‘talk’.

Opposing the decision by

• Northern Elders, ACF Back Dialogue • Ethnic Nationalities Make Demands • Rivers To Pursue Resource Control some elders that the North would boycott the National Conference, members of the Northern Elders Council (NEC), led by elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have said that the region will participate in the national dialogue meant to transform the nation.

The Arewa elders, under aegis of the NEC, described “those Northern elements against the Conference” as rebels and agents of destabilisation.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the NEC, Ambassador Yaro Yesufu Mamman, said, “the Northern Elders Council wishes to align itself now and at all times with the position of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) as the Pan Northern Umbrella organisation on all issues of national importance, especially on the National Conference”.

According to him, “we totally regret the bellicose and belligerent posture of the socalled Northern Elders Forum

(NEF) and expressed regret at its utterances, which are, to say the least, embarrassing… to the general position of participation, consensus-building and constructive engagement initiative by the ACF with all and different parts of the country”.

Ambassador Mamman, who said that Nigerians should not attach any seriousness to the views canvassed by the elders, who converged in Kano recently, stressed that “the Northern Elders Council reaffirms its total support to participate in the National Conference and assures all Nigerians that the northern delegates will participate and contribute actively and will vigorously defend Northern and national interest at the conference.”

He added that “the so -called Kano declaration was an exercise in futility”, adding that most of those involved in the declaration were of no significance on issue bordering on northern interest.

Said Mamman: “the Northern Elders Council is always in tandem with ACF position. There

was extensive and intensive consultation and presentation by ACF before the Okurounmu Committee, including presentation of memoranda at Minna, Kaduna, Sokoto and Jos. At no time was the idea of a walk out or boycott ever entertained.”

He further argued: “We believe in justice, dialogue and consensus; and any group spitting fire and brimstone is not speaking on behalf of the North”.

Rivers State delegates to the national conference, yesterday, said they would demand fiscal federalism and the control of the state’s natural resources. They will also be pressing the Federal Government to ensure that polluted environments in Ogoni, Bonny, Ogba, Kalabari, Eleme and are cleaned up.

These views among others were reached at an exhaustive deliberation of contentious issues inhibiting the prosperity and peace of the people of Rivers State, and based on the presentations made at the Mini National Conference for Rivers People, which held in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Although no representative

of the Rivers State government attended the conference, the Director of Information and Strategy, Rivers Mainstream Coalition, Mr. Sotonye Ijuye Dagogo, said the conference was convened in pursuance of the need to aggregate the position of Rivers people at the National Conference.

While the dreaded Boko Haram sect intensifies its offensive against the nation, critics of the dialogue describe it as mere waste of time and resources (the threemonth dialogue will consume N7 billion). From the day the conference was announced to the day the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC), which went round the country to collate views, presented its report to President Goodluck Jonathan, opposition has been mounting. Even those, who think there is need to talk, in whatever form, have divergent views on the issues ranging from delegate nominees to how the outcome should be handled.

The hand of Mr. President was, last Thursday, forced to do a last-minute tinkering with the composition of the delegates list, replacing a handful of its own original in response to dissenting voices.

MORE ON COVER, PAGE 17

90,000 Job Seekers Squeeze Into Abuja, PH Stadia injured were taken, the actu- recruitment because of inadeCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 funds. al number could not be con- quate died in the stampede. firmed, as some of them “We started the process of The Abuja stadium has more were taken to other govern- reconciliation when the than 30 entrances, most of ment hospitals in Garki and board announced we got the which were locked at the Maitama. approval to recruit 4, 000 and time the candidates were Many of the injured candi- above, but there was no budgbeing expected to come for dates were assisted into a etary provisions for funding the screening and test, sched- medical facility on stretch- that process,” Parradang said. uled to start by 7.00 am. ers, and many more support- “If we recruit the people, there Some of the candidates, who ed by officers of the Nigeria will be no salaries for them; were there earlier than 6.am Security and Civil Defence so, we have approached the could not gain entry to the Corps (NSCDC), who were on Budget Office. They said it was venue. Even when two of the hand to assist in maintain- late and that it cannot make stadium gates where opened, ing order but could not con- available that amount of it could not contain the surg- trol the crowd of desperate money and we calculated ing crowd of desperate job job seekers. that; but N4bn would be able seekers.

The NIS actually advertised to pay those officers that are Although the Public for 4,500 vacant positions expected to be recruited for Relations Officer of the NIS, into the Service but about the year 2014.”

Mr. Chukwuemeka Obua, 700,000 Nigerians paid At the Liberation Stadium, could not be reached (as calls N1,000.00 n to register Elekahia, Port Harcourt, placed to his phone went on online for slots. This trans- where four persons were “forwarding” and alternate lates to N700 million in rev- trampled to death in a similar telephone number switched enue. manner, the teeming applioff), sources at the headquarComptroller General, David cants estimated to be over 23, ters said the number of per- Parradang, last month, said 000 tried to force their way sons they saw at the stadium the NIS had to stay action on into the 16,000 capacity overwhelmed the officials Liberation Stadium, venue of that were sent to conduct the test.

“The number of applicants is massive. We knew that it would be like this; that was This is exactly why a dialogue why the stadium, like in all CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to reset the perspectives in a parts of the country, was ers say has had more than a fair federal structure that has selected to host the large share in the scheme, is talking operated more in breach of number in the belief that it of an unpalatable twist with the principles is absolutely could contain them. the coming of Jonathan that necessary. The copious landUnfortunately, we were over- has edged the region to the mines ahead cannot constiwhelmed; we could not even fringes. tute a deterrent at this point. control the crowd. Across board, the refrain has The hope is that all the pricky “So the unfortunate inci- remained constant. The majori- questions, including most dence occurred basically ty groups comprising especially the devolution of because of the rush, some of Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo power and resource ownerthe candidates, if not all of are as dissatisfied as the minor- ship cum allocation of accruthem, wanted to be inside the ity elements, especially in the ing benefits, will be answered stadium first, so as to finish Niger Delta, who owns the land anyhow. early; and some of the where the nation’s golden And how they are answered entrances were also locked. resource, crude oil is domi- will either set a new direction As a result, the incidence ciled. Everybody wants some- or reinforce the known path to could not be averted,” an NIS thing better as if all the goodies doom. The other major consource said. are consolidated in the hands cern is the task of making the Meanwhile, at the National of one person or group to dis- outcome of the conference Hospital, where some of the pense to others. bear on the operation of the

the enlistment exercise.

The Guardian gathered from some of the survivors of the stampede that hundreds of persons started arriving the stadium as early as 7.am, but were prevented by security operatives from accessing the main bowl. After three hours of waiting, Immigration authorities decided to open one of the gates to commence the screening exercise.

Considering the process as slow, agitated applicants began pushing those in front, and, in the process, many went down and were trampled by those surging from behind, resulting in the death of four persons.

Amid wailing and groaning, some of the applicants who barely survived the tragic accident, lost vital documents, such as original copies of their degree certificates, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) dis-

charge certificates.

Photocopies of resume and passport photographs were seen littering the scene of the stampede.

An army ambulance vehicle, with registration number NA 307 EOI, and two police operational Toyota Hilux vehicles were, shortly afterwards, deployed to the stadium to convey unconscious applicants to hospitals.

A medical doctor, who pleaded anonymity at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, disclosed that four persons among those rushed to the hospital were dead. He also revealed that four others were in critical conditions, while others who sustained minor injuries had been treated.

One of the victims of the stampede, who was luckily CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

A Conference To Save Nigeria: The Hopes, The Fears Nigerian federation.

The legality of the conference has remained an issue with some saying the exercise stands on nothing since no law, by way of a parliamentary act, proclaimed it into existence.

This is one of the landmines ahead even as the counter argument that ultimate sovereignty resides with the people and the same people do not need a special law or legislative permission to engage all issues, sounds stronger.

The two options floated in this regard are that the outcome of the conference will, in the end, be made to either bear a legislative stamp of approval or taken through a

referendum, to step it up to a perfect code for application for all purposes.

Whichever, the challenge should not be made to becloud the benefits of a successful conference. In all of this, there is a consensus of sorts that Nigeria needs to be re-worked to position it for another century of survival after the first 100 years.

And so, any grand manipulation by the elite to defeat the good purpose of the conference as was the case in past efforts, will only amount to postponing the evil day. Since evil multiplies with time, it is better to contain it today than leave it till tomorrow when it will have grown bigger and more powerful.

Sunday, March 16, 2014 3

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS

DHQ: Military Captures Boko Haram Ammunition Dump, Terrorists, Others Killed From Madu Onuorah, Abuja EFENCE Headquarters yesD terday said Nigerian troops captured a massive armoury belonging to Boko Haram sect members in one of the camps that fell on Friday night in ongoing counter terrorism operations in the North East.

It comes as the Borno government yesterday relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state. The new restriction is now 9pm-6am daily.

The military also said that cordon and search, as well as patrols and pursuit of members of the sect by air and land is continuing in the entire mission area of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

Defence spokesman, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a state-

ment: “The large quantities of weapons recovered in the raid are still being evacuated from the scene of the night raid where several terrorists died.”

Olukolade said that similar night operations took place in coordination with troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force at other camps located in the outskirts of Duguri, Polkime, Malafatori and other locations around the fringes of Lake Chad.

“Substantial money in different currencies and denominations were also recovered from the camps. A total of seven terrorists were captured in the operation during which altogether a soldier died while five were wounded,” he said.

Giving an update on Friday’s raid by the Boko Haram insur-

Borno Relaxes 24-hour Curfew gents on the 21 Brigade headquarters housing the Giwa Barracks Maiduguri, the spokesman said more of the fleeing terrorists have been killed while those captured are providing intelligence on insur-

gent operations and hideouts.

He said: “Troops conducting cordon and search for remnants of the daring terrorists who attacked Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri yesterday (Friday), had an

encounter with some of the surviving terrorists in the general area of Kayamla and Alu Dam in the outskirts of Maiduguri this morning. More of the terrorists have been killed and arrested in the ongoing encounters.

Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing In Lagos

By Ibe Uwaleke MISHAP was averted yesA terday in Lagos after smoke was reportedly detected inside the cabin of a MedView Boeing 737 passenger plane (registration number 5N-BPB) few minutes after take-off.

The plane with 94 passengers and five crew members took off from the Murtala Mohammed domestic airport around 8.12am local time but could not continue the journey to Abuja due to alarm raised when the smoke was detected.

Passengers had panicked,

forcing the pilot to make an emergency return to base to avoid any eventuality.

The pilot informed the control tower and air traffic controllers cleared the ground for the plane to make an emergency landing. It touched down at exactly 8.17am local time.

Orji, Utomi Mourn Uwechue From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia OVERNOR Theodore Orji of G Abia State has described the death of immediate past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, as devastating, even as prominent professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, said news of his death “diminished him a great deal”.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, described Uwechue’s demise as unfortunate, coming at a period when his wealth of experience and services were needed, especially at the proposed national conference.

“We are to be comforted that he served his fatherland to the best of his ability,” Orji said.

He consoled the government and people of Delta State and the late Uwechue family and relations to see his death as an act of God. He prayed for peaceful repose of his soul.

“The news of the passing of the diplomat statesman and publisher diminished me a great deal,” Utomi said, adding: “I had the privilege of having known him since I was a precocious 20-year-old, nearly 40 years ago.

Auto Crash Claims Nine Lives In Jigawa From John Akubo, Dutse EN of the Nigeria Civil and M Security Defense Corps (NSCDC) were involved in a

Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade (left); Senator Iyiola Omisore and Prof. Wale Oladipo during the 2014 Ife-Day at Ile-Ife, Osun… yesterday.

Stampede: PDP Mourns Victims, Demands Investigation From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja HE Peoples Democratic T Party (PDP) has said it is extremely grieved by the death of young Nigerians during a stampede at the recruitment exercise conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service at the National Stadium, Abuja yesterday.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday said it was “shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of the young citizens who were at the exercise, not only to secure jobs, but to be allowed

the opportunity to contribute towards the development of the nation.”

The party said it was “unfortunate and disheartening that the victims paid the supreme price while trying to be more useful to the nation.”

While commiserating with the families of the deceased, the ruling party prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded and charged the Ministry of Interior and all relevant agencies of government to immediately swing into action to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the stampede.

The PDP also charged all

government agencies and parastatals, as well as all its elected and appointed offi-

cials at all levels to redouble their efforts in curbing unemployment in line with

President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda and the PDP manifesto.

Voter Registration: Police Arrest 18 Mercenaries in Ekiti From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head, South West Bureau Ado Ekiti) KITI State police command yesterday said it foiled attempts by some politicians to bring in people from neighboring states to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, being organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The command said about 18 people from Idanre, Ondo State, were arrested in Ado Ekiti

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for attempting to participate in the registration exercise.

Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Babayemi, who confirmed the arrest, said: “They were arrested following a tip-off by members of the public. We heard they were coming for a certain mission, so the police laid ambush and intercepted them. Upon interrogation, they said they came to Ekiti to register as voters.

“But when our men conducted a thorough search on them,

they carried temporary voter cards, which showed that they have registered once. It is against the Electoral Act to engage in double registration.”

Asked what party was indicted in the matter, Babayemi, said: “We are not concerned about which party brought them, but about their mission in Ekiti.

The matter will be investigated thoroughly and we will charge them to court if we are able to establish prima facie case against them.”

Rumpus In Diplomatic Community Over Upbraid Of Envoys

By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor HE “quiet rumpus” within T the diplomatic community over what some envoys initially referred to as a “veiled upbraid” of representatives of foreign governments in Nigeria has not abated.

Instead, it is now in the realm of suppressed shock. This shock was evident during the recent maiden briefing by the

new minister of foreign affairs, Aminu Wali, of diplomats accredited to Nigeria.

From their non-attributable comments, these envoys are still sulking over the manner the Nigerian authorities peppered them for what is generally perceived by the presidency, as misconceptions by the outside world about events in the country.

Earlier feelers of the diplomatic pulse in this regard have

now been strengthened by the comments of some highly regarded diplomats who spoke in confidence last week, pointing to some controlled discontent among their ranks about being dragged to “the centre of the Nigerian negatives” Was President Jonathan doing anything unprecedented in the diplomatic practice? Was he in breach of any diplomatic convention? For instance, the president was

quoted to have told the departing Italian envoy: “The knowledge you have acquired here (Nigeria) should be used positively to help us as you go back home.”

Scholars and international relations experts would be coming up with varied interpretations and we should put this in the public domain also.

Even though characteristically, the envoys are not open-

ing up on the matter publicly, their displeasure may have already been transported to sympathetic whistle blowers outside the shores of Nigeria.

According to a recent edition of The Economist, a respected international news magazine, there seems to be more to be corrected by the Nigerian government itself than poor “harmless diplomats” can ever achieve in the debate over perception.

rescue operation yesterday when an auto crash claimed the lives of nine persons in Gamji-Gyedi village, seven kilometres to Ringim LGA of Jigawa State.

The accident occurred following a head-on collision between two buses.

The commandant of the NSCDC, Muhammad Gidado, told The Guardian that the incident occurred close to a fuel vendor. He said that upon impact, the vehicles hit some gallons filled with petrol. He said the buses burst into flames, causing six passengers to be burnt beyond recognition.

Three other victims died in a hospital.

The commandant warned drivers to avoid over speeding, adding that people should also avoid placing inflammables at roadsides.

APC Leaders Urged To Close Ranks In Kogi From Kolawole Timothy, Lokoja EADERS of the All Progressive LhaveParty (APC) in Kogi State been urged to close ranks and work for the success of the party in the forthcoming 2015 general election.

Kogi state’s central senatorial district coordinator of the women wing of the party, Hajia Jumai Isah, made the appeal during a meeting of the women forum in Okene. She noted that the interest and unity of the party should be paramount in the hearts of leaders of the party in the state.

According to her, “ the ruling party is the common enemy of all Nigerians and APC is ready to take the country to the Promised Land, but we have to firstly put our house in order and work for the success of the party, so that Nigerians can have faith in the party as the best alternative.”

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 16, 2014

NEWS Odua, Unions Set Agenda For New Aviation Minister From Joke Falaju, Abuja ORMER Aviation Minister, Stella Odua, union leaders and other stakeholders in the sector, Friday, urged the new minister to build on the achievements of his predecessor.

While commending the virtues of Odua, stakeholders appealed to the new aviation minister to advance the transformation agenda of the current administration.

Representatives of various trade unions in the ministry, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and

F

the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, the Civil service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUCPTRE) took turns to give their words at the valedictory meeting organised for Odua in Asokoro, Abuja.

Odua said: “It was a privilege to serve 150 million Nigerians; it was a good cause.”

Acknowledging that she did not give much attention to publicity, she noted: “Our focus was giving Nigerians befitting airports; and we believe that our work would speak for us when the time come.

“There is dignity in labour; we have done the needful.

And I know that posterity will judge us for what we have

NATIONAL done because I believe we have done our best…giving Nigerians airports that meet international standards.

“I expect the new minister to do better than what I did because the compass is there for him to follow. And we have technocrats in the industry who will assist in realising the objectives of the present administration.”

Chairman of the Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council of the Ministry, Mr. Hector Nnandi, noted that there were mixed feelings among stakeholders in the industry when Odua, a female and non-technocrat, was appointed to head the ministry but that people

were later proven wrong by her groundbreaking initiatives in the sector.

He highlighted some of her achievements to include remodeling of the airports, aviation master plan, review of aviation policy, review of concession agreement, pro-

vision of state-of-the-art equipment, reorganisation of the parastatals and improving staff welfare.

Nnandi said Odua’s achievements would serve as a yardstick for measuring the performance of future aviation handlers, urging the new

minister to take cues from her.

A former permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr. George Osi, who described the former minister as a visionary leader, also urged the new minister to ensure consistent in policy to sustain the achievements of Odua.

Party Will Decide My Successor, Says Akpabio OVERNOR Godswill G Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said the ruling party and stakeholders of the three senatorial districts would decide who succeeds him in 2015, a decision that has not been taken.

He said this explanation at a town hall meeting held in

AKWA IBOM Etinan Federal Constituency. The constituency is made up of Etinan, Nsit Ibom and Nsit Ubium council areas.

Akpabio acknowledged that equity and fairness demand that Eket senatori-

al district produce his successor but that the final decision lies with the party.

The governor said his assumption stemmed from the fact that the district has not produced governor since 1999. However, he stressed that he would not ‘anoint’ any aspirant.

Auto Mart Partners Berger Dealers

By Ijeoma Opara

LAGOS TAFF of Cheki an online car website, recently visited Berger auto dealers where it urged for deeper partnership. At the unveiling ceremony held at MC 1 Park, General Manager of Cheki Nigeria, Mrs. Tomi Hodonu, said the choice of Berger was informed by the relevance of the market to the business.

“For a brand like ours, which has discovered a better way to get auto dealers to buy and sell their cars, we make sure we capture the physical market so that people know that every car sold in Nigeria is on cheki.

“Technology has emerged in Africa. In the beginning it was a bit slow, but with the growth in Internet usage, it has become very possible.”

PRO of auto market dealers, Mr. Maduabuchukwu Akudu, said: “The involvement of Cheki in our business shows that online adverting works. It has been great doing this kind of business.”

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Managing Director of The Sun newspapers and President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Femi Adesina (left); National Secretary, Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Mr. Ikechukwu Ugbaja; Provost, LIFE Theological Seminary, Ikorodu, Rev. (Dr.) Cletus Orji; Author, Errors of Today’s Church and The Way Out, Evang. Segun Oluwafemi and his wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Bukola Oluwafemi, during the public PHOTO: KENECHUKWU EZEONYEJIAKU presentation of the book, Errors of Today’s Church and The Way Out in Lagos… yesterday.

Immigration Stampede: NEMA Recovers Seven Bodies In Abuja CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 revived at the stadium, Jasper Saturday, lamented that he had lost a bag containing original copies of his degree and NYSC discharge certificates.

“More people would have died today if the officers had not shot into the air. The shots scared those that were pushing us from the back.

The crowd here today is too much for this stadium.

There is no way the security men on ground here could have managed this crowd. I don’t think inviting all of us here was a wise decision,” he said.

In Edo State, where at least one applicant died in the stampede, The Guardian gathered that many other persons sustained variouis degree of injuries as they struggled to enter the main bowl of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City.

Many of the over 24000 applicants had arrived the stadium as early as 6 am for the exercise scheduled for 7 am. Some immigration officials also made brisk business as some unsuspecting applicants parted with as much as N1000 to gain entry into the venue.

Trouble started around 10am, when the immigration officials in charge of the screening lost control of the crowd, prompting the soldiers on guard to start shooting sporadically in the air.

As at the time of filing this report, many applicants were still receiving treatment in hospitals.

“I can confirm that one person, a lady, died as a result of the stampede. We deposited her body in the mortuary. We learnt that she gave birth not long ago,” an official of the Service confirmed.

Mr. Isaac, one of the applicants, expressed shock over the manner they were being treated by the recruiting offi-

cers.

“Can you imagine sir, this is 2: 10pm, and we are still loitering around with no concrete information from the recruiting officers.”

In Kano, three applicants, including a pregnant woman, collapsed during a stampede.

Over 15,000 applicants had besieged the Sani Abacha

Stadium, venue of the aptitude test, as early as 6.am from Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano,Jigawa and Sokoto.

Abubakar Isaq, who was at the venue, told The Guardian that three candidates died during the screening process. Amina Ginta also took part in the aptitude test; she confirmed

death of a pregnant woman.

In Minna, Niger State capital, about 11,000 candidates attended the screening exercise, which took place at the Women Day Secondary School. Tragedy occurred when another stampede claimed lives of three job seekers.

Fresh Attacks In Kaduna Leave 100 Dead CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 retired Major George Nchok Asake, said the state governor has failed to take action on killings taking place in the area despite advice and protests.

Another villager, who gave vivid description of the attack, described it as gruesome, Mr. Gideon Bughu, from Sankwai village (one of the affected villages), in Biniki District of The Manchock Chiefdom said the gunmen first came on

Friday night and attacked his village.

Bughu, who spoke in a telephone interview, said, “they (gunmen) numbered over 50 during the first attack, and later came this morning around 4am and finished the other villages”.

“They fired into homes, as women and children scampered to escape, they were shot down and later cut with machete. They set our homes on fire. If you stayed inside,

you were burnt. If you ran out, they shot at you. The men stayed inside, so most of those burnt were men. But they managed to kill some of the Fulani men, some of who wore army uniforms”, he explained.

“I escaped but I still have bullet wounds, as I speak to you I am at a hospital somewhere in Jos. I am told that about 45 people in my village were burnt, and 30 shot and cut with machete.”

National Confab: Former Governorship Aspirant Cautions Yoruba Against Secession

By Kamal Tayo Oropo the National Conference SOgun kicks off tomorrow, former State Governorship Aspirant under the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Kayode Soyinka, has cautioned Yoruba delegates to desist from pushing for secession of Yorubaland.

He tasked the Yoruba to be more cerebral and more concerned about proffering solutions to the numerous developmental challenges facing Nigeria.

The three-time governorship aspirant made the appeal while speaking as a special guest at the meeting of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) held in Abeokuta.

Sunday, March 16, 2014 5

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS Festac Residents Want Govt Intervention On Link Bridge

Benin Elders Demand New Federal Structure

By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi

s delegates prepare for the ESTIVAL Town Residents A National Conference, Fcalled Association (FTRA) has which begins tomorrow in on the Federal and

Lagos State governments to save the lives of the people living around Festac and its environs by constructing the remaining two link bridges that would connect Festac to Phase One estate and others parts of Lagos.

In a statement signed by both the chairman, Mr. Jola Ogunlusi, and PRO, Mr. Alaba Ayodele, the group pleaded with the State and Federal governments to stop playing politics with people’s lives by doing the necessary, saying several efforts to get both governments to take action in the past had proved abortive.

The statement further revealed that two plank bridges had in the past collapsed within the location, making people using it to lose their lives. It added that boat operators had to come in to fill the gap created.

“We are calling for the intervention of Mr. President, Ebele Goodluck Dr. Jonathan to stop the degradation of Festac Town because all correspondence with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) on the issue have been swept under the carpet.”

Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Committee of Concerned Benin Elders has proposed a new federal structure, made of up four regions in both North and South.

According to a statement signed by the committee’s General Secretary, Prof. Sam Guobadia, the two new southern regions should be made up of the old Midwest, and another one comprising Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

In the same vein, the two new northern regions should evolve from splitting the cur-

Police Arrest Suspected Child Traffickers, Others In Abia

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku

ABIA From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE new Abia State Police T Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu, on Friday told journalists that men of his command arrested one Mr. Obioma Adieze, aged 40, and Esther Nwachukwu, aged 50, in their bid to steal a twomonth-old baby, Miss Stella Ajuzieogu, daughter of one Goodness Eluwa Ajuzieogu at Umuokiri Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South local council.

Stating that the matter has been placed under investigation, he added that one Mr. Chukwuma Ikoro, aged 33, a murder suspect was arrested at Ogbor Hill Aba on February 25.

He revealed that Ikoro, who had a bullet wound, is a member of a rival cult group that shot and killed one Mr. Frank Nwankwo on February 24, this year.

Also arrested for conspiracy and armed robbery were five men who robbed one Mr. Mbazulika Charles of Amakom Osumenyi Anambra State and made away with his Toyota Camry Car, UBA ATM card, Blackberry and Nokia handsets.

Adamu added that Nkurume Uwaoma, Emeka Ugowm, Cyril Ezuma, Princewill Nnabugu and Eze Fidelis aged 46, 40, 39, 40 and 42 respectively, were nabbed for snatching vehicles.

EDO rent North Central into the East and West Middle-Belt regions. It urged the conference to resolve the “minor boundary adjustments” that may arise.

And for effective delivery of democratic dividends to the masses, the committee suggested one president and eight vice presidents or premiers for the regions with organs of government, while the regions may choose any number of states or provinces.

It explained: “Since the second republic, the Presidential system has been in operation in Nigeria with concentration of power at the centre, with

the resultant fratricidal struggle for power and election rigging. There is a huge expenditure on governmental structures with little or nothing left for actual development. This system has been fraught with corruption, immunity and impunity. We advocate a return to the parliamentary system with its tenets to be practiced and mastered by the new leaders.

The system should be parttime parliamentary with sitting allowances paid to members. This is definitely cheaper and frees resources for other developments. We advocate a Federal House of Representatives (Parliament) and an advisory Traditional Council of Elders, where in addition to traditional rulers

and chiefs, certain notable distinguished elders with experience in administrative and governmental issues can be appointed to advise government. Such an arrangement should have constitutional provision and should extend to the regions and states.”

On how the major tiers of government should operate, the committee was of the opinion that the federal government should take charge of the armed forces, foreign affairs, currency and central banking, aviation, customs, and immigration. The regions, it further stated, “shall be responsible for education, health, agriculture, science and technology, power, mining of liquid and solid miner-

als, industrial policy, transportation and social welfare.”

To entrench what it described as “fiscal federalism,” the committee observed that since the various ethnic nationalities own their land and natural resources, they should be allowed to exploit them and pay 25 per cent royalties as tax to the federal government, while retaining 75 per cent.

But the regions, in turn, “must reserve 25 per cent of their share for the areas in the regions which suffer from the mineral extractive activities.”

The committee also advocated the promulgation of a Fiscal Responsibility Act “with provisions to protect the nation’s resources from further plundering.”

At Seminar, Utomi, Others Task Executives On Global Mindset

By Bisi Alabi Williams AT Utomi, founder and senior lecturer, Lagos Business School (LBS), has said for top managers to develop their firms internationally, their executives must develop a global mindset.

The don made this submission at the yearly executive seminar of Poise Nigeria titled: ‘Professionalism Revolution In Nigeria’, which was

P

NATIONAL held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to Utomi, developing a global mindset is a necessary prerequisite for any organisation that will compete favourably in the global arena. “Today, global Nigeria is one that understands that there are ways of doing things differently and that earning

the trust of those who work with you is important too. The top team in any organization is like an organic bulb that revolves from the bottom,” he said.

He explained that top team dysfunctions are rooted in lack of trust, based on failure to deliver in the past.

Similarly, Group Chief Executive officer, Poise Global, Mavi Isibor, said, "we must be

well informed about our different value system, behaviour and norms, adding that there is so much technology that there is nothing one does in one organisation that will not reflect or affect the other.

She advised Nigerians to accept the diversity and heterogeneity of the nation as a source of strength and opportunity. " Diversity is a strength. As a

people, it is time for us to have the propensity for a universal identity rather than a national identity. The countries that are doing visa lottery are not fools. They know exactly what they are doing. They want to develop to the fullest and attain great heights, saying that it is time to break away from the negative syndromes that militate against the nations progress,” she said.

try, injustice and many ills in society as basis for the rejection. Looking at the church in Antioch, the believers were like Christ and this made people call them ‘small Christ’ from where we got the name, Christian.”

The National Secretary of Four Square Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Ikechukwu Ugbaja, commended the author, saying it takes courage for a man to point out er-

rors in the Church.

According to him, “it sounds so controversial, but it takes audacity and courage for a man to speak against the errors in the Church. The word of God is unchangeable, but by the reason of circumstances we are going through in the country where people are compromising their stands I commend the author for speak against these errors.”

New Book Unveils Church Errors, Solutions UST for the world and crave for material things have been described as the fulcrum of errors witnessed in today’s Church.

This was disclosed in a book, ‘Errors of Today’s Church And The Way Out’,

L

CERF To Sensitise Pupils On Child Abuse, HIV/AIDS NATIONAL Ijeoma Opara HILDREN Emergency ReC lief Foundation (CERF) in collaboration with UPS Foundation is embarking on a project tagged, ‘Protect yourself’, to mitigate the scourge of child abuse and reduce the number of children at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Speaking at a press conference, the founder, CERF, Mrs. Abosede Adeola Oyeleye, said, “the vulnerable nature of children has led to the birth of the programme.

“We are sensitising the children themselves, because when we do, there will be a reduction in the rate of abuse in children.”

The project, which kicks off on March 19, will be implemented in 10 public primary schools in Ikorodu local council and we hope to move it to other local councils as our financial abilities increase.

According to Oyeleye, not less than 200 pupils in each school will be trained apart from teachers that will be trained on how to identify signs of abuse in children.

NATIONAL written by a veteran journalist and evangelist, Segun Oluwafemi.

Speaking at the public presentation of the book, Oluwafemi revealed that the Holy Spirit inspired the work, describing it as ‘Holy Ghost Vomited’. According to him, the book is a chronicle of challenges, failings and ills facing the Church.

He said: “When we are

talking about errors in the Church, it is not about individual differences, the way we look at things or human mistakes; it is the absence of core values as believers and the negligence of those things that constitute what Christ came here to do on earth.

“Church leaders today jumps at the offer of national honours, which many unbelievers reject citing bloodsheds in the coun-

TheGuardian

6 Sunday, March 16, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cityfile market consists five big warehouses. The traders have dedicated spaces to display their wares. And while some of them engaged in wholesale deals others did retail sales.

Findings, however, revealed that some of the items on display bore disturbing traces of wear and tear. Some of these would apparently require significant maintenance before they can be put to any meaningful use. Worried, the reporter asked the opinion of the traders.

According to Mr. Chinedu, “Everything brought here has quality and has guarantee. But if you go to a place, like Ikeja, you may buy a China system, which will not last long. It might stop working soon. That is why people opt for Belgium products.

Here, a set of sound system goes for N5000, as against N15,000N20,000 at other markets. So, you can do repairs and still make your gain. Everything sold here comes at a cheaper rate.”

Chinedu added: “Some importers go to the US, others to London or Germany. They come here and offload their trucks. Each container spends a maximum of two weeks, after which the owner goes back to bring in more wares.”

Mr. Bassey, a dealer in computer parts, said: “The goods here are better because the so-called new ones in the market are actually refurbished in China. You can get these goods directly from the US, Europe or Germany. They are of better quality compared to the new ones you will find in other markets.”

On the issue of having to undertake repairs, Bassey said: “Yes, you may still have to repair them, because some of these products had been used where they were imported from and may have minor problems. But when you calculate the amount you will spend repairing items purchased from the warehouse, it is still a fairer deal at the end of the day.”

Baba Bukky, the coordinator of the market, lamented failure of the government’s economic policies. “This warehouse has been in existence since the 60s. It used to be a warehouse for assembling cars. But now, what do we get? We go about importing all Would these items serve any further purpose? Used goods for sale at Warehouse Market, Odolowu, Lagos State.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN sorts of items from Western countries, whose economies their governments took time to fix,” he said.

He went on: “What happened to Dunlop, Michelin and other manufacturing companies that used to be in this country in those days? Right from the time of the military, from January 15, 1966 till date, government has failed us. In this place (Warehouse Market), you will find graduates, who are full of ideas, but the economy is hostile. And so, they resort to importation of fairly used items for survival.

“In all the media hypes, what have we achieved? There are people who should have represented the interest of the people. We deserve better leadership. Now, they are celebrating the centeBy Ijeoma Opara nary of the country. It is not about being together, but how well fairly used laptop, phone, electronics, car or pirated books. Alwe are as a people.”

ID you ever engage the services of an electrician, a mechanic though some new products have a disadvantage; they don’t last When the reporter contacted the Public Relations Officer of very long, even when you spend a lot of money to get them. I or some craftsman who advised: “Madam, no buy new one o! the Nigeria Customs at Tin Can Island, Mr. Chris Osunkwo, he bought a new pair of shoes for N8,000 from a dealer who said Buy fairly used (Tokunbo)? But does the importation of these used explained that containers cleared at the port and which contain they were made in the United States. I wore them just once and items truly provide value to consumers or do they threaten to the items sold at the warehouse must have been declared as found they had begun to fall apart. I was so angry; I deleted the make Nigeria one huge dump for secondhand goods? dealer’s phone contact. If I had gone for fairly used shoes, I would personal effects.

Asked what his take is on Tokunbo goods, Francis Onweazu, a According to him, “Most of them clear these goods as personal find some for N3,000-N5,000. These would have lasted longer Lagos resident, said: “I don’t like fairly used products. I don’t effects. And if the importer is qualified to bring in personal efthan new ones.” even buy them because after some time, they look old and unatfects, there is hardly anything you can do as an officer, except Warehouse Market, as it is popularly called, is situated at the tractive. All my gadgets and electronics are new products. Fairly where you probably open the container and find items other Odolowu area (after Cele Bus stop) of Lagos. People who apused is like scrap. The value has been reduced; the life span has than what was declared. proach the commercial centre from the Oshodi-Apapa expressbeen reduced. It doesn’t have market value. I can’t even deter“Personal effects are the personal belongings of a Nigerian who way may never know that there is a bustling market there. The mine what fault the product had that lead to its being sold. I must have stayed not less than nine consecutive months outroads are beautiful.

And many cars, buses and trucks parked in have never bought any fairly used item in my house, and I don’t side Nigeria and now wishes to come back with his things. And front of the warehouse help to conceal the place. think I will ever do.” so, if he brings in his personal effects and decides to sell them to Walking into the premises, a visitor is met by a huge gate, It was a different story for Gideon Ayogu. According to him, which stays partially opened. It was discovered that people who the public, it is at his discretion.”

“Fairly used products, to a large extent, help me save some do business are required to pay some amount of money before money. Taking electronics for instance, I just bought a set of “I wouldn’t buy a fairly used laptop, phone, electronics, car they are allowed to pass through. The warehouse is a noisy, home theatre system. I went to find out the cost of a new one, bustling world, unlike the relative quietness along the expressor pirated books. Although some new products have a disand it was way too high for me. At the end of the day, I had to go way. for a fairly used product; it was quite pocket-friendly. I also go advantage; they don’t last very long, even when you spend It was about 11.30am when The Guardian arrived. A container for brand names, which are tested and trusted. The same thing a lot of money to get them. I bought a new pair of shoes for was offloading goods; so many people milled around.

Some applies to other items, although I wouldn’t buy fairly used helped to get the goods out, others negotiated sales.

Some of the N8,000 from a dealer who said they were made in the clothes. I can’t wear them and I don’t believe I can wash them imported items included fairly used television sets, radio sets, well enough to make me confident enough to put them on.”

United States. I wore them just once and found they had sound systems, refrigerators, computer parts, gas cookers, cars, Victoria Thompson shared her experience. “I wouldn’t buy a buses, toiletries, kitchen wares, toys, edibles, clothes etc. The begun to fall apart. I was so angry.”

Lagos

Tokunbo Goods:

Are They Worth The Trouble?

D

City Shots

Desperate To Survive... Two women help themselves to expired beef rolls at a refuse dump in Ojota, Lagos State.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

To Be Forewarned... A ‘good spot’ for peeing but with a disturbing inscription: ‘It shall not be well with me if I urinate here again’, at Abaranje-Ikotun, Lagos State.

PHOTO: FEMI ALABI ONIKEKU

THE GUARDIAN, www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 16, 2014 7

CITYFILE From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja HE way of the jobless is hard! They can be T found around popular junctions and bus stations under the scorching Abuja sun or beneath the shade of trees at the city centre. From Wuye Junction, through Berger Roundabout, to the busy Mabishi Junction, all the way to Ministers’ Hill and Maitama Junction, these able-bodied men, armed with assorted working tools, wait for prospective customers.

A new day breaks without any specific work destination on their mind. By 7am, however, they have converged at these junctions waiting for jobs that may or may never come. Their survival is largely dependent on luck. Anyone who is fortunate to have someone engage him for the day returns home at dusk, thankful that needs for the day have been met. For the unlucky ones, despair is their companion till sun down.

Welcome to the world of mobile artisans in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). For close to 30 minutes while The Guardian interacted with them, it was tales of woes and complaints on virtually everything relating to their survival in the city. The initially mistook the reporter for a prospective customer. But when they discovered her identity, they blatantly refused to hold any further discussions. Reason: a number of government officials had visited them wanting to know their challenges only for the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency to swoop on them days later, arresting and confiscating their tools.

After much persuasion, arguing that government could indeed come to their aid, especially now that Nigerians are engaging the services of artisans from other West African countries, they opened up on issues bothering them. They tried, though, at some point, to persuade the reporter into parting with some money for their breakfast. While the discussion lasted, a vehicle pulled over. They suddenly rushed to meet the occupant in a bid to negotiate jobs.

They are mostly from the northern parts of the country. A few come from the east. One of them, who claimed he is from Jos in Plateau state, said the security challenge in his state forced him to relocate to the FCT. Those, said to have come from Niger Republic, vehemently denied the same, claiming that they hail from Daura in Kano state. Well, wherever they come from, one thing that is common with these men is they do not stay at the city centre and do not own any workshops. They blame this situation on their inability to get facilities because of the high cost of rent in Abuja.

There is no vocation without hazards. Even members of Nigeria’s National Assembly in their cozy offices encounter ‘hazards’, which are periodically taken care off with millions of naira. Not these artisans. The risks some of these go through daily are disturbing. With frequent reports of corpses being found with missing body parts, there are fears some of these men may fall into the hands of unscrupulous persons. There are unconfirmed stories that some of them have been abducted for nefarious purposes.

One mason was reportedly blindfolded after some men hired him. When the veil was lifted, he found he was at an unknown destination. Some ladies had been hypnotized, and he was instructed to put them into a large hole in a floor and seal up the place with cement. His efforts to resist were met with a death threat. He obliged, and was handed a huge sum of money. Again, the men blindfolded him and took him back to where they picked him up. The gruesome experience was said to have forced the mason to flee Abuja.

He reportedly confided in some people how he had nightmares and saw the faces of the ladies he had buried alive. As the story went, the man could not spend the cash reward “because it was blood money”.

Some of the artisans confirmed that they also heard about the particular incident. They said they had no means of contacting the man and that no official report was made to

Abuja Artisans cluster around a prospective client in search for a day’s job.

PHOTO: ITUNU AJAYI

The Meat Hunters At Lions’ Den the police or any government agency about the matter.

Asked if they fear falling victim of fetish intentions, an artisan who identified himself as John said such would never happen to him, because he prays every morning before leaving his home.

Ebere and Uche are mason and plumber, respectively. They hail from Imo state. The duo lamented lack of patronage by Nigerians who prefer bringing artisans from Ghana, Togo and other African countries. They accused government of insincerity in its jobs creation policy. They also dismissed allegations that Nigerian artisans are incompetent.

Ebere said: “They should give us a chance to prove what we can do. I learnt this job in Imo state. There is no way people would know what we can do if they are not ready to give us a chance to prove ourselves. I agree; some do not know the job, but the best thing would be for people not to pay them wages, if jobs are not done well. We keep hearing in the news of millions of jobs being created, but only God knows where those jobs are. If we know where they are, we would surely go there and apply for them. Some people said we ought not to have come to Abuja, but we don’t have anything to do either in our states and man must survive.”

One of the artisans said he only needed N4,000 as a matter of urgency to get his wife, who had just put to bed, discharged from a midwifery. He said despair starred him in the face if the day ended without any demand for his hands.

Those who were said to have come from Niger Republic seemed to have less argument, unlike Ebere and Uche. They could not speak a word of English. They, however, told The Guardian, through an interpreter, that all they wanted was food for the day: nothing else.

What respite have these artisans should any of them fall prey to literal headhunters?

Would FCT authorities in such cases ever discover that some of its residents have disappeared? Or are these elements society can dispense with without batting an eye?

Should they not benefit from a commonwealth enjoined ironically by a few?

There have been conflicting figures on the actual population of Nigerians. While the number is commonly put at about 170 million, some have argued that the country’s people may not be less than 200 million. Reports of missing persons are a daily occurrence in the FCT. Law enforcement agencies may, however, be handicapped. A cleric told The Guardian how he went to a police station to lodge a report on his missing brother. The policemen at the complaints desk told him

There is no vocation without hazards. Even members of Nigeria’s National Assembly in their cozy offices encounter ‘hazards’, which are periodically taken care off with millions of naira. Not these artisans. The risks some of these go through daily are disturbing. With frequent reports of corpses being found with missing body parts, there are fears some of these men may fall into the hands of unscrupulous persons. There are unconfirmed stories that some of them have been abducted for nefarious purposes.

that about 10 such reports are made at the station weekly. They gave the pastor a ‘wise suggestion’ – embark on fervent prayers so that the missing person could be found.

A Nigerian lady who returned recently from a trip to India expressed dismay at what she described as the nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian government towards the welfare of its people. She said her anger stemmed from the fact that policymakers travel to other counties and therefore cannot feign ignorance on how things ought to be done. She said that no matter how remote a village is in India, the data of all residents, including cobblers and other artisans, is kept with the village head. So, if anyone needs information about anybody, all that is required is a trip to the head.

She said Nigeria could do the same if persons at the helm of affairs are sincere and honest. “But no, they will rather take their own children to organised societies to go and school or work. If those societies were not properly managed, would they have sent their children there? If a man or woman goes out of his home in Nigeria and returns in peace, then such should give thanks to God. How long are we going to live like this? We bank too much on luck in this country. We can’t continue to live on luck,” she said.

An idle hand, they say, is the devil’s workshop. With political activities gathering momentum, as elections approach, one could only hope that these men and millions of the unemployed do not offer their services, for handsome fees, to Lucifer.

8

Sunday, March 16, 2014

CITYPEOPLE

When The Law Kept A Monarch Waiting...

By Gbenga Salau HEN outstanding personalities in the legal profession in Nigeria are mentioned, Wole Olanipekun comes to mind.

Over the years, the career has given him all he probably wanted of fame and fortune. Now, he is deploying the fortune that beckoned on him to touch lives within and outside the profession.

One of such efforts is the recent donation of a building to members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Ikere-Ekiti.

The edifice, coated in light brown and cream colour, sits in the heart of the city. With an all granite floor finishing and quality

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com electrical fittings, the 400-seater hall is unarguably beautiful.

The construction engineer, Mr. Yusuf Adeoye, noted that Olanipekun had insisted on world-class standard. This was why, according to him, the donor spared no cost at delivering the sprawling edifice. “You know Chief does his things in full measure. All the buildings he has donated to institutions had a perfect finish and he insisted that he wanted the one in his native home to be delightsome,” he said.

The love and respect Olanipekun enjoys in the legal profession no doubt made his colleagues, including members of the national executive of the Nigeria Bar Association to assemble in large numbers in Ikere to witness the donation. Past executives of national and state branches, and current ones also graced the event. According to some principal officers of the NBA: “Nothing is too small or too big to do for a man who has contributed to the betterment of the association.”

From the home front, no one could have made ample representation of the people than the traditional ruler of the ancient city of Ikere, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adegoriola Akayejo, who described Olanipekun as not only an illustrious son of the town, but also a man who is eminently qualified to “keep the Kabiyesi waiting for several minutes before the arrival of the donor and his high net worth friends.”

Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN); President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okey Wali (SAN); Mr. Wole Olanipekun with his wife, Omolara; Chairman, NBA, Ikere-Ekiti branch, Mr. Bunmi Olugbade and Mr. Niyi Akintola (SAN) during the inauguration of Wole Olanipekun Bar Centre.

The monarch said: “You can see, I arrived here even before most people did. I understand they were having their NBA executive meeting. Chief Wole Olanipekun is highly regarded by me and my people, so I have to wait for him and his team to come.”

While commissioning the centre, the president of the NBA, Mr. Okey Wali, who paid glowing tribute to the donor for tenacity of purpose and philanthropic activities in facets of human endeavour, said Olanipekun is a beacon of hope to young and aspiring lawyers.

Okey said: “I was around when he made the commitment to do this for his people and, true to character, he has delivered on his promise. Nothing can be too much to give back to the profession that has made us who we were today. This is an unprecedented feat in the history of legal profession in our country. He has shown that our noble profession has a bright future.

“It is my prayer that this building will be put to the use for which it has been built. It will be a place that will groom lawyers that will become senior advocates. On behalf of the NBA, I congratulate you sir.”

The chairman of the Ikere branch of the association, Mr. Bunmi Olugbade, in his remarks, noted that Olanipekun is a visionary leader, who has assisted the Ikere branch of the association since inception. He told the gathering that the donation of the edifice is the icing on the cake for them.

“We are blessed with a man like chief Wole Olanipekun. He has consistently opened his doors for us, and he told us from inception that he would ensure that the Ikere Bar Centre will be nurtured to produce great lawyers in the country,” he said.

The highpoint of the occasion was the camaraderie and conviviality expressed by gladiators in the ongoing struggle to lead the association. Perceived opponents threw banters and exchanged pleasantries without reservation. They all agreed that Olanipekun is indeed a “unifier and embodiment of professional excellence.”

Leading the pack was, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, who noted that Olanipekun’s donation to his people is a “wake up call” for lawyers to give back to the society that shaped them.

She said: “I am very happy, extremely happy about this. This should serve as impetus to other lawyers that have made a success of their career. It is indeed a challenge. We must all assist in every way we can. We should be able to replicate this in our different communities.”

Chief Niyi Akintola, who spoke in similar vein, noted that Ekiti State is unique in the sense that it is the first that can boast of two such centres. “This building is magnificent, fantastic and a good effort on the part of chief Olanipekun. He is a man with community value. I have been emulating him,” he said.

Deacon Dele Adesina also applauded the donor, describing him as “great lawyer of all times”. He said Olanipekun has earned a place in the legal hall of fame. Another colleague and friend of the donor, chief Mike Ozekhome said Olanipekun has charted a new course in the practice of philanthropy.

In his remarks, chief Olanipekun noted that he is deeply concerned about leaving a legacy that would outlive him, as people are remembered for the positive impact they make on humanity.

Roads Inspection:Borrowing A Leaf From Gov Oshiomhole From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HEN he is not busy taking on the opposition in Edo state or providing the media with interesting controversies, Governor Adams Oshiomhole might be found making sudden appearances at construction sites and inspecting works, just in time to prevent contractors from putting up false impressions. He was at the game last week.

“You know if you tell the contractors of your coming, they will make you see bad work as good work after window dressing. But with unscheduled visit of this nature, they won’t be able to cover up,” Oshiomhole said.

At the palace of the Ogieaga of Three Ibie Kingdoms in Etsako East Council, HRH Bamayi Momoh, the governor told the people that he embarks on projects inspection without notice to ensure contractors don’t shortchange taxpayers with substandard jobs. He said he was in the communities to inspect the ongoing road constructions particularly the bridges in order to ensure they are built according specification.

Among the roads inspected were the Ekperi-Anegbette road and bridges, which he said was 88 per cent completed; AyogwiriApana-Imiegba-Imiakebu-Okpekpe Road, which he said was 97 per cent completed; Jattu Ibie Road addendum, certified as 91 per cent complete; and Iyekhe-Aviele Road addendum, which he said was 92 per cent completed.

Momoh thanked the governor on behalf of his people, saying, “You promised us this road (Imiegba-Imieakegbu-Ogba Road), and you did it. We are very appreciative of this gesture.”

The governor was also at Okpekpe on the unscheduled visit, accompanied by the Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, and other top government functionaries. In the past five years, some 70 communities have been opened up with roads and bridges across the three senatorial districts of Edo state. Some of these had been in previously inaccessible terrains. While some roads required reconstruction, others needed to be built from scratch.

The Onwuwekwo of Okpekpe, Peter Osigbemhe, thanked the governor for the road construction. He, however, pleaded with Oshiomhole to provide the area with water, which he said remains a pressing need for the community.

In Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Oshiomhole inspected the Council Road, Iyofa Road, Okotokwe Road, Iyekhe Road, among others that were completed with drainage system.

The governor told the jubilant crowd who trooped out to receive him, “I decided to come and see all the roads in these areas.

People can see what we are doing on the major roads but can’t see what we are doing in villages and traditional areas where there were no roads. We decided that to fight erosion in Auchi, any road we are doing must include drainage, so that water can flow in a coordinated manner.”

He appealed to people in the area to avoid dumping refuse in the drainage, to keep the channels free.

Governor Oshiomhole was also at Jattu, where he inspected the Jattu-Elele Road, also complete with side drains.

In Etsako East Local Government area, the governor inspected

W

Governor Adams Oshiomhole (left) and Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie (middle) as they inspect one of two bridges linking Ekperi to Anegbette in Etsako Central Local Government Area.

the Ayogwiri-Apana-Imiegba-Imiakebu Road as well as the ApanaOkpekpe Road, which cut through rocky terrain. The roads are complete with bridges.

He told the people, “I came here to assess the extent of work.

When we started the road construction, people thought it would not be completed. Any good thing in man’s heart, God has a way of starting and bringing it to an end. Today, I am glad that the road project has been completed on schedule.”

Okpekpe is the venue for the internationally recognised Okpekpe Mountain Race which maiden edition held last year.

While appreciating the efforts of the governor for cutting through the rocky terrain of their area to build roads to their communities, the Onwuwueko of Okpekpe, HRH Peter Osigbemhe, said, “We are happy that you are in Okpekpe today for the road construction, which has been realised, and the renovation of schools which is also ongoing. We thank you. This road was a problem for long, as past governments shied away from constructing it, due to the difficult terrain. We are indeed grateful.”

In Etsako Central, the governor, who was accompanied by the

chairman of the council, Emmanuel Momoh, inspected the Ugbekpe-Ekperi-Udaba-Anegbete Road, which is complete with two bridges.

The governor noted that the road had to be redesigned and reconstructed following flood disaster in the area, last year.

Clan Head of Anegbette town, HRH Ogbodaga Yakubu, thanked the governor for the infrastructural development in Edo North and for his effort at alleviating the plight of rainstorm victims in Aniegbette and its environs. He noted that people of the area are elated that they can drive to their communities and that a factory has already been sited in the area as a result of the good road.

