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Under Pressure, US Vows To Rescue Abducted Schoolgirls From Laolu Akande, New York MERICANS and US-based A Nigerians are raising serious concerns about the fate of the about 270 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped three weeks ago in Chibok, Borno State. US Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, pledged yesterday in Addis Ababa that the US government will do everything possible to rescue the children and bring the perpetrators to

justice. As Kerry flew out of Washington over the weekend to Ethiopia where he is participating in the fourth session of the US-Africa Union High Level Dialogue, top American groups, including pastors, business investors and public officials are mounting intense pressure on both the Nigerian community and the Nigerian embassy posts in New York,

Washington DC and Atlanta. For instance, leading African American Pastors like Bishop Jamal Bryant, a top American tele-evangelist and pastor in Maryland State are already organising how to mount pressure on both the US and Nigerian governments to rescue the children. Sources at the Nigerian embassies across the US, especially in Washington DC and New York, confirm that US

members of Congress, business investors and several other notable Americans have been calling in to confirm the exact situation and inquire about what the Nigerian government is going to do. For instance, during the week, a group of bi-partisan US Senators issued a strong resolution condemning the kidnap, calling for an urgent rescue and demanding that justice must be done to the ter-

rorists behind the abduction. Later on Friday, another US Congresswoman, Karen Bass, also released a statement on the issue calling for the release of the Chibok girls. In deed, several Nigerian groups in the US, including the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN), the Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF) and new groups of Nigerian women in the US, are plan-

Joyful Dance Steps Amid Terrror

ning to hold protest rallies in front of the Nigerian embassies in New York and Washington DC this week. Speaking with The Guardian CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NEWS 3

Fayoseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Aide Dumps PDP For APC BACK PAGE

Ethiopians Win 2014 Okpekpe Road Race

Military Repels Terrorists From Maiduguri Varsity â&#x20AC;˘ As Gunmen Kill Six Borno Villagers From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri IOLENCE has erupted V again in Borno State, as gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect attacked Malari village. The gunmen shot six residents dead, before setting several houses and a primary school ablaze with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrolbombs. The incident took place about 1.35am yesterday. Malari is on MaiduguriBama road; and 18 kilometres east of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) campus. The advancing terror suspects were, however, repelled from attacking the varsity yesterday. According to residents at the 303 and 202 Housing estates, the

Northeast Gombe State Cultural Troupe entertains workers and officials during the 2014 May Day celebration in Gombe State.

PHOTO: NAN

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2 | NEWS Sunday, May 4, 2014

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NEWS

US Vows To Rescue Abducted Schoolgirls CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 over the weekend, Pastor Jamal Bryant explained that he was determined to bring the American public to rise up against the abduction of the girls, adding that his

heart is broken over the matter. He said he would be using his global TV platforms, starting tomorrow to highlight the plight of the schoolgirls. Also, Bukola Oreofe, the executive director of the NDLF in New York, disclosed that the group would be calling US-based Nigerians and their friends out to protest in front of the Nigerian House this week. In a similar vein, Ms. Omolola Adele-Oso, spokesperson for BringBackOurGirls in Washington DC, said a rally is planned for Tuesday this week at the Nigerian Embassy at 10am, “because our children deserve better.” According to Adele-Oso, “we want the world to know of the horrors that could happen to the girls, if they are not returned safely.” According to Kerry, “Let me be clear, the kidnapping of hundreds of children by Boko Haram is an unconscionable crime, and we will do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and to hold the perpetrators to justice.” Continuing, the US Secretary of State under whose leadership the US State Department changed its reluctant views on Boko Haram and unlike his predecessors designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, said to his African fellow ministers, “I will tell you, my friends, I have seen this scourge of terror across the planet, and so have you. They don’t offer

anything except violence. They don’t offer a healthcare plan; they don’t offer schools. They don’t tell you how to build a nation; they don’t talk about how they will provide jobs. They just tell people, “You have to behave the way we tell you to,” and they will punish you if you don’t.” He said while there are some good things to celebrate in Africa, “we are also meeting at a time of continued crisis. Conflicts in South Sudan, which I visited yesterday, Central African Republic, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the events that we’ve just seen in Nigeria, these are among some of the things that are preventing millions of

Africans from realising their full potential. And in some places, they are plunging the continent back into the turmoil of the past.” Kerry added that, in too many parts of the continent, a lack of security, the threat of violence, or all-out war prevent the shoots of prosperity from emerging. The burdens of past divisions might not disappear entirely, my friends, insisting that such must never be allowed to bury the future of Africa. He said this was why the US will continue to provide financial and logistical support to African Union-led efforts in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab is under significant pressure, and also continue to support

the African Union Regional Task Force against the Lord’s Resistance Army, where LRArelated deaths have dropped by 75 percent, and hundreds of thousands have returned to their homes. In the same vein, Kerry added “ and that’s why we are working to strengthen Nigeria’s institutions and its military to combat Boko Haram, and their campaign of terror and violence.” At least, in the past one week, Nigeria has featured prominently in virtually all the major American TV networks and newspapers with a clear and certain focus on the abduction of the Chibok school children.

Mr. Willie Nwokoye, Principal Secretary to theExecutive Governor of Anambra State (left) Barr. Chude Anali, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Norbert Obi, Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties; and Chief Tony Onyima, Hon. Commissioner for Information, Arts and Culture, during the 2014 May Day celebration at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

Gunmen Kill Six Borno Villagers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 repulsion of the gunmen commenced by 1am and continued till dawn with exchange of several gunshots and firing of six grenades by troops stationed at the varsity gates and Dalori military post. “Even though there was no loss of lives at the university and the two housing estates, the exchange of gunfire between the soldiers and gunmen lasted for over three hours. It was ‘deafening and shocking’ with fears that the stray bullets could hit us, as our houses are a few metres to the varsity gates,” said Danjuma Yonana, a resident of the 303 Housing Estate. Modu Pantami, one of the villagers, who escaped the Malri incident, also told The Guardian that it was God that saved his life, because the gunmen came in several vehicles and motorcycles laden with explosives, and torched several houses and a primary school, before advancing towards Maiduguri city by 2am yesterday. He said yesterday’s attack would be the third in two months. The insurgents had torched 15 houses and huts in February and March, even as

they shot and killed five villagers in the second attack, before fleeing into the Sambisa Forest. “My uncle called me this morning that the terrorists killed six of our neighbours by slitting their throats. The gunmen had tied the victims’ hands to their backs before setting their houses and huts ablaze,” said Pantami. Speaking on the operation at the varsity gates, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UNIMAID, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed, in a telephone interview yesterday, said that “there were no attacks or killings on our varsity campus, as the soldiers had already that night taken control of the three gates leading to the varsity campus for protection of lives and property. “When the soldiers heard of attacks on a village, at the outskirts of this campus, they swiftly responded by firing several gunshots and grenade to prevent the insurgents from advancing on this varsity campus that has been protected by soldiers’ and varsity security guards ‘stop and search’ exercise at the three main gates, including the varsity Motor Park located on Bama road. “The students are going to

their classes to attend lectures and examinations, despite last night’s exchange of gunfire between soldiers and insurgents at 1.35am. I learnt that the gunmen attacked a village, a few kilometres away from this campus; and I was told that several houses and shops were also destroyed last night.” Also, the Borno State Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal, yesterday in Maiduguri said that one of the villages on MaiduguriBama road was attacked by armed hoodlums. He said a few villagers lost their lives, while attempting to prevent the hoodlums from torching their houses and shops with petrol-bombs and explosives. He said no arrests had been made. Meanwhile, the military, yesterday, denied that there was any terrorist attack in Maiduguri. “There was no attack on Maiduguri metropolis as widely reported this morning by some media outlets especially a foreign television channel,” a statement routed through the Defence headquarters said. According to the Joint Information Centre, Counter Terrorism Campaign

Northeast Nigeria, “rather, on receiving distress call, troops at about 2am this morning launched a counter attack using mainly mortar shells on a group of terrorists who had attacked and killed four persons in Margimari village and other settlements in the outskirts of Maiduguri. There was no fighting or attack around the University or any barrack in Maiduguri either, as reported.” The statement reads: “Meanwhile, a Chadian, Usman Mecheka operating with the terrorists group around Lake Chad has been taken into custody by the Multi National Joint Task Force. He was apprehended by the Task Force while trying to extract a ransom from herdsmen and farmers in the area, after an earlier attack on the community. “Troops of the Special Task Force in the Plateau have also raided a camp maintained by an armed gang operating in a settlement in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. A gun fabricating machine as well as some arms and ammunition from the hideout were recovered during the raid. Also recovered during the raid, were local single barrel guns, pistols, an automatic rifle, bullet pellets and a large quantity of materials for producing gun powder.”

Sunday, May 4, 2014 3

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NEWS ‘Multiple Explosions Heard At UNIMAID’ From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief N explosion was reported A at the outskirts of the University of Maiduguri yesterday forcing students to temporarily abandon preparations for their examinations and flee to safer grounds. A student of the institution who spoke to the BBC Hausa Service said: “We were in class reading for our exams, when we heard the thunderous sounds. We quickly ran out of the classroom, which was at the hinder part of the university. We fled into the university proper. Buildings reverberated. There were about 10 blasts, followed by gunshots. We were scared. We ran helter skelter. Some soldiers told us not to be afraid, that nothing serious would happen.”

Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, cutting her birthday cake with pupils of St. Mathew’s Nursery and Primary School, Lademo, Obafemi Owode Local Government, during her 48th birthday celebration at the weekend.

Insurgency: Jonathan Is Doing His Best, Says Gowon FORMER Head of State, reA tired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government in its bid to tackle security challenges in the country, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Gowon made the call on Friday in Lagos while speaking with newsmen after chairing a dinner and award night organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He condemned reports credited to some foreign media that President Jonathan was not doing enough to address

insecurity. He said: “I can tell you this and I know this, the president is doing his best, and do not listen to the sort of news you hear from foreign press talking as if the government is doing nothing. He is in consultation with the military chiefs, he is in consultation with all the governors and all the political parties to be able to join hands and deal with this problem.” The elder statesman said the government needs time to effectively deal with the Boko Haram insurgency and bring the conflict to an end. He

Poor Services: Telecoms Operators Eye Govt Assistance • Decry Multiple Taxation, Fines HE Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) yesterday appealed to federal and states governments to assist them in ending poor services in the industry. The association’s chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that challenges in telecommunications should not be left to the operators alone. He said that the operating environment was not conducive to maintaining uninterrupted services. Adebayo said federal and states governments should synergise and come to their aid in solving the issues of multiple taxation and regulations affecting the growth of the industry, stressing that no business would thrive in an environment where resources that could have been used in network upgrading are diverted to repairs of damaged telecommunications infrastructure in violence prone areas. According to him, poor services will persist as long as social problems such as willful damage to telecommunications infrastructure and epileptic

power supply still linger in the country. “In countries where those parameters are set, power supply, security and free access to sites are guaranteed with no interference from different government agencies. However, we are equally worried with the current state of poor services rendered to subscribers and we are ensuring that we continue to upgrade our networks.” Adebayo said that the fine imposed on them has not addressed the challenges they are facing. “For us, it is surprising that the regulator who is well aware of the issues and challenges that we are facing could go ahead to impose the huge fine on us. We think this is inappropriate and does not reflect the reality of the industry. Also, it is not good for the growth and development of the industry. It is bad for investors, bad for network operators and the side effects of this, if issues are not properly handled, can lead to a major problem in the industry.” He said that the fines would not guarantee quality of service and even if the fines are finally paid, subscribers might

added: “No matter how weak your opponent is, it is going to take time to be able to resolve the issues which led to the conflict. It took us about twoand-a half years to be able to end the civil war but what is important is how you end it and how you are able to reconcile and get things back to normal.” He also advised political par-

ties to stop trading blames or using the present situation in the country to their own advantage. Gowon, the founder of a nondenominational religious group – Nigeria Prays – said it is the duty of the media to ensure that people understand the problems. The media should also let the people know that those involved are

doing their best to deal with the situation, he said. Speaking earlier on the occasion, Gowon had urged lawyers to fight all forms of injustice in the country, saying, “I enjoin you to defend the cause of all classes of men, but more so, the downtrodden, and ensure that the last hope of the common man is not dashed.”

APC Fixes Fresh Congress In Anambra, As Fayose’s Aide Dumps PDP For APC From Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head, South West Bureau, Ado Ekiti) HE All Progressives ConT gress (APC) has fixed Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a fresh congress in Anambra State. Following the controversy that trailed the party’s ward, local government and state congress last month, APC according to a statement signed by the party’s Interim National Secretary, Tijjani Musa Tumsah, re-constituted a nine-man committee to review the Anambra State congress. The Secretary of the panel, Dr. Ahmed Aminu, disclosed that the National Working Committee of APC in order to ensure justice and fairness in the party re-constituted the Anambra Congress Committee to meet with stakeholders of the party calling for a fresh congress. According to him, “the congress at ward level would take place on Monday May 5, while the council would take place on Wednesday May 7 and the state congress on Friday, May 9 . ” Aminu advised members of the party in Anambra to unite, adding that APC is a merger of major opposition parties in the country with the aim of transforming Nigeria. “Without stability in the party, APC’s vision and mission would be cut short,” he said.

A chieftain of the party in Ihiala Local Government Area, Mr. Albert Chinwe Theodore, disclosed that APC has prospect of taking over government in Anambra State if well handled. Meanwhile, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State and former Deputy Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, has dumped his former boss, Mr. Ayo Fayose and the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the APC holds a brighter future for the state. Olatunbosun who has also served as Commissioner for Information under the Oniled regime publicly announced his defection from the PDP during Fayemi’s campaign tour of Igbemo, Are, Iworoko and Afao, Fayose’s country home on Friday. He said that he had considered the exodus of well meaning people across the country from other parties to the APC and decided it was high time he became part of the progressive train. In a related development, the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose, warned the people of Ijero Local Government in Ekiti State against allowing the APC to return to power, saying it will amount to sentencing the state to “permanent slav-

ery, permanent poverty, permanent hunger for workers and a permanent kingdom for thugs, killers and treasury looters.” Fayose gave the warning while addressing supporters at Ijurin Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti during campaign tour of wards in the council. Olatunbosun who stressed that Fayose has nothing good to offer the people of the state but “political thuggery”, disclosed that the ex-governor who claimed to be a friend of teachers left the state with a debt of over N3 billion in emolument for teachers. He urged Ekiti teachers to review their benefits and compare what they received under Fayose with the many allowances they now get under the Fayemi-led government. “I slept and dreamt. I looked at PDP and saw that the party is bleeding and it is sure to die. The party has a virus that is sure to kill it. I looked at where everyone in Igbemo and other parts of Nigeria is going and considered that APC is a party of progress. We have held meetings at Ifaki and decided it is important for me to go where there is light and forsake where there is thuggery. We are tired of a violent man. We are tired of a man who does not have respect for the people.”

Muslim Coalition Wants Reinstatement Of Sacked Nurses By Kamal Tayo Oropo HE decision by the manT agement of National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, as well as those at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, to terminate the appointment of three nurses for using shoulder length headscarves (popularly called hijab) has attracted backlash from a coalition of Islamic groups. The groups, which decried the action as unjust and an invitation to anarchy, also demanded the immediate reinstatement of the sacked nurses, calling on government to allow the dictates of the constitution to prevail regarding the right of Muslim women and girls to use the hijab in public places.

Chibok: Omatseye Faults Nation’s Youths By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku IGERIAN youths have N come under fire for their indifference towards the kidnap of 234 female students in Chibok, Bornu State. Expressing his disappointment, the chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Sam Omatseye, described Nigerian students as “irresponsible” and a disgrace to their generation. Speaking to newsmen at the review of his book, In Touch, during the recently concluded Books and Arts Festival held at Awolowo Square, Ikenne, Ogun State, Omatseye said that the country would have been shut down had the kidnapping occurred when he was a student. He said: “Nigerian youths today are very irresponsible. When we were students in the universities, if this kind of a thing had happened, we would have shut down the entire country. The university students are acting as if the kidnapped girls do not belong to their generation. What are they doing?”

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Sunday, May 4, 2014

NEWS Boys Esan Elders, Edo Gov Disagree Over Alleged Marginalisation Old Association Awards From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

HE Esan Elders Forum from Edo Central Senatorial District and the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole yesterday disagreed over alleged marginalisation of Esan people in the state. But in his reaction, Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Kassim Afegbua denied the allegation saying, “the governor has never marginalised anybody or section in the state. This is a situation where people will be reading clannish sentiments into government plans to move the state forward. The governor does not take any decision without consultation.” A statement issued yesterday by the Forum’s National Chairman, Julius Akpede, Adhoc Committee Chairman Barr G. O Uwangue and Director of Pulicity, Lawrence Odiase alleged

that the current Head of Service of the state, Jerry Obazele was appointed few months to his retirement to create a false impression that they were being carried along. They also alleged the appointment of Professor (Mrs.) Cordelia Agbebaku as substantive Vice Chancellor

of Ambrose Alli University, who they said her appointment letter was backdated to when she was in acting capacity, “to enable the governor serve her with an unmerited quit notice.” The group also alleged that the recent establishment of two new universities partic-

ularly the University of Science and Technology, Uzairue by the law establishing it, “gives the governor enormous powers to appropriate and convert and acquire the new university as his privately owned institution as it stipulates that the university will be funded

solely and structured by the Edo State government before accepting offers from private sector investors.” They said this is a ploy by the governor to acquire the institution after he leaves office just as they alleged that existing tertiary institutions were being underfunded.

Wada Approves N400m For Micro-Projects In Kogi HE Kogi State government T has approved N400 million to fund micro-projects by its

tion (IDA) had stopped providing funds for the agency in 2014. Community and Social Devel“We have retained the status opment Agency. and structure of the agency Governor Idris Wada an- for 2014. We have been innounced the approval at the formed that there will be little inauguration of two blocks of or no IDA funding to such classrooms and a motorised agencies in all the states of the solar-powered borehole in federation. We are therefore Ichala-Ajode village harnessing resources so that in Ibaji Local Government we commit at least N400 milArea yesterday. lion to fund community projThe governor said the state ects,” he said. government approved the Wada commended the money because the Interna- agency’s community developtional Development Associa- ment approach, saying it is a

reliable instrument for the development of the rural areas where about 70 per cent per cent of the people lived. The governor reiterated that the agency was vital to the state because rural dwellers had access to less than 20 per cent of the state resources. “This government strongly believes in the restoration of the dignity of man, which can only be achieved by stamping out the causes of poverty, disease and ignorance,” he said. Wada also promised to construct a road linking Ichala-

Ajode with Echabi Junction from Idah-Onyedega road to ease the transportation challenges facing the community. Earlier, Mr. James Odibla, the agency’s General Manager, said the World Bank had so far given it N1.2 billion to execute community development projects in the state. Odibla said the state government had paid N421.5 million as its counterpart funding and recently directed the payment of N1 million as the state’s contribution to the agency.

Scholarships To Deserving Students T was a celebration of acaIGrammer demic excellence at Orogun School, Orogun, Ughelli North LGA, as the old boys association of the school from the Lagos branch awarded scholarships to students that have excelled in their educational pursuit. The donors of the annual awards are: Austin Avuru (N100,000); Felix Akpobaro (N10,000); Opute Konyebagu (N10,000); Abraham Ogbodo (N15,000) and General Tony Okpobrisi, a medical doctor (N30,000). The awardees smiled home with cash prizes of N10,000 to N25,000 each. The 2011/2012 awardees are: Orukpesheke Great, Okei Loveth, Obukohwo Efe, Ohwoavworua Princess, Osirim Ononaye, Onisuru Ogheneghare and Oghenebrume Kevwe. Under the 2012/2013 academic year, the best overall student from JSS1-2 is Okolo Nkechi; from JSS2-3 – Ohwofasa Eloho; from SS1-2, – Owhofasa Glory, and from SS2-3, – London Victor. Best overall in Biology is London Victor; best overall in Accounts – Osirim Ononaye, and best overall in English Language – Orih Godspower, while London Victor is the best overall in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Earlier in a welcome address presented at the colourful ceremony, the college principal, Chief Jagbedia Efe, disclosed that from the records available to him, it has become a yearly kind gesture of the Lagos branch of the OGS Alumni to give scholarships to intelligent students of their alma mater.

Total, DA Mark World Malaria Day With Free Medical Treatment N commemoration of the IhasWorld Malaria Day, Total Plc further deepened its sup-

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle) paying homage to His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, during the monarch’s 27th coronation anniversary in Warri. PHOTO: JIBUNOR SAMUEL

Police Nab Suspect Over Youth Leader’s Death State government, the police HE police in Lagos said News Agency of Nigeria the politician. T A community leader in the commissioner and other sethey have arrested a man, (NAN) yesterday. She said a who allegedly shot dead a police team from Iponri Di- area, Chief Lateef Ajose, told curity agencies to beef up seyouth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kunle Awotunde. Awotunde was reportedly killed at Ilogbo in Ebute Meta area of Lagos Mainland. The spokeswoman for the state command, DSP Ngozi Braide, confirmed the arrest in an interview with the

visional Headquarters apprehended the suspect at his hideout yesterday. According to Braide, peace has returned to the area following the tension and fighting that trailed Awotunde’s death on April 29. She added that the police have begun investigations into the cause of the death of

NAN that there have been shooting by unknown gunmen every night after the killing of Awotunde. He said the community has sought the assistance of the commander of the Rapid Respond Squad (RSS) the State Criminal Investigating Department, Yaba, on the matter. “I am appealing to the Lagos

curity in the area. Everybody is living in fear. People are indoors; no shop is open because of constant shooting. “The situation here is tense. If I tell you that all is well with us here, I will be telling a lie. I have made some sacrifices to appease the gods, yet there is still no peace,” Ajose said.

He added: “I have written a petition to the governor, Oba of Lagos, the police and the council for their intervention. I am appealing to all the factions to stop killing themselves; most of the youths causing the problem do not live in this area.” Efforts to contact the chairman, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mr. Oladele Adekanye, for his comment were unsuccessful.

2015: Nasarawa APC Must Re-strategise For Victory, Says Omar From Msugh Ityokura, Lafia CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Omar Nurudeen, has expressed concern over the chances of victory by the party in the forthcoming governorship elections in Nasarawa State, following its outcome at the recently held council elections in the state. Speaking at the weekend in an interview with The

Guardian in Lafia, the state capital, Nurudeen called for a review of party activities with a view to synergising with the grassroots ahead of the polls. “As a founding member of the defunct CPC, which has fused into the APC, I am concerned and bothered about our outing in 2015. I feel we should re-strategise. Our performance in the local council elections was not good and

should serve as a litmus test for what will happen in 2015. As such, we should not relax,” he said. The national secretariat of the party, Nurudeen said, is worried about the chances of the party and has mandated him to write a report, chronicling the shortcomings of the party’s leadership and suggesting ways to clinch victory in 2015. Nurudeen who has been at

daggers drawn with governor Tanko Al-Makura over the composition of the state executive leadership of the party, hinged the necessity of the report which he said is awaiting submission, on the number of decampees the party has lost to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP. HE said: “Why does the governor want our party to die? As you can see all the chief-

tains of the party have all deserted us and so how are we going to make it again in 2015? But if you are in doubt, look at what happened during the local government election. As a ruling party, why were we not able to win all the council seats? And you know that PDP also won majority of the council wards. So why must we continue like this?”

port for the Roll Back Malaria initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health with the hosting of Malaria Prevention and Control activities in Agungi Community, Eti Osa Local Government of Lagos. The activities, which held between Wednesday and Friday, was organised in conjunction with a faith-based international non-governmental organization, Development Africa (DA). The programme was in line with the theme of the 2014 World Malaria Day celebration which is ‘Invest in the Future. Defeat Malaria.’ It is also aimed at eliminating cases of Malaria attack in the country by half and deepening the understanding of modern Malaria treatment methods.

Ohuabunwa, Others Inaugurate May Clinics Today NDUSTRIALIST and member IGroup, Nigerian Economic Summit Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, will today grace the official opening of May Clinics’ new branch in the Oniru axis of Lekki, Lagos. Other dignitaries expected at the occasion include Edo State’s former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prince Charles Uwensuyi-Edomsonwan; the chairman of the hospital’s Board of Directors, Mrs. Aworinde and the hospital’s Executive Director, Mr. Bisola Aworinde.

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Sunday, May 4, 2014 NEWS

NEWS Nyanyan Blast: Wada Asks Citizens To Be Security Conscious From John Akubo, Lokoja OVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has cautioned citizens of the State never to think that the current security challenges is exclusive to the North East or Abuja because recent happenings

have shown that every part of the country is now vulnerable. Wada, who spoke in Ibaji local council of the State at the weekend, urged the people to be vigilant and security conscious by scrutinising

strange faces and reporting them to security operatives. “You all know what is happening all over Nigeria particularly in the North. There is insecurity everywhere; we should not take our security for granted. If strange people arrive in your town or village

please keep watch on them. Those bombing the various communities are human beings like us, they are not spirits, they dress in normal clothes, but they are evil; please keep an eye on them. “If you do that, you will be saving your own lives and that of

the community. So, please let us not think that what is happening in Yobe, Borno and other places cannot happen here. It would not happen to us only if we are vigilant and careful and to make sure we are aware of happenings in our environment,” he said. The Governor noted that the

Nyanyan blast should be an eye opener, urging the people to unite against insecurity by ensuring that terror vendors do not have their way in their communities. He charged security operatives never to take their job for granted because the security of one is the security of all.

Insecurity Challenges: Ihedioha Calls On Nigerians To Embrace Dialogue From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri OR the security challenges confronting the country, especially the spate of bombing in the North and Abuja, to be over, aggrieved Nigerians have been called to follow the path of dialogue to find lasting solutions to their differences rather than taking the law into their hands by killing fellow Nigerians with bombs and abducting innocent girls. Speaking in Owerri, Imo State, on the topic, ‘Religious Tolerance And The Need For Peaceful Co-existence In Nigeria’ at the weekend as guest lecturer at the first enthronement anniversary of the Bishop of Egbu, Diocese of Anglican Church, the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representative, Chukwuemeka Ihedioha said there is need for tolerance in a multi-ethnic and religious society like Nigeria for peace to reign. “In a country that has about 160 million Nigerians, good

governance anchored on promotion of peaceful co-existence, social justice, democracy, wealth creation, poverty reduction and eradication of unemployment must thrive,” he said. Stating that President Good-

luck Jonathan would soon roll out strategies to permanently address the issues of insecurity across the country, the lawmaker appealed to all aggrieved persons or groups in the country to embrace peace and dialogue.

ITH barely two months W to the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, the ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in state was on Saturday depleted with the defection of former chieftain of the party, Senator Bode Ola to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While making his formal declaration in his Local Government at Ajilosun, PDP Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, the former senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said he left the party because it is nothing but a “cult” under the command of a galleon master. He described the PDP as the only democratic party in Nigeria that gives equal rights and opportunities to its members regardless of status, class or affiliation. Ola, whose defection appears to be a new twist in the lingering internal crisis within the party, berated the APC for what he called ‘grave injustice’ done to him, saying he took time to study and analyse recent development in the APC and as one of the major stakeholders, who had served the party diligently for many years with a mission to help deepen Nigeria’s nascent democracy and a heart for service to mankind and God. Said he, “We cannot be oblivious of the fact that the leadership of the party in Ekiti has lost focus and completely derailed from the path of honour, leadership that does not take the interest of the common people at heart.

NUJ Advocates Good Reward System To Motivate Workers From John Akubo, Lokoja HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has advocated

OGIF Empowers Niger Delta Youths VER 700 Niger Delta particO ipants in the Federal Government Post Amnesty Programme have so far benefited from the economic empowerment scheme instituted by Oil and Gas Industry Foundation (OGIF), a consortium of 13 oil and gas majors and servicing companies doing business in the region. The partnering companies include NNPC, Shell, Total, Chevron, ExxonMobil, NAOC, NLNG, Addax Petroleum, Schlumberger, Oando, Pan Ocean, Niger Delta Exploration and Production Plc and NPDC.

OGIF chairman, Supo Shadiya, while speaking on the project during the official commissioning of the scheme at the University of Port Harcourt Business School, Rivers, said the scheme is a concerted effort by the major oil and gas exploration and servicing companies in Nigeria to support the Presidential Amnesty Initiative of the Federal Government. He said, “the scheme comprises renting of business location, procuring and installing basic business assets, granting of working capi-

Ekiti APC Chieftain, Ola Decamps To PDP By Gbenga Akinfenwa

He said: “They should take advantage of the relevant committees of the National Assembly like the committee on the Review of the Constitution and those of public petitions and human rights to present their cases.”

“Today, the APC has become an instrument in the hands of a clique of people who are determined to arrest our development, enslave our children in their quest to use the party platform for their self-serving agenda and personal interest at the expense of the undiscerning populace.” While embracing his new political platform, the former senator described the PDP as the only party that keeps to the tenets of equal rights and opportunities to its members regardless of status class or affiliation “When we looked at the parties objectively, we discovered

that the only democratic party in Nigeria is the PDP. Politics is about interest, if you discovered that your interests and rights are trampled upon by people who are supposed to be your friends and partners, if you found out that those you have helped to climb the ladder are the people who do not want to see your face, what do you do? “The wise thing to do is to build your nest where you will find love, warmth and goodwill. I was instrumental to the emergence of APC in the political clime; I was the light that led APC through the political wilderness.

Sumonu Lauds Aregbesola’s Developmental Policies By Daniel Anazia ORMER Secretary-General FAfrica of the Organisation of Trade Union Unity (OATUU), Hassan Sumonu, has described Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as a revolutionary leader with demonstrable commitment to the emancipation of the masses, especially the people of Osun State from the twin problems of poverty and employment. Speaking as the chairman of the just concluded two-day Osun State Economic Summit tagged: Orisun Aje 2014 with the theme, ‘Crux of Osun Economic Developmental Master Plan: Analysing Radical Economic Paradigm Shift,’ Sumonu noted that the rapid physical transformation of the state through infrastruc-

ture renewal plan as well as the creation of various employment generation and wealth creation programmes are solid indications of a people-centred government. The one-time president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) commended the Aregbesola-led administration for its dogged commitment to the faithful of his six-point manifesto aimed at enhancing the economy for the state. “Any government that has a pact with the people must honour and fulfill that pact for such government to remain a darling of the people. From the large turnout of people at this summit, it is clear that the people have keyed into and desired the wholesome success of the Aregbesola administration.

tal and engaging a mentor for six months to ensure business success for beneficiaries. “On a general scope, OGIF initiative entails providing funding and supervision of programmes for the rehabilitation and reintegration of some of the participants in the Federal Government Post Amnesty Programme, ” he explained, adding that about 1040 beneficiaries have, so far, been recruited for the OGIF skill training programmes. Out of the recruited participants, 964 have already graduated while 76 are rounding up training at centres in

Warri and Port Harcourt. The chairman further informed that additional 200 beneficiaries are being profiled by the OGIF for training in various skills. Shadiya said the foundation started with a Community Outreach Programme (COP), which was designed to foster the awareness that justice can be achieved through non-violent means and the promotion of social transformation. COP became the forerunner to the skill acquisition training programme that provided platform for OGIF to facilitate and oversee trainings.

for a reward system for civil servants apart from the take home pay, as a way to stem the rising wave of corruption in service. The chairman of the union, Kogi State chapter, Alhaji Ali Atabor, who spoke with The Guardian at the May Day celebration in Lokoja, said, “ good reward system will check corruption, people are stealing because they are not sure of their fate after retirement, hence many of them engage in falsification of records, doctoring their age and presentation of all manner of certificates. “If there is good reward system for honesty and dedicated civil servants there would be more productivity and less corruption,” he said. Atabor opined that such reward should be in form of residential house or cars, which such workers can fall back on after retirement.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

6 Sunday, May 4, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cityfile

CITY GATE CLOSURE Gridlock unlimited!

WWW.SKYSCRAPERCITY.COM

Pains, As Abuja Residents ‘Freeze’ For Big Bros From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja OR residents of the FCT who live in estates and suburbs along Airport Road, Gwagwalada and Suleja in Niger State, President Jonathan would do well to add a helicopter to his fleet of transport machines. These taxpayers might not really bother about the cost of the procurement, even though there are already 10 aircraft on the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF). Experts in the aviation industry put the average price of a Falcon 900 at $35m, Gulfstream IVSP -$40m, Gulfstream V - $45m, Boeing 737 - $58m, Cessna Citation $7m and Hawker Siddley 125800 - $15m. This brings the estimated value of Nigeria’s PAF to $390.5m (N60.53bn). All these models are on the PAF, alongside two Falcon 7X jets, including BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One). The addition of just one chopper would not really break anyone’s backbone. These residents would not mind because they have become utterly weary of being locked out at the City Gate every time Big Bros is returning from a trip or leaving Aso Villa for the airport. The moment security operatives become aware that the President would be cruising past the area, the City Gate is shut and motorists are rooted to the spot until Jonathan passes. At such times, long lines of vehicles will flow from the gate to the bridge leading to the National Hospital, then below the bridge, through the road to the stadium, and further down to the aerodrome. And from the Airport Road towards the City Gate, the gridlock meanders around House on the Rock church. Persons familiar with these areas will admit these are by no means short distances. The gridlock could span 4-5 km on either side and for some 30-35 minutes, people who are returning home after the day’s work or going to the city centre for private businesses would have no choice but wait. God help you if the time of the President’s movement happens during closing hours, usually 4-5pm. It is perhaps even worse if it falls at 1-2pm because people are left at the mercy of the scorching sun. Abuja folks will happily remind you that the city’s sun is not the happy, smiling-faced thing found in children’s storybooks. Granted: there should be watertight security when the number one citizen moves around, but people could at least be saved the agony of having to languish under the sun whenever he does so. And the solution is simple: Nigerians are now giving him the go ahead to add a chopper to his air fleet. This machine would simply pick him up from the villa and move him straight to the airport.

This is annoying! I have been here for at least 15 minutes. I work in a hospital and I have been called to an emergency. Here am I, held up because the President is about to go to the airport. Do these people know the essence of time? What if the patient I am called to attend dies before I get there? Nigerians are used to queuing under the sun. They do so during voters’ registration. They do so when voting for their choice candidates. And don’t mention the queues at petrol or kerosene retail outlets. Ironically, Abuja residents now have to queue, so that the man they queued to vote for would pass. A motorist, who incidentally shares name with the President, voiced his frustration. According to Jonathan Ehis, “since they have been doing what they like with our money and we cannot complain, he should just buy a helicopter, so that we could be saved all this trouble. Honestly, if I knew this madness was going on, I would have stayed back in my office for perhaps 30 minutes. This kind of thing has never happened before, not in the history of this city. Only God knows who his security details are. Even a layman knows that this arrangement is not the best. Let him just buy a helicopter so that we can be free to enjoy movement, even if we cannot share whatever they eat up there.” The suggestion is apt. The 2014 budget is still ‘on his bedside cabinet’. It would be wise if he just added a clause to the document, indicating his desire for a chopper. In fairness to Mr President, he might not have thought along this line. But now that residents at the Airport Road axis are experiencing recurrent nightmares, he could just pick up his pen and scribble away. It could even be that one chopper would be found less expensive in comparison to a bulletproof BMW car. At the moment, the lowest priced machine in the PAF is $7m. The fleet is reportedly maintained yearly with a ‘paltry’ N9.08bn. Some residents spoke to The Guardian at the city gate when the world stood still for Oga to pass. They voiced their anger and frustration. But there was nothing they could do. Ade, a Yoruba man, went philosophical: “A woman has no option but endure whenever a man with a huge*** humbles her,” he said.

Bassey Okon suggested that contractors build a separate road from the airport to Aso Villa, so that the President would not have to ply the same route with common countrymen. He said: “This is annoying; I have been here for at least 15 minutes. I work in a hospital and I have been called to an emergency. Here am I, held up because the President is about to go to the airport. Do these people know the essence of time? What if the patient I am called to attend dies before I get there? Whose fault would that be? This is not a Banana Republic. Nigeria should be civilised by now. Can you estimate the manhours wasted? They only think of themselves. If I lose any patient as a result of this, the blood of the patient will be on them.” Akinyinka Taiwo, a security expert, said: “This is simply eye service by security men. They must have advised the President of the need to shut down the city gate. But it is wrong. The President can disguise and pass through this road without anyone knowing it. This hype is drawing unnecessary attention to him. And don’t forget, the average black man loves publicity; power gets into their heads and they want everyone to know they are moving from here to there. Maybe, the President also is enjoying this unnecessary attention too. But it is not worth it. We were all witnesses when Obasanjo was president. He lived in the same villa and travelled often. But you wouldn’t know when he moved around. Only people that were familiar with his vehicle would. They would say, ‘that’s Baba passing’. There was no siren or jamboree. “I know they might want to argue that the times have changed, with Boko haram and all that. But the approach is wrong. Don’t forget, we are talking of suicide bombers who are ready to die. Dying with the President would mean nothing to them. The unfortunate thing is that innocent Nigerians on the queue would also be victims. I think they should review this arrangement; it is not the best, if they really want him to be safe. “Security operatives in this country are overzealous, yet they don’t have enough intelligence gathering skills. What they are saying is that if I also want to go and catch a flight, I will have to wait here because Mr President wants to pass and then miss my flight. Is that how it should be?” It is a familiar pattern on Airport Road. The moment one hits the road and finds policemen and other security operatives standing in groups and at different location from the City Gate to Federal Housing, Nigeria Immigration headquarters and the airport, the first thing that comes to mind is: Mr Presi-

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 4, 2014

CITYFILE Nasarawa:Who WillHalt These Communal Clashes? From Msugh Ityokura, Lafia ASARAWA State, christened ‘Home of Solid N Minerals’, risks picking up a new nickname – ‘Home of Solid Crisis’. Reason: the state has not known peace for years. Created under the government of the late former head of state, General Sani Abacha, on October 1, 1996, Nasarawa has, since then, been governed by minority ethnic groups, with the Eggon ethnic majority unable to clinch the coveted seat of governor. Some observers said Senator Solomon Ewuga, an Eggon, won election as governor, but was allegedly robbed of the opportunity by a cabal of minority ethnic nationalities. Hardly a year passes without the state recording killings due to political or ethnic violence. The worst, perhaps, was the May 7, 2013 murder of over 100 policemen and officers of the State Security Service in Alakyio, a village just 18 kilometres from Lafia, the state capital. A cult group, Ombatse, was said to have been responsible for the killings. A white paper by the judicial commission of inquiry into the incident indicted the group and other prominent sons of Eggon extraction including a former deputy governor in the state and a former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory. Just as attacks on Tiv communities in the state were beginning to slow down, following military intervention, violence again sprung up in Nasarawa Eggon local government council barely a week ago. According to government and security sources, the latest crisis has claimed close to 200 lives. The clash is between the Eggon and the Gwandare, believed to be one of the smallest ethnic groups in the state. The governor, Tanko AlMakura, is Gwandare. Trouble, reportedly started after an Eggon man encroached on a piece of land that had been sold to a Gwandare man. A minor argument had ensued, which spiraled into a blood-

Scene of destruction in the aftermath of the recent crisis

bath. Eyewitnesses told The Guardian that Gwandare men quickly mobilised and stormed the farmland, killing an Eggon man. A counter attack was carried out by the Eggon, who reportedly killed any Gwandare person in sight. They were also said to have destroyed homes and cut down economic trees belonging to their “enemies” in the process. Corpses of victims were said to have been dumped in water wells belonging to the Gwandare, while some were buried in shallow graves. Witnesses also spoke of corpses that were heaped up and burnt. The Ombatse cult group has been fingered in the recent crisis, even as it has been accused of carrying out similar acts in the past. And according to some sources, more villages could get a taste of violence soon. These villages, the sources said, are those perceived to be against the ambition by the Eggon to produce a governor in 2015.

FMC Makurdi: This Hospital Must Not Fail From Msugh Ityokura, Makurdi ACILITIES are collapsing at Ftrethe Federal Medical CenMakurdi and it appears not much is being done to checkmate the decline. Investigations revealed that millions of naira has been channeled towards rehabilitating decaying structures at the hospital and making its environment welcoming to patients. Sadly, there seems little to show for the huge sums, also meant to procure modern equipment that is key to the operation of the hospital. This has reportedly been responsible for several preventable deaths The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Alex Ohemu, however, denied the allegation that resources meant for the uplift of the hospital were misappropriated. Ohemu told The Guardian that the hospital remains one of the best in the state. He also expressed satisfaction with the level of medical services it is offering and wondered why people are making spurious allegations against the hospital’s authorities. Meanwhile, services rendered by the hospital might have worsened, following the current method of functioning from two sites. For operational convenience, the Federal Government had approved money for the relocation of the hospital from its present place to a permanent site at Apir, 30 kilometres from Makurdi. The new

site is bigger and has capacity to accommodate more facilities including offices and wards. Observations show that a poorly executed plan for relocation has brought more hardship to patients. One of the worst affected depart-

ments is the emergency ward. Patients in need of urgent blood transfusion usually give up the ghost before they complete the journey to the blood bank located at the Apir site. A cross section of in and out patients that were inter-

Governor Al-Makura at the State House, Lafia, on Wednesday put the number of persons killed in the crises at 50, stressing that those behind the massacre would be brought to book, no matter who they are. Government, he said, was working round the clock to track down the perpetrators of the heinous crime, put a stop to wanton killings in the state and deter potential troublemakers. It has been noted, however, that despite several white papers on past violence, nobody or group has been prosecuted. At slight provocation, youths take to the streets often killing people in the process, fuelling speculation that the state government has not done enough to maintain order. “There is high level unemployment in the state despite campaign promises by the governor that he would provide jobs. So, what do you expect? The result must be restiveness,” said Madaki, a civil servant. Many residents and business owners are said

viewed called on the Federal Government to address the situation as a matter of urgency. The Guardian found that provision of water is inadequate, as the hospital’s only tanker cannot match daily requirement. It was also evident that the hospital’s patient handling capacity is begging for a boost. At the

to be gradually relocating to the urban centres of Nyanya, Mararaba and Makurdi in Benue State for fear of being trapped in unpredictable violence. A restaurant owner in Lafia told The Guardian: “I have asked them to look for a place for me in Makurdi before election time because I don’t want a repeat of what happened to me in previous times.” Proffering a solution, a former deputy governor and member of the ongoing national conference, Professor Onje Gyewade, warned that the state would not know peace if the governor refuses to shelve his 2015 re-election bid. It will be recalled that the Gwandare people had just returned to their homes, after having fled the area for two years, following attacks. The latest development is seen by many as a deliberate move by the Eggon to permanently force the Gwandare people out of Nasarawa Eggon.

height of killings of Tivs by herdsmen in the state, the dead bodies of victims littered the hospital’s morgue. The psychiatric hospital, located just beside the Aper Aku stadium is the most ignored of all the units of the hospital. Findings showed that patients here rely almost entirely on staff for survival, even as drugs, which

are supposed to be given freely, are unavailable. “My brother has been staying here for the past three months. And since we came, we were only given drugs once. And up till this time, we have not received more,” said one Igbahemba, whose elder brother is a patient there.

THE GUARDIAN

Sunday, May 4, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

CITYFILE From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City EFORE now, Edo State was notorious for armed robbery, B cultism, kidnapping and other violent crimes. In recent times, however, a new wave of criminality has gained prominence – defilement of the girl child. Not less than 13 cases of defilement of girls as young as three years have been reported in the state. The perpetrators, shockingly, are sometimes men as old as 60 years. The situation has become a source of worry for the state commissioner of police, Folusho Adebanjo, who over the weekend, expressed concern, calling on parents and guardians to monitor the whereabouts of their wards at all times. He also cautioned residents of the state to be alert and ensure suspicious movements and persons are reported to the police. Parading 33 suspected criminals, Adebanjo said that of 21 cases of criminal activities in the state in the last one month, rape and defilement accounted for seven. The others included armed robbery, stealing, murder, unlawful possession of firearms and fraud. He said a 33-year-old man identified as Friday Ayemere was alleged to have had unlawful carnal knowledge of three sisters – a five-year-old and her twin sisters aged three years. The suspect has been arrested and has confessed to committing the crime. On April 26, 2014, one John Asia, aged 34, was reported to have had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl as she slept in her house. The suspect has also been arrested and has confessed. Adebanjo said one Osaigbovo, now at large, went to Ologbo and took an 11-year-old girl from her mother under the pretence of buying biscuits for her, and fled with the girl. “Investigation revealed that Osaigbovo used to be a friend to the woman’s husband. However, one Pius Kelvin has been arrested in connection with the case while efforts are being made to rescue the stolen child and arrest the suspect.” There was also the case of three boys who allegedly dragged a 15-year-old girl into a house in Ikpobha Hill area of the state capital and gang raped her. Adebanjo said that one suspect has been arrested in connection with the case, while efforts are underway to nab the others. There was also the 20-year-old girl in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local government council. One Saturday Oseidu, aged 23 years, dragged her into an uncompleted building and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. The suspect has been arrested. He

Suspects arrested by the Edo police command

CITYSHOT

Edo Police Alarmed At Rape, Child Defilement has also made confessional statements. A case of rape was reported on April 19 involving one Franklin Masalaku, aged 24 years, who allegedly tricked a 24year-old girl from Sapele Road to Stadium in Benin City and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. One Iduwa Akenuwa, aged 31 years, pretended he wanted to buy meat from a 20-year-old girl who was hawking the same along Saint Saviour’s Road. He led her into his room at No 43, Oghuarobor Street where he forcefully had carnal knowledge of the girl, after threatening her with a cutlass. The suspect was arrested and would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded. Adebanjo said that within the same month, 33 robbery sus-

pects were arrested and 12 guns were recovered, including five live ammunitions and 67 cartridges. Other items recovered included seven laptops and two vehicles. “Let me use this opportunity to make a clarion call on the good people of Edo State not to sit on the fence but be watchful in their communities and give useful information to the police and other security agencies on the activities of suspected criminals. Know your neighbours and what they do for a living. Report all suspicious persons and strange happenings or movements in your neighbourhood to the police and other security agencies,” Adebanjo said. He also enjoined people to be cautious when attending public functions and other public places.

Display of items recovered by the police

Brothers Across Nigeria Reaches Out To Needy From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE Umuahia chapter of Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN), a T non-governmental organisation, was at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia State, recently, to provide succour to the sick. BAN chairman, Mr. Uche Igwe, a lawyer, told The Guardian that the body, founded in 1972, also operates in the United States, Asia and in the United Kingdom, where it fosters peace and unity and carries out humanitarian services, visiting charity homes and hospitals. His team was received and taken round hospital wards by Mrs. Ucha Ifegwu Chukwu on behalf of the head of the FMC’s Medical Social Services Department, Mrs. Ijeoma Adaku. At the Okpara Ward for children, the delegation, which included the welfare chairman and secretary, Iheanyi Igboanulam and Onwuka Njoku, took time out to be with three children – a boy (Zion) and two girls (Testimony and Adanma), aged below three years.

According to hospital source, a woman who claimed to be Zion’s grandmother had brought the boy to the outpatient department. Later, however, she abandoned him and fled. The two girls (both mentally retarded) were rescued by a policeman from a bush in Amankwo, Umuahia South LGA of the state, after they had been abandoned. The team, which arrived with drugs and toiletries for distribution to the patients also visited two babies, aged one and two years. They were admitted at the hospital two months before the day and were treated and discharged. But because they owed bills, they were remanded in the hospital’s custody. Their names were given as Chinedu and Ogechi. While Baby Chinedu was treated for Bronchial Pneumonia, Ogechi underwent successful surgery for boil. Touched by the inability of their parents to foot their bills, BAN instantly issued cheques to the hospital to secure their release. The head nurse on duty in the ward, Mrs. Sylverline Onuigbo, praised the kind gesture, describing it as a great relief.

Free Mosquito Nets, Malaria Screening For Communities By Paul Adunwoke O mark the 2014 World Malaria Day, Global Oceon Engineers, an oil and gas firm, distributed treated mosquito nets to members of Lekki Phase 1 Estate, Lekki, Lagos. The initiative was in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility obligations. Mecure Healthcare Limited in Oshodi, Lagos, also organised free malaria screening for members of Oshodi community, as a way of giving back to society. The head (Health Safety and Environment) of Global Oceon Engineers, Mrs. Ochuwa George, said: “Malaria has been the

Strange? A banana plant at Oboni-Upa at Ariam-Usaka community in Ikwuano LGA, Abia State

major cause of workplace absenteeism in Nigeria. We know this is very true for us in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. We believe that promoting healthy lifestyles and a healthy productive workforce is good for business and also for society in general.” Sani Alkali Hamza of the Department of Pathology, Mecure Healthcare Limited, said: “As a corporate organisation, we owe it a duty that people are tested and treated properly. I want to advise Nigerians to always keep their environments clean because dirty environments breed mosquitoes.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 4, 2014

NOTEBOOK

NIG 054: Introduction To Anagrammatic Indulgence By Adidi Uyo S a language aficionado, what would you pinpoint as the most striking thing about this dictum? “A fox that puts on the toga of a goat can fool people much longer or more successfully than a goat that puts on the toga of a fox.” Of course, you know what “toga” means, but you don’t even need to know that in order to answer the question. Anybody with a keen eye for the structure of words would readily discern that “toga” and “goat” are nothing but products with the same molecules that have been arranged differently. The two words are anagrams. An anagram is a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its constituents, that is, its letters or words, meaningfully. In other words, there are three kinds of anagrams: lexical, phrasal, and sentential. Of the three, lexical anagrams are the most common and the easiest to coin, and they may be words of two, three, four, five, six, or even seven letters. Put differently, lexical anagrams may be monosyllabic, disyllabic, or polysyllabic, the more the letters the greater the difficulty in fathoming and forming them from the original word, which is known as the subject of the anagram. In the dictum aforementioned, toga is the subject of the anagram. Over the past two weeks or so, I have been obsessed with anagrams. Any time I am reading newspapers, I find myself searching for words, which bear possibilities of anagrams and then indulging in forming them. “Toga” was one of such words which I encountered while I was reading the news story, “B’Haram link: Apologise or face litigation, Buhari tells PDP,” The Punch, April 17, 2014. The story was about the ultimatum which Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former head of state, and currently, a leader of the All Progressives Congress, had given to the Peoples Democratic Party to retract an accusation by its spokesman, Olisa Metuh, linking him, Buhari, with the terrorist acts of Boko Haram. Somewhere down the news story, General Buhari was reported to have said that the PDP National Publicity Secretary had deliberately misquoted an interview that he gave in Hausa on May 14, 2012 in which he said the opposition was determined to fight in the 2015 elections. In Buhari’s words: “I used the Hausa idiom, ‘Kane jini, Biri jini,’ which is a metaphor for a very tough fight. But, like the Islamic fundamentalist toga they falsely put on me because they cannot impinge on my personal and professional integrity, PDP apologists deliberately twisted this idiom to mean I called for violence.” As I read that paragraph of the story, I looked deeper and found another word which could be a subject, that is, an original word from which an anagram or anagrams may be permuted. The word is “mean.” Let me crave your indulgence to anagrammatise the word, thus: “Until very recently the name Metuh did not mean anything to me. But, today, any time I hear the name, I see a mean man with a mane, like that of a lion rearing to prey on its victims. Everybody is meat for Metuh the lion, who does not know that General Buhari is not his mate, much less, that he needs to tame his tongue.” Of course, you can see that from the original anagram, “mean,” I moved on to another original, “meat.” Talking about being on a roll with anagrams! The first time I actually had a taste of anagrams was when I

Believe it or not, the reason I say that is purely anagrammatic, something you can also see from this expression: A President who prefers to dance in a place he has declared to be in a state of emergency should not be surprised when he is caned by his critics for frolicking when Rome is burning. Indeed, to the President and the Nigerian Army, the clarion call from all the parents and the nation, via all anagrammatists, is: “Secure the rescue of all those innocent girls, first, before the vile men visit more evil on them.”

