Sun 23 Mar 2014

S U N D A Y

E D I T I O N

CITYFILE 8

IBRUCENTRE 28

BUSINESS 35

We Are Not

CHRISLAM:

Says Maryland

Blending Christianity And Islam

The Many Travails Of The National

Boko Haram, Hausa Community

Housing Fund

Fuel Scarcity:

Of What Need For Subsidy?

COVER 17

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,862

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N300

Forest Of Death In Ibadan • 20 Decomposed Bodies, 23 Kidnap Victims Rescued From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan HOCK and anxiety yesSsleepy terday enveloped the area of Soka in Ibadan as residents discovered an underground dungeon, where human beings used for ritual purposes are killed and buried.

Although details of the discovery was sketchy as at press time, The Guardian learnt that an okada rider, who was kidnapped and dragged to the dreaded place, allegedly used his mobile phone to contact his people and described where he was kept. The relatives were said to have contacted the police.

No fewer than 20 decomposed bodies were discovered at the site. The shocking discovery, which

President Goodluck Jonathan presenting a souvenir to Pope Francis, during his visit to the Vatican City…yesterday

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

12 Northern Govs Take Boko Haram Controversy To White House From Laolu Akande, New York ITH top U.S. government W officials, including President Barack Obama’s

• Nyako Blames Jonathan For Escalating Insurgency • Ambassador Adefuye Hits Back

National Security Adviser, Ms. Susan Rice, who was presiding, the issue of Boko Haram, 2015 elections and corruption among the Nigerian political

elite became a hot debate at the White House earlier last week.

A meeting of 12 Northern

State governors (and a deputy governor) and the US government on Tuesday in Washington DC took a dra-

matic turn when some of the governors, especially Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, initiated a

frontal attack on President Goodluck Jonathan, forcing the Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ade Adefuye, who was also in attendance, to join the fray, objecting to some of the comments against the President and the Federal Government.

Although Nyako was said to

be the most vocal, he was not alone in raising critical views about the president and his policies, as the Borno and Kano State Governors also knocked hard on the Jonathan presidency.

The meeting was organised CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23,

Delta Songhai Farm

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NEWSFEATURE

A Giant In Need Of Urgent Resurrection From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba T was the quest to wean the state of its overdependence on oil, provide jobs for the teeming youths with enough and affordable food for its citizens, that led to the establishment of the Songhai Farm by former Governor James Ibori on a 137 hectares of land at Amukpe, Sapele Local Council of Delta State. Thirteen years after it was commissioned by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the actualisation of the goal is still elusive going by the under utilisation and decay of the infrastructure.

The road to the farm, located off the Sapele-Eku Road is well paved. So also are the roads within the farm. But this is where the efficiency ends, as a guided tour of the farm revealed that beneath the roads and the clean environment, the farm is far from being fully utilised with not enough livestock and crops on the vast land.

Though the overgrown grass in the farm has been cropped, the crumbling state of the farm was evident, as most of the cages and pens were devoid of animals and any activity for that matter making the environment looked more of a relaxation spot than a farm. Save for four agricultural science students from Igbinedion University, Okada in neighbouring Edo State, the farm seemed forlorn. The locals from either Amukpe or nearby Sapele seemed not bothered by the state of the farm Way back in 2008, the state government had inaugurated a programme tagged ‘Youth Empowerment through Agriculture and Farmers Support Programme’ (YETA-FSP), which was mandated with various responsibilities of identification and training, facilitation and assistance, market development and linkages and sensitisation and other strategies.

After the training, the youths were sent on internship Songhai and other established farms across the state for practical experience after which they were provided with agricultural inputs and financial assistance to start their own farms. The idea was to create new generation of successful farmers to take over from the ageing peasant farmers in the state.

At the inauguration of the four-week programme, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had said that the initiative, which aimed at building a state that can survive without oil by eradicating hunger through agricultural programmes, was the first in the series of activities lined up to empower youths in the state.

He explained that the programme was structured to create a state that would eradicate hunger and focus the youths on earning a living through self empowerment rather than depending solely on white collar jobs.

He said his administration has put on ground strategies that would boost the Agricultural sector and provide enough food for Deltans and empower the youths, stressing that the first of such programmes was the empowering of peasant farmers in the state.

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He stated that the government has empowered 40,000 peasant farmers in the state by providing them with the necessary inputs and finance needed to improve on their businesses and feed their families and communities.

Said he: “l believe if this peasant farmers are empowered with what they need to have a big and successful farms, their proceeds will increase. With this, they can feed their family well and still have enough food to sell, thereby eradicating hunger from the state.”

The governor said that the second strategy to diversify the state source of revenue adopted by his administration was to develop youths in the state to acquire farming skills and use same as a source of livelihood.

He said the youths would be empowered with farming tools and working capital at the end of their training and assured them that the state government would buy up excess farm produce and re-activate existing processing mills in the state.

He had told them: “Just know that you are not here to only acquire farming skills, you are also here to acquire discipline to make you a successful farmer, which means that if you misbehave, while here, you will be expelled from the camp.”

The Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay amplified Uduaghan, when he expressed the determination of the government to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Macaulay explained that the Delta State Government has approved a sum of N5.8 billion for agricultural productivity in the state.

The scribe said that the state provided direct assistance to farmers in the area of agricultural mechanisation, tree crop development, agricultural credit, provision of improved and high yielding seeds and other agricultural inputs, farm settlement scheme, communal farming and livestock and fisheries development.

He stated that the government was determined to ensure that a vibrant economy was entrenched in the state, saying Songhai Delta is an integrated agricultural training centre for piggery, grass-cutter rearing, snailery, rabbitery, poultry, aquaculture and crops production.

The Deputy General Manager, Usenu Ighofimoni also said the farm is a skills acquisition centre, which was set up to train youths on different agricultural skills and in all agricultural associates by adding value to the output in the farm.

With only a perimetre fence of 37 hectares, Ighofimoni explained that the farm is split into seven different departments, which include agro processing, administration, finance, training, crops, livestock and servicing. There is also an ICT centre, where people are trained on computer.

Out of the 30,000 people trained at the farm, the manager said that students in tertiary institutions are fully represented.

He said that the farm is segmented into livestock, where there is a piggery, snailery and grass-cutters, while geese, ducks and turkey are reared in the poultry. In the pastry unit, cake, meat pie, doughnut, bread and other similar products are baked, while animal feed are undertaken at the agro-processing department.

There are also coconut and palm groves in the farm, while cassava is also cultivated.

But in the situation, where at the piggery there were only three pigs and at the snailery, just three out of the over 200 boxes promised, gives cause for serious worry. Presently, there are no grass- cutters, while no animal seemed to have been roasted at the kiln for a long time. Also, there is no fresh blood in the abattoir, which was firmly under lock and key, signifying that no animal has been slaughtered there lately.

Against the backdrop of this pathetic picture, the question that readily comes to mind is: how is the farm able to cope and train people capable of fulfilling the state’s dream of a Delta without oil?

Ighofimoni attempted to solve the puzzle: “We try to do the best we can and with more money, we will surely do better. We are coping and there is so much money to be made from farming and also reduce youth unemployment, but the key is adequate funding.”

With hostel facilities, he informed that two weeks is enough to train university graduates and those with knowledge of agriculture, while others are trained between one and two months.

Ighofimoni said that the farm, which was registered as a company limited by guarantee, was into little processing of juice, fishery and livestock to enable it survive, as it does not receive subvention from the state government.

He explained that whatever the farm produces is re-ploughed into it, noting that the trainees are supposed to have multiplier effect on their communities by establishing their own farms and employing others.

He explained that when the Delta State government in 2001 established the farm, it was given a take off grant, but lamented that it has not been able to live up to expectation and will certainly need more money if it was to fulfill its mandate.

The dream of the farm, he said, has been met in a way, as people are being trained in different farming techniques, but quickly added that there is still much to be done in the farm, as the trainees are supposed to have multiplier effect on their communities.

The farm currently has staff strength of 130 with almost all of them from Delta State, as the consultants from neighbouring Republic of Benin, who helped to set up the farm, have all gone back to their country.

The Deputy General Manager, who pleaded for

a total fencing of the farm, also identified pilfering by the locals as a major drawback.

His words: “Some bad people in the community come mostly at night to pilfer eggs, fish and some other produce. Sometimes, they come at weekends. So, the government should help with complete perimetre fencing, as it is the best way to reduce such incidences.”

He explained that if properly harnessed, the training farm will help to gradually reduce youth unemployment, noting that if out of the 25 local councils, the government trains 25 people, this will amount to 625 persons, a figure which balloons to 1,250 if the trainees employ at least two people after graduation. Besides, they will also provide food to feed the people.

He said that the farm has enough animals for the training, but that it was ironical that the farm, which has helped in the establishment of similar farms in other states like Kaduna and Taraba, is seriously lagging behind, as a result of underfunding by the state government.

One of the students from Igbinedion University said that she and her mates were in the farm for two weeks of intensive training in different farming techniques, most especially fish farming.

Ighofimoni explained that while there, the students would stay in the hostel and his team of experts would demonstrate practically to them, all that they had learnt in the university and so would become better farmers.

He disagreed with the assertion that the farm was a resort, explaining that trainees are always coming and going from time to time.

“The farm is always a beehive of activities with young people trooping in for training. Some come for two weeks while others are there for four weeks. It is just that you came in at a time, when we do not have many trainees. It is a farm and not a resort,” he said.

The former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Ogaranya Tabs-Tabowei echoed Uduaghan, saying that the youth empowerment through Agriculture Programme is the most laudable and highest funded Agricultural programme since the inception of the state.

Anslem Nzete, a former trainee, described the programme as the best youth empowerment in the state, as his life was at the threshold of changing for the better, a situation that will make him truly economically independent.

The need for the diversification of the nation’s mono economy from its over dependence on oil was at the front burner on November 13 2013 during a youth empowerment summit in Asaba.

At the meeting of the youths from different parts of the state, the Delta State Commissioner for Youths, Ebifa Ijomah lectured at length that the oil largesse in the country was fast diminishing and that in the not too distant future, it will dawn on Nigerians that the diversification of the economy is the much-needed elixir.

Sunday, March 23, 3

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS Anglican Bishop, Ademowo Dedicates Senior Citizens’ Apartments

By Wole Oyebade and Florence Utor IOCESAN Bishop of Lagos, D Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most

Mr. Ayodele Fayose (right) exchanging pleasantries with a PDP official after his declaration as winner of the PDP primaries, while former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili (centre) looks on.

PHOTO: MUYIWA ADEYEMI

NATIONAL CONFAB:

CAN Faults Comments By Islamic Body From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has faulted claim by an Islamic organisation, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, that the process of selecting delegates to the National Conference was not done with fair representation and will affect

T

Threatens Boycott Of 2016 Census the credibility of its outcome.

The association also threatened to boycott the 2016 population census and subsequent exercises unless they underscore religion.

The JNI had through its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar, stated: “Christians,

who by all acceptable records are not more than 40 per cent of the country’s population ironically constitute 62 per cent of the total delegates.”

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, noted that inclusion of religion

‘Rural Women Suffer Extreme Poverty’

By Rotimi Oyekanmi LARGE percentage of A Nigerian women, especially in the rural communities, are suffering under extreme poverty and dying prematurely of treatable diseases, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Pink Pearl Foundation, Mrs. Orode RyanOkpu.

Speaking against the background of the recently celebrated International Women’s Day, Ryan-Okpu regretted that Nigeria has little to show and no cause to celebrate, with its majority of women still uneducated and unable to read and write.

Having worked with vulnerable young and middleaged women through her foundation, which provides skill acquisition and empowerment programmes, she affirmed that poverty and economic stagnation were largely responsible for women’s poor literacy level in the country.

For instance, she revealed that her breast and cervical cancer awareness campaign, intended to encourage women to come for screening for early detection and treatment, has shown that, even when women became aware that they have cancer, they were unable to afford the treatment costs.

She said: “They languish in

suffering and in extreme cases, death occurs. I feel the burden because I have a mother and I am also a mother with a daughter.

Whether we like it or not, the way the society is shaped depends on the woman, especially in the raising of the children who would eventually be the people to take charge in the society.”

She continued: “Most of the time, when we do our free screening for cancer, the reason some of the women give for not detecting the illness on time is that, they cannot afford to go to the hospital.

They don’t have enough money to afford such things and I thought that if these women have something in

their pockets outside whatever they get from their husbands, they would be able to take care of their children and we would have more people going to do their checkups and having early detection.”

Presenting a pathetic picture of a typical Nigerian girl child, she said that from her interaction with the beneficiaries of her programme, “the situation is very bad and calls for urgent attention.” She explained that for the 2014 session, when an interview was conducted for about 250 women, to grade them on how much they require in terms of vocational empowerment, 80 per cent were found to be uneducated.

would correct certain negative impressions and rivalry about which religion has more adherents than others in the country.

Asake who described the claim by JNI as an “unprovoked defamation of Nigerian Christians, said, “CAN may need to remind JNI of the argument and refusal of Muslims to include religion during the last census in Nigeria. We appeal to JNI not to use religion as a basis for their reservations about the National Conference. We believe the conference will do Nigeria a lot of good. Meanwhile, the JNI should come out with the figures that make the Muslim population to be more than that of Christians as we in CAN will boycott future census in Nigeria beginning with the 2016 exercise if they do not include religion. Enough is enough!”

The CAN scribe asked, “When and how are these figures by the international agencies arrived at? Which of the international agencies have census figures that Nigerians do not have? Has there been any census by international agencies in Nigeria? To put forward a suggestion or theory like this one by Khalid for others to consider should have been well thought out. In this case, the

JNI Secretary-General goofed, having put out insensible arguments and thoughts. We are therefore challenging the Secretary-General of the JNI to make public the source of his population figures which shows that Christians in this country are 40 per cent.”

Asake insisted that if JNI fails to respond to the population issue, and produce their sources, it would use alternative means to ascertain the fact of their publication.

According to him, “We cannot continue to allow people like the JNI to be making reckless and false statements, bringing division among Christians and Muslims, when we are busy working hard to see that we live together in peace and harmony.

“The body of rules, ideas, principles and techniques that apply to subjects like census figures must be those matched by empirical evidence. Khalid’s ideas, thoughts and beliefs about 40 per cent Christian population and 62 per cent of delegates being Christians are therefore mere speculation and conjectures to buy in the idea of a region’s reluctance to attend the conference. It is another way of using religion to shoot down the conference.”

Late Accreditation Mars Nasarawa LG Polls From Msugh Ityokura, Lafia ESTERDAY’S local council Y election in Nasarawa State was marred by delayed accreditation of voters, resulting in late voting.

Accreditation, as scheduled by the state electoral body, Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), was supposed to commence at 8am and stop at 12pm with the main election ending at 4pm.

Local government areas far from Lafia, the state capital, could not start accreditation as at 2pm. The state governor, Tanko Al-Makura, was also nowhere to be seen up till 2pm.

Elections could not be conducted in crises-ridden local government areas of Keana, Obi and Awe, which have been deserted by Tiv farmers due to onslaught by purported Fulani militia.

Senator Solomon Ewuga (representing Nasarawa North at the National Assembly) who recently defected from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that the situation was worse in his council ward, as ballot papers could not be seen.

He said it was surprising that such an exercise could witness gross negligence as

failure to include councillorship ballot papers after the much announced preparedness by the electoral body.

Chairman of the PDP, chief Yunana Iliya, said that as at 2.30pm, electoral materials had not reached his ward.

State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hamza Elayo, however, described the delay in distribution of materials as something not uncommon to elections in the country.

Rev. Adebola Ademowo, yesterday, dedicated the Rock Apartments, an ultra modern centre for senior citizens located in Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The 2.2-acre centre, courtesy of Cathedral Circle of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, comprises a social welfare building, five bungalows and a chapel.

Among the key donors are Chief Modupe and Folorunso Alakija; Chief Michael Ade Ojo; Chief Ernest Shonekan and Chief Michael Olasubomi Balogun and Justice Ade-Oba (who donated the land).

Dedicating the houses at noon, yesterday, Ademowo thanked the donors for the buildings, especially the chapel donated by the Alakijas, adding that several generations would benefit from their good gesture.

The Bishop and Dean Emeritus of the Church noted that the project was very thoughtful of the Circle, describing it as a “demonstration of your concern, magnanimity and charity towards the aged.”

He congratulated the president and members of the Circle for transforming “the bush”, which the site was in December 2010 when he carried out the groundbreaking ceremony, into “a centre of great turnaround and breakthrough for the Cathedral Circle.”

Ughelli Union Meets In Lagos HE monthly meeting of T Ughelli Descendants Union (UDU) Lagos branch holds on Sunday, March 30, 2014 by 3pm prompt at Mr. S. Okiti’s residence, 38, E Close, 23 Road, Festac. All Ughelli indigenes resident in Lagos are invited. For enquiry call the President on 08033271291.

Communications Agency Gets New Board Chairman

By Ijeoma Opara OMMUNICATIONS C agency, Yellow Brick Road, has announced the appointment of Mr. Foluso Phillips as its new chairman.

Phillips is founder and chairman of Phillips Consulting, a premier indigenous management consultancy in the nation. He is also the chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and sits on the board of various organisations, including the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, the Special Olympics of Nigeria and the Nigerian Leadership Initiative.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014

NEWS PDP Accuses APC Of ‘Unholy Romance With Insurgents’ From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja HE Peoples Democratic T Party (PDP) yesterday insisted that the actions, utterances and body language of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have continued to give it away as the face behind the ugly mask of insurgency in parts of the country, dismissing its denial of complicity as an ill articulated afterthought.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, chief Olisa Metuh, said the PDP and Nigerians do not

need further proof on the unholy alliance between the APC and insurgency.

Saying that the PDP firmly believes in the plurality of Nigeria’s political space, knowing full well the cardinal role the opposition plays in any sustainable democracy, the party said it was, however, an outright coup against democracy for the APC to employ deceit, lies and insurgency as means of achieving political control.

“When we accused the APC of being behind insurgency, we did not speak in vain and

when we summarised the manifesto of the party as a product of Janjaweed ideology, we had verifiable reasons,” the PDP said.

The statement argued that it was not a coincidence that after General Muhammadu Buhari beckoned on his supporters to go on a lynching spree should he lose the 2011 presidential election, an unprecedented violence broke out, claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent Nigerians. It noted that the Sheik Lemu committee which investigated this carnage, unequivo-

cally established Buhari’s culpability.

“Besides, the allegory of the bloody monkey and baboon in respect of the 2015 election, which is still way ahead, by the same General is still very fresh in the minds of Nigerians.

“The serial threats of violence should President Jonathan contest in 2015 including the most recent prophecy of violent deaths and destructions in 2015 by Nasiru El Rufai are not slips from elements at the periph-

ery but snips from characters who know more than ordinary Nigerians, the reasons behind the mindless carnage in the country.

“And when the APC boasted earlier in 2013, even before it could secure its name from counter claims that insurgency would end within 100 days of its leadership of the nation, Nigerians recalled immediately that the chief priest who dines with the deity knows the right libation to appease the gods. Insurgency is APC and APC is insurgency.”

FG Distributes Input To Eight Million Farmers From Joke Falaju, Abuja HE federal government at T the weekend unfolded plans to distribute subsidised farm input to 8 million registered farmers during the 2014 farming season.

The Director, Fertiliser, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinbolawa Osho, while briefing the media in Abuja on the 2014 Wet Season Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in outhern States, pointed out that the initiative was aimed at supplying fertilizers and high yielding seeds to farmers through their mobile phones.

He noted that 10.5 million farmers have been registered from 2012 till date and are all entitled to access the subsidised input. He also said the government is targeting not less than 8 million and not more than 10 million farmers for the 2014 GES across the federation, including Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

Osho regretted that even though over 10 million farmers had been registered between the 2012/2013 farming season, only over 6 million in both the wet and dry season farming had redeemed their input, due to many challenges, which include poor communication and lack of funds by the farmers.

Ondo Group Applauds Jonathan On Appointment

By Abiodun Fanor OMMENDATIONS have C continued to pour in for President Jonathan over his

National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle) cutting the tape during the commissioning of a new church building. He is flanked by His Eminence, Baba Aladura, Abel Olufemi Akinsanya (left) and General Overseer of Pentecostal Prayer Ministry, Pastor Sam Ogedengbe, at Abule Egba, Lagos.

Endometriosis: Experts Advocate Research, Solutions From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja

• One In 10 Women Affected

OME stakeholders yesterSsearch day called for greater reand the evolution of

ness are urgently needed to get many women out of the disturbing incidences of endometriosis in Nigeria.

March is generally regarded as Women’s Month as well as the month for endometriosis.

The Annual Endometriosis Lecture 2014 was put together by the Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria for mothers, wives, daughters, ladies, the young and the old, to inspire change in Nigeria and the world over.

Country Affiliate Representative of Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria, Dr

innovative pharmaceutical solutions to curb the problem of endometriosis, a disorder which comes with severe abdominal pain in women of reproductive age.

In Abuja, venue of the meeting, they sought the collaboration of government and relevant stakeholders to bring about change in the management of the disorder, stressing that greater budgetary allocation, enhanced funding and greater aware-

Abayomi Ajayi, stressed that though the ailment is a common gynecological disorder in females, it is “unfamiliar and often misdiagnosed”.

He stressed: “Endometriosis develops when endometriallike cells similar to those lining the inside of the uterus (endometrium) begin growing in other areas or organs of the body. This condition causes chronic and disabling pelvic pain anytime during the cycle but usually worse during menses, also bringing about sub-fertility/infertility, among other symptoms. This

occurs in women within the age group of 15-44yrs, and it is assumed worldwide that 1:10 women are affected with this disorder, ranging from mild to severe.

“Diagnosing endometriosis can be difficult for a non-specialist because symptoms vary and the only way to definitely diagnose endometriosis is by undergoing a surgical procedure called laparoscopy. Unfortunately many women and girls with endometriosis experience an average of about 6-10 years delay before being accurately diagnosed in developed parts of the world and probably

never in many parts of Africa. “ Endometriosis is a very common distressing disease affecting tens of thousands of girls and women in Nigeria.

Endometriosis often causes painful symptoms which can interfere with a woman’s quality of life and sometimes compromises fertility; symptoms are usually associated with the menstrual period,” he noted.

He went on: “The constant pain felt by these women is indescribable. It is often misunderstood. This causes loneliness. We must strive to inspire change to better women’s lives.”

World Water Day: ‘Govt Has Failed To Provide Safe Water To Nigeria’s From Joke Falaju, Abuja INDINGSby the United NaFFundtion Children Economic (UNICEF) has revealed that the poor in Nigeria lack access to safe water and electricity.

The Country Representative UNICEF, Ms. Jean Gough, who disclosed this, at the weekend, in Abuja during the celebration of the World Water Day, noted that the poorest are disproportionately affected, with most of them

lacking access to water.

“The poorest are disproportionately affected, with the poorest households being two and a half times less likely to have improved water sources than their richest counterparts,” she noted.

Gough revealed that estimates have shown that 768million people globally still lack access to water while 69million Nigerians do not have access to the amenities, and most of these people live

in the rural areas or urban slums.

She noted: “In 2010, the UN General Assembly recognised safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right, meaning every person should have access to safe water and basic sanitation. However, this basic right continues to be denied to the poorest people across the world.

“The multi indicator cluster survey published in 2013 by the Nigerian Bureau of Statis-

tic and UNICEF revealed that 70 million Nigerians did not have access to safe water in 2011 making Nigeria the third ranked globally in terms of the number of people without access to water, who are often the ones without access to electricity.”

The country representative disclosed that under its FCNUNICEF WASH Programme, 1.9 million people living in the rural communities in 20 states were able to gain im-

proved access to safe drinking water, adding that through funds from European Union, United Kingdom Aid (UKAid), there were able to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for thousands of school children in the country.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, stressed the need for increased collaboration between the agencies and stakeholders in the water and energy sectors.

recent appointment of Brigadier General Oladeinde Arogbofa as his new Chief of Staff.

The latest was from the Ondo State’s group of industrialists and technocrats under the aegis of Ondo State Eminent Persons Group (OSEG) who praised Jonathan for proving wrong critics who had accused him of marginalising the Yoruba people.

According to the group, with the appointment of Arogbofa, and now Musliu Obanikoro, as well as Jelili Adesiyan as ministers the President has made a very loud statement that the Yoruba would not be relegated when appointing qualified and competent Nigerians into position of authorities.

The group gave the commendation at the end of an emergency executive council meeting in the Ondo State capital, Akure, where it deliberated on Arogbofa’s appointment.

OSEG national chairman Banji Alabi, in a statement said, “On behalf of the eminent sons and daughters of Ondo State, OSEG wishes to express the gratitude and appreciation of the people of the state to President Jonathan for his determination and continued efforts to ensure that Ondo State and the Yoruba generally are in the mainstream of the country’s administration.”

Sunday, March 23, 2014 5

tHE GUARdIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS Corps Members Will Be Protected, Says NYSC Boss NATIONAL

‘How Lack Of Social Contract Cripples democratic Growth’

From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi

By Anote Ajeluorou

HE director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawunmi, has promised corps members posted to Benue State of adequate security and welfare, as they carry out their national assignment.

General Olawunmi who gave the assurance while on an assessment visit to the 2014 Batch ‘A’ corps members undergoing orientation at the NYSC permanent camp at Wannune, tarka LGA of the state, further maintained that no corps member will be posted to any flash point in the state.

While charging the members to fully exploit the opportunity provided by the Skill Acand quisition Entrepreneurship development programme, the director-General, stressed that such skills will equip them to make better use of their degree certificates by being self-employed.

He frowned at the involvement of many youths in criminality and other delinquent behaviours, advising that as leaders of tomorrow, they should shun such acts.

IGERIA’S democratic N march has been hampered by the absence of a so-

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tMG Wants Confab Outcome Subjected to Referendum NATIONAL

cial contract between the government and the people, a U.S. don and specialist on Nigeria’s democracy, dr. darren Kew, has said. As a result, the culture of holding political leaders or government accountable for lack of performance is yet to be entrenched in the country.

What is needed, Kew said, is a viable opposition and a strong civil society group, constantly on the look out to make gov-

NATIONAL ernment live up to its electoral promises.

Kew, an Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, Global Governance at University of Massachusetts, Boston, made these observations two days ago in Ibadan at the first of eight cities’ events lined up to celebrate 50 years of late Prof.

Chinua Achebe’s novel, Arrow of God. the event was held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, where Achebe studied and wrote his iconic novel Things Fall Apart

as an undergraduate in then University College, Ibadan (UCI).

Kew noted that the absence of social contract in Nigeria’s democracy between government and the people in which the state only exists to serve the will of the people, who are the source of all political power enjoyed by the state, who can also choose to give or withhold this power is reason for government acting with impunity, as if the people did not exist. For instance, when outcomes of elections do not flow from people’s balloting but through rigging and

MEHSOSAI Elects New Executives EtHOdISt High School, M Arigbajo, Ogun State, Old Students Association (MEHSOSAI) has elected new national executive members for the association. those elected are Mr. Olumide Biyi (President), Mr. Aliu Lawal (Vice President 1), Mrs. Grace Olatunde (Vice President 2), Mr. tajudeen Adebayo (General Secretary) and Mr. Bolaji Olanrewaju (Assistant Gen.

suring clean elections and exposing corruption by reaching out to civil society groups and mobilising the public in a bid to win elections.

“Social contract is what is missing in Nigerian democracy, as there is not yet a sense of political contest, which takes time to be built,” he said, adding that All Progressive Congress (APC) is still terribly fragile at the moment to act as the true opposition needed to put the ruling Peoples democratic Party on its toes in the contestation for power required of true democratic society.

Stakeholders Want Protection Of Intellectual Properties

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku tAKEHOLdERS in the art inSuresdustry have called for measto be put in place to fight piracy and protect intellectual works. the call was made in Lagos on Friday during the unveiling of an anti-piracy alert application by transerve disc technologies Limited.

Nollywood actor and chairman, National Institute for Hospitality and tourism Studies, Kanayo O. Kanayo, urged the establishment of an Intellectual Property Police in the mould of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

NATIONAL (EFCC), to help fight piracy in the country.

“Piracy constitutes intellectual terrorism; it is more deadly than HIV and AIdS,” he said.

Kanayo also decried the lack of quality in recent Nigerian home movies, putting blame on the activities of pirates, who he said have taken over the show from producers, starving them of remuneration. transerve disc technologies Limited, a company which specialises in the replication of discs, also displayed three products – dVd 5 and dVd 9

Replication, Glass Mastering (Stamper) and Job Alert Management System (JAMS), designed to curb piracy to a barest minimum. the chairman of the company, Cyprian Orakpo, said: “the Job Alert can help curb piracy in the sense that if you are a content owner and you bring your job to transerve and we register it with your data, and have a record that this is the owner of this work; you are alerted on every order placed on that job. You are given opportunity to checkmate pirates from the source; if pirates should forge your authority letter, and pretend that

HE transition Monitoring t Group (tMG) has re-echoed Obi Calls For Closer ties Between Church And State the need to subject the outcome of the national conference to a referendum.

In a communiqué signed by the chairman and publicity secretary of tMG, comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi and chief Eddy Ezurike, the group noted that the conference should be used as a platform to proffer solutions to the numerous challenges threatening the nation’s unity, adding that the avenue should not be an opportunity to fly ethnic cards or promote clandestine motives.

Commending President Jonathan for organising the discuss, the group urged delegates to be patriotic and remain focused on the imperatives of subjecting their decisions to a national referendum, saying the president’s comments on the subject matter offers them the opportunity to build a strong consensus around ways of getting the National Assembly to introduce the provision for a referendum in the proposed amendment of the Constitution.”

other election maleficence, it becomes difficult for such government to genuinely serve the will of the people but that of its own interests.

For Kew, who has monitored four elections in Nigeria, democracy as a system of learning the best ideals to run a society, needs a virile opposition as an essential element in creating a balance of power for the polity, so the ruling party does not ride roughshod. Also because the opposition has interest in capturing power at the centre, Kew argued that the opposition always has interest in en-

From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka HE former governor of t Anambra State, chief Peter Obi, has called for a closer collaboration between the Church and other institutions working for the common good of the people and the State. He made this call yesterday when he accompanied President Jonathan to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican City.

Speaking on the visit, Obi, said, “it was more of a spiritual journey for him to thank God for his mercies and direction for the eight years he was governor of Anambra State and advised incumbent governors to partner with organisations working for the good of their states to better the lot of the people.

Giving areas his administration worked with the Church, the former Governor said it started with his returning the missionary schools forcefully taken from them.

He said, “today, Anambra school system is experiencing its best because schools have been returned to the Church. We did not abdicate our responsibilities after the return, for we have given almost N3 billion to the Catholic Church and more than N2 billion to the Anglican Church to rehabilitate the schools returned to them. today, the difference is clear as Anambra is coming first in external examinations throughout the country.”

ANAMBRA

Obi also said his administration collaborated with the Church in the area of healthcare delivery, adding that his administration committed several billions of Naira in the improvement in infrastructure in selected mission hospitals such as Our Lady of

Lourdes, Ihiala; St. Charles Borromeo, Onitsha; Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi; St. Joseph, Adazi Nnukwu; Holy Rosary Hospital, Onitsha; diocesan Hospital, Amichi and others. the former Anambra State Governor noted that he was comfortable collaborating with the Church, since according to him, they, more

they are the owners of the work, when they come to us, the moment we schedule this work, you will receive an alert telling you that your work has been scheduled at transerve and that you have 12 hours to get back to us or else, we will

take it that you authorised it.” the director General, Nigeria Copyright Commission, Afam Ezekude, commended the company and noted that the commission is also doing its best to stamp out piracy in the country, despite low funding.

Halt State’s Allocations, Obio/Akpor Councillors tell FG From Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt HE 17 councillors in ObioAkpor local government area of Rivers State have urged the federal government to withhold all allocations meant for the state government, alleging that the state has failed to fund the council since April 22, 2013, when the House of Assembly suspended them and chairman, timothy Nsirim. the councillors lamented that lack of funds in the council has forced people into severe hardship, stressing that many projects that should have improved lives have stalled.

t

RIVERS Leader of the legislative council, Henry Odum, said, it is wrong for a government that preaches good governance to starve a local council, allowing the people to languish in poverty, despite a court judgement that reinstated them.

“We have not been paid for over 12 months now and the council has not received its due allocations which is about four to five million naira per month. We therefore urge the federal government and the federal ministry of finance to withhold all monies meant for the state,” Odum said.

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NEWSEXTRA Ugly Sights At The Soka ‘Forest Of Death’ In Ibadan Yesterday

Some rescued victims,human skulls, slaugther slab, decomposing bodies and onlookers at the Soka forest of death at the outskurts of Ibadan, where human rituals and sacrifice hold sway. A woman captive was said to have delivered a baby at the forest yesterday but had it sold by her captors.

PHOTOS: NAJEEM RAHEEM

TheGuardian

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cityfile

Rehabilitated Olodi Primary School

From Chido Okafor, Warri QUIET educational revolution may be taking place in Delta A State. The current scenario in the sector becomes pronounced, when one considers the statistics of students in private schools that have returned to public schools across the state between 2013 and 2014.

These days, the slogan on the lips of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is, “I want to finish strong.” Sounds like a revitalised athlete determined to cover the remaining distance to finishing line in good time, perhaps?

When entering Effurun, the gateway to Warri, the number of construction works going on there is intimidating, especially if one has not visited the oil city for sometime now. The shopping complex, bridge, amusement park and road dualisation projects being undertaken there cannot but be commended by people of good will.

Few weeks ago, Uduaghan commissioned six recently upgraded schools in Warri and environ. Among the lot is Alders Special School for the physically challenged, which previously had been neglected despite the peculiar nature of its pupils.

Others touched by the on-going wave of rehabilitation are Ikengbuwa Primary School, Nana Primary and Secondary School, Olodi Primary School, Cavegina Primary School and Ekegba Primary School.

As the Governor inspected the schools to ascertain that work was going on as scheduled and that they are up to standard, his body language was that of relief and accomplishment.

Accompanied by several government functionaries including commissioners, protocol officers, as well as community leaders and security operatives, the governor couldn’t have been happier to see that this ‘burden’ was being heaved off his shoulders. The Olu of Warri, HRM, Atuwase II and the monarch of Agabrah Kingdom expressed their satisfaction at the exercise and gave their blessings at the inauguration.

But while the stride in education in the state is being praised, there are others who believe the renovation or upgrading of primary and secondary school buildings across the state is mere cosmetic treatment, which does not surgically remove the real, human capital related problem in the education sector.

Mr. Robinson Ariyo, a legal practitioner and coordinator of the Volunteers for the Protection of Itsekiri Rights, said solving structural problems of schools in the state alone without pragmatically and sincerely addressing the massive personnel crisis in the sector amounts to putting the cart before the horse.

He explained that the education sector is like a computer unit, which needs hardware and software to operate normally.

He said what the government is doing is like fixing the hardware problems and ignoring the software issues, that is, the teaching and administrative staff. He opined that what the government would have done was spend modest funds on infrastructure and to use the remainder to improve human capacity.

There are also complaints by some Delta residents that the upgrade was taking place mainly in schools located in strategic locations in major towns, and that primary schools located deep in several communities were yet to be affected.

Positive consequences are already being recorded on account of the rehabilitation exercise embarked upon by the state government, as many hitherto neglected primary and secondary schools have metamorphosed into more beautiful and befit-

The education sector is like a computer unit, which needs hardware and software to operate normally…What the government is doing is like fixing the hardware problems and ignoring the software issues, that is, the teaching and administrative staff…What the government would have done was spend modest funds on infrastructure and to use the remainder to improve human capacity.

Delta Schools Renovations: The Good, The Better...The Undone ting centres of learning.

The development has obviously triggered the attention and interest of many parents and the general public. Investigation revealed that between January 2013 and January 2014, about 10,000 pupils, formerly attending private schools, have gone back to state-owned public schools. In Ughelli, for instance, it was gathered that not less than 1, 200 pupils from various private primary and secondary schools have been returned to government schools by appreciative parents captivated by the magnificent look and academic activities in the schools.

And over 600 pupils from private schools also recently migrated to Oharisi Primary School, which is state-owned.

The survey becomes even more interesting, when considering the calibre of parents returning their wards to government school. And there is no limit to the class of parents joining the bandwagon to government schools, as this cuts across board with not only peasant parents with little or no income that are interested, but also individuals of high standing in the society.

It is, therefore, not surprising that currently, there is a fierce competition between private and public schools in the state.

Indeed, the notion in some quarters is that private schools can no longer match the impressive facilities in government schools.

Florence Orerhi, a senior nurse, who recently took her two children from a private school to government-owned Ekigbo Primary School in Ughelli said: “I’m impressed with what the Uduaghan Administration is doing with the schools. If this type of attention had been given government schools in the past, I don’t think there would be any student attending private schools, which are now apprehensive of the on-going development in government schools. Many of them are going out of their way to impress parents with new incentives because they are now losing students.”

The renovation of Alders Special School, Warri, has particularly elicited excitement from Deltans. And judging by the way Governor Uduaghan interacted with the challenged students on Tuesday February 25, 2014 when the school was commissioned, it was easy to see the school meant a lot to him. Said he: “This school is very dear to me because of the nature of the students schooling here.”

The works carried out in the school include the demolition and construction of six classrooms and offices; construction of another block of six classrooms, staff quarters, hostels and kitchen; renovation of six different blocks providing a total of 18 classrooms, as well as two blocks of toilets; flood control/landscaping and provision of walkways, sporting facilities, fence, gatehouse, a borehole and generator.

There was no missing the Governor’s delight and enthusiasm at the occasion. And he didn’t mince words when explaining why. The good Lord, he said, has used him to bring joy to many children and families by constructing a befitting edifice for the development of the blind, deaf and dumb children, as well as other children with other forms of mental and physical problems.

“I am happy about this commissioning, as the reconstruction project will help remove many future beggars from the streets. I know many of you here will be heads of both government and private organisations. There is ability in every disability and my administration cannot abandon you as citizens of the state. Many of you were not born in this form. But sometimes, due to accident or bad medication or infection during

Florence Orerhi, a senior nurse, who recently took her two children from a private school to government-owned Ekigbo Primary School in Ughelli said: “I’m impressed with what the Uduaghan administration is doing with the schools. If this type of attention had been given government schools in the past, I don’t think there would be any student attending private schools, which are now apprehensive of the ongoing development in government schools. Many of them are going out of their way to impress parents with new incentives because they are losing students.” pregnancy, you end up this way. I am speaking as a medical practitioner. I am very sad that many of you could not hear or see the colour of my suit and my height,” he said.

Uduaghan did not stop there, he also promised to procure a brand new coaster bus for the school to aid their transportation. He disclosed that his administration has made an employment policy signed into law that five per cent slot of the state employment be reserved for the physically challenged.

The renovation of Nana Model College, according to observers, has put the school in a class of its own. With a state of the art two-storey imposing edifice, a new and well-manicured football field, a high-capacity spectators’ stand, the school has become attractive to students and teachers alike.

Elated teachers and management of the commissioned schools couldn’t hide their joy. Mrs. Iyonsi Ada, head mistress of Alders Special School Centre described the transformation taking place at the school as astounding and commended the governor.

However, beyond the euphoria that greeted the inauguration, the Governor was concerned about the maintenance of the schools. His fears stem from the fact that many schools renovated eight years ago are now decrepit and badly in need of renovation again. He expressed worries over the future maintenance of the standards with which the schools were built.

To drive this point home, while interacting with the students, he urged them to always keep the toilets and premises of the schools clean.

Uduaghan also charged the communities leaders, youths, teachers and pupils to put to good use the school buildings and the facilities provided for the interest of all. He warned that any public school head teacher that lets his/her school premises out for ceremonies, outside of school activities, would be sanctioned appropriately. He directed the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to outlaw the use of public schools for social engagements during weekends.

Mrs. Orezi Esievo, Commissioner for Special Infrastructure, in buttressing the governor’s stance, explained that schools in deplorable conditions were renovated and rehabilitated as part of the governor’s human capital development agenda to provide conducive learning environment.

Uduaghan used the event to perfect his plan to turn all single gender schools in the state to mixed ones by September 2014.

Towards this end, he detailed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, to work out the modalities such that from September 2014, new en-

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CITYFILE We’re Not Boko Haram, Say Maryland’s Hausa Community

By Yinka Ogunjobi AST week, a woman called me a Boko Haram sect member, “L because I was speeding on the bike. Immediately, I asked her to get down, as I zoomed off, displeased.”

The woman in question might never be traced for an explanation as to why she picked the offensive words do describe commercial (Okada) motorcyclist, Shehu. But need we search further? The poor passenger probably thought: ‘He is Hausa, from the North. I have heard gory stories of violence by members of the militant Boko Haram sect in the same region. He must be one of them.’

But ethnic biases often turn out to be unfounded; or at least as the scenario in Mende, Maryland, seems to suggest. The Hausa community there has been growing in recent times. As things stand, Mende could just be one of many instances of peaceful inter-ethnic coexistence across the country, (and especially as Nigeria celebrates the centenary of the amalgamation of its northern and southern protectorates.)

“I am from Jigawa State. I came to Lagos to work and make money,” said Shehu. “In the place where I come from, as a young man, you are expected to leave your hometown to make a living. Only then would you be called a ‘complete’ man.”

And in the course of earning naira notes, Shehu said: “In all my 15-year stay in Mende, no one has ever harassed me or insulted me. We only receive insults from the passengers we carry.” According to him, “I am very comfortable staying in Lagos.”

Shehu, however, expressed concern that it might not be rosy all the way. “With happenings in the North,” he said, “anything can happen. So, I am ready to leave at any time. The Lagos State government can decide to kick us out when it thinks that we are becoming a threat.”

Saleh is from Yobe State. He told The Guardian that no one had ever insulted him. “I am fond of so many people here, and some of them come to buy things from me. We worship together in the same mosque. We are quite free with the people in Mende,” he said.

So well has Saleh blended with life in his host community. According to him, “I have become so used to Lagos that I don’t really like eating my native foods again. Most times, I take noodles. I love bread and eggs. But we have people who sell our native foods here; meals like tuwo shinkafa, nunu, etc. And talking about the way I dress, I wear put on and T-shirts. But on Fridays, I wear my babanriga to the mosque.”

Like Shehu, Saleh, who relocated some 18 years ago, said: “I came to Lagos to make money and survive, so that I can feed

Specialist Fingers... Suya spot run by a Hausa businessman at Mende, Maryland

my wives and my children back home.” He explained: “I work as a security man for a Chinese family here and I am also allowed to own a kiosk outside the house where I sell petty things, like biscuits, sweets, eggs, milk, etc.”

So, how do Mende residents feel about their northern neighbours? “I feel safe living among them. They are not troublesome. They don’t fight. They are very peaceful,” said Wale, adding: “The ones here are peaceful. They are not Boko Haram members. They don’t fight. When you see them, you will know they are not that type (Boko Haram). But I don’t know about the new comers; I can only vouch for the ones that have been staying here for quite some time. I have been staying here for about three years now and have become so fond of them because they are nice people.”

Another resident, Johnson, said: “They are in search of the Golden Fleece. That’s all. They are here for work, to find their daily bread. They left their families in their hometowns in order to survive. There is not much for them to do over there, only farming which is not enough. So, when they come to Lagos, you find them at suya spots. They have taken over that place. Before, it was the Igbo and Yoruba people that operated Okada, and did sewing and other related jobs. Today, the Hausa have taken over.

IK, who operates a boutique in Mende, however, has a different opinion. “If I look at what is happening in parts of the country, I will tell you that we are not safe here. They don’t regard humans, especially if you are not their brother, or you are not a Muslim. We are not safe. If any trouble starts here, they will start to fight. And if you are close to them, you are auto-

PHOTO: YINKA OGUNJOBI

matically in danger. So, we are just alert and sensitive, in case something occurs.”

Asked if he would support their eviction by government, IK said: If I say yes, it might sound very harsh. But it is not safe. I think, they should be returned to where they came from.

Imagine bringing someone into your house and the person becomes a threat. The right thing to do is evict that person. If the government in these parts of the south thinks these people are becoming a threat then it should evict them.”

When The Guardian met with the Baale of Araromi, Mende, Maryland, Akin Ajose, he said that following the ban on use of Okada in some northern states, “many of them moved to Lagos. And a lot of them came to Mende, Maryland.” He, however, identified a snag: “They don’t know how to ride motorcycles. They make a nuisance of it. They also don’t know the routes to areas in Mende. The major complaint I get is that that they claim to know the addresses given to them, and then end up taking you to the wrong place. And when you refuse to pay, an argument ensues. Meanwhile, the motorcyclist’s kinfolks join in the argument. At that stage, you have little option but pay.”

Asked if he would support move by government to send them packing, he said: “It is better for them to go back to where they came from. They have dominated Mende, especially from Sunmola to Arowojobe. I would support the government on this one.”

Meanwhile, community leader, Alhaji Buhari, who has lived in Mende for over 30 years, described the Hausa in the area as peaceful. He said: “We are at peace with the non-Hausa people in Mende, Maryland, however, no one wants to live a poor life.

Behind The High Fences:

A Peep Into Lagos’ Secret Business Premises

By Omiko Awa and Paul Adunwoke AGOS, Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, boasts Lto eke of a huge number of people, competing stiffly out a living. Caught between the multifaceted challenges of keeping their heads above the water, several companies now operate incognito.

In residential areas, a number of premises house companies without signposts or other indicators showing what is produced or who the producers are. Some of these places have high fences that keep inquisitive minds pondering: “What goes on there?”

Victoria Island, Lekki and Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) used to be the delight of high-income earners. They were marked by light trading activities. Today, some of these locations have become commercial areas. The greenery that should produce oxygen and enhance scenic beauty has been cut down to make way for high fences, which many say, provide a shield to unscrupulous persons. GRAs, once known for their quietness, have thereby lost their serenity to commercial activities.

Besides the fences, high-rise buildings are now

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 Array Of Residences Or Hidden Factories... A street in Ikeja

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CITYFILE

By Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt XPECTATION was that Obio/Akpor International Market E would have kicked-off in style; a world-class market packaged

by Council chairman, Mr. Timothy Nsirim. Observations, however, show the contrary. Instead of the anticipated 400 lock-up shops and 400 open stalls, residents can be seen using wood to set up temporary structures for trading activities.

It is unclear whether the development is a result of the political crisis rocking the council.

Caretaker Committee chairman of the Council, Mr. Chikordi Dike, had made attempt to allocate shops at the market following the sack of Nsirim by the state’s House of Assembly over allegations of financial recklessness. The plan, however, could not materialise, due to a court injunction.

In a reaction, Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the Council, Waliogba Buduka, said normalcy has returned to the council and that the situation has nothing to do with any political upheaval. He explained that a market of such international standard does not just takeoff overnight, adding that the structures in question are merely temporary and meant to last only three months.

He said the reason behind the structures was to attract people to the market and pave way for a second phase where lock-up shops and other core facilities would be put to optimal use.

The market has features that include crèche, health clinic, fire station, police post, restaurant, parking spaces, roads, modern toilet facilities, a 500 KVA transformer and a 500 KVA generator, among others.

One of the traders, unhappy that the lock-up shops are yet to be put to use, lamented high cost of the rent, which he said amounts to N1.5m for a 10-year period. This, he said, explains why people are reluctant to take up the shops.

“The lock-up shops are very expensive. That’s why people are not renting them. But if the shops are open, the market will start off without delay. We want the market to open fully, so that business can thrive.”

Buduka faulted reports that a lock-up shop sells for N1.5m, describing it as mere rumours. “You know, when it comes to public facilities, one thing is common and that is rumour. But I want people to know that the council is open. If there is need for any clarification, they should come forward. Our doors are open to receive them. All those things are mere rumours. The council has not decided on any specific amount for the shops. What we are doing is allow traders stream into the market and start up things, and at the end of three months, we can then decide on rent for the shops. I give you assurance; the money would be very affordable.”

He added: “Obio/Akpor International Market is a people-oriented project. We held a town hall meeting and the market was one of the requests people made. Also, the chairman conceived it knowing fully well that it would reduce trading challenges in the local council and the entire state.

“What you are seeing there, today, is a local or domestic aspect, aimed at attracting people. Of course, for a market of such international standard, you do not just start in a day. When we looked at the situation, we decided to sympathise with the local traders. What we did was give it out to them for a period of three months for free.

“The structures were put up by the traders. We are doing that to see how we can attract people to the market, even as we get ready for the commencement of the second phase. And when it kicks-off, all the domestic structures would be demolished. The people are aware; we informed them earlier that the structures are temporary. That was why we did not collect a kobo from them.”

Some traders who spoke to The Guardian at the market described the project as a welcome development, saying it has empowered them. They, however, stressed the need to move the market into the international affair it is meant to be.

Mrs. Richard Onu, a fish seller, said: “Business here is very impressive. We are enjoying it; people are trooping in to patronise us. In fact, it is a welcome development. Saturday is the major day for trading when we record big sales.”

A meat seller, Akpan described the project as a booster for empowerment. According to him, it will help persons who had nothing doing to feed their families and send their children to school.

For Mrs. Akudo Uchechi, the market will help to reduce street trading, poverty and hunger.

Travails Of Obio/Akpor International Market

Design Or Helpless Circumstance? Unsightly temporary structures at the supposedly international market

Waiting To Be Opened... Lock-up shops at Obio/Akpor market

‘Why Some Business Premises Have No Signposts’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 the norm in GRAs. Some of these buildings, initially residential, have been converted to commercial purposes, resulting in increase in the volume of vehicles and people coming into the place.

One area that is most affected is Surelere. It was designed as a model housing estate for civil servants. Today, the area is an eyesore, as commercial activities have taken over the nooks and crannies of the community. In virtually all the streets are hospitals, fashion houses, mechanic workshops, restaurants, provision stores and even printing presses. Though, some of these are small-scale and may be tolerated as ordinary providers of immediate services to residents, their operation is cause for concern, as they do not have signposts or information notifying members of the public on what they do. As things stand, persons requiring their services are at a loss on how to find them. These business places operate through person-to-person links. What this means is that properly identifying any premises is dependent on the descriptive accuracy of a link person.

Speaking on the development, Jimoh Lawal, a banker who has spent the better part of his life in Surulere, said: “People are trying to beat government’s revenue drive by concealing what they do. They do this to evade tax and other financial ob-

ligations, which the state might demand from them.

“Companies, some owned by Lebanese, Koreans and Indians, operate without signposts. They would interrogate anyone coming into their premises to make sure such has actually come to patronise them. Even when they are doing laundry business, they just do not want to see government officials because of taxation.”

Adding to what Lawal said Akingbola, a teacher in a neighourhood, where some of these companies operate in Surulere said that these firms do not only cause heavy vehicular and human traffic, they have also mounted pressure on infrastructure and electricity supply.

“Could you believe that behind some of those high fences are nightclubs and motels? But you may not know unless you are directed there. Doing business this way gives room for crime to flourish. It is high time those saddled with the responsibility of registering companies found out where companies are located.”

A proprietor of a small-scale food processing business, Jide, however blamed the extortionist manner of government.

“They come with various bills. If you venture to clear all the bills, it is doubtful if you will ever stay afloat in business. So, to avoid them, I use my parents’ house, walled it high and do all I

have to do within, as long as I know my customers and my customers know me.

“By this, I mean you do not just come to us; somebody must surely direct you. I believe others like me only use their homes to produce goods and send them out to where they are sold.