Oshiomhole also inspected ongoing work at Government Model Secondary School Iyamoh where he urged the contractor to make haste and deliver the job on schedule.

The governor was in parts of Edo North Senatorial District where he unofficially began campaign for the 2015 general elections on the platform of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 16, 2014

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Backlash Abraham Ogbodo

08055328079 (Sms only) abogbodo@yahoo.com

The PDP:A Shrinking Octopus “I wish to congratulate Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, your Deputy Political Editor, on his formal prophesy of doom on the PDP, ‘Prophet’ Abraham Ogbodo wrote in The Guardian of March 22, 2009, with the caption: The PDP: A Shrinking Octopus.

In the article, he, penned, “The PDP has done only 10 years in the breathtaking task it has set for itself…It is too far off and there could be serious threats to the 60-year ruling plan if the PDP fails to control effectively all the variables.”

Abraham rightly concluded and mathematically, too, “the PDP is losing grounds because those who know how to win elections in the party are no longer in contention. The Obasanjo/Ahmadu heritage of brigandage is gradually crumbling and the actual size and strength of the PDP may show in the next major encounter.”

The domain and range of Abraham’s incisive report is highly professional and commendable. I recommend a reprint.” (Rev. Ige Adeniji Oluwo) he opening note is explicit. Mr. Martins T Oloja, the Daily Editor, walked into my office, last week, with a paper in his hand. He said something like, ‘trouble makers have no hiding place’. ‘What trouble have I caused again?’ He handed the paper to me. I read through and caught the point. It was a letter addressed to him by one Rev. Ige Adeniji Oluwo.

The writer is a wonderful Nigerian. He has kept faith with an article I had written five years ago, pleading that I run the same for effect. I did the stuff when I was Deputy Political Editor. I have since moved up.

I oblige and I am letting out Backlash this week as compensation for Rev. Oluwo’s steadfastness.

Behold The Article: HEPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) comes in many descriptions: it is the ruling party in Nigeria; it is the largest political party in Africa;

T

ES! We have no excuse for the Buni Yadi, Yobe Y State massacre. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, aptly captured the mood of the nation in his speech, last Tuesday, a day the House dedicated to mourning the innocent victims of the February 25 attack on the Federal Government College by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The Speaker took time to revisit that sad episode and did so well to transport all of us to the scene of that incident. He did a good flashback to that night when the students were rudely woken in their sleep; then they struggled to grasp the nightmarish impression of Boko Haram killers. It soon became a hellish reality and one by one, 59 of them fell, to a painful, gradual death. The most painful aspect was that there was no help from anywhere.

According to the Speaker, “it is to remember these innocent children and other victims of violence in this country that the House has declared today ‘A Day of Mourning’ to express our collective outrage on these killings that have gone on for far too long. My dear colleagues please travel with me on an imaginary journey to Federal Government College, Buni Yadi. Picture the scene as the terrorists creep into the hostels and the children begin to wake up one after the other, with their eyes heavy with sleep, each of them convinced that this is some nightmare. Picture the chaos in the rooms and the terror on their faces as they watch the murderers attack the first set of students, the ones nearest to the entrance and the students begin to realize that what is happening is not a nightmare but a reality far harsher than any nightmare the mind of a child can construct. Hear the panic in the voices of the children as they begin to scream for help, from God, their parents or security. But no help will come tonight...”

To me, that was the best moment of the Speaker, as the man looked directly at the mess that has become of Nigeria and made an effort to speak the minds of many, without just making the usual, general and noncommittal lamentation. Buni Yadi is not the first time Boko Haram would deal ruthlessly with Nigeria. The sect had at several times inflicted heinous crimes on the country and each time, what we heard from the political class were some empty, hasty and indifferent statements. Remember the night of August 6, 2012, when men suspected to be members of Boko Haram opened fire on defenceless worshippers at a Deeper Life Church in Otite, Okene, Kogi State. Not less than 19 persons were reported killed. What was their of-

and by the grace of its current national chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, it is the party that will rule Nigeria for 60 years. The last designation sounds like a military decree, which must be sustained by force. The PDP has done only 10 years in the breathtaking task it has set for itself. The uncovered scope, expressed mathematically, as five over six of the outlay, is quite enormous. It is too far off and there could be serious threats to the 60-year ruling plan, if the PDP fails to control effectively all the variables.

Other parties are dreaming big and coming on strong too. On the other hand, the PDP is losing mighty men of valour and the characteristic brute force needed to keep alive the Ogbulafor proclamation, which is diminishing by the day.

For instance, the Ibadan garrison commander, who overran in seconds, the Great Oyo Empire, a feat the Fulani Jihadists could not achieve in years, is dead and gone to his grave. After a lifelong battle, Pa Lamidi Adedibu is perhaps sleeping well in the bosom of the Lord. The Alaafin in Government House Agodi is not sounding so confident anymore. He is in fact very vulnerable in the absence of the Are Onakakanfo (generalissimo).

A fresh battle is due in another two years. The entire South West has become an issue just as it was in the 2003 general election when Olusegun Obasanjo, who became president in 1999, in spite of the zone, was desperate to cultivate a home base to improve his profile in the PDP fold. He had moved in with stupendous might and put the zone under conquest. The AD crumbled like a pack of cards under pressure. Only Senator Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who recognized the handwritings on the wall early enough and started building his own arsenal

for a counter offensive, survived the PDP onslaught.

The attack marked the beginning of the end of the AD in the South West. Obasanjo fought so hard because he had an unstated business, which became clearer in the twilight of his two-term administration. He wanted a third term, which fell outside the operating rule. In the end, however, he was forced to yield. He vacated the presidency for his farmhouse Ota, Ogun State on May 29, 2007 almost unprepared. He has become weakened and he is even having difficulties putting Ogun, his home state, in order. The boys are no longer listening to Baba.

Meanwhile, the clock has turned full circle and those who lost their territories to Obasanjo’s forceful occupation in 2003 are returning to lay claim. To say the least, there is a political meltdown in the South West and things are rolling so fast down the cliff to the base. Ondo is gone, Ekiti is at the threshold and the signals from Osun and Ogun do not sound encouraging.

Other ruthless generals of the PDP occupation force have equally lost capacity. Nothing more has been heard of Senator Ahmadu Ali, the exnational chairman, after his failed bid to become ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Chief Olabode George, who coordinated the 2003 takeover bid in the South West has been lost in action. He is facing trial, following charges of corruption brought against him by the EFCC. Also, chief Tony Anenih, the man who used to fix all difficult knots for the PDP, has lost memory of the right fixing mix. Edo State where the chief comes from is now comfortably in the grip of the Action Congress. The chief failed, for the first time, to stem a devastating reversal, and he is no longer the Akpakpawanga and

Other parties are dreaming big and coming on strong too. On the other hand, the PDP is losing mighty men of valour and the characteristic brute force needed to keep alive the Ogbulafor proclamation, which is diminishing by the day... The situation on ground calls for a reappraisal of the Ogbulafor 60-year ruling plan. There is a gang up against the PDP because it has badly managed itself into a stumbling block in the democratic path. Many more see the defeat of the PDP as the actual beginning of true democracy in Nigeria.

SUNDAY NARRATIVE Alabi Williams oruku35@gmail.com 08116759790 (Sms only)

Stop Playing Politics With Security Matters fence? They were as innocent as the students of Buni Yadi. Following that attack, arrests were made and an arms depot hidden in a septic tank was unearthed.

Perhaps, if we had spoken up with vehemence and unison at the onset, with the same passion that we have now been forced to adopt, we might just have gained some psychological victory over the insurgents. But what did we get?

At most, the political class, including the House of Representatives raised many motions to generally condemn actions of Boko Haram without commitments. Until now that we all have become vulnerable, we have never shed real tears.

So, we thank the Speaker for that ‘presidential’ address, but that should lead to other revolutionary actions to secure our people and the country.

Like the Speaker said, Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the security and welfare of our people is the primary purpose of government. The Constitution also empowers the legislature to make laws for the good governance of the country.

But it is now clear that the Constitution has failed in that regard. It takes an admission of this fact by the legislature for a lot of things to begin to fall into their respective places. But that won’t be easy because of the personal comfort and privileges the political class extorts from the system. This is the time to admit that Nigeria is failing. What other evidence are required than the brazen attacks in Katsina, Plateau, Taraba and Benue? Several communities in Benue have gone up in flames. Nasarawa is a hotbed for ceaseless and bloody confrontations between herdsmen and farmers. And you begin to wonder whether Nigeria has more cattle than the United States, for example. How are other countries able to use legislation to manage relations between their herdsmen and

Ogidinga of Edo politics. As a consequence, the state chapter of the PDP is enmeshed in internal squabbles and it is not likely the party will emerge clean and strong from the mess to reclaim power from Adams Oshiomhole’s AC in 2011.

In other words, with the events in Edo State, the South South, which had remained undiluted since the start of business in 1999, has been perforated. The AC is clearly set to dislodge the PDP in the South West and it is encouraged by the Oshiomhole success story, to push for bigger space in the South South.

The South East is also in a free fall. The PDP, with only two states, Ebonyi and Enugu, is now in minority in the zone. Orji Uzor Kalu’s Peoples Progressive Alliance is on the rampage on the other hand. The PDP does not have any clear advantage in the race ahead. The All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PPA may likely close up to chase out a common enemy – the PDP. If this happens, the PDP will come under tremendous heat in the entire South although the indicators in the South South are not as frightening.

Perhaps, the PDP is losing grounds because those who know how to win elections in the party are no longer in contention. The Obasanjo/Ahmadu heritage of brigandage is gradually crumbling and the actual size and strength of the PDP may show in the next major encounter. The opponents are also banking on a more transparent electoral system that has been promised by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The situation on ground calls for a reappraisal of the Ogbulafor 60-year ruling plan. There is a gang up against the PDP because it has badly managed itself into a stumbling block in the democratic path. Many more see the defeat of the PDP as the actual beginning of true democracy in Nigeria.

farmers, and we cannot?

The good thing is that all of these man made disasters are happening at a time a good proportion of Nigerians are willing to talk. The legislature should stop constituting itself into a stumbling block to frustrate efforts to dialogue and rework Nigeria. What the country urgently needs is a new template that will no longer make it so easy for murderers to enter into school premises and do whatever they like.

What the country needs is not piecemeal constitutional amendment that makes no sense to members of Boko Haram and their sponsors.

The country does not need a costly political class whose legislators feed fat for doing what any average country man can do. And when we have that good and workable template, one that offers social and physical security, Tambuwal will save himself the headache of writing a painful speech to members who are only interested in 2015 and are themselves a pain in our necks.

Still on playing politics with security matters, the manner the Senate screens ministerial nominees does not exhibit rigour and engender seriousness. They play more of politics with very sensitive issues. Take the case of the minister of defence, Aliyu Gusau, for instance, the man was just asked to take a bow and go, at a time the country was experiencing debilitating security crisis. The man was introduced as a graduate of the inaugural class of the Nigeria Defence Academy and that was all he needed to take a bow and go? On that same day, Boko Haram carried out serious attacks in the Northeast. What would have been a good opportunity to hear Gusau’s reading of the security challenges was turned into a joke. Whereas, the same Senate caused one nominee from Osun State, Abduljelil Oyewole Adesiyan, to shed tear as he was grilled over the death of Bola Ige. Permit me to make reference to the United

States where we copied so many things, but fail to do things in line with best global practices.

Whereas Chuck Hagel, the US Defence Secretary had a bruising bout with the Republicans in the Congress as they grilled him when President Obama nominated him for that office, here, the best we can do is ask a defence minister nominee to take a bow and go, at a time there are endless questions to present, not to rattle him, but to jointly compass around the issues and know where to begin from. Hagel, mind you, is a Republican and it was his party that gave him sleepless nights, because it was America that was at stake, not a political party. The man struggled to make the list in a 58-48 split vote, which is said to be the smallest since that position was created in 1947. Security for serious countries is not a thing to toy with.

Now we hear there is rumpus in the Defence ministry. Rumour mills reported that Gusau had resigned because the service chiefs will not take orders from him. Government said it was a lie from the pit of hell, but from our collective experience, even during the military era, there was never a smoke without fire. Once a government is so stingy, even with good information, it opens the door for black marketers and bootleggers to parrot information on its behalf.

When the conventional media is too careful to report sensitive matters, online sources are no respecters of anybody. They spill it out.

Whatever the position is on the Gusau matter, there are best practices in other climes to learn from, in case our 50 years plus experience has failed us. Again, I borrow from the US style. The US Defence Secretary is the leader and chief executive officer of the Department of Defence.

That is the equivalent of our own Defence Minister. Hagel has “authority, direction and control over the department of Defence” and is further referred to as the principal assistant to President Obama in all matters relating to the Department of Defence. He is subject only to the President, but supervises all departments of defence - army, navy, air force and marine corps; and ensures civilian control of the military.

I’m sure that used to be the practice here, until recently when we began to play politics with everything, to the extent that we appointed a former party chairman who has no business with defence to head that sensitive ministry. Was Gusau appointed to dislodge Boko Haram or to be used to play politics?

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 16, 2014 11

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Outlook Well Done, Governor Peter Obi

By Ben Ndi Obi IKE Benjamin Disraeli, I have brought myself by long meditation to the conviction that a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothing can resist a will, which will stake even existence upon its fulfillment. It was that will I saw in Mr. Peter Obi, whose tenure as governor of Anambra State is ending gloriously with capstone achievements.

I did not know Peter from Adam and we never met before the explosion of his political ambition. Contrary to the views of many, he is not my blood relation and our sharing the same surname, ‘Obi’ and his addressing me as his elder brother are rather coincidentally divine because while he is from Agulu, I come from Awka. Politically, we are also of different parties.

It was at the beginning of his gubernatorial aspiration in 2001 that destiny brought us together for the first time. In his search for political space, Peter visited Ezeigbo Gburugburu, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu in his Enugu residence to intimate him of his ambition as well as asked of his blessing on his aspiration. In his dignified straightforwardness for which he was known, Ikemba told him to the face that he had endorsed Chief Ben Obi, a High Chief of Awka, for the position and that he could only support him should Ben Obi declined. Instead of going home lamenting as most people would do, Peter picked the courage to see me. He narrated his encounter with Ikemba, which he ended with a bold inquiry on whether I was actually running concluding that he could only back down if and only if I was actually in the race.

As I interrogatively looked straight into his eyes, he did not blink nor close his eyes in defeatist attitude of absolute surrender; instead, he responded with a determined focus and confidence that convinced me of his sincere desire. I finally said to him “Peter go back to Ikemba, and say to him I am not running”.

Through the prism of the present, I saw his determination to survive in the form of willingness to die. I was impressed. Since then, the relationship of brotherhood commenced. His political journey started with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Governor Obi’s achievements transcend the expectations going by the peculiarities of the state; a state in which everyone is lord unto himself and a state in which its former governor once said that he could not construct ordinary 50km of road without federal assistance. He overcame the treacheries and the tribulations of the untidy cruise, leaving in its stead, memorable landmarks that left even his enemies wondering at the secret. He is simply a young man who can conveniently sell sand even in the desert.

Our path crossed again, as we both appeared before the Honourable Justice Nabarume electoral panel, battling to recover our stolen mandate. Removed from Office twice and returned twice as well, Governor Obi remains a reference point in political discourse as his confidence in the rule of law and due process distinguishes him from the lawlessness of his peers and the rascality of his generation. The do-or-die character of the Nigerian politician is dead in him just as logical sequence in the act of policy explanations form an integral part of his governance

L

CONversation

style. I love his belief in the magic-wand of civility in governance.

Although he assumed office, when the state was notorious in all spheres of political engineering and reactionary elements from the state were incharge of the state, he made it clear it was no longer business as usual. Thus, through unqualified humility and constancy to purpose and firmness, civility and order in governance were reintroduced as gangsterism and its concomitant societal abuses gave way to decorum and unimaginable diligence. Never in the history of contemporary Anambra have we enjoyed this kind of understanding and peace. The government relationship with the people has changed and the peoples’ perception of government and governance has turned impressive. Thuggery is banished, crime reduced and sanity restored.

Courtesy has become an attribute of governance in Anambra.

In the words of Robert Greene’s The Art of Seduction, Peter played the victim and suddenly transformed the peoples’ sympathy into love. He cultivated a sense of importance in them, which is a sine-qua-non in the heart of the arrogant. This strategy disarmed his critics and confounded his enemies to acquiesce. That was against the former practice, where some governors of the state intentionally avoided ordinary phone calls. He moved about in normal unmarked vehicles and simple attires that virtually announced the obituary of sanctimonious ostentations, long exotic convoys, intimidating sirens and complexities that formed the signature tunes of past regimes.

Peter became a leader whose support goes above party differences, religious diversities and localities. In his unique governance style rooted in service delivery, he worked his way into the hearts of his people and piously dispelled denominational discrepancies as almost all political parties and opinions never saw him as an enemy. He is a governor on APGA ticket but other parties agree with him; a Catholic with thousands of Anglican clergy and laity as well as Pentecostal faithful ready to fight for him. They all have him in their Sunday sermons. This is unprecedented! The strategy to move the governorship ticket to Anambra North Senatorial zone

helped his party to win the election, as the PDP, for instance, toed the same line, though belatedly. It was like a common political decision that buried partisanship.

It was this non-partisanship in the procurement and provision of public good that attracted the attention of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR to this political rarity, who identified and integrated him into the federal arrangement, party differences notwithstanding. He was appointed honorary special adviser on finance, the first time a governor will be so appointed. He serves the Federal Government with the utmost sincerity and commitment with which he serves his people thereby establishing a strong relationship with the Centre. No wonder the President vowed to perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the Second Niger Bridge in his tenure, which he has just done few days to Obi’s exit. What an honour! The lesson is simple: Anambra must continue to guard against unnecessary confrontations with the Centre so as to reap the benefits therein.

His indisputable discreet and judicious use of public resources marks him out as special specie in a seemingly shark-infested political terrain. His grasp of all financial strategies and details is simply overwhelming. ‘Through strategic planning, prudent and transparent management of resources, as well as reduction in the cost of governance, his administration achieved integrated and comprehensive development in all sectors without borrowing or owing anybody’. People shaded tears of joy when he told them that he had N75billion naira in savings for Anambra State in the form of #25b in investments, US$155m in foreign currency investment, etc. He is accountable because he understands that ‘taxation without presentation is tyranny’. To many other politicians, he is abnormal to have left such fund when the trend is for a good number of public officers to milk life out of state treasuries. He behaves like the Dutch who, having a country house in the South of France bring their own toilet paper all the way from Holland for their stay. It is only in Obi that I see applause for prudential stinginess with public fund. Thus, he demonstrated his commitment to his mission by subjecting his policies and projects to peer review and for mapping of the state’s poverty indices.

Without trying to catalogue all the achievements of Governor Peter Obi CON, one is tempted to state that with 801 kilometres of roads in the state, Anambra enjoys the highest road network in Nigeria as people can transverse all crannies of the state on tarred roads.

At this point, one must credit Senator Chris Ngige OON who started the road revolution in Anambra State. Governor Obi changed the face of the state’s tertiary and secondary institutions, built the state-of- the Art Library, the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, the ultra modern ANSU Teaching Hospital (Amaku), other hospitals and health institutions with their accreditations, intimidating Council Secretariats, cleared pension arrears, employed thousands of our youths, etc. He is the only leader of the state with the gut to handover 1040 schools to their original owners and now, the benefits are there. One can go on and on.

In spite of these achievements, Peter still showcases himself in his natural state and through the power of openness and down to earth disposition demystified the Office of the Governor as one occupied by human beings and which should only be occupied by those willing and disposed to truly and selflessly work for the people. The era of artificial governance is over; the time of intimidating and harassing leadership has gone. This is purely a revolution.

However, I wish to disagree with the governor on his claim that he is not a politician. If Governor Obi is not a politician, who is? Obi is a politician but the only difference is that he is not a typical Nigerian politician but the quintessential, whose vision in the process of authoritative allocation of values goes beyond the myopic confines of his pocket to the wider joy of distributive politics. This singular attribute as simple as it seems is the hardest attitude a leader in a corrupt political system could possess. I saw people dumbfounded when the richest man in Africa and the world’s 25th, Aliko Dangote, at the presentation ceremonies of the governor’s Scorecard, narrated how he saw the governor severally on normal passenger Airliners with across-the-counter-tickets, and how he offered him his personal arrangements, which he was not sure the governor ever utilised. He is saving money for the state. The creamy audience was also told how Peter refused to accept a Gold Wristwatch from an old friend simply because the worth of that Wristwatch could assist in providing a bus to a school in dire need of it. At the end, he personally lost the Watch but got the bus from the same donor.

Opinions might be wondering why I chose to write on an outgoing governor who does not even belong to my political party. As an Anambrarians and of course, one of its leaders of thought, I felt the need to appreciate a good outing, emphasise the relevance of doing the right thing by our leaders and the importance of advancing on the current political dispensation in the state. Never again shall we allow our dear state to degenerate into anarchy; never again shall we watch handakimbo as political madness take over the soul of our state. That is the reason we have to maintain the tempo and support the incoming leadership led by Chief Willie Obiano believing that leadership comes from God. We are talking about our state and not our differences. The incoming Governor should also do well to not only toe the line of his predecessor, but strive to do more than him.

You should not do everything Peter did but do better than Peter.

I am not eulogising Governor Peter Obi CON, I also criticised him many times to his face and on the phone whenever I saw he went the wrong direction in governance of the state. I agree with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that Peter Obi came, saw and conquered but add that he also promised and delivered. Therefore, with people from all walks of life, I celebrate him, as he has been able to prove that Anambra is not cursed but that its people were the cause of its past predicaments.

In conclusion, one cannot but recognise the role played by Margaret, his wife, who was instrumental in no small measure in making her husband a success story. I wish them well in their future endeavours.

High Chief Senator Ben Ndi Obi CON, FNIPR is Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs .

By Obe Ess

TheGuardian

12 Sunday, March 16, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Editorial The Dismissals In The Aviation Sector HE removal, from office, the other day, of five out of six heads of agencies in the Federal Ministry of Aviation is a major shake-up of a sector that has suffered lately, from sordid allegations against its leadership, not the least being the car purchase scandal involving, the earlier removed minister Ms. Stella Oduah. Was the mass sack meant to make the sector better, the announcement did not say? Indeed, the announcement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation did not state any reasons for so sweeping changes at the top thereby leaving room for speculations. Were the officials found wanting in the discharge of their duties and if so, what are the specifics of such deficiency? Was any or all of them implicated in the luxury vehicles scandal, which, precipitated the sack of former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah? Or, as has been suggested by the respected Capt. Ore Falomo of Aviation Roundtable, was this step intended, irrespective of the merit of individual cases, to ‘dismantle the structure put together by the former minister’? If so, this is, on the one hand, a sad comment upon the shoddy way people are hired into and fired from high office. It is also a sad comment on the desperation of people to accept government jobs on terms that are destructive.

For it is not uncommon for Nigerians, never consulted, to hear of their appointment into government job through the media.

And generally, they accept. That same mentality then seems to bear out the appointor’s attitude of not showing any decorum when it is time to fire.

Now, all these would be needless but because Nigeria is a nation ever rife with speculations for the understandable but nonetheless depressing reason that government does its business in unbelievably opaque ways and acts as if it is not at all accountable to the people. It would be no surprise now if government spokespersons in typical reactive fashion begin to offer justification that should have come along with the original action.

Comments from other actors-cum-stakeholders in the aviation sector have also hinted that the removal may be a clean-up of sorts. And, given the luxury vehicles scandal that remains inconclusively resolved to the satisfaction of the probity-minded, it is difficult to discountenance outright any suggestion.

Over the years, the aviation sector has appeared too ridden with corruption with all the internationally accepted best practices in suspension. Too many questions hang over too many things: the award of concessions, the disbursement of intervention funds meant to improve the sector, the employment or summary dismissal of personnel, conscientious enforcement of rules by the regulatory agencies, the renovation of facilities, and the wasteful spending such as buying armoured luxury cars for high officials even as some airports lack up-to-date equipment. It is no wonder that, in a manner of speaking, the sector is never firmly airborne but remains grounded.

Some points must be made in regard to the latest event in the sector. First, Nigerians deserve an explanation for the drastic measure that government has taken for two reasons: in a democracy, it is a right due to the electorate from the elected.

Second, it can be the officials affected will not, in the public mind, be burdened by the speculations making the rounds.

Above all, the case of Stella Oduah hangs in the air and will remain an albatross on the integrity of the Jonathan government unless it is clarified. The report of the three-person committee that investigated the allegation against the former minster, as well as government’s view on it should be made public. It bears repeating: Nigerians have a right to know how their country is run.

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LETTERS

Cleaning NNPC Of A Mess IR: The NPDC has denied Sthird that $6bn proceeds from a party crude sales arrangement were paid into its account by the NNPC. The Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Victor Briggs, told the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led committee that he did not receive the money from the NNPC and that his agency did not rely on the corporation for the funding of its activities.

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), therefore, notes that the revelation by

the NPDC confirmed the level of rot in the NNPC. Is the NNPC telling Nigerians that it doesn’t keep the account of crude oil proceeds and its expenditures? Why is it difficult for a corporation that boasts of professionals in different fields to reconcile its accounts from 2012 to 2013, which is just a year?

Whosoever told such barefaced lie must be cooling his feet in the jail now, if it were in saner climes. $20bn is no small money; we need to

investigate where this money went. It is high time President Goodluck Jonathan asked the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke to step aside for presiding over the rot, so as to give room for a dispassionate investigation.”

The Senate Committee should do a thorough investigation on the allegation and hand over its report to the relevant anti-graft agencies for appropriate prosecution.

• Abimbola Adegoke, Media Officer, CACOL

Benue Varsity Deserves Support IR: The dilapidated condi- teaching and non-teaching maximum support to our humble SUniversity tion of Benue State staff of the university, Benue VC, to enable her do more for the is rapidly changing benefit of the state and beyond. since the Vice-chancellor, Professor Charity Angya took over the institution few years ago. The ongoing renovation of almost all the structures in the school, building of the new structures and construction of new roads is what necessitated this writing.

I heard of Prof. Angya’s hardwork, giving Benue State University a new look, but I thought it was one of those worthless and needless praises, coming from somebody in her community.

However, I can now testify that the VC is seriously working. I have seen it by myself during my recent visit to the university in Makurdi. I urge Prof. Angya to keep up with the good work, the students,

State government and all the illustrious sons and daughters of the state to give their

• Awunah Terwase, Makurdi, Benue State.

Nigerian Students In Ghana : The Masquerade Team SCapeisIR:hosted

by University of Coast, Ghana. When I heard about the unfortunate but un-usual incidence of a Nigerian student that was killed, I asked some postgraduate students of the University, what they thought could be responsible. They were unanimous in saying that the style of living of the student should be investigated, because a gangster could be killed by his fellow gangsters.

Then emerged a rumour or

information that the particular young man did not register for the 2013/2014 session and some of his friends probably killed him for his school fees that was a couple of thousand dollars. I got the impression that some students knew the company he used to keep, but not why he refused or failed to register for the session, since July 2013, till he was killed toward the end of February 2014. Yes, I believe Police investigation continues. I also believe one should beware of bad companies, wherever one may find oneself.

• Pius Abioje, University of Ilorin.

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Sunday, March 16, 2014 13

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

NOTEBOOK

Aviation Sector:

Putting The Records Straight

By Yakubu Dati APTAIN Peter Omale must be a prophet who sees far beC yond other Nigerians. By his admission, he sees ‘invisible hands’ which ordinary mortals can’t see and he can correctly read the mind of our President. So gifted; he can tell us who is influencing the President at any given time.

In his recent media commentary on the aviation sector, Omale began with an extrasensory allegation: “The tsunami that swept the heads of aviation parastatals this Tuesday can only be attributed to the invisible hands of the immediate past Minister of Aviation.” He however contradicts himself in the next sentence when he says “whether this assumption is correct or not.”

Was Omale saying that this accusation against Oduah was based on assumption? One does not need to think hard to know that this is a symptom of Oduahphobia! Else, why would anyone publicly accuse someone of wrongdoing and it does not have to be true!

According to him, “in my indirect investigative sympathy phone calls to the majority of those affected by the sack, each of them attributed their demise to the former minister, who, up until today, uses her connections in high places to invisibly run the aviation sector.”

What is ‘indirect investigative sympathy phone calls’? These gentlemen worked under Oduah when she was Aviation Minister, so if she wanted to remove any of them she possibly could have done so. Ironically, some of these men Omale now has sympathy for were also at the receiving end of his mudslinging exercise when they were in office.

It ought to be clear to people that Oduah left a well-articulated master plan for Nigerian aviation, which will be difficult to reverse. Some critics wish things remained the way they were before the Oduah era, so that they could continue with their acts of impunity. Perhaps, we should sound it loud and clear that the Nigerian aviation industry can never go back to those days of mindless impunity by persons posing as aviation stakeholders.

The good news is that the Oduah revolution of the sector has taken firm root and things would not go back to the old days

before Oduah, even with her exit! Perhaps, that is why some people like Omale see imaginary Oduah hands in everything that happens in the industry today.

Omale’s claim that Oduah only allowed people with political connections to bring in airplanes into the country is not only absurd but a clever distortion of the policy on this issue. The truth is that under Oduah, the Aviation Ministry and NCAA drew up new rules that would govern the importation of aircraft into the country with a view to stemming the indiscriminate importation of unregistered and low quality aircraft.

This, of course, would have made the likes of Omale very unhappy for reasons that are obvious to well meaning stakeholders in the industry.

Omale says that Nigeria may be downgraded to category two from category one. If that happens, it will be due to persons who operate aircraft without license, without insurance, without any form of technical support and without spare parts.

Omale claims to be a stakeholder in the sector, but let him point to one contribution he has made towards the development and growth of the industry. In contrast, the Oduah achievements in the aviation industry are there for all to see. Is it in safety? Is it in manpower development and operational efficiency? Is it in infrastructural development? In so short a time, her contributions have been so fruitful that many Nigerians have been pondering what becomes of her projects after her exit. Is it the Aerotropolis project we want to talk about, or the development of cargo facilities round the country for both perishable and non-perishable cargo?

For the first time, producers of perishable agric produce are being directly connected to international markets for greater profits. New routes have been opened to the Middle East with the signing of new bilateral air service agreements with several countries.

And the construction of several state-of-the-art international airport terminals across the country, aside from the unprecedented re-modelling of 22 faded airports under Oduah, are just too much to be ignored.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government, in its wisdom, decided to effect changes in the top management of the aviation agencies recently, undoubtedly in the public in-

terest.

This is more so because all the newly appointed Chief Executive Officers are not charlatans, as alleged by Omale, but are highly experienced and well known aviation professionals with substantial experience in the aviation industry.

Engineer Ibrahim Abdusalam, the new Managing Director, NAMA, is a graduate of Electrical Engineering of both Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Massachusetts in USA and has been in service since 1994 holding responsible positions before his appointment.

Similarly, Engineer Saleh Dunoma, FAAN’s new Managing Director, is a 1979 graduate of Building Engineering of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and has held various top positions in FAAN since 1980, including Director of Engineering Services.

Samuel Caulcrick, the new Rector of NCAT is a professional commercial pilot with over 25 years experience. He obtained his commercial pilot licence in 1977 from NCAT, Zaria. He did further flight training in 1986 in the US. Captain Muhtar Usman, the newly appointed Director-General designate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, was until his recent appointment, the Commissioner/CEO of the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, (AIPB). Usman, 57, is a seasoned commercial aircraft pilot, flight inspector and accident investigator.

Does Omale want us to believe that these Nigerians are not qualified to hold the exalted positions to which they have been appointed?

In contrast, the Oduah achievements in the aviation industry are there for all to see. Is it in safety? Is it in manpower development and operational efficiency? Is it in infrastructural development? In so short a time, her contributions have been so fruitful that many Nigerians have been pondering what becomes of her projects after her exit. Is it the Aerotropolis project we want to talk about, or the development of cargo facilities round the country for both perishable and non-perishable cargo?

National Conference: Will It Turn Out To Be A SWAGG? From Adidi Uyo N the eve of what we could rightly dub “The Expedient CenO tenary Confabulation” (TECC), the humongous question whose answer is blowing in the wind methinks is: “Will it turn out to be a SWAGG?” For any keen observer of presidential body language, a la GEJ, SWAGG may well be an abbreviation of “swagger,” to wit: the extreme confidence with which the Commander-in-Chief and chief choreographer of the confab has been carrying on since he consecrated and ordained it for the nation on October 1, 2013.

SWAGG, however, is not an abbreviation for swagger. Instead, it is, you guessed right, an acronym which stands for: Scheme Without Any Genuine Goal. Thus, fully and plainly written, the question which is the title of today’s excursion is: “Will the National Conference which President Goodluck Jonathan kicks-off tomorrow, March 17, 2014, in Abuja turn out to be a scheme without any genuine goal?”

Be that as it may, the title is just our own way of announcing that on parade today is that feature which pervades spoken or written language: The interrogatory sentence, popularly known as Question. If you care to write down or record the questions that you ask and answer everyday, you will have a tome in your hands, I tell you!

The importance of questions in daily discourse cannot be gainsaid. And the National Conference that begins tomorrow corroborates that fact, for it is just one of the recurrent responses to the perennial agitation of Nigerians over what they have christened, the National Question. It is a question that optimists, pessimists, skeptics, and cynics ask publicly or privately, but frame differently.

I do not know which of those attitudinal labels you wear. But I do believe that you love your country, Nigeria, and for that reason you do entertain certain questions that rightly pertain to Jonathan’s edition of National Conference. If you do not entertain questions about JNC, by which I mean, Jonathan’s National Conference, many Nigerians do, and they have been asking, and continue to ask many, many questions about it.

Just what kinds of question have been thrown up by Jonathan’s National Conference? That, precisely, is the special course on the menu that we are serving on the language train,

LANGUAGE ON PARADE today. To be very sure, we want to examine the questions and characterise them, naming them, invariably.

To set the ball rolling, let me break down our title into two and ask you to tell me the kinds of question that emanate from them. The first question is: “Is the National Conference that will be inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow a scheme?” And the second one is: “Does the conference have any genuine goal?”

Before you answer the questions, be cognizant of this very important principle: Without understanding the essence of a question, you cannot answer it properly. So, do not rush to answer the first question, for example, by saying “Yes” or “No,” without understanding exactly what “scheme” means, for it is an ambiguous word, indeed.

That is very right! Scheme is ambiguous because, on one hand, it may refer to “a plan or system for doing or organising something,” like what a teacher does in order to teach a subject well. But on the other hand, it may mean “a plot to gain some advantage for yourself,” in one word, a ploy. You see!

The first meaning is neutral, at worst, positive, but the second is negative and pejorative.

Accordingly, both the President’s opponents and supporters may say “Yes” to the first question, aforementioned, but would be doing so from diametrically opposed positions, because of the meaning they attach to the word, scheme. In other words, whereas the President’s supporters would be saying, “Yes, the National Conference is a plan for fixing what is wrong with Nigeria,” his opponents would be saying, “Yes, the National Conference is a plot for smothering what is wrong with Nigeria with debates that would benefit no one, except the President and the delegates he has invited to come and eat,” to use that popular expression.

All that however is beside the point, because the question does not call for a “yes” or “no” answer. What we are interested in is very simple: State the kind of question. And this may be done in many ways. We may go the conventional way, or the unconventional. The conventional way would involve sticking

to the formal criteria we find in books language or grammar, especially; and the unconventional way would give us some latitude to play outside the books! Let’s just mix them up, if you don’t mind.

One criterion that came to my mind easily is penetration. It enables us to describe questions as incisive or superficial? Another is tone. With it, we can describe questions as aggressive or bland. What about this criterion, potency? Let’s agree that it gives us two kinds of questions: aggravating and mild.

Based on flavour, questions may be said to be bitter, sour, or sweet. Take this question from a man to a woman: “Would you marry me?” That’s a sweet one, any day, isn’t it?

Okay, then, let’s get down to the business on hand and see the kinds of questions Nigerians are asking about JNC. When Misan, my bosom friend and alter ego, heard me referring to the upcoming conference as JNC, he was furious. “Can you see,” he snapped, “how can anybody who means well for our country replace SNC with JNC?” SNC, in case you have forgotten, is the abbreviation for “Sovereign National Conference.” “Please, please, please,” I pleaded with Misan, “this is not a forum for politics. You are on the language train, remember?” He looked at me askance, and then retorted: “I hear you! So, what do you call the kind of question that I have just asked?”

I could not help teasing Misan, as I answered: “Don’t you think that that is a sour question, now? JNC has definitely supplanted SNC. I wonder whether that is a question that any of the delegates at the National Conference would raise.”

“Hmm,” Misan sneered, “and I wonder what kinds of questions the delegates would be asking, honestly. What question would be more important to a national conference coming up at this time in our nation’s life than the National Question?

Don’t you think any other question would be a waste of time and money?”

Knowing my alter ego for who he is, I said, “Misan, I am sure you just want to derail the language train from its train of thought, today. But you will not succeed. You cannot stop me from completing this business which I just started: looking at the questions that Nigerians are asking about JNC and identifying them by them, one by one. Bet me!”

Sunday, March 16, 2014

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COVER P/17 NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Thinking Gains, Circumventing Pitfalls

PERSPECTIVES

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The Challenges Of Development And National Security: 2015 And Beyond

BUSINESS P/33 Unsure Footing For N1trn SURE-P Fund

IBRU CENTRE

P/37

Pope Francis Marks First Anniversary

ONYENUCHEYA KALU: Aiming For Higher Calling

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPOTLIGHT

ONYENUCHEYA KALU: Aiming For Higher Calling

By Bisi Alabi Williams HE is Nigeria’s first lady pilot and captain. Her over 30 years experience in the nation’s Aviation industry is a pointer to the courage, passion, strength and doggedness she has displayed in her profession. Captain Chinyere Kalu’s resilience, even in the face of dangers, has greatly inspired those looking up to her. Her passion for hard work and excellence has elicited much respect and admiration from colleagues and peers. These rare qualities must have been partly responsible for her being counted among the 100 Nigerians honoured during the country’s Centenary celebration last week.

Friends and colleagues attest to the fact that Chinyere is a fine officer, who demonstrates uncommon enthusiasm, poise and character in all situations and circumstances. Her one dream is to inspire the nation’s teeming youth by nudging them in the direction of excellence, hard work and self-esteem. With this, she is convinced they would be enabled and empowered to contribute their quota to nation building and position the country for greater heights.

Until a few days ago, Chinyere was the rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (NCAT). The unassuming achiever has quietly carved an enviable niche that has led her to the very top of her career.

As the rector of NCAT, she has ample opportunity to implement her vision of building a virile aviation technology college, where only the best pilots, aeronautic engineers, cabin crew and sundry air transport managers are trained. And in her two years at the helm of affairs, she has facilitated several positive systemic transformations geared towards taking the college to the next level.

Indeed, the Captain says she and her team are poised to make the college “the foremost aviation training institution in Africa” as well as make it rank among the best in the world by continuously striving to raise standards and maintain best practices.”

Towards this end, she informs that the college management under her, boasts of a number of achievements, including attaining efficiency in the system; cutting down on waste, corruption, abuse and leakages, reducing time of training and cost of doing business as well as increasing productivity through raising the number of students trained and income generation.

Being Nigeria’s first female pilot, she has made her mark as one of the leading lights of the Nigerian aviation industry, recording several industry benchmarks, while moving up the ladder. She has also established herself as a worthy role model for Nigerian youth, especially the girl child. Full of zest and passion for her job, she can best be described as an achiever par excellence and an amazon in the aviation industry with an outstanding commitment to building courage in women and youth of Nigeria.

In this wise, she advises the young ones to pursue hard work because it has no substitute. “You can’t achieve anything if you don’t work at it. My principle is to work hard and pray the Lord to bless the work of my hands.

“Every young person should have a dream and try as much as possible to live this dream. However, it is equally important that older and more successful people mentor the younger ones and show them the paths to success. This is apart from what government must do to ensure there is job creation and opportunities for success,” she says.

She launched her career with a record-breaking achievement as Nigeria’s first lady pilot when, in 1978, she obtained her private pilot licence from the nation’s premier aviation college. Before then, she had, in 1973, attended Leadership and Citizen Course (SS88) Sea School, Lagos. Since then, Chinyere, who is always driven by excellence and is a member of the African Women Leaders Think Tank group, has undergone many leadership training programmes at home and abroad.

A professional pilot to the core, Captain Kalu has devoted her energy to raising the standards of training through staff development and provision of infrastructure and equipment upgrade for the College. As an experienced administrator, she places a lot of premium on staff development and welfare, which to her, is paramount and essential, as it is said that ‘staff are the heart of every organisation’.

“The welfare of our staff is considered second to none,” she says.

“The driving force to work lies in the level of motivation given to staff. It is in that light that the management vigorously pursues the welfare of the staff, which has given rise to a new sense of commitment.”

Indeed, she is walking the talk by “ensuring staff promotion, starting with some 294 who have remained stagnant for nine years; re-instatement of staff of aviation school and security men laid off earlier; approval of over 1, 800 courses for staff including messengers and cleaners; subsidised school fees for staff in the college and staff school; revolving welfare loan for staff at no interest; workshops that prepare staff for retirement and upgrading of aero-medical facility to National Health Insurance Scheme status.

“The equipment and infrastructural requirements for the college is inexhaustible in that as the number of students and courses increases, the need for equipment and infrastructural development also increases. It is in a bid to make the institution reputable and of world-class standard that we deemed it fit to put several equipment and structures in place.

“So, in line with best practices, management constructed a new aviation management school to accommodate the postgraduate diploma course in aviation management and furnished hostels to provide a conducive learning atmosphere. The administrative and bursary departments have been automated and it is expected that very soon, the college will boast of a new library, an ultra-modern auditorium and safe perimetre fencing.

Some of the equipment acquired to improve service delivery are: Alsim AL-X Simulator, a three- dimensional flight simulator, which gives a feel of a real aircraft in nearly every sense’ a Boeing 737-200, primarily for the training of the cabin crew students. It gives a good atmosphere for training the students practically, the 3600 Visual Simulator, which prepares the student for a

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practical future control tower service delivery, two Bell 206 helicopters for expansion and improvement of the scope of training, a Gas Turbine trainer for training the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering students on the Gas turbine engine and the Aerodynamics (Wind tunnel) trainer for the training of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

During her tenure, the college has graduated 852 students and has clocked 3,386 hours on flight for training of student pilots.

She has also deepened collaboration with similar training institutions in Minna, Niger State. There are plans to open similar facilities in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

It is under her stewardship that the college has won accreditation with international bodies for the purpose of enhancing knowledge transfer and synergy for smooth running of the institution. These include the Association of African Aviation Training Organisation, where Nigeria is represented as Council member, Aviation Accreditation Board International, Nigerian

Civil Aviation Authority and International Civil Aviation Organisation among others.

Always mindful of the need to serve as a shining example to the youths and her social responsibility, Chinyere says: “I will use the privileges and opportunities I have to serve my nation to model courage and hard work, particularly among women and the youth.”

She believes she has done her bit to advance women development, as she has trained some women to become responsible caregivers and influencers of society. She advises women to always support and respect one another and to preserve their dignity at all costs. “They should always seek to achieve and do something meaningful. There is profit in labour. They should think, be creative and trust the Lord to support them. There is also need to be very focused and not give up in the face of the toughest challenges. Women should seek ways of empowering themselves for service, learn new skills, as nobody is ever too old

to learn. Just get going and do something.”

She is gladdened by the fact that the world is becoming more open on issues of gender. She sees women as great achievers.

“The Nigerian woman has come of age and it is evident in the number of businesses that are now owned and professionally managed by women. This is coupled with the fact that women also attend to their primary purpose of nurturing their families.

“I’m happy that more women now believe in themselves and this is because some of us have broken the old paradigm, which says that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. With the encouragement of our men, I believe that many Nigerian women will actualise their true potentials. Nigeria is no doubt a land of opportunities and with the right support system, I see more women excelling,” she says.

She believes that the veritable key to sustainable development is mentoring. “Young people must continuously learn from those that have positively impacted on others and the nation at large.

We have a lot of youth restiveness, which government is addressing. We all have roles to play and young people must take their future in their hands, learn from books and people that have good values, because the future of this country belongs to them, especially those prepared by mentorship.

“I speak with a lot of conviction and I go all out to carry others along for good purposes. It is not good to wear one’s problems on the face. It is important that people know who they are and what they want to be. They should then focus on it and get it. You can make it and you will make it only if you try”.

And for her positive performance and achievements, Chinyere has earned many awards and recognition. She is Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) 2006; Member, Nigerian Women Achievers HALL OF FAME; African International Achievers’ Merit Award 2007; Rare Gems Professional Achievements Award 2007 and Member, Nigeria’s Fifty Greatest Women of Democratic Administration of Ghana 2012 among others.

TheGuardian

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe

Late Ahmadu Bello

Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Thinking Gains, Circumventing Pitfalls

By Armsfree Ajanaku XCEPT for the grand beneficiaries of the embarrassing disorder that Nigeria has become, there is consensus across board that the world’s most populous black nation is not heading in the right direction. In the eyes of close watchers of events in Nigeria, it is even miraculous that the country has wobbled on for so long, in spite of clear indications for many years that things could fall apart, with severe implications for Africa and the comity of nations.

There is growing unease about Nigeria’s inability to get things right and begin the travel on the road to stability and prosperity, which has astounded a good number of countrymen. In the global arena, Nigeria cuts the picture of a country of too many missed opportunities, a poster child for how not to run the lives of millions. Blighted by mind boggling elite corruption, oil dependence, and hosting a growing population of millions of poverty stricken country men and women, Nigeria is daily becoming a source of constant trepidation for a world at odds about what to do, if suddenly the tinder box goes off.

One of the many diagnosis of Nigeria’s historic national crises points to the artificiality of the country’s foundation. This line of reasoning underscores the timeworn talk about the British colonial legacy, which clobbered together hundreds of ethnic nationalities, arbitrarily upending their sovereignties and forcefully making them reluctant parts of an African tower of Babel.

The diagnosis holds that every other manifestation of the Nigerian quagmire takes its roots from this foundational incongruity.

For critics of the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria therefore, the argument, advanced with a convincing degree of certainty, is that 1914 is the source of the bumbling chaos that is now Nigeria.

The collective agonies of the intellectual adversaries of the amalgamation is further expressed in the assertion that by arbitrarily bringing together a vast array of histories, cultures and destinies, the colonial overlords effectively succeeded in creating a vast war zone, where different worldviews were certain to slug it out in a cut throat competition for resources.

Effectively, in this contrived “geographical expression,” might is the only right, resulting in a national space of too many extreme resentments against the decades-long institutionalisation of injustice.

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Consequently, the post 1914 State in the Nigerian context emerged as an instrument of oppression, not as an agency for development and the nurturing of the destinies of its constituent units. Also, the state took on a character of an entity exclusively designed to fend for and protect the elite, who have access to political and economic power, as well as the national till. For the weak and marginalised in the society, the only recourse had to do with conversing with extraterrestrial forces, for divine intervention, and a better life.

Bad as this diagnosis seems, however, a number of Nigerian statesmen, activists and politicians have insisted that reversing the disturbing state of affairs would involve a concerted effort to restructure the very foundations of the country.

The prescription has been that it is only when the wobbly beginning is addressed that the nation can start the journey to true rebirth.

This position and subsequent calls for a grand national conversation to redesign the architecture of the nation intensified in the 1990s, when the nation reeled under the vice-like and autocratic grip of the military. While the governing elite sneered at such a discussion, proponents continued to harp on it as the only alternative to rescue Nigeria. Expectations that the advent of civil rule in 1999 would eventually address those fundamental issues derailing or stunting national development were dashed. Hustling and jostling politicians showed scant interest in redesigning the polity, until 2005, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo set up the National Political Reforms Conference, which ended on a quarrelsome note, with the Niger Delta delegates taking a walk over a push for percentage increase in derivation funds accruable to oil producing states. Allegations that the conference was set up, with a sinister agenda to surreptitiously push for tenure elongation for the administration also tainted the conference.

In the end, the recommendations from the deliberation were placed before the National Assembly, which simply ignored them, as it never supported the conference in the first place.

Since October 1, 2013 when President Goodluck Jonathan announced plans for the convocation of a National Conference, there has been a feverish debate about the goals, opportunities and challenges presented by such a meeting. The naysayers, especially in the camp of the opposition have branded the exercise a waste of precious time and resources. However, the view of

the majority is that the conference is a rare opportunity for Nigerians to stem the slide of their nation. So overwhelming is the acceptance of the conference that even in the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) states, governors are said to be falling over themselves to nominate delegates for the very conference that had been rejected by frontline national leaders of the party.

Ironically, the initial opposition to the conference came from elements within the southwest, once the hotbed of the agitation for a grand scale discussion about the future of the country. In the mix too are the realities of the coming 2015 general elections. If the opposition were to openly endorse the proposal by the President, it would imply a belief in his qualities as a statesman and somebody capable of piloting the ship of state beyond 2015, when his first term expires.

The nature of the brinkmanship is that the opposition had to paint the conference in an unflattering light in order to further define the President as a leader that lacks the capacity to grasp the great issues facing the country. That derisive position by the APC now looks a very tricky one to hold, as a good number of its members, including its governors seem to have come to terms with the futility of simply saying no to the dialogue, thereby denying their own people the opportunity to participate and bring to the fore their own ideas on how to rebuild the country.

Nonetheless, the eagerness to join the conversation has not taken into cognisance some of the salient points raised about the deliberation with respect to the implementation of the outcomes.

There seems haste amongst die-hard proponents of the event to push through the talks, without correspondingly thinking through what would become of the decisions reached during the deliberations.

For instance, the announcement last year by President Goodluck Jonathan that the recommendations would be presented to the National Assembly for integration into the 1999 Constitution riled many, who already know that an approach like that would likely precipitate unsavoury outcomes.

Ample lessons from the 2005 political reforms conference, which recommendations never saw the light of day, validate the fears of those who do not want this as the modus for the implementation of conference outcomes. Similarly, the National Assembly has continued with its

amendment of the 1999 Constitution, in spite of projections that the recommendation of the conference will be integrated into the same grund norm. Added to this is the fact that the legislature is yet to either approve funds or legislate an appropriate law to give the conference legal backing.

However, the thinking of the Senator Femi Okurounmu- led Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue is instructive. It advised that the Executive and the National Assembly should cooperate as partners “to put in place an enabling law that should lead to a successful and hitch-free National Dialogue.”

The committee recommended that the President should either send an Executive Bill for the purpose of the National Conference to the National Assembly, which shall enact it into the enabling law or exercise his inherent powers under Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as Amended), to convene the Conference.

On the modalities for adopting the decisions of the conference, the committee put that crucial decision in the hands of the conference itself, recommending that “the National Conference itself shall have the responsibility of setting out the said legal procedures and options for integrating its decisions and outcomes of its deliberations into the Constitution and the Laws of the nation.”

However, since the committee’s conclusions are advisory in nature, there are those waiting for how exactly things will pan out. Beyond the legalese on the outcomes, there have been cries from a number of minority ethnic nationalities across the country about a lack of representation in the conference. The Ogonis, for example, as well as the Itsekiris have complained about the non-inclusion of their nationalities in the confab. Added to this is the posturing and positioning amongst interest groups about what they want from the conference. Balancing all of these tendencies is crucial.