LANGUAGE ON PARADE was in Class Five in secondary school. But the irony was that I did not know that what I was relishing then was called anagram. We were doing a course in European History and our teacher, in two successive lessons, kept hammering on this phrase: “Warsaw saw war.” I do not know whether what Boko Haram and the Nigerian army have been engaged in all these years in the north eastern part of Nigeria is a war or not, but I do know that “war” is a good candidate for my anagrammatic indulgence. “Inexcusable folly” was the title of a recent editorial by The Nation. The thesis of the editorial was: “The attitudes of the president, his team and the military to the abduction of 234 girls expose incompetence and insensitivity.” Well, that is not my business, here, because I do not give a damn whether the president is incompetent or insensitive. What made the editorial make my day was a short sentence in it concerning the Defence Headquarters’ belied claim that “it had recovered (sic) 86 of the 100 girls” abducted by the socalled terrorists. The sentence read: “It turned out that the army had emitted a tissue of lies.” Well, the incident only reinforces the verity of the saying that, “Truth is the first casualty of war,” although, as I had intimated

Let’s Give This Democracy A Chance By Ebenezer Waive N January 15, 1966, Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led the first military coup in Nigeria. This resulted in the death of the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello; Premier of Western Region, Chief S.I. Akintola; Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; Federal Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, and some military officers. Unfortunately, history has a funny way of repeating itself. Events in the past few years have indicated that despite our great human and material resources, government has not been able to fulfill the legitimate expectations of Nigerians. Largely on this list of expectations is security of life and property. As a result, the country has been left to drift. This situation has resulted in chaos and mindless bloodshed. A grim situation has risen where actual death tolls are either doctored or concealed from the public. Today, parents are being forced to ask questions on the whereabouts of their children. The war on terror, which has been dragged to our porch, however, has no international bearing. Boko Haram might be a brother society in theory to Al Qaeda and other religious extremist groups but in practice, neither Al Qaeda nor any other foreign militia has any interest in Nigeria. None of their affairs has been targeted directly or indirectly at Nigeria, its people or government. The terror on our doorstep is in-house and borne out of a quest by some for ultimate power. The unreasonable position of the Northern extremist group leaves only one conclusion; they are puppets whose strings are being pulled by hidden puppeteers. They have taken cues from the Niger-Delta crisis. They refuse negotiation. They are unflinching and ready to destroy the life of any unlucky Nigerian. After the Niger-Delta crisis, affairs of state have been characterised by indifference, indecision, indiscipline and neglect. Currently, Nigerians are disillusioned and disappointed at the lukewarm attitude of government on issues of national importance. Moreover, the national confab, though a positive initiative, risks being greeted with indifference. What would quench the lust for power by the extremist

Best Emerging Airport: An Award That Says It All By Yakubu Dati ADIES and gentlemen, the award for Best Emerging Airport (Africa) goes to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria!” As the crowd broke into a thunderous applause, Engineer Saleh Dunoma, MD/CEO of FAAN, rose gracefully and walked to the stage under the klieg lights to receive the award, at the 4th Annual Emerging Airports Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on April 10, 2014. A silent achiever, who avoids the spotlight, this was one moment he could not avoid; the Sheiks adjusted their veils to catch a glimpse of the ‘emerging airport’ from Africa. Providence had just thrown him onto the world’s stage! Though he had just been recently appointed MD of FAAN, Dunoma was the man crisscrossing the length and breadth of Nigeria as Director of Projects, supervising the remodelling of 22 airports across the country for the past two years. He was the unseen hand that was silently moulding the concept of the Airport Remodelling Project into reality. So, it was a pleasant twist of fate that he was the one to receive this award to MMIA as MD/CEO of FAAN. As the then Director of Projects of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, it was his brief to supervise the massive Airport Remodelling Project. The significance of that project is that it is the most ambitious airport development project since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, after the Aerodrome Development Programme of the mid 1970s. The MMIA, which fetched the country that award, benefitted immensely from the project under Dunoma’s methodical su-

“L

earlier, I do not know whether what is going on in the three north eastern states goes by the name war. All the same, let me indulge you in the word, “war,” with particular attention to that pithy sentence in the editorial of The Nation. Truth may be the first casualty of war, but raw lies do not win a war. As a Catholic playing the role of an anagrammatist, I am tempted to ask Mother Mary to intervene for the Nigerian Army, for God to forgive them for telling raw lies under a warlike situation. I say “war-like” because I think what the President declared was not war but a state of emergency, right? That term leads me to this pertinent point: If the President wants to have a taste of the state of emergency which he had declared on those three north eastern states, methinks the proper thing for him to do would be to plan a solidarity visit to rally the soldiers at the theatre of the battle or war with Boko Haram, not a political rally where he would dance with his party members. Believe it or not, the reason I say that is purely anagrammatic, something you can also see from this expression: A President who prefers to dance in a place he has declared to be in a state of emergency should not be surprised when he is caned by his critics for frolicking when Rome is burning. Indeed, to the President and the Nigerian Army, the clarion call from all the parents and the nation, via all anagrammatists, is: “Secure the rescue of all those innocent girls, first, before the

pervision. Apart from the reconstruction of its old GAT into an ultra modern domestic terminal, the international terminal of the airport has also been expanded to about double its original size and fitted with ultra modern facilities. In addition, a new international terminal is being constructed close to the existing one in preparation for making the airport a major regional hub. Dunoma, a 1979 Building Engineering graduate of ABU, Zaria joined FAAN in 1980 and has since served the Authority in various sensitive capacities. At various times, he acted as Airport Manager, Kaduna Airport and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, respectively in 2000, before his appointment as substantive Airport Manager, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, a position he held until he was reassigned in 2005 to the newly created Directorate of Aviation Security and Safety as pioneer General Manager (Technology and Capacity Building).

This award to MMA is yet another global acclamation of the revolution that is taking place in Nigeria’s aviation sector, as propelled by President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the sector. That the award came when Nigeria officially became the 26th largest economy in the world made it more significant to potential foreign investors in the country’s aviation industry. The country’s aviation industry will be a major beneficiary of this economic breakthrough, especially now that new investment opportunities such as aerotropolis and the perishable cargo initiative have been introduced in the industry.

Events in the past few years have indicated that despite our great human and material resources, government has not been able to fulfill the legitimate expectations of Nigerians. Largely on this list of expectations is security of life and property. As a result, the country has been left to drift. This situation has resulted in chaos and mindless bloodshed. A grim situation has risen where actual death tolls are either doctored or concealed from the public. Today, parents are being forced to ask questions on the whereabouts of their children. group? Should the seat of power be renamed after Boko Haram? Nigerians, once again, are starring down the barrel of a gun. It has been argued that only an assassination of all political godfathers would clean the cesspool we call democracy. But the international community will not only frown at a coup, sanctions by the United Nations would be certain. Notwithstanding, there is no gainsaying the fact that a corn of wheat must fall to the ground and die in order to bring forth much fruit. It is unfortunate that official and political affairs are conducted in such carefree manner despite the growing number of dead, missing and mutilated persons. Failure to bring mutineers to justice and many others who have committed heinous crimes has frustrated efforts at finding lasting peace. There have also been ridiculous instances of pardons and amnesties being granted recklessly. Continuous uprisings by militia groups might suggest that mass murderers would never be brought to book. Regrettably, we continue to pay the price for our failure to enforce discipline and the rule of law. It is not intended that any top military brass would read this piece and get ‘ideas’. I do not wish the destruction of the country, but Nigeria must retrace its steps. We must give this democracy a chance to work.

Waive writes from Delta State

The diverse nature of his job in airport management provided him the unique opportunity of being exposed to several facets of airport operations. He was appointed Director of Engineering Services in February 2009 and served in that capacity until 2012, when he was appointed Director of Projects, a position he held until his recent appointment as MD/CEO. Since his appointment, Dunoma has embarked on a marathon inspection of the remodelling project, transversing the airport landscape from Sokoto to Benin, Akure to Jos, Makurdi to Calabar, silently revolutionising airport operations in the country. There is little wonder that this is happening because he is on a familiar turf, having served both as Airport Manager and Director of Projects. This award to MMA is yet another global acclamation of the revolution that is taking place in Nigeria’s aviation sector, as propelled by President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the sector. That the award came when Nigeria officially became the 26th largest economy in the world made it more significant to potential foreign investors in the country’s aviation industry. Nigeria’s GDP recently rose to $510 billion following the reclassification of the base year of the GDP from 1990 to 2010. The development saw the size of Nigeria’s economy appreciate by 11 steps to become the 26th largest economy in the world, ahead of South Africa’s, which had held sway as the continent’s largest for some time. The country’s aviation industry will be a major beneficiary of this economic breakthrough, especially now that new investment opportunities such as aerotropolis and the perishable cargo initiative have been introduced in the industry, under the aviation transformation agenda.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Backlash Abraham Ogbodo

08055328079 (Sms only) abogbodo@yahoo.com

Time To Resign Or Commit SuiFRIEND called after reading my column last A Sunday to ask a question which I couldn’t answer. “Why hasn’t anybody resigned in Nigeria naow?” I did not immediately get the point. He pushed on: “The prime Minister of South Korea has just resigned over the boat disaster...” I got the direction he was headed. To answer him, I said: “I don’t know ooO my brother!” And that is the truth. I sincerely do not know why honourable resignation from office is not part of the ethics in public administration here. The fellow was very angry and even refused to separate me from the issues. “You people will be writing nonsense all the time and leave out the real issues. What kind of country is this? Can you imagine that more than 200 school children were taken away just like that in one night and the following day one loquacious military spokesman came on air to say that all but eight of the abducted pupils had been rescued, which turned out to be a black lie and nobody was or is being punished for that recklessness statement.” I tried to let him know that reporters do their job within the overall national constraints and have nothing to do with the unwillingness of public officers to resign their positions on account of underperformance or large-scale scandal, but he would not have any of it. “Look, Abba Moro is still there as Internal Affairs Minister after the stadium tragedy and nobody is talking. Even the head of the Immigration is not bothered putting on that uniform and answering the name comptroller-general.” I didn’t like the way he was going on and on as if nothing good ever happens in government in Nigeria. I decided to do some advocacy on behalf of government. “Where were you when Prof. Bath Nnaji resigned honourably as Power Minister? Where were you when a gale of resig-

nations hit the federal cabinet with the exit of former ministers of education, foreign affairs, defence and environment? Even recently the Chief of Staff at the Presidency as well as ministers of aviation, sports and the Niger Delta Affairs quit honourably. Didn’t you hear these things?” He was an impossible fellow. Instead of yielding, he slid into sophistry, as if the word ‘resignation’ as applied in the specific instances above had another meaning outside what was expressed. In fact, he said these public officers did not resign but were ignominiously sacked by the President for reasons not too far from the politics of 2015. He wanted other good reasons. To satiate his appetite for good reasons, I explained that as at the time of their exit, one of the ministers, Princess Stella Odua was struggling to explain to an inattentive public that she needed N235 million to procure two German made armoured cars, so that she could protect herself against those who wanted to kill her and truncate the transformation that was then going on so well in the aviation sector. I added that it could very well be that the Princess honourably bowed out of Jonathan’s cabinet when she failed to convince Nigerians about the appropriateness of the huge auto budget. My friend went mad again. “You journalists are very bad. You twist lies into truth after collecting brown envelopes from people. Who told you that Stella Odua resigned because of the car scandal? When and where have you heard that a public servant in Nigeria was forced to resign as a result of any wrongdoing? Why didn’t she resign when the issue was hot in the news? And in any case, did she grant a press interview to you people to say she was resigning as a result of the car controversy?”

He was asking so many questions the same time and I didn’t quite know which to answer first or the order to present the answers to rest adequately all his queries. But the thing about brown envelopes was striking. I have since accepted such tantrums as part of the lot of the Nigerian journalist. If a problem refuses to dissolve from the social radar the blame is heaped on journalists who have not written enough to compel government to tackle it. Even now, the recovery of the Chibo 200 plus is proving difficult because journalists have not written volumes to push the Presidency into taking the right steps. I reminded my friend who is a banker that if bankers were half as diligent on their beat as journalists, a Sanusi would not have come after a Soludo to continue the banks’ reforms that culminated in the sacking of sit-tight bank chief executives and the nationalisation of some banks to safeguard depositors’ funds. I added that journalists are perpetually on call because others are not listening at all. But we needed to move the dialogue forward. He resumed: “Imagine a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where people live on less than two dollars a day using N10 billion to jet around the world and nobody is talking.” He missed the point again. People have been talking and are still talking but if nobody listens well enough to resign or nobody is moved to fire, how is that the fault of the talkers? I reminded him that if these people talking should shout too much, they risk losing their voices and they will not be able to talk again to call attention to other things that are not going on too well. All over, efforts are not adding up to acceptable results and people including my friend are angry. Yet the challenges keep rising. Those talking and writing like rights activists and journalists are being wrongly accused of not doing enough. And the Federal Government that ought to bridge the deficit is part of the underperformers. For instance, it has frozen all responses to the daunting challenges facing the nation to a standard phrase: “On top of the situation” which usually takes the hopeful rider: “It will soon be over.” When the Nyanya bus terminal in Abuja was bombed on April 14, this response was promptly supplied. Twenty-four hours later, more than 200 girls were abducted from a government school in Chibok, Borno State and Government never went under, but

GUN State is referred to as the ‘Gate way’ O state, which implies that Ogun holds the key to many opportunities and could open

SUNDAY NARRATIVE

many doors and show others how to do things properly. But since 1999, Ogun has shown that like other states, which lay claim to fanciful sobriquets, the claim to being a gateway is proving to be false. This state qualifies to be used as yardstick to measure democratic growth of Nigeria’s 4th Republic. For eight years, a citizen of Ogun, in the person of Olusegun Obasanjo was president, but that advantage of proximity did not rob off on the state materially and morally. Those years were the most hectic for citizens who expected to reap one or two advantages from living within the neighbourhood of Mr. President. Delivery, in terms of infrastructure was poor, while political conduct among the ruling elite was awful. Fifteen years down the line, even after the ‘progressives’ have taken over Oke-Mosan seat of government, political rascality is still a regular occurrence here, threatening to disturb the development that ought to accompany democracy. If the antics of politicians here were to be the yardstick to measure Nigeria’s 4th Republic, the report card would be an embarrassment to citizens and resident who earnestly yearn for the state to excel. At the moment, there are traces of positive growth, but the political culture that should nurture and sustain that growth is being threatened. It is the political class that is responsible for this and should be reminded that democracy thrives well if actors team up on behalf of the people. Let’s use the ongoing primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as entry point into what is now an established case of political malady, an affliction that should worry all stakeholders. It began with the party’s ward congress of April 5, which was primed to hit the rocks, except for a last moment brinkmanship on the part of former governor and kingmaker of the party in the state, Aremo Segun Osoba and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, who deftly stepped in to defuse a potentially explosive situation. Their supporters had for long spoilt for a supremacy fight over ownership of the party structure and they saw the congresses as opportunity to settle scores. It was interesting to see how the two leaders moved side by side to resolve some minor, but very critical issues. For instance, at the eleventh hour, there were disagreements over where to hold the ward congresses in some locations and the late ar-

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

Stop Bad Politics In Ogun rival of materials in other places. Ordinarily, these could be termed as minor logistic issues, but in politics, there are various schemes and designs to wear down your adversaries. You could starve them of ballot materials or confuse them about locations. Anyway, that initial provocation was amicably resolved. The subsequent congresses were not that easy to manage, because the higher they went, the higher the stakes. The major reason for the hotness in the process is because stakeholders do not have confidence in one another to allow a level-playing field, whereby leaders are brought about in a transparent manner. There is mutual suspicion and fear among the legacy partners over who should control the party machinery. There is the governor’s camp and there is the camp lead by Osoba. The two sides are tactful not to wash dirty linen in public. Osoba is particularly careful not to express his political concerns in public. But there is a divide and thugs have received inspiration to exert authority that was not democratically obtained. Before the APC carried out its membership registration exercise in February, there were skirmishes in parts of Ogun, during which National Assembly members of the party expressed concerns that the governor is in a hurry to consolidate and take ownership of the party. But the governor thinks they were being too anxious over 2015. The APC state congress of April 26 was the clincher. Two parallel congresses held at two different locations, which produced two factional executives to ‘mismanage’ the activities of the party in the state. This is where the APC has failed to demonstrate that it had learned one or two things from the rise and collapse of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. In their conduct over the years, politicians in Ogun have helped to show that the problem with party politics is not the invention of a particular polity party, but rather, it is in the nature of the average politician to act without character and integrity.

It is the same people who have circulated themselves in government since 1999. They were the same persons who were in the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which ruled the state from 1999 to 2003 until they grounded it. Without waiting to give that party a chance, they were misled into the den of mainstream politics, where Obasanjo and the PDP held court. Their governor, Gbenga Daniel did fanciful, but short-lived projects in his first term and spent the second term fighting for survival. He was up in arms against Abuja politicians and their protégés in the state House of Assembly. In the absence of democracy and its system of checks and balances, it was everyman to himself and God for those who seek Him in humility. Resources were deployed to equip personal security outfits and to peddle influence among hungry souls. The state Assembly was shut for months and the leader of the party who was in Abuja had no answer to all of that. In terms of delivery, the PDP years were a disaster. Little wonder there is not much to point at in less than four years. The Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, the only major legacy of that era was initiated under Obasanjo and is still not completed as we speak. The federal government failed to fund the project appropriately until Julius Berger moved out finally two years ago. From time to time, FERMA comes in to patch here and there. The original design of the project now stands abandoned. The flyover at Sango Ota was grudgingly constructed and when it was time to commission it, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Otunba Daniel treated onlookers to a show of shame. They struggled to take the glory over a project that was incomplete. Politics in those PDP years was not only diabolical it was ludicrous. The players did not think of the people, they just entertained themselves. At one event in Ogbomosho, during the wedding of the daughter of former governor Alao Akala of Oyo State, Ogun PDP stalwarts exported their trouble to the venue, where an Iyabo Obasanjo, a former Senator en-

still remained on top of the situation. The same bombers revisited the same sport last Thursday, using the same method. When the smoke cleared, 19 people officially lay dead and many others injured. Hopes that the latest explosion would knock government off the top position were unfortunately dashed. Immediately after, government issued statements saying it was on top on the situation adding that it would do everything to protect the lives and properties of citizens. The truth, perhaps, is that government does not even understand its own location in this ever-changing complex graph of disaster. Things are changing fast and it is possible that government, which once upon a time had been on top of all situations, might have been pushed down, by the current adversity to a second spot or some corner position, where it is reacting more than it is pro-acting. Even more painful is the fact that government does not seem to know it has lost its pre-eminent location on the graph and the initiative no longer lies with it. That may explain why the same operators and set of strategies are deployed in a fight that defies all known rules of engagement. And this is precisely the concern of my banker friend. He just cannot understand why someone from the Immigration Service, the Police, the Department of State Security, the Military and the Presidency will not resign or even commit suicide to underscore the woeful failure of strategy and glaring display of incompetence in the prosecution of the battle at hand. A bomb exploded and killed about 76 people. Exactly 17 days after, another bomb exploded at the same spot killing additional 19 or so and no top security operative is resigning or committing suicide. What kind of thing is that? This is not good enough for a country that has just emerged the biggest economy in Africa, 26th biggest in the world and aspiring to make the global first 10. In other big economies, public officers resign willingly or commit suicide to admit failure. Since nobody does either of these willingly in Nigeria, I would like to propose a committee of eminent persons to draw up a list of persons who must resign or commit suicide to move this democracy forward. If we cannot get enough eminent persons at home to constitute the committee, I suggest we outsource a handful from South Korea or Japan.

gaged in a wild gyration of her hands, and in the process threatened the cap Daniel luxuriantly planted on his majestic head. Today, all of them have left the limelight, waiting for history to award them marks. Daniel, even though he came out of the den unhurt, is now frantically looking for another platform to ply his trade. Outside government and all the fleeting assurances it gives, the man is now very sober. Bankole, the young man who got the speakership of Nigeria’s House of Representatives on a platter, has disappeared from the political radar, while Obasanjo-Bello is wiring opprobrious letters from her overseas hideout. OBJ, the grandmaster of the plots has retreated from the stage, leaving some puppets to toy with the remnants of PDP’s tattered flag. No legacy, puerile history. Is this what the APC coalition wants to replicate? It has been said, that Ogun ought to be special because, this is the home of late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a man whose democratic credentials are too far-reaching for anyone to deny. Even though the man transcended the limits of space and time, it hurts to see his immediate home environment unable to aspire to the lofty heights he left behind in democratic governance. What made the PDP to lose Ogun so easily was the presence of personalities who wanted to corner the machinery of the party to service personal interests. Instead of allowing party primaries to decide who the leaders of the party would be at all levels, some individuals want to take ownership, so that they will become godfathers and decide who gets what. That is not democracy at all. And this is the biggest headache of the APC. There are too may godfathers in the party and while the electoral system provides for a simple system of primaries, APC would rather use affirmation or other terms that perpetuate godfatherism. Beyond that, Ogun is too precious to be misused by politicians. Ogun is the alternate Lagos and when the Centre of Excellence (hoping this is not another hyperbole) gets too hot, many Nigerians look for a less expensive climate in Ogun. So far, the APC government has ventured into areas previous governments did not dare. That flyover inside Abeokuta town is not a fluke. It is a bold and giant step. If you knew what IloAwela road, Ota, was some five years ago, go back there today and see wonders. There are major breakthroughs in mortgage, agriculture, business and commerce. But there has to be an enabling political environment for development to thrive.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 4, 2014 11

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Outlook Prayer And The Prosperity Hustle (2) By G. A. Akinola ‘When prayer becomes dominating and manipulative in its intent, it becomes magic…. Imprecation and incantations become, in effect, “oral talismans” (charms)’ A.G. Ha, “Prayer” in New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Chicago 1984, p949 N part 1 of this essay (published on Friday May 2, 2014), we see prayer developing from man’s primitive infancy into a sacred ritual. The essence of the ritual is also examined, and the point made that modern scientific worldview has considerably influenced the attitude to prayer and raised critical questions concerning whether faith-driven praying can change natural processes. Incidentally, practically all the praying in Nigeria is addressed to gods created and rooted in alien cultures. Thus, the prayers themselves are derived/adapted from Islamic-Christian sources, validated by ancient Semitic mythologies, but moderated by prevailing local concerns to invoke putative panaceas for exigent 21st century mundane problems. In this second part, praying as a presumed cure-all ritual is the key element in an evangelical crusade that is expected to usher in the millennium. This crusade has been on for over three decades now, that is, longer than enough for the failure of its pretensions to manifest. Indeed, it has become obvious that the noisy business-promotion carnivals masquerading as religious revivals for national salvation, were conceived in wishful presumptuousness and superstitious belief in magic. Even if it had originally been designed for national regeneration, praying as the major component of a self-serving commercialised enterprise has become a widespread racket, and a lucrative hustle for “prosperity”. That developments in religion in Nigeria took this turn, and with the acquiescence and active collaboration of the political and intellectual elite is a matter for deep concern. The national elite has adopted praying and related rituals as the prime means of insuring stability and development. Yet, these rituals are not associated with, or driven by, any known ethic. Apart from the authority of antediluvian sacred texts on the power of prayer already discussed in part I of this essay, there is, perhaps, also the assumption that the act of going about making iwure, or invoking blessings and good wishes is, in itself, salutary. Meanwhile, economic instability has contributed to preaching and praying becoming an allcomers’ hustle. Thus all sorts of characters (many of them refugees from unemployment) with little or no requisite training or disposition for the vocation, have assumed the title of pastors. Ersatz worship centres began to dot the landscape. Above all, big churches sprang up, founded by charismatic preachers with good formal education and considerable entrepreneurial ability. These money-spinning churches, with their “faith-healing” clinics, deliverance rituals, and open-air revivals, have transformed religious hustling in the name of evangelisation into big business. Indeed the big churches have become the hub, while preserving the religious façade of what are, essentially, personalised business empires. Ironically, this commercialisation of religion represents the culmination of the degeneration of what began outside the established, older churches in the early 1970s as a mission aspiring to pursue the ideal of “holiness”. Unfortunately, this aspiration succumbed to the allure of the Prosperity Gospel under the uncongenial socio-economic environment and the vulgar materialism generated by dissolute dissipation of unearned petrodollars in the late 1970s and 1980s. In addition to this, the nascent evangelical movement itself has from the beginning been remarkably bereft of leaders of distinguished intellect and character, like the Wesley

CONversation

brothers, whose evangelical revival in 18th century England led to far-reaching social reforms, spiritual awakening and the birth of the Methodist Church. It is not surprising, then, that the neo-Christian evangelical mission in Nigeria gave birth to a complex of competing, personalised, owner-founder churches, with minimal central coordination or ideals, and without any creative approach to bringing religious values to bear on the problems of society. Developments in religion and its social and spiritual uses usually take place in response to prevailing societal preoccupations. In Nigeria socio-economic upheavals since the civil war have increased the pervasiveness of poverty and hardships, while the boom in unearned oil income has accelerated the rise of a materialistic culture. It is in this context that the new churches and their doctrines about prosperity, through divine intervention, despite the country’s adverse socio-economic fortunes, assume significance. For example, praying for prosperity, which the clerics themselves represent as ministering to the people’s existential needs, has clearly shifted emphasis away from religious values. Indeed, the new churches actively encourage and promote the impression that religion is principally about overcoming mundane problems through the invocation of supernatural powers. Little wonder neo-Christianity and even Islam have degenerated into miracle faiths peddling panacean prayers to life’s problems. The education of the Nigerian elite, like that of their peers in the rest of Africa, has continued to be dominated by the “civilising mission” ideology. The virtual imposition of Western Christian/Islamic cultures, the wanton assault on ancestral values and philosophies, and the failure of the elite to try and redress these historical calamites, are some of the factors that have rendered religion, as currently practised in Nigeria, an insidious, even noxious, social institution. Practically all “educated” Nigerians grew up believing that Islamic/Christian cultures are divinely inspired, while knowing little of, and therefore despising, indigenous religions. Members of the clerical profession, in particular, could not escape the enchantment of the imported faiths’ sacred books, the sublime poetry and prose of the Q’uran/Bible, and the engaging seductiveness of the great historical, romantic, and philosophical texts of Hebrew literature canonised in the Bible. All these Semitic cultural and spiritual achievements have now become universalised, with the translation of the Hebrew/Christian and Muslim deities into the God of all creation. Thus, smug in their intellectual enslavement to other cultures’ mythologies, and unaware that all religions are valid products of culture in time and space, our clerics (not to talk of our intellectuals) have arrived at the feeble-minded belief that Islam/Christianity are the only “true” religions ordained by God; that these Semitic/Christian faiths can work miracles; and that ancestral systems of belief and worship are demonic, and can embody no values or philosophies of any consequence. Given the prevailing worldview in Africa, and the belief, even by the highly educated, that the Muslim/Christian sacred books are packed with supernatural power, it is not surprising that Nigerian clerics, like every Nigerian faithful, believe in the presumed metaphysical powers of the miracle faiths. Hence, these clerics went about trying to heal the sick and make the

lame walk in line with the teaching of their sacred books. But, what then happened when they discovered that they could not accomplish these feats, let alone raise the dead on demand, in the name of Jesus? Surely, it must have somehow occurred to these clerics that the sacred books could not be taken literally; and that biblical “miracles” could not be replicated routinely, if at all, in our post-biblical-age, post-Enlightenment world. The response to this realisation explains, to a great extent, some of the major problems in religion in Nigeria today. Whereas the advanced societies of Western Europe and America outside the “Bible Belt”, have updated their worldview in keeping with growing knowledge about the natural world (while continuing to develop the social, spiritual and other uses of religion) the ignorant but fanatical pseudo-religious African adherent of the miracle faiths would rather impose ancient middle Eastern worldview on reality, as if the world works according to the thinking of medieval religious savants who made no distinctions between phenomena believed to be true by faith, and events validated through modern scientific criteria. Thus, Nigerian prosperity preachers have refused to acknowledge that instant healing and miraculous “breakthroughs” into fabulous wealth, as well as insulation from the usual vicissitudes of life cannot be conjured in today’s world by mere invocation of Jesus’ name. However, to sustain the superstition that there are still “signs and wonders” as of old, there has been a resort to tricks, to theatrics, and to stage-managed “miracles”. After all, even men of God have to make a living. Accordingly, what passes for evangelisation today, especially outside the established and mission churches, for the most part, is an unconscionable pursuit of material success by clerics, using the rhetoric and doctrines of religion. In order to exploit the potentials of the allcomers’ prosperity hustle to the fullest, the enterprise is organised under three main agenda: To persuade the faithful that there are “automatic” supernatural solutions to all imaginable problems. To reveal to believers “prophetic” visions of “breakthroughs” in business and allied endeavours leading to fabulous wealth. Finally, to identify presumed malevolent, demonic powers and, sometimes, to give advance warning of impending adversities that call for “spiritual” insurance. The media is replete with all sorts of advertisements inviting the faithful to a variety of “crusades” and vigils on weekly, monthly, quarterly, or ad hoc basis. In these advertisements, the most extravagant of claims are made about “deliverance” of the faithful from all sorts of occult

Members of the clerical profession, in particular, could not escape the enchantment of the imported faiths’ sacred books, the sublime poetry and prose of the Q’uran/Bible, and the engaging seductiveness of the great historical, romantic, and philosophical texts of Hebrew literature canonised in the Bible. All these Semitic cultural and spiritual achievements have now become universalised, with the translation of the Hebrew/Christian and Muslim deities into the God of all creation

powers, as well as their liberation from sundry cares, including poverty and destitution. Naturally, in a society where the power of impunity has trumped the rule of law, nobody ever asks questions about the failure of the pastors/healers to deliver on their promises. The faithful pay their tithes, donations, or dues and the preachers move on to organise other mammoth revivals, where the demons supposedly afflicting their clients are again bound or scattered. There is usually a session when people come out to declare that they had been healed, although there is no way of verifying such testimonies. As if failure of governance, which makes the citizenry regular victims to predation at these “evangelical” revivals is not enough guarantee of constant patronage of prosperity clinics, the industry has invented additional strategies of attracting clients. One is to dream up fictitious “prophetic” visions of “breakthroughs” for patients searching for an end to chronic medical problems, or for people engaged in business and other endeavours. Another, far more diabolic, even if it does show that our clerics are not without creative insights, is the invention of a veritable plague of evil powers, for ever stalking the unwary. Now, what the creation, by clerics, of these phantom forces do is to fill the minds of their clients with anxiety-inducing neuroses, bogeys and phobias, so that they are forced to approach the pastor for deliverance. Among such forces and powers are: “covenants” entered into by one’s parents or ancestors; malevolent adversaries in one’s larger family; “curse” of the first-born; unpropitious influence of family names in honour of traditional cultural/historical landmarks like Ifa, Ogun etc; anti-harvest forces; and agbana, the demon that “swallows” one’s profit or money. Whereas we see in the above a manipulation of neo-Christian doctrines, it must be pointed out that there is also provision for certain “prayer points” to deal with these malevolent forces. Consider, for example, the following: “Any power in my father’s house swallowing my money, vomit it and die in the name of Jesus.” “You strong man that appeared in my last dream die by fire in the name of Jesus.” (From “Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries” handbill, New Bodija, 13-15 May 2010). The marvel about our contemporary modish “evangelisation” is that it is a respectable business, patronised by the political and intellectual elite, while the charismatic pastors that sponsor the “revivals” walk the corridors of power, promoting successive reprobate rulers that have practically destroyed the country. Yet, there is a sense in which the predatory activities of Nigerian politicians, the murderous rampages of armed robbers and kidnappers, and the cannibalistic exploits of childrentrafficking/baby-factory proprietors converge with the fraud, the corruption of values, and the undermining of the truly spiritual, promoted by our charlatan charismatic worshippers of Mammon. These pastors often resort to “spiritual” scams to make more and more money, like the promotion last year by an influential pastor of a scheme named “covenant partners” of God. Others dabble in money rituals that straddle the borders of criminality. It is no use taking any of the more respectable-looking pastors or imams seriously if they deny any part in such occult practices. After all, it is the same kind of doctrines and mentality/worldview that invents superstitions about driving a car powered miraculously, without gasoline, that create and propagate such weird beliefs that there are ritual concoctions for making money out of thin air! In the subsequent parts, I shall make reflections on two main issues that have emerged from this essay, with particular reference to popular views, and social uses, of religion. To be continued. • G.A. Akinola wrote from New Bodija, Ibadan.

By Obe Ess

TheGuardian

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Sunday, May 4, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Editorial On The State Of Emergency NE year on, there is no better time than now to review the on-going counter-insurgency efforts in the north-east of the country, and where necessary, seek a change of tack to stem further bloodshed perpetrated by the Boko Haram group. This is especially because the crisis has continued to spiral out of control, at great cost to the lives and property of Nigerians. President Goodluck Jonathan had, in exercise of his constitutional duty, declared a state of emergency last May, in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. His action was not only necessary, it had historical precedents. The First republic Administration of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa declared a state of emergency in the Western region following seemingly intractable crisis among the political elite. He appointed Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi as the administrator of the region. Forty years later, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration also declared state of emergency in Plateau and Ekiti States, in the wake of similar political violence. In each instance, the government effectively dismantled the existing political structures and gave free rein to the appointed administrators. When a state of emergency was declared in the three north-eastern States last year, some people expected that President Goodluck Jonathan would follow the path of history. In the event, he chose the path of expediency, and some said, rule of law, and allowed all democratic institutions to function without interference from the federal authorities. The reasoning appeared to be that a measure of political dexterity was needed to stave off any ugly backlash. After one year, the President is expected to approach the National Assembly for renewal of the emergency measures if he chooses to do so. Although the state governors and other personalities from the area may oppose an extension of the emergency, it should be clear to all well meaning Nigerians that the situation in the north east, has almost become intractable and now threatens the unity of the whole country. If the government is to get to grips with the crisis in the area, the emergency measures must be extended. No one should be in denial that the security challenges have escalated with dire consequences not just for the people of the north east, but the whole country. What this time calls for is not politics as usual, but a clear reality check and dispassionate decision that would promote unity and attain peace in the nation. It is obvious that the orgy of killings of innocent citizens and destruction of property has escalated rather than abating. The insurgents have even expanded their activities through the unwholesome abduction of hundreds of schools girls from their hostels. More resources are daily being poured into the war against the insurgents, even if it seems to have made little or no dent on the terrorists’ activities. Expectedly, this has called to question the strategy and effectiveness of the nation’s security forces. While the governors in the affected states may have made some contributions towards de-escalating the crisis, some of them have also regrettably played more to the gallery and helped politicise what is a serious crisis. What is needed from them is not just endless criticism of the President but constructive efforts to aid the war against terror, primarily in their States, and the country as a whole. No doubt, the war against insurgents has been waged with a great deal of incompetence especially on the part of the political leadership at both the Federal and State levels. The President and the governors, given their words and deeds, seem to have become part of the problem. Also, the possibility that fifth columnists exist in the prosecution of the fight can no longer be discountenanced. Indeed, there are indications of the spawning of a conflict economy from the ongoing campaign as spurious contracts are being awarded with little or no results. Buccaneers have continued to feed fat from the war. These ‘conflict entrepreneurs’ would obviously want the crisis to continue in order to remain in business. The time has, therefore, for the Nigerian military to redeem its image by winning this fight for the country. The war demands a great deal of professionalism while the political leadership must honestly make available the resources needed by the military for the war effort, including catering fully for the welfare of the soldiers. The same Nigerian military has good track records in international peace operations, and it is quite capable of winning this war. On the desirability of retaining incumbents in the affected states in the event of the state of emergency being extended, it is only reasonable that the status quo remains to avoid creating wider divisions and fueling undue speculations of political witch-hunting. However, in view of the seemingly uncoordinated political and military command structure of the war, the Federal Government must now move to create alternative channels of reporting to the President that should compliment whatever the military commanders and the governors do. The time is now for the creation of a Presidential representative in each of the affected states, not as rivals to the governors, but to compliment political coordination of the efforts at ending the war. This should be something of a Presidential Liaison Officer, a proven patriot, who will report directly to the President and a specially-constituted war cabinet. These are unusual times. This is an unusual war. It requires uncommon patriotism and strategy. The beauty of this arrangement is that, with all hands on the plough, it provides not only a good chance of enhancing efficiency in the prosecution of the war, but also a great opportunity of attaining the desired peace.

LETTER

religious Leaders And Bad Governance As President Jonathan StheIr: was visiting the Vatican, Ekiti State chapter of his partythe People’s Democratic Party (PDP) — had its primary election which was marred by rigging, maneuverings and other vices as reported by the media. The primary election produced an ex-governor who was impeached and is still standing trial for corruption related offences by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). By the way, no nation in the world is free of problems. Peculiar to us in Nigeria are massive unemployment, poverty amid plenty, menace of Boko Haram, lack of morality and election rigging. With the worsening situation of things and speakers of truth to those in power reducing in number, many Church leaders including the Pope seems unprepared to speak the truth out of deference to governments of the day and occupants of high offices. Or how does one explain the fact that such encounters between political leaders and religious leaders do not produce the expected penance, sobriety, and a corresponding positive steps in the right direction. For instance, one would

have thought that President Jonathan’s visit to the Pope would invariably influence the President in developing a more pragmatic approach towards solving the myriads of problems afflicting Nigeria and also make him more sensitive to the complaints of the average citizen. This is given the fact that prior to visiting the Pope, the president has spent the better part of the New Year visiting churches and religious leaders in a supposedly endless search for religious solution to the myriads of socio-political and economic problems confronting the country. More depressing is the president’s indifference and unholy silence on the March 22nd governorship primary election of his party in Ekiti State, which is viewed as a “huge farce” by many leaders, and members of the party in the state. If an internal election of Mr. President’s party is full of irregularities, one wonders what would happen in the 2015 general election. This has prompted many to ask some pertinent questions. Did the President discuss the problems of Nigeria with the

Pope? What was the reaction of the Pope to issues raised by the President? Was the visit designed to strengthen diplomatic ties? Was the President willing to domesticate most of his discussion? Did the Pope tell the President the truth regarding the increasing level of corruption, senseless killings and general insecurity in Nigeria? I strongly believe the country can develop in the right way when the Church boldly criticizes the wrongs of government irrespective of the party in power. The Church must tell politicians the truth Examples abound in the holy books where God’s servants poignantly confronted erring political leaders with the truth and warned them against certain actions as well as impending (sometimes imminent) doom. It will be immoral and ungodly for our Christian and Islamic leaders to keep quiet and not tell politicians the bitter truth. If indeed they are called by God, our clerics should stand up to the occasion and say nothing but the truth to halt the spate of violence, brigandage and corruption in our land. This conspiracy of silence, no doubt is an evil wind, which will do no good to anyone in the long run. • Odewale Sina, Igbemo-Ekiti.

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Sunday, May 4, 2014

Cutix Plc Sets The Pace In Power Cable Manufacturing • As Power Minister Prof. Chinedu Nebo Commissions its N1 billion Power Cable Plant in Nnewi

Chairman of Cutix Plc, Engr. David Ifezulike, presenting his speech during the commissioning event.

Member House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Azubogu (left); Commissioner for Special Duties (representing the Governor of Anambra State), Dr. Norbert Obi; Hon. Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; chairman Cutix Plc, Engr. David Ifezulike, the founder of Cutix Plc, Dr. Ajulu Uzodike; and the CEO, Cutix Plc, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Uzodike, during the tape-cutting session.

Representative of Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, Dr Nobert Obi (Commissioner for Special Duties), giving his keynote address at the glamorous event.

Chief Executive Officer of Cutix Plc taking the Hon. Minister and other guests on a factory tour: (L-R) Engr. Arinze Okuruosa, Research and Development Manager of Cutix Plc, Mr. Ifeanyi Uzodike, CEO Cutix Plc, Hon. Minister of Power, Dr. Norbert Obi, the Minister’s Aide, Lady Ifeoma Ofordeme – Director Cutix Plc.

The Hon. Minister of Power with Directors and corporate friends of the company. (L-R), Barr. Oliaku Uzodike, (former director), Sir Dennis Ofordeme, Lady Ifeoma Ofeoma Ofordeme (Director), Mr. Ifeanyi Uzodike (CEO Cutix Plc), Engr. David Ifezulike (chairman Cutix Plc), Engr. Obi Nwasike (Director), Igwe Kenneth Orizu III (Igwe of Nnewi), Hon. Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Mr. Emeka (MD Adswitch Plc), Lady Isioma Chukwuma (Director), Corporate friend, Corporate friend Mrs. Nneka Uzodike (The CEO’ wife and shareholder). The Honourable Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, giving his keynote address at the commissioning event.

The CEO of Cutix Plc with the DG of SON and other corporate friends: L-R (Mrs. Angela Okisor – SON official, Engr. Ibayi (HOD Inspectorate & compliance unit of SON), Mr. Ifeanyi Uzodike (CEO Cutix Plc), Mr. George Okere (Director of Special Duties, SON), Igwe of Mbaukwu (Igwe Peter Amungwu), the Director General, SON, Dr. Ikem Odumodu, Igwe of Nteje & Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, Executive Chairman Juhel Pharmaceutical representing the President of MAN and the National Vice President of MAN Eastern zone.

The founder of Cutix Plc, Dr. Ajulu Uzodike, giving the vote of thanks at the commissioning event.

14 | Sunday May, 4, 2014

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Sunday, May 4, 2014

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EFFIONG-BRIGHT: Using Nigerian Dishes As Tool For Social Integration

SPOTLIGHT P/16 OMIDIRAN:Meeting Her Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Needs

COVER P/20 SPECIAL REPORT P/26 2015 Puts Governance Ex-Warlords And Their On Hold New Pastimes

Sunday, May 4, 2014

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SPoTLIGHT

NYEcHE: A Shoulder To Lean on

By Adamu Abuh Yo omidiran is not new to those in the sports circle. Her passion for human development cannot be disputed. This aspect of her was brought to the fore recently, when she was a guest at the Hot Seat Series, organised by the House of Representative press corp. She couldn’t hide her displeasure at the long-drawn strike action being embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), which is in its tenth month. The lawmaker representing Ayedande/Irewole/Isokan federal constituency of osun State, said at the event that a lot more still need to be done to equip Nigerians to enable them compete favourably with their peers globally. To achieve this, however, concerted efforts must be made by the three tiers of government. Reminiscing on her days in the university, which she described as glorious and wonderful, she felt the seeming inaction on the part of the government should be a source of concern to well-meaning Nigerians. “I think Nigerians should not leave the issue only to those in position of authority because they are not the only ones sending their children abroad for education. one of the things others take for granted and which Nigerians consider a luxury is basic education. Sometimes, when you go to some public schools, you begin to wonder if they are worth sending our beloved children. “When I was in the university, it was 50 kobo per meal and I tell you, an average meal in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) then consisted of everything, including fruits and a quarter chicken. And though we had choices, we still complained because some of our lecturers would say, ‘oh this is what you are eating’ and before I graduated, we were getting half chicken. Then, all I needed to do in the hostel was just have my bath and go for lectures and by the time I returned, my room would have been cleaned. I didn’t have to buy tissue paper because as we passed by in the common Room, they would give each room toiletries and we were two in a room till I graduated in 1985 because I was a sports person. When I went back a few years later for my Master’s degree, what I saw was so terrible that I had to ask some of my lecturer friends how things got to that state. To my surprise, they replied that what I saw was just the tip of the iceberg and that I would cry if I dug deeper. “Before jumping into conclusions about the calibre of people sending their children to school abroad, let me say that I know families that sold their assets just so to educate their children abroad. children are the future and if you love your child, you’ll certainly give him/her the best you can afford. “We should ensure that the importance of education is not lost on those with the power to make changes and this is where I would like to commend my state government because right there now, private primary schools will soon be folding up and the proprietors will be going to other states. If what osun State government is doing was what obtained when I was having my children, they

By Ann Godwin IcToRIA Wobo Nyeche was born into a family of eight and grew up with her father, the late chief Loveday Nyeche. Because her father believed strongly in education, she received the best of education alongside her siblings. Vicky, as her friends fondly call her, attended the Federal Government college, Abloma in Port Harcourt and later obtained a degree in chemistry at the University of Port Harcourt. She proceeded to acquire a Masters degree in chemical Engineering at the Rivers State Science Technology. The amiable lady, who loves challenges, is warming up for a PhD in environmental engineering. Recalling how her journey into the sciences began, she said: “While in the secondary school, I liked overcoming challenges. And though I performed better in the Arts subjects, I found the sciences more challenging and I felt with more effort, I could do better. So, I opted to do sciences instead of settling for what would have been easier for me. I also chose the sciences because my father wanted me to become a doctor. But when that didn’t work, I decided to go for other science courses. “After graduation, I worked in Schlumberger for a while and that was where I picked up interest in engineering. Based on the experience I acquired there, I decided to do my Masters and PhD in engineering.” How did she become a politician and the chairman, House committee on environment in the Rivers State House of Assembly? “In 2003, when Dame Aleruchi cookey-Gam was appointed Secretary to the State Government, she chose me to be her personal assistant and I worked with her for one year. That was my first stint in public service and I found it very interesting, challenging and inspiring. “Later in 2007, when Hon. Dakuku Peterside became the commissioner for Works, he also gave me another opportunity to work with him as his technical assistant. That was when I developed a lot of interest in politics and became convinced that I could serve my people. So, when it was time for election, I resigned my appointment to run for an elective post and my people gave me the mandate.” one of the issues dear to thhe environmental engineer is the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industrial Bill. In her view, it should be passed as quickly as possible because there is so much to do in this regard. “With my experience in the field and as House committee chairman on Environment, I found out that most communities in the Niger Delta region are at the receiving end of the exploration by oil companies. It is heartbreaking that these communities have little or nothing to show for it. It appears we have not shown enough commitment to deal with gas flaring. I would like to call on all the necessary regulatory agencies to put more effort to save our environment because it’s all we have and we need to preserve it for our children. “I also believe there is need to inject more ecological funds to help save our environment. The PIB needs to be passed without further delay. our experience on past flood-

oMIDIRAN: Meeting Her People’s Needs would not have gone to any private primary or secondary school. The glory of our schools must be brought back.” She would want Nigerians to start thinking forward and start comparing themselves and their children with those from other climes. “This is why after struggling to pass WASScE, a Nigerian child goes to the UK and become the best student in their A’ Level class. They go to the U.S. and get scholarship because the rigours of studying and passing exams in Nigeria have prepared them. After seeing how easy it is to study and pass exams over there, they begin to wonder why they were being ‘punished’ in Nigeria. We need to take it as a national project now to change the way we see education. It is not a luxury but a necessity and the game changer. “When a person is educated, he/she can have hopes and aspirations and look at others and ask, “Why can’t I be like them?” But when children are denied quality education from the beginning, they are being made to feel second-class. They will lack confidence and believe that they are meant to be poor. No one is meant to be poor but sometimes, our environments make us the way we are.” How has she been able to better the lots of those in her constituency? “I’m doing the little I can. For 2013 and 2014, my projects and the zonal intervention projects of the osun caucus in the National Assembly have been on education. We’ll be building new schools to help our state. When we have more people contributing to the development of our educational infrastructure to train more teachers and encourage more children to enroll, we will be able to keep more Nigerian children at home and the result will be there for all to see. “I occupy a unique place in my state, as I’m the only woman in an elective position there. The state assembly has 26 members and they are all men. In the National Assembly, I am the only woman out of nine House of Representa-

tives members and three senators. “Together with the First Lady, I’ve been able to rally the women in my state and we have a very vibrant ministry of women affairs. For instance, what I am wearing is part of the empowerment programme in my state. We have trained many of our women to make things like this and we buy them. There is no week in the chambers that I do not wear adire once and they are made in osun. I am happy that many of my female colleagues are asking me to buy some for them because I tell them to help empower our people. “In my immediate locality, many of the women there are petty traders and some of them don’t need up to N10, 000 to keep their families going. They are into the sales of perishable goods. So, the first thing I did was to start an interest-free revolving loan for many of them and they have been passing it round since 2011. I also noticed that many of our people did not go to school and as they got older, they couldn’t do much. I know from what I heard that if individuals were very active without any debilitating illness and they decided to become inactive, they would grow older much faster than their contemporaries that remain active. “So, I started an adult education programme for both men and women though there were more women. So far, there are about 400 graduates from the programme. What we did was to get retired teachers to handle the programme instead of just sitting at home waiting for pension. They are learning basic addition, subtraction, how to write Yoruba etc. and they are happy.” How has she been able to surmount the challenges in a male-dominated political terrain? “I’ve had to answer this question a number of times and I have searched myself and realised it all depends on who you are and what you have inside. You must have it to give it. I didn’t want to go into politics but I think I have

ing was very devastating and we need to prepare for emergencies. It was not raining when Noah built the Ark. We need to do more as government, individuals and corporate citizens because government cannot solve all the problems.” Asked how she and her colleagues have been coping with the problems in the State Assembly, especially as the House remains divided, she said: “When you get used to doing something, you would want to continue. I was not happy about the turn of events in the State Assembly during that period, but I kept myself busy with constituency activities. As lawmakers, we do not only make laws, we also have other activities. I interacted with my people, which enabled me to get to know their needs and challenges. I kept my office open to meet regularly with them, while hoping that the fracas was resolved quickly. I was happy when the court gave its ruling that we should return to office and perform our legislative duties.” Vicky, however, acknowledged that economic activities in the state are being affected by the closure of the Assembly complex but expressed hope that it would be opened very soon. “I am particularly worried that our people are at the receiving end of the political crisis. Businesses are not going the way they should. Right now, all commercial activities in the State Assembly complex, which generate good revenues, are no longer functioning within and outside the premises. Everything has been shut down generally in the state because of the political uproar. In this kind of situation, everybody is eventually affected. So, I really look forward to these things being resolved.” Describing Rivers State as a major source of revenue in the country, she advocated genuine intervention by the Federal Government. “Rivers State is very important to the economic survival of Nigeria and when there is crisis or uncertainty here, it will affect the oil business, companies and their activities. When there is insecurity, the companies can’t operate the way they should. If there is a reduction in the production of crude oil, the income of the nation will be affected. “So, I think it is in everybody’s interest to see that peace returns to the state. It is a common knowledge that we keep losing revenue on a monthly basis. We have lost all the revenues accruingto the Soku oil wells. Thirty-one of our oil wells have been ceded to Abia State from Ecthe. We have also lost some to Akwa Ibom State, making our revenues to reduce drastically. Specifically, we lose about N7 billion on a monthly basis and these things are affecting development in the state. “It is not in the interest of Rivers people or that of Nigeria generally if things continue this way. I think it will serve the interest of the Nigerian nation better if President Jonathan intervenes to ensure that absolute normalcy returns to the oil city.” With regards to threats to the business environment following the political upheaval in the state, Vicky said: “I have repeatedly said that everyone has a role to play, when it comes to making our environment business-friendly. We need to ensure that we play our role so that our business environment can improve. Rivers State is presently seen as a place under threat and is unstable. This is not a good environment for business to thrive. Due to this development, investors are being careful, listening and watching to see when things will improve. “It is unfortunate that some people from the state are warning investors not to come. These are people, who are ready to cut their nose to spite their faces. But these things are not in the interest of the state and Nigeria as a whole. So, I think we need to do things better to achieve more progress. “We all need to work together and put the interest of the state first. We should learn to play politics without bitterness and remember those things we have in common and which keep us together. There is need to drop the things that tear us apart. “In any setting, be it family or state, there must be disagreement sometimes, but we need not be disagreeable in our disagreement. So, there is need to put our general and collective interest first and ensure that we leave the state better than we met it.” What projects and programmes has she embarked upon in her constituency? “We have programmes and projects that are geared towards improving the livelihood of the people. In the past, there was a disconnection between the people and their representatives. All that has changed now. I have meetings with them regularly and projects are done in the various wards of the community.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

ENTERPRISE By Bisi Alabi Williams

Itoro Effiong-Bright is a Kitchen Instructor, a Family Life advocate and culture ambassador. She runs a catering brand called Ibomsoups, where she serves as the Chef Executive Officer. The Ibomsoup brand also oversees a Soup School, where her team teaches couples, singles (especially ladies) how to cook healthy appetising meals through their standardised private home lessons and various seminars and workshops.