Though, it is not the best way to operate because no business outfit wants to run in an obscure manner, we cannot help it until we are able to get enough funds to settle government agencies and if possible acquire our own structure.”

In parts of Ikeja, several companies operate in residential areas with heavy-duty generators that raise the noise level to disturbing proportions. Streets, like Isaac John, Ladipo Fatai, Joel Ogunaike and Adekunle Fajuyi, have been overtaken by commercial activities.

Babagana Abubakar, a GRA resident, who has been in the area for more than 20 years, said a lot of companies there operate with heavy generators.

“Before, there was nothing like noise in GRA. It was always silent. But now, things have changed. A problem is lack of good town planning. If there was proper planning, there would be rules and regulation. We do not have adequate power supply here; and it is a big problem because if there is constant electricity, those heavy generators would be switched off and noise would reduce.”

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National Conference: Sorting Daunting, Other Questions

By Adidi Uyo N the first week of its life, President GoodItheluck Jonathan’s edition, or is it version, of National Conference, JNC, has raised more daunting and damning questions than those raised by its predecessors. One of the reasons Nigerians are asking such questions is what they have come to know about the conference. Another reason for such questions is the content and tone of the President’s inaugural speech.

Yet another reason for the questions about JNC is information about the confabulation that has sipped into the public sphere just before its commencement. There was this particular piece of information that for one reason or the other had not been publicly disclosed to the people, information, which the people had a right to know, ab initio.

But before your mind is fixated where it should not, let me say that the accent in our assertion is not on the conference, but on the questions that people are asking about it. If you cannot tell the difference between the two, then you do not know the difference between politics and language. Questions are a form of sentence, which is the first complete unit of language; but the national conference is purely a political affair.

And politics, as any regular traveller on the language train can vouchsafe, is our sweetest taboo!

According to what our title proclaims, therefore, our interest lies only in sorting the daunting and damning questions about JNC, that is, in arranging them according to

LANGUAGE ON PARADE their type. What type of question, for example, is the following: “If what we have were a truly democratic dispensation in which the people’s opinion mattered, why did Government not forthrightly disclose to Nigerians how much each of the delegates would be paid, and how many Nigerians would have lent their support to a conference in which 492 delegates would be paid N4million per month, given the official minimum wage of N18, 000 that obtains in the country?”

Based on the criterion of number of words, that is certainly a very long question: it boasts of 66 words, if you care to count them! Based on number of words, questions may be short, moderate, or long.

In terms of sentence structure, that question is a compound complex one. Other types of questions, based on this criterion, are simple, compound, and complex. In terms of sentence pattern, the question is a loose or normal one. Other types of questions, based on this criterion, are periodic, balanced, parallel, and mixed.

But that question, you must agree, is neither daunting nor damning. It has been presented and analysed just to show how questions, as a form of sentence, are conventionally sorted, the purpose of the exercise being to make available a ready means for the business at hand on the language train, today, to wit: sorting the daunting and damning questions about

JNC. To be sure, daunting questions are those that discourage, demoralise, or dishearten us. And damning questions are those that curse, criticise, or condemn people or things.

Okay, then, let’s try to sort out one or two questions that we can sift from the comments of some readers who reacted to the news story, “Bakare says he won’t receive allowance.” The story was published in the Punch of March 17, 2014.

A reader with the name, “Water No Get Enemy,” wrote: “12 million in three months for 492 delegates? Wow, that’s a lot of money that can be used to transform the health sector or any other sector of the economy. This is purely settlement of political foes and nothing more.”

Another reader by the name Babakeu Freshdream wrote: “Can you see what we are saying about how Nigeria has been completely destroyed by our political leaders? If a five star hotel could cost between N60, 000 and N75, 000 per night and feeding three square meal a day also costs a similar amount, what then are we saying about the possibility of a better Nigeria?”

“If the government can pay such a bogus amount in a day to take care of each candidate of the conference, what positive results do you then think can ever come out this conference when the candidates are only there for ostentatious enjoyments rather

INCE 1999, a system that was dubbed the Sevolved government of the people has painfully to be people’s nemesis. The politi-

SUNDAY NARRATIVE

cal class has hijacked this democracy and the cost of living for the ordinary man has become unbearable. What other language do we employ to explain this tragedy of a vanishing government? If the wind did not blow, how would we know that the fowl has anus? The fowl uses beautiful feathers to cover an ugly part of its body and we are deceived to think it is beautiful. Get me right.

I’m not saying the fowl is completely ugly, no, its meat is sweet, but its excreta smells awful and that is why its anus is not a good part to behold. The fowl, apparently, knows this and smartly covers it with fine feathers.

Sometimes one is forced to borrow a local idiom to explain a painful situation, so that it will be clearer. If greed did not overtake some politicians and technocrats to mislead the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to drive at breakneck speed for revenue, how would we know that unemployment is now a native of Nigeria? It would be difficult to imagine that Nigeria has this embarrassing crowd of unemployed or underemployed citizens, if alarm did not blow on Saturday, March 15.

Since 1999, it has become difficult to know the correct figures of unemployed persons because government keeps ‘creating’ thousands of jobs every month. And since we have lived with acute unemployment since the days of the Second Republic, we have become so used to it that figures no longer matter. But that NIS crowd was something else and the international community would be embarrassed on our behalf and scared too, because, if we unleash these numbers on ECOWAS or Europe, we’ll overrun them. For this reason, I think the World Bank and IMF should rethink their prescriptions for Nigeria. They do not want government to subsidise the poverty in the system and that cannot be good for all of us.

Remember that centenary awards’ introduction by the coordinating minister of the economy, Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela, during which she reviewed the book “The reforms that have transformed Nigeria 2010-2013?” If you listened to her, you would get carried away, thinking all our problems had been solved. Until the burble burst and hundreds of thousands of Nigerians trooped out for less than 5,000 jobs.

For this narrative, that outing was the most lucid testimony of the dividends that had been harvested since 1999.

Unemployment did not begin with this government. The social menace has been there for a long time. The first signs were noticed during the Second Republic after

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

Democracy As The People’s Nemesis the soldiers had packed their luggage and headed for the barracks. The Shehu Shagari government was unavoidably large and cost of governance had to be jerked up.

While the military government that handed over to it was trim, economical and precise in terms of delivery, the new democratic government had more bills to settle. Party politics is oiled with a lot of money and wastages were high. That era coincided with the period when the international oil market was experiencing a glut and prices had to plummet. Before you know it, Nigerians were told to tighten their belts and for the first time many were hearing about austerity measures. Government was earning less and could no longer pay its bills.

By 1980/81, the economy had gotten into serious trouble. Jobs were no longer available for secondary school leavers who before then were automatically engaged as Apele teachers in primary schools. Those who scored very high in the WASCE were permitted to teach in secondary schools. Even though they were not trained as teachers, they were encouraged to teach for sometime before they eventually proceeded to higher institutions for professional training in whatever field. For many school leavers, that was a good opportunity to earn some money. But that opportunity came to an end in many states in the South as at 1981.

Shortly afterwards, state governments were no longer paying teachers salaries as at when due, particularly in states that offered free education. Bills were growing high and governments could no longer cope. Then, for the first time we heard another new vocabulary – embargo. What does it mean? We were told government could no longer provide jobs and had to place a ban on employment. Other services became hampered and the hospitals were forced to become ‘consulting clinics.’ Textile companies were retrenching workers and for the first time again, many of us got to know another vocabulary - inflation. That was when the inevitable happened. The soldiers said they could not stand by and watch the civilians destroy the economy, through their profligate handling of re-

sources.

Between 1983 and 1999 when the soldiers held sway, they manageably reduced cost of governance (I did not say corruption), but could not engage the real issues of job creation. They did not conceive investment in the energy sector as priority. There were palliatives here and there, according to IMF instructions, but there was no commensurate infrastructure to accommodate a bourgeoning, but skill-less population. Policy summersault in the education sector did not allow government and stakeholders to remain consistent with types of training that fit an underdeveloped economy. Then, the soldiers got sucked into the game of survival and looting.

At that point, unemployment had taken firm root. It was no longer just economic ailment that Nigeria had to deal with, but general political malaise. Pro-democracy activist had to battle the military to surrender. There was hope in 1998 that when the civilian administration stepped in, there would be a clearer understanding of the problems and how to deal with them.

The administration of president Obasanjo betrayed some understanding of the issue of unemployment and the larger issues of the economy. Efforts were also put in place to mitigate the menace. At the policy level, there was the policy to eradicate poverty by empowering jobless persons. But the real challenge of fixing the energy deficit was not properly articulated. In spite of promises and investments to the tune of billions of dollars, not much was attained by 2007.

Between 1999 and 2007, some manufacturing concerns actually left the shores of Nigeria for more enabling environments in the ECOWAS sub-region. The case of Dunlop is pathetic because that organisation was a major labour employer. Dunlop had many subsidiaries, including rubber plantations somewhere in the country. The company was able to enhance the local content of its product to an appreciable level. That meant more jobs at different levels for Nigerians.

But the cost of production was suffocating, while imported tyres sold cheaper. Instead of using appropriate tariffs to protect the

than personal sacrifices? This conference will then later turn out to be a complete charade.”

You know very well the type of question asked by Water No Get Enemy, based on the criterion of number of words. It’s a short question of just eight words, but it’s pithy and daunting, if not also damning.

Of the three questions asked by Babakeu Freshman, one, the first, is moderate, whereas the other two are long. And the two long sentences are very damning, dripping with vitriol for the Government and political leaders.

Structurally, of course, the only question of Water No Get Enemy is a simple one; and in terms of pattern, it is a loose sentence: its main point comes first in the sentence.

Based on sentence structure, the first question of Freshman is a simple one, whereas the second and third questions are complex. And in terms of sentence pattern, both the second and third questions are periodic, whereas the first question is a loose one. The periodic question qua sentence holds its essential or main point till the end, whereas the loose one dispenses its main point at the beginning.

As the conference resumes for real business tomorrow, it will surely feed Nigerians with more causes for asking many more questions, some of which may be daunting and damning, others, hopefully, invigorating and uplifting. But regardless of their flavour, all the questions can be sorted conventionally, and we shall keep on sorting them on the language train. local tyre industry, government policies were skewed in favour of politicians who are into importation. The same government that is now chasing foreign investors watched helplessly while Dunlop died gradually. Thousands of jobs across the country went with it.

Between 2007 and now, government says it has been creating jobs. Whatever is created, as the NIS tragedy has shown, is just a drop in a lake. It will be safer to say that government is overwhelmed because the figures are simply beyond what anyone had imagined. And that is not just at the federal level, because apart from Abuja, which is the seat of Federal Government, the NIS recruitment exercise took place at other centres across the country. The implication is that unemployment has its base in the states, where citizens live. The tragedy of unemployment is therefore not the headache of the Federal Government alone.

Some states have been battling Labour over minimum wage. That means they cannot expand their work force because their wage bills would rise. Some states have placed embargo on further employment, while some are streamlining.

Our real concern should be that democracy has inflicted a huge cost on government purse. And it is sad that much of this cost is not borne for productive ventures that could stimulate economic growth and create employment, but expended to massage the obscene taste of the political class.

Men who were less than average in 1998 have become so comfortable that they no longer fly economy class. They go on vacation several times in one year outside the country and draw huge allowances for themselves and their wives. They sponsor weddings in Dubai and litter the airports with private jets. One private jet would provide sustainable employment for at least 20 people. They own mansions in Abuja that nobody sleeps in, in addition to others in Dubai and elsewhere.

Going by an ongoing EFCC presentation, the allowances drawn by one State Assembly Speaker and his wife and aides for overseas trips, put together would create jobs for many youths in the Speaker’s constituency. Imagine that the figures are true, and that 36 Speakers draw that kind of amount for frivolous trips, why won’t there be unemployment?

If what killed the economy during the Second Republic was the indiscretion of the political class, what is killing the economy today is the heartlessness of today’s political class. Now they want to withdraw every subsidy in order to have more money to spend. Sure this democracy hurts.

TheGuardian

Sunday, March 23, 2014 11

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Outlook Power Of Passion, Spirit Of The Warrior

By Femi Fani-Kayode NTIL you hear the Scotsman play the bagpipes in the early morning mist of the Scottish highlands, you have heard nothing. Until you hear the Irish maiden sing “O Danny Boy’’ on the lush green fields of the Emerald Isle, you know nothing. Until you hear the Welshman sing ‘’Men of Harlech’’ in the beautiful valleys of Pontypool and Pontyprid, you have heard nothing.

Until you see the English rose blossom and bloom in early spring and you hear the British Grenadiers sing ‘’God Save The Queen’’, you have seen nothing. Until you see the ‘’Charge of the Light Brigade’’ and witness the courage of ‘’the famous 600’’, you know nothing.

Until you see the Zulu warrior dance his battle dance on the hills of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, you know nothing. Until you hear the Ashanti and the Yoruba sing songs of praise to the Living God, you have heard nothing. Until you see the Frenchman sing ‘’La Marseillaise’’ and ‘’Je Ne Regrette Rien’’, you know nothing. Until you see brave men fight, suffer and die for a noble and just cause, you know nothing.

Until you hear the cries, see the tears, read the words and feel the pain of a wounded, tormented and broken soul, you have seen nothing. Until you feel the passion of the wounded Messiah on the cross at Calvary, you know nothing.

All these unseen things inspire. They stir the spirit and move the soul. They breathe and bleed passion. They are passion itself. And passion is the essence of life. It is the food of the compassionate and the sensitive spirit. It is the fuel of noble and courageous souls. It is the stuff of which gods and immortals are made. It is our passport to posterity - our key to future glory. Yet, nothing and no-one epitomise the power of passion more than the spirit of the warrior.

The warrior is noble and strong. His resolve is firm and his commitment is total. His is to kill, to shed blood and to be killed. His is to die for his king and for a worthy cause. His is to protect and lay down his life for his faith, his nation, his people and his loved ones.

What manner of men are these whose spirit speaks of such valour and nobility? Consider the ancient Spartans and the Roman warriors of old. Consider the fearsome Vikings who believed that it was a curse to die a peaceful death and that the only way to heaven was to die violently and heroically in fearsome battle.

Consider the greatest of all warriors that ever lived, the noble and gallant Achilles.

Consider Alexander the Great who conquered the world with his sword. Consider King David, the greatest of all the kings of Israel, who was a man of blood and war and yet whom God so loved and who loved God more than any other. Consider David’s “strongmen” who stood with him through thick and thin and who fought for and protected him to the very end. Consider their gallant captain, the mighty Joab and the others — Abishai, Asahel, Eleazer, the Tachomonite, Shammah, Benaiah, Eliam, Igal and Uriah the Hittite. These were

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David’s ‘’strongmen’’: all of them great and valiant men of war whose courage was legendary and whose loyalty to their God and their King was unflinching and unquestionable.

Consider Shaka the Zulu, Beowulf the Nordic king and William Wallace the liberator of Scotland. Consider King Henry V of England who routed the French at the battle of Agincourt even though he was outnumbered by three men to one.

Consider Julius Caesar who came, who saw and who conquered. Consider the great Heracles who was a descendant of the mighty Hercules himself. Consider Spartacus, who turned slaves into men. Consider Samson, who slew a troop with the jawbone of an ass and yet who fell at the touch of a woman. Consider Gideon who slew the Midianites, Jeptha, who sacrificed his own daughter, Joshua who brought down the walls of Jericho and Jehu, who drove his chariot like a madman, who slew the witch-Queen Jezebel and who fulfilled prophesy by ensuring that the dogs ate her flesh and licked her blood in the fields of Jezreel.

Consider those that laid down their lives for our great and noble faith: Paul of Tarsus, the greatest of all the apostles, who brought the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the gentiles and to the wider world. Peter the disciple, who became the rock on whom the Church of God was built. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Stephen, Isaiah, Elijah, Daniel, John and all the other disciples and prophets of old.

For martyrs and heroes that lived and died for God are also gallant warriors who feared not death and who stood firm to the end in defence of their faith.

Consider George Washington who led his troops into battle and whose battle cry was “victory or death”. Consider the charge of the Light Brigade, the sheer courage and discipline of the famous 600, at the battle of Balaclava in the fields of the Crimea. Consider General Lee at the battle of Gettysberg, Oliver Cromwell at the battle of Nasby, Horatio Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar and King Leonides, with his gallant ‘’300’’, at the battle of Thermopalye.

Consider Generals Marshal, Patton, Eisenhower, Rommel and MacArthur in the great battles of the Second World war. Consider the ‘’Black Scorpion’’, General Benjamin Adekunle, with his 3rd Marine Commando at the Battle of Ore. Consider Olusegun Obasanjo at the battle of Owerri and Murtala Mohammed at the liberation of Benin.

Consider Zhukov at the siege of Leningrad and his courageous exploits at the battle of Moscow. Consider Bernard Montgomery, with his fearless ‘’Desert Rats’’, at the battle of Alamein, Charles De Gaulle at the siege of Paris and Chiang Kai-Shek in the war against Japan. Consider Attila the Hun, Ghengis Khan, Peter the Great, Richard the Lion heart, Salahudeen the Compassionate, Katsumoto the Samurai, Hannibal of Carthage and Hector of Troy.

Consider our gallant amazons and female

warriors of old - Boudica of East Anglia, Joan D’Arc of France, Elizabeth I of England, Amina of Zaria, Moremi of Ife, Golda Meir of the State Of Israel, Margret Thatcher of Great Britain, Indira Ghandi of India, Queen Idia of Benin, Kudirat Abiola of Nigeria, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Queen Esther of the Medes and Persians, Cleopatra of the Blue Nile and Egypt and Yaa Asantewaa of the Ashanti Kingdom.

Consider Generals Foche and Hague at the battle of the Somme. Consider George Armstrong Custer at the battle of the Little Big Horn, the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo and Napoleon Bonaparte, in his full glory and power, at the battle of Marengo.

Consider Aragorn of Gondor, who won the battle for Middle Earth and who broke the power of the ring. Consider Cyrus of Persia, whose compassion knew no bounds and who allowed Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Consider Lancelot of the Round Table, the most handsome and courageous of all King Arthur’s knights, who was unbeatable in battle and who captured the heart of the queen.

Consider Aslan, the great Lion of Narnia, whose roar filled the land, whose power drove away the winter and who crushed the white witch in battle. Consider Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North and General of the Felix Legions, who fought with strength and honour, who slew the wicked Emperor and who delivered the City of Rome.

Consider Uthman Dan Fodio who spread his faith with zeal and valour and who built a formidable empire. Consider Robert Gould Shaw and the exploits of his ‘’all black regiment’’, the 54th Massachusetts, at the battle of Fort Wagner.

Consider Mohammadu Buhari at the battlefront in Chad when he drove the enemy from our borders and marched towards of Ndjamena. Consider Halilu Akilu who crushed the Maitatsine and who saved the ancient City of Kano.

Consider Adekunle Fajuyi who laid down his life for his leader and his brother, T.Y. Danjuma who avenged a generation and Mamman Shuwa who sang songs into battle. Consider Odumegwu-Ojukwu who defended his people and who delivered them from the hands of their tormentors. Consider Ibrahim Babangida who stormed a ra-

Until you see brave men fight, suffer and die for a noble and just cause, you know nothing. Until you hear the cries, see the tears, read the words and feel the pain of a wounded, tormented and broken soul, you have seen nothing. Until you feel the passion of the wounded Messiah on the cross at Calvary, you know nothing

dio station, disarmed a coup plotter and delivered a nation, consider Gideon Orkar whose courage was legendary and who tried to create a new Nigeria.

Consider Sani Abacha who defied the odds, stood his ground and faced down the west.

Consider Saro-Wiwa who fought with his pen and who remained loyal to his cause to the bitter end. Consider Isa Mohammed who secured our eastern borders and threw the Camerounians out of Bakassi. Consider M.K.O Abiola who refused to yield and who laid down his life for the birth of a nation.

Had these great men and women all not stood their ground and had they all not played their role in our collective history, where would the world be today? They sacrificed their today so that we may have our tomorrow. They lived and died for the sake of others and asked for only one thing in return: that their names should live forever and that we should never forget their noble deeds and their worthy sacrifices.

And we must not forget, nay we dare not forget, for as Martin Luther King once said, “if a man is not ready to die for something, then he is not worthy of living for anything”. The warrior is prepared to die for his cause. That is what makes him so noble and that is why he will always have a special place in our hearts.

May the spirit of the warrior and selfless courage fill us all and, like the true warriors that we are meant to be, when the angel of death comes, may the Lord give us the strength and boldness to look at him fearlessly in the face and treat him with the contempt and disdain that he deserves - knowing that he has lost his sting and that, by the power of Christ Jesus, he has been conquered and crushed.

When the dark angel comes, as come he must for us all, let us be men and let us die a good death, not cringing and crying like puppies, but like true warriors, fighting to the bitter end. For it is never for the warrior to ask the why: it is only for the warrior to do or die. The warrior does not vanish into the night. The warrior will not go down without a fight.

Permit me to end this contribution with the following counsel: Courage is the greatest of all the virtues and it is the best defence. Regardless of whatever challenges we may face today, like the warrior, we must show courage. We must stay the course, steel our hearts, fortify our faith, shed our fears and march on in the strength and power of the Lord. We must stand firm, refuse to bow, refuse to flinch and we must defy the enemy. We must stand and we must fight.

We must ensure that the good in our land prevails over the evil and that the light overcomes the darkness. That is our hope and that is the challenge before every self-respecting Nigerian today - to scale the obstacles in our land and to bring hope to the hopeless, the vulnerable, the weak, the poor, the deprived and the less privileged. That is what warriors are meant to do and my prayer is that the Lord grants each and every one of us the presence of mind and the fortitude to do it. May God bless and defend our nation.

•Fani-Kayode was a minister of Aviation.

By Obe Ess

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

12 Sunday, March 23, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Editorial The World Is One Wide Web UMANITY owes Tim Berners-Lee a debt of gratitude for the invention of the worldwide web, a breakthrough that now defines how we live, what or who, we know and much more. Twenty-five years ago, his idea changed humanity, put a wealth of information at man’s fingertips at home, at work, on the move, everywhere, and launched the world on an information superhighway. Simply, it was an idea that developed a radically new way of linking and sharing information over the internet, a clear pointer to the limitless possibilities of the human mind.

Interestingly, Berners-Lee, British scientist, then software engineer at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research in Switzerland, had his March 1989 technical paper titled “Information Management: A Proposal” dismissed by his boss as “vague but exciting.”

But his was an idea whose time had come. Having coined www in 1990, it was not until 1993 that CERN allowed free access to the technology. A few years later, millions of people worldwide got hooked on the information flow that the web delivers. The web is remarkable for having one single identifiable inventor and a timeline of landmarks. But then a measure of credit also goes to the likes of Vince Cerf, Robert Kahn and Leonard Kleinrock who pioneered the early Darpa research in the late 60s and 70s to earn their description as ‘fathers of the internet.’

Inventor Berners-Lee certainly deserved the first ever Millennium Technology Prize he got in Helsinki in 2004. Notwithstanding, he has largely shunned the limelight as his only interest remains the promotion of the principles of the web through the www Foundation. BernersLee’s call for “a global conversation about our need to defend principles that have made the web successful and to unlock its untapped potential” is simply appropriate.

No doubt the free and accessible web is today under threat as never before. With the forces of commerce and government spy agencies reportedly bringing issues of privacy and control over data to the fore, the power and potentials of the web deserve greater scrutiny. And the hope is that humanity would achieve its founder’s hope of a web that “empowers all of us to achieve our dignity, rights and potential as humans.”

In more ways than one, it has revolutionised the world, such as in media and communication – to the point where anyone can publish and disseminate information within seconds. Its capacity to raise citizen-driven movements such as led to the Arab Spring in 2010 is life-changing. Ecommerce booms as many borrow, buy, lend and invest from the comfort of homes and offices. Businesses now have access to a global marketplace with cuts in overhead costs through online retail. Working from home has also become the fad and conference interfacing with customers is limitless just as, documents are sent online.

Thanks to the web, a student does not have to be physically present to do college courses and earn a degree. Researching has become easier even going on virtual tours of the prospective accommodation or accessing information about the best resorts is at the click of a mouse. The biggest retail story of the past decade and a half has been the rise of online shopping. Opportunities are well utilized online now by employers and job seekers. The possibilities are endless and awesome.

By estimation, no less than 600 million websites are functional today.

Many more will join in the course of time. The worldwide web has also midwifed the rise of social networking services such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc and multi-billions of dollars in business.

However, for all its advantages, the web has its dark sides, which inventor Berners-Lee never contemplated. On the “dark web,” everything from guns to drugs is openly traded. On the wider internet, danger lurks in the form of everything from promotion of terrorism to paedophilia and suicide networks.

The web has also fed a boom in sexual exploitation but it has given law enforcers powerful weapons to fight back too. In spite of its global appeal and acceptance, however, a digital divide is still obvious between the developed and developing world.

Nigeria, of course, has to do more in putting the infrastructure in place to utilize the potentials of the www. The country still grapples with the basics, such as electricity supply to drive technological advances while its education is in a shambles.

In celebrating 25 years of the www, however, stakeholders have to forge a new platform to address future challenges. That future would only be better if the positives of the internet are exploited instead of the evils.

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LETTERS Moving On From State Of Ignominy The spilling of human the world is moving forward, wave of violence is a global pheSof IR: blood as in the slaughtering especially when some regions nomenon. And every dog has a rams to appease an bone in the fight as the saying

unknown god reduces humanity to a glorious state of ignominy. The nation buries its head in the sand like an ostrich and presumes ignorance of the genesis of the crisis. The responsibility is on all Nigerians to find a solution to remedy the idiosyncratic anomalies oppressing the country.

Nigeria must grow in unison.

It is fundamentally unacceptable in this modern time for any part of the country to lag behind in any critical form.

Historically, the North has been viewed as the region with the less inclination for Western education. It is understandable that there might have been structures in place that necessitated this condition. Today, it is in the best interest of Nigeria that the North is educated in equal pace with other regions.

The reckless destruction of lives in the North cannot possibly be disassociated from the brutal consequences of group thinking - them against us that may not allow for intellectual articulation of the facts. No matter how one looks at the insurgency, it is the North that is being physically, morally and economically decimated. One fears reason has been trounced. If there is going to be an end to this fiasco, who gains?

The nation cannot afford to go backward while the rest of

are advancing in this state of modernism. It is one’s understanding that a universally educated mind can be able to process the facts around its existence and push forward the best ideology for the betterment of humanity. One is not canvassing for the abandonment of parochial philosophies but rather an alignment with the moving universe.

Nigerians may have to come to terms with the fact that this

goes. This reason should motivate the nation to come together to seek the level of enlightenment that will bring a lasting understanding. A common bedrock one sees is the openness of knowledge. Modern education affords the platform for individual thinking that will culminate in collective advantage.

No child should be denied modern education.

•Pius Okaneme, Umuoji, Anambra State.

Questions For Lagos State What spirit hunts that sion stations have had a fill and Sin IR: junction called Iyana Ejigbo have gone blank showing that Ejigbo Local Council hell-on-earth spot; social media Development Area of Lagos State that cannot be conquered? What monster sets up its home at that junction that the Lagos State government with its resources and its apparatus cannot bring under control, tame or remove outright?

Does a government award contract that will never end or its execution is not followed up and quickly too? Why subject residents and commuters on this Isolo-Ikotun/Cele-Ikotun to harrowing experience and exhaustion for as long as God knows, every hour of the day?

Newspapers have published unending stories and photographs that are more or less eyesores of that junction; radios have spoken of its ills and are growing hoarse, televi-

are not silent on the confusion centre, yet nobody seems to care.

The Fashola administration should not take it that all is well with the people of the council area on motorable roads just because they have resigned to fate. Anyone can see the ugliness of streets that make up what is called Ejigbo local development council and the depth of shame to which the administrators of the council can descend.

Lagosians are challenged to drive round and feel the acrid stench Ejigbo local council to see what once won laurels for it as the best administered council by one innocuous assessment committee.

• Bamiduro Fatosa, Lagos.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014

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COVER P/17 Fuel Subsidy:To Be Or Not To Be?

NEWSFEATURE UITH: Kidney, Heart Health As Road To Medical Excellence

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PERSPECTIVES

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NIGERIA AT 100: A Call For A More Perfect Union

IBRU CENTRE Many Faces Of Lent ‘Benefits Of Lenten Season Should Go Beyond 40 Days’

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OGUNYEMI: All For Wellness And Preventive Care

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Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPOTLIGHT

By Bisi Alabi Williams EMI Ogunyemi is the Founder/CEO of Kemskis Well Woman Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, and a leading women’s health advocate and a US-certified oncology nurse, with over 25 years experience. Kemi is also a multiple award winner (including Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, Transformational Leadership Award in 2008) for her special interest in promoting women’s health and improving wellbeing and the prevention and early detection of malignant diseases.

Her childhood was an experience of love, care and discipline. It was privileged, but the strict upbringing that Kemi had while growing up are still with her till date. Her late father was a senior magistrate and her mother a midwife. Her parents were exceptionally caring and generous. Life was is good.

“My parents influenced me and my four siblings. Mom was the most influential. I wanted to be like her. She is a people’s person, fun to be with and a good listener. We all wanted to study law and be like our dad, but one day, I just decided that someone has to follow our mother’s footsteps; so, I decided to be a midwife. I did just that and then went beyond that into health service management.”

Mum wanted her to experience what a first-hand nursing career in Nigeria was all about. So, after her ‘A’ Levels in England, she invited Kemi home. “I went in for Family Planning and Midwifery. The training afforded me the first hand opportunity to counsel women, who attended the maternal clinic. These were exciting years of my career.”

She sees the patient as the most important aspect in healthcare delivery. No wonder this woman relishes the beautiful memories of the time spent attending to women at the clinic. “I enjoyed talking and listening to the women.

So, a lot of these women would come to the clinic to talk about other things rather than their health that is, planning the size of their families, their fears, family problems and aspirations. A lot of the women opened up to me. They were glad that they had a shoulder to lean on. It was a time well spent.”

Kemi trains students and health professionals on health care topics including customer service and patient-focused care. For over two decades, she has been at the forefront of cancer care. While in the United Kingdom, she was a lead nurse clinician/lead chemotherapy nurse, Haematology/Oncology Outpatients Department at the Royal Free Hospital, London. Recently, she relocated to Nigeria after having lived abroad for the 28 years.

Trained as a nurse at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, she later moved to the United States after her studies in Nigeria. She holds a master’s degree in Health Care Administration and another in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. As a professional, she has a special interest in promoting women’s health to improve wellbeing and the prevention and early detection of malignant diseases. She is dully registered in the US and the UK, where she has enjoyed the best of both worlds.

With the support of her husband, a physician who specialises in chronic pain management, she set up Kemskis Healthcare Services, a world-class quality healthcare in order to provide preventive care and management of healthcare issues in Nigeria and also to empower women through education, emotional and psychological support and care in a one-stop caring and professional environment.

This one -stop health clinic is exclusively run by women and for women. This unique selling point is what women can naturally identify with because it naturally takes away the fear that most women have in dealing with male doctors. While it is true that many women are naturally harassed if not embarrassed when being attended to by a male doctor.

“Many women see the process of being touched by male doctors as an invasion of their body and of their privacy and. Often times, you see many women wishing that for the ‘procedure’ would soon end so that they can go home. Here, women would surely throw off their guard in our allwomen-affair clinic that is readily available to attend to their health needs,” she says.

This all female affair is readily a good attraction for women especially the most conservative, who are more likely to identify with this well equipped, world-class clinic.

But Kemi’s decision in coming to practice in the country was a no-brainer decision that if it is Nigeria, it had to be the health sector.

“First, I saw that the prevailing healthcare delivery system in Nigeria was is in dire need of intervention by Nigerian professionals living abroad. Secondly, I conducted an unscientific research two years ago on what women thought about their health and lifestyle and to my surprise, only 35 percent of the women I spoke to cared about their health enough to have an annual medical check-up,” she reveals.

“For instance, while practicing in the US and the UK, I saw many Nigerian women seeking medical care for advanced cancer. This is bad and simply unacceptable for the country’s image. I was touched. I knew that there was work to be done at home. I knew that this was my chance to serve my people in an area I know so well. If these cancers could have been treated much earlier. I knew something had to be urgently done to curb the pain, enlighten women in preventive care on how to lead healthier lifestyles, this realization birth the vision for Kemskis.”

Taking care of the sick is her job but to Kemi, taking care of women transcends just doing her job. “But why not? I am a woman and women have special needs because they are different from men. Women are a complete work of art, the creator’s handmaiden. There is something about women!

There is something in their being, their make – up that makes them uniquely different. That is how the Almighty made women,” she retorts.

These unique attributes come from the fact that women

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OGUNYEMI: All For Wellness And Preventive Care have more organs that can default, as they get older. And this is something that most men don’t understand about women. “It is easier for me to relate with women because we have the same body and experience the same pain.”

On what women need to know about cancer, Kemi says cancer has no face. It could affect anybody regardless of age, status, tribe, race or religious affiliation. The most common cancer prevalent among women according to her is breast cancer, cervical and ovarian cancer, as well as cancer of the colon which is why she has been extensively involved in raising awareness on these various forms of cancers in the US and the UK and is already raising awareness in Nigeria through her clinic, women organizations, corporate organisations, government and NGOs to raise awareness.

She acknowledged that practicing in Nigeria has its stress and strains. She says what beats her mind is that people have other priorities rather than their health in Nigeria, and why the average Nigerian is not so concerned about knowing their health status or sees the need to invest in health.

“For instance, most Nigerians don’t make it a point of duty to know their health status while many practice self-medication even when they are sick. Going for medical check-up should be a normal routine. I have discovered that is not in the habit of most Nigerians and thereby don’t place high value on their health as a result it affects productivity and performance.”

According to her, every one should take personal responsibility for their health. When something happens to the woman, everyone around her feels it everyone suffers neglect because of her innate inability to carter for those around her. “I strongly believe that there is something special in the way that God made women which makes women care for those around them. ‘‘Women look after the family, keep appointments, take children to school and look after their aged parents. They look out for everybody, but everyone forgets to look after the woman. And that is why I am advocating that all effort should be put into ensuring that the woman is mentally, physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually and emotionally well. But the woman should take the first step.

Her typical challenges include availability of power, water and, of course, the cost of items. Also, there is the frustration that is often encountered doing business with government parastatals example importing machines and other equipment into the country. She wondered why people doing genuine business are often frustrated or certain inconveniences or looses suffer from the activities of greedy bottlenecks at the nation’s seaports or custom officers. She is at a loose since there are better ways of getting things done just like it is done all over the world so things be different in Nigeria.

Despite these challenges, she is currently working with a pharmaceutical company in the US to get the HPV vaccine, which is in my front burner for now.

“Nigeria

needs to do a lot more and by this I mean Government to ensure that the nation is not left behind by the rest of the world. Today, awareness and prevention of HPV, in young sexually active girls is old news in the US and the UK but I haven’t heard much about it in Nigeria, so I am working on bringing the programme to Nigeria,” says Kemi.

On how women can cope with menopause, she says that a lot of women know very little about.

“A lot of women don’t even know that they are going through menopause and many don’t even know that they have entered menopause because they haven’t read about it.

Also, a lot of women don’t even know that their husband is the first person to tell about what they are going through. Menopause has to do with the way God made the

woman, that a certain time of a woman’s life, she will experience it.”

She warns women to desist from hiding information from their husbands. Some women don’t want to have sex because your husband is going to think that something is wrong with you. A lot of women either hide it or suffer it alone during this period. Until something undesirable happens and the marriage falls apart.

“Menopause has made some marriages to fall apart! So, women need to know and make the adjustments where necessary. And this is the best way to deal with it. You need to tell their husbands in a nice way when you are looking fit and everything is in the right perspective. You don’t know when menopause is going to hit you.”

TheGuardian

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Sunday, March 23,

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Fuel Subsidy: To Be Or Not To Be? out subsidy, Nigerians are told that the average price would be N141; diesel, which has since HE Federal Government says it spends trillions been regulated, has, for many years, remained available and sells between N140 and 150, of Naira every year to ensure that petrol is not depending on the fuel station. only available but also affordable. Yet, the Even then, Nigerians, including the Executive product remains elusive to Nigerians, many of who pay through the nose to fuel their movement Director of the Citizens Centre for Integrated and power their ‘dark’ homes in the face of precari- Development and Social Rights, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, describe the deregulation of ous power situation. diesel as faulty since the current price of N140 Scarcity — real or artificial — continues to bite and N150 remains artificial. Ononamadu hard on Nigerians, even as the situation seem to believes the product is overpriced due to the strengthen government’s argument on total subexistence of a ‘cabal.’ sidy removal and deregulation.

Generally, the assumption, as canvassed by Although the situation, at the weekend, appeared the Minister of Petroleum Resources and other to be abating, there is no doubt that the mionster government officials, is that total deregulation of perennial fuel crisis in the country is still very of petrol will engender perfect competition much around. And the body language of the Federal Government indicates strong appetite for and moderate prices in the medium to long term, an utopian assumption already distotal removal of the controversial subsidy. proved by the diesel scenario. The concern is Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani that unless a foolproof mechanism to checkAlison-Madueke, at the Abuja oil and gas confermate ‘price fixers’ is put in place, market forces ence, again, made passionate case for deregulating the downstream sector and, therefore, rekindled the same old debate after the January 2012 protest that birthed the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and pegged the pump price at N97 per litre.

That deal was struck after days of protests (against By Geoff Iyatse and Yinka Ogunjobi total subsidy removal) and subsequent negotiaT never struck Mikel Uzo (a Lagos-based tradtions between Labour unions and the Federal er) that he would, apart from Sundays, which Government. President Goodluck Jonathan, he sets aside for his religious obligation, close through that deal ‘announced’ government’s his shop for a full day. Not when he has two intention to do a phased removal, which, two years after, is being threatened by a major fuel cri- young boys working for him at his electronic shop located on popular Ago Road in Okota area sis that could provide an alibi for another ‘drastic of Lagos. But it did happen eventually last action.’

Analysts say government is complicit in the crisis. Wednesday when the business remained closed for the entire day.

At some point, marketers alleged delay in payHabitually, Uzo leaves the shop with its keys at ment of subsidy as well as import approvals, forcclose of business except when he has an ing the Ministry of Finance to release list of benefi- the important appointment that keeps him away ciaries. beyond 9am the following day. When there is such engagement ahead, he keeps the keys with The spirit of subsidy envisages that every Nigerian his ‘boys’. pays N97 per litre of petrol. But how many states of Some years ago, the electronic merchant hired the Federation actually get the product at the sub- an individual who allegedly led a gang of crimisidy rate? Port Harcourt sells at N120 (or therenals to pilfer his (Uzo’s) shop, and the experience about); most cities in the North, except Abuja, sell taught him a lesson not to allow a unfettered petrol between N140 and N150. In the Southeast, access to his shop, especially at odd hours. the pump price ranges from N110 to N120.

As at 8pm last Tuesday, he had no reason to These are prices for normal periods when there hand over the key with the employees. There is no scarcity — artificial or otherwise. During was no possible engagement that would take the period of scarcity, like now, pump price of his time the following except that he would stop petrol goes for about N200 in the South East, N180 on his way to fuel his car. And this became the in the North and well over the official rate in assignment that would burn his entire day. many parts of Lagos; even as racketeering becomes Uzo’s trouble started at 8am Wednesday when the order of the day. a neighbour told him that a Total filling station In all of these, Nigerians go through hell trying to located less than a kilometer away from his get the product, According to many motorists, home in Ejigbo was selling fuel. He hurriedly even when they find it at regulated price of N97, it brush teeth and dashed out of the house, headdoes not really worth the stress. Meanwhile, with- ing towards the filling station. The three file of

By Marcel Mbamalu

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might not be able to temper prices after subsidy removal. As long free entry and exit into the business of fuel importation is not guaranteed; as long as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) continues to enjoy the monopoly of issuing licences to favoured marketers for fuel importation; as long as public and private refineries do not come alive and begin to operate at full capacity, the ‘price fixing cabal’ will continue to ensure high pump prices — subsidy or no subsidy. The solution, many believe will be local refining of Nigeria’s crude, which it sells to other countries and import refined products from them.

The Labour unions, especially the Nigeria Labour congress (NLC), in opposing subsidy removal, often anchor their argument on the aforesaid, as well as the need to improve social welfare and infrastructure before deregulation.

Perhaps, the only experiment, in which perfect competition has succeeded in moderating

prices in favour of consumers is the unique sector of telecommunications, where the entry of Globacom in 2004 wrote the obituary of per-minute billing championed by the like of MTN and Econet (now Airtel). Prior to 2004, calls terminating at one second were charged at N50, as Nigerians were told that there was no mechanism to ‘digitalise’ the billing system.

Avoiding this scenario in a deregulated and subsidy-free downstream petroleum sector would entail a great deal of ‘homework’. Yet, the government, in search more funds, is in a hurry to do so; and the shylock attitude of regulators, marketers and other stakeholders, and the attendant suffering of Nigerians each time scarcity strikes, is just what proponents of subsidy removal need to make their point.

Would it then be in the interest of Nigerians and their economy to completely remove subsidy and probably deregulate? The debate continues:

Motorists Frustrated, Stranded

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• As Petrol Hawkers Take Over Fuelling Stations vehicles were not quite long, maybe average of 15 cars lined up on each of the queues.

“The vehicles are not really many,” he muttered.

He waited patiently for his turn. He left his mobile telephones at home, which he did not, initially, consider a problem. In less than an hour, he would refuel his blue Toyota Avalon car and go straight home, after which he would reach those working for him to tell them why they would not open early.

During scarcity, you never know what to expect when you queue to buy fuel. This is a common wisdom but this was not within the mental scope of Uzo that fateful morning until he frittered five hours in wait to buy petrol. While he was on the queue like every other motorist, the black market hustlers and hundreds of others who came with strings of jerry cans to buy for home use were doing their ‘business’.

For about two hours when he joined the queue, he only succeeded in moving the car two spaces forward. That means only two vehicles were served on the lane for that period (in two hours).

That was when it dawned on Uzo that he was into some kind of dilemma.

And he complained: “What is the meaning of this rubbish? You sell to one car and then to 100 gallons before you return to the queue. Is that fair? Should we spend the whole day here just because we want to buy fuel? Why can’t we do things properly?”

Few minutes later, he stepped out of his car and

advanced towards an equally middle-aged attendant pointedly. He asked rhetorically: “Why are you treating us like this? If you continue to sell like this when is it going to get to our turn? How can you leave people with cars behind and begin to sell to those who might eventually take it to garage to resell? Does that make sense to you?”

While Uzo and many other motorists were sweating in the sun, the brisk fuel ‘business’ continued. At the other side of the petrol station are two kiosks where gallons/bottles of fuel were (are) sold at N150 per litre. Those who could not bear the scorching simply found their way to the black market peddlers, who get products from touts at the nearby NNPC depot to sell to generator users when there is no scarcity.

Those who managed the brisk ‘business’ regularly walked past Uzo with two empty 25-litre gallons each and left with their containers filled with the scarce premium motor spirit (PMS). At least, they did that on three occasions.

Indeed, the fuel attendants were happier selling to jerry can customers who they could easily blackmail to pay higher than the actual cost under the guise that they were not supposed to dispense in kegs. Hence, dealing with the category came with some fringe of bargain rather than the usual order at filling station. They

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18 Sunday, March 23, 2014

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Fuel Crisis: Years Of Pain And Tears Since 1999

By Armsfree Ajanaku

InCe the advent of nigeria’s democratic dispensation in 1999, arbitrary hike in prices of petroleum products has been the major cause of confrontation between citizens and those in control of the apparatus of state power. So volatile has this issue been that the moment it is officially announced, there is usually a unanimous response from Labour unions and civil society, in the shape of massive protests and demonstrations, a number of which have claimed lives, while disrupting the nation’s economy with avoidable losses running into billions of naira.

In the eyes of the ordinary nigerian, the warped logic of an oil-rich country in which citizens cannot enjoy the benefits of cheap petroleum products, is a difficult one to accept. The thinking, which informs the angst that follows any attempt to foist a price increase, stems from the conclusion that if the ordinary people cannot enjoy the gains of crude oil sales, the small benefit of cheap by-products should not be viciously yanked away by successive governments, which have perennially mismanaged the sector.

According to analysts, incessant increase in price of petroleum products has had negative impact on the economy. Premium motor spirit (petrol) is needed to power automobiles, which nigerians need to move themselves and their goods around. Similarly, petrol is needed to power generating sets in the country because electrical energy supply is epileptic.

At the heart of the matter is the fact that despite having three major refineries, nigeria has shown itself incapable of refining crude to meet domestic needs for petroleum products. The result is extreme dependence on imported products to meet massive shortfalls in domestic supply.

Analysts have diagnosed this reality in terms of a monumental crisis in the downstream sector of the nigerian petroleum industry, while noting that the constant fuel pump price increase in the country manifests the extent of the inefficiencies that have plagued the sector.

One of the major aftermaths of fuel scarcity to nigerians is the hardship that it creates in the system.

Below is a chronicle of nigeria’s fuel crisis since 1999.

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The Obasanjo years of unending price hikes ORMeR President Olusegun Obasanjo allowed the honeymoon of nigeria’s return to a civilian dispensation to last just over a year before he slammed bewildered nigerians with a hike in the pump price of petrol on June 1, 2000. The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) jumped from n20 to n30, a 50 percent hike.

In response, a resurgent nigeria Labour Congress (nLC), which had elected Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as President quickly took up the task of mobilizing nigerians to resist the hike. A general strike backed by massive protests by nigerians shut down the economy with dire implications. On June 8, 2000, after the country was shut down for one week, the Obasanjo administration partially reversed the increment. This saw the reduction of the pump price of PMS to n22.

Again on January 1, 2002, the Obasanjo government visited nigerians with an unwanted new year present in the form of another price hike of PMS from n22 to n26, an 18.18 percent increase. This was closely followed by yet another price increase between June and October 2003, wherein the pump price again climbed from n26 to n42, representing a 23.08 percentage jump in the price of PMS. The Obasanjo overnment’s resolve to push through more price hikes was amply demonstrated again on May 29, 2004, when government pushed pump prices to n50 from n42, a 19.05 percentage jump in the fuel price. By August 25, 2004, the price of PMS had moved upward again from n50 to n65.

Then on the eve of his departure, the Obasanjo administration was in no mood for the kind of benevolence that would have made nigerians praise its legacy. On May 27, 2007, just two days before he was billed to hand over power to the incoming administration of President umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Obasanjo again slapped nigerians with an increase in pump price of PMS from n65 to n75. All of these hikes were met with the displeasure of nigerians, precipitating angry demonstrations that in turn bled a troubled economy, with mounting losses running into billions of naira.

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Yar’Adua’s short-lived years of stability and benevolence ReSIdenT umaru Musa Yar’Adua came into office with a much more benevolent disposition with regards, to his approach to pump prices of petroleum products. In June 2007, President Yar’Adua reversed the increment in the pump price of petrol, which had been effected during the twilight of the Obasanjo administration. It was a rare show of solidarity with the

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nigerian people, but the resolve of government to wean the nigerian oil industry of subsidy in the downstream remained. under Yar’Adua, there were no more cases of disruptive increases, and the attendant hemorrhage that came in form of protests and shut ins. However, the stability in prices under the Yar’Adua government did not translate into better days for the country’s refineries.

President Yar’Adua had reversed the ongoing process of privatizing the nation’s refineries, which had begun during the Obasanjo years. ever since, the refineries are still struggling to find their feet. Scores of licenses given for the establishment of refineries have not resulted in real oil refining on the ground. The reality has been that licensees have merely joined the bazaar of fuel importing, since that is a cheaper and an easier way to make profit. Profiteering, as well as alleged continued regulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry have been canvassed as the core reasons why it is impossible for private sector refining to contribute to nigeria’s domestic production.

Jonathan and the arguments for deregulation ITH the death of President Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010, Jonathan took over the reins of power. In less than two years, he was faced with the hard choice of further taking off government’s commitment in the form of subsidy for petroleum products. The circumstances of Jonathan’s emergence, and the mantra with which he swayed the sympathies of nigerians in the 2011 general elections campaign, gave the impression that he would not be found in the unpopular terrain of jacking up the prices of petroleum products.

But on January 1, 2012, the President shocked nigerians with the most unwanted new Year present. nigerians, many who were still holidaying woke up to the realities of a hike in fuel price from n65 to n120. Again, anger boiled over with civil society and the labour unions concerting their efforts to resist the new price regime.

What became known as the Occupy nigeria protests convulsed the country for two weeks, until government reduced the price to the current n97. The other fallout of the angst that nigerians demonstrated over the Jonathan administration’s push was the fuel subsidy probe at the national Assembly. The report was eventually tainted by the $620,000 bribe scandal involving the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on fuel subsidy, Farouk Lawan. Several marketers who allegedly fleeced the nation by making subsidy claims for products they never delivered were charged before the courts. But because the mill of the judicial process grinds at an agonizingly slow pace in nigeria, many of those cases are still stuck in the courts.

The expectations of many nigerians was that the subsidy system would be cleaned up, and the challenges of domestic production of petroleum products addressed before any attempt is further made to push for price hikes. However, with many already suggesting that the recent scarcity of products is a ploy by the government to raise prices through the back door, it is apparent that the lessons of the upheavals of the past have not be learnt.

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‘deregulate Gradually’ From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja

udden removal of subsidy would hurt the economy and make it vulnerable to shock, economic expert, dr. eberechukwu uneze, has said. uneze, who posited that the removal was over due, warned that it should not be done suddenly.

In an interview with The Guardian in Abuja, uneze, who is the executive director of the Centre for the Study of the economies of Africa, reiterated his support for subsidy removal.

His words: “I stand for subsidy removal, but we have to be sure that we are not going to reverse the policy. To guard against this, government should work harder to provide complementary infrastructure (i good road network and alternative transport service e.g. rail services). Once done, the market will certainly ‘clear’ (efficient market - demand and supply will meet at a decent price).

“Again, a onetime removal (once and for all) will certainly be a shake down on economic agents (big shock!). Government should continue to pursue a gradual approach to subsidy removal.”

“It demands a lot of hard work - good intentions are not enough and it is certainly not going to be easy,” he observed.

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Ayanruoh

‘Subsidy Lacks Integrity, Should Be Removed’ Felix Ayanruoh is an energy lawyer based in the United States of America. He is also the Managing Partner of the Wall Street Firm of Ayanruoh & Company.In this interview with EMEKA ANUFORO, he harps on the need to remove subsidy on petroleum products, premising his arguments on alleged corruption associated with the scheme.

Removal of subsidy necessary for energy security T is undeniable that nigeria has one of the lowest fuel prices in the world, not simply because of a lack of efficiency or healthy competition in the industry but because of subsidies and reluctance of government to fully deregulate the industry.

Like some other countries, nigeria provides fuel subsidies (explicitly or implicitly) to petroleum product marketers and consumers of both petrol and kerosene. The justification vary from social engineering of the market, economic development to energy security.

Recent investigations by the government and several oil subsidy litigation before our courts have further exposed massive graft by both government officials and private participants in the petroleum industry. Clearly, therefore, removal of fuel subsidy is sine qua non for energy security and economic development.

It is imperative to note, however, that the resultant effect of such subsidies includes poor funding of governments programmes, inefficiency, poor state of infrastructure and dearth of private sector participation. The report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, headed by Mallam nuhu Ribadu on section 1.2.4.1 shows that nigeria national Petroleum Corporation nnPC withheld n1.983 trillion in subsidies between 2006 and 2011. This amount represents 40 per cent of the 2014 national budget. The entire education budget for 2014 is n373.4 billion.