It is in this light that the appointment of the octogenarian former Chief Justice, Idris Kutigi as Chairman of the conference is being seen as a masterstroke. The wisdom of the old would ensure that hot-blooded elements coming to the conference are moderated, while all energies are channeled towards revamping the fortunes of a nation in dire need of a rescue plan.

18 | Sunday, March 16, 2014

THe GUARDIAN

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Why This Conference Must Not Fail, By Nduka eya Immediate past Secretary General and member of Imeobi, the highest decision making arm of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, told LAWRENCE NJOKU some of the painful issues the Igbo would like to have resolved in any meaningful national dialogue There are complaints that the process of selecting delegates could hurt the proposed national conference?

HeN an elder swallows his words, he vomits disrespect, says an adage. That is why I am talking. I won’t swallow my words; I am 75 years of age and it is time to start speaking out because this country belongs to all of us. First and foremost, we are grateful to the president.

Do you remember when people started talking about the conference, whether sovereign or national, several years back? It appeared nobody was listening until this young man decided to give a go at it. You saw the controversy even from those asking for it.

What controversy?

Some faulted the timing; others said it is not well composed. There are those saying it is for political campaign and what have you. But I have asked, ‘what really do Nigerians want, and what do you think you can do to satisfy our people at any given time?’ We have lived together under what many have described as forced amalgamation. The 100-year period wasn’t a bed of roses.

We have moved from one crisis to another, and we said, ‘let us talk’. If we are going to remain this way for another 100 years, how are we going to do it? I feel that is what the conference is all about. They now blame Jonathan for toeing this line of conference even when the issue of separation and divisions rages daily. I do not think these should be the issues for now.

For me, my only concern and worry is that the way they laid out the representation does not serve the purpose. Government doesn’t need to get representation as it has done. The ethnic nationalities, NGOs, professionals and Civil Society Organizations are the people who should talk. The constitution we have from 1999 was a military decree and people didn’t know that when the military was leaving they said that in reproducing this law, change should be by the people. The Justice Tobi committee met and produced a document, which I think should serve this country. But what did Abacha do? He put it aside and never allowed it reflect in the constitution. But he put local governments into the constitution.

As a former permanent secretary of the local government, I ask, ‘since when did local governments become a federating unit of the country’?

They gave Kano over 40 local governments, gave enugu 17 and the entire local governments in the South are not half what they gave to Kano and they are all drawing from the same fund, and it is the more you are; the more money you get.

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enugu wanted to create more and they said it is a constitutional issue. Why didn’t they put it as a regional thing? This conference must be held because there is a lot of lopsidedness. If we say we are going to live in this country we call ours, we must sit together and talk. For me, let us overlook the shortcomings and begin, for the first time, to reason like people of the same mind and country. We cannot continue the way we are because it was through the gun that we were made to stay the way we are.

As a member of Imeobi, what are the issues you are articulating for this conference?

The paper for that is available and when the conference opens, the people will hear what Ndigbo are thinking. We have collated views from all parts of the world and all we are trying to say is that whatever it is, if we are going to live peacefully in this country, it must be on the basis of equity, justice and fair play; enough of this lopsidedness and unfairness. Those who are angling for autonomy of local governments should be very careful. Lagos tried to expand local governments and the court ruled that it is a constitutional issue, and I ask, ‘who put that in the constitution’? The National Assembly should expunge it because local governments are extensions of state administrations, just as states are extensions of the federal government of Nigeria, but limited within the boundaries of the state.

Our leaders will say what we have decided to talk about at the right time. The Yoruba elders have led a delegation to the presidency on the representation and I want to complain that in our Southeast, the secretariat of that place should have addressed this ethnic nationalities. There should have been a letter addressed to the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to send representatives. But instead of this, they wrote to the governors, and these governors sat down and took their political friends, with specific instructions on what to canvass at the conference. They also provided people for the socio-cultural organizations, like Ohanaeze. We are not going to quarrel, but let us go and talk.

Whoever is going there should remember that we have no other country. And for Ndigbo, they should think more about the welfare of the people.

Some Igbo have insisted that secession should form part of the agenda for the conference.

What is your take on this? even Jonathan cannot stop it and that is why the outcome of this conference should be very important to every Nigerian. Our president must be very careful because it should be a conference that should define how we would live. When we say there is lopsidedness, it is not for fun. I worry that even with the dominance of the North in the rulership of the country, there is so much poverty in their area. The

Almajari have been made poor. Go to some areas of the North, you will run for kilometers and without finding any house. I think that the issues should be discussed, so that if we feel that this union is no longer suitable, we have a right to withdraw, and when you do it some sections of the country will be very careful. Suppression brought about the war in this country, and now they are killing people in the Northeast. If any zone decides to take revenge, it would be a fullblown war.

There is increased sectional incitement, especially by people who claim they are born to rule.

Therefore, this agenda must be discussed and Nigerians must be persuaded to accept it. It does not mean that you want to secede, but it is a safeguard, so that when you oppress me, I will walk away to find a safer place. That is exactly what Biafra tried to do. Talking about another sovereign country could be sedition, but those boys in MASSOB are not carrying any weapons; they are carrying pieces of cloths. In Niger Delta, people took up arms against their country and what did they get, amnesty! The Boko Haram are now looking for theirs also, saying it would be right to discuss with them and grant them amnesty, perhaps, for not wanting to be educated and for killing innocent people.

When you capture MASSOB boys, you put them in detention, but there is a limit to provocation and any day they begin to carry weapons, it will be disastrous. What happened at Amansea River made headline news when dead bodies were found floating. The National Assembly made noise, the governor of Anambra vowed to unravel the matter. Today, nobody is talking about it anymore. But that is impunity. The allegation is that those were MASSOB boys mowed down, and nobody is talking about it. The Igbo and the South have been injured enough in this country and that is why I support this secession issue and nobody should try to stop it because, we have been forced to live together in the past 100 years.

Are you saying that allowing politicians to pick delegates for the conference could be negative?

I spoke in Ohanaeze when this issue was raised that some of the people mentioned there have never attended meetings by Ohanaeze. How did you then pick them for the social group? It is the same impunity that is going on in the country.

We said it should be a conference of Nigerians selected from social groups. We didn’t want PDP, APC and others to be represented because they are the people causing the mayhem in this country. The bottom line is that anybody who is a beneficiary of a system would not want that system to be changed. We have had conferences and discussions but because politicians will always want things to favour them, they will always draw us back because they will pick what they want and drop the rest. each politician is coming with a mindset that must favour his political aspiration and party and that is the problem. When it is not so, they capitalize on the poverty they have inflicted on the country to cause trouble, and this, on the long run, becomes a threat to the unity and progress of the country.

AGBAJe: The Key To A Successful Confab Is Better Federal Structure Mr. Jimi Agbaje, former Lagos State governorship candidate, told KAMAL TAYO OROPO, that the National Conference would have achieved a significant success if a better federal structure were attained.

What are the most important items that would make the National Conference worth the while?

He most important step, first and foremost, is to put our federal structure in a proper perspective; and that is by, one, removing a lot of things that we know were not really for the centre in the exclusive list.

Secondly, the issue of local councils should not be part of the constitution. It should be left to the states to handle. If we are talking of a successful conference and having a very good constitution that would stand the test of time, we must institutionalise a better federal structure. That is the key; the federal structure. So, if we get that right, then other things

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would fall into place.

You are still talking about the federal structure along the state; many people are talking in line of the regional arrangement. Are you saying you prefer the state arrangement?

No I didn’t say that; I was merely talking about the general structure. I said we should remove the local government from the (federal) constitution.

So, they will be a state government business; even if we are running region, it will still be a state affair.

Regarding the system of government itself, some have argued that the parliamentary system of government as operated in the First Republic would be a lot more effective and better than the presidential system of government the country currently running.

What is your take on this?

As much I would vote for parliamentary system of government, I’m also conscious that that is not the reason.

We can have a parliamentary system and it would still be run as expensively as we are doing with the presidential system. Those operating presidential system in other countries are not spending money the same way we are we. So, while I will say yes it is good to have a parliamentary system, especial-

ly from the position that whoever is running for elections does not have to be spending that much to win the elections. This is in addition to the other benefits that come from parliamentary. But like every system, it also has its own disadvantages.

Like I said, what you are running away from in presidential system, you may still run into in a parliamentary system if the actors decide to run it like the same way we run the presidential system. And if the parliament says it wants to pay its parliamentarians the same amount that our National Assembly is earning then we are still in the same trouble.

It is has been argued that there is nothing wrong with the system but those running it. What exactly is wrong with the system? Is the problem really with the system or with the operators of the system?

That is what I am saying! Wrong people would still bastardise the best of system. I believe that the people; the citizens, have allowed the legislators to have a field day and they have also allowed the executive to have a field day, too.

In other words, we do not have what I will call the active and strong citi-

zenry that will fight for what is right.

We have allowed the political class to take over to such an extent that you have a National Assembly that has passed legislation that it does not need the court, doesn’t owe the public an explanation on how it spends the budget and the likes. We have allowed it to happen. We have a situation where so many things happen even at the executive level that we accept just about anything.

So, it is still the people that must say enough is enough to these things; whether it is parliamentary or presidential system we are running.

Many other conferences and constituent assemblies had been held in the past, how does the country avoid previous errors and make this particular exercise a significant success?

It is hoped that by the time we come out from this particular conference, more of the passive citizens of our country will show more interest on how the country is governed. It is hoped that in bringing about the Federal structure, the powers will trickle down, consequently governance will come closer to the people, and therefore, they would feel more involved.

For now, everything is in Abuja; and Abuja is very far away from the vast majority of the people. People look at it (Abuja) as another world and those in Abuja believe that they are in their own world. But by the time you devolve responsibility and authority down to the federating units; the local government and all, then people will be more involved in the process and would have more say and will demand more. Presently we are running a unitary system if you care to know. The central government is the beginning and the end of everything.

There is need for decentralisation. The government at the center must be limited to a manageable responsibility. Governance is too far away from the people.

How comfortable are you with the delegates that are going to the National Conference?

There can never be a perfect list. For me, I think in all honesty we have a fairly good list across the country and understand any circumstances I don’t think we can get a better list. So, I am comfortable with the list. I am not one of the people that are saying the list is bad. It could be better but you never can have the perfect list.

THE GUARDIAN

Sunday, March 16, 2014

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COVER

CONFAB: It’s Better To Talk Than War, Says ACF Mr. Anthony Sani is the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, the North’s apex socio-political body. He spoke to Northern Bureau Chief, SAXONE AKHAINE, on the relevance of the national conference to Nigeria and the position of the North on the dialogue.

He faulted the number of delegates the South would produce, describing it as unfair to the North, which according to him has a larger population.

Northern elders earlier kicked against the composition of delegates to the conference as released by government. What is your take on this?

DID not attend the two-day conference by the Northern Elders Forum, which took place in Kano. As a result, I cannot be authoritative on their submissions. But I share the sentiment that we are in a democracy, which thrives in majority. It is therefore not proper for the South, with lesser population, to edge out the North in number of delegates. But this is an odd thing to say, especially when recourse is made to the fact that a conference of this nature should be by elected delegates, and certainly not by appointment. That deprives it of needed legitimacy. But since the conference must go on, at least to let some people vent their concerns on issues they consider very important, all one can do now is advise delegates to deliberate on issues in hope and with patriotic courage for strengthening the unity of this country and moving the nation forward.

Other ethnic nationalities in the South West, South East and South South have recently been talking about issues they will canvass at the conference, which they believe can resolve security and socio-economic challenges and the national question. What issues will the North put forward at the conference?

Please, note that the North never canvassed convocation of the conference, precisely because the region does not believe the solution of our national malaise lies in another conference, especially when recourse is made to the fact that recommendations of past conferences have not be implemented. Moreover, the North does not believe that the problems of Nigeria have anything to do with the structure of the country, with the law, with the form of government or with the lack of hype in ethnic

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‘reduction of the gap in income disparity is not only good politics but also good economics’. Offshore/onshore dichotomy should therefore be brought back in the national interest.

There is no federalism that is universally accepted. That is why no two federal systems are the same. All federal systems have a lot to do with the circumstance of their emergence. For example, the 13 American colonies came together and formed the USA, whereas in the case of Nigeria, the national government created the states as federating units. But the common mantra for all federal systems is for the centre to be strong enough to keep the country one and united, but not too strong as to make the country a unitary system. So, if we favour devolution of power, then all we need do is temper with the exclusive and concurrent lists in the constitution for effect, bearing in mind the overriding need for a strong united Nigeria.

When some Nigerians talk of people’s constitution, it is because they do not know that only 55 Americans wrote the American constitution. It has 27 amendments; the last one was on May 7, 1992.

Britain does not have a written constitution, whereas in the case of Nigeria, it is a book called constitution that is observed more in the breach.

As to the form of government, the presidential system works well in America. The parliamentary model is a success in Britain, while France practices a combination of the two very well. I can go on, but it suffices to say that our problems are in the way Nigerians do things.

It is simply self-defeating for Nigerians to allow temporary challenges being experiSani enced now to set a new agenda for the nation. That is not correct. All we need is nationalism. Rather, the North believes our opposed to derivation, as long as it is aimed at come together and unlock our synergistic problems are largely due to failure of leader- compensation for degradation of the environ- potentials against collective challenges for common good and for generations to ship at all levels of governance that have ment and/or reward efforts. come with collapse of national ideals and The case against abolition of offshore/onshore come. This is because the situation is not beyond redemption, since it is possible to moral values, as well as with fall in social dichotomy is this fact that oil exploration in contract among individuals and among the ocean does not affect any environment of make Nigeria feel young again with promise of glory days ahead. groups. The North believes all that is the host communities, nor is it a product of What could be the fears of the North about required is cultural renaissance under the any of their efforts. As a result, the proceeds the conference? watch of purposeful leadership. We do not from offshore exploration should not be facThe North has no fear about the conferbelieve cleavages of the nation along ethnic tored into calculation of proceeds for derivaence at all because it is better to jaw-jaw and religious lines are helpful. tion. than shoot-shoot. We agree with those But since some Nigerians have insisted the This nation must note that the concept of who say, ‘when people are allowed to vent conference could bring about progress, nationhood is bringing people together and their concerns, it is possible the interacwhich comes with change from robust enabling them to unlock their synergistic tions can dispel misconceptions among debates, we said, ‘so be it’. After all, it is bet- potentials. Any arrangement that makes oil ter to jaw-jaw than shoot-shoot. We believe producing and non-oil producing states be as if groups, religions and among regions.

Northern delegates will not lack what to say they are in different continents could not rea- Can the conference serve its purposes?

Those who canvassed the conference when real issues of real concern to real sonably further the cause of a united nation believe it can serve some useful purpose.

Nigerians are raised in the conference. In inhabited by Nigerians who are socially We pray it does and we shall all be happy that case, the North will use the conference diverse, economically empowered and politifor it. and explain to Nigerians that it is not cally active. And that is why it is often said,

‘North Has Nothing To Fear’

AKA IKENGA: Conference Not Place For Intimidation Says ‘There’s No Dominant Tribe In Nigeria’ Chief Goddy Uwazurike, lawyer, public affairs analyst and president of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, is a delegate to the national conference. He spoke to YINKA OGUNJOBI on the position of the group on the conference.

What is the position of Aka Ikenga on the conference?

E support it wholeheartedly. We believe any opportunity to talk is better than an opportunity to fight.

If those Boko Haram people had taken up this opportunity, they won’t be killing people. They would be talking to each other, telling themselves that what they are doing is wrong. Aka Ikenga believes that in this country there are a lot of things to talk about. If you remember, the registration for this conference has been on for about 20 years. Some said, ‘sovereign’, others said, ‘national’. But whichever it is, let us start something. To make peace is always better than to fight war. That is our belief in Aka Ikenga.

Are there any concerns about the confab?

Well, there is really no concern. Let me tell you, when this government said they would set up a conference committee, I know that the APC governors and the party of course condemned it and campaigned against it. When the panel started going round, people then realised that this conference has taken up the lives of people. Nobody can stop it.

The real worry is whether people will curb their emotions.

The other worry is whether we would allow offensive lan-

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guage to be expressed on the floor. For instance, if you start abusing all the Igbo, do I sit and take the insult or do I reply you. If I reply you, what is the guarantee that it would not come to blows? Now, at the moment, there are so many extreme national issues. Some people see Nigeria as, ‘I, me and myself’. The rest of the country would say no.

The real concern is whether we are mature enough to really go ahead and discuss instead of punching one other.

There are some ethnic nationalities that are already bringing up knotty issues. Do you think this will affect the confab?

Well, I remember that just this week some leaders of the North had a meeting in Kano, chaired by an eminent statesman. When he was making his submission they used high flowery language, trying to intimidate everybody including the government. But I know that such things do not work. In an atmosphere where one ethnic group intimidates the other, nobody would succeed. It is time people realised that there is no dominant tribe in Nigeria.

No one can say, ‘I dominate the country’. So, we are going to talk about essential things that would move us forward including true federalism. You talk I talk. That is what we are going for.

What will the Igbo be taking to the dialogue?

We have our views. We believe in true federalism, we believe that there should be a true federalism. We believe that of the five states in the South East zonewe should have two states and of the remaining five, we would have one state. Only the North West zone will be without a state because they already have seven states. So, we are looking for fairness; we are looking for equal treatment for us all.

That is what we are looking for.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

20 | Sunday, March 16, 2014

COVER As Nigerians await inauguration of the National Conference tomorrow, former Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Emmanuel Anosike, has said in spite of many shortcomings, the confab is a welcome development. In an interview with BRIDGET CHIEDU ONOCHIE, the former lawmaker talked about issues that could dominate discussions.

Composition of the confab Y first problem with the conference is the composition, but I equally don’t feel that without having the expected composition to suit our individual groups and sentiments, the confab will not be a success. The issue is that we are Nigerians, and we are going to discuss issues that affect the country. As an individual, I have questioned the composition earlier because in Anambra State where I come from, there are three representatives, while two are from Anambra South; the remaining one is from Anambra Central Senatorial Zone.

Anambra North does not have a representative, yet we are talking about the country and the feelings of everybody.

If we have only three representatives per state, I feel that the proper thing to do would have been to have one representative from each of the three Senatorial Districts. When you talk about other areas of representations, it would have also been ideal to ensure that everyone is carried along because the aim of the confab is to discuss the country and bring up burning issues with the aim of thrashing them out.

However, if you look at the composition, you will see that most of the people selected are seasoned technocrats, politicians and very senior boys in the system. Even though some of the nominees could be rated below average, majority are of high esteem and repute.

The ‘No go Areas’ Don’t think the issue of ‘no go areas’ would be a factor because we cannot go to a national conference and begin to talk whether we will live together or not. We are not going to talk about that. We are rather going to talk about our problems and how to solve them. That is the reason we have to refer the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly so that those ones that would be enshrined in the Constitution would be enshrined consequently. So, for me, it would be wrong for anybody to go to the confab to start discussing whether we are going to be one or not. These are the outcome of the discussions. You cannot start from the answers; you start from the problem to the answer.

Issues on agenda We have a lot of issues to discuss. There is the issue of security; we also have to talk about revenue generation, revenue sharing formula and other issues of utmost relevance to each

ANOSIKE: Confab Will Discuss Our Problems, How To Solve Them

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group. We need to also go back to basic things we used to do. We need to talk about putting money, where it is supposed to function and produce visible results. Before now, we used to generate revenue through agriculture. What happened to that? There are certain things we need to go back to, reengineer and bring them to the fore. We cannot continue depending on oil alone because one day, we may wake up to realise that it has dried up. If we determine the revenue structure, how to generate as well as the sharing formula, we will not be overwhelmed when we discover that it is no longer there.

We also need to talk about our relationship with our neighbours. Everyday, we have one issue or the other, Bakassi today, Boko Haram tomorrow. Everybody is pointing accusing finger at those coming from outside. We should find out the problem with our borders, whether there is sincerity of purpose

and whether we are really sure we love our neighbours as ourselves.

If you go to the United States of America, they consider first, their love for the country and one another in everything they do. That is the reason they are ready to close down the country because of one citizen. But we cannot do that. If people die here, life continues. So, the issues to be discussed are critical and because of this, the issue of ‘no go area’ is understandable and I buy into it. We should rather think of how to structure our country. We should have a roadmap for this nation. Even the three months may not be enough. So, by the time you load it with all kinds of issues, you are overheating the system.

Is the Confab a necessity?

For me, the confab is very necessary in the sense that it will afford us the opportunity to come together and discuss our problems.

Everybody will be there, as representative of the people and issues would be thrashed out. Fortunately, we have a very respectable individual as the chairman. The composition of the administrative members is also very sound. Without confab, we will not be able to have a well built up Constitution because majority of what we will have in our Constitution would be the outcome of the confab. Some people criticise the convening of the conference because we don’t take things serious in this country. That is also the reason we have not been able to conclude issues on Constitution amendment for the past four years. With due respect to my brothers in the Parliament, some of them don’t take issues serious, if they do, we would have been able to deal with the Constitution. As it is now in this country, the only solution to the Constitution is this confab because we would be forced to enshrine, at least, 75 per cent of the recommendations into the Constitution.

How to go about the numerous issues on agenda Considering the level of people participating in the confab and the fact that about 35 per cent of them were part of those that drafted the present Constitution, for me, they are well constituted and they know what is expected of them. The level most of them are is what I call closing remark. With

due respect, most of them are almost going.

Some are above 65 years of age, others are close to 80. So, whatever they do now would form part of the legacies they are leaving behind. None of them is struggling to buy a new car; none of them is struggling to find ways of enriching themselves. People of that character in the confab are below 25 per cent and I believe that with the amount of money budgeted by the Federal Government, they should be contented enough to do their work and go home. It is a time frame assignment and nobody is coming to remind them that they need to work with accuracy and speed.

On the huge amount earmarked for the confab The amount is not too much. My reason for saying so is because first, you have to think about their accommodation. Most of these people don’t have homes in Abuja and some are also above 65 years. You must think seriously about their health because, if they feel they don’t have adequate protection, they cannot function well. One should also consider the issue of security; there must be adequate security wherever they may be because if by chance anything happens to them, it becomes another national calamity. So, the money is not too much as far as I am concerned.

Subjecting the report to the approval of the National Assembly That is basic. If you want to look at it critically, you cannot talk about confab when you have National Assembly. Naturally, the issues would have been brought before the National Assembly for discussion but because the agitation was becoming too much and some people don’t even have confidence in the National Assembly, then, they decided to bring everybody on board, non-government organisations, activists and others. Everybody is invited for a talk; it is not a party agenda. It is a matter of people coming to present issues from their respective states and groups. At the end of the day, something like a working paper for the National Assembly to consolidate on will emerge. At that point, there is an agenda and they have to work on that particular agenda. They are working for Nigerians.

Confab is for Nigeria, National Assembly is for Nigeria; we are all seeking the good of the country. It will not override the Constitution amendment; it will rather strengthen what they are doing.

Government presence The Federal government appointees are not even many. If I were President, I would nominate 50 per cent, but you have so many organisations that nominated their persons. States have over 120 people and when you put all these together, you discover that Federal Government does not even have enough influence. The only influence it has was on the nomination of chairman, secretary, administrative staff and others and that does not imply over bloated government presence.

Isokos Set Agenda For Better Nigeria At National Confab

By Anote Ajeluorou S all is set for tomorrow’s all-important national conference upon which hope for a turnaround in the affairs of Nigeria is hinged, the Isoko people of Delta State under the aegis of Isoko Development Union (IDU), have restated their faith in the confab as well as set agenda for a better outcome from the conference.

In a communiqué issued at its pre-National Conference summit at Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area headquarters on March 13, 2014 and signed by the trio of Major-General Paul Omu (rtd), Chairman and IDU President-General, Mr. Julius Mallam-Obi, Secretary and Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, Chairman, Information and Media Committee, the group expressed its disappointment that the Isokos were attending the conference in default with a lone delegate, Major-General Omu, who is part of South-South delegation, as no delegate was appointed from among them.

Nevertheless, it said Isoko Development Union welcomed the opportunity of a National Conference provided by President Goodluck Jonathan for Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands by beginning the task of reconstructing Nigeria on a solid and unshakable foundation.

Among other things, the union said “Nigeria is a nation-state built on a false and pretentious foundation with the primary aim of serving colonial and neo-colonial interests and not the interests of the people at the time of the forced amalgamation in 1914 of the erstwhile Southern and Northern protectorates by the British overseer, Lord Frederick Lugard.

The union said it frowned at the “extreme marginalisation of the Isoko people in the hands of successive federal governments, military or civilian. Although a major oil and gas producing community that takes pre-eminence only after Oloibiri as the site where oil was discovered for the second time (Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area), the treatment of the Isokos is inversely proportional to their massive contribution to the nation’s purse.

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“That although Isokos are the third most populous ethnic nationality in Delta State and the largest of the three ‘I’s (Ijaw, Itsekhiri and Isoko), they alone still have only two local governments when they should have three.

“That there is a shocking absence of federal presence other than post offices in Isokoland. Since the return to democracy in 1999, no Isoko son or daughter has been appointed minister, ambassador, head or chairman of a major parastatal. So total is the contemptuous treatment of the Isoko people that none has been found worthy of heading or holding high office in the ministry and agency set up specifically to address the marginalisation of the Niger Delta—the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) including its predecessor the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC)”.

Other areas the Isokos feel deeply aggrieved and which they intend to seek justice at the National Conference include the exclusion of Isoko youths from the amnesty and skills development programme of the Federal Government aimed at stemming militancy among the youths of the Niger Delta, a return to fiscal federalism, which it said “remains the most conducive ideological framework of government for a multiethnic society of plural languages, cultures and religious beliefs but Nigeria is a federation in name only”.

It further said Nigeria’s current structure of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is unviable and that the federating states would only be obligated to pay an agreed proportion of the aggregate revenues, but “never to be more than 50%, derived therefrom to the central government.

“A return to the parliamentary system of government for its many advantages, as the presidential system is “prohibitively expensive and illaffordable to poor countries, corrupts the electoral process through the undue advantage it gives to rich candidates and special interests; concentrates power and promotes the noxious idea of winner-takes-all and do-or-die politics”.

Omu Other areas the union said it would demand restructuring include having Local Government Autonomy, state police, reducing the size and cost of government, excising the corruption-promoting immunity clause from the new Constitution and incorporating “the recommendations of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Panel in a new constitution to guarantee ACTUAL independence for INEC”.

THE GUARDIAN

Sunday, March 16, 2014 | 21

www.ngrguardiannews.com

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AMUCHEAZI: Why Ndigbo Take The Confab Seriously

ical or economic gains. The paramount interest is the projection and protection of Igbo interest.

Some people feel worried that the influence of the leaders of thought might affect their political and economic interests. This is unfortunate because it doesn’t have to be that way if they are sincere about what they are doing. They can collect their money, do anything without adversely affecting the Igbo interest. This has always been the problem in Ohanaeze. Some see it from a political angle and others see it from an economic angle. In those days, I Pioneer Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) remember how these politicians will storm our meetings with donations of plastic chairs and tables and then disappear. They go and Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the away and claim to be chieftains of Ohanaeze, because they relish a Anambra State University, Professor Elo Amucheazi told KODILINYE kind of moral clout they reckon it accords them.

OBIAGWU that the success of the National Conference could confer The question is, how many Igbo elite, how many of those in the grassroots really understand Ohanaeze? We have tried to see really on President Goodluck Jonathan the historic honour of Father of whether Ohanaeze will be a grassroots organization. In fact, if the Modern Nigeria. Amucheazi, a professor of political science and the last constitution, which I was the chairman of, were implemented, Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, also spoke about the readiness we would have gone far. This is supposed to be the constitution they are operating, but they kept it aside. of Ndigbo for the national conference. According to him, the South Over the past few years we have been having problems in East zone, like other ethnic nationalities is expecting the emergence of Ohanaeze. At a time, I think it was when Obasanjo was president, a new Nigeria from the conference. Excerpts: some members of Ohanaeze wanted to perpetuate themselves in power. We saw the end of it. Another one came and unfortunately, HAT are the highlights in the preparation of Ndigbo for they made a lot of money talking about Ohanaeze Foundation. the National Conference?

They had problems, questions were raised about bank accounts in Nominations are going on as we work towards getting foreign and local currencies. Actually, one is not bothered about the names of delegates ready. We are imploring highly placed these things but Igbo interest should not sacrificed on the altar of people to attend; many don’t want to for personal reasons, but any other pursuit. I just pray that Ohanaeze will rise again, but I we are pleading. It’s part of the challenge for us to convince can only see it sliding further down because many people are no them to attend the conference. Various Igbo organizations have longer taking keen interest in its affairs. been preparing papers and the position paper would be comEssentially, Ohanaeze and the Leaders of Thought have disagreed pleted and presented soon. on some points. For example, there is no agreement on the diaHow are the delegates been picked across the spectrum of logue being an ethnic nationalities conference or a delegates conNdigbo beyond the method outlined by the government? ference...

There are consultations and input at different levels and I am When issues are being raised, some people who don’t understand certain that something is being worked out behind the scenes the issues just jump into them. The Professor Ben Nwabueze led to ensure that those who will emerge would have got the nod Patriots were the people who persuaded the President on this confrom a wider group of people. The same selection process is ference and Nwabueze has been talking about ethnic nationaligoing on at the zonal level where delegates will emerge from ties. Right now we are talking about Ndigbo, Ndi Yoruba, Ndi particular groups like retired service men, etc.

Arewa and their position. The basic point is for the ethnic nationalpaper for Ndigbo. We are not vying with any person on that There have been speculations of a conflict between the ities who were bundled into a nation to come together and reneresponsibility.

We just want to make sure that Ndigbo attend the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organization of gotiate their mode of existence. I believe the conference will turn conference well informed and in a position to defend our Ndigbo and other groups like the Igbo Leaders of Thought out to be that. And if it does, what else do we want. I will be surdemands and expectations from the conference. People ought to prised if it doesn’t. regarding who has the final say in the presentation of the Igbo position and the selection of the delegates. Are you aware of this accept that in any society, especially an egalitarian society like The zonal representatives we are talking about will eventually ours, leaders of thought is almost a permanent feature. It was the end up as the ethnic nationalities. What I see is that the scope of conflict? leaders of thought who guided the administration of the late M. I. I very much wish that the Ohanaeze, as the apex socio cultural delegates and the modalities recognizes the ethnic nationalities Okpara, which we all look back to with nostalgia. Again it was the but has included other interests. Ultimately, they will come round body, is in a position to be the clearing house for this national leaders of thought that guided the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu durconference for the South East, but Ohanaeze as it is now, has a and agree on a position. Even among us Ndigbo where it looks as if lot of problems, just like many other public organizations. I am ing the Civil War. So, when we have some burning issues, invariwe have a division, in the end, everything will be harmonized. ably such a group of leaders emerges.

This is what gave rise to the sure they are going to nominate some people and other organiEvery person wants this country to remain united; we fought a present group of leaders of thought. zations are going to nominate some people too. civil war because we want the country to be one. Every ethnic The leaders of thought is a group of eminent personalities. It has group is coming with a position. The Yoruba have said they want a Is what the Leaders of Thought doing now, by acting as the clearing house, not at variance with what Ohanaeze is supposed experienced and reputable politicians, retired top civil servants, confederation, Ndigbo, like the South South have said that they retired clerics, distinguished professionals as members. Apart to be doing or is there an arrangement on that? want true Federalism. The North Central also talks about true fedfrom a few intellectuals, I don’t think anyone of them is below the eralism. So, already there is a meeting point. People don’t want a We have other groups too like the South East Elders Forum age of 70 years. We are not hustlers and the interest is not for polit- unitary system of government and I believe we will work it out. headed by Chief I.D. Nwoga. Our main position is to produce a

W

Minority Rights Still Elusive, Says Emiko Prince Yemi Emiko, son of the immediate past Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Erejuwa II, who reigned from 1951 to 1986, and younger brother to the present Olu, Atuwatse II, CON, told CHIDO OKAFOR that minority rights are still not guaranteed under a constitutional framework in Nigeria.

HAT is the position of the Itsekiri people on W the national conference?

The Itsekiri, like most other Nigerians, believe that it is time we got together to discuss issues bordering on the very fabric that weaves us together as a country. For the Itsekiri, our focus is on minority rights, and how these are not only guaranteed under a constitutional framework, but also protected through practical steps outlined to ensure adherence, especially, when you consider the current culture of impunity and dog-eat-dog that has almost brought Nigeria to its knees. The Itsekiri believe this conference is overdue. They want a conference that guarantees equal rights to all peoples and ethnic groups, without recourse to language, size, muscle or geographical location.

Do you share the view that the conference is another jamboree?

It is obvious that this may yet turn out to be another fruitless jamboree, a kind of movement without motion. How much really can the conference achieve in three months? I ask this against the backdrop of previous conferences, where delegates were even elected, and sat for one whole year with no restriction. If we do a descriptive analysis or even an analytical description of what transpired then, you find that the prognosis are very ominous for this coming one. Even the mode of selecting people for this Conference portends straight journey to a predetermined route: failure. How can the PDP alone handpick over 150 of its members and sympathisers as delegates out of 492? How do you justify a situation, where the presidency points and picks 25 per cent of this total number? How do you reconcile the fact that most of the other delegates are friends and surrogates

of the state governors, who have been chosen on the basis of loyalty? In planning this conference, the president has failed to follow the ‘’yellow brick road’’ and has substantially deviated from known democratic norms that have shaped most successful democracies across the world.

Is the Itsekiri well represented?

Did I hear you say number of persons representing the Itsekiri? Well, the number is zero! The Itsekiris, as at the time we are doing this interview, have no single delegate nominated in any of the categories for this conference. None as elder statesman, none on the presidential list, none on the South South list, none on the Delta State government list, none anywhere. And governor Uduaghan calls himself and Itsekiri man? The Ijaws led a resistance against the state in the times past, and fought their way to the presidency, which by the way, we thought was a good thing for all of us, given the fact that we all live together in the mudflats of the Niger Delta.

Now, we look at them with green envy, as they seem to be taking everything of choice and leaving us with the crumbs.

Comparatively, James Ibori helped an Itsekiri to become governor of Delta State.

But the man got into office, and painfully, turned his back on the people, choosing instead to enjoy his new found status with his family and in-laws. Now, he is telling us that the omission of an Itsekiri delegate was a mistake. How sad. In political behaviour and analysis, the present government in Delta State would fall under the configuration of LAHE — Low Activity High Enjoyment.

What are the demands of the Iteskiri people?

The Itsekiris are a very simple and cultured people. They thrive better under the rule of law, where everyone understands and plays by the rules. That is the first issue the Itsekiris have with Nigeria. A situation where, like in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, all animals came together and agreed that they are all equal, no animal must drink milk, and others, and then the pigs turned around to break all the agreed rules, saying they were the ones thinking for the group,

cannot be acceptable to the Itsekiris.

Every inch of land in the Warri area, for instance, has been litigated up to the Privy Council in London before independence, and up to the Supreme Court in Nigeria, with judgment given. Yet, some persons will come out to say they do not accept those judgments, and then carry arms to chase everybody out. This takes us back straight into the Hobbesian world, where there is no law, no rules of engagement and everyone is a tin god unto himself. Thomas Hobbes was clear in his mind how such society will end: ‘’short, nasty and brutish.’’ Nigeria must, therefore, return, as a matter of non-negotiability, to a society regulated by the rule of law, where no one is oppressed, but protected by the law.

Relatedly, the issue of fiscal federalism will be a critical success factor. I do not know how much longer the Itsekiri will take this matter of marginalisation. Though this word has been overused to almost meaninglessness, the fact must not be lost on Nigerians that the Itsekiri is at the heart of crude oil exploration and production in Nigeria. Yet they have nothing to show for it. Nigeria must, therefore, address this issue of crude oil lifting, without a deliberate policy to give back in equal measure. The NNDC and, especially DESOPADEC have woefully failed our people.

Do you agree with the reckoning that Nigeria may break up in 2015?

The faults have been there from the creation of Nigeria. Even some of the founding fathers, who initially had serious reservation about what was said to be a mere geographical expression, later spent the better part of their lives defending and fighting for one strong egalitarian Nigeria. We that are here now can choose to carry on from where they stopped, or can indeed reduce Nigeria to a Las Vegas game of roulette, where at the spin of the gambling table, you either win or mostly lose.

I believe in Nigeria. We do not want Nigeria to break up. We must say this like we mean it, and work assiduously to build a country where truth, justice, peace, fairness and equity are the hallmarks of our operational tenets. The cracks I see are those of inept corruption, impunity,

tribalism, favouritism, sexism, mediocrity and crass nepotism. It is an on going battle by the political class for the sharing of our commonwealth, and the misapplication or even misappropriation of our resources.

Do you honestly still want Nigeria to remain one or break?

No, Nigeria should not break up. I will love to see a one strong and united Nigeria.

What do you think are the problems with Nigeria?

I have already talked about some of the challenges we face as a country. Most of these are man made. They are self-imposed problems. A plebeian, who could hardly afford three square meals, is suddenly rigged into office, or is appointed a minister or something. He at once forgets his roots, and focuses his attention on amassing wealth in a very sickening way. We need to research into the correlation between adolescent and growth, between poverty and winning the jackpot in a lotto, between service and blind pursuit of wealth, and between the right thing to do and doing the right thing.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

22 Sunday, March 16, 2014

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Restore Fiscal Federalism Now, Darah Urges Govt Prof. Godini G. Darah is a delegate from Delta State to the National Conference. He is former Chief of Staff, Delta State Government and Director-General of the PDP Campaign Organisation in the state (2010-2011). Darah was Editorial Board Chairman of Daily Times and The Guardian newspapers. A radical scholar of folklore science and literature, he is a leading authority on Urhobo culture and artistic civilisation. He is a former member of UNESCO Committee on Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage. He spoke with CHIDO OKAFOR on several issues bordering on the national conference. is the position of the Urhobo people on WTheHAT the National Conference?

Urhobo people welcome the National Conference, but they are disappointed that they are allotted only a single representative. The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has vehemently protested against the injustice and demanded more slots. The Urhobo nation is one of the three most populous ethnic groups in the South-South geo-political zone of the country. On the basis of this alone, the Urhobo are entitled to be represented under the category of socio-cultural organisations, which supplied 15 names. It is a gross and provocative disregard for Urhobo sovereign integrity that none of the 15 persons nominated under this category is Urhobo. Besides, the Urhobo have many eminent statesmen/women, professionals, and technocrats, who have made excellent contribution to nation-building. The neglect of the Urhobo in these categories of nomination is even more notorious because the Urhobo Progress Union founded over 82 years ago (1931) is the oldest surviving ethno-national organisation in Nigeria. It is incomprehensible that the list of socio-cultural groups in the six South-South states excludes the UPU. The Federal Government should rectify the error and appoint more Urhobo persons to the Conference.

Notwithstanding the disappointment, the Urhobo have a positive attitude to the conference.

This was expressed in the memo the UPU presented to the Senator Femi Okurounmu Presidential Advisory Committee at its consultative session in Benin City on October 28, 2013. In that memo, the UPU described the confab as an “opportunity for the diverse peoples and nations of Nigeria to exchange ideas and proposals on how to strengthen the unity and solidarity of the country for a just and equitable system of government”. In that brief memo, the UPU observed that the Urhobo are always cheated in terms of appointments and representation at the Federal and state

levels of government in Nigeria. They decried the small number of local councils (eight) for a population of over two million. We are denied the inalienable right of accurate census enumeration and electoral constituencies commensurate with the size of our population. The memo added that although the Urhobo large population and economic resources merit it, the Urhobo has neither state of their own nor a state capital located in their territory.

Critics say the confab is another jamboree, where nothing progressively dramatic will occur Those who think the confab is a jamboree are free to hold their cynical view. However, the genuine stakeholders and those who are victims of the structural inequities are determined to make the best of the opportunity.

The Urhobo will take advantage of the conference to campaign for their sovereign rights to their lands and natural resources, which are currently alienated from them through cruel and obnoxious laws and policies.

Many ethnic groups are not happy with the number of person(s) representing them at the confab, is the Urhobo well represented?

I have already described the Urhobo feeling of betrayal in this respect. As in everything political, the Urhobo, through the UPU, are engaging the Federal Government for more equitable representation. We expect the government to review the situation in favour of groups that are unjustly marginalised. In Delta State, for example, the Itsekiri ethnic group has been vociferous in its advocacy for a slot. Considering the reasons they have given, the government cannot ignore to rectify the error. Also in Delta State, the Ukwuani and Ika groups are not directly represented either.

The situation in multi-ethnic clusters such as Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Kaduna, Plateau, and Cross River and Rivers states may even be more complicated. The government can bring in about 50 more persons to assuage these genuine complaints that may divert attention from the business of the confab.

What are the demands of the Urhobo? Do you think they are marginalised in the present scheme of things in the nation?

The core demand of the Urhobo is the restoration of fiscal federalism so that each federating unit shall exercise 100 per cent right of ownership and management of its natural and economic resources. The federating units will subscribe to the payment of an agreed percentage of its wealth to maintain essential national institutions such as the armed forces, foreign affairs and immigration. This was the system Nigeria operated from the 1950s to the time of military rule in 1966. The four regions

in the country had enhanced autonomy in economic and political matters. They even had their separate constitutions and foreign missions. This arrangement facilitated healthy competition and rapid socio-economic development in all parts of the country. To dispossess the Niger Delta of its oil wealth, past regimes enacted oppressive laws such as the Petroleum Decree 51 of 1969, which empowered the then Federal military government to take over all revenue from oil and gas.

This law of economic apartheid is now entrenched in Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Urhobo people and their neighbours in the South-South zone are major casualties of this local colonialism. We are determined to end this exploitation, which has gone on for 45 years. At the confab, the Urhobo will seek the alliance of other victim states to achieve this objective. The Urhobo also demand the abrogation of the land Use Act to free this vital resource for development and enhance the authority and relevance of traditional institutions and rulers.

The Urhobo are entitled to have their own state; they will demand the review of Section 8 of the Constitution on state creation to remove the condition that the result of a referendum for the purpose must be “approved by a majority of all the States of the Federation”. This impossible condition has to be

expunged from the Constitution for the creation of new states and local councils throughout the country.

Urhobo land hosts enormous oil and natural gas reserves. The purest, premium oil in the world is being produced in the Kokori and Orogun oil fields of Urhobo.

About 25 per cent of electricity generated in Nigeria daily is fired by gas from Urhobo.

The oil industry has damaged the environment of the Urhobo nation. For instance, the pipeline fire disaster at Idjerhe (Jesse) in 1998 killed over 1000 people; the health hazards are still present. The Urhobo will use the platform of the confab to demand adequate compensation and reparation for the 50 years of oil-induced holocausts.

Encouraging precedents have been set in the cases of Ogoni in Rivers State and Odi community in Bayelsa State. We shall seek the assistance of the United Nations to pursue this goal.

Do you see cracks on the wall that may break Nigeria in 2015?

The rumour about the break-up of Nigeria in 2015 was attributed to some voodoo prophets of doom from the United States of America. This is a typical prediction of imperialist nations against countries they want to put down. Nigeria has just marked its 100 years of existence. It has bright prospects for survival. The natural resources in Nigeria are more substantial than those found in all the South East Asian countries. With over 160 million people in a tropical, warm climate, Nigeria is destined to be to Africa, what the United States is to the Americas and Western Europe.

Some power blocs in the world are uncomfortable with these credentials. There is, therefore, an imperative need to restructure Nigeria in an equitable and democratic manner so that it can fulfil its manifest destiny for its peoples, Africa, and the African in Diaspora.

What do you think are the problems with Nigeria?

I have indicated the fundamental ones in the answer to question four. The primary ones concern the unworkable unitary system of government that strangulates development initiatives of the federating units and entrepreneurs. For the multiple ethnic and socio-cultural composition of the country, our nationalists opted for a federal system at independence in 1960.

The liquidation of that arrangement is the prime cause of the instability and economic underdevelopment facing the country.

We must return to that federal system to enable us harness all the potentials for growth and development.

IJAW: We Must Agree On Equity And Justice with the country. After the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914, it has not been a sweet story. That is why this year, when the nation clocked 100 years, and having come this far, and with things not going well, the need for us to sit down and talk became necessary so that we can agree on certain things as constituents of the nation and to HE Ijaws are happy that the Federal conference. Nigerians need to sit guide ourselves. The issues of equity, Government, under the leadership down and talk because all is not well justice, unity, peace and others need of Goodluck Jonathan, is organising a to be discussed so that each and every ethinic nationality will be able to respect one another, live together, work and grow together and benefit from one another on a mutual basis.

So, we are happy the conference is holding, and the inauguration is coming up tomorrow.

I don’t share the view that this conference is another jamboree. The truth of the matter is that each time the constituent units of the nation are called to talk, we should not think that we’d achieve everything in one day. We should free our minds in going to talk, not to conclude before hand that something good or bad will emerge. If we pre-empt what will happen in the conference, people will go there and won’t succeed, but when we free our minds, and go there to talk, we’ll achieve something. I don’t see this conference toeing the line of pre-

The Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation, Warri, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, in this interview with CHIDO OKAFOR, says Nigeria is passing through terrible times. So, the constituent units must come together to talk and agree on equity, justice, unity and peace in the country.

• Ijaws’ position on the National Conference

T

Bebenimibo

vious ones. There is the need for us to talk and in the process of talking we’ll achieve something.

On Delegates The Ijaws are not well represented in the National Conference because the names of delegates submitted to the Secretary to the Federal Government (SSG) were basically on merit, while the others were from different criteria evolved such as professional bodies.

Ideally, in Delta State, the Ijaws were supposed to represent Delta South Federal Constituency, but today, this is not the case. The constituency is made up of three ethnic nationalities – Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko. The Ijaw is majority in Delta South, so, if you use that formula to select delegates, for instance, it means that they would have been selected to represent the Senatorial district, but they were not.

The Ijaws that are in the conference are either elder statesmen or were selected from the judiciary and others. And that is not Delta State’s slot.

That, in a nutshell, means we are not fairly represented. In Ondo State, where you have many Ijaw people, no one is representing the state, same thing in Edo State. So, the Ijaw is not fairly represented.

What can be done to address the delegates’ shortfall?

My advice to the Federal Government is to look beyond state

nomination because the number allocated to each of the state is not enough. Government should give more slots to the states so that each can be well represented. If more slots are given to the states, it means that more ethnic nationalities would be represented because the country is a multi ethnic nation. Like the Itsekiri should be able to get one or two slots if the state’s list is expanded. I’m aware that the selection to the conference is not based on ethnic nationality, but be that as it may, Nigeria, being a multi ethnic society, ethnic sentiments will still surface at the conference.

Ijaws’ demands at conference Paramount amongst the demands the Ijaw will make at the conference is fiscal federalism, where each and every Nigerian will enjoy what he or she sows. In the country today, people are partaking in the sharing of what they don’t own. The central government should be made less powerful, while the federating units are made to pay tax to the Federal Government based on what they produce. This way, the states can develop on their own according to their wealth or resources. We are also asking for adequate representation. Economic power begets political power. As bearers of the oil resources concentrated in the country, we should be able to play major roles in running the country.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

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COVER Nkem Onyekpe is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Lagos. In this chat with GBENGA SALAU, he gave a historical perspective to Nigeria’s amalgamation, juxtaposing it with ongoing efforts to hold a national conference.

‘Conference Must Resolve Problems Of Resource Control, True Federalism’

Nigerians have argued that a document StionOME brought us together, necessitating renegotiaof our existence after a hundred years. As a

alists to bring Nigeria together to solve the problems I mentioned earlier.

So, the principles that brought us together were that of… (Cuts in) It was to promote the interest of the British, not the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. This is why, even though Nigeria was territorially amalgamated, the people were not integrated. That is why we are having serious problems. The British did not conquer Nigeria because they wanted to build a nation out of Nigeria. As I have argued, the British actually brought Nigeria together not for integration but for exploitative interest, because beyond amalgamation, they did nothing. Instead, they embarked on the policy of

historian, was there any such document?

I DON’T know of any document or documentation to that effect, but the colonial administrator, for reasons of political expedience, economy, and wanting to form a federation of the different territories that were formally administered separately, decided to amalgamate the areas in 1914.

So, the amalgamation was politically convenient for the British. If you are talking of a document, perhaps you should talk of a precedent, because in the 1890s, we had the Niger protectorate, which was the coming together of protectorates of the British. In 1906, the Colony of Lagos and Southern Nigeria came together. Therefore, amalgamation started before 1914, which was the ultimate. In 1914 when Nigeria was amalgamated as a political entity, the British government was giving grant to the administration of Northern Nigeria, almost three hundred thousand pounds annually to deal with its budget deficit. The South did not depend on the British because of the revenue from import and export trade and custom duties. The South has seaports among other revenue generating assets. As a result, much money was being earned, which enabled the South to solve its problems as a selfsupporting colony, but the North was unable to do that. The British instead were paying some money into the treasury of Northern Nigeria. It was felt that if the two areas were brought together, the British would be relived of that responsibility of giving grants and subsidising the administration of the North. And when that amalgamation was achieved, the British became free of that.

Again, there were boundary disputes between the North and the South; it was also felt that once the two areas were brought together, the dispute would be a thing of the past because the two areas would become an entity. They also wanted to have common policy on railway, education and so on. These were the factors that decided the amalgamation, not only in Nigeria, but also in Central Africa Republic, the British amalgamated Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia; but the nature of their independence struggle was such that they achieved independence as separate entities, unlike Nigeria that did not achieve independence as separate entities.

We ought to have had Southern Nigeria, Eastern and Western Nigeria like in the case of Central Africa Republic.

Though at a recent conference, it was pointed out that some elites in Southern Nigeria, about four of them, recommended amalgamation and they were very supportive of the British but one needs to go into the records to confirm that. But for now, I do not know of any documentation.

The documentations were simply imperial will and interest. It was in the interest of the imperi-

Onyekpe

divide and rule, so that the people brought together would not be able to present a common front against imperialist exploitation.

Amalgamation is not the same thing as integration. Nigeria became amalgamated but not integrated. Mechanisms were deliberately created to ensure that the people did not act as an entity.

This is because acting as an entity would have made it difficult for the British to achieve the primary role of penetrating Nigeria, which is exploitation.

Is there any historical precedence that after a hundred years subgroups that came together to form a nation renegotiated their existence?

The United Nations talks about self-determina-

tion. Nations are free to negotiate. It has happened. If we do not do that peacefully, we will do it violently. Even in the Bible, look at the division of the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel. People have the right to self-determination. Bringing people together to form a plural society, if you do not manage pluralism to the advantage of all, they will perceive injustice against them and make legitimate demands and protest, expecting the central authority to address issues of injustice and lack of fair play.

And it is at the conference tables that these issues are resolved. It is when these issues are not resolved that those who are marginalised begin to think of going their separate ways. The United Nations makes provision for self-determination.

Looking at how we came together; it was not a freewill decision from the people… (Cuts in) It was colonial imposition and now the colonial rule has gone; the rules and amalgamation must be reviewed and visited. The Igala people, Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani were not consulted.

