Sun 11 May 2014 by The Guardian Newspaper

S U N D A Y

Taming The

Nomads, COVER 19

Their Cattle

E D I T I O N

JUSTICE

OPUTA

BUSINESS 35

SPECIAL REPORT 24

TRIBUTE 55

Another Era Of Cement

TINAPA:

In The Sands Of Time

‘Armada’ Yielding So Little

A Dream Still So Far

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,918

N300

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‘Nigeria’s Satellites Can’t Track Terrorists’ By J.K. Obatala UST when Nigeria’s nascent Jafter space agency is flying high, launching two new satel-

President Goodluck Jonathan (second left); Anambra State Governor, Dr. Willie Obiano (left); Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; and Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (background), arriving the ground reception at Oporoza, Delta State on the way to the groundbreaking of NIMASA Shipyard/Dockyard and the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State...yesterday.

lites, management has started catching political flak: Because the spacecraft have not enabled law enforcement officials to track down terrorists, operating in Borno State’s Sambisa Forest Reserve. In a call to The Guardian from Abuja yesterday, Professor S.O. Mohammed, Director General, said the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) was coming under “heavy fire” from critics who have “unrealistic expectations” of NigeriaSat-2 and Sat-X. “The problem,” he lamented, “is that many individuals, who are quite well-intended, don’t really know what a satellite is or how it works. As far as they’re concerned, a ‘satellite’ is a ‘satellite’; and since Nigeria has two, we ought to be able to see the terrorists from space and trace their movements”. But a spacecraft, Mohammed CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Northern Govs Want Boko Haram Crushed In 90 Days By Marcel Mbamalu (News Editor), Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Joke Falaju (Abuja)

• No Need For War Council, Says Security Expert • FG Urged To Establish Trauma Centres

OVERNORS of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria, yesterday, declared that, unless the scourge of insecurity was fought and defeated within three months, the hope of rebuilding the economy of

the region might be lost. This came as Umar Babangida Aliyu, a security resource and solutions consultant, yesterday described as unnecessary the call by former member of the Supreme

NEWS 2

NEWS 3

Chibok Girls: Obama Under Pressure To Send Elite Troops

Terror: Babangida Backs Foreign Assistance

Military Council, AVM Mouktar Mohammed (rtd), on the Federal Government to set up a war council to address terrorism. Umar, a retired military intelligence officer, however, said, “a war council is usually convoked in situations where senior military commanders are at a crossroads or have to take sudden tactical decision, which could alter the course of the war greatly.” The northern governors’ position on the duration of the war on terror was taken, under the aegis of the Northern Governors’ Forum,

which met with key investors in Abuja at an Economic Investment Forum aimed at “creating opportunities for economic prosperity and security in the Northern States and the nation.” Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said the task of rebuilding the economy of states in the North would not be easy, given the security challenges. Aliyu stated that the northern governors expect the Federal Government and the

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Two days into the arrival of “a less than 12-man team from the US, a hitherto elusive insurgents camp and some 200 girls have been located. Suffice it to say, we have tacitly lavished some nine months and heavy sums into what a handful of men could accomplish in two days, by doing little things differently, to find one camp and 200 girls... No ceremonies, no special committees, no dialogue... No war council... Only just two days and relevant skill sets, which we have here in Nigeria too international community to eliminate insecurity from the North in three months. “Boko Haram should be eliminated at the maximum of three months. That is the expectation of the Northern States from the Federal Government and the interna-

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tional community,” Aliyu said. He also called for collaborative efforts in the fight against insurgency. “We are under no illusion that achieving this will be CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2 | NEWS Sunday, May 11, 2014

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NEWS

Chibok Girls: Obama Under Pressure To Send Elite Troops From Laolu Akande (just back from Washington DC) OP US Senators and some T US-based Nigerians are asking the President Barack Obama to send a full contingent of the country’s Military Special Force Operations to get more directly involved in the search for the more than 274 schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram some three weeks ago. Although the US President has approved a team of about 10 military advisers, they are not expected to have a direct role in the search and rescue mission, but will operate out of the US Embassy in Nigeria. Already, those US military personnel are now in Nigeria — eight of them freshly deployed this week to join 10 others who have been working in the US embassy. According to US Secretary of State, John Kerry, a Coordination Cell is being set up in the Embassy in Abuja where the US involvement

would be based. US military policy and defence experts have, however, distinguished the assistance offered by the US already from a full impact Special Forces Operations. A Special Forces military operations deployment by the American president comes under the War powers of the US Commander in Chief, which the current team does not require. Besides, a Special Forces Deployment would be a much larger group that can add up to 100 or more. For instance, there are about 250 US Special Forces in Central Africa now searching out for the LRA leaders and his gang, and even though he has not been found as yet, the LRA activities have since been in significant decline. The Special Forces would be more directly involved than an operation from the US Embassy and is deemed to be a US military operations, which is not what the US has offered so far. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, is leading the 20 female US senators to demand for US military assistance. In an interview with CNN last week, she specifically asked for Special Forces Operations. At a global press conference also in Washington DC about the same time, the Christian Association of NigerianAmericans, (CANAN) leaders also made the request that Special Forces be deployed to Nigeria to rescue the Chibok girls.

According to Collins, “I will like to see Special Forces deployed to rescue these young girls” And later at an international press conference in Washington DC, the President of CANAN, Dr. James Fadele, on behalf of the association asked the US President to consider “sending Special Forces unit as already suggested by a sitting US Senator Susan Collins.”