EFFIONG-BRIGHT: Using Nigerian Dishes As Tool For Social Integration

of working for themselves if no one will employ them. ‘‘They should not underestimate the power of corporate and personal branding in today’s world. If you do it right, someday, someone will surely pay for all the stress you went through building and developing your own business. So, it is imperative to ask: what do I HE runs one of Nigeria’s finest 21st century stand for? What am I all about? What can I do food service companies, which also douor be known for?” bles as a business platform that provides For Itoro, the beautiful thing about life is that opportunities for her and her team to prowhile one knows when and where one starts mote the beauty of Nigeria’s diversified rich life, one may not accurately tell how far and cultural heritage and traditional dishes, as fast they will go. “This is because life is full of well as those of foreign cultures. And whether suprises. It has a way of placing positive surshe’s making a presentation in a practical culi- prises on the path of those who dare. What I’m nary class or preparing pots of soups for doing is one of my contributions to nation clients in their kitchens, the attraction for building. So, I can only imagine what my conItoro remains the satisfaction on the faces of tribution will be tomorrow given the right reher clients. sources, people, time and opportunities. Since ‘‘I have seen troubled marriages transI am still very young, vibrant and purpose-driformed. Many couples relate better after our ven, I believe that my contribution has just sessions. This has never come as a surprise to started unfolding and by the Lord’s grace, I will me, as I have always known that good food is a yet affect my generation positively. I haven’t great means of communicating love and started yet. I am still evolving.’’ friendship in any relationship. Indeed, a good This culture ambassador sees food beyond its woman must be able to package herself very primary role of satisfying people’s hunger. No well, cook well and relate very well,” she told wonder she is advocating a food revolution in The Guardian. Nigeria, which she hopes can help in bridging Her company, Ibomsoups Ventures, is a foodstereotype, as well as acting as antidotes that service company that delivers hygienically can quench tribal, ethnic and religious differprocessed ready-to-eat pot-sized meals made ences, wars and killings, and a panacea to the with ingredients that are mostly of Nigerian insecurity that is slowly ravaging the nation. origin. ‘‘We take pride in the fact that our This revolution will help Nigerians to borrow strength lies strongly in a clientele that is from each other’s culture even as they promade up of young and very mobile profesmote one Nigeria, one nation. sionals, as well as entrepreneurs, who though ‘‘Cooking is an art, which can be effectively very busy, are not desperate or silly enough to used to promote love, friendship and good use their busy schedules as an excuse to conneighbourliness. Have you seen a Hausa man sume improper, indecent or poorly prepared, or a Chinese eating a well-prepared bowl of unhealthy meals,” she said. Edikangikong before? You would think it is Itoro explained that since inception, the ven- their native soup. That is why I believe in the ture has purposely worked towards being the power of food as an effective tool for achieving number one food brand, when it comes to peace, tolerance, friendship and good neighready-to-eat pot-sized meals made with readyto-eat ingredients. The mission is to become the most preferred service-driven, cost-effective, time and energy-saving food service brand that is well respected for its high hygiene and drive to build strong, hale and hearty clientele,’’ she said. So together, she and her team cook and regularly deliver over 40 varieties of sumptuous mouth–watering Nigerian dishes. Itoro believes that she couldn’t have added value to people’s lives and destinies through her cooking if the Lord had not ordained it. This explains why beyond customer satisfaction, see sees her ability to impact the food service industry and indeed the ever-busy and dynamic world of her numerous clients, as the work of the Almighty, Whom she says has been the power behind her ingenuity and expertise in churning out sumptuous dishes that many find very difficult to resist. “There is no way human abilities could have transformed me from the daughter of a widow, who hawked foodstuffs in the market, to a progressive business woman in such a short space of time without loans, grant, etc. I have been a guest at different television and radio shows targeted at women and youths, to share my story. I get inspiring text messages, Facebook comments and emails from clients and well-wishers telling how much they have been transformed by my story,” she said. But rather than rest on her oars, she has persisted in fashioning out newer and better methods of bringing out the best flavours with the use of Nigerian local spices unlike her competitors. This, she said, is a brilliant way of beating completion, while meeting the yearnings of her teeming customers. “This only mean one thing to me – there’s more work to be done.” On how to build formidable platforms and how not to lose faith in the Nigerian system, she said the first thing is never to give up one’s dream no matter what. ‘‘There is no excuse for failure and not even the economy or a person’s background is enough excuse. The question to ask is: why are others succeeding and I can’t? Now is the right time to do something by taking action.’’ She cautioned Nigerian youths against becoming professional CV writers, as she believes that the hi-tech world of today is a world of limitless possibilities and opportunities. “The youths must take up the challenge

bourliness, which many Nigerians seriously yearn for. “I strongly believe that focusing on things that unite us and promoting our traditional dishes can act as a powerful tool for socio-cultural integration. If well projected, integrated and implemented, our nation will definitely know peace. If you don’t believe in the gospel of integration, try mixing egusi and okra soup on a good day. And you will see what you will get. “My greatest endorsement, recognition and award have been from my husband and children, who have consistently voted me as Mother and Wife of the Year.’’ All is now set for the official running of the Lagos edition of the Soup School, a quarterly training for married couples, as well as singles, where they are trained to make mouthwatering Nigerian meals. ‘‘At the soup school, we learn the basic techniques of cooking, ways to improve culinary skills and a free session on Home Budget Management, which is a huge challenge in many homes. Added to this is a new feature to this edition — a cooking competition among our participants.” She blames Nigerians for ‘being too trusting.’ “Nigerians are a believing people, which to me, is not too good because government can say or do anything and get away with it. She warned that until the people start questioning government and put it on its toes, they would not do the things they were voted in for. ‘‘To me, the number one priority alongside security is employment and power supply. If the problem of power supply is fully resolved, I believe the nation will experience an automatic decline in the other two. My ideal Nigeria is where its people and government have the right mind-set for nation building and where there is an enabling environment to help the citizens thrive in whatever they do.’’ Effiong Bright hails from Akwa Ibom State.

Her parents had only two girls. Growing up was filled with challenges, particularly after losing her dad, while she was still a kid. Looking back now, she realises that these challenges have helped in no small measure to shape her into whom she is today. Her mum struggled to bring them up as responsible and God-fearing ladies. ‘‘My mum was one of the women that pioneered the popular Ogba Market in Ikeja, Lagos. She was, however, widowed at the early age of 31, when she was just blossoming and full of life. In her pain and grief, she found solace in our educational development and us. She decided to dedicate her life and effort to raising us. So, she rejected advances from men and made up her mind against re-marrying. She believed in her ability to bring us up alone with the help of God. ‘‘Life was so tough that mum consistently told us never to think of going to the university, as it was meant for the rich. To survive, my elder sister and I hawked food ingredients for my mum, while she maintained her market space. At the end of each day, we put all our monies together and allocated some for feeding and rent. Once sorted out, mum would use the rest to restock.’’ Interestingly, her sister currently lives in the U.S with her husband and three sons. Her mum also lives in America. ‘‘I live a fulfilled life because God has been good to my family and me. He has shown me great grace and favour. I am happy. I have a wonderful family and a thriving business.” When not working, Effiong Bright enjoys her own company and space, as she loves relaxing and sleeping whenever she can. At other times, she would meditate on the word of God or listen to music. A comfortable dress, to her, is one that makes her feel smart and confident. Her ultimate vision is to make every home a paradise, using women as change agents.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 4, 2014

NEWSPEOPLE By Bisi Alabi Williams N the hearts of her many friends, close associates and well wishers, Motunlayo Adefunke Sofowote is still alive and well despite the fact that she lies critically ill in a German hospital. So, they are all gathering today at an exhibition in her honour and to draw attention and financial support for their amiable friend, who has added value to so many lives. The event is showcasing her photographs at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos. The group, which goes by the moniker Adefunke Sofowote Cancer-Fighting Fund Team, is hoping through this endeavour, to raise funds for the 67-year-old philanthropist and ardent art lover. Sofowote was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2011, while preparing for her annual charity concert— Glowing Channels Foundation. She was initially treated at EKO Hospital in Lagos before being referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Lübeck (otherwise known as the Universitaets Klinikum SchleswigHolstein, UKSH) in the northern part of Germany since August last year. It is friends and well-wishers’ solidarity that has so far been seeing her through. However, more substantial aid is urgently required to save her life. According to her husband, Segun Sofowote, the renowned dramatist, writer and veteran broadcaster, “Every treatment session she undergoes costs well over a million naira. We need now N25 million to pay for her hospital bills and another N5 million to pay for her medications and prescriptions and another N5 million to take care of her living expenses in Germany.” The projected cost of treatment is subject to the vagaries of the foreign exchange market. Adefunke Sofowote is the amiable founder/president of Glowing Channels Foundation, a non-profit organisation, known for its ability to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged. She is currently undergoing a series of treatment that could span a long time. Hence, she is not expected back in Nigeria sooner than the end of next year. As an author, she has written insightful books. “I’m motivated to write from the deep well and wealth inside of me,” she was quoted to have said at the launch of her fourth book, 366 Days of Soulful Planting in 2009. On the reason for hosting the exhibition, Charles Ayo Dada, coordinator of the exhibition said it is a creative way of raising necessary funds for her treatment. “The idea is to give something back to the patrons. The pictures have their own appeal. So, there are those who would buy because of their love for art. But there are also those, who may be moved to give more than the cost of those pictures, if they see it as a fundraising activity. “There will also be those, who would buy because of the theme of the activity, particularly because they know the woman at the centre of it all and they want to identify with the project.” Indeed, Mrs. Sofowote has an impressive collection of photographs, 40 of which have been chosen for the exhibition, which opens by 4 pm prompt today. “We have had to go through a collection of photographs she had taken over the years and select those to be put on display,” Dada said. One of Nigeria’s best and internationally acclaimed actresses, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett said Motunlayo has, in the past 15 years, been providing succour to the less privileged. Now, that she is 67-year-old, she is battling with cervical cancer. “All she needs is help, love and support to live. This is why her friends are organising this photo exhibition to raise funds for her treatment,” she explained. Sofowote was born in Jos, the Plateau State capital. She grew up in Lagos simply because her mother, who was a teacher decided at a point to stop moving around with her father, who was too frequently on transfer because of his very demanding job as a railway official. And although she decided to settle in Lagos, she later moved on to Ilaro, when she was appointed the first Vice-Principal of the Egbado Teachers Training College, Ilaro, Ogun State. After her secondary education at the Abeokuta Girls’ Grammar School, Motunlayo went to Ibadan Grammar School for her ‘A’ Level. She, however, didn’t finish that because she felt she had had enough of academics, her major reason being that her mother was a very strict disciplinarian. Motunlayo’s mother would flog any of her children that performed poorly in their examination. This was usually in accordance with the total sum of the reds on their score-sheets. Years later, she looked back and thanked her mother for the strict and disciplined upbring-

All For Motunlayo Sofowote Pharmaceutical Plc. (formerly Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.) She later joined UAC and became a consultant in charge of all the company’s magazines, an assignment she did for years. Motunlayo Adefunke Sofowote is no doubt a woman of many parts, who continually strove towards perfection. She is a singer, an author of several books and an artiste among others. She established Glowing Channels basically for charity and for uplifting music to a very high pedestal, because ‘she realised that music has been bastardised.’ “It has been dragged down to the mud. It no longer gives that refreshing effect. Entertainment has been the platform used by people to drag music down, and I have decided that the same entertainment is what I will use to take music back to its pedestal. “I established Glowing Channels for three reasons—first, to bring music back to its lost pedestal. Secondly, it is because virtually everybody in my home is an artiste, and I thought it was wise for us to have a platform from which we could come out to entertain people at least once a year”. Thirdly, because of her great love and respect for Chief Adeyemi Olusola Lawson, the last person she worked for as Secretary. She described him as an outstanding human being, hence her decision to organise the concert in his memory and put whatever money accruing from it into charity in his honour. And that is what she’s been doing since 1998. Every year, her huge concerts have become a diary event for many people. From 1998 to 2008, the foundation organised the concert at the Muson Centre in Lagos before changing venue to Lagos University auditorium in 2009.

ing. “I’m, however, grateful to her today for that training. It has helped in making me who I am,” she said. She worked briefly with the Ministry of Finance, and then the Royal Exchange Assurance. She later joined the West African Book Publishers in Ilupeju, Lagos, where she met her husband, who over the years has been her pillar of strength and support. At that time,

he was the first person to anchor a photoplay magazine in Nigeria. Motunlayo also attended the Ibadan Technical College (now the University of Ibadan), where she did Secretarial Studies on a scholarship award programme, after emerging first in a national examination, which served the purpose of JAMB then. After graduation, she worked with Neimeth

Beyond the charity aspect of Glowing Channels, which has now become the Glowing Channels Foundation, she also has the Glowing Channels Ventures, where she had been training people for over four years. She facilitated classes for the Fate Foundation on business and social etiquette, as well as business communication and business conversation. In December 2009, she was given an award for her commitment and dedication. The annual concert has featured the likes of Kayode Olajide, the late Benjamin Aderounmu (better known as Kokoro), Bright Chimezie (a.k.a. Okoro Junior), Therese D’Avila, superior soprano from Ivory Coast and choral groups such as Notes and Tones, Seye Aluko’s Sound Foundation and Professor Mosun Obidike’s The Symphonic Voice from Ibadan. The least that the Federal and state governments, the society and all those whom this true Nigerian has touched through her concerts and works could do is to come to her aid now that she needs all the love and care she can get.

Foundation Celebrates, Rewards By Gbenga Salau OR their selfless service and commitment to humanity, three Nigerians were recognised and rewarded by the Ituah Ighodalo Foundation. The three Nigerians are Rev. (Chief) R.S.G. Agiobu-Kemmer, who was recognised posthumously; Mrs. Edna G. D. Soyannwo and Amaka Maureen Anyanwu. While Agiobu-Kemmer and Sayannwo were former teachers of the founder of the foundation at Kings College, Lagos, Anyanwu is a former accounting student at the University of Lagos. For Agiobu-Kemmer, a former Principal of Kings College, who was honoured posthumously, one of his daughters, Sereba picked his award. According to the organisers, he was recognised because of his positive influence, kindness, mentorship and commitment to education. In a post award speech, Sereba said she was overwhelmed by the gesture because apart from RSG Agiobu-Kemmer being his father, she was his student and mentee. According to her, anybody who encounters his father would always leave with a very positive impression. She said leadership means service and giving back to the community, being truthful but observed that such role models are few and far between in today’s society. Commending the foundation for recognising those who have provided selfless service in the community and sustaining ideals that his father promoted, Sereba said that early this year, she wanted to mark her father’s birthday, who would have clocked 90 if he were to be alive. While was thinking about what to do, she said she got a message from the foundation that her father is to be honored for his selfless service to humanity. The profile read at the event revealed that Rev. Chief Reginald Sobaiasuaipiriari Ganikeyemiea Agiobu-Kemmer was born at Bakana in Degema LGA of Rivers State on 26th July, 1924. He attended the famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha (DMGS). He also attended the Yaba Higher College and the University College Ibadan, where he obtained the Bachelor of Science Degree. He had his postgraduate edu-

cation at Oxford University, Oxford England, Advanced Management from Pittsburgh, and administration of Higher Education from Iowa. He attended courses at Rutgers, all in the USA. Chief Kemmer Agiobu, during his lifetime, was a renowned educator, scientist, public administrator, diplomat and prominent chief of Rivers State. He was also known for his philanthropic, community and religious activities. In public service, he served at various sectors at the highest level. His career as an educator started in 1949 and until 1975, he taught in various institutions, both Missionary and Federal, as senior master. He became Principal, King’s College 1968 – 1975. He pioneered science education at primary school level and made a great contribution to the development of science and technology in the education curriculum. He later became federal Adviser on Science Education, Director Schools and educational services. He was Permanent Secretary in various ministries, which included Science and Technology (which he pioneered) Housing and Environment of which he was instrumental to the implementation of the Federal Housing Scheme for workers in states all over the federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission. At the regional and international level, he was vice-chairman of the executive board of UNESCO as well as being UNESCO’s Consultant on Science and Technology Policies in Southern African States. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Vienna, the first black African. He was Chairman, Scientific Council for Africa, a member of the Executive Committee on Science Education Program for Africa (SEPA), the Board of the African Centre for Technology. He was Chairman of the National Committee of West African Examination Council (WAEC) of which he was chief examiner. He was a pioneer executive and Patron of the Lagos Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) and the Parent/Teachers Association of Nigeria. He served in the governing council of various institutions of higher learning including University of Lagos, University of Science and Technology Port Harcourt. He had many publications, his favourites

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Sunday, May 4, 2014

NEWSPEOPLE

Ruth Receives Lifeline, Despite Traumatic Encounter With A Mad Man By Gbenga Akinfenwa ER carriage, charming smile and sparkling look depicts the picture of a personality whose pathway in life, was laid with raw gold. Her round face and ebony complexioned skin speaks volume of how nature had been kind to her, but beneath the look, lies a personality who had passed through what could be described as wilderness experience. At 17, Ruth Oluwafolakemi Idowu’s experience, is a dreadful one, which should have forced her to commit suicide, but due to will-power and drive to succeed, she kept on struggling with life, despite a serious attack that nearly shattered her dream and cut her life short at her prime. It was a pathetic story that led to the amputating of her two wrists, when she was attacked by a mad man. Ruth was born on April 17, 1993 in Oja-Odan, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, to the family of Mr. Idowu Adegoke, a driver, while the mother is a restaurant operator. On October 2, 2010, while assisting her mother in her restaurant within the town, a mad man appeared at the restaurant from her behind, while standing at the main entrance with a machete and aimed straight for her head. Panicstricken, she took to her heels to escape from the impending doom but due to shock of what appeared to be like a dream to her, she fell in the process. The man caught up with her and straightaway begun striking her with the machete. “To prevent him from cutting off my head and neck, I used my two hands as a defense, but in the process my two wrists were seriously battered. By the time sympathisers, who had stayed away for the fear of being attacked by the mad man, rushed out to rescue me, it was already too late because he had succeeded in cutting off the two wrists and inflicted a deep cut in my neck,” she narrated. She revealed that the street boys, who were angry with the incident, went after the man and ran straight to the Police Station, where he was caught up with him as he was trying to flee again and set him ablaze because they thought she was dead. She was taken to several hospitals to put the severed wrists back to position, but all efforts proved futile due to non-availability of fund. She spent eight months in the hospital before she returned to the village. But before her return, one Dr. Babatunde Akinremi from the Federal Medical Centre,

Ruth outside the classroom

Abeokuta, the state capital visited the village and heard about the pathetic story from two men of God, Reverend Abiodun of Word Evangelist Ministry and Reverend Ogundele of Baptist Church, both located in Oja-Odan, and decided to help her because the two hands have been completely amputated. Dr. Babatunde later invited Ruth’s mother and the two reverends with her to Abeokuta. The doctor then invited another specialist doctor to examine and design artificial limbs for her. But the doctor advised that it would be better, if her case is handled overseas. “So Dr. Babatunde made arrangements and I was flown to the United States of America (USA), for proper medical attention. One Sister Dorcas Ogango, a member of my church, was assigned to accompany me. I spent five months in America and came back with two artificial hands. “While undergoing treatments and even after, I wondered why this should have happen to me. All hopes seemed lost, but my Pastors kept giving me words of encouragement, which really

Ruth during computer lecture

sustained me,” she said. The artificial hands were provided by Mike and Steve at Johnson Orthopedic Hospital, Riverside, USA. When she returned to Nigeria in February 2013 and was taken to Mrs. Soyemi of Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta, she learnt that the Association of Psychiatric Nurses of Nigeria had decided to sponsor her education. She was then taken to Mercyland International College, Abeokuta, where she was enrolled to continue her secondary education. At the school, she was not only admitted but also given full scholarship as a boarding student by the Chairman of the school, Olootu Ogooluwa Bankole and his wife, Dr. Anuoluwapo Bankole, who had taken her as their own child. She told The Guardian that with the artificial limb, she can do anything her classmates does, including washing of clothes, operating computer, drumming, writing of notes and many more. Ruth revealed that she want to be an account,

which has always been her childhood dream, adding that in life, whatever happens to human-being, it should be taken in good fate and be rest assured that God is in control. “I never thought I could travel out of the country. It was because of what happened to me that I was able to travel to America, if it didn’t happen I don’t think I would have had that opportunity, with everything that has happened to me, I am still thankful to God, she said. “I am very thankful to all people who have played one role or the other during my time of tribulation, for me to be alive today. I am thankful to Dr. Banji Oyebanmi of Betta Hospital, Agege, Agege and his family for their care. Dr. Banji is the President of Psychiatric Nurses Association who took me to Mercyland and kept on monitoring my progress. At present I am full of life and hope. I am well received by my fellow students and the entire Mercyland International Schools Community.

Three Nigerians For Selfless Service being books on development of science at primary school level. On her part, Edna Sayannwo, an educationalist also, a former music teacher at the Kings College was recognised for commitment to service and for promoting music. Sayannwo, who was present at the award ceremony thanked the foundation for finding her worthy of recognition. According to her, she never expected the award. “I am really surprised, it is a good surprise,” she said. According to Sayannwo, it is not a surprise that the founder of the foundation, who was her student, has done well and excelled after school. She also paid glowing tributes to her former boss and principal, who was one of the award recipients, Agiobu-Kemmer, for supporting music as the principal of Kings College. The third awardee, Anyanwu, just graduated from the University of Lagos as the best student from the Department of Accounting. The day was also used to mark the 53rd birthday of Ituah Ighodalo. So along with the award ceremony, a documentary chronicling some of the activities of the celebrant was put on screen, especially how he has been positively impacting lives. Also, in a sermon titled, There is hope, delivered by the celebrant, he encouraged all the guests and members of his church, Trinity House, not to lose hope, for God will come in at the right and appropriate time. He noted that there is an end to every negative situation. He used the trying time he once passed through as an illustration. He said because things were not going in the right direction for him, he almost committed suicide but when he turned to God, He intervened and things changed for the better for him and his career and business. He called on all to trust on God for help and if they do, God will never disappoint. Ituah Igbodalo Foundation has been positively affecting lives of people around the world through its activities.

The awardees, friends and family members assisting Ituah Ighodalo in cutting its birthday cake at the event.

PHOTO: BY CHARLES OKOLO

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Scene from recent PDP Rally in Enugu

2015 Puts Governance On Hold By Marcel Mbamalu N the last three years (nay since 2011), Ireportedly when the controversial election was lost and won, utterances, actions or inactions coming from public officers have been laced with politics. Now, eight months to the 2015 general elections, governance has been pushed to the back seat, even as some ministers are alleged to have abandoned their Abuja offices to chase party tickets in their states. Even the Presidency is being accused of having put a lot of things on hold, calculating to see which step would increase chances of electoral victory. Some ministries are being run without substantive ministers and the delivery, many would say, is poor. Polytechnics and colleges of education have been on strike for six months and resolution of this crisis looks far away. Since the exit of former minister of education, Prof. Rukayyat Rufai, Nyesom Wike, who was minister of state, has been coordinating the ministry. But those who are familiar with the ministry say he is too busy with 2015 to have time to attend to burning issues. A bad case in hand is the ongoing strike by polytechnic lecturers and others in the Colleges of Education. Again, since the shakeup in the Aviation ministry following the exit of former minister, Stella Oduah, not much has been seen in terms of physical development. Activities seem to have frozen, even as a substantive minister does not exist in that ministry. The result of these gaps is that governance suffers a great deal, as little atten-

tion is paid to further the transformation agenda of government. Even the seemingly intractable insecurity has come to take political colorations. No doubt, political activities have overshadowed the real business of governance, eight months before the general election. Against this backdrop, radio and television workers, at the weekend, issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government and called on well-meaning Nigerians to mount pressure on government to address the alarming rate of insecurity in the country. The umbrella association — Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) — called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, put an end to the faceoff between the government and ASUP/COESU so as to save technical education in the country. The 2014 Budget is yet to take off seven months to the end of an election year and there are fears that when it (the budget) finally ‘wakes up,’ nothing else would matter except the projects that tie into electioneering agenda of government at all levels. Although national budgets, in the last 13 years (the last five years being the worst), have suffered setbacks due mainly to political posturing of the executive and legislative arms of government, there are concerns that implementation of the 2014 budget might be the worst in recent years. The Guardian had, three weeks ago, reported exclusively that Nigeria’s over $500 billion economy — according to the controversially rebased template for calculating the nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — may be throttling to a

‘shut down,’ unless political gladiators at the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government work together to secure presidential assent for the N4.7 trillion 2014 budget. The concern was anchored on the fact that the Constitution only allows the president to continue with anticipatory expenditure while waiting for the Appropriation Act until June. And since it was feared that the President might not get the Budget Bill for consideration and subsequent assent until the second week of May, 2014, when the NASS would have cleaned it up, there was need to fast-track the process. The two chambers of the National Assembly had passed a figure of N4,695,190,000,000 trillion as 2014 Budget before proceeding on Easter break, but were yet to transmit the Appropriation Act to the Executive, which also needed to study the document before signing it into law. The anticipated delay in getting to budget on its feet also derive from the fact that the National Assembly added N52,230,000,000 to the initial amount of N4,642,960,000,000 proposed by President Jonathan. Yet, The Guardian observed that the processes leading to the production of a clean copy that would be sent to the President for assent was to commence after the Easter break. Two days after, NASS, in clear response to that report, gave the assurance that it was going to send the document to the President the next day. Yet the circumstances surrounding the budget 2014 and its kick-off remain cloudy to Nigerians. What could happen when it finally does take off is a matter of conjecture, especially as 2015 looms large. Insisting that governance in Nigeria went

on holiday since the military made incursions into the business in the 1980s, Emeka Ononamadu, the executive director of the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights, said the country has never been properly governed since 1999. He specifically described the 2014 Budget as a campaign strategy, saying that its late passage by NASS and the orchestrated rough road to its take-off were clear signs of its expected failure. He said: “…That (the) 2014 budget was approved late by the senate and House of Reps is a clear sign to the president and all governors that mean well that core implementation should have commenced immediately and most of them completed before the campaign hots up or officially declared open. Now that every politician is running through the length and breadth of Nigeria as if campaigns have been officially declared open, what will happen by the time INEC will announce the commencement of political campaign?” Arguing that governance would come to complete halt when INEC blows the whistle for political campaigns, Ononamadu points out that the country could experience “monumental waste, as workers will be paid for doing absolutely nothing. It is even easier for the president or governors to use quick completed projects from 2014 budget as campaign strategy, instead of what is currently happening.” Saying that the implementation of 2014 and 2015 budgets are not likely to favour Nigerians, he, therefore, advised citizens to insist on full implementation. “…

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

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Sunday, May 4, 2014 21

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COVER

RIVERS: How Politics Of 2015 Stagnates Governance From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt

OVERNANCE in Rivers state G has suffered setback for due to 2015 politics. Opinions sympathetic to the state government argue that work at project sites have slowed down due to dwindling revenue. They say the depletion of the state’s revenue from the federation account from about N17billion to N12 to 13 billion has adversely affected implementation of projects. The government, which had initially planned to build about 23 model secondary schools and some 700 primary schools, is faced with cash constraint. So far, only seven of the secondary schools are close to being completion, while 500 primary schools have been completed and receiving finishing touch. Governor Amaechi had, during the visit of officers and students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Plateau State, led by Brigadier-General Gboloham Oyefesobi, said the state’s economy has been

adversely affected because desperate politicians resorted to power play at the National level ahead of the 2015, thus, preventing the state’s internally generated revenue from attaining the projected N10 billion monthly target The chairman of the Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition, Mr. Anyankwe Nsirimovu, said the political crisis, which is tied to the 2015 elections, has prevented the Rivers State from completing critical infrastructural projects it started. Nsirimovu expressed the concern that Rivers State had had to suffer dwindling revenue from the Federation Account due to the ceding of her oil wells to neighbouring states. He said that it would be saddening if critical infrastructure like schools, roads, water projects, fish farms, new city and the promised new university, that will directly affect the people directly, are not completed before the governor leaves office. The spokesperson of the Ijaw National Congress, Victor Burubo, said it has become a ritu-

al in Nigeria that during transition period like this, governance suffers across the entire country. “Election is taking place in February 2015 and we are already in May 2014. We are talking about nine months from now. That is how it has always been every four years. It is not the ideal situation, but that is the way it has been because of our circumstance. “Many of the projects that should have been completed in Rivers State have not been actualised, like the monorail. It was supposed to have been completed last March. So, In terms of good governance, construction of roads, provision of social amenities, they have all suffered setback because of the focus of those in government on 2015 politics. “ No serious development going on. These days, governance has taken a back seat; you hardly see activities centered on construction, provision of amenities, every debate is on politics. It like a ritual for everything to stop during transition period like this,” he said.

Amaechi

... Work On Hold Ahead 2015 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 Citizens should ignore them and their political antics and insist on efficient implementation of 2014 budget to reduce the level of nation’s challenges,” he said. “However, I wish to note that what makes the case of the present regime complicated is the huge level of distractions that have been introduced with the insecurity situation in Nigeria,” he said. “While some claim that it is taking toll on governance, others argue that the attention is not yielding positive results as Nigerians are increasingly becoming more insecure. Others still argue that President Goodluck is as guilty as all the state governors for abandoning “governance”, which, in my opinion, they are yet to practise.” The rights activist also cast aspersions on the education and aviation ministries,

which, for many months, have been run without substantive ministers: “I don’t know which explanation that can justify the running of education ministry without a substantive minister. It is being insensitive to the education sector and youths of Nigeria. Although the ministers are not doing much more than becoming liability to Nigerians, it is incomprehensible to say that it is difficult to get a good Nigerian that can replace Prof. Rukayyat so that they can effectively stem the industrial union challenges from Polytechnic teachers as well as other pressure groups in the education sector. “No one knows why it was difficult to replace them at the same time that the gap in defence ministry was filled. 2015 or no 2015, every leader with Nigerians at heart should know that the nation’s edu-

cation sector is untouchable and should be detached from politics.” He also observed near-halt of airport refurbishment and expansion projects, since Princess Oduah’s departure from the Aviation Ministry. But the situation (absence of governance) is not different at the second tier of government (states), where governance was practically halted following the crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). Although a few states managed to detach and move on with governance, it is clear that the posturing for 2015 began a long time ago in most of the states. Recall that, in the wake of the NGF crisis, some five northern governors had traversed the length and breath of the country in search of what, at the time, was referred to as the needed “peace in the

Wike

APC rally in Port Harcourt

PDP.” Although political expediency has managed to break the ranks of these ‘travelling governors’ (as they were christened by the media at the time), they, however, succeeded in keeping themselves in full public glare for several months, even in the face of poor governance and insecurity in their respective states. While the show was going on, the debate over President Jonathan’s candidature in 2015 was in the front burner. It is needless to say that those peace trips, later, metamorphosed into new party affiliations. Ononomade would argue that, in terms of governance, states, perhaps, perform more woefully that the Federal Government, which they accuse of nonperformance. The only way to understand my argument, according to him, is to evaluate simple budget implementation since 1999. He argued that out of the 107 federal capital projects monitored in the Southeast states, only 27 were completed as at February 2014. He further disclosed that, of the 40 capital projects, being implemented by the states, only 11 were completed as at February 2014. The situation, Ononamadu argued, is worsened by the fact that “the type of projects and their cost” qualify them as mere “palliatives”

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EZEH: Low Quality Of Actors Is Responsible For Low Level Governance Okey Ezeh, a leading management consultant, entrepreneur and political analyst is the CEO of Victoria-Island, Lagos based Savvycorp Limited. He spoke with GBENGA AKINFENWA on the challenges of governance in an election season. There is so much politics out there that if care is not taken, governance would begin to suffer. How could politicians separate governance from politics so that neither suffer? HE reason there is scant commitment to governance and more obsession with politics in our clime is because of the quality of actors we have in the field. The contemporary Nigerian political breed lack the finer values that distinguished statesmen of past generations. Power is increasingly exercised to satsify crass opportunism rather than in the pursuit of the good for the greater number of people. That is why the term National Interest now has a hollow ring. Budget 2014 is yet to properly take shape, as the NASS and the Presidency are yet to finalise. Do you have any fears that this budget could suffer low implementation because much of the time between now and February next year would be devoted to politics? If you were looking for a classic analogy of politics getting in the way of governance; the delay in rolling out the 2014 budget almost half way into the year is one. Poor budget implementation accounts in a large part to our economic woes. Budgets as economic blueprints need methodical and rigorous implementation if they must serve as the panacea to the economic challenges they are designed in the first place to surmount. This, more often than not, is not the case in Nigeria. Delayed, knee-jerk budgets could only sound a deathknell for accountability, probity and transparency in our resource management experience. It means that government spending is done in a haphazard and anticipatory sense. Our accustomed lethargy in the budget process have given us a certain predilection for rushing budget implemenations in the last quarter of each year with an alltoo visible chaotic outcome. This is no way to join the league of one of the 20 largest world

economies. Many state governors are so busy now with politics of 2015. If they are not in Abuja, they are doing town hall meetings to shop for successors. How would you advise governors to manage both ends so that governance remains priority? Our state governors all need to be reminded of Tip O’Neill, a former Speaker of the U.S. House who once said: “All politics is local”. It is okay for them to bother with town hall meetings and succession planning processes so long as they keep an eye on the every day mundane issues that keep their constituents awake at night; the issue of jobs, food on the table, good schools for

bound to comply to the spirit and letter of such laws. When you factor in the prevalence of weak institutions that pander to the whims of big men, you have the perfect recipe for disaster. Our ever-debasing cultural and moral value system have further worsened things as the average Nigerian thinks of only instant gratification. Heavy demands are made of actors in the political process in the misguided belief that it is the only way to get a share of the “national cake”. We need strong and stable institutions manned by diligent operators as well as ethical re-orientation of the populace. What should the electorate look out for in 2015 and what should be their demands from politicians? 2015 offers another vista of opportunity to our countrymen and women to reshape our collective destiny. We must begin to demand issues-oriented politics from the actors. All over the world politicians go to electorates with blueprints that touch the very fabric of their existence; issues that dwell on jobs, education, health, environment, economic opportunities and even the size of government. It is saddening that the prevalent soundbite that still comes out of our shores is that of zoning and rotation of offices and this sort of primordial mindset must change for us as a people to realise our potentials and join the league of progressive nations. The few states that have made appreciable progress in the current dispensation have done this largely as a result of the ascendancy of a crop of professionallyhoned actors who have allowed themselves to be guided by global best practices in goverchildren, secure environment to live, work and nance. 2015 is a good time to build on that play, functional hospitals, good roads, access to heart-warming trajectory. Politics must not be electricity, potable water etc. The best-oiled polit- left to people of questionable antecedence. We must begin to reject the traditional rent-seekical machinery is hopelessly inadequate in the ing politicians and embrace the professionals face of a dismal performance score card. The electoral act has provisions to regulate cam- in politics. Integrity, character and record of personal and professional achievements must paign funds, but this is hardly adhered to. begin to take precedence over size of camPoliticians have a way of circumventing the paign funds, godfather affiliation and ability rules. What ways would you recommend to to manipulate the electoral process. In the assist in the monitoring of political funds, so that money meant for development of projects is end, it must be said that a society ultimately gets the type of leaders it deserves. The power not misapplied? is in our hands to usher in a glorious dawn. Impunity is truly the scourge of our country. The best-crafted laws are only useful to the extent that operators of the system feel duty-

UGOLOR:Governance Has Nosedived To Near Zero Level Rev David Ugolor, a frontline activist and environmentalist told ALEMMA-OZIORUVA ALIU in Benin City that Nigerians should demand optimal performance from the political class. ow do you see the political environment?

THE Nigerian political terrain is quite a funny one, usually, when an election date is close by, just as it is the case with us now, you see a resurgence of political maneuvering with key actors aligning and re-aligning and trying to outsmart or out-do one another, all for their selfish interests. That is what we are witnessing now. That was why some of us said that the ongoing national dialogue was ill timed as it was too close to the general election, apart from the argument that it will be an exercise in futility. The truth most be told, that in the coming days, Nigeria is going to witness an increased tempo of political activities with less attention being paid to the real governance work. We are also going to see wasteful jamborees, where our elected leaders will be seen using State resources to campaign. The president and his team will crisscross the length and breadth of this country, campaigning for votes with official jets, vehicles and resources, same for governors. This has been the case in the past, from my observation, this general election will not be different; it is quite unfortunate. Both the ruling party and opposition parties will have to show commitment to good governance, which will impact positively on the life of the people. Since the shakeup in the Aviation ministry, following the exit of former minister Stella Oduah, not much has been seen in terms of physical development and no substantive minister yet. Is that good enough? It was necessary that the Aviation Minister be removed because of the huge scandal occasioned by the purchase of bullet proof cars, but it was not a good sign that it took President Jonathan a long time to take that decision. However, it is good that the president eventually bowed to pressure and took that step. Since then, as you have rightly observed, a substantive minister is yet to be appointed, which means that soon, new appointments will be made. To be honest with you, in the past few years, the federal government committed huge resources to the remodeling of some airports across the country and new cargo terminals were also approved, before this bulletproof cars issue came up. Since

the removal of the minister, things have actually slowed down in that sector. So, the slow pace of physical development you mentioned might be because of the non-appointment of a substantive minister. As soon as this is done, it may trigger other activities in the sector. The President should as a matter of fact initiate the process of appointing a new aviation minister who will take further the transformation, which he promised Nigerians during the last presidential election. Same for the ministry of education; those who are familiar with the issues say the coordinating minister is too busy with 2015 to have time to attend to burning issues, for instance, the protracted strike by polytechnic lecturers. What is your reaction to this? It is obvious that Nyesome Wike should have been removed as a minister long time ego. It is no longer news that he is overwhelmed with his governorship ambition in Rivers State. He is also busy fighting a sitting governor and totally abandoning his duty. His competence in the first instance is even in doubt because at a time when the political situation in Rivers State was tense, the minister was always in Port Harcourt, busy fueling the crisis at the expense of his primary assignment. The result of his incompetence and inefficiency is that the education sector is now almost in a state of comatose. As we speak, Polytechnic lecturers have been on strike for God knows when. Their counterparts at the colleges of education are still on strike. I am not saying that the minister is the reason why the lecturers are on strike, but that he should have been on ground to deal with the issue early enough before things got out of hand. If not for the intervention of other actors, ASUU would have still been on strike till date. My suggestion for the Ministry of Education is that the Minister should be removed and replaced with a competent person, to give him the time to face his political ambition in Rivers State. From all indication, it is very certain that the President is enjoying the situation because I don’t see any reason why our children should be made to suffer because of lack of poor leadership in the Ministry of Education. But what stops President Jonathan from naming substantive ministers for key ministries that highlight his government’s transformation agenda? The President is more interested in 2015 Presidential election

than in anything else for now, and that is why he appears more keen to appoint politicians who can deliver the votes for him in 2015. And the President is the only one that can give reasons why he has not named substantive ministers for key ministries; maybe he is taking his time. He may also be shopping for the right persons to fill such sensitive positions, we just need to give him that benefit of the doubt and allow him time to sort this out. In any case, he is a politician and most of the appointments he will make, will surely be from the political class, there is no doubt about that. But the truth is that he needs competent professionals to help drive his transformation agenda and not politicians who have no expertise. There are reports that the calculation is to look for persons whose influence in their states could help shape 2015. Should this be? Yes, we have already established that some key ministries like Aviation and Education among others need competent hands to run them, but the calculation of shopping for persons whose influence in their states could help Jonathan’s 2015 bid is a selfish politically strategy (if it is so), as the interest of the nation is now secondary, while personal interest and ambition is considered a first priority. This is typical of politicians and Nigerians should resist such plot to derail the progress and development of the country. My candid advise to the president is for him to shun political patronage and appoint competent persons to man the various ministries. This may be difficult at this point in time because he also needs to canvass for support from the political class to actualize his 2015 ambition. 2014 budget is yet to take off and when political activities climax as from October, governance would definitely take backstage. What hope for Nigerians? This is quite unfortunate; it is hard to believe that with the caliber of persons in this government, budgeting and other related processes are still a problem in Nigeria. If by May, the budget for this year has not been signed, then it is a big problem for a country that is already facing serious economic challenges. I wonder if something meaningful will be done this year given the nature of our political environment. What you will see towards the end of the year is 100 percent performance in terms of recurrent expenditure and about 40 percent performance in terms of capital budget, if not less. From what you have observed, governance would definitely take backstage and the people will be worse off.

THE GUARDIAN

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Education Sector In A Season Of Politics From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja

the Minister, Emeka Wogu, received them and reassured them of the efforts the Federal Government was making to resolve the issues. The protesting unions carried various placards with inscriptions such as “Wike Must Go,” “FG meet COEASU and ASUP demands”, “Government systematically Killing TeacherEducation”, Give Us Good Luck in Our Sector,” and Teachers-Education Realisation of E.F.A Targets,” among others. Although the protest ended in bitterness as police used teargas and warm water from two water trucks to disperse the protesters and stop them from gaining entry into the National Assembly, many of the protesting lecturers and students directed their anger mainly at the Minister of Education, who they accused of being insensitive to their plight. President of ASUP, Comrade Chibuzor Asamogha, equally berated Wike while commending the Minister of Labour for showing maturity in handling the issues since the strike started. ASUP has been on strike since October 4, last year. Just like their Colleges of Education counterparts, ASUP blamed Wike for the lingering strike, accusing him of propaganda and politics with the issues that necessitated the strike. Comrade Asamogha pointed out that Wike has been blackmailing the union on the issue of salary arrears, instead of addressing many other critical issues raised by ASUP, wondering whether the arrears are not the lecturers’ entitlement if Wike has chosen that aspect to score cheap political points. He reminded Wike that he should not try to play politics with everything, noting that ASUP demands are to improve the standard of polytechnic education in the country. He said that, “the Minister of Education gave us installmental payment plan from March to September. At the end of March, instead of paying, what the Minister did was to slam ‘no work, no pay policy.’ We bent backward again and accepted April. This is the end of April, has government paid; where is the evidence?

“He talks about several agreements we signed to call off the strike, where is the evidence? If it is a signed document, it should be there for Nigerians to see. Let him bring it out, let us see. People should not be playing politics with everything. It is not propaganda. We are doing propaganda. ASUP is not a strikeprone union.” Meanwhile, the supervising minister has denied these allegations against him by the unions. He described the protest by the unions as blackmail, noting that government has been making necessary arrangement to resolve the issues, insisting that he would not give in to the blackmail of the unions. Wike maintained that the issues surrounding the strikes were beyond the Ministry of Education; hence he should not be blamed for the lingering strike. On the issue of salary arrears for Polytechnics lecturers, the supervising minister said, “we met and agreed on some issues, including the installmental payment of their entitlements which they promised to take to their NEC, only for them to write to us later rejecting the offer.” He denied the allegation that he was insensitive to the strike and also debunked the insinuation that he was lying to the public. He said the “no work, no pay policy” was enforced because any responsible leadership must show some kind of firmness. “You don’t expect government to continue using tax payers money to pay you salaries when you are not working for; it is unfair.” Wike might have been unlucky to be a Minister when the various unions in the education sector must have resolved to get their demands from government through strikes. He inherited the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike from his predecessor. But unlike his predecessor, Wike talked tough, threatening the university lecturers to resume work or forfeit their jobs. Although the threat did not come through until the strike was called off, he received wide condemnation for the pronouncement. Anyway, the supervising minister seemed to have fallen in-between two-edged swords of

HE Federal Ministry of Education is currently facing challenges in discharging its statutory mandate. Opposition politicians point accusing finger at the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, whom they say should be blamed for abandoning his official duty for Rivers State politics. Wike is rumoured to have governorship ambition for 2015 in his home state. He has also emerged strong opposition figure to his former boss, the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a result of unresolved issues with the Presidency. Wike was once applauded as being very effective in his capacity as Minister of State for Education, the reason of which he grabbed some awards. His critics now say he is derailing since he became the Supervising Minister following the sack of Professor Ruqyyatu Rufai in September 2013. Many, however, argue that the recent criticisms being thrown at him stem from his political inclination and activities in Rivers State. Appointed Minister in 2011, Wike was former local government chairman, who later served as Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi during his first term. A staff of the ministry said the minister hardly pays attention to issues concerning education sector, citing his political activities as very distractive. “You are a journalist, why are you asking me? Can’t you see for yourself? Since Mama Education was sacked, how many times have you covered education events attended by Barrister Nyesom?” “He is either in Rivers State fighting with Amaechi or in the Villa. He hardly comes here. So, how is he going to attend to issues affecting the education sector when he is only interested in becoming a governor? So, the education sector suffers while we watch him campaign for his governorship race. Only God will save us here.” The lingering strikes by Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) that have shut down the nation’s public Polytechnics and Colleges of Education for months, no doubt, compounds the Minister’s problems. Both unions have accused him of propaganda and playing politics with the genuine demands of the unions. The leadership of COEASU pointed out that Nwike had ignored the union since the strike started on December 18, 2013. A member of COEASU and lecturer at the Abuja College of Education, Zuba, Dr. Ahmed Lawal, at a recent joint press briefing with ASUP in Abuja said the Supervising Minister of Education has not been telling Nigerians truth about the issues surrounding the strike. “The Minister of Education met with COEASU once to avert the strike, and when we started our own strike (that was on December 18, 2013), since that date, the Minister of Education has never sat with COAESU in any form.” Dr. Lawal wondered why Wike fancied media propaganda rather than addressing issues that will facilitate suspension of the strike. “He comes out in the media and tells the public that they have done A, B, C, and D and we are the one that have refused. He is not saying the right thing; this should be clear to the public. We said severally that he is not committed to ending this strike. “On our own part, COEASU commend the Minister of Labour. He has shown some level of commitment to see that the strike is ended. He has attended all meetings we have been having, while the Minister of Education is nowhere to be found”. On April 29 when COEASU and ASUP alongside students and members of civil society organisations protested the lingering strike in Abuja. The protesters, first, went to the Ministry of Education to lay their complaints but the gate to the ministry was locked. The Minister of Education did not come out to address them nor did any official from the ministry meet with them. After waiting for some time, the protesters proceeded to the Ministry of Labour, where Poly Students Protesting Over The On Going ASUP Strike

Rivers State politics and the education sector with their myriad challenges. His critics allege that his active involvement in Rivers politics is affecting his performance as Minister of Education. Since his open disagreement with Governor Amaechi, he has been more committed in deepening the root of his gubernatorial ambition than doing the work at the federal level. Although he has not made his intention of running for gubernatorial election public but his body language and utterances indicated that he will likely contest. Besides, he seemed to be the leader of PDP in Rivers State since the Governor defected to the opposition party and this will entail that Wike will be spending more time and effort in the state’s political issues. Some Nigerians have openly called for Wike’s removal, maintaining that the ministry requires a technocrat, not a typical Nigerian politician. This is probably why some of the staff of the ministry is yearning for somebody who would available to resolve issues of the moment. However, the minister courted public attention as a goal-getter and performer when he was the Minister of State for Education. He made a lot of public-spirited effort in supervising the construction of Almajiri schools across the northern states. He practically visited almost every state of the Federation, monitoring Federal Government Colleges and supervising various projects being carried out by the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) in unity schools. He held public interactions with contractors handling various projects, ensuring that UBEC released money on time to them and as well holding the contractors accountable to complete the projects on schedule. As Minister of State, Wike also made substantial effort to ensure that states increased their capacity to receive UBEC matching grants. He made a mark for himself as active minister, getting awards and recognition. But some staff of the Ministry believe the sector is now suffering because of gross neglect.