Just like Africa was partitioned at the Berlin Conference without consulting the people, so also the different ethnic nationalities, over 400 of them, were brought together in the name of amalgamation. At independence, one would have thought that some of these issues would be revisited. No doubt, amalgamation made us a very large state; we have a lot to gain as the largest black nation. These are basic advantages but we have not managed them. It is in our interest to remain together because the influence a nation commands in world affairs is partly dependent on its population and market size.

When you come together and there is no equity, no justice, no fair play, you are bound to have contradictions and cleavages.

The essence of the national conference is to resolve this and I give kudos to President Jonathan for getting the people to talk. During the First Republic, it was Azikiwe who reportedly said, ‘let us forget our differences’, but one of the Northern leaders said, ‘we must understand our differences, because if we do not understand our differences, we would not be able to tolerate one another’. This is the whole essence of this conference. So, my prayer is that the conference will be successful and the outcome would be subjected to popular referendum and it will guide transition from the present dispensation to the next.

A national conference is starting this week, which coincidentally is within the year we are celebrating our centenary. What should form the topical issues at the dialogue?

Peaceful dialogue, people should be talking of the structure of power; nature of inter-governmental relations; system of government, parliamentary or presidential; control of resources and allocation. Some Northern elders met and one of them said there is nothing like oil producing states because Northern Nigeria has 72 per

cent of the land mass, so the territorial waters of Nigeria belong to the North, as the size of the territorial water is a function of the landmass. These are things that cannot be pursued. If you pursue this, it means you do not want peace. The people in the oil producing areas are suffering pollution but the North is not suffering that. The pollution and degradation of the environment, destruction of the ecosystem are things that the Southern states are grappling with. This is not the case with the North. The bulk of resources from the South go to the North besides advancing the interest of non-oil producing areas.

Therefore, you cannot say the oil of the South belongs to the North just because you do not want to give justice to the people. If you pursue that, the Niger Delta people can decide to be a country. If you go to the Caribbean Island, there are countries that have just five hundred thousand people. How many people are in Swaziland for example? Some countries do not have up to one million people? If the North begins to pursue that argument, a pseudo-federalist one, that the oil of the South belongs to them, the South can decide to go their own way. Then you ask yourself, ‘who owns the territorial waters’? The North is landlocked; people are saying that let us exploit the resources within our region as in the First Republic. In the First Republic, 50 per cent of the resources produced in the North were retained in the North; the same for other regions. Fifty percent went to the federal government; out of that, the federal government retained only 15 percent for common services like defense, internal affairs and so on. The remaining 35 per cent was re-distributed among the four regions.

It made the regional government very competitive, which made them exploit their resources, since they knew that the bulk of it would remain with them. So, they get enough resources to fund education, transport, health and industrialisation projects. Up till the Civil War in 1966, because the resources of the West and East were largely retained within them, they were devoting over 40 per cent of their annual budget to education.

Today, UNESCO recommends 26 per cent; the federal government spending on education is fluctuating between six and 11 per cent. When the resources are retained in the region, they will have enough to solve their problems and pay certain percentage to the centre for common services. Resource control and true federalism should be among the basic things that ought to be resolved, so that once regions retain their resources, many of the responsibilities of the centre are transferred to the regions. The federal government has given itself a lot of responsibility. It is not performing well in agriculture, education, housing. This should be the business of local, state or regional governments. The government at the centre is so rich, powerful, controlling all the resources; which is why the struggle for the control of the centre is very ferocious.

National Conference Is Dead On Arrival – CNPP From Adamu Abuh, Abuja HE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has dismissed the national conference packaged by the Jonathan-led administration as diversionary and intended to satisfy the President’s selfish desires.

National secretary of the group, chief Osita Okechukwu, warned that it behooves well meaning Nigerians to avert a situation where the confab could subvert the 2015 general elections.

Speaking to The Guardian in Abuja, he said: “Whereas it will be commended for the welfare and rehabilitation of delegates, however, the conference is dead on arrival.

Okechukwu, who is a chieftain of the opposition All Progressive Congress, compared the confab to a jamboree that has come handy to Jonathan to cater for his cronies at the expense of the citizenry.

“The conference is dead on arrival in the sense that the timing is suspect and the covert objective is diversionary. The timing is wrong, coming less than 12 months to crucial general elections.

“The 2015 general election is crucial, for it is coming when Nigeria has attained the zenith of successful liberal democracy. The other elections after

T

• Says Forum Is Talk Shop, Jamboree the 1999 general elections were held under one party dictatorship, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a field day. This was when the PDP was dreaming of ruling Nigeria for 100 uninterrupted years, with or without performance.

“One makes it bold to proclaim that this is the only general election that is coming since 1999, when the core ingredient of liberal democracy is in place. The core ingredient of liberal democracy is when two political parties dominate the multi-party system.”

Continuing, he said: “It is a scenario where none of the parties can win the presidential election with more than 53 per cent of the votes, and where none of the two political parties will neither win 2/3 of the governors nor seats in the National Assembly.

“This is a time when most countries of the world vote with their feet to determine the direction they want their governments to go. Regime change is effected under the circumstance we find ourselves today.

“Methinks the efforts of all patriots at the moment, led by the president, could have been to allow the people to assimilate the major difference between the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on one hand

and the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the other.

“May I hazard a guess that not many Nigerians are aware that while the PDP anchors its economic policy heavily on market forces, the APC anchors its economic policy heavily on a public sectorled economy. The months ahead could have been devoted to thrashing out the main difference between the PDP’s maxim that government has no business in business with the APC’s thrust that the public sector will lead the economy.

“Further, a lot of Nigerians are not aware of the tenacity with which the APC wants to wage strident war against corruption, many are thinking that APC’s quest for power is just to continue the looting going on in the land. The collapse of communism made many to assume that there is no difference between one political party and the other, while this is not the actual position.

“In the case of Nigeria, this slim different was exposed in the Third Republic when General Ibrahim Babaginda’s regime made distinction between the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Nigeria Republican Convention (NRC) – a little to the right and a little to the left.

“This slim distinction of a little to the left and a little to the right is suitable in the case of PDP and APC, as the former, in the balance between market forces and public sector, relies heavily on market forces-led economy, while the later in the balance relies heavily on public sector-led economy. In short, PDP is conservative and the APC is progressive.

“This is the critical economic manifesto and programme debate that could have consumed the attention of the electorate as we head towards the 2015 general election. The conference will most likely blur and subvert the economic manifesto debate because the debate on managing the economy will be overtaken by ethnicity and religion.

“When ethnic merchants and religious jingoists dominate the debate, naturally scapegoats will be created. Ironically, the ethnic merchants and religious jingoists will jettison the truism that a person from another tribe has governed no state since 1999, yet corruption has triumphed.

“The conference in other words intends to harvest the sentiments and emotions of Nigerians not the substance. Some have even argued that if care is not taken the Jonathan conference may even subvert the 2015 general elections. God forbid.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no pundit

has correctly submitted or explained which item or issue the outcome of the conference will generate that will be different from that of the Joint Committee of the National Assembly.

“We are aware that the Joint Committee of the National Assembly conducted public hearings across the country, before the Conference Committee did. One may ask what is left in the herbalist’s bag that the priest will unveil.

“The jigsaw puzzle may be traced to President Jonathan’s lack of political will to either subject the outcome of the conference to a referendum or allow the delegates to debate the sovereignty of the country.

“In fact, it is going to be a jamboree unwittingly packaged to further sensationalise, atomise and remind Nigerians that we do not have same parentage, as if there are many nation states in the face of the earth that are of same parentage.

“It could be said that 95 per cent of the citizens of the nation states enrolled in the United Nations are not of the same tribe or the same nationality; therefore most nation states are mere geographical expression, according to late Italian envoy Metternich and late chief Obafemi Awolowo. One stands to be corrected.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

24 Sunday, March 16, 2014

COVER

Confab May Raise More Questions, Less Answers

By Kamal Tayo Oropo HE Ijaw National Congress (INC) recently came up with what it called the Ijaw Agenda For The National Conference. The group might not be out of sync with what will likely be the Achilles heels of the conference; conference – more questions than answers.

According to the document, the Ijaw want the country structured along ethnically defined regions. The northern part of the country would be restructured into the North-West Region (Hausa/Fulani), UpperNorth Region (Kanuri/Shuwa/Arab), NorthCentral (Busa/Kambari/Nupe), North-East (Margi/Chamba/Daka/Bata) and the MiddleBelt (Junkun/Tiv/Idoma/Igala).

The south would be restructured into a Western Region, comprising the Yoruba; the Mid-West, comprising Edo; Niger Delta Region would be home to the Ijaw, while the Igbo would domicile in the Eastern Region.

Efik/Ibibio would form the COR Region.

The INC also proposed what appears a loose federal arrangement where the regions retain every legislative power, while conceding exclusively to the central government areas such as Defence; Foreign Affairs; Immigration, Citizenship, Naturalisation and Alien issues; and Aviation Policy and Regulations. Nuclear Energy Policy and Management as well as Central Banking and Currency Management, Coinage and Legal Tender, Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes. Curiously, the document is silent on the issue of resource control, land use acts and the confusion an ethnically defined regional structure might bring.

A referendum might be needed for the fiercely autonomous and unique ethnic groups to decide which federating unit (region) they wish to belong.

While the Southwest could be roughly wedged into a Yoruba-speaking region with relatively clearly defined and contiguous geographical boundaries, the same cannot be said of, for example, the Edo and Ijaw, the Hausa (or the Fulani).

For example, there are significant numbers of Edo speaking people in both Rivers and Bayelsa states. Rivers has a significant Igbo population, many of who, for various historical reasons, may not want to join the Eastern Region. “This complex linguistic map could throw up issues when attempt is made to use ethnic groups as basis for carving out federating units from the present South south,” said an analyst.

Again, how should the Niger Delta be termed Ijaw, seeing that Ikwerri, Ogoni, Ndoni, Etche, Urhobo and others are significant stakeholders?

This is the character of the entity called Nigeria; a factor that could shape discussions in post-conference Nigeria.

Many from the Southwest, advocate a state police. But speaking with The Guardian when the debate came up during last year’s National Assembly-sponsored dialogue and constitution amendment, former police chief, Mr. Tunji Alapini, dismissed the idea. He contended that the country is not immature to take such step.

Indeed, there are as many discordant tunes as there are numbers of issues raised. While the Igbo are most likely to press for a confederation, the Yoruba, generally speaking, will not want to settle for anything short of regional autonomy.

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OR years now, the Yoruba in the Southwest Fgically geo-political zone have been inept at strateadvancing Yoruba interests, but like their Ijaw cousins, it appears the Yoruba might be over-reaching themselves this time around.

For example, the Yoruba are not only requesting a six-region structure with their counterparts in Kogi, Kwara, Delta and Edo States, they have also argued that each region should have equal representation in the new National Assembly. This amounts to trading away for nothing, even before the conference, one the Yoruba’s core advantages.

Presently, the Yoruba account for 83 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives in the National Assembly. This, according to analysts, is not “taking into account some level of under representation of the Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi States when compared to their relative population.” This gives the Yoruba close to 24 per cent representation in the House of Representatives. The Yoruba also account for about 21 of the 109 senators in the Upper Chamber (the Senate), which gives the Yoruba a 20 per cent influential voice in the

senate.

Logical reasoning would suggest that in the event of a six-region structure, membership to the National Assembly would take into account the present representation of each part of the country that consists respective regions. So, if the current eight states of Yoruba, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara and Kogi, have 83 members in the House of Representatives, the new region that includes these areas should account for the same percentage in the new National Assembly.

Noting that the issue of the Yoruba has never been in structure, but in inability to negotiate and leverage current institutional advantage to advantage, Dele Awogbeoba, in his commentary, said: “That means the Yoruba must recognize

1970 when the Civil War ended.

HE Igbo agenda for the conference is not difT ferent from what the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, presented to the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led President Advisory Committee (PAC) on National Conference when it visited the Southeast on October 27 and 29.

It would have been tidier if Igbo request had been limited to the structure of government, fiscal federalism, devolution of power, resource control, citizenship right and security of life and property. But a request for “reparation over the continuous killing of our people and destruction of their property,” as declared recently by Ohanaeze’s Secretary General, Dr Joe Nwaorgu, would surely raise more questions than answers.

position to send our best and experienced people to the conference and this will include those who will be able to defend and discuss the issues without fear or favour but will not tamper with the unity and development of the country,” the governor said.

The adopted points to be presented at the conference include fiscal federalism, structure of government, state police, labour matters with regards to wages and salaries, with emphasis on whether salaries should be uniform or based on the financial capability of each state, electricity as a major weapon of economic growth, especially on whether states should be allowed to generate power independently.

Other points include tenure of president and governors, devolution of power, traditional institutions, immunity clause for governors

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (vice chairman of the conference) and Justice Idris Kutigi (chairman) that they have no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. They have evolving interests.

In order to achieve their interests, they must form ever shifting alliances with different ethnic groups and geo political zones. Those alliances will only make sense if they allow the Yoruba and their people to improve their relative position within the Nigerian project.”

For a while now, the Yoruba elite, according to Awogbeoba, have been stuck in a time warp. All major policy positions of the tribe have been anchored on nostalgia for the past (1950’s-1984).

“Most establishment parties in Yorubaland have called for free education, free health care, regionalism and state police and the like; in essence, the position of things in the old Western Region in 1952. The problem with this approach is that it ignores the dynamism of time and the need to evolve with it.”

Being stuck in a time warp might, however, not be an exclusive Yoruba pre-occupation; their Igbo counterparts also appear entrapped in the same quagmire. The scripts that come out of the zone could well have been written in 2014 or

Incidentally, the northern part of the country might prove to be the only region hardly fuelled by ethnic-based posturing. The region favours a more geo-political representation, in tandem with the one-north philosophy that created the Arewa Consultative Forum (AFC), as against the ethnic-based pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, and the Ndigbo or Ijaw National Congress.

Apart from the enlarged recent ACF meeting, the 19 northern states articulated a 30-point agenda for the conference at that their twoday meeting concluded in Kaduna last Tuesday.

The meeting was part of their governors’ legwork to ensure that the North speaks with one voice at the conference. Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said the governors took a bold step at their just concluded meeting in Kaduna on the points to be presented at the conference and gave assurance that the points would not in any way tamper with the unity and development of the country.

“In our last meeting, we took a principled

Logical reasoning would suggest that in the event of a sixregion structure, membership to the National Assembly would take into account the present representation of each part of the country that consists respective regions. So, if the current eight states of Yoruba, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara and Kogi, have 83 members in the House of Representatives, the new region that includes these areas should account for the same percentage in the new National Assembly.

and president, independence of the legislative arm and the judiciary, onshore and offshore dichotomy and resource control.

There are also matters of security, health, housing, electoral law, creation of more states and local governments and transformation of the agricultural sector as mainstay of the region.

UT what makes the North relatively more nationalistic than its counterparts might prove to be the region’s undoing. Pretending that ethno-religious crisis, most prevalent in the zone, should be consigned to a footnote would prove foolhardy. Pretending the Jukun, Berom, Kataf, Hausa, Kanuri, Shuwa-Arab, Fulani and so on, have a common destiny would be far from reality, just as total exclusion of the Boko Haram insurgency would not be smart thinking.

Touching on the contentious issue of the continuous existence of the country as one, a lecturer at the Department of Philosophy, Nasarawa State University, Professor Timothy Uzodinma Nwala, said the activities of Boko Haram is clear indication that the country is at war, hence, the need to have members of the insurgency represented at the conference.

Nwala, who participated in the 1994/95 conference packaged by General Sani Abacha’s government, said there was no need to discuss the unity of the country at that time because, unlike now, Nigeria was not at war.

Of course, the impression that members of Boko Haram are faceless falls flat in the face of reality on ground. A number of them have been killed, arrested and allegedly pardoned. “In fact, if people say they don’t know who Boko Haram are, where they are, their international connections, then we don’t know what we are talking about.

We don’t understand what is before us. So, what I am saying is that it would be good if Boko Haram people were invited to discuss the stability of the country.”

B

TheGuardian

Sunday, March 16, 2014 25

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Junior Guardian WOrD POWEr GaME Jagged a) uneven b) high c) draw d) wrong Berate a) lower b) rebuke c) pound d) praise Callous a) rough b) noisy c) heartless d) dumb Salient a) noticeable b) bold c) deadly d) nice Haughty a) proud b) reasonable c) tall d) cool Peruse a) kill b) examine c) like d) bend Minute a) tiny b) light c) catch d) wrap languid a) relaxed b) pat c) roll d) chase Dilute a) mix b) change c) weak d) dry rouse a) beat b) stir c) pump d) delay

SOlUTIONS TO BraIN TEaSEr (22)

POEM Fairy When everyone is asleep The fairy comes to peep They want to know If we are truly asleep When they know that They will dance around in a big garden and when the sun comes out They will go to sleep Everyday we think they are monsters and sometimes at night we stay awake Thinking that we are being watched But none of us are likely to see fairies

By Esther Supo Adesola Heartfield Foundation School, Surulere, Lagos.

HONEST INFlUENCE

rEVEal UNIQUE

aPPrECIaTE CUISINE

EDUCaTE COMPlETE

Sunshine Sammy’s World Of Words lara lawrence from C Yaba sent in these 10 words beginning with the letter G. You can also join in the fun by sending 10 new words that begin with the letter G to share with Sunshine Sammy and the readers. Sunshine Sammy loves to share educative words with all.

Gaiety Gait Growl

Grumpy Gosh Guttural Grasp Glide Gambol Gracious

Please send your contributions to: The Junior Guardian Desk Rutam House P.M.B 1217 Oshodi Or kikelola_oyebola@yahoo.ca

Kiddies Talent Show Set To Hold poetry, performing speed painting, performing an acoustic set in a band, performing with an air band, performing a dramatic skit is coming with a reality TV show, and more”. aimed at discovering children’s talFour judges including a parent ents, as well as bringing out their competitive abilities and confidence. will preside over the show. Prizes won will be channeled to their at a press conference held in lagos Educational trust funds, while to announce the commencement of the viewing public will vote for the show, the CEO, Kiddies Talent their favourite Kiddies Talent show, raliat abdulsalam said that show Star by a short SMS code. having been involved with NGOs The talent show is open to chilcatering for the less privileged that dren within the age range of six are mostly children. The creation of to17 years. auditions will comthe talent show was informed by her mence on the March 22, 23, 29 passion for children.

“Children are very talented and that and 30 on the Mainland and Island. Studio appearances hold on is why I am involved with them. a variety of talents will be accepted at the april 5, 12 and 19, while boot camp runs from april 11 through 24 and competition, such as singing, dancing, playing an instrument, creating a the grand finale takes place on april 24. hand-drawn masterpiece, and performing a magic trick, juggling, rid— Ijeoma Opara Students of D-IVY College during their 3rd annual inter-house sports competition in Lagos. ing a unicycle, and reciting original N a bid to promote, educate and Idren, bring out creative talents in chilKiddies Talent Show Nigeria ltd.

Winners Emerge In Bobo Kids With Voices HE maiden edition of the T ‘Bobo Kids with Voices’ ended in lagos recently with

Pupils of SOFUNIX Nursery and Primary School at their school premises, Iroko Town, Ogun State during the Valentine Day. COMPILED BY KIKELOLA OYEBOLA

Illyad Islamic School, IsheriOke, lagos, local authority Primary School, Mowo/agemowo, Badagry and Goldspring Foundation School, Oko-Oba, agege emerging first, second and third respectively.

The project, a musical initiative, was designed to encourage bonding and affinity amongst primary schools in lagos.

The first prize-winner, Illyad Islamic School smiled home with a brand new school bus, while local authority Primary School that emerged second got musical instruments comprising a keyboard, drum set and amplifier and Goldspring Foundation School was rewarded

with a keyboard and drum set for clinching the third position.

The annual music competition, targeted at pupils of over 2000 primary schools in lagos kicked off in October last year, while the grand finale, billed to hold in December eventually held in some weeks back in lagos, where the three winning schools won the prizes.

The theme for 2013 edition was; “The Nigeria of my dreams” and participating schools in the final 20 featured children aged five to 11 years and each school had five to eight pupils in the choir.

The Marketing Manager, BOBO Food and Beverages, Birhiray Ewhubare said the reason for the theme is to make the children have an attitude of patriotism and

sense of belonging as the future leaders.

He said: “after careful study of challenges facing children development, especially in the areas of appreciation and expression of the inbuilt talent, our company has designed a talent discovery and reward programme, ‘Bobo kids with Voices,’ a competition for primary school pupils in lagos.

“It is an initiative aimed at growing the musical talent of primary school children as well as teaching them the beauty of teamwork. lagos is the test location for the project and will afterwards be taken to other parts of the country.” and Valour Primary School apapa emerged winners in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

— Gbenga Salau

26 Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PERSPECTIVES

The Challenges Of Development And Youth Movement in the 1930s, the Zikist Movement in 1940s, trade union organisations and other radical groups to prosecute the struggle for autonomy, freedom, and human rights. Political parties also emerged during the era to coordinate and channel the anti-colonial mobilisation. The roll of honour of the independence nationalists includes Herbert Macaulay, Eyo Ita, Ernest Ikoli, Oba Samuel Adesanya, Michael Imoudu, Mukoro Mowoe, Gideon Urhobo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Alvan Ikoku, Mbonu Ojike, Obafemi Awolowo, S.L. Akintola, Adekoge Adelabu, Madam Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Kola Balogun and Raji Abdalla, Other veterans of the anti-colonial revolution were Oba Akenzua II, Oba Aderemi II, Festus Okotie-Eboh, Humphrey OmoOsagie, Michael Okpara, Kenneth O.Mbadiwe, M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu, Mokwugo Okoye, Udo Udoma, and Okoi Arikpo. The pantheon also comprises the names of Mallam Aminu Kano, Sa’ad Zungur, Kashim Ibrahim, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Joseph Tarka, Samuel Mariere, T.E.A. Salubi, P.K. Tabiowo, Anthony Enahoro, Madam Alice Obahor, Margaret Ekpo, Miss Aduni Oluwole, Dappa Biriye, Wennike Briggs and Alfred Rewane.

Text of keynote address presented by Professor Godini G. Darah, Delta State University, Abraka at the Southern Leaders Summit at Tinapa Lakeside Hotel, Calabar, Cross River State, on February 24, 2014.

Introduction: HE decision of the leaders of the Southern States of Nigeria to hold this Summit is a historic landmark in the annals of democratic reconstruction in Nigeria. The event is taking place at a critical juncture in the evolution of the Nigerian nation. Our country is marking the 100th year of its existence after the 1914 Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates by the British imperial regime. We are in a momentous season and we must seize the opportunity to re-examine the structure and prospects of our country to ensure equity and democratic governance.

It is also an auspicious occasion that the Summit is taking place in the marvellous city of Calabar, the capital of Cross River State. We recall with nostalgia that Calabar was one of the capitals of what became Nigeria 100 years ago. It was here that the early infrastructure of colonial Nigeria was laid by British conquerors and adventurers such as Tubman Goldie whose portrait adorns one of the roundabouts in the city. From Calabar the administrative headquarters was moved to Lokoja in 1900 and thence to Lagos and finally Abuja. It is therefore of historical significance that our Summit is being held in Calabar. I have no doubt that the spirit of nationalism that cradled Calabar from the 19th century will inspire the Summiteers gathered today to arrive at propositions and resolutions that will empower the oppressed and marginalised nations of the Southern States and other parts of Nigeria to break the yoke of political domination and economic exploitation.

There is a third reason why this Summit represents a turning point in the history of Nigeria in general and our people in particular. The administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has concluded plans for a National Conference that will be convoked in March 2014. The agenda of the Conference prepared by the Presidential Advisory Commission covers wide-ranging issues. The Conference is a welcome platform for the victims of injustice and oppression to articulate their positions and salvage Nigeria from decades of political crisis and socio-economic instability. As I hope to show shortly, the states and peoples of Southern Nigeria have borne the brunt of dictatorial and oppressive governance since the late 1960s. The resources from southern section of the country generate the revenue that sustains the economic and political stability of the country. Yet the structure of government at the centre seems designed to perpetuate the imbalance and inequity.

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The Challenges of Development In order to appreciate the challenges of development that confront our country, it is necessary to examine the root causes of the political system.

The Nigerian experience has shown that it is not sufficient for a country to be abundantly endowed with natural and human resources. It is an axiom of political economy that a resource-rich country can harbour abysmally impoverished people.

Indeed, the fortuitous luck of natural resources can result in domination by powerful, external forces and interests. To be developed, industrialised and prosperous, a nation must have patriotic and responsible ruling elites to transform the natural riches to wealth and services. This is the urgent task that Nigeria must accomplish in order to be competitive in the global system. In some aspects of national life, President Jonathan

Prof. Darah

Jonathan

has outlined his vision for the country to move in this direction. But, first, it is necessary to cast a glance at the genesis of the Nigerian political system.

The Legacy of Anti-Colonial Resistance: It is an incontestable fact of history that the imposition of British colonial rule on Nigeria about 100 years ago was valiantly resisted by all sections of the country. Many nationalities and ethnic groups waged titanic struggles to prevent the British conquest of their territories. In the second half of the 19th century various armed resistance groups fought European imperialists and capitalist corporations. Among the notable heroes and heroines of the era were King Pepple of Bonny, Jaja of Opobo, Nana Olumu of Itsekiri, and Madam Tinubu of Lagos/Egba (Yoruba). Some decades before these episodes, Oba Kosoko of Lagos was deposed and exiled for opposing British annexation of Lagos in 1861. In 1895, the Nembe Kingdom now in Bayelsa State waged a war against the Royal Niger Company because of inequity in trading relations. Obi (King) Ossai of Aboh never surrendered to the British. He arrested and detained the Lander Brothers (Richard and John) for entering his kingdom without permission. For refusal to surrender the sovereignty of the Benin Kingdom to Queen Victoria of England, Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi was, in 1897, deposed and exiled to Calabar where he died in 1914. Oba Ovonramwen’s ally in Urhobo, Ovie (King) Oghwe of Agbarha-Otor, was also captured and exiled to Calabar the same year. He, too, died in exile. The Ekumeku resistance movement in Asaba Division took years to suppress. The British undertook the 1901 Aro punitive expedition to destroy Igbo anti-colonial resistance.

Other expeditions were against village groups in Umuahia and Uzuakoli in 1903, and Akwete and Onitsha in 1904. The Ijebu Kingdom had several wars with the British and the kingdom was conquered only in the late 1890s.

In the Northern half of Nigeria, there were many anti-British revolts that were quelled in bloody massacres.

The Saturi peasants’ revolt of 1894 in Sokoto Province is a notorious example. The insurgents killed Hilary, the British commander. For reprisal, the colonial army burnt many settlements and massacred hundreds of innocent peasants. During the period several Jihadist groups raised armies against the invading

British. Radical anti-colonial Emirs such as Aliyu Dan Sidi were deposed and exiled by Captain Fredrick D. Lugard, the grand commander of the massacres of native freedom fighters.

Fredrick Lugard started as a security officer of the Royal Niger Company under Tubman Goldie.

Lugard was so efficient in the mass murder of natives that he was promoted to become the Governor-General of the Northern and Southern Provinces in 1900. Two years before, in 1898, his girlfriend, Flora Shaw, had coined the name “Nigeria” for the new territories conquered by Lugard. Flora Shaw argued that the name “Nigeria” meant the “lands of the Niger River”.

Flora became Lugard’s wife eventually.

Bloody revolts against the British continued after 1900. There were anti-tax uprisings in Iseyin-OkeIho in Oyo Province in 1916 and also in Abeokuta in 1918. In 1927 Oshue Ogbiyerin led an anti-tax revolt of the people of Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri, and Ukwuani that culminated in the declaration of independence and autonomy by the ethnic nations of Warri Province. Oshue was made “Head of State” by the insurgents. The British deployed armed contingents to defeat the insurgency and Oshue and his comrades were tried and sentenced to hard labour prison terms. Women featured prominently in the 1929 Aba/Owerri anti-tax revolts. Thousands of women took part in the movement; when they clashed with the colonial police 50 women were murdered. The women of Egba, now in Ogun State, rose against unjust taxation in 1948. In many sections of Nupe, Gbagyi, Ebira, Igalla, Idoma, Junkun, Berom, Bachama, Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa districts, there were revolts against the imperial British. The Tiv and Kanuri, especially, were bastions of resistance for decades, even up to the time of independence.

The scenarios recounted in the foregoing sections are abundant proofs that Nigerian peoples did not accept the imposition of British colonial rule.

The numerous anti-colonial revolts dovetailed into the independence revolution proper from the 1930s. The urban elite formed the Nigerian

Lugard and the Amalgamation: Let us return to the saga of the 1914 Amalgamation and Captain Fredrick Lugard’s role in it. All the major history books agree that Lugard was at the centre of political gravity in the drama. He earned his position because he was a ruthless destroyer and conqueror of native peoples who opposed British colonial rule. Having massacred hundreds and destroyed numerous settlements in Nigeria, Captain Lugard was posted, first, to Uganda and thence to Hong Kong to deal with similar situations. He was so useful to the British imperialists that he was invited back in 1913 to complete the conquest of Nigeria. There was a dilemma in the British Colonial Office in London about how to govern the vast Nigerian territories that had been stolen. Lugard prepared memos on what to do; these were later compiled into his book, The Dual Mandate. Apparently, the initial idea was to have two separate countries: Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria. But there was a problem: Northern Nigeria at the time did not generate enough revenue to pay for its administration and Britain did not want their tax payers to bear the financial burden.

On the drama of the Amalgamation I am indebted to the legal luminary, Professor Itse Sagay, who has conducted extensive research and documentation.

His findings throw light on the way the dilemma was resolved by the Colonial Office. It is reported that the British Colonial Secretary, Lord Harcourt, proposed a novel idea. He introduced the iniquitous formula that in the envisaged merger of Northern and Southern Nigeria, the revenuestressed North should enjoy the status of husband while the resource-endowed South would occupy the second fiddle position of wife. This proposal was derived from a conjugal law in England at the time which made the male in marriage to exercise possessive powers over the wife’s wealth. Lugard and the Colonial Office adopted this sinister arrangement and grafted it into the Amalgamation Documents, to wit, revenue from the Southern Protectorate was to be diverted to offset part of the cost of the administration of the Northern Protectorate. For his bloody “achievements” Fredrick Lugard was rewarded with appointment as the Governor General of Nigeria till 1922. His cohort, Lord Harcourt, was immortalised by naming the Eastern Nigerian town of Port Harcourt after him.

I have gone into this synoptic narrative in order to place the current crisis of Nigeria in historical perspective. From 1914-1960, the British colonial regime ensured that the South of the country remained politically subservient to the North. To achieve, this census figures and allocation of parliamentary seats had to be done in a manner that supported this injustice. That explains why the British

The administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has concluded plans for a National Conference that will be convoked in March 2014. The agenda of the Conference prepared by the Presidential Advisory Commission covers wideranging issues. The Conference is a welcome platform for the victims of injustice and oppression to articulate their positions and salvage Nigeria from decades of political crisis and socio-economic instability. As I hope to show shortly, the states and peoples of Southern Nigeria have borne the brunt of dictatorial and oppressive governance since the late 1960s. The resources from southern section of the country generate the revenue that sustains the economic and political stability of the country. Yet the structure of government at the centre seems designed to perpetuate the imbalance and inequity.

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PERSPECTIVES

National Security: 2015 And Beyond

Mark

never promoted the fortunes of politicians from Southern Nigeria. This policy of divide-and-dominate was also the reason why the British repressed all radical anti-colonialists in the North and assisted only the conservative and reactionary ones. The imperial scheme helps us to understand why the British ignored educated Southern nationalists and arranged the transition programme of independence to favour the conservative elites.

The Liquidation of Fiscal Federalism: After 100 years of the Amalgamation and 54 years after the granting of independence in 1960, the politics of resource distribution still puts the Southern states at a disadvantage. The British imperialists were enlightened enough to introduce fairly equitable revenue-sharing formulae from 1946 that enabled Regional governments to have at least 50% of revenue derived from their areas. These progressive principles were included in the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions. This form of fiscal federalism encouraged the federating units at to embark on ambitious development programmes such as free education, agriculture, industry, and communication. For example, the Western Region under Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a pace-setter in education, industrialisation, and urban development. The Northern Region did very well in agriculture and education under the premiership of Sir Ahmadu Bello. As premiers of the Eastern Region Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr. Michael Okpara introduced modernisation programmes in industry, urbanisation, commerce, and transport. In just two years (1964-66), the newly created Midwest Region advanced rapidly in education, industrialisation, and transport facilities. The advantages of fiscal federalism and political autonomy for the federating units helped Nigeria to compete with her peers such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea. Regrettably, military rule (1966-1999) destroyed the federal system. The derivation principle was abrogated and revenue-yielding areas of the country became chattels of the powerful and oligopolistic centre.

The abrogation of fiscal federalism has damaged the national economy in sundry ways. The near total dependency on revenue from oil and gas exports has underdeveloped the country. For 50 years Nigeria has been exporting crude oil without value added. This type of petroleum pipeline economy (PPE) funnels Nigeria’s wealth to foreign lands to create jobs and wealth. The “sweetness” of the earnings from oil exports has intoxicated the ruling classes to be complacent and corrupt. They have abandoned other sources of national wealth such as agriculture and industry. This is why the expansive verdant prairies of the Middle Belt states are wasting away as uncultivated wilderness. Even with 84 million hectares of arable land, Nigeria devotes over a quarter of her annual budget on food importation. The over-centralised and unitary system of government has stifled regional economic initiatives. The states and local councils are too financially famished to invest in manufactures and large-scale agro-industrial enterprises. The

Tambuwal

The restoration of fiscal federalism will open up the country’s economic space and attract local and foreign investors to these mineral bounties. Governments and private entrepreneurs will be inspired to seek global partners to exploit and develop these resources to diversify the economy, accelerate industrialisation, and expand opportunity for employment and wealth creation. Those who have done studies on the matter are agreed that the three decades of military rule further helped the dominant groups of the country to perpetuate the inequitable and unjust revenue distribution system that diverts the bulk of revenue from the resource-endowed states to fund areas that contribute very little to the Federation Account. groundnut pyramids that emblematised the Kano landscape decades ago have vanished.

Hundreds of textile mills and associated investments have collapsed with abandonment of cotton production. Nigeria led the world in oil palm produce until the “madness” of crude oil prosperity cost us that premier position now occupied by Malaysia and Indonesia.

It is the practice of fiscal federalism that can rapidly transform many states in the North and central regions of the country into savannahs of sovereign wealth and industrial prosperity. These states are richly endowed in numerous solid minerals, including gold, diamond, marble, granite, gypsum, iron ore, limestone, bauxite, coal, and uranium. The richest states are Plateau with 25 and Nasarawa with 23 solid minerals respectively. Others are Kaduna (19), Kogi (13) Sokoto (13), Ondo (12) Oyo (11), Edo (11), Anambra (9), and Kwara (8). These data are obtained from the Ministry of Solid Minerals. The restoration of fiscal federalism will open up the country’s economic space and attract local and foreign investors to these mineral bounties.

Governments and private entrepreneurs will be inspired to seek global partners to exploit and develop these resources to diversify the economy, accelerate industrialisation, and expand opportunity for employment and wealth creation.

Those who have done studies on the matter are agreed that the three decades of military rule further helped the dominant groups of the country to perpetuate the inequitable and unjust revenue distribution system that diverts the bulk of revenue from the resource-endowed states to fund areas that contribute very little to the Federation Account. For four decades, the dispossessed states and communities have fought resolutely for the abrogation of the unjust and cruel laws and policies. Most times their pacific agitation has been met with violent repression by government as happened, for example, in Umuechem (1991) Ogoni (19901999), Jesse/Idjerhe (1998) Ekakpamre (1999), Kaiama and Odi (1999), and Gbaramatu (2009).

The struggle against the oppressive system has

ment took measures to concentrate power at the centre in order to forestall centrifugal forces threatening the survival of the country. In the process the military dictators abolished the federal system inherited from independence and enacted laws to dispossess the resource-rich states. The Petroleum Decree 51 of 1969 (now the Petroleum Control Act, Cap. 351, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990) marked the first forceful take-over of the wealth of the minority oil states. With every constitutional change from the 1970s, the shackles of economic enslavement have been tightened against the revenue-yielding states and communities. The oppressive intentions of the Petroleum Control Act are enshrined in the 1999 Constitution in Section 44 (3) thus: Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the entire property in and control of all mineral oils and natural gas in, under or upon the territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria shall vest in the government of the Federation and shall be managed in such a manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly The dispossession of revenue-rich states by the central government has been extended to other sectors such as consumer tax, the bulk of which comes from Lagos State being the most industrialised and urbanised. Lagos and the southwest States are injured in another respect; revenue from the two busiest sea ports in the country (Apapa and Tin Can) is also taken over by the central government. The destruction of fiscal federalism has produced the awkward situation where the revenue that sustains Nigeria is now contributed by only the following 10 States: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Rivers, and Lagos. All the other 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja contribute only negligible amounts to the Federation Account which is shared monthly by the Federal, State, and local governments. Sustainable development cannot take place in Nigeria under this condition. To stimulate development and healthy competition in socio-economic matters in all parts of the country, there is an imperative need to restore Nigeria to the status whereby all the federating units/states shall exercise 100% ownership and control over their natural, mineral, and other resources. That was the federal system that our nationalists fought and died for and it is the only equitable basis for a united Nigeria.

The Land Use Act and Other Obnoxious Laws: A concomitant issue is that of the Land Use Act (Cap. 202, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990). This is a major hindrance to development in Nigeria as it empowers the Federal Government to appropriate mineral and other natural resources. The law should be abrogated and expunged from the Constitution. Other oppressive and unjust laws are the Exclusive Economic Zone Act, Cap. 116 (LFN, 1990), the Territorial Waters Act Cap. 428 (LFN, 1990), the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, Cap. 337 (LFN, 1990), and the National Inland Waterways Authority Act. The last-named law, for instance, declares that all rivers, rivulets, creeks, channels, waterways and water courses are the exclusive property of the Federal Government. Most of these legislations are a hindrance to the development of the economic and industrial opportunities in the country.

The decentralisation of the omnibus central government should involve the dismantling of the Executive Legislative List of functions monopolised by the Federal Government. These exclusive powers are indicated in Part I of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. There are 68 items in all, covering lucrative business and economic sectors such as aviation, mines and minerals, (including oil fields, oil mining, natural gas, geological surveys), commercial and industrial monopolies, incorporation and registration of corporate bodies, export duties, police, prisons, stamp duties, railways, and wireless broadcasting. With the federal government appropriating all these vital economic sectors to itself, how can the states and federating units have resources to run effective and responsible administration? This is one factor that makes the states and local councils financially insolvent and dependent on revenue from the Federation Account. The National Conference must remove these fundamental functions from the central government and make them concurrent so that states, local councils, and private organisations can invest in them and expand socio-economic opportunities for the people of Nigeria.

gone down in history as “Resource Control” which is the slogan of the Niger Delta states and Lagos. The slogan developed into a fighting force at the 1994-95 Constitutional Conference where the Niger Delta states got the 13% derivation palliative after prolonged agitation.

“Resource Control” was the manifesto of the oil states at the aborted National Political Reforms Conference of 2005. Delegates from the cheated oil states staged a walkout in protest against orchestrated opposition to demands for a higher derivation percentage. From the June 12, 1993, popular uprising in support of M.K.O. Abiola’s stolen electoral victory, the nations and peoples of the oil-rich and littoral states have sacrificed many martyrs in defence of their fundamental right to their natural resources.

Presently, 52% of federally collected revenue goes to the federal government while the states and local councils share 48% between them. In practice, the principle of fiscal federalism that our nationalists agreed upon at independence in 1960 has been violated. The revenue-endowed states are now virtually economic colonies of the omnipotent and omnipresent federal government. The central government receives the bulk of the public revenue; that is why the political struggle to control the federal government is deadly and expensive. The quest to restore fiscal federalism to the level it was in the 1960s is at the heart of the democratic reconstruction of Nigeria. It should be a prime item on the agenda of the impending National Conference. The Southern Peoples Summit here gathered in Calabar must make an irrevocable commitment to pursuing the matter in favour of our exploited and beleaguered nationalities, states, and communities.

Inequity in the Number of States and Local Governments: No Alternative to Fiscal Federalism: Another challenge of development concerns the The point has been made that the three decades skewed manner states and local councils have been of military rule consolidated the hegemonic created. In the 1950s, conservative politicians in the hold of conservative politicians on power. The North insisted that 50% of the seats in Federal 1967-70 Civil War against the Igbo of Eastern Legislature must be reserved for that Region. They Nigeria consumed innocent lives and destroyed gave this as a precondition for the Region to agree to the economic foundation of the Eastern states.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31 During the Civil War the Federal Military govern-

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PERSPECTIVES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

join the rest of the country in the march to independence. The British granted the request and went ahead to produce contentious census figures to justify the iniquity. The imbalance in the number of administrative units has been sustained in every reorganisation of government. A notorious example is furnished by the number of local governments in Kano State vis-à-vis Lagos and Bayelsa States. There are 44 local government areas in Kano although the State does not contribute much revenue to the Federation Account. But Lagos State with about the same size of population as Kano’s has only 20 councils recognised in the 1999 Constitution. Even Bayelsa which is a major oil-producing State has only eight local councils. In the monthly revenue sharing exercise, Bayelsa is entitled to only eight portions whereas Kano takes a hefty forty-four.

This instance of monumental injustice must be eliminated from the Constitution. The proposition of the Southern States should be that the power to create new councils must reside in the states that are the federating units.

In the new Constitution the Federal Government should have nothing to do with creation of councils as each federating unit shall have 100% control over its resources. The federating units will make appropriate contribution to run essential federal government responsibilities. The percentage to be contributed will be negotiated and specified at the Conference.

Representation of states in Federal Legislatures has also been distorted to dominate the Southern section. If the structure of six geo-political zones is to be retained, each zone must have equal number of states to ensure fair and equitable representation at the central legislatures. The present arrangement is particularly injurious to the interest of the Southeast Zone which is perpetually short-changed with only five states while others have the minimum of six.

Delta Central Senatorial District is also a victim of this injustice. During the Second Republic (1979-1983) some densely populated federal constituencies the Urhobo/Delta Central area had two members in the State and Federal legislatures. From 1999, some of the constituencies were arbitrarily abolished by the federal electoral commission. All states that have suffered this wrong should have their constituencies restored to them. Furthermore, areas with heavy voter registration such as Delta Central Senatorial District should have new constituencies created for them to reflect their demographic situations.

The Challenges Of Development And National Security: 2015 And Beyond to examine some of the policies and programmes of President Jonathan’s administration and relate them to the challenges outlined in the foregoing sections. Let me reiterate the popular credo that President Jonathan is a man of history. His ‘miraculous’ ascendancy to the office of the president is comparable to a redemptive spark in a long journey of darkness. He has inherited a political superstructure that was designed to perpetuate the injustices described in the paper. His ancestry is rooted in the constituency of the longsuffering Niger Delta region whose natural resources have been systematically plundered by the hegemonic interests in the country. Like the mythological Atlas, President Jonathan must carry the burdens of that history on his shoulders. Unlike his predecessors in office he cannot afford to run Nigerian affairs in a reckless manner.

In spite of severe difficulties he has exhibited courage to rule in democratic, responsible, just, and compassionate ways. His audacious pursuit of the National Conference project is testimony to these altruistic credentials. How does his performance in government so far fit into this profile? A few cases are examined.

Conduct of Free and Fair Elections: One of the litmus tests of a democratic dispensation is the periodic conduct of credible and acceptable elections.

The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua endeared himself to Nigeria and the world by honestly admitting that the general elections he won in 2007 was tainted with irregularities.

Before his untimely demise in 2010, President Ya’Adua made strenuous effort to introduce reforms to upgrade the system. His Vice President was Goodluck Jonathan and he shared the same vision with his boss. As President Jonathan promised to raise the credibility rating of electoral exercises and he has succeeded substantially in several instances. Governorship elections in Edo, Ondo, Cross River, Kogi, and Bayelsa are cases in point. In comparative terms, the handling of the presidential polls in 2011 was a vast improvement on previous ones marred by “do or die” brigandage. Truly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not yet as autonomous and efficient as it should be. But under President Jonathan, popular confidence is rising in favour of Federalism and Multiple Policing: the electoral umpire. Enlightened Chapter Four of the Report of the members of the so-called opposition Presidential Advisory Committee on the parties acknowledge these positive National Conference contains the pro- changes. posed agenda of 38 items. Some of the items have been alluded to in the foregoing sections. Item 7 deals with “National Security and Security Challenges” and sub-section (b) is on Local Policing. This is a fundamental matter in the democratic reconstruction of Nigeria. Every federal system in the world operates multiple policing systems except Nigeria. During British colonial rule, there were several police forces in addition to the Federal Nigerian Police Force.

Even the United African Company, Shell Petroleum Development Company, and other corporate bodies maintained their police formations. After the Civil War in 1970, the military regimes imposed the single federal police system on the country. The consequence is that Nigeria is under-policed, resulting in increased and unmanageable crimes and violence such as armed robbery and kidnapping. This Southern Peoples’ Summit should support the system of multiple police forces at the federal, state, local council, and city levels. This is the global best practice in all democracies in the world such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Germany, France, Japan, and others.

Development & Security Challenges: The Jonathan Mandate In this segment of the address I propose Abubakar

Amnesty Programme and Pax Nigeriana: The Amnesty Programme in Nigeria is the most stupendous peace project in the world in the 21st century. The programme was initiated by the Yar’Adua administration in October 2009 and his heroic effort is duly acknowledged and applauded. But the delicate negotiations with armed militia groups were spearheaded by Jonathan, then as Vice President. With the assistance of trusted aides and distinguished Niger Delta nationalists, the Jonathan team braved the treacherous creeks and gunboats to dialogue directly with the freedom fighters and agitators. That was the era when the fear of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was seen as the beginning of safety. The signing of the Amnesty deal and the eventual disarming of the armed insurgents heralded the end of violence. The peace-building process continued with the orientation and demilitarisation training for the guerrilla fighters. Three years on, the Amnesty Programme has embraced about 26,000 persons; half of them are registered in universities and professional/technical institutions in Nigeria and overseas countries.

The cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta creeks restored Nigeria’s oil production level of over two million barrels per day; at the height of the oil wars, production plummeted to as low as one-third of the figure. The economy was heading for disaster. Now the economy has stabilised and revenue from oil and gas is in boom statistics.

The resounding success of the Amnesty Programme can also be measured in terms of the human capital development and engagement of 26,000 youths, making it the single biggest employer of labour during the

Jonathan administration. The programme has brought relative peace and tranquillity to the Nigeria, the Gulf of Guinea region, and the global oil economy. For these reasons, Presidents Yar’Adua and Jonathan deserve to be decorated with the laureates of World Peace like South Africa’s President de Klerk and Nelson Mandela who won the Nobel Peace Prize for facilitating the end of apartheid in the 1990s.

resulted from the mass protest against the 2012 hike in prices. There have been complaints about the quotient of integrity in the process but is a novel system of wealth distribution in a country where governments are hardly trusted.

Even sections of the country with low levels of fuel consumption are entitled to share in the savings. The portion that goes to the Federal Government is invested in funding capital projects such as highways and railways. I am unable to comment on what the states and local councils do with their shares.

Investment in Highways and Railways: There is significant improvement in the maintenance of federal highways; new ones are being built and renovated, including the Benin-Shagamu and the Lagos-Ibadan expressways. Those who have travelled on them confirm that the Federal highways in the Eastern States are much better than used to be the case. Work on the East-West highway is progressing faster than hitherto. The Second Niger Bridge is soon to be started. After decades of neglect and sabotage, the railways are rolling again.

President Jonathan’s transformation of the rail system extends to the standard gauge line from Kaduna to Abuja. At the National Conference, railways should be removed from the Exclusive Legislative List (Item 55) to the concurrent list. Like China has done, Nigeria should aim to build an average of 1,000 km of railways yearly for next decade. The governments and peoples of Southern Nigeria should take the initiative to construct the LagosBenin-Warri-Port Harcourt-Calabar line and the Benin-Asaba-Awka-Enugu line.

Fairly Stable Supply of Petroleum Products: From 1999-2007 Nigerians experienced many hikes in the cost of petroleum products, yet the torment of frequent shortages and hoarding did not abate.

The price increase introduced by the Jonathan government in 2012 generated mass popular protest. The government listened and the prices were reduced considerably. Two years on, Nigerians have enjoyed uninterrupted supply of refined products for most of the time. This is the first time in about 15 years that this steady flow is happening.

Perhaps, it is not enough because Nigerians deserve to have regular supply from local refineries, not imported ones. The probes into allegations of corrupt deals by suppliers have not been satisfactorily concluded but some culprits have been penalised. The Jonathan administration has earned some applause for the stable supply.

Education for Liberation: President Jonathan is a unique manifesSubsidy Re-Investment and tation of the wonders of education. As Empowerment Programme: Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu of Ibadan said The SURE-P is a commendable demon- in 1952 “education is the foundation of freestration of open, transparent, and pru- dom. Ignorance is the basis of slavery. If you dential management of public wealth. would free a people, first and foremost, The money saved from the cost of subsi- educate them”. In 2013, President dising imported products is husband- Jonathan echoed Adelabu’s immortal ed and distributed amongst the three thoughts thus: “I am nothing without tiers of government. The SURE-P is a education; I came from a poor background. wealth redistribution scheme that Without education you will not see Jonathan here (as President). For you to liberate a people, whether they are from southern Nigeria or the extreme north, it is through education”. Like Chief Awolowo did in his free education scheme from 1955, President Jonathan should go further with a re-invented programme to liberate Nigeria through free, universal education. The first target is to enrol the 10.5 million children of school age who are not registered now. The President has done well in responding to the University situation. He is the only African leader who created 12 new universities in a single year. He should extend the revolution in education to 2015 and beyond.

This is a fundamental matter in the democratic reconstruction of Nigeria. Every federal system in the world operates multiple policing systems except Nigeria. During British colonial rule, there were several police forces in addition to the Federal Nigerian Police Force. Even the United African Company, Shell Petroleum Development Company, and other corporate bodies maintained their police formations. After the Civil War in 1970, the military regimes imposed the single federal police system on the country. The consequence is that Nigeria is under-policed, resulting in increased and unmanageable crimes and violence such as armed robbery and kidnapping.

Gusau

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HeALTH dental Practitioners Task Amosun On Oral Health Policy

By Gbenga Akinfenwa He nigerian dental Association (ndA) has passionately appealed to Ogun state government to implement the national Oral Health to achieve the delivery of premium oral healthcare to indigenes and residents of the state.

President of ndA, dr. Olurotimi Olojede

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made the appeal at the ndA ordinary General Meeting/national executive Council Meeting held last week at the Valley View Auditorium, Government House, Isale-Igbein, Abeokuta, the state capital.

He disclosed that if the state government implements the policy, which was approved by the Federal executive Council in October

2011 and launched by Federal Ministry of Health in november 2012, the vigour and energy which the dental team in the state had demonstrated would further receive further boost.

Olojede urged that dentists develop a basic action plan that is understood by all staff members, with the goal of

managing patient’s care until he or she recovers fully or until help arrives.

“The most important aspect of almost all medical emergencies in dentistry is to prevent or correct insufficient oxygenation of the brain or heart. It is expedient that a team approach is employed in management of such emergencies, with each staff member trained in basic life support and understanding the role expected of him or her ahead of time.