CANAN added that the “US should use every available tool within its arsenal to trace, track and terminate,” Boko Haram operations. Pentagon spokesperson, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said during the week in Washington DC that what the US government has done so far does not amount to a Special Forces operations in Nigeria, which is what Senator Susan Collins and

CANAN requested for. From the point of view of the US government, it is believed that, until last week, the Nigerian military have been reluctant to invite US military to the country. In particular, Nigeria has led the resistance among African countries to the creation of the US-Africa Command, (AFRICOM), which was set up during the George W. Bush administra-

tion. Kirby said this much last week, observing that “we had made repeated offers of assistance, and it was only just this week when the Nigerians accepted the offer of this coordination cell.” Sources said it is not even clear if the Nigerian Federal Government would accept the Special Forces military operations in Nigeria.

Mother of the bride, Mrs Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, her daughter (bride) Oluwemimo Ayotokunbo Dosumu, their grandmother, Mrs H I D Awolowo, and (groom) Ayodeji Olayinka, after the couple were joined in Holy Matrimony at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Oba Akinjobi Road GRA, Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday. PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

No Need For War Council, Says Security Expert, Umar Aliyu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 easy, especially in a fastchanging information age. We also believe that progress, of any kind, comes with a price. Expectedly, as life gets better, it certainly gets tougher, with emerging challenges and pressures that sometimes threaten to uproot communities and families from their established ways of life. We, howev-

er, believe we have a shared responsibility and morality as Governors of the Northern States to pursue programmes and policies that promote social justice, peace and security, which is the fundamental essence of governance,” Gov. Aliyu said. Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, lamented that the reduction in the attention paid to agriculture by youths in the North was one of the factors

causing the insecurity challenges, adding that agriculture was the largest employer of labour in the region. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Women In Clergy (NWIG) has asked the Federal Government to urgently establish a trauma centre to minimise the psychological impact on the Nyanya bomb attacks on those that lost loved ones. Prophetess Nonnie

‘Nigeria’s Satellites Can’t Track Terrorists’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 stressed, is like any other machine. It has design specification —and can only be used for the purpose its designer intended. He explained that Nigeria’s spacecraft are small earth observation satellites, intended primarily for mapping, terrain imaging and related geodetic tasks. Averred Mohammed, “NigeriaSat-2 and Sat-X were not designed for reconnaissance or spying. The resolving power is too weak. ‘Resolving power’ refers to the capacity of the imaging devices onboard the spacecraft, to distinguish one object or surface feature from another.” Neither of Nigeria’s satellites, Mohammed advised, can see a human being on the ground. In a related development, Felix Ale, Media Director at NASRDA, followed Mohammed’s telephone call up with an e-mail, in which he noted that the smallest object or surface feature either spacecraft could resolve is 2.5 meters in width— considerably larger than a human being.

Driving home Mohammed’s point, Ale circulated, along with his release, a satellite image of the Sambisa Reserves, in which Lake Ajo is a prominent feature. But nothing the size of a human form, or even a tree, can be distinguished in the exposure. Ale noted further: “It is important…to clarify that our satellites do not have video capabilities but have repeated imaging coverage of four (4) days. These are apparent limitations of Remote Sensing Satellites in monitoring migrant militants and terrorists.” Such spacecraft, he continued, “are very useful in updating existing maps, locating houses and many other [surface] features… but limited in the area of real-time monitoring of human movements which is a vital requisite for military operations in the fight against terrorism in the Country”. Mohammed too explained, in his phone call, that it would be difficult to keep tract of the terrorists with remote sensing satellites like Sat-2 and Sat-X, because the insurgents are usually on the move—while

Nigeria’s spacecraft only return to a given location every 96 hours. “But ultimately,” the DG added, “the solution lies in a convergence of technologies. First and foremost is a higher resolution satellite supporting auxiliary technology, such as drones, closed circuit television, unmanned aerial vehicles, a communication satellite devoted to security, and reconnaissance satellite that can resolve objects of 0.5 metres or smaller.” The criticisms, Mohammed believes, “are probably more of a measure of public frustration than of the shortcoming of our satellites. Everyone, including ourselves, is anxious to see an end to terrorism.” Yet, he concedes that there is a message for NASRDA, in this controversy. ”We still have a lot of work to do, publicenlightenment-wise. Perhaps too, we need to change our tact slightly, in explaining the capabilities of our satellites. In the future, maybe we should say more about what they cannot do!”

Robertson, leader of the group, said many are suffering in silence as a result of the attacks, even as government appears unmindful of the psychological impact. “When the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre happened in the United States, the first thing the Government did was to set up trauma centres and I was privileged to be part of the team. Reacting to the call for establishment of war council to address insurgency, Umar, a security expert, said the original concept of a war council might not fit into the present ‘war’ scenario, even though he noted that the idea might not be completely ruled out. Mouktar Mohammed, who served during the Murtala/Obasanjo regime in the mid 1970s and now represents the North West Zone in the ongoing National Conference, had on Thursday urged the Federal Government to immediately set up a war council to address insecurity in the council. AVM Mouktar Mohammed suggested that the council should consist of retired and battle-tested military officers, who would act as think-tank for proactive solutions to the intractable insecurity. But security expert, Umar Aliyu, in explaining the concept of war council and circumstances under which they are set up, said, “(war) commanders usually meet in council with subordinate troop commanders to brainstorm and determine the going thenceforth. War Councils, he explained, could be stormy, and may resort to subordinate CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Sunday, May 11, 2014 3

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NEWS Jonathan Congratulates Zuma, ANC Over Election RESIDENT Jonathan has P congratulated his South African counterpart, Jacob

National Vice Chairman, South-West, All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Niyi Adebayo (left); Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; National Leader, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi; National Chairman, APC, Chief Bisi Akande; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; and National Publicity Secretary, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during a fund raising dinner, in Lagos... on Friday.