On Corruption in the scheme Also, a government sponsored investigation on oil subsidies conducted by the accounting firm of KPMG revealed that between 2007 and 2009 alone, the nnPC misappropriated subsidy claims to the tune of n28.5 billion, and unaccounted for. The investigations also discovered that fraudulent practices by government agencies fueled a five-fold rise in spending on gasoline subsidies in the past three years.

Management of public finance is seminal to sector performance. As was exposed by several oversight bodies set up by the Federal Government to investigate the petroleum industry, the common denominator in the reports of these bodies are vulnerabilities on both the expenditure and revenue sides of petroleum subsidies finances. It is important to note, however, that empirical research on subsidy reforms in most developing countries has provided evidence that petroleum subsidies strain public finances, distort markets, and provide only a blunt tool in the fight against poverty and are comparable in size to public spending on health, education and infrastructural development combined.

In addition to diverting resources from more productive uses, fuel price subsidies have many negative side effects that create welfare reducing policy trade, or simply undermine the original policy objective.

As can be observed from current fuel prices and availability, the poor are the main losers from these so-called subsidies as their income continue to decline. In general, direct effects on the nigerian household from the present subsidy relate to present high prices and shortages, while indirect effects relate to the change in real household incomes because of higher production cost of goods and services — high cost of transportation.

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COVER

By Roseline Okere HE Federal Government has, since 2002, issued 39 licences to private operators to establish refineries of various capacities in the country, to lift the profile of local refining capacity from the current 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) — a result of low-capacity utilisation of four facilities owned by the government. Yet, the country has continued to import petroleum products, even as the federal Government continues to pay trillions of Naira in subsidy to marketers.

Speaking on why private refineries failed to thrive, the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, Austin Avuru, identified unfavorable government policy, harsh economic environment and lack of adequate funding as some of the hindrances to private sector participation in the refinery business.

Avuru lamented that 12 years after the former President Obasanjo administration awarded 18 licenses for private refinery operation, none has come on stream.

He said: “The reason private sector has not been able to invest in refineries is that you cannot go to the bank to borrow $1 billion to build a refinery when the commercial framework is unclear to your bankers; when you are selling the product in the same market as government-owned refineries that are regulated; when government says you can only sell the product at N97 per litre. That is why nobody has built refineries.”

According to him, it takes a lot of financial capability to veer into the capitalintensive refinery project.

“If you have Aliko Dangote’s financial muscle, where you have the cash to build it, you can take the plunge and you will not lose money. The reason is that marketers in Nigeria, as vendors, do not pay N97 per litre for the products they bring in, they pay about N150 and the difference is the famous subsidy we all know.

“It is the same thing. If you have a refinery here, you are not going to sell at N97 per litre. You are going to sell to the same marketers who would have imported their products at market price, at import parity price.

He said the entrance of Dangote into the oil and gas business is good for the sector, adding that more Nigerians will toe this line in the next few years.

He predicted that by 2017, the nation’s refining business would be dominated and controlled by indigenous companies, which would also cause phenomenal growth of marginal field companies in Nigeria.

Also, the Association of Private Refineries Owners of Nigeria (APRON) blamed the Federal Government for the

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Local Refining: A Panacea For Fuel Scarcity, High Pump Price? delay in take-off of private refineries.

APRON accused government of putting obstacles in the way of private refiners “to ensure none of them takes off.” According to the association, those in power are keen on ensuring that no new refinery springs up in the country because of the benefit derived from fuel subsidy.

It said: “For some years now, the association has been lobbying the Federal Government to guarantee the investment of our foreign partners as demanded by them but to no avail.

Each licensee has gone abroad to look for creditors and spent a lot of money in search for foreign partners, which we eventually found. But they are not willing to release money to us because we failed to obtain government’s guarantee as a condition for investing,” APRON described the fiscal incentives rolled out by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as halfmeasures. For instance, the DPR has stated that the international market price would be maintained for Nigerian crude procured by refiners – meaning that the crude oil price discount would

not apply to the local refiners.

It noted that because of the state of insecurity in the country, foreign investors are asking for sovereign guarantee from the government and a guarantee that their investments would not be nationalised.

It stated: “We have foreign investors who are prepared to give us $500-600 million. But the state of insecurity in Nigeria is drawing them back. The last time they (their investors) came to Nigeria, they were worried about the problem of kidnapping. One of them told me his wife warned him against travelling to Nigeria for security reasons. Unfortunately, after two days of their arrival, there was a news-break on television that two foreign oil workers were kidnapped in the East.

On hearing this, they immediately packed their things and left the country.

Giving reasons for the failed take off of private refineries, a stakeholders, who spoke on condition of anonymity pointed out that the private refineries, which were granted licences, were yet to take-off due to government’s inabil-

ity to deregulate the downstream sector.

According to him, no rational entrepreneur would build a private refinery in a country, where the government sets product prices.

The source said a regulated downstream regime cannot attract investment in refineries and suggested that the Nigerian government should address the issues hampering investments in the sector.

He stated: “The private refineries granted licenses are yet to take off because government still controls the price of Premium Motor Spirit (fuel).

Nobody will be willing to set up a private refinery until there is a free market”.

DPR measures to encourage private refineries ACCORDING to DPR, the government had realised that the deposit requirement was a disincentive to investors who were willing to establish refineries in the country. The requirement, which is contained in the “Guidelines for the establishment of hydrocarbon

processing plant (Refinery & Petrochemicals) in Nigeria,” states that a $1million refundable deposit is to be made by an investor for every 10,000bpd refinery capacity to be established.

This move was part of government’s strategy to encourage private sector participation in crude oil refining and also her desire to locally refine 50 per cent or more of Nigeria ‘s crude oil.

The first stage is to get a licence to establish. The next stage is the submission of the basic engineering design package of the plants to the DPR at the completion of which an approval to construct would be granted to only those who meet the specifications.

Those firms given the licences usually have up to two years to meet the requirements of the second stage, or lose the preliminary licences.

Successful applicants are expected to meet the necessary requirements under this stage within two years of issuance of the preliminary licences.

Companies that fail to meet the above requirements within the stipulated period will automatically lose the preliminary licences.

The last stage of approval is a licence to operate a future plant, which would affect only companies that successfully go through the second state Oil Marketers Reject fuel subsidy THE Federal Government, two weeks ago, said it paid N41 billion to 27 oil marketers whose claims had been verified for petrol subsidy reimbursements.

Non-payment of subsidy to deserving marketers has been identified as one of the reasons for the current nationwide petrol scarcity as the marketers allegedly stopped importation of the products.

But, the Major Oil Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) believed that there is need for the Federal Government to scrap its fuel subsidy regime and focus on privatisation of the country’s four refineries.

Executive Secretary of the association, Femi Olawore, in an interview with The Guardian, urged the government to divert its payment on subsidy in developing the country’s agricultural sector, as well as human capital development.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

...The Lingering Crisis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 would frankly tell a customer that his 10-litre gallon would cost N1100 as against the N970. Of course, nobody went away with empty gallon, insisting that he would not pay above the pump price. One could only do that at the risk of paying N150 for a litre of substance one could at best suspect to be fuel.

Still, the black market suppliers, about 35 yearold women, seemed to have extracted a special deal from the filling station attendants who never queried their frequent visits. Occasionally, they would circumnavigate the filling station to avoid the curious eyes of stranded and irritated motorists.

Uzo simply watched the event with some feeling of frustration. And suddenly, the supervisor walked in and had tête-à-tête with the attendants individually. He must have brought bad news or gathered unpleasant reports from the subordinate. Few minutes later, about three of them walked to the iron blockade that served as gate of the entrance and closed it, locking Uzo, who had spent close to three hours at the spot, and his acquaintances outside the station. By implication, only those within the premises would be attended to.

Sadly for the unlucky motorists, only Total and Destiny Petroleum were selling at the area in the early hours of Wednesday. You would have to navigate through gridlock to get to Isolo or Airport Road to access, perhaps, one or two filling stations that could be dispensing. Uzo headed to Destiny instead, which was selling for N120 per litre even though its metres were still reading N97. Few

metres away from the newly built fuel station, he learnt it was out of supply. By then, his fuel gauge was on red.

He was returning home when he sighted that the entrance of Total, where he had been banned, was re-opened. While he was away, a patrol danfo of the Anti-Robbery Squad conveying three armed mobile policemen had forced its way in after which it jumped queue to refuel. Uzo returned and drove straight into the petrol station through the yet-to-be-closed barb gate. He was sure he would get fuel in no time. But that was not to be.

On his comeback, he looked calmer but damped. He must have turned off the cooling system of his car for fear that he might not eventually get fuel and thus unable to take the car home, at least, for secured parking. He had made up his mind that no crisis would compel him to put a gallon of roadside fuel into the tank. And he stuck to his resolution even in the face of daunting challenge.

Again, Uzo spent another hour. More gallons had assembled in the fueling station that the attendants spent more time keeping unruly behaviour in control than they used doing their jobs. The disorderliness continued and increased to accommodate the desperation of the new arrivers.

The motorists appeared to have reinforced for this moment. Those who had no gallons in their vehicle’s boots went around to get some, anyhow. Many abandoned their cars on the queue while they joined the jerry can file. Since the attendants seemed to like the faces behind the

plastic containers than those who were stayed in the comfort of their cars, everybody who truly wanted some litres of fuel changed tactics.

Uzo eventually got close to the dispensing pump. That was about few minutes before 1pm.

Suddenly, the liquid stopped flowing.

“That means I will not go to shop today! If the fuel I have take me home, I don’t think I will see the streets of Lagos today anymore,” he declared while he drove off in frustration.

His experience illustrates what Lagosians go through as a result of fuel scarcity. At Airport Road, Lagos, black marketers have taken the shine away from Mobil and Conoil fueling stations, the two major dealers in the axis. While there were garage of vehicles waiting patiently to buy, black marketers got products in 10-litre keg and sold at N150 per litre right at the premises.

Their business strategy was simple. They approached motorists who appeared to be in hurry and solicit patronage on the ground that the fuelling station would soon run out of supply.

While their counterparts in other parts of Lagos queued with 25-litre and bigger containers, those who operate at Airport Road hold 10 and 12 litres.

They are mobile hustlers who understand that their trade is on the expressway, which means they must be able to run after moving vehicles at reasonable pace to cope with ‘competition’.

At Palmgrove, the black marketers adopted similar strategy. The business, last week, was merrier at the Shilon junction where the operators sell their products at the speed of light. The fact that the fueling stations at the location were not in business last week was an added advantage to

the PMS hawkers. They also sell in 10-litre gallons, which go for between N15, 000 and N18,000 each.

The majority of the fueling stations at Gbagada, Oshodi and other areas that were not opened for fuel business last week were taken over by touts who have converted to fuel dealers to take advantage of the scarcity. Fueling station served as good business locations as they could easily explore the hole created by those that closed sale.

Meanwhile, members of the public have called on the government to urgently find a lasting solution to the lingering scarcity. Mr. Okoli Chetachukwu, a businessman in Anthony Village, Lagos, urged the government to fix the local refineries and stop the importation of finished product.

“We have the crude oil, let the government get the refineries working even if it means privatising them. This should be the solution,” he noted.

He also said local refining would benefit the country in many ways, as prices of petroleum products would be come down while more jobs would be created.

Rashid, a bus driver also urged the government to do something on fuel problem.

“The government should do something about this; we have to increase bus fare while many people complain, calling us all sorts of names as if they don’t know what is happening,” he complained.

On her part, Mrs. Adeola Ogundeji, a trader at Tejuosho market, said that this is all the plot of the government to destroy this the government cannot claim it does not know what it should do to solve the problem while arguing that the crisis is artificially created to destabilise the country.

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Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN

www.ngrguardiannews.com

COVER

Why We Opposed Total Subsidy Removal,

By Labour leaders • Downstream Sector Needs Complete Deregulation, Says FG From Collins Olayinka, Abuja EPENDING on who uses it, deregulation, as a vocabulary, connotes different things in Nigeria; for the labour movement, it harbours economic suicide for the masses; oil and gas operators say it stifles investment, even as government argues that it promotes corruption and does not benefit ‘the poorest of the poor.’

While the Minister of petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezeani Alison-Madueke, last week, called for complete deregulation of the downstream sector, the immediate past General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), John Odah, told The Guardian that the labour movement did not reject deregulation as being speculated, but made suggestion on how government could revive collapsing social infrastructure.

Odah said: “It is not true that we rejected deregulation outright. In the (2009) report, we made suggestions on a number of critical infrastructures that must be rehabilitated before deregulation could take place. In fact, most of the things that Sure-P was set up to do were part of the committee’s recommendations as far back as 2009. I am not sure that the NLC has raised any other committee on deregulation since then. The present leadership has not asked relevant questions about how this Sure-P thing should work.”

The National Executive Council of the NLC had, on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, met in Abuja to deliberate on the planned deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry. It empowered a 10-man committee to examine the merits and demerits of deregulation and submit a report to the NEC of Congress. The committee, tagged ‘committee on deregulation had Peters Adeyemi as the chairman with Issa Aremu, Peter Akpatason, Kiri Mohammed, Henry Odugala, D.D. Bissalah, Mike Okeme, Bidemi Alafiatayo, Emma Akin Ayeoribe as members, while John Odah was Secretary.

The committee’s engagement with critical stakeholders cut across the oil sector, government, political leadership and civil society. It had interactions with the then Chairman of the Presidential Economic Management Team and Federal Minister for Finance, Dr. Mansur Muhktar, the Executive Secretary of the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olaware, the then Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mohammed Barkindo, Governors’ Forum, multidisciplinary taskforce

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neither PENGASSAN nor TUC opposed deregulation, but insisted on knowing how government would spend additional money that would accrue from deregulation.

He also explained why TUC has consistently joined the NLC to protest petrol price hike in spite of its support for deregulation.

His words: “When we talk about where the money is going, we are talking about which sector or areas government will spend the money. There is no infrastructure in the country and the only thing that the ordinary people can feel is a reduction in the price of petrol. Every time Nigerians drive to the pump station and buy petrol for N97 per litre, they feel the presence of government. So, we in the labour movement want to know where government will spend the additional funds. “ In the developed economies of the world, there are basic social amenities that government provides for the people. There are health insurance, pensioners are guaranteed good life after retirement, students have access to study loans, those unemployed have unemployment benefits paid to them, the aged is taken care of and so on. So, what is provided for the ordinary Nigerian who has to generate his own power, provide water, pay for his health, pay for his children’s school fees?

‘Our thinking and position has always been to use the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) model; the NLG has shown that it is still the best option. The model is 49 percent to 51 percent Umar ratio, where the operators will have 49 and government has 51 percent. The unions have team on PIB and deregulation, Labour Civil since moved on and that is why we feel Society Coalition (LASCO).

Chairman of the committee, Adeyemi, told The unmoved when people say labour is no longer talking. For how long are we going to keep on Guardian that, since the completion of the comrepeating ourselves?” mittee’s work almost five years ago, the NLC has But government has insisted that labour is not empowered another committee on the matter. “What we did is still the guiding document of seeing deregulation from price increase perspective only, oblivious of other benefits that Congress on deregulation,” he said.

Observers have criticised the present day labour are inherent in a liberalized oil and gas sector.

Director General of Budget Office of the leadership for offering so little in providing the leadership to tackle government on issues affect- Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu, said the notion that deregulation policy of oil sector transing the petroleum sector.

A labour leader said: “What do you expect from lates to upward review of petroleum products’ prices is misguided. the movement? While we see what Sure-P is His explanation: “Any government that has doing at the federal level, can we see want the states are doing with their share of Sure-P funds? control over an important sector like the oil and gas sector tends to interfere in the runLabour has failed to provide leadership at the state level to interrogate governors on what they ning of the sector. It is well documented globally that in deregulated environment, are doing with Sure-P.” investors will have the freedom to take investA member of Sure-P and former President of ment decision swiftly without any fear of PENGASSAN, Peter Esele, told The Guardian that interference beyond market fundamentals.

Workers’ Position On Deregulation The First Scenario: ROM what we have outlined thus far in this report, there are clear problems in the downstream, which requires a holistic and rigorous approach to resolve them. In the past, government push to enthrone a regime of deregulation in this sector of the industry has been borne out of the pursuit of an ideological conviction that “government has no business in business” and that free market must be given free reign. Under this situation, the underpinning drive of government is to make more revenue for itself and big business (marketers and oil companies) at the expense of the welfare of the mass of our people. Under this guise, deregulation translates into just increase in the prices of petroleum products. This will not address the fundamental issues afflicting the sector. Clearly, support for either side to this scenario can be extracted from the arguments FOR and arguments AGAINST deregulation as captured by the Committee in Chapter Eight of this report. In essence, this scenario stipulates that if government (as has been known to do) proceeds with a one-cap-fits-all solution via increase in price of products, in the name of deregulation as a panacea to the problem of the downstream, then our response as organized Labour to such must be to continue our resistance as we have done over the years.

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Scenario Two: THE second scenario is an acknowledgement by both government and organized Labour that

the nature of the crisis in the downstream requires that all hands are on deck, and work together to find a lasting solution, which will be beneficial to all stakeholders and the Nigerian people. This partnership will enable the downstream sector of the oil industry to be holistically restructured to aid its transformation. The transformed and restructured downstream operation will be expected to have timelines for: (i.) The complete repairs and functioning (in full capacity) of the existing four refineries. (ii.) Establishment of additional refineries, either solely by the NNPC or through joint partnership with oil companies, or through private sector initiative to ensure that the estimated 40 per cent petroleum products which would otherwise still be imported can be refined domestically in the country.

ly strengthened to sanction potential defaulters. (vi.) There is need to reach a pact with government on short, medium and long term programme for the transformation of infrastructure and commitment to funding of social services. (vii) Putting in place a re-opener clause in whatever agreement we reach with government which will state clearly that should government default in carrying out agreed programmes and plans, organised Labour would be free to revert to the option as articulated in scenario one.

Scenario Three HERE we acknowledged that the crisis in the downstream sector of the oil industry and successive government penchant for increasing product prices as a panacea for solving this crisis has more often tasked the energy, (iii.) Pricing being one of the elements in time and resources of organised Labour. We deregulation; we will need to agree with gov- also noted that, over the years, we have been ernment what will be done with the money forced to devote more energy and resources (estimated at N600 billion annually) which of the Labour Movement in fighting against will be freed if government subsidy on petro- this policy option to the detriment of our prileum products stops. mary responsibility. Flowing from above, we should therefore leave Nigerians to their own (iv.) This will entail that we will not hold on to devices in fighting deregulation. This will existing pricing regime. However, we must hopefully enable us to refocus greater attenhave agreed limits beyond which government tion at the mirage of the problems facing must not allow prices to go beyond.

Nigerian workers. The import of this scenario will be to adopt the famous stance of Siddon(v.) Regulatory agencies will have to be proper- look (do nothing) approach.

Deregulation is not really about price, and this is where most Nigerians get it wrong. It is not just because government is desirable of increasing the price of petroleum products that inform deregulation, but to free up the entire system in a manner that will enable industry players invest. A deregulated environment will enable more players to invest in the sector that will in turn generate massive employment and open up the sector to rapid growth in terms of opportunities.”

And from the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, came a declaration that regulation of the downstream sector is fiscally unsustainable, resource demanding, discourages investments and principally benefits the rich, not the masses in the society that the regulated environment was intend to benefit.

The Minister stated this at the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) exhibition and seminar 2014, while justifying the urgent need for Nigerians to sweep sentiments apart and set the Nigeria’s oil and gas on the path of sustainable growth through aggressive deregulation.

Delivering the Ministerial address on ‘State of the industry: Achievements and Steps to the next level’, Alison-Madueke argued that full deregulation of the sector remains the only way in which capital investment can be encouraged and new employment opportunities created for both foreign and local openings.

But she was quick to observe that government was not unaware of the fact that since Nigeria remains a democratic society, there has to be a balance among different policies and processes of government in sync with the needs and desires of the Nigerian people at all times.

In all of these, industry operators see the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as the gamechanger in the continued struggle to enthrone best global practices.

...A Panacea For Fuel Scarcity, High Pump Price CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 He said: “Fuel subsidy is an aberration. It is not a normal thing. It is either the country is self-sufficient in fuel production or should continue importation of the product. In the short run, importation should continue and it should be liberalised and there should not be fuel subsidy.

“Government should remove subsidy because at the end of the day, nobody gains from the subsidy, not even the marketers. Many people erroneously believe that the marketers are actually benefiting from subsidy. The genuine marketer has already paid up-front for the product.

He is only being reimbursed for the expenses he has incurred on behalf of the government.

Nigeria should brace up to face reality and remove subsidy”.

He added: “Instead of subsidising fuel, government should subsidise agriculture and manpower. The Asian Tigers lay emphasis on human capital. Government should give students scholarships to study abroad, just as it is being done by the Indonesians, Malaysians and Indians.

“The country’s refineries are not producing up to 20 per cent of the nation’s demand. This is, however, insufficient for the ever-increasing consumption of Nigerians, thereby leaving the country with the option of importing products in order to boost consumption.

“We want government to deregulate the downstream sector. When we talk about deregulation, we are not saying that there should not be a regulatory framework. There is deregulation in the telecommunications sector, but there is regulatory framework. The time is ripe for us to deregulate the downstream sector”.

He said non-functional and low capacity utilisation of refineries has resulted to inadequate supply from local refineries. The existing four local refineries with capital 445,000 bpd capacity only contributed about four per cent to 20 per cent in the past five years to the national premium motor spirit consumption.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

21

COVER

ONWUBIKO: Petrol Subsidy Must Be Transparently Administered, Not Withdrawn

Mr. Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko is the founding national Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and a former Federal Commissioner of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission. In this interview with EMEKA ANUFORO, the media expert and human rights activist rejects the call for withdrawal of petrol subsidy but canvassed global best practices and transparent administration of subsidy for the less privileged.

WHAT is your view on call by Petroleum minister for withdrawal of subsidy?

AM disturbed that each time glaring evidence of heist and misappropriation of public fund escalates in the country and clarion calls for thoroughbred and dispassionate forensic investigation grows, those who call the shots in government will always look for scapegoats from within the large population of the deprived and disadvantaged. Each time a high profile government official at the federal level is about to be caught hands down for alleged large-scale theft of public fund, government’s spin doctors will come up with diversionary tactics and propaganda to confuse the public and make them forget the bigger picture of widespread corruption in government.

The current state sponsored media campaign for withdrawal of petroleum and kerosene subsidies has again resurfaced exactly the period that the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, made spectacular allegations that over $20 billion were diverted by the hierarchy of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and, therefore, was not paid into the Federation Account. Rather than hire forensic auditors and follow through the process of tracing the humongous missing public fund, government has embraced the less than creative approach of reaching to the inner recesses of government propaganda war machine to bring up the distraction of making subterranean moves to withdraw subsidy.

The propaganda by the discredited Ministry of Petroleum for the withdrawal of subsidy from kerosene and petrol has also resonated exactly at this time that there is groundswell of allegations that the Minister, Mrs. Dezeani Allison-Madueke, allegedly blew away the sum of N10 billion in one year from public fund to service a private Jet, which she allegedly uses for her private activities and for needless personal and family globe trotting.

So, by and large, the call by the minister of petroleum for subsidy withdrawal is at best diversionary, deceptive, unpatriotic, insensitive and uncalled for.

From members of the organised civil and human rights community, there is a majority opinion that, rather than contemplate the class suicide of withdrawing petrol and kerosene subsidy, what should be uppermost in the minds of government officials is how to transparently administer the scheme so as to benefit the very poor Nigerians who will surely be at the receiving end of hardship if the pump price of petrol is left to the whims and caprices of the shylock market forces and the ‘profit crazy’ private sector operators.

Kerosene and petrol are two essential commodities that the upward movements of the pump prices will adversely afflict economic adversities, poverty of unprecedented scale and

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Onwubiko high inflation, which will target the poorest of the poor who are in the majority even by government commissioned statistical data collected by the national office of statistics.

Nigeria is endowed with enormous crude oil resources and so there is no how government will expect the poor people to pay high pump price when other citizens in some non-oil producing countries are buying the products cheaper. For instance, why should Nigeria lack the refining capacity and will therefore rely on smaller countries with functional refining capacity to import finished fuel products?

Government must work out transparent, open, and accountable processes to administer the subsidy just as how the United States government decently runs the agricultural subsidies to American farmers.

For instance, a little research will show that in the United States, farm subsidies which are government payments in the form of cash or credit are regularly and transparently provided to domestic farmers and agribusinesses as a means to supplement their income and manage the supply and pricing of certain commodities.

In the Untied Kingdom, the government runs family welfare programmes. The United Kingdom’s welfare scheme as we all know is designed systematically to help those in need to live a dignified existence. The biggest claimants are the unemployed, people with disabilities, elderly pensioners. In South Africa and India, Constitutional and judicial pronouncements have made Housing right for all citizens sacrosanct. But, in Nigeria, there is currently no other welfare package that is targeted to benefit the poor people even when chapter two of the Nigerian Constitution states that the welfare and security of the people is are the primary duties of government.

How do you describe the call?

The argument, therefore, for the removal of subsidy in Nigeria does not hold water since even the hard core capitalist nations like USA and Britain operate one functional form of subsidy or the other for the overall benefit of their citizenry. Nigerian government should go back to the drawing board to work out effective methods of administering petrol subsidies, especially for both the urban and rural poor in such a way that the majority of Nigerians who earn less than what you can consider as living wages can afford to have their human dignity protected just as the constitution clearly stipulates. Payment can be made directly by government to family members using the availability electronic payments and even recharge cards.

The public transportation sector must be made to work so categories of buses and other means of public transport patronised by the millions of poor citizens are awarded petrol subsidies on daily basis in such a manner that the Nigerian State is not defrauded.

Again, on the issue of Kerosene, government is obliged to make the product affordable and readily available for the large army of rural and urban poor, who rely on this product for their domestic energy and for preparation of their meals.

Other key measures should include deliberate effort on the part of government to revive the publicly owned refineries and to create enabling environment for would-be private sector investors to establish functional refineries so crude oil is processed in Nigeria. The contractors who got huge payments for turn around maintenance of the four existing refineries that failed to deliver in line with the terms of contract must be made to refund these huge payments back to the coffers of government.

‘In Diesel, Subsidy Removal, Deregulation Failed Woefully’ in the oil sector.

Why should increment of fuel price be the only solution to poor economic performance of this country for 16 years now?

Nigeria yet to benefit from subsidy removal in diesel What positive impact has the removal of “subsidy” on diesel had in the past over nine years other than making more money availNigeria’s problem is corruption able for looting by politicians, elected public Ny thought or an attempt to increase the officers and their collaborators in civil service. current fuel and kerosene pump prices The Transparency International corruption will be the worst mistake as well as the perception index is a clear testimony that most wicked gesture that President Goodluck Nigeria swims in corruption. If the removal of Jonathan’s government will extend to the “subsidy on fuel” is the answer to our political already suffering and impoverished Nigerians. and economic challenges, then the removal of It will simply mean that the extent of suffering “subsidy” on diesel would have indicated that which the over 130 million Nigerians are facing over nine years ago. does not draw any feeling of regret from the Therefore, it will be inhuman on the part of President. The mere imagination of any President Jonathan to inflict more pains on increase in pump price will be disastrous on Nigerians who have moved from poverty to citizens both in the short and long run. It will adversity in the last 16 years. equally pitch Nigerians against the regime.

The question to ask is this: Is there really any For a start, the past and present regimes are subsidy in Nigeria? We have argued that If the yet to explain to Nigerians why the refineries subsidy is as a result of global oil price, then are not working. Smaller countries like Nigeria should be able to create jobs for over Cameroon can run one of the best refineries 100million unemployed and underemployed around. Corrupt rulers of Nigeria, past and Nigerians, and should be able to pay them present, are responsible for killing our refiner- average global minimum wage instead of payies. Why should the poor citizens pay for ing about $100 as monthly minimum wage. it? Must the refineries be sold before they func- The government cannot create deliberate tion effectively? problem over time and now wants to push the Most of the leaders, who received national problems to citizens. After the last fuel submerit awards, worked, advised and provided sidy removal crisis, the Civil Society and one service or the other that rendered the Labour demanded to know how the “subsidy” refineries ineffective. What president Goodluck came to that amount they were peddling. should be doing right now is to be apologising Public officers and Nigerian leaders are shameto Nigerians on behalf of himself and his pred- less to ever think of tampering with the fuel ecessors over the hardship inflicted on price again.

Nigerians as a result the large-scale corruption Again, fuel price is not our problem as a

Mr. Emeka Ononamadu is the Executive Director of the Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights. In this interview with EMEKA ANUFORO, he warns government against removing subsidy in petrol. He draws analogy from the removal of subsidy on diesel, stressing that prices have not come down ever since.

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nation; our problem is corruption. So long as corruption continues to be brewed in government ministries, agencies and department, as well as the government houses in the 36 states and, even if fuel is sold for N500 per litre, the economic and development problems will keep getting worse until we collectively show corruption the way out. Nigerians will be disappointed if President Jonathan toes this path.

We have listened to the arguments presented by government. They don’t seem to flow from patriotism but rather from the sympathy to World Bank economic theories and postulations.

Why should government be thinking of changing fuel price again instead of concentrating resolving the lingering subsidy corruption scandals, NNPC corruption scandals and associated oil sector corruption scandals that have remained unresolved? Nigerians will shock President Jonathan if he decides to inflict more pains on the people. The economic logic of fuel price increase or subsidy removal is an old fashioned theory that no longer sells. The fuel price increase, I predict whenever it is announced, will immediately wipe out whatever political capital that is left of this government.

Nigerians are not fools; we are becoming wiser by the day. No politician or public servant should think that the way Nigerian will react to any future petroleum product price increase will be the same with the way they reacted in the last two or three years. As the level of suffering and poverty increases, the type of reaction by Nigerians will differ. My position is that the current government should resolve Nigeria’s problems and should not further compound it. It will make no eco-

nomic or political sense to do so.

Wrong timing to remove subsidy It is insensitive to tout the idea of “subsidy” removal now that the president has assembled over 400 Nigerians in a national conference to seek permanent solution to our numerous problems. I thought the solution they will come up with will directly or indirectly address the question of recovering. The suffering and patience Nigerians have shown to the current regime is huge. I hope they are not misinterpreting it to mean acceptance of all the actions and inaction of government that does not appear on the side of pro poor.

Ononamadu

22 Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWSFEATURE From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin O herald his second term in office as the Chief Medical Director of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Professor Abdulwaheed Olatinwo has promised that the hospital will by August this year record its first ever Open Heart Surgery.

Already, the hospital had during his first tenure recorded his first feat in the area of kidney transplant on a man in his early 30s simply identified as Momah. The renal transplant was made possible when Momah’s younger brother donated one of his kidneys.

Momah, residing in Lagos but an indegene of Edo State, some 30 months after the operation, told The Guardian in a chat few days ago that, “I am healthier now. All the symptoms I used to see before the operations have all disappeared, I am grateful to God and the UITH. I now live a normal health.”

On the proposed Open Heart Surgery, Olatinwo, who described the staff of the hospital as “dedicated and professional personnel” said the process, would commence without any postponement as the required procedures have been perfected and needed facilities made available.

He added, “we will do this in partnership with some other health institutions. This Open Heart Surgery will definitely take place by August this year according to our plans.”

Speaking on his other plans for the hospital and its staff in the next four years, the hospital boss whose second term in office commences in March this year said he would make staff development the kernel of his policies.

“We will like to re-position the staff and support them to their full capacity. This will make them to operate at the highest level attainable on their duty posts. We want to concentrate more on ICT especially in the area of health care delivery. This will meet up with our vision, which is Total Quality Health Care for Patients’ Satisfaction. This is our one plan, to make the hospital a one-stop-hospital.”

Bone marrow transplant Already, the UITH has started the process on Bone Marrow Transplantation, this will have to do with Sickle Cell Anaemia cases. Olatinwo added, “we want to concentrate our gains on the Renal Transplant. The first and the last in the history of this hospital was carried out on a patient some two and a half years ago and till date, the patient is still alive. We are monitoring him. We want to consolidate on the renal success hence we want to enter into a partnership with an Australian hospital. The service will be a good one for those suffering renal related cases in our country.”

One major area of concerns to Olatinwo is the constant traffic hold up along Ilorin/ Jebba Road, which till date remains the sole motorable road into the UITH. Even though the Kwara state government had recently extended the single lane road, the congestion persists.

Vehicles still move at snail speed on the road.

Olatinwo told The Guardian that a high powered committee of the hospital had been constituted to proffer solutions to the traffic hiccups.

According to him. “Since we are on essential services to the people and people move in and out patients from the hospital, we can’t take lightly the issue of free flow of traffic on the road leading to the hospital. Therefore, we are planning a consultancy unit, to be run separately from the hospital on this issue. It will be a complete independent unit.”

Already, workers of the hospital are celebrating the second coming of Olatinwo, describing it as the best thing that could have happened to the hospital.

According to the Chairman of the Task force on Open Heart Surgery, Professor Olanrewaju Adedoyin, it was a well-deserved appointment attributed to the monumental achievement of the hospital boss during his first tenure in office.

One thing that impressed Adedoyin on Olatinwo’s style of administration was his ability to attarct private individuals to donate to the hospital, because of his belief that the issue of health should not be the exclusive duty of the governments.

He said of Olatinwo, “he must have deserved the second term appointment before he was given. His contributions to the development of the hospital were no doubt great and he did it with great passion. He sourced for funds for the hospital outside the government’s subventions.

“The paediatric clinic currently under con-

T

UITH: Kidney, Heart Health As Road To Medical Excellence • On second coming of Prof. Olatinwo, former CMD struction was donated by an unknown donor courtesy, Professor Olatinwo. Besides, the CMD built offices for consultants; he brought in Mallam Ola- olu Ali, a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, who donated to the hospital, an ultra modern trauma centre. The Senator representing Kogi South Senatorial district, Smart Adeyemi recently donated to

over his second term appointment, rated him low in the area of lighting the hospital.

“If you have reason to come here in the night you will see that darkness usually envelope some sections of the hospital, he can do something about it. Light is very essential in the hospital. However, this has nothing to do with generating set, we constantly have that

Olatinwo

the UITH a brand new fully equipped ambulance. He relocated the entire sections of the UITH to the hospital’s permanent site.

“This administrator per excellence, ensured that the maternity wing of the former hospital building given to the UITH under a lease agreement with the Kwara state government, was retained by the UITH even after the total relocation to the permanent site. Today, the premises is retained as the School of Health Records, the first of its kind under the tenureship of any CMD of this teaching hospital.

Downside of the administration Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar of Works Department, while congratulating Olatinwo

in operation but I am talking of frequent changes of burnt out bulbs, especially those built as security light.”

Besides, a mortuary attendant, who clamoured for anonymity citing civil service procedures, believed that the road leading to the mortuary should be tarred noting that the bad nature of the road is allegedly making it difficult for pallbearers and the owners of corpses to collect them.

Dele Olojede, an administrative staff said management should regulate the number of commercial vehicles that ply the hospital “for effective checks and control over them. This

Olatinwo ensured great services improvement during his first tenure. At no time did the alternative system to power generation collapse, despite the huge cost of daily purchase of diesel. He added, “he was prudent in spending the resources of the hospital, although this might not have gone down well with some people. But generally speaking, there was industrial peace throughout this period under a review. This could be due to periodic open forum between the management and all categories of workers of the hospital.

will make the road more orderly.”

For Adedoyin, Olatinwo ensured great services improvement during his first tenure. At no time did the alternative system to power generation collapse, despite the huge cost of daily purchase of diesel. He added, “he was prudent in spending the resources of the hospital, although this might not have gone down well with some people. But generally speaking, there was industrial peace throughout this period under a review. This could be due to periodic open forum between the management and all categories of workers of the hospital. Where a particular staff could not openly ask questions such were written on papers and passed on to the CMD or whosoever was presiding.”

Said Olatinwo on the open forum initiative: “the idea of the Open Forum with our staff came up after all manners of passing information from the management to the staff seemed to have failed. The passing of instructions through the Heads of Department (HODs), did not work out either. Then we experimented with the direct quarterly forum, where everybody asked questions and received instant answers to them. This has no doubt helped in reducing strikes by any union at the hospital. In fact, it is safer to conclude that apart from national strikes, we don’t go on strike here.”

For the Head of Department of Ophthalmology of the UITH, Dr. Mrs. Dupe Popoola, Olatinwo’s second coming would no doubt place the hospital among the very best in the country, especially in the areas of compliance with modern trends of management and efficient service delivery system.

Popoola observed, “I surely believe that his second term ticked is a well deserved one, because he has great visions for the hospital.

He had always been talking of building a hospital for the future and right now, the future is here. It is good that he has this chance to consolidate on what he had started.”

For the predecessor of Olatinwo, Professor Suleiman Kuranga, his successor has truly moved forward the visions of the founding fathers of the hospital even as he described him as a misunderstood administrator.

“Olatinwo is a misunderstood character, but despite that, he continues to do his very best making sure that the flag of the hospital is flying high. The system seems not to have understood him. But as he was winding up his first tenure, I think the workers started appreciating better his contributions. He will surely continue to put the UITH on a great pedestal.”

One personality, who appreciates Olatinwo is the pioneer boss of ICPC, Justice Mustapha Akanbi rtd. According to the former President of the Court of Appeal, “no CMD would use his personal money to develop government hospital. I think he has tried his best for the UITH but I believe the-Federal-Government-owner should pump in more money into the health sector, because health is wealth.”

In his own remarks, the Chairman, Kwara state Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Professor Olayinka Buhari, went down the memory lane, describing Olatinwo has a “master builder,” who though met the UITH at a deplorable state but had transformed the fortune within four years to an excellent one.

Buhari, a Professor of Pathology said, “we are very happy that President Jonathan has given Olatinwo the ticket to preside over the affairs of this hospital for another term. When he started some four years ago, the situation of the hospital was terrible, but today, four years down the line, things have greatly improved.

We pray that by the time he completes the second term, it will be better again.”

An Administrative staff under condition of anonymity would want the management to boost allowances of staff on “overtime working situation,” noting that the development would enhance efficient service delivery.

For now all stakeholders of the teaching hospital are waiting with bated breadth for Olatinwo’s performance in the next four years.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23,

Delta Songhai Farm

23

NEWSFEATURE

A Giant In Need Of Urgent Resurrection From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba T was the quest to wean the state of its overdependence on oil, provide jobs for the teeming youths with enough and affordable food for its citizens, that led to the establishment of the Songhai Farm by former Governor James Ibori on a 137 hectares of land at Amukpe, Sapele Local Council of Delta State. Thirteen years after it was commissioned by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the actualisation of the goal is still elusive going by the under utilisation and decay of the infrastructure.

The road to the farm, located off the Sapele-Eku Road is well paved. So also are the roads within the farm. But this is where the efficiency ends, as a guided tour of the farm revealed that beneath the roads and the clean environment, the farm is far from being fully utilised with not enough livestock and crops on the vast land.

Though the overgrown grass in the farm has been cropped, the crumbling state of the farm was evident, as most of the cages and pens were devoid of animals and any activity for that matter making the environment looked more of a relaxation spot than a farm. Save for four agricultural science students from Igbinedion University, Okada in neighbouring Edo State, the farm seemed forlorn. The locals from either Amukpe or nearby Sapele seemed not bothered by the state of the farm Way back in 2008, the state government had inaugurated a programme tagged ‘Youth Empowerment through Agriculture and Farmers Support Programme’ (YETA-FSP), which was mandated with various responsibilities of identification and training, facilitation and assistance, market development and linkages and sensitisation and other strategies.

After the training, the youths were sent on internship Songhai and other established farms across the state for practical experience after which they were provided with agricultural inputs and financial assistance to start their own farms. The idea was to create new generation of successful farmers to take over from the ageing peasant farmers in the state.

At the inauguration of the four-week programme, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had said that the initiative, which aimed at building a state that can survive without oil by eradicating hunger through agricultural programmes, was the first in the series of activities lined up to empower youths in the state.

He explained that the programme was structured to create a state that would eradicate hunger and focus the youths on earning a living through self empowerment rather than depending solely on white collar jobs.

He said his administration has put on ground strategies that would boost the Agricultural sector and provide enough food for Deltans and empower the youths, stressing that the first of such programmes was the empowering of peasant farmers in the state.

I

He stated that the government has empowered 40,000 peasant farmers in the state by providing them with the necessary inputs and finance needed to improve on their businesses and feed their families and communities.

Said he: “l believe if this peasant farmers are empowered with what they need to have a big and successful farms, their proceeds will increase. With this, they can feed their family well and still have enough food to sell, thereby eradicating hunger from the state.”

The governor said that the second strategy to diversify the state source of revenue adopted by his administration was to develop youths in the state to acquire farming skills and use same as a source of livelihood.

He said the youths would be empowered with farming tools and working capital at the end of their training and assured them that the state government would buy up excess farm produce and re-activate existing processing mills in the state.

He had told them: “Just know that you are not here to only acquire farming skills, you are also here to acquire discipline to make you a successful farmer, which means that if you misbehave, while here, you will be expelled from the camp.”

The Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay amplified Uduaghan, when he expressed the determination of the government to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Macaulay explained that the Delta State Government has approved a sum of N5.8 billion for agricultural productivity in the state.

The scribe said that the state provided direct assistance to farmers in the area of agricultural mechanisation, tree crop development, agricultural credit, provision of improved and high yielding seeds and other agricultural inputs, farm settlement scheme, communal farming and livestock and fisheries development.

He stated that the government was determined to ensure that a vibrant economy was entrenched in the state, saying Songhai Delta is an integrated agricultural training centre for piggery, grass-cutter rearing, snailery, rabbitery, poultry, aquaculture and crops production.

The Deputy General Manager, Usenu Ighofimoni also said the farm is a skills acquisition centre, which was set up to train youths on different agricultural skills and in all agricultural associates by adding value to the output in the farm.

With only a perimetre fence of 37 hectares, Ighofimoni explained that the farm is split into seven different departments, which include agro processing, administration, finance, training, crops, livestock and servicing. There is also an ICT centre, where people are trained on computer.

Out of the 30,000 people trained at the farm, the manager said that students in tertiary institutions are fully represented.

He said that the farm is segmented into livestock, where there is a piggery, snailery and grass-cutters, while geese, ducks and turkey are reared in the poultry. In the pastry unit, cake, meat pie, doughnut, bread and other similar products are baked, while animal feed are undertaken at the agro-processing department.

There are also coconut and palm groves in the farm, while cassava is also cultivated.

But in the situation, where at the piggery there were only three pigs and at the snailery, just three out of the over 200 boxes promised, gives cause for serious worry. Presently, there are no grass- cutters, while no animal seemed to have been roasted at the kiln for a long time. Also, there is no fresh blood in the abattoir, which was firmly under lock and key, signifying that no animal has been slaughtered there lately.

Against the backdrop of this pathetic picture, the question that readily comes to mind is: how is the farm able to cope and train people capable of fulfilling the state’s dream of a Delta without oil?

Ighofimoni attempted to solve the puzzle: “We try to do the best we can and with more money, we will surely do better. We are coping and there is so much money to be made from farming and also reduce youth unemployment, but the key is adequate funding.”

With hostel facilities, he informed that two weeks is enough to train university graduates and those with knowledge of agriculture, while others are trained between one and two months.

Ighofimoni said that the farm, which was registered as a company limited by guarantee, was into little processing of juice, fishery and livestock to enable it survive, as it does not receive subvention from the state government.

He explained that whatever the farm produces is re-ploughed into it, noting that the trainees are supposed to have multiplier effect on their communities by establishing their own farms and employing others.

He explained that when the Delta State government in 2001 established the farm, it was given a take off grant, but lamented that it has not been able to live up to expectation and will certainly need more money if it was to fulfill its mandate.

The dream of the farm, he said, has been met in a way, as people are being trained in different farming techniques, but quickly added that there is still much to be done in the farm, as the trainees are supposed to have multiplier effect on their communities.

The farm currently has staff strength of 130 with almost all of them from Delta State, as the consultants from neighbouring Republic of Benin, who helped to set up the farm, have all gone back to their country.

The Deputy General Manager, who pleaded for

a total fencing of the farm, also identified pilfering by the locals as a major drawback.

His words: “Some bad people in the community come mostly at night to pilfer eggs, fish and some other produce. Sometimes, they come at weekends. So, the government should help with complete perimetre fencing, as it is the best way to reduce such incidences.”

He explained that if properly harnessed, the training farm will help to gradually reduce youth unemployment, noting that if out of the 25 local councils, the government trains 25 people, this will amount to 625 persons, a figure which balloons to 1,250 if the trainees employ at least two people after graduation. Besides, they will also provide food to feed the people.

He said that the farm has enough animals for the training, but that it was ironical that the farm, which has helped in the establishment of similar farms in other states like Kaduna and Taraba, is seriously lagging behind, as a result of underfunding by the state government.

One of the students from Igbinedion University said that she and her mates were in the farm for two weeks of intensive training in different farming techniques, most especially fish farming.

Ighofimoni explained that while there, the students would stay in the hostel and his team of experts would demonstrate practically to them, all that they had learnt in the university and so would become better farmers.

He disagreed with the assertion that the farm was a resort, explaining that trainees are always coming and going from time to time.

“The farm is always a beehive of activities with young people trooping in for training. Some come for two weeks while others are there for four weeks. It is just that you came in at a time, when we do not have many trainees. It is a farm and not a resort,” he said.

The former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Ogaranya Tabs-Tabowei echoed Uduaghan, saying that the youth empowerment through Agriculture Programme is the most laudable and highest funded Agricultural programme since the inception of the state.

Anslem Nzete, a former trainee, described the programme as the best youth empowerment in the state, as his life was at the threshold of changing for the better, a situation that will make him truly economically independent.

The need for the diversification of the nation’s mono economy from its over dependence on oil was at the front burner on November 13 2013 during a youth empowerment summit in Asaba.

At the meeting of the youths from different parts of the state, the Delta State Commissioner for Youths, Ebifa Ijomah lectured at length that the oil largesse in the country was fast diminishing and that in the not too distant future, it will dawn on Nigerians that the diversification of the economy is the much-needed elixir.

24 Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PERSPECTIVES

NIGERIA AT 100: A Call For A

By Onu John Onwe, Esq. N January 1, 1914, Nigeria was born. The birth or the founding of Nigeria resulted from the amalgamation of the over 250 disparate ethnic nationalities comprised in the Lagos colony and Northern and Southern Protectorates which had earlier been awarded to Britain by the then European powers (Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal) sitting in Berlin between 1884/1885 to resolve the ensuing conflicts over their scramble for the soul of Africa. It was at that accursed Berlin Conference and the subsequent Brussels Conference of 1890 that the then European powers used their sharp-edged knives to balkanize and share mainly Tropical Africa amongst themselves and to impose socio-economic, political and administrative control over them. By the reason of the activities of the British traders, represented by the Royal Niger Company, Christian Missionaries, and explorer-adventurers in the areas now known as Nigeria, the areas were awarded to Britain on the basis of “effective occupation”. From then on those areas comprised in Lagos Colony, Northern and Southern Protectorates became British possessions free from any interference from other European powers. Britain had organized these possessions: Lagos Colony (1861) and Southern Protectorate (1900) and Northern Protectorate (1900) as separate administrative, political and economic entities.

When Sir Frederick Lugard, later elevated as Lord Lugard of Abinger, was appointed the High Commissioner of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria in 1900 he evolved a system of administration founded on the policy of indirect rule, which he had espoused in his book, “The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa.” It worked well for him because the feudal caliphate system imposed on Hausa city states after their conquest by Othman dan Fodio led Fulani jihadists was still very much operational at the dawn of colonialism. Lord Lugard was forced to adopt this system of administration due to paucity of funds and personnel as well as the need to preserve the indigenous sociopolitical system. Lord Lugard was posted out in 1906. He was to be re-appointed the Governor of the two Nigerias in 1912. One of the duties he was specifically directed to accomplish during his tour of duty as Governor of the protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria was the (possibility of) unification of the two areas.

Prior to the appointment of Lord Lugard as the Governor of the two Nigerias with the specific mandate of unifying them as one country, there have been strident calls for such measure by some colonial officials and politicians. As far back as 1910, J. C. Wedgewood, a liberal member of parliament representing Newcastle-under-Lyme, had in a debate in the British House of Commons (29th day of June, 1910) advocated the unification of the Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria stressing that it will be “a feather on the cap of the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies” if “the excellent system of Northern Nigeria” (meaning the Sokoto Caliphate administration now adopted and adapted as Indirect Rule System) could be “grafted upon Southern Nigeria” and “combine the two places in one of our biggest colonies in Africa.” Given the well known British parsimonious attitude towards its colonies, the British Secretary of States for the Colonies, L. Harcourt was more concerned about the economic unviability of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria and thus expressed the reluctance of British Government to subsidize it. In line with thin frame of official policy and thinking Mr. Harcourt argued that it would be an enormous financial relief for the British Government if the two Nigerias were united as one country, thereby using the surplus derived from the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria to subsidize the deficits that had always accrued from the North.

As noted earlier, Lord Lugard was appointed Governor of the two protectorates in 1912. He was specifically charged with the duty of unifying the two areas. He set about doing this on the 9th day of May 1913 when he submitted his proposals for the amalgamation of the two Nigerias to the British Secretary of States for the Colonies. Shorn of all the doubts and questions by the Colonial Office, the Lugard’s amalgamation proposals were approved and duly published in the Nigerian Gazette of 15th January, 1914 and titled: “The Inauguration of the Government of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.” Pursuant to the amalgamation of the two Nigerias Lord Lugard was appointed the Governor-General of Nigeria.

As can be seen from this brief account, the founding of Nigeria as a modern nation-state was devoid of the requisite democratic elements and principles, that is to say; having the approval or

O

consent of the people in the decision-making process that ordinarily should govern an act of such magnitude. Of course, all colonial entities that were lumped together or carved out through colonial policy shared one thing in common: absence of popular participation or consent in the founding of such countries or nation-states -be it India, all the Tropical and Eastern Africa, the Americas or Asiatic colonial states. The people’s voice or consent was discounted in a matter as weighty as the founding of a nation-state for them.

Nigeria’s experience in this colonial enterprise was particularly instructive in that not only was the people’s participation and consent in the founding of a state for them discounted but that Britain having mischievously lumped together incompatible ethnic nationalities built in a mechanism of dysfunctionality in the structure of the state and governance and laced it with landmines of ethnic distrust, religious bigotry and political incongruities. This bizarre political chicanery by Britain has been exposed by declassified British colonial official records and by the testimonies of some British colonial officials like Harold Smith who, for his effrontery, was brazenly punished and virtually declared persona non grata for refusing to be party to the scheme of rigging the Independence General Elections in favour of the North. In some of these colonial entities, the leaders quickly came to terms with this incubus and either arrested the development of the incubus before its development into unmanageable proportion or beat a retreat by separating the incompatible parts.

Part of India separated into Pakistan while Singapore separated from Malay Federation.

Zanzibar and Tanganyika were part of British East Africa and they formed a loose union of confederation before coming back again to form a “more perfection union” under Tanzania. South Sudan only recently decoupled itself out of Sudan after decades of war of freedom and independence. It is true that Britain built a difficult and dysfunctional nation-state for Nigeria but the leaders, from Independence to date, have not done much to see if these observable incongruities could be cured. They were more interested in getting the British out only to occupy the political positions with all the colonial perquisites and privileges or even more. It is true that the British purposely or inadvertently built into the Nigerian nation-state the ethnic distrust, religious bigotry and political incongruities but the leaders have not put in any sincere intellectual energy to see if such pitfalls could be cured and if not, what other remedies could be applied to recreate a “more perfect union.”