“Clear and effective communication is essential during any emergency. We lined up lectures and hand-out seminar to train participants on the relevant skills that the dental team requires to possess to manage the range of medical emergencies that can occur in a dental practice,” he said.

The state commissioner for Health, dr. Olaokun soyinka, who spoke on the sub theme of the conference: “The Role of dental Care In Ogun state Healthcare delivery,” spoke on methods of managing medical emergencies that can occur in any dental office, and how to prepare to manage it successfully.

Practical Psychology

Remedy For Public speaking Anxiety (I)

By Passy Amaraegbu

LOC Chairman, Nigeria Dental Association 2014 Conference, Dr. Omolara Jokodola, President NDA, Olurotimi Olojede, President-elect, Dr. Bode Ijarogbe and Oral Category Manager, Unilever, Mrs. Tolu Dima-Okojie at a Press Briefing to herald NDA’s annual Conference in Lagos.

Mind, Jesus And Heaven (7) gence.

In such names for God a channel of explaining s I believe I should have established the truth intelligently the ways of God to everybody of the matter by now, rather than see Heaven without any ambiguity will be established. The ways of God are about mechanisms. This is what as a special abode somewhere, it ought to be mind functions are all about. Mechanisms are better seen as the embodiment of intelligence.

At the operational level of man, I think it has be- about a process of order. Order is about the clear identification of a beginning and a crecome sufficiently accepted that the mind of atively imaginative understanding of its end. man manufactures intelligence. Based on the In the philosophical and scientific parlance, it functions of intelligence we see in nature and having said that the notion of Heaven therefore is recognised as the establishment of cause and could pass for the arena of operational intelligence, the logical inference we could draw from this is that Heaven itself could represent the Mind of God. effect. The linkage between them is what the The psychologist at the level of man will tell that man is nothing without his mind, which in method of intelligence is about. That is what the bible tries to tell you when it says that another way could mean that man is the em‘whatever you sow, you will reap’. It is a bodiment of his mind functions. In that way, it method of intelligence — cause and effect. could also logically be understood when you It is a process of order, and so when you hear are told that God is the embodiment of Heaven. the statement ‘order is the first law in Heaven,’ If we go by the logic of this argument, if Mind it simply tells you that Heaven operates a and Heaven are synonymous with intelligence process of intelligence. That process is about because Heaven operates intelligence the way cause and effect and so whether we are talking man operate intelligence through his mind, of a process, method or mechanism that must then I believe the truth will be firmly more esproduce results such as the ways of intellitablished; that for better enlightenment and gence will give, then we must be looking out understanding of the nature of God, the most appropriate name for Him for universal accept- for certain rules of operation. Rules are about laws and this is what makes the concept of ance that is devoid of religious rancour, confucommandments very popular in religion. sion, ignorance and superstition would have Commandments are about laws. Unfortubeen either Universal Mind or Supreme IntelliBy Babatunde Ayo-Vaughan

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Health And Your Mind

nately, however, because humanity generally has a poor notion of how laws should be formulated or come about to give human beings creative results and satisfaction at any point in their lives or evolution, the concept of law and its understanding has created real problem for man.

This is where the understanding of the true concept of faith would have made a whole lot of difference to the well being of the entire race of man that will be devoid of the kind of distress that the religious and even the secular understanding of the issue of law is inflicting on mankind. nobody has ever taken it upon himself to explain it to the whole world that faith is another name for law, but not about the law that may be culturally or parochially established but the law that evolved from the within of man through his creative and imaginative understanding of the needs of fellow human being. It is a law that is firmly based on the conviction that ‘you do unto others what you will like the others to do unto you’. This is the basis of what faith is all about. The way it is related to our understanding of the notion of Heaven will help us to appreciate in those other ways Jesus had used the concept of Heaven.

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

The danger Of stereotyping disease

By Moji Solanke

HeRe are innumerable, often subtle ways, in which disease is stereotyped. It is generally believed for example, that certain diseases are specific to certain identified human groups, due either to environment, dnA or race. Other stereotypes attribute particular diseases to age — be it babyhood, teenage, youth, middle or old age. some afflictions are considered gender dependent, while others still are attached to status.

Clinical observation and medical study reveal that a number of diseases are resistant to eradication in certain countries, while other illnesses seem able to move from place to place at will, or are deemed endemic to a region.

Many a research concludes that certain races are prone to specific genetic diseases, based on their ethnicity, classed broadly into negroid, Mongoloid and Caucasian. even pregnancy has illnesses duly assigned to this most natural of human, albeit female, conditions. does not this tendency to stereotype disease arrogate to it an intelligence and power that oftentimes would seem that it can best a human being in a health contest? And therein lies the danger.

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no doubt, these various conclusions come from years of painstaking academic and medical research, study and observation, carried out usually in world class laboratories and clinics, by erudite scholars and first class physicians, whose overriding primary goal is to alleviate the suffering of humanity. And such efforts should be lauded, even applauded. But the subtle danger of such stereotyping, and thereby attributing power, ability and intelligence to disease, compromises the possibility of healing from the outset. It would give such disease a stamp and seal of inevitability. spirituality challenges these material theories, insisting that they are not conclusive after all. It refuses to give them the final word. It bases its confidence on practical proof, or the science of spirituality, steeped in spiritual, rather than material law.

In one of the most internationally acclaimed books on the science of spirituality, titled; Science and Health with key to the Scriptures, the author, Mary Baker eddy, expounds her discovery of the actively mental nature of disease. Her study, observation and proofs re-

veal that disease can only be arrested and destroyed by stripping it of any claim to intelligence. she writes ‘disease has no intelligence to declare itself something and announce its name’; and, being devoid of intelligence, eddy insists it cannot move itself about or change from one form to another. she proved that operating from this premise resulted in healing. It is interesting that even medical thought is beginning to align itself somewhat with this, and they are admitting the beneficial role spirituality can play in healing.

At the end of the day, whatever promotes healing should not be scoffed at, or dismissed out of hand. It should be investigated and tested, and allowed to stand or fall, based fairly, and without prejudice, on its own merit. Refusing to stereotype disease strips it of pseudo-intelligence, and begins to sap the hold that it has on human thought.

When this understanding is based on spirituality, wonderfully practical things begin to happen, like healing.

m_asolanke@hotmail.com

nsIde his bedroom, he faced a six foot standing Isenior mirror and read out his address to the graduating secondary students of 2013. This was Mr. Farouk, the principal of a Federal Government school. Why was he engaged in such a queer drama?

It was Mr. Farouk’s own strategy to overcome PsA. He was involved in a self evaluating process by observing his own performance as well as the amount of time invested into the exercise.

As dramatic as this exercise looks, it is an invaluable primary strategy used to deal with glossophobia, particularly when carried out with the proper mental picture of audience presence. It is a good rehearsal which affords the individual an opportunity to improve oneself as well as make some necessary adjustments. engaging in physical exercise before the delivery of the speech has also been implicated as a significant strategy to handle glossophobia. The physical exercise should be adequate to the point of causing the individual to sweat and thereby release tension as well as lead to the relaxation of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Generally, involvement in physical exercise leads to the release of serotonin into the blood vessels. This hormone is associated with the stimulation of happy feeling in people.

Of course mastering the assignment will boast one’s self-confidence, which will directly impact on the desire to share it with others. some peculiar aspects of mastering the topic or assignment, include; doing a good research, engaging someone or smaller group like one’s family in discussion, summarizing the speech, developing cues and determining the low and highpoints of the speech. All these will impact positively on the final phase of public speech delivery.

Furthermore, the strategy of dialogue diffuses anxiety than monologue. In other words, engage your audience. Let the exercise become participatory for the audience. As soon as the audience becomes involved, the speaker changes in status, from a dispassionate and lonesome expert to a wise and resourceful choir leader. Again, the idea of stimulating audience participation affords the speaker opportunity to relax between each short session while others are contributing (of course, much depends on the type of topics, audience and assignment). speech training has developed into a significant aspect of behavioural science. One can enroll in such a school or read the literature as well as use the audio and visual tapes, which demonstrate excellence in public speaking.

Autosuggestion is another useful strategy to handle PsA or glossophobia. In this strategy, one learns to inwardly encourage oneself to be bold. After all, the anxiety, fear and worry are internally generated.

Therefore courage and capability, competence and confidence can (are) equally be internally generated. such sentences like I am ready for today’s public speech, I have what it takes to deliver today’s paper. I am excited to be the chosen speaker. due to the persistent nature of anxiety and fear, it is important that the victim of PsA perseveres in the use of autosuggestion. This strategy will also yield better result when it is started early as well as in combination with other strategies which impact positively on PsA. In the next edition, we consider more useful strategies to conquer PsA or glossophobia. Keep living healthy.

Dr. Passy Amaraegbu, A clinical psychologist lives in Lagos. drpassy@yahoo.com

TheGuardian

Sunday, March 16, 2014 33

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Business Unsure Footing For N1trn SURE-P Fund

By Marcel Mbamalu O circumvent the unbearable cost of running government due to lousily overloaded civil service, whimsical National Assembly and official idiosyncrasies, governments find parallel means of pushing quick-win projects in special funds for special people-oriented projects.

The essence is to escape official bureaucracy — with its attendant corruption — and hit the ground running. Managed independently by presidential appointees, the funds are usually derived from subsidy-prone sectors, like education and oil/gas, extricated from annual budgets and administered exclusively to ‘needy’ sectors for immediate impact on citizens.

Yet, such ‘parallel governments’, as they seem, are fraught with intrinsic challenges; like the controversial Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SUREP) and its older role model, the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), they all have their own pitfalls, most often falling prey to allegations of corruption, maladministration, indiscretion and outright embezzlement.

Such special funds, whenever the Presidency floats them, call to question, even the Federal Government’s civil service structure, which appears to be taking everything and giving nothing in return. Once upon a time, the estranged Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in a controversial manner, cried out that 25 percent of Nigeria’s annual budget was being swallowed up by the civil service structure; he also pointed fingers at the National Assembly.

Ideally, the special funds should interlope to get things quickly done and take away corruption-prone bureaucracy that would have reduced budgets for special projects by at least five percent, if they were allowed to transit through the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

To achieve these utopian objectives in Nigeria, the presidency seeks some form of independence for heads of the agencies, as was the case with Major. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s PTF under late Gen. Sani Abacha, and President Goodluck Jonathan’s SURE-P (originally run by Dr. Christopher Kolade, whose resignation threw up his deputy, Gen. Martin Agwai).

The substantiality of the autonomy is, however, debatable. Former SURE-P chair, Dr. Kolade, once cried out that he was not seeing the money. He later resigned for reasons that were neither here nor there.

The basic principle for instituting intervention funds like the SURE-P, therefore, is to mop up funds that would have been idle, for active projects. But these utopian objectives have some drawbacks: the same bureaucracy, sometimes, bedevil it; allegations (allegations, because no prima facie case has been proven against any official) of corruption still trail the SURE-P at the state level, even as the one at the centre struggles against ‘enemies’ to prove its integrity; with appointment of several personnel and setting up of many committees and sub-committees, the funds, most times, still go through the same human resource overload as the civil service, thus defeating the very essence of its creation.

In many instances, the circumstance and motive of its creation give it away as an afterthought. The PTF and the extant SURE-P are clear examples.

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SURE-P rail project in Abuja

governments have, so far, carted away some N500 billion (N480bn, to be precise) in the last 18 months the project has run. The fivepercent Ecology Fund is already having something close to N45 billion within the period.

Ohuabunwa, however, regrets that “most of the SURE-P activities ongoing in the country in the last two years are essentially funded by the national SURE-P committee.” The expectation,” he says, “was (and still is) that states and local governments will use their own allocations (54percent) to set up their state SURE-P programmes that will counterpart the federal projects, especially in the safety net category or intervene in other areas in the states.

Enter SURE-P “As at date, not more than three states have NSTITUTED by the Federal Government in set up state SURE-P Committees. So, no one acreaction to the January 2012 subsidy removal protests, SUREP is reeling under a bur- tually knows how most of the states are using their own SURE-P funds,’ he warns. den of distrust, just because it looks more The criticisms notwithstanding, SURE-P at like a product of happenstance than a prethe national level appears to have done a emptive act of governance. handful of good jobs in many parts of the The Presidency, on January 1, 2012, took country, Part of the justification for partial Nigerians by surprise when it announced a deregulation was that the intervention vehitotal removal of subsidy on PMS, popularly cle would fast-track provision of dividends, esknown as petrol, forcing several days of Arab-like uprisings that set government on a pecially in infrastructure and social safety nets for Nigerians; ‘SURE-P buses’ would be inface-saving reverse. troduced to ease high cost of transportation Rather than eat the humble pie alone, actors at the seat of power had to find a middle in major cities. Although it appears to have been done, this aspect of safety net thrives ground, where there would neither be ‘vicmore in Federal Capital Territory, and less in tor’ nor ‘vanquished.’ Thus, after unrewarding attempts to calm nerves, the pump price other major commercial cities like Lagos, of the ‘household item’ that would have sold where consumption of petrol is even much higher. at N141 if government had its way, was temThe situation is not helped by the recent respered to the current price of N97. ignation Kolade, who, at some point, Government explained to irate Nigerians lamented paucity of funds needed to do the that the N32 difference (the original pump work. General Agwai (rtd), who has always price was N65) would be ‘reinvested’ in crebeen on the board of the SURE-P, was recently ating jobs and ‘empowering’ Nigerians; appointed to step into his shoes. Mazi thus, the SURE-P was birthed by fiat.

Two years down the road, arguments — as Ohuabunwa, who claims that SURE-P is alThe PTF Scenario to whether or not the programme is deliver- ready intervening in several people-oriented child of controversy, the PTF was birthed by ing the expected dividend — abound, with a projects across the country, insists that nothing (other than age consideration) propelled late General Sani Abacha in 1994, after he in- handful of Nigerians (mostly from the platthe resignation of the former chair. creased pump price of premium motor spirit form of the opposition party) asking for A source close to Kolade in the SURE-P proj(PMS) from N5 to N11. Expectedly, Nigerians opmore evidence of delivery. posed the hike, which affected all petroleum An alarm was raised that N500 billion was ect told The Guardian that the Boardroom products — petrol, kerosene and diesel. Opposimissing from the SURE-P fund, an allegation guru was very uncomfortable — almost ‘jittery’ — with the general air of distrust trailing tion to the hike was anchored on the certainty that has now been watered down by the exthe programme and had to throw in the that the windfall would end up in private pockplanation that it was actually shared betowel. ets of highly placed Nigerians. tween the states and local governments.

Yet, Agwai, the retired general at the helm of To assuage this fear, Abacha summoned Gen. Seemingly, government’s case is weighed affairs now, will have to work harder to win Buhari from retirement, and his duty was to down by defective communication to Nigemanage the new PTF into which excess income rians who clearly need to be convinced that the trust of Nigerians for buy-in. from the pump price hike would be deposited. the additional N32 they are made to pay at Of course, Buhari ran the Trust Fund as executive petrol stations is being used judiciously.

Federal Government’s Score Card chairman from its inception in 1994 up to when In obvious defence of government, Mazi URE-P’s interventions at the federal level it was disbanded in 1999 by the Obasanjo govern- Sam Ohuabunwa, a former Chairman of the span infrastructure, social safety nets and ment. The PTF intervened in roads and waterNigerian Economic Summit Group and ways; supply of educational materials and member of the SURE-P Sub Committee, says job creation. The rehabilitation of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Road is one good example. rehabilitation of educational infrastructure; the programme has raised close to N1 trilThe controversial road under the SURE-P is 75 food supply; health; water supply; and what, in lion, with Federal Government’s 41 percent an inexplicable manner, was termed “other proj- share amounting to some N360 billion; with percent completed, although the Ore-Sagamu end still begs for attention. The East-West ects.” their statutory 54 percent, states and local Spurred by allegations of mismanagement, the Obasanjo administration set up an Interim Management Committee to investigate the Fund. The Committee, in its report, alleged that the total income accruing to the PTF (from mid-1994 to July 1999) was well over N181 billion. The Fund was accused by the committee of running a ‘capricious’ management structure that allowed the appointment of the ‘independent’ and ‘unquestionable’ Afri-Projects Consortium, which allegedly overcharged it to the tune of N2 billion.

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Road is another area of focus as far as the intervention fund is concerned. The very difficult (swampy in some areas) terrain spans the South South states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and ends in Oron, Akwa Ibom.

Divided into four sections (Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom axes), the major problem in parts of waterlogged Bayelsa that needs several bridges. SURE-P claims about 80 percent work completion in Rivers and Akwa Ibom ends of the road and has succeeded in constructing a second bridge across the Imo River under the East West Road project.

Through the SURE-P, government has also resuscitated Lagos-Kano train services, which it ‘relaunched’ in December 2013. Expectedly, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail service will also be completed by the end of 2014.

The Federal Government has also dualised the Kano-Maiduguri Road, even though about 10 percent of the work (a few kilometres surging into the Maiduguri township) is yet to be completed. In the same vein, the Abuja-Lokoja road is being handled under the programme; but the few kilometres that connect Lokoja axis is yet to be done for reasons, which unofficial sources attribute to the contractor handling the project.

The Kogi State end of the road, it was learnt, is being done by GITTO, the Italian firm, which two years ago lost its Managing Director.

Other road projects within the purview of the SURE-P include the Onitsha-Enugu Road, the Second Niger Bridge project (being operated under BOT model by the Federal Government, Julius Berger, Anambra and Delta state governments).

The Federal Government will pay for its counterpart funding for the bridge project using the SURE-P as a vehicle.

In healthcare, the Federal Government says it has either completed or rehabilitated 1,050 primary and secondary health centres across the country. Six Hundred and Fifty of them (abandoned under the military) were taken over (for construction or rehabilitation) in 2012 when the programme commenced. It added another 500 last year.

Nurses (3,580 of them) were trained, even as allowances for those in the hinterland were subsidised to discourage rural-urban migration. In 16 pilot states, pregnant women are also being given N1,000 cash incentive each time they visit hospitals for antenatal care. The pilot scheme is now extended to 25 states.

Under the SURE-P’s youth empowerment scheme, youths are mobilised for community service in states for which they are entitled to monthly stipend of N10,000, even as the graduate and non-graduate internship schemes allow government partnership with private sector for job creation. Under the graduate internship scheme, raw skills are taken and perfected in partnership with private companies, with the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

BUSINESS

SURE-P: What The Model Means To Nigerians

By Sam Ohuabunwa HE SURE-P is meant to be a unique interventionist paradigm. Partial removal of the subsidy on PMS is in pursuit of Federal Government’s desire to achieve critical objectives, one of which was to channel the very significant resources spent on petroleum subsidy (which exceeded N2 trillion in 2011 alone out of a total national budget of less than N4 trillion) to other very critical national needs like roads, bridges, railways, healthcare and education.

The second objective is to free up pricing (deregulation) in the downstream oil sector so that private investors could play leading role in building and operating refineries to boost local supplies of refined petroleum.

The third goal is to eliminate alleged racketeering and corruption in oil subsidy operations.

Having achieved partial subsidy removal, the Federal Government still went on to establish the SURE-P Committee to manage its portion of the subsidy savings.

The committee was given the mandate to manage the funds and ensure their transparent investment in specific national projects and programmes that will promote rapid national development in collaboration with relevant MDAs. The Committee is also expected to help mitigate the short-term pains of subsidy removal on ordinary Nigerians by introducing unique safety net programmes, with attention on Job creation, especially among youth, women and underprivileged populations.

The committee of 21 Nigerians previously headed by Dr. Christopher Kolade, with the late Major-General (rtd) Mamman Kontangora as deputy, was inaugurated in February 2012. Now headed by General (rtd) Martin Luther Agwai (following Dr Kolade’s withdrawal late last year) operates through sub committees and project implementation units (PIUs) embedded in relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). It started work by first obtaining base line measurements of the ongoing projects (mostly for infrastructure projects) and conducts regular project inspections (aided by in house technical Staff and outside consultants when necessary) to certify work done before payment certificates submitted by contractors are approved.

Thereafter, the certificates are sent to the Office of the Federal Director of Budget, which also serves as accounting officer for the committee, and conducts reviews to assure correctness and full documentation with a view to advising the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the custodian of the funds. The CBN promptly credits the account of the contractor. No hassles and no pressures from contractors.

volving scheme and the committee is helping the recovery of the loans to grant access to other stakeholders.``````````` Current Challenges The committee and the programme face a couple of challenges, some of which are: • Poor understanding of the work of the SURE-P committee and its achievements, which is blamed on inadequate sensitisation of the people and suboptimal communication by the committee; bad press engineered by those opposed to the programme and some stakeholders, who thought that was the best way to draw attention to the scheme or to force the hand of the committee.

But because the committee had ‘tied ‘ its hands ab initio, it could not respond to those who wanted to force open its hands. For example, the false alarm that N500 billion of SURE-P funds were missing when the so-called missing money was the allocation to states and local governments in 2013;apparent politicisation of the CSWYE activities in the states, which has now been contained with help from the office of the Vice- President, and security and logistic issues especially in the roads and railway projects in North East and South- South.

Another challenge is the increasing pressure to take on more projects, which may cause delay in completing ongoing projects.

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How Far Has The Committee Gone NDEED, the committee has operated effectively for approximately one and half years, because it actually was only able to operate its account about July 2012, after deliberately designing its operating structures and systems that will effectively ‘tie’ its hands. Within the 18 months and after disbursement of nearly N290 billion (out of the N360 billion that has accrued to it in two years), it is on record that so much has been achieved which can be summarised below: A. Infrastructural Projects 1. Roads and Bridges . Abuja-Abaji- Lokoja Highway dualisation: work has proceeded a pace on the four sections and as at end of 2013, the completion of work has moved from about 32 percent at the inception of the intervention to over 65 percent.

Benin-Ore- Shagamu Expressway The reconstruction of the once terrible highway has so advanced that the journey that took five to

I

Ohuabunwa eight hours in 2011, now takes between three and the SURE-P funds four hours.

B. The Safety Net Programmes Onitsha - Enugu- PH Highway The Community, Social, Women and Youth Work on the Enugu-Onitsha section on both car- employment (CSWYE) programmes across the riages has accelerated and advanced significantly 36 states have created more than 120,000 jobs and work is going on right now, reducing the suf- for youths, women and the handicapped. fering, accidents and travelling time for comThe Graduate internship scheme (GIS) has regmuters in those areas. istered more than 100,000 young graduates Kano - Maiduguri Highway Dualisation while about 20,000 are being matched by the Despite the security situation in the North East of partner Private sector companies Nigeria, SURE-P intervention has caused signifiThe Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) procant progress, helping to keep the contractors on gramme across the states of Nigeria has emsite. ployed over 6000 midwives and village health Loko and 2nd Niger Bridges workers. Over 30000 deliveries have been Work on the new Loko Bridge that connects Nas- recorded in the nearly 1000 upgraded and sarawa State with Benue State is progressing. After staffed primary healthcare centres across the many years of rhetoric, Julius Berger has been nation. commissioned to build the second Niger Bridge Attendance at antenatal clinics motivated by and preliminary works have started; although the conditional cash transfers (CCT) to pregnant one cannot see the work from the present bridge women in the rural areas has tripled, encouragbecause the location is father down the river. ing an improved family planning adoption and The East- West Road importantly taking Nigeria out of the list of Anybody, who uses the 338-km road that goes countries with the highest maternal and infant from Warri-Sapele-Patani-kaima-Mbiama-Ahoada- mortality rates.

Port Harcourt-Eleme-Onne-Eket- Oron will be surThe FERMA Public works project is involved in prised to see the rapid improvement over the last maintaining 40 priority federal highways 18 months that has taken overall project comple- across the nation and has created jobs for 12,400 tion from about 22 percent in early 2012 to about youths who help to maintain the roads and 70percent as at December 2013, despite the dam- public spaces. The Technical Vocational Educaage done by the late 2012 floods. The whole road is tion and training (TVET) programme has underexpected to be fully commissioned by the end of taken the renovation of many abandoned this year or early next year at the latest. technical and vocational training centres across Railways and reopened the production of critically The SURE-P funds assisted the restoration of the needed technicians for companies and indusLagos-Jebba-Kano rail lines, making it possible for tries. Eight of such technical and vocational centhe trains to run again after many years and help- tres have been reactivated. ing to move goods and people across the Western The Culture and Tourism subcommittee is line, including petroleum products and cement helping with the renovation of national her(reducing pressure on our roads). itage sites to help diversify national income Work on the Eastern Line, Port Harcourt-EnuguMass Transit subcommittee overseas the mass Makurdi-Jos-Kafanchan-Maiduguri may be transit project that has resulted in the purchase opened to rail traffic this year. of over 800 buses across the country to help The standard gauge Abuja-Idu-Kaduna new rail moderate the short-term effect of the increase line is about 70 percent completed, assisted by in cost of retail price of petrol. This is a loan-re-

Relationship With States One major area of challenge for the Committee is poor understanding of its mandate as it relates to the states and local governments. The subsidy removal savings go to the Federation Account and then distributed among the three tiers. The Federal Government gets 41 percent while the bulk of 54 percent goes to states and local governments.

The remaining five percent goes to the Ecology Fund. Now, the Federal Government has used its allocation (41 percent) to set up the national or federal SURE-P which intervenes in all the areas already enumerated above.

Most of the SURE-P activities ongoing in the country in the last two years are essentially funded by the national SURE-P committee. The expectation was and still is that states and local governments will use their own allocations (54 percent), which comes to nearly N480 billion Naira in the last two years to set up their state SURE-P programmes that will counterpart the federal projects, especially in the safety net category or intervene in other areas in the states.

As at date, not more than three states have set up state SURE-P Committees. So, no one actually knows how most of the states are using their own SURE-P funds. All attention and criticism have been on the federal or national SURE-P. CONCLUSION Within an effective period of 18 months or so, the Federal government has used its Sure-p funds of slightly less than N300 billion naira to achieve all that is enumerated above and more.

Now imagine what is possible if the over two trillion naira spent in 2011 and those spent in 2012, 2013 and the N1 trillion budgeted for 2014 for fuel subsidy are saved and used to intervene in critical economic infrastructure like the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway for example.

In my view, we are wasting those huge sums and as one columnist put it recently,” we either kill fuel subsidy or fuel subsidy will kill us soon”.

In addition to delivering National critical projects in a cost-effective and transparent manner, the SURE-P developmental intervention model is also impacting the work ethic of the PIUs and other stakeholders with the hope that when the committee’s work is done, the PIUs, which are embedded in the MDAs, will carry on with this work ethic with its salutary effect on execution capacities of the MDAs.

The Problem With Interventionist Initiatives CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Federal Government paying a token N25, 000 in addition to what the company pays as monthly salary for the fixed oneyear period. Government claims that one-third of the over 500 applicants have been fixed so far in the scheme being managed by the Ministry of Finance.

The non-graduate internship scheme, which is managed by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, engage technical institutions in grooming skills for critical sectors, including real estate, based on what the industry needs.

The SURE-P, as a fund, has some questions (key of which are issues of constitutionality, spread and corruption) tending to detract from its so-called successes. For instance, concerns are rife that a chunk of the fund could have been used to feather political nests, especially at the state level. While government at the centre gets 41 percent share of the monthly allocations from the funds, states and local governments coast home with a whooping 51 percent, even as the ecological fund gets a paltry five percent.

If unofficial estimates from ‘official’ quarters puts Federal Government’s average monthly SURE-P ‘earnings’ at N15 billion (41 percent), what the states and local governments take home (54 percent) becomes a mere matter of conjecture.

The federal Ministry of Finance, through a statement posted on its website the other Friday, said the sum of N35.549 billion is proposed for distribution under the SURE-P for the month of January this year.

Feelers coming from the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) indicate that the Federal Government may have raked in N254 billion from subsidy removal in 2013.

The PPPRA had stated that Nigerians consumed 39.66 million barrels of petrol in 2013, amounting to 7,932,000,000 litres (going by the standard estimation of 200 litres per barrel).

Putting the figure together with the N32, which the Federal Government, in January 2012, imposed on the pump rice of PMS, would mean that the country earned N253.82 billion in 2013, an amount meant to offset its SURE-P ‘commitments.’

But the N4.987 trillion 2013 Budget allocated 273.5 billion as aggregate expenditure for that year.

A statement from the PPPRA had quoted the Executive Secretary, Mr. Reginald Stanley, as telling the House Committee on Downstream and International Association of Energy Economists (IAEE) that the drop in earnings in relation with the 2012 figures was as a result of government reforms in the oil and gas sector.

While the Federal Government has the SURE-P vehicle for ad-

ministrating the ‘subsidy’ fund, many of the states tend to mix up their share in a manner that does not make for accountability.

Yet, there is the argument that, since fuel consumption pattern differs from state to state, the principle of derivation should be applied in distributing the SURE-P fund. But this argument falls to the ground when viewed against the manner states’ and local governments’ share of the money has been used so far. Those close to the programme at the federal level would easily reel out litany of achievements; yet, little is said to be going on at state and local government levels, where the bulk of the over N600 billion fund (51 percent) is channeled.

The SURE-P came in the mould of the defunct petroleum Trust Fund floated by the Military administration of late General Sani Abacha in 1993 after the Junta increased pump price of petrol.

The PTF, which was run centrally by General Muhammadu Buhari, became an instrument for massive development in road infrastructure, education, health and transport, among others.

The current project has everything in common with the PTF, except that it is not backed by a clear-cut enabling law and has a lot of hands (states and local governments’) on the pie.

The SURE-P will, therefore, need to watch against hitting another bump as it ‘cruises’ on.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 16, 2014

35

BUSINESS $500m Nigerian IPO: Big Relief For London Stock Exchange?

By Marcel Mbamalu IGERIA’S indigenous oil company, Seplat Petroleum Plc, says it will, midApril, simultaneously float a $500 million initial public offering (IPO) in two stock exchanges — London and Nigeria. The offering is potentially the largest flotation by an oil exploration and production company in Europe since the global financial crisis, according to investment experts.

The oil exploration and production company currently produces around 60,000 barrels a day from three oil blocks it bought from the Shell Petroleum Development Company in 2010. The company says it plans to shore up its market value to some $2billion by floating 25 percent at both the LSE and the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

Although the London Stock Exchange adventure would reduce shareholding of the Nigerian founders, they (the founders) will, however, remain influential in the scheme of things. French energy company, Maurel & Prom, and Swiss-based trader, Mercuria Energy Group, also hold stakes in Seplat. In response to an inquiry yesterday, a source privy to the arrangement told The Guardian that the company is not pursuing the conventional IPO but a specialised arrangement. “This is not a retail IPO; it is a book-built IPO, which targets high-net worth individuals and institutional investors,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal, on Tuesday, said a successful listing by Seplat would go a long way in reviving the reputation of London as a centre for IPOs of emerging market resource companies.

After series of contentious deals in the past 10 years, the LSE was shut against emerging markets. Controlled by foreign tycoons, Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. (ENRC) Plc of Kazakhstan and Bumi of Indonesia, in early 2000s, had found an inroad into the LSE after being lured by persuasive bankers, irrespective of their poor records in corporate governance.

The issues arising from that floatation put the City of London’s reputation in jeopardy; the LSE struggled for years to regain its image, a situation that forced the UK Listing Authority (the gatekeeper of the LSE) to tighten the rules for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), especially for premium listings.

Nigeria’s Seplat now plans to list 25 percent of its shares in a move that promises to whittle down the powers of its main shareholders.

The local oil firm, which was birthed by an SPV arrangement between Shebah Petroleum and Platform Petroleum, has Basil Omiyi, former Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, and Ifueko Omogui-Okaru (the former Federal Inland Revenue Service boss) as independent non-executive directors. Others include Michael Alexander, Mr Stuart Connal (former CEO of Centrica) and Dr. Charles Okeahalam.

Connal, who joined SEPLAT as chief operating officer, is now an executive director of the oil independent.

Apart from the company chairman, ABC Orjiako, Seplat’s egg-head chief executive officer, Austin Avuru, also has the collaboration of Macaulay Ofurhie, Jean-Francois Henin, Michel Hochard and Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero.

The company successfully made a bid for Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC)

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Orjiako, Seplat’s Chairman

Avuru, Seplat’s CEO

As Seplat Moves To Diversify Shareholdings Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 4, 38 and 41 and became a public limited company (Plc) on Thursday October 3, 2013, following which it held an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Monday January 27, 2013. The company also recently put in bids for Chevron’s 40 percent equity in the gas-rich OMLs 53, 52 and 55 in the eastern onshore Niger Delta basin. It is not clear whether, or not, that process has been concluded, even though it is believed that SEPLAT will emerge preferred bidder.

It was after the EGM that Seplat informed Nigerians that former Zenith Bank Group Managing Director and seasoned entrepreneur, Mr. Jim Ovia, had bought into the company, alongside a few other big weights. Subsequent events, drawing from the development, culminated in the historic LSE listing. It, therefore, becomes Nigeria’s first oil company to list on the LSE and the Nigerian Stock Exchange at the same time, hence “extending its strings of firsts,” according to ABC Orjiako.

According to Orjiako, Seplat “has a string of firsts,’ being the first Nigerian oil firm to enjoy dual listing on the floors of the NSE and the LSE. According to him, the company was the first to buy from divesting majors and to get operatorship, “it is also the first to go Plc at the time it did, as well as the first to sign a GMOU with host communities less than four months after it began operations.

Seplat, no doubt, derives real energy from Avuru, its chief executive, who remains a major force in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. He has been in the forefront of the campaign for a more vibrant oil and gas sector, through a revitalised Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). For instance, the marginal field operator, and Imo Itsueli, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Dubri Oil, two years ago, participated in plenary session on “the PIB and the future of Nigeria’s oil industry,” at the Nigeria Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja.

They were on the same platform with Mark

Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chairman, Vetiva Fund Managers Limited, Mr. Chuka Eseka; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Managing Director, Vetiva Fund Managers Limited, Mr. Damilola Ajayi; and Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna JaloWaziri, at the NSE.

Ward, Managing Director of ExxonMobil’s Nigeria unit, as well as chairman of an association of oil majors, who said that the country’s oil production would fall by 40 per cent by 2020 without new investments. However, he said the industry could grow by 50 per cent over the same period if planned investments go forward.

Avuru, had, at the forum, explained the arguments for and against the provisions of the PIB on oil players and government, but observed that the revised bill would not solve any of the problems in the downstream sector, especially as the issue of privatising the refineries was excluded from the document.

The Seplat managing director noted that discussions on the PIB had been reduced to tax and royalty issues, neglecting the broader and more critical question of major sectoral reform to solve the problems that had been with the country since 1992.

According to him, if the major concern was to be about government’s take on taxes and royalties, it would have been easier to amend the PPT Act of 1959 and sections of the Petroleum Act of 1969 to address the issue. He said JV terms in Nigeria were already some of the highest in the world, with risks like bunkering and security issues.

“Nigeria post-PIB will not be a globally attractive fiscal regime,” Avuru told his audience.

“We are strengthening failed institutions and frustrating private capital.” Urging the Federal Government and the oil players to close the gaps between them, Avuru noted that the PIB was initiated in 2000 to engender institutional reforms and the attendant competitiveness.

He said M-Tel’s collapse in the face of stiff competition in the open market of GSM showed that government-owned businesses were poor competitors; even as noted that the original vision of the PIB, as initiated in 2000, was to, among other things, create a:

• Strong independent regulator, comparable to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) in the telecoms sector: • Transparent lease administration; • Fiscal environment for elimination of cashcall bottlenecks; and • Good environment for private sector investments in the downstream sector.

“The Bill cannot solve refinery issues. Cash call issues are not mentioned in the bill at all. Unbundle, deregulate and privatise the downstream sector,” Avuru stated.

His position on the PIB has, no doubt, received attention in both public and private quarters, necessitating a new direction of thought and actions.

It is instructive that Seplat is seeking foreign portfolio investment to further shore up its operating capital. It will diversify its shareholding and reduce the influence of its main shareholders for better corporate governance. The controversies in the ENRC, Bumi and other resource groups’ listings notwithstanding, tiny free floats, coupled with large controlling stakes held by oligarchs, reduced influence of institutional investors. However, Seplat will remain incorporated in Nigeria and would, therefore, not be able to join the benchmark FTSE 250 index, according to experts.

“We are a Nigerian company and very proud of that fact. We would like to remain a Nigerian company,” said Orjiako.

According to the chairman, “Seplat will voluntarily apply the standards required of a premium listing.”

Orjiako’s position indicate that the company is being allowed to take a shot at the LSE simply because it meets the corporate governance requirements, the indices of which would be strong board, independent directors drawn from within and outside Africa, strong financials, as well as encouraging potentials, among others.

How far the present feat will go is a matter of conjecture.

Head of Operations, Elsewedy Electric Nigeria Ltd, Mohammed Gamal (left); President of the Society of Nigerian Engineers (NSE), Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi; and Managing Director, Elsewedy Electric Nigeria, Raed Hassanieh, when 40 members of NSE visited Elsewedy’s electric transformer manufacturing factory and pre-paid meter assembly plant in Badagry, Lagos.

36 Sunday March 16, 2014

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BUSINESSAGRO

From farm to table, FIIRO has developed many product technologies to boost SMEs and create jobs

Howeler: Cassava Man Of Asia Comes To Town • Cassava Farmers To Get Training

By Fabian Odum O make cassava wear the look of an industrial T crop, while still retaining the position of a food crop, Nigeria must use varieties that are high-yielding though it may not have the best taste; and researchers must go to the farm to meet the farmers with ideas.

This is the position of Dr. Reinhardt Howeler, the agronomist and soil scientist reputed to be behind the cassava revolution in Thailand, who is now in the country to help improve the fortunes of the root crop.

Howeler was speaking with the hindsight of Thailand’s production, on the one hand, in which 68 per cent is consigned to export while the rest feeds the industrial sector for ethanol production. It now hauls about five million dollars yearly. On the other, it is the fact that Malayasia and Vietnam are also among the leading cassava growers, exporters and processors.

Howeler, on the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is assisting local farmers through a training programme at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye, Ogun state recently.

At present Nigeria needs 1,000 tonnes of fresh tubers per day to produce 240 tonnes of High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) daily if the high capacity cassava processing plants to be established nationwide would make business sense.

Since this is one of the key challenges, Howeler said the Thailand approach of ‘Farmers Participatory Research Methodology’ would be deployed. In this, farmers are interacted with to identify the problems and proffer solutions; options are put forward to arrive at the way forward.

With the Cassava Transformation Team of the ministry, Howeler is working on training farmers based on what has been proven in the field, a

practical methodology of classroom to the farms.

He said cassava, in most of Asia and Latin America, was more a backyard crop for small farmers but has become an industrial crop. It has found use in production of starch, sweeteners, and ethanol. For this reason, cassava is quite a profitable crop to grow.

Senior Technical Assistant to Minister of Agriculture and Head of the Cassava Transformation Team, Dr. Martins Fregene said at the training that the minister is focused on making business of agriculture.

The concern, he said is to develop robust supply chains for cassava industrial production in the country.

Fregene said the ministry is committed to effecting this through land clearing and establishment of mechanised cassava farms at locations of existing or proposed medium to large scale HQCF and starch processing plants.

A key manual for this training would be a compendium of best crop production, soil management practices and the business of cassava production that would be used as a resource material intended for the trainer, which will cover best practices for cassava crop and soil management, soil erosion control, Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM), and enterprise development.

Howeler has 39 years experience at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), where he was key in major turnaround to increase cassava production in Asia. The world acclaimed agronomist is on a journey to replicate in Nigeria what has worked in Asia and other cassavaproducing countries, where the business is at an industrial scale.

D’Banj Goes Cocoa Farming APO Daniel Oyebanji, popular Nigerian D singer-songwriter and businessman, who has won himself and country worldwide acclaim and several music awards, including the award for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, has declared that agriculture is his next berth.“Today the Koko Master has become the Koko Farmer”, D’banj declared.

Any Nigerian, young or old, who is lucky to find himself in a position of privilege should strive to positively touch the lives of the less privileged, D’banj said. He added he would go into agriculture full-scale by establishing a cocoa farm soon.

The artiste, who is Ambassador of ONE, a nonpartisan organisation co-founded by Bono, a global musical icon, to raise public awareness and work with political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programmes made the declaration while on an advocacy and courtesy call on the Agriculture Minister, with Dr. Sipho S. Moyo, Africa Director of ONE on Tuesday.

The duo’s mission to the Minister was to apprise him of a campaign tagged “Do Agriculture, it pays.” The campaign is to raise institutional awareness in support for policies and programmes to help small holder farmers access services, including improved seeds, inputs and technical support to raise their productivity and income, as well food security, poverty reduction and wealth creation through employment.

The Minister assured them that President Jonathan’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda was designed specifically to help the

poor, smallholder farmers, youths and women gain a big foot hold as major players and beneficiaries in Agriculture. He said about 1. 5 million women farmers will be captured under the growth enhancement support and given seeds at 100 per cent subsidy and other inputs at 50 per cent.

He said that with Nigerian farmers having an average age of 60 years, it bothers government that in about 10 years from now, Nigeria will not find enough people in the agricultural workforce, even as population growth and food need keep rising astronomically. It is for this reason, he said, that Government has made it a deliberate policy to make agriculture attractive, easy and profitable to our teaming youths who would be given a variety of incentives to do agriculture as business, gain jobs and create wealth.

Earlier in her mission statement to the Minister, Dr. Moyo, Africa Director of ONE, said that in addition to seeking support for Do Agriculture, it pays, ONE also wishes to register its concern that in spite of being one of the 46 African countries that have failed to meet the agreed target of the Maputo Declaration of devoting at least 10 per cent of their budgets to agriculture, Nigeria’s proposed budget for agriculture has fallen from 1.55 in 2013, to 1.47 per cent in 2014.

Adesina, said while the sector could do better with more allocation, his Ministry was aware of the kin competition for allocation of scarce resources to other important public services.

He said what was important to him is the efficient and transparent management of the little the Ministry can access, arguing that Government’s achievement in the sector in the last two years has made better impact on the lives and welfare of smallholder farmers.

Ogun Pay Compensation On Land Acquired For Agric Purpose N its continuous quest to make more land available for food production, the Ogun state government has paid compensation to 469 beneficiaries whose land were acquired for agricultural purposes in Imasayi, Yewa North Local Government.

Supervising the payment, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun said compensation were paid on crops lost on the

I

acquired land.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr. Wale Ogunyomade, Mrs. Sokefun thanked the beneficiaries for their cooperation in making their land available for food production stating that their efforts will go a long way in contributing to the state government’s resolve in making the state the nation’s food basket in no distant future.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Freerange Farms Mr.

Micheal Waugh, whose organisation will use the acquired land for Poultry farming said the project would provide employment for over 2,000 while a scholarship programme will be established for the indigenes of the town as part of its social responsibility.

For the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Gbadebo Oni, he praised the state government for paying the compensation and assure Freerange Farms of peaceful operation in the community.

D’Banj, the ‘Koko farmer’ supporting the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina and the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, endorsing a local branded rice

Sunday, March 16, 2014 37

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IBRUCENTRE

Pope Francis Marks First Anniversary He’s A Grassroots Pope, Says Osu

By Chris Irekamba HE man, Pope Francis 1, who presides over T the affairs of over 1.2 billion Catholics, is one year old in office. Jorge Mario Bergoglio adopted the name Francis, after taking over from Pope Benedict XVI, last year, March 13, when the latter resigned on health grounds.

Celebrating his first anniversary in office, last Thursday, many of his followers and enthusiasts, who thought that Pope Francis would roll out the drums to mark the occasion were disappointed, as the Pontiff chose a modest spiritual retreat outside Rome to thank God for His faithfulness.

The Pope left the Vatican in the company of 83 members of the Curia, the church’s governing body. The retreat, which is very crucial in the heart of Vatican calendar, would afford Pope Francis the opportunity to observe lent.

His decision to celebrate this event in a low-key manner has denied many newspapers the opportunity to fete on the man’s one year in office.

This goes to show the man’s background as a Jesuit, and he has consistently maintained that lifestyle even when he was a priest.

Many Catholics and non-Catholics have admired his determination and approach to certain issues concerning the church. Even his workers are not comfortable because nobody can predict what would be his next agenda.

As the world, especially Catholics celebrate with Pope Francis, 77, the faithful here in Nigeria are happy with his achievements in the last one year.

One of them and the Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Very Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu, in a telephone conversation with The Guardian described Pope Francis as a grassroots pope.

In wishing the Pontiff many more years of reign on the throne, Osu said: “In the last one year, he has brought so much life into the church in general and the Vatican in particular.

Much life and activities have come in a positive light. Recently, Times Magazine declared him

Pope Francis man of the year. He has done a lot to improve the lives of the downtrodden.

“On the international scene, a lot has been heard about him, and still being heard. It just reminded me of Pope John of the blessed memory. Pope Francis is full of energy, and he is at the same time an erudite scholar. He has shown that religion is not just a set of rules. He has brought the church to the outside world.

He has woken up every person, challenging us

in different ways to do away with all kinds of ostentatious life.

“For him to be named man of the year by Times Magazine is not a small thing at all. He’s been all over the place, so we wish him good luck and as our prayer says, Tiva papa (God bless our pope), Tanti augiri (many years).

“We wish him many more years and look forward to him. We want him to live in perfect health of mind and body. We wish him happy

anniversary and God’s continuous protection and blessing,” he said.

Born on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first pope from Latin America, as previous popes were from Europe.

Prior to this, Bergoglio served as an Argentine cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998. Born in Buenos Aires, he is one of the five children of an Italian railway worker.

On The Hoax Third Vatican

By Bose Olayinka READ an article entitled Between IoneOkotie and Pope Francis written by Justus Nwakanma and published in The Sunday Guardian of January 12, 2014. My conclusion was that the author meant well, but could have done better. My own article is meant to clarify some of the issues he raised, since a good part of his argument is based on things, which the Pope had never said. He quotes the words purported to have been said by Pope Francis during the Third Vatican Council, but he should have asked himself if and when a Third Vatican Council took place.

There is nothing like Third Vatican Council. The last Vatican Council (the second) was held between 1962 and 1965. Ecumenical Council is not held

in secret. Neither is it held only on the Internet without the knowledge of the whole Church. The public already knows even the Synod of Bishops that will be held this year in Rome in October. A council is first convoked, then commissions are set up to decide the issues to be discussed and many bishops are invited to take part in it.

What has happened is that over the last few weeks, many people have been circulating online some doctrinal errors purportedly uttered by Pope Francis without checking the source. The source of these errors is the Internet hoax articles posted on a blog called Diversity Chronicle. (diversitychronicle.wordpress.com/2013/12/ 05/pope-francis-condemns-racism-anddeclares-that-all-religions-are-true-athistoric-third-vatican-council/). The

original hoax articles were posted on December 5, the day the contrived Third Ecumenical Council purportedly ended. Actually, Diversity Chronicle is a news site that promotes a particular version of human rights and human equality. It does not hesitate to put up real or imagined opinions in a way that suits what it wants to portray. It would like the Church to change its views on some issues and tries to do so by putting words in the mouth of the Pope, so, as to make it look as if the Church supports the cause they are fighting for.

The fact that the Vatican has not officially denied this ‘raft of revolutionary irrationalism coming from the Pope,’ as Nwakanma described it, does not mean that it is true. If the Vatican were to be denying every wrong statement attributed to the

Church or to the Pope, it would just end up doing nothing at all (especially if it is a simple case that can be debunked by just checking the existence of a Third Vatican Council on Google). I had expected more from a former editor of a national newspaper like Nwakama. Interestingly, the Diversity Chronicle website contains a disclaimer with the following words: “The original content on this blog is largely satirical.” Which means that the owner readily admits that he does not set out to convince his opponents with arguments, but to annoy them and encourage those on his side. The blog, he says, was created for his personal amusement.

Funny enough, many writers are now copying and quoting from this amusement blog. Quoting from this amusement blog, Nwakama alleges

that Pope Francis said: “We must recognise that religious truth evolves and changes. Truth is not absolute or set in stone.”

Of course, Pope Francis could not have uttered this statement. In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium the Pope says, “today’s vast and rapid cultural changes demand that we constantly seek ways of expressing unchanging truths in a language, which brings out their abiding newness,” Evangelii gaudium, 41.

The truth of the matter is that while the authors of Diversity Chronicle are busy amusing themselves, many people are getting into all sorts of arguments over what the Pope said and what he did not say.

Bose Olayinka writes from Lagos. boseolayinka@gmail.com

Homosexuality, Bestiality: Abomination And Sinful

By S.K. Abiara OMOSEXUALITY (to turn against H or abandon natural relations of sex) was a usual practice in Sodom and Gomorrah and was as widespread in Paul’s day as it is in our society today. Bestiality is a practice of having sexual affair with animal.

Many pagan practices encouraged it.

Yet, homosexuality and bestiality are strictly forbidden in Scripture.

“Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin. A man must never defile himself by having sexual intercourse with an animal, and a woman must never present herself to a male animal in order to have intercourse with it; this

is a terrible perversion. Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the people I am expelling from the Promised Land have defiled themselves. As a result, the entire land has become defiled. That is why I am punishing the people who live there, and the land will soon vomit them out. You must strictly obey all of my laws and regulations, and you must not do any of these detestable things. This applies both to you who are Israelites by birth and to the foreigners living among you.

“All these detestable activities are practised by the people of the land, where I am taking you, and the land has become defiled. Do not give the

land a reason to vomit you out for defiling it, as it will vomit out the people who live there now. Whoever does any of these detestable things will be cut off from the community of Israel. So be careful to obey my laws, and do not practise any of these detestable activities. Do not defile yourselves by doing any of them, for I, the Lord, am your God” -Leviticus 18:22-30.

Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today, even by some churches. But for a firm believer in God and His Word he or she must know that the society does not set the standard for God’s law. That homosexuality is becoming popular

does not make it acceptable.

Homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them. But God does not encourage us to fulfill all our desires (even normal ones).

Those desires that violate His laws must be controlled. If you have these desires, you can and must resist acting upon them. Consciously avoid places or activities that can kindle temptations.

Don’t underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you, or the potential for serious harm if you continue to yield to these temptations. Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as he forgives other sins.

Surrender yourself to God, asking him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of His freedom and love. Prayer, Bible study, and loving support of Christians in a Bible — believing church can help you gain strength to resist these powerful temptations. If you are already deeply involved in homosexual behaviour, seek help from a trustworthy, professional, Christian counselor.

Prophet Abiara, General Evangelist, CAC Worldwide. skabiaraofciem@yahoo.co.uk

38 | Sunday, March 16, 2014

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IBRUCENTRE

Sunday School Christian Dressing Memory Verse: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them”- Genesis 3:21.

Bible Passage: Genesis 3:7-21.

Introduction God was the first tailor who clothed Adam and Eve and with the singular purpose of covering their nakedness, moderately and completely.

A New Creature The new birth resulting from genuine salvation automatically leads to change in citizenship and conduct, 1 Cor.5:17;

... With Pastor Enoch Adeboye Eph.2:17-19. Although the believer may not grow taller or fairer, but there is a need for proper representation of a new man in every area of life, Gal.6:15; Eph.4:22. The way to identify the tree is by the fruit, Matt.7:16. Moses, a Jew, was called an Egyptian because he was dressed like one, Ex.2:15-21. A child of God must have a lifestyle patterned after God’s instructions about dressing, Ex.28:2-3.