Nigeria, U.S. Want UN To Brand Boko Haram Terrorist Organisation IGERIA and the U.S. are N working on a UN Security Council resolution to designate Boko Haram a terrorist organisation, diplomats at the foreign ministry in Abuja have confirmed. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the sources as saying that the two countries have agreed that the UN should take a quick action to designate Boko Haram a terror organisation. A strong indication that the 15-member council would

consider the resolution emerged on Friday when the members spoke with one voice in condemning the activities of the group. The council said it would actively follow the situation of the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok and Warabe, both in Borno, and threatened to use “appropriate measures” against Boko Haram. The council also noted the attacks by the group since 2009, saying, “it had caused large scale devastating loss of life

NLC Chides Jonathan, Others On Ajaokuta Steel From John Akubo, Lokoja HE President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Umar, has challenged President Jonathan to be more committed to the actualization of the vision behind the Ajaokuta Steel Company to enable the country reap its benefit. Umar made the call yesterday when he visited the steel company to assess the level of completion. According to him, the steel complex would lead Nigeria to industrialization and the Vision 20-20-20 initiative would be attained if the present administration of President Jonathan would be committed to its actualization. The Labour leader said Ajaokuta Steel Company cannot be described as obsolete, because the complex has modern equipment and abundant potentials for economic development if harnessed by the government. “If former President Shehu Shagari could bring the steel complex to the level it is today within four years, successive presidents should have com-

pleted it if they had the political will to do so.” He assured that NLC would partner with relevant agencies and trade unions to impress on government the need to complete the steel complex for the benefit of Nigerians. Earlier, the Sole Administrator of the company, Engineer Isah Joseph Onobere, hinted that the over 30-year-old project has suffered serious hiccups due to inadequate funding, making the integrated commissioning of the steel plant a mirage till date. Onobere who said other countries that started the project the same time with Nigeria have completed their plants long ago. He said apart from funding, conspiracy between local and international detractors, who see steel development as a threat to their economy, was responsible for the moribund state of the complex. He said that the economic and social transformation of any nation is engineered mostly by steel sector development. “It is a fact of history that no nation has ever developed without a vibrant steel industry,” he said.

and represents a threat to the stability and peace of West and Central Africa.” A diplomat familiar with the workings of the Security Council told NAN that UN sanctions against Boko Haram meant that all assets and finances traced to the group would be blocked worldwide. It would also impose travel ban and arms embargo on individuals and entities associated with the Boko Haram organisation. The governments of Nigeria, U.S, U.K. and Canada have variously designated Boko Haram a terrorist organisa-

tion. The U.S., in addition to designating Boko Haram a terrorist organization, declared its leader, Abubakar Shekau, as the ninth most wanted person in the world. The Americans have placed a seven million-dollar reward on his head. The Federal Government on its part had placed a reward of N50 million for any information leading to the rescue of the no fewer than 200 girls kidnapped by the group on April 14. Meanwhile, international solidarity on government’s efforts to ensure safe return of the kidnapped girls contin-

ued to soar with the arrival of teams of experts from the U.K., U.S. and France. China has also indicated that it would help international efforts to find the girls. Speaking at a reception on Friday in Abuja to commemorate the EU National Day, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Micheal Arion, said the region’s foreign ministers would discuss the abduction of the schoolgirls on Monday in Brussels. “The abduction of the more than 200 young girls in Chibok in particular shows a total lack of respect for life and for human dignity,” he said.

Abducted Girls: Babangida Backs Foreign Assistance • Don’t Trigger More Terrorism, Gumi Warns U.S. Team From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief ORMER military president, Furged Ibrahim Babangida, has Nigerians to unite in the rescue mission to free schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect from Chibok in Borno State, saying this is not the time to apportion blames. Babangida spoke in a telephone interview on the BBC Hausa service monitored in Kaduna yesterday, just as he commiserated with parents of the girls over the sad incident. “I am together with the parents of those girls in prayers so that Allah will protect these children. Secondly, this has affected the entire country. Once you are a Nigerian, no matter your religion, what happened to these children has affected every one,” he said. When reminded of complaints about government’s

poor handling of the matter, Babangida said now is not the time to apportion blames. “Allah has destined that this thing would happen this way. What we are supposed to do is look for ways we can assist in finding these missing girls. If we could find them… they are not just girls from Chibok. No. They are Nigerian girls.” He went on: “So, what I hope is that the Muslims, the Christians, even the animists, we should all tighten our belts and ensure that we give full support that could lead to success in this regard. This is not only affecting Nigeria. Therefore, if there are offers to assist us, thanks to Allah.” Meanwhile, Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Gumi, has warned the foreign team of specialists who have arrived the country on the rescue mission against indiscriminate killing of Nigerians. “Don’t let the foreigners fire and kill any Nigerian. This might trigger waves of terror-

ism never seen before,” he said. Gumi, yesterday, in Kaduna also took a swipe on the U.S. and other countries that have offered to assist Nigeria quell the insurgency, saying the international community is regrettably becoming interested after so many innocent lives have been lost.” He added: “How can a military (Nigerian) bedridden with nepotism and corruption fight? How can a military lopsided fight? And there is no time in this saga that the need to fight has been more urgent. The foreign forces that want to assist are never going into Sambisa. We have to go in there ourselves and do the job.” “This is a special war that needs special approach. Don’t let the foreigners fire and kill any Nigerian. This might trigger waves of terrorism never seen before. May God spare us from that. Iraq, Syria, Somali and Afghanistan are example. Foreign terrorists are eager to engage foreign forces making Nigeria just another battleground.”