The Independence Leaders (Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Sardauna of Sokoto Ahmadu Bello) did not sit down to iron out or address the problems associated with nationbuilding satisfactorily prior to, or after Independence before the hot heads in the military led by Major Nzeogwu staged the ill-fated coup of January 15, 1966 that plunged Nigeria into a civil war and utter darkness. That coup led

by Major Nzeogwu led to the more sinister counter-coup of July 29, 1966 by Murtala Mohammed, which has been responsible, majorly, for all the myriad ills Nigeria is suffering today. That 29th July, 1966 coup brought with it the consummation of the vile policies which the British colonialists had designed but lacked the time to implement. The feudal Sokoto Caliphate system which British Parliamentarian Wedgewood had extolled as the “excellent system” to be “grafted upon” the Southern Nigeria was accomplished with the unitary system which has been in operation and even built into the 1979 Constitution and now fine-turned and entrenched under the 1999 Constitution. The principle of segregation or neo-apartheid in the far Northern states’ cities championed by Senior Resident C. temple and religiously implemented by Lord Lugard is still alive, as it was planned; that is to say, the Ancient Towns being reserved for the indigenous Muslim residents, the Tudun Wada for Northerners not indigenous to the town and Sabon-Gari being reserved for “foreigners” or “aliens”. “Foreigners”, “Aliens” in their own country!

When the military clique had finished their despoliation of Nigeria and almost ran the state aground it attracted a rebuke as well as opprobrium, a situation some of its leading lights (General Mohamed Chris Ali, General Salihu, etc) some of whom do not share the 29th July, 1966) clique’s agenda of ethnic hegemony and religious bigotry, had termed, according to General Salihu as “an army of anything goes” while General M. C. Ali in his book “The Federal

Jonathan

Republic of Nigeria Army” subsumed the Nigerian Armed Forces as having conquered, subjugated and subordinated the Republic and appropriated same for selfish ends.

All the constitutional conferences from 1978 to date were exercises in subterfuge and vile intrigues. The military governments had supervised the exercises (i.e. the Constitutional Conferences) and never allowed the people to discuss their affairs and agree on the principles and praxis upon which their country shall be hoisted and governed. In 1978 Constituent Assembly it designated several issues and areas of concern as “NO GO AREA”. In 1998/99 when General Abdulsalam supervised the exercise no Constituent Assembly was even convened. It merely wrote a constitution and decreed it and conducted elections to select those it wanted to govern the country. When General Obasanjo came up with his subterfuge in the 2005/2006 National Political Reform Conference he designated several issues “no go areas” and even the recommendations which were doctored, and presented to the National Assembly was not allowed to be debated to a conclusive end as his Third Term gambit got better of the scheme and effectively truncated the exercise.

It is in the light of the foregoing that the present administration of President Jonathan’s call for a National Dialogue or National Conference must be x-rayed and see if it belongs to the same organic past mired in subterranean ethnic hegemony and crass intrigue that have held Nigeria down since July 29, 1966. Jonathan’s presidency is historic as it represents this generation of Nigerians, and in the words of Frantz Fanon, every generation has its mission clearly cut out for it. It either seizes it and accomplishes it or betrays it. Jonathan’s presidency must know that its historical mission is to dismantle the obnoxious feudal state-structure erected on the ashes of 1963 Republican Constitution, which ethnic hegemons used General Yakubu Gowon to accomplish. And that structure, foisted and sustained with impunity to the discomfort of the greater majority of Nigerians, has been sustained till date with a threat to consolidate it if Jonathan fails in his mission.

Many have argued that no conference can hold to fashion a new constitution for Nigeria when the 1999 Constitution is still extant and unrepealed or amended. But they choose to be ignorant of the fact that constitution making is the aborigine, sovereign and republican right of the people of any nation. In the United States, during the revolutionary years, the first and second Continental Congresses were inaugurated to debate and adopt

the Articles for the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776 (even though proclaimed on July 4, 1776) while the same Continental Congress debated and adopted the Articles Of Confederation in 1777. When the Articles of Confederation proved inadequate to the needs of the union of the United States of America, especially after the Shays’s Rebellion (1786-1787) the Patriots and the American people moved swiftly to enact for themselves and posterity a “more perfect union” as contained in the Constitution of 1787.

Bear in mind that the Articles of Confederation was the first national constitution of the United States, which had created the state and its institutions such as the Presidency and the Congress. It granted considerable power to the national government even though states retained wide powers (sovereignty, freedom and independence as well as residual powers) yet the national government controlled by the Congress had the power to levy war, make peace and treaties, adjudicate disputes between the states, borrow and print money, make requisition of funds from the states “for the common defence or general welfare.” Important laws require 2/3 majority vote while a change to the Articles of Confederation requires unanimous consent of all the thirteen colonies.

The limitations of the Articles of Confederation as seen from the Shays’s Rebellion made patriots such as General George Washington, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John Adams and so on to call for a review of the Articles of Confederation in order to give more powers to the Union Government to meet the challenges then confronting it. But it was the effort of James Madison in 1786 that was a catalyst to a chain of events that led to the processes of making a new constitution when he persuaded the Virginia Legislature to summon a special commercial convention in Annapolis to discuss customs tariffs and taxation policies. Five states sent delegates to the convention. The significant achievement of this convention was that it resolved to call another convention in Philadelphia to undertake an even broader review of the Articles of Confederation and not just the customs tariffs and taxation policies.

Having the Shays’s Rebellion and other teething national problems at the back of their minds, nationalists in the Continental Congress secured a resolution supporting the agenda of the Philadelphia Convention to review the

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23,

25

PERSPECTIVES

More Perfect Union Articles of Confederation.

In May 1787, the Philadelphia Convention started with 55 delegates representing all the states except Rhodes Island whose legislature opposed any increase of central authority. It was on record that these delegates were not confined to the then sitting state or national legislators as several other men cutting across every stratum of the states were chosen. And it was even the State Legislatures that made the nomination of delegates to the convention. In Nigeria, state and national assembly members would have asserted their “mandate” and pack themselves into the convention or nominate tired and redundant so called “technocrats” and monied “contractors” and sundry confusionists into it. The mandate handed down to the delegates by the various states was to “revise the Articles of Confederation” but at the floor of the convention this mandate was exceeded when they considered the Virginia Plan; a scheme for a powerful national government devised by the young and erudite James Madison.

It is instructive to note that between 1776 and 1787 the group of leaders that carried out the American Independence Revolution still remained relevant in the affairs of state not so much by holding political positions but by always standing by to safeguard the young republic and nurture it by offering necessary leadership at its critical moments of needs. This group of leaders was called the Patriots. Prominent members of this group were George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Winthrop, Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, George Clinton, Melanchthon Smith, James Madison, John Hancock, Henry Knox, etc. However, it is pertinent to note that during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia most of these patriots did not feature much as the younger members of the group now took the floor and showed outstanding leadership by going to great length in intellectual perspicacity and raw energy to fashion a novel constitution for the country. It was noted that James Madison who was barely 36 years at the beginning of the convention went to the convention with virtually a “truckload of books”. Madison was a Princeton graduate of History, Classical Studies, and Modern Political Theory. He had served in the Confederation Congress and Virginia State Assembly where he garnered requisite experiences to guide his thoughts and praxis at the Philadelphia Constitution Convention. Historians note that while Jefferson was the Father of Independence Declaration, Madison was the Father of the USA Constitution.

But it was in the method of the Convocation, deliberation, adoption and ratification of the 1787 United States Constitution that Nigeria should learn one or two lessons about constitution making procedure and state-craft. We have said somewhere in this essay that the act of constitution making belongs in the group of rights known as aborigine/ republican or sovereign rights of the people. Recall that the Articles of Confederation was still the grundnorm (“the supreme law”) of the state and that the Presidency and the Continental Congress were set up by the Articles of Confederation of the USA yet the people and their leaders, pursuant to the efforts of one state (Virginia), accepted to convene constitution-making convention inspite of the fact that these law and institutions were still valid and subsisting. The state legislatures nominated the delegates into the convention and they were not bogged down with the legal technicality of upholding the Articles of Confederation as the extant and subsisting grundnorm of the state or that the Continental Congress set up under it remained the Supreme Legislative body of the country. And please, note that it was the series of crises, especially the Shays’s Rebellion, which bedeviled the young republic, much like the plethora of crises that have buffeted Nigeria since its creation to date, that actuated the convocation of the USA constitution-making convention in 1787 to fashion a “more perfection union.” After the conclusion of the convention the delegates did not submit the Constitution to the state legislatures for their “unanimous consent” as required by the Articles of Confederation because they feared that such bodies with vested interest could frustrate their efforts by substantially altering their decisions or even out rightly rejecting their various resolutions now embodied in the 1787 Constitution. So, they rather called for a special convention in each state to ratify the Constitution upon 2/3majority vote. This measure was clearly outside the provisions of the Articles of Confederation and therefore extralegal.

The Government of the day headed by George Washington did not claim, as our leaders in Nigeria are wont to do, that the Articles of Confederation was untouchable or that convening an extralegal body outside the Continental Congress was unconstitutional and therefore illegal or that such extralegal assembly of the people to discuss and debate their affairs with a view to fashioning a “more per-

fect union” threatened the unity of the country. George Washington and other officials of state did not assert their rights as a sitting president but he submitted himself to the sovereign powers of the republic and was nominated alongside other patriots into the Philadelphia Convention where the new constitution was articulated, adopted, and presented to the people. Even when his Government (through the Continental Congress) was by-passed by the Convention by way of submitting the Adopted Constitution directly to the people for Ratification through State Conventions (a clearly extralegal measure) George Washington and Governors of the thirteen states did not protest this seemingly illegal measure because they considered the measures the sovereign, aborigine and republican rights of the people.

The ratification debate clearly showed the amount of intellectual capital ploughed into the making of the USA Constitution. The people were sharply divided into the “Federalist” and “Anti-federalists.” The Federalists were the “nationalists” of the “Independence Revolution” era, a faction of the broader platform called “The Patriots” that fought for USA independence and they supported a strong central government. As the debate began, the Nationalists who had always supported strong and powerful central government or authority retained their ideological position but to obscure their initiative they ironically termed themselves “Federalists” superficially suggesting that they desired a loose, decentralized system of government. The other wing of the leadership that opposed the strong central government being proposed under the new constitution congregated on the platform known as the “Anti-Federalists.” The Anti-Federalists favoured a loose republic composed of a collection of small sovereign republics held together by certain bonds of necessity such as foreign trade and defence. Above all, the AntiFederalists opposed the constitution because it contained no bill of rights (guaranteed human rights).

To counter the arguments of Anti-Federalists, the Federalists launched a coordinated campaign both in the newspapers and in printing and circulating pamphlets espousing in great details their opinions. At the close of the debate the Federalists had published 85 essays collectively called the Federalist Papers. It has been noted that these essays represent a classic work of political theory wherein the authors stressed the fact that not only was a republican government possible and practicable in a large country but that a strong government in such a country would not necessarily lead to tyranny especially where the necessary checks and balances have been built into the constitution thereby guaranteeing liberty. Indeed, James Madison’s Federalist Essay (paper) No.10 is considered a significant contribution to political theory; he asserted that republicanism was not just suited to small states. It was also possible in a large country. He admitted that it was in the nature of man to seek power and to form factions to advance his interests. But that a free

Kutigi

society should not suppress these factions or groups pursuing these legitimate interests.

Rather government should concern itself with measures to ensure that none of such groups or factions becomes dominant – an end, which a large republic is best suited to ensure. In all, the Constitution was ratified in due course by majority of states with minimum effort and less acrimony.

As Nigerians commences the National Conference, we should note the fact that no nation advances beyond its intellectual production and the good faith and integrity of its leadership. The founding of America was preceded by great amount of intellectual production, which was ploughed into the design and principles girding the nation. That there has never been any genuine or sincere platform offered the people of Nigeria in the exercise of their aboriginal or republican or sovereign rights to discuss and determine the type of constitution and subsequent government to superintend their affairs must be noted and corrected. In line with this assertion, this National Conference should offer this country a rare opportunity to discuss their problems and fashion out appropriate remedies to cure the structural defects that have held the country down. Nigerian leaders have been consumed by their own fears about Nigeria: the fear of disintegration, the fear of losing certain unearned and lopsided privileges gained from colonial to military governments’ unjust socio-political engineering. Unlike the USA founding fathers and their successor-politicians, our leaders have refused to be statesmen and patriots in issues bordering on the resolution of Nigerian national questions.

Every leader wants the best or the most advantageous policy, often injurious to other ethnic nationalities and even to Nigeria as a corporate entity, for his ethnic group but never fights for the best interest of Nigeria. Other enlightened leaders confront their fears but our leaders are consumed by their fears. And that is the reason why Nigeria keeps rotating on the swivel chair or the treadmill; with great motion but no movements and often allowing our tragic histories to repeat themselves in more tragic and costly ways.

That opponents to the proposed National Conference now flourishing the 1999 Constitution at the faces of its supporters as the supreme law of the state and threatening that no conference can be convoked outside its provisions must spare a thought for Nigeria and its long-suffering people who had borne the brunt of all the crises of nation-hood bedeviling it from Independence, especially the 1966 coups d’état and April 22, 1990 Orkar Coup, the civil war, the Maitatsine and many other religious riots in the North, the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election Crisis, the Abacha Military Dictatorship, the Niger Delta Uprisings, the current Boko Haram Islamic Jihad, several acts of economic despoliation of Nigeria especially SAP and its riots, renewed ethnic nationalism, etc, and accept that constitutional or legal technicalities must not be allowed to defeat the aboriginal/republican or

sovereign rights of the people to make a constitution that is capable of factoring and securing their best interests thereby enthroning a “more perfect union.”

That the people of Nigeria reserve the right to determine the best way to conduct their affairs even if it entails adopting extra-legal measures to bring the necessary reforms or remedies to fruition.

Some leaders, especially those that believe themselves to be the founders and architects of the ‘New Nigeria’ that sprung from the cold impotent lava of the volcanic July 29, 1966 coup and the Biafran war fought to sustain it usually facilely state that “the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable” and by that they mean that all matters or issues pertaining to the union of the ethnic nationalities that Britain formed on January 1, 1914 are settled. President Obasanjo while inaugurating the 2005/2006 National Political Reform Conference at Abuja, in justification of his exclusion of certain issues such as the “union of Nigeria”, the unitary “Federalism”, etc as ‘no-go areas’, stated that such issues have been settled by the Civil War and the various constitutional conferences thereafter. But that statement is miles away from the truth and it goes to show how poor some of our leaders are as students of history. The civil war was not about the ‘union’ of Nigeria or its system of government or the issues pertaining to such matters as was the American Civil war. The unfortunate Biafran war or Nigerian Civil war as it is sometimes called was a debacle consequent upon the mismanagement of ethnic crisis that resulted from the 1966 coups. The principles and fine points about the union of the Nigerian ethnic nationalities as a sovereign nation or the system of government have never been discussed and agreed upon by the people. Can the Aburi Conference be taken as a duly convoked conference of Nigerian people? Can the conferences with their infamous caveat of “no-go areas” held in 1978 and 1988 to work out a constitution for the country be taken as a legitimate and valid platform afforded Nigerian people to decide their destiny? In making statements about the non-negotiability of the unity of Nigeria the leaders erect a bogey of disintegration of Nigeria to brow-beat the people into accepting that any discussion about the terms of the union of Nigeria amount to courting crisis and consequent disintegration. But they know that is not true. They are only doing so because Nigeria as they designed it is one meant to benefit a minority in a peculiar system of aristocracy, actually plutocracy, founded on mediocrity and kleptomania. That system is not for the people of Nigeria. And it is not meant to work for all. It is a system doomed from inception and unless it is rescued now it will definitely crash. And that without notice to its originators, founders and guardians.

That the people of Nigeria retain the sovereign, aborigine and republican right to re-order the statestructure of their country is not in doubt, and therefore well taken. In that wise, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if the conditions are not right for holding the general elections, reserves the right to declare a National State of Emergency and propose measures to the National Assembly to contain the threat to national security even if such measures may thereby result in the postponement of the General Elections in order to accommodate the convening of the National Conference to discuss the problems of Nigeria with a view to fashioning out a new constitution approved by the people of Nigeria.

Apart from whatever action or actions the National Assembly may take in support of the realization of the National Dialogue the President may even take the initiative of shaping public opinion on the matter by rallying states agreeable to the proposal by getting their various State Houses of Assembly to pass a Resolution in support of the idea. If he succeeds in garnering a simple majority, a fortiori, 2/3 majority of the states of the Federation the National Assembly will be left with the option of either flowing with the legitimate aspirations of Nigerian people or constituting themselves as a stumbling block to those aspirations.

But if the convocation of the National Conference is not possible this year before the 2015 general elections then the president must not be afraid to make the convocation of the National Conference to fashion out a new constitution for Nigeria a major item of his party’s manifesto. And if he makes the issue of National Conference the major item of his Electoral Manifesto and intelligently engages the people in dialogue and explains the issues at stake, he will discover that he has been held captive on the bogey of non-existent partisan opposition or challenge. He will reap bountifully the electoral support of marginalized sections of Nigeria from Southeast to the Middle Belt and South-South to the progressive section of the West and the Far North. On that item alone, he will win both the Presidential Election and the hearts of greater majority of Nigerians.

Onwe is a legal practitioner and former special adviser to Ebonyi State Governor (2001 - 2011) on Political & Legislative Matters and Doctoral Student of Law of Ebonyi State University. igbeze.chambers@gsm.com

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

26 Sunday, March 23, 2014

IBRUCENTRE

Many Faces Of Lent • Why Christians Fast On Wednesday, March 5, some Christians in Nigeria joined their brethren all over the globe to observe Ash Wednesday, a day that marks the beginning of the Lenten season, when adherents of the faith are expected to fast, pray and abstain from food, alcohol, meat and other pleasures. During this period of abstinence and mortification of the body, which lasts 40 days before Easter, the faithful is also expected to show kindness to others. Though noble, but not all Christians observe Lent.

But should all the virtues and qualities aspired to and attained during Lent be limited to the season? Shouldn’t they rather form an integral part of the faithful such that they are exhibited at all times? Is there any way the church can help the faithful attain some level of spirituality even after Lenten period? Some clerics and faithful told CHRIS IREKAMBA, KENECHUKWU EZEONYEJIAKU and PAUL ADUNWOKE why they fast and their expectations during and after the season.

‘During Lent Our Prayer Life Is Strengthened, Fortified’ ENTEN season, as we know it, is that period when we fast and pray. The period helps the faithful to moderate their lives and maintain some degree of spirituality. The 40 days of fasting begin immediately after Ash Wednesday, before we are ushered into the Easter period, which is the Sunday that Christ rose from the dead.

There are lots of activities that we observe during the Lenten period. And of course, you know that individuals also observe it their own way. We have extra things such as the Stations of the Cross every Wednesdays and Fridays.

Then, we have a Lenten retreat of one whole week. We also have periodic talks during and outside mass, when we touch on different aspects of Lent, particularly, the aspect of repentance; turning away from evil and turning towards God. After the Lent, it is only fasting that should stop, other things such as almsgiving and deeds of kindness among others should continue. Our

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(Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Kanebi Asuquo Aniagwu, Vicar General, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Vicar, Ikeja Region Parish Priest, St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja) prayer life should be strengthened, fortified and this should go on even outside Lent. As for fasting and abstinence, we can suspend those ones.

‘We Only Observe The Last Seven Days Of Lent’ SUALLY Lenten period is preparation of believers for 40 days through prayer, fasting and repentance of sins.

But here, we do not observe 40 days fasting, we only observe the last seven days of the Lenten period because we have already been fasting by walking around without shoes. We can go anywhere in Nigeria but once we wear our garments, we do not wear shoes. So, we believe that we are already fasting every day and not only during the Lenten period. The last seven days fasting is very crucial time we observe.

Generally, Lent is about purging oneself of your sins and coming back to God and repenting from normal ways of living. To abide in the doctrines and teachings of the church, so that Jesus Christ will transform the person and make him or her a new creature.

During Lenten period, all Bible references will educate our members not to go back to their sins after Lenten season. We do tell them not to go back to sins, though everybody is a sinner, but within that Lent period believers are expected to abstain from sins and never to go back to them again. Some people return to their sins after Lenten season but that is not right. Once you have purged yourself of those sins, you are not supposed to go back to them, you remain

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(Prophet Kayode Taiwo, (a.k.a Agba Emi, Shepherd in-charge, Apata Aiyeraye Parish, Celestial Church, Osolo Way, Ajao Estate) steadfast in Jesus Christ as the Creator and finisher of our faith. The teachings we give to our members go into their heads and they know what is right or wrong.

During the Lenten period, crimes normally reduce in the society. Those that return to their sins after Lenten period might have more problems than they had before. So, they should not go back to their normal ways of life, so that their ways will be opened.

‘Lent Is The Only Time More Grace Is Received’ E fast because the human W person is made of body and soul. The soul is spiritual and immaterial, while the body is material. And the soul, philosophers say, is imprisoned in the body. And so, the body does not release the soul because of its weight, flesh and blood. It is only when people fast that they pull down the heavy weight of the flesh and in the course of doing that, liberate the soul. That is when the soul communes with God, which is better for the human person since at the end of the day, we still have eternity to contend with.

Lent is the only time during the year you have to store more grace for yourself. After this period, it’s going to be eating of rice and one celebration after the other. If you don’t do it now, when will you do it? So, this is the only period and I look forward to doing my Lenten observances and even in the course of my formation

ENT is not in our doctrine, Lthatbut as a person anything will enhance the spiritual-

(Tony Udom, Secretary-General, Pastoral Parish Council, St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja) (as an ex-seminarian), they used to tell us: “do Lent as if to say that it is the last time in your year.” So, I look forward to Lent and I enjoy it.

ity of the church is a welcome development. We don’t practise it as a doctrine. It’s not that we don’t fast, we do. At CPM as a ministry, Lent is not part of our doctrine though it’s not that we discourage it. Anything someone can do or he’s doing to draw closer to God I think it’s okay. But we fast and pray; I don’t think any church or any believer could sustain his spiritual life without fasting. But we don’t make it public.

There is nothing wrong with anything done to improve one’s spirituality or draw closer to God. It depends on the motive. Is the individual doing it to be seen or to glorify God? Because anything you do to at-

(Rev. Tony Akwashiki, State Co-coordinator, Northern States, Christian Pentecostal Mission International) tract the praise of men, ‘oh, I’m fasting’ is not right. The person has received his/her reward already. If you want to attract God into your life it shouldn’t be an open or something that you advertise. But we can declare a national fasting or prayer.

‘We Don’t Make Lent A Yearly Practise’ E don’t actually observe W Lent or even make it a doctrine or yearly practice.

‘Benefits Of Lenten Season Should Go Beyond 40 Days’ ENT, from the viewpoint of Lthethe Christian calendar in Anglican Church is a period of 40 Days from the Ash Wednesday to the Holy Saturday, which is Saturday before Easter Day. That goes to show why it is known in Latin as, Quadragesima. It includes all days in between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday, excluding the Sundays therein.

Thus, the Lenten season is approximately six weeks before the Easter Sunday.

In the Anglican Church, the scriptural foundation for Lent is rooted in the 40 days and 40 nights fasting observed by Jesus Christ after His baptism

by John the Baptist at the River Jordan; and shortly before the commencement of His earthly ministry (Matthew 4:1-2; Mark 1:9-13; Luke 4:1-2).

While the scripture enjoins Christians to pray always without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17); and that some miracles may not happen without fasting (Matthew 17:21), the Lenten season is set apart by Christians to seek the face of God more earnestly in humility through prayer and fasting, showing genuine repentance for sins committed and asking God for the grace and power to live above sins in the days ahead. It is not a mere spiritual rhetoric. It is a time for spiritual stocktaking and fresh commitment to live for God. While fasting (abstinence from food) 38 38 is a major event during the Lent, it is also a time for almsgiving. In addition, it is a time of self-denial and giving up some luxuries of life. One may choose to deny himself of sex, certain

‘Anything That Enhances Spirituality Is A Welcome Development, But We Don’t Practise It’

We don’t discourage those who do it though. When God was asking Noah to build an Ark, He gave him a specification that it should be 300x50x30; so, there is something about number. 300 is a number of deliverance, 50 is a golden number and then 30 is a number of maturity. I know that Lent is counted in relation to Easter, which is one basic doctrine of the gospel that cannot be thrown away. So, anybody that is counting some days to Easter is not out of point. That is CPM’s stand on the matter. At the same time, however, within the same Easter period, we take some time to

(Rev. John U. Ezeh, Imo State Coordinator, Christian Pentecostal Mission International) also pray, though we don’t call it Lent. We can call it fasting and praying or a week with Jesus or Resurrection service, but we don’t observe Lent.

‘Our Prayer Is That Nigeria Should Leave In Peace And Harmony’ (Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Michael Olusina Fape, Anglican Bishop of Remo, Ogun State) food or meat. This is done to mortify or bring the body in subjection to the Spirit. That is why the customary colour of the Anglican Church in the Lenten season is purple, the colour that depicts humility, reverence and penitence.

The Lenten season has become an integral part of the life of the Anglican Church in its yearly observance. However, it is believed that all lessons and spiritual gains of the season must be sustained and carried further into the days ahead. In other words, the benefits of the Lenten season should go beyond the 40 days, otherwise it would be a mere annual physical and emotional exercise without corresponding spiritual benefits.

Y expectation is that God M should manifest His glory, the power God had in times of old is still the same today. We know the wonders God performed for the Israelites, when they were held in bondage in Egypt and He set them free. Our prayer for this period is that God should set every Christian and all Nigerians free from their bondage.

We pray that Nigeria should live in peace and harmony, that every satanic force holding this country under bondage should be destroyed by the power of God so that we can come together and make progress. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 the Lord said we should not look at material things because they will fade away with time. People should move closer to God and be of good character and attitude. They should show love to their fellow human be-

(Aremu Abiodun, member, Apata Aiyeraye Parish, Celestial Church, Osolo Way, Ajao Estate) ings and focus on things of God, in order to gain eternal life. People should not kill because of money, wealth, property or power. They end here on earth and these things create problems in human life.

People should obey the Lord’s commandment, trust and have faith in Him because there is nothing God cannot do for us if we have faith in Him.

Sunday, March 23, 2014 | 27

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

IBRUCENTRE

Sunday School Gratitude

... With Pastor Enoch Adeboye

Memory Verse: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1: 21.

Bible Passage: Luke 17: 11-19.

Introduction Ingratitude is a symptom of a more serious personality disorder. Ingrates are usually selfish, devilish and uncaring. They can be exploitative and manipulative. It’s a shame only a few come back to say ‘Thank You’ to Jesus Christ or to man - Luke 17: 11-19.

Only One Came Back Only one out of 10 healed lepers came back to express appre-

ciation. He was a Samaritan. Sometimes it appears only one out of 10 comes back to say thank you even in church: Common reasons include: • Discouragement and tribulations, Dan. 2:23. Daniel thanked God in captivity. Ignorance of God’s word, Col.4:2.

• Taking God for granted and obedience, Luke. 18:9-14.

• Wrong crowd, Eph. 5:1-5.

• Short memory, Lk.17:18.

The Christian Approach • Thanksgiving is a show of appreciation for what the Lord has done, Ex. 15:1-21; Luke 17:11-19; Luke. 1:46.

• Christians rejoice when they are anointed and experience deliverance. Luke. 10:17-21.

Righteousness: The Foundation For National Prosperity known generations, nowhere has righteousness can uphold the throne, el- even they came up against them” IwasitN allbeen recorded that righteousness evate the people’s minds, qualify a nation Whenever the people of Israel sinned, the cause of the peril that befell a na- for the favour of God, bring blessing and the nation would be plunged into serious tion, rather righteous men have been the best defence of a city and wicked men its most imminent peril. For, if men are not righteous, there will be no prosperity to be had but if they be, they shall have heaven and earth too; for only godliness has the promise of both lives.

If the fear of God, which brings godliness, is not inculcated in the consciousness of the citizens of a nation, it shall never see prosperity. This is because where justice, impartiality, fairness, fair play and equity thrive; it is there that peace reigns and prosperity flourishes.

Prov. 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” Without righteous administration of the government, general practice and profession of virtue, a nation cannot prosper and thus be exalted. For, only

make them high.

But when vices are allowed to reign in a nation, it puts disgrace upon it. Sin is a reproach to any nation, and it renders the nation despicable among its neighbours.

The people of Israel were often parts of this observation. They were great when they were good, but when they forsook God, all around them insulted and impoverished them.

Judges 6:1-4 says, “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens, which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east,

troubles. In the above case, the Israelites hid themselves in dens and caves as a result of sin. Such was the effect of guilty conscience, for sin dispirits men. The invaders left no food for them, except what was taken into the caves. Their enemy prepared for Baal that which God should have been served, thus, God sent the Midian, the people that all men despised as uncultivated and unintelligent, the most despicable enemy of Israel to destroy their prosperity and bring reproach upon them. Remember that Israel had formerly defeated and taken them as slaves but when Israel sinned, reverse was the case.

When those we are authorised to rule prove rebellious and disobedient to us, it concerns us to enquire whether we have not been so to our sovereign Ruler. When all our efforts in reviving our economy,

Sin: A Disease Of The Soul

By S.K. Abiara “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”Romans 6:23.

HE word sin implies the viT olation of an objective and absolute standard or code of behaviour established by God. To sin is to do evil, to disobey God. It is also to do evil against humanity, society, others and oneself. The Bible teaches that God is concerned about sin— not to limit our freedom and enjoyment of life—but because sin is a disease of the

soul that destroys our lives and leads to spiritual death.

Sin, in its most basic element, is obedience to Satan. Sin is a power that seeks to influence, enslave and destroy.

The Hebrew words for sin are usually words that speak of violating a standard, of missing a mark. The word hata and the Greek word hamartia originally meant “to miss the mark; to fail in carrying out a duty” (Romans 3:23). As the one who gives us laws, God sets limits on our freedom, telling us we cannot do certain things; so another word (Hebrew abar; Greek paraba-

sis) describes sin as “overstepping one’s limits.” Other terms meaning “rebellion,” “transgression,” “intruding on God’s territory,” “a false step,” “law breaking,” “lawlessness,” and “trespassing” also appear in the Bible, and these words each give us an idea of what sin can mean.

For example, in the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve are given freedom by God; when they misuse that freedom to eat from the tree of knowledge, sin is born. Ezekiel tells us that sin is a matter of individual choices (Ezekiel 18), and that good outward behaviour

Wale Oke Reassures That Nigeria Would Not Break Come 2015 • Urges Prayers To Avert Any Untoward Incident From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan HE immediate past SouthWest Zonal Vice-President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke has warned politicians in the country not to overheat the polity because of their selfish ambition.

Oke, the Presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries also known as Christ Life Church said the politicians should be conscious of the need to preserve the unity of the country and not engage in politics of do-or-die.

He spoke with reporters at the Olaogun, Ibadan headquarters of the Ministry on its 25th anniversary, during

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which he equally appealed to politicians to conduct themselves in the fear of God. The cleric reassured that Nigeria would not break up next year, as predicted by an American agency, but, however, cautioned that Nigerians should continue to pray to avert any untoward incident, either now or in the nearest future.

Despite its present challenges, the former PFN boss said: “we should be grateful to God for answering the prayers of the saints in this country, otherwise, our situation could have been worse than that of Central Africa”.

He prayed God to touch the hearts of Nigerian politicians

to live for future generations.

“It is our concern that our politicians will live for future generation through a united and prosperous Nigeria that everybody will be proud to live in. I want all of us to remain focused on the country as united.

We should not lose faith, but be more prayerful”, the cleric added.

Reacting to the award of ‘Grand Marshal of the Lord’ given to him by the Southwest Zone of PFN, Oke described it as a recognition of what God used him to do for the Fellowship, while in office and said, “it is a constant reminder that as a father in the faith, I must be a model worthy of my calling.”

can only come from a cleansed, renewed inner life; sin is overcome when people desire to follow God’s law (Jeremiah 31:29; Ezekiel 36:24-29).

Psalm 51 carefully and deeply describes the inner workings of sin in human lives. We are sinful from the very beginning, down to our roots: “In sin did my mother conceive me.” The writer of the Psalm says that his whole personality needs “purging” because he is defiled. Ritual sacrifice of animals is no solution. Only a broken, repentant heart prepares a sinner for God’s cleansing; only God’s steadfast love and mercy allow that sinner to be cleansed. No other hope exists.

But in spite of its stern view of sin, the Old Testament assures us of God’s forgiveness (Psalm 103:8-14; Isaiah 1:18, 55:6-7).

On the other hand, during Jesus’ earthly ministry and teachings, He called people to repent, restoring their sense of hope and dignity (Matthew 9:13; 11:19; Luke 15; 19:1-10). Jesus tells us little about the origin of sin, only that it comes from the human heart and will (Matthew 6:22-23; 7:17-19; 18:7; Mark 7:20-23); but He did change the scope of sin. While the Old Testament law addressed people’s outward behaviour, telling them not to murder or commit adultery, Jesus showed that inner attitudes and feelings—hatred, contempt, lust, hardness of heart, deceitfulness—were also sinful. He also spoke of sins of neglect; good left undone, talents left unused. God bless.

Prophet Abiara, General Evangelist, CAC Worldwide. skabiaraofciem@yahoo.co.uk

• Thanksgiving is at times used as a prayer of faith, e.g. in the case of Lazarus, John 11:41.

• Thanksgiving as a weapon of warfare, 2 Chro. 20:20-27.

• Thanksgiving as an evangelistic tool, Ps. 57:4-11; 2 Sam. 22:1-2.

• Thanksgiving sustains selflessness and humility, Dan. 2:23-24; Luke. 18:9-14; I Tim. 1:12-13.

Conclusion We come to His presence with thanksgiving in our hearts.

The healed leper who came back to say thank you was made whole. So thanksgiving will stir Jesus Christ to speak to the human heart to give assurance of acceptance. We are called to show forth the praise of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Psalm 42: 1-2.

Living Waters

By Pastor Lazarus Muoka establishing peace and moving the country forward failed, it is a sign that sin has taken over us, and we as a people have separated from God and therefore it calls for total repentance.

Beloved, the prosperity of any nation has never been as a result of the intellectual and intelligence of the citizenries but by the righteousness of the people. Those that are into sin should expect to suffer, same as all that are into folly, because with the froward God will show Himself froward and will walk contrary to those that walk contrary to Him. Ps 18: 26 says, “With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself forward”.

Remember The Poor And Needy

By Gabriel Osu E are expected to show W more concern for the poor and needy this lent. The poor are those lacking in material needs. Due to circumstances beyond them, they are unable to provide adequately for their daily needs. They abound all around in our society. We can find them at the bus stops begging for alms, down the street and even in our neighbourhood. Some of them are our neighbours.

What are we doing to assist them?

We may recall that the early Christians were very particular about helping the poor, especially the brethren.

When we read the book of Acts, we see the commitment the early Christians had for the poor in their midst. In fact, in order to remove any form of disparity, they even decided to live in a community to abolish the existing class system. They did things in common. The poor sold their lands and properties and brought the proceeds before the Apostles. What does this show us?

Through it, we are taught that we cannot truly call ourselves followers of Christ if we fail to help those genuinely in need.

Let us at this juncture look at what has been happening in our country in the past week. Particularly of con-

cern is the crude manner some jobless youths were sent to their early grave in their effort to eke out a livelihood. As the story unfolded, we saw how carefree some of those in government are about the welfare of the masses. We saw how thousands of youths were crammed into our stadia for non-existing jobs. If those in positions of authority were awake to their responsibilities, we would not have so much unemployment in our land. Unfortunately, we live in a society, where people care only for themselves and their immediate families.

This is wrong. We all should be bothered about the plight of others.

Apostle Paul in the book of Galatians 2:9 and 10, enjoined us to always remember the poor in our midst. In Colossians, we see how he instigated a special collection for the poor, which were then taken to Jerusalem. What does this tell us? We should not be selfish. We should try and share our wealth with others. You can also make sacrifices this Lenten season by giving back to the poor and needy around you.

When you do so, God will surely bless and reward you.

Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

28 | Sunday, March 23, 2014

IBRUCENTRE TELLA: Christianity And Islam Are One Tela Tella is the founder of Ifeoluwa Mission, a Chrislam Movement, thought to be a controversial belief system that combines both Christian and Muslim traditions. He spoke to GBENGA AKINFENWA on revelations shown to him by God, his mission in this present world as the ‘Messiah,’ the true light of light of today and messenger of God. Background Y name is Ifeoluwa. The name was given to me by God, which literally means the love of God. My parents christened me Omotela Tella, shortened to Tela Tella. Ifeoluwa Mission was founded on April 18, 1976. I started receiving messages and revelations concerning myself, my world, why the Lord called me, what I stand for, what I was out to do and the purpose of my being on this earth planet.

Ifeoluwa simply means the will of God personified, which comes in form of man.

It was after meditation that I coined the word Chrislam, because from my observation, the most controversial religions are Islam and Christianity. I tried to find the way followers of the two religions could relate. It was through inspiration that I coined the word Chrislam. It’s a way of trying to bridge all the differences; in other words, if you don’t love me or how I perform my duty, at least respect me.

I discovered that the differences between Christianity and Islam are not as bad as paganism. So, what do we do? I want to lay emphasis on what joins us together as opposed to what separates us. The best way to do this is to establish an organisation or movement, whereby they can all relate. This will also enable us to educate people on de-emphasising what separates us as opposed to what joins us together.

What is your membership strength and how many branches do you have?

I have what is called annexes. In other words, when you have serving males you can open an annex and have a leader. So, it’s a different way of doing things. Annexes are what the Bible refers to as “if two or three (people) are gathered in my name, I would be among them.” Getting

M

the number of the annexes is another area. The Bible says where the truth exists you will find two people, at least. So, I don’t know our membership strength; only God knows. God told David not to count his children. I don’t know the number, my children are numerous.

Chrislam is believed to be a controversial belief system that combines Christian and Muslim traditions to form its own religious brand. How do you merge both faiths seem incompatible?

If truly it’s the Lord that sent me, then I should have no problem. My mission has five pillars like other religions. The first pillar making Ifeoluwa mission wax stronger is love. Others are mercy, joy, truth and good deeds. I find it easier to operate because I have the intention of both religions to be together.

My mission is an umbrella for all believers in one God; I don’t care what name you call it. Whoever is prepared to surrender his satanic will for the will of God, and then he or she is like a Chrislamist. To me, if you are a Christian and ready to drop satanic will, which is equally called satanic joy, that is temporal, and do the will of God, you are simultaneously a Chrislamist. I do not think that a Christian or an Islamist is the only one that would see the kingdom of heaven, no. God created all of us including people of other religions like Judaism and others. There is only one religion in heaven and the name is the will of God Mission.

Prophet Mohammed was here to do the will of God; he wanted to eradicate all the shrines in Kaaba then. What about Moses, who was sent to do the will of God? All the 10 commandments given to him were to guide us to live peacefully. In other word, Judaism is about the will of God. If we tolerate people of other religions, we would have peace.

Is there any common root that people of both faiths shares?

Yes, we all believe there is one supernatural being named Jehovah, known before now as Yahweh. The English call him God and the Arabic messengers called him Allah. As far as I am concerned, I know him as Olorun, Oluwa, Olodumare and if you call him by any other names and I call him the name he revealed to me, I know he would answer me first because I believe in him.

So, we all have one common root — we all believe in this God. I remember if we wanted to kill chicken or ram in Abeokuta then, we would call the Muslims to come and help us. During Christmas, we would

I discovered that the differences between Christianity and Islam are not as bad as paganism. So, what do we do? I want to lay emphasis on what joins us together as opposed to what separates us. The best way to do this is to establish an organisation or movement, whereby they can all relate. This will also enable us to educate people on de-emphasising what separates us as opposed to what joins us together

Tella

put on our clothes and enjoyed, likewise during Muslim festivals.

Nigeria is the most blessed country but we missed it when we got our Independence. We wouldn’t want to remain with the colonialists forever, but I can tell you that those days were better than now. We are serving one God but we have different messengers.

Do you have any unique approach of preaching to accommodate common elements inherent in both faiths?

It is very unique in the sense that if it were to be a photocopy, I won’t get anywhere. I have my revelations; most scriptures are revealed to me. The Islamists believe that their leader, Prophet Mohammed is the messenger of God according to the Quran, but when the Lord called me, he revealed something that would reshape the whole world.

He said do you know Moses? Do you know Jesus? Do you know Mohammed? I said no. He said Moses is Jesus and Jesus is Mohammed. Why is it that people don’t know all these? It’s because I am the true messenger of God. If it pleases the Lord to bring his last messenger from the black race, so be it. I say nothing except what the Lord reveals to me. In other words, they say Jesus is coming again, but if I follow the instruction and revelations given to me by God, Jesus has come and gone. But when he came, he was not recognised. He came as Yarasulilahi, whereas, his followers called him Prophet Mohammed.

My teaching is singularly to reveal the revelations given to me about the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ, which if I reveal to people, they doubt and their legs would be shaking, asking why it is not in the Bible. The revelations as to the conception, birth, life and the death of Jesus Christ were revealed to me, which was the modification of the way it is in the Bible.

The real truth about Prophet Mohammed was revealed to me together with some of his dreams when he was alive, which is not in the Quran.

For instance, there are three different kinds of people: Somebody that God loves and who loves God; somebody that God loves but who doesn’t love God; and somebody that loves God but God doesn’t love him/her. The last set are individuals who would be the first to get to the church and mosque and would be the last to leave, yet their lives are full of misery. People don’t ask why they are in problem; they just follow what the colonial masters and Arabic world taught us.

You said Christ has come the second time in the form of Mohammed?

Yes, it’s a controversial thing.

Does that mean Jesus Christ is not coming again?

He’ll be coming again. The first time Jesus Christ came he was known as Moses, the second time as Jesus, the third time Prophet Mohammed. He is still Jesus, the only One, the only Way and seeing Christians fighting Muslims and vice versa is a waste of energy. All of them are not fighting for the Lord. If it pleases God to reveal to somebody the truth, so be it. I am here to really do the will of God, which is to standardise the truth in religion.

Jesus Christ actually came and revealed to somebody, when they were arguing about whether Elijah was coming again.

But Jesus told them Elijah had come and gone and when he came again, he was known as John. So, with all the bigwigs in Judaism then nobody knew that Elijah had come and gone. It was Jesus Christ, the truth, the light of the day, then that revealed the truth. And I, the light of truth today, I am revealing the truth now. No one else, either Arab, Jew or from anywhere can do it. I am the light of the truth and nobody can do anything about it.

Jesus is coming back and that was what the Lord revealed to me.

Are you the messiah?

So says the Lord.

Who founded Chrislam, you or Shamsdeen Saka the acclaimed founder of Chrislamhab?

I am the founder. The first time the word appeared in any dictionary was in 1985 after I granted an interview with The Concord Newspapers and Punch. It was the interview with The Punch that brought the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) here.

Springs Of Wisdom

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

How Do You Weigh Before God? (1) OD has a unique judicial standard by which He measG ures and weighs the actions of all men. No one, no matter how small or great, can escape His just observation, evaluation and verdict. This is why it is infinitely important for everyone to be conscious of God’s watching and sleepless eye. For it is on this that the destiny of all men shall be determined on the Day of Judgment. We shall all be tried and judged, not by the laws of the land, but by the law of God. We shall be weighed in the balance of God’s judicial standard. And no one, tried in this balance, could hope to come forth triumphant, without Christ’s redemption, forgiveness and salvation. Only through Christ’s merit and sacrificial death, having satisfied the demands of God’s perfect law, in its minutest demands, can anyone hope to stand before God justified and un-condemned.

King Belshazzar of Babylon got to a point when he out reached himself, and began to trifle with holy things. Yet, were he to be put through the crucible of human opinion, he might have been approved. But while he was being approved and acclaimed by his lords, princes and people, another judgment was already being handed down against him! He was being weighed in the scales of conscience. Indeed, “His thoughts troubled him”. Many people, who are accounted good men by their neighbours, are nevertheless accused and condemned by their consciences. Stricken by conscience, the “still small voice” stings them and, dries up the fountain of inner peace and joy.

There is, in every man’s soul, something that calls him to himself, holds up the mirror before him and puts a check upon the praises of men. King Belshazzar was ultimately weighed in the scales of divine justice and condemned. He was told: “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.” These words brought the deepest dread and despair upon Belshazzar. As his soul approached the final hour, the scales of the balance were before him. In one scale of the balance was placed the divine moral requirement, in the other was his sinful, immoral, idolatrous life.

The turning of the scale fixed his destiny forever. His last day on earth had come and those words of divine judgment struck him with indescribable anxiety. His judgment was irreversible. Let men and women of wisdom and spiritual vision anticipate and see the handwriting on the wall and ask for forgiveness, salvation and grace for righteousness before it is too late.

God’s watching eyes are looking at our intentions and actions; nothing escapes His attention. The details of the life of everyone on earth, every sinner, every hypocrite, every moralist, every religionist, are not hidden but visible to God. No sinful thought or deed is overlooked – nothing is trivialized or made light of, nothing is insignificant “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known”. Without forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ, every sinner is guilty before God and when weighed in His balance will be found wanting. How little do men think of this? Our thoughts, our words, our actions, our decisions, our response to God’s offer of grace and divine strength, all will be weighed. When the inspection of heaven shall be carried out on all our acts of commission and omission what deficiencies shall be revealed! Only through the meritorious atonement of Christ can anyone hope to stand before God un-condemned. At the Judgment Bar, when all our deeds on earth shall be weighed, if we are found wanting or lacking, what will our prospects be in eternity? “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” The unrepentant sinner, no matter who they are or whatever they may be in other respects, are certainly wanting when weighed in the divine perfect balance.

Religion without righteousness has no weight or value before God. Those who hold to heartless forms of religion say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”, will hear the Searcher of hearts say, “Thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”.

And “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”. All unsaved sinners and all who have a form of godliness but lack grace and power for godly living will find to their eternal shame and sorrow that when weighed in the balances of God, they will be found wanting. If all are weighed in the scales of Divine justice and found wanting, who then can be saved? All who have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”, all who “with the heart believeth unto righteousness” are those that will be saved.

References: Daniel 5:27,5,6,22,23; I Samuel 2:3; Romans 3:10-19, 23; Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Romans 1:21-32; Jude 12-16; Romans 2:1-5; Galatians 6:3; Mark 10:21-25; Hebrews 4:1,2; Revelation 3: 1,2, 17-22; Job 31:6,4-7,13-24,39; Jeremiah 13:7-10; Matthew 22:813; 25:24-30; Mark 8:36-38; Luke 12:15-21;Acts 13:27,4446;Matthew 5:13; (All scriptures are from Kings James Version).

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014 | 29

IBRUCENTRE

Challenges Of Life (3)

By Gabriel Agbo HERE are others in the bible T that also dismantled seen and unseen oppositions, broke barriers and dislocated their enemies through fasting. Yet others through it upturned decrees and sentences, saved themselves, their families and in some cases, the entire race from extermination. Or what do you say about Esther, who declared the three days fast that eventually saved the already condemned millions of Jews in Media and Persia and also consumed their archenemy? The Master Himself said that there are some authorities you cannot exorcise without fasting and prayer. True! This will be a subject for another day. Fasting (with enough prayer) will change even the unchangeable.

It is one of the divine instruments that I called the spiritual dynamos in my book Power of Midnight Prayer.

Also, look at this collection of divine warriors: Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and even our Lord Jesus Christ. Fasting played very prominent role in the actualisation of their divine mandates and destabilisation of their enemies. But I must quickly add that you do this with caution. If you are sick don’t fast. If you have stomach ulcer, please don’t fast. And also make sure that you drink enough water when you fast. This advice is very important because some ignorant people have killed

themselves instead of achieving desired aims of going through this beautiful spiritual exercise. This is unfortunate! Hope you’re listening?

Have you fasted concerning that situation? Have you sought the face of God? Or you are going about complaining, looking for help where there is none? There is no help outside God. There is no genuine, durable help outside Jesus

Christ. If you put your trust in man, he will fail you. If you trust in Satan and his hosts of demons and agents, you will obtain a dubious solution that will at the end consume you.

Remember he has no free or genuine solutions. Are you listening? Do not go down to Egypt for help. If you do, you will surely regret it. Yes, surely!

As the whole Judah gathered in the presence of God, King Je-

hoshaphat began to pray. And I think this is one of the most comprehensive, powerful and most effective prayers I have seen in the Bible. I say it again; I love this man called Jehoshaphat. Just listen, “Jehoshaphat stood before the people of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD. He prayed, ‘O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the

God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple for you. They said,

‘whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, disease or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honoured. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.” 2 Chronicles 20:5-9.

Rev. Agbo is a minister with the Assemblies of God Nigeria. gabrielagbo@yahoo.com

Terrorism In The North Will End Soon, Says Seventh-day Adventist Leader From: Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos ORLD President of SevW enth-day Adventist (SDA) Church, Dr. Ted Wilson, has expressed the hope that the insurgency in the North would be over soon, adding that his church is praying fervently about it.

Wilson said this, when he visited Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang at Du in Jos, as part of activities marking the centenary of the church in Nigeria. The president had earlier visited Seventh-day Adventist Hospital Jengre in Bassa local government area of the state, where he addressed church members and commissioned a Centenary Anniversary

Monument.

“The insurgency in the north, especially Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Benue States will soon come to an end because God is not happy with the bloodbath being recorded in the north. We in Seventh-Day Adventist Church are not happy that the insurgency in the north is persisting and it is our utmost prayer that God would intervene and bring it to an end. Our God is One that answers prayers and we believe that in no distant time He will bring an end to it,” he said.

Wilson said that peace has come to stay in Plateau, in spite of the unfortunate crises that rocked the state for over

a decade, adding that Nigeria was a beautiful country, where God is doing great works in the lives of the people and other nations.

He said that the SDA has expanded greatly in Nigeria and was affecting lives, as it was into the business of winning souls for Christ and raising moral standard in the society.

Wilson took time to pray for Jang and members of his cabinet, wishing them God’s guidance and protection, as they pilot the affairs of the state.

In his response, Jang thanked the SDA president for visiting Plateau, during his tour for the centenary of the church.

He described the SDA Church

as a unique denomination that has been giving the society a direction on spiritual matters.

Wilson affirmed the continued spiritual growth and development of all members pointing out that the church nurtures the newly converted by instructing them on righteous living. He posited that such new converts are subsequently trained and encouraged for responsive obedience to the will of God. The SDA President from the United States of America founded the church in Nigeria in 1914. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Protestant Christian denomination made different chiefly by its

observance of Saturday as the Sabbath, grew out of the United States in 1863. It currently has a worldwide-baptised membership of about 18.02 million people in over 200 countries.

Affirming the biblical principles of the wellbeing of the whole person, Wilson said, “We make the preservation of health and the healing of the sick a priority and through our ministry to the poor and oppressed, cooperate with the Creator in His compassionate work of restoration.

“I congratulate you on taking God’s work diligently. Continue your work with God and seek always to be truly Christlike,” Wilson said.