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‘Nigeria Has Never Been Properly Governed Since 1999’ Executive Director of the Citizens Center for Integrated Development & Social Rights, Emeka Ononamadu, in this interview with EMEKA ANUFORO in Abuja, says governance has taken back stage in the build up to 2015, alleging that public funds are most endangered. What is your assessment of the state of governance? INCE the start of our new democratic experiment from 1999, governments at federal and state levels have not known anything called governance. In fact, since the military’s wicked and unfortunate truncation of our democratic experience in 1985, governance was completely erased from the dictionary of successive leaders. So, to say that development has stopped because of 2015 election is to give past wicked and corrupt leaders unmerited credence. Governance, or put succinctly, good governance has taken leave from Nigeria. It has taken flight out of Nigeria, a flight whose foundation was laid long ago but was institutionalised by the military. Unfortunately, the civilian regimes, which ought to reverse this ugly trend, find it very attractive and easy to apply. My position is that good governance, which was being nurtured in Nigeria before and after independence, became dead on the arrival of the military. That is why I will never accept that there is any development since the 1985 prolonged military intervention into governance. If any form of development were targeted at the citizens, past military rulers and their appointees would not have been richer than most African countries. The matter became worst after President Olusegun Obasanjo mounted the saddle of leadership for the second, and eventually the third time. There has not been any development since that era. This is because what we are witnessing is what I refer to as development palliative. Development palliative is a project not necessarily targeting the citizens, but a disguise to take away public resources into personal pockets. That is what has been happening since 1999, and it has been happening in a very disturbing proportion. That is why despite over N20 trillion spent by states and federal government since 1999, the state of public infrastructure is embarrassing, the level of unemployment is growing at its alltime high, while the poverty rate is the worst among all oil producing nations. That is why the life expectancy is less than 47. That is also why our schools, particularly tertiary institutions, hospitals, railways/train transport, airlines, police and so on, are now national embarrassments instead of national pride. That is why life is worth nothing to politicians. That is why leaders and politicians require extra security whenever they want to use our roads. There is no country in the world that earns what Nigeria earns annually that is witnessing the embarrassing hardship that exists in Nigeria. It is so because governance or development is no longer fashionable to Nigerian leaders and politicians. Because of the political corruption, which enables politicians to use stolen money to force themselves on the people and the inability of the people to resist such imposition anywhere in Nigeria, good governance, which breeds development, has ceased in Nigeria. What we are witnessing is a caricature of development, which I call development palliatives. Do you think President Goodluck Jonathan has abandoned governance or development because of 2015? My candid answer is No, because he has not even started governance or development, in the first place, just like his predecessors. Has any governor or political leader at the states abandoned governance or development because of 2015? The answer is also No, because underdevelopment and bad governance is worst at that level. All of them are specialists in using development palliatives to steal, cheat and deceive unsuspecting Nigerians. Governance breeds development and real development is sustaining and touches every citizen. Why it became obvious that governance has completely given way in Nigeria is because it is becoming clear that citizens are angry and they might show their anger in 2015. The level of desperation by the president and all the governors as well as the opposition, justifies my claim that we have been witnessing development palliatives in the era of bad governance. It is easy for an incumbent president or governor to get reelected if his/her governance scorecard is excellent. You don’t need to show any sign of desperation; rather, it is the opposition that should be desperate to convince citizens that they are likely to do better. Because governance is already history in the face of Nigeria leaders, other indices are played up to grab power. The only way to understand my argument is to evaluate simple budget implementation from 1999 till date. For instance, only last year, out of the 107 federal capital projects monitored in the Southeast by Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights, through the elected representatives scorecard project, only 27 of them were completed as at February 2014. This represents about 27 percent. Again, out of 40 capital projects, being implemented by southeast states, only 11 were completed as at February 2014.

Ononamadu This represents only 35 percent. Again, if you check the type of projects and their cost, it will become obvious that they are development palliatives. Unfortunately, these are not the kind of records that can outrightly win election for any leader. The current regimes at federal and state levels have not departed from the corruption foundation what was expanded since 1999. However, I wish to note that what makes the case of the present regime complicated is the huge level of distractions that have been introduced with thesecurity situation in Nigeria. While some claim that it is taking toll on governance, which has never been, others are arguing that the attention is not yielding positive results as Nigerians are increasingly becoming more insecure. Others still argue that President Goodluck is as guilty as all the state governors for abandoning “governance”, which, in my opinion, they are yet to practise. It has become more obvious because most ministers at the federal level and commissioners at the state levels are stooges and incompetent and also reckless politicians. This is unfortunate. It will spell doom to Nigeria if this trend continues. The example of Princess Oduah’s departure and the near halt of the airport refurbishments and expansions is a clinical case. Why is it that on-going airport contracts have suddenly come to a stop? Can it be linked to 2015? I cannot really say until one sees the content of the contracts and its duration as well as how much that has been paid or the conditions. If it is a public private partnership contract, then fear maybe associated to it, but if they are outright government contracts then it is easy to link it to 2015 and win the argument. What is surprising is that aviation is an area that the regime of President Goodluck is relying on when it comes to his so-called achievements. Again one needs to know the linkage between the current abandonment of projects and the late budget approval as well as the on-going national conference, which is being held with huge expenditure. There are so many things that government is not explaining to citizens so that they will save themselves some levels of criticisms. This method of starving citizens of critical information and keeping them guessing is also a sign that governance has not started in Nigeria. I don’t know which explanation that can justify the running of education ministry without a substantive minister. It is being insensitive to the education sector and youths of Nigeria. Although the ministers are not doing much more than becoming liability to Nigerians, it is incomprehensible to say that it is difficult to get a good Nigerian that can replace Prof. Rukayyat so that they can effectively stem the industrial union challenges from Polytechnic teachers as well as other

pressure groups in the education sector. No one knows why it was difficult to replace them at the same time that the gap in defence ministry was filled. 2015 or no 2015, every leader with Nigerians at heart should know that the nation’s education sector is untouchable and should be detached from politics. Because the intention of leadership is not to better the lot of Nigerians, it is easy for the president as well as governors to run the nation or a state without ministers or commissioners. In the case of governors, they can run the state without local government chairmen. It is also in Nigeria that even when a president or governor wants to appoint ministers or commissioners, no known criteria on competence other than political rudeness is considered. Where there is fear that such rude politician cannot be fetched from the state, where the reappointments will come from, it is delayed or in some cases forgotten. Unfortunately, that style is ancient and no longer fashionable. It ends up becoming a liability to the appointing president or governor. With less than one year and six months to the end of this tenure, I wonder what magic a new appointee minister will do rather than politicking for his or her master. This is an attitude Nigerians should fight to stop our politicians from practising. It does not show that they are willing to serve Nigerians that voted them into power. Consider that the 2014 budget was approved late by the senate and House of Reps, is a clear sign to the president and all governors that mean well that core implementation should have commenced immediately and most of them completed before the campaign hots up or officially declared open. Now that every politician is running through the lengths and breadth of Nigeria as if campaigns have been officially declared open, what will happen by the time INEC will announce the commencement of political campaign? It means that government will come to a complete halt. It means that Nigeria will experience monumental waste, as workers will be paid for doing absolutely nothing. It is even easier for the president or governors to use quick completed projects from 2014 budget as a campaign strategy instead of what is currently happening. That brings to question whether they still expect to win election in 2015 through citizens vote (because I don’t understand the rationale behind the current inactivity in almost all the ministries at both federal and states as we are almost in the middle of the year). I don’t know what name; in fact, the name for this kind of strategy is non-existent. If the 2014 budget implementation did not start without further delay, almost the entire budget will be wasted through politics or political considerations that will not favour citizens. It is also practically impossible to get good value for money if the expenditure period coincides with the election period. On this note, the implementation of 2014 and 2015 budget are not likely to favour Nigerians. Therefore, Citizens should ignore them and their political antics and insist on efficient implementation of 2014 budget to reduce the level of nation’s challenges. Ordinarily, ministers are supposed to be professionals and not politicians. It is wrong for a minister to abandon his/her duty post for politics. Such minster should be fired by the president or sanctioned by the Senate. My suggestion and advice to Nigerians is that they should pay more attention to the implementation of budgets close to election time or budgets of two-term governors or a president, if we must rescue our resources from corrupt politicians. A time to start being conscious over what a president or governor does close to an election time is now. This is because our politicians are corrupt, wicked and dangerous to citizens. Because of their style of politicking, they have made some ministries moribund while others are seriously underperforming in terms of basic routine activities. Nigerian politicians are the only danger that is facing our democracy. Citizens should ceaselessly monitor how any tier of government will spend public resources between now and the end of 2015 election. Nobody should trust our politicians anymore. They are ignoble disappointment to citizens. As scandals upon scandals had rocked many federal ministries and agencies, I will personally call on President Goodluck Jonathan to exhibit the highest level of accountability in the expenditure of Nigerians resources between now and 2015 election. That will be the greatest display of patriotism to the nation he swore to protect and serve. I equally advise governors to lead the show of transparency of public finance between now and the end of 2015 election. I am sure the combined interest of citizens and display of transparency by the elected representatives will bring back governance and improve Nigerian’s development rate. This will douse the election tension and possibly give hope to hopeless Nigerians as we go into 2015 election. If Citizens heed this call, the power of incumbency will be reduced and a more level playing field will be realised. This will mean a better future for Nigeria. President Goodluck should show example to the governors on transparency and accountability of public resources during election period. Such example might catch fire and become a standard in the future. He should remember that government without public participation and transparency is private business at public expense.

Sunday, May 4, 2014 25

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

HEALTH

Medical Science Has Changed Our Approach To Infertility, Says Ogunkoya Dr. Michael Ogunkoya is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist. He is also the Managing Director of The Hope Valley International Clinic Limited in Lagos. In this interview with CHRIS IREKAMBA, he speaks on how he was able to produce 2,500 babies for over a period of 12 years. How was it possible for you to produce 2,500 babies? T’S not enough really; we should be doing more than the figure. First of all, you have to get the technology right, you have to maintain a reasonable level of competence and quality control, which has to do with arrangement, documentation, consistency, training and retraining and so on. Because individual part of fertilisation is all about doing what you are supposed to do right and keeping recordings, doing the right thing at all times and to ensure there is no room for cutting corners or managing, you will get the result. In other words, Nigerians, who travel to India, or to other nations of the world in search of this, should come back home, because the solution to infertility is here? They should come back because a lot of people are coming from England, America and it’s even cheaper for them to come any way. Some white people who have things to do here also visit our clinic. Because patients would come anywhere they have confidence that they would have solution to their problems. The field of infertility management has been expanding in a very terrific rate in the last 40 years. And as you are aware, it hasn’t stopped both our quest for finding new grounds to improve success rate via improvement in equipment; improvement in drug formulation and manufacturing, improvement in training of personnel, etc, all this have undergone tremendous improvement. In the forefront, of course, of this advancement is research. At any given time, there are a lot of researches going on. We thank God for giving us knowledge to discover things through research. Infertility is an inability to conceive after one to two years of trying without production. Causes abound in the male as well as in female. Probably in equal proportion maybe 40 per cent each. Also, we have cases we cannot really identify and in a situation like that, after you have tried and you cannot find a cause, the tubes are open, the sperm is good, the eggs are okay and yet the couple are not getting result, of course, we call that ‘unexplained infertility.’ We categorise them like this: when it comes to male causes that relate obviously to sperm production, which have been affected so badly by infections or various germs. But most of them are usually infection such as gonorrhea and the rest of them like that block the tube that transfers the sperm or infection that affects the generation of sperm itself. It must be said that sperm generation is not like manufacturing of drugs or manufacturing of soft drink. There are cells in the testicles, ordinary cells, which have the potential, which means it’s like ordained potential. To be become sperm, they transform from being ordinary cells that have no life to cells that acquire life. Just like embryos are formed from sperm and egg at six weeks, you find that there is heart already, pulling blood so life is impacted. Sperm becomes what we know as sperm from cells that have no life at all, but that is the way God made it there. Most of the causes in black race is due to blocked tubes, blocked tubes are usually due to infection, other causes in the female is if the woman is unable to produce eggs. Eggs are the female garment with which sperm combine to make embryos. The cause of the problem in the sub-Saharan Africa is tubal blockage followed by egg problems, whereas in the white race it’s the

Ogunkoya egg problem that is the highest cause of female infertility. Apart from the tubes being blocked or the eggs not coming, you have other causes that relate to the tract uterus, may be there is some hostility that kills sperm, for instance. As sperm is deposited into the vagina at intercourse they try to follow up to meet the egg, they are destroyed on the way either by serious infection or some other things that prevent them from going up. These are common causes of female infertility. In the past, we have various methods of approaching treatment, but that has undergone serious revolution since in the last say 30 years with the advanced method of management, cases of ‘unexplained infertility’ or blockage of the tubes are now treated with IVF. Whereas in the past you could manage a couple for about five or six years, trying to find solution to their problem. Now, if a couple, say 30 years of age, for instance, comes and they have been trying to get pregnant for more than two years, all you need to do is to go straight to IVF and many of them will get pregnant so our approach to infertility has changed, not only in terms of the methods but also in the active approach. You mentioned research; what has been the effect of it in all this? Without research there will be no blood transfusion service world wide, without

research there will be no drugs to kill HIV, without research we would still be using quinine and chloroquine for malaria treatment, and many things you know today in medical science are done based on research. For instance, without research man will not go to the space, not to talk of going to the moon. About 50 years ago, if a couple comes to the clinic all the doctor or Gynaecologist could do then was if you look at the sperm and it’s very low, there was nothing he could do. At most he would prescribe antibiotics to kill germs if germ is responsible for the low sperm count. But it is not same now. If a couples comes to the clinic with low sperm count, we will tell you don’t worry, as far as you have sperm there we will use that sperm to produce pregnancy for you. Technology research has helped us to improve success rate of infertility management and therefore, it has helped to remove fears, depression. You talked about causes of infertility and you made mention of ‘unexplained infertility,’ could there be a spiritual factor. What solution is available for couples who are in such situation? Spiritual matters and science don’t meet, of course, we do know that the spiritual controls the physical for those of us that believe in religion. The term, ‘unexplained infertility’ was coined some 33 years ago, but since that time, what science didn’t know then, science has come to know through research and some of them are no longer classified as unexplained.

If a couple, say 30 years of age, for instance, comes and has been trying to get pregnant for more than two years, all you need to do is to go straight to IVF and many of them will get pregnant. So our approach to infertility has changed, not only in terms of the methods, but also in the active approach

That is quite different from the issue of spirituality. Science does not believe in spirituality, science believes that two plus two, will give you four period! If it is only three you found you have to look for the remaining one. Science believes that if something has not been solved, it is because they have not gotten there. And what they would tell you is that they have not gotten the solution, they would not tell you it’s spiritual. Do you believe there is limitation in science? If science were to believe in that, well, they would have believed in spirituality. Science believes that if something has not been solved it is because they have not gotten there. It’s because they don’t want to give God that credit for making the universe beautiful and everything therein? It’s just because that is not the line of thought. It’s not a slight on spirituality, not at all. But if you say, two plus three, it can’t be seven. It’s five and that is the nature of science. Herbal medicine and their claims; how do you harmonise the two? We should not throw away the traditional African medicine and its role in our traditional healthcare system. They have been very effective and they are still effective. They carry the psychology of the patient along, but … you are bound to believe in it. Contemporarily, yes, we have efficacious medicament traditionally for malaria, for diarrhea and so on. And they have been effective for ages, but the only thing wrong with them is that there are no measures and documentation for side effects, mild or moderate or severe side effect. There are no strict rules for ‘dos and don’ts’ as far as those medications are concerned. These are the fears that limit their usages and these are the fears that generate criticism for them. What I’m saying in effect is that, they have a place, but there is limitation to their placement based on what I have just told you. There is no strict agenda for training, many of their formulations are shrouded in secrecy.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

26 Sunday, May 4, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Special Report

• Hospital items delivered by the Tompolo Foundation

Ex-Warlords And Their New Pastimes From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt OR the militants who brought the Niger Delta question to the fore of global consciousness, giving up their guns was not an easy decision, particularly as the region still suffers economic deprivation and excluded youths remain prone to involvement in crime. Some of the militants, who fought the war of resistance against dispossession of Niger Delta’s natural resources, have been economically empowered by the Nigerian State, courtesy of the amnesty offer by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua; in return, some of them are helping to provide educational and healthcare opportunities to hundreds of deprived persons in the Niger Delta. Many ex-militants are now key players in real estates sector, petroleum and maritime services, security and have invested in the entertainment and hospitality industries. There is no doubt that social services such as healthcare and education were already of an extremely low standard before militancy in the Niger Delta, and even after the amnesty deal, these social services scarcely exist in most communities. And like in the legendary Robin Wood story, where the rich and powerful use their positions to oppress and starve the ordinary people, in this case,

the Nigerian State and the people of the Niger Delta; the few militants who had the guts to stand against the state, are giving back part of their proceeds from the state to the poor and the less privileged. It is for the reason that the most prominent ex-agitator in the region, Mr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly referred to as (Tompolo), has set up a foundation, primarily to help to improve the quality of education and support healthcare service deliveries in the rural communities. Tompolo, who hails from Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu kingdom of Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State, spent N130 million running a hospital in his Okerenkoko community in the past one year. The hospital, which was built and equipped by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Delta State Oil

Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), had been abandoned following the military incursion of Okerenkoko during the era of militancy. Perturbed by the deplorable state of the community hospital, Ekpemupolo decided to restore it. The Executive Secretary of the Tompolo Foundation, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, revealed recently that some 400 surgeries, including Caesarian Section cases were carried out at the Okerenkoko community hospital. He explained that more than 310 persons have benefited from the foundation’s free treatment, even as arrangement was being made to procure a N25 million blood screening equipment for the hospital. Beside this, Tompolo in a bid to promote education, last year organised a ten-day teacher capacity building programme for science

Many ex-militants are now key players in real estates sector, petroleum and maritime services, security and have invested in the entertainment and hospitality industries. There is no doubt that social services such as healthcare and education were already of an extremely low standard before militancy in the Niger Delta, and even after the amnesty deal, these social services scarcely exist in most communities. And like in the legendary Robin Wood story, where the rich and powerful use their positions to oppress and starve the ordinary people, in this case, the Nigerian State and the people of the Niger Delta; the few militants who had the guts to stand against the state, are giving back part of their proceeds from the state to the poor and the less privileged.

teachers in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas on practical science skills enhancement in collaboration with College of Education Warri, Delta State. The aim of the programme was to strengthen the skills and competence of science teachers in the basic and secondary schools; enhance teachers’ knowledge in content and methodology of the basic science subjects and to expose teachers to the emerging trends and challenges in pedagogy. The ex-Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) leader’s decision to embark on free medical programme is predicated on the fact that in parts of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa, there is only one doctor to 150,000 residents, while is some areas, existing healthcare facilities serve as little as two percent of the population. Though Tompolo is alleged to have received $22.5 million for a pipeline surveillance deal last year from the federal government, he lives an austere life and he is said to be the most generous of all the former agitators. It will be recalled that the leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), who was formerly known as Melford

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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Sunday, May 4, 2014 27 25

SPECIAL REPORT

... Warlords, Their New Pastimes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 Dokubo Goodhead Jr. but now, Muhajid AsariDokubo, was one of the fighters in the Niger Delta region who declined to accept the federal government amnesty offer on the basis that it was illegal. Notwithstanding his stance, Asari as he is fondly called, is said to be one of the major beneficiaries of federal government’s pipeline surveillance deal. Asari presently is the sole proprietor of King Amachree Royal Academy in Cotonou, Benin Republic. The school was established as an independent educational institution with the central objective of creating a crop of Africans with the latest and modern knowledge of Automotive and Information and Communications technology. He is also the financier and supporter of Amakson Soccer Academy. King Amachree Royal Academy was established in 2008 as a professional and technical training centre, under the Ministry of Technical and Professional Education – Republic of Benin. The school has three departments, offering international certificates and international diploma qualifications in automotive technology; automotive electrics and electronics, automotive body and paint repairs; automotive mechatronics, information and communications technology and business management. The primary vision of Asari for the academy is to see it turn out to be a world class educational institution reputed for training the best hands and minds in the automotive and Information and Communications Technology industry. At Tompolo the school, students are taught to be job creators and not job seekers. They are also nurtured on how to put resources together to build sustainable business enterprises. Programmes in the form of workshops, seminars and field pattern of agitation, which is now a non-violent approach. Comrade Paul Bebenimibo is the Executive Secretary of Tompolo the trips are constantly organised within the acadIf the president were not a committed person, he would not have emy to ensure that students achieve their eduFoundation. In this chat with OBIRE ONAKEMU, he speaks on been driving this process to where it is now. The president, as far as cational objectives. I am concerned, is doing well. I am not talking about infrastructhe foundation and other issues. Recently, Asari who hails from Buguma in tural development; there must be peace before development can Rivers State disclosed that he had been given ac- It seems the Niger Delta struggle is now hibernating; do you think take place in any given. So, we are waiting for Mr. President. We creditation by the authorities in Benin Republic yu have achieved sustainable peace? know that he has laid the foundation for development in the counto establish King Amachree African University. try; it now beholds on us to give him a second chance of another HE struggle is not hibernating; it is just a paradigm shift. What The institution is expected to commence degree four years for him to be able to develop the foundation he has laid. used to happen in the Niger Delta was a mere protest in those programmes by September 2014. days before it took a violent step, and today, what I am seeing is How would you rate the state of the Niger Delta region at the mo“For now we have King Amachree that we have come back to the non-violent approach to issues. Basi- ment? Automobile/ICT Royal Academy and King Not much has taken place in Niger Delta in terms of infrastruccally, the struggle was to attract attention of government at all levAmachree Arts Academy. Two of them were els and the international communities to what has been happening tural development, except for laying the foundation for growth. merged into King Amachree African University,” to the region. And I believe that governments, at all levels, are aware Well, one may give President the pass mark because the Petroleum he said. Industry Bill is still in the National Assembly. If the desired attenof the problems with Niger Delta and international communities Asari, who abhors being called an ex-militant, tion is given to that bill, I believe it is going to solve a very critical are also aware of the problems with the area and they have promalso runs the Amakson Soccer Academy. The soc- ised to contribute their own quota to the resolution of the crises. aspect of the problem in the Niger Delta; then, that will eventually cer academy, which is in Abuja and Cotonu, reusher in infrastructural development and human capital developSo, the struggle is not hibernating, but is just a paradigm shift, spectively was established to train soccer which is more of advocacy now. We will continue to talk so that the ment. inclined youth free of charge. The key objective things that are supposed to come to the area will come because the Well, I want to call on the media to be alive to its duties and reof the academy is said to be the discovery of po- amnesty proclamation is just a vehicle to take us to our destinasponsibilities by speaking for the voiceless because the media is tential talents in soccer, management of soccer tion. It is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. So, we are still in the bridge between the rulers and the ruled. The media should be players and other sports. able to convey the message from the ruler to the ruled and also to the process and we will continue to struggle in a non-violent manMr. Ebikabowei Victor Ben, popularly known as ner, attract the attention of the government to our problems and convey message from the ruled to the rulers. When that is properly Boyloaf is said to be involved in maritime busidone, I believe things will work fine for our country. speak out. ness and is also alleged to be one of those conWe must all participate in the building of our country, like doing And we will continue to send messages to the national conference tracted by the Nigeria National Petroleum to see how the issues will be taken care of because these things that the right thing at every point in time because we must put into Corporation (NNPC) to provide pipeline surveil- brought about the crises are still there, they have not been resolved, place virtues such as love, patience, endurance and forthrightness lance services. Recently, Governor Seriake Dick- like environmental degradation, participation in the oil industry, to see how we will continue to contribute our quota to the developson appointed him chairman of the Board of government and others. These are some of the issues that are at the ment of our country. We should also put ourselves to work; pray to Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development. see that our country will continue to remain one; a united force befront burner of discussions as far as Niger Delta crises are conThe board chaired by Boyloaf has been mancause in unity we stand, then development will be ours! cerned. So, we are still pursuing such issues only that we changed dated to provide training for youths and re-orientate them to live purposeful lives and contribute their quota to the development of the state. The board is also saddled with the task of developing a curriculum for its training programmes towards empowering the youths, munities; and more importantly, supporting rather than making them become willing tools By Obire Onakemu working for the foundation. the education and nurturing of talented kids in the hands of political jobbers. The foundation has equally donated OMPOLO Foundation is a non governmen- and children, who can ultimately help to build The former leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante, state-of-the-art medical equipment to the communities. tal and non profit making organisation Ateke Tom, had initially relocated to Lagos after Ogulagha Cottage Hospital to further The foundation does not have any external fithat was registered under the Corporate the amnesty offer. But in recent times, following improve the medical services rendered nancial support. All projects are being financed the face off between the Rivers State governor, Affairs Commission (CAC) with registration to the people. It also donated Drugs to Chibuike and President Goodluck Jonathan, he number CAC/IT/No55193 and was floated on and sustained by the founder. And currently, four government owned hospitals in the foundation spends N11million monthly in its November 29, 2012. has been frequently his native Okrika in Rivers Delta State. These include Ekpan Genhealth and educational projects. The NGO is basically into two major project State. eral Hospital (Uvwie Local Council), UgThe Guardian gathered that Tompolo FoundaThe Guardian gathered that the once dreaded areas: Health and Education. Under the health bokodo Health Care Centre (Okpe Local ex-militant has been one of the major financer sector, it provides support for the sick in rural tion has renovated, equipped, staffed and is op- Council), Warri Central Hospital (Warri erating the Okerenkoko Cottage Hospital in communities; supports health institutions of the Rivers State chapter of the Performing South Local Council) and Ogbe-Ijoh Musician Association of Nigeria. He also said to and government; support health personnel Okerenkoko. The hospital was built by NDDC General Hospital (Warri South West Loand operated by DESOPADEC, but was abanbe engaged in real estate business in Lagos and working in the rural communities and orcal Council). doned at the invasion of J.T.F some years ago. rganises health conferences, seminars and Abuja. Already, the foundation is expanding The hospital was over grown with weeds and workshops with the aim of providing inforJust recently, residents of Port Harcourt were the medical laboratory of the hospital invaded by dangerous reptiles. The people of the mation on health in rural communities. amazed to discover Ateke’s governorship to accommodate the N25 million blood posters along Aba Road, CFC and Rumuola. The The foundation’s intervention in the educa- area, suffered health-wise since the only medical screening equipment to mark its one posters however did not indicate the political tional sector includes providing educational facility they could access was abandoned. The year anniversary. The foundation has party in which Ateke intends to contest the 2015 tools to rural public community schools neg- foundation came in. also donated and distributed all round The hospital now wears a new look with the lected by government and its agencies in the election. education/writing materials to schools state-of-the-art medical equipment. The hospital Another former leader of the Movement for thecountry; providing recreational materials to in the afore-mentioned local councils rural public schools in need of such facilities. was designed for 5,000 patients accessing the Emancipation of Niger Delta as well as organising a capacity buildfacilities from over 100 communities from Provide uniform and reading/academics macommander, Sobomabo Jackrich aka Egberiing programme for 50 science teachers Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-west, Buterials to disadvantaged kids in rural schools. papa, is also actively involved in the politics of in government secondary schools in rutu Local Council as well Edo and Ondo states. Encourage and support the education and the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party. the councils. empowerment of kids/children in rural com- The hospital currently has 40 medical staff

BEBENIMIBO: Struggle Is A Paradigm Shift

Tompolo Foundation And Its Vision For Niger Delta

Sunday, May 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPECIAL REPORT

ONYEMA: Amnesty Not An End In Itself, But So Far So Good Allen Onyema is the national chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN). In this interview with OBIRE ONAKEMU he reviews the amnesty programme that has brought substantial peace to the Niger Delta. How certain are you that peace has really come to the Niger Delta? HE ex-militants who are freedom fighters headed the clarion call of the nation give up arms and embrace peace; I respect them and give them kudos for allowing peace to reign. I do not believe that they are hibernating; I believe that they have totally given peace a chance the way the amnesty programme have been managed so far and that also brought succor to the land. And they have given peace a chance; they don’t want problems; they have gone through the non-violent training, which our organisation undertook on behalf of the country. Are you impressed with what ex-militants are doing today? Of course, I am impressed! Recently, we let them out to teach non-violence in schools in the Niger Delta. We called it “the message to school programme.” This is a programme sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Programme, whereby ex-militants go out on their own into the communities and some go to schools to teach others non-violence, thus making it impossible for other people coming after them to be recruited into violent endeavour. So, they have really impacted! The other day, some of our boys who are ex-militants trained in South Africa rescued some ships in the sea; the divers rescued ships which had been there under the bed of the sea. They have been doing a lot! Some of them are flying planes, while others are contributing to community peace vocation. In fact, these boys are very useful in one way or the other, and their leaders are more than useful. For instance, somebody like General Shoot At Sight built skills acquisition centre in Arogbo. High Chief Government Tompolo is doing his own thing, living a normal life and empowering people too; while General Boyloaf is empowering others legitimately and doing his own business; Farah Dagogo is out there doing the same thing and empowering people who are coming behind and thus discouraging their followers from going into violence again. These ex-militant leaders have done so well. People like Chief Tom Ateke, the godfather himself are out there, making sure that his boys do not deviate or play out of line. He has been making sure that their behaviour is of standard. And somebody like Alhaji Asari Dokubo, in fact, right from prison he even told me to go on with our programmes and transform his commanders. Forget what he has been saying recently, that is a fall-out from what others said elsewhere. Yes, but I know all these people are all after peace, nothing but peace! How would you rate this administration’s handling of the entire security infrastructure in the Niger Delta? True, amnesty in itself is not the solution to the yearning and aspirations of the Niger Delta people. There is still a lot to be done. Amnesty is just one out of the programmes that are supposed to be used to address years of neglect in that region. Amnesty is not the whole solution to the Niger Delta problem; it’s just part of the solution. I’m not from the Niger Delta Region, but looking at it from every calculated sides and angles, they deserve more. And the people of the Niger Delta region are very accommodating. I’m sure if this oil were to be found in other places other than the Niger Delta region, may be we might be singing a different tune today. So, I think the best should be given to them; I’m not from there but they have done their best to accommodate the entire country. One thing is certain, substantial progress has been made in the region; I mean substantial growth has been recorded in the region. Before now, many strange things were happening in the Niger Delta, before the amnesty programme; a lot of companies, including oil companies were closing down; expatriates were running back to their countries and people were relocating from that region. The economic opportunities in the Niger

Delta region took a new turn since the amnesty programme, which was first handled by Chief Timi Alaibe, then of course, Hon. Kingsley Kuku who has taken it to another height entirely. And there has been some relative assurance and the economic activities have started soaring high. There is hope – more hope for improvement. What advice do you have for the ex-militants? They should keep their heads up and continue doing the right thing and never to go back to their old ways. The only message to Mr. President is to persevere and continue to do that which is good and to regard the entire nation as his own constituency, which I think he has done so well. And at the same time, to look into the issues of youths who are the future of this country. He should look at that critically! The government should address the concerns of youths; he should look at it and address it critically and positively. If only one should look at what is happening in the Northern parts of the country, you would concur with me that some of these socalled Boko Haram elements are not Nigerians. The borders are porous! And in combating terrorism, you need global effort; it should not be left for one person or one country alone. I want this country to be one; I want this nation to remain Nigeria and be Nigeria as it is. We have potentials; we have opportunities and the resources are there. We have the potential for greatness. All we need to do is to come together and do those things that would encourage and promote unity at all times. Onyema

EBIKABOWEI: New Role Is Opportunity To Contribute My Quota Ebikabowei Victor Ben, popularly known as General Boyloaf, was profiled as having the most organised militant camp during the Niger Delta crisis that culminated in the declaration of amnesty by the late President Musa Yar’Adua’s government. One of his exploits was the bombing of Shell’s Bonga Oil field. From being the Lord of the creeks, he is now chairman of Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development. He tells OBIRE ONAKEMU all about his new calling and many more. What are you doing now after life in the creeks? WAS recently appointed chairman of Centre for Youth Development in my home state, Bayelsa. My main preoccupation now is to midwife the takeoff of the Centre. Before I went into the creeks, I was involved in marine business, that’s my core area of business interests, which I am still into. The appointment came to me as a surprise and the offer depicts the kind of person Governor Seriake Dickson is. The governor has a large heart. He is magnanimous and in a hurry to develop the state. So, he wants everybody to join him in the development process. Instead of standing aloof and criticising everything that government has done, he has invited Bayelsans and non Bayelsans alike, to join him in developing the Ijaw heartland. The appointment is an honour to me. It is also an opportunity for me to contribute my own quota to the development of the state. If by the result of our work at the CYD, the governor’s political interests, popularity and acceptability are enhanced, I have no qualms and no apologies about that. After all, he is the appointing authority and all accolades are due to him! What will you be doing at the centre? Harnessing youths for sustainable development. Grooming them to unleash their potentials for meaningful development is not an easy task. That’s exactly what we will be doing at the centre for youth development. We are evolving a strategy on how to engage all segments of our youths. It is our hope that there will not be one idle youth in Bayelsa; every one of our youths will have something to do, to contribute to society. We are also evolving a strategy to capture all our youths that may have dropped out of the school system for one reason or another or those who were impregnated and could not complete their education. The CYD has a package for all such youths! So, it is going to be holistic and my background as a leader puts me in a vantage position to understand the challenges our youths are facing. It equally gives me the

temperament to understand them, without being judgmental and encourage them to pick up the bits and pieces of their life and give life another shot. The CYD will create a rebounding platform for this young men and women, and by it their lives shall have significant and positive impact on the society. Has the demand and aspiration of Niger Delta people been met with peace in the region? What you must understand is that if human demands are insatiable and human aspiration are limitless, then what do you expect of the demands and aspirations of a whole nation of Niger Delta People? Of course, our wants and aspirations are bound to be insatiable and limitless. Most Nigerians and foreigners alike think that with amnesty programme and a son of the Niger Delta becoming president, all the problems associated with the region are solved, but that is not the truth. The problems are still there and have been compounded by the fact that our brother is the president; our hands are tied and our voices sealed because we don’t want to give politicians fuel to derail the federal government. The issues that took us to the creeks are still there; the environment is still in a state of abject degradation; the East-West road, if not for recent efforts has been in a comatose state; the coastal road is a forgotten issue; oil spill here and there. We did not bargain for the presidency as a demand of the Niger Delta struggle; it was a Greek gift given to the Niger Delta to pacify us so that the exploitation of our people and resources will continue unabated. Though we accepted it

Tom Ateke

because as a people we are qualified for the Presidency by virtue of our being part of the Nigerian commonwealth and also because we have a qualified person to take up the office. So, to that extent while it is a fact that the amnesty programme has given impetus for rebound of the oil and gas economy and put more money into the Federal purse and brought about fiscal stability; it has not addressed the core demands of the Niger Delta people. Our irreducible minimum of expectations has not been met. There is a kind of misconception about the amnesty programme! It is not for every ethnic group in the Niger Delta to say it is not included or is being marginalised! It is for those youths that engaged in the armed struggle. I personally do not like or subscribe to tribal division within the Niger Delta; but I can tell you that those youths, Urhobo, Itesekiri, Kwale, Isoko, Edo, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Idoma, Igala, Nupe and others of various ethnic groups that one way or the other participated in the Niger Delta struggle and accepted the amnesty programme are the intended and genuine beneficiaries. Not even all Ijaw youths are beneficiaries of the amnesty programme because not all the youths participated. Amnesty is for ex- agitators who sacrificed their time and comfort for the greatness of the region; it is not based on ethnic quota. I want to appeal to all Nigerians to embrace peace and work for peace in all they do and say. As Nigerians, we can only make progress in an atmosphere of peace, though we have negative peace; with our resolve we can achieve positive peace.

Ebikabowei (Boyloaf)

Sunday, May 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPECIAL REPORT General Reuben Wilson is the president, Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI). In this interview with OBIRE ONAKEMU, he reveals that as president of all the repentant former generals in the creeks, he has sold himself to the campaign for peace and development of this country for the birth of a New Nigeria. Tell us about life outside the creeks HAVE sold myself to the campaign for peace and development of this country. I have sold myself to the campaign of the birth of a New Nigeria. That was why we formed the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative – a body of all the repentant former ‘Generals’ in the creeks. We fought with guns for development. Now, we are fighting with our mouth for the peace of the land, since the needed development is now with us. I also do business and my business is good enough to feed my family. What do I need in life? God has blessed me with children and as long as I can feed them and pay their fees, what am I looking for again? What are we struggling for? That is why I am spending a greater percentage of my time propagating the gospel of peace in the land. I am committed to it. I am president of the forum of ‘Ex-Generals’. Through the forum, we are preaching to the younger generation that they should avoid all forms of criminality and become useful to themselves and the society. As I achieve this, I am a very happy and fulfilled man. What job will be better than this? The Bible says, ‘blessed are the peacemakers’, so, I am a blessed man. What is LPCDI all about? The leaders of the ex-freedom fighters decided to come together as one for a single goal — peace in the Niger Delta. It cuts across all the states in the region. We have established this office to help the government to uphold the peace in the region and to curb other form of vices. We hold our leaders meeting every month end and there we discuss only issues of peace. The office also works hand in hand with the amnesty office to assist in resolving conflict issues that may arise between camps or between leaders and their boys. We also have coordinators across the nine Niger Delta states. What impacts and achievements have LPCDI recorded since inception? We worked hand in hand with the late security adviser Gen Azazi when we went as a delegate to Gen. Latos camp and were able to persuade him to surrender arms. On social impact, we have, through the assistance of PPMC under NNPC, distributed numerous cylinders to rural communities in the region. This was as a result of several complaints of fire outbreak due to usage of bad kerosene in the communities. I will also like to mention the immense and fatherly contribution of Senator Paulker towards the actualisation of this event. We have made several visits to the motherless babies homes and also a number of other charitable events. We have also mapped out a programme of event for this year that we will unfold as time goes on. Peace is indeed here to stay. Is the Niger Delta region experiencing development now? I will simply say work is in progress. The Niger Delta is getting better by the day. The East-West Road is not the same way it was some years back. Things have improved tremendously! There is relative peace and calm in the region at the moment. The only problem is with oil theft and it is due to this that we are still asking the President to give us the mandate to work with the security agencies to tackle this problem. We have been in the creek and know the modus operandi of those involved in this act. And hence we are better equipped to bring this oil theft to a stop if we are assigned the surveillance job, which we have been asking for. Let us also note that the award of this contact will also provide job opportunities for idle youths in the region. The Federal Government should not forget the promises made to those of us who were in the creeks; we decided to drop our guns because we knew that peace is paramount. We cannot go back to the creeks. We are always willing to join hands with the government to build a peaceful and united Nigeria. Let us work together and realise that we are one country, brothers and sisters, even though we may be speaking different languages. This is what makes us thick!

WILSON: Niger Delta Is Work In Progress

Wilson

MUTURU: Amnesty Programme Is Improvement On What We Had Before Kingsley Muturu is chairman of Delta State chapter of Phase Two Amnesty Programme. In this chat with OBIRE ONAKEMU, he speaks on life outside the creeks, his new pastime and other sundry issues. What are you doing now after so many years in the creeks? ell, first of all, I give thanks to God Almighty, whom, through the presidential pardon, has brought us into life, at full. The creeks are no place we the Niger Deltans can write home about as oil producing communities. Presently, we are still waiting for Federal Government to empower us. The leaders and the boys are still depending on government. However, through the help of Kingsley Kuku, special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Amnesty Matters, we are coping. What ways are you impacting on the society? I have impacted on my community in so many ways, I don’t know of others. In my community, during the 2012 flood disaster, I went with relief materials to assist affected people on my own. I’m also promoting life and encouraging education in my capacity, trying to see that the old men and women in the community partake in the amnesty programme. I also give scholarships to both the young and old in my community.

Asari’s school

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30 Sunday, May 4, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Business

Okonjo-Iweala

How ‘Underground Economy’ Fuels Unofficial Growth By Marcel Mbamalu

•Nigeria Needs To Rebase GDP Every 2 Years ‘underground

Nigeria’s ever-growing economy’ and emergence of new services sectors make real case for rebasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); but there are challenges. HE argument that the new size of Nigeria’s T economy (based on recent Gross Domestic Product rebasing) is deceptive has remained very controvertible given its very robust underground economy the account of which government has no clue due mainly to the ‘culture’ of poor statistics and information gathering and management. Last weekend, Mr. Robert Ade-Odiachi, the chairman of SIAO, a professional services firm, told The Guardian, in an exclusive chat, that the recent rebasing did not really capture the true size of Nigeria’s economy. He anchored his argument on the size of the ‘underground’ economy, which statistics will always fail to capture. “It (economic activities not captured in official figures) is inefficient, but that’s what is driving the economy,” he said. “Can you put together the size of imports to Nigeria and project the economy based on importation? There is a huge GDP not being captured. I, therefore, think that Nigeria still needs to do two tiers of rebasing to get the true size of this economy.” According to Odiachi, government needs to rebase every other year, if it were to capture the true size of the economy that is growing in leaps and bounds outside of the official circles. He explained that as more and more people are captured in the system, “we will realise the true size of this economy.” Odiachi emphasised the need for good governance, saying that the majority of the population suffer, not due to lack of resources but because the nation is in dire need of an elevated form of governance to accentuate “the efficiency embedded in Nigeria’s economy.” Buttressing his argument, he wondered why, for instance, government has failed to harness economic activities at the informal level with a view to achieving economies of scale. “There is no need for four generators in four flats, for example, when one big generator could serve all the flats. We are duplicating efforts, instead of being efficient and deploying more efforts,” Odiachi declared. The SIAO chair observed that Nigerians are

not really poor, except that the system has been inefficient for many years. “Everybody is doing the same thing. Nigerians will all get by and government doesn’t know how. We don’t complain because there is always a way. Misinformation about this economy kept Vodafone of Nigeria; they wondered how the people (Nigerians) living below $2 a day could afford mobile phones. MTN didn’t believe in the statistics. Certainly, there is nobody living on less than $2 a day.” According to Odiachi, “Now that we are told the size of the country’s economy, I hope tax people should expand the dragnet to reflect that size. You will see the kind of money that will be available for infrastructure. We can’t be that size and state governments are running to Abuja for allocations.” South Africa-based tourism expert, Mr. Azu Oparaugo, said rebasing GDP would attract more investments into the country, as investors will now have more confidence in the market. He, nevertheless, emphasized the need for the productive sector to be overhauled. But Oparaugo explained that the mathematical approach does not make the average Nigerian happier than his South African counterpart. According to him, the rebasing makes Nigerian economy bigger on paper but not healthier, even though it has been growing in recent years. THE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), few weeks ago, changed the base year for calculating the GDP, from 1990 to 2010, to reflect the real size of current output. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the creative industry, including the Nollywood, according to the Bureau, had to be factored in so as to present a more realistic picture of the economy. Of course, that action, which in the most controversial manner positions the economy as Africa’s largest (beating South Africa to it), is already eliciting reactions — positive and negative. The new arithmetic, no doubt, boosted the GDP (market value of the total output in goods and services) so much so that, measuring by that standard, the economy is now enlarged as much as 60 percent, making it larger than that of South Africa, which held the number one position for so many years.

Although Nigeria’s GDP merely needed to move up by a quarter (from the International Monetary Fund’s 2013 estimate of $292 billion to $365 billion) to overtake South Africa’s at $353 billion, the rebasing, which had been in the works for two years, catapulted it to a little above $500 billion. Rebasing is normal: Reliable GDP figures enable policy makers and analysts obtain a more accurate set of economic statistics that is a truer reflection of current realities, for evidence-based decision-making. Many analysts, including government officials, therefore argue rightly that the recent rebasing of Nigeria’s economy was long overdue, necessary, credible and beneficial to the country. Specifically, the office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister for Finance would emphasise that GDP rebasing “is an internationally recognised indicator for measuring the size of an economy in a given period of time. GDP rebasing is a normal statistical procedure undertaken by the national statistical offices of countries to ensure that national accounts statistics present the most accurate reflection of the economy as possible,” a statement from Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala’s office stressed. Rebasing of the national account series (which includes the GDP) is the process of replacing an old base year with a new and more recent base year. The base year provides the reference point to which future values of the GDP are compared. Therefore, if Nigeria’s last GDP re-basing was anchored on 1990 prices, what it means is that the data being used to make policy, up until few weeks ago, was 24 years old (a man, or woman, born 24 years ago, would have been quite ready to have kids and will definitely not be the same infant he or she was). Yet, Nigeria, experts say, will continue to trail South Africa in basic infrastructure growth — power and roads — required to lift its over 170 million population out of absolute poverty. So Much Fuss About Rebasing? NTIL the Federal Government succeeded in this rebasing exercise, reports were rife that the NBS was making a quiet leap into wanton sophistry, as those conversant with the process, including Akpan Ekpo of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) and financial analyst,

Bismarck Rewane, once raised the red flag. The argument, as always, is that nominal GDP (‘current dollar GDP’), until adjusted for inflation, will remain deceptive. On the other hand, the real GDP is often adjusted for inflation to provide a relatively truer picture of purchasing power. Former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Okechukwu Unegbu, may have alluded to this, when he reacted to the rebasing story in an exclusive telephone interview. He described Nigeria’s newfound economic size as being relevant only in figures, especially as the standard of living of South Africans is higher than that of Nigerians. Unegbu explained that an average South African could go to the car shop and pull out a mortgage, a privilege Nigerians glaringly lack. The lawyer-turned politician, therefore, emphasised the need to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on oil. According to the former banker, government should reconsider important indices of GDP rebasing, including foreign exchange, consumer price index, retail price index and wholesale price index. International business partners deal with countries based on their real GDP, which derives strength from a particular base year considered realistic enough to even out attendant oddities in inflation, governance and other issues. Until the recent rebasing, Nigeria calculated its GDP using 1990 prices. This base year (1990) is what has been increased to 2010, meaning that the GDP is now value of goods and services produced in Nigeria in a given year is henceforth being calculating using 2010 market prices. But the implication, many would argue, is that the country’s GDP may continue to appear higher than what really is on ground. Although this (bloated GDP numbers) could provide the temporary political mileage for government, it could as well amount to slipping into high-heel shoes just to appear tall. As at 2012, Nigeria’s nominal GDP hovered around $274 billion, with its real GDP estimated to decline by five or seven percent in 2013. Now that the NBS has had its way by moving from 1990 prices to those of 2010 in measuring the GDP, nominal GDP has moved to some $509 billion.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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BUSINESS

UZODIKE: We Partner SON To Combat Counterfeiters • ‘How Cutix N1bn Power Cable Plant Was Built’ President of the Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CAMAN) and Chief Executive Officer of Cutix Plc, Engr Ifeanyi Uzodike, in this interview with IKECHUKWU ONYEWUCHI, speaks on the new power cable plant as well as the challenges facing the industry. You recently set up a new power cable plant, how would you describe the cost and challenges? HE project cost about a billion naira. The challenges were much, and it would have been easier if we could make the equipments in Nigeria. We don’t have the infrastructures yet, which makes the point that we need to develop our steel industry; we need to develop our technical manpower also. The other challenge is the fact that there is no power and we have to depend on our power to carry out the installations. If you get to the factory you will see we are running on a 1KVA generator at the new plant and another 1KVA at the old site. There is unstable public power; we have to burn diesel and also buy new power generating sets. We have bought new generators and would be delivered soon. All these involve money we could have pumped into other productive areas, but because of lack of public power, we have to generate independently. What is the present capacity of the factory? Well, today, we do more than 75 tonnes of copper a month. Copper is the major raw material we use in this industry, and we still have limitation in the drawing area. But with the new plant, we can do five times that figure if we start running in full capacity. Do you source this copper in the Nigeria or outside? No, Nigeria doesn’t have copper; we get them outside the country through suppliers. We get them mostly from Spain, and occasionally, France. We used to get from South Africa, but at some point it became difficult to do that. Although, copper is the major raw material, but there are other raw materials such as aluminum that are used in the production process, which interestingly, can be sourced from Ghana. We are beginning to explore the possibility of buying from Ghana, but right now, we are buying through Dubai. There are many other raw materials, which are all basically imported in this country. But we do have deposits of some of these materials in the country? We have calcium-carbonate in the country, but the one we have here does not have the cable grade we require. It would probably have to go through processing before we can use it. Since the factory is set up in Nnewi, what are the employment prospects for the locals? This is the first manufacturing company set up in Nnewi. At the point when the founder wanted to do that over 25 years ago, many people thought he was crazy because Nnewi was not as developed as it is now. But after he set up the plant about 2km away from its present location with support from a few friends and family, the novelty that was the idea came to limelight. Wealthy people in the area who had the wherewithal didn’t really support him at the time. He grew in leaps and bounds after going public and has been a source of employment to the people in the immediate community. The company boosts of a 100 percent indigenous Nigerian staff and it is a source of motivation for people in the community. Some of these people have gone ahead to establish companies of their own after leaving the company. Is there any correlation between the current expansion of Cutix Plc and the unbundling of PHCN? Is this in any way strategic for your business? No, not exactly; the unbundling has nothing to do with this. Government was acting in the interest of Nigerians and we are simply doing business. If anything, it is that the private owners in the new deal should patronize local manufacturers. With this I mean that what local manufacturers can produce should not be source outside the country. The needed international specification is available in the country, and when, for instance, there is need to buy products that are not produced in the country, local manufacturers should be empowered through legislation to be sole importers of the products. When this is done, in subsequent years, say about five years, local manufacturers would have the expertise to produce the products locally. This would in the long run, build human

Uzodike capital and create employment. What are the major challenges facing cable manufacturers in Nigeria? Challenges have come majorly from criminally minded Nigerians in the persons of dubious businessmen and corrupt customs officials. Other causes for concern are influx of substandard and counterfeit cables. Actually, some businessmen who want to cut corners would go to China and ask them to produce cables to specifications that are below international standards, with the hope of making more profit. When these goods get into the country through the ports, customs officials at the ports turn a blindeye, take bribes and allow the goods entry. This is bad for our business. To eliminate this trend, strong legislation should be put in place to punish and jail these corrupt individuals. With such strong laws, it is hoped that the incident of imported substandard cables will reduce drastically. For instance, when substandard goods are discovered to have made entry into the country, effort should be made to fish out the custom official, who cleared the particular consignment. After they have been apprehended, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should be empowered to prosecute them and if necessary jail them. Also, for the importers, their licenses should be revoked, and other strong measures meted out to dissuade future occurrence. What is the situation with the company in the area of taxation, especially as you are a local, indigenous company; what is your assessment of the extant tax policy? Taxes are good; it is just that Nigerians are discouraged to pay taxes because they feel government is irresponsible. But in the actual sense, it must be said that people do not pay property tax in Nigeria. Although the case is different with places like Lagos, the case here is quite unique because people have this sense of entitlement to their properties. That being said, we pay our corporate taxes as we have trusted tax consultants who prepare our tax books. We are also faithful with compliance with the policy of the Federal Inland revenue Service (FIRS). So, would you say that there is incidence of you being unjustly taxed? No, and for the records, we are not overtaxed here. We also understand that taxes are part of operating a business. Being its President, what would you say is the situation with the Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CAMAN)? We have been very active as an association and have been working hard to make sure that counterfeit and substandard cables are a thing of the past. In fact, to encourage enforcement, we have

been sponsoring raids by SON. The present Director General of SON, Ikem Odumodu, has also been very supportive of the fight, not just for cables but other goods and products. Also, we work with SON by providing it with patrol vehicles to go on raids in markets across the country. However, we still believe more work should be done in terms of legislation and policy framework. We are looking at going to the national assembly to seek for more decisive measures as laws that would help in the battle against counterfeit and substandard cables. Another challenge we are beginning to face now is the new import duty by customs. As we know, all raw materials carry five percent duty by customs, but what customs officials do now is to double the duty arbitrarily with no justifications. In effect, we are paying 10 percent duty. We are in the process of writing to the Comptroller of Customs for a meeting because we think it is wrong. A lot of times, some of us are forced to pay the high duty because we need to clear our goods, so that we can produce. What baffles us is that sometimes, when raids are carried out and people are caught, these people are seen on the streets and markets again in a short time. So, the legislation should be strengthened. And this happens across board? It is happening to a lot of cable companies. I can’t speak for other industries. But my members are complaining. Cable manufacturing is one of the trends leading the way in an effort to make Nigeria a productive country as opposed to just consuming products from other countries. In this light, has there been any government incentive to support the industry? There has not been any special incentive from the government and it is a shame because the cable industry is acknowledged to have locally made products being better than those made outside. Nigerian products are better than foreign made products. That particular statement is being repeated time and time again; what is really in Nigerianmade cables that make them stand out among their foreign peers in the market? It is in terms of quality, mostly. There is no foreign cable that comes into Nigeria that meets appropriate standards like those made in Nigeria. Even when the cables are brought into the country by government contractors to be used in government projects, they don’t meet the standards. It is just that nobody cares to check because it is a government project. How will you access the patronage of local cables by Nigerians? I think patronage for our products and those of other Nigerian cable manufacturers is good.