Zuma, and his party, the African National Congress (ANC), on their victory in the South African general elections. Jonathan welcome the ANC’s victory, with over 60 per cent of the votes cast in the election to the South African Parliament and provincial legislatures, as an affirmation of the enduring popularity of Zuma and the party of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Thambo and other great heroes of the antiapartheid movement, as well as a reaffirmation of the confidence of the majority of the people of South Africa in the ability of the ANC government to progressively achieve more inclusive national economic development and prosperity. A statement by Presidential Spokesman, Rueben Abati, reads in part: “President Jonathan and Nigeria felicitate with the people of South Africa on the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections which were the first since the passing away of Dr. Nelson Mandela. He believes that the elections and the ANC’s fifth consecutive victory at national polls are a well-deserved tribute to the Madiba, whose contributions to the emergence of a non-racist and truly democratic South Africa remain legendary.

Fashola Tasks Residents On Security, Cautions Panic-mongers By Kamal Tayo Oropo HE Lagos State governor, T Babatunde Fashola, has warned residents of the state not to be voluntary purveyors of messages of fear that can cause panic. The governor who spoke in an interview with newsmen at the end of the 11th Executive Legislative Parley, at the weekend in Festac Town, Lagos, said residents must forward any message likely to cause panic to security agencies. He said: “Don’t help transfer those kinds of viral messages. They do not help the public, if there are any such messages you are aware of, send it to us and don’t pass it on to your friend because your friend cannot do anything about it. We can, if it occurs. “So we must stop passing those kind of messages of fear and be assured that security agencies are working round the clock. We will check everything that we see. I have told the policemen and all other law enforcement agencies that nothing that is suspicious must be left to any chance. We must check and double check.” The governor appealed for restraint, patience and tolerance by citizens and residents, maintaining that all measures are in the entire public interest and assuring: “Other than that, carry on with your life, your state is

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

NEWS Don’t Negotiate With Boko Haram, Group Warns FG GROUP, United Alliance, A has warned President Jonathan against negotiating with the Boko Haram sect, even as it said, “any attempt to do this would mean legitimizing the sect’s actions and would box the government into a dangerous corner.” In a statement signed by its northern co-ordinator, Mallam Bashir Ado, in Abuja yesterday, the group said those who are canvassing negotiation with the sect are enemies of the country. “We are closely monitoring developments in our dear country, especially as it affects the activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and the position of some people that President Jonathan should

• Blames North For Complicity On Sect’s Activities negotiate with the terrorists. Our position on this is clear and we strongly advise the President not to allow himself to be persuaded into taking such a panicky measure as the activities of this sect shall soon come to an end, especially with assistance of the entire world.” The group said: “The apostles of the position are the enemies of Nigeria who ordinarily would not see anything wrong with negotiating with criminals.” Insisting that the abducted Chibok girls must be released unconditionally, the group said masters of the terrorist group could not find their

voice until recently when it became obvious that the game was up for them with the offer of assistance by the nation’s foreign friends. “The masters of these criminals kept mum and have been giving support to their activities but suddenly found the voice to speak out because Americans are coming to unveil them. Insisting that Boko Haram is the agenda of the North, the group said, “we are aware that this terrorist group is an agenda of those who believe that ruling Nigeria is their birthright and we are seriously against the government negotiating with them. They

should be treated as the criminals they are when eventually caught.” The United Alliance had in a recent statement posited that Northern elders should be held accountable for the missing Chibok schoolgirls. “The disappearance of the girls is part of the Northern elders agenda to embarrass and distract the Jonathan government. They deliberately took the girls away to create an impression of insecurity and paint the picture that nobody is safe in the country, whereas they are the architect of these self-inflicting wounds aimed at distracting a working government,” the statement reads. According to the group, the

Chibok school authorities among others in the region deliberately ignored the call made earlier by the Federal Government for students of schools in the area to be evacuated insisting that “those who claimed to have been born to rule should direct their energy at how to ensure that the unity of the country is maintained in diversity instead of constantly embarrassing themselves in the name of wrestling for power.” It concluded that it was high time “our leaders in the North came to terms with the reality that these self-inflicting havoc will continue to deplete the value of Northerners and eventually rob us of our place in the nation.”

Experts Advocate Workplace Safety By Ijeoma Opara NSAFE use of chemicals in U workplaces over a long period of time could leave chronic effects on people. This was the thrust at the 2014 edition of the Safety Platform organized by the Safety Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (SAEF). In a presentation, Principal Occupational Health and Safety consultant, Dr. Francis Oluwagbemi, noted that many working environments in Nigeria are exposed to very harmful chemicals that can give rise to chronic diseases, which take a long time to show up. “When one suffers from diseases like Cancer, Leukemia, HIV/AIDS or TB, they do not realise that it was a result of a gradual and continuous process of ingestion, inhaling and absorbing of chemicals over a long period of time usually 20-30 years,” he said. Speaking on preventive measures, the National Co-coordinator SAEF, Kadiri Shamusideen, said that if toxic chemicals cannot be completely eliminated in a workplace, then workers should have a reduced level of exposure to such chemicals. “An employee who is supposed to work for eight hours should be made to work for four hours to reduce its adverse effect. Unfortunately, it is always never the case because most of these employees who are not knowledgeable would even go for an over-time, while employers take advantage of the unemployment situation in the country to maximize profit.”

Online News Platform Debuts Tomorrow Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amsun (right); his wife, Olufunso (second right); the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (second left) and his wife, Olori Oluwakemi (left), during a luncheon to mark the Awujale’s 80th birthday at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode… yesterday.