The Believer’s Mode of Dressing Believers are no more living for themselves, therefore, their mode of dressing must glorify God openly and in the secret, 1 Cor.10:31; 1 Pt.2:9; Rom.12:1-2. Christian dressing should, therefore, not encourage pride and lust but inward adorning only,

1 Tim.2:9; 1 Pet.3:3-5; Is.3:16-24; Gen.3:7-21; Deut.22:5. It must not cause fellow believers to stumble. We are to be one another’s keepers, 1 Jn.2:10. Careless dressing can misrepresent you and what you stand for as a child of God. So, beware, 1 Kgs.22:30-35.

Transparent, perforated, topless, mini, tight fitting garments are baits of Satan. Be careful not to be ensnared, 1 Thess.5:22.

Conclusion Have you given your life to Jesus? If so, there must be some changes. Sanitise your wardrobe today and put away every object of sin. Also, let your adorning be that of the inward man, of a meek and quiet spirit only, 1 Pt.3:3-4.

Awake To Righteousness And Sin No More HE rate at which people of this generation are committing sin nowadays is like asking God what can He do if He is disobeyed. Even the blind would attest evil is now the order of the day. There are abominations in high and low places; there is no more sacred place.

The whole place is putrefying and disgusting, whether in schools, offices, markets and homes, devil and his agents have shown the world belongs to them. The children of men seem to have surrendered to the government of the devil and sorrowfully, many that called themselves children of God have joined the bandwagon of evil and are daily sinking in sin and not looking back.

Seeing the situation, the Lord is imploring us for the umpteenth time to awake to righteousness and sin no more, so as to escape from the imminent destruction that is to come. This warning must not be

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brushed aside, we must make haste to break out from the tradition of wicked men, the corruption that has pervaded our society, the dominion of sin and fascinations of Satan; otherwise it shall be our ruin.

1 Cor. 15:34 says, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”

This is a spiritual caveat. We must understand we are surrounded by dangers, and by those ever ready to lead us into error and vice. Therefore, we must awake and exercise a constant vigilance, as the children and friends of God expecting a blessed resurrection. Let the certainty of retribution arouse us to duty, and restrain us from sin. And let nobody belittle the warning of God, His wrath and eternity for it is a foolish thing to lean on a broken reed.

Beloved, let us make no mistake by de-

parting from the truth and holiness, or allow ourselves embrace a doctrine, which is not only erroneous, but has the tendency to lead us into sin. For, if we suffer ourselves to embrace the doctrine, which is a denial of the resurrection, the effect would be that we would fall into sin.

Therefore, let no profit tempt you, no pleasure entice you, no power emboldens you, no privacy encourages you to do that, which will bring you face to face with the wrath of God. God wants to recover many people in this generation and thus has brought this message to keep us awake to righteousness. If you are one of those not decided to abandon these chariots of evil doers that have polluted the world, I want you to understand that you cannot escape the wrath of God except you repent. If you don’t repent now, your refusal will lead to the destruction of both your body and

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you refuse to do so, it is disobedience. If God says forgive someone and you refuse to do so, it is also disobedience. All these will cause delay to the reception of answers to your prayers.

•The third key that causes delay in receiving answers to your prayers is a false belief that you have arrived. When you think that you have made it and that you are better than anyone, then you are in trouble. Deuteronomy 8:17 warns those that are wealthy not to believe that they have obtained their power and their

wealth by their own doing. If this happens, then the Lord will show that He is indeed God, the one that gave them the power to get wealth, and He will demote them to the valley. In the same way, those that feel they have arrived in their prayer life or in the Christian walk are only delaying their miracles. This also applies to those filled with pride because of their gifts or talents.

•Unhealthy environment full of unbelief, prayerlessness, strife, bitterness and hatred will make it difficult to have a

Nigeria Needs Urgent Rescue, Says Presidential Aspirant PRESIDENTIAL hopeful A and publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah has observed that Nigeria needs urgent rescue by a new breed of young and resourceful leaders, who will rule without ethnic, religious and geo-political colouration.

Nda-Isaiah made this assertion, while on a visit to the Christian Conscience group, a non-government, but pressure group desirous of encouraging Christian’s participation in active politics during one of the groups meetings in Lagos recently.

While observing that the nation is following in the pattern of failed nations across the globe, he called on Nigeri-

ans to take advantage of the next political dispensation to vote for credible people that will deliver on their promises.

Intimating the group of his willingness to run in the presidential race, Nda-Isaiah said his desire to run was borne out of a sincere need to serve “our motherland”. “I want to assure this group that my ambition is not based on sentiment or trying to play to the gallery but it is borne out of love for Nigeria and Nigerians”.

He promised to bring vibrancy to governance by bringing new and innovative ideas, while also ensuring the indivisibility of the country.

Responding, the coordinator of the group, Rev. Sam

By Pastor Lazarus Muoka soul.

Rev. 3:3 says, “Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If, therefore, thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

It is possible that many would not regard the warning to awake to righteousness and repent from sin, as they would presume nothing will happen if they refused to give heed to it. But this is often the way in which God comes to men in His heavy judgments. He will admonish us, of what must be the consequences of a course of sin, and warns us to turn from it, but when sinners refuse to attend to His warning, and still walk in the way of evil, He comes suddenly, and cuts them down.

Challenges Of Life (2)

No More Delay (2)

By Seyi Ogunorunyinka ODAY, we shall look at some other factors responsible for such delay.

What are the things that the enemy uses to cause delay in our lives?

•The second thing that causes delay in the manifestations of your miracles is disobedience. If God says, “Fear not” and yet you are afraid, then you have disobeyed! A lot of the time, God puts us through tests and yet we do not know that we are being tested. If God says receive the power of the Holy Spirit and

Living Waters

Ogedengbe of Christian Conscience, applauded his vision, which he observed tallied with the group’s aims and objectives, and wished him well in his endeavour.

He counseled him saying, “as one of the few Christians that have shown interest in the presidential race come 2015, you should not only see yourself as a Christian presidential aspirant but a man that will carry the banner of Christ and exhibit what He stood for.

While assuring him of the support of the group, Ajiboso implored him to remain steadfast and committed to the vision noting that, “only committed people get to their goals and aspirations.”

dynamic prayer life. You must join forces and pray out whoever is causing such problems in the environment you are in.

• In Ecclesiastes 10:18, we are told that spiritual laziness can squeeze the life out of prayer.

The flesh does not like prayer; so, as a Christian, you must learn to pray and be persistent in your prayers. It will not take too much time for you to obtain breakthroughs if prayer becomes your food. If you could spend a tenth of the time you spend eating, talking and gossiping in prayer, you would be amazed at how your life would change. The flesh has become so lazy that it cannot pray.

Are you telling God that He has not answered your prayers and therefore you are at the point of giving up? Isaiah 40:21-31 is directed at those, who believe that God has forsaken them and will not answer their prayers. Such people are asked to look around and see the wonders of the earth and to think about who made all these things.

The God who did all this is more than willing and able to step into your situation. The Lord said to David in 1 Samuel 30:9 regarding the things that the enemy had stolen from him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

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

By Gabriel Agbo HALLENGES of life call for re-dedication, rediscovery and retreating to your source; who must be the maker and keeper of all things – Jehovah. He was there before the challenge came, He is there now you’re going through it, and will also be there after the whole storm.

They call Him the unchanging changer. He can change all situations, but nothing can change Him. He is the almighty and everlasting!

Every challenge in this life is just an opportunity to return back to Him for His opinion and help. Yes, great, powerful and wise men will always return back to the greatest, the most powerful and the wisest.

True!

King Jehoshaphat understood and has been practising this. So, in this situation, without a second thought, he ran to the presence of the God of Israel for help. Yes, he was afraid. Yes, the enemies and their strategies were overwhelming, but he first ran to God; Who will always have the final say in every situation.

Now, where do you go when you face challenges in life?

Where do you seek for help?

Who comes to your mind and equation first? Is it your connections and contacts? Or your money and position?

What? Even as you are going through that situation, where is your trust? If you are looking up to any other means than the Almighty, surely, you will be disappointed. But if your trust is in Him and you are willing to run to Him right now for help, then, I can

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assure you of absolute and resounding victory. Praise God! Jehoshaphat and Judah ran to that indefatigable and tested warrior. Read, “Jehoshaphat was alarmed by this news and sought the LORD for guidance.

He also ordered that everyone throughout Judah should fast.

So, people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 20:3-4. He called everyone to the presence of God and declared a fast. Yes, there are different instruments to dismantle satanic opposition and strongholds and fasting is one of them. It is very powerful and effective, especially if observed by a righteous person.

Hope you got that clearly. If you are a sinner or someone that doesn’t have respect for God, you don’t need to fast except it is for repentance and divine forgiveness. When you have refused God and start fasting for His intervention because you are in trouble, you would be fooling yourself, because He has said that the prayer (including fasting) of a sinner makes Him angry.

True! Start today with prayer of genuine repentance, after that, you can seek His intervention. Hope you understand this.

Jehoshaphat has been God’s friend before now and that gave him the boldness and spiritual ground to embark on that short fast that brought on of the greatest results in history. Have you been a friend of God or are you waiting to run into some trouble then you start ‘collecting’ prayer and fast from everywhere?

Rev. Agbo is a minister with the Assemblies of God Nigeria.

Sunday, March 16, 2014 39

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IBRUCENTRE Crisis Over Hijab In Osun Was Uncalled For, Says Noibi Springs Of Wisdom Professor Dawud O. S. Noibi is the Executive Secretary/CEO Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), the umbrella body for all Muslim organisations and institutions domiciled in South West. In an interactive session with journalists, he states the body’s position to KAMAL TAYO OROPO. ECENTLY, Osun State govR ernment was in the news over permission it granted Muslim female students to wear the Islamic code of dress (Hijab). What’s your group’s position?

The ongoing happenings in Osun State are of serious concern to MUSWEN. The concern is further deepened by religious dimension, which has been introduced by a section of the religion’s community.

Sadly, apparently out of sheer desperation, some people claiming to act in the name of religion have resorted to peddling of falsehood not caring about the dangerous effects of their tactics on peace and relations among religious communities. Worse still, they have shamelessly misled innocent young pupils by involving them in acts of falsehood.

Without doubt, they were intent on diverting attention from the impressive records of a government that has positively impacted the lives of people both within and outside the state.

In the face of these evil consequences, MUSWEN decided to break its silence and, through this press conference, try to check the trend of falsehood and place the plain truth before the public.

Some have accused your group, though religious, of partisan politicking. What exactly informed your reaction?

We have nothing to do with partisan politics. But we appreciate good governance.

On January 19, 2014, a national Sunday newspaper published a statement attributed to Bishop Magnus Atilade, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-West zone, who doubles as President of the Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI). The Bishop’s statement betrayed an unmistakable pathological hatred for Muslims in general and those of the South West in particular. He alleged that the Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola was introducing policies, which he said were “clearly anti-Christian.”

Like some members of CAN leadership in the state, the Bishop believed that the issue of hijab wearing by female Muslim pupils was part of what he regarded as the Islamisation of South West. Conversely, however, he asserted that Nigeria is a state in which all the “citizens have free rights to live, work and express their faith according to their individual convictions.” The Bishop was correct in this regard, as section 38(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 states, inter alia, that “every person shall be entitled to freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

Use of hijab is a religious and constitutional right. Now, wearing of the hijab by female Muslims is nothing short of the manifestation of their religion and their belief “in practice and observance.”

Giving the fact that the government of Aregbesola did not prescribe the use of hijab and that the practice was entirely the choice of the pupils and their parents, the pupils have only exercised their constitutional right in this regard.

How does that exercise of a constitutional right constitute an offence to Christians in the school? And how could any fair-minded person or God-Fearing group of religious leaders blame a governor of failing to prevent the pupils from exercising their religious right guaranteed by the constitution?

Is CAN leadership in the State of Osun not aware that the government of the state has never given any instruction allowing or disallowing the use of hijab by pupils in the state? If they are aware that this had been the case, then there surely is a hidden agenda behind their campaign of calumny against Governor Aregbesola, especially with the approach of the governorship election in the state. They should expect, therefore, that the Muslim community and, indeed, all fair-minded people in and outside of the state would rebuff them.

Is this an attempt by the governor to galvanise Muslim votes in the coming election?

That’s far from the truth.

The home truth is that the old order is changing and the leadership of the Nigerian Christian community cannot afford to be left behind. Despite the generally hostile attitude of the West to Islam in the past, things are changing fast. In the UK, for instance, the Metropolitan Police Force has designed special hijab for Muslim policewomen.

The awareness of the rights of Muslim women in this regard and the support for it are on the increase to the extent that even non-Muslim women wore the hijab on the occasion of the World Hijab Day celebration in solidarity with their Muslim friends.

Incidentally, two hijab-wearing Nigerian Muslim students in the United States of America have done Nigeria proud by their intellectual prowess. Rahmah Aderinoye, a biology undergraduate at the University of Texas at the age of 23, won the first prize in a United Nations contest involving some 700 youths from across the world. She won the United Nations Resolution Fellowship.

Similarly, Saheela Ibraheem gained admission to Harvard University at the age of 15 at the same time she was accepted at 12 other universities. She was counted among the 50 most brilliant young people in the world. Meanwhile, the fact that they wore the hijab did not stop them from attaining those intellectual heights nor did anyone

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

The Great Priority In The Lord’s Prayer

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Noibi in that Christian country object to their wearing it.

Also, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, who is heir to the British throne and heir to the leadership of the Church of England, has called on the West to learn spirituality afresh from Islam, as they have lost closeness to God. He warned that the West would be ignoring that call to its own destruction.

By the way, the Bible too requires women to cover their head. It says that doing so is better for them than having their heads shaved off, which is disgraceful; but it is the only alternative to covering their heads (1 Corinthians, 11:6). However, if the Christian leaders would not have their women comply with that Biblical instruction, they should leave the Muslim girls alone and let them carry out their religious obligations.

What troubles many is the case of Osun, the Iwo Baptist High School, is missionary school…

Reliable information at our disposal has it that the Baptist High School, Iwo in Osun State is now a merger of five schools, each of which was previously Christian-named.

They were United Methodist High School, Araromi; Baptist Grammar School, Oke Odo; St. Anthony High School, Oke’bode; St. Mary High School, Water Works area and, of course, the Baptist High School itself. The merging was carried out within the process of reclassification of schools embarked upon by the government. Of the 1,950 schools now existing in the state following the reclassification, it was only at the Baptist High School, Iwo that there has been crisis. Why was that the case?

The present population of the school is 2,123 with 69 per cent being Muslim, 29 per cent are Christian and others 2 per cent. The female students are 1,167, while male students are 956. The demography of the school is a reflection of that of the local communities.

The events of Monday and Tuesday, 2 and 3 February, 2014 were extremely disappointing given the fact that adults, including Christian parents, were behind the plot to cause chaos in the

school. A situation, where some students suddenly appeared in Baptist cassocks, while others put on Ifa beads and yet some others wore ‘celestial’ gowns, hijabs or turban was highly suspicious.

Incidentally, enquiry revealed that at least one of the girls that put on the hijab was a Christian.

It is not only strange but also ridiculous that adults would descend so low as to adopt such a childish tactic in order to make a point, especially when such is false.

Furthermore, it is unreasonable of an adult to hope that people would fail to see through such tricks. Above all, one wonder what kind of legacy adults involved in such a diabolic plot think they were passing on to young students at such an impressionable period of their lives? Muslims are warned in the Qur’an that those, who mislead others to commit a sin in the life of this world, will be prosecuted before Allah by their victims on Judgment Day! (Qur’an 7:38; 34: 31-33). We advise that people should not allow desperation to make them act unreasonably.

What does your group want?

We want Governor Aregbesola to guarantee Muslim pupils and students in the state that wish to obey Allah by using the hijab to do so without let or hindrance.

We demand that the religious freedom of the girls to comply with Allah’s instruction be respected and protected.

We wish to appeal to the Christian leadership in the Osun State and elsewhere to acknowledge the phenomenal achievements of Governor Aregbesola in the various fields of development: in the agriculture sector through the Osun Rural Empowerment Agric Programme (O’REAP); in education through the introduction of a dynamic education policy, the reclassification of schools, the construction of new and standard classrooms and the provision of the Tablet of Knowledge as well as free uniforms and meals; the youth empowerment scheme (O’YES); and the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme Technology (O’YESTECH).

RAYER is the heart-to-heart communion with God. And beyond the sound of our words in prayer, our thoughts, attitude and desires are very significant. They give meaning to the words we speak before God. So, prayer goes beyond the use of the right words. One may use the right words in prayer, but if the heart, attitude and dispositions are wrong before God, the prayer becomes empty, and the babbling of a hypocrite. For instance, you cannot say: “Our” if you live a selfish, self-centred life. Nor can you say, “Father” if your name is not in the Book of Life, the family book of God in heaven. How can you say: “our Father, which art in heaven” if you are laying up no treasure up there, if your heart and interests are all buried in earthly things? None is eligible to say: “Hallowed be Thy Name” if he is not daily striving, endeavouring to honour God alone in all he says and does. To say those words with any meaning before God, you must, by words and deeds, be living daily in holiness and righteousness. You cannot say: “Thy kingdom come” if you are not doing all in your power to hasten the advent of that kingdom, if you are not preparing for the arrival of the King of kings. You cannot truly say: “Thy will be done” if you are deliberately rebelling against the revealed will of God in His Word. To pray from the heart, not merely from the head, your heart must be united with God and His Word.

In the Greek language, “hallowed be Thy Name ” means, ‘holy, sanctified, exalted, honoured be Thy Name’. To hallow the name of God is to count it as sacred, so set apart that you hold the matchless name of God in reverence. To hallow the name of God is to honour it, esteem it, reverence and adore it as divine and infinitely higher than any other name. It means that you “make no mention of the name of other gods”, but you always “praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted ”. To hallow the name of God is to so respect it that you will not blaspheme the name; you will not take God’s name in vain or encourage others to take the name in vain. Hallowing the name of God means that you so live, walk and work every time and everywhere “that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed”. If “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you”, then you do not honour or hallow His name. We hallow, sanctify God’s name when we honour, esteem, exalt, adore, reverence that name and live in such a way that our neighbours respect God’s name and everything pertaining to God. Only then can we truly pray: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

To pray, “Thy kingdom come” shows a desire for the arrival of God’s kingdom by a person, who is completely dissatisfied with all the kingdoms of the world. You are eager to see the quick establishment of the kingdom of God to replace all earthly kingdoms. The one who prays, “Thy kingdom come” has experienced the peace of the Kingdom in his own heart; so, he desires this peace of the Kingdom for others and in the whole world. His prayer, “Thy kingdom come” is an expression of his willingness to do anything, to labour and to serve, to work alone and with others, to see to the establishment of God’s kingdom. He has surrendered to God’s rule and reign in his own heart and life; and he desires God to reign as King in all realms of mankind.

It takes deadness to self to pray like this because quite often, our prayers are filled with our own kingdoms, our own reign, our desires, aspirations and ambitions. Only those that have been transformed by the power of God’s grace, the forgiveness of sins and change of heart that led to a complete abandonment of personal agenda for personal kingdom, can truthfully and sincerely pray, “Thy kingdom come.” For the true believer, all that is within his heart cries out, “Thy kingdom come.” He desires the King of kings to reign in his heart and on earth.

We pray, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” because God desires that His will be done by each of His children on earth, by all believers in Christ, by the whole church on earth, by all people on earth, as it is done by all angels in heaven. God’s desire and Christ’s provision through His full redemption is that each of us will know and do His will without any interruption as angels do His will in heaven. This is proof that our holiness and sanctification is His will. It is not God’s will that Christians should be partially holy.

References: Matthew 6:9,10; Isaiah 29:23,24; Exodus 20:7; Psalms 111:9; 29:2; 86:9-11; Ezekiel 36:21-28; 2 Timothy 2:19; Matthew 6:10; Mark 1:14,15; John 3:3-8; Romans 14:17-19; Matthew 6:33; Luke 19:1113; 21:31-36; Revelation 11:15; Matthew 6:10; Psalm 103:19-21; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 2:15-17; Ephesians 6:6-8; Psalms 143:10; 40:8-10; John 9:31; 1 John 5:14,15. (All scriptures are from Kings James Version)..

40 | Sunday, March 16, 2014

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IBRUCENTRE

By Ernest Onuoha

‘Search me, O God and know my heart…’

Psalm 139v23.

HE Psalmist would wish that God should scruT tinise him and know the state of his heart. Possibly so that he will not offend Him at the end of the day. The heart is the engine room of both good and evil. Any child of God that wants to grow spiritually should continually examine his heart.

But Jeremiah says of the heart: ‘…is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?’ Jer. 17v9. It is only the maker that knows the heart, whether good or bad, genuine or not. It implies that believers, who desire earnestly to serve God, should avoid deceit and a corrupt heart if their service will be meaningful to Him. For Jesus: ‘blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God,’ Matt. 5v8. Which means purity of heart is very essential as through it, we can see God. Yes, we may not be outwardly attractive by the assessment of the world but inwardly; we may be rich because the things of God gladden our pure hearts. There is no guile whatsoever because our hearts are open in doing His work. What is the

From The Rector Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

Scrutinise Me O Lord state of our heart as children of God? King David in beckoning of God to scrutinise him particularly in relation to his heart, was simply saying: ‘if there is any offensive way in me, search it out O God.’ He would not like to offend God the more, considering his circumstance in the past. He murdered Uriah by posting him to the war front and was a slave to his flesh, when he committed adultery with Uriah’s wife. It is disgusting the way the Bible put it: ‘And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very

Andre Cox, Salvation Army World Leader Visits Nigeria

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku

Church Prays For The Country

RAYER for peace and peaceful coexistence of the country will take preeminence, as the World Leader of Salvation Army, General Andre Cox makes a three-day working visit to Nigeria.

Cox, who is billed to land in the country on March 20, 2014 for a three-day congress holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, will on his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, pay a courtesy visit to the President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking at a press conference recently to announce the visit and programmes lined up for it, the Territorial Commander, Salvation Army, Nigeria, Commissioner Mfon Jacktor Akpan said even though the church has always been praying to God for a return of peace to the country, the visit and prayers of the leader will

help more in the sustenance and entrenchment of it.

He said: “not only the coming of the General can Salvation Army seeks and prays for peace in the country. We are currently praying that God should return peace to Nigeria and I believe the General coming, knowing the Nigerian situation will also have something to say concerning that and his prayer can contribute a lot to the sustenance of peace in Nigeria.”

Mfon further disclosed that the visit is in line with the norm of the church for any newly elected General of the church to visit countries, where the church exists, having been elected as the 20th General of The Salvation Army on August 3, 2013. He said that the visit is designed to encourage and lift the spirit of members of the

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church.

Part of the activities lined up for the General’s visit include another meeting with the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio and Officer’s Council of the Church, welcome meeting at Uyo township stadium, women’s rally with the wife of the leader, Commissioner Silvia Cox, men’s rally with the church leader at Uyo Central Corps, youth rally at Uyo township stadium, March of Witness and taking of salute by the leader and commissioning of 5000-seater ultramodern Ejigbo Corps hall and a guest house at Igbobi, both in Lagos State.

Mfon expressed his gratitude to Akwa Ibom State governor and his church members for their support in enhancing the success of the visit. He prayed for a smooth and enriching visit.

When In Despair, Count Your Blessings

By Gabriel Osu HERE are times in our lives when we feel like giving up, simply because nothing is going well. You may have tried everything possible to address a particular problem, but it kept coming back.

Sometimes, you may feel like biblical Elijah, who after defeating the prophets of Baal in a context, soon fell into a state of despondent. To the extent that he called on God to take his life. Of course, God later sent him solace.

As humans, we must face challenges. One minute, we are on the plateau, feeling on top of the world and the next minute, we come cruising down the valley of depression. But it is understandable. We are surrounded every minute with negative news and events that tend to make us angry with ourselves and the world at large.

We had to contend daily with the challenges of nursing our children and providing for their daily nourishment.

There are targets to meet and bills to pay. When care is not taken, all these are capable of causing us to fall into a spell of depression. But should that be the case?

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As Christians, we are enjoined to cast all our worries on Jesus Christ, because He has Indeed, conquered the world for us. He also asked us not to allow the worries of the world to bring us down. I know it is difficult at times to be consoled by mere words, especially when it appears the heavens would fall on us.

For those who don’t know God, they may try to find temporal comfort in drinks or drugs. Why do you think the rate of suicide in Europe and America is so high? It is because they have allowed the worries of life to weigh them down.

A popular song goes thus: ‘Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.’ Do you appreciate the goodness of the Lord in your life? Or are you one of those who spend all their time looking discouraged and angry with themselves?

When you feel low, take some time to reflect on the goodness of God in your life. There surely must be some periods of celebration or landmark achievements in your life.

Rather than allowing your spirit to be defeated, take time off to relish pleasant

memories of the past. Tough time don’t last forever.

Though things may appear difficult for now, it would surely pass away. After the storm comes sunshine.

Indeed when we come under heavy bombardment from life’s challenges, rather than finding quick fix, we should develop a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude. That would put the devil to flight. Remember the story of how Paul and Silas prayed and sang when they were thrown into prison for preaching the word of God. As you know God sent an angel to lead them out of the dungeon. You may not see God coming down like the case of Paul, but sooner than later, that problem will come to an end.

Being a Christian does not mean that we will be free from temptations or tribulations. If Christ himself could be tempted by the devil, who are we to complain? That is why we are encouraged to always pray and fast. When we pray, God gives us the spiritual power to withstand temptation and challenges when they eventually come.

Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned unto her house,’ 2 Samuel 11v2-4. His request of God’s scrutiny is to ensure that all vestiges of sin are totally kept at bay.

Today, people of God and by extension, the nation should borrow a leaf from this great king of Israel who called for a personal scrutiny in order to be closer to His maker. It is a call that goes with repentance and also has an attendant

cleansing that accompanies it. At this time, the Holy Spirit is involved in the self-examination and helps in purging and cleansing of the sinner. Therefore, reviewing our relationship with God should be a regular activity.

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

Proactive Leadership

By Taiwo Odukoya 2005 research by Tiina Jokinen of the University of Vaasa, identified proactivity as one of the key global leadership competencies of the modern age. Proactivity we all know is acting in advance to deal with an unexpected difficulty; it is initiating change rather than reacting to events.

Proactive leadership is broadminded, it considers the seemingly little issues of today and their possible impact on tomorrow, with the view of stopping the problem ahead of time. It was the American songwriter Kenny Longins that said, “Real freedom is proactive, and will take me into new territories. I am not free if my freedom is predicated on reacting to my past.” Unfortunately this is what most leaders find themselves doing most of the time; responding to the past instead of creating the future.

Come to think of it, one of the best definitions of leadership is articulating a preferred future and taking the necessary actions to bring it to pass. As every leader knows, there may be one or two unforeseen situations that could impede the actualization of our set goals, but effective leadership will always anticipate them and put plans in place to deal with them appropriately.

A case in point is one of the challenges facing the industrialized world today. I am talking about climate change and environmental pollution. One leader, as far back as the 1960s, before his country ever became industrialized, foresaw the need of envisioning a clean, industrialized city that would serve as a model in the years to come, and he set about building one.

That leader was Lee Kuan Yew. In 1963 he initiated a tree planting campaign and in 1968 set a goal for Singapore to become a model green city. His leadership was marked by a series of sustainable long

A

Where there is no vision, the people perish…

(Proverbs 29:18a) term policies that translated into one of the most enviable model countries in the world today; one characterized by low levels of corruption, quality education and a clean environment. Lee crafted a vision, anticipated problems and went to work. “Vision without action is a daydream, action without vision is a nightmare,” a Japanese proverb says. This is what proactive leadership is about, and Lee Kuan Yew demonstrated it.

“Public leadership and proactivity in Nigeria” would be a good study for any research student in leadership and governance. The truth is, most of our challenges today can be tied to a lack of proactivity and continuity in our leadership. Only recently the BBC confirmed that there has been a record of about 191 killings in the northeast in the last two weeks. The truth is, the scourge that has become Boko Haram is hardly a sudden occurrence.

We can recall that in 1980 the late Malam Muhammadu Marwa alias Allah Tatsine, a violent religious zealot, spearheaded what has become known today as the maitasine crisis, leaving over 4,000 people dead. In 1982, even after the death of Marwa, religious riots continued in Maiduguri, Kaduna and Yola. If successive leadership in the country since 1980 had been proactive we will not be where we are today. It is time for us not only to deal decisively with this issue, but to put plans and structures in place to prevent a reoccurrence.

The robust and complex nature of Nigeria’s history provides enough room for those who lead today and those who aspire to lead tomorrow to be proactive.

Uprisings of religious and ethnic hues are not new to us. Examples are the issues of sea piracy in the Niger Delta, the settler-indigene

Odukoya issues in the middle-belt and Boko Haram in the northeast. We do not always have to wait until these become crises of international magnitude before we act; we must develop plans that prevent them from escalating even when they occur. A culture of proactive leadership will not only prevent these crises, but will accelerate development.

Today’s leadership cannot afford to fail where its predecessors have. And those who aspire must also understand that leadership is great responsibility and will not lend itself to those who will not be proactive.

So, let us roll up our sleeves today and tomorrow to take the decisive actions we need to stem the current crisis and prevent future occurrences.

And as we mourn all those who have lost their lives in the ongoing crises, let us seize this opportunity as a people to assert our common humanity. We are all affected and our common enemies are those who insist that the only pathway to peace is that we bend to their will; those who kill innocent children in the dead of the night to make an unintelligible point.

They cannot defeat us unless we create an opportunity for them through divisions and indifference.

We will not be defeated if we unite in prayer and in strategy.

NIGERIA HAS A GREAT FUTURE!

EMPOWERNIGERIA /48

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MONDAYS–FRIDAYS IN THE GUARDIAN

SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2014

FUTO Final Year Student, Others Arrested For Robbery UNIZIK Student In Court Over Alleged N1.3m Internet Scam HE Imo State Police T Command on Tuesday, arrested a 400 level student

Stories By Daniel Anazia OLLOWING the hike in Fturnout tuition fees, there low of prospective students at the ongoing Lagos State University Ojo, 2013/2014 Admission Screening exercise.

At the screening, which began on Monday, only very few fresh intakes were seen queued up to took their turns and through the admission ritual exercise which was being conducted at the MBA auditorium, on Wednesday, when the exercising entered its third day.

One of the screening officials, who pleaded anonymity, said the turnout was still low compared to what was experienced in last year. He, however, noted that there was improvement in the number students who turned up on Tuesday against what was observed on Monday and Wednesday.

The Dean of Student Affairs (DSA), Prof. Kabir Akinyemi, expressed hope that the turnout would improve.

some students missing the exercise, the university management may have to decide on an avenue to re-screen those with genuine reasons before the matriculation on March 28,” he stated.

The DSA explained that candidates who did not meet the specified requirements for admission would be screened out during the exercise. “It is not possible for LASU to admit any student who is unqualified because they need students. Any student who does not meet up with the requirement would either have to change the course to that which is suitable or be denied the admission,” he said.

Despite the success recorded with its historic e-voting during the recently held stuManagemet Postpones Indefinitely Inauguration dents’ union poll on January 20, the inauguration is yet to Of Student Union Exco hold due to the three-week Asked if the high school fees better turnout subsequently, closure of the institution folcould be discouraging factor since the exercise is still in lowing a violent protest by in the low turnout of the stu- progress.” the students on January 23 dents, he said, “the short-listHe urged prospective stu- over hike in fees. ed students were already dents to show up for the Speaking on the issue, aware of the fees. There exercise and shun deliberate Akinyemi, said the protest would be an impressive and absenteeism. “In the event of affected the inauguration of

LASU:

Low Turnout At 2013/2014 Admission Screening

the new students’ executive council. He however, said the inauguration would hold as soon as an academic activity is fully restored in the university.

He explained that the clamour for inauguration of the new students’ union executive by some students was unrealistic. “The inauguration can only be done when academic activities have been fully restored. We cannot allow the elected students for the executive seats of the union gain entrance into the campus because they are not final year student.”

“For now school has not reopened for their batch. The management will only consider the inauguration when the final batch resumes for security purposes,” he added.

He advised the past executive members of the union, who would soon graduate, to attend the handing over ceremony and urged the students to stay away from trouble to enjoy a hitch-free academic session.

of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) for alleged armed robbery.

The culprit, Unamaka Bright, was arrested after a shoot-out between the Police and some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers operating inside a hotel located along FUTO-Ihiagwa Road.

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, while parading the suspect alongside others arrested for various crimes in Owerri, stated that one locally made single barrel short-gun and live cartridges were recovered from Bright.

He gave the names of the other suspects arrested as Cyprian Uduak Sylvester (37) from Akwa Ibom state, Endurance Happy (21), Chima Obi Omelo and Chijioke Odunze both aged 24.

Abdulmajid said, “acting on a tip off on the kidnap of one Cyril Echesi, who was abducted by gunmen numbering about four and a lady operating in a black Toyota Camry car, along the UliIhiala Expressway, Anambra State, our men through the interstate dragnet intercepted the hoodlums in Ohaji,

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Stakeholders Advocate Way Forward On Education System

By Paul Adunwoke OLLOWING continued decline in standard of education in the country, stakeholders in the education sector have stated that if Nigeria wants improvement in the system, there is need to revert back to the formal system of education.

According to them, Nigeria should go back to the period when quality in education was guaranteed in the country and funding was not a problem; when there was sanity, commitment, and teachers were recognized and well paid. they made this known during 60th birthday ceremony of Dean, School of Postgraduates Studies, Lagos State University, Professor Babajide Olufemi Elemo, with the theme: Improving The Standard Of Primary And Secondary Education In Nigeria, which held at the Welcome Centre Hotel, Lagos. the guest speaker, former Nigeria Ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO, Paris, Professor Michael Omolewa, in his remark, said “let us go back to when planning was properly done to bring expected number of graduates to fill the vacant posts in job market.” “those days when there was patriotism and dynamism, tolerance, comprehension, fairness, equity, access and vision. When teachers were required, recognized, respected, honoured, and celebrated,” he added Omolewa tasked parents to support and pay adequate attention to their children education. “there is

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need for parents to come on board, they should not leave the whole business of education for the teachers and government; they should lay a good example for their children. Parents should assist and support their children at school and in funding; they should be the first teacher that should launch the children to a greater level,” he stated.

Former Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Aize Obayan in her remark, said that elearning is very important in improving Nigerian education.

She said, “there should be proper support to the education system and e-learning platform, where online services will be used to felicitate learning. It is one way of ensuring that greater people are reached when they never get into the classroom. think of

what this will mean even to the cost of education at whatever level. It may be able to keep your job and enhance it because you are getting more information.”

“Ignorant is not an excuse because once something is uploaded internet; it is there for every one to have access and by doing this ignorance is bridged and the person is able to communicate to the entire world,” she added.

According to her, this would reduce the burden in the classroom because a particular student will be in one school and have access to several students in other schools at the same time.

“So we do not even need to say that we do not have enough teachers, because your teacher does not have to be physically present to give instructions,” she concluded.

LAWSAN ABSU Chapter Elects New Exco

By Uchechukwu Amanze tUDENtS of the faculty of Law, Abia Selection State University, Uturu, has held and elect its LAWSAN executives for the 2013/2014 session.

Kingsley Larazus Chikezie, emerged president after he defeated his opponent in the keenly contested position.

Other elected officials of the body include tochi Joan Enyioma (Vice President), Mayor Ndukaku (General Secretary), Nneoma Empress Kalu (Assistant General Secretary) and Chibuzor Oflorleta (Financial Secretary). the posts of treasure and

Director of Socials (D.O.S) are vacant as at the time of the election.

Speaking to Life Campus shortly after the election, Kingsley dedicated his victory to God. He promised that new exco will put in their best in moving the faculty to a greater height.

He said, “I am happy that Lawsanites voted for me to emerge as their president and spokesman. I promise not to disappoint them.”

For Enyioma, who could not hide her feelings, “I am exhilarated and grateful to Lawsanites for finding me worthy to represent them,” she said.

Infact if you have been doing anything as a routine for a long time…Go Back Hold on!, going back in this case does not mean going back to the beginning because no one can rewind time and go back to yesterday. It does not also mean giving up, neither does it mean holding on. I am asking you to ‘Go Back’ to the drawing board and the decision making stage.

About two years ago, a friend and colleague asked my opinion on a situation in which he found himself. He had given a loan to a business. the person collected a hundred thousand Naira to buy some things for sale, with a promise to pay within a few weeks after he had made the money back. At the time of discussing with me the debt had grown to about 160,000 Naira and it was months overdue. I will paraphrase his words: “this is a guy I kind of look up to, I don’t know him very well but he seems to be a respectable person. Every time the money is due he tells me his goods have been delayed and if he gets N20,000 or N30,000 then he will be able to fast track the delivery and pay me. He seems so helpless and says I am his only hope and he really feels bad about it but I am worried because he is asking for another N30,000 and I don’t know whether or not to give him.” In summary this was my advice to him: If you want to give him more money, do not do it because you are considering how much you have already given him and you don’t want to lose it. He may or may not be honest but that does not guarantee anything. Maybe he is investing in a failing business or he too is considering how much he has spent and is refusing to let go of something that is obviously not working. Start fresh, take it like this is the first time he is asking you for money, get all the information about what he will do with the money and consider it objectively, try to gauge how honest the man is just like you did the first time he asked you for money, do it all afresh and ask yourself this: “Knowing what I know, if this man was not with N160,000 of my money would I give him N30,000.” If the only reason you want to continue doing something is because you have already invested so much in it, then it means the past is providing more motivation for going forward than the future holds. this is always a dangerous situation so don’t do it.

In the same way, here are my two words for the day: Go Back, Let Go, Fight It. Don’t be carried away by the past – Let go Don’t be discouraged by the difficulty of the present – Fight It If the going forward does not hold anything you want…

Go Back Is there anything you need to re-evaluate? Let’s talk about it. Write me at uki@poisenigeria.org or post a comment on the Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy blog poisegfs.blogspot.com

uki@poisenigeria.org

Financial Literacy Day: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, and Senior Manager, Risk Management, Chima Igboenyesi, at a lecture at the Girls Secondary School, Amaenyi, Awka, Anambra State, to mark the Global Financial Literacy Day...on Thursday.

UNIZIK Student In Court Over Alleged N1.3m Internet Scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE the boundary between Imo state and River state.”

He added that his men on March 2, through its community dragnets arrested one of the members of a three-man gang specialised in baby stealing for ritual and money-making purposes.

According to the police boss, the three men had jumped the fence of one Susanne Udeze of Umuduruji Umuchoke Amaigbo in Nwagele LGA, gained entrance into her kitchen and forcefully carried away her one year and eight months grandson, and escaped through the

bush.

Also Ekumah Emeka a 200-level student of Architecture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), was on tuesday, arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrate Court in Lagos, over an alleged internet fraud of N1,340,000. Emeka, 24, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. the Prosecutor, Cpl. Adekemi Adeniran, told the court that the accused committed the crime sometime in January in two banks in Lagos. She explained that the accused hacked into the account of one Mr. Marcus Adeoye and trans-

ferred N1,340,000 for his personal use.

She said, “the accused was caught at one of the branch of the banks in Ogudu, Lagos, when he wanted to withdraw some money.” Adding, “the offences contravened Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 285 recommended three years imprisonment for convicted offenders.” the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Omolade Awope, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter till May 5, for hearing.

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44 Sunday, March 16, 2014

JOBS & CAREERS

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JOBS & CAREERS

46 Sunday, March 16, 2014

JOBS & CAREERS

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FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO

National Development Strategy

NICHOLAS OKOYE, Founder EMPOWER NIGERIA Initiative,

Nicholas Okoye’s The Nine Pillars of National Development Pillar One: Government Policy (paper 12)

TRADE AND INVESTMENT continued N PAPER 11 we spoke about the need for focus in our strategy for industrialization and we identified areas where focus has helped us to achieve world class results such as in the Cement industry. However we did say that there was a growing need to sell Nigeria on the Nigerians themselves. I do not believe this job has been done or even undertaken in the first place. Nigerian by and large do not believe in Nigeria and that’s a fact. So it is hard to get Nigerians to commit to producing world class products here when they do not even educate their children here, they do not medically treat themselves here, and are frankly operating in a very hostile environment. Yes as optimistic as I am about the future of Nigeria I will be the first to tell you the truth, it is HELL starting a business in Nigeria and we need to change that. I do not believe that Government officials can see the link between business growth and national development otherwise they will not put some many road blocks in the way of entrepreneurs trying to start a new business. The violent and aggressive way Local Government officials stop trucks passing through their areas, even when you are on a State or Federal Road, demonstrates the lack of understanding of public officers in the strategic relationship between the private sector’s ability to create jobs and the public sector’s role of supporting private enterprise. We have it upside down in Nigeria. I guess it is because we have depended on the Government for long to create jobs and provide the population with a means of lively hood so we now believe that the Government exists to squeeze the private sector for as much revenue as possible in an effort to support an inefficient and over blotted civil service. So to most Government Officials when you talk of IGR (Internally generated revenue) it is about over taxation, squeezing the entrepreneurs and closing down businesses that do not pay. In the rest of the World Taxes are a function of profit, except if you are charging a Value Added Tax, which is a markup. However in Nigeria almost all taxes are value added taxes and they do not even pretend to depend on profit making. You must pay whether you make profit or not, and even if you go out of business, then the entrepreneur must pay with his or her blood.

Everybody says that multiple taxation is a major obstacle to the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Businesses but nobody has done anything about it.

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solutions in Trade policy and how we can use trade policy to stimulate growth and create Jobs. However we must get Nigerians to believe in Nigeria. Ad that includes the public officials who over tax the entrepreneurs and the private business people who would rather import everything into Nigeria than produce them here. And guess what, I have read many Government Strategy documents from Vision 20 10 to NEEDS to Vision 20 20 and they have all left out one of the most critical elements of investment which is the ability to mobilize local investment. All our communication is always talking about Foreign Investment.

Even the present Transformation Agenda of the present Administration, there is a lot of talk about attracting Foreign Investment.

However I have made this argument before on the value of local versus foreign investment. Foreign Investment runs away on the first sight of trouble. However local investment stays at home even in hard and turbulent times. Foreign investment is acceptable but local investment is more desirable.

MOBILIZING NIGERIAN WEALTH: I will never forget a Chinese banker friend of mine who was discussing Nigeria with me at an “Invest in Nigeria” international road show, just a few years ago. He told me that he thought Nigeria was wasting its time looking for foreign investment. I asked why, because I felt every Nation was in the race for foreign investment even the United States. He said well that whereas that was true, he felt we hadn’t yet tapped into our greatest resource.

According to him, he knew three Nigerians who had bank accounts in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China with credit balances in excess of five billion US dollars. And they kept their funds in Asia because the Authorities in Asia did not always answer to the requests from Western authorities for scrutiny. I asked for names and he went further to mention at least two names, but he wouldn’t mention the rest. I will not mention the names here all I will say is that my Chinese friend was credible and that the person in question has not appeared on any FORBEs list or any other Billionaires list on either print or electronic media. The Forbes international, not the Forbes Africa , they are run by two different organizations, well the Forbes International says that Africa has about 6 US dollar billionaires. And lists only two in Nigeria. Well they are wrong so very wrong. Nigeria alone has over 20 US dollar billionaires ranging from a net worth of one billion dollars to over 20 billion dollars. And I am not talking about the usual suspects, I am talking about men and women who have over the years been able to drill into the Nigeria gravy train and take a disproportionate portion of the wealth.

So if we really want to mobilize investment in Nigeria where do we start? We must start with the mobilization of Nigerian Investors. How do we get Nigerians to believe in their country to the point where they can bring some of the billions of dollars that are wasting away in foreign banks back home for investment. When I was working for MERRILL LYNCH in the United States of America I authored a document called the NIGERIAN STRATEGIC INVESTMENT INITIATIVE, which was the basis of my meeting with President Obasanjo and subsequently my return home to join the Nigerian Stock Exchange to help implement an aspect of the strategy. I outlined in that document INVESTMENT: we have been talking about some eight strategic paths in which we could mobi-

lize Local Nigerian investment, Wealthy Nigerian Investment and Nigerian Diaspora Investment long before we started targeting foreign investment. And if we did follow the guide point for point the foreigners will come running. The great news is that great minds think alike so some of these ground breaking ideas are beginning to come on line, either as a result of the ideas I shared with the Government at that time or as a result that some of those solutions I proposed were just the right thing to do and so someone was bound to figure it out sooner or later HE KEY aspects of my T proposals have not yet been implemented. And this included a clear cut strategy for mobilizing Nigerian investment form the three categories I have mentioned above. My strategy was a bit different from the way investment is being mobilized in Nigeria today. Apart from the National Pension Commission and the Nigeria Stock Exchange, there is no other sector that is successfully mobilizing local investment in the way it should be. The Oil and Gas sector is by default the bacon of investment as a result of its being the mainstay of the Nigerian economy not because we have implemented any new strategy in that sector. The new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will change all that, as it encourages and promotes new areas of investment for Local Nigerians. However what we have not n=done as a Nation to take on local investment in its entirety and to place it on the front burner. In doing this we must first of all earmark the industries we are focusing on. We cannot be all things to all people remember so we must focus. And once we focus we can then look for strategies for mobilizing our people. Not too long ago the Nigerian Breweries under the leadership of Eze Festus Odimegu built a modern brewery in AMA close to Enugu capital city, just by ninth mile corner, for over six hundred million dollars. I was head of Strategy of the Nigerian Stock Exchange at that time so we all went to open up the factory and celebrate a new Nigerian land mark, and creation of thousands of new jobs by a listed company in the heart land of ana Igbo. At the ceremony I had predicted that the Enugu State Government will build an industrial zone around the factory, as that factory will need all kinds of feeder industries such as glass

AMA breweries, Enugu

Festus Odimegu built the AMA breweries in Enugu bottles manufacturing, bottle tops manufacturing, printing labels, plastic crates manufacturing etc etc. And since the Ama brewery was producing its own electricity, there was an urgent need for an embedded power plant that would not only supply Ama with power but all the new feeder industries that were sure to spring up. All that was required for this to happen was for the Enugu State Government to build a ring road around the plant, crave out the industrial plots and the rest would have been history. Well it did not happen, as the Enugu State Government at that time got distracted by politics and never completed the ring road, so the industries never came. The Ama Factory did stimulate investment in the feeder industries I mentioned above but Enugu did not get the benefit. There were sited elsewhere and the products were shipped into Enugu for use by the Ama brewery.

The financing structure for the AMA brewery was unique, the Nigerian Breweries created a convertible bond, and got local and international investors to subscribe. The funds raised were deployed directly into the construction of the AMA plant and then not long after the bonds were converted into equity/ shares. I believe it was this conversion that finally gave Heineken the majority holding they were looking for in Nigerian Breweries as Heineken had invested heavily in the convertible bond designed for funding the AMA factory.

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EMPOWERNIGERIA

GUIDE TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

By Nicholas Okoye

nokoye@empowernigeria.com

The Power Of Focus ERE is a quote from one of the greatest industrialists that ever lived, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, the founder of the Carnegie Steel Corporation which grew to become one of the largest and most profitable corporations in United States history. Andrew Carnegie himself become the richest man in the World and was only later to become the second richest man during his lifetime after John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil Corporation (later to become Exxon, Mobil, Chevron etc) grew larger and richer from demand for energy for heating, electricity and transportation created by the growth of the automobile and other petroleum powered machines, engines and vehicles. However It was Carnegie that pushed the use of steel to build bridges, to build sky scrapers (50 to 100 floor buildings ), and it was his Carnegie Steel Corporation that formed the basis for the creation of US STEEL, the giant that dominated the supply of steel all over the world for the best part of the 20th century, that pretty much built this world as we know it.

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According to Andrew Carnegie …………. “…….And here is the prime condition for success, the great secret- concentrate your energy, thought and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun on one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it, to shape it, to adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the most about it. The concerns that fail are those who have scattered their capital, which means that they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this or that, or the other, here, there and everywhere. You have been told ….DONT PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET that is wrong. I tell you PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET AND THAT WATCH THAT BASKET. Look round you and take notice; men who do that do not often fail. It is easy to watch and carry one basket. It is trying to carry too many baskets that breaks most of the eggs in this country.”………..

That is deep wisdom from Andrew Carnegie himself. Whereas modern management teams have allowed entrepreneurs to diversify and invest in several areas the power of focus has not diminished. If you look at each industry how many jack of all trades can say that they are the master in any industry? The leader in an industry will nine times out of ten be the corporation that chose to focus all its energy, its resources and its capital on that particular industry. Microsoft leads the World in software, not in electronics, not in planes and not in building roads. Boeing leads the world in manufacturing planes and that is it. They do not try to build shopping malls, they are not building ships and they are not drilling for oil. Okay so Samsung makes everything right? But they only began to get world leadership in cell phone manufacturing after over 40 years. And Virgin is a great company but it will not lead in any particular field and it knows this as this is part of its model.

If you want to be the best and to success, to be the top of your game, you have to focus, it is simple and short.

YOUTHMAGAZINE CASE STUDY

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURAL LEADER

Ashish J. Thakkar SHISH J. THAKKAR is only 30, but in less than two decades, the Ugandan-born maverick entrepreneur has accomplished what only few attain in their lifetime. He is the Founder and Managing Director of the Mara Group, a diversified conglomerate with approximately $100 million in revenues, according to Thakkar. Born in the United Kingdom, Ashish and his family moved back to Africa after surviving the historic Rwandan genocide and generational exile of African families.

Ashish considers himself a native son of Africa with strong Indian roots, of British nationality and a resident of the UAE. After having built up a business in East Africa, his parents were thrown out by the Idi Amin Administration and they resettled in Great Britain, in the Midlands city of Leicester. Here, his parents started over by selling ladies’ fashions, driving vans to markets all around England, often getting up at 3:00am. Ashish and his sisters shared the workload and the rewards. “If I sold a certain amount, I would get a bike or something,” he says. In 1993, when he was 12 years old, the family sold their business in the UK and moved to Rwanda. The Rwandan genocide began just months later, subjecting the family to weeks of terror as they hid in a hotel and watched bodies pile up around them. Finally, they managed to escape in a chartered plane. “We were literally back on the street. That’s what drove me and made me want to start a business,” says Ashish.

At the age of 15, after the family had moved and restarted its life yet again, this time back in Uganda, Ashish sold his personal computer to a family friend. The $100 profit he made convinced him that there could be plenty of money in Information Technology. More sales to friends, family, even his own school soon followed, as did a kind of ‘pop-up’ shop over the summer holidays.. In 1996 at the age of 15, Ashish borrowed $5,000 to start his first IT Company whereby he bought and sold computers.

Within a year, he transitioned from a high school student to a full-time entrepreneur. Since starting out in 1996, Ashish J. Thakkar has built the Mara Group, a conglomerate of IT, real estate and manufacturing companies with operations in 19 African countries and 21 countries worldwide, employing over 8,000 people through its investments and operations.

Ashish has successfully driven the growth of Mara by identifying opportunities to build businesses in under-served markets and by selectively partnering with international firms focused on expanding in Africa. Among Mara’s credits include building the leading corrugated cardboard packaging company in Uganda (Riley Packaging), founding a Pan-African IT services company (Mara Ison) and establishing an African business process outsourcing company operating in ten African countries (Ison BPO).