The only problem is that unsuspecting customers may go out at times and buy fake products after the traders must have told them that it is a genuine product whereas it is a counterfeit. The patronage of individual customers has been good too. Where we have another problem is in terms of government projects. In the past they have made it turnkey, where they award contracts to contractors to procure and build; then, the contractors import materials they need to use. It is not just that they import, they are given duty weavers to import materials that are made in Nigeria. So, we need place to emphasis on duty weavers. Recently, we have been talking about duty waivers in the press; it needs to be stopped to allow goods made in Nigeria to thrive. Has there been any effort made, say to the national assembly, so that these waivers will be stopped? We have not really done anything to stop duty weavers, but there have been complaints lodged to the appropriate quarters just as we did when we had the minister around. There have not been any direct efforts to push for waivers in anyway. You know doing this thing is not easy; it is costly and involves serious lobbying. However, our group is looking for a way to form a small lobby group that will be working with people at the national assembly. The most important thing for us now is to push for the passage of the Local Content Act for power sector at the national assembly because there is already one for the oil sector. You can have a multinational company working on a project and they will tell you they want to import what they will use in building. Therefore, they import doors, air-condition units and what have you, with duty weavers. This shouldn’t be allowed; it should strongly be discouraged. In 2013, a strong worded message went out from Cutix to the presidency, asking that Nigerians be encouraged to patronise local products. Any progress with that so far? I can’t blame the president really; much of the work has to do with the minister of industry and investment. The minister should empower SON and make them able to stop the importation of substandard products in the country. The ministry of finance, like I said earlier, must get rid of corrupt customs officials from the system. So the ministers have to sensitize the president. At times, I agree that it might take the association fighting hard, but like I said, lobbying is not easy; it could be expensive, depending on the individuals involved. Cutix Plc has maintained a profitable posture over the years as evidenced in the reports of gains made in the last financial year; how has the company been able to sustain this profile in the face of counterfeiting, substandard products and other bottlenecks? We have always done our best, we believe in fairness to all stakeholders. This means that we pay good salary to our staff and good dividends to the shareholders. We try to manage our company being conscious of all the stakeholders. We also pay duty and corporate taxes that are mandated by government. How has it been doing business and making profit in the East when it is well known that Lagos is the business hub in Nigeria? I agree with you; it has not been easy for us to break into the Lagos market because there is a general bias by the operators in the Lagos market. When I say operators, I mean contractors and consultants. They prefer the cables they know in Lagos. Maybe it is not entirely their fault because if you are here, you have to market yourself to be known. So, I think we require pushing extra hard for our products to make it into the Lagos market. We haven’t broken into that market yet, but we are working hard at it. Also on doing business from the east and having to transport materials from Lagos, what do you have to say on the state of Nigerian roads? The roads are bad, but I should also tell you one thing, Lagos to the east has improved gradually, especially under Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency. There have been considerable improvements. For me, it is the best I have seen since returning to the country in 1991. So when people say the roads are very bad, yes, there is poor infrastructure, but Lagos to Nnewi has improved. The only thing that we need to do to those roads is that we need to get out those touts that stay on the way; we need to remove them. I mean those people that stay on the road to collect radio, mobile and other ridiculous taxes. All government should have a way of collecting taxes. The touts are just criminals. A simple way should be, when any vehicle owner wants to renew his licenses, he should pay all these taxes. Advise to Nigerians and the governments? Nigerians should learn to buy made-in-Nigeria products. All levels of government should discourage importation of cables that can be made

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

32 Sunday, May 4, 2014

BUSINESS 2014 African Banker Awards: Nigerian Banks In Top Flight By Marcel Mbamalu IGERIA’S Guaranty Trust Bank (GTbank) N Morocco’s Attijariwafa Bank and South Africa’s Standard Bank are among the shortlisted finalists for this year’s African Banker magazine’s African Banker Awards. The shortlist reveals banks and financial institutions in the running for the top prizes available for the eighth edition of the competition. The final winners will be announced at the prestigious Awards ceremony and gala dinner on the May 21, 2014, in Kigali, Rwanda, during the African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings. Statement distributed, at the weekend, by the African Media Agency (AMA, noted that the Group Publisher of the African Banker magazine and head of the African Banker Awards Committee, Omar Ben Yedder, was particularly impressed by the entries in the Deal of the Year (“Equity” and “Debt”) categories stating: “It has been encouraging and fascinating to read the entries in the deal of the year categories, which are the most competitive of the lot. The transactions are encouraging because of their level of sophistication and also they highlight the amount of activity now taking place throughout the continent, some of

Unilever Unveils Two New Variances Of Vaseline By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku NILEVER Nigeria Plc , on Friday, launched U Vaseline variances, which according to the company, are engineered to nourish and moisturise the skin and keep it in the right balance.The new variances are Vaseline Total Moisture Cream/Lotion and Total Moisture Cocoa Glow. According to the Category Manager, Deodorant and Skin Care, Unilever Nigeria Plc, James Inglesby, the products are designed specially for African skin to deeply nourish and moisturize while also making the skin glow and remain in the right sensitivity. Speaking at the media launch of the products at the BNatural Spa, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, Inglesby noted that African skin needs more nourishment and care. According to him, “today, we have a solution that helps you keep right balance, right moisture and in the state that you want your skin to be.” He revealed that the company came out with the variances after series of research, adding that the stride comes as a result of the company’s aspiration to move along with the growth of the nation’s economy and also satisfy the needs of Nigerian consumers. He said that the product is not driven by benefit but is designed for the best outcome and in the interest of consumers. Inglesby disclosed that the product could penetrate the three layers of the skin, even as he stressed that the Cocoa Glow is designed to deeply nourish the skin while the lotion makes for faster absorption. Allaying fears over side effects, he said the products fall into maintenance category and as such, are recommended for daily use as it maintains the skin.

• As GTBank, First Bank Emerge Finalists which transformative, such as what we are seeing in the power sector. Another encouraging aspect is the fact that many of these deals are being financed and structured by local African banks in conjunction with global partners.” The African Banker Awards was one of the first events created exclusively for the sector to celebrate and recognise the individuals and financial institutions contributing to the rapid modernisation of Africa’s banking industry and to changed perceptions of the continent’s domestic and international markets. It remains the only competition event exclusively for the African banking community to be endorsed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the High Patron of the event and the leading sponsor. The AfDB, celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, will hold its Annual Meetings in Kigali, Rwanda from the 19th - 23rd May 2014. Commenting on the industry, Yedder added: “the banking and financial services industry continues to develop rapidly, even if we’d like it to work harder and see it participate more actively in the real economy. It continues to be one of the fastest growing industries and we are pleased to see new entrants coming into the space, something we hope will help to elevate the bar in terms of products and services. This can only work to better serve the interests of the African consumer.” The African Banker Awards is organised by African Banker magazine and BusinessinAfrica Events. A distinguished and independent panel of judges, known and respected for their expertise on the African banking and finance industry, will decide the final winners of shortlisted categories. As well as the AfDB the Awards are sponsored by East African Development Bank as Regional

Host, Emerging Markets Payments as Platinum Sponsor and MasterCard as Lead Sponsor. Other sponsors and supporters include Banque Centrale Populaire, BGFI Bank, GTBank, Development Bank of Rwanda, Bank of Kigali, Oracle Financial Services, Bank of Industry, Ecobank Nedbank Alliance, Travelex, CRDB Bank, Wavetec, Amethis Finance, FirstBank Nigeria, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, BFI, RSwitch, Rwanda Bankers’ Association and Rwanda Development Board. Shortlist: African Bank of the Year •Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco • BMCE, Morocco • GTBank, Nigeria • Nedbank, South Africa • Standard Bank, South Africa African Banker of the Year • Bisi Onasanya, Group MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria • Bola Adesola, MD/CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa • Dr. Charles Kimei, CRDB Bank, Tanzania • Joao Figueiredo, Banco Unico, Mozambique • Pedro Pinto Coelho, CEO, Standard Bank, Angola • Segun Agbaje, MD/ CEO, Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria • Vivienne Yeda, Director General, East African Development Bank, Uganda Investment Bank of the Year • EFG Hermes, Egypt • Citi Group, South Africa • FBN Capital, Nigeria • Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa •Vetiva, Nigeria

Award for Innovation in Banking • Banco Unico, Mozambique • Banque Centrale Populaire, Morocco • Citi, USA • FirstBank, Nigeria • Nedbank, South Africa Socially Responsible Bank of the Year • Barclays Africa Group, South Africa • Fidelity Bank, Nigeria • GTBank, Nigeria • Investec Asset Management, South Africa • Nedbank, South Africa Award for Financial Inclusion • ACSI, Ethiopia • Barclays, Uganda • Diamond Bank, Nigeria • MasterCard, UAE • Trust Merchant Bank, DR Congo Deal of the Year - Equity • “Fidelity Bank”, Amethis Finance, France • “OCI N.V’s US$ 10.5bn acquisition offer”, Barclays Bank, Egypt •”Atlas Mara Co-Nvest - US$325m IPO”, Citigroup Global Markets, UK • “AECI sale of property assets to Shanghai Zendai”, Standard Bank, South Africa • “Oando Plc $341 million rights issue on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and JSE Limited,” Vetiva, Nigeria Deal of the Year - Debt •”Republic of South Africa - US$2billion 5.875% Eurobond due 2025”, Standard Bank and RMB, UK • “Roll-out of Africa’s largest petroleum oil refinery and petrochemical/fertilizer plant by Dangote Group”, Standard Chartered Bank, UK

Mr. Thierry Chamayou, VP, IT Business, Middle East & Africa (middle) Schneider Electric, presenting the Elite Partner Award certificate to Engineer Emmanuel Nwaoshai, CEO, Power Systems Ltd (2nd right), at a short ceremony held at the Moore House, Ikoyi, Lagos. With them are Josiah Mogbonjuola, Enterprise & Solutions Sales Manager, English West Africa, Schneider Electric (left), Ayo Adegboye, VP, IT Busness, Schneider Electric, West Africa, and Mr. Sunny Agu, Marketing Manager, Power Systems Limited.

How Underground Economy Fuels Unofficial Growth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 Let’s Go a Borrowing… ERHAPS, more curious is the fact that a new window of borrowing may have been opened for the country. Applying the maximum budget deficit to GDP ratio of 10 percent, the upper borrowing limit for government will increase. And the mathematics is simple: Ten (10) percent of $500billion, for example, is $50 billion. Nigeria is, indeed, under-borrowed, as the World Bank/International Monetary Fund and some government officials would say. However, while borrowing, especially for infrastructure and human capital development, is not bad in itself, there is danger in being politically correct with (vain) jawbreaking numbers, when unemployment and poor access to credit bedevil the people. It is hoped that this isn’t the case!

A Mixed Bag of Opinions On New Size Of Economy NALYSTS often express the view that, although Nigeria — with its new GDP status that has moved its economy from low to middle income — will still meet the ECOWAS convergence criteria, bloating its real income artificially would asphyxiate foreign aid which it enjoyed as a low-income Africa giant. Yet, there is popular understanding that the country does not need to depend on crumbs (foreign aid) from the table of multilateral donor agencies and developed countries, including the United States and China. Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, warned Nigerians not to be overly excited at the prospects of becoming the biggest economy, even though investors might find it relevant in making investment decisions. The fact that the World Bank described the country as one of the poorest in the world, he said, should give the leadership a cause for concern. Yet, President Goodluck Jonathan, at

the weekend, faulted the World Bank report which placed Nigeria among the five poorest countries in the world, saying “the nation is not poor.’’ The President, while addressing workers at the May Day rally held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, noted that “the challenge of the country is not poverty, but redistribution of wealth.’’ The realities on ground, according to Jonathan, do not portray the country as a poor nation, but one with abundant wealth. Prof Utomi told The Guardian that South Africa would remain the most competitive economy, even as Mauritius and Uganda remain well ahead of Nigeria. He explained that it would be difficult to understand Nigeria’s economic size in the absence of relevant impact on citizens. Meanwhile, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the GDP “rebasing debate” as an “orchestrated distraction and public relations gimmick.”

Its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued in Washington, said the rebased came on the heels of ‘damning World Bank report which declared Nigeria as one of the countries harbouring the largest population of poor people in the world,’ and alleged that the ‘rebasing noise’ is government’s response to the classification. Henry Boyo, an economist, was quoted as saying that the World Bank’s revelation that Nigeria is among the poorest countries in the world would be the most valid indication of its economy; a worrisome classification, he said. For Bismarck Rewane, another financial analyst, if rebasing will not increase the money in the pockets of Nigerians, give jobs to millions of unemployed citizens and reduce the rate of inflation, it would amount to nothing and, therefore, should not be celebrated.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 4, 2014 33

BUSINESS

FG Warned on Danger of Non-digitalisation From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja HE Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts T Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) has warned the Federal Government on the danger of not digitalising the broadcast industry by 2015. National President of the association, Yemisi Bamgbose, said Nigeria, beyond 2015, may face legal action at the international court should its analogue broadcast system interfere with other countries wave length as a result of non-digitalisation. Bamgbose explained that failure to digitalise Nigeria’s

broadcast industry at the stipulated time would result in closure of all of its stations along the international border because its analogue signal must not infringe on the digital signal of other countries. “If, for instance, the NTA station in Minna should infringe on the signal of another station in Chad, Niger or Republic of Benin that has border with Niger state, then the base station of the NTA station would have to be closed down. This is part of the negative consequences of retaining an analogue system,” the RATTAWU president said. “If Nigeria is not ready to go digital, the government should let

the whole world know they are not ready, after all, the date was shifted from 2012 to 2015. And, from all indications, based on the information at our disposal, the country is not ready yet.” Bambgose lamented the poor funding of the digitalization process adding that stakeholders in the broadcast industry had, on several occasions, called the attention of the government to the consequences of poor funding of the project which may result into denial of almost 70 percent of the Nigerian population access to Television signal from June 2015. He said the union might be compelled to go on a one-day warning strike on Friday, May 9, if

government continues to ignore its demand for amendment of the section of the 1999 constitution that empowers local governments to collect Radio and Television license fee, as opposed to what operates in other countries. “Stakeholders have made several representations to the National Assembly on the need to amend the constitution in favour of the media; information at our disposal shows that this section has not caught the attention of the law makers. The union will on Friday, May 9, 2014, embark on a one-day warning strike as a prelude to indefinite action to call government’s attention to this issue.”

Why Government Should Restructure Power Sector’ From Emeka Anuforo HE rising challenges in the T power sector have continued to draw the ire of major stakeholders in the energy sector. Former Head of Exploration Research, Research and Development Division at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Prof Charles ofoegbu, who spoke in an interview yesterday, wondered why government went ahead with the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies without a clear-cut and implementable gas to power a r r a n g e m e n t . The former Director-General / Chief Executive officer of Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, did not have very kind words for implementers of the privatization programme, stressing that the officials actually ‘put the cart before the horse’. on the troubling problem of poor gas supply, ofoegbu opined that government should reconsider its gas export arrangement with neighbouring countries and rather make the availability of gas for domestic use paramount. While admitting that officials of the Ministry of Power were doing their best in the prevailing circumstances, he called on government to immediately restructure the sector to make it more proactive and responsive to the issues plaguing electricity supply. His words: “We cannot have power plants without fuel to power them and each time we shut them down, it takes a lot to bring them back. We also talk about the distribution and transmission network where a lot of power is wasted because the transformers are either leaking oil or the transmission network is archaic and these are part of the problem that people don’t talk a b o u t . “At the end of the day, the power sector, like other sectors of our economy, needs a

total overhaul because we have a minister that is so committed but I don’t know if he has all the support in terms of manpower commitment to s u c c e e d . ” He went on: “It is a big problem. The gas infrastructure in Nigeria is totally weak. It should have been well planned in terms of volume and circulation of the gas before we even talk of privatisation. These distribution companies are sick babies and you cannot take a sick baby and handover to someone to manage but every investor don’t like to throwaway m o n e y . ” Nigeria, he said, should stop dreaming of becoming a major economic power, unless it gets the power sector right. The professor of geophysics said: “The issue of power in Nigeria is a very serious one. No country that strives to be within the top 20 economies in the next 20-30 years will have the kind of power supply situation we have. The cost of production in this country far exceeds what you find in the developing countries, talk less of developing economies because all factories are running on generating sets and individually provided power. “one can safely say that at the moment, there is little or no power from the public grid to the manufacturing sector and this not only contribute to the cost of production but to damage to the environment which include pollution from waste oil, noises from generating sets, fumes all over residential areas and at the end of the day we have all these affecting the health of our children. “When the so called ‘I better pass my neighbour’, which are situated majorly within blocks of flats, take off and begin to run riots with their noises, you will understand what I mean and we are not even scared of the dangers in all of these things; fuel is carried about in kegs and stored in these blocks of flats with these generators put at the balconies.

Funmi Omotade, prospective student; Dr. Andrew Iwobi, College of Law, Swansea University; Vivian Odede, Regional Manager, Swansea University (Africa), and Igbeka Sandra Uzoamaka, prospective student at the Swansea University stand during the UKEAS fair, which ended in Lagos…on Thursday.

Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, General Manager Corporate Affairs, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, receives the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI) ‘Most Innovative and Impactful Company in the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector Award’ from the former President of the LCCI, Mr. Goodie Ibru, OON; on behalf of SEPLAT at the LCCI 2014 Award Nite in Lagos

Corporate Nigeria Set For Showdown oRPoRATE Nigeria is set C for a face-off in a few weeks, as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), in partnership with key publicly quoted companies, will be holding the first NSE Corporate Challenge. The one-day event, which is scheduled to take place in Lagos on Saturday, May 17, 2014, will be a highly competitive and fun-filled five- kilometre walk, run or

jog competition to promote and support Teamwork, Company Pride and Corporate Wellness. The competition is open to the broker dealer community and companies listed on the Nigerian bourse. The Head of Corporate Services Division at The NSE, Mr Bola Adeeko, in a statement issued over the weekend mentioned that the idea be-

hind the corporate challenge is for responsible organisations and their employees to take part in the initiative as a way of enhancing employeeemployer relations and boost goodwill by bringing all together for fun, fitness and fellowship. “The inaugural NSE Corporate Challenge is a professionally organised and volunteer-driven initiative

involving over 350 companies listed on the Exchange and support organisations from the capital market community. To achieve this aim, we are working in close partnership with public and private sector organisations such as the Lagos Island Central Business District, First Bank of Nigeria, Unilever, Unity Bank, Nestle Nigeria, Malta Guinness, First City

Monument Bank, Nigeria Info FM, BusinessDay and CNBC Africa to mention a few” said Adeeko “The Corporate Challenge is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Exchange, aimed at promoting the health & wellbeing of our operating community which will also present a platform for teamwork and networking. The initiative

will enhance the concept of volunteerism within participating companies” he added. Addressing the development, the CSR Lead at The NSE, Mrs. Cima Sholotan stated that proceeds from the competition will be donated to support the national drive aimed at providing Mobile Cancer Centres (MCCs) across Nigeria in partnership with the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

TheGuardian

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Sunday, May 4, 2014 34

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Junior Guardian Winners Emerge At Kids Talent Contest T was all excitement, as two Itwokids emerged winners in the categories of the maiden

Raliat Abudulsalam said the show was able to showcase the finest talents from the edition of Kids Talent Show multitude that turned up (KTS). Deborah Umoren and during the auditions. She Efecha Ekundayo were given noted that the winners one million naira in educawould also be taken through tional funds each for coming proper mentorship to help tops in the senior and junior them enhance their skills. categories respectively. “This is my commitment toSolomon Alli and David Akpo- wards building talents in jeshiri in the senior category Nigeria. It is high time peowere second and third place ple started to catch them winners. They were awarded young. We have always had N500, 000 and N300, 000 in established grownups, but education funds respectively, then you can never know while the junior category sec- what they will turn out to be ond and third place winners when you pick them young recorded Samuel David and and help them grow,” she Lotachi Elochi, who received said. the sum of N500, 000 and According to her, parents N300, 000 in educational are becoming more aware of funds. how far such shows can go in Deborah, who sang beautiexposing their children, and fully, was grateful to the Lord so they are willingly to make for making her stand out. The their wards part of them. SS2 student, who started The children, drawn from singing at the age of five in an different private and public adult choir said: “I don’t have schools in Lagos, displayed the most awesome voice, but talents ranging from singing God makes the difference. I to dancing, drumming, urge young children to follow drawing, reciting, acting and their dreams and they will be dancing. fulfilled.” — Ijeoma Opara The CEO of KTS and a co-judge,

Pastor Samuel Judah of Living Word Assembly Church, presents trophy to the Red House that emerged winner of the just concluded inter-house competition of Charismartin International Schools, Gbaga Estate, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos. PHOTO: O’SEUN OLANIYI

JOKE The Old Man

SOLUTIONS TO BRAIN TEASER (2) CREDIBLE DECLINE

DESTROY TERRIBLE

MESSENGER DIVORCE

CORRUPT ABANDON

An old man was once travelling in a bus. When the conductor was collecting fares, the old man could not find his wallet. He asked: “Who took my wallet?” He was ignored until he said that what happened in 1945 would repeat itself. Then, everyone was scared. So, the man that took the purse returned it to the old man. At the end of the journey, a girl approached the old man and said, “Sir, I am a history student. So, I would like to know what happened in 1945.” The old man giggled, as he replied, “Do you really want to know? I trekked.”

WORD POWER GAME Whirl a) rotation b) spin c) twirl d) turn Paucity a) scarcity b) rareness c) scantiness d) lack Verify a) confirm b) prove c) validate d) attest Contour a) outline b) relief c) curve d) delineation Wanton a) excessive b) cruel c) nasty d) malicious Lousy a) useless b) inferior c) useless d) awful Brace a) support b) prop c) lock d) stay Stash a) supply b) hide c) hoard d) pile

— Femi Jegede Kwali, Abuja

Ogba Babcock Holds Maiden Inter-House Sports ELLOW House emerged winY ner of the first inter-house sports competition of Babcock

Speaking at the event, the school Principal, Elder Gabriel Fasanu commended the organisers, winners and losers for makUniversity schools, Ogba, Lagos ing the competition a success. State, held at the school play He explained that the life of a ground recently. school is not complete without The four competing houses, which vied for honours were Yel- sporting activities. He noted that Seventh-day Adventist schools low, Blue, White and Green. On the scoreboard of the keenly such as Babcock University and others believe in holistic educacontested track and field events, Yellow House came first to clinch tion, which has to do with the edthe golden cup, while White and ucation of the head, hand and heart. According to him, a physiBlue Houses emerged second and third respectively to settle for cally and emotionally stable child will be alive to his/her studsilver and bronze trophies, leaving Green House to the rear seat. ies and do well in academic pur-

suit. The educationist stated that the event would also largely assist the school authority to discover the students’ God-given talents in the area of sports, as well as improve the students’ health. He urged sports administrators in Nigeria to pay attention to other sports in order to develop them, rather than concentrating on football alone. To him, hidden talents, which can take the country to greater heights, can be discovered if the neglected sports are given a boost. — Gbenga Akinfenwa

AR-Raheem Wins FIEF Academy Inter-House ITH 202 points, AR-Raheem House recently W emerged the overall winner of the 29 inter-house sports competition of FIEF Academy th

held at the Union Bank Sport Centre, Lagos recently. AL-Qayyum House clinched the second position with 195 points, while AL-Hayyu House and AR-Rahman House with 160 points and 133 points came third and fourth respectively. Abdulmajid Oderinlo and Oladimeji Sadiq were outstanding, as they won seven medals each though Oderinlo was better because she won four gold medals, while Sadiq was won two gold medals. In his welcome speech, the school proprietor, Sheik Mansur Williams thanked the parents for their contributions, which made the yearly sporting outings of the school, a success. He prayed that the event would not be the last for all. He urged the competing Houses and their members not to feel bad at the end of the interhouse sport in the event of losing, as everybody is a winner.

Besides athletics, other events featured included shot put and Scrabble. Aside the students’ sport activities and contest, there were also races for fathers, mothers and children, who are not pupils and students of the schools. Chairperson of the day, Alhaja Sidikat Yekeen said that sporting activities are part of exercise, which helps students mentally and physically when they engage in it and should be incorporated into the academic calendar. A parent, Alhaji Shaba Muhammed, who was witnessing the annual event for the first time, described the programme as exciting. He commended the school for keeping the tradition of organising a yearly inter-house sports. He implored other schools to emulate FIEF Academy because besides helping to keep the students mentally and physically fit, it is also an avenue to promote talents. - — —Gbenga Salau

COMPILED BY KIKELOLA OYEBOLA

Sheik Mansur Williams with the students during the jogging exercise

PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

Sunday, May 4, 2014 35

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SAINTHOOD: Who Makes A Saint? Last Sunday’s canonisation of two Roman Catholic Popes — John Paul 11 and John XXIII at the Vatican was a big ceremony that attracted over a million Catholics. John XXIII reigned from 1958 to 1963, while John Paul II, was pontiff from 1978 to 2005. It was particularly significant in the sense that the ceremony brought together a retired Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis 1 on the altar, which analysts say has never happened in the history of the church. The two late Popes were recognised as Saints for their contributions and exemplary lives. The pertinent questions to ask are: What is the place of God in the declaration of someone as a saint or has He no role in it? Who makes a saint? What qualifies an individual for sainthood? And who declared the Biblical saints? Some clerics, who spoke to CHRIS IREKAMBA, NKECHI ONYEDIKA and PAUL ADUNWOKE on the issue, expressed divergent views. ‘Church Proclaims An Individual A Saint’

(Rev. Fr. Ralph Madu Secretary General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN)) SAINT is somebody, who has lived a good and transparent life that people can see. He is a holy person and it is the Church that proclaims such person a Saint. The church has a unit that goes into the scrutiny of the individual’s life after he has been proposed for Sainthood. This undertakes to verify the claims being made by individuals desiring anyone to be canonised. Eventually, the person moves from being a servant of God to being ratified and then to canonisation. These processes are made realistic by some intervention from the candidate. For instance, people pray and ask the proposed candidate to intercede for them and the miracles that follow are used as signs such a person can really be proclaimed a Saint. The Canonisation process takes not less than five years, and that was why, when Pope John Paul II died, people were shouting, “Santo subito” meaning “Make him a Saint immediately.” But the Church in its wisdom does not depend on such popular sentiments. Therefore, the Church usually mandates that proposed candidates pass through the process of Sainthood. Saints are people, who by their lives are role models and good people. They can be clergy or lay people, poor or rich. It is not something that is reserved for any sect of people. In the case of Pope John Paul II and John XXIII, these are two Saints of our era. John XXIII began the Second Vatican Council, and it is what you see from the evangelism of John Paul II that is what Sainthood is generally all about. With regard to Nigeria’s Rev. Fr. Tansi, we are still waiting for a miracle and then the process can be concluded. He is already blessed and has been ratified. He needs to be canonised. A person qualifies himself by living a holy life. What the church simply does is proclamation, the announcement that the person is a saint, which is done after the investigation process by consulting some people to find out more about the person, testimonies and witnesses about the person’s good life and also, the aspect of a miracle. For instance, when a sick person is healed, such as in the case of the person cured by Pope John Paul II through God’s intervention. He was suffering from Parkinson disease. Interestingly, the Pope died of that disease, but that person was miraculously cured after days of praying for cure through the intervention of Blessed John Paul II. These are some of the criteria though that doesn’t mean that if someone is not proclaimed a saint, he may not be one. There are many saints that are not proclaimed by the church. Sainthood is a proclamation that somebody led a good life. It is not just for the benefit of the individual, but also for the benefit of those still alive, so that we may emulate these people and aspire to be like saints. Most saints are lay people, while some are also priests. It is a challenge to all of us to make efforts to be good people like the saints.

Madu

Taiwo

‘Man’s Spiritual Standing Can Only Be Declared By God’

(Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Michael Olusina Fape, Bishop of Remo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Sagamu, Ogun State) HERE are a few religious teachings that are denominationally biased, and may not be directly taken from the pages of the Bible. One of such is Sainthood or the making of a Saint. The Bible does not make a specific reference to where an individual is called a Saint or referred to as a Saint. Simply put, a Saint is a forgiven sinner and therefore, should not be understood in the sense of a sinless person. This is the person that has been blessed by God as shown in Psalm 32, “Blessed is he, whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psalms 32:1-2). From the above Bible passage, it is clear that only God can declare a forgiven sinner a Saint. Therefore, making an individual or a religious leader a Saint is not the exclusive preserve of a mortal man. God can only validate man’s authentic spiritual standing. It is a common thing today for Churches, especially in the Anglican tradition, to be named after Bible heroes of faith such as Paul, Peter, Andrew, James, Stephen, etc. These were men of faith, whose living faith was attested to in their generations. They even died for their faith in God and his Son, Jesus Christ. These Apostles or Martyrs re-

Fape

Okoro ceived their sainthood in the early Church, as a veneration, because of their lives of faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). Today, God is still making saints for our generation as long as Psalm 32:12 is a reality in any life. That is the sense in which the Anglican Church distinguishes between “Saints Triumphant” and “Saints Militant.” Saints Triumphant are those Apostles, Martyrs and other heroes of faith, who have died and now are at rest. Saints Militant are Christians in their earthly pilgrimage, who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, but are still fighting against sins, flesh and the world in their Christian journey. That is why the Anglican Church observes All Saints’ Day on November 1. The purpose of this day is to show the bond between those already with God and those remaining here on earth.

‘Saints In Bible Were Not Canonised By Any Church’

(Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, General Overseer Fresh Anointing Missionary Ministries Inc./Senior Pastor, Church of the Anointing, Warri, Delta State) E must begin from the premise that the Bible is the only infallible, authoritative, inspired, final and inerrant word of God. The Bible must be the source of all doctrine and practice of Christians. For those of us operating within this belief (which should be the norm for all), we thus eliminate all traditions that emanated from the Dark Ages and the corruption of modern day

Waive church practices. Our question must always be whether something is Biblical or not. The term Saint in the Bible refers to any believer, who is ‘in Christ’ and ‘in whom Christ dwells,’ whether in heaven or on earth. Thus, the act of becoming born again translates one from being a sinner to becoming a saint. Biblically, therefore, it is the Holy Spirit that does the work of regeneration through the finished work of Christ on Calvary that makes one a Saint. A Saint is always someone through whom we catch a glimpse of what God is like and of what we are called to be. That experience of being born again that transforms people into new creatures is what qualifies one to be a saint. The apostle Paul’s numerous usage of the term in the New Testament indicates that anyone, who is in the right relationship with Christ, is a saint. Of course, God Himself made them saints. Saints in the Bible were not canonised by any church or denominational body. In the Bible, there were no prayers to dead saints or requests for prayer assistance directed to departed saints. This practice came from the Dark Ages and emanated from paganism. It is similar to asking your ancestor to intercede with the gods on your behalf. Only a living child of God can pray for anyone, not the dead person.

‘People Name Individuals Saints’

(Prophet Kayode Taiwo, (a.k.a Agbaemi), Shepherd in-charge of Apata Aiyeraye Parish, Celestial Church of Christ, Osolo Way, Ajao Estate, Lagos) O be called a saint, the person must have lived an exemplary life of virtue and dedicated to God. If it is Christian line as it is now, you measure the person by various miracles he/she has performed when he/she was alive. There are also the aspects of the impact the person made on people’s life, the changes brought about on some set of people or the world at large. The person’s knowledge about Christendom, the Bible and the general life he/she lived are all taken into consideration. The person must have lived an unblemished life. With all these virtues, the person can be named a saint. I only heard and read of those who were the heads of a church and after their death, people delved into the lives they lived and discovered they deserved it, and so,

they were named saints. In the Bible, we read about those that followed Jesus Christ. Some of them were saints because of the way they lived. To become a saint is not an easy thing, because a person must work up to that level by living a different life than others. Someone cannot name him/herself a saint. Before some one becomes a saint, people review his/her life and decide to make him/her a saint. For example, take the case of St. Theresa and others. If you read their history, you see that they did some useful things to mankind, which cannot be wiped away and there is nothing bad written about them. Today, people pray in the name of some saints because they lived unblemished lives that impacted positively on mankind. Prophecies were made about a lot of saints in the Bible even before they were born. For instance, John the Baptist and others lived up to the prophecies and became saints. There were prophecies about their lives and how they would be useful to mankind. Those prophecies came to pass and they were named saints. After Jesus Christ died, the disciples came together to continue what He did and some of them excelled and became saints though not all the disciples were saints. So, it is someone’s virtue that makes him/her a saint.

‘God Makes Whosoever He Called A Saint’

(Pastor Elias Okoro, Overseer, Wind and Fire Christian Ministries, Lagos) GOD makes whosoever He called to Himself a saint. Psalm 106:16 says, “they envied Moses also in the camp and Aaron the saint of the LORD.” This is a proof that the LORD GOD made Aaron a saint. Also, 1 Corinthians 1:2 says, “Unto the Church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” We have the proof that the people God called in the New Testament through Jesus Christ are called saints. One’s consistent walk and obedience to Christ word is what qualifies him or her to be a saint and the proof that old things, that is, all kinds of unrighteousness and ungodly life are passed away by the grace of God and all things are become new. This new life of righteousness and Christ-like character without worldly attachment is what qualifies one to be a saint. (2 Cor. 5:17, John 17:14, 1 John 2:15-17). The father, the Son and the Holy Ghost made Bible believers saints. These three are united in making them saints. In Deuteronomy 33:3, the Bible says, “Yea, He loved the people; all His saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.” God’s people are called saints; they are those that have received His word and the power of the Holy Spirit; pricked and convinced to accept His word through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ (Acts 1:8, 2:3638). Also, the Bible says that the universal faithful and sanctified church of Jesus Christ are the saints of God (Eph. 1:1-2; Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints, which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace be on you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ).

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Sunday School Marriage (4) Memory Verse: For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” (1Corinthians 6:20). Deuteronomy 7:1-6; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. Introduction Last week we learnt that the choice of a life partner must be approached with prayer and all seriousness. Solomon was our case study. We will conclude our teaching today using Samson as another case study. Samson: Judges 14:1-3. Samson was one of the select few, whose birth was pre-announced and was anointed from the womb. Yet, he lived and died a tragic life because he mishandled the opposite sex and misunderstood the importance of marriage. • he went into a strange woman, vs.1.

... With Pastor Enoch Adeboye • he despised the counsel of God and of his parents, who spoke against being unequally yoked, vs.3. • he married Delilah because it pleased his flesh, vs. 7. • he could keep secrets from his parents but not from a woman. twice, he revealed his secrets to a strange woman (Jdgs. 14:16-17, 16:16 -21). • Delilah handed him over to her kinsmen. • his head was shaved (lost the anointing of God upon his life) on the laps of a strange woman, Judges 16: 17 -20. • he despised the anointing and lost it. • his light went out and total darkness came upon him because his eyes were plucked out, Judges 16:21. • he was ridiculed and humiliated, Judges 16:25. • he was born to deliver Israel and conquer the Philistines, but

the Spirit Of Christianity, Not Of Vengeance hIS time is indeed one of the hardt est for real believers of this generation, who have passion for godliness. this is because practising of Christian’s precept vis-à-vis righteousness and holiness has become alien in our generation, as a result of corruption, avarice and the craving for other material things that have pervaded our society. thus, only a few are standing out as uncommon soldiers of Christ. But no matter the challenges, we are determined to cause revival all over the world through godliness. We must let the world know that Jesus Christ is the Lord. he has no rivalry and by him all things consist, therefore, nobody can stop the work of God. We must understand that no matter what the world is doing, no matter the actions and feelings of those that hate God and the

hypocrites, one thing is certain — we must remain steadfast in emulating our Lord Jesus Christ in godly life and never follow the wicked to do evil, for this will distinguish us from the people of the world. Is there a price to pay for godliness? Yes, we are paying and are ready to continue till that day, when the chaff shall be separated from the grain, when the Master will appear to take his own to glory. We must not allow the ugly situation of the present time ruin our avowed decision to remain steadfast in godliness. It is in the time of difficulty that godly people are identified. I implore as many that claim to be children of God to make a difference by their godly lifestyles in today’s world that is filled with kidnappers, assassins, armed robbers, adulterers, fornicators, fraud-

sters, lesbians and homosexuals. For in doing so, the children of God shall be distinguished from the wicked. this is the time we must let the world know the kind of spirit we are made of. We should not follow the people of the world to commit sin and indulge in wickedness. We must let them know we are not under the rough and sour dispensation of the law, but under the calm and gentle institution of the gospel of Christ, which designs universal love, peace, and goodwill to all mankind. Heb. 10: 30- 31 says: “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. Beloved, the Son of man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.

Connect to the Ultimate Power Of Christ Jesus By Julian Ejikeme Okechukwu ESUS, the Last Adam, is a vast Jtualliving real estate, the spiriresidence of ultimate power. his resurrection power is the ultimate in heaven above and in the whole cosmos. the human race is richly and immeasurably blessed by the death, and resurrection of Christ. this is the power that quells all forms of trouble and turbulence, filling his domain with calmness. When you believe in Christ the Saviour of humankind and his sacrifice, you are automatically connected to him, his loving-kindness and abundant grace. to believe is to connect spiritually. ‘…Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name’ (Jn.20: 31). You are connected in the spirit to anything you believe, whether good or bad. As the Lord Jesus declared, ‘But ye shall receive power, after that the holy Ghost is come upon you…’ (Acts 1:8). All that yield themselves to the ‘yokes’ of Christ receive this inner spiritual empowerment that makes tasks easy and ‘burdens’ light. Without power from the Lord Jesus, following him becomes herculean drudgery sated with struggles. huge blessings and incomprehensible benefits of Christ’s transcendental resurrection power are available to whosoever wills on this side of eternity. the Spirit of Christ,

the Spectacular bearer of the ultimate power of resurrection of Christ and its Distributor thereof is zealously waiting to distinctively decorate you with anointing power, grace and enormous virtue. the foremost essence of the redemption drama involving the Son of Man, Jesus Christ is that all humans key into the benefits thereof. ‘Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth’ (3Jn.1: 2). We savour the provided anointing power to fulfil all the assignment the Lord has given us here until he comes back, in his Parousia.

Debates fade away, when one clothed with the anointing power of the resurrected Lord, appears. Christ’s rising from the dead with ultimate power settled all controversies. . ‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness…’(1tim.3:16). Everything about you attracts greatness when connected to the resurrected Lord and his power. the spiritual might of a man is directly proportional to his connectedness with the Lord Jesus. he makes his power available so that all glory shall return to him, the Source of all things. Your spiritual strength and prowess is contingent on the dividend of

whom you are connected to. By connecting to the living power, the Lord God makes you a pillar in his house. A man is established by power if he believes. ‘…Jehoshaphat stood and said, hear me, …Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. …If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established’ (2Chron.20: 20; Is.7: 9b). Religion does not establish. Power that comes by the faith of Son of God justifies and establishes he that believes. •Pastor Okechukwu of Christ Manifest Ministries writes from Lagos. 08034046895; christmanifest@gmail.com

he died being conquered by the Philistines and as a failure. Come Out: 1 Cor. 6:17-18. • God expects you to break from such unholy relationship and be separated. • Even if you are fully convinced of his/her love, work for his salvation first, John 3:3. • A strange woman/man would be a snare and trap to you, Joshua 23:13. • See your Pastor or marriage counsellor for assistance, Prov.11: 14, Prov.24: 6. Conclusion today, men reject godly counsel on marriage. No wonder so many marriages are in trouble or collapsing. Our God is a God of order. Please pay attention to his instruction and you will live a victorious life in Jesus’ name.

Living Waters By Pastor Lazarus Muoka And in all manner of divine conversation, he demonstrated that the intent and design of his coming is to save, and not to destroy. he has, by his death on the cross, inspired his people with a spirit of love and unity, forbidding them not to hate those that persecute them and this we observe daily. the spirit of Christianity is not that of wrath and vengeance, but of peace, gentleness and love. We must exemplify the same spirit in our lives and leave vengeance to the Lord. If we know these, it shall be good if we show them in our characters, offices, communities, schools, markets, etc, in this perilous time. Christ didn’t instil a blind obedience in his people, but requires that their obedience must be founded upon understanding and practice of it. thus, we must apply ourselves to the knowledge of our Master’s teachings and practice everything that we know to be our duty.

Church hosts Landa On Love, Sex and Pornography By Gbenga Salau hRIStIAN teenagers have been told that they are a not different breed of Christians because of their age, but different teenagers because they are Christians. Dr. Yolanda George-David, who was the special guest speaker at a teenage programme organised by the Good News Baptist Church, made this observation in Lagos, recently. tagged ‘Love, Sex and Pornography with Aunty Landa’, the event was packaged to help teenagers have better insight on the topic, especially with a mix of godly

God Cares For You By S.K Abiara “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” Genesis 1:27. hIS simply means that God t knows us inside out. It gives us the privilege to invite and involve him in every aspect of our daily life. Unfortunately, a lot of people in the world today, rely on fellow human beings or other creatures in solving their problems, while some depend solely on their personal efforts. “this is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trust in man, who depends on

flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wasteland; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives” – Jeremiah 17:5-6. What more? It means trusting in anything other than God, will fail you. trust your position, you will lose it. trust in power, it will elude you but trust in God and he will never fail you. those who trust in personal effort to succeed in life are ignorant of the truth that they are carrying excess and unnecessary luggages. this group of people later becomes so de-

pressed in life due to continuous failure and disappointment. In fact, some of them end up with various afflictions such as hypertension, stroke and mental illness among others. “So, humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time, he will honour you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you”— I Pet. 5:6,7. the word of God emphasises that good success in life is as a result of the direct help of God. “It is not by strength that one prevails”. So he said to me, “this is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: not by might nor by power, but by

my Spirit says the LORD Almighty. (1Samuel 2:9c; Zechariah 4:6). Prophet Abiara, General Evangelist, CAC Worldwide. skabiaraofciem@yahoo.co.uk

teachings. After commenting briefly on the three key words in the title, Dr. Yolanda, a popular presenter on Inspiration FM, encouraged the teenagers to know that what they profess to be love is lust until they are matured. She also advised parents not to use information provided by counselors in the church to scold their children, as they would not want to disclose information to their counselors any longer. She also urged counselors to be careful when giving out confidential information to parents, and if they must, it should be to help the children change and become better. Rev. John Ojo, the church’s Minister for Children and Youth, explained that the programme was organised because the church discovered that ministers often shy away from preaching about love, sex and pornography. “But we know it is something we should not shy away from because teenagers are becoming victims due to inadequate information on the topic. So, it is something we need to address,” Ojo said. Also commenting on the purpose of the event, Nomnso Diali, said there is need to demystify the topic, as some teenagers seem to be confused about it. “So we need to put them on the right path because if something is not done, it might become too late to intervene,” Diali noted.

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Breaking Protocol (1) By Gabriel Agbo HIS year, God will by-pass procedures, natural laws and known processes to establish His will in your life. He will do things that will defy all human logic; things that will make people know that you are truly serving a living God; a God that with Him all things are possible. Yes, He blessed us so much in the past year, but what He is about to do now will surely be unprecedented. He will do some things that are unusual, unnatural, unthinkable and unparalleled for us this year. He is setting aside the usual for the unusual. He will break all the protocol just because of you. Now, I will like to define protocol here as a known, familiar, established procedure or process of achieving a purpose or target. God will by-pass all these to establish you this year. This is His message for you. Praise God! Look at when He started creation. Nothing suggested what was about to happen

then. Nothing suggested that the earth was about to become a beehive of activities, a massive success as the whole place was empty, formless, void, chaotic, deep and in thick darkness. My God! What a totally hopeless situation! Yes, it was from this condition of nothingness and confusion that Jehovah began to call things that were not into existence. Yes, God spoke almost everything into existence. It was on man that He took time and processes to make, because he was going to be His replica, representative and will also play a special role in the whole creation. Now, as God spoke, I also speak to you, to your destiny, your blessings, your marriage your promotion to begin to manifest in the mighty name of Jesus! If God could speak to this very complex and vast world into existence from nothing, then we can also call forth those things that are not and they will begin to manifest. True! The bible says that as He is in heaven, so we are on earth. This simply means that He will use

Springs Of Wisdom us to do exactly those things that He did or is still doing. True! Now, look at the condition of the universe before creation. No life, no form, no beauty, not activities, no peace, no shape, no help, no light, no hope, no ‘taste’, etc. Permanent confusion and sorrow! Does this describe you or any part of your life today? We meet people and families like this often in counseling. A lot of people are going through terrible and unbelievable situations in this life. True! But whatever the description of your situation is, the power of God will meet you at that point in Jesus name! This is your year! That known and usual problem is now giving way for the unknown and unusual solution. The protocol is now being broken for your sake. The whole earth was just like you when Elohim; the Creator, the Almighty, rose and began to speak to it. He said let there be and there was! Rev. Agbo is a minister with the Assemblies of God Nigeria.

Mr. Sunday Oguntola of The Nation newspapers (left), and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Southwest Region and Chairman of the occasion, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, during the launching of Sunday Oguntola’s book entitled: “Effective Media Relations For Churches and Pastors,” in Lagos, recently. The event attracted many religious leaders, including the Managing Director of The Sun newspapers and President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina, who gave the keynote address.

Why Christian Conscience Was Born, By Ajiboso ‘To Have A Christian Governor To Succeed Our Excellent Incumbent Lagos State Governor’ By Chris Irekamba HE Christian Conscience T has inaugurated its State Council, which took place, last Wednesday, in Lagos. The Chairman, Chief Enoch Ajiboso alongside other executive members of the group, performed it. Speaking on the rationale behind the formation of the group, the chairman said: “The Christian Conscience was born out of concern for the lukewarm attitude of Christians to political activities, which are mixed with some erroneous belief(s) that “politics is a dirty game.” This has led to Christians taking the back seat and just praying for ‘political players,’ while maintaining spectatorship instead of ‘getting involved’ for positive contribution to the business of democratic governance. There is also the issue of prolonged dominance of people of other religions in political activities, which has made it difficult for few Christians in

politics to emerge as democratic leaders, thereby making Christians seem irrelevant in the emerging democratic events, especially in Lagos State.” Ajiboso, who noted that Christians have been supporting people of other religions through campaigns and elections into offices, particularly Lagos State Governor office, said it is obvious that the prolonged dominance of people of other religions has led to marginalisation of credible Christians for appointment as political office holders. Therefore, Christian Conscience was conceived to promote religious harmony and ensure the emergence of a Christian Governor at the next general elections in the state. Other aims and objectives of the group, according to him, is to encourage eligible Christians to register as voters; encourage Christians to run for elections at all levels, as well as mobilise human

and material resources towards the attainment of these objectives among others. “Having observed the situations preventing effective participation of Christians in politics, the Christian Conscience in Lagos State held its first stakeholders meeting on April 16, 2014. At the meeting of May 28, 2013, we decided to carry out this God-given assignment with the name “Christian Conscience,” which is to mobilise Christians for the 2015 elections. “To achieve the above listed aims, we intend to build a grassroots structure from existing church groups and collaborations with Christian NGOs with similar objectives. However, today’s inaugural State Council is a landmark event, aimed at making our presence felt at various local governments and local government development areas. It is our intention to reach out to every Christian in Lagos State and to partner with them on this project of

having a Christian Governor to succeed our excellent incumbent Lagos State governor. I want to inform you that as a result of the successful implementation of our public events, political aspirants, especially for the office of the Lagos State Governor and that of Presidency, many candidates have visited the Christian Conscience to announce their interest(s). “This meeting intends to set out the LGAs and LCDAs and to start meetings at various localities, as well as organise members, who registered during our last event in January 2014. The ‘Big Challenge’ for us on this assignment is that we do not have enough time again to plan and act. Hence, there is need to pray more and start promoting the aims and objectives of Christian Conscience in every locality in Lagos State, and creating awareness of our intention to have a Christian Governor elected in 2015,” he stated.