Police Arrest Three Armed Robbery Suspects In Gombe HE Gombe State Police T Command yesterday said it had arrested three persons suspected of carrying out an armed robbery operation at Cham along the GombeYola road. The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Fwaje Atajiri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe that a team of policemen from Cham Division were on patrol around 2.30am on Friday when they received a distress

call that armed robbers were on rampage. “Our men received a distress call that armed robbers had blocked the Mararaban Kulani area of the Gombe-Yola road and rushed to the scene. On sighting the patrol team, the robbers opened fire, leading to the exchange of gun shots; the hoodlums ran away and abandoned their motorcycle,” he said. The spokesman said that having seen blood on the scene of

the incident, the policemen went round clinics and hospitals in search of the suspects. One of the suspected robbers from Degri village in Balanga Local Government Area of the state was identified. “Our men identified him with gunshot wound on his right hand when he went for treatment at the Kowa Clinic, Bambam. “He has confessed to committing the crime in company of two others at the scene

of the robbery.” Atajiri said the two other suspects have been arrested and were assisting the police in their investigation after which they would be charged to the court. He warned vehicle owners who have not registered them to do so without delay. The spokesman said the police would soon start Operation Velvet, requiring the checking vehicle particulars. “They should know that the

law regarding registration of vehicles is still in force and that the command is poised to enforce it accordingly,” he said. Atajiri also warned criminals to stay away from the state while urging parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against engaging in criminal acts. He said the full wrath of the law would befall anyone involved in criminal activities in the state.

FG Urged To Establish Trauma Centres For Terror Victims CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 troop commanders voting on the next line of action, the result of which is passed on to superior commander for execution. “When senior commanders allow their troop commanders decide via a war council, hitherto hopeless situations become hopeful, and fighting forces motivated... They draw strength from the overall commander’s belief in their input, as the foot soldiers of the war

as it were.” Umar therefore, remarked that “it is doubtful if this is the case in our present involvement in North Eastern Nigeria at the moment, not going by personal one-on-one chats with soldiers, who may not be open to discussing the finer details of their engagement with the press or public. “The call by a retired senior military officer for a war council, is indeed a patriotic gesture... Queer, however is, the suggestion of having retired

generals on the war council. An advisory council of retired generals is more like it, and this should be the preoccupation of our service chiefs, who, by now, should have a backlog of fore bearers to consult with. “Retired generals on a war council will not add to much in my opinion, as war councils are convoked ‘in the now’ of situations, on the field of battle, or at the highest point, within a theatre of war. A war council’s greatest assets thus remain for the most part of it, active actors

or stakeholders in the execution of war. “Having said this, it behoves one to also mention that a war council of the magnitude the retired senior officer is suggesting is hardly necessary for the threat at hand. I want to believe that the last nine months have seen billions of naira go into funding of counter insurgency in the Northeast, with very little effect on the threats.” Umar told The Guardian that, two days into the arrival of “a

less than 12-man team from the US, a hitherto elusive insurgents camp and some 200 girls have been located. Suffice it to say, we have tacitly lavished some nine months and heavy sums into what a handful of men could accomplish in two days, by doing little things differently, to find one camp and 200 girls... No ceremonies, no special committees, no dialogue... No war council... Only just two days and relevant skill sets, which we have here in Nigeria too.”

JTK media has announced P the launch of sabinews.com. The news and entertainment site will debut tomorrow. According to the Managing Editor, Peju Akande, the site aims to inform, educate, entertain and provoke. “Sabinews.com will be partial to opinions, satire and all shades of entertainment and will be launched with an archive of stories from music to movies and books,” she said. Commenting on what will set the platform apart Akande said, “sabinews.com will not be your usual site that you visit only when some piece of news is trending. This is a site you will visit every morning just as you would pick up your favourite newspaper because we will have something special every day.” The site will feature the writings of some of Nigeria’s wellknown analysts and commentators like Ikhide Ikheloa, Ruona Agbroko-Meyer, Joy Isi Bewaji, Ayisha Osori, Terh Marc and Oris Aigbokhaevbolo. There will also be Kaine Agary and Oshoko Bushushu. A statement from the writer, Toni Kan, who is publisher and Editor-in-chief, reads: “sabinews.com aims to extend the online conversation by expanding the space for engagement with all things Nigerian.

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Sunday, may 11, 2014 NEWS 5

NEWS

Jonathan Vows To Find Kidnapped Schoolgirls, As Interpol moves In From Chido Okafor, Warri rESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan at the weekend in Oporaza, Delta State, has vowed that the abducted Chibok schoolgirls would be located and released wherever they are. The President also hinted that the International Police (INTErPOl) has joined in the search to locate the girls.

Jonathan, who was in Delta State to perform the groundbreaking ceremony of NImASA shipyard and Dockyard as well as the Nigeria maritime University at Okerenkoko refused to be entertained by traditional dance troupes, saying the nation is in a pensive mood as a result of the missing girls. “The world is angry and we

have made promises to the world that we will find the girls and bring them back to their parents. The story that Boko Haram has sold the girls is unacceptable because no sane person will buy or agree to keep the girls, knowing the implication of the act,” Jonathan said. The President, who was accompanied by Delta State

Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, also flagged off the activities of the university’s temporary site in Kurutie. Jonathan said: “Everyone is agitating for development, but development cannot take place in an atmosphere of crisis, adding that Niger Delta is now peaceful, which is the reason government is developing the region.”

While stating that the university would provide the needed manpower to service the lucrative maritime industry, Jonathan came down hard on illegal oil bunkers and operators of illegal refineries, accusing them of destroying the environment and the future of generation. He informed that government has developed a new method to tackle the problem.

Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche (left); Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN); Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Chibuzo Raphael Opoko, behind the groom, Chigbo Marachukwu Kanu Uche; bride, Rhoda Obidiya Kanu Uche; Representative of the Abia State Governor, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Nkpa Agu Nkpa; and wife of the Prelate, Ezinne Nneoma Florence Kanu-Uche at the wedding held at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos … yesterday.