Mara is still growing and still setting up in new countries, with operations in Cameroon, Angola and Botswana likely to commence by the end of the first quarter of 2013. Recent ventures include a 26,000-acre farming project in East Africa, a major hotel, convention centre, shopping mall and office park in Uganda, and a similar development in Tanzania. Entry into each country will present its own challenges.

“Whenever we go into a new country, we map out each business, looking for areas where we’re not present, because we understand our businesses and we understand each region.

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Then we take advantage of trends,” Ashish says. “For example, in agriculture, we look for places where there is a shortage of food, where we could own land and where there is political stability.”

Ashish and his Mara businesses and foundations are clearly making a fundamental difference to the way business is conducted across the African continent. Certainly there must be a whole generation of Africans who are now aware of Mara and of Ashish Thakkar and who have begun asking themselves how they could do something similar. Mara Group has received global recognition for its achievements and contributions not only in Africa but also worldwide. In 2010, Mara Group was identified by the World Economic Forum as a dynamic high-growth company with the potential to be a driving force for economic and social change.

Ashish J. Thakkar was appointed as a World Economic Forum Global Young Leader.

More often these days he’s referred to as a ‘billionaire philanthropist’, since he created a series of not-for-profit foundations that mentor and support thousands of African start-up companies and entrepreneurs, helping to put them on the path towards the riches he has made. Another key achievement has been establishing Mara Foundation – a social enterprise focused on encouraging and supporting emerging African entrepreneurs. The Foundation currently operates in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria and strives to create sustainable economic and business development opportunities for young business owners through services such as Mara Launchpad incubation centres and the Mara Ad-Venture Fund, a micro venture capital vehicle.

Ashish devotes much of his energy to commercial and philanthropic initiatives in Africa. African governments have taken note of Ashish’s incredible success and apparent leadership skills, and he now sits on a number of governmental advisory panels. He’s also an active member of the Commonwealth Business Council and the Young Global Leaders group of the World Economic Forum, which meets every year at Davos in Switzerland and has become a driving force for change. Ashish has been profiled by several publications and media outlets including Forbes, The Economist, CNN, Africa Business Journal, Ventures Africa, San Jose Mercury, Reuters and the BBC. Though he left school at age 15, Ashish is a keen learner, open to the wisdom of others.

He shares this habit with his hero Richard Branson, whose Virgin conglomerate is united by its founder’s energy and enthusiasm. The two have become friends and Ashish will fly on the inaugural Virgin Galactic mission, becoming the first East African in space (for a fee of $200,000). “He’s such an amazing guy, he’s a great role model,” says Ashish. “He has the ethos of being true to yourself and to the world.”

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MOVIEDOM to say sorry. She has concluded all that we asked her to do. Any insisMTV Names Oscar Winner tence on penalizing her, will then infer prejudice’’ Ajeagbu said Lupita Nyong’o As adding that members have been Nominee For Award directed to resume all the previous existing relationship with the TV has announced the nomi- award winning actress. ‘’She has nees for the 2014 MTV Movie fully resumed all location activiAwards, setting the stage for an ties without interruption. We are epic showdown between critical- quite hopeful that circumstances ly-acclaimed films, The Wolf of Wall such as the very one that caused Street and American Hustle, the last disagreement will not comedic hits We’re the Millers and repeat itself’’ Ajaegbu surmised.

This Is The End, blockbuster franchises such as The Hunger Games: Michelle Bello’s Flower Girl Catching Fire and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and more.

Wins Big At AMVCA Kenyan Oscar winner and red carpet darling Lupita Nyong’o takes LOWER Girl, the romantic comeher place among the nominees dy by Michelle Bello, her second for this year’s show — a fitting movie as a producer and director tribute for the actress, who got received three awards at the secher first professional on screen ond edition of the Africa Magic acting break on the MTV Base HIV Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), & AIDS awareness drama, Shuga. which held last weekend in Lagos.

Lupita will be going up against A- The movie fetched Best listers and Hollywood veterans Supporting Actor award for stage Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and screen actress (Bikiya Graham Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Douglas); Best Comedy Writer Anniston for a coveted Movie award (Jigi Bello) and Trail Blazer Awards trophy in the Best Female award for the producer and direcPerformance category. Fans can tor of the movie (Michelle Bello). It get in on the fierce competition has been a successful one-year for by casting votes for their favorite Michelle and her Flower Girl crew. nominees at www.MovieAwards.

Michelle, who has so far made two MTV.com beginning Thursday, successful movies — Small Boy and March 6 until Saturday, April 12 in Flower Girls, has led her crew to categories you’ll never see in any receive countless nominations other awards show, including and awards. For instance, Flower Best Comedic Performance, Best Girl, which was released in Villain, Best Kiss, Best Scared-As-St February 2013, has continued to Performance, Best Musical make the headlines and has also Moment, #WTF Moment, Best On- gained international recognition Screen Duo, Best Fight, Best even without being available on Shirtless Performance and more. DVD. Apart from its box office sucThis year, the “MTV Movie Awards” cesses, the film earned a deserved has the distinction of being the nomination at the 2013 edition of only Awards show to nominate AMAA and it received an official cinematic legend Robert De Niro, selection at the Hollywood Black Kanye West and Joan Rivers in the Film Festival, Los Angeles and at same category (Best Cameo), see the Black Film Festival in the UK Matthew McConaughey and Jared where it won the award for Best Leto take on Ice Cube and Kevin African Film. The other winners at Hart (Best On-Screen Duo), and pit the award include newcomer Tope Jennifer Aniston against some of Tedela who grabbed the best actor the hottest men on the planet in a drama crest, Notable (Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth, Nollywood actress Nse Ikpe-Etim Leonardo DiCaprio and Sam who grabbed the best actress in a Claflin) for the coveted Best drama award and Funke Akindele Shirtless Performance category. who received the best actress in a comedy award. Veteran actor and broadcaster Chief Pete Edochie Marketers Pardon Mercy received the industry award while Johnson a new award — New Era award was handed to Nollywood star Rita HE leadership of the Film/Video Dominic. However, the biggest Producers and Marketers winner of the night was Ghanaian Association (FVPMAN) has lifted movie producer and director the ‘indefinite’ suspension the Shirley Frimpong Manso who was association slammed on popular voted best director. She got the actress, Mercy Johnson Okojie, crest for her directing effort in the over alleged ‘unprofessional con- romantic comedy The Contract. duct’. The Marketers had accused Curiously, the film, which stars the actress of not keeping ‘conYvonne Okoro, in lead role, was tractual agreement’. They subse- best to win the best picture crest quently slammed an indefinite of the AMVCA 2013, but it was not ban on the busy actress, who until good enough to win the best comthe suspension order was consid- edy movie award. ered the highest Nollywood actress working today. But both MJ and FVPMAN seem to have setIt’s Double Bill For tled the rift between them.

Indication that MJ has been asked Emeka Enyiocha to go and ‘sin’ no more came through a press release issued by ONGRATULATIONS are still in the National Leader of the FVPorder for popular Nollywood MAN Norbert Ajeagbu. In the actor, Emeka Enyiocha, who on statenent, Ajeagbu affirmed that Thursday, was a year older, and the ‘disagreement between prosame day, was blessed with a baby ducers/ marketers and Mercy boy. Moviedom gathered that what Johnson finally ends following was planned as a quiet birthday the FVPMAN’s national working party now turned into a huge carcommittee meeting, held on nival when the actor of many credSunday March 9, 2014.’’Although, its announced to friends, colAjeagbu didn’t give details of the leagues and well wishers that his ‘disagreement’ that led to her sus- wife had just been delivered of a pension, the FVPMAN boss stated bundle of joy. Congrats Emekus. that the actress has concluded all But some of your fans say you the jobs in dispute and that left should not forget to invite them the association with no choice for the christening. They say that than to accept her apology. since food and wine flowed for ‘’Mercy having diligently conclud- just the arrival, food and wine will ed all the jobs in dispute leaves us definitely overflow during the with no choice than to accept her naming. And we say Gbam! to that. apology. She is one wonderful personality we would not want to join issues with. She knows when

By Shaibu Husseini

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Basie

Rolling Back The Big Band Years With Count Basie

By Benson Idonije NE of the inadequacies of the current jazz scene is the absence of big band instrumentation, a trend which thrived from the 30s to the 70s in the hands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Jimmy Lunceford, Benny Goodman, Johnny Dankworth, The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Dance Orchestra directed at different times by Fela Sowande and Steve Rhodes, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, among others.

Those were the days when jazz musicians played strictly to prescribed arrangements: even solo enactments were tailored to the restrictive discipline of arrangements. And perhaps the best way to relive this memorable experience is by taking a critical look at the Count Basie Orchestra through the eyes of some of his recently reissued original recordings that made him famous: One O’clock Jump, Honey Suckle Rose, Boogie Woogie and others.

The 18-piece band features five saxophones, four trumpets, five trombones, three drummers and two vocalists in a display that parades some of the musicians that performed with the orchestra over a period of time, including vocalists such as Jimmy Rushing, fondly referred to as ‘Mr. Five by Five’ because of his massive frame; and Helen Humes, one of the top female singers to give the blues feeling to the Count Basie Orchestra - in those early days.

Strangely enough, Joe Williams, the singer who, to my mind, made the greatest impact with the Count Basie Orchestra, is left out.

Maybe because the songs on which he featured - such as Every day I have The Blues are not reflected in the reissue. But Joe Williams was synonymous with the blues; and he boosted the sound and image of the Count Basie Orchestra with his performance of this song, so much so that it became an integral part of the Orchestra; and the song with which to establish the identity of the band. Every day and all the songs reissued here as the best of Count Basie, reflect the personality and stamp of Count Basie himself, with an element that places emphasis on ‘swing’.

During the early and middle 1930s, big band jazz was dominated by the Orchestras of Duke Ellington and Jimmy Lunceford, which played jazz both complex in structure and subtle in harmo-

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ny. Then, in 1935, Fletcher Henderson began writing arrangements for Benny Goodman’s new Orchestra, arrangements in which Henderson employed the same call-andresponse patterns that he used when scoring for his own band. It was a pattern many ‘swing bands’ were to copy. There were two methods, in fact, practised at this time, one emphasizing harmony and texture, the other predominantly formal.

In opposition to both of these approaches, therefore, was the robust, almost bludgeoning music of the Count Basie Orchestra, a band which only arrived in New York during the autumn of 1936. A New Yorker himself, Basie had been the pianist with Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra. The Moten band had played violently and aggressively; so did Basie’s, though with vastly more relaxation. Basing most of its performances on the blues, a feeling and structure which the singers in particular helped very much to establish, the Count Basie Orchestra brought a new sense of power to big band jazz.

The truth is that where other bands experimented with tone-colouring, counterpoint or other sophistication, Basie’s orchestra concentrated upon swinging to achieve the maximum rhythmic impetus. The band’s Kansas City origin was reflected in its obsessive use of riffs and the repetition of a single, simple musical phrase over—a device that might seem tedious in the hands of a mediocre, but never sounded so, when deployed by Basie’s musicians.

Most of the time, the band performed head arrangements, in which the horns took the initiative, carrying the formidable rhythm section along with them. The arrangements were worked up on the stand by the musicians themselves; and were loose enough to allow the full-sized brass and reed sections to swing with spontaneity, which up to then, had been the monopoly of small jazz groups.

In those days, the rhythm section sounded really phenomenal, a stimulating mixture of verve and relaxation. Basie, himself, a master of understatement, had always been a superb orchestra pianist, perhaps, the finest apart from Duke Ellington, interjecting single notes, dramatic moments, timing his pauses as skillfully as a great actor.

Alongside him, however, in the section was Freddie Greene, a fine guitarist, who was still with Basie till the 60s. Walter Page played bass while Jo Jones held down the rhythm section on drums. In his concentration upon

the hi-hat cymbal, his shifting of the rhythmic emphasis away from the bass-drum, Jones was already foreshadowing one of the innovations which modern jazz experimenters such as Max Roach, Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey were to develop during the 1940s.

The lightness and crispness of Basie’s rhythm section can be experienced on Shoe Shine Swing and Lady Be Good, the work of a sextet, made in 1936 and featuring the earliest recorded solos of a tenor saxophonist, who was also the greatest musician in the Basie band - Lester Young.

Outside of Ellington and Henderson Orchestras, at the time, no band gathered together so many great soloists at the same time.

Sharing tenor solos with Lester Young for instance, was Herschel Evans, a saxophonist with the typical Texan sound, warm, romantic and powerful. His performance on One O’clock Jump on which he takes the first solo; Swinging The Blues, the second; and Blue and Sentimental are splendidly lyrical.

The more extrovert trumpet solos were usually blown by Harry Edison, while Buck Clayton was responsible for most of the delicate, muted playing. Fiesta in Blue however features Clayton in a miniature ‘concerto,’ using a plunger - mute as well as playing open.

Another musician who took plenty of solos was trombone player, Benny Morton, who elevated ambiguity to the condition of art. His smeared tone and almost whimsical phrasing can be heard in a typically audacious solo in Out The Window.

When Herschel Evans died in 1939, at the age of 30, his place was taken

by Buddy Tate, another Texan with the heavy, broad tenor saxophone tone. The Count Basie Orchestra, and indeed all the big bands of the 1930s and 4os were characterized by fine soloists. The Count Basie Orchestra excelled in this regard because he had the brilliance for attracting instrumentalists who helped to perpetuate the same Basie sound.

However, up until the 50s, big band jazz had a fascination for jazz musicians most of whom were enamored by the desire to contribute to complex and intricate arrangements and harmonies. But the succeeding years saw a shift from this trend to small group configurations - combos which allowed essentially for the challenges of solo opportunities. Whether this is a development for the better is a matter of individual opinion.

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50 Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Birthdays ASHIMOLOWO, Pastor Mathew, teacher, evangelist, businessman and Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in London would be 62 tomorrow, Monday March 17, 2014.

He is a Biblical scholar and media commentator. His winning ways programme is aired daily on Premier Radio (London) and Spirit FM (Amsterdam) and also viewed on television by a potential audience of over 200 million in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, TV Africa, the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) and European, The God Channel and Inspirational Network. He is also author of many books including the highly acclaimed Prayer Power Series.

OKUPE, Dr. Adedoyin Ajibike, physician, politician and administrator will be 62 on Saturday, March 22, 2014. He was born on March 22, 1952 in Iperu, Ogun State, educated

Ashimolowo

Okupe

Agege

at St. Jude’s School, EbuteMetta, Lagos; Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, 1964; University of Ibadan, 1971-76; medical officer, General Hospital, Pankshin, Plateau State, 197778; senior medical officer, St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, 1979; senior medical officer, Julisam Clinic, Lagos, 1981-82;

member, Hospital Management Committee, Orthopedics Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, 1982; Managing Director, Royal Cross Hospital, Lagos, 1983; Managing Director, Life Communication Limited, Publishers of Life Mirror (First Health Newspaper in Nigeria) since 1988; House of Rep-

resentatives candidate, defunct National Party of Nigeria and one time spokesman of former president Olusegun Obasanjo and present Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Communication.

AGEGE, Clement Ede, consult-

ing chemical and environmental engineer will be 52 on Thursday, March 20, 2014. He attended the prestigious Government College Ughelli from 1973-78 for his secondary education; and from 197880 for his Higher School Certificate/Advanced Level where he obtained Grade one and full HSC respectively. He bagged a Bachelor of Engineering honours degree in Chemical Engineering in 1984 at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State and completed Masters degree in Environmental Engineering in 2009 at the University of Port Harcourt.

He is a COREN registered Engineer and Engineering Consultant; a member of Nigerian Society of Engineers; and Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers. Agege, was elected the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the UNIBEN branch of Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA) in 1982/83 session and a mem-

ber of Congress/Parliament of the University of Benin Students Union Government in 1983. He got elected as the National President of Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA) in 1983/84. He is the author of Investment Opportunities in solid metallic non-ferrous minerals in Nigeria and several articles, papers and opinions on chemical and environmental engineering.

Compiled by Gbenga Akinfenwa gbengaherkin@yahoo.com

Event * Seventh Day Adventist Church, Liberty Chapel, Utako, Abuja holds Family & Parenting Fellowship every 2nd Saturday of the month at Wenike Briggs Close, Off Okotie Eboh Street Behind Nugget Hotels, Utako, Abuja at 5:30pm. Host are Pastor Kayode Arigbede and many Men of God.

SPDC GM Sustainable Development, Nedo Osayande, cut tape of CEMAC watched by UNN VC, Bartho Okolo (right), and other officials

Dcn. Moses Olusola Ogunyomi, bride’s father; Madam Atunnise, groom’s mother; the couple, Afolabi and Aderonke Atunnise; Chief I.S. Atunnise, groom’s father and Dcns. Alice Olanike Ogunyomi, bride’s mother at the wedding ceremony in Lagos.

Principal, Mr. Noah Adeliyi (right sitting) and staff of Akinyele/Alakuko Junior Secondary School and some dignitaries during the ‘Yoruba Day’ in Lagos.

Owen Osunde (left); Iwisi Osunde; Aibi Osunde-Ogbegbor; Uwa Osunde; Alaba Owolabi and Omase Uwaifo-Arunah during the burial of late President, Nigerian Society of Aneasthetists, Dr. Adesuwa Safu Lawani-Osunde in Benin…last week

From left (middle) Pastor (Mrs.) Yide Ukachi flanked on the right by host Pastor Gideon Emmanuel and wife, participants (Couples) at He is Alive Church Couples honey moon retreat 2014 at the Light Chapel (LASU), Lagos.

Dr Leke Pitan in conjunction with CODEPURPLE events distributed for free a new innovative garment in the fight against malaria. From right, Dr Leke Pitan, Robin Crespo, Segun Adetona and Dr Bamgbose Afolabi during the occasion.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 16, 2014

51

NEWSFEATURE

Customers in a banking hall... oblivious of illegal debits.

How Banks Fleece Their Customers Estimated annual loss by customers Going through the website run by Aniede’s RDINARILY, listening to sports commenorganisation, ‘Union of Banks and Other taries and analysis in one of the newest and Financial Institutions Customers of Nigeria,’ leading talk radio stations would not have there is a report that an estimated N150bn is raised eyebrows. And a particular week day lost to the banking sector every year and it is evening, in the thick of Lagos traffic snarl, rather likely to increase if nothing is done and the than continue with the flow of current events public remains ignorant and docile. happening in the world of football, the sports Rather than a direct response to that, he paintanalyst stunned listeners by bringing a personal- ed a picture of what stupendous sums have ity to discuss banking matters. slipped into hands of bank executives.

It was illogical, in a sense, but what followed “An MD of one of the banks taken over at the during the course of that brief chat caused The coming of CBN’s Mallam Sanusi, the suspendGuardian to go find out from the interviewee, Mr. ed Governor was ordered in the UK to return Joseph Aniede, US trained forensic accountant N176 billion that he hid in that nation. The forand certified fraud examination expert, the mer group CEO complied, yet there are other things he said Nigerian bank customers go accounts he had in different parts of the world. through.

Where did he get all the money from if not It was a catalogue of individual and corporate stolen from the masses – Nigerian people, the losses bank customers suffer in the hands of list is almost endless, ’ Aniede affirmed. bankers resulting in billions of naira yearly.

There is a lot of bank manipulation going on The appointment was fixed for a Wednesday in the country and unfortunately the victims morning in his office on Badagry Expressway, are the masses according to his assertion. The Opposite ASPAMDA/Lagos International Trade bank customers are the losers and they do not Fair complex. Catching up with him was only even know what to do because of ignorance. possible in the trade fair complex, where clients Here, he says his non-governmental organisawere waiting for him to assist them sort out their tion is set up, to serve as an advocacy group matters with financial institutions. and a rallying point for all customers of banks Mid afternoon that day, the venue turned out to and other financial institution in the country. be a fast food outlet located in the ever-busy com- Of paramount importance, he continued, is to plex. Sitting alone in one of the vacant tables in a ensure that no bank or financial institution simple tee-shirt, wearing a conservative low cut steals from the masses or abuse their rights hair style, Aniede did not look like one, who and get away with it.” would raise dust over the attitude of banks Not excluding microfinance banks, Aniede towards those that they were supposed to serve. said there has been gross disregard for statutoA rather soft mien was pervasive around him ry provisions regulating banking services however; he had this steely glint in his eyes, and going on a daily basis. the kind you would see in crack detectives in the According to him, in April 2013, over 3,500 mold of the MI5 or FBI. What looked a clue was complaints from frustrated bank customers apparent during the chat; it was a chip off the were lodged and handled in a period of 30 old block – it rubbed off on him from the father, days. The outcome was that after prompt inveswho is a military intelligence personnel in the tigations, over five billion naira was discovered Nigerian Army. misappropriated and same was ordered by the Taking in the situation, and pleasantries Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to be returned to exchanged, the first shot was fired, ‘How come the customers. you said on radio that Nigerian banks have been Other specific cases of misappropriation holding their customers to ransome for so long The forensic accountant said his organisation and this should not be allowed to continue? developed the Aniede’s reply revealed a deep-seated dissatisfac- ‘Illegal Bank Charges Recovery’ software with tion with the system. ‘We have been held to ranparameters of Nigeria’s banking rules and regsom, even the economy, by the banking indusulations set therein. What the software basicaltry. Most executives in the banks now have more ly does, according to him, is that when you run money than the banks they are managing,’ he it on your account statement or programme it fired back.

By Fabian Odum

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on your financial statement, it fishes out all the illegal charges; what it has as default setting are the approved bank regulation charges.

In a particular instance, Aniede said the software did a sieve-the-chaff-from-the-wheat action on a multi-national client’s account statement. What was uncovered was about three billion naira excess charges over a period of time.

He said cases handled could be on either individual basis or corporate level and what has happened in that account over a number of years can be detected.

“There has never been an account, not even one, that we have reviewed and not found excess and illegal bank charges. It then depends on how big the account is, if the balance of the account is in thousands and same applies to millions and billions.”

Aniede is worried that the manipulation and deliberate misappropriation by banks are done and concealed in a way that will be difficult for

Aniede

an average bank customer to unravel. Opening a bit of what appeared a ‘can of worms,’ the forensic financial expert revealed the following: Banks (names withheld) variously restored misappropriated funds from the following customers in the recent past, when confronted with evidences: Saiden Africa Ltd (N649m), ICMG Securities (N171m), Matrix Energy Ltd (N4m), Pab Oil & Gas (N166m), one Mrs. Oguntoyinbo (N3m), Ifechukwu Progressive Ventures Ltd (N15m), Vera City Ventures (N1.4m), Pharma Deko Plc (N45m), Continental Resources Ltd (N10m); CrossWorld Securities Ltd (N3.7m) among others.

Would the NGO handle the cases of small bank customers and individuals? In response, Aniede gave the report of a widow, one Mrs. Rosemary Nwabundu, a customer of a very known and accessible bank. He said the woman lost her business when her shop was destroyed but ran to her brothers, who raised N163,000 for another start. But what became of the money was another story until Aniede’s team arrived the spot. She lost the money through lack of watchfulness of the bank as the custodian of the customer’s money. It had earlier sidelined the woman, pushing the blame to the client. They took the matter to the concerned bank with the appropriate legal equipment and it was not long after that, that the bank paid back the money to the woman.

Victims narrate experiences The Guardian reached Mrs. Nwabundu, who leaves in Satellite town to tell her own side of the story. In a telephone conversation, she recalls that the loss of that fund at the time was a challenge that was very traumatic, as she had none to help her, being a resource-poor trader.

In July 2013, according to her, was the start of the unpleasant episode; an alert on her phone at about 1am on a particular night was all it took to change the course of a peaceful night rest. From that moment, it was wailing and lamentations the next morning at the branch office of the bank, near the Trade Fair area, where she opened the account from the first day.

When it appeared the handling was wishywashy, she made moves to other branches of the same second generation but to no avail.

Mrs. Nwabundu revealed that a headway opened for her when she ran into a man at the market opposite the Trade Fair, who directed CONTINUED ON PAGE...

52 Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWSFEATURE

Banks Go Haywire On Extra-operational Charges

By Geoff Iyatse HARP practices may be as old as Nigerian banks. What may be new is the multiplicity of the dishonest income channels, a situation that is raising eyebrow on the responsibility of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the bank depositors.

Strangely, a customer does not have to keep his account active to incur the outlandish charges; dormant accounts are affected too.

George Esu, a current account operator in one of the old generation banks, recently raised concern that his dormant account had gone into the ‘red’ even while there was no transaction on it since late 2012 (he left a credit of N1000 plus) that would warrant commission on turnover (COT).

“Sometimes I would get alert explaining that a few naira were debit as management charges.

The next it would be SMS charges. I never really bothered to confront the bank because it was ridiculously small to warrant complaint. How could I walk into a bank to demand explanation on why N12 was debited from my account?

The strange charges and SMS continued. Some months I would receive three SMS.” But George was amazed how the kobo-kobo shortfall transformed into a loss that could buy him a decent lunch when he approached a local branch of the bank to reactivate the account December. Not even the N1000 he deposited to fulfill the renewal ritual filled the hole the unlawful charges created.

“Immediately I walked out of the banking hall, I got alert that my account was credited with N1000 while my balance stood at less than N700. What it meant was that my account was already in deficit. But how could I have known when I never paid attention to the multiple text messages I receive from them on weekly basis.”

Unfortunately, the lack of care for little things that lurks inside his chubby frame held him back from returning to the banking hall to ask questions.

George is a quintessence of an average Nigerian. He can walk away without collecting a N50 balance from a grocery shop not because he really wants to be charitable but for want of courage to ask for his due. And considering the unruffled disposition of banking environment,

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many just surrender to the unwarranted ‘generosity’ while the operators cash in to pile up profits.

Just as people are not asking questions, bankers are also not willing to scale down their charges. And as much as they can possibly cover, they invent new ones.

Interestingly, the few ethical bankers see the whacky practice of imposing a charge on every naira left in bank’s vault as criminal, and unprofessional.

A top officer in the audit department of a second-generation bank admitted that the illegal charges appear to keep multiplying now that COT is being phased out. He said banks have faced Herculean task achieving moderate cost-to-income ratio since the charges on inter-bank automated teller machine (ATM) transaction was stopped last year.

It would be recalled that the CBN, last year, arm-twisted the Bankers Committee, to waive the ATM charge imposed on ATM charges. Several bank chiefs, though not openly, grumbled that the waiver sent incomes of the banks sliding.

As banks continue to fleece their customers, people are questioning the responsibility CBN to customers and its determination to implement that the bar of transparency.

Amid the rising outcry, The Guardian put a call through to CBN’s Director of Corporate Communication, Ugochukwu Okorafor, to explain why it has been difficult to tame the unprofessional behaviour. The spokesman, who said he was out of Abuja for a programme, referred to his assistant, Isaac Okorafor.

(Isaac) Okorafor was reached the next day.

He asked for an email detailing the issues so that he could address it to the Customer Protection Department.

Responses received from Principal Manager, Corporate Communication Department, Isa Abdulsalam, is an eye opener to the level of fraud in the sector. He revealed that the apex bank has prevailed on banks to refund N12, 741,394,237.56 to victims of illegal charges since March 2010, adding that offending banks are either warned or penalised.

“A bank charge is illegal if it is contrary to extant laws and regulation, particularly the guide to bank charges. The guide is a compendium of allowable bank charges issued by the CBN in April 2013. The development of the Guide involved all stakeholders. Where the guide does not cover a charge, banks must obtain the approval of the CBN to apply the charge.

“The CBN is aware of these complaints through petitions received by the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) from aggrieved customers.

Where a case of illegal/excess charge is established by the department through its review and investigative mechanism, the CPD requires the bank involved to make refund with interest,

he explained.

He explained that a dormant account should not attract COT and VAT because both are activity-based charges, adding that management charge on dormant account is not covered by extant laws and regulation.

The apex bank, he said, continue to engage banks, one-on-one and through the Bankers Committee to comply with extant laws and regulations. On the role of the Bankers Committee in mitigating illegal charges, he said that the association, through its sub-committee on ethics and professionalism, continues to provide a forum through which complaints are resolved.

...Estimated N150Bn Lost Annually CONTINUED FROM PAGE...

her to Aniede’s NGO after narrating her ordeal at the bank.

Incidentally, it took about seven working days of managing the matter to get result much to her amazement and relief. In the end, and without any charges for the job except for transport mobilisation for the numerous visits to the bank’s HQ in Victoria Island, the financial institution refunded the money.

In search of another victim, who had received the services of the NGO, The Guardian tracked Mr. Prince Saviour Iche, President of the Association of Micro-entrepreneurs of Nigeria to his Mushin office to get account of his own experience in the hands of another second-generation bank.

His bank did not spare him the manipulations of the accounts that has become its stock-in-trade over a period of time. When someone introduced his organisation to Aniede’s NGO for a sensitisation talk, it become clear there was something in the offing.

Iche asked the NGO to take up his account in the first instance, as a test case; what came out of Aniede’s crusading campaign against spurious charges with the bank’s HQ paid off. The micro-entrepreneurs president revealed that he was pleasantly surprised: the bank wrote to pacify the client through the NGO. The bank agreed to have excessively charged Iche’s Real Bright Future Hope Enterprises in the following areas: excess interest charges July 2013-Sept 2013 (1013.50); excess management fee as at April 24, 2013 (N75,000); VAT on excess management fee, Penal interest payable on excess charges (N3,967.20) and so on.

These monies were reverted, with apologies on 6 December, 2013.

Aniede says the matter in forensic accounting goes to the legal side of it; hence the bank would be taken up in a law court to pay damages to its client.

Myriad fraudulent charges laid on customers In order to create awareness of what the average customers should know, Aniede revealed there are basic ones but from the investigations, there are more of what may be referred to as ‘traps;’ it is difficult to scale over all of them.

“There are 33 fraudulent charges that are going on in our banking industry. Whether you are running a savings or a current account, they lie in wait for the ignorant customer.”

According to him, some people are victims of the entire 33. He asserts that there is no bank customer in Nigeria that is not a victim of any of these banks’ fraud.

In explaining what may be an eye opener to a vast majority of customers, he said: “One of the basic means that banks get illegal money from customers on a regular basis is through what is known as Commission on Turnover (COT) charges. This is a

charge by a bank for a valid withdrawal by an account owner, and it is charged at N5 per mill (per N1000), before April 2013, when it was changed to N3 per mill.

“This is because there is a process on ground to phase out COT charges. In most parts of the world, there is nothing like COT charges. The plan is on to phase it out by 2016. It is N3 now, by 2014, it will become N2. By 2015, It will N1 and by 2016 it will be phased out entirely. That is the process on ground. “ We have found out that despite the fact that the charges have been reduced to N3 naira in April 2013, most banks have not notified their customers nor have they amended the charges for people, who have had accounts with them before this time.

By law, COT charges are negotiable on any transaction. An account can be COT free. It can be N1, but no bank is allowed to charge more than N3 per mile. Meanwhile, it can be 0k or N1 but not above N3.

“Imagine the volume of transaction that takes place on a daily bases. Even when the charge was N5, some banks charged above it. Banks even charge COT on transaction that does not attract the charge. For instance, if you have a corporate account and a personal account in the same bank, most banks would still charge people COT when you transact from one to the other. Meanwhile, it doesn’t attract COT. Even the VAT charges, they sometimes don’t remit.”

Pained by what has been going on in the banking industry, he likened it to an organised fraud.

SMS “By law, no bank is supposed to charge more than N4 for SMS, but we have cases where N100 has been charged. In the statement, it will read that N100 was taken for SMS. Sometimes, you will get about four SMS’ for one transaction.”

On banks and loans So far, in our system, the issue of loans is more or less regarded as a suicide mission as banks have devised very convoluted means of arm-twisting clients to submission with interest rate figures out of this world.

The forensic accounts expert bluntly put it that Nigerian banks do not give loans; it is like the more you pay, the more you owe.

An average Nigerian bank, he says gives loan at almost 40 to 50 per cent, pining their interest rate at 27per cent or thereabout.

They will charge five per cent management fee, 2.5per cent legal fee, another two per cent as processing fee and more.

Incidentally, all these take place before the money gets to the borrower.

“It is the same person that will rent a generator, pay staff and all. How do they expect to recover the loan? In the end, doesn’t it look like a trap?” he queried.

With the entire happenings, he lampooned the CBN, an apex bank he described as performing below par, for not coming to the aid of the hapless customer. He said the CBN would rather take cases, sometimes to the Bankers’ Committee, a body he described as unknown in law.

“It just like some banks appointed some of their own to be members of a committee. You find out that sometimes, when you take some cases to CBN, they will ask you to take it to the bankers committee. How can a man be a judge in his own matter? How can an accused preside over his case?

Ignorance, name of the game “The banks capitalise on people’s ignorance to manipulate them. We have found out now that over 90 per cent of people the banks chase up and down as debtors do not owe those banks at all. People are only paying for their ignorance. They should stop running around, because what the banks have against their customers is fraud.

“Whoever that is engaged in fraud and is exposed does not have any right in that transaction. We found out also that most Nigerian banks cannot defend their account statements they give out to their customers. When you confront them, they replace it with another one where they make changes and agree that the first one was wrong. The issue on ground is a serious matter,” he said.

Modality of operation, cost and charges Knowing the enormity of the job, it was not out of place to ask him how he copes with the deluge of cases brought to it. ‘We are an NGO,” he re-affirmed. “ When someone brings a letter to us, the first thing is to investigate the matter. We don’t charge. We investigate to ensure that it has merit. After this, we get down to business. What the person does is to take care of the out-of-pocket expenses, and the cost of running around for our team of forensic experts, auditors and lawyers.

“Some of the cases now end up in court. When you discover that something has not been right all along, you can go to court and sue for damages. Many of our clients have taken their matters to court.

“There is a particular issue now where the court awarded N45 million as damages against a bank (name withheld). We fought for it. They have appealed but I know is a ploy to buy time.”

Aside an active website, www.howbanksrobtheircustomers.org, the young organisation runs by membership subscription and the drive for increase in members is on going. Although their presence is in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Nnewi, the plan is to be in Abuja in first quarter of 2014 and other state capitals for easy access by customers.

TheGuardian

Sunday, March 16, 2014 | 53

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Second Niger Bridge And Other Broken Promises RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan last week finally got some traction on the Second Niger Bridge (SNB) project. It was one of the key elements he felt he needed to win the Igbo vote in the 2007 and 2011 elections, and he hammered at it relentlessly.

According to Mr. Jonathan himself, it was in 2007 when he was running for Vice-president that he first promised to build the bridge.

Four years later, he would run for the presidency on his own, and at least two times in one day, the first in Aba, he made sure he told everyone who was listening, and everyone who was capable of telling anyone else, he was going to complete the SNB. That was on February 12, 2011.

Appearing in Enugu on that same day, he repeated the promise; he was not taking the chance of losing the vote of a people in a place where he reminded them his name was Azikiwe.

He would return to the East on February 26, and repeat the same promise in Awka: he, Goodluck Azikiwe Jonathan, would complete the SNB. Press coverage of that week confirms that he left Awka for Onitsha. There, the following day, he made the defining promise of his electoral campaign and his presidency.

“I do not make empty promises in my campaign,” he declared, “because whatever I promise to do, I had already carried out adequate study to make sure I can accomplish it in the next four years.”

Most of Mr. Jonathan’s campaign pledges are documented in “A Mountain of Promises,” an article I published as a public service one week before his inauguration in 2011. That Onitsha declaration makes them all a critical part of contemporary Nigerian politics.

The SNB is a tantalizing challenge, but it is curious that Nigeria’s President only broke ground on it last week, just a little more than one year to the end of his tenure.

Let us be clear: each time Mr. Jonathan played the SNB card during his campaign, he spoke in

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terms of completing it before the end of his tenure in 2015.

Another such memorable occasion, after the election, was a Town Hall meeting in Onitsha on August 30, 2012. On that occasion, he told the people he was so sure he was of his pledge that he was prepared to go on exile if he failed to build the SNB before completing his term in 2015.

“When the first bridge was built, it was during the presidency of Nnamdi Azikiwe,” he said. “The Second Niger Bridge will be built under the presidency of Azikiwe Jonathan.”

He was rewarded with tumultuous applause and dancing by people who thought they had invested wisely. They were still dancing when Jonathan got on his jet and returned to Abuja.

Again, that was in August 2012, five years after Jonathan first promised the bridge, and one and a half years after he repeatedly played the same card in an effort to win the local vote.

The problem is that last week, he seemed to have forgotten his target of 2015. The project will now be completed “in four years,” he said, with no indication as to his exile address.

Many Igbo politicians were in celebration over the groundbreaking, curiously ignoring the fact that the bridge that Mr. Jonathan will “complete” in four years is different from the one he promised in 2011. The one he campaigned with is due no later than May 29, 2015.

With his new project, he is getting away with a bait-and-switch scheme: in 2011, he promised a 2015 bridge in order to get the 2011 vote; in 2014 he is dangling the same bridge for the future.

To be fair, President Jonathan has yet to declare he will run for next year’s election; he had said on several previous occasions he would not contest.

Nonetheless, something else he downplayed last week is that the bridge he promises in four years, if completed, will for 25 years belong not to the government. It will belong

to the concessionaire, Julius Berger, which will impose and collect tolls. Only the politicians are salivating at the prospect of those tolls.

I fully support the construction of the SNB; everyone who has paid attention knows that it is long overdue.

The problem is that when someone owes a debt, his promise to pay it in the future neither satisfies the debt nor assuages the outrage of unfulfilled deadlines. sonala.olumhense@gmail.com This is the problem with electoral promises. Twitter: @Sonala.Olumhense In 2011, Mr. Jonathan arrived with various promises he was exchanging for votes “because whatever I promise to do, I had policy; a five-year plan to revolutionize agrialready carried out adequate study to make culture and establish industries; a four-year sure I can accomplish it in the next four development plan that would open up the South-South geo-political zone; a five-year years.”

In the context of the SNB, he is not deliver- structure for road construction to replace ing on his “adequate study,” and he is not annual budgetary allocations; and a five-year development acceleration plan. delivering on time.

These are besides broader promises to comThere may be a whole book of electoral pledges nationwide which fits that descrip- bat corruption and to ensure electricity, security and jobs. tion.

On May 21, 2011, when I first published my For the South-east, he also promised, among others: facilities that would boost summary of these promises, it was as a the enterprising spirit of the Igbo; stamping reminder to Mr. Jonathan, but it was also as a out kidnapping; upgrading the Enugu air- measure of my skepticism. I did not believe port to international level; dredging the Mr. Jonathan believed a word he had said.

At his Media Chat in June 2012, however, he River Niger; a dry port in Aba; rehabilitating all the main roads into Abia, and construct- assured the country he was on course. ing all the major roads which link Anambra “People will see the results by 2013 and things will change,” he declared. with its neighbors.

But here we are: 2014, and the SNB seems to He promised to dualize the EnuguAbakaliki Express Road within his first year; be the latest proof the President intends to to convert the Federal Medical Centre in postdate his 2011 electoral pledges. He has Abakaliki into a teaching hospital; to tackle already said the Lagos-Ibadan road will now the erosion menace; to prepare Aba for air- be completed in four years.

This is a trend Nigerian voters must bear in craft production; to complete the aerodynamic survey of gas in the Anambra River mind when politicians show up before elecbasin; to complete the Onitsha Inland Port, tions with wild supplies of promises. The hisand to build coastal roads and rail from tory of Nigeria’s public life is the story of a landscape littered with broken promises and Lagos to Calabar. uncompleted projects. It is not difficult to see That was just one geo-political zone.

Nationally, he promised, among others, a how this came to be, and people like holistic review of Nigeria’s education sector President Jonathan must be held to account.

LASU: Time To Award Respectable Degrees

By Olatunji Lawal ET us start with a frank admission: degrees awarded by the Lagos State University (LASU) are anything but respected.

Employers recruit graduates of this university, like their counterparts from other state-owned universities in Nigeria, if there are no candidates with certificates from abroad or from first generation Nigerian universities or from other federal universities or from private universities like Covenant, Babcock and Madonna. A doctoral degree from LASU is unlikely to earn a person an academic position at the neighbouring University of Lagos (UNILAG). This is how much diplomas from state universities in Nigeria are discriminated against.

In the last few years, LASU has been in the class of community colleges in the United States where education has been virtually free, but unfortunately its diplomas (degrees and certificates) scarcely secure employment for the holders except in a few government establishments. What some clever Nigerian parents and guardians do is to send their children and wards to community colleges in the United States for the first two years in order to save costs and then find them admission into proper universities to complete their four-year bachelor programmes.

These parents and guardians know that it is easy to get jobs with degrees from community colleges, as it is to find a needle in a haystack. People living in Lagos with LASU certificates have been going to UNILAG, Covenant and Babcock to obtain higher degrees in order to enhance their chances of employment. A Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on holds a LASU Bachelor of Laws degree, but this is hardly disclosed in any of his academic citations; rather what we see in his curriculum vitae is that he obtained bachelor’s and research degrees from the University of Calabar and the University of Ibadan.

The Lagos State Government could have chosen the convenient and easy route to the LASU problem by merely continuing with the status quo. That is, it could have continued with the populist system of charging students a paltry N25, 000 yearly as school fee. This would have made the government win some cheap popularity. After all, ours is a democracy where everything, no matter how sacred, is seen always in terms of electioneering campaign. But the government chose to do the right thing. A little over two years ago, the state administration reviewed the school fee, with prospective students wishing to

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study certain courses now required to pay higher than some others. The upward review was prompted by the fact that the allocation to the university was grossly inadequate to meet the growing financial challenges of running a university, especially one, which is light years away from competing with other global institutions in the 21st century.

The decision did not go down with a lot of students and even lecturers, even though the government stated unequivocally that the decision would not affect those already studying at LASU. After the initial brouhaha, the matter was resolved.

Academic studies and programmes have been going on well.

But two years down the line, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been threatening fire and brimstone over LASU fees. Speaking a few days ago at the University of Ibadan where Education Rights Campaign organized a symposium, ASUU National President Nasir Faggae declared that the union would not accept the new school fees, saying that the government should establish universities for knowledge acquisition, and not profit making. Ever since the declaration, some activists like Dr. Ademola Aremu, the ASUU National treasurer, have been beating the war drum against the state government.

This action has led a number of pundits to conclude that a handful of ASUU members are itching for a showdown. In a country where university lecturers have just ended a strike, which lasted a whole five months it would be unthinkable that any person, let alone a stakeholder in the education industry, should be enthusiastic to disrupt the academic programme of any tertiary institution.

According to the ASUU, the new school fees have caused a reduction in the student population, which could, in turn, affect the number of courses available. In other words, some ASUU members are afraid that they could become redundant, and this could result in their disengagement. Put succinctly, the ASUU activists are acting out of self-interest, and not out of a deep concern for the common good. Much as it is recognized that ASUU is a trade union, we expect it to sometimes display a concern for the good of all in society. For instance, ASUU fights for the welfare of members by all means possible, but has never bothered about such factors as sex for marks, outright demand for bribes by teachers from students and sale of handouts, which contribute to a large extent to the ongoing ruination of the Nigerian university system.

ASUU should worry about the unjustifiable expansion of pro-

grammes in our tertiary institutions. Why is it that no sooner is a university established in Nigeria that it begins to carry out postgraduate programmes, including doctoral ones? In the United, for example, there are first class institutions over 100 years old like Boston College which do not award PhDs. Amherst College in Massachusetts where the annual school fee of an undergraduate student is over $33,000 is the alma mater of the world famous Nobel prize winner in Economics, Joseph Stigler, yet it does not run PhD courses. In fact, some great American higher institutions do not run even master’s degree programmes. It is, therefore, very sad to see newly established state and private universities in Nigeria award postgraduate degrees.

ASUU should protest against such practices. It is a far more noble thing to do than to be obsessed with the pecuniary interests of members, even if it means the country’s education system going to the dogs.

The mindset of some ASUU members is unfortunately irreconcilable with the true demands and challenges of 21st century higher institutions. The ASUU National treasurer, for instance, has been saying that universities are no business organizations.

Of course, universities are not always for profit making. But what his statement reveals is a failure to acknowledge that the world is now in an era where the gown and the town meet, unlike in the past when, as a result of our British colonial heritage, the university was far removed from society. American professors and researchers have always been encouraged to work closely with the industry, that is, to engage in what we call in Nigeria private practice. Consequently, they make money for themselves and for their institutions. In this connection, LASU should benefit from its location in Nigeria’s commercial centre of Lagos to engage in research for companies. Its medical microbiology department, for instance, can conduct rewarding research for companies like Nigerian Breweries and Guinness. Its School of Management and College of Engineering can earn considerable income by working for several local and multinational firms.

ASUU must come to terms with the fact that the time for cheap populism is over. LASU needs all the money it can generate to become a respectable institution. It must produce credible certificates, not fanciful degrees and not worth the paper on which they are written.

Dr. Lawal, a retired director in the public service, is a management consultant in Victoria Island, Lagos.

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www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Rela-thieves Meet Trouble In Naijiria ATIONAL honours have been piled on a thief. His rela-thieves have been surprised that someone else, also honoured, but for some unknown reason, may be because he wrote a telephone conversation and they gi’ am nobel laureate, complained about their thieving father being given a national honour. Trouble went to hear the case they make for honouring thieves.

Alaba, for a change, took notes at the meeting. In the first place, there is honour among thieves, said the young lady. Look at the others who were honoured. They are all in the same class. Why pick on their father?

In the second place, when a good person does a bad thing, that bad thing becomes, ipso facto, a good thing. So, their father, according to the vocabulary, ‘looted’ Naija treasury. This assumes that there were some people guarding the treasury and their father went there armed with various habiliments of war and took away treasures of the treasury. Which is not what happened.

Their father did a good thing by putting some of Naija treasure away for a rainy day or a raining day or even a reigning day! Anyway, that’s what happened. The fact that the so-called loot was later re-looted should tell all of us that looting is not really a bad thing.

Alaba is squirming as he writes, wondering what he is hearing. But he continues to write.

Alaba is thinking maybe one does not choose one’s parents but when one is over 18 years of age, one chooses one’s morals. Or should our parents choose our morals for us?

In the third place, interrupts the young man taking over from his sister, when we agree to live together we write down the rules that should govern our togetherness, prescribe the belief-system by which we should live, determine the system of our survival in terms of eating, drinking,

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clothing and housing ourselves. Finally we fine-tune the terms that would determine who is right when we have conflicts. You will agree with me, Dr. Alaba, High Chief Trouble that none of these things exist in Naija. And if there are no rules, then there are no offences.

The fact of the matter is that. . .

Alaba objects to being addressed as doctor because he does not have a phd and Mr. Trouble insists that he is neither high or low chief, he is simply Trouble and he prefers to be so addressed.

The fact of the matter, continued the young man, is that everybody acts by his or her own rules and belief-system and economic system and conflict resolution and nothing unites those who live in Naija.

But there are Naija courts, and Naija high courts and Naija appeal courts, shouted Alaba.

But was our father ever declared a looter in any court of law? No! The courts make decisions and courts in other countries change such decisions. Who should we support, our courts or foreign imperialist courts with no sympathy for our culture?

But there is something called Justice beyond our Naija borders, is it not so? Trouble signalled for Alaba to hold his tongue. Continue your arguments against calling your father a thief.

Thank you Sir Trouble, said the young man, in the fourth place, we are governed by the Trickster Philosophy. Mr. Trouble was going to protest that he had not been knighted neither

by Queen Eliza nor some church. Alaba signalled to him to keep his peace. The Trickster Philosophy, continued the young man, is an exciting operating philosophy that allows the lowly to overcome the highly placed, it allows

the poor to become rich by liberating from those who have it, allows the third world to become first world by forcibly removing treasure that was taken away before-before. You get? It is called the levelling philosophy. It works by whatever means works. That’s why it looks like nothing is working in Naija. The trickster philosophy allows David to kill Goliath and everybody is happy. Are you following me, I mean following us?

But there are rules and regulations different from what you are telling us now, insisted Alaba. I agree with you Saint Alaba, the young rela-thief said quickly. Am I a Saint now? Alaba wanted to know. Well, if you think stealing/thieving from the Naija treasury is a crime, you must be a saint, hahaha!

Finally, and in the fifth place, our religious fervour and our prayers 24/7 tells us that whatever gets done in Naija must be a miracle.

Travel through the land from one political zone to another and we see churches and mosques and shrines praying 24/7. And when something happens like six billion dollars ending in our Dad’s accounts around the world, we must give praise for such a miracle!

You get?

You don’t get? Then most finally, the honour was not being given for looting the treasury but rather for keeping the country united and

surviving until its 100 years. Death, we can say took over and about the dead nothing but good must be said. So, we need to remember only the good that the dead did. We need to forgive and forget. After all even the Almighty forgives. Why can’t we just forgive and forget?

Alaba put away the biro and the paper on which he was writing and bellowed at the two young rela-thieves. Please shut up. The reason thieving is bad is that it has consequences.

Stolen money means that hospitals cannot be built, schools cannot be equipped and roads and bridges cannot be constructed. It translates into forty thousand projects being abandoned across Naijiria. It means millions of children dying before their first birthday, elderly people having no support because their pensions have been looted. It means youngsters have no work to do because their opportunities have been stolen by people like your father.

In other countries and societies, interrupted Mr. Trouble, people like your father are tried and hanged by their necks until they die. That is how bad they are seen, as people who do not deserve to live in any country or society. In the not too distant future, that kind of thinking is going to arrive in Naija. Until then, consider yourselves lucky to be permitted to rubbish the intelligence of the people of Naija with your nonsense defence of your thieving father.

Africa’s Nobel Peacemakers

By Adekeye Adebajo HIRTEEN individuals of African descent have won the Nobel peace prize since 1950. We should draw lessons for peacemaking, civil rights, socio-economic justice, environmental protection, nuclear disarmament, and women’s rights in the contemporary era from the rich experiences of these laureates.

African Americans, Ralph Bunche (who won the Nobel prize in 1950) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (1964), played an important role in the pan-African struggle, with Bunche leading the creation of the United Nations (UN) Trusteeship Council by 1947, and King championing decolonisation efforts. Both attended Kwame Nkrumah’s independence celebration in Ghana in 1957. South Africa was the last African country to gain its political independence in 1994, and four of its citizens won the Nobel Peace Prize: Albert Luthuli (1960), Desmond Tutu (1984), Nelson Mandela (1993), and Frederik Willem de Klerk (1993). The ancient civilization of Egypt produced two peace laureates – president Anwar Sadat (1978), and Mohamed ElBaradei (2005), head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

They were honoured for peacemaking and nuclear disarmament respectively.

Ghana, which produced the great Pan-African prophet, Kwame Nkrumah, was honoured with the award of the peace prize to Kofi Annan (2001), the UN Secretary-General between 1997 and 2006. Kenya, the site of one of Africa’s greatest indigenous anti-colonial movements - the Mau Mau struggle against British rule in 1952–1960 - produced a Nobel peace laureate in Wangari Maathai (2004), who devoted her life to environmental struggles. Liberia, one of Africa’s oldest republics, founded

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JAW JAW By Didi Onu

in 1847 by freed American slaves, has produced the two most recent African Nobel peace laureates: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee (both in 2011) for their role in the struggle for women’s rights.

The first American president of African descent, Kenyan-Kansan, Barack Obama, won the Nobel peace prize in 2009. His career was inspired by Martin Luther King’s civil rights struggle, and he was a direct beneficiary of this movement. As a young student in the United States (US), Obama first became politically active when he engaged in the anti-apartheid struggle, and Nelson Mandela inspired his activism.