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

Faith That Honours God HERE were many kings in Israel in the Old Testament days. T But when God drew up a list of people of faith, only one king, David, was mentioned. He stood out among his predecessors and successors, as a man with special attachment to the Lord. In fact, his ascension to the throne was remarkable, for God raised him up to be king, and “to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” No wonder, God endowed him with so many gifts. He did not just make him a king, He also made him a judge and prophet. He was so successful as a judge that his son, Absalom secretly wished he had that position. As he plotted his father’s overthrow, Absalom told the Israelites who brought complaints to the palace: “See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice.” Obviously then, part of David’s responsibility as king was to judge the people. David was not just a king and a judge; he was also a prophet, indeed, a warrior with courageous faith. He developed faith in God as a young man. With it, he accomplished seemingly impossible and incredible feats. He was a mighty warrior. He had enemies to fight, enemies within such as his son, Absalom, and enemies without. He fought enemies in the forest – the lion and the bear. He fought enemies on the battlefield – the Philistines. And he won over them all. There is much to commend in David’s life: his attitude and his conviction, his knowledge and his faith in God. He manifested faith in God when everybody around him seemed to be in fear. He spoke the words of faith when everybody else was speaking the words of discouragement and despair. He had the thought of faith, walked in faith, fought the fight of faith and won the victory by faith. When the war-weary Israelites asked God for a king to lead them in battle, He sent Samuel to pick Saul. In physique, Saul towered above everyone else in Israel. He was also good-looking. Yet, not long after his coronation, the Philistines led by Goliath the bragging giant, wedged war against the children of Israel. Although a warrior, compared to Goliath, Saul was something of a dwarf. Goliath had such an intimidating look that all Israeli troops trembled in his presence. “And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” His own brothers had also earlier questioned his mission to the war front, accusing him of being adventurous and impetuous. “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” Faith in God makes you willing to face the problems or troubles of life all alone, even when there is no one to encourage you. If you have faith in God, the things that threaten and terrify others will mean nothing to you. David for one, was not terrified by the frightening words of King Saul. He told the king: “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.” The lesson here is obvious: before you can conquer in the public, you must conquer in private. To have effective public prayer ministry, you must first, develop effective prayer ministry privately. To overcome a public enemy, you must first overcome a private enemy. To be valiant publicly, you must first be valiant privately. There was nobody with young David when the lion and the bear came for his sheep. At that moment he did not think of his own safety. He rose in defence of that solitary sheep. Your faithfulness in that lowly position you occupy in the church will help you to faithfully accomplish much in public ministry later. In the same way, the faith you manifest when nobody is watching, will help you to manifest faith at a time when everybody is present; it will also help you to record great public victory. When he could not dissuade David from volunteering to face Goliath, King Saul then tried to kit David with his armour. But the young man found it to be more of an impediment to him. Carnal weapons are not necessary when we have faith in God. Truth is, we cannot overcome the world with the wisdom of the world. Goliath did not only brag and threaten to kill David, he cursed him by his gods. Are you trembling by reason of someone’s curse or threat? Remember that the Almighty God is on your side. “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defiled.” Here are remarkable words borne out of faith. If you ever desire victory, this is how to talk to the enemy. You talk to him with faith and deep confidence in God. David told Goliath: “This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” Although he was not armed with mighty weapons of war, but only with a sling and five pebbles, it was enough to record great victory, because he had faith in God. References: Acts 13:22; 2 Samuel 15:3,4; 1 Samuel 17:32,33,26,28,34,35,45,46 and Psalm 18:2, 17,19; All scriptures are from King James Version of the Bible.

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IBRUCENTRE By Ernest Onuoha ‘And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her. And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city and were quiet all the night, saying, Let be till morning light, then we will kill him,’ Judges 16v1-2. N the Levitical law, Moses charged Aaron and his sons thus: ‘the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings. Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out,’ Lev. 6v12-13. The fire is the anointing that sustains the man of God, as he serves God at the altar. If it is missing, ministry becomes a mere routine and empty too. Impliedly, every man of God should guard jealously the anointing of God upon his life as he does the work. The Old Testament studies reveal to us that Samson was the 12th and final judge of Israel. God raised him up to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Possessing great strength, he often battled the Philistines single-handedly. Samson was a life-long Nazarene but he broke every one of his vows. He made bad decisions, particularly in his relationships with women. This is most ev-

From The Rector Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

What Are Men Of God Doing With Their Anointing Today? ident in his relationship with Delilah, to whom he revealed the secret of his strength. Paid by the Philistines to seduce Samson, Delilah cut off his hair while he slept. He was attacked and blinded by a group of Philistines lying in wait and taken as their prisoner. Samson toyed with his anointing, a Nazareth by allowing the desires of his flesh to rule his life and later ruin his ministry. The tragedy still remains that this man of God was meant for great exploits, but his ministry suddenly ended due to his carefree attitude with women of easy

Connect To The Main Source Of Life By Gabriel Osu E all need electricity to W power most of our household appliances. With the help of electricity, we can power our television sets, listen to the radio, iron our clothes and be assured of cold drink. At night, electricity helps to power our bulbs and ensure that the air is fully regulated for pleasant effect either through the air-conditioner or electric fan. Electricity is very essential to everyday life. The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday. His basic method is still used today: electricity is generated by the movement of a loop of wire, or disc of copper between the poles of a magnet. The importance of electricity cannot be over-emphasised. When in full usage, it helps to create job opportunities for small and medium scale enterprises, and also buoy our economy. When the power generation of any country is low, like is the case with Nigeria, the economy suffers and the citizens are uneasy. Even when power is on, you cannot have access to it except you plunge into the socket, which serves as a conduit pipe for the power to circulate effectively. Just as we need electric power in our daily activities, so also we need to plunge into the biggest source of all powers in heaven and on earth if we want to be assured of quality life. Who is the source of this power? He is God Almighty, who has made Himself available to all mankind through His son Jesus Christ. Last week, the whole world came together to celebrate His birthday in the manger — a re-enactment of a world wide significant event that occurred over 2,000 years ago. And over the years, humanity has come to acknowledge the fact that Christ remains the source of the ultimate power. He is the beginning and the end and without Him, there was nothing made that was made. For years now, the Nigerian government has been bat-

tling to find solution to the lingering power failure in the country. It has spent billions of naira and even in dollar without any corresponding benefit. And so the citizens continue to wallop in darkness, waiting hopeless for the day that adequate power supply will become a reality in this part of the clime. Meanwhile, in other parts of the developed world, electricity is part of life. It is available almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What an irony! Countries enjoying maximum power supply can be compared to genuine Christians, who have since come to realise that they need Christ to empower them in all their daily activities. On the other hand, majority of people in third world countries living without steady electricity supply are like the non-believers, who thinking they can accomplish all they set out to do on their own, continue to fumble along the way. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that they need a higher power, a divine power that is above all other powers to live a fulfilled life. Christ is the main source of life. In Him, we have life and have it abundantly. A life that is lived outside of Him is a counterfeit life. It is filled with much sorrows and disappointments. The way may look very rosy and inviting, but on

the long run, it leads to damnation. So many people today claim they can give your true happiness. They tell you that when you join their club or society, money will no longer be a problem to you. You will have it in abundance. And what happens afterwards? They give you money in exchange for the lives of loved ones. They supply you with all the material comfort you seek, but you cannot live to enjoy them. And so you end up worse than you started. My brothers and sisters, in this New Year, I urge you to beware. Beware of wolves in sheep clothing; beware of those, who tell you that salvation can only be found in their church. Beware of those who promise you instant solutions to all your problems once you become part of them. Beware of those, who direct all attention to themselves and their fake powers instead of pointing you to the ultimate power, which only can be found in Jesus Christ. Equally, for our country to make any meaningful head-way this year, we need to tap into the Main Source, who knows our beginning from our end. That Source is Jesus Christ. Happy New Year! Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

virtue. I am sure, God is feeling wounded till tomorrow because His plans in the life of this great man of God was truncated. Men at the altar, we need to take note! However, it is unfortunate that even today, some great men of God are yet to learn from the mistakes of Samson. As it is presently, some allow themselves to be ruled by the desires of the flesh. There are some others whose stock in trade is unbridled appetite for material things. Very erroneously they believe and think that ‘money answereth all,’ Prov. 10v15, Eccl. 10v19. But they are to

find out much later to their chagrin that gradually they are heading to prematurely grounding their God-given ministries. It is our considered opinion that something should be done immediately so as not to quench the fire, which is the anointing at the altar. We must place a caution here that to all intent and purpose, women of easy virtue or money do not enhance anointing. Rather, it could be a ploy from the pit of hell to drown a promising man of God. Ven. Ernest Onuoha Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. www.ibrucentre.org

Governors For Diocese Of Oleh Synod KWA Ibom State Governor A Godswill Akpabio and his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan are among the dignitaries expected at this year’s 3rd session of the 5th Synod of the Diocese of Oleh, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Delta State scheduled to hold at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Igbide in Isoko South Local Government, Delta State. Others include Major General Paul Ufuoma Omu, his wife, Senator Stella Omu and the Onodokpokpo Archdeaconry. The guest preacher is Ven. Israel Omosioni from the Niger Delta North Diocese, while the Bible study leader is Ven. Ben Idume from the Diocese of Abuja. The theme of the Synod: “The God whom you seek,” will be

presided over by the Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. John Usiwome Aruakpor. He is also expected to present the Bishop’s charge on May 10, 2014. Governors Uduaghan and Akpabio are expected to read first and second lessons on Sunday, May 11, at St. Andrew’s Church, Igbide in Owodokpokpo Archdeaconry, Isoko-South LGA, Delta State. The Bishop’s Charge/Launching will be an occasion for raising funds to reposition the diocese. The chairman of the occasion on May 10 is Sir Chris Uzochukwu, while chairperson is Lady T. S. Danjuma. Distinguished Isoko sons and daughters have been invited to support the church work in Isoko land. The Archbishop of Bendel

Province, Most Rev. Friday Imakhai will lead 14 Bishops to grace the event with the presence and support of the Pioneer Bishop and wife, Rt. Rev. Jonathan and Dame Elizabeth Edewor. The late Speaker of DHA, Barr. D. Y. Igbrude, Engr. Ighota and others started the building, which was completed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in memory of the late Speaker. St. Philip’s Church and Emmanuel Church (built by Comr. Ovuzorie Macaulay) both in Owhelogbo in IsokoSouth LGA, Delta State, have been scheduled for dedication by the Primate of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh in June this year.

Prelate Condemns Second Nyanya Bombing By Bisi Alabi Williams RELATE and Moderator of the General AsP sembly of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Emele Mba Uka has condemned the second bombing at the Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja in which many persons are feared dead and others injured. The cleric lamented the heinous and barbaric massacre of innocent citizens, saying that the perpetrators are not only inhuman, but also sick. He commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan and the families of

those that lost their lives in the incident. He prayed God to grant their souls eternal rest. Most Rev. Uka called on security agents to effect tighter security controls in the country, as it appears the orgy of terrorist attacks is spreading more rapidly and with impunity. “Today, it has happened in Abuja,” he remarked. “Who knows where next the terrorists will strike?” He urged the President to engage, where necessary, more global intervention to bring the menace of terrorism in Nigeria to an end.

BCS Holds Global Convention, Corrects Negative Perception HE Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS), also T known as the Universal School of Practical Christianity, recently celebrated its annual Salt of the Earth Divine event at the BCS World headquarters in Calabar from April 14 to 21, 2014. Themed: “Preserving and Dispensing the Savoury Taste of Christ,” the seven-day programme attracted many BCS faithful from all parts of the world, including America, Europe, Asia and Australia. It was part of the rebranding process of the church to correct the negative perception people erroneously have about it. The event was characterised by various thrilling programmes such as offering of the temple sacrifice on the altar of purifi-

cation, the re-enactment of the covenant of salt and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The high point of the event was the special service held on Saturday, April 19, where the Leader, Olumba Olumba Obu blessed all faithful. In his message, Obu admonished members to emulate the true nature of salt by being tasty and actively occupy whatever position they have since Christ refers to all His children as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. His words: “the salt of the earth is an intensely spiritual event, which is very symbolic to the process of facilitating God’s judgment upon the earth. The implication of this is that man is faced with only two options in life — either he

remains the ‘salt of the earth’ or be thrown away because he is unsavory.” He added that adherents should embed the teachings of Christ in their hearts so that at the end, they would not be denied by the Saviour, Jesus Christ. Stressing that salt, which has no taste will be trampled upon by men and eventually become useless, Leader Obu said: “a salt without taste is useless and serves no purpose and will surely be thrown away and trampled upon by men. The covenant of salt is also aimed at seasoning and preserving the elects of God from decay and corruption even in time of great tribulation and spiritual warfare, which has already ensued both in this world and in

other planes of manifest.” According to the Leader, “man cannot worship God with mammon. The wife of Lot became a pillar of salt because of her inordinate desire for material things, which she left in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah that was destroyed by the Father. The salt of the earth is also a time to tell all self-acclaimed worshippers of God that now is the time for all to completely dedicate their hearts to the living God and not set their minds and souls on material things and the lust thereof.” He urged everyone to embrace peace, love and unity, saying “Brotherhood of the Cross and Star was founded upon the sacrifices made by our Lord Jesus Christ. So, with-

out Christ, there is no brotherhood. Christ’s blood was sacrificed to lay the foundation of Brotherhood, which is about oneness, unity and universal harmony.”

Leader O.O. Obu

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SUNDAY, May 4, 2014 Lincoln Versity Offers Post Graduate Opportunity, Scholarship To Covenant Students

JCCF Ends 2014 School Of Ministry/Prayer Conference In Grand Style

By Gbenga Akinfenwa ASS Communication students of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State have been offered a rare opportunity of international scholarship to undergo Post Graduate Studies in Journalism by University of Lincoln in Britain, United Kingdom. The institution, which prides itself as experts in teaching excellence and research, welcomes students from countries across the world into its three colleges. At a seminar held at Covenant, mainly for final year students, a Tutor at Lincoln University’s school of Journalism, Dr. Ola Ogunyemi, said the offer was based on the relationship existing between both universities, adding that CU is one of the few universities it signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with.

HE University of Calabar, T (UNICAL) was a beehive of activities this past week as

NLA Calls For More Funding For Libraries By Paul Adunwoke ISING from its annual R national workshop, the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) has said there is need for government at all a levels to fund libraries in order to solve the problems of libraries in the country. According to the national president of the Association, Alhaji Rilwanu Abdulsalami, a lot of things need to be done to revive the libraries. He said that state governments are responsible for states libraries, academic libraries are for the institutions of higher learning, and national libraries are for Federal Government, and added that all these libraries can be harmonised through government interventions. He made this known during a workshop organised by the Lagos State chapter of the association with the theme: Emerging Roles of Library And Information Professionals In Knowledge Preservation And Transfer, which held at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.

Unilorin students in ‘school uniforms’ to mark their annual Students Union Week

AUN President At Interfaith Parley, Urges Nigeria To Tackle Violence, Impunity By Daniel Anazia RESIDENT of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Professor Margee Ensign, has isolated violence and impunity as the twin issues critical to the discussion of peace and conflict in Nigeria. “These structural issues need to be mentioned and tackled,” she said at an interfaith workshop organised by the Interfaith Mediation Center and held at the university campus last Saturday. According to Ensign, there is structural violence building up with millions of youths out of school, uneducated, and unemployed, and there is structural impunity when the justice system does not hold people accountable for breaking the law. “With all who have been killed in the north and other parts of the country with this recent violence, how many people have been charged with murder? To solve this problem requires a good and dedicated government, which understands this and wants to solve it,” she said, adding that a func-

tioning judiciary that really holds all people accountable was an important part of the solution. She recalled how the AUN in partnership with the Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative (API), had rendered some humanitarian assistance to the neighbouring communities, particularly with relief support extended to

internally displaced victims of violence in the northeast living in Mubi and Bole in Yola. “It is very important that people begin to realise how serious this is,” she said, urging all to shun self-defeating thoughts when taking up the responsibility of others. “If we leave here thinking that the problem was caused by somebody else and

you can’t solve them, then it is self-defeating,” she stated. Besides its peace-building efforts through the API, a forum of community, religious, traditional leaders, intellectuals and professionals in Adamawa State, the AUN is also spearheading the Grand Alliance for Adamawa.

JAMB: Parents Cry Over Costly e-bundle Scratch Card ARENTS and guardians in He added that he was very sur- considerate; if they were going to P Plateau state have described prised when his niece brought insist on any scratch card, we the N1, 500 being charged by the request to him, and alleged believe that it should not have Joint Admission Matriculation Board for scratch card to access the examination result as being exorbitant. They accused the examination body of extorting money from students with all manners of charges. “The charges are strange,” said Gotong Nanman, one of the many concerned parent. “Last year, we used the JAMB registration number to check the scores. We were not expecting something different this year,” he stated.

that JAMB was not sensitive to the harsh realities facing poor Nigerians. Recalling that he spent N5,000 to purchase the JAMB form, Nanman said another N1,500 was a huge burden, especially since there was a mass failure this year. For Angela Gomos, a staff of the NYSC, Jos office, “The charges the board is imposing on parents are uncalled for considering the amount spent in registering the candidates. We were expecting the board to be

Joint Christian Campus Fellowship (JCCF), brought alive her 2014 School of Ministry/Prayer Conference. The umbrella body of Campus Christian Fellowships within the university community staged her annual programme with the theme Grace For Impact at the UNICAL International Conference Centre. The annual students’ event featured prominently, displays and performances from sundry groups including JCCF unity mass choir, reconciliation theatre, musical concert and variety night. A significant amount of pastors were on-hand to minister the word of God to the heart and soul of participants. They include: Rev. Yakubu Bahamas from Jos, Rev Daniel Bassey from Calabar, Apostle Silas Ukata from Uyo, and Evang Prince Nkiri from Uyo. The week-long event is held annually to seek the face of God as well as raise Christian students’ leaders with the fear of God. It climaxed with a picnic at the TINAPA Hotel and business resort.

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been more than N200,” she said. She noted that aside the charge, about N500 would be spent to browse the results in cyber cafés, which is just a total reap off. Powered by Another parent, Danjuma Jobberman.com Dumak, argued that JAMB was making billions of naira since CARTOON SERIES /40 more than one million candidates sat for the university admission test, and urged the Federal Government to intervene to save poor people from such pains since many parents had consistently registered for the examinations in the last five years.

DR. DO-WELL

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may not all have been planted at the same time and so they need different types of care at every given time:

Every once in a while, you need to stop and Sit Down compare where you were yesterday to where “I have so much to do and so little time.”, “I just you are today. If you don’t do that you might had a brilliant idea!”, “I have so many ideas and I don’t know how to do them all.”, ”This team is working so hard but it seems like there is no end in sight.” RE you getting discouraged because of a A project you are working on? Have you felt like, you are putting in so much effort into a job and your boss/lecturer/team mates are just demanding more from you for no reason? Do you sometimes feel like there is so much you want to do and you don’t know where to start? I know that feeling. From as far back as I can remember, I have always had journals where I list every brilliant business idea that I thought of (I know someone reading this has some of those). After a while, I started storing them on my laptop but I would always wonder how I would fulfill all of my divergent dreams. That was how I learnt to ‘Sit Down’. A garden has many plants, growing at different rates which are at different stages. They

making progress without a sense of fulfillment it is important to do this frequently: 1. SIT DOWN and review your goals (as a team, as an individual and even as an organization). Rediscover what you are working towards and what you want to achieve in the short term, medium term and long term. 2. Do not just be all work and no play. At regular not see how much you have intervals, SIT DOWN and celebrate your progress grown/learnt/achieved. When you do that, half reflect on how far you have come. Celebrate of the job is done. You must also compare yourself and those you work with. where you are today with where you are going 3. SIT DOWN and make a plan: Do not just expect to. In order to do this effectively, the most that life will lead you naturally to what is best important thing you need is: A Plan. for you. Be specific about how you want to To prevent getting discouraged, feeling lost, or achieve your goals, meet your target, get promoted or build your finances. 4. SIT DOWN and review your plan. Do not be stuck on the first plan you have. You need to keep measuring your progress and updating and editing your plan. Sometimes you might end up even editing your goals. 15 Minutes a day will keep discouragement away. You can get it from your sleep time, TV time or Facebook time. You can even do it during your Traffic time or take it from your Midnight call time. Don’t keep moving without reminding yourself of where you are moving to. It is good to Work It, Upgrade You and Check Milestones but it is important that you do all of this according to a plan. If you don’t have one, get a pen and paper, find some quiet time and… SIT DOWN Let’s discuss. You can post your answer to the question about the Gardner on our blog. Poisegfs.blogspot.com or send an email to uki@poisenigeria.org. Would you like to discuss anything? Please feel free to send an email also.

BY SEGUN DUROWAIYE

National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) during their excursion at Olumo Rock

Fun As Ogun State Students At UNILORIN Embark On Three Days Excursion LL work and no play like “A said makes Jack a dull boy.” This was scenario as the Ogun State students at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, under aegis of National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), UNILORIN chapter, recently tour some cultural and tourist attractive centres in Ogun State including the governor’s office, the Adire (Tie & Dye) international market, Obasanjo presidential library, Olumo rock, the Alake’s palace, and the palace of Osile of Oke-Ona’s among others. Their first port of call on arrival was the Adire international market, where they were received by the Iya Oloja and taught how the adire cloth is made. On the second day, the students went to the Egba paramount ruler’s palace, the Alake of Egba land, where they met the Alake, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III in person. They introduce themselves and where they came from in Ogun state. The Alake in his remark sensitised the students on the historical antecedence of what later became an independent Egba land.

One of the students, Oshin Teniola, a native of Ijebu, asked the king the cause of the fight between the Ijebus and the Egbas in the past, which the Alake gave a comprehensive analysis. Living the monarch’s palace, the students proceeded to the governor’s office to pay homage to the state governor, Senator Ibikule Amosun, who was represented by the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Barr Segun Odubela, and on hand to receive them were the Director of Education Support Services, Mrs. Folashade Oresegun, and the Director Administrative and Supply, Mr. Adebowale Oyejole. Expressing their grievances over the non-payment of bursary, president of the Association, Adeosun AbdulAzeez, said it has been eight years since bursary has been paid to Ogun state students at the University of Ilorin. However, the commissioner in his response, enjoined the students to be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large.

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National Development Strategy Series worry about what they are wearing to work before you start trying to see if they are being productive. A cousin of mine came to me one day and asked me to introduce him to a Federal Minister so he could get a Job in one of the Federal Ministries. I asked why that I could help more with the Private sector and not the Federal Government. He insisted that it was the Federal Government work that he wanted and nothing else. I was taken aback and so I became curious why was getting to work with the Federal Government so important to him I NICHOLAS OKOYE, asked. Well he replied that he wants to start a Founder EMPOWER NIGERIA Initiative, new business and the new business will require his undivided attention at least for the first five years. I said well you have it then you FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO do not need a job if you are to focus on your new business. He laughed and laughed at me. I really felt stupid that day but I summed up the courage to ask him why he was laughing at me, PILLAR TWO : had I become a comedian all of a sudden? He said no, but he was laughing at my naivety. I asked him to please put me out of my misery as the suspense was killing. So he told me that since I did not know, he will enlighten me. He O we need to look at Nigeria again in its entire- said it was common practice in Nigeria and had become somewhat of a culture, ( a NIGERty if we are serious about creating a new sysIAN SYSTEM) for every civil servant in Nigeria to tem in Nigeria. The present Nigerian System is own and operate a separate business while in too much associated with crime, corruption, inefficiency, poor maintenance, laziness, closed service. I said owning a business is not against mindedness, and lack of innovation. And that is a the law or is it? No he said but it is certainly against the law when the Civil service job fact. As we continue to advocate the Pillars that are required for National Development we must allows you to come to work at about 11am study our systems and agree that what is wrong (when you are required to start at 8am) and to and what needs fixing. How do we go about fixing a System that is deeply rooted in culture? And in some cases deeply rooted in Religion? We certainly have our work cut out for us right? Well we only need to study History and we will see that many other Nations have passed through this stage many years ago and somehow their Leaders summed up the courage to take on the institutions that gave them a corrupt and inefficient system and they were able to tear it down and build up a new system that has been largely responsible for the progress of these Nations today. So if the Judiciary and the Nigeria police are in need of reform, what are the chances that a reformed Judiciary and a reformed Police will change Nigeria? We need to go deeper and we should go to the root of the matter.

SYSTEMS, STRUCTURE AND INFRSTRUCTURE PAPER 2

leave at 2pm (when you are required to leave at 3.45pm or 4pm). In many offices he said you do not even need to show up sometimes for months. He called one of his friends who confirmed that he got a federal civil service job two years ago, and he has only been to the office about ten times during that period. He doesn’t even have a desk at the office and all he does is to hang around aimlessly whenever he goes there so he stopped showing up. However he still gets paid every month and gets all the benefits accruing to him as a staff of the (name withheld) Federal Ministry. I was dumbfounded. So I made a few inquiries and it seems that the rush for Federal Government Jobs by recent graduates in Nigeria is largely because the jobs are well suited for people who do not intend to work hard. In the Federal Civil Service there is little or no scrutiny for work done, no key performance indicators, no measurements and no monitoring. And that is the Nigerian System, it did not start RECENTLY and so is NOT a creation of this administration, in fact it has been an unwritten secret for many many years of Nigerian history. And nobody has bothered to take on this very deep and very destructive culture or system. It has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian work force and it requires a very deep surgery with the help of shook therapy to get the Nigeria Civil service back on its feet.

The United States is by every standard the most successful Nation on earth, and in history. And its greatness can be linked directly to the vision National Systems and Organized Religion of the foundering fathers, those brave men that took on British Empire and risked their lives in My first disclaimer here is that religion and the process. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin belief in God are two different things. And what Franklin, John Adams and George Washington were men that stood tall during their time and are still celebrated today and will be celebrated for thousands of years in the United States as the founders of a new nation that has been so successful. However before we credit their achievement to their strong belief in the church and in organized Religion supported by the guiding hand of a Pastor as we do in Nigeria here are some of their quotes…….

The National System and Culture The Nigeria System is deeply rooted in Culture and in some cases can be very hard to set aside but set aside we must if we are building a Nation that will be regarded in this World. In Nigeria I have had the pleasure of visiting many Federal and State Government Offices especially the Ministries and a few things always hit me when I visit. First of all the workers seldom some to work on time, and when they do they are dressed in the most inappropriate dressing for work. Our flowing traditional gowns, red caps, and long flowing overalls that sometimes come in three pieces are not and will never be well suited for work. However these materials and these clothes are our cultural dresses and anybody that dears to challenge the wearing of the native wear in GOVERNMENT offices may be termed a saboteur. If the truth be told these native dresses are just too flowing and just too big and flamboyant for any serious work to get done by the person wearing them, they need to be redesigned and that is a fact. That is why in the private sector the dress style is completely different from the Government offices and it is not because the Government workers love Nigeria more but the Private sector are more interested in getting their work done and so they will wear more comfortable and more appropriate dress designed for maximum productivity. It is no wonder then that some of the very serious Federal Government Offices such as the Central Bank, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Bank of Industry, and the Nigerian Communications Commission and so on, you find them dressing more like the Lagos style private sector folks because they cannot afford not to get their jobs done. In the Federal government Secretariats it is a totally different story. You will be lucky if the people you seek come to work at all, than to start talking of if they come to work on time. Then to

I am talking about here is Organized Religion and not belief in GOD. My belief in GOD, I hold dearly in my heart and do not discuss this in public because of the sensitivities that go with it. Having said that, In order to discuss the negative effects Organized Religion is having on our ability to attain Peak Performance in Nation building and National Development I must first of all take us to the greatest Nation on God’s earth the United States. And Before I talk about the drive to separate Religion and State which is badly needed in Nigeria we must look at the Nations of Europe and how they were able to overcome the combination of Church and State which was the main reason many European Nations were able to move into the industrial age. It is on record that many religious beliefs in those days had condemned science, technology and all progress as the acts of Witch craft, many of the World’s greatest Scientists were burned as witches because they either challenged the thinking of the day or they were able to conduct experiments that looked like magic and hence was termed Witchcraft which surely led to their early death by burning conducted by the religious leaders of the time. The Spanish Inquisition was notorious for this.

John Adams (Founding Father and second President of the United States and co-author of the Declaration of Independence) “As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?” John Adams -letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816 Thomas Jefferson (Founding Father, third President of the United States and co-author of the Declaration of Independence and Arthur of the United States Constitution “If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in which no two of them agree, then your exclamation on that hypothesis is just, “that this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.” But if the moral precepts, innate in man, and made a part of his physical constitution, as necessary for a social being, if the sublime doctrines of philanthropism and deism taught us by Jesus of Nazareth, in which all agree, constitute true religion, then, without it, this would be, as you again say, “something not fit to be named even, indeed, a hell.” — Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, May 5, 1817 “Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced an inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.” “Notes on Virginia” by Thomas Jefferson More on National Systems and Religion in paper 3.

Thomas Jefferson author of Declaration of Independence, first Secretary of State of the United States and third President of the United States. He was a strong believer in the separation of the Church and State, as his writings show that he did not believe that the new Country that he and his co-founders that built :the United States, could survive let alone strive if Religion was allowed to be used to choose or guide the Leaders. In their vision they created a secular State, he also created the University of Virginia the United States’ first secular University.

46 Sunday, May 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

EMPOWERNIGERIA CASE STUDY

YOUTHMAGAZINE

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURAL LEADER

Guide to Personal Development

Steve Jobs:

By Nicholas Okoye

nokoye@empowernigeria.com N the Guide to personal Development we have outlined three levels in which every young person must be able to improve. That is for your personal development to be complete and for you to achieve success and happiness you must somehow cover these three levels.

Personal Mind Set. You must have made up your mind that you will succeed and that you must succeed. You must therefore develop a positive attitude towards your life even if it is over bearing and there is no hope insight. When adversity hits find a way a laugh about it. We always say “ONE DAY WE WILL ALL BE LAUGHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM: right and in all cases once time passes we do laugh about it, a problem we had once thought would consume us all. So here is an idea why don’t we laugh about the problem now, and see how much better yon will feel. Don’t way for a few months or a few years laugh now and you would have succeeded in developing a positive mental attitude.

Apple

TEVE Jobs showed an early interest in electronSHewlett-Packard ics and gadgets. While in high school, he called co-founder and President

million. By 1980 Apple faced stiff competition and the sales of the Apple III were less than impressive. William Hewlett to ask for parts for a school proj- In 1984 Jobs introduced the Apple Macintosh, ect. Impressed by Jobs, Hewlett not only gave the first personal computer to feature a graphihim parts but also offered him a summer intern- cal user interface controlled by a mouse. It was ship. It was there Jobs met Steve Wozniak, a a breakthrough and was easy to use, but there young engineer. was no market for it. Jobs envisioned it to be a After graduating high, Jobs enrolled in Reed home computer but at $2,495 it was too expenCollege and took a part time job designing video sive and as a business computer it had little games for Atari before travelling to India to study memory, no networking capability and no Eastern culture and Religion. When Jobs hard drive. The machine had no feature corporeturned to the US he met with Wozniak who rate America wanted. had been trying to build a small computer. To Steve Jobs clashed with the board of directors, Wozniak it was a hobby but Jobs saw it as a great and in 1983 was ousted from the board by CEO business idea and convinced Wozniak to go into John Sculley, who Jobs handpicked to help run business with him. In 1975 Jobs and Wozniak set Apple. He sold his shares and resigned in 1985. up shop in Jobs’ parents’ garage and named the Using a portion of his money from stocks sale, venture “Apple” .Steve Jobs sold his Volkswagen Steve Jobs launched NeXT computer with a goal microbus and Steve sold his Hewlett Packard cal- of building a breakthrough computer. In 1988 culator. NeXT computer launched. It boasted of a host Although they mostly sold to hobbyists it gener- of innovations notably faster processing speed, ated enough cash to enable Jobs and Wozniak exceptional graphics and optical disk drive. But improve and refine their design. In 1977 they priced at $9,950 it was too pricey to attract introduced the Apple II the first personal comenough sales to keep the company afloat. An puter with color graphics and a keyboard undeterred Steve Jobs switched his focus from designed for beginners the user friendly Apple II hardware to software and began paying more was a tremendous success ushering in the era of attention to his business Pixar animation stuthe personal computer. First year sales were $3 dios. million two years later sales ballooned to $200

He cut a three picture deal with Disney and set out to create the first animated movie. In November 1995 he released “Toy Story” and it struck gold. Led by the success Jobs took Pixar public in 1996 and by the end of the first day of trading his 80% share of the company was worth $1 billion an amazing feat after 10 years of struggling. At the end of March 1997 Apple announced a loss of $708 million. Apple bought NeXT for $400 million and reappointed Jobs to the Apple board as first an advisor to Apple chairman and subsequently Interim CEO after the CEO quit. Jobs developed the iMac a newline of affordable home desktops released in 1998. Apple quickly transformed to profitability and by the end of 1998 boasted of $5.9 billion in sales. Over the next decade the company rolled out a series of revolutionary products including the iPod in 2001, an online market place Apple iTunes store in 2003, the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010. Apple has sold more than 300 million iPods, over 100 million iPhones, more than 15 million iPad and over a billion songs from its iTunes store. Steve Jobs died as one of the most influential people in technology of all time. At the time of his death Apple was listed as one of the most valuable companies in the World.

Activity. What you do, what you say, who you say it to and where you go, are all a part and parcel of your success plan. You must act in order to succeed. You must choose your business or your profession and you must dedicate all your energy towards its success and possible global domination. Your choosing a business idea from the EMPOWER NIGERIA line up, your action to raise the money you need from friends and family first and then subsequently from one of the EMPOWER NIGERIA partners if your friends and family are not forthcoming. Activity is key. Nothing happens without ACTION. The fact that you have eaten this morning is because either you or someone else has taken the time and the effort to prepare the meal. The meal did not prepare itself. So if you really want to be a successful man or woman loo deeper at this level of activity. Environment. And yes we are talking about the Nigerian environment. So it is very important that our Leaders create an environment that is business friendly. We are working on this and in some cases they are listening. Some States are getting it more than others. And some Ministers on the Federal level are getting it more than others. I understand Nigeria has slipped again on the Global “Doing Business in” Index prepared by the World Bank. This is unacceptable. We should now examine ourselves deeply and find out why we are slipping like this. If it is a matter of personnel then we need to et the right personnel into Government to make the changes that are required. We are all in this struggle together and that is what our civil servants and politician need to understand. So the more we make it difficult for business to operate the more peace will elude us and we will not reach our goals. Join the EMPOWER NIGERIA initiative and let’s change Nigeria together

Sunday, May 4, 2014 47

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

LAFETE

YOUTHMAGAZINE

BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI

Around and about... Screening Of Half Of A Yellow Sun Suspended Indefinitely ATEST information on the rescheduled LYellow screening of the big budget movie, Half of a Sun (HOAYS), indicates that the promoters have still not secured certification from the National Film and Censors Board (NFVCB) for its public release. The promoters of the movie had announced an April 25 date for the public screening of the movie, but had to reschedule to May 2, 2014 because of the insistence by the NFVCB that they got certification before the movie, which premiered in Toronto in 2013 as well as in London, with even two special screenings in Lagos, can be publicly exhibited. However, the highly anticipated movie did not open on May 2 as advertised and would no longer be showing in cinemas across the country as earlier announced. A statement from the promoters indicates that the film was still facing delay in obtaining public viewing certification from the Patricia Bala-led Censors Board. The statement thanked moviegoers for their patience and assured that a new cinema date would be announced as soon as regulatory issues were sorted out. Set to be publicly screened in the US, Australia, Portugal, Middle East and New Zealand, HOAYS is an adaptation of Chimamanda Adiche’s bestselling and award winning novel of same title. Directed by UK-based Nigerian playwright, Biyi Bandele, and produced by winner of an OSCAR and three BAFTAs, Andrea Calderwood and Yewande Sadiku, an investment banker, it stars OSCAR nominee and BAFTA award winner, Chiwetel Ejiofor; Thandie Newton; Onyeka Onwenu; Genevieve Nnaji; OC Ukeje; Anika Noni Rose; Joseph Mawle; John Boyega and Tina Mba. . Details on the movie: www.facebook.com/HalfOfAYellowSunMovie

And Light Dims Too On Electrical Gaffer Pa Oni ARELY 48 hours after the demise of one of B the most important women filmmakers in Africa, Amaka Igwe, the industry has also lost an icon, Akin Oni (Sparks). The news of Pa Oni’s death was conveyed in a statement issued on behalf of the family by notable filmmaker, Tunde Kelani. The filmmaker noted that while Amaka clearly excelled in the artistic prowess of script writing, producing

shaibu70@yahoo.com

and directing, Akin Oni was an electrical gaffer, who worked with greats such as Dr Ola Balogun, Hubert Ogunde, Al Fox, Mederois, Ade Afolayan (Ade Love), John Williamson (Niger Films) and was the electrical person in most of the, early Nigerian films. Aged 81, Oni passed on Wednesday in his Mcneil residence, Lagos. Pa Oni’s son, Biodun Oni, is a sound recordist in Nollywood. Kelani noted that Pa Akin Oni would be remembered for his service to the industry and training most of today’s prominent lighting technicians currently.

No News Yet On Zuma Filmfest T doesn’t look as though the Nigerian Film IofCorporation (NFC) will host the 2014 edition the Zuma International Film Festival, which it announced, would hold from May 4, that is today, through to May 8. There seems to be nothing on ground to show it is ready to hold the biennial festival. The usual festival buzz is missing. No adverts, no information on the festival. Even Nollywood practitioners that should know are at a loss. A source who visited the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja, the proposed venue of the festival, say there is no sign that a festival will hold there. However, an inside source say the festival will still hold as announced. He disclosed that the delay in the creating the needed buzz was due to late approval, which officials of the NFC received from the supervising Minister of Information. Entries for the festival, which has the theme Nationalism and Patriotism, closed on April 30.

Upbeat Swing For Invasion 1897 S the dates for the world premiere and cineA ma runs of Lancelot Imaseun’s big budget epic film, Invasion 1897, draw nearer, the promoters of the movie are working on a number of build up to the grand premiere. Recently, the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Eheneden Eradiauwa, paid a royal visit to the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abas. The visit facilitated by the Benin Royal Dynasty Trust was undertaken to reconnect with the storyline of the much-anticipated film. The visit was also part of the move to strengthen the aged-long ties between the Efik Kingdom and that of Benin. Invasion 1897 focuses on the invasion of the Benin Kingdom by the British Empire in 1897, and how they carted away ancient artifacts belonging to the kingdom under the reign of Oba Ovonramwen

Benin Crown Prince (right) and Lancelot (behind) during the visit to calabar Nogbaisi, who was deposed and later, died while on exile in Calabar. Accompanied by some senior palace chiefs including the producer of the film, Imasuen, Prince Eheneden Eradiauwa arrived Calabar amid festivity. According to Imaseun, who is popular known as D’Guvnor, “it was a great privilege for me as a filmmaker to be on the entourage and it was my privilege to officially present the idea behind the film to the Obong of Calabar.” Imaseun disclosed that while the film is due for premiere in Benin (June), the Calabar monarch has also promised a great reception for the film in his kingdom. The film, according to him, will serve as a uniting force culturally and otherwise for the people of Benin and Calabar. “Of course, we are going to have a private screening of the movie in Calabar, before its nationwide release on October 1. The world premiere of the movie has tentatively been fixed on the first weekend of June in Benin,” he said. Invasion 1897 features an international cast, including famous British actors Rudolph Walker and Charles “Chucky” Venn, Mike

Omoriegbe as Oba Ovonrawmen and the late Justus Esiri.

NFC Condoles Igwes, Industry On Amaka HE Managing Director and Chief Executive T of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Danjuma Dadu, has expressed shock and sadness over the sudden passing on of one of Nigeria’s foremost filmmakers, Mrs. Amaka Igwe. In a statement in Jos, Danjuma said that it was indeed heartbreaking to learn of the death of this great and patriotic Nigerian whose valuable and sustained contribution to the growth of the film industry has become a reference for many Nollywood enthusiasts. Dadu said the industry has lost a rare gem, who did not only champion a paradigm shift in the provision of alternative television and film content for many Nigerians, home and abroad, but was a great inspiration to upcoming filmmakers of Nigeria. He prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul.

Alowes’ Intellectual Premium On ‘Minorities’ that they will have natural comparative advantage issuing as it were from the UCCESS could be as circumstan- disadvantage or weakness in numbers. tial as birth location. At least, in The important thing is to deploy the Nigeria, the existentiality of understanding as a strategic asset and place of origin rubs off significantly comparative tool. There are niche busion the trail of successes recorded in nesses and competitive areas they crucial industries and strategic would be quick to trounce all nonenterprises. minority, all majority competitors, The view runs radically contrary to despite what appears on the face of it as the ones popular contemporary disadvantages.” (p vii) classrooms of leadership studies Though, he drops the hint, early, that where the notion of ‘born achiever’ he is merely throwing up issues to prois often hotly contested by scholars. voke serious thoughts, reading But while scholars across the globe through his three-section book (Part 1 – debate veracity of nature lending 3), spread through 10 chapters offers helping hand in the fate of success- ample instances to establish a convicful or unsuccessful people, in busi- tion. ness, leadership, scholarship, sports Every chapter features a distinct sector and other areas, a few writers such as of Nigerian economy in which clusters the author, Jimanze Ego Alowes, are of enterprises owned by persons from not scared to wade in with clear the ethnic minorities have excelled. His thought. first chapter, which kicks off the collecAnd he makes things clear from the tion of essays in an engaging taste that outset of his treatise that in his case runs through all the publication is enti- the South-Southerners. This is by the logic and irony of being powerless and study, Nigeria, people of socio-cul- tled ‘Why and How Nigerian Media highly vulnerable group and not out tural ethnic minority roots enjoy Moguls… are All From the South-south a of their goodness… And here again the competitive edge in some crucial Minority’, captures the minorities in of the South-South wins, economic sectors. All through an southern Nigeria as adept in excelling minorities engaging span of 141 pages, in his latin media business. But he establishes and this shows up in their media concomitantly.” (p 30) est book, Minorities as Competitive the fact that the feat is not achieved by prowess He goes on to prove that the SouthOverlords, Alowes argues his cause rare or identifiable genetic endowsouth media moguls excelled because that place of origin really pushes up ment. some people while equally limiting Alowes delves into analyses of the ide- of the lack of trust among the majority the accent of others. ological tendencies of Nigerian ethnic ethnic aggregations of Nigerians in the However, he sets his premise with a aggregations which, according to him, South-west; South-east and northern Nigeria. Hence the southern minority hint that despite the fact he has a lot the media businessmen from the media bosses will continue to reign of instances to buttress his ideologi- South-south understudied and because the rest of the country would cal position the issue is more about exploitatively tapped into. possibilities than of definite stance. “Since the majority powers all want to rather trust them to be in control of In his introductory remarks he states be really regional… while pretending such a vital economic sector as the thus: “… in a Nigerian case study, the to be national just to appear… political- media than have it in the hands of people from the major ethnicities. minorities are not assumed to be ly correct, the nearest people to a In the chapter, ‘Why and How the more or less talented. The thesis is national and nationalistic group, are

By Chuka Nnabuife

Golden Deltans Dominate Nigerian Banking,’ he once more drums the “geography” konga. He states, “however, that this is not a result of any conspiracy, but a consequence of known and determinable vectors that help shape and fashion market dynamics. Or, one can justifiably say that what is going on is what we may call the sociology of market in action. And it plays out in markets as far apart as Tokyo, New York or Lagos.” The sociology of the marketplace at play, he identifies the ability of Southsouth banking buffs of Delta State origin to tactically play second fiddle consistently until they rake in the clients of bankers from major ethnicities who the populace are afraid of empowering through business. Being an independent social researcher with practical entrepreneurship experience and academic background in accounting and economics, the author should know a lot about what he dubs the sociology of marketplace. His position on the edge south-south media merchants enjoy from their minority ethnicity routs, for example, has been interrogated by people who previewed his manuscript. Some argue that his conclusion is hasty as it tends to exclude some other newspaper and electronic media men who are not from the minorities that have succeeded i n the industry. Some others reason that it is too early in Nigeria’s media history to conclude thus. Some commentators just faulted his hypothesis, claiming there is yet to be an extensive study. Some urge a deeper probe into Nigeria’s eventful media history to note many non-minority media own-

ers who excelled. While some just cannot stomach the notion. Alowes attended to the comments in the publication. “ I suspect that the concern is from the traditional study of the media as its own existent, whole and entire. Media practitioners are often deluded they are objective almost android-like in the trade. And they make no other concessions. For many of them nothing other than objectivity and market savvy influence the making of great newspapers. In their implied logic the major newspapers… are all doing well because of their professional vision and accomplishment. They cannot imagine any other outsider or outlier force at play. Perhaps, they are precociously right before the fact. After this (the book) perhaps, sociology of business analysis will be included as a standard market analysis, just as funds flow analysis currently is,” he states. He further writes: “Closer examination tells us media assets don’t grow or flourish in its own world, that it is not one separate world, except in the sense in which it is one mesh of several worlds.” Alowes, who also writes a weekly column in a national newspaper, is not a stranger to strong ideological positions. He has written two earlier books (all essays) with emphatic postulations on how to advance the social and economic state of Nigeria. But none is as novel in treatise as ‘Minorities as Competitive Overlords’. It is as audacious intellectually as it is revealing and contentious. But the meat of the whole matter is in reading all the essays or at least, most of them, and ruminating on the unifying thrust.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

48 Sunday, May 4, 2014

LAFETE BY BENSON IDONIJE benidoni@yahoo.com

All That Jazz

Miles Davis’s Kind Of Blue… Still Kicking! ORTY five years after Miles Davis recorded Kind Of Blue, the album is still trail blazing, topping the list of remarkable jazz albums. Every year since 1959, the album has remained the critics’ choice. The popularity of this album coupled with the acceptance of ‘modal’ jazz, which the music advocates both attest to Miles Davis’ ingenuity as a jazz giant. Aside from being a revolutionary discovery and an artistic feat, the album is a source of inspiration and instruction to all jazz men who care to learn: all that is required is to reach out for a reissued copy of Kind Of Blue, listen as a demonstrative training methodology to the solos of the various musicians articulated along ‘modes’ rather than ‘chords;’ and enrich your knowledge of jazz. Critics of trumpeter Miles Davis often refer to the evolutionary exploits, which found him integrating electric instruments and elements of popular songs into his music – from 1968. As a matter of fact, this experimental intervention also sparked a bitter debate among musicians, scholars and audiences (that included some of his ardent fans) about the relationship between jazz and popular music. Some even said that Miles was pandering to commercial trends, poised to dabble in hits and charts whereas he was only reaching out to new levels of creativity. He was updating jazz’s long-standing tradition of refashioning popular songs as vehicles for improvisation. These critics might have pretty well realized the fact that Miles previously took jazz to a new level with the water shed album, Kind Of Blue, ushering in ‘modal’ jazz in 1959. What they failed to appreciate was the possibility of this new wave jazz developing in various directions on the one hand, and the eclecticism of Miles Davis himself who was a rare bird and a musical introvert- on the other.

This album sees Davis return to the small group formula, but once again discarding the conventional approach. Instead of getting each musician to travel along those tram lines of the harmonic movement, this time Miles has pre- arranged things so that each soloist is thinking in terms of scales, short collections of consecutive notes which each have an emotional atmosphere. In Flamenco Sketches, for example, a 12- bar blues played in 6/8 time, all the playing is based on the creation of a sparsely beautiful modal mood. The question may arise, “Why?” And the answer is quite simple: Mile Davis hoped by these stratagems – to make it possible for jazz to continue to develop. And, it has developed in various ways ever since, even resulting in the discovery of the ‘Great Black Music’ crusaded by Lester Bowie. Flamenco Sketches may be a blues, but because the approach is linear rather than harmonic, the familiar blues sequence goes by the board. In compensation, we hear alto saxophone player, Julian Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane both breaking out of the cage of conventional cliché. The echo of folk strains is quite unmistakable, as is the sparseness of the piano backings, another characteristic of Davis’ tactics. Blue in Green, a ten-bar sequence (whose structure takes on the resemblance of Where Or When and A nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square) is a deeply affecting fragment of melancholia. Miles’ playing on this track is unmatched throughout the entire world of jazz today. All Blues is another fascinating variation on an old theme. Each soloist begins with a series of five scales, to be played on until the cycle is completed. It is interesting to notice that despite the danger of chaos in using such an anarchic method, each player sustains the mood of his predecessor, and that a Moorish overtone enters the proceedings at the same stage in everybody’s solo.