Imo Assembly Wades Into FUTO-Host Community Clashes From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri HE authorities of the Imo T State House of Assembly at the weekend has intervened into the clashes between the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and the host communities, Umuchima, Ihiagwa and Umuanunu-Obinze in which the communities were allegedly accused of destroying the university’s property worth several millions of Naira. The speaker, Chief benjamin Uwajumogu, acting on the submission made by the member representing Owerri West in the assembly, Innocent Ekeh, in a motion approved by the 26 –member of the chamber, constituted a committee to meet with the Pro-chancellor and the Governing council chairman of the institution, Emmanuel Elemou, the Chancellor, Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka and other stakeholders to ensure that those arrested by the police in the State are released. The lawmakers also opined that the problem of adequate compensation to the host communities would be addressed for peace to reign.

Abia lawmakers Condemn Schoolgirls Abduction From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia

• Supports One More State In Southeast Zone

NDICATION has emerged that the late Abia State lawmaker, Chief Nwogu Iheasimuo, representing Aba South in the assembly, who died on march 30, 2014, will be interred very soon with the State Executive and legislative arms of government participating both in organisation and material contribution. The Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Asiforo Okere, who is also the Chairman of the House Infor-

mation Committee made this known to newsmen at the weekend at his monthly briefing held in the assembly. He said since the death of the lawmaker was announced, the state lawmakers have in a group paid the lawmaker’s family a condolence visit that was followed by that of the governor, his wife and other state government officials. He noted that this will be the

first time a State lawmaker will die in office, recalling that the house had declared and observed a week work-free mourning period in his honour. Okere also said that the house condemned in its entirely the abduction of the students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, borno State, adding that by its resolution, the house has expressed support for the cre-

ation of at least a new state out of the present Southeast Zone to bring the number of states in the Zone to be at par with other zones that have six states each with one having seven. On the reason the house had to cut the 2014 budget from the N115.3 billion proposed by Governor Theodore Orji, he said that the action was in response to the realities of the time, indicating that when the imperative need arises, supplementary appropriation would be con-

Fashola Tasks Organisations, Parents On Indecent Dressing By Gbenga Akinfenwa HE lagos State Governor, T babatunde raji Fashola has tasked religious bodies, corporate organisations and individuals in the state to partner with government in its fight against indecent dressing. Speaking in a programme titled ‘Campaign Against Indecent Dressing’ organised by the Catholic Young Adults Association (CYAA) of St michael Catholic Church, Ketu, lagos, with the theme: “Walk Against Indecent Dressing,” Fashola disclosed that distasteful dressing

negates the country’s cultural value. represented by lagos State Special Adviser on religious matters, rev. Samuel Ogedengbe, the governor lamented that when the administration came on board, it made attempt to completely eradicate indecent dressing in the state, but some civil society groups and organisations frown against it, which made it difficult for government achieve its aim. He appealed to religious leaders and parents to declare war against the act, saying it is not limited to ladies, as young men are now in-

volved. “The bible instructed us not to dress indecently, but today, ladies from Christian homes exposes their bodies with different types of dresses to seduce men in the name of fashion. This is the leading cause of broken homes today. Government is ready to partner with organisations to clean the society of corruption and ungodliness,” he stated. The Parish Priest of the Church, Fr. Sebastin Eugene, stated that the campaign was prompted by the desire of the church to rid the society of immorality, adding that

the issue of indecent dressing is against the African culture. “Awareness is what we are trying to do now because the bible says my people perish because of lack of knowledge. So, we are here to empower the people to know the evil of indecent dressing. We are doing it because it is the duty of the church and we must not wait for government to do everything. We felt that talking to the people in the church is not enough that was why we embarked on this campaign, to complement the efforts of the lagos State government,” he stated.

Obianor To redesign, rebuild markets For Security, Fire Safety From Chuks Collins, Awka NAmbrA State Governor, A Willie Obiano has assured citizens of the State, especially market men and women of safer markets. The Governor made the commitment while receiving the report of a 7-man Committee set up to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the fire that recently gutted a section of the Ose-Okwodu market in Onitsha. Obiano, while receiving the report from the chairman of the Committee, Igwe rowland Odegbo, noted that it was his expectation that the recommendations would among other things ensure that the frequency of fire incident in markets would be a thing of the past and that measures would be taken to improve the general conditions of markets and the trading environment across the State. He said, “Onitsha main market at present has outgrown its original design and needs immediate attention to check over-crowding, encroachment into the open spaces and construction of illegal makeshift stalls. The spaces are cluttered such that movement is hampered during emergency situations like fire outbreak that even fire trucks cannot get to the scenes on time with relative ease. Such a situation is not ideal for modern markets.”

APC To Set Up reconciliation Committee From John Akubo, Lokoja the peaceful FtheOllOWING Conduct of congresses by Kogi State Chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC), the newly elected chairman of the party, Alhaji Haddi Ametuo has muted plans to set up a re-conciliatory committee to reconcile aggrieved members. This is to prevent aggrieved members from dumping the party and joining other parties in the State. Ametuo, who stated this at the weekend after the inaugural meeting of the State Executive members of the party in the State in lokoja, said the party has no faction, adding that the structure has already been established under his leadership. The Chairman called on aggrieved persons to drop their grievances, saying there can never be progress where there is no peace. Ametuo urged the State Governor, Idris Wada, to urgently look into the plight of local government staff, whose salaries have not been paid for months by the council chairmen. He also appealed to the Federal Government to be more proactive in the handling of in-security situation in the country and called on Nigerians to be security conscious.