Cleric Assures On Nigeria’s Unity

By Gbenga Akinfenwa RRESPECTIVE of challenges Ient,confronting Nigeria at presthe country would not disintegrate as prophesied in some quarters, but would rather emerge as one of the countries driving the economy of the world. This was the position of Prophet Sunday Dare Iyunade, presiding pastor of the Pentecostal Sanctuary Bible Ministries, Odo Egbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, while addressing a press conference on the occasion of the church’s 18th anniversary and 12th annual convention slated for today through Saturday. The cleric

revealed that “for the country to have stayed together in the last 100 years despite its avalanche of challenges, is a pointer to the fact that this nation will not split, though, God had already told me about 15 years ago that our dear country will not breakup, but would rather emerge stronger from its pockets of problems and become investors’ destination of choice.”

He added that the national conference, as initiated by the federal government, is a right step in the right direction, as its outcome would be so profound that it would further strengthen the unity and de-

velopment of the country.

Iyunade added that the country would soon heave a sign of relief from the problem of Boko Haram, as God is about taking over the war. He warned politicians to desist from their acts of insincerity and selfishness, as God has promised to replace them with new breed of leaders that will work for the greatness of the country.

He reiterated the need for Christians to join politics, as there is need for righteous people with passion for selfless service to come on board the business of governance in the country for the betterment of all.

Free At Last (1)

By Seyi Ogunorunyinka HEN you are in bondage and under attack W from the enemy and you have prayed, fasted and done all that you know to do but instead of it to get better, it gets worse, then the battle is no longer your own; it is now God’s battle. Just as He told the children of Israel, the Lord will tell you to stand and let Him fight your enemy for you.

The children of Israel were faced with certain disaster at the hands of the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Exodus 14:13-14 states, “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” The instruction given to Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go was not given by Moses or by the children of Israel, but came directly from God Himself. Exodus 5:1 states, “Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

God created man to worship Him, and to praise Him at all times. But God also understands that we can only praise and worship Him if we are not in captivity. It is for this reason that the Lord is saying to your captors, “Let my people go, that they may worship me!” This means that the powers that have placed you in the situation,

Pastor Emmanuel Godfrey of El-Shaddai Bible Church, Ikoyi, Lagos, with his family, during his wife’s birthday celebration in Lagos. which you are in right now, are contending with your Creator and not with you, because their attacks are making it difficult for you to praise God. Some people have reached a stage in their lives when they have suffered such attacks from the enemy that they have given up hope; they believe that deliverance is only meant for certain people not them, or that they are not destined to be delivered. They begin to accept their fate, which is terrible.

The fact of the matter is as follows: • The fact that the solution to a problem is not visible at a particular time does not mean that it will never come.

• You may actually be at the edge of the breakthrough you are seeking but you do not know it.

It is dangerous to give up because there is no Goliath without a David. Your solution may just be round the corner.

• The three most dreaded statements that your problems hate to hear are: this thing shall pass away; you cannot defeat me; and I shall not surrender. You must ensure that these three statements never depart from your mouth. When you stare a problem in the face and declare these statements in the name of Jesus, the problem will be afraid.

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

Celestial Church Pastor Calls For Unification

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku INCE the death of the founder of Celestial Church of Christ, Rev. Pastor (Prophet) Samuel Joseph Bilehou Oschoffa, the tussle for the exalted seat of the church has literarily thrown the church in disarray.

The tussle, which started in the late 80s after the death of the founder in 1985, has seen the church fragmented into eight factions with each of the factional leaders claiming to be the head of the church. More so and a huge stumbling block to the progress and unity of the church is a court case dating back to 1990.

Interestingly, the founder of Iwamimo Parish, Celestial Church of Christ, Oko-afor, Lagos, Pastor Samuel Bakare John Ademokun has come with a revelation, which he

S

• As Leadership Tussle Tears Church Apart said is divine to bring lasting peace and unity back to the church.

Ademokun disclosed that Jesus Christ and the founder of the church gave the mantle of leadership and commission to steer the church back to its glorious days to him in his dream. He revealed that every sign, action and statement, which the founder said would happen to the one he has chosen to lead the church and of which he had no idea when the founder was alive, but which he came to know from people around him have all come to pass.

He said: “Since 1990, Papa Oschoffa has been appearing to me in my dreams at night.

In one of the occasions, he appeared to me with Jesus Christ and they carried out a sort of

operation in my stomach, opening it and placing a Bible and a collar ring in it. He removed his shorts, gave it to me to wear and said: “whether they like it or not, you are the one.

“After that, he told me to kneel down, brought anointing oil and anointed me with it. He removed his necklace from his neck, put it in my left palm and immediately, it melted into my palm and went into my body through my hands with great pains that I nearly cried in the dream. And he said: “Take this robe and go to Ajanlekoko (an elder in the church) at Ketu, Lagos State before he dies and tell him that you are the one who will sit on my throne and not Bada (the self -acclaimed head of the church).”

30 | Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

IBRUCENTRE

By Ernest Onuoha

‘And Hagar bore Abram a son and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram,’ Gen. 15v15-16.

T was a common practice in Ancient culture for a married man to take a servant as a wife.

Abram fell into this cultural practice. But this was contrary to God’s original design for marriage. A man cleaves to his wife and not to his maidservant as found in the case of Abram.

However, we can see that this singular mistake Abram made has kept the world ever since then restless. People are yet to understand that delay is not denial.

God’s promise to Abram was that: ‘I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing,’ Gen. 12v2.

Even when Abram cried in his state of childlessness: ‘…O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, behold, you have given me no offspring and a member of my household will be my heir,’ Gen. 15v2-3. It was his fear that a member of his household would take

I

From The Rector Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

Delay Is Not Denial over his lineage. It was that fear that made him to succumb to the suggestion of his wife Sarai as if to say, let us help God fulfill His promise.

Let it be stated that God is never wavering in His promises. It may delay but certainly it will actualise. The Bible told us that when Abraham was 100 years old, God gave him the child of promise and he named him Isaac. That same God is available to those who faithfully follow Him today. Whatever He may have said to you and to your family, no matter how long it takes, shall certainly come your way. The psalmist beckons on us:

‘O taste and see that the Lord is good,’ Psalms 34v8.

It is unfortunate though that some believers take God and His promises for granted. Sometimes they rely more on human knowledge and empty philosophies. At other times, they are too impatient to wait for this God, Who they say may not act, as they would have Him do. Or they feel that He is too slow to act at all.

But is God really slow? Is He unable to act? Certainly, no!

Those who would reap from the abundance of His grace must learn to go with Him at His own pace and never to equate His pace with man’s. Of course, men are always in a hurry

Remember Your Humble Beginning, Okoh Tells Christians

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku HE Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh has called on Christians to always remember the humble way they started with affection and love since that propelled them to their present condition.

He made this known recently, while delivering a sermon to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos, with the theme, “His Abundant Grace”.

Okoh, who hinged his sermon on the humble way, which the Cathedral Church started as a product of merger of two churches; one

T

by European civil servants, who worshipped in Ikeja Magistrate Court building and the other by Nigerians, who congregated for worship in an office space at the then Southern Police College now known as Police College, Ikeja grew from a church assisted to stand on its feet but is now the pillar of the church in Nigeria.

He said: “God says that you should not forget the days of your suffering because it is what propelled you to where you are now. It will keep you focused on your way and it is the story of your salvation.

You need to keep it so that you will have a heart of gratitude.

“Remember not the grace of

God upon your life; His abundant grace. Some people have laboured more than you but they have not reached where you are. It is not because they are fools or despised by God, it is the grace of God on you. When this happens to you, give thanks and praise to God.” Quoting from the book of Psalm 107, he urged the church to always be thankful for all His graces in the life of their church reminding them that as children of God, they are steward and all they have, they are only treasurers and managers of God’s treasuries.

Said he: “This humble beginning of the church must not be despised; it must be

kept as a guiding star for you.

50 years ago, you had a humble beginning and 30 years later, you became a cathedral. It is only Gen. Yakubu Gowon that became a leader at such a young age; it is the grace of God. And for the blessing to continue to expand in the next 50 years, you have to maintain the purity of faith. If you do so, your next journey will be smooth.

“You need to obey God and wherever people obeyed God, miracle happened in their lives. If you obey God in the next 50 years, you will continue to expand and your coast will continue to blossom. When you came, you were given money to start and mercy was shown you by

Rev. Christiana Ofurie (left), Rev. Tunde Akintola, General Overseer, Vineyard Christian Ministries, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, Convener, Rev. (Dr.) Adewale Adeyeye, Pastor (Mrs.) Taiwo Adebiyi and Pastor Gospel Joseph, during a press conference to announce the 2014 World Leadership Conference at Vineyard Christian Ministries, Ajao Estate, Lagos… recently.

but God is never like that, even if we think He is slow. Yes, call Him slow and steady. Yet, He will get to His destination for you in Jesus name, Amen! The Holy writ was right: ‘For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night,’ Psalms 90v4. Child of God, do you believe this?

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

Foundation Drums Support For Widows • Commits N7m To Soft Loans HE is usually the first to Shood. wake up in the neigbourConfined to a small room, mourning has become her identity. Her low haircut and black apparel worn daily to mourn the death of her husband, is her badge. She was forced to drink the water used to bathe the corpse of her husband to prove her innocence in his death.

A big battle awaits her, immediately after the necessary widowhood rites, which may last up to a year.

For instance, the struggle for the ownership of the property of her spouse in the absence of inheritance right, is a burden she must bear.

This is the picture of a typical Nigerian widow, a victim of patriarchy and harmful traditional practices. This is particularly the case in Africa, where culture is manmade. Widows, therefore, are subjected to all forms of dehumanising experience.

The agony of widowhood, following the barbaric act, which subjects them to inhuman treatments and the incidence has become common sight in the country, drawing the attention of those with influence to eliminate it.

Many are worried by this age-long practice. How to end the practice and improve the condition of widows is a challenge, which government officials, nongovernmental organisations among other public-spirited individuals have taken upon themselves. This is why there has been a renewed effort on the plight of widows in the country in recent

times.

Against this background, three non-governmental organisations, concerned about the barbaric nature of widowhood practice teamed up to ameliorate their sufferings.

Briefing journalists recently, on why they have committed N7m on widows, the organisations urged government and others to invest in girls and women, insisting that this is likely to prevent intergenerational cycles of poverty and yield high economic and societal returns.

Making the call were the management of Oasis of Love in collaboration with Oak of Joy Women and Children Empowerment Initiative (OJWOSEH) and Widow Support and Childcare Development Initiative (WISCADI), during an empowerment programme, penultimate weekend, when they provided relief materials, including rice and soft loan to widows.

Addressing the widows, numbering over 500 in Surulere, Lagos, Barrister Joy Ezeigbo, President of the three organisations expressed concern over the plight of widows in Nigeria, saying they are set to provide a new lease of life for them.

Over 20 of them received soft loans to engage in trade, while each of them received a bag of rice.

The Foundation said it has spent over seven million on the venture, which was shared among the women to enable them to start a trade, Ezeigbo said. She added that the organisations have been providing food items for widows, apart from money.

Group To Build N1.2b Secretariat, Female Hostel From Omotola Oloruntobi, Abuja HE Young Women Christian Association of Nigeria (YWCA) has sought a piece of land from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to build a N1.2b female hostel and secretariat for stranded young girls in Abuja.

The National President of YWCA, Mrs. Hwongchun Majek, while briefing the media in Abuja, said the accommodation after comple-

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tion, will cushion the effect of high rents for young girls.

Majek decried the increase in the rate of cohabitation amongst young girls, describing the situation as unacceptable, adding that it was the desire of the group to build a befitting hostel for young girls coming into the FCT and thereby reduce the trend of cohabitation.

Said she: “We want to build our hostel and secretariat

here in Abuja to enable us reach out to girls, who come into town without having anybody to stay with at a rent fee not more than N2, 000.00 monthly. This will save them from molestation by men. The secretariat would include an organisational office for YWCA, hostel accommodations for short term stay for girls coming into Abuja for a short time until they find a permanent place, skills acquisition centre,

meeting and training halls for YWCA and the general public among others.

“We do mentorship and the idea that girls will take advantage of this and misbehave is not possible because we have laws guiding anyone staying in our hostel and if at all they were misbehaving, they are bound to change because they are staying in our hostel. Also, those not having anything doing, will be engaged in skill

acquisition such as tailoring, catering and other things,” she said.

Earlier, the Legal Officer, Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Barrister Esther Omaka said the association needed a piece of land in Abuja to enable them reach out to many other girls in the city.

Stressing the importance of girl-child education, she emphasised the need for a law,

insisting that every girl-child acquires at least a university degree, and scholarship for those who can’t afford education, while assuring that uneducated girls would also be assisted through school.

“We want every girl to go to school because education enhances peace and makes one stand out in the society. If you cannot acquire education, get something legitimate that brings in money for you.

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Junior Guardian Nawair-Ud-Deen School Marks International Women’s Day S Nawair-Ud-Deen GramCreate image for yourself and most throwing away the moral values of the African A mar School (Junior), Solu, your school. You need to be culture. Solademi advised Ifo, Ogun State, joined the inspired by focusing on your rest of the world recently, to mark the 2014 International Women’s Day, students have been enjoined to be role models and pacesetters in their academic pursuit.

Speaking on the general theme: “Inspiring Change”, the Coordinator of the event, Mr. Babatunde Sanyaolu, cited women achievers, who had excelled in their various areas of calling, saying the students need to be inspired through role models, to achieve their dreams.

“Have role models and tenaciously pursue your goals.

role models to attain success in your career,” he said.

Mrs. Aderonke Solademi, who focused on the school’s sub-theme: “The Role of African Women In The Resuscitation of African Moral Values”, urged the students to shun all acts capable of adding to immoralities in the country, urging them to rise up to be agents of change by correcting the epidemic of moral loss in the Nigerian culture.

She noted that greetings, dressing, language and hairstyles of today’s youths are al-

Nigerian women to be alive to their responsibilities of tackling the menace, saying they need to see it as a duty and be ready to assist one another when then need arises.

Mrs. Olutoki, who spoke on the educational challenges faced by the girl-child in the olden days, enjoined all girls to create a niche for themselves, adding that they should ensure that their parents’ hard-earned incomes are not wasted.

— Gbenga Akinfenwa

Andre Koloko, Captain, Pacific House, the overall winner, showing off the trophy at the end of Ocean Crest School’s inter-house sport competition, held at the school premises in Lekki, Lagos.

POEM My Superhero

ISSUES The Power Of Prayer RAYER is an act of worship of the Supreme Being; irrespective of whatever religion you profess or confess. Prayer is an act of submissiveness to the Almighty and His Will. When we pray, we are saying that the Lord should do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, we are totally dependent on Him. But when we pray, we must believe that there is a Lord and that He hears our prayer. Prayer can be in the form of praise and worship, thanksgiving, confession of sin, plea for forgiveness and supplication or request.

Friends, when we pray, let us not be self-centred for so many people need prayers. Even our parents need prayers. And let us not only request from the Lord, let us learn to thank Him for all He has already done and will do for us. Let us always go to the Lord in prayer. May the good Lord hear our prayers.

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Oh! My superhero So cheerful and friendly So powerful, yet welcoming So tall and meek As gentle as a dove Oh! Dear mother You are my superhero

By Darrell Barouvbe Ocean Crest School, Lekki

Olalekan Tijani Agodi, Ibadan.

Management, staff and pupils of Anchor Springfield Schools, Ileri-Oluwa Estate, Off Itele Road, Ota during an excursion to National Museum, Lagos.

COMPILED BY KIKELOLA OYEBOLA

Nawair-Ud-Deen School’s pupils during the event

Sunshine Sammy’s World Of Words HIS Sunday, Sunshine Sammy is offering new words that start with the letter H. Join in the fun and send in 10 fresh words that begin with the letter H. Sunshine Sammy is always delighted to share and learn new words with you dear readers.

T

Haughty Harrowing Hatchet Haunted Hallow

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

SOLUTIONS TO BRAIN TEASER (23) CELEBRITY DIVERSITY

ABILITY AWESOME

ATTENTIVE IMPRESS

LUGGAGE PERFUME

TheGuardian

Sunday, March 23, 2014 35

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Business NHF: NUC, Workers Take Parallel Positions

FMBN Aviation Village in Abuja.

By Geoff Iyatse and Yinka Ogunjobi dozen years after the National Housing Fund (NHF) was introduced via a decree, complaints about its inefficiency are still as fresh as they have always been. While some workers are asking for outright termination of the Fund, the majority of the country’s work force say it needs urgent review to be relevant to current challenges in the housing sector.

Last year, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) said it realised about N106 billion from the 3,772,031 subscribers of the scheme since inception. Out of the figure, about N100 billion was said to have been disbursed to 73, 676 eligible contributors.

A breakdown showed that about N40 billion was given to PMIs for the financing of housing for 22,246 beneficiaries, while the remaining N60 billion was given out as estate development loan to private developers, state-owned housing corporations and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) for the construction of 36,348 housing units across the country.

Abioye ‘Jide, a mortgage consultant, said the biggest challenge facing the scheme is that much of the fund would eventually go to commercially-driven estates that average Nigerians cannot afford. He said the extension of the fund to private developers is a breach of the spirit of the idea, which centres on proving affordable housing to Nigerians.

Amid growing outcry over the essence of the deductions when not workers cannot access it, General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Musa Lawal, told The Guardian, last week, that the organisation has changed its earlier directive to members to stop contribution. He said the Congress has noticed drastic improvement in the management and utilisation of the fund, which is held by FMBN. “We have been relating with FMBN and it has convinced us that the new management is serious about addressing the housing needs of the workers. For instance, we believe in it now because many workers cannot, personally, secure houses. We have directed them to resume payment,” he noted.

Lawal pointed out that members of the TUC

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have gotten houses at model estates in Katsina and Kaduna, saying the examples influenced the new position of the Congress. He noted that ongoing collaboration among FMBN, TUC, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) is attracting investment for housing projects delivered by the organised labour. The results coming from the alliance, he said, are among reasons the workers cannot walk away from NHF. He pointed to a meeting between FMBN and the organised labour, which was held last June as the origin of the new understanding on why NHF should not be scrapped, expressing confidence in the ability of the initiative to provide alternative funding for the huge housing deficit put at 17 million units.

But contributors hold a disfferent opinion on the desirability of the fund. Jude Olabode, an insurer, who admitted that he has never bothered to confront his employer over how and where the deductions from his salaries are remitted, decried the naivety of the initiative.

“The minimum wage is N18,000, which means somebody who earns the amount will have N450 removed from his salaries monthly. How long will somebody who earns that save enough to cover the counterpart funding required for the mort-

I think what is important is to consider the number of people that have benefitted. If the result is not good enough, it should be scrapped. If it could be reviewed to meet current challenges, that will be fine.

But I really do not believe it will work. It is just another antipeople policy that will not work

gage? I don’t think the policy was designed to succeed. If it was, maybe it was never meant for the present economy.

“I think what is important is to consider the number of people that have benefitted.

If the result is not good enough, it should be scrapped. If it could be reviewed to meet current challenges, that will be fine. But I really do not believe it will work. It is just another anti-people policy that will not work,” the insurance broker suggested.

When asked whether he was happy with the four per cent interest rate the fund is pegged, Paulina Oduola, a Lagos-based primary school teacher, said poor returns makes the scheme terrible. She argued that the ridiculously low interest rate makes it unfair to those who may never access it. He wonder how they will be compensated for the huge margin lost to inflation, which is currently about four per cent above the returns on the savings.

“In essence, it means contributors is getting far less than what they are losing to inflation through the contribution. If they end up not securing loan from the pool, inflation would have wiped away the value before they would have retired and withdraw the money. That is very unfair; it is one-sided. Those who take the loan will gain while others lose to inflation. The government should find a way to strike a balance,” she complained.

Yet, John Kadiri, who works at a publishing company at Palmgrove, condemns what he considered lack of foresight of the scheme. He, however, admitted he was not aware that his company saves on his behalf.

“To be honest, I have never raised the issue with my oga. Since we collect out salaries in cash without any form of pay slips, it will be difficult to know exactly what is removed as taxes and other contributions unless one finds out at the Account Department. And I have never thought it is important to raise the issue,” he explained.

Interestingly, while the law says every employer of labour with an earning of at least N3000 must participate with added provision that include self-employed individu-

als, Kadiri’s employer, who has over 50 names on payroll with average staff earning of N35,000, ignores the initiative. He damns the sanctions, which include jail term. This applies to many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in different parts of the country.

A senior management staff of a Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI) said: “The law states that it is the obligation of the employer to deduct the money from employees’ salaries and remit it.

Despite that the scheme is desirable; there have been a widespread complaints about its inability to solve the challenges in the housing sector after several years of contribution.

“This has led to agitations from labour unions and state government leading to mass withdrawal from the scheme. Indeed, the processes involved in accessing the scheme are cumbersome and very slow, leading to frustration among Nigerians. And there have been calls for restructuring of the NHF.” He suggested that those who have just started active work should seize the opportunity because they are young people.

Yemi Makinwa, a civil servant who has contributed to the scheme for years, said: “I have applied for the loan many times; unfortunately, none of the applications was acknowledged. This is happening because Nigeria is not an organised country, they set up something and they can’t keep to its terms. It is so pathetic. Something has to be done.”

He said the scheme is useless because it does not favour the poor while calling for its termination.

“If anyone tells you he has benefitted from the initiative, check what the person earns.

The scheme is not different from regular taxes; we pay but still have problem with infrastructure,” he said.

Despite the negative remarks on NHF, Mrs. Dupe Adeoye confided she benefitted from the scheme, saying: “It takes patience to achieve anything; Nigerians don’t want that.

They prefer the short cuts. I applied many times, eventually it was granted 2012. And now I am free from the harassment of landlords.”

Adeoye advised Nigerians to go through the right processes and beware of fraudsters.

36 Sunday, March 23, 2014

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BUSINESS On November 1, 2013, the Federal Government handed over ownership to 14 of the 18 successor generation and distribution companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to private operators. Sam Amadi, the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in this interview with EMEKA ANUFORO, said new owners of PHCN are beginning to see bright future in the sector.

How do you rate the post privatisation era?

OST privatisation era has just started. So, it is difficult to rate the performance of the companies and the sector in just three months. But what I can say is that the era has been very instructive. The state of electricity in post privatisation era gives hope that the reform will be beneficial. We should not forget the objective of the power reform, which is to create a competitive and efficient electricity market that can ensure sustainable supply. It is true that immediately after handover of the assets to private firms there was a significant drop in generation capacity, which affected supply to homes and businesses. But the challenge is being addressed; it does not deny the fact that the structure of electricity industry in Nigeria has changed and that change invariably leads to improved supply in months and years ahead.

What challenges would you say have been the most wearisome for the new owners?

The most pressing challenge f is how to ensure they meet the revenue requirement, especially in a market that is characterised by acute shortage. Before the handover, the average capacity in the market was 3,800mws. That is not enough to meet the revenue requirement set in the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) model. So, every investor will have great anxiety about market performance because usually electric-

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Hope Rises For Power Sector, Says Amadi ity assets are acquired with much debt. The challenge for the DICSOS is to have enough power to sell to consumers and improve collections so that they can pay the generator and fulfill financial obligations to stakeholders. For the generator, the major challenge is to get

paid for power supplied and have enough gas to generate according to its capacity.

How are these challenges being addressed?

Today, these challenges are being effectively addressed through well-crafted regulatory actions by the Commission. First, we needed to

steady the nerves of the new owners. You know anxiety is a contagion; it spreads like wild fire.

This is more so in a market where operators are likely to act on perception even if the perception is far from reality. From this understanding, we worked very hard to create confidence amongst market participants.

The first issue was how to manage insufficient revenue in the market to settle obligations. Because of the changes in the fundamentals of the MYTO there is concern that the financials of the market may not add up. So, we designed the interim rules to provide governance structure for settlement before the commencement of the Transitional Electricity Market.

Also, the Commission has started monthly meetings with the CEOs of the distribution and generation companies to focus on problem solving. The meeting affords us the opportunity to deal with the practical problems the new owners are face. Apart from the normal legalistic approach to regulation we have also adopted a ‘managerial’ approach to regulation to enable the Commission put the electricity market in sure footing in the transition period.

The result is that we have averted what could have been a collapse arising from the self-fulfilling prophecy the undue anxiety of new owners could have caused.

We are working hard to ensure that there is enough gas to power plant to ensure that we grow the generation capacity to increase market revenue and improve power supply. To achieve this result we are hiring an international consultant to conduct a strategic inquiry into the gas to power situation so that we can have actionable intelligence as to the amount of gas we can expect in the next five years. The report will also enable us to develop a strategic plan for capacity development for five years. In the meantime, we have held several meetings with the regulators of gas to continue to press them to work harder to bring more gas to power plants.

Long-term sustainability requires that the price of gas to power be competitive with domestic and export price of gas. We have to design a tariff framework that aligns with the real costs of gas supply and transportation. Also, we have to make the contractual framework of gas to power more bankable and enforceable.

‘Nigeria Is Among Few Countries With Best Returns On Investment’ Kunle Aderemi is the Chief Executive Officer of Ethnic Public Relation and Marketing, a United Kingdombased firm. He is noted for organising the Foreign Direct Investment Exhibition, which attracts investors into the country. In this interview with CHIJIOKE NELSON, he speaks on the forthcoming conference, factors influencing investment inflow and market opportunities.

What is the economic importance of the upcoming conference to Nigeria?

N the last couple of months, Nigeria has gained recognition from the global market confirming that it stands as among the few countries you can do business and make good returns.

And if you look outside Nigeria, especially Europe and America, it is something that has caught the attention of a lot of businesses and they have been taking advantage of this, while others are still understudying issues, asking questions about the economic potentials of Nigeria as a nation- the security side of things and what they can do to ensure a smooth business experience in Nigeria.

In fact, Nigeria is a country where we have untapped resources. If you live outside the country, your eyes will open wide and you will begin to see lots of potentials here and you will wonder why the people here and the government are not taking advantage of these potentials to sell Nigeria positively to the world at large. That is what we do here in England anyway- sell Nigeria positively to the world at large.

The conference is to give and sustain Nigeria’s good image again and that is why we have international speakers, scholars, and big business men from Barclays Bank, who will be talking about the potentials of the Nigerian businesses. We also have a lot of Nigerian intellectuals as well. There are many problems set up by the government, which may not be deliberate, but they think they are protecting the country.

What problems are you talking about?

For example, I have people who want to come and do business in Nigeria, but they have been told that they need to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission, which takes about two to three months. They were also told that they can register online, but they have tried it and it did not work.

In the United Kingdom, you can register your business within one hour and your Certificate of Registration, all your business papers, including your bank account will be ready within that period of time. The moment you register online and pay online, they will email your certificate to you. Then you chose your bank and the bank calls you and the registration is completed, just like that. You don’t even need to go to the bank to register your business. So, if you can register your business under one hour in the UK, why should it take you three months to do the same thing in Nigeria? These are the kinds of prob-

I

lems in Nigeria.

Before I could register my business in Nigeria, it took me about four months, but in the UK, after registering online, I had my business registered and the following day, everything came to me by post and I did not have to bribe anybody to work it. So, those are the kinds of things that we want to look at and see how best we can overcome them to make Nigeria a better place.

Then you have the problem of funding. The banks here give loans at a very high interest rate and giving you such a high interest rate means you will be working so hard to service the loans and perhaps, working for the bank without making any profit.

Most of the people I know pick up loans abroad to come and invest in Nigeria. Why can’t Nigeria banks give that loan at lower interest rate? These are some of the things we are going to talk about and we will look at the best ways to go about it. You have people who have conglomerates in Nigeria and you ask, apart from the profit they are making, what value they are adding to Nigeria as a nation. You want to look at the staff they have, you need to look at the resources as well.

I also know people and businesses that are rated as good, but when you look at the people they have as their staff and the way they are doing their businesses, it leaves a lot to be desired. These are part of the things we will be discussing. UK is a very good example. Everything they do is all about health and safety and if you look at the staff they are working with, the staff that works there are always second to none. These are the kind of things that if we are able to bring into the country, will give it much bigger opportunity of being a better country. Realistically, I live in Britain, but I know that Nigeria has better opportunities than Britain. They do not produce oil in Britain, but there has never been a strike for petrol or kerosene related issues. Why should there be strike on something that is produced in this country? Some of them are political anyway, but at the same time, you want to put politics aside and do business that will affect the fortune of the people positively. That is what we want to bring to the front burner.

How is the conference organised to carter for the economic issues so far identified?

It is a two-day conference, which is going to take place at the Queen Elisabeth Conference Centre in Central London, with the theme: “Economic Potentials of Nigeria in the Modern Era”. As earlier explained, Nigeria is a very big country with a lot of potentials. For instance, I don’t see a reason why we should take Solar Energy from China with three months warranty, while you can get same thing from America at the same price with 24 years warranty, which means that if it spoils and you return it to them, they will change it for you without you paying.

These are some of the little things that go a long way in determining the kind of business we do. The biggest businessman in Nigeria does not even appreciate what warranties are. The richest man in UK looks out for warranty and that is where they save their money and that is why their businesses grow. These are some of the things we want to focus on in this conference and pull together these companies that will raise the competition for better.

Since you have showcasing investment opportunities in Nigeria, why are local businesses not participating?

Definitely, there is going to be Nigerian speakers. When it comes to business, you don’t limit yourself to the locality where you are doing business. Nigerian business is international business. Somebody like Tony Elumelu, the Founder of Heirs Holdings, is an international businessman and those are the kind of people we want to contact to make presentation at the conference. We will get key Nigerians who are running successful businesses and they will give prototype of how they were able to run their businesses successfully in Nigeria.

Looking at the banking sector, First Bank of Nigeria has been there like forever and for the fact that it is still there today, they must have something they are doing that has kept them there.

You have the GTBank, which has been there all this while. And today, the bank remains one of the best banks in Nigeria.

Mansard Insurance is the best insurance company in Nigeria today.

Aderemi

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Sunday, March 23, 2014 37

BUSINESS

Stakeholders Decry Poor Budgetary Allocation To Agric From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja olITICAl officers and memP bers of the civil society, yesterday, called for improved agriculture funding. They noted that the country cannot get the required breakthrough in food production unless the government follow the footsteps of other leaders who have successfully used budget to achieve the purpose.

They spoke at a campaign for the promotion of the African Union’s declaration of 2014 as the year of agriculture and food security.

Gbenga kaka, a Senate member, lamented that N28 billion out of the N35 billion budgeted for agriculture is meant for the running of ministry, leaving a paltry N7 billion for capital expenditure.

He said: “It is enough to have

good blue print in the world.

The best idea in the universe cannot be realized without funding. What we have is bad leadership. It is time for youths to take the destiny in their hands.

“The minister of Agriculture is a

Nigerian; the same applies to the thousands of Nigerian doctors overseas. What we lack is good leadership. We are battling to remove the land use act and we must do that so that the land tenure system will not continue to hamper the agri-

culture sector.”

Executive Director of one Africa, the initiator of the campaign, Dr. Sipho Moyo, stressed that the movement would work with legislators, civil society organisations and the public to encourage African

countries to increase budgetary allocations for agriculture.

She stressed that despite Nigeria’s efforts to promote agriculture, the country could not reach its full potential in the sector unless necessary public funding is unlocked to catalyze

private sector investments and support the key role of smallholder farmers who are responsible for a significant portion of agriculture’s 33.8 per cent contribution to Nigeria’s gross domestic product.

o’Neil, Adesina For Airtel Forum INISTER of Agriculture and M Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, has signed on to deepen the discourse on the prospects of Nigeria as the ‘N’ in the MINT formulation of British economist Jim o’Neill at Sunday’s launch of Airtel Premier. o’Neill, former chair of Goldman Sachs, is lead speaker at the exclusive event for the unveiling of the Premier, a bouquet of services for high net worth individuals and heavy users of telecoms services on the Airtel Nigeria network. He would speak on the theme, “Nigeria: How the ‘N’ in MINT is going global”.

Terence James o’Neill, the foremost British economist, who is best known for coining BRIC (acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China) has been confirmed as lead speaker at the unveiling of the exclusive event for distinguished personalities. o’Neill also coined MINT — Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey — and will speak on the theme, Nigeria: How the ‘N’ in MINT is going global.

The exclusive event, which will also feature the unveiling of the prestigious Airtel Premier Club, is scheduled for tomorrow in lagos.

Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun ogunsanya, said the company is committed to creating opportunities that will offer platforms for seasoned discourse and set the tone for the continuous growth and development of the economy.

Chief Executive Officer of Commint Buka, Mr. Jeff Enitan Fayomi (left), with former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke and his wife, during the opening of Commint Buka in Surulere, Lagos.

Firm Employs New Strategy To Advance Brand

By Daniel Anazia oNSIDERING the negative efC fect of information overload on consumers, many organisations are finding a more strategic way of entrenching their brands in the mind of the consumers. In doing this, most organisations strive to move their consumers from mere brand loyalty to ambassadors.

In Nigeria, this marketing tool is fast gaining ground in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Reckitt Benckiser, a home care product maker, has been advancing worthy community projects using brand ambassadors as peg.

The company through its Dettol New Mom programme, an initiative to promote hygiene consciousness among mothers, is reaching out to about six million mothers in Nigeria, dating back to five years back. It has also reached out to about 3.5

million Nigerian school children in the last three years by visiting 7,000 schools to promote hand washing and good health practice.

While extending its frontiers with the launch of Dettol Re-energize, its Marketing

Manager (Personal Care), Mr. Ahmed Shah, expressed delight that the direct contact initiative has impacted positively on the growth of the brand.

He said: “In the last five years the brand has

achieved 216 per cent growth in its market share and is now present in 63 million households in Nigeria, which means one out of every three households in Nigeria uses Dettol.”

Glo Unveils New Product loBACoM Nigeria has announced the G introduction of unique Games Store, which offers premium games on all types

which offers unlimited mobile games for customers. He added that the offer is a demonstration of Globacom’s commitof mobile devices. ment to giving more value to its subThe new product makes it possible for all scribers. subscribers, including those with or with- He said Globacom had consistently out huge bandwidth or high-speed Inter- brought innovation, quality service denet service, to enjoy gaming on their livery and unequalled benefits to its subdevices. With the Glo Games Store, what scribers since 2003 when the company subscriber needs to enjoy the exciting of- commenced operation. fer is an active subscription to the Games He said it is designed to give all-round Store. comfort to the company’s subscribers Marketing Coordinator, and other Nigerians, adding that it was Globacom, Adeniyi olukoya, said the store available for all segments, especially for was a subscription-based mobile portal, the young customers.

Nokia kicks off New Campaign okIA has announced the launch of N Asha Collection By You, a competition-based campaign that offer users of Asha Ice range of phones opportunities to show off their unique fashion style and get a chance to design their own fashion label.

The competition will run for five weeks; it is open to customers who love to look their best and get noticed.

Besides, there is a weekly cash prize of N25,000 to be won by 10 lucky people each, the overall winner will have the opportunity of working with a notable Nigerian fashion designer to showcase his or her creations in a top rated fashion show in the country.

"Having a good knowledge of our target market for these devices which are the youths, we've decided to come up with a campaign that will push them to exhibit their creative prowess in fashion and style. We want to give people the opportunity to share with the world what talents they've got," said Deborah Shepard, Head of Marketing, Nokia West and Central Africa..

Engineers Urge Support, Incentives For local Manufacturers

By Geoff Iyatse HE Nigerian Society of Engineers has T called on the Federal Government and the private sector to increase its support for local manufacturers, especially makers of electric transformers and prepaid meters.

Its President, Ademola Isaac olorunfemi, made the call when led other 40 members of the society to visit transformer and prepaid meter factories of Elsewedy Electric Nigeria limited in Badagry, lagos, recently. He said Nigerians have no reason to patronise imported transformers since the local brands meet international standards. olurunfemi said support for local companies operating in power sector will strength commitment towards boosting electricity

while creating more jobs.

The visiting team inspected the production facilities after which it expressed satisfaction with the standard of factory. They also initiated partnership measures aimed at increasing the acceptability level of Elsewedy products in the country. olorunfemi charged the government to come up with incentives that will reduce cost of production for local manufacturers.

He pointed out that such policy would boost production, conserve foreign exchange spending besides deepening local capacity utilisation.

“Government should create enabling environment for local manufacturers to thrive. This is commendable. It is not essentially the development of our economy alone; it’s about local

content. And a major thrust of NSE is to join force with Federal Government to promote Nigerian content,” olurunfemi noted.

Managing Director of Elsewedy, Mr. Raed Hassanieh, indicated the company’s readiness to increase investment, which commenced with $26 million before additional $8 million was spent in prepaid meter operations last year.

While the company added $8 million pre-paid meter to the initial $26 million entry investment, the managing director said full meter manufacturing is part of its medium-term plan. He disclosed that factory currently churn out 2500 transformers ranging from 50kVA to 500 kVA yearly.

Elsewedy, which opened its Badary factory 2010, has sold several units but of its made-inNigeria electric transformers to lagos, kwara,

Bauchi, Rivers and few other states.

Hassanieh said the company delivers to its customers finished products fully manufactured and assembled in Nigeria but of international standard. With huge employment potentials for locales and cost advantage over imported units, he said there is no reason Nigerians should continue to patronise imported products. last year, representatives of Eko distribution company (DISCo) were in Egypt on facility tour of Elsewedy headquarters after which entered into a partnership with the company. The electric giant, according to Hassanieh, is looking forward to sealing agreement with other DISCos, a possibility that will errand massive expansion in its investments in the country.

38 Sunday March 23, 2014

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BUSINESSAGRo

Fresh farm produce outlet in Lekki, Lagos: a veritable source of income for urban horticulturists

PHOTO: GBENGA AKINFENWA

BATN Empowers over 180 Farmers In oyo

By Gbenga Akinfenwa S part of activities to mark the its 2014 Farmers’ productivity Award, the British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) empowered over 180 tobacco farmers in oyo State with farm implements, motorcycles and overhead storage tanks to boost their productivity.

Mr. Francisco Toso, Area operations Director of BATN, at the ceremony in Iseyin, oyo State, disclosed that the essence of the award was to recognise farmers’ efforts in every planting season, because such gesture is essential to improving performances.

Toso, who noted the volume growth in tobacco production and sales from N224 million to N680 million in the last few years, traced it to the technical and financial support including interest-free loans that BATN and British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy (BATIA) has been extending to

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the farmers.

The farmers lauded BATN and BATIA, particularly, on the interest-free loans and other forms of support often rendered to them by the company. one of the recipients, Mr. Alani Adewunmi, who received an outstanding award, said he made N5.7 million as profit in tobacco cultivation in 2013 alone, adding that his total production in the same year amounted to about N13.7 million.

Corporate and Regulations Affairs director, Freddy Messanvi, said the partnership between BATN and BATIA has been working well because BATN always provides the farmers with ready markets, technical support and farm inputs, noting that transparent and fair pricing system of BATN/BATIA as well as encouragement given to the farmers to plant food and cash crops had further smoothened the

relationship between the company and farmers over the years.

Formed in 2002, BATIA has had good collaboration with the tobacco community for over a decade. only recently, child labour elimination work-

shops were organised in partnership with a NonGovernmental organisation (NGo), the Federal Ministry of Labour & productivity and the oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Rural Development.

Messanvi said due to the success, other non-tobacco farmers have requested for such workshops.

Two members of the National Assembly, Sen. Adeniyi Ademuyiwa, member, Senate Committee on Agriculture

and Hon. Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, member, House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture who were present congratulated the farmers and urged them to plant other crops to further support the agricultural sector.

Nigerian Goat Breeds Show potentials, Research Shows Savannah Experience,” is the first professor from the Department of Animal Science pRoFESSoR of Animal Breeding and and the fourth from the Faculty of Genetics at the Ahmadu Bello University Agriculture of the university to deliver the (ABU), Zaria, Gerald Nwhaci Akpa has com- prestigious inaugural lecture, urged the mended the production by Nigeria, of rich federal government to invest more on the animal breed that has been competitive in production of animals to further boost the African market. nation’s export market.

He also stated that the breeds of Nigerian According to the university Don, the goat have common source even though Nigerian goat breeds, which include the with genetic divergence, saying that this Sahel, the Red Sokoto and Kano brown have has also boost the protein need for the numerous advantages with good growth country’s population. and reproductive potentials that would Akpa gave this hint in his inaugural lecsupport their development for small holdture delivered at the Ahmadu Bello ers’ dairy venture.

University Assembly Hall, which drew agri- “The dairy traits of the Sokoto Brown in cultural experts from the academics and terms of milk yield and composition, flow research institutes. rate, dairy merit, persistency and producAkpa whose lecture titled “ The Search for tion pattern are comparable with those of Dairy Goat in Nigeria: The Northern Guinea typical dairy goats. And as such, the potentials to increase small farm holders herds

From Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna

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and economic productivity”.

Akpa argued that his many years of animal breeding experiences especially with goats from the Zaria communities showed that “to maintain and improve the Nigerian goats’ meat and dairy potentials, it is important to understudy the environment and the local strategies being used by the local farmers including the concentration of the herds in a particular context.”

“These and some other indicators like the adaptive and biological profile affecting the goats, their milk yield and estimation, lactation pattern as well as genetic parameter must be critically assessed in the search for a dairy goat.”

While citing a conducted study in Abuja, Jigawa, Katsina and Zaria, the professor stated that “the Red Sokoto goats have various colour patterns that are obvious”.

Kobape Housing Scheme: oGUN pays N20m Crop Compensation

By Fabian Odum ARMERS, whose crops had to give way to Fogun the upcoming real estate project of the State Government at Itoku Elewe

L-R, Secretary, Nigeria Association Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mr. Eke Ubiji; Chairman (NASME), Lagos State chapter Mr. Ladi Alade; Dr. Patrick Irabor representing DG, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), PHOTO: PAUL ADUNWOKE appreciating bottled palm wine during NASME’s visit to the institute in Lagos.

Irepodun Community in Kobape, obafemi owode Local Government Area have cause to heave sigh of relief.

The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has paid about N20m to 151 farmers, as the infrastructural development gets under way.

In a release, the ministry said the farmland of the beneficiaries was affected by a new housing scheme to be located in the area. presenting the cheques to farmers in the first 50 hectare land acquired, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun reaffirmed that the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration was passionate about agricultural development and would have ordinarily not tampered with their crops.

She however said government had to take the painful decision of taking over the farmlands because it was extremely necessary because the housing scheme would

help open up the area and attract more people that would enhance their socio-economic status. ‘’We are aware that your crops are very important, and we know that farming is your major source of income, as matter of fact, agricultural development for food production and industrialisation remains one of our five cardinal programmes, but we also need the land to pursue another cardinal programme, housing. Ultimately, it would be a win-win situation as the housing scheme would bring in people, engender further development and eventually, enhance the people’s socio-economic status,” Sokefun remarked.

She, therefore enjoined them to make judicious use of the money given to better their lots and that of their respective dependants.

The Ministry of Housing counterpart, Mr. Daniel Adejobi said the housing scheme was capable of improving the living standards of the farmers as it would attract infrastructure like roads networks, power supply and potable water.

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Six Killed In Auchi Poly Cult Clash HERE was palpable tension T in Auchi, following the killing of six persons believed to be students of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, in a bloody cult clash on Sunday night, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Life Campus gathered the incident was a reprisal attack from a rivalry cult group in the school, which a source identify as the Black Axe Fraternity (NBM), which stormed the residence of a rival cult members, which was also identify as Jurists Fraternity. Both groups engaged themselves in a fierce gun battle, leaving residents to abandon their homes for fear of being hit by straying bullets.

The source in the Polytechnic environment said the fight took dangerous twist, when three middle-aged men were shot dead at Iyekhei community, a stone throw from the institution’s main campus.

Amongst those confirmed dead was a 45-years old Shaka Yesufu, who was killed at Habiba Hotel, while having a drink at the hotel’s bar that fateful night.

The eye witness source told Life Campus, trouble started at the hotel when some men suspected to be cultists stormed the facility in a commando style demanding to see the director, who had already escaped. The manager of the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

Build The Youth For The Future, Commissioner Urged Stories By Daniel Ananzia HE Oyo State Commissioner for T Industry, Applied Science and Technology, Mr. Dapo Lam-Adesina has stressed the need to invest in the Youth as this would save this generation from failure. He made this known during a visit to the Ibadan Zonal Office of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) on Wednesday March 19.

Lam-Adesina stated that the present administration in Oyo State is totally committed to the betterment and living standard of every citizen most especially the youths. He appreciated the contribution of ITF to the development of the society while remembering with nostalgia his days in the University, when he would queue up to have his industrial attachment (IT) logbook signed at their office.

The Area Manager of ITF, Mr. T.K Salami in reaction, expressed the agency readiness to partner with the state through the National Industry Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which is designed to attract resource empowerment for its trainees upon graduation.

• Oyo State Partner ITF On Youth Unemployment Reduction • Sets Up Committee On Industrial Development He said, “the establishment of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme will remove most of our youths from the streets.

And this will assist them to be gainfully employed in their different fields of endeavor. The Capacity building Scheme is expected to take at least 1,000 Youth off the streets and be trained in technical and vocational skills.”

Meanwhile, as part of its commitment to enhance development and create employment in the state, the state Industry, Science and Technology Ministry, has set up a committee on industrial development.

According to the Commissioner, Adedapo Lam-Adesina, the step is being taken to further strengthen the industrial development of the state as part of the transformation agenda of the new administration in the min-

The establishment of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme will remove most of our youths from the streets. And this will assist them to be gainfully employed in their different fields of endeavor. The Capacity building Scheme is expected to take at least 1,000 Youth off the streets and be trained in technical and vocational skills.

NEXT WEEK: EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF THE OSCARS, LONDON

istry.

The committee which was inaugurated at the office of the Commissioner on March 17, is being headed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Dr (Mrs.) Adebukola Adebusuyi, while Mrs. A. Moshood will be the secretary. Other members of the committee include Director of Industry, Mr Oyesiji, Engr.

Olanrewaju and Engr. Oladipo both of the Industry department.

The mandate of the committee, the commissioner said, includes formulating an industrial development policy for the state, development of industrial statistics such as database of industries in the state; resuscitation of the Oyo State small scale industry complex (OYSSIC) and organising an industrial forum tagged ‘Oyo State Industrial Forum 2014’.

Lam-Adesina, also, urged the committee to develop a framework within the shortest time possible. He noted that the framework would increase economic activities in the state and on the long run adds enormous value to the gradual development of the state.

40 Sunday, March 23, 2014

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By Daniel Anazia T appears all is not well between Igirlfriend, love birds, Wizkid and his long-time Tania Omotayo. The gist about town is that the lovely relationship they had going for them is heading for the rocks.

This revelation came up after Tania became best friends with social media in the past few days, posting updates on her frustrations about the relationship which many thought would lead to the altar.

Sources close to Tania said her frustrations can be traced to Wizkid’s baby mama, Oluwashola Ogudugu, and how the ‘On Top Your Matter’ crooner has been spoiling her silly, including buying her a car, showering her with gifts and even placing her on the sum of N150, 000 for her up-keep and that of his son.

The Guardian gathered the first sign of trouble emerged when Shola posted the car Wizzy bought for her on her Instagram account, as well as other items like a new phone and Valentine gifts, which many see as her way of taunting Tania.

This move got Tania mad and she also used her own Instagram to send the following words: “Just because you love someone so much, does not mean they are the right one for you.”

In a reply, the Holla at Ur Boi crooner posted a photo on his Instagram page which asked for his relationship status and he chose ‘in the studio’ over ‘in a relationship’.

Insiders reveal that Tania is not very comfortable with the way the star singer is so besotted on his son and in retrospect, on Shola, who is said to be

Ozzybosco, Lamboginny Square Up In TY-Mix Produced, Mama Africa

Has Wizkid Broken Up With Tania Omotayo? at loggerheads with her for snatching her man.

Also, the insiders reveals that since Wizkid is absolutely obsessed with his son, there are chances he may even go back to Shola, who herself, is a stunning beauty, coupled with the fact that their son will always mean a chord is tied between them.

A close pal of Wizkid who is in the know of the battle currently going down said, “Tania is trying too hard to win over Wizkid by buying the son, Boluwatife so many gifts, knowing that Wizzy does not joke with the boy, but she is getting frustrated because he (Wizzy) puts his boy’s issues

NYSC DG Warns HE Director-General of National cians.

Local Government Area of the state.

He gave the warning on Monday, T Youth Service Corps (NYSC), BrigOlawumi, while reminding the addressing 2014 Batch A corps corps members of their role in ensurCorps Members Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has cau- while members posted to Bayelsa State, tioned corps members who will ing a free, fair and credible election in serve as prospective electoral officials during an unscheduled visit to the 2015, note that they must always be Ahead Of 2015 in the 2015 general elections, to resist NYSC temporary orientation camp seen as unbiased umpires when they any form of inducement from politi- in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma are chosen to work during the polls.

Elections

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Six Killed In Auchi Poly Cult Clash CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 hotel, on demanded from the men numbering about eight, their mission was shot instantly and it was while trying to save him that Shaka was shot on the head and he died on the spot.

Normalcy has since returned to community following the interventions of the national bodies of the two groups. Life Campus, learnt cultism is a phenomenon in the area, as anyone that desire to run for political office must belong to one cult group or the other.

Corpses of the deceased have were taken away by the police, while family members of the late Shaka were also said to have taken away his body for burial.

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a successful 7th FtheOLLOWING year birthday celebration and grand opening of Ozzy Records corporate office, the amazing star-kid, OzzyBosco Wonderkid has returned with his first bang of 2014 titled Mama Africa, featuring dancehall crooner, Lamboginny. The new hit is mixed and mastered by the producer extra-ordinaire, Tee-Y MIX. Having recorded unbelievable milestones in 2013, such as winning the debut Best Video, Minor category of the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA), and being named the youngest kid brand ambassador for Tigo Milk, a product by Cway Foods and Beverages.

OzzyBosco added more feathers to his cap, when he ended the year 2013 as the first kid artiste to perform at Lagos Countdown event, where he wowed the audience with his stage craft.

CAMPUS

Ukinebo Dare Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition fee is very high. I am Uki Dare, C.E.O of Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy, mother of two and wife of one. I will share with you lessons I have learnt from my experiences around transforming from a young lady with big dreams to a young C.E.O with massive goals. I won’t bore you with long prose and philosophical arguments I promise to be real and answer all your questions in just TWO WORDS. What do you do when you see something going wrong and it’s none of your business? I can almost hear someone saying “I will face my front before someone will call me over sabi.” J Okay let’s talk about how to tell the difference between helpful and ‘over sabi’ but first, a story.

“No! No! No! No! No Way!” Screamed Uju. This is not happening to me. Not today. No way” She closed her eyes and allowed her mind drift back to earlier that morning. She woke up with a big smile on her face and looked out of her fathered hut to observe all the servants hurrying around in preparation, everyone was so excited. It was her big day. Ugo her handsome prince and the love of her life had performed all the marriage rites and she was heading to his vil-

lage tonight to take her place as future queen. This was supposed to be the best day of her life but instead here she was, stuck by the river bank with no way of getting there.

Everyone had gone ahead in other boats to Ugo’s village where a big celebration was waiting for them. She was to come with her friends on the last boat to make a grand entrance but alas the boat that was left for her started sinking and they had to return to shore. Now she was stuck, embarrassed and missing her own reception, in her full princess regalia for that matter.

have me behaeded. All I know is that, it is a 3 hour journey to Oma, in 3 hours your people will get there.

They will be expecting you for anoda 1 hour, by di time dey realize you are not coming they will now send a boat which will take another 3 hours to come back an look for you. After which, you will spend anoda eztra 3 awas going back to Oma by which time it will be tomorrow morning!