In So What?, a modal structure rather than a harmonic sequence, is used once again; and the resulting folk strains are not always necessarily Negroid. Freddie Freeloader sees Miles Davis recasting the shape of the blues. All the embellishments of modernism have been pared away until only the utterly indispensible remains.. This classic severity is the hallmark of Miles’ painful sensitivity as he devotes his attention to each single note. Apparent simplicity like this is the most complex effect any artist can strive for. It leaves him relevant for all time because he appeals to everybody. In the case of Miles Davis, this phenomenon manifested itself in the way he came across with the economy of notes where his contemporaries loaded audiences with the multitude of notes, even as they rushed them. Besides, the creativity behind the choice of notes and phrases, the tonal conception with which they were unleashed on the audience – were both evocative to say the least. The watershed, which Kind Of Blue represents in the history of jazz, may perhaps not have been as profound as it turned out but for Miles’ choice of sidemen for the recording date: On hand was the tenor player of the moment in Coltrane who was then in the limelight, competing for preeminence with the saxophone Colossus, Sony Rollins. Taking on the role of the Davis alto saxophone was Julian Cannonball Adderley who, though restrictions of the bop and bebop influenced by Charlie Parker, was revolution of modern jazz. He said now extending his ideas beyond the of Kind Of Blue, “Miles conceived frontiers of his mentor- so much that these settings only hours before the critics began to refer to him as the recording date, and arrived with ‘super Charlie Parker’. Miles had the sketches which indicated to the cream of the fifties’ rhythm section group what was to be played. men as he surrounded himself with Therefore, you will hear something pianists Winston Kelly and Bill Evans, close to spontaneity in these perbassist Paul Chambers and drummer formances. The group had never James Cobb – all of whose credentials played these pieces before the were as brilliant as the recording recording.” itself. Perhaps, the first revolution to Pianist Bill Evans’ words may suittake place was the creation of modably close these random thoughts on ern jazz at Minton’s Play House in a highly intriguing and intelligent 1942 involving Charlie Parker, Dizzy session, which, in 1959 established a Gillespie, Charlie Christian, Max landmark that removed jazz from the Roach and others. The man who

enjoyed the greatest amount of encomiums from this revolution was Charlie Parker whose extraordinary improvisational approach was easily recognisable. Then came Ornette Coleman in 1959 with the deconstruction of the Charlie Parker approach as he came forth with ‘free form’ and ‘spread rhythm’ in the guise of avant garde, influencing the likes of Don Cherry and the individualist Eric Dolphy. And it was the same year that Miles Davis got into the studio an assembly of some of the finest horn and rhythm section men of that period – to invent ‘modal’ jazz in Kind Of Blue.

Naija Street Champ: Registration Commences, First Audition Holds May 10 Stories by Daniel Anazia LL is now set for the take-off of the first edition of Naija Street Champ with the commencement of registration of contestants. According to the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, organisers of the music competition, Kayode Idowu, the project is set to begin with the official launch of the website, www. naijastreetchamp.com, and upload of the first beat to be downloaded by contestant. Idowu noted that the potential contestants would be expected to register for the audition by obtaining a login pin at any FCMB branch in Lagos for N1, 000. However, they can download the beats from the website free of charge to prepare their rendition for a chance to audition at

any of the eight locations in Lagos. “Our website www.naijastreetchamp.com is now live and active for contestant to log in, register and download the beats. We have also sealed the partnership with First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) to sell the pin in all of its branches in Lagos,”Idowu said. He said the first audition would hold on Saturday, May 10, at the Gowon Football Playground, Gowon Estate, Ipaja (Ipaja /Ayobo zone) while Sunady, May 11, is for Ketu/Ojota/Ikorodu zone. Venue of audition is Emmanuel Playing Ground, Ojota, Lagos. Idowu stated that registration would be opened until the last date of auditions. He added that participants have the opportunity to register as many times as possible to partake in more than one zone audition. At the end of the competition, the winner of the first edition of the Naija Street Champ challenge will win the cash prize of N1 million and a three-year recording deal.

School children during the festival

Day Funtaj International School Celebrated Nigerian Festivals T was a good show, laced with good performances by the talented students of Funtaj International School Ltd. The students had indeed showed pride in their nation and her heritage, as they celebrated the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and customs that make Nigeria such a fascinating and exciting country. The maiden event, which held last month, and tagged, Celebrating Nigerian Festivals, the children presented three different festivals from the three main regions of the country: the Shoro Festival from the North, New Yam Festival (Iwa Ji) from the East, and Obatala Festival from

Olumide Aka, known as ID Cabasa, is one of the producers for the talen hunt

the West. The parents and guests were not left out of the excitement as they were thrilled by the performances of the Day High School children, supported by the entertaining presentations of Primary 5 and 6 children from Funtaj International Nursery and Primary School, Asokoro, Startrite Nursery and Primary School, Apo, and Government Junior Secondary School, Asokoro, all in Abuja. In his message at the event, the Director General of the National Gallery of Arts, Abuja, Dr. Abdullahi Sabo Muku, represented by his Personal Assistant, Mr.

Chukwudubem Egbunike, emphasised the importance of educating children and involving them in cultural activities and events “so that they can learn to appreciate and respect each other, draw strength from each other and unite as a strong, cultural, diverse and dynamic nation.” The parents and guests were entertained with a wide array of mouthwatering dishes from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. Everyone went home in high spirits and looking forward to an even bigger, more flamboyant and extravagant event next year.

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Journalism. After his Youth Service at Kwara Polytechnic, Ilorin in 1986, he continued to write for Herald from 1987 to 1988. the country and he knew that getting a job would not be a problem. He later joined Insider Weekly, published by African Intercontinental in 1988. Between 1988 and 1989, he was with Thisweek Magazine. He had a brief stint with the Sunday Tribune and The Guardian before joining The African Con-

Birthdays AdETONA, Oba Sikiru Olukayode, traditional ruler and Awujale of Ijebuland will be 80 on Saturday, May 10, 2014. He was born to the family of Anikilaya Ogbagba Royal family of Ijebu Ode, his father was Prince Rufai Afetona while his mother was Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (nee Onashile). He was educated at Baptist School, Ereko,IjebuOde; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu-Ode and Ansar-Ud-deen School, Ijebu-Ode; he was at Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College, Ijebu-Ode between 1951 and 1956. He took up an appointment with the then Audit department of the Western Region, Ibadan between 1957 and 1958 and later resigned in 1958 to pursue further studies in Accountancy in the United Kingdom. He was appointed as the Awujale of Ijebuland on January 4, 1960. SHONEKAN, Ernest Adekunle Oladeinde, lawyer, politician, industrialist and administrator will be 78 on Friday, May 9, 2014. Born on May 9, 1936 in Lagos, he was educated at C.M.S Grammar School, Lagos. He also attended and received a law degree from the University of London and was later called to bar. He soon joined the United African Company of Nigeria (UAC) in 1964 and was sent to the Harvard Business School for further managerial train-

Adetona

Shonekan

Oluseye

ing. At U.A.C, he pursued a legal path, a few years after joining the company; he was promoted to the position of assistant legal; adviser. He became a deputy adviser two years later, and soon joined the board. In 1980, he was made Chairman and Chief Executive of U.A.C; he was

Chief Executive of the largest African controlled company in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a British trained Nigerian lawyer, industrialist and politician. He was appointed as interim president of Nigeria by Babangida on August 26, 1993. Prior to his political career, he was the Chief Exec-

utive of U.A.C. Member, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; member, Harvard Business School Alumni Association. He holds the traditional title of Abese of Egbaland. OLUSEYE, Olugbenga Kehinde, administrator, journalist and publisher of City People was 49 on Thursday April 24, 2012. He was born on April 24, 1965 and hailed from Ishara in Ogun State. He graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife with Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in History and political science. He also has a postgraduate diploma in

cord in 1990. With some of his colleagues, they founded The News Magazine and later TEMPO. He is a Fellow, Centre for Foreign Journalist and member, Nigerian Institute of Journalism. He has won several awards and recognition from his contributions to the society. He is the Chief Executive Officer of City People Group. Compiled by Gbenga Akinfenwa gbengaherkin@yahoo.com

Olotu Jimoh Ewhubaro and his wife Stella during their traditional marriage in Oghara, Delta State.

President, Akesan (Iperu) Club 1954 and an industrialist, Sir Kessington Adebutu and Chairman of the Club’s 60th anniversary celebrations, Sir Labi Somorin, KJW, during a press briefing/seminar organised by the Club at its Secretariat in Iperu, Remo, Ogun State.

DG, Securities & Exchange Commission of Nigeria, Arunma Oteh (left), Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and the D.G, SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Masari, during the opening ceremony of the 20th International Conference on Small & Medium Enterprises (ICSME), at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

Dr Tajudeen Lawal (left); Elder (Dr) Segun Demuren; Ms. Victoria Otubu (who just got married); Elder (Prof.) Joseph Otubu; Elder (Dr) Israel Akinadewo at the wedding ceremony of Ms. Victoria Otubu, in Lagos ...last week.

Managing Director, Powercell Limited, Tayo Balogun (left), Country Manager Designate, ABB Nigeria Limited, Talal El-Assaad, Director, Powercell Limited, Dr. Olusegun Odejayi, and Country Manager, ABB Nigeria Limited, Nitin Desai, during the IT Managers' interactive forum/ launch of ABB UPS in Lagos.

Tribute Kevwe, I Wish You Were Here… AdAM Florence sobbed, M shaking her head in anguish as she looked at the picProf. Adegeye (left), Pastor Seyi Oladimeji, Pastor Dele Johnson, Senior Pastor of Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry( CLAM), Pastor Bukola Oladiyun and Dr. D.K Aboderin and his wife, Mrs. Aboderin at the Clam Soteria farm presentation held in Lagos.

National Sales Manager, Personal Care, Fareast Mercantile Co. ltd, Jacob John (left), Regional Sales Manager, Amarjeet Singh, Managing Director, Ceeto International, Cosmos Ezeino, Business Manager, West Africa, Wipro-Unza Oversees Limited, Vishal Manwani, and General Manager, Fareast Mercantile Co. Ltd, Anil Menon, during the Enchanteur Dealer Forum & Prize Distribution Ceremony at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos.

ture of her late son, Kevwe Theodosius Kohwarien. “I am still waiting for your return, one year today, I have not heard nor seen you. Where is my son? I wished you were here Kewve,” she wailed. When ends life’s transient dream, when death’s cold sullen stream over me roll; I wish you were still here to help me out to tell me the wrongs from the rights, to shine some light on the dark days, to give me advice when I need it, to give me hugs, when I miss your dad to make me feel better, when I feel down. I wish you were still here

I miss you Kewve, my son, I love you son, Kewve forever and always Kevwe was born on the April 6,1973 to late Chief Thompson and Madam Florence Kohwarien. A graduate of International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, believed in possibilities. “You can do all things

through Christ that strengthens you,” he would always say. He rose to an exalted position of Business Partner Manager in IBM. To the mother, “My son stood for the truth. He was a promising young man who died at the Redemption Camp during the 2013 Holy Ghost service.” Kevwe was married to Mrs Oghogho Kohwarien and was blessed with two children. He was an active member of Redeemed Christian Church of God. No doubt, this God fearing, vibrant and peacemaker ran the race and made it to eternal glory. If we had one wish, it would be for you to still be here with us but we know you are better of in eternity. May your light continues to shine, for we have no doubt that you are with the Creator. — Madam Florence Kohwarien.

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Between Joy Ogwu And The Abuja Mess AST week was in many ways the story of the Nigerian woman. In New York, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Joy Ogwu, rounded off Nigeria’s first presidency of the Security Council during our current membership. A Security Council presidency is difficult enough for any country, including four permanent members, who have round-the-year access to abundant resources in their UN Missions and their capitals. It is difficult enough when there appears to be no ripples in the waters of international peace, the Secretariat is providing solid professional support, and the home country is committed. But then there are those months, such as Ogwu’s April 2014, when a situation such as in Ukraine froths over; a hopeful Middle East peace process falls apart; and the situation in several other countries demands close attention. That would demand and command intense and continued briefings and consultations, and a casual examination of the Council’s programme of work shows that the ambassador had her hands full during the month. Anyone who follows international politics would have noticed, for instance, the Council’s urgent meeting on Ukraine on Sunday, April 13. To Nigeria’s credit, she presided with composure and excellence, and enjoyed the admiration of everyone. And then there are those months when the situation in the home country of the Council president shifts to the fore, and from bad to embarrassing. On April 14, just hours after the Council’s midnight meeting on Ukraine, a bomb was detonated in Nyanya, near Abuja, resulting in 70 dead and 200 injured. Soon after visiting the scene, with condemnations of the blast coming from all over the world, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan made his infamous dancing visit to Kano. The following day, news also broke of the abduction of hundreds of school girls, presumably by Boko Haram, in Borno State. The image of President Jonathan celebrating his political supremacy in dance side by side with bombings and abductions immediately

became part of the Nigeria story. I suspect it became part of the Ogwu story as well. It had to be considerably frustrating to be serving your country with all you have and all you are, knowing the entire world is critical of your government. Let us be clear: Nigeria is not on the agenda of the Security Council, meaning that at no time during the month could Ogwu have said a word in her national capacity about the situation in Nigeria. But Nigeria was on the lips of all throughout April, as members of the international community expressed concern that Nigeria was doing so little in response to the violence and abductions. The UN Secretary General, the UN Children’s Fund and UN Women issued statements. As the outrage grew, at least 20 countries, including several members of the Council, published travel bans and advisories. The Security Council itself on April 14 condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable. It is to Ambassador Ogwu’s credit, from which every lonely Nigerian painfully serving our troubled country may draw strength, that she completed her tenure as President on a high note, with three open debates in her last six days. Back in Nigeria itself, the response of Nigeria’s most prominent women was worthy of close observation. Two weeks after the abduction of the Chibok girls, and as mothers wept everywhere, First Lady Patience Jonathan had expressed no concern. Nigeria’s most prominent government official, Economy and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had said nothing. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Petroleum Resources Minister, had said nothing. PDP National Woman Leader Kema Chikwe praised Jonathan for his leadership. And then the Chibok mothers, grieving as much over the abduction of their daughters as the ineptitude of their government, showed up in protest in Abuja. They visited the National Assembly to submit a petition, and were promptly told that some Senators

would be meeting with the President that evening on the issue. As official complacency mortified everyone and the month came to an end, protesters took to the Internet and to the streets of Abuja, chanting, “Bring Back Our Girls” or “Bring Back Our Daughters.” In one of the demonstrations in Abuja, a former Minister and former World Bank chief, Oby Ezekwesili, spoke with passion and in tears. She later lamented on Twitter that she could not get out of her ears the words of one of the Chibok mothers who repeatedly questioned why the abducted girls and their families had been abandoned by the government. Where was the government? Actually, as I have often said, there isn’t really a government, only a semblance of one. Within that husk, President Jonathan was preparing for a World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa meeting, scheduled to begin in Abuja this week. He was assuring world leaders that Abuja would be safe for the event, although he did not have a reassuring presidential word for the abducted, the wounded or the mourning. Anywhere else in the world, the First Lady might have been shedding tears for the abducted girls. Not Patience Jonathan. Okonjo-Iweala was silent through April. On May 1, as the international outrage reached her, she wrote on Twitter: “Heartbroken and angry over our girls. Difficult for any parent to understand or to bear. I totally get the frustration and share it. But I’m led to believe that careful action is key and ongoing so as to safeguard our girls. Let us pray for God’s grace in their return.” Alison-Madueke did not have anything to say. She was working on self-preservation, trying to persuade a judge to prevent the legislature from investigating allegations she squandered N10bn in private jet rentals. On Twitter, mercifully, Ezekwesili had a few choice words for the Petroleum Minister. “Whoever advised the minister of petroleum resources to abuse the judicial process

sonala.olumhense@gmail.com Twitter: @Sonala.Olumhense

and avoid the public accountability she swore to uphold despises her.” she wrote. “By permitting a minister to avoid public accountability, is the Federal Government now transparently declaring the death of its anti-corruption efforts?” Nobody was providing an answer to that question. The country’s ruler was preparing for that WEF conference, and as May arrived, it was clear that his concerns were far away. “Nigeria is not a poor country,” he said, celebrating May Day. His justification included: • “Nigerians are the most travelled people. There is no country you go that you will not see Nigerians.” • “The GDP of Nigeria is over half a trillion dollars and the economy is growing at close to seven per cent.’’ • “Aliko Dangote was recently classified among the 25 richest people in the world.” • “If you talk about ownership of private jets, Nigeria will be among the first 10 countries, yet they are saying that Nigeria is among the five poorest countries.” This mindset illustrates why the Ogwus are an endangered species in Nigeria, and why our prospects, including those of the abducted girls, remain very gloomy. Hours after Mr. Jonathan made that speech—perhaps in response to it—Nyanya was bombed again for the second time in two weeks, further evidence that Boko Haram is only a symptom. The disease is in Abuja.

Challenges Of The Contention Over Religion By Bernard Mbah ELIGION has continued to be a contentious issue since the emergence of the Nigerian nation, about one hundred years ago. It was therefore not surprising that it became a matter of concern during the early days of the sitting of the National Conference in Abuja; to the extent that tempers rose and complaint made on the composition of membership premised on religion divide. However, thanks to the voices of reason among the delegates, particularly the leadership and some respected elders, the situation did not go beyond voice raising. This is a clear indication that all hope is not lost that this conference might help address the Nigerian nation’s hydra – headed problems as the delegates can argue, disagree and finally agree for the common good of all Nigerians. Without doubt, this conference packaged by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is another opportunity for Nigerians, represented by the delegates to decide the fate of our dear country, and its continued existence as one united nation irrespective of religious, ethnic, social status and socioeconomic differences. Therefore, tempers rising occasionally should not be a surprise throughout the duration of the conference. However, one simple truth the delegates must know, learn to accept and abide with is that religion will always be a contentious issue and point of friction as long as the Nigerian nation exists. But equally noteworthy is the truth that religion can never divide Nigeria, because the existence of many religions in the country, especially the two major ones – Islam and Christianity is by divine act. However, what should be the primary concern of the delegates at this gathering is the issue of moral decadence, which has gradually become a cankerworm in all facets of life in the country. Thus, instead of the Moslems and Christians fighting over religious differences, they should unite to promote the cause of good morals and sustenance of our traditional and cultural values. This is because, the two religions abhor

immorality, therefore, their faithful must form a common front to fight this vice, particularly the alien culture of abortion and homosexuality Homosexuality and abortion and related indecent acts are alien cultures of the western world being presently foisted on Africa, generally, in the name of social development and exercise of fundamental rights by the gay or lesbians who practice this immorality which is inimical to the integrity of the human person and a debasement of the act of creation by God. It is therefore a sin. We salute President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the singular courage of being on the side of life and the people by signing the anti Same Sex Bill into Law; thereby upholding the integrity of the human person and African culture of values of life. However, the western world and its multi National foundation organizations that are the promoters of Gay life and its allied vices are not relenting in the attempt to force Africa to imbibe this alien culture as a way of life, in return for financial and socio-economic life support. Nigeria is a prime target of this promoter of the culture of death, for obvious reasons. There is therefore the need to galvanize, educate and mobilize all Nigerians to protect the integrity and age long culture of our value for life. We must unite to fight Gayism, Abortion and other anti-life vices that form the culture of death, which has become a way of life in the western world. This is the reason for our struggle — The Nigeria For Life Campaign Team. Nigeria For Life is an indigenous response to what we firmly see as Euro-American globalization of the culture of death through legalization of abortion and homosexuality. The former is a criminal act against an unborn soul and sin against God who has the absolute right to give and take life; while the latter promotes the extermination of the culture of pro-creation as ordained by God – an act only possible through the relationship of man and woman in marriage. Homosexuality is the worst depravity since the creation of mankind. The mission of Nigeria For Life is to promote the holistic well being of individ-

uals, families and communities by means that are ethical, culture sensitive and equitable whilst upholding the dignity of the human person. The programme is to mobilise and strengthen Nigerians to resist the pressure of the promoters of this culture of death, who in concert with their cohorts in Nigeria would want to use even diabolical means to achieve their goals under the guise of development and promotion of individual fundamental rights. Working with youths and other groups all over the country, we aim to empower the Nigerian people and create awareness on issues concerning the attempts of the western world at legalizing abortion in our country along with the promotion of homosexuality and gay marriage. The government has provided the legal basis through the antisame-sex Law to protect our country, the unborn child and the life of all Nigerians; but there is need for all Nigerians to do more. There is therefore the need to educate our people about the culture of Life and the civilization of love. Christianity and Islam promote love, peaceful co-existence, sanctity of marriage and life; and not the culture of death as represented by abortion and homosexuality. Therefore, the task before the faithful of the two religions at the on-going National Conference is not the promotion of parochial faith differences but the upholding of the moral and valuebased teachings of the two religions in respect of protection of life, which are also acclaimed by our cultures. They need to be guided to a deeper awareness of the Culture of Life as a counter-cultural antidote to the ant-life forces. We need to uphold the sanctity of our cultural heritage of the sanctity of life and dignity of human sexuality as values of our faith and culture. This is the ultimate goal of the Nigeria For Life Campaign Team – a culture of saving Nigeria and Nigerians from the claws of the promoters of the culture of death, whose ultimate goal is the re-colonization of the African continent. Dr. Mbah Is National Coordinator, Nigeria For Life Team Campaign, Abuja.

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Trouble With Waisting S

PELL-CHECK killed one of the pleasures of newspaper reading for Mr. Trouble. Reading newspapers around the world is a theme that Mr. Trouble hoped to write a study for prosperity, no, posterity, as soon as he finished his present travels in the lands embraced by the rivers Niger and Benue and their tributaries. In the West Indies, the pleasures of reading newspapers centred on the ex-colonies pretending to be part of the home counties of South-West England! And in the United Kingdom, reading newspapers takes you to the days of empire when Britain was Great Britain and the sun did not set on the empire. It was like watching a garden snail aspiring to filling the empty shell of a giant African snail, not in the future, but long ago, in the past. The language is pompous, even bombastic, and the illusions involved stupendous. Alaba is a skinny 14-year-old who hung around the hotel where Mr. Trouble stayed. Alaba had attached himself to Trouble from the first day when he noticed that he had piles and piles of newspapers in his room. Trouble had looked at him and after he had said his name said, that means you are Yoruba, the last of a set of children, at least four, whose birth and future are determined by twins or more. Am I right? Alaba shrugged his bony shoulders and answered that he did not know the meaning of his name, only that his immediate elder brother is called Idowu and would have been so called if it was a sister and his twin brothers are Taiwo and Kehinde. Making four, jumped in Mr. Trouble, I am right! And your name, Trouble? Are you the first of a line of troubles and its synonyms – like dilemmas, plights,

predicaments, difficulties, quandaries, scrapes, worries, distresses? My young friend, don’t even go there! Where did you learn all these words? I didn’t learn them. I grew up with them. Nigeria taught me all the synonyms of ‘trouble’. It is a pleasure to meet the man in person! Can I have the newspapers? What do you want to do with them? Read them? They are stale news by now. You don’t understand. Vendors sell what is printed on the papers. We, Fendars, sell the papers on which the news is printed. We are not interested in the content. We want the containers! Trouble looked at Alaba with a renewed sense of respect. Fourteen years and all these . . . ? Why are you not at school? Because school is a waste of time. No, not school. Education is a waste of time! But education is the only means we have to eradicate poverty! That’s a lie, shouted Alaba. You have no respect for your elders, responded Mr. Trouble. You are not a well-brought up Yoruba child. You don’t call your elders liars. Even when they are? So, we go through life telling unthruths because we do not wish to call our elders liars? Please count me out! Can I have the papers or not? Okay, why is it a lie that education eradicates poverty? This is topic that is close to my heart. . . began Alaba. Yes, prof I’m all ears, Trouble says in his mind but does not voice because, who knows, Alaba might think that he was making fun on him. The elders also used to make us sing that education without cutlass and hoe and caterpillar was incomplete education. All lies. Education without infrastructure is a waste of time. And in Nigeria, where the abandonment

of infrastructure projects is the order of the day, You could say that I am a hunter of new words education is useless. Those who need it see its and new phrases for old ones. That would be uselessness. Those who do not need it, the chil- putting it mildly. I like to smile over phrases dren of the rich and privileged, get it. Of what such as to ‘wreck havoc’ and wonder how a jouruse is education without electricity, without nalist would use a phrase with which he or she water, without roads, without bridges, without is not familiar. Instead of ‘wreak havoc’, interland transport, without sea transport, without rupted Alaba. Words and phrases, in any lanair transport? Why do you read so many news- guage, are like human beings, objects which we papers every day, anyway? learn to recognise when we meet them in perTrouble began a re-assessment of Alaba. He is son. So, if your journalist has never met ‘wreak skinny, bonny, underfed. His face is thin and havoc’, he would call him ‘wreck havoc’. But it is narrow. It seemed as if his features struggled to not journalist alone. The other day I saw a huge find space on that open, clean face. Eyes playing poster written by university teachers calling on games, trying to see each other, ears which the government of the country not to ‘toil with’ Alaba could twitch as he wishes. Trouble had education because it is the nerve centre or whatnever met anyone who could twitch their ears. ever of life. Instead of ‘toy with’, corrected Alaba, How do you find which muscles move the ears. with a twitch of left ear! Of course, you can have His nose was snub, small, as if to make space for the newspapers. Why do you disrespect your the other items. And his lips were full and smil- elders? Because they tell lies and they live lies ing. His forehead was broad and hanging over but I want to hear more about your hunting in his face. He wore a tattered pair of jeans and a the newspapers. What else have you found? At blue and beige dansiki of tie and dye. Do you first Trouble hesitated but then, why not? What read a lot? I was born in a library. And you live in does this one mean – to “waist money” as in the library? How did you know? Anyway, waist? Very simple, answered Alaba, – to pay for answer my question. I have answered all your sex is to waist money! questions. Why so many newspapers every day?

Politics Of The Nyanya Bombing By Ikeogu Oke OVERHEAD an interesting conversation in a business centre in Abuja the week after the April 14, 2014 bombing at Nyanya, which reportedly claimed seventy-five lives and injured many more. The conversation was between two ordinary Nigerians, a man and a woman, and their dialogue provided part of the stimulus for this piece. The remaining stimulus came from the report of someone who telephoned to inform me of the deadly explosion, as I was out of town when it happened. Incidentally, the bombing has been ascribed to the Boko Haram Islamist sect, which has reportedly accepted responsibility. The conversation in question centred on the atmosphere of insecurity – and terror – precipitated by such attacks, launched with explosives, guns, etc., the latest of which was followed by the reported abduction of some 230 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno State, by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, insurgents whose activities are perhaps the greatest threat to the peace and unity of our country since the Biafran war. In the middle of the conversation, the man, wearing a mournful look behind which I could discern the contemplation of scores of dead and injured persons being borne away in ambulances from the scene of the blast to either hospitals or mortuaries and realising that, as the saying goes, “There go I but for the grace of God”, had asked the question: “But why are they killing people like this?” The woman replied with a question that could only have been rhetorical: “Isn’t it because Jonathan is in power?” She then added in an affirmatively tone: “They don’t want him in office! They don’t want him to rule!” Then, the report I received after the Nyanya explosion, from an acquaintance who lives a few kilometres from the motor park where it reportedly went off from a “red Mazda car” in which the bombs were allegedly planted, was that shortly after the explosion she heard passers-by saying: “Jonathan should leave. Jonathan should leave.” And then she added: “I wonder why their first reaction would be to call for Jonathan to leave rather than condemn the attack.” Clearly, the attack has further exposed the type of dangerous place to which some people want to turn our country – where grisly and untimely death perpetually stalks ordinary citizens

JAW JAW By Didi Onu

going about their normal businesses, unmindful of the political interests which, I insist, underlie such deadly attacks. And the two anecdotes I have shared above hint at such political interests, which I believe are mainly to blame for the seeming failure of our government to defeat the insurgency. Elsewhere I have expressed the view – in diagnosis of the disease of this political component to the survival of the insurgency – by stating that the insurgency now smacks of the use of terror and violence as tools of political blackmail to dissuade President Jonathan from running in the 2015 election or, should he still choose to run despite our county having apparently become “ungovernable” owing to the seeming reign of unmanageable terror, Nigerians would find it expedient not to re-elect him. So what we have witnessed recently in Nyanya and other places as attacks by Boko Haram insurgents can be summed up as a disguised power struggle being waged with naked and ruthless violence, and whose main strategy is to induce terror in our citizens and the potential electorate in the 2015 presidential election. I believe that those who fashioned this strategy may have thought that, following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the death (in detention) of Chief M. K. O. Abiola, its acclaimed winner, some forces from his part of the country, galvanised by the Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC), apparently used their political activism that threatened the peace and unity of our country to create the situation that ultimately led to the emergence of a man from their part of the country as President. They may also have thought that the violent political activism of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) contributed to the subsequent emergence of a Nigerian President from the Niger Delta, as pacification for those behind the campaign. So what the Boko Haram sect has metamorphosed into, I think, is a response to such strategies once used by others from different parts of the country, by those desirous of using terror to force the hand of franchise and democracy in their favour, believing that those others had successfully done so in the past. This, to me, explains why, as my acquaintance noted in my second anecdote, some people, in aftermath of the Nyanya explosion and the death and injuries it brought to so many, would react by muttering “Jonathan should leave…” rather than condemn the atrocity as

clearly inhuman and reprehensible. Indeed, the “weakness” of a President or the security apparatus under his tenure – whether the “weakness” is real or imagined – cannot be a justification for the mass murder committed through the Nyanya bombing. But the detractors of President Jonathan who blame the “worsening” of the Boko Haram attacks on his “weakness” and the “inadequacy” of his administration’s efforts to combat the insurgency would rather think otherwise. And one of them, in a curios post on social media recently, reacting to the reported threat by the insurgents to kill the abducted girls in their custody if the government’s search for them continues, said all that was happening because “our government has been sleeping”. I listen to such reactions for any strain of condemnation for the kidnap of the schoolgirls – which the Senate President, David Mark, has rightly described as “sacrilegious” – and I hear none; and I am astonished by how politics might have debased the humanity of some of our citizens, men and women who would rather gloat against the government for its “inability” to prevent the murder or kidnap of their fellow citizens and their children, than respond to the humane imperative to condemn such acts, apparently because they serve their political ends. People who blame the intractableness of the Boko Haram insurgency and the protracted captivity of the schoolgirls on our government having been “ineffective” seem to forget that the Chibok case is not the first time schoolchildren have been abducted by criminal elements during the Jonathan administration. They seem not to recall that, while kidnappers imposed a Boko Haramlike reign of terror on the southeastern part of our country a few years ago, they once hijacked a busload of schoolchildren. Then the same government as we have today took the necessary step to successfully free the captives and quickly deployed measures that soon ended the menace of kidnapping and the attendant terror. If the same situation has not repeated in the case of Boko Haram and the Chibok abduction, then there must be something lacking that is not necessarily about will or ability on the part of the government. I believe it is the full cooperation of all our compatriots some of whom, influenced by their political interests, would rather not see that national security is the responsibility of all citizens. Oke, a writer, poet and public affairs analyst, lives in Abuja.

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GRASSROOTS

Okun People Decry Marginalisation KOGI From Kolawole Timothy, Lokoja HEN Kogi State was created on August 27, 1991, the Okun people, who were then in the old Kwara State, were filled with joy, believing that their hopes, aspirations and expectations would be achieved in the new state. The Okun are Yoruba-speaking people and they inhabit the western part of the state, which consists Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba West, Yagba East, Mopa/Amuro and Oworo in Lokoja local council areas. Over the years, however, they might have discovered that things are far from what they expected from successive governments in the state, as resources and political appointments were allegedly not shared in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice. Among others, they complained that their counterparts from the Igala-speaking area in the eastern senatorial district hold the juiciest of appointments. This development prompted stakeholders of the Okun and Oworo, under the auspices of Okun Development Association (ODA), to pay a visit to the state governor, Idris Wada. Perhaps, to show the gravity of their visit, the chairman of Okun Traditional Council and Obaro of kabba, Oba Michael Olobayo, and many traditional rulers from the area were in the delegation. The Okun people presented a 15-page paper to the governor. It contained details of their alleged marginalisation, and proposed solutions. A former health minister, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, delivered their petition. It reads: “Your Excellency, we have disturbing facts and figures about the way our state is going, and as responsible stakeholders, we agreed among ourselves that we should, before anything else, meet with you and share the information with you. We are aware that some of the situations we are presenting today did not just arise in the past

two years. “Some of them have developed and festered over the years. However, Your Excellency, it is to you that God Almighty and the people of the state, through their votes, have committed their destiny, at least over the next two years. For now, the buck passing stops at your doorstep and the power to redress the situation lies with you. “We came to Lokoja, believing strongly that Your Excellency wishes to promote the advancement and socio-economic uplift of the entire citizenry of the state in which the Okun people constitute invaluable and principal actors. And given the considerable level of frustration of our people, a forum like this would provide the governor a veritable platform for a clearer perception of their feelings and accord our people their proper role, engendering patriotism in the interest of greater harmony and cohesion in the state.” Lambo said: “Kogi State is built on three pillars of East, Central and West senatorial districts. These are like the engines of a large aircraft. A good and experienced professional pilot like you (Wada) knows that it is only by keeping all the engines working at optimal level that smooth and safe flight could be assured.” He noted that since the advent of democracy in 1999, no Okun person has ever been governor of the state; no Okun citizen has been a substantive Accountant General or Permanent Secretary. He stressed that the numerical strength of Okun people in the work force of the state government and in the education sector, has continued to decline. He said for example that out of a weighted total of 293 political appointments by the government of the state, the Igala people in the East senatorial district had the lion share of 166, Central (Ebira and Ogori/Magongo) 51 and Kogi West 71, stressing that this amounted to 56.6 percent

Wada for the East (Igala) senatorial district. In the civil service as at 2013, the work force had ballooned to 35,209 as against 19,806 in 1991 when the state was created. Out of this, Kogi East (Igala) had 24,621, about 70 per cent; Kogi West (Okun) 6,519, almost 19 per cent; while Kogi Central (Ebira and Ogori/Magongo) had 4,069, about 11 per cent. He explained that these fig-

YEDI Adopts Ebute-Metta Community To Combat Malaria Scourge EBUTE METTA By Gbenga Akinfenwa OWARDS the eradication of malaria, a major public health problem in Nigeria, the Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI), has adopted Ebute Metta community, Lagos in the fight against malaria through its advocacy and community mobilisation, free health care services and distribution of free Insecticides Treated Nets (ITNs) programme. Part of the advocacy efforts includes an annual grassroots football tournament themed: “Kick Against Malaria”, which held on Thursday at Evans Square, Yaba, Lagos, with football teams from the community, who competed for honours,

to create more awareness on the need to prevent malaria in the society. This was part of activities marking the 2014 World Malaria Day, with the theme: “Invest In The Future. Defeat Malaria”. Instituted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2007, it is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustain political commitment for malaria prevention and control Since it started three years ago, YEDI, a non-profit organisation with focus on educating, empowering and inspiring the development of children, youth and communities, has always adopt one community each year with the focus on creating awareness and prevention of malaria, HIV and other dis-

eases through the use of soccer. While speaking with The Guardian, the Executive Director of the group, Anuoluwa Ishola said malaria has become a risk for 97 per cent of Nigeria’s population, with an estimated 100 million malaria cases in the country, with over 300, 000 deaths per year, with gross effect on infants, children and pregnant women. She stressed that the disease is directly contributing to poverty, low productivity and reduced attendance in schools, adding that despite the rigorous efforts of the nation’s ministry of health and international partners, the nation is still seriously plagued with the deadly disease, owing to serious challenges.

ures show that while the relative share of the Igala and Bassa people in Kogi East senatorial district shot up consistently, that of the Okun/Lokoja/Kotonkarfe group stagnated for a while, before it began to dwindle dangerously. Lambo added that in the directorate cadre of the civil service, out of 637 positions, Kogi East (Igala) had 318, Kogi Central had 124 and Kogi West (Okun) had 195, noting that the case is the same at the Kogi

State University, as no Okun person had been appointed vice chancellor since its establishment, and that only Igala people had been occupying the office. This, he said, is the same with the office of the registrar, librarian and director of works. On the state of security in the area, the spokesman of the association informed the governor that Okunland is the most insecure in the state, saying, “armed robbers are on perennial prowl on all the roads that lead to Okunland from Lokoja, banks are incessantly robbed with many left dead and money looted, to the extent that virtually all banks are shut to customers on a near permanent basis.” On the way forward, the Okun people urged the governor to take bold and urgent steps to correct lopsidedness in the distribution of political office, such that all parts of the state are made to have a sense of belonging. They implored the administration to take steps to halt the continued decimation of Okun and Oworo people in the civil service and that qualified and competent Okun and Oworo indigenes in the service be appointed into positions commensurate with their training and experience. The Okun people also charged the state government to pay attention to the revival of decayed infrastructure in all parts of the state, address the issue of unemployment among the youth and increase government presence through the establishment of cottage industries. In his response, Idris Wada promised to look into the issues raised by the Okun people. He set up a committee to be headed by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, who is a son of the area. Wada assured that he would address the alleged marginalisation the moment he received the report of the committee, adding that all segments of the state, irrespective of tribe, religion and political differences, would be carried along under his administration in terms of sharing of available resources and top government positions.

Observers are of the view that in order for Wada to count on the blessing and support of the two senatorial district of Kogi West (Okun/Oworo and Kotonkarfe) and Kogi Central (Ebira and Ogori/Magongo) in future elections, he must carry out a serious restructuring of the state and make all groups have a sense of belonging.

Insecurity: Suswam Tasks NCC On Negative Postings On Social Media BENUE From: Joseph Wantu, Makurdi. ENUE State Governor, Gabriel Suswam has urged the Nigeria Communications Commission, (NCC) to beam its searchlight on the social media, to control negative images, as a measure aimed at mollifying the growing security challenges facing the state. In a statement made available to The Guardian, signed by his Senior Special Assistant, Mr. Gadafi Asemanya in Makurdi, he regretted that some persons have resorted to spreading falsehood using the social media to create panic and cause residents to flee their homes, so as to create room for them to steal their property. Asemanya also expressed worry that despite the relentless efforts by Governor Suswam at ensuring an end to the crisis, some people were bent on frustrating the efforts, and implored them to stop negative tendencies for peace to reign in the state. The governor’s aide said the present security situation in the state has reached a level for all well meaning Benue people to collaborate with the state government to find a lasting solution to it, rather than rely on antics of some people. He further urged the youths to continue to be law abiding and report all suspicious movements to the law enforcement agencies for drastic action.

FRSC Presents Food, Other Items To Orphanage Home to show them love, care, and also to support their welfare From Tina Todo, Calabar and growth. I want to advise N its bid to celebrate the the children to always see life United Nation’s safety week as a gift from God and to alin a special way, the Federal ways strive to be good citiRoad Safety Commission zens,” Nwachukwu said. (FRSC) donated foodstuff and Nwachukwu assured the toiletries to an Orphanage children of the commission’s Home, Infant Jesus Orphanage commitment to always reHome in Calabar. member them in its activiThe items which include 20 ties. cartons of noodles, five carWhile acknowledging the tons of juice, soaps, biscuits gesture, Rev. Sister Epiphaina and others, were presented to Evuleocha, who is in charge the home by the Cross River of the Home, owned and Sector Commander, Mr. Al- managed by the Catholic banus Nwachukwu, who Archdiocese of Calabar, noted that the gesture was thanked the commission for part of the commission’s hu- such gesture, adding that, it manitarian service to the is not an easy task to raise needy in the society. children, who hail from dif“This donation is part of our ferent homes and backlove for the children; we need

CROSS-RIVER

ground. She stressed the need for provision of more accommodation for more children, saying the present space within the building could not accommodate more than 22 children, pleading with government and private organisations to come to their aid. “We have 22 children in this home, it has not been easy taking care of them, but I must say that I appreciate all the efforts of those who have donated cash and material items to the home. We still have accommodation problem that is why we have only 22 children here. I am appealing to the government and private organisation to come to assist us.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

56 | Sunday May 4, 2014

BUSINESSAGRO Ogun Plans Massive Investment In Agriculture, Urban Development By Fabian Odum and Gbenga Akinfenwa OWARDS the re-positioning of Ogun State as T the largest industrial base in Nigeria, government is embarking on massive investment in Agriculture and Urban development to attract more investors. The state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun who made this known On Tuesday at a Press Briefing held in Abeokuta, to announce the second edition of Investors’ Forum, said the two areas are essential for the state to be an industrial hub. He noted that the areas, which are part of its five cardinal point would take the state to industrialisation, saying agriculture, a veritable tool for economic development, would create wealth for the state to feed its people and create

employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths. “To succeed as a state, we must be investors driven. It is obvious that government should not be in the business of business, but providing enabling environment, which we have done. “When we came in our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was N730 million, but gradually we crossed the N1 billion, N2 billion and N3 billion mark monthly. Before the end of the four years, we should hit N5 billion. We are beginning to grow the economy of our state with the benchmark of over N4 billion. We are the largest industrial based state, no state has made that,” he said. The governor stressed that the state is focusing on Agriculture, to encourage its farmers in the area of rice, cocoa and palm oil and also its

investors, to look inward and get their raw materials from within the state. He disclosed that most investors are now recognising that the state is the destination of sort, an opportunity, which they have been exploring by relocating to the state. While disclosing that the Investors Forum would hold between Wednesday, May 21 to Thursday, May 22, 2014, he called for active participation of all investors, assuring that the urban development mission would encompass security that would attract more people to the state. The former President of Mexico, Mr. Vincent Fox, is expected to be the keynote speaker, while other experts across the cross would be part of the disAmosun cussants.

Tackling Crisis In The North Through Agriculture From Joke Falaju, Abuja HE security challenge in the counT try can be reduced, at least in a measure, using the tool of commer-

cial agriculture like is now being established in parts of the north. Though the people of Doma Local Government Area of Nassarawa State, specifically Rukubi Community have had their fair share of the crisis, ranging from robbery attacks to incessant attacks by the Eggon and Agatu Fulani herds men, succour has come as a massive rice cultivation project has commenced in the area. This is due to the establishment of Olam Commercial Rice farm, owned and operated by a Singapore-based company in the village is making the difference. The farm has not only created employment for many of the villagers and other surrounding community, but also reduced insecurity in the area to the lowest ebb. Abdusallam Amnena, a liaison manager said “attacks by the herds men

on the village use to be very serious, before now, I dare not stand where I am now because I will not reach home to tell the story, but today Olam has changed everything, security and employment is now guaranteed in our village.” Adaguso Zakari, a block manager also told journalists that for a long time, the eegons and Agatu Fulani herdsmen have been disturbing them; they burn down houses, destroy our farmland, and once night comes, you dare not move around, because they usually kill people almost on daily basis in the village. But it has drastically reduced since the farm came. Another women farmer, Deehi Joel confirmed the attack saying, “Whenever the herdsmen attack, we usually run to the farm, because we know that security is guaranteed in the farm. Zakari appealed to the government to help find a lasting solution to the crisis, so that they can continue their farming business in one

piece. The Community Leader, Ikushunta Adih also told The Guardian that Olam has not only helped improved security in their community but has

created lots of employment for more than 70 per cent of the villagers, “we can now afford to build our own houses because of the employment platform provided by the farm. We

don’t pray that they leave because if they do, it will spell doom for us. I know they will need more land for CONTINUED ON PAGE 57

African Farmers Demand Access To Land, Credit Facilities By Kamal Tayo Oropo HE voice of farmers need to be T heard to leapfrog agricultural transformation in Africa,” says Director of Programme at the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, (NEPAD) Agency, Mrs Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong. Speaking at a consultation Forum with farmers’ organisations in Addis Ababa recently, on the side-lines of an Agriculture Ministers meeting, Mrs. Fotabong said that NEPAD values the relationship and engagement with farmers and wants to ensure that there is space for them to contribute to policy making.

The meeting brought together, representatives from Civil Society Organisations as well as the Pan African and Regional Farmers Organisation (PAFO and RFOs) to ensure that farmers drive and are at the centre of Africa’s transformation agenda. Representative of the Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), Mary Afan, lamented the absence of base facilities like land, improved seedling and credit facilities. President of PAFO, Mr Bagna Djibo, said that despite the progress made in agricultural development in the past 10 years, there was need for inclu-

sive and coherent governance so that stakeholders can participate in the formulation of policies. Martin Bwalya, Head of CAADP at NEPAD said that the Programme is just as valid today as it was in 2003 when it was established, and that smallholder farmers are an engine for economic transformation ought to be supported to enable them become a source of wealth. The Forum agreed that policy makers should take into account the challenges faced by small scale farmers, when making important decision on agriculture. Issues raised by farmers will be included in the final document of the Agriculture Ministers meeting.

Sunday May 4, 2014 57

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Global Banana Trade under TR4 Disease Threat BuSINESSAGRO By Fabian Odum (with Agency reports) LTHOuGH banana has A remained farmed as a subsistence crop, in many African countries the Francophone West African countries like Cameroun has turned it into a source of foreign exchange. It has done this by leveraging on existing relation with France, but Nigeria, a subsistence grower could step up the cultivation for export in spite of the recent spread of banana disease, Fusarium wilt TR4. In a release, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) described it as the world’s most caustic banana disease, caused by the Tropical Race 4 strain of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (TR4), through Asia to Africa and the Middle East. Following this, the organisation has called on countries to control movement of infected soil and planting materials. The call was recently made through the World Banana Forum (WBF) of FAO, aimed at establishing a sustainable banana value chain. Banana according to FAO Statistical- Database (FAOSTAT) is the eighth most important food crop in the world and the fourth most important crop amongst the world’s least developed countries.

According to world body, “TR4 is a growing concern for the industry as it infects and destroys Cavendish banana plants (a cultivar subgroup originating from Vietnam and China), once present it cannot be controlled by common chemical or cultural management practices. In its advisory to various countries on how to step up monitoring, reporting and prevention of this disease, FAO said the TR4 strain, also known as Panama disease is

serving as a grave threat to production and export of the fruit, with serious repercussions on the banana value chain and livelihoods. Accentuating the rhetoric, Gianluca Gondolini Secretary of the World Banana Forum (FAO) underscored the fact that any disease or constraint affecting bananas, would virtually be striking at an important source of food, livelihoods, employment and government revenues in many tropical countries.

According to the release, the potency of the disease, a plant Pathologist at FAO, Fazil Dusunceli said that the spread of Fusarium wilt banana disease can have a significant impact on growers, traders and families who virtually depend on the banana industry. He added that there is the need for timely action if the worst-case scenario, which is a massive destruction of a large amount of the world’s banana crop, is to be avoided.

Agriculture As Recipe To Tackling Crisis In The North CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56 rice farming by the time they start milling, and we will gladly provide them with it.” The minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has been at the fore front clamoring on the need to create employment through agriculture, to buttress his point the minister created a separate department for youth and women in agriculture in the ministry, but since its creation what we have being hearing is just policy statement as the government is known for, they are yet to transform the policy into action. What we are witnessing in Olam farm represents what the country could achieve but has failed to thus far. The rate of unemployment in the country keep increasing, so also is insecurity in the northern states that is gradu-

ally spreading to the south. Former President, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) recently said unemployment in the country was like sitting on a time bomb, which may explode if care is not taken. The need for the federal government to collaborate more with the private sector in the establishment of more companies in the northern states to create more employment in the in the zone cannot be over emphasized. The community leader, who was taken aback with the situation in the country pointed out that if government could replicate the project in 10 locations with similar kind of operation, government would not only achieve self sufficiency in rice production but all engage many jobless youths in the rural areas in few years from now. Olam farm according to the General Farm Manager, Regi George employ not less than

1000 people on a daily basis. He said initially when they arrived, the foreigners were the ones doing the excavation work, but now, they have trained some of our boys on how to use the machine. They have also engaged our boys in their mechanical workshop, and provided employment opportunity for our unemployed youths. He said what they are expecting from Olam farm was to provide them with road, water, schools, health care centres, electricity among things that would make the community habitable for all of them, stressing the need for the farm to set up a committee made up of the villagers and company, so that it would serve as a platform for them to discuss the progress of the farm and the village. While urging the federal government to place a complete ban on the importation of

rice, he noted that if a replica of the farm is established in each of the geopolitical zones of the country, Nigeria would not a cause to import rice from any foreign country. It is rather unfortunate that since 2011 when Olam farm commenced operation in Rukubi, five hours drive from the capital through narrow paved dirt roads and tracks that become almost impassable during the rainy season, government is yet to provide necessary infrastructure environment for the company in spite of its contribution to the well being of the crisis torn village. George appealed to the government to construct the 90km road that link the farm to Lafia metropolis and provide them with electricity as the farm is run daily on generator. Olam farm according to a youth farmer in the community taught them on the improve method of cultivating rice so as to get increase farm yield. He said they have been cultivating only about three hectares of farmland, that gives them a yield of 2-3mt per hectare but today, with the help of Olam, 20hectares can be cultivated with an improved yield of 45mt per hectare. Olam International Limited, one of the leading players in the global rice trade, involved across the entire value chain from origination to distribution, is seeking to make the transformation agenda a reality. Its Nigerian operation, Olam Nigeria Limited recently adopted a production model endorsed by the Rockefeller Foundation. This model is poised to deliver 16,000 tons of rice annually by 2018. This rice nucleus model involves the combination of a central commercial farm with an outgrower scheme that engages the efforts of local rice farmers. The scheme would kick off in May 15 and Olam will purchase the rice cultivated by these farmers at prevailing market rates.