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cityfile

World World Economic Economic Forum Forum On On Africa Africa:: Typical scene of deserted Abuja streets during the World Economic Forum

PHOTOS: ITUNU AJAYI

Abuja Residents Fault City’s Shutdown, Govt’s Insincerity From Itunu Ajayi, Abuja HE 24th edition of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA), held in Abuja, May 7-9, 2014, has come and gone. The experience it etched on the minds of residents, however, could remain fresh for days to come. With the enviable feat of being the first West African country to host the Forum, Nigeria’s journey to WEFA 2014 began May last year in Cape Town, South Africa. The economic potentials and leadership position of Africa’s most populous nation might not have been lost on stakeholders, as they announced the country as next destination, after South Africa for the globally acclaimed summit. World leaders and delegates at Cape Town might have expressed high-level excitement having heard a lot about the ‘Giant of Africa’. Few might have been opportune to visit the country. They might also have seen Abuja, the beautiful, in radiant photographs. How could they have known that behind the eye-appeal are unpleasant issues the nation’s government would do all in its power to conceal? The preparation to host such a forum is huge, but equally large is the potential benefits for economic growth and development. The host country has to be financially poised and most importantly ready security wise. But a section of Abuja residents said they were convinced that had the security situation in Nigeria today been the same during the Cape Town edition, the country would not have made moves to be considered host to WEFA 2014. And if it did, delegates would have expressed unwillingness to come to Nigeria. It took a statement jointly signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Chief Economic Advisor to the President, Nwanze Okidegbe, on behalf of the Federal Government to allay the concerns of delegates, following two bomb blasts in Nyanyan, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory. The statement reads in part: “We would like to take this opportunity to assure you of your safety during your participation at the upcoming World Economic Forum on Africa 2014. Our security planning for the WEF on Africa is already well under way and will be the largest security operation ever mounted in this country for an international summit. In total, over 6,000 security personnel, consisting police and army will be deployed, covering a secure area the size of 250 square kilometres.” And so, on Friday May 2, the Federal Government of Nigeria di-

rected Senator Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to announce that all government offices and schools in Abuja be closed down for the three days that the Forum would sit. Anyim, who is not given to too many words, said that the order was designed to ease the flow of traffic within the city and enable participants to carry out their assigned roles and engage actively in the Forum. He added that private organisations with large number of staff might also close down their operations if they wish to do so, and that offices performing essential services are not expected to be part of the shutdown. HUS the already tense atmosphere in the metropolis was further heightened by the heavy presence of security operatives. Military men armed to the teeth moved round the city while the conference lasted. Contingents of joint security operatives comprising the Army, Police, Federal Road Safety Commission and the Civil Defence Corps mounted roadblocks at strategic intersections. Men on power bikes zoomed round the city, as helicopters hovered overhead. Passing through the security cordon to some areas was impossible, as even accredited media staff had a hard time convincing the eagle-eyed men that they were on essential duty. The security men defied the drizzle on Wednesday night in continuation of their stop and search mission. The Guardian came across some men of the Nigeria Police around the Central Mosque and some other areas in Wuse II, through Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent. They manned the roads amid the drizzle – without raincoats. Besides their AK 47 rifles, they were also armed with their trademark beggarliness. Without mincing words, some of them asked for ‘kola nuts’ to get something to keep warm. A resident, Bamgbola James, described the scenario as warlike. He argued that government could not convince the people that the closure of the city was due to the desire for free flow of traffic. He said government should have simply come out straight and

Why can’t the government be honest just once? This is the major reason citizens have lost confidence in them. You will never get to know the true state of things. Is Nigeria hosting a world event for the first time that government now has to close down the city and the economy of the people?

explained that the current insecurity in the country called for the closure. “I don’t like this. Why can’t the government be honest just once? This is the major reason citizens have lost confidence in them. You will never get to know the true state of things. Is Nigeria hosting a world event for the first time that government now has to close down the city and the economy of the people? Don’t forget, my argument is not about the closure of Abuja, but let the government tell us the truth; no one will arrest Jonathan if he said the security challenges in the country made the government adopt a closure. These days, if the government says anything, the first thing the average Nigerian would say is: ‘Na lie!’ People have lost confidence. “Take the case of the underlying issues that brought us to where we are now for instance; innocent children were kidnapped close to a month now and we keep hearing conflicting figures – 103, 54, 176, 234 etc. And then defence headquarters woke up one morning and gave itself kudos for rescuing over 100 of those girls, only for their parents to cry out saying that they have not seen any children. So, defence headquarters did not know about an operation it engaged in? How did we get to this point? Nothing can survive on falsehood. We know the government is trying to protect life and property, but citizens must be told the truth. We cannot continue like this.” SCHOLARin Strategic Studies, Professor Tunde Adeniran, believes that the government has responsibility to take steps to protect the citizenry. Author of the book, International Violence, and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, he said the country is presently in a state of partial emergency; an asymmetrical conflict situation which requires vigilance and sacrifice on the part of every patriot and utmost decisiveness on the part of government. He appealed to all Nigerians not to see the present security challenges from partisan, sectional or sectarian perspectives but as a national issue that deserves collective resolution. Adeniran said: “We have passed the stage for allotting blame or indictment for complacency, wrong moves or misplaced expectations. We are a nation that is grief stricken as a result of the spread of premeditated violence and horrendous siege by Boko Haram. It has done considerable damage to our collective psyche that only a quick fix by government could restore the confidence of many.