You are too big to ezplain it well for me dat day abi? Abegi lemme go and chop garri and sleep. Mstchewww.”

“Uju, the reason this boat was picked for you is because it is rarely used, everyone thought it would be in the best condition”. “Which silly best condition?” Uju snapped at Chika her best friend. “This boat is rickety and useless, it’s been leaking for ages, is it not the one I always used when sneaking to go see Ugo in his village before?!” “Ah ah!” Said Nneka “So you knew there was a leaking boat and you never did anything about it”. Uju starts screaming in frustration “Why are you guys busy interviewing me?!

Does Chukwudi ever listen to anybody? Ask him if I didn’t tell him his boat was rickety and useless the last time I used it! Am I a boat fixer or care taker? If he can’t fix his boat, what’s my own? Should I have fixed it fir him? I will have him severely punished for this. Chei! See my life. Why are we even talking about boats! when…” ! Chukwudi who had been struggling to fix his boat jumped in.

“Were don oh! Insulti mi verry werl, so because I could not spoken Engilish very well you tink you are beta than me. Is orait, if you laiki

Sometimes when we see something going wrong we get angry but not angry enough to do something. I will use the words of Abiola ‘Champ’ Salami here, “Don’t get angry, get MAD (Make A Difference)”.

Maybe Uju felt that she didn’t need to be committed to ensuring that the boat owner understood the need to fix his own boat, after all it was his boat. Have you ever passed by a baby eating from the floor and just shook your head and walked past? Have you ever helped a child across the road? Have you given up on explaining a particular issue that is negatively affecting clients to your boss? Are you tired of trying to get your colleagues to see a bigger picture? Do not give up. Don’t ever be satisfied with doing nothing. If you are the one who sees a problem, then you have a part to play in communicating it and/ or solving it. e.g A 3 year old school girl is trying to cross the road to get to school, instead of heaping curses on the absent mother as you continue driving in your car.

End

Park it, and let her/help her across.

Being the smartest person in the room is not a guarantee that you are the most useful. The most useful person in the room is not the one with the brightest ideas but the one who knows how to communicate the bright ideas. After all: What good is intelligence if you can’t solve problems?

Of what good is wisdom if it only makes you look down on others?

What good is knowledge if no one accepts it from you?

Here are my two words on this matter: Find It, Sell It, Do Something, Add It. Having a good idea isn’t good enough…

Sell It Seeing a problem is not enough… Do Something There’s a way to communicate with your boss that he will understand and listen to you… Find It Bear in mind that in most cases, even if you cannot eradicate a problem from the face of the earth, there is always something you can add to make things a bit better …Add It From this, what do you think is the difference between being helpful and ‘Over sabi’? Is there something you feel like adding to your school, office or the lives of people around you? Let’s talk about how you can go about it.

Post your comment on the Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy blog: poisegfs.blogspot.com or send me an email to uki@poisenigeria.org

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National Development Strategy Series the spines of the Western World and they designed Economic take over strategies that would keep the third World improvised and keep the western world in firm grip of the situation. We will never know. Maybe someday we will know, maybe someday a book will be written by one of the Western World Financial players of that era who will tell it all. However many books have been written by the foot soldiers that were carrying around the suitcases of cash and signing Nations into death traps. Please read for reference “The Confessions of an Economic Hit Man”.

NICHOLAS OKOYE, Founder EMPOWER NIGERIA Initiative,

FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO

The Nigeria Debt Crisis Continued

PILLAR TWO : ACCESS TO CAPITAL Paper 2 N PAPER ONE on the Access to Capital as a driver for National Development and one of my nine pillars of a well thought out regional and national strategy for development, I spoke about the fact that access to capital is sub divided into two board categories which include capital for public sector funding of projects and then capital for private sector funding. In discussing the public sector I have chosen to go down memory lane so that Nigerians will understand and better appreciate where we are coming from. It is widely said that if you do not know where you are coming from there is no way you can chart a course for where you want to go. So that journey down memory lane took us to the years of heavy borrowing that took place to fund many third world Nations that gave rise to the third World debt crisis. Nigeria was among the largest debtor Nations in those days when you compare us with other third World or developing Nations as they are now called. However no matter how much you blame the Nigerian Leaders at that time or the other African Leaders for putting their Nations into the mess which pretty much consumed many Nations of Africa, you cannot leave out the fact that the people who were responsible for giving out the loans and for managing the loan portfolios had a much bigger game at play.

There was a much larger agenda which was designed to impoverish the Nations of the Third World and only the Leaders of the Western World at that time can tell us what their reasons were to keep Africa in perpetual poverty. Many believe that the reasons are not far from the fact that the Oil Embargo of the 1970s sent a cold chill down

I

HERE ARE many things that were wrong with T the Nigerian Debt profile. First of all the debt that ballooned to over 35 billion USD, started at a mere $4 billion to $11 billion. In fact when you talk to some Nigerian public officials of that era, ( Obasanjo, Shagari and Buhari era) they maintain that our total borrowing did not exceed $11 billion Dollars. This went to finance huge and expensive motor vehicle assembly plants, large iron and steel plants in different parts of the country including Alaja, Oshomo and Ajeokuta.

In particular the Ajeokuta Plant which cost over 4 billion dollars was built by the Russians. But up till today no significant steel has ever been produced at the plant. In fact the design flaw in the plant was noticed very early on and the plant was abandoned for many years before successive Federal Governments have tried in vain to put that plant to work. The Plant was designed to produce the raw steel required to supply the Steel rolling mills which were sited in Alaja, Oshomo and Itakpe. However the great distances from Ajeokuta to these rolling mills were never taken into consideration. The heavy weight of the steel in transportation and that fact that these plants will need to run on gas exclusively for many years, meant that a gas pipe line will need to be built all the way from the Niger Delta to Ajeokuta in the center of the Country, making the cost unbearable just because the Leadership at that time did not want to invest in the Niger Delta. In addition to huge over running costs and the nightmare of the logistics, the plants were designed for steel rods and not flat sheets. This meant that Nigeria was preparing an entire Steel industry on the basis of supplying only steel rods for the construction industry. And nobody thought about

the rise in the demand for flat sheets, the global demand for steel flat sheets for ship building, for pipes and for other heavy industry inputs in many industries including the Oil and Gas industry, the mining industry, shipping industry as well as bridge and sky scrapper construction. So the billions of Dollars borrowed to build the Steel plant in Ajeokuta, which came complete with the construction of a new city for the housing of the staff, water works, gas pipe line from the Niger Delta, rail link to bring in the supplies and take out the finished product were all wasted. The saddest part of the Ajeokuta story is that thousands of staff were hired long before the plant was ever going to be put into operation. And all through the years that the plant was abandoned up on till the plant was fist privatized by the Obasanjo Administration, the thousands of staff remained on the Federal Government pay roll being paid billions of Naira to do absolutely nothing.

In addition to the waste that was Ajeokuta more money as borrowed to buy civil and military planes and other sophisticated machinery and equipment were imported. However to maintain and keep these machines alive expensive spare parts had to also be imported.

Nigeria Airways was once celebrated as having the largest fleet on the African Continent at one time. But no significant revenues. Before the airline finally collapsed it was rumored to have over 60% of the seats on every flight were given out as free, as complimentary to children of Ministers, Government Officials and airline staff who used the free tickets to run their own side businesses. So as we were building up the debt Nigeria was not generating any revenue to pay back the debt.

Debt Rescheduling NOTHER major scandal that never broke in A those days were the corruption of the annual Debt rescheduling exercises that used to take place in Paris, France. The Paris Club of Nations held an office in Paris and asked the Nations of the Third World such as Nigeria, to come every year to reconcile the figures, make payments and adjust for future repayments. They always offered Nigeria a Debt Reschedule schematic which meant that you could pay only on the interest or a faction of the interest and then pay

ICE BLOCK BUSINESS business is very profitable IofCE-BLOCK because we live in a country situated in one the hottest regions of the world and our economy is such that majority of jobs readily available are blue-collar jobs. These two important facts necessitate the high intake of water by especially the people who drive the economy at that level. Therefore, one can imagine the amount of water that is taken on a daily basis irrespective of the season. In addition, the hectic traffic situation in some parts of the country makes people yearn for chilled beverages and water regularly. Not everyone can afford to buy a refrigerator and even those that can afford it cannot carry it wherever they are going.

Among those that own a refrigerator, only a small percentage can afford to power it with the right generating set because of our epileptic power supply. This opportunity can be taken advantage of by smart entrepreneurs or investors.

Hence, there is no doubt that the ice block business has come to stay. When our power supply situation eventually improves, the business will continue to thrive because the demand goes beyond just needing chilled water to drink in our homes but also when commuting around town. With the increased number of packaged water products, carbon-

ated soft drinks and fruit juice products on the market, ice blocks will help to make these products more enjoyable, tastier, and longer lasting in terms of shelf life. The target market for this product is wide and varied, and if the product is not needed at the individual level, there are organisations and institutions whose work or products require constant icing. Most beverages and fruit juice companies will tell you to sell their products chilled.

choose to go into. To save cost, one can start an Anti-freeze ice business because it requires only 2 hours for formation as opposed to 6 hours required for Dry Ice formation. The down side is that blocks produced within short hours also take that same time to Anti-freeze Ice: This involves the use of chemi- defrost. The nylon of the dry ice stills protects the ice from melting quickly compared to the cal to make the block form faster than the required time. This type of block is not usually anti freeze, which is exposed. Anti-freeze Ice in nylons but in containers. Ice blocks formed will not be appreciated by market women and those involved in the sale of drinks and fruit through anti-ice are called moulds. juices because it does not last. If you wish to It is important to do a market survey to select supply to event and party planners alone, Antifreeze serves better. If you are interested in the right target market for the type Ice you becoming an ICE MERCHANT then contact us on 01 2771388 or email us at info@empowernigeria.com or go to our EMPOWER NIGERIA Centre at W2 Arena Shopping Centre Oshodi Lagos.

There are Two Types of Ice Block: Dry Ice: This is the type of ice block formed in nylon. They are of different sizes, depending on the price to be sold.

the rest of the debt at a future date However this also meant that that future date will come with heavy penalties and a new debt figure. The Nigerian civil servants in the Federal Ministry of Finance at that time did not even know what or who they were up against. However some people I have spoken to from that era claim that the Nigerian officials did know what was going on and they were complacent, they were compromised and were actively involved in defrauding our Nation.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala This is what used to happen. Nigerian officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance would show up at Paris venue of the Debt rescheduling exercise. They will come armed with copies of the Nigerian budget which had calculated the debt owed Paris Club to be say $30 billion and so had set aside an amount for debt repayment based on the prevailing interest rate, say$1.2 billion. The officials of the Paris Club would then say no that the budget was based on wrong figures and that the true position of the debt was say $35 billion and expected debt re-service must not be less than $4.9 billon, they would insist that Nigerian officials needed to go over the entire debt profile from as far back as the nineteen seventies. Of course the folks at the PARIS Club knew the Nigerian officials were in no mood to spend the next few weeks and months going over boring figures.

So they would say what is in it for them.

According to some sources these Nigerian officials would then get tens of millions of dollars transferred to them and Nigeria’s debt profile would end up at $33 or $34 billion. So for a few million dollars an entire Nation would end up with four or five billion dollars added to its debt schedule, and the Nigerian Officials would sign off on it, come back to Nigeria and present the new figure to the Federal Government. That is why there was so much discrepancy in the final figure of Nigeria’s debt. In other accounts of those rescheduling meetings, they said the Nigerian officials would simply go shopping and leave their very junior officers in the room with the Paris Club officials to do all the negotiations. This meant that Nigeria would almost always come out with the short end of the stick.

Thank God we now have a Debt Management Office, thanks the efforts of some great Nigerians who include: Dr. Okonjo Iweala the Then and current Minister of Finance, Dr. Mansur Muhtar first DG of the DMO later to become the Minister of Finance, Abraham Nwankwo, the then consultant and current Director General of DMO, Chukwuma Solodu then Chief Economic Adviser to the President and later Governor of the Central Bank and off course President Obasanjo.

In the final analysis the Nigeria Debt crisis could be summed up in this way,……

That we as a Nation borrowed a total of $11 billion, paid back a total of $32 billion over the years and was still owing $34 billion, ……..as at the time of the total Paris Club Debt retirement which was carried out by the Obasanjo Administration

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

46 Sunday, March 23, 2014

EMPOWERNIGERIA Guide to Personal Development

CASE STUDY

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURAL LEADER

TAYO OVIOSU

By Nicholas Okoye

nokoye@empowernigeria.com

Be Engaged In A Labour Of Love HE KIND of work you choose and the kind of goal you set for yourself can be directly proportional to the level of success you can hope to achieve in that work. It is a well known fact that people tend to do their best work and make their most outstanding contributions to mankind when they are working in a field in which they love or when they are working for someone in whom they love. Getting engaged in a labor of love is imperative. You must strive all your life if necessary to find and get engaged in a labor of love. Another way of putting it is to say that you must be involved in a work or a field for which you have a burning passion.

When you are working in a field for which you have a strong passion the hours and the days just fly by. You will never notice the time go by and because you are happy doing what you are doing you will be simply having fun.

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Find your passion In the years leading up to your identifying your true love, you will find it necessary to work in areas and fields for which you have no passion. You will actually be working in jobs for which you down right HATE. You will find yourself counting the minutes as the day goes by you ill find yourself looking at your watch every five minutes so that you can leave as soon as the clock strikes the closing time. Well if you find yourself in this situation and I have been there myself trust me, the key is to understand that your need to feed yourself, keep healthy, have the resources to pay your rent, look after your family is just as important as the drive for the ultimate prize which could take many years. So you must give your very best in the job you find yourself no matter how much you hate the job. In most cases, and I am again a living example, you will find that the outstanding effort you put into the work you hate will provide you with the stepping stone (in fact stepping wall) to achieving the work, the career and the prize you seek. If you love your job or you love the person for whom you do your job, then you will be unstoppable. The World will open up to you and the prizes you seek will eventually become yours. And this is a fact.

Wherever you find yourself, whether you are at the beginning of your climb to success, or whether you are in the middle or if you have already achieved greatness and are presently on your second or third journey, you will always find that if you love what you do, love your industry or love the person for whom you work, you are clearly on the path to success.

By Pamela Green AYO is not your typical entrepreneur in the sense that his core values stem from a place of humility. He reveals that what he values most is the fact that people have chosen to believe in him and sacrifice to follow him on a journey. After bagging an MBA from the prestigious Stanford Business School he emerged with valuable knowledge, a set goal and a sense of self discovery. In 2009, he started a company known as Paga which he dreamed would be immensely impactful to the society and now, five years on, Paga has grown to be the major mobile payments solutions platform in Nigeria with 170 staff, 4000 agents and over 1 million users and counting.

He admits that the entrepreneurial seed in him was planted way back during his childhood. “I grew up seeing my mum as an entrepreneur starting businesses where she had interesting ideas of how to grow her own wealth and establish herself and that really inspired me. Also, when I was in the U.S I had the opportunity to be in Silicon Valley being at Stanford University seeing a lot of different new startups come around, working as a venture capitalist in that sector and being around entrepreneurs really gave me the bug. The realization that for Nigeria to achieve its goals to become the giant of Africa again, it’s entrepreneurship that’s going to get us there; the heart of that is what led me into entrepreneurship”.

Tayo reminisces about his early days while growing up and the different careers he envisioned for himself. “Way back then, I wanted to be a lawyer because I also love to argue. One of my mom’s very good friends is a judge here in Nigeria so I was always excited to sit with him and talk to him. At one point, I wanted to be in the Navy because I really liked their white uniforms and they are always looking very sharp. As time went on I switched to Engineering and I studied Electrical Engineering and I really enjoyed writing code and I realized the reason why I enjoyed writing code was because I was solving something”.

That very passion for solving things led him to Paga. Tayo reveals that the idea for Paga was born from his identification of a problem and his determination to find a solution for it. “Paga was born out of a frustration I had carrying cash around with me. I think that majority of Nigerians do not have access to formal financial services and there is no way Nigeria is going to reach it’s potential of being the giant of Africa or being a $200billion

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market by 2020 if we don’t solve the payments problem. The mission that we are going after is to transform lives by delivering innovative and universal access to financial services across Nigeria”.

Believe it or not, financial gain is not his driving force but rather he dreams of building a company that would have a great positive impact on the society. “Whatever it is I’m doing it has to have a real impact on the society. For me personally, I knew I had to work on something that was a big idea or I wouldn’t be as fulfilled. Of course, there’s a moment when I ask myself why am I in such a tough business when there are easier things to go do, but I know that deep down inside of me I get my fulfillment working on something that I know if it’s half as successful as I imagine, would be impactful to the society”.

Tayo explains what he thinks makes him a good leader; “I think I’m fairly self-aware of what I’m good at and what I’m not good at and also what I need to work to improve or develop on. I think for a leader to be effective, you have to know your strengths and your weaknesses and you have to also know how you impact other people, how your behavior and your mannerisms and your approach impacts other people. If you’re aware of that, especially in the moment, I think it helps you better lead people” A typicak day. “I’m usually up at 5am on most days.

On a good day I get up and go running or go to the gym before heading to work. These days, I’m much better now than I was, there was a time when I was really bad at it but 2012 was really when I started focusing on shutting down so when I leave work, I leave work behind. On weekends I focus on my fiancee and having a good time. I am able to put work aside when I have to and not let it consume my entire life so that I can focus on other things that I love to do”.

On doing business in Nigeria, Tayo says that Nigeria is a very difficult place to do business. He thinks things take much longer here than they should take to achieve. He concludes that it is really hard to find quality staff, they spend a lot of time recruiting and they say no many more times than we say yes. In some cases they do find Diamonds in the rough, and they do their very best to keep them. When recruiting, Tayo is looking for two things in people. He is looking for people who are incredibly smart and who would take real ownership of whatever it is PAGA is working on and not wait to be told what to do and can be trusted to do that.

On his leadership style, Tayo believes; “I’m very much one person who doesn’t believe in leadership by entitlement or by force. I would describe myself as someone who tries to lead from within.

What that means is that I try to set a vision, set a goal and encourage everyone to move together toward it. I encourage people, I hate micro-managing. I definitely let people run their areas of responsibility and then hold them accountable to the results”. He offers this as advice for upcoming entrepreneurs; “First, find something that you are incredibly passionate about and find a problem that people have and try and solve it”.

On his greatest achievement in life, it has to PAGA. Taking an idea and bringing it to life. They have a million users now and growing.

Despite his achievements, Tayo does not feel he has gotten to his highest point yet. “Do you ever get there? I think there’s always something else that you want to do and the more you achieve, the more you want to achieve”.

For Tayo and the rest of his team at Paga, the journey is just beginning.

With many more milestones to cross and a whole lot more innovation and value to deliver, they look forward to the coming years of growth and expansion. “By the end of 2014, our main goal is to have about 3 million users. We hope to also become a household name across Nigeria. In a few years, I expect us to be the defacto way to pay or get paid and whenever anyone is thinking about paying for something they would of course, just Paga it”.

Sunday, March 23, 2014 47

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

YOUTHMAGAZINE

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All That Jazz

BY BENSON IDONIJE benidoni@yahoo.com

Ornette Coleman And The Birth Of Avant -Garde the summer of 1959, the pianist and composer John IwasNLewis gave an interview to an Italian jazz magazine which subsequently printed in the Jazz Review. Asked about new trends, Lewis replied that there were two young people he met in California - an alto player named Ornette Coleman and a trumpeter called Don Chery. Lewis went further to say that he had never heard anything like them before.

According to him, Ornette was the driving force of the two; they were almost like twins; they played together. It was not like any ensemble that he had ever heard, and he could not figure out what it was all about yet. He went further to acknowledge that Ornette was, in a sense, an extension of Charlie Parker and the first he had heard. He believed that this was the real need that should take place, to extend the basic ideas of Parker until they were not playing an imitation but actually something new. Lewis felt that even though they might not have come up with something perfect yet, and were still in the early stages, they sounded very fresh and interesting.

Many who read the interview were doubtless intrigued.

Lewis was a figure of substance and an often astute judge of musicianship. He was one of the leading musicians of the 50s. As leader and musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet, his views were authoritative and were often reckoned with.

The announcement was misleading in its casual understatement.Ornette was about to change the course of jazz history. With his alto, he was preparing to take Charlie Parker’s invention to a new level in terms of changing accepted notions of jazz rhythms, melody and harmony.

John Coltrane later became more popular for avant-garde jazz which began with the ‘modal’ inventions he acquired from his association with Miles Davis, from the recording of Kind Of Blue, the classic jazz album. It actually took off with his association with bassist Jimmy Garrison, pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones who formed the great quartet that featured Coltrane himself on tenor and soprano saxophones. This was in 1961. But it later developed into the ‘sheets’ of sound that culminated in his association with Pharaoh Sanders. These weird sounds of the avant - garde were eventually captured by such albums as A love supreme, Ascension and Infinity which also featured Coltrane’s wife, Alice on piano. But it was Ornette Coleman who prepared the ground for this new development.

What Ornette was doing on alto saxophone at the time did not only transform the effort of Parker, it affected the whole character of jazz music profoundly and pervasively. When he stood up to take his solo in combo setting with Don Cherry (his musical associate) or in big band setting, it was as if he opened up the way for jazz to grow. His music made a new sensibility in 1959 the way Parker’s innovation did in

1942 - for one’s ears and heart and minds, all the while including the most fundamental things in jazz. Coleman sounded fresh and new. He sounded esoteric but nonetheless identified with the tradition of jazz.

As often happens with innovators in the beginning, he was not afraid of what his inner mind told him to play. “I don’t know how it’s going to sound before I play it any more than anybody else does”. The step he was taking, like all great steps, seemed inevitable only when someone had taken it and Ornette was taking it with sublime stubbornness: “If you put a conventional chord or rhythm under my note, you limit the number of choices I have for my next note, if you do not, my melody may move freely with far greater choice of directions”, he used to say.

In the beginning, some saw Ornette as a repository of peace, wisdom and inner serenity for his utterances and gentle attitude. Others saw him as a highly complicated, sometimes naive, sometimes mystical, sometimes suspicious, and dedicated to the point of obsession.

When he came to New York at the time, he became the public darling for a while, and then was out of work for a period of time. In between, Ornette became the center of the most violent controversy to divide the jazz world since the arrival of Charlie Parker. While there were outspoken voices pro such critics as Nat Hentoff and Leornard Feather, most critics and musicians equivocated and evaded, not wishing to make the error of out-ofhand condemnation that many of them had made with Parker, yet unwilling to approve of music that offended and outraged them.

Only Milt Jackson, the vibraharpist who played with the Modern Jazz Quartet seemed willing to state point blank that he saw no clothes on the emperor. “They are afraid to say it is nothing “, Jackson said. “There’s no such thing as free form. We’re just getting around to knowing what Charlie Parker was playing. They threw him on the public and said that is it. You can’t do it.” And Miles Davis remarked, “Hell, just listen to what he writes and how he plays. If you’re talking psychologically, the man is all screwed up inside”.

Many writers found it handy to deride Ornette because he liked a plastic alto, white and smaller than the standard model. It looked like a toy particularly when seen alongside Don Cherry’s pocket Pakistani trumpet. But Charlie Parker had played such a saxophone at times, and Ornette who had been using plastic altos since l954 clearly explained his selection to critic Nat Hentoff. “I needed a new horn badly but I didn’t have much money. A man in the music said he could sell me a new horn – a plastic model for the price of a used Selmer. I didn’t like it at first

OR her success at the AMVC Awards in Lagos, Michelle Fweek, Bello, who got the Trail Blazers diadem, during the picked up a brand new Hyundai Veloster. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, regional director, M-Net Africa, presented the car to Bello. While expressing her delight, she said, “this journey has so far been incredible. I never thought Flower Girl would make such an impact, it’s so overwhelming. I would like to say a big thank you to my fans, family, investors, financiers, distributors and everybody, who has made this possible, I am truly grateful!” Moses Babatope CEO of Talking Drum Entertainment said “for us as distributors, Michelle has been and continues to be a delight to work with, an example to all and she deserves every bit of success she gets.”

IREP Docufest Ends Today HE yearly I-REP International Documentary Film T Festival ends today. The festival opened on Thursday March 20 and festivalgoer’s say it has been four days of networking and brainstorming. The Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba, gave the keynote. The NBC DG spoke on Rhythms of Amalgamation- Fashioning a Nigerian Identity’. The festival also featured a rich collection of award-winning documentary films from across the world, complemented by works of young and old filmmakers in Nigeria. This year, the organisers introduced a special room; which is entirely dedicated to films screenings all day throughout the period of the festival. This was to cater for participants who are wholly interested in films screening, and also allow other participant’s see a film they might have missed. There was also the ‘Producers Roundtable’, which is an international co-production and co-operation forum for documentary filmmakers. The Filmmakers’ Roundtable held on Friday and it explored innovative options and opportunities in international co-productions and distributions. The forum brought together international organisations such as Goethe, AGDOK, DOKFEST, AWDFF, Africa Magic and other relevant support institutions for African cinema. One programme that has indeed been a major part of the festival is the filmmakers workshop targeted at upcoming filmmakers who need an immersion into how to take

BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI

shaibu70@yahoo.com

Around and about...

Michelle Bello Gets Car Gift For AMVCA Win

but I figured it would be better to have a new horn any way. Now I won’t play any other. They’re made in England, and I have to send for them. They are only good for a year the way I play them. That plastic horn is good for me because it responds more completely to the way I blow into it. The notes from the plastic horn are purer than those from the metal instrument”.

However, ‘metal’ or ‘plastic’, ‘free form’ or ‘avant-garde,’ Ornette was an innovator, except that his art could not stand the test of time ‘the way Charlie Parker’s did. His propounded theory of ‘free form’ and ‘spread rhythm’ would not appeal to most jazz devotees and even critics.

But his tone, aesthetics, coloring and adventurous spirit are being adopted today by a few jazz musicians who really care about the purity of the music.

advantage of digital filmmaking possibilities. The training workshop was designed to introduce aspiring filmmakers to Techniques of Doing More with Less in Digital Filmmaking, and Documentary Appreciation & Styles. It held on Friday and Saturday and was facilitated by Lanre Olupona and Barbel Mauch. There were also paper presentations and panel discussions by top culture workers, intellectuals, scholars and art activists. The festival will end today with an award ceremony and a jazz concert, which the organisers say underscores the theme of this year, Rhythms of Identity. According to the Executive Director of the festival, Femi Odugbemi, “we believe that the festival has been a growth platform for documentary filmmakers in Nigeria, and with this exciting fourth edition, it will continue to elevate, recognise and promote documentary filmmaking as an important tool for development, governance and culture in Africa.” Held every March since 2010, the conceptual framework of iREPRESENT (iREP) is Africa in Self Conversation and it is designed to promote awareness about the power of documentary format to serve as a means of deepening and sharing social and cultural education as well as encouraging participatory democracy in our societies. I-REP also aims to highlight how best documentary Filmmakers can approach representation of Africa’s diverse identities in their works.

Reuben Ichado, who chaired the event and the Onu Igala of Lagos, chief Sani Yakubu Ajima. Oma-Ode is an intriguing tale of a young man, who follows his father’s footsteps as a brave and humble hunter. Despite being warned numerously not to go to the dark forest with dangerous creature, he embarked on a journey into the forest after dreaming of seeing a lady and falling in love with her in the forest. They eventually get married and evil befalls them, thereafter, as Oma Oko was invisible to the human eye except her husband, Chairman of the occasion, Ichado, called on well meaning sons and daughters of the state to support the effort of Mohammed Obaka and company. “We all know that it is capital intensive to make a film. We must support Aliyu and his team so that they can continue to showcase our culture, tradition and our tourist attractions to the world with its positive implication of attracting foreign investment for our people,’’ Ichado said. Other guests at the premiere include chief Joseph Erico Ameh, Tony Obaka, Yahaya Okai, Alhassan Maju, Isaac Audu Awulu Attah, Philip Atuluku, Abdul Odoma Agi, Mrs. Victoria Amana, Baba JFO, popular Nollywood actress, Maimuna Abaji, and chief Abubakar Agene. Aliyu, who thanked Igala Star Club of Nigeria for their support, assured that the movie would be available for sale before the end of March.

Loud In Lagos For Oma Ode T is a well-known fact that the Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and the Isome Efik ethnic groups have their indigenous movies aired on local, international television and satellite stations.

Observers believe that filmmakers from these tribes were able to accomplish this based on the level of support they got from external sources. No doubt, their ability to produce films in their languages has greatly helped to showcase their custom and tradition to the world. Filmmakers of Igala stock also have this lofty ambition. There is an effort on their part to, through video films, project the rich culture and tradition of the Igala people. One man who is at the forefront of the effort to showcase the culture of the Igala, using the home video medium is Mohammed Aliyu, who runs Mohammed Obaka and Company, a frontline movie, radio and television production outfit. Recently, Aliyu led a crew that hosted the formal launch of a film in Igala language titled, Oma-Ode, in Lagos. The launch cum premiere of the film attracted well meaning sons and daughters of Kogi State including popular pop artiste, Alhaji Teejay Bala, Abdul Odoma Agi, Sani Yakubu Ajima and Yahaya Okai

48 Sunday, March 23, 2013

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

LAFETE

Render To Caesar Premieres On Friday Stories by Gregory Austin Nwakunor HE long-awaited crime drama, Render to Caesar, finally takes its bow at cinemas nationwide from Friday, March 28.

A production of Mighty Man Entertainment, the movie examines themes of crime and corruption, psychological trauma, as well as friendship and romance, in a story that chronicles the journey of two friends who return home from abroad to join a special programme in the police force as detectives.

They are immediately assigned the daunting mission to hunt and apprehend a psychotic crime lord wreaking havoc in Africa’s most populous city.

Compounding their lack of progress is a series of derogatory editorials published by a popular but prejudiced media entrepreneur, and monitored by the increasingly irritated Police Affairs Minister.

And just when the detectives finally box their adversary into a corner, he responds with a joker that not only turns the game on its head, but threatens to alter the lives of its players ... permanently.

Produced by ex-banker turned filmmaker, Desmond Ovbiagele (also on directorial duty), Render to Caesar features an outstanding array of Nigeria’s finest acting talent including Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, Lottery Ticket, The Wire (TV series), 24 (TV series)), Omoni Oboli (coproducer with Nnamdi Oboli), Wale Ojo, Kalu Ikeagwu, Bimbo Manuel, Dede Mabiaku, Lucky Ejim, Chris Iheuwa, Kehinde Bankole and several others.

Shot on the acclaimed Red Epic camera, Render to Caesar will also be available for viewing at high resDesmond Ovbiagele olution DCP on compatible screens nationwide.

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Omoni Oboli

KMA Re-ignites Couples’ Love In Marriage was a thrilling and colourful event at IasTCanary World Complex hall, Festac, Lagos, Keeping Marriage Alive Initiative (KMA), gathered a number of couples from all walks of life recently as a way of re-igniting the love they have for their individual families and marriages.

Tagged, Touch of Red, the event was a funfilled interactive and romantic evening, where couples celebrate one another’s love with sounds of melodious music to drive their feelings home. The outing witnessed dramas, stage dance, interactive section, and couple’s game show.

According to the founder, Mrs. Ngozi Okonkwo, KMA is a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO), saddled with the responsibility of bringing out the treasures in marriages and rebuilding broken homes, through biblical strategies and principles.

She noted that the essence of the programme is to promote oneness in marriage by helping couples discover, understand the plan and purpose of marriage. “We tend to achieve this, through seminars, retreats and counseling for them to see good marriage as the bedrock of the society. The next touch of red will be held on second Sunday in April 13 for couples.”

Okonkwo maintained that likewise couples, KMA is also preparing singles ahead of time to better handle the challenges in relationships and marriages to enable them raise godly children through exemplary lifestyle. “It’s our value to consistently serve one another to come on flesh as God’s ordained from the beginning.”

Dr. Richard Okonkwo stated that the

whole aimed of the programme is to heal marriages, bring the husband home to their wives and as a result of that, KMA performs a 15minute short drama from bar-to-bar and hotel-to-hotel, highlighting the choices couples make in marriage and its consequences.

Speaking from her 40 years experience in marriage, Mrs. Benson Idonijie advised the couples to always do things that would help to truss their marriages together. One of the things she mentioned was re-igniting their love of the old, through faithfulness, care and protection.

She stated that sometime in the lives of couples, it appeared love is no more there, but deep understanding in God that marriage was instituted for purpose of fulfilling God’s purpose on earth, would make them come back to iron out their differences and move on.

One of the participant couples, who was impressed with the level of training and educative information gathered, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Oriaku said such event as this has a the potential of resurrecting dead marriages or the ones at the verge of collapsing, thanking the organisers.

“Today, most men, who would have ordinarily sneaked out of the house with their mistresses, have been forced to be with their wives as a result of this programme. I just hope that KMA will continue with this programme, not only on lovers’ day but, at least, on regular basis,” said Blessing Adenle.

Pastor and Mrs. Ayo Jibunoh was yet another couple that was impressed with the programme. “Those passing through hell and high waters in their marriage relationships or courtships are advised to visit www.keepingA cross section of guests at the event mariagealive.com.

Don Jazzy, Iyanya, Tiwa Savage, KCee, Others Search For Their Look-Alike TN ambassadors have teamed up to createwith the country’s leading music artistes.

M fun and excitement across the country, “Music and entertainment are two strong especially among the Nigerian youth. They

passion points of young people; they (Nigerian have begun the search for their look-alikes, youth) look for opportunities to associate with through a social media initiative tagged, their favourite artistes online or offline as they MTNCelebdouble. literally admire these artistes. The concept of It is a digital based youth-centric engagethe Celebdouble will be a lifetime experience ment platform, where Nigeria’s leading music for young persons who become the artistes are using the social media to search Celebdoubles, as they get to hobnob with their for youth who look-like or a ‘mirror-image’ of musical hero.” them. These artistes include Don Jazzy, The Pull Over king further explained that the Iyanya, KCee, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, digital based youth-centric engagement platChidinma, Praiz, iMike, D’Prince and form which has already begun, is using the Harrysong. Supported by Africa’s leading inno-MTN Twitter handle, Facebook page and vative ICT and Telecommunications Company, Instagram account, because “the company has MTN, the initiative will give the youth an the largest number of subscribers, highest opportunity to equate their looks with the number of followers and likes on these social likes of these leading music idols. media and better technology that will aid the Speaking with one of the artistes, Kingsley selection process, among telecommunications Okonkwo, aka ‘KCee’, he explained that the companies in the country.” essence of the youth-centric initiative is to He encouraged interested youths to tag their connect Nigerian youth who cherish stardom pictures with their look-alike artiste’s name,

hashtag their entries with ‘#MTNCelebdouble’ and subscribe to a callertune of their look-alike artiste.

In a bid to generate more excitement, the artistes have decided that the top two most look-alikes, will be selected for a VIP day, as they will be treated to the full perks of stardom.

In an interview with the Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Larry Annetts, he explained that a key strategic focus for MTN is to connect Nigerian youth with their passion for music and their favourite artistes, and the organisation constantly demonstrates this via innovative marketing initiatives. “Through this service and more in the pipeline, we hope to continue to support the Nigerian entertainment Tiwa Savage and her look-alike industry.”

THe GUaRDIan www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014

49

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YOUTHMAGAZINE

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to learn about new trends and better adapt your teaching style or prepare new courses. Online surveys will generate statistical data that can help you reach further and understand the needs and requirements of present and future students. These are perfect for research, especially if you desire to create a new course and test the water to see if there is a demand from students.

Polls and Ratings: conduct regular voting and let students participate in decision making. For example, let them choose the projects they are about to do or the topic you will discuss on a special lecture. There are many variations, the important thing He eDUcaTIOn SecTOR is rapidly is to enable them to feel they are actually changing and adapting to new part of the course you are teaching and technologies. Modern days have that their opinion actually matters. If you made educators go above and beyond don’t have the luxury of adjusting the the routine with their teaching skills course as you go, you can add ratings to and learn to use new tools to innovate your course with grades or rating stars to their style and create a better learning learn an immediate reaction of your stuenvironment for students. dents.

The reasons for this statistics are variBesides all these, you definitely need to ous, but one thing we know for sure is that students need a sense of belonging show your students that they can reach you. Offering a valid communication chaneven in online learning. It is in our human nature to seek communication nel will allow you to give a complete learnand want interaction. and this is a part ing experience for your students. that many new online educational applications lack sometimes.

If you are a teacher wanting to increase the interaction with students while helping them to learn online you have to identify the right way to communicate with students. you may want to achieve this no matter if we are talking about actual MOOcs or a custom way you choose to disseminate materials in a digital format. So here are some helpful tools which you can implement to encourage interaction and enhance your teaching skills:

4 Ways Teachers Can Encourage Students’ Online Interac-

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Scientists discover a new class of SHAPE for the first time in 400 years

Online Quizzes: These can be a good way to help your students learn easier.

If you use them as pop-up quizzes at the end of a presentation, chances that students remember what the course was about rise considerably. you can find a tool to create complex online quizzes that will answer all your needs and results will probably improve immediately. Working with custom made quizzes is easier than to search for ready-made ones. Online quizzes are a great way to keep your students focused, to evaluate them and offer them the chance to test their assimilation capacity.

Feedback Forms: Feedback forms can be a great chance to find if your tactics actually work. Feedback is a great way to find what students actually think of your course. The odds that they will fill such a form are higher if you allow respondents to remain anonymous either if you have personally met them or not. you can focus on data and put your efforts in finding what is relevant for improvement of your online course.

Surveys: Surveys have a lot of applications in the classroom. Use them to discover the general opinion of your class,

ncIenT GReeK mathematicians – most notably Plato - classified solid shapes thousands of years ago.

Since then, remarkably few geometric ‘solid’ forms have been discovered and the last collection was identified 400 years ago.

But now, U.S. scientists believe they have identified a fourth class of shape called a Goldberg polyhedral, which they say is inspired by shapes in the human eye.

The first type of solid shapes to be discovered are known as Platonic solids, which include the cube, the tetrahedron (a 3D form made up of four triangular faces), the octahedron (a 3D form made up of eight triangles), the dodecahedron (a 3D form made up of 12 sides) and the icosahedrons (a form made up of 20 triangular faces and 30 edges). all these shapes are highly regular and occur naturally.

Just two other types of solid shapes have been documented after these: archimedean solids, which include the truncated icosahedrons (a 32-faced solid shape), and incredibly complex 3D forms called Kepler solids, which were discov-

a

ered 400 years ago and include the rhombic polyhedra. But now the new type of shape, which looks a little bit like a complex football, has been explained mathematically and could even pave the way for an infinite number of similar shape classes to be discovered, The conversation explained.

Stan Schein at the University of california in Los angeles was studying the retina of the human eye when he came across the intriguing polyhedra structure of a protein called clahrin, which moves energy in and out of cells and creates a number of shapes.

He came up with a mathematical explanation for the shape and in the process, stumbled across the work of Michael Goldberg, a 20th century mathematician who was convinced he had discovered a new set of shapes – complicated polyhedra made up of a patchwork of pentagons and hexagons.

While Dr Schein did not think that Goldberg’s shapes were strictly polyhedra, he believed they were indeed a new class of shape.

In a study published in the journal PnaS, Dr Schein and James Gayed describe the new shapes, which they still call the Goldberg polyhedral in tribute to the late mathematician. controversially, the original Goldberg polyhedra break the third rule of the classification of equilateral complex polyhedra - that any point on a line that connects two points in a shape must not fall outside the solid shape.

The U.S. mathematicians, however, carefully manipulated them so that instead of a bulgy shape composed of multiple hexagons, they found a way of making all the faces of the shapes flat so that a true convex polyhedron was created.

They think their way of manipulating the shapes can be applied to other classes of complex polyhedra so that further shapes will be discovered with more and more faces and that in theory there should be an infinite number of them.

While it might be difficult for non-mathematicians to think of immediate uses for this piece of research, it has excited some scientists as the new polyhedra have similar structures to viruses.

If scientists could accurately describe the geometry of a virus, such as common flu, they might be able to find a better way of fighting them.

Is your left or right side more attractive? Study reveals why we tend to show our left side in pictures. any of us have a certain pose for photos, M but have you ever noticed your face has a tendency to turn to the right each time? If so, you’re not alone.

Research of paintings dating back to the 14th century has revealed people prefer to pose showing the left half of their face - and this might be because we consider our left side to be our best side.

That’s according to science writer and author Sam Kean who claims our left sides are

more expressive than our right sides, because they are controlled by the part of our brain responsible for emotions.

During recent studies of paintings of Jesus on the cross, for example, 90 per cent of the images depicted him showing his left-hand side.

Further research into the poses of pupils in yearbooks found a similar trend. according to Kean, author of The Tale of the Dueling neurosurgeons, the majority of people are hard-wired to believe their left side to be more attractive than their right, and this belief influences their poses for photo.

Kean said: ‘The best explanation is that we don’t view the left and right halves of people’s faces in the exact same way.

‘People have a tendency to be more expressive with one half of the face, than the other half because our brains don’t quite work the same on the left side and the right side’ The left side of the brain controls language, for example, while the right side controls spatial awareness and identifying faces.

The right side of the brain also controls the left side of the body, making the left side more expressive.

Kean concluded: ‘We think we’re aware of most of what we’re doing, and it’s a little disconcerting to see this ticks, and these little things emerge, suddenly.’

This section deals with appropriate set of rules which are valid and allowable in english Language. eLUDe \ l(j)u d/ (Verb) – escape from or avoid (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skilful or cunning way.

- (of an achievement or something desired) fail to be attained by (someone). examples: He tried to elude the security men by sneaking through a back door We need to ensure that bad cases do not elude tough penalties Sleep still eluded her Synonyms: evade, avoid, get away from, dodge, flee, escape. antonyms: attract, confront, encounter, entice, face, invite, meet, take on.

FRIGHT / fr t/ (noun) - a sudden intense feeling of fear. an experience that causes one to feel sudden intense fear. examples: I jumped up in fright.

She’s had a nasty fright. come; be comforted, he shan’t fright you.

Synonyms: fear, fearfulness, terror, horror, alarm, p anic, dread, uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension. antonyms: Fearlessness, Bravery.

50 Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Birthdays AJIBOLA, Prince Bolasodun Adesumbo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Minister of Justice, 1985-1991; was 80 yesterday. He was born on March 22, 1934 in Owu near Abeokuta to Oba Abdul Salam Ajibola, Gbadela II, the paramount ruler of Owu Kingdom between 1949 and 1972. He attended Owu Baptist Day School and Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta between 1942 and 1955. He obtained his LLB at the Holborn College of Law, University of London in 1962 and was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn in 1962. A Knight of the British Empire (KBE), he served as Judge at the International Court of Justice at The Hague between 1991 and 1994. He also served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2002. His other International assignments include Commissioner of UN Compensation Commission on Kuwait/Iraqi war (1994-2000); Member, Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague, the Netherlands; Member, Governing Board of International Maritime Law Institute, Malta, etc.

He has edited many books among them, Nigeria Treaties in Force, 1970-1990; All Nigeria Law Reports, 1961-1990 and Editor in Chief of Justice, a monthly Journal of Contemporary Law. The publications in his honour are: Contemporary Issues in Nigerian Law, Essays in Honour of Judge Bola Ajibola, 1992; Justinian of a

of Irrua (Edo State)

Ajibola

Tinubu

Ekhomu

Olugbodi

Great Era, The Road to The Hague,

By Lai Joseph; and Around the World with Bola Ajibola, Magna Curia Chambers, OAU, Ile-Ife, 2007. He has won dozens of awards and honours, among them: The Sardauna Leadership Award in 2010.

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specialising in Accounting and Management.

He worked with American companies like Arthur Anderson; Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, now Deloitte, Haskins and Touche; GTE Services Corporation; Consultant, Fortune 500 groups, all in the United States of America. He also worked as a Senior Auditor and Treasurer with Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited.

His political career began in 1993 when he was elected Senator for the Lagos West Senatorial District. He was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriations and Currency.

He contested for the seat of the Executive Governor of Lagos State on the ticket of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was elected Governor in 1999 and the mandate was renewed

in April 2003 for a second term.

He was conferred with LL.D (Honoris Causa) by Abia State University, Uturu in November 2001; Top Seal award for Leadership in 2002. He is the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Patron of the Lagos Country Club, Patron of the Island Club and Honorary member of the Yoruba Tennis Club.

He is also a founding member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now All Progressives Congress (APC).

He attended the Security Officer Training Academy of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania USA (1986). He obtained the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Act 235 Lethal Weapons Licence in 1986. He is the chairman of Trans-World Security Systems Ltd and School of Management and Security. He is the former Regional Vice President (RVP) West & Central Africa of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS International) – 2002 to 2007; former Chairman of ASIS Nigeria Chapter – 1999 to 2001. Member of the International Review Board of the Journal of Security Education (New York, NY), National President of the Global Association of Private Security Practitioners (Abuja, Nigeria); Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Security and Safety of Nigeria. He holds the chieftaincy title of Fiwagboye of Ilewo (Ogun State) and Ogbeni

TINUBU, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed, accountant, economist, politician and former governor of Lagos State will be 62 on Saturday, March 29, 2014. Born in Kakawa Street, Lagos on March 29, 1952, he was educated at Government College, Ibadan.

He left Nigeria in 1975 for academic pursuit in the United States of America at the College, Daley Richard Chicago, Illinois, where he was on the College Honour’s list. He proceeded to the Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois and graduated in 1979 with a

EKHOMU, Ona, security expert will be 59 on Wednesday, March 26, 2014. Born in Irrua, Edo State on March 26, 1955, he obtained BA (History) from Voorhees College, Denmark, South Carolina USA 1977; M.A (Political Science) from the Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 1979; and PhD (Public and International Affairs – Policy Management) from the University of Pittsburgh, USA 1985.

OLUGBODI, Tunji, journalist and advertising guru would be 50 on Tuesday, March 25, 2014.

Fondly called TJ, he studied at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago-Iwoye, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language in 1987. His career began at The Guardian Newspapers as a reporter, later a subeditor and judicial correspondent. He embraced the next opportunity at Saal Advertising as a concept copywriter. He switched companies and roles when he joined Promoserve as a Client Service Executive. He rose to the position of Business Development Manager in 1990. In 1991, he moved to Prima Garnet Ogilvy. He played major roles in the establishment of 141 Worldwide, Cutler Ogilvy PR, First Direct and Lampost, all offspring’s of Prima Garnet Ogilvy. His hard work qualities at Prima Garnet saw him work on worldrenowned brands like Econet/Vodacom, British American Tobacco, Nestle, GSK, Multichoice, Coca-Cola, IBM, and Microsoft, among others. After 16 years at Prima Garnet, Tunji set up Verdant Zeal, a marketing communications group. member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, London and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Nigeria and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON.

Compiled by Gbenga Akinfenwa gbengaherkin@yahoo.com

Executive Director i-REP, Femi Odugbemi, Director General, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Emeka Mba, Director, i-REP, Jahman Anikulapo and Programmes Coordinator, Toyin Fajj at the Joint Cocktail Dinner between i-REP and Africa Magic on day one of i-REP Film Festival 2014 at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle), Victor Ochei, Speaker Delta State House of Assembly (right) and Mr. Charles Ajuyah, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice during the signing of the 2014 Appropriation bill in Asaba .

Professor of Biochemistry and member, Lagos State University (LASU), Governing Council, Babajide Olufemi Elemo, his wife, Director General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) Gloria Elemo, former Minister of Housing, Chief (Mrs.) Bolaji Osomo, former Senator and Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Bode Olajumoke and guest speaker, former Ambassador and permanent delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO in Paris, PHOTO: PAUL ADUNWOKE Prof. Michael Omolewa, during Babajide Elemo’s 60th birthday colloquium celebration in Lagos on.

Proprietress, Hiseed Schools, Mrs. Olaitan Olayinka (right) with representative of the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Kazeem Ladipo during the maiden inter-house sports competition of the Schools in Lagos… last weekend

Successful delivery of Reinsurance Software by Furak Systems Ltd to Waica Reinsurance Corporation Plc recently in Freetown Sierra Leone. L-R, Mr Davies C, IT Manager, Mr W. George, Manager Technical, Baidoo S.J, Deputy Director Finance, Ekundayo EA, MD/CEO, Mrs Kamara B, Admin Manager, Akin Osinkolu, MD/CEO, Furak Systems Ltd, Adenayajo O, Deputy Director Technical and Barrie, Manager Finance.

Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries PLC, Nicolaas Vervelde (left); Heineken Ambassador, Ruud Gullit; Human Resources Director, Nigerian Breweries PLC, Victor Famuyibo; and Corporate Affairs Adviser, Kufre Ekanem during the presentation of the UEFA Champions League Cup to the Management Team of Nigerian Breweries in Lagos.

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CSRFiles Weekly TM

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52 Sunday, March 23, 2014

ENTERPRISE

Navistar And Municipal Exports Enters Nigeria With Super Vehicles CHIEF KEN NWOKEDI is the president of Municipal Exports, a company that deals with commercial vehicle exporting and brokerage. On a visit to the Rutam House, the corporate head office of The Guardian Newspaper, he spoke to OMIKO AWA about the vehicles his company is bringing into the Nigerian market.

has a high cost. The roads may not be too good, but our vehicles are designed for rugged roads; they are specifically designed for Nigerian roads. The vehicles are all factory new, everything from the engine to the suspension are factory fitted and specially built to meet the challenges of rough terrains such as the Nigerian roads. hope the prices are friendly compare to vehicles assembled in the country?

Our prices are very competitive; in fact, you get what you pay for. If you buy something of a low price, you know, it would not last long. Our vehicles are designed for longevity and they have proven themselves around the world.

Who are the designers?

It’s a company called Navistar; it is one of the largest transport vehicle manufacturers in the world with number one market share in North america. aside from transportation, they are also one of the largest manufacturers of military vehicles.

It then means your vehicles must be rugged?

Yes, they produced the vehicles used for Operation Desert Storm of the Middle East saga as well as current military engagements globally. It is the same chassis, engines and suspension with vehicles used in the rough terrain of Middle East that I am bringing. have you any pleasure car?

No, we do not do much of that; we are primarily concerned with commercial trucks, buses and chassis. We do offer a range of luxury armoured vehicles, school buses, mediumduty trucks, customised limousine buses with a lounge and toilets.

Where in africa are your buses used?

We brought a demo bus last year to do a test run for a few months from Lagos to abuja and from Lagos to Onitsha. They performed very well; in fact those that travelled with the buses had no cause to complain of pains in their legs or waists, because they had enough room to stretch their legs. The vehicle is so roomy haT categories of vehicles you are bringing into the that a passenger could afford to cross his or her legs just as if he Nigerian market?

They are heavy duty commercial tractor heads, trailers, or she is in the business class of an airplane. how can you be located? refuse trucks, fire engines, luxury tour and mini buses for Our office is in Victoria Island, Lagos, and recently we have met intra-city, inter-state or trans-border transportation. We are prepared to support the transport sector, move it forward and with various stakeholders, luxury bus owners, road haulage company owners and companies that use tractors or other muserve the people better. nicipal vehicles. Despite this, we are looking forward to meeting Why the transport sector? more people and government officials seeking our services.

Yes, the roads are not too good, but based on our market research, we discovered that road transportation is the primary Just entering the Nigerian market, what do you think would be way by which people could move from point a to point B. and the future of your company?