Cassava Can Generate Greater Income Than Crude Oil IGERIA depends on crude oil for a large chunk of its national N income which supports the entire population one way or the other. Employment opportunities in the sector are farfetched and sometimes unavailable, but Segun Adewunmi, pastor, and President, Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria affirms that the crop and its value chain has the potential for massive employment and economic growth. What makes cassava such a big crop to draw the attention your association is giving it? Cassava is that wonderful crop that provides numerous local food varieties to the Nigerian people. Foods derived from cassava include Gari, Fufu, Lafun, Tapioca, starch and many others. Cassava is also a raw material for Ethanol, Industrial Starch and Cassava Flour. These three items are raw materials for a number of utility products with limitless domestic and international market potentials. Cassava can trigger industrial revolution in the country, with every Senatorial District having viable Cassava processing factories engaging millions of Nigerians in Cassava farming and processing. What role can Cassava play in diversifying the economy and reducing the nation’s dependence on oil? Oil provides over 80 per cent of the revenue for the country. Recently, there are indications that the reign of oil as a revenue source for Nigeria will soon end, as oil is increasingly discovered in large quantities along the West African Coast. Besides, countries like Brazil, Columbia, Thailand and several others now power their automobiles with fuel-grade ethanol, a renewable energy. America, the major market for Nigerian oil has discovered more oil and is drastically reducing her dependence on imported oil. You have taken the gauntlet to lead a revolution with the crop. How has the Government responded to ensure the goal of diversifying the economy with Cassava as a tool? I commend President Jonathan for appointing Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as the Minister of Agriculture to pursue these policies. I must also commend Dr. Adeshina and his team, for Cassava initiative. It has actually taken us above the ordinary to the extra-ordinary. In years gone bye, it costs the average Nigerian farmer about N12, 500 to produce a ton, while his South African counterpart produces the same ton at just N2, 500. Now with the Growth Enhancement Support, the situation will improve tremendously and in the shortest distance, we will be at par with our counterparts across the World. Towards this end the Government plans to embark on the clearance of 545, 000 hectares (ha) of cultivable land across Nigeria. This will consist of 5, 000 hectares now, 125, 000 before September 2014 and 370, 000 ha between October 2014 and April 2015. This is where the Growth process ends and the Goal Enhancement takes over in the Agriculture development programme of the present administration. How does this affect agriculture in general and Cassava farming in particular? The cost of Cassava will drop drastically, bringing it to par with what is obtainable across the globe; the private sector is encouraged to acquire tractors and other equipment for mechanisation. Banks can easily grant loans, Cassava processing factories will be established due to the availability of the raw material, graduates youths can easily embrace Cassava farming and processing, while a solid foundation for Commercial Farming has been laid. Investors think about Return on Investment. Why do you think an entrepreneur should put his money into Cassava farming or processing or how does the average Nigerian benefit from this initiative on the long run? The Government has mandated the flour mills to install 10 units of 240mt Cassava roots per day between now and February, 2015. It will collaborate with investors to install 20 units of 240MT Cassava flour factories between now and February, 2015. Our Organisation intends to also install ten 240mt cassava roots factory industrial starch and 240m mt cassava roots for ethanol. Cargill and other renowned cassava processors have also concluded arrangements to install various cassava processing factories across Nigeria. This means flour, ethanol and industrial starch will consume over 20 million in a year. In the same vein over 10 million tons of cassava chips will be required by the international market. An average farmer will make about N123, 000 per ha and you can imagine what this will amount to with 10 ha or more. These explain the limitless opportunities from the Cassava sector for investors. What is your Organisation doing or intend to do to ensure that Nigerians buy into this opportunity? The Nigeria Cassava Growers Association has requested for corporate farmers that will coordinate Youth Empowerment through cassava schemes. Cassava production will be based on a tripartite arrangement involving farmers, off-takers and the banks. Cultivation will be financed by the Banks, and payments for the cassava roots supplied will be made through the Banks, from which the farmers profit will be deducted and paid.

Adewunmi

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

58 Sunday, May 4, 2014

NEWSPEOPLE By Gregory Austin Nwakunor and Anote Ajeluorou ORN in a settlement at the banks of River Nun, lived almost with fishes, but was befriended by the sounds of books echoed through the streets, that’ the story of Gabriel Imomtimi Gbaingbain Okara, the son of an Ijaw chief. On Thursday, April 24, the venerable writer was celebrated as part of events of the assumption of Port Harcourt as the World Book capital. Held at the Hotel Presidential, the event was anointed with patina of celebrity, academics and the aged including Professors Wole Soyinka, JP Clark-Bekederemo and Alagoa. According to Okara, he feels so happy celebrating his birthday. Pa Okara, who walked in without a stick, was clear and sonorous in his speech. “I’m grateful to God for good health and strength,” he breathes in a soft voice. Talking about the secret of his longetivity, Pa Okara was metaphoric. According to him, “in some drugs, there is an expiry date. Same for food. However, what defines a man’s ability to last for a long time is based on beliefs. He says, “what we think in our mind affects us. Mine has no expiry date.” Going biblical, the venerable writer says, “God made man in His own image and likeness... Does God go sick and does God ever die? You’re His image and likeness, therefore, you will not go sick. It is all in the mind.” He continues, “what you think you are, that’s what you are going to be. You work hard towards it, no short cut.”

ELLING his childhood story almost in poetic manner, he says: “I grew up with the water, fishes and trees. I attended Government College Umuahia where I was introduced to literature. We were compelled to read one book per week and to make presentations to teachers afterward. From there, I developed the passion for writing. I was in Gambia for sometimes. I also did printing press in Lagos. I was in the civil war and also had opportunities to go for all manners of training within and across the world. I won many awards in the civil service including that of Rivers State and national honour of OON from the Federal Government. I am happy to take part in the celebration of my 93rd year on the planet earth. I am grateful to God for good health and for strength even to climb up this high step of this podium. I appreciate all my friends.” He continues, “I am driven not by fame or money, but by share desire and pleasure for writing. Sometimes I write on what makes me angry as well especially in my poetry.” He used the forum to explain what motivated him in his The Call of the River Nun. “I was in Enugu when I wrote the book. The concept of the poem came to me when I climbed to the top of the hill and watched the insects, the soldier ants, in group, carrying their loads. I began to wonder on such a territory and such preservatives manouvres these insects were demonstrating. Also, I thought about my childhood; how different was the atmosphere in the Creek compared with my new abode at Enugu? I began to think about my life journey in the River Nun. I remembered my early childhood. The Call of the River Nun may be described as a poem of remembrances, desire to live freely without any fear, without any enemy. I remember all that happened in the decade that you might have achieved,” he says. Though he started his career in writing as a playwright but he later dropped the idea. Why did he quit? He has this to say: “I cannot remember any more. It proved to me that I was on the wrong path of my creative writing. I discovered that poetry was my calling. I also wrote short story.” The young writers in the house wanted to know under what influence does he write? He told them all: “Comedians are the most serious people. They make you laugh but are serious and collected. They invent situation to make you laugh. Poets are not made to write when they are drunk especially with Ogogoro. Some writers may be inspired by taking alcoholic drinks, but not all. Some are drunken and brave in battlefield. Some may be inclined to drink; others don’t, so it is in creative writing. They make people, sometimes, to weep and sorrowful. They express this through their writing. Some sing and some play music.” At the early stage of his writing, what occupied his mind before he wrote? Politics? “What a writer does depends on what happens in the society. Politics and reactions generally especially the impact such action or change has on him. I keep on saying that a writer or a poet can’t just stop writing. He writes because he wants to express his feelings. Those who are familiar with classical music use that to enter-

The Bard @ 93...

Celebrating A Journey In Words and before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War worked as Information Officer for the Eastern Nigerian Government Service. His most famous poem is Piano and Drums. Another popular poem, You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed, is a frequent feature of anthologies. Okara is very concerned with what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is faced with modern Western culture, as in his poem Once Upon a Time. He pursues that theme in his novel The Voice. Its protagonist Okolo, like countless post-colonial Africans, is hunted by society and haunted by his own ideals. He says, “what a writer does when he writes depends on what is happening around in the society. He writes because he wants to express himself and in the form he knows best.” In addition to his poetry and fiction, Okara has also written plays and features for broadcasting. Many of his manuscripts were destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War. A largely self-educated man, Okara became a bookbinder after leaving school and soon began writing plays and features for radio. In 1953 his poem The Call of the River Nun won an award at the Nigerian Festival of Arts. Some of his poems were published in the influential periodical Black Orpheus, and by 1960 he was recognized as an accomplished literary craftsman. Okara’s poetry is based on a series of contrasts in which symbols are neatly balanced against each other. The need to reconcile the extremes of experience (life and death are common themes) preoccupies his verse, and a typical poem has a circular movement from everyday reality to a moment of joy and back to reality again. Okara incorporated African thought, religion, folklore, and imagery into both his verse and prose. His first novel, The Voice (1964), is a remarkable linguistic experiment in which Okara translated directly from the Ijo (Ijaw) language, imposing Ijo syntax onto English in order to give literal expression to African ideas and imagery. The novel creates a symbolic landscape in which the forces of traditional African culture and Western materialism contend. Its tragic hero, Okolo, is both an individual and a universal figure, and the ephemeral “it” that he is searching for could represent any number of transcendent moral values. Okara’s skilled portrayal of the inner tensions of his hero distinguished him from many other Nigerian novelists. During much of the 1960s Okara worked in civil service. From 1972 to 1980, he was director of the Rivers State Publishing House in Port Harcourt. His later work includes a collection of poems, The Fisherman’s Invocation (1978), and two books for children, Little Snake and Little Frog (1981) and An Adventure to Juju Island (1992). Together with Chinua Achebe, and at the time of the Nigerian Civil War, Okara was roving ambassador for Biafra’s cause during part of 1969. His poetry appeared in Black Orpheus and major anthologies for many years, before the publication of his first colOkara lection, Fisherman’s Invocation (1978; Commonwealth Poetry Prize, 1979), which is partly based on the Ijaw oral tradition. The several languages. The common language is people. In villages, those who live with old Voice (1964), a short novel which experiments English. If you want your writing to be read ideas can easily be influenced by those who with rendering Ijaw speech patterns into and appreciated outside your enclave, you speak foreign languages like English. If we English, made a great impact in its depiction have to write in English language. While don’t revive and keep alive that aspect of our of the doomed ‘hero’ Okolo, a charismatic doing that, you have to give some sacrifices culture, we will lose our identities and we and prophetic figure, undergoing to your culture too. will join those people who have lost their Kafkaesque trials in his quest for truth and “In Ijaw, when you say somebody is afraid, culture. I hope we will be civilized as I do integrity (it) in the modern world. you say the person has no chest because we myself,” he says. believe it is the chest that gives courage to HE world rose to sing a birthday song to struggle for livelihood. If someone has no ORN in Bomoundi in the Niger Delta on celebrate the sage and was embraced by chest, it means he is a dead person or can April 24, 1921, he was educated at his friends. Professor Maduka of the someone live anatomically without a chest? Government College, Umuahia, and lat- University of Lagos presented a book on the This symbolises the kind of life people live in er at Yaba Higher College. He studied joursymposia that have been held in honour of riverine area. You have to fight and struggle. nalism at Northwestern University in 1949, the celebrant, saying he was the first writer to be honoured with the honorary Doctorate degree of Letter by the University. Okara cut The concept of the poem came to me when I climbed to the top of the hill and 93rd birthday cake in the company of watched the insects, the soldier ants, in group, carrying their loads. I began to won- his Soyinka, JP Clark, Port Harcourt World Book der on such a territory and such preservatives manouvres these insects were Capital Project Director, Koko Kalango, Molara Wood who represented President demonstrating. Also, I thought about my childhood; how different was the atmosGoodluck Jonathan and members of his famiphere in the Creek compared with my new abode at Enugu? ly.

tain too. But most importantly, it is the expression of feelings.” Okara also declared his stand on indigenous literature and the need to protect African culture. “In what language do you read? Is it the language of your colonizers? Language grows up with the culture of the people. You are known and identified by the culture of which you are nurtured and in which you grew up. So, in Nigeria, we have

Bravery, strength is embedded in ones heart. Without bravery, you cannot live in those days. I have to write the way I did to maintain certain elements of Ijaw culture in the story. The language that is not used vanishes. If you don’t reflect in the language of your expression, some elements of your culture will soon disappear as we find in this country. those who speak English are mechanised

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, May 4, 2014

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FOREIGNNEWS Rescuers End Search For Landslide Survivors Financial Shifts Put Spotlight On AFGHANISTAN ESCUERS in Afghanistan have R given up hope of finding any more survivors in a double landslide that is feared to have killed more than 2,500 people. They have stopped digging through the earth and mud that swamped a whole village in the remote north-east province of Badakhshan on Friday. Officials now say the site has become a mass grave for the village of Ab Barik. Aid, including tents, food and water, has begun to arrive for the survivors.

They spent Friday night camped out in near freezing conditions on the open hillside. BBC David at the scene, described it as desolate and distraught as the surviving villagers try to settle in to their temporary new homes on the hillside. He said heavy rain is believed to have triggered Friday’s two landslides, the first of which buried hundreds of homes and the second then killed rescuers who had arrived at the scene to help reach survivors. Attempts to dig through the thick mud to find survivors continued into yesterday, with people using

shovels and even their bare hands. But the last of the diggers had given up by later on in the day, realising their efforts are futile, says BBC correspondent. “We cannot continue the search and rescue operation anymore, as the houses are under metres of mud,” provincial governor Shah Waliullah Adeeb said. “We will offer prayers for the victims and make the area a mass grave.” The landslide buried around 370 homes, which officials say housed in total some 2,500 peo-

A Pro-Russian activist sits in front of policemen guarding the burned trade union building in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa… yesterday. More than 30 people were killed in a "criminal" blaze in Ukraine's southern city of Odessa, as violence spread across the country during the bloodiest day since Kiev's Western-backed government took power. Ukraine's interior ministry said at least 31 people had died in the fire Friday, with local media reporting that pro-Russian militants were believed to have been in the burning building at the time. PHOTO: AFP

Deadly Blast Claim Six Lives In Mogadishu T least six people have been A killed in a bomb explosion in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Islamist militant group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack, targeting the vehicle of a prominent former government official, who was killed. The number of attacks in Mogadishu has increased in recent months. Many have been blamed on alShabab, which has lost ground to government forces in recent years

SOMALIA but still controls many southern rural areas. The blast took place near the city centre’s “Kilometre 4” district, close to the Turkish embassy. It was unclear whether the explosives had been attached to the vehicle or placed on the roadside and detonated by remote control.

The official who died was named as Abdikafi Hilowle, a former secretary for the city’s administration. Al-Shabab’s military spokesman, Abdiaziz Abu Musab, told news agencies that the alQaeda-linked group had carried out the attack. Policemen and civilians were among the dead, officials said. Somalia has been ravaged by constant warfare since 1991,

Russia Sympathisers Vent Anger At Odessa Deaths UKRAINE RO-RUSSIA supporters in the P Ukrainian city of Odessa have voiced their anger a day after 42 people were killed. Friday’s clashes culminated in a major fire at a trade union building where most of the deaths occurred. Hundreds of people gathered there yesterday. The protest comes as Ukraine says it has seized a security building from rebels in the east of the country. Seven international monitors held by pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine were released earlier. US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, have again spoken by phone about the crisis. Mr Lavrov urged Mr Kerry to put pressure on Kiev to stop its military operation, which he said risked “plunging the country into a fratricidal conflict”. Kerry said Moscow should stop

backing the pro-Russian separatists. Both men also discussed the possibility of greater involvement by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in trying to find a solution to the crisis. The violence in Odessa was the most serious in Ukraine since February when more than 80 people

were killed during protests in Kiev against the ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. Groups sympathetic to Russia, some armed, are reported to have attacked a larger protest against separatism. Skirmishes between the two groups then broke out in several parts of the south-western city.

Opposition Urges Delay To Elections THAILAND HE leader of Thailand’s opposiT tion has called for elections scheduled for July to be pushed back by up to six months. In a 10-point package of proposals, Abhisit Vejjajiva said the prime minister and her government should resign, allowing an interim cabinet to oversee a referendum on reforms. A government minister has rejected the proposals as unconsti-

tutional. Thailand has been in political deadlock since anti-government protests began in Bangkok in November 2013. Ms Yingluck’s government announced the July 20 polls after a previous snap election in February was declared unconstitutional. The ruling Pheu Thai party had been expected to win the February vote. However, the opposition boycotted the polls and protesters disrupted voting.

Social, Environmental Impacts Of Large Dams –– Researchers By Kamal Tayo Oropo HREE big shifts in flows of finance have rendered recent efforts to limit the environmental and social impacts of large dams marginal, say researchers, who urge the backers of new dams to adopt the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol to ensure safeguards are in place. The call comes at a key point in the story of large dams. In January the US Congress decided to prohibit US funding of them. Last month, researchers at the University of Oxford published a report that said most large dams do more economic harm than good. Meanwhile, disputes continue over large dams being built in Brazil, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. The real issue, says Jamie Skinner of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), in a statement to The Guardian, is whether it is possible to build dams to mitigate climate change AND deliver environmental and social outcomes. “The answer is yes,” says Skinner. “We have experience on how to do this, but there is often no specific obligation on developers to do so. They understandably want to reduce costs, so they focus on the easy bit, the concrete and the power lines, and usually only meet the minimum required for mitigation in national standards. The challenge is about where to aim in terms of delivering multiple benefits, such as local development, not just ‘clean’ energy and mitigation of climate change.” In a paper published on Thursday by IIED, Skinner and Lawrence Haas show although changes in how dams are financed pose new risks, there are cost-effective approaches to mitigating them. “The environmental and social impacts of large dams drew such attention in the 1990s that the dams’ main backers – major bilateral and multilateral donors including the World Bank – first improved their investments in social and environmental protection and later withdrew support for dams,” says Skinner, principal researcher at IIED. “Today these players finance only 5-10 per cent of new dams, so although their standards have improved over the past ten years they do not have a major impact globally.” The paper identifies big shifts to the ways dams are financed that have weakened social and environmental safeguards. For example, China has boosted dam construction at home and increased finance for dams in Africa, Asia and Latin America, but has not accepted the recommendations made by the World Commission on Dams in 2000 for mitigating social and environmental impacts. Also, international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have created new sources of finance through the global carbon market. The European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme is a major source of this funding but EU rules for screening new projects are weak and allow developers to self-assess potential impacts which are not then monitored. While, rising costs of oil and gas have made dams a more attractive investment opportunity for private banks, but few — especially in Asia where many dams are planned — have adopted the Equator Principles, for assessing and managing environmental and social risk in project finance transactions. Skinner and Haas urge these sources of finance to use the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol to identify and limit the environmental and social impacts of dams. “As it costs just US$60,000 to US$100,000 to perform, the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol is a very cost-effective approach in a sector whose project budgets can exceed US$1 billion,” says Skinner. The protocol was created in 2011 by a forum of experts and institutions representing industry, governments and NGOs. It uses 23 criteria in an independently certified assessment and monitoring tool that is currently the most effective way to assess an individual dams’ sustainability, according to the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams. “The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol has many advantages,” says “Lawrence Haas, a former team leader in the World Commission on Dams secretariat. “It provides a numerical and visual output. It is done by an external certified assessor according to methods agreed by a multidisciplinary forum. And it can be reviewed and modified as new approaches arise, routinely informing decisions on whether to support dams, and how to manage of environmental and social impacts.”

Abbott Drops Indonesia Trip Amid Asylum Boat Reports AUSTRALIA USTRALIAN Prime Minister A Tony Abbott has abruptly cancelled a planned visit to Indonesia, sparking criticism from opposition politicians. He was due to meet Indonesia’s president next week, in an apparent bid to improve ties between the countries. Relations had been strained by Australia’s reported policy of turning back boats carrying asylum seekers from Indonesia, as well as a spying row. Reports say Australia has intercepted another boat, angering Jakarta. Indonesia insists that sending back boatloads of asylum seekers, known as tow-backs, violates its sovereignty. Mr Abbott had been expected to

attend the Open Government Partnership conference in Bali, at the invitation of Indonesian leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, early next week. However, his spokesman told the Australian Associated Press (APP) on Friday that “the attempt to make a trip to Indonesia has been postponed, but we are hopeful of finding another date soon”. No reason was given for the cancellation but Australian media said the decision was due to the current operation to turn back an asylum boat. An “on-water operation” was taking place that could cause “embarrassment” to Indonesia, ABC news said, citing government sources. The West Australian reported that customs officials were rushing to block an asylum boat spotted in Australian waters.

60 Sunday, May 4, 2014

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INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

OTUKOYA: Nigeria Yet To Have Functional Bilateral Trade Relations With Angola Mr. Folorunsho Olukayode Otukoya is Nigeria’s Ambassador to Angola. He resumed office in August 2011 and recently hosted the country’s delegation to the just concluded, first ever, African Ministers of Health Meeting in Luanda, Angola. He spoke with journalists on his experiences so far. CHUKWUMA MUANYA reports. How is life in Angola? ELL! I will say so so. Definitely you can never compare anywhere to your home but I am grateful to God that here in Angola I am representing my country and I enjoy the confidence of Mr. President and the honourable minister. What is the population of Nigerians in Angola? On our books we have about 4,300 Nigerians living in Angola. Legally? Well we don’t go into that because we are not the ones that declare them legal or illegal, it is the business of the government of Angola. But as far as we are concerned any Nigerian here regardless of the status is our charge. I will only discuss their numbers not their status. How is the relationship of Nigerians living in Angola with the government, the people; any friction? Well in any society you are bound to have challenges. The common challenge of Nigerians here has been International Passport issue, because the E-Passport has no provision for renewal. Once you use it for five years you are supposed to get a new one. Meanwhile in Angola the Embassy here is not a Passport issuing office. You have to go to Johannesburg, South Africa or ask for Intervention Team from Abuja to come and help our citizens. Thankfully we have a very understanding Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, who last month sent four of his officers to Luanda and stayed for two weeks. In the exercise we were able to capture about 300 Nigerians who needed to have their Passport revalidated. Under the Angolan system you will not be given a Visa if your Passport is less than one year valid. So even if you have a Passport that will expire in December and you are asking for one year Visa from Angola they will not give you. They will want the Passport to be valid till 2015, so that creates a problem. If it was possible now that Immigration Service is talking of a new series of Passports, I believe that they should include ability to renew so that when you get your Passport, any Nigerian Mission can renew it for another five years. Right now the E-Passport has no provision for renewal and it is a challenge for a lot of our people. What is the situation of bilateral trade between Nigeria and Angola? The volume is unrecorded officially, but it is a lot. Most of our traders here deal in auto spare parts. They go to Dubai, China and bring in goods. So that will not be a trade between Nigeria and Angola. But household things like detergents, foodstuffs, and some beverages like made in Nigeria Milo or Guinness stout are sold here. Nigerians bring them in. I don’t know how they do it; many of them combine together and bring in a container load of these things. Of course you see Star lager, you see Guinness stout, you see Omo in the market. So in essence you are saying there is no bilateral trade pact between Nigeria and Angola? There is, but it is not being used. We have bilateral economic relations agreement but it is not being used. We don’t have like the Nigerian Association Of Chamber Of Commerce Industry Mines And Agriculture (NACCIMA), sending things or Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), bringing things in as Nigerian producers. What we have are individuals who go and buy things. Angolans go to Lagos, go to Jankara market buy things and come back to resell. Though we call it unrecorded sale but it is going on. Are you making any effort to activate a proper bilateral trade between the two countries? Well maybe because of the long years of war. Immediately after Independence in 1975, Angola went through 27-year civil war. So from 1975 to 2002 it was virtually no government to trade with or talk to. But the people needed things so individuals took initiatives to source for these things that are needed without the government

being the one saying okay lets have a joint chamber of commerce. But that will change soon because in June we are going to have a Joint Commission Meeting here in Angola, where many other agreements will be signed. We are now thinking in terms of prisoners exchange. If a Nigerian offends in or an Angola offends in Nigeria, if convicted instead of serving the jail term in Nigeria he can be taken to Angola where he can be near to his people. We are also talking on collaboration at the political level. We are talking of assisting each other in the field of politics, education, and science. Before 1992, Nigeria was having this technical core agreement where we were sending teachers and nurses and engineers to Angola to help them. But when the war intensified after 1992 we had to suspend that arrangement. Now we want to revive it. It is one of the things we shall revive in June. You were talking about prisoners. How many Nigerians do we have in Angola prisons? The last count when we did census in December we had about 15 Nigerians. What are their offences? Majority of them are guilty of immigration violation. Either over staying their Visa and a few drug-related. I think one particular case was fraud, the use of Credit Card. But majority are immigration related offences. What is the Embassy doing about these cases? We visit them. We arrange, because the judgment will say deportation or go to jail for one year after which you will be deported. So we have a very strong community association. They raise money and buy ticket for the person to go home after serving the term. We visit them regularly to provide them with soaps, detergents, slippers and few things that they say they do not have. We go there regularly. We have also reached an understanding with the Prison Authorities that whenever any Nigerian is in detention they must let us know. Most Nigerian Embassies around the world have peculiar challenges. What are your pecu-

liar challenges and what are you doing about them. Also, what are your achievements? I don’t want to assess myself but I think the facts will speak for themselves. We have done so much. Thanks be to God, since I came here in August 2011, at least we have done one thing that is on record. We have a direct flight connection between Lagos and Luanda. When I was coming here in August 2011 it took me two days to get here. I had to go through South Africa. When I got to South Africa I did not know it was winter. It was very cold and the heating system at the airport was shut down because they said they were saving power, but before I knew it I was catching cold until I now sought for help and bought a jacket. I went to the VIP Salon. But it is not everybody that will have the facility to do that. You either came in through South Africa or through Addis Ababa, which will take you three days or through Kenya, which takes two days. But with the arrival of Arik Airline, in December 13, 2011, it now takes two and half-hours to go to Nigeria. It is not only direct, it is cheap, you feel at home because you are being driven by your own people and you are also flying a national airline. So it is a thing of pride that has happened. Last month, we were able to get the Angolan government to grant a third frequency. This means from next month, May, Arik will be coming to Angola thrice a week. So this is good for Nigeria, this is good for West Africans; this is good for Angola-Nigeria relations because your turn around time is now shorter. So it is going to lead to more people to people exchange, more exchange of goods and perhaps more awareness between the peoples of the two countries. Like I said Nigeria was the first country to establish an Embassy in Angola after Independence. We opened this place February 1976 and that is why the best and longest road in Luanda is named after the late Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed. Our relation with Angola has been cordial

and warm. Once in a while we may have little misunderstanding but not disagreement. For example, on the issue of Guinea Bissau, we all know she is a member of Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS), they had a political problem and ECOWAS was actively engaged in trying to solve the problem. But Angola felt as a member of Committee of Portuguese Speaking Countries that they have a role to play. So they sent in helpers who now became trapped. Well thanks to Nigeria’s intervention, those troops they sent were able to leave Guinea Bissau without any harm. Since then we have come to a lot of understanding. Last month we had a special envoy from Mr. President who visited Angola to deliver a message to their President. During our Centenary celebration in February, the Foreign Minister, leading a nineman delegation represented Angola. So, by and large I think the relations are good. There are many areas of improvement. For example if we can have a Presidential visit either way; either the President of Angola visit Nigeria or President Goodluck Jonathan visits here. That will be wonderful but President Jonathan, when he was Vice President in November 2008 visited here. He was here for a week, which was well noted by the government. We have had ministerial visits. What did it take for you to secure a permanent residence for the Nigerian Embassy in Luanda, Angola? You know Angola used to be a communist or socialist country. So at the beginning when they got their Independence, in order not to create vacuum in the town after the colonialists had virtually abandoned the country and ran away, the embassies that came were not given land to build. They were given the vacant houses and in exchange those countries also gave Angola houses in their countries. Over the years we have been trying to have the original document to the houses, but we now realized that in most of the cases the government had no access to those papers because the owners ran away with the papers or burnt the papers. So they created new papers. But recently the government now passed a law to say anybody who brings papers claiming a house will not be given the house but will be compensated. They invited us to now apply for Title Deeds for the houses, which is good for us because it means now that we can rebuild the house, we can change the shape, and we can develop it to our taste. Before we used to live under the fear that one day they may come and say leave this house and move to that one. Each time you spent money you are feeling you are spending money on somebody else’s property. But now that fear is gone. Secondly we have now got a new Chancery, bigger. I took the Minister of Health there. We should be moving there by June because rent is the greatest challenge to any Mission in Angola. If we were to be renting this building it will not cost us less than 50,000 dollars per month because we are in the highbrow area of Luanda, like what you call the Ikoyi of Lagos or the Asokoro of Abuja. The cost of property is on the high side. The simple reason was that after the war ended a lot of people who had been in the bush came to town and anything you wanted once you have the money you don’t negotiate, you just buy it. But government is aggressively building houses, although they are very far from town, just like when government opened FESTAC in Lagos. We used to travel to go to FESTAC, but now FESTAC is inside Lagos. I remember when we got to Abuja, Lugbe and Kubwa were far, but now with the opening up of the roads you wont know when you get there. I think that will happen to Angola sooner or later. Are Nigerians living in Angola relevant to the scheme of things? Let me describe it this way. Nigerians are law abiding, they are peaceful, they are enterprising, they are longsuffering and they are conscious of where they come from. Majority of our community, as I told you, are traders dealing in motor spare parts and perhaps food items. They often attract the Angolans’ jealousy when they see the Nigerians that just came into the country thriving. They try to undo them by asking for Nigerians’ Resident Permit. If you don’t have, they threaten to report you to the Immigration.

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INTERNATIONAL POLITICS Lessons For African Leaders From MAKINWA: Why UNFPA Country Reps Don’t stay Long In Nigeria Berlusconi’s Jailing By Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor

FTER being embroiled in a string of court cases for years, Italian former prime minister, the 77-year old billionaire Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered by that country’s court to do community service in a home for the elderly. The sentence followed his conviction last year for tax fraud in connection with the purchase of TV rights by his firm, Mediaset, in the 1990s. He was actually spared prison in the Mediaset case because the Italian legal system is lenient to Septuagenarians and above. Diplomatic watchers think the tribunal’s ruling could have been worse. The alternative to the community-service sentence would have been house arrest. Italian media reports say Berlusconi is likely to work one half-day a week at a home for elderly and disabled people near his estate outside Milan. In fact, the Ansa news agency last week identified the home as the Fondazione Sacra Famiglia, a church-run centre with 2,000 patients. The old man always denied the charges against him, accusing left-wing judges of a witch-hunt aimed at neutralising him as a political leader. But the accusations never ceased. Last year he was convicted of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and abusing his powers, which brought him a lifetime ban from public office. Berlusconi was subsequently expelled from the Italian Senate and is still appealing against the underage sex conviction, in a trial known as the “Ruby” case. Now, there are lessons to be learnt from the conviction of a man of his stature, who dominated Italian politics for nearly 20 years. One of these is that Berlusconi will be subject to a curfew and banned from meeting people with criminal convictions, whilst everyone in Italy, Europe and the rest of the world is keenly following his soft jail service with interest. Is he being politically persecuted? Not likely. It seems the long arm of the country’s law caught up with him. Does he still have his human and other rights intact? Yes. He is still leader of Forza Italia, the main conservative opposition bloc, although he is barred from standing in the coming European elections. But when is the world going to ever see leaders in Africa being brought to book for crimes (and they are so many in sight) committed while they wielded power? The lesson of Berlusconi’s conviction is the deterrent factor as well as its symbolism pertaining to the war against corruption, which must be sent whenever there is need for such. And if there is a consensus that there is a need for such signals being sent out consistently by States in Africa, why doesn’t this happen as often as the regularity of public office abuse suggests? What we have seen especially in recent times are few and far between. These include the life jail for former Egyptian Prime Minister

Mr. Bunmi Makinwa, former Regional Director (Africa) of UNFPA, told KAMAL TAYO OROPO why UNFPA country Representatives don’t last long in Nigeria

What led to your sudden exit at the UNFPA? HIS is a very relevant question and I would have been surprised if you did not raise it. The truth is that my exit was not sudden. It is a long story. One of my goals in life was to retire early from nine-five jobs and do something else that interests me greatly. Initially, I had thought that I could retire from regular work at the age of 40, no matter where I worked. Yes, a little naïve and idealistic and it did not materialize. Then I aimed for 50 to 52 and then I had started working for the United Nations, only to find out that age 55 was most significant in the retirement scheme of the UN because it qualifies one for significant benefits, especially health insurance. Age 55 found me running for the position of Executive Director of my then organization – United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as the candidate for Nigeria and for Africa. The rest is history. At the end of the objective, and given the peculiar circumstances that accompanied that situation, I could not quit my job immediately. At a decent time, in May 2013, I made the decision to go on early retirement. And speaking of exits, your country, Nigeria has witnessed dramatic exits of country rep. What is responsible for these sudden departures, the fourth consecutively, from the country? This is another very good question. Unfortunately, I do not work for the UNFPA any longer. I am not privy to what you called secondment of the current UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Victoria Akyeampong, to Central African Republic. Although the recent events in CAR have been heart wrenching and terrible, Nigeria has real need for someone like Ms. Akyeampong with high-level experience and management excellence. I did hear only praises for her from the government of Nigeria, the UN colleagues, international collaborating agencies in Nigeria and from my colleagues within UNFPA senior management. Given her performance, it would make a lot of sense to have Ms. Akyeampong at the helm. Let me give some short background to your question. Ever before I joined UNFPA, I knew of the chequered history of some of its Representatives in Nigeria. Much as one cannot put the blame on the individuals for they were all well prepared, highly experienced and committed, the dynamics of the country office and the country itself have combined to mar the abilities of the previous three UNFPA Reps to complete their tenures in positive light. They either left under dark shadows, or were unable to complete the very good work that they started, or they were no longer beloved by their national colleagues and others, or they were in a hurry themselves to leave the country. Yet, Nigeria remains the

Berlusconi Hosni Mubarak in 2012, for complicity in the killing of protesters during the country’s prolonged uprising. Then came October last year when former Liberian president Charles Taylor was convicted with a hefty 50-year sentence for war crimes. But we have always looked beyond the continent for examples of the long arm of the law grabbing power defilement personifications. In this wise, Moshe Katsav is easily remembered. The Israeli former politician, who was the eighth President of Israel from 2000 to 2007, was also a leading Likud member of the Israeli Knesset and a minister in its cabinet. The end of Katsav’s presidency was marked by controversy, stemming from allegations of rape of one female subordinate and sexual harassment of others. Katsav resigned the presidency in 2007 as part of a plea bargain. He later rejected the deal with prosecutors and vowed he would prove his innocence in court. However, in an unprecedented case, on 30 December 2010, Katsav was convicted of two counts of rape, obstruction of justice and other charges and he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Eyes of the world are always on personalities who impact on societies. Their politics become internationalized, whether they be politicians, ex-military men, actors or businessmen with larger than life images. Take Kanye West for example. Last month the hip-hop star was given 250 hours of unspecified community service, as well as two years’ probation and 24 anger management lessons, as part of his sentence for assaulting a photographer at Los Angeles airport last year. As for Naomi Campbell, in 2007 the supermodel was sentenced in the US to five days of community service after pleading guilty to striking her housekeeper in the head with a mobile phone. Boy George, the Culture Club singer was arrested in New York in 2005 on suspicion of possessing cocaine and falsely reporting a burglary. The drug possession charge was dropped after George denied the cocaine was his, but he pleaded guilty to wasting police time and was sentenced to five days of community service, ordered to attend drug rehabilitation classes and was given a fine of $1,000. His task was to sweep the streets of New York, but he was given some other tasks, just after 30 minutes when he was

mobbed by fans and the media. The rapper Snoop Dogg was sentenced to 800 hours of community service in 2008 after being investigated for illegal possession of drugs and a handgun. Lindsay Lohan, the actress and model was sentenced to community service after two drink-driving arrests in 2007 and a case of theft in 2011 when she took a necklace worth $2,500 from a jewellery store. But falling government people have always drawn more global attention? In March this year, a Malaysian court sentenced the country’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to five years in jail on sodomy charges, overturning an earlier acquittal and ending his hopes of contesting a local election. Anwar, 66, is the most potent threat to the government of the prime minister, Najib Razak, whose popular support is adjudged to have been weakened over the past two elections. In Britain last December, former member of parliament, Denis MacShane was jailed for six months for what was referred to as expenses fraud after admitting submitting 19 fake receipts amounting to £12,900. He happened to be the fifth MP to get a prison sentence after the 2009’s expenses scandal. He was a Labour MP for 18 years and served as Europe minister under Tony Blair between 2002 and 2005. Interestingly, the Judge had in his sentencing remarked that he accepted MacShane’s contention that there was no personal profit made and said his case was different to other parliamentarians’ who had been sentenced to prison in connection with “wholly false” claims. MacShane, he said, had incurred genuine expenses, which he could have legitimately claimed “but you chose instead to recoup by dishonest false accounting.” Now, even though the principle of parliamentary privilege meant detectives were not given access to correspondence with the parliamentary standards commissioner in which MacShane detailed how signatures on receipts from the European Policy Institute had been faked, Parliamentary authorities referred MacShane to Scotland Yard within months of MPs’ expense claims being leaked to a newspaper, The Daily Telegraph.

most important office of most development agencies, including UNFPA, in Africa. It will be appropriate to say that if UNFPA succeeds in Nigeria, it would have succeeded largely in Africa, and viceversa. Therefore, both the current Executive Director and myself, as then Africa Regional Director, went to great lengths to resolve serious problems in Nigeria and to identify Ms. Akyaempong to become the Representative in Nigeria. I must say that we had to prevail on her to accept the post as it (the post) had become very unpopular and the increased terrorist acts made it most unattractive. Are these exits in tandem with the UN practice? What are the implications on the UN, specifically UNFPA, support programmes? As it is for any important jobs, unduly shortened terms lead to incomplete activities. Although the system is there, staff remains, the reality is that every new head of the office begins again. He or she has to establish new links, familiarity with government and key actors, among other issues. It certainly takes time for people to settle into new environment. At the end of the day, the country cannot get optimal results from the organization under such a situation. This is not to say that change is undesirable. There are times that a change is better than the status quo and this has happened previously at the UNFPA office in Nigeria. Let me be clear – the numerous local problems within, and lack of continuity of management in UNFPA Nigeria office has created inefficiencies and reduced the contribution that UNFPA can make to the country. Looking at global health, some have argued that in spite of the UN interventions little has been achieved in terms of eradication of HIV/AIDS, which still remains endemic, cases of malaria, polio, tuberculosis, etc, what exactly is the goal of UN intervention; eradication or management?

Makinwa

Global health has many more actors than the UN. They range from countries, development partners, nongovernmental organisations to bilateral and inter-governmental institutions. UN is a major player, especially in setting norms, standards and goals in collaboration with countries. For the UN, the issues are whether they do indeed set norms, standards and goals in collaboration with countries, whether they are met and whether the UN organisations have ways to determine results that are achieved objectively, among other issues. Smallpox elimination was certified in 1979, polio and measles are almost eliminated, immunization coverage is at an impressive 80 per cent, HIV and AIDS is being managed, child and infant mortality is reduced, maternal mortality rate has declined in many countries, and attainment of health globally has made significant progress. The real question for me as an African and a Nigerian is where do we stand in the scheme of health? Despite the successes stated, Africa’s situation is not good enough. In many cases, it is bad. Health is not merely the absence of diseases but a state of complete mental, physical and social well being. On this score, most of the burden of diseases is in Africa. The health gap between most of the world and our countries has widened. Just look at the sad state of key indicators of physical well being - poverty, nutrition, education, water and sanitation in the continent and in Nigeria. Also take the important contributors to social well being – employment, shelter, infrastructures. Large number of Africans do not benefit from them. The good news is that improvement in governance, which is accompanied by inclusive economic growth, provides an opportunity at this time for African countries to improve the well being of our peoples. We have a few good examples in the continent. Leadership for health must come from countries and not from outside. Global health is everyone’s responsibility and nobody’s.

62 | Sunday May, 4, 2014

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports ‘I have Always Fancied Playing In England’ Martín Demichelis may not be in the Argentine squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after his indifferent form early in the season, but the former Bayern Munich player has acquainted himself well with the English Premier League and is hoping he could win the title with Manchester City, writes The Guardian of United Kingdom ARTÍN Demichelis was an Atlético Madrid player at the M start of the season so in theory could be preparing for a second Champions League final, though he never made an

slow start, but now I am starting to show more consistency, I have earned the confiappearance in two months and has no regrets about his deci- dence of my teamsion to join Manchester City instead. mates. The Argentine was on the losing side to José Mourinho’s “People someInternazionale four years ago in what would turn out to be one times compare of the defender’s last appearances for Bayern Munich, and does the English not mind admitting the German team had his support in this league to season’s semi-finals. the German “I’ve got to be honest, because of my past, Bayern are part of league but the me,” he says. “River Plate will always have a place in my heart intensity here is because that’s where I grew up as a footballer, but I owe just as greater, and it is more much to Bayern. They were the club that brought me to Europe physically challenging than and I had eight fantastic years playing in the German league. Spain. I was considered quite Just like all those fans in the Allianz, I was surprised at the way a big defender in La Liga, here I they went out. seem to be on the small side. I also “Everyone in the stadium would have been expecting to get to like the unpredictability of English football. the final but that’s football, you can’t take anything for grant- Even at this stage of the season we do not ed. It was a big shock, but I don’t think anyone should start know who will be champions or who will be jumping to conclusions. Bayern have been to three finals in the relegated, and that is almost unique in past five years. There’s not much wrong with that club.” leagues around the world.” Demichelis was so settled in Bavaria he might still be there City are favourites to end up champions, as now, but for falling out with Louis van Gaal after the 2010 long as they can win their remaining fixture. World Cup. He had imagined his place in the team was secure “The most important thing is that it is up to on joining up with Argentina in South Africa, only to find Van us again,” Demichelis says. “Before we were Gaal had different plans for the new season. He was left out for wondering about others, now we can focus the first league game, an impasse developed and he was even- on ourselves. If we can win our three games, tually left out of the squad altogether, which is why he was it will give us a huge morale boost.” receptive when Manuel Pellegrini, his old manager at River Demichelis is speaking through an interPlate, made a loan enquiry on behalf of Málaga. preter, though it is clear that after a some“It became quite complicated at Bayern,” Demichelis says. “I what hesitant introduction to English footrespect Van Gaal, he’s a great manager and he has achieved a ball he now speaks with confidence. Earlier lot in his career. There is no bad feeling on either side but in the season it appeared the old pals act when he stopped playing me, I felt I had no option, but to ask might backfire on Pellegrini, who seemed the directors of the club for permission to leave. It was my deci- to have invested too much faith in an errorsion, I loved playing for Bayern but the time had come for a prone 33 year old, yet as the title race has change of scenery. taken shape Demichelis has been cited as “All my years at Bayern I played on the left side of central one of the reasons City are right back in it. defence, like I do now at City, but I am not a left-footed player. “It’s true to say I had mixed games but I Van Gaal became convinced that the position demanded a left- always had belief in my ability,” he says. footed player, so suddenly I was out of favour. I felt I had done a “The mistake I made with Lionel Messi in the good job for the club and played well enough to prove his the- Barcelona game was the worst, that’s when everyory wrong, but he wanted to stick to it. We won the cup and thing came to a head. There were lots of things writthe league that season, and went to the Champions League ten about me, some not very pleasant, but I didn’t final, but after the World Cup he stopped playing me.” allow myself to become depressed. I was actually havThat, Demichelis can offer by way of a warning to Manchester ing a great game against Messi, probably my best for United, is not untypical of the way Van Gaal operates. “If he the club up to that point. I know how things work in footthinks he can manage in England it is up to him to come and ball, the moment I made contact for the penalty was the prove it. It is not for me to decide but I can tell you he is a guy one caught by all the photographers, the image that was who is very convinced about his own methods. He has a strong flashed all over the world. will and a great belief in his own way of doing things.” “I’m not one to name names but events leading up to that Demichelis was present for the now infamous team talk when incident were not perfect either. Errors had already been Van Gaal attempted to make a point to the players by dropping made, I still got the blame. That’s when you need to be his trousers, though unaware the episode has been given a strong. I would have been worried if I had not been thorough airing in English newspapers since the Dutch coach winning my individual battles, if I had been missbegan to be linked with the United position. “You know about ing tackles or making bad passes. that?” he asks. “Well I can confirm it is true but I don’t want to “But as none of those things were happenbe the one to tell tales. It belongs in the dressing room, so ing I remained calm, I knew I could get back that’s where it should stay.” to the level I was used to, and that is what Because of the immediate and impressive rise of Málaga has happened. If people are saying I look a under Pellegrini the offer of a third spell working with the different player now, that’s how I feel. I have same manager was easy to accept, particularly as Demichelis a much better understanding with Vincent had always fancied playing in England. “Everyone talks about Kompany, I am playing as well as I have ever this league, so I was curious about it,” he says, speaking at an done and I fit into the side. I don’t know what Etihad Airways community event, where he managed the win- will happen in the future, I have another year ning team of schoolchildren in the Etihad Futsal challenge, on my contract and by that time I might not beating Fernandinho’s side in the final. be wanted any more but right now I am enjoy“You see it on television and you are seduced, the games look ing the moment and for that I will always be so attractive. I was slightly injured when I arrived so I made a grateful to Manuel and Manchester City.”

Sunday, May 4, 2014 63

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Barca Title Hopes In Tatters After Getafe Draw ARCELONA’S slim hopes of B retaining their La Liga title were all but ended after they were held 2-2 at home by struggling Getafe yesterday. The Catalans now trail leaders Atletico Madrid by three points with just two games remaining and having played a game more, whilst Real Madrid are just three points further back but with two games in hand over Barca. Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a fine finish, but Barca were pegged pack when Angel Lafita levelled just before half-time. The Spanish champions improved going forward after the break and deservedly went back in front when Alexis Sanchez drilled the ball home 23 minutes from time, but they were stunned in injury time as Lafita rose to head home Jaime Gavilan’s cross to secure a vital point for Getafe. “We have committed errors that are unbecoming of the professionals we are,” Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets told Canal Plus. “There are two games remaining and we will try to play them with honour because the league is practically lost. We hope that next season will be different.” A video tribute was played along with a minute’s silence to mark the death of former Barca coach Tito Vilanova before kick-off in the Catalans’ first home game since he passed away at the age of 45 on April 25. Possibly affected by that emotional start to the game, the hosts began slowly but went in front with their first clear opening on 23 minutes when Messi swept home Dani Alves’s low cross to register his 41st goal of the season. Pedro Rodriguez should then have made it 2-0 when he raced onto a wonderful through ball from Messi, but Getafe keeper Julio Cesar did well to narrow the angle and turn the Spanish international’s effort behind. Instead, Getafe were level in controversial circumstances eight minutes before half-time when Lafita controlled Pablo Sarabia’s looping free-kick before firing low into the far corner. The goal was initially ruled out by the assistant referee for an infringement by Lafita, but referee Jose Antonio Teixeira Vitienes overruled his colleague and allowed the goal to stand. Barca could still have been back in front before half-time had Sanchez chosen to shoot rather than square the ball to Messi when well-placed inside the area. However, Gerardo Martino’s men upped the tempo of their game at the start of the second period and Cesar did well to parry a thunderous volley from Messi three minutes after the restart. Sanchez then struck the bar as the ball looped up off the Chilean’s chest before Pedro forced another good save from Cesar. Barca did finally go back in front midway through the second-half as substitute Cesc Fabregas had an instant impact when his low cross fell perfectly for Sanchez to rifle home his 20th goal of the season.

Stoke City’s Nigerian striker, Peter Odemwingie (right) scores his team’s first goal during the English Premier League match between Stoke City and Fulham at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent... yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Man City Goes Top, As Sunderland Inches Closer To Survival DIN Dzeko scored twice as E Manchester City went top Fulham, Cardiff Suffer Relegation of Premier League on goal difference with victory over Everton at Goodison Park. Bosnia striker Dzeko struck either side of half-time to secure the points for City, who are now effectively two wins away from the title. Argentina forward Sergio Aguero had earlier equalised Everton midfielder Ross Barkley’s spectacular opener. Romelu Lukaku pulled a goal back for Everton but City held on to win.

Sebastian Larsson’s first-half goal was enough to give Sunderland their first win at Old Trafford since 1968 and take them to the brink of safety. Barring an unlikely set of results, a single win from their remaining two games will be enough to preserve the Black Cats’ top-flight status. And it will be all but confirmed if Norwich lose on Sunday, after Sunderland con-

demned Manchester United to their seventh home league defeat of the season. Norwich are three points adrift of Gus Poyet’s men and must also overturn a 13-goal deficit in matches against Chelsea and Arsenal. Fulham needed to win to keep alive their hopes of survival, with Sunderland’s victory at Manchester United sealing their fate. Striker Peter Odemwingie

tapped in Stoke’s first, before Marko Arnautovic and Oussama Assaidi, who were both excellent, made it 3-0 after the break. Kieran Richardson scored for Fulham, before Jon Walters sealed victory. Cardiff’s defeat at Newcastle sent the Welsh side back to the Championship. Newcastle, who had lost their previous six games, took the lead through Shola Ameobi’s first-half header. A sizeable number of Magpies fans walked out after

Ethiopians Triumph As 2014 Okpekpe Road Race Ends From Gowon Akpodonor and Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City THIOPIAN athletes, E Teshone Asafah and Wooden Ayela, yesterday emerged winners in both male and female categories of the second edition of the 2014 Okpekpe Road Race in Edo State. Asafah emerged victorious in a record time 28.35sec to win the cash prize of $25,000 erasing the 2013 record of 29.49sec while Ayela outrun everybody in the female cate-

gory also in a record time of 32.4sec and went home with a cash prize of $15,000 . In the male category, two Kenyans, Amos Mitel and Cornelius Kangogo, placed second and third positions respectively in a record time of 28.53sec and 29. 15sec while the second and third positions for the female category went to Jenneth Yela of Ethiopia and MoheÍn Debaba of Kenya also in a record time of 32.52, sec and 32.59sec respectively. In the Executive category, Governor Adams Oshiomhole

came first as Isah Aremu was the first runnersup. Addressing the crowd of participants and spectators, the host, Governor Oshiomhole said: “It is a thing of joy that Edo State is hosting the world.” Oshiomhole who stated that the Okpekpe 10 kilometre Road Race has become one of the events in the Nigeria sporting history, also noted that the race has served as a bridge among different tribes in the society. While commending the

organisers of the event, he however frowned at the gender discrimination in terms of the prize money given to winners in the male and female categories and henceforth directed that the winners should be treated equally. He urged the organisers to immediately commence the planning for a proposed a full marathon race at 52 kilometre road Urhonigbe, Orihionmwon local council in Edo South since the area boost long stretch of roads.

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69 minutes in protest at the running of the club. They missed a brief rally from Cardiff before late goals from Loic Remy and Steven Taylor sealed their fate. The Potters were as dynamic as their visitors were listless. Apart from Richardson’s goal, Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic was barely troubled, and his team-mates must have felt like they were playing a pre-season friendly.

Results Premiership Today’s matches Arsenal v West Brom 13:30 Chelsea v Norwich 16:00 Yesterday Results Everton 2 - 3 Man City West Ham 2 - 0 Tottenham Aston Villa 3 - 1 Hull Man Utd 0 - 1 Sunderland Newcastle 3 - 0 Cardiff Stoke 4 – 1 Fulham Swansea 0 – 1 Southampton Bundesliga B Dortmund 3-2 Hoffenheim M’gladbach 3-1 Mainz E Braunschweig 0-1 FC Augsburg Frankfurt 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen FC Nurnberg 0-2 Hannover 96 Hamburg 1-4 Bayern Munich SC Freiburg 0-2 Schalke Stuttgart 1-2 Wolfsburg Werder Bremen 2-0 Hertha Berlin Spanish La Liga Barcelona 2- 2 Getafe