It is also important to make connections between the struggles of these 13 individuals of African descent. Bunche and King marched together during the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s; King and Luthuli issued a joint declaration against apartheid in 1962; Luthuli and Mandela worked together against apartheid in the 1950s and 1960s; Mandela appointed Desmond Tutu as head of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC); Luthuli and Tutu were both priests who were forced into politics by the inequities of apartheid; King, Luthuli, Tutu, and Mandela were all skilful performers (as is Obama) who understood intuitively the importance of dramatic speeches and gestures; while F.W. de Klerk, as a young apartheid-supporting student leader, invited Luthuli to address fellow students at Potchefstroom University in 1961.

There were other interactions between our 13 Nobel laureates.

Obama met Tutu in South Africa as a US senator in 2006 and as president, honoured Tutu with America’s Medal of Freedom three years later; Annan and ElBaradei were both self-effacing technocrats - rather than politicians - who rose up the ranks to head their respective institutions, seeking to serve as a “force for

good” in the world and to embody the principles of their organisations; Maathai, Johnson Sirleaf, and Gbowee all courageously pursued women’s rights through methods that directly confronted authority; while Maathai worked with Annan and Tutu to promote environmental issues. In 2006, then-senator Barack Obama planted a tree with Maathai in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park. Both ElBaradei and Maathai were involved in unorthodox struggles that sought to link nuclear disarmament and environmental protection to global security in a new framework of human security.

Both became involved in domestic democracy struggles in Egypt and Kenya respectively. Both ElBaradei and Obama shared a desire to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Six of our Nobel laureates who served as international civil servants or pursued global and regional issues were prophets sometimes without honour in their own homeland. Bunche was more recognised in international circles than he was in the US; Sadat was revered in the West, but shunned and isolated in the Middle East and Africa; ElBaradei failed in his bid to play a more prominent political role in Egypt after retiring from the UN in 2009; Johnson Sirleaf failed disastrously in her first bid to become Liberia’s president in 1997; Annan spent only two years (1974-1976) as head of Ghana’s tourism board before returning to the UN; while Wangari Maathai’s environmental activism was more recognised abroad than in Kenya. Five of our laureates – Sadat, de Klerk, Mandela, Johnson Sirleaf, and Obama – were also heads of state burdened by state power, who sometimes took difficult decisions that did not always accord to the principles of the struggles they were waging.

Dr. Adebajo is Executive Director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Cape Town, South Africa, and the editor of Africa’s Peacemakers: Nobel Peace Laureates of African Descent (Zed, 2014).

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GRASSROOTS

How ‘Community Councils’ Elections Stir Fracas IMO From Charles Ogugbuaja, (Owerri) and Gbenga Akinfenwa (Lagos) HE confusion training the T March 8, 2014 Imo State Community Government Councils (CGC) election, would have been avoided, if government had listen to critics.

The election, held in 630 of the 637 autonomous communities in the 27 Local Government Areas, recall that the Fourth tier system of government was floated by the ruling All progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Rochas Okorocha had on assumption of duty in 2011, instituted the system of government, which displaced the Local Government Development Centres put in place by his predecessors Chiefs Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim, to complement the Local council administration.

The structure was birthed by the Imo State Autonomous Community Law No 1 of 2012, Volume 36, which was processed in the Imo State of Nigeria Official Gazette on the 21st August, 2012.

The governor temporarily ap-

pointed government Liaison Officers and others, while some civil servants were posted to the communities.

Each community was asked to pay a counterpart fund of N250, 000 to access N1 million from the state government, essentially for development in the rural areas.

When the idea was conceived, the populace received it with mixed feelings. When a date was eventually picked, a large section of the electorate felt betrayed that the governor, who had earlier announced plans to hold a local government election, was settling down for a CGC election.

The Guardian learnt that the electorate was opposed to the decision because of Okorocha’s unfulfilled promises.

While presenting the 2014 fiscal budget in December 2013, he announced, to the applause of the electorate, that a local Government election would hold in March, 2014.

His decision to back down on the promise was described by many as unfortunate, saying that it does no one any good.

According to an analyst, John Mgbe, Okorocha’s decision casts a pall of doubt on the place of integrity in government business. He stated that, ordinarily, a responsible government should be driven

by the policy of “Our word is our bond”, adding that there is something intrinsically wrong in a situation where a government cannot stand on a pledge it made on its own volition, more so, a pledge made while making a Fiscal Budget presentation.

Said he, “Although a CGC tier of government is an aberration in a genuine democracy, my intention in this viewpoint is not to question its legality or constitutionality. We had criticized the idea of a CGC when Governor Okorocha mooted it in the early

Okorocha

stage of his Administration. In spite of our trenchant and vociferous criticisms, the Imo State Legislature went ahead to legalise it.

“Is it not an oddity that at a time the fever of council elections is spreading across the nation like an epidemic, our state, Imo, is spending a huge amount in conducting an election which is not necessary? The CGC election is not necessary because no other political party is interested in the CGC. It’s Governor Okorocha’s pet project and there is no competition from elsewhere. So, what is the rationale in getting involved in an election when no other political party is competing with you.”

Mgbe concluded that the plan to conduct a CGC election in the state was premature and hasty, saying the emphasis should be on conducting the local government election in line with the promise made by the governor during his electioneering campaign of 2011.

True to its decision, the election, which took off on a very good note, ended in violence, which spread to all the communities.

The elections, patterned in Option A4, and conducted on zero party basis, recorded the usual problems, such as late

arrival of electoral officials, lack of confidence on electoral officials by voters, electoral violence, cancellation of results, among others.

As at 12 noon, the election, scheduled to commence at 9 am, could not take-off because electoral officials did not showed up in areas like Akowkwa, Ideator North, Asa 11, Umuduregbeagu, Onuimo, Awa in Oguta councils, Umuozo- Nwangele, among other areas.

At Ihodimeze, Ikeduru, ugiriIsiala Mbano councils, voters rejected the outcome of the election, following confusion that ensued, while Umuezeala Umunne and Ngor Opkala, results were cancelled.

The Interim State Chairman of APC, Marshal Okorofor Anyanwu, alleged that some monarchs were directing voters where to queue to cast their votes, contrary to instructions to remain in their palaces.

The monarchs were also accused of shifting the venues of the polls in some communities to preferred grounds, while in some communities, voting was not allowed to hold.

The Guardian learnt that there were pockets of violence in some communities because some aspirants and candidates were allegedly

Ogu/Egun Ethnic Nationality Protest Exclusion From CONFAB BADAGRY

By Gbenga Akinfenwa HE Ogu/Egun ethnic naT tionality in Badagry area of Lagos State, is protesting exclusion from the National Conference being convened by the Federal Government.

The group, under the aegis of Gunuvi Rights Initiative of Nigeria and Ogu Concern Forum, said the Lagos State Government marginalised Badagry indigenes, by excluding them from the list of six persons sent to repre-

Fashola

sent the state at the National Conference.

The National President of GRIN, Mr. Bokoh Oluwole, and Secretary-General, Mr. Ogunbiyi Isaac, in a letter to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, dated March 4, 2014, said the representation of Lagos State in the Confab should have reflected the cultural and ethnic configuration of the state.

GRIN said Ogu/Egun ethnic nationality which “constitutes the pivot of western civilisation in Nigeria,” deserves a place of pride in

matters of national significance.

In a statement signed by Dr. Pius Fasinu, Ms Gloria Sevezun Agbaosi and Dr. Senayon Olaoluwa, among others, the Ogu Concern Forum claimed that the indigenous Ogu people have had their fair share of the troubles with Nigeria, as the typical victim of ethnic crisis in Southwest Nigeria.

They noted that, in recent times, there has been escalation of ethnic crisis between them and their majority Yoruba neighbours, as often reported in Ado-Odo, Ipokia areas, and some parts of Badagry.

The group revealed that they were, almost as a matter of policy, denied admission into Badagry Grammar School, Kakon Model College and other governmentowned schools, until sufficient pressure and protests were registered by their leaders.

“The continuous marginalisation of the Ogu (Egun) people of South-West Nigeria is common knowledge.

The late sage and Premier of the then Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has remained the reference point in leadership not only because of his selflessness and capability, but primarily because of his inclusive politics. For example, it was Chief Awolowo who appointed the Aholu, Claudius Dosa Akran from Badagry as Minister for Economic Planning and Community Development (1958 – 1964) in the then regional government.

“At the same time, Chief D. K Aihonsu (from Ipokia, present day Ogun State) was a member of the Regional House of Representatives through the support of Chief Awolowo. Since the de-

mise of this sage (and the leadership style he represented), there have been spirited efforts to present the South-West Nigeria as a mono-ethnic region. In this vein, political representation (other than local elective posts) has largely excluded Ogu people,” the statement read.

The group claimed, that it was part of the struggle for Nigeria’s independence and had contributed in no small measure to national development. It added that in today’s Nigeria, Ogu people are found mainly in Badagry area of Lagos State as well as in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ipokia, Imeko, and Yewa South Local Government Areas of Ogun State and others.

According to them, the situation, at times suggests a systematic intention to single out the ethnic group for persecution. “To many, the Ogu are Nigerians only when it is time to vote.

Lagos traditionally has five divisions with Badagry (comprising mainly the Ogu people and the Awori sub-ethnic group of the Yoruba) as one of these divisions. It is, however, worrisome that a lot of political decisions and other moves for development often exclude the Ogu as is playing out in the nomination of delegates for the forthcoming national conference.

The group revealed that it believes, it is not late to rectify the gross marginalisation and injustice, appealing that there should be at least one Ogu representative in the state delegates’ list.

“We are equally persuaded that the Ogu people in Ogun State deserve at least one representative out of the eight delegates nominated by the state. We reject every suggestion that Ogu people can be represented by non-Ogu people, as not only does this smack off an

attempt to infantilize Ogu people, it also amounts to malignant paternalism.

“We reject the persuasive distortions that tend to lump us up as Yoruba. We make bold to say that the absolutism being projected by the current leaders of Southwest Nigeria is against the spirit of national dialogue.

We demand from the Nigerian state equal rights as citizens, including the right to air our grievances through the National Conference,” they stated.

The forum noted that the persistent injustice breeds’ agitation and resistance, saying it rejects all suggestions that diminish its persons, identities, dignity and uniqueness.

“We do not affirm difference for its sake; we do so because it is the least logical thing to do, seeing that we operate by distinct cultural paradigms that are framed by equally distinct historical evidence,” the group said.

Council Creation Committee Receives 71 Requests EKITI

By Gbenga Akinfenwa HE move by the Ekiti State T Government to create more councils has received a major boost, as 71 requests have been received by the local government creation committee.

The committee’s recommendation, based on requests received so far, would determine the actual number of councils to create.

Chairman of the committee, Justice Akin Ajakaiye (rtd), who disclosed this during the week in Ado- Ekiti, said his committee would

begin work immediately by treating all the memoranda received from the communities.

He noted that, in spite of the requests submitted, it would be fair to the various communities, adding that the committee would do what is right by attending to every memorandum on their merit.

“Those who meet our criteria shall be recommended to the government for action. The committee would recommend a group of communities for local government status based on land mass, contiguity, consensus on where to site the head-

quarters, revenue base and homogeneity.

“The committee cannot be used by the state government to advance its course ahead of the June 21 governorship election in the state as rumoured by many.

As you can see me, I am a credible person by all standards; nobody has ever used me in such a manner, even when I was not a judge.

He disclosed that he is not a politician and don’t pray to be one someday, assuring that no member of the committee is a politician, according to him, the committee members are all achievers in various fields.

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POLITICS Obianor: Tension As APGA Crisis Threaten Swearing-In From Chuks Collins, Awka NAMBRA State is tensed up. And this is a wrong moment for that. The state ought to be in frenzy, and counting down to tomorrow, the dawn of a new era — A day when the administration of Chief Willie Obianor, a widely travelled, well-read bank administrator would begin.

Unfortunately, the ugly ‘chicanery of barbarity’ that has dogged the nation’s polity, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), his party, is now threatening that moment of history.

What would have been the outgoing Governor Peter Obi’s moment of glory, if only he saw the need to reconcile all the factions in the party, will now put a big dot to his acknowledged sterling record.

And with two strong camps, each led by known grassroots generals — chiefs Victor Umeh and Maxi Okwu — it would be wrong to say the crises will end soon.

Okwu’s camp, which nominated Dr. Chike Obidigbo, appears bent on having its way, while Umeh’s camp, which sponsored Obianor, is treating the former with all disdain.

Okwu, in an interview with the media, expressed readiness to dialogue. But Umeh, unfortunately, turned down all interview requests or for comments on the imbroglio. He was said to have been torn apart between two of the party’s founding big wigs, Dr. Austine Ndigwe and Chief Onwuka Ukwa.

Many of the people who spoke on the issue blamed similar complacency and infighting for the decadence that destroyed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. It resulted in ‘me or no one else syndrome’, that today some few individuals in PDP, just like APGA, now erroneously see themselves as the god of the party.

Obianor needs all the peace and focus to be able to get it right. He needs to give the party a direction. He must create a more robust government/party relationship where the governor and the governed rub minds often. With that, the usual friction, mutual suspicion and hatred in the set up would be eliminated. The incoming administration should instill loyalty and control in governance, especially through the councils, since he had no hand in their choice.

For him to be in charge, and perform optimally as the executive governor, he must have control of the grassroots. He is today saddled with new sets of permanent secretaries, newly employed civil servants, judges and LG executive. None of these were considered in the last eight years.

Reputed to be a man of tact, Obianor, the Akpokue Dike of Aguleri, needs to re-establish

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The facilities at the state university need upgrading while the third campus, as stipulated in the enabling law, needs to be established, now.

Anambra is matured to have a befitting state capital. Create and construct new interconnecting community roads within the capital city and other communities in the state’s 177 constituting communities.

A business park and tourist resort should now come up at the bank of the Anambra River. The Chairman of Marble Arch Hotels Group, Chief Sam Nwosu, in an interview, expressed dismay that the think-home philosophy for which he and many other sons and daughters believed in, has gradually died. He wants government to create conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

All the Anambra-born eggheads must be involved so as to get the best out of them. The traditional rulers have so much to offer also, in virtually all sectors; hence need to be carried along truly. More so all manner of taxes and fees are introduced without proper or clear definition and the citizens are restless.

It is unfortunate that till date no one knows whether the state operates a free education in its schools because investigation by a non-governmental organisation, the Civil Rights Concern led by Mr. Okey Onyeka, revealed that different schools in the state collect all manner of fees from pupils. These were done under veiled guises and the exorbitant charges range from N1500 to N8500 per child.

This was discovered in schools within the Awka South and Ekwusigo Local Council, and it was found to be a general scenario all over the state. More so, school principals, after collecting huge sums from the state government for inter-house sports competition; turn round to enforce levies of all sorts on the students for same matter. Again the newly distributed school buses have been turned into the various Principals’ official cars. No. It is meant for conveying of students to official functions.

School teachers should be given loans to buy cars as done in other states please.

Some teachers including principals in Anambra West and East were found to only show up in the schools on days of the month when they come to collect illegal levies and disappear thereafter till next pay day. This has been on the drawing board for too long.

Despite the uncertainty over the possible swearing-in of Obianor on Monday when Obi was supposed to bow out, the country home of the governor-elect is already wearing a new look. The adjoining roads have been under frantic resurfacing, as contractors using heavy construction equipment were seen on Friday working tirelessly to complete it. All the walls within Obianor’s country home have been

Obiano forum for regular interaction with Anambra’s National Assembly caucus. It’s through them he gets the needs of the state across to Abuja, irrespective of party affiliation.

Many communities are also in one dispute or another-either for leadership or for who becomes the Igwe. Some have parallel factions.

Teeming Anambra youth are idle and restive. If kidnap must stop, youths must be kept busy.

There is apparently no policy programme for youths in the state presently.

Agriculture needs to be made functional again.

It has remained mere rhetoric in recent years.

None of the real farmers has been empowered or assisted. The loans and grants have been circulating only in the cities while the green belts of the state continued to recede. Let the disbursements become more transparent and tidy.

The sector is in turmoil and comatose presently.

The Enugu-Onitsha Federal Highway (up to Amansea) was awarded in 2007 for a two-year completion period, but today, seven years after, it is just 30 per cent done, while it is being dismembered and sublet to some breakaway staff of the original contracting firms. If the Consolidated Construction Company claimed that they have been starved of funds since 2007, how come that the IDC company is now given part of the same job?

repainted in milk and white colours, while exceptionally polite security officers mounted round the clock duty at every corner in the area and adjoining streets. Incidentally, the road into Obianor’s home interconnected his parent’s home vide a crescent.

A little down the road was the palace of the Ogalagidi, Igwe Christopher Idigo, Eze Aguleri who urged Obianor to continue with the legacy he inherited from Obi in line with continuity he promised during the electioneering campaigns. The monarch urged him to explore method of providing agric loans and grants to actual farmers in the hinterlands, in form of seedlings, not cash. That what he saw in his recent trip to Israel made him believe we could also farm all year round and then make agriculture the next main stay of the nation’s economy. He wants refuse bins and dump sites to be provided in all parts of the communities, not just in urban areas. He want him to intensify security network, provide jobs for the youths and also ensure he develop the 10-mile radius that was classified capital city, just like Benin and Lagos, etc. Idigo want intelligence gathering to be made a key integral part of the security network so as to prevent crime instead of merely fighting it always.

2014 And Beyond: The Change Anambrarians Desire

By Eugene Agbimson S Anambra prepares to ring out the old and A ring in the new administration, the stakes and challenges can’t be any higher. The state is at a precipice with a weary population that have suffered and endured so much for so long. The outgoing administration no doubt made great strides, considering where it started.

However, the expectations and aspirations of the masses from their government remain a colossal illusion. There is deep resentment at what the people see as economic mismanagement of the state for many, many years. Except for the privileged or a connected few, daily life for the masses remains a series of hard struggle for survival. While the vestiges and collateral consequences of the civil war have a part to play in the situation however, after four decades, and considerable guaranteed subvention/revenue allocation from the federal government, the people feel greatly short changed.

On most development metrics, the state lags behind many other states of the federation despite being endowed with all sorts of resources, tapped and untapped. What the state needs at this juncture is a Marshall Plan of sorts, starting from a top-to-bottom reassessment of the state development priorities. The baseline projects initiated by the outgoing

administration should be re-evaluated and those on the “critical path” be given urgent completion priority. The governor-elect has his job cut out for him. His “Obiano 2014 My Strategic Blueprint” lays out a good roadmap akin to a Marshall Plan for the state. It contains some big and bold ideas that would transform every aspect of life in the State.

Sufficient and reliable power, pliable roads frequently maintained by the public works maintenance crew, education restored as a state priority, with emphasis on science, technical, vocational and trade schools as well as teacher retraining programmes, revamped health care system with more general and rural health centers, hospitals and technologically advanced diagnostic centers, better drinking water supply for most people, initiatives to boost commerce and industry, mechanized and expanded agriculture that would make Anambra one of the nation’s leading bread baskets, better public security and transportation system.

Recruit and train an army of auditors, accountants, investigators and law enforcement task force to combat corruption and fraud. New structures are needed to combat a heighted and expanded level of manipulation, usurpation, fraud, graft and corruption at State, local government, town and city administrations. The new administration can show that it could be possible to run an open, trans-

parent and accountable administration at all levels of governance. Leaders need to set the tone at the top and lead by example.

Equally important is a reorientation of the masses, public attitude and discipline matters. Certain old notions and chronic anachronisms regarding ethnic nationalism or superiority need to take a back burner. As Nigeria braces as a key member of the world’s third tier potential economic powerhouses, the so called MINT nations of (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey), the state needs to ready itself as a deserving destination for the anticipated rush of foreign investments into the country. A state that in the past had more university graduates and PhD’s per capita than any comparable area in black Africa, a state with a burgeoning commercial and industrial base, and a population conditioned by circumstances to be creative, individualistic and resilient.

The state could easily become one of the country’s major industrial heartlands…The incoming administration offers a breath of fresh air and a potential answer to the yearnings of the masses who are utterly fed up and disgusted with an unending life of misery as the norm for more than 99 percent of the people. It needs to demonstrate early on that it means business, but not business as usual. It cannot be seen as a

throwback or recycle of the selfsame operators and unsavory characters that have dominated and wrested power from the people.

While all problems cannot be solved at the same time, embarking on achievable and affordable projects such as drinking water supply project, or electric power project, or road repair and maintenance project or mandatory free primary or secondary/vocational school program or security project on a statewide basis could change the dynamics, drastically reduce joblessness, engender a feel good atmosphere and a realisation that finally something meaningful and tangible is being delivered to all of the people of the State. The pervasive feel of hopelessness could become a distant memory, and the mortifying fear of being robbed in broad daylight or worse, kidnapped with impunity, would begin to dissipate.

Perception of stability and anticipation of future profitable economic activities in a safe environment would attract investors, local, national and international… By and large, the state would start to live up to its reputation as some people have dubbed it – light of the nation and home of the brave.

Agbimson is the Managing Member, Agbimson & Co., a New York-based Audit and Advisory Firm since 1992.

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INTERNATIONAL POLITICs

Agenda For Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs’ Minister

By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor

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HERE comes a time when those who implement Nigeria’s foreign policy, should revisit the country’s international relations objectives as vividly captured in Chapter two of the Constitution under Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of state Policy and give it realistic interpretations both in precept and practice.

And it is a known denominator that in order for the country to excel in the international political arena and bring back the “good old days” it is necessary that she puts her house in order. But since there never really was a time when any nation’s domestic situation is at the very ideal perch, then whoever is on the saddle of steering the ship of the state on the foreign turf cannot afford to be like one of the many who have held that office and who acted on impulsive convenience and sought to rationalise action later, even using the media in the process.

While the federal government has made commendable strides lately in the protection of lives of its citizens abroad, it seems to have failed in neighbourhood diplomacy and the ability to rediscover and impose self at international fora.

(Nigerians are used to this). There is still the image problem. It is even worse now with the havoc by terrorists. And most of the fruits, which ought to have dropped in the basket as foreign investments, have remained hanging in the air.

The Foreign Minister Nigeria Needs Now s it is today, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Nigeria’s former permanent Representative to the United Nations and until recently ambassador to China, is inheriting what can be adjudged a four- dimensional policy pillar which held the country’s foreign policy within the last five years. These are Citizens Diplomacy, Neighbourhood Diplomacy, the Bi-national Commission (BNC) instrumentality as well as the still evolving Global strategic Partnership (GsP), birthed to collate, implement and expand a grand outreach that has now recently included some European Union (EU) members, China, India, Russia and south Africa. Analysts think this has prospects of a more fruitful engagement with emerging centres of economic levers like Brazil, Angola, Turkey and that it should even embody other futuristic calculations that would be determined by Nigeria’s national interest. so, as members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Nigeria take incisive notes about events in the country at this critical point in time, their lenses would understandably also direct the watching world to Nigeria’s foreign affairs machinery, its practice and its politics. They would have interpreted Ambassador Wali’s last engagement in China, his previous exertions as Nigeria’s permanent representative at the UN, etc, and effectively position their countries on how to relate with Nigeria.

Against this backdrop, it has to be said that the idea of making Wali Nigeria’s foreign minister now that the country ought to be consolidating her democracy, is to assure the rest of the world that the country is still a safe entity to do business with as well as to bring stability to the very process of engaging development partners in the first instance.

Looking at the various epochs, the summary of the tasks at hand now, would be akin to engaging Nigeria’s neighbours to enhance national security; involving the nation’s private sector as one of the pull factors of a resurgent foreign investment drive; to create wealth and jobs and to ultimately take Nigeria back to its pride of place in the United Nations (UN) and the international community. As for neighbours who have continued to play possum on the issue of effective collaboration with Abuja to deal with insurgency and terrorism, the time to extend a mature and firm hand to them is now!

Invariably, what one makes out of this is an economic diplomacy (we are so familiar with this term now) that is energised by the good old principle of reciprocity in the conduct of diplomatic relations! Wali has distinguished himself in the private sector before fully joining public service.

Nigeria has been in need of not just a thoroughbred diplomat but a stable character, one who would help the President articulate, not regurgitate a proactive foreign policy which flexibility is at home with the dictates of an ever complex and dynamic world. Today, foreign policy experts and international relations observers want to see a foreign affairs minister who knows his onions. A new doctrine that can

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propound Nigeria’s real politicking manifestly and without blinking at the international arena would not be out of place. And this new doctrine must be driven by a skilled negotiator who can string together an acceptable meal, which could bear an unpalatable message at the international cocktail concert without fowling the diplomatic air.

Nigerians want to witness an era quite distant from the times when foreign policy oscillated between the whims and caprice of a particular foreign minister or the extent to which just the mental capacity of whoever is the president at the time, allows. There is a high need for both vision and courage.

The Work At Hand, The Lingering Matters HERE is a need to move quickly and square up with the present dictates as well as old questions of the Nigerian foreign practice, which are yet to get answers; including the image problem.

Despite efforts, Nigeria’s poor image abroad, which got a lift about three years ago is going down again. And our “enrolment” in the United states (Us) terror list following Farouk Abdumutallab’s failed 2009 Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit bound aircraft has been compounded by recent activities of Boko Haram. This has acted as a disincentive to foreign investments. Which is why there must be a resurgent drive to engage Nigeria’s immediate neighbours from where some of the illicit arms flow into the country. Nigeria needs nothing short of a proactive foreign policy!

Most countries have domestic issues, but skilful diplomats manage these and ensure that the domestic problems are not flaunted revealing poor synergy in its management in such a way as to impact negatively on the nations’s international relations enterprise. And Nigeria needs to really step up here.

Taking the bull by the horns on the foreign turf today means having a powerful conceptual tool which ensures that the country engages more deeply, more strategically and more consistently to the benefit of Nigerians, who also have abiding faith in continental integration, even if the minster does not hinge this on the principle of concentricism.

And the questions remain. What can be said to be the place of global reality in the engine of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy? What in the days ahead will happen or has happened to the country’s often vilified big power prism? The medium power posturing? The centre-piece doctrine? Are the activities of most Nigerian missions abroad still comatose due to inadequate flow of funds? Would Nigeria build on or continue to make mere routine avowal as to the protection of Nigerian lives abroad? And despite ministerial claims, is the nation (as claimed by some diplomats) really still faced with the attendant security implications of keeping unpaid, demoralised and unfocussed officers on posting who may in time be paid by agents inimical to Nigeria’s interest?

And there are other challenges. These include the fact that the old avowal of economic diplomacy and the revitalisation of the nation’s moribund joint venture agreements including a review of the omnibus ones in line with “new economic realities” have not been sufficiently driven. Once these and other questions are answered, then it becomes easier for Nigerians not to be lost in the mire, unable to predict their country’s line of action on the international stage and within the context and realism of power flux of nation-states.

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Motion Without Movement And The Need To shoot Into The Bull’s Eye HE previous foreign minister tinkered with the idea of using foreign policy to achieve job and wealth creation for Nigerians. Other goals set included the promotion of trade and investment, looking after the welfare of Nigerians both home and abroad; and also using foreign policy for the implementation of government’s the transformation agenda.

And as an achievement, there was also the bogus talk of helping to bring about the election and selection of about 20 Nigerians into various positions in the global bodies and agencies that make up the international system. What was missing, however, was that the citizens were not told what to expect from these Nigerians.

Judging by perceived and genuine expectations of real returns to Nigeria, analysts are concluding that most are actually out there doing their wish and feathering their personal interests. Experts also think that, that fact alone does not add any real worth to Nigeria’s enterprise apart from the nominal visibility, it is not enough to push these citizens into those

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offices without a corresponding performance benchmark and an agenda delivery for the country!

Nigerians do not also want to continue to witness the situation where there appears to be certain unspoken tendency by some countries to seemingly design the rules of engagement and regulations in such a manner that suggests that they are targeted specifically at Nigerians, both in terms of content and application and especially the inclination to stereotype all Nigerians abroad and subjecting them to treatments that may be construed as discriminatory, selective and unjustified. The same goes with the indignities in trying to obtain visas. The motion without real movement witnessed in the past in the mere ministerial avowals for action must be done away with.

As part of efforts to make the ordinary Nigerian understand how the nation’s foreign policy affects his life, the federal government, under former minister Olugbenga Ashiru envisaged a situation whereby the activities of Nigerian diplomats at home as well as those in its High Commissions and embassies would now be thrown open for direct public scrutiny.

But beyond that, and when for instance, a critical look is taken at the variations in the cost of running the missions, many suggestions as to what to do with them become attractive in the era of economic diplomacy. In this regard, The Guardian’s investigation has since revealed that about $800,000 (N108 million) yearly is needed to run a mission in any European outpost where government does not own real property.

This is inclusive of the cost of maintaining the staff and other appurtenances. Hence proponents of pruning have since concluded that if a quarter of the present missions are to be shut, the Federal Government will be saving over N2.7 billion yearly. Would Ambassador Wali do this?

President Jonathan Demands UsT over two years ago, viable foreign policy options including the task of building a sound domestic economic base, were listed by the country’s leadership in a bid to recreate the country’s foreign exertion in such a way as to meet current global realities.

At the foreign policy review seminar in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan and the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) on International Relations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, policy experts, seasoned diplomats, professionals and intelligentsia pointed the torch to a new way for the future without discarding the past.

For instance, President Jonathan said he wanted the nation’s international relations institutional memory to be tidier to make for a more visible, easily referenced body of documents. Among others, he charged the nation’s foreign machinery in this regard, to re-direct the attention of the world away from the sheer population strength of Nigeria. skirting around what may be regarded as Nigeria’s broad interest, President Jonathan

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enunciated his vision in unambiguous terms.

He pointed to an “assertive but not dogmatic” foreign policy where, using the democratic ethos, the rest of Africa would be engaged in a sensible manner that is circumscribed by global realities.

The President also stressed that that it had become necessary to “inject new dynamism into our foreign policy. It is about how we can now deploy our foreign policy to the service of our domestic aspirations and priorities.”

Maintaining that periodic introspection and self renewal had become imperative to a viable engagement with the rest of the world in the face of an unfinished business despite past achievement anchored on an African renaissance, and the emancipation of the African continent, Jonathan warned that the (foreign policy) review should not just be for the sake of change.

He said, “the rise of new economic powers outside the traditional economic centres of EuroAmerica has altered the landscape of international political economy and economic partnership arrangements, as we see happening in the ongoing dialogue between Africa and China, on one hand, and with India, on the other. All these changes present both challenges and opportunities in the murky world of international politics.

I expect this retreat not only to come up with ideas on how to re-design our foreign policy, but also strategies for achieving our foreign policy objectives” It can be said that the presidential pressings are the core of a station charter which the new minister should work with.

Is Ambassador Wali Up To It? s expected, the new minister was calm while rubbing minds with those that make the foreign ministry work as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Nigeria.

And he has already said: “In the world of diplomacy and international relations, the only thing that is constant is change. We live in a dynamic world in which, as diplomats, we have to keep pace with events occurring at a frenetic pace in a globalised environment. Nigeria is no exception to this trend.”

He defined his core mission as having to “consolidate existing relations and build new partnerships and friendships in our collective quest for the promotion of excellent relations and the deepening of understanding between Nigeria and the rest of the world” But what is he really in Tafawa Balewa house to do that a previous hand had failed in? Analysts think he made that clear by these words: “As the new Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is not my intention to change the direction and content of Nigeria’s foreign policy which has stood the test of time. Rather, I intend to recreate a new era of Nigeria’s foreign policy by sharpening our focus on what will best serve the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians in our engagements with the outside world...the test of true friendship is the willingness to stay the course with partners at all times, including moments of adversity and challenges”

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FOREIGNNEWS

Six Soldiers Shot Dead In Cairo EGPYT IX Egyptian soldiers have been Spoint killed by gunmen at a checkin the northern Cairo suburb of Shubra al-Khayma, state media reports.

Bin Laden Raid: Doctor’s Sentence Cut By 10 Years

A security official said two bombs left behind by the attackers had been defused.

The violence comes two days after another soldier was shot dead in an attack on an army bus in eastern Cairo.

There has been an upsurge in violence since the overthrow of Islamist

President Mohammed Morsi last July.

Islamist militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers in numerous attacks.

The military accused Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood of carrying out this latest attack, which was

put on trial.

A series of high-profile attacks on security forces in Cairo and the Sinai peninsula have been claimed by another group, Ansar Beit alMaqdis, which it says are in revenge for the military-backed government’s repression of Morsi’s supporters.

carried out as the soldiers took part in dawn prayers.

The Brotherhood denies involvement in violence, saying it is committed to peaceful campaigning.

It was designated a terrorist group in December and thousands of its members have been

PAKISTAN JAIL sentence handed down to the doctor alleged to have helped the US track down Osama Bin Laden in 2011 has been reduced by 10 years by a Pakistani court.

Shakil Afridi is accused by Pakistan of running a fake vaccination programme to help confirm Bin Laden’s presence in the northern town of Abbottabad.

His original 33-year term on an unrelated charge was widely seen as punishment for his alleged role.

Bin Laden was killed in a US raid.

Special forces entered the al-Qaeda leader’s compound and shot him before flying the body out of Pakistan and burying it at sea.

The raid was acutely embarrassing for Pakistan, which was not informed in advance, and the episode plunged relations with Washington to a new low.

A tribal areas court convicted Afridi in May 2012 of treason on charges of links to a militant group.

A court in the city of Peshawar yesterday cut his sentence to 23 years following appeals from his relatives and the US. Afridi’s lawyer, Qamar Nadeem, said the conviction was upheld, but another charge, that of waging war with Pakistan, had been dropped.

Mr Nadeem raised the possibility of a further appeal to a higher tribal court as relatives are demanding a fresh trial, as ordered by officials last August.

Afridi is said to have helped the CIA by setting up a sham hepatitis vaccination programme to pinpoint Bin

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Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN, Yuriy Sergeyev (second left) speaks with his US counterpart, Samantha Power (right) and British counterpart, Mark Lyall Grant (center) after a vote on a draft resolution on Ukraine during a UN Security Council emergency meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York… yesterday. Russia vetoed a Western-backed resolution condemning the Crimea referendum at a UN Security Council emergency vote but China abstained, isolating Moscow further on the Ukraine crisis.

PHOTO: AFP

Laden’s compound. Through his lawyers, he has denied assisting the CIA. The BBC in Islamabad says Afridi’s case has carried undertones of realpolitik from the start and few people believed in the credibility of the conviction for collaborating with a banned militant group.

PM Accuses Dead Boy Of Terror Links TURKEY URKISH Prime Minister Recep T Tayyip Erdogan has said a 15year-old boy who died on Tuesday from injuries sustained in last year’s anti-government protests had links to terrorism.

Berkin Elvan spent nine months in a coma after being hit by a tear gas canister as he went to buy bread.

His death triggered more clashes with the police in over 30 towns and cities.

Mr Erdogan’s comments could further inflame political tensions, correspondents say.

In a campaign speech ahead of local elections on 30 March, Erdogan said the teenager was connected to “terrorist organisations”.

“This kid with steel marbles in his pockets, with a slingshot in his hand, his face covered with a scarf, who had been taken up into terror

organisations, was unfortunately subjected to pepper gas,” he said in the speech broadcast on state TV. Berkin Elvan’s funeral took place in Istanbul on Wednesday, providing a focus for further expressions of discontent with Mr Erdogan.

Police fired water cannon and tear gas at protesters near Taksim Square, while his coffin was carried through the city’s streets.

Missing Plane May Have Been Deliberately Diverted high degree of certainty” that the HE communications systems of MALAYSIA one of the aircraft’s communicaT missing Malaysia Airlines flight tions systems - the Aircraft and MH370 were deliberately disabled, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak has said.

According to satellite and radar evidence, he said, the plane then changed course and could have continued flying for a further seven hours.

He said the “movements are consistent with the deliberate action of someone on the plane”.

The plane disappeared a week ago with 239 people on board.

Mr Razak stopped short of saying it was a hijacking, saying only that they were investigating “all possibilities”.

He said the plane could be anywhere from Kazakhstan to the

Indian Ocean.

The developments have added further uncertainty to the relatives of the 239 people on board the Kuala Lumpur to Beijing flight.

Some in the Chinese capital said the news had made them more hopeful that their loved ones are alive, but one woman said they were on an emotional rollercoaster and she felt “helpless and frustrated”.

The flight left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing at 00:40 local time (16:40 GMT) on March 8 and disappeared off air traffic controllers’ screens at about 01:20.

Razak told a news conference that new satellite evidence shows “with a

Communications Addressing and Reporting System - was disabled just before it had reached the east coast of Malaysia.

ACARS is a service that allows computers aboard the plane to “talk” to computers on the ground, relaying in-flight information about the health of its systems.

Shortly afterwards, near the cross-over point between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic controllers, the plane’s transponder –– which emits an identifying signal –– was switched off, he said.

Russia Isolated In UN Crimea Vote UKRAINE USSIA has vetoed a draft UN R resolution criticising Sunday’s secession referendum in Ukraine’s Crimea region –– the only Security Council member to vote against the measure.

China, regarded as a Russian ally on the issue, abstained from the vote.

Western powers criticised Russia’s veto over the referendum, which will ask Crimeans if they want to rejoin Russia.

Meanwhile, Kiev has accused Russian forces of seizing a village just north of Crimea and demands they withdraw.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said 80 military personnel had taken the village Strilkove with the sup-

port of four helicopter gunships and three armoured combat machines.

An unnamed Russian official quoted by Pravda-Ukraine said they had taken action to protect a gas distribution station from “terrorist attacks”.

Russia intervened in the Crimean peninsula after the fall of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow President

Viktor Yanukovych on 22 February.

Yanukovych had sparked months of unrest across Ukraine by pulling out of a deal on closer ties with the European Union, and later opting for closer ties with Russia.

The Crimean region was part of Russia until 1954 and most of its residents are ethnic Russians, many of whom would prefer to be governed

by Moscow rather than Kiev.

Simbikangwa Conviction: Victory For Genocide Victims, Universal Justice

By Kamal Tayo Oropo FTER six weeks of hearings, the Criminal Court in Paris yesterday handed down an historic verdict, convicting Pascal Simbikangwa of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity for his actions in Rwanda between April and July 1994, the period of the genocide. Simbikangwa was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

“Today’s historic verdict is a landmark moment for the victims of the Rwandan genocide, who have

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fought tirelessly for this trial to be held. They have waited so many years to see France uphold its obligation to bring persons suspected of genocide and resident in this country to justice ” said International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) President Karim Lahidji.

“The debates which have taken place over the last six weeks, in light of testimonies heard from almost 40 witnesses and expert witnesses, have ensured a fair trial which respected the rights of the defendant. This is what we, as civil parties, had hoped

for, and today, we are satisfied”, said one of the lawyers, Michel Tubiana.

“This verdict, delivered at the end of an exemplary trial, is evidence to the critics of universal jurisdiction that it is not only possible but indispensable that trials be held on this basis, even 20 years after the events and thousands of kilometers from the place where the crimes were committed,” said Patrick Baudouin, lawyer representing FIDH in the trial.

“This is particularly important because the Simbikangwa trial will

be followed by many others.

Investigations in 25 cases relating to the genocide in Rwanda, as well as crimes committed in Algeria, CongoBrazzaville, and also Libya and Syria are ongoing. We expect the the same diligence on the part of the French judicial authorities in pursuing these cases.”

Pascal Simbikangwa was accused of genocide and complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1994 Rwandan genocide for supplying weapons and giving orders to barrier guards in Kigali at the begin-

ning of the genocide, actions, which led to the massacre of a significant number of Tutsis.

At the end of the proceedings, which the five NGO civil parties actively contributed to, the Public Prosecutor requested that the charge against the accused be changed from ‘complicity in genocide’ to ‘genocide’, arguing that the defendant’s role, as described by witnesses during the trial, was more one of direct contribution rather than complicity in crimes committed by others.

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports The Other Side Of Bolaji Abdullahi …And Team Nigeria’s Scorecard In Sopot 2014 Regina George

By Gowon Akpodonor

ashamed that a Nigerian ORMER Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi weightlifting was said to be on his way to Sopot, Poland, team, which to give morale support to Nigerian athletes did so well in who took part in the 2014 IAAF World Indoor an internationChampionship, when he got the news of his al champisack by the Presidency. His journey terminatonship could be ed midway, while the athletes and their offihurriedly discials proceeded to Sopot. patched at the airIt was the first international outing for port. They couldn’t Nigerian athletes this season and Abdullahi have done such a had wanted to use the opportunity to prove a thing to any national point to Nigerians that he was not a ‘football football team, even if they minister’ as painted in some quarters. finish third in an international Abdullahi Before the trip to Sopot, some athletes, espe- tournament. cially the junior ones and weightlifters were at “There was no difference between Abdullahi’s dagger-drawn with Abdullahi. Over time, the tenure and other past sports ministers because athletes and their officials had voiced their the man actually focused too much attention anger, pointing accusing fingers at Abdullahi on football. We didn’t enjoy his administration for allegedly refusing to forward their names and I don’t think we have anything to regret to President Goodluck Jonathan to extend his about his removal,” Oshoma said while reacting naira rain to them for their feat in Mauritius to the news of the minster’s sack. last August, where they top the medals table The IAAF World Indoor Championship in at the end of the African Junior Athletics Sopot, Poland, was the first major tournament Championship. for Nigerian athletes and Abdullahi wanted to It got to a stage when the athletes had to prove a point. label Abdullahi a ‘football minister,’ insisting Being a year of the Commonwealth Games, he that he cared only for the Super Eagles and the (Abdullahi) was said to be looking for an junior soccer teams. Some of the athletes and avenue to show his support to other sports, their officials became prayer warriors, fasting since his first choice, (football), is not featuring day and night for their reward after the 2014 in the Games. Nigeria will be relaying on athletCHAN tournament in South Africa in January, ics, weightlifting, boxing and few other sports where Abdullahi doled out $200,000 to the to actualize President Goodluck Jonathan’s Super Eagles despite failing to beat a ten-man dream of “performing well” in the Ghanaian side in their semifinal match. The Commonwealth Games.

Presidency went on to roll out a red carpet It became a case of the Biblical Moses and the reception for the Home-based Super Eagles Promised Land, as Abdullahi was kicked out, after finishing third at the competition. while on a journey to support the athletics Apart from the junior athletes, members of team in Sopot, Poland. When the news of the Nigeria weightlifting team, which did the Abdullahi’s sack filtered out from Abuja, the nation proud at the Commonwealth Games junior athletes and their officials as well as the Championship in Malaysia late last year, were weightlifters celebrated late into the night back also praying for Abdullahi’s downfall. Their home. grouse was that the ex-sports minister didn’t “Oh, you mean the sports minister has been look their direction despite their individual sacked? I don’t think we will miss him because efforts, which saw the nation topping the he never cared for us. His administration female medals table at the Malaysia champifavoured only footballers and their coaches. I onship. just hope the new man will not be a football The Coach Emmanuel Oshoma-led team, minister like Abdullahi,” foremost athletics which had just 14 weightlifters, won three tro- coach, Tobias Igwe said in a chat with The phies in Malaysia, topping the female medals Guardian shortly after Abdullahi’s sack. Coach table with eight gold. The Nigerians shock Toblow’s athletes accounted for four of the nine India with their large contingent of 104 athgold medals won by Nigeria at Mauritius 2013. letes at the end of the event.

Though, there were some athletics coaches “We were looking forward to see NSC officials who felt Abdullahi did his best for the nation’s to receive us at the airport, but no one came,” sports, while some argued that the achievecoach Oshoma told The Guardian. “We were ment the country recorded in sports was pure shocked when an official called to say we as a result of the monetary reward introduced should go to our various homes. I felt so

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those capable of winning medals.

“The IAAF qualification standard for the Sopot championship was 6.60 seconds for male sprinters and 7.32 seconds for the female. We decided to set our standard of 6.55 seconds for the male and 7.29 seconds for female. None of our male sprinters was able to make the AFN standard and we felt there was no need taking them to the championship. It turned out to be a wise decision because the winner of the 60m male sprint event ran 6.49 seconds while the bronze medalist returned at 6.53 seconds.

“Our female sprinter, Gloria Asumnu did very well. She ran 7.11 in her semifinal, but she had some problems, which affected her race in the final. She returned at 7.18 seconds in the final. But the joy is that with 7.11 sec, it means Gloria can run a 10 second in the 100m.

Tamuno Danagogo “Regina George could have easily won the 400m gold because her time of 51.60 seconds was the fastest time in all the heats. But she

by President Jonathan. could not run in the final because cramps. Our Even within the football family, Abdullahi’s 4x400m men quartet of Tobi Ogunmola, Noah sack was like a big relief. An NFF official told Akwu, Isah Saliu and Ameachi Morton also did The Guardian shortly after his removal that a good job by setting a new African record of Abdullahi only took care for the players and 3:07.95 in the 4x400m relay. With determinatheir coaches in his list to the Presidency whenever the team won international compe- tion on their part and more competitions, I see them giving Nigeria a gold medal in titions.

Commonwealth Games,” Ogba said.

“He only favoured the players and their The chairman of AFN Technical Committee, coaches during presidential rewards, knowNavy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama said on ing full well that there were backroom staff arrival that the AFN used the IAAF World and NFF committee members who played a Indoor in Sopot to expose Nigeria Americanrole in the victories. We have been crying in born shot put thrower, Stephen Mozia, ahead silence because there was nothing we could of the Commonwealth Games. do about it,” the NFF official said.

Mozia would have been the second qualifier Nigeria’s contingent to the 2014 IAAF World after German David Strol whose mark of 21.24 Indoor Championship in Sopot, returned led the field in the qualifying round in Sopot. home during the week without a medal, but officials of the AFN say they were satisfied with The Nigerian achieved the mark that would the individual efforts by the athletes. To them, have qualified him with last throw, but in the the trip to Sopot was rewarding in many ways. process of gaining his balance, he fouled, leading to the throw not being counted.

AFN President, Chief Solomon Ogba told The Mozia had set a national record of 20.79m last Guardian on arrival Friday that he was month in the United States, and was tipped by impressed by the individual performance, many athletics followers to at least make the especially by US-based duo of Gloria Asumnu final in his first major competition. In Sopot, and Regina George. The AFN boss also he threw 18.91m, which was way behind his explained why the country could not field a national record. male sprinter in Sopot.

To Nesiama, however, the athlete has the “Athletics has gone scientific and we have potential of picking a gold medal for Nigeria at move fast to catch up with the rest of the the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in World. Gone are the days when we pick athAugust. “At the moment, Mozia is at par with letes for major competitions based on IAAF qualification standard only. We (AFN) usually the South African shot put thrower and I see him giving Nigeria a gold medal in Glasgow,” set our standard for the athletes ahead any Nesiama said. major competition so that we can be sure of

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Odewinge

Odemwingie’s Brace Propels Stoke To AN City Tame Tigers, M Fulham Win Nigeria’s Osaze Odemwingie scored two goals in Stoke City’s come-from-behind 3-1 victory over West Ham yesterday in the English Premier League.

It took the Hammers only five minutes to take the lead through Andy Carroll, but Odemwingie levelled in the 32nd minute before adding a second goal 10 minutes after Marko Arnautovic notched on 69 minutes.

Manchester City shrugged off the 10th minute sending-off of captain Vincent Kompany, as they dredged up a 2-0 win at Hull to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

David Silva struck a superb long-range opener just four minutes after Kompany was shown a straight red card by referee Lee Mason for hauling down Nikica Jelavic who was

Premiership Results Hull 0 - 2 Man City Everton 2 - 1 Cardiff Fulham 1 - 0 Newcastle Southampton 4- 2 Norwich Stoke 3 - 1 West Ham Sunderland0 - 0Crystal Palace Swansea 1 - 2 West Brom Aston Villa 1- 0 Chelsea

through on goal.

And after the visitors were forced to withstand fierce second-half pressure including a pair of penalty shouts involving substitute George Boyd, they sealed their return to second place when Silva sent through Edin Dzeko to make it two in the final minute.

Basement boys, Fulham secured a vital win - the first of Felix Magath’s tenure - at the expense of Newcastle.

With Magpies boss, Alan

Pardew watching via video link from the team hotel due to his three-match stadium ban for headbutting Hull’s David Meyler, Fulham substitute Ashkan Dejagah hit the only goal of a 1-0 victory on 68 minutes.

Another manager under scrutiny of late has been West Brom’s Pepe Mel, who had failed to deliver a win since taking the job in January.

That changed in dramatic fashion on Saturday as

Youssouf Mulumbu’s late strike earned the Baggies a 2-1 victory at Swansea.

Roland Lamah scored for the Swans after two minutes, only for Stephane Sessegnon to equalise in the 52nd minute.

Mel then punched the air in celebration as Mulumbu bent the ball past Michael Vorm with five minutes remaining.

The victory lifts West Brom three points clear of the relegation zone after 18th-placed Cardiff lost 2-1 at the death in

their meeting with Europa League-chasing Everton.

On-loan Barcelona forward, Gerard Deulofeu (59) and Juan Cala (68) exchanged goals in the second half and it looked like the points would be shared until Seamus Coleman fired a winner for the Toffees three minutes into stoppage time.

Southampton managed to climb to eighth after surviving a spirited fightback from Norwich to win 4-2 at St Mary’s.

Chelsea Title Bid Suffers Setback HELSEA’S title bid sufC fered a major blow with a defeat by Aston Villa in which two Blues players and manager Jose Mourinho were sent off.

Chelsea midfielder, Nemanja Matic had a goal disallowed at the end of the first half for handball.

Villa’s Fabian Delph flicked in Marc Albrighton’s cross to put his team in front after Willian had been shown a second yellow card.

Ramires and Mourinho were both ordered off in a bad-tempered finale.

The Blues’ boss was sent to the stands for protesting in the melee that followed a two-footed lunge

by Ramires on Karim El Ahmadi.

Costa Rica 2014: Flamingoes Eye Victory Against China

By Gowon Akpodonor IGERIA will take its turn today in the on-going FIFA U-17 Women World Cup holding in Costa Rica with the Flamingoes optimistic of picking the three points against China in their Group D tie.

The championship began yesterday with former Super Falcons captain, USbased Florence Omagbemi

N

Omagbemi Commissions Germany, Canada Game serving as Match Commissioner in the Group B game between Germany and Canada at the Liberia Edgardo Baltodano Stadium in Costa Rica.

The Flamingoes have declared that they would use today’s game against China to send warning signals to other countries that they are

in Costa Rica for business.

They have also vowed to replicate the achievement of the Golden Eaglets in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) last year by winning the trophy.

Coach Bala Nkiyu and his girls believe it is possible for the team to come back to Nigeria with the top prize.

Nigeria has a rich history in the tournament, having twice qualified to the last eight and at the last championship in Azerbaijan; the Flamingoes’ hopes were dashed when they lost out to France on penalty in the quarterfinal. The team also failed to cross the quarterfinal hurdles in the previous edition in Trinidad and Tobago.

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(ISSN NO 0189-5125) Editor: E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com ABRAHAM OBOMEYOMA OGBODO • A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation •ABC

However, Costa Rica presents the Flamingoes a good opportunity to progress further. Coach Nkiyu said that the squad in Costa Rica is ready for the challenge.

Flamingoes arrived Costa Rica on Wednesday after 19 days of training tour of Portugal.

“The girls are in a good shape and ready for the challenge. They are not under pressure. The spirit in the camp is high and I want to assure Nigerians that the players have been motivated enough to perform and deliver the World title to Nigeria come April 5.