The future of the company is to build and assemble the comif you refuse to use it, then you have to fly, which on it’s own mercial heavy duty vehicles we are currently importing to the country.

Being a new product, how would International Workstar the buyer get spare parts?

International 7400 & F4000 We have the supply chain capacity to meet up with the spare parts need for all our vehicles in the country. as a factory dealership, we are required to keep several spares in stock at all times.

With the demo you had with the

KEN NWOKEDI

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vehicles last year, what where the challenges you encountered?

We had minimal challenges, despite the poor state of the roads. Firstly, we trained the drivers to handle the vehicles and to navigate properly. We train them to operate the vehicles because most of the vehicles here are on manual transmission while ours are on automatic. automatic transmission is more efficient than the manual transmission, so we trained the drivers on how to navigate the roads.

Vehicles on manual transmission break down faster because different drivers handle them differently; you may even hear some drivers grinding the gear, but with automatic, you just jump into the vehicle touch a button and drive away just like a passenger car. how about the fuel consumption?

It is economical and eco-friendly. Of course, it has an exhaust, but it does not produce the black smoke that pollutes the air. american emission standards are more stringent than Nigeria, so it benefits everyone. The vehicles are very fuel-efficient. how much fuel did you use from Lagos to abuja and from Lagos to Onitsha?

We used just half of the tank for the Lagos-Onitsha trip, but for the abuja, we used just a little more because abuja is farther than Onitsha. Despite that, we did not finish the whole fuel in the tank. The vehicles consume less fuel than other vehicles. and servicing We do all that, we come to your company to service the vehicles; aside from sales, we also provide a service maintenance plan, two year warranty, train the drivers and offer low interest rate financing . For example, our driver training relies on teaching drivers to focus on keeping passengers safe and the vehicle at a safe and steady speed. Battling other drivers for position on the road, speeding and unsafe practices are prohibited. During our training we proved to drivers in actual situations that driving a steady and safe speed will make them get to their destination at the same time as the unsafe drivers, but without the risk of damage to the vehicle or risking passenger safety.

Would you then say your vehicle is like airplane on land?

People call our intercity buses land planes because the interior decoration is luxurious; it’s like home away from home.

It has toilets, wide seating and walkways space to move around. The cabin has provision for DVD movies and Wifi. Besides this, we offer a built in device that allows the owner to track the vehicle from anywhere in the world via satellite. So through this, the driver cannot miss a stop or go outside its specified route. The tracking system could be linked to the owner’s laptop, cell phones or computer. also, the conductor can send and receive emails via satellite. This enables the dispatcher to communicate with the vehicle without cellular interference.

This means there is no hiding for the buses.

Yes, I tracked the buses from my cell phone while they were on the ship coming to Nigeria. It enables the transport manager to monitor their vehicles on the road and know what is happening 24 hours a day. It has a police panic button and remote disable feature as well. are these all the features?

Our buses could be configured to any specification. For example the 45-seater bus could be configure to 39 or less depending on what the user wants. apart from this, our vehicles are built on stronger frames and do not flex or strain when they are carrying overloads; they remain balanced on the road. Our mini buses are good for banks, insurance companies, churches, transporters and government agencies; they too are like being in a business class of an airplane.

Cement Mixer

Executive Transporter Bus 3100 Midi Bus

2800 Gallon Fuel Truck

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion The Unemployment Crisis HAT is the most infuriating thing about the death of many young Nigerians in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) jobs scam? Not the incompetence. Not the ripping of N1000 from the grasp of each job seeker.

What really makes me mad is that all of them would have been alive now—still desperate but alive—had they been advised by their heads rather than their hearts, or by reason rather than faith.

They thought that the NIS knew what it was doing. They believed that arrangements were in place for a smooth, fair and safe candidate evaluation. Not one of them left home that morning with any fear of not leaving the stadium alive.

The origins of this faith are not difficult to identify. Leading officials of the administration began by claiming they would create jobs. That is always a good ploy either for baiting the youth vote or for keeping the youth interested.

In a May 13, 2012 article, “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs”, I detailed many of those promises. If you are reading this column online, take a quick look at that story and see how routinely top federal officials named how many jobs they were going to create. They repeated this fiction until 2013 when some Nigerians began to ask questions and they realized that some of those promises had matured.

At that point, the focus began to change. Here is what the Presidential Midterm Report in 2013 said about one area of agriculture alone: “In 2012, 14 new rice mills with capacity to process 240 metric tons of rice were set up by the private sector while in addition, a sum of 1.2 billion dollars was secured by the Federal Government to install 100 large scale rice processing mills to produce 2.1 million metric tons of rice annually.

“This and other initiatives of government in 2012 resulted in the creation of about two million new jobs among rural dwellers. In 2013, the Federal Government will implement a Young Graduates Commercial Farmers Scheme, which will absorb 780,000 graduates in its first phase and provide an estimated four million jobs in the agricultural sec-

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tor in the first year.”

That is: rural jobs created in 2012 alone were about two million, with an estimated four million agricultural jobs (created) in 2013 (or from 2013 to 2014). Keep in mind: according to this account, 780,000 graduates were absorbed or are to be absorbed under the Young Graduates Farmers’ Scheme alone.

More numbers continue to be thrown around, including a certain ‘1.6million jobs’ that were created in 2013: On New Year’s Day, President Jonathan ignited the fiction being circulated by his government in the following words. “We are keenly aware…of the estimated 1.6 million new jobs created across the country in the past 12 months as a result of our actions and policies…”

The same was repeated by his Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in her centennial Powerpoint file.

Nobody outside the circle of government officials and their praise-singers believes a word of this, because nobody can identify the jobs. Last week, Spaces for Change, a youth development and advocacy group, filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request challenging the Minister to verify the government’s claims.

A statement by Spaces for Change Executive Director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri said, “We would like to see the copies of the enabling policies, executed and ongoing projects and programmes for bolstering job creation and youth employment so that we may independently verify the methodology, measures and figures employed in generating the statistical data of jobs created within the specified time frame.”

That request will be ignored, of course, contrary to the law. The government brags a lot about having established the FOI law, but it never honours its own law.

The Spaces for Change request was followed by an open letter addressed to President

Jonathan by the Association of Unemployed Graduates, which clearly articulated the depth of the challenge of unemployment in Nigeria.

Among others, the group told Mr. Jonathan: • “From the various statistics we have from the National Bureau of Statistics, and other sources, the number of unemployed citizens ranges from 30 to 45 million, and that is about the population of five major cities in Nigeria. An average of 4.5 million gradu- sonala.olumhense@gmail.com ates enter into the job market annually with Twitter: @Sonala.Olumhense no access to soft loans or any type of ernment. If this is a government, I do not enabling environment coupled with epilep- know what disarray is. What we have is a pretic power supply, even after the privatiza- tend-performance, like children playing in tion of PHCN. the sand. But children playing in the sand • The “YouWin” programme is more like and have consistency, logic and an understandvery similar to the visa lottery game, where ing as to form and function that enables only lucky winners are empowered and only them to share and to take turns. the families of public office holders and What passes for governance in Nigeria is a those in government get the (few) available collection of individuals who have their jobs. hands on the instruments of power for pur• We live in a country where people now sell poses not of service, but of their own definijobs. Everyone had hitherto been quiet tion, perpetuation and distribution. That is about this completely unacceptable and why, alongside the boom in corruption, there despicable act and it must be looked into.” is such mediocrity, such forgetfulness, such Denouncing and dissociating itself from lack of commitment, such chaos, and dying. the violence of the terror groups in the Can this government fight poverty? The North, the group observed that the prob- answer would have been yes, but the governlems of those groups began when their ment went far too early into the publishing needs were not met. They then called on Mr. business: publishing fictitious narratives Jonathan to respond to the unemployment about how well it is doing, when the entire challenge so as to “halt the steadily growing world can see the contrary. In effect, Nigeria is number of angry and frustrated unem- now a porous canvass shot through with bulployed graduates who may be tempted to let holes in every corner. channel their knowledge and energy into What is the way out? The government cannegativities.” not move forward, let alone lead anyone, if it The problem is not that the government cannot do anything about the corruption does not know there is a serious problem. that is eating us alive. Therein are the integriThe reason nothing is going to change is ty and the funds we need to boost the private that the Jonathan government is founded sector and industry and commerce, which on the false foundation of power, not serv- will create jobs alongside the public sector. ice.

But with worse yet to come, tell me: who will There is a related problem: the grievous bell the rat…I mean, cat? mistake among Nigerians that there is a gov-

In Liberation Stadium, Fatal Job Hunt

By Simon Abah ERE’S the paradox: The Liberation Stadium in a Garden City. Thousands of graduates, the hope of a nation, flocked to the venue for a simple test in expectation of their being liberated from the pangs of years of unemployment and street roaming. They were wrong. The government and recruiting agency had other plans to frustrate them and hundreds of thousand others across the country. The explanation of ‘impatience’ of applicants for job slots in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) given by the Minister of Interior Abba Moro for the 19 deaths recorded around the country at the various aptitude test centres last Saturday, March 15, 2014 could not have come as a surprise. As indicated overhead, administrators have a penchant for hanging people who are not in their camp ‘out in the open to dry.’ In this case, the poor, unfortunate unemployed youths held the short end of the stick.

However, is impatience a bad attitude? And to what end were the applicants impatient? When people are denied basic rights to means of support by government, such persons become impatient, especially when their ever-increasing everyday needs cannot be met. Yes the youths were impatient and for a good cause. These deaths could have been avoided if only the NIS played its part. Unfortunately, it did not.

Social scientists amongst many other concerns, study the foundations of hardship and benefits in the society and explain, relative to specific environments, why things are the way they are and its implication for the future generation.

Following from the above, they accept as true that ‘everything is process.’

The plans of cities and the setting of infrastructures anywhere in the world take a long time and never happen abruptly. Mega cities are celebrated today only because they were made possible by the painstaking efforts of town planners. I suspect that the Immigration Service recruitment was only a showboating exercise and so ‘planning processes’ were disregarded.

Consultants and human resources managers take time to plan the recruitment process of staff members in any organisation. First of all, the positions to be filled are identified; competencies for these positions are established; positions are

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then advertised in the print or electronic media; followed by the collection of applications, which leads to short-listing of qualified candidates; notices are sent to shortlisted candidates, to report for written test (in batches sometimes); candidates, all of whom passed the written test may be invited for another written test or asked to proceed to the oral interview until the completion of all tests and rigours necessary to complete a job placement is done.

It was conspicuous to all Nigerians to infer that best practices for recruitment were not followed by the consultants.

How can you explain assembling over 22,000 youths in the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium, for instance, a facility that has a 16,000-capacity facility? Why should applicants engage in a physical test on the same day that was scheduled for a written test involving a crowd of that magnitude? Wouldn’t it have been proper for successful candidates who passed a written test to be engaged in military exercises in the next phase of a recruitment application? Why should applicants be directed to bring along original certificates to the venue of a written test as a precondition for accreditation before being allowed to write a test?

Even though the Liberation stadium in Port Harcourt has two main entrances or gates, how come only one gate was opened and even the one that was opened was not fully released? Why were the supervisors saddled with the measurement of the heights of applicants, precisely at the gate, slowing the process of accreditation? How come all applicants who applied were eligible to write the test?

The organisers were tactless. The lack of cohesion in the recruitment exercise unarguably led to the pandemonium because applicants did not want to miss out on the opportunity to put food on the table for their people, sensing that they were more than the carrying capacity of the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium. This was the immediate cause of the stampede. Wouldn’t you know it? Even inside the stadium the question papers were not enough, papers had to be thrown for people to catch at their own risk. And struggled they did to catch it even when it meant being inhuman to other contestants. It had to be a survival of the fittest. A proper plan could have prevented this avoidable mishap.

Shortly before the unfortunate event that brought shame to the country, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company of

Nigeria conducted a recruitment exercise around the country and no casualty was recorded. The Nigeria Defence Academy also conducts recruitment into the armed forces yearly, but their process is yet to record deaths, at least at the entrance examination level. Candidates who are successful in the written examinations are subsequently invited to face the armed forces selection board at a later stage. I wonder why the recruitment procedure of the Nigerian immigration service is different.

The blunt reality facing us is simply that governance in the real sense of it has taken flight in the country. Why should the youths groan without hope for a better future? Governments in general anywhere in the world are not the major employers of labour; they only drive the process for the private sector to be the chief employers of labour.

This strengthens the necessity for the political class to develop the overlooked mining sector, which is rich with abundant resources. The unethical mining of Gold, which is extracted from lead in Zamfara State has led to the deaths of over 460 children in the past years and the pillage of the resources, which are sold outside this country by cartels. A recent report submitted that Nigeria lost about $50 Billion to these doublecrossing acts. Lead poisoning in that state according to Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is responsible today for, the high rates of infertility, blindness of children and neurological damage to the people. Unfortunately, international viewers are more apprehensive about the welfare of Nigerian people than the Nigerian government at state and federal levels.

The mining sector can fill the gap to provide employment in many ways that the federal government agencies wouldn’t.

The discovery of oil in the 1960s at the moment is an albatross.

Governments over time have had to forget about this allimportant sector. Politicians jostle for political offices without any agenda because they know agenda or not, money from oil will continue to line their pockets and therefore creating policies for the development of the mining sector and other sectors for the development of the state and country becomes a tortuous mental strain.

The private sector is the answer to the problem of unemployment in this country but will the political class ever understand?

•Abah wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

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54 | Sunday, March 23, 2014

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Trouble On The Illiterate Roads Of Naijiria!

“He said to the Ram: ‘Disarm!’

HAT was Mr. Trouble quoting from Christopher Okigbo as he stood by the side of the road contemplating the warfare going on, on the illiterate roads and highways of Naijiria. Here, finally, the motor vehicle (internal combustion engine) has come into its own as a weapon of mass destruction. “Disarm!”

Mr. Trouble shouts in dismay, to the vehicles as they hurtle towards one another from opposite directions, two rams, of indifferent sizes and weights, heads lowered, ready to do each other to death.

The tarred section of the road and the highway is narrow and it is heavily marked by potholes and depressions. To watch vehicles searching for road space on this narrow section is to watch ants dodging water and oil and all things liquid in other to manoeuvre them from one point to another. But forget about those looking for motorable space on the tarred section of the road and the highway. Over time vehicles have won road space on either sides of the road. This is untarred road space. It too is potholed and even more depressed. But it is space that can be converted to motorable space. Like the tarred space in the middle of this track of road and highway, it, too, is contested space!

And where there is contested space, there is anger. There is venom. There is impatience. And there is hatred. Imagine then the two armies of vehicles hurtling from opposite directions, ready to head- butt one another to kingdom come and you can begin to imagine the live

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game of rack and ruin that takes place on Naijiria’s illiterate roads and highways day and night, night and day. But the contestation is not with vehicles coming from opposite directions only. The warfare also takes place among vehicles travelling in the same direction, vehicles on the same side, comrades together, you would think, bent on getting to those coming towards them. Not at all. Vehicles travelling side by side in the same direction are also in contestation, for space.

There is no speed limit. Every vehicle keeps hurtling towards their destruction coming from the opposite direction, until something, some other vehicle stops them from going on. The roads and highways tell the vehicles nothing because the vehicles cannot read anyway. Illiterate vehicles on illiterate roads and highways, in the order of the day and night. What about the occupiers of the vehicles? What about the drivers of the vehicles? What about the passengers of the vehicles? What about them? Nothing about them. They are also illiterate. And if they die in the ensuing battle of vehicles they will blame their enemies, and the enemies of their mothers and the jealous neighbours who could not bear their being so rich and endowed. There would be illiterate explanations at the end of the illiterate roads and highways.

Overtaking has become undertaking in Nigeria. Overtakers become undertakers in a flash second. But it is not overtaking that is

taking place. It is an ambush. You ambush the oncoming vehicle on the brow of a hill, when the other vehicle does not know you are coming. Or at the bend of a road. Or a sharp corner. And at speed. The fact that there is no speed limit means that vehicles hurtle through hamlets and villages and towns as they do through forest and savannah. Since the hamlets and villages and towns are part of the battle field, civilians also fall in the warfare. This collateral damage has forced the hamlets and villages and towns to build walls (known in other lands as traffic humps, sleeping police etc) across the roads that hurry through their hamlets and villages and towns at intervals of twenty metres. But because the walls are only across the tarred part of the road and highway, vehicles avoid the walls by driving on the shoulders of the road. The people of the hamlets and villages and towns put tree trunks and car tyres and any available refuse on the shoulders of the road so that the vehicles do not avoid the walls on the roads.

Years ago, if a vehicle confronted you from the opposite side of the road, it was usual for the vehicle to move back and let you have your rightful way. Today, that vehicle will come at you at speed, with its headlights blazing in one of the most blatant demon-

strations of impunity. No, impertinence, rather!

And the variety of vehicles, what a motley crowd! There are the tired tokunbohs belching smoke to retard all enemies frontal and sideways as well. There are the eyeless agbegilodo, just tyre and engine minimal, self-reconstructed to ply the roads and highways, sideways, like crabs! There are the trailer-trucks on which containers are balanced and left to take care of themselves. This is also a potent weapon ready to be discharged according to gravity and the chance levels of the earth underneath. What about the new vehicles being driven at insane speeds to break the vehicles in or to break them up? Who sends these maniacs on these missions?

There are no speed limits. No limits.

Everything is all right. No wonder our communities are dying across the country in clamour/riot of prayers! And everything is happening in the presence of police check points set up to beg for small bribes. There are customs check points to solicit for little bribes. There are Road Safety Corps check points to hustle/hassle for tiny bribes. There are army check points to command smaller bribes.

“And he said to the ram, disarm. And I said except by rooting, who can pluck yam tubers from their base?”

Encounter With Ghost Of Lugard

By Oge Ezeajughi WOKE up by 3.30am on St. Valentine’s Day to round up my memorandum on the Administrative Implications of Break-up of Nigeria. The memo is meant for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. I completed the exercise by 4.45am. As I sat up and steadied myself to get into the tub to start my regular daily routine, behold I saw the ghost of Fredrick John Dealtry Lugard in his well- knitted Victorian attire, seated at the attaché seat in my barely spacious study with all the glamour of the British raj. His signature grey mustache and bow tie were as radiant as they were in 1914. After the goose pimples that suddenly ran over me began to disappear I managed an un-soldierly attention for the seven minutes interaction I had with the Supreme Commander of Colonial ghosts in Nigeria.

“One hundred years has passed since I knitted this giant of a country in-between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn,” he grunted. I left a guide in The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa and in The Report on the Amalgamation of Southern and Northern Nigeria and Administration, 1912-1919 essentially to frogjump the fact of nation building. A lot has obviously happened, he queried. By now I had completely recovered from my fear of beholding a ghost in flesh and blood. I began to give him a run-down of major milestones in Nigeria’s history starting from the peaceful legislative council election of 1923 conducted by Hugh Clifford, one of his colonial cousins. From there I coursed through the Aba Women Riot that arose from taxing women; the second world war in which Nigerian soldiers participated in vanquishing the Nazi just to save British imperialism; rise of nationalism; loss of Southern Cameroon; killing of coal miners in Enugu 1945 anti-Igbo riots in Jos; con-

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JAW JAW By Didi Onu

stitutional conferences that led to independence; Minorities Right Commission headed by Sir. Henry Wellinks; cross-carpeting in the Western Region House of Assembly; census crises; internal colonialism in the lower north and the 1966 coup d’ etat; pogrom and the civil war in which an estimated one million people died. I mentioned the military and civilian locust of the 1970s till date, and the expansion of the population of the poor amid abundant resources. I deliberately left out the mercantile greed of Tubman Goldie and his cousins, which, in any case, formed the initial building blocks on which Nigeria edifice now stands.

At this point the ghost groaned, acknowledging my understanding of Nigeria but queried further on wealth distribution.

After a moment’s pause to re-organize my thoughts, I began to rattle again. The pattern of wealth distribution is governed by the motive of men entrusted with the authoritative allocation of values and their attitude to political institutions and the people. That is why Nigerians still live in poverty trap with beggars dotting every public space.

Unemployment statistics is a disgrace. Ahmadu Bello, Akanu Ibiam and Dr. Michael Okpara, I told him, hadn’t the time to think of building personal castles in either their villages or in the townships. They were engrossed with the task of building infrastructure for agricultural, industrial and educational revolutions in their regions. That was why they sustained cocoa, palmnut and groundnut pyramids and built great regional economies from the proceeds of their agro-based economies.

Nigeria fed its 56 million people then. But now we cannot feed 150 million even with abundant oil resources. Food import bill has soared to over two trillion naira while India, with about one billion mouths produces enough. Those of them like Obafemi

Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe, who built castles were already successful practitioners in their chosen trade. The ghost interjected: “I had no personal estate in England though the wealth of my Nigerian empire was in my hands at that time”.

But the pattern has changed I continued. And that is why I described the decade starting from 1970 as the years of the locust during which office holders spent their tenures despoiling the corporate wealth. General Olusegun Obasanjo who is synonymous with Otta farm was said to be valued at twenty thousand naira in 1998. Without recapitalization the farm is now a multibillion naira enterprise. One governor is said to own a refinery in South Africa. Yet another has built two breweries and a state- ofthe- art supermarket that diminishes Harrolds of London within the space of eight years. James Ibori stole millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money in Delta State and was issued a garter by the Nigerian judiciary. “But the Crown Court in my dear London has placed him in a dungeon” the ghost said as if he knew what was about to surge through my lips.

But Rauf Aregbesola appears to be different, maybe because his creator adorned him with ugly facial features - no girls around him to spend on. No worldly treasures.

My guest suddenly turned ashen and disappeared just after he declared: “Walter Rodney was a quarrelsome intellectual personality. And perhaps a combative human being. So are Samir Amin, Chinweizu, Eskor Toyo and other afrocenric theoreticians who telescope Africa’s underdevelopment purely on in balanced relationship between the imperial race and its colonized counterparts.

Yes, I worked here to achieve British imperial purpose and carved •Ezeajughi contributed this centenary article from Awka, Anambra State.

Sunday, March 23, 2014 55

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POLITICS

LUKA: I Left Because APC Is No Longer Good For Me Nasarawa State deputy governor, Mr. Damishi Barau Luka, who spoke with Journalists in Lafia, the state capital sheds light on his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

MSUGH ITYOKURA was there.

HY did you defect to the PDP? I want to thank God for this development. The APC was no longer good for me. And I want you to understand that, for making this decision, I know the consequences; both the good and the bad. I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt in my mind that I ought to have taken this decision long before now. Because of this conviction, I have no reason to loose sleep on issues that maybe associated with this defection.

So, in a nutshell, it has been peaceful in my mind, it gladdens my mind I did what I did and I am very comfortable with that decision.

What is your relationship with Al-Makura now?

Well, as it is now, and on my part I continue to maintain that we have parted ways in terms of political ideologies. In terms of the spirit of governance; governing of our people, my spirit is intact with the governor. At Al-Makura the same time, the governor is at his discretion to assign responsibilities to me as he and I will say more especially on the ingredeemed it fit. But if he feels otherwise, I am dients of those write-ups. still comfortable because the constitution is People also come to me saying that any clear about my functions as a deputy goveropportunity the governor has, he will talk nor. about the same issues in the write-ups.

Have you been assigned any responsibility The governor is always saying that he took since defection? responsibility of paying my medical bills I have not received or been assigned any before elections and the rest of it. It is so since then. very unfortunate that the governor will How are you relating with the state House of come so low in such a manner. But I have Assembly? vowed that I will never demean my princiWell, as you know, I am a member of that pal. constituency and since the inception of this However, I also have a responsibility not administration they look up to me as a to compromise my integrity. At the same father. I have been there as the first majority time I have every responsibility to defend leader of the assembly. So, there is a lot they my integrity. If the person I respect can go learn from me and I also learn from them. down that low, instead of looking for genSo, our relationship, abinitio, has been very uine issues and reasons to explain my cordial and more so they see me always like a departure from him, will go into falsefather. hoods, it is quite unfortunate, because I Your defection is seen as a betrayal to the am still alive. God spared my life. Sickness governor, how true is it? is of anybody at anytime because as Well, as far I am concerned, from the day I healthy as you seem, you don’t know what defected to the PDP I am aware of sponsored will happen in the next five minutes. write-ups and my judgment about these peoHowever, I don’t want to go into the ple is like a situation of pain for loss of some- exact circumstances of my illness. thing so very valuable.

All those now talking and surrounding However, I think the authors of these write- the governor were not there when we ups are deliberately positioning themselves. started this thing; they did not contribute Having satisfied themselves that they have anything. It was during the general eleclost something of great value, they are now tions that they came in when most of looking for a way of destroying that valuable them contested elections in PDP and asset, so that it doesn’t become useful to failed. The only place they could run to was itself. to come and support our movement.

Unfortunately, they are talking or commuToday they are masters of the house and nicating to somebody that knows what he is telling lies. doing, having known much about them.

As for my health and the much acclaimed Take, for instance, and I want to state in sponsorship by the governor –– he did not clear terms, that I know that government is give me even one naira and I want to say it sponsoring all the write-ups. That is why I in clear terms. I challenge the governor said they are doing it out of pains. But I don’t and whosoever thinks that he knows what want to join issues with them. One fact that I the governor did to come out and dispute must state, and to corroborate what I said this fact. One naira, the governor did not the day I was leaving that party; I said I was give me when I was down and had to go to tired of dealing with lies and falsehood, and the hospital. I know all the well-wishers that is the critical experience of those things who were by my side morally and otherI said I hated in them. That is why I decided wise and I know I went to a private clinic to leave them. in Abuja where I was tested and found out Even after leaving them, they are exhibiting that I needed a procedure on my spinal such character, which means I have been vin- cord. dicated.

I contemplated whether to go for treatOne of those mentioned, Alh. Hussaini ment overseas before the elections, but my Umar, worked under me during the campaign; he was my zonal coordinator in Keffi and I know him very well. What was written using his name is not from him, because I know his intellectual capacity; he cannot even read it.

So, those are the issues and when I read through those write-ups, I just laugh because I have been with them and I know all their antics. I know who does what in that government. They are not even thinking deep to know the kind of persons they will do that to

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Luka

friends said I should not go but wait till after the elections. I didn’t go, for any overseas treatment. In fact, not to any hospital apart from the one I went in Abuja.

After the elections, we spent about five to six months, and I did not go for any treatment in Israel. What took me to Israel was that I was made the leader of delegation for pilgrimage. Mind you, I was fit because if I were not I would not have taken oath of office as the deputy governor.

I approached the governor officially as part of my entitlement and the bill that was given to him for my check-up in the hospital in Israel was $9,000 dollars, which the governor graciously approved, including other allowances that I am entitled to from such a trip.

I went to Israel for pilgrimage and only used the opportunity to do the medical check-up. I ran some tests and finally they found me healthy and there was no need for any procedure. I spend only two days in the hospital and the people are alive to attest to that.

After all that, what I spent in that hospital was $2,000 and had about $7,000 plus left on me. But being the leader of the delegation, people were looking up to me for one thing or the other and out of that money I spent about $2,000 on them, leaving me with $5,000 dollars. It may interest you to know that, as part of my virtues, when I returned home, I thanked the governor and gave him my report and since I did not go for the treatment, I gave him the money, which I know he cannot deny. He asked me to pay it into the treasury. Some of the members of council commended my standing on that. I paid the money to the Accountant General’s office and thank God that the man is still alive today, the documents are there and can be confirmed. So, for my principal to say he paid my medical bills is very unfortunate.

The feelers are that you were induced by the presidency to join the PDP. Is it true?

As far as I am concerned, they are only chasing shadows. I have integrity and I insist I never discussed with the president about my decision to join the PDP. Because

From the day I defected to the PDP I am aware of sponsored writeups and my judgment about these people is like a situation of pain for loss of something so very valuable. However, I think the authors of these write-ups are deliberately positioning themselves.

Having satisfied themselves that they have lost something of great value, they are now looking for a way of destroying that valuable asset, so that it doesn’t become useful to itself.

of the integrity that I have built for myself, I take decisions that I am convinced of, and in the circumstances I have found myself, I am master of myself. People should learn to be principled. I did not enter this party for Jonathan, I entered first for myself and second for my people. Jonathan is the one that needs me.

These people’s trademark is falsehoods and lies. When I went to Israel with the president, the House of Assembly sent impeachment notice and all of them concluded that the president took me to Israel so that the governor will be impeached for my sake.

It took the leadership of House and the entire House to swear to the governor that I did not know anything about the impeachment thing. The guilty are always afraid.

They should try to imbibe the spirit of sincerity.

The governor has accused you of being a religious bigot. To what extent is this true?

It is very unfortunate and it pains me that leaders of our status could bring themselves so low as if we don’t know the constitution of this country. Sincerely, I am ashamed, because those who are flogging this religious issue are supposed to be leaders who have benefited from the unity of purpose of this country and the faith that we have, the Christians, Muslims, Pagans and what have you. They have supported and voted for them at various times and then they never realized there was religion but they are bringing it up now.

When Obasanjo was president we voted Abdullahi Adamu, a Muslim against Ewuga, a Christian. Same under Ya’adua, a Muslim, we still voted a Muslim as governor, in Akwe Doma. It is so very unfortunate for them to be saying this, we were all created by one God. So, people should always think before they make certain utterances, no matter what they will gain. The collective gain of our people should be placed above self.

Religion is completely out of it.

By the way, I am not talking about ambition and nobody is talking about it.

What about the accusation by the governor that you are corrupt?

It is very unfortunate. In what perception is he talking about corruption? I challenge the governor and his cohorts that from May, 2011 to date, if they have any issue of corruption concerning me. I challenge them to bring to bear on the corruption issue.

Well, I don’t want to speak about it yet; time has not yet come. Time will come when I will show the world who is corrupt and who is not corrupt. I have never disrespected the governor and will never do that, but at the same time I will not compromise my integrity.

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56 | Sunday, March 23, 2014

POLITICS SOUTHWEST: Fringe Parties And The Contest For Power T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) is gearing to gain total control of the Southwest. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the other hand wants to retain to the zone, which it entered in 2003, but had to be chased out in the aftermaths of 2007. In between are other fringe parties that could either play the role of spoiler, or do the yeoman job of a ‘third force’. Just like in Plateau State, where a fringe party, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) ensured that the PDP did not did not coast home with total victory in the recent council elections, other smaller parties might as well be telling the PDP that the stage is open to all contenders. Save for its endless internal crisis, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) remains a major factor in the Southeast. The party has held sway in Anambra State for the ninth year running. It was unfortunate that the party lost Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo to the APC. In the Southwest, smaller parties like the Dr. Frederick Fasehun-led new Unity Party of Nigeria, the Chief Olu Falae-led new Social Democratic Party (SDP) as well as a nondescript KOWA party are occasionally standing up to be counted, especially in the. The Labour Party (LP), however, is not to be dismissed. The party showed some mettle in the last governorship in Ondo State, and since then continued to give the APC sleepless nights in the Zone. With Ondo State firmly in its grip, the party is anxious to extend the Ondo success to other states in the zone. The instability in the PDP and the APC has giving LP some fillip in Ogun, Ekiti and Lagos could gain from this as 2015 beckons. Meanwhile, Ekiti will be the first place to test the LP’s strength come June and then August in Osun, where governorship elections have been scheduled. Does the LP have the character and stamina to be a good alternative to the PDP and the APC in the Southwest? Time will tell.

Mimiko during a campaign exercise in 2013

LP’s Daunting Search For New Territories In Southwest From Niyi Bello, Akure HE emergence of the Labour Party (LP) on the political scene of Ondo State was like a mass movement; a sort of hurricane that swept everything on its path to take control of the political structure and eventual governance of the state.

Launched with an unprecedented massive crowd in attendance at the Akure City Hall on December 14, 2006, the party won a governorship election on the 14th of April of the following year, exactly four months after the launch but did not retrieve the mandate, fraudulently given to the then incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until after 22 months of legal tussle that terminated at the Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Benin on February 23, 2009.

At the time of its formation, the LP had everything going for it. There was a disenchanted electorate who were tired of playing the mainstream politics under which guise the PDP, in the 2003 general elections, took over the control of the Southwest geo-political zone from the inward-looking Yoruba ethnic politics, with the exception of Lagos State.

Members of the political class who perceived the PDP governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, as “too academic” because of his insistence on certain principles not too palatable to them, were also disillusioned and by the third year of the administration, major stakeholders in the party like the State Chairman, Alli Olanusi and Secretary, Boluwaji Kunlere, had fallen out with the governor.

Many top civil servants became moles and were leaking classified information to the public and even top government functionaries, having been enlisted by the opposition in the quest to change a government that didn’t care a hoot about their welfare, publicly condemn the administration.

The claim of a handful of loyalists in the system that the state would be better with time did not hold water and in no time, Agagu’s popularity plummeted to an all-time low. In one instance, the governor was publicly booed by residents of Akure on his arrival from a trip overseas, where he was rumoured to have died.

In the midst of all these, the robust followership of Dr. Rahman Olusegun Mimiko, which got a boost by his elevation from the position of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, assumed a cult-like dimension

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across the nooks and crannies of the state and er political parties. many were already addressing him, even The face-off between leaders of organised before he declared his intention to contest the labour in the state which had occurred twice in poll, as “His Excellency, the Governor-Inthe life of the administration over what the Waiting”. workers called “unwarranted retrenchment” So when the disappointment of both the elec- but which government described as normalizatorate and disgruntled politicians met with the tion of service structure to weed out ghost governorship aspiration of a well-loved “Iroko”, workers, the obvious failure of government at the name by which Mimiko is fondly called to carrying out periodic recruitment to ease depict the deep-rootedness and massiveness of unemployment and the general scenario of his political machine, the result was a party “doing things as usual” are pointers to the fact that became so popular that its registered that the labour platform was only a vehicle for members were found in almost every house- politicians to achieve their dreams. hold.

Indeed, the option of LP, a platform that had Although its presence was not significantly been in existence but not strong enough to felt outside the shores of Ondo State, the LP swim in the murky waters of Nigerian politics, became so popular and its supporters so opti- was taken by Mimiko and his numerous supmistic that even some of the supposedly non- porters when the PDP under Agagu with the partisan traditional rulers publicly identified support of President Olusegun Obasanjo, closed with it such that in several of its campaign the door on their ambition to contest and win tours across the state, monarchs publicly solic- the election for the party. it votes for the party and its candidate.

With the inauguration of its government five The membership became so committed to years ago, the strength of the party which lies in the success of the party that majority levied its massive support among the people and the themselves to contribute funds for running the great expectations that were particularly party structure and those who cannot afford buoyed by Mimiko, who before being sworn-in that became prayer warriors, especially after pledged that “on no account would anybody in the April 14, 2007 election, moving from one this state go to bed hungry”, became its twin prayer mountain to the other to seek spiritual albatross. intervention in the legal battle to retrieve the On the day that Mimiko was declared as the mandate. one duly elected, scores of his supporters The LP came to the scene wearing the garb of forcibly took over government property espea leftist platform and hints of socialism cially vehicles, which were seized from fleeing colouration with the welfare of workers who PDP chieftains while many moved into governare supposed to be the owners and whose ment houses claiming that it was their time to trademark solidarity song and clenched fists rule. became the signpost of the new platform, as For several weeks after inauguration, while the focal point. government was making passionate appeals on But apart from the solidarity song and radio to those who have taken over public propclenched fists, the occasional public appearerty to release them, many others, particularly ances of national labour leaders especially dur- unemployed youths and politicians were gathing election or “endorsement “ periods, ering at the Governor’s Office on daily basis, just the controversial claims of having improved to see and cheer their idol as he commenced the lot of the state workforce and perhaps the the onerous task of putting food on their tables. title of “Comrade-Governor” bestowed on While it could be said that, five years down the Mimiko, the LP is not different from all the oth- line, the popularity of the governor had not

From Ogun State where former governor, Gbenga Daniel, is said to be rallying support for the LP to take over from the APC, to Osun State where former SSG, Fatai Akinbade, is said to be preparing to carry the flag of the LP in the coming August 9, 2014, and Ekiti State where Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of the House of Representatives, is also warming up to contest the next governorship election on the LP platform, the party appears to be attempting a take over of the zone.

plummeted to the level that got his predecessor booed on Akure streets, Mimiko could not be said to still be commanding that initial cultlike followership that enveloped the state at his inauguration.

The reason for this is that as much as the LP government has tried in the area of provision of dividends of democracy to the people especially those at the grassroots through its novel bottom-up approach rural integration programme and intervention in the health and education sectors, many of the supporters are still not happy that they have not been personally accommodated in a party that has “Room Enough For All” as its motto.

Perhaps it was in the quest for actualizing the message of this motto that the governor appointed almost three hundred Special Assistants during his first term of office, a development that many saw as a way of just finding “jobs for the boys” who combed the state spreading the message of Iroko during and after the election.

Many of the SAs have neither office accommodation nor clear-cut schedule of duty with some having presumptuous titles such as “Special Assistant on Relationship with President Jonathan” which was given to an Ijaw man.

Despite the drop in its popularity ratings however, the party still managed to win the last October 2012 governorship election with a narrow margin over the PDP and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which combined votes surpassed the winning number of the LP. The first quarter of the second term of the party in office however recorded low morale on the part of the members who after the election seemed to have been abandoned by the party with many showing exasperation about the turn of events.

For more than one year after the second term election, the leadership at the ward levels did not convene any meeting and the situation was not helped by the governor who declared that the number of politicians, especially the crowd of SAs would have to be drastically reduced as government needed to conserve funds for running the administration.

Only last month, perhaps realizing that the flock may seek greener pastures on other political fields being occupied by the PDP and the now more aggressive All Peoples Congress

CONTINUED ON PAGE 57

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Sunday, March 23, 2014 | 57

POLITICS FALAE: Our Agenda In New SDP Is To Kill Corruption That Nigeria May Live

By Kamal Tayo Oropo

It is clear that the so-called ruling or major parties cannot do much about corruption because they are the benefici-

ORMER presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, is one politician who is not afraid aries of the massive misappropriation of our common wealth. The SDP now offers itself to Nigeria as the platform of to go it alone over and over again, rather hope and integrity with zero tolerance for corruption. than compromise on longstanding principles.

While it was expected that the former minister of finance would join his friends in the All Progressive Congress (APC), Falae recently presented to the public what may be the manifesto of his new political, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) fashioned after the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) of the ill-fated Third Republic, which produced the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola.

At the event, tagged first National Media Conference of the party, Falae noted that the SDP which made its first appearance in the country in 1989, quickly became the dominant party of that time, commanding comfortable majorities in the chambers of the National Assembly and in the majority of the Houses of Assembly of the 30 states at the time. Social Democracy, the political philosophy of the party, according to Falae, is a universal philosophy, which has been embraced by people oriented political parties across the world for more than a century. A good example is the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

He said: “The central objective of Social Democracy is the welfare of the individual citizen from cradle to grave. This explains its popularity in many countries, especially where there is widespread poverty social injustice and gross inequalities.

“In our own country today, we face intimi- Unveiling the SDP Constitution, Manifesto and Symbols in Abuja yesterday, Chief Supo Shonibare (South-West Leader of SDP), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar (National Secretary), Chief Olu Falae dating challenges: mass poverty, hunger, (Protem National Chairman), Senator Ebenezer Ikeyina, and Hajiya Maryam Maggie Batubo (National Women’s Leader) in Abuja on March 9, 2014. insecurity and fears, mindless corruption and those who have legitimate business abroad return to politics of principle and service looting of the treasury at all levels of govern- tion has become open and part of the system.

Public officers are now openly putting up casbut are now too scared to travel out of the where no godfathers will impose their ment. It is my considered view, that corruption has become the single most devastating tle-like mansions, hotels, shopping centres and country because of the humiliating treatment friends, business partners or family members housing estates without taking loans from the at the hands of immigration officers at their on the party and where internal democracy evil facing this generation because virtually banks. Recently, it was published in the newsdestination, thanks to the reputation of and respect for the individual prevails.” all other problems are traceable to corruppapers that the ICPC had seized 62 houses from Nigerian as a country of cleaver crooks, crimiNo nation, according to Falae, can develop tion. Examples from the communications a Deputy Director in the public service! This is a nals and drug traffickers- all these call for a and be prosperous without stability and and transport sectors will make the point scandal and an embarrassment that must not party and a government that has the welfare peace. The barbarity which Boko Haram is abundantly clear. When mobile telephony continue. The Billions of Naira stolen by this of the people as its main concern and respon- perpetrating in the North-eastern zone of was introduced into Nigeria some 12 years sibility.

Nigeria is an evil which this nation must not ago, it brought great relief to the people who officer and used to acquire the confisticated “The SDP on account of its universally tolerate any further. The recent mass murder had been waiting for years for telephone serv- properties can provide jobs for thousands of unemployed youths or provide portable water acknowledged ideology of Social democracy of innocent school children in several schools ices. The huge pent-up demand enabled the and of its track record in Nigeria when it was is the last straw that broke the camel’s back. system providers, within a few years, to make for several rural communities. Surely corrupthe ruling party between 1990-1992 possesses Saying that government must mobilize all unusually high profits, which then led to the tion on this scale is not compatible with the well being and prosperity of our people.” all the credentials to lead the nation out of the resources at its command to wipe out this influx of more mobile companies. In next to If Nigeria must move forward, grow and prevailing fears, poverty and corruption. Our evil, Falae suggested that if, as it is being sugno time, the ensuing competition resulted in leadership is composed of tried and tested gested in the media, these murderers have their selling to the public, telephone lines far develop into a modern and prosperous country, Falae insisted that corruption must die. “It social democrats who in their various careers, bases in neighboring countries to which they in excess of the capacity of their installed either as professionals, elected public officers return after doing violence in Nigeria, govequipments. The consequences are the unsat- is clear that the so-called ruling or major parernment must avail itself of the right of hot isfactory services they are offering the public ties cannot do much about corruption because or career officials have distinguished themthey are the beneficiaries of the massive misap- selves and demonstrated in the public domain pursue, so that they can chase these crimitoday; These days you are told that ‘the netpropriation of our common wealth. The SDP integrity, decency, consistency patriotism and nals to their foreign outpost and destroy work is busy’ or ‘please call later!’” unquestioned commitment to the nation and them. Our children are our future, we must Falae stressed that such overloading of tele- now offers itself to Nigeria as the platform of phone facilities and the consequential deteri- hope and integrity with zero tolerance for cor- people of Nigeria. To those who have become not allow Boko Haram to wipe out that ruption. While all Nigerians are welcome to disenchanted with politics and politicians future.” oration in services can only occur and be our party, however, if there are individuals especially those who have retired prematurely To what extent can Falae’s solo outing allowed to continue because the regulatory because they could no longer tolerate the undermine the strength of the two major agencies must have compromised their man- whose purpose in politics is to steal public funds, we say to them, ‘please don’t come to immorality and indecency going on in the parties in the Southwest? Time, again will date and turned a blind eye to the greedy polity, I say to you, you now have a chance to tell. behaviour of the service providers, surely for the SDP’ go elsewhere, or better still, give up a consideration. “We all know how damaging your ambition of getting rich at the expense of it is for the economy and society for its com- the poor people of Nigeria”, he said.

While corruption is dishonesty in the ecomunications systems to be unreliable as ours, nomic or financial sphere, election rigging, thanks to official corruption. imposition of candidates, changing of party Despite the disillusionment at home however, In the transport sector, we are painfully CONTINUED FROMPAGE 56 affiliation on daily basis, according to Falae, the LP, through Mimiko, has become an avenue aware of how deplorable and dangerous (APC), the LP through a release by its represents corruption in the political domain. for the PDP at the national level to gain a many of our so-called express roads are. Quite Publicity Secretary, Kole Odogiyan, directed foothold in its request to take back the South often, government engineers and consultants He said such political somersaulting and lootthat party meetings should resume at the ing of the treasury are two sides of the same West geo-political zone with Iroko’s imprints design roads to high or even international ward levels to strengthen the platform as the appearing on almost every effort of the elestandards and contracts are then awarded on coin of political and moral bankruptcy in both 2015 Presidential and Legislative elections are ments opposed to the APC in the zone. the basis of such design standards. But at the the leadership and followership of the two rulapproaching.

From Ogun State where former governor stage of construction, quite often, standards ing parties. “People have been changing their Another reason for the low morale of the LP Gbenga Daniel is said to be rallying support for parties so frequently that even their own chilare compromised and down-graded by the members is the rumoured intention of the LP to take over from the APC, to Osun State contractors in collusion with the supervising dren are no longer sure to which party their Mimiko to dump his platform for the PDP to where former SSG, Fatai Akinbade is said to be fathers now belong. This mindless opporengineers and others”, he said. consolidate his support for the second term preparing to carry the flag of the LP in the comtunism simply has meant that many so-called According to Falae the money saved as a ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan, political leaders or heavy-weights have lost ing August 9, 2014 and Ekiti State where result of “such conspiracy against the peowhich he has publicly endorsed. respect and credibility among the people of Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of the House of ple,” is shared between contractors and the This is as a result of the fact that Mimiko, as Nigeria who have, as a result become cynical Representatives is also warming up to contest supervisors. His words: “The poor quality of the party’s leader, appears to be the rallying about politics, believing quite rightly, that the next governorship election on the LP platroads which results from this immoral and point for all the interests in the political plat’politicians’ are only in office to steal public form, the party appears to be attempting taking unethical collaboration has led to ghastly form and the pivot around whom all the over the zone. motor accidents and the deaths and maiming funds in billions of Naira or dollars and that aspirations of the party revolve. To many The same attempt was made in Anambra durof innocent travelers. Corruption is therefore they do not care about them and their probobservers, Mimiko, who left the PDP and his lems. This explains why voters will only go to ing the November 16, 2013 governorship elecnot only immoral and unethical, it also conearlier Alliance for Democracy (AD) because stitutes a major danger to the lives of our peo- the polling stations on election day if, and only of the overbearing influences of some power- tion when the party’s candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah made a shot at the goal. Although he didple and a major source of deterioration in our if, they are “settled” by the candidate or his ful individuals in determining the legitimate n’t win the controversial poll, the party at its agents. They insist on taking “their own share social well-being. ambitions of members, and who once National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held “The diversion of public funds into private of the “booty” up-front because once the candi- declared the he has “no godfather but God in Akure last December eulogized Ubah “for his pockets which is going on daily at all levels of date gets into office, they know from experithe father”, has emerged as the godfather of ence that they will not see him again until he courage, commitment and gallantry in carrying government, prevents the use of such the LP. comes back four years later to seek re-election. the party’s flag.” resources for the production of food for the Although many of the members who left “The growing problems of graduate and nonHow this attempt at territorial expansion is masses, provision of employment for graduthe PDP with the governor to float the new graduate unemployment; the frustration of carried out would certainly depend on whether ates and non-graduate unemployed youths party and are still averse to his return insist- the LP is able to maintain its grip of Ondo poliand the generation and distribution of stable, millions of our people who just don’t know ed that nothing like that is going to happen, tics and a test for this will come up on the 5th of what to do to survive; the aged who are abanadequate and affordable electric power supthe governor’s body language, his appeardoned by friends and family and for whom the next month as the party members queue up ply for domestic and industrial use. We know ance at PDP functions and the claim of many behind its candidate against those from the state has no programme that will enable them there is corruption everywhere in the world; PDP chieftains that they are preparing for his to age in dignity and comfort; the situation of PDP and APC in the bye-election to fill the we know that in those other countries effecgrand entry, point to the fact that he may vacant seat of Ilaje/Ese-Odo constituency at the those who live in daily fear of terrorism armed tive steps are taken to detect and punish lower chamber of the National Assembly. robbery and kidnapping and the frustration of indeed be on his way to the ruling party at those involved. But here in Nigeria corrupthe centre.

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Labour Is Set To Conquer Southwest

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

58 | Sunday, March 23, 2014

POLITICS

OMOLE: In Ekiti, Labour Is The Party To Beat By this time last year, Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State was almost not in existence, but with the defection of Hon Opeyemi Bamidele who is eyeing the governorship seat of the state, the story of the party is gradually changing. Mr. Akin Omole, the erstwhile factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is now the chairman of LP said the story of LP has not just changed from that of an unknown party but it has become the largest party in Ekiti, waiting to sack the government of Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He spoke to MUYIWA ADEYEMI (Head South West Bureau, Ado Ekiti) Will you say Labour Party is on ground in Ekiti State?

ABOUR Party is a mass movement and it is the largest party in Ekiti today. There is no doubt that we have our presence in all the 177 wards of the state and the party has established itself in the minds of the people as their hope for good governance.

How far have you prepared for the June 12 governorship election?

We are ready for the election because it is Ekiti people that will vote and we know ourselves. We are not new to them, they are familiar with our antecedent and they are eager to vote for a change to bring the party of father, mother and son into the government.

You need to observe our congresses both in the state and at the ward level to know that Ekiti people have decided to install Labour Party as the next ruling party. Though there are charlatans that wanted to confuse people that court gave an injunction to stop the congress when there was nothing like that.

We know that the government is out to cause confusion and sponsor a splinter group but they have failed. The national leadership of the party was here, led by the national chairman and pronounced that there was no faction in the party because we have done all that is needed to be done to harmonise the executive and make it all inclusive.

If you consider the time the LP became alive in Ekiti and the time for election, do you think you can make any impact?

PDP was formed in October 1998 and election took place in December, they still won the election. We have been operating since last year. And the election will hold in June, go to Ondo State and see the marvelous things Governor Segun Mimiko is doing there, his own party was formed, may be, late December 2006 and stood for election in April and won, acceptability is the name of the game.

How will you react to the impression of many in Ekiti that LP and PDP are six and half a dozen?

One thing I want to tell you is that Labour Party to me is a registered political party under the constitution of the Federal

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Omole

Republic of Nigeria, the electoral laws and all the enabling statues recognised the existence of the party. I think people get it wrong that LP is an extension of another party, let them continue to say so, but the members of the public are not deceived.

The truth is that, as a party we are not making enemy with any political party. In some areas, we agree with APC and in some instances, we share some policy thrusts with the PDP, but we have our objectives and cardinal goals with clear vision.

We are not in the game to attack anybody or be antagonistic to just any policy. If we see anything good in APC, we commend it and if we notice anything good about the PDP, we pass a good comment about it. I don’t know how some people play their politics, but LP is focused because it was established for the interest of the masses, low income earners, those whose

Ekiti people are more enlightened than that.

If you use our money to tar our roads, must we still come back to you to prostrate and thank you. Is that not the service you sought our vote to do? I hate this idea of worshipping leaders. We shall not be taken back to the 18th Century any longer when the White men came and build their houses on mountain top for the District Officers (DOs). We shall resist all forms of neo-colonialism where our government is removed far away from us. But let me assure you that when Labour Party gets to power, we shall remove all the vestiges of neocolonialism

income cannot take care of their responsibilities, we want to take the heavy burden off their shoulders.

What do you want to do differently in Ekiti State that the APC has not done?

We will do almost everything differently because nothing is happening in Ekiti State. I have not seen anything done by this government?

Do you think people will agree with your assessment of this government with many road projects that have changed the face of the state?

The truth is that governance has moved forward from where APC thinks governance should be. Governance is not about tarring of roads or fixing of street light alone, it is not about water alone; what about the security of the life of the people who will ply the road? The reason why we respect a government is because it will provide security for me and you.

But we now have a government whose party chairman is standing trial for alleged murder, so also a member of the House of Assembly. We now have a state where political parties cannot hold their meetings without fear of being harassed or attacked.

I remember one thing, that in 1951, I was not born then, I read it that when Chief Awolowo’s party, Action Group (AG) was formed, its motto was ‘freedom for all, life more abundant.’ The meaning of freedom is that all inhibitions must be removed, that we can live our life fully the way God wants us to live it.

And to do this, they gave us free education so that everybody would be conscious that as a human being, there are some inalienable rights that I have. But surprisingly, how should a government in the 21st Century believe that it is a privilege for us to enjoy some rights. Will it not surprise you to know that our own government is still building a Government House on the mountain top? Where do you see this happening in the whole world where the Government House is being removed away from the reach of the people? Go to 10 Downing Street, people walk pass the place, so also you see people at White House every day.

Have you ever seen the Federal Government advertising a road they tarred? Or do you see them putting the billboard of President Goodluck Jonathan on some roads? But this government is wasting our money with these irrelevant billboards.

They think they do us favour by tarring roads or fixing of streetlights. Is the money spent on those projects not from our commonwealth? Does this money belong to them or members of their family?

Ekiti people are more enlightened than that. If you use our money to tar our roads, must we still come back to you to prostrate and thank you. Is that not the service you sought our vote to do? I hate this idea of worshipping leaders. We shall not be taken back to the 18th Century any longer when the White men came and build their houses on mountain top for the District Officers (DOs). We shall resist all forms of neo-colonialism where our government is removed far away from us. But let me assure you that when Labour Party gets to power, we shall remove all the vestiges of neocolonialism.

Some people still believe they read more of LP on the pages of newspapers than feeling its presence especially in Ekiti?

I can say it loud and clear that Labour Party is the party to beat in Ekiti politics today. It is the party that is acceptable to the people now, it is the leading party. One thing you don’t know and which many member of the public is aware of, is the fact that LP is a movement of the people, it is a silent revolution, it is the determination of the people to deliver themselves from the hands of their oppressors.

We shall come out with our facts to show the world and they will tell us how some of these government officials came about their stupendous wealth. If you see how this people display wealth, you will be surprised. Ekiti is a sober society, you don’t display such wealth in the midst of abject poverty and hunger.

We shall adjudicate on the resources of the state judiciously in a manner that everybody will know, even if we are unable to provide anything, they will know because we shall be very transparent and accountable.

But what we face now is a situation where government will tell you we cannot do something, yet what they do will make it difficult for us to believe their stories. Ekiti people are sincere people. Some of us have given a substantial part of our adult life to serving our people; we won’t allow them to rubbish this state.

Fayemi is a stranger to the politics of this state; he is from my constituency. I am not saying he is not entitled to be a governor, but politically, he is a beginner. Let him tell us the position he has occupied politically before he became a governor. He was never in the House of Assembly, he was never an Adviser to the Governor or a Commissioner. I was a member of the House of Assembly, I was a Director General of an agency, I was a Special Adviser to a Governor; I have represented this state in a National Conference. Have I not sufficiently served my people?

We want to stop a situation where some people will just run home from elsewhere with money we don’t know the source and want to become a governor without any experience. Our people have said no to that. And the LP is the only platform that can put an end to such unacceptable development, an irresponsible style of leadership.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014 | 59

POLITICS

OYO: Labour Set To Benefit From APC, PDP Internal Crises From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan ITH internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the relatively unknown Labour Party (LP) is fast becoming the ‘ new bride’ among aggrieved politicians in Oyo State. With its relatively unknown background coupled with its poor showing in the past general election in the state, nothing much has been heard of its activities but three years after that experience, there appears to be something in the offing for the Labour Party; the crisis in other leading political parties of recent appears to be fast giving hope to the LP; not only as a party for the future but equally as the undeniable third force in the South-west politics.

Presently, it is no more a secret that the Oyo APC, like its PDP counterpart, is engulfed in internal scuffles, which could make or mar its fortunes depending on how fast it can resolve its differences. Since the demise of the national leader of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lam Adesina, there has been no love lost among the party faithful.

Various reconciliatory meetings have been called to bring together the aggrieved persons and groups but little success was recorded. Apart from the alleged lopsidedness in political office sharing, some APC members lamented non-patronage by the government while some members protested the recent appointment of children of first class monarchs and individuals to man ministries as well as agencies of

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government and parastatals While its two serving Senators, Chief Femi Lanlehin representing Oyo South and Alhaji Ayoade Adeseun from Oyo Central have been reportedly romancing the Labour Party to actualise their individual ambitions ahead of next election, majority of the members of the PDP who jumped ship to the defunct ACN in 2011 and assisted it to dislodge Adebayo Alao-Akala are equally moving out of the ruling party to the LP due to their unfulfilled aspirations within the broom party.

Those in this category are a former Secretary to the State Government and immediate past Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Ltd, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli; a former Commissioner for Establishment, Kazeem Adedeji; as well Ajimobi’s aide, Nurudeen Akinyo; Yemi Aderibigbe, a seasoned labour leader; Comrade Olu Abiala and his Progressive Action Group members, the Ayetoro group led by a former state lawmaker, Tunde Adegbenjo; Comrade Wole Abisoye, the Pathfinder Group and many of the professionals and artisans who worked for the emergence of the defunct ACN government in 2011.

While the state PDP is embroiled in crisis and appears not ready to close ranks, Labour Party appears the next haven for majority of its aggrieved members especially when one of its arrowheads, AlaoAkala has reportedly directed his teeming members to begin consultations with the leadership of the LP in the state.

The LP is fast reaping from the mistakes and undue internal bickering of PDP and APC to present a rainbow coalition for the next election. And with the presidency surreptitiously backing the LP to whittle the power of the APC in the South West, the LP may be on its way to victory, especially in a state like Oyo. Those whose movement have been confirmed to the Labour Party from crisis-ridden PDP are some former council chairmen and councilors who served under Alao- Akala’s administration, associates of the former governor, former and some serving members of the state House of Assembly among others.

The hitherto wave-making Accord Party- seen largely before now as the beneficiary of the fallout of the crisis between the PDP and APC has equally not fared better following the rumoured come-back bid of its leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

Many potential defectors who could have made Accord their next point of call to realise their ambition are said to be scared by Ladoja’s insistence to give the Agodi Government House another shot come next election.

Also joining the LP is the immediate past chairman of defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state, Alhaji Rasak Folorunso, who together with the party’s gubernatorial candidate in 2011, Murphy Olatunji, are leading members of the party to LP. The defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) too has its 2011 Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Chief Femi Olaore leading the pack of CPC members into the party.

The LP is fast reaping from the mistakes and undue internal bickering of PDP and APC to present a rainbow coalition for the next elec-

tion and with the presidency surreptitiously backing the LP to whittle the power of the APC in the

South-west, the LP may be on its way to coasting home to victory especially in a state like Oyo.

Mimiko

ADEBAYO: KOWA Party Is A Patriotic Intervention sarily change the individuals in those parties. When we decided on new platform, which is very different from the existing order and what other parties have exhibited. What we have seen clearly is what we are coming to form and we form Kowa party to pursue an agenda strictly different from those of others.

This is against the backdrop of the party’s belief that things are bad, but they are likecrave a party that they can rely on to deliver ly to change because the political parties, the elusive goods they’ve been denied since the politician and the even the supporters flag independence. are tired of the prevailing system. Kowa Is there any merger possibility with either the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the All believe that that you cannot have a change, which is beneficial to the general public, Progressives Congress? especially poor people, unless you have That’s a tall order. It is not something the political parties pursuing political objecParty’s leadership is considering at the moment. Fundamentally, KOWA’s ideology of tives and programmes in their interest. And the individual, ab nitio, is joining political fairness, justice, people-oriented developparty for certain possibilities. ment, human rights, corrupt-free goverBut when you look at it, people have nance, and transparency is in diametric opposite to many political Parties in Nigeria crowded into the PDP. While some are merely being tolerated, others are there for especially those in power. In my personal opinion it is difficult to point to any party in personal interests. Look at the composition of the PDP; there are many good credible power today, either at federal or state level that is delivering on quality governance that people in the party, crème d’ la’crème of the society are there, but collectively they benefits the greater number of the greater are unable to do what is expected from any majority, especially the suffering masses. reasonable, educated, matured and experiAll you hear about are cases of corruption, enced person. So, what would one want to mass looting, injustice, flagrant abuse of join them for? The situation in the APC is power, and all indices of a failing state. So, KOWA wouldn’t want to be polluted by such not in any material way different. What we would we want to join them for? To be in putrefying legacies because it is a patriotic the same situation? intervention project designed by techThe important point that should be clear nocrats, patriots, activists, and professionals to all Nigerians is that any political alliance as a rescue mission from the current confuthat is not based purely on the public intersion. Not a run-of-the-mill-political-party.

Of course, we have seen that party before we est will not take the country anywhere. We formed the Kowa party. As for the APC, while need to mobilise Nigerians to respond to events in the party and challenge decision it would have appeared fashionable to join the alliance, but looking at the party critical- of the so-called party leaders.

People are governed with such agenda ly, what is exactly new in the party? They are individually and collectively with what a group of existing political parties that decided to come together; it does not neces- boils down to money. Of course, we know

Comrade Mark Adebayo is the National Organising Secretary of KOWA. Speaking on activities of the party, which presented its programme of action to the public in Abuja yesterday, he told KAMAL TAYO OROPO that KOWA is a patriotic intervention project, specifically targeted at the voiceless and oppressed in the country.

HE Initial expectation of Kowa as a common man’s party looks like unattainable. Has the focus changed?

I can confidently say that the party has remained focused on that reality as the hope of the overwhelming Nigerian masses who

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Adebayo

All you hear about are cases of corruption, mass looting, injustice, flagrant abuse of power, and all indices of a failing state. So, KOWA wouldn’t want to be polluted by such putrefying legacies, because it is a patriotic intervention project, designed by technocrats, patriots, activists and professionals, as a rescue mission from the current confusion.

finance is important to take care of logistics and other costs, but not the kind of periodic donations individuals are expected to make before they can be selected to run for political posts. Originally, they should not be elected on the basis of that that. Individuals are not permitted to run, not because they don’t have the most practicable ideas, or because they do not have credibility or not popular, but because they don’t have money. Why should that be? When an individual spends billions of naira just to ascend to a political office, do you expect such individual to work for the common good? No, it doesn’t work that way.

If we want good governance, true governance and responsive governance, then we should forget about having money as the main, if not the only, criteria.

Then, is there possibility of a coalition with other smaller parties?

How do you define a smaller Party? I think political parties should be defined on the basis of what they stand for, not the size of their accounts, membership population, or political offices they occupy. Coalition or alliance or even merger may be a possibility if there are ideological meeting points with any political Party. However, at our upcoming national convention on Saturday March 15 in Abuja all these issues would be trashed out.

In a few months governorship elections would be held in both Ekiti and Osun State. Is you party participating in these elections?

Why not? Every political Party’s aspiration is to acquire power in order to deliver on its manifesto. KOWA does not have election fright syndrome. We contested the Anambra election and came 13th out of 23 Parties. If that election had been free and fair we would have performed far better.

In spite of all the seeming laudable agenda the Kowa party promised, the party does not have any elected member at the National Assembly. Does this not bother the party?

This does not worry us as much as the electorates getting their due worth. We are not really bothered. We will not break any rule because we want to be elected. We will play by the rules, while expecting others to do same. Important thing is to set the standard for good governance. You can’t judge any party on the basis of the number of representation it has in the national assembly.

60 | Sunday, March 23, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

GRASSROOTS

Communities Set To Defend Territory Against Future Massacre KADUNA

By Gbenga Akinfenwa LOOM, has enveloped Ugwar Sankwai, Ungwar Gata and Chenshyi villages, all in Karua Local Government Area of Kaduna State, over orgy of attacks, which has sent scores to their early graves in the last few weeks.

The last attack, allegedly perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen, penultimate Saturday, left about 150 natives killed and over 2000 people displaced.

According to the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), 240 houses were burnt, 119 people killed, and 22 persons hospitalised.

Aside the movement of domestic animals and chirping of birds, the communities remain in ruin, as residents who escaped the attack deserted the communities.

It was gathered that the affected part of the state, Southern Kaduna, had witnessed 40 attacks, with over 5,000 people displaced since 2011.

As the remains of the casualties were being interred in a mass grave in Unguwant Gata, Maroa Chiefdom of the council area, early last week, after special prayers, the residents vowed to defend themselves against frequent attacks

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and killings by the Fulani gunmen.

President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Dr. Ephraim Goje, told Journalists in Kaduna that the persistent attacks and massacres of their people, was not only an indication that

the government and the security agencies cannot protect them, but also an unofficial declaration of war on the people by the Fulanis.

He said the people were being pushed to the wall as they were being killed and their homes and property de-

Yero

Imoke Assures Border Communities Of Protection From Camerounian Invaders CROSS-RIVER From Tina Todo, Calabar OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of G Cross-River State has assured communities at the borders of Republic of Cameroon that no portion of their land will be ceded out.

He stated in Danare One, Boki Local Government, while on inspection tour of the ongoing Bashua-Abonorole Danara Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) road, following report from the community that their Cameroonian neighbors had put beacon pillar 113 far into their homeland in effort to claim their land.

The Governor also advised them to go about their normal duties, adding that Government through its Border Commission intends to turn

around the fortunes of border and rural communities.

He, however, advised the community to stop illegal logging within the area to control ecological hazards.

The Village Head of Danare One, His Highness Oyu Joshua Mbia Bokop, in his welcome address, expressed fears that the Cameroonian government has begun attempt to annex the area into its territory.

The Governor, who was on a three-day working tour of various projects in the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts, also inspected other RAMP roads like Nta Nselle Ayaghasa- Oyenge (Ikom), Okpeche- Ochagbe- IkparikoAbuochiche road (Obudu) and Ochon- Okokori- Ekuri Onai road (Obubra-Akamkpa).

Some of the roads traversed

virgin forests thereby bringing rural communities closer to urban or highly commercialised Inter/Intra state roads.

The benefitting communities expressed joy as large crowds turned-out to welcome the governor, commending him for fulfilling his campaign promise.

Mr. Mathew Olorry, one time Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government Area, said the Ochon-Okokori-Ekkuri, Onai road, which link Akamkpa with Obubra, would enable the people of Ekuri, who had been spending hours before getting to Calabar-IkomOgoja road, have better access to transportation.

Other projects inspected by the governor included the ongoing construction work at the Ogoja and Ikom stadia being handled by CCESS.

stroyed, adding that it had become imperative for them to defend themselves by whatever means necessary because they are tired of watching their people slaughtered like chickens without provocation.

“The Fulanis have unofficially declared war on our people.

No community has the monopoly of violence; so, our people are being pushed to a level that we may take certain actions aimed at defending our land and ourselves in order to put an end to this impunity and senseless killings.

“We have identified the perpetrators as Fulani herdsmen, but each time we raise this observation, the Fulani socio-cultural organisations within the state have always denied the involvement of their people, asking for proofs.”

According to him, two Fulani youths in Manchok led the last attack, noting that the Fulani youths died in the process and the locals identified their corpses.

Said he, “This has clearly vindicated us and confirms our earlier position that the Fulanis have declared a jihad on the people of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria, evidenced by this genocide in

Bondong, the murder in Katsina State, Birnin Gwari, Plateau, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, among others.

“In some of these attacks, suspects had been arrested and handed over to security agencies for prosecution, only for the culprits to be seen working freely on the streets the next day. What comes to our minds now is that, truly, the Fulanis have unofficially declared war on our people.

He lamented the lack of collaboration between security agencies in Kaduna and Plateau states, noting that the attackers often come in from the Plateau axis to attack Atakar and Marwa chiefdoms, which are bordering Plateau State. He added that each time they are chased by security agents from Kaduna State, they run to the Plateau where they celebrate their socalled victories.

Goje appealed to the state government to urgently compensate displaced victims by rebuilding their homes, and providing them with food items, that it should urgently consider the people’s request to site a military barrack within Kafanchan town to enable them respond quickly to issues with the town.

Anambra Monarchs Confer Chieftaincy Title On Obi ANAMBRA From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka T last, the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, succumbed to pressures to accept a chieftaincy title as a mark of his achievement and recognition in the society, especially, among Ndigbo of the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Obi, had severally rejected chieftaincy titles since he assumed office as the state chief executive, at times saying it is not necessary, especially while in office.

At a colourful ceremony prior to the official handing over, the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council conferred Obi, with the traditional title of ‘Okwute Ndigbo’, (stone that can not be broken), for his excellent performance in the state.

The occasion was witnessed by a cross section of Nigerians from all walks of life, including traditional rulers, top government officials, politicians, and market women, among others.

The crowning of the former governor, held at the Ekwueme Square, Awka, was part of events to mark the inauguration and swearing-in of the Governor, Willie Obiano, his successor.

The conferment, was led by the Chairman, South-East Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Cletus Ilomuanya, Igwe Kenneth Orizu of Nnewi, who also crowned Mrs. Margaret Obi as ‘Ona Chinyeludi ya’.

A

Government Resolves Community’s Land Dispute OKUN-OWA

By Gbenga Akinfenwa HE quick intervention of Ogun State Government in the lingering land crisis between the people of OkunOwa Community in Odogbolu Local Government area of the state and Managing Director, JB Farms Limited, Mr. Ajibola Adebutu, has brought peaceful resolution to the affected parties.

Acting on a petition forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta, by the Concerned Citizens of Okun-owa Community, alleging that Adebutu acquired over 600 hectares of farmlands without due consent of some accredited families of land owners, and malicious damage of farmlands, among others, the state government

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acted in time to avert a looming crises.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, who presided over the peace meeting held in Oke-Mosan, with the Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government, Olawale Shittu, and all stakeholders in the dispute, called for caution from both parties to maintain peace.

He enjoined them to show more maturity through dialogue, maintaining that the present administration would not entertain breakdown of law and order in any part of the state, but yearning to promote industrial growth and support interested investors to strive in line with the re-building mission of the state government.

While reaching consensus at resolving the land dispute, JB

Farms Limited was advised to reach out to all the concerned families and facilitate a communal peace meeting through dialogue for a lasting solution.

He was also enjoined to renegotiate the cost of purchasing the lands from all the affected families and ensure that only the accredited family representatives were signatories to the agreement.

Oladipo urged Adebutu to always discharge his Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community, pay his levies and dues as and when due to the government.

The Commissioner cautioned members of the community not to create crisis but embrace industrial development, especially oil palm plantation being initiated by JB Farms for socio-economic and industrial development of the area.

stressing that the democracy of the state commenced from the constituency with the emergence of the first democratically elected Governor in the state, the late Obong Akpan Isemin, for whom a one-minute silence was observed.

Akpabio said the state would not have succeeded without the input of the constituency, observing that it produced people in key positions such as state House of Assembly Speakers, Chief Judge, Commissioners, PDP Chairman, among others.

In addition, he outlined programmes benefitted from the

constituency to include 444 rural projects with 171 already commissioned, roads, free and compulsory education for children as well as free health-care for children, pregnant women and the elderly.

The Governor announced that the Enen Nsit Road consisting of four bridges and 54 kilometres of road would soon be commissioned, contract for water project for communities has been awarded, three communities to be connected to the national grid, the 100 years Etinan Institute, Etinan to be renovated and a fly-over to be constructed by Julius Berger

‘Political Posts Will Be Shared Among Constituencies’ AKWA IBOM LDERS and stakeholders in E the 10 Federal Constituencies of Akwa Ibom will hold a discussion on sharing key offices among the three Senatorial Districts in 2015 to ensure justice, harmony and equity among the people of the state.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who dropped the hint recently at the Etinan Town Hall meeting and constituency briefing, was responding to Senator Effiong Bob’s question on the actual political position zoned to Uyo Senatorial District in 2015 given the fact that the governorship position is already zoned to Eket

Senatorial District.

Akpabio said sharing of positions would be done at the end of the 10 Federal Constituencies tour, stating that, “Just as my administration has carried all the constituencies along, likewise all constituencies would be carried along by the next administration through the sharing of political positions at the state and national levels”.

“There must be a buy-in time for the PDP Governorship candidate to abide with the agreement reached by the stakeholders. I am from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and will be interested in the

position zoned to us. By then, I won’t be Governor again, but will represent them in another capacity”, the Governor stated.

“Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituencies”, according to him, “have tested the governorship seat, it is only Eket Federal Constituency that is left to test the seat. So, after the consultation of the 10 Federal Constituencies in the state, the party would then decide on who occupies the governorship seat come 2015”.

“Nobody can buy the governorship seat, the 2015 elections will be an open contest

where nobody shall be anointed and where nobody shall buy the governorship seat, for it is the choice of the people to choose their next Governor”, he noted.

Akpabio called on politicians in the state to come out en masse to contest the elections, and enjoined in-coming office holders not to site projects at places where the people don’t have access to due to their selfish interest, but rather to emulate his administration by siting projects in every part of the state for the benefit of the people.

He thanked the constituency for supporting his administration since its inception,

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014

61

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

UKRAINE CRISIS: Fanning Embers Of Global Antagonism

By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor HE crisis brewing in Ukraine over the ‘annexaT tion’ of that country’s Crimea region by Russia reminds us that the anchorage(s) of global balance of power is now dithering.

Since the collapse of the old Soviet Union upon running on the tracks of perestroika and glasnost, and the apparent thawing of the Cold War, global citizens had resigned themselves to the idea of a unipolar world. But with a resurgent Russia, a new order may be in the making.

Whatever the world is witnessing over Crimea is a high stake politics. It would be recalled that in 1983, the United States invaded Granada by during president Ronald Reagan’s operation Fast Fury and the invasion(s) of Iraq, and other territorial infractions. In that light it is easy to understand the hypocrisy theory of Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

The question is whether Russia is now developing into a modern day bully? Is it also becoming a case of who would bell the cat? Students of international politics would always tell that there is a tendency for regional powers to bully weaker countries around them and even with a balancing system, powerful countries always try to flaunt their might. And as a toast to the art of muscle flexing, Russia supported Crimean leaders to hold a referendum in spite of Kiev, when mother country and the international system ought to be involved or persuaded to be involved.

Today, analysts are already comparing Russian behaviour with what Adolf Hitler exhibited, which eventually triggered off the second World War (WWII). Hitler was left to literally go on rampage until he entered Poland.

And obviously, Russia wants to make a statement that it is not comfortable with the romance with the West by some of the satellite states that emerged from the old Soviet Union. In pursuit of this and other national interests, Russia once moved into Georgia. When trouble festered and tension mounted in Chechnya, it did not encourage citizens there to have a referendum on whether to remain in Russia, and now it has encouraged its ethnic elements in Crimea to pressure for a move away from Ukraine.

Old Arrangements And The Beginning Of Present Trouble Trouble started for the eastern Ukrainian province of Crimea when former President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an EU deal. Then, last December, Pro-EU protesters occupied Kiev city hall and Independence Square. In February this year, at least 88 were people killed in Kiev clashes, the same month that Yanukovych fled as parliament removed him and called for election.

Later same month, pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea and on the 6th of this month, Crimea’s parliament voted to join Russia.

All these led to a situation whereby the beginning of last week, Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum.

The Russians have not forgotten that Crimea itself was given to Ukraine in 1954 as part of a survivalist strategy by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. When the Soviet Union eventually collapsed and it was clear that powerful Russia held the key to regional hegemony, Ukraine was

persuaded to give up its nuclear arsenal in return for a guarantee that a more powerful neighbour would not violate their territorial integrity.

With the way the referendum was carried out, in today’s global village, the US and her allies feel they have a duty to protect democracy and human rights and having raised the global bar in this regard, so much is expected of them.

As for the European Union (EU), it would always be concerned because a full blown war would threaten her burgeoning economic interests apart from Europe being the likely battle ground should full blown confrontation ensue.

Global Concern, Western Goose Pimple In the vituperations over what Russia did in Crimea, the questions being raised by diplomatic watchers are: Did the ethnic Ukrainians and Tatars (one of the visible ethnic groups in Crimea) really vote in the referendum? Do all ethnic Russian agree with the idea of leaving Ukraine? Weren’t pro-Ukrainian demonstrators intimidated? Did the presence of Russian occupation troops have an impact, not the least psychological? Were international observers allowed into Crimea? And if not, why?

It is obvious now that the G8 summit slated for Sochi in Russia sometime in June, this year, would not hold while the stand off lasts. EU leaders who together with the US president Barrack Obama are seeing the Russian take over as a blatant violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine are to further fine-tune their already imposed first line of sanctions in Brussels. British Prime Minister David Cameron had already said more names would be added to the list of those facing travel bans and asset freezes just as German Chancellor Angela Merkel was saying the other day that the EU would be ready to impose economic sanctions against Russia if there is an escalation.

Since the treaty that has now been signed by Crimean leaders with Moscow absorbing the peninsula - an autonomous republic in southern Ukraine, the concerns expressed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon is also understandable. To that extent, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s description of imposed and other possible sanctions as ‘illegitimate’ and ‘not based on international law’ is weakened.

Muting a certain ‘political consequences’ Ban told Putin in Moscow that he was ‘deeply concerned’ over the crisis before travelling to Kiev last week. But not all Western leaders have been mild mannered on this matter. Speaking in Berlin before travelling to Brussels for the EU summit German chancellor Angela Merkel maintained that the EU has made it clear ‘that they are ready at any time’ to increase sanctions against Russia ‘if there is a worsening of the situation.’

Putin’s Convictions And Messages, A Masterstroke?

Flexing muscles, Russian President Putin appears also ready for the diplomatic missiles and media war. A flurry of quotes from him is sufficient to gauge his arsenal on the facade.

He started by saying that contrary to projections and stereotypes, it is rather the West that has been acting like a Bull or Bear in a China shop.

“They are constantly trying to drive us into a corner because we have an independent position,

because we maintain it and because we tell it like it is and don’t engage in hypocrisy. But there is a limit to everything. And with Ukraine, our Western partners have crossed the line, playing the bear and acting irresponsibly and unprofessionally.”

Soon after, he then made this remark on the Cold War hang-ups: “Today, it is imperative to end this hysteria, to refute the rhetoric of the Cold War and to accept the obvious fact: Russia is an independent, active participant in international affairs. Like other countries, it has its own national interests that need to be taken into account and respected.”

While the world was still digesting that, Putin reminded people across the globe that Bush-era diplomacy was no civilised behaviour, saying: “They (the West) act as they please: here and there, they use force against sovereign states, building coalitions based on the principle ‘If you are not with us, you are against us.’ To make this aggression look legitimate, they force the necessary resolutions from international organisations, and if for some reason this does not work, they simply ignore the UN Security Council and the UN overall.”

He has even been warning the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), saying: “NATO remains a military alliance, and we are against having a military alliance making itself at home right in our own backyard; in our historic territory. I simply cannot imagine that we would travel to Sevastopol to visit NATO sailors. Of course, most of them are wonderful guys, but it would be better to have them come and visit us, be our guests, rather than the other way round.”

And he has not spared the typical Western threats, noting that they would be met in kind: “Some Western politicians are already threatening us with not just sanctions, but also the prospect of increasingly serious problems on the domestic front. I would like to know what it is they have in mind: action by a fifth column, this disparate bunch of ‘national traitors’, or are they hoping to put us in a worsening social and economic situation so as to provoke public discontent? We consider such statements irresponsible and clearly aggressive in tone, and we will respond to them accordingly.”

Putin’s subtle jibes aimed at weakening Western solidarity would be referred to as a masterstroke in any international relations classroom. For instance, he reminded Germany that not everyone supported its post-Cold War reunification: “I believe that the Europeans, first and foremost, the Germans, will also understand me. Let me remind you that in the course of political consultations on the unification of East and West Germany… some nations that were then, and are now, Germany’s allies did not support the idea of unification. Our nation, however, unequivocally supported the sincere, unstoppable desire of the Germans for national unity. I am confident that you have not forgotten this, and I expect that the citizens of Germany will also support the aspiration of the Russians, of historical Russia, to restore unity.”

Swiftly, he has also drawn attention to the hypocrisy of the West over Kosovo: “We keep hearing from the United States and Western Europe

that Kosovo is some special case. What makes it so special in the eyes of our colleagues? It turns out that it is the fact that the conflict in Kosovo resulted in so many human casualties. Is this a legal argument? The ruling of the International Court says nothing about this. This is not even double standards; this is amazing, primitive, blunt cynicism. One should not try so crudely to make everything suit their interests, calling the same thing white today, and black tomorrow...”

Could Russia Be Thinking Of Third World War? Russia has reportedly taken control of a confectionery factory in Lipetsk, Russia, owed by Ukrainian tycoon Petro Poroshenko, who was a key supporter of the protests against President Viktor Yanukovych.

Now, President Barack Obama ruled out military involvement in Ukraine, saying the US ‘does not need to trigger an actual war.’

But the USS Truxtun destroyer has had a oneday military exercise and continuous military drills with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies in the Black Sea. Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN, Yurii Klymenko, told diplomats in Geneva there are ‘indications that Russia is on its way to unleash a full-blown military intervention in Ukraine.

Russia has since dismissed this warning.

Yet, the media has it that a 17-year-old Ukrainian has been arrested over an incident in Simferopol on Tuesday in which a Ukrainian soldier and a member of the pro-Russia selfdefense force were killed. That against the fact that at least two bases in Sevastopol and NovoOzyorne have since been taken over by proRussian forces.

Ukraine has not relented in its drawn up plans to withdraw thousands of soldiers and their families from Crimea for their own safety, and redeploy them on the mainland. A few of them have already accepted Russia’s offer to change sides, but many are still in their bases refusing to surrender.

When people assert that there would never be a third war over Crimea crisis, they take that stand bearing in mind that the West let Georgian invasion pass after mere protests and the fact that the ‘fear of Russia’ is the main reason it refused to act militarily in Syria when a red line was found to have been crossed by the regime of president Bashir Assad. Russia’s only major military outlet and naval base outside Russia is in the Mediterranean Sea in Syria. And the calculation of the Russian national interest then was: if Asad were to lose, the emerging new leader may not likely sanction the status quo of the military presence.

So, as a member of the UN Security Council and, a world power, Russia is tempted to flex its muscle. The take on this, however, is: If a territorial violation is carried out by a less powerful state, the UN system provides for sanctions and even a UN force. It can even back one of its major powers, but to confront a world power, from antecedents, the global body seems helpless in this regard. And Russia is the regional hegemon, which is now maintaining that the ‘annexation was necessary to protect ethnic Russians from nationalists, anti-Semites and other extremists on whom the new (Ukrainian) authorities depend.’ So, a UN Security Council resolution seeking to compel Russia to reverse the situation in Crimea would not fly far because of the Russia veto around the corner.

Setting the tone for what may turn out as a long drawn conflict, Ukraine’s parliament said last week that the country would ‘never and under no circumstances end the fight to free Crimea of occupants, no matter how difficult and long it is.’

Even when President Obama has said war over Ukraine is not in the cards, global citizens are mindful of the fact that no one ever says there would be war. War simply happens when even the most reluctant nations are pushed into it.

Russia has demonstrated over these months that it is unrelenting on Ukraine with Putin mincing no words in saying that everyone has his breaking point. “He said, if you press the spring too had, it would snap back.”

It will serve the cause of global peace if the crisis over Crimea is localised as much as possible.

When this happens, the world stands a chance of averting a very major confrontation akin to a third world war than when it is internationalised. We expect the people of Crimea, who are not happy with being lumped with Russia to spearhead a sustained protest. And be the ones to raise their banner so that even the West would be clinging onto the protest banner and not being the one to be doing that. In the end, it is the interest of the various countries that is at play. No more, no less.

THE GUARDIANwww.ngrguardiannews.com

62 Sunday, March 23, 2014

FOREIGNNEWS Three Died In Israeli Raid On Jenin PALESTINE SRAELI security forces have shot dead at least three Palestinians during a raid to arrest a Hamas member in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.

The Israeli military said it wanted to arrest a man accused of plotting attacks on Israelis.

It said he barricaded himself in his home and opened fire, injuring two soldiers, and was then shot dead.

A further two Palestinians were killed as rioters attacked the security forces, Palestinian sources say.

The Israeli army reported in a tweet killing four “terrorists” in the clashes while, according to AFP news agency, 14 Palestinians were also wounded, two of them critically.

US-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have made little progress since they resumed last July, with the aim of creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

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US First Lady Michelle Obama receives a book at the Stanford Center at Peking University in Beijing… yesterday. Michelle Obama took her daughters and mother to Beijing's former imperial palace on Friday, on a China tour indicating the White House emphasises will be light on politics and heavy on personal diplomacy.

PHOTO: AFP

Five Skydivers Killed In Plane Crash AUSTRALIA IVE people on a skydiving trip have been Fairfield killed after their light plane crashed at an in Queensland, eastern Australia.

The Cessna 206 hit the ground and burst into flames shortly after take-off on Saturday at Caboolture Airport, north of Brisbane.

The pilot, two skydiving instructors and two skydiving customers were killed, police said.

Family members witnessed the crash from the ground, they said.

The flight was operated by Adrenalin Skydivers Bribie, also known as Skydive Bribie Island, a spokesman told the Sydney Morning Herald, which carried pictures of the crash site.

“We received a call from the airfield and sent three crews to a light plane that had crashed,” a Queensland Fire and Rescue Service official told Agence France-Presse.

“The fire was extinguished in 10 minutes.”

Caboolture is about 50km (31 miles) north of Brisbane.

The airport was closed after the crash.

The Sydney Morning Herald says the airport has only grass strips and operates gliders, helicopters and light aircraft.

It quoted Grahame Hill, director of aircraft operations for the Australian Parachute Federation, as saying the skydiving community was devastated by the crash.

“I’ve spoken to some people up there and they’re just gutted; it’s terrible,” Mr Hill said.

US Returns Rogue Oil Tanker, Morning Glory LIBYA HE US says it has returned the rogue oil T tanker Morning Glory to the Libyan government.

The North Korea-flagged ship had been loaded at a rebel-held port and evaded a naval blockade before being boarded by US Navy Seals south of Cyprus.

Its evasion prompted parliament to sack Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.

The US said it had handed over the ship, cargo and crew to Libyan forces in international waters off the coast of Libya.

Rebels had loaded the Morning Glory with

oil at the port of Sidra. It was unclear where it was heading.

It was the first vessel loaded at a rebel-held port since a separatist revolt against the central government in Tripoli erupted in July 2013.

Rebels under Ibrahim Jathran hold three ports, and are demanding a greater share of the country’s oil revenue.

Earlier, the Lana state news agency reported clashes between his fighters and Libyan troops in his hometown of Ajdabiya.

The US embassy said in a statement that the handover of ship, cargo and crew had gone “smoothly and as planned”.

It added: “We have been assured by the government of Libya that the captain, crew members and Libyan nationals who were aboard the stateless tanker will be treated humanely in accordance with internationally recognised standards of human rights.”

The Navy Seals operation had been authorised by President Barack Obama and no-one was hurt.

The vessel was flagged in North Korea but officials in Pyongyang said it had been deregistered because of the incident. It was said to have been operated by an Egyptian company.

Thousands Join In Rare Algiers Rally HOUSANDS of Algerian opposition supportT ers have called for a boycott of next month’s presidential election, during an unprecedented mass rally.

Islamist and secular opposition parties at the rally denounced 77-year-old President

ALGERIA Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s attempt to win a fourth term of office.

They say a stroke last year has left him unfit to govern.

Troops Storm Airbase In Crimea, Shots Fired RUSSIA HOOTING and explosions have been heard as S- stormed Russian troops - backed by armoured vehicles a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea.

Reports say at least one person was injured during the assault on Belbek base, near Sevastopol. The base is now said to be under Russian control.

Earlier, several hundred unarmed protesters seized a Ukrainian naval base at Novofedorivka, western Crimea.

Pro-Russian militia has also been seizing Ukrainian Navy ships.

The BBC in Crimea, says the Ukrainian troops on the peninsula feel beleaguered and abandoned by their chiefs in Ukraine.

On Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law formalising Russia’s takeover of Crimea from Ukraine, despite fresh sanctions

from the EU and the US. In Belbek, two armoured personnel carriers burst through the wall of the base followed

by Russian troops firing weapons in the air.

An ambulance was then seen entering the base amid reports that at least one person was injured.

The Ukrainian soldiers were later gathered at the base main square in front of the heavily armed Russian troops.

The storming followed an ultimatum by the Russians to surrender.

The Belbek base commander earlier told the few dozen troops still there to shoot in the air if they were attacked.

He said he had been waiting for days for orders from Kiev but told the BBC that none had been issued.

Ukraine’s military chiefs deny this, saying each unit in Crimea has been issued with clear orders on what to do if attacked.

Mr Bouteflika, in power since 1999, scrapped constitutional rules in 2008 limiting him to two terms in office.

He has rarely been seen in public in recent months, but correspondents say the backing of the governing National Liberation Front (FLN), army factions and business elites almost guarantees him election victory.

Chanting “boycott” and “the people want the regime out” about 5,000 people packed into the sports stadium where various opposition leaders denounced Mr Bouteflika’s re-election bid and demanded reforms to a political system they see as corrupt.

Large opposition gatherings are unusual in Algeria, where FLN elites and army generals have dominated politics since independence from France in 1962.

“The people here are the people who have been excluded, who have been put aside, but this is the real Algeria,” Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) party spokesman Mohsen Belabes told cheering crowds.

“The regime will collapse, but Algeria will survive.”

Correspondents say Mr Bouteflika ordered heavy spending from Algeria’s oil earnings on housing, public services and infrastructure projects to offset social unrest after the Arab Spring uprisings across North Africa in 2011.

Michigan Gay-Marriage Ban Quashed UNITED STATES US federal judge has struck down a ban A on gay marriage in the state of Michigan.

Two Detroit-area nurses successfully argued that the ban violated their rights under the US constitution.

One local official said she would start issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples from Monday (tomorrow), but the state is planning to lodge an appeal.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia currently issue licences for same-sex marriage.

The case was brought two years ago by partners Jayne Rowse, 49, and April DeBoer, 42, who want to get married.

“Many Michigan residents have religious convictions whose principles govern the conduct of their daily lives and inform their own viewpoints about marriage,” US District Judge Bernard Friedman wrote in Friday’s decision.

Plane Search: China Checks New ‘Debris’ MALAYSIA HINA is investigating a new satellite C image of debris in the southern Indian Ocean, potentially from missing flight MH370, Malaysian officials say.

Malaysia’s acting transport minister read out the news as he was handed it during his daily briefing.

The new image is from 18 March, two days after initial satellite pictures of possible debris, and shows an object 22m by 13m, 120km from the first site.

Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March carrying 239 people.

Malaysian officials suspect the plane, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, was deliberately taken off course.

Malaysia’s Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein broke off the question-and-answer segment of his briefing in Kuala Lumpur to say: “The news that I just received is that the Chinese ambassador received satellite image of floating objects in the southern corridor and they will be sending ships to verify.”

He added: “Beijing is expected to make an announcement in a few hours.”

China is one of 26 nations involved in the search for flight MH370. Most of those on board the plane were Chinese nationals.

Planes and vessels are already searching the southern Indian Ocean following earlier satellite images this week that detected possible debris 2,500 km (1,550 miles) south-west of Perth in Australia.

The Xinhua state news agency said the latest satellite image was taken at about 04:00 GMT on 18 March and showed objects about 120km “south by west” from the first site.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014 63

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports

We are set for Calabar 2014….Nigeria’s best female sprinter, US-based Blessing Okagbare (second left), seems to say. The mascot/logo unveiling ceremony of the Games took place on Friday night in Calabar

Calabar 2014: Waiting For Sports Festival Of Many Colours

By Gowon Akpodonor ORMER Africa track queen, Mercy Nku was full of smile as FNational she stepped forward to unveil the Mascot of the 19 Sports Festival tagged ‘The Centenary Games.’

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It was the gathering of past sports heroes, especially those who made Cross River proud in international sporting events like the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World football tournaments. There were also top government functionaries at the Venetian Arena on Friday night, and Nku could not hide her feelings after unveiling the Games Mascot ‘Bamba’, which according to the people, is a gorilla from the rainforest of Boki.

The festival’s logo, consisting of five colours of blue, yellow, black, green and red, according to the organisers is uniquely designed to enhance the status of Cross River as a destination brand.

“I feel on top of the world performing this ceremony today and I believe this year’s sports festival will be the best ever in the history of the games,” Nku told The Guardian. “I am saying this because Governor Liyel Imoke is a man of high taste. I am sure every Nigerian who come for the Games in November will give their testimonies when they return home. I can’t wait to see the commencement of this festival,” she added.

For over a decade, Nku ruled African track, both as junior athlete and at senior level. She is on record as the second Nigerian nay African woman to run in the 100m final of two IAAF World Championship in 1999 and 2001.

Nku is also in history book as the only Nigerian athlete to win four gold medals in a particular championship. She did it in 1995 in far away Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire, while competing at the second edition of the Africa Junior Athletics Championships.

Her four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m still remain a talking point in Africa’s athletics till date. Nku is a member of Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Games.

The Calabar 2014 Sports Festival is unique in many ways. It is tagged ‘The Centenary Games’ to commemorate Nigeria’s 100 years. It is also tagged the Paradise Games, while some will prefer to call it ‘Calabar Open.’ Unlike past editions of the Festival, Calabar 2014 is thrown open to all Nigerian athletes (both home and abroad) so as to bring back its lost glamour.

Governor Imoke went memory lane while unveiling the Games’ logo saying: “Our hosting of this festival holds a significantly striking poignancy as our beautiful and historic city of Calabar, rich in heritage and hospitality, and the first capital of our great nation plays host to all Nigerian athletes from all over the world, professional and amateur alike, in the year of our country’s centenary celebrations.”

“Calabar 2014 will be a true celebration of all that is great about Nigerian sports as together, we aim to make this event a passionate and vibrant exhibition of the peace, serenity, heritage and generosity of spirit of the good people of Cross River State, not neglecting the real and long-lasting legacy of the festival in form of the sporting infrastructure and the tangible sense of pride and fulfillment amongst the citizenry after a successful hosting of the festival.

“The Centenary Games is a culmination of all efforts towards re-establishing Calabar as the true home of Nigerian sports.

We will deliver the best festival in Nigeria’s history,” Imoke said.

From the mid 1980s till date, the National Sports Festival seems to have lost its glamour and focus of its founding fathers, as the primary objective of using the games to unearth sports talents all over the country has been defeated.

To some stakeholders, the win at all cost attitude of most of the states that had hosted the championship in the past, and laziness on the part of coaches to discover athletes are largely responsible for the loss of glamour of the Sports Festival.

At every edition of the fiesta, there are allegations and counter allegation of states using their coaches to poach established athletes from other states to compete for them.

To Governor Imoke, Calabar 2014 Games will live long in the mind of Nigerians. “We are not hosting to win unlike the slogan of some states that hosted the festival in the past,” he told the gathering. “Over the past few years, Cross River has managed to expand the scope of its tourism offering to also emerge as the premier sporting events destination in the country.

“With consistent hosting rights for the All Nigeria AFN/Cross River State Athletics Championship, the National Schools Sports Festival, the U-19 FIFA World Cup games as well as hosting the camp of the Golden Eaglets and being the home ground for the senior national team, the U.J. Esuene Stadium has become an impenetrable fortress for the Super Eagles.”

“For us in Cross River, it is ample justification of the immense investment we have committed to the development of grass-

Our hosting of this festival holds a significantly striking poignancy as our beautiful and historic city of Calabar, rich in heritage and hospitality, and the first capital of our great nation plays host to all Nigerian athletes from all over the world, professional and amateur alike, in the year of our country’s centenary celebrations.

roots and youth sporting excellence right across the state.

This edition of the Sports Festival will also be the most technologically-supported in its history with a vast array of ICT vehicles deployed to enhance security, provide easy access to information and streamline the process of registering athletes, officials and other key stakeholders,” Imoke said.

Cross River was awarded the hosting right of the 2014 Games at the end of the 2012 edition of the games held in Lagos.

Apart from aiming to host the best ever sports festival, the government and people of Cross River are equally looking forward to putting in place state-of-the-art facilities for up-coming athletes.

The U.J. Esuene Stadium is undergoing complete renovation with the main bowl being re-grassed and new tartan track relay to give foreign-based stars like Blessing Okagbare, Regina George and Gloria Asumnu the avenue to thrill spectators back home.

The ultra-modern indoor sports arena, which is under going construction, is designed for a variety of sporting activities, including weightlifting and wrestling. There are two squash courts included in the building plan. The old swimming pool, which had eight lanes is being expanded to an Olympic size of ten lanes, just as construction work is in progress at the hockey pitch, the handball, volleyball, basketball courts as well as the new tennis courts.

“We are working in conjunction with the National Sports Commission and we intend to raise the bar, not in terms of infrastructure and the management of the games, but we intend to acknowledge the fact that this will also be the first open sports festival. What this means is that competition must be transparent, integrity must rule and we must ensure that we produce games that is satisfactory to everyone at the end,” Imoke said.

Son of the soil, Sunny Neji, composed the theme song for Calabar 2014 Sports Festival. It is tagged ‘I am a champion.’

Former Super Falcons midfielder, Effionwan Ekpo and other athletes who had represented Cross River at major sporting events around the globe were part of the mascot/logo unveiling ceremony on Friday night. In 2002, when Nigeria hosted the Africa Women Championship (AWC) in Warri, Delta State, Ekpo’s second half strike sealed victory for the Super Falcons in the final match against Ghana Black Queens.

Like Mercy Nku, the government of Cross River has also included Ekpo in the organisation of Calabar 2014 Sports Festival, which Governor Imoke said is festival of the people.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye was full of praises for the government and people of Cross River State saying: “They have demonstrated that they are truly a sports loving state.”

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Wenger Suffers Career Low RSENE Wenger described A his 1,000th match as Arsenal manager as a career

Manchester City’s midfielder, Yaya Toure (left) celebrates with Aleksandar Kolarov (right) after scoring his team’s third goal and completing his hat trick during the English Premier League match against Fulham at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

low after Chelsea inflicted an embarrassing 6-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Wenger was last month called “a specialist in failure”

by Jose Mourinho and remains without a victory in 11 attempts against his nemesis after a spectacular implosion and an horrendous error by referee Andre Marriner, who mistakenly sent off Kieran Gibbs.

Wenger did not attend his press conference, but told the BBC: “This defeat is my fault, I take full responsibility for it. I don’t think there’s too much need to talk about the mistakes we made. We got a good hiding today.

“It’s one of the worst days (in my career). It’s over after 20 minutes and it’s a long game after that. You don’t prepare all week to experience that kind of result.”

Chelsea were already 2-0 up when Alex OxladeChamberlain handled an Eden Hazard shot and Marriner instead showed the red card to Gibbs, despite his team-mate apparently approaching the referee to admit wrongdoing.

“I believe it was handball but the referee hasn’t seen it,” Wenger added.

“The ball went out and I think it’s Chamberlain who touched the ball. I don’t know who gave indication to the referee that it was handball but he has certainly not seen it.”

Wenger admits Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League are bleak as his focus immediately turned to Tuesday’s match with Swansea.

“It leaves it (the title chances) in a very bad situation,” he said. “But we want to respond. We had two difficult away games as

Chelsea Thumps Arsenal, As Liverpool, Man City Go Goal Crazy HERE was a bizarre case T of mistaken identity as Arsenal embarrassingly capitulated in Arsene Wenger’s 1,000th match in charge in a 6-0 loss to Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea yesterday.

Wenger was last month called “a specialist in failure” by Jose Mourinho and remains without a victory in 11 attempts against his nemesis after a spectacular implosion and an horrendous mistake by referee Andre Marriner.

Premiership Results Chelsea 6 - 0 Arsenal Cardiff 3 - 6 Liverpool Everton 3 - 2 Swansea Hull 2 - 0 West Brom Man City 5 - 0 Fulham Newcastle 1 - 0 Palace Norwich 2 - 0 Sunderland

The Frenchman watched on helplessly after two goals in three first-half minutes from Samuel Eto’o and Andre Schurrle gave Chelsea a handsome lead inside the first 10 minutes before Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs for a handball committed by Alex OxladeChamberlain.

Eden Hazard’s shot was handled in the area and, despite Oxlade-Chamberlain appearing to approach the official to admit wrongdoing, Gibbs was shown a red card in a decision, which continues the debate over the use of television replays.

Hazard converted the penalty to give the Blues a 3-

0 advantage after 17 minutes as once against the Gunners imploded at the home of a title rival following the heavy losses at Manchester City and Liverpool.

Oscar added a fourth before the interval, a fifth after 66 minutes and his replacement Mohamed Salah struck his first Chelsea goal as the Blues responded from the controversial loss at Aston Villa in emphatic fashion.

Arenal’s defeat dropped them down to fourth in the table after Liverpool and Manchester City both also won by emphatic scorelines.

Liverpool twice had to come from behind before

seeing off relegation threatened Cardiff 6-3.

Luis Suarez finished with a hat-trick but the forward and Martin Skrtel first had to cancel out first-half strikes from Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell to make it 2-2 at half-time.

Skrtel then fired the Reds ahead on 54 minutes before Suarez lashed in Daniel Sturridge’s clever flick on the hour. Suarez returned the favour soon after for Sturridge to tap in.

Mutch pulled one back, but Suarez had the final say in injury-time.

City chalked up a simple 50 win over bottom-of-the-

table Fulham on the back of a Yaya Toure hat-trick.

The Ivory Coast midfielder scored a penalty in each half, the second after Fernando Amorebieta saw red, before bending in a long-range strike on 65 minutes.

Fernandinho and Martin Demichelis struck late on to ensure City joined their title rivals in racking up a big score.

It was a bad afternoon for the teams in the bottom three as Sunderland were beaten 2-0 at Norwich. The Black Cats had no answer for first-half goals from Robert Snodgrass and Alex Tettey.

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Tottenham and Chelsea.

“If we had played two draws we’d have two points. Having won one we have three points. But today is a huge disappointment, of course.

When you don’t turn up in a game of this stature - nobody takes that easy.”

Samuel Eto’o, who went off with a hamstring injury, began the rout and Andre Schurrle added a second inside seven minutes before Hazard converted the penalty.

Oscar added a fourth before the interval and a fifth before his replacement Mohamed Salah netted his first Chelsea goal and the Premier League leaders’ sixth.

Stamford Bridge revelled in the success, roaring “Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay” and “specialist in failure”, referring to Mourinho’s taunt last month and the Gunners’ run without a trophy, which stretches back to the 2005 FA Cup.

Glo Nigeria Premier League

Nembe City, Giwa FC Appeal to LMC For Registration

By Christian Okpara EMBE City Football Club N and Giwa FC have appealed to the League Management Company (LMC) to register them for the 2013/2014, which is in its third week.

Nembe City and Giwa FC were excluded from ongoing season by the LMC following their inability to meet the new FIFA/CAF club registration requirements.

Although Giwa FC has allegedly dragged the LMC to court to challenge their exclusion from the league, the club and Nembe City in separate letters told the league body that they have submitted all the documents required of them, pleading that they be allowed to participate in the competition.

In separate letters dated March 20, the clubs said: “We hereby wish to appeal our suspension from the Nigeria Glo Premier League.

“We have submitted forth with all the originals of our documents as requested assuring you of their genuineness.

“Kindly allow us participate in the on-going Nigeria Glo Premier League, please.”

An official of the LMC told The Guardian yesterday that the letters have been forwarded to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which has the power to hear such appeals.

A letter by the LMC in response to the clubs’ appeals, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian, read in part: “Please be informed that we have taken note of your request and forwarded your letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with whom power to hear appeals resides for such decisions, as NFF may deem appropriate in the circumstance.”