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Sunday, May 11,

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CITYFILE Some residents queried the establishment of space agencies in the country – the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited NIGCOMSAT and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)...”Are these agencies out there only to sight eclipses? We only hear them whenever Nigeria is witnessing an eclipse. What has that got to do with anything? The city has been shut down because of a group of people and yet we have satellites and all that. and technology or communications would go on oversight functions to NASRDA or NIGCOMSAT. What are those jamborees for? “What have we learnt from the establishment of those centres if they cannot track whatever is posing a security threat to the country. For me, they should be closed. One essence of having space agencies is security. Since they have failed, they should be scrapped. We now have to rely on foreign intelligence and security operatives over the Boko Haram issue. Why waste money on space agencies. Since the insurgency started, I personally have not heard any of them make statements on what they are doing about the problem. I stand to be corrected though.” He also reasoned that the presidency is too cold at tackling the insurgency, owing to the second term bid of President Jonathan. “I see the President being too soft in tackling this challenge. Now, I believe the President has some information on persons sponsoring these guys. But he is afraid to step on toes because he wants to come back in 2015. You don’t rule a country like that, not a country like Nigeria. There is no way a leader would not offend people or step on toes; you can’t satisfy everybody. He once said there are Boko Haram members in his cabinet. What did he do about them? Now, he is singing another song. “In other climes, a president would have resigned because of all these challenges. But granted that resignation from public offices is not the norm in Nigeria, at least let him be bold and address issues head on. If the foreign countries that are coming now to rescue those Chibok girls had run their own places the way Nigeria has been run and still being run, would they have been able to come and help us? Abuja was closed down for days. For how long are we going to do that?”

When Abuja M Stood Still For WEFA 2014...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

While some appreciate the depth and dimensions of the task at hand, it is for government to take initiatives, carefully calculated risks and be decisive.” Meanwhile, some people leveraged on the shutdown to travel out of the city. The Guardian caught up with some who were travelling to Lagos. Some said they are civil servants; others described themselves as traders seizing the opportunity of the closure to sort out some businesses. The only group of people who seemed delighted about the closure were Federal civil servants. It was an opportunity to rest and stay away from the secretariat, which lately had faced bomb scares. A civil servant, who identified himself as Jude, said he was very pleased when the shutdown was announced, saying he had become apprehensive. “The Federal Secretariat complex has been under a bomb scare. Several times, we have had to run out of the building upon hearing that bombs were planted there. In that kind of situation, no one cared to find out whether the alarm was true or not; the first thing a reasonable person would do is run for safety. “And can you imagine that some people might be hypertensive. A lot of Nigerians are dying quietly as a result of this insecurity. For a hypertensive person to run down the stairs for safety is not a funny thing. Government must do all in its power to bring this insurgency to an end, rather than shutting down the city. For how long will the government close the city? So, if another event comes up tomorrow, would the government close down the city again?” Other residents put the blame on the two space agencies in the country namely the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited NIGCOMSAT and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). They raised question over what they perceive as duplication of roles by the agencies, saying it is a way of siphoning budgetary allocations. Adeola Johnson is an ICT expert. Hear his lamentations: “Are these agencies out there only to sight eclipses? We only hear them whenever Nigeria is witnessing an eclipse. What has that got to do with anything? It is high time we stopped pretending about capabilities we don’t have. We should have passed the level of leaving things to fate or prayers. The city has been shut down because of a group of people and yet we have satellites and all that. Today, NASRDA will tell you it is launching SAT-1 or SAT2 or whatever, and tomorrow some House committee on science

We are all paying for what Boko Haram has been doing in this country. Government should know that there are some of us who live on daily income. We only sell when people come out and these past days have been dry. Government is not providing jobs except on the pages of papers and those of us who had dare to take our destinies in our hands are made to suffer these attacks. Something urgent must be done. We cannot continue to live in fear.

ARKETS in the metropolis recorded low patronage, as residents and private business owners including artisans stayed indoors. Few commercial vehicles were on the road. Persons who had to go out for a reason or the other either became stranded or walked long distances to achieve their purposes. The entire Central Business District, the commercial nerve centre of the city, was like a ghost town. Traders lamented their losses and blamed the insurgents for their ill luck. Obinna Sylvester is a trader at Utako market. He said: “When government said that there would be no movement, I knew that it would affect our business. From the first day, there has been no patronage. But I believe that the people coming to Nigeria for this meeting would bring things that would be of benefit to us. We are supposed to reap something positive within these three days. We have to make sacrifices now for the sake of the future. I believe in God that the brighter future would justify the three days during which we closed shops.” A spare parts dealer, Chris Okon, put it this way: “We are all paying for what Boko Haram has been doing in this country. Government should know that there are some of us who live on daily income. We only sell when people come out and these past days have been dry. Government is not providing jobs except on the pages of papers and those of us who had dare to take our destinies in our hands are made to suffer these attacks. Something urgent must be done. We cannot continue to live in fear.”

N what Nigeria and Nigerians might have lost in monetary terms, as a result of the shutdown, a management and financial consultant, Odilim Enwagbara, explained that it would be difficult to quote a specific figure. He said it is only individual business owners that would be able to quantify their losses, and that government on its part might not be able to pin down any figure as it does not generate revenue but only spends money generated by others. He said: “There is no way one can quantify losses because the economy of individuals has been shut down so to speak. The Forum is okay; it allows Nigeria to showcase what it has for other nations of the world. Nothing good comes easy. If government were to be private business owners, then one would have been able to say, ‘this is exactly what was lost’. “Other countries have done this kind of shutdown. For instance, in Cape Town, South Africa, something of this sort happened. Because of the security challenges on ground, government had to take the decision. I am sure that but for the security issue, government would have allowed people to go about their normal day-to-day activities and the Forum would have still gone ahead all the same. So, government had to do something that is assur-

Adeniran

Open shops... But where are the customers?

Government also might have lost something as a result of the closure of its ministries and agencies. But it is seeing whatever it might have lost as nothing compared to the gains it would make from this interaction. This is unlike private individuals who might not see any gains for now because they have been deprived of their earnings. The government is a free rider. That is the problem. This is not America where government makes money from its people and spends the money with the approval of the citizens. ing. This is not like a talk show; it is serious business we are talking about. “Of course, government also might have lost something as a result of the closure of its ministries and agencies. But it is seeing whatever it might have lost as nothing compared to the gains it would make from this interaction. This is unlike private individuals who might not see any gains for now because they have been deprived of their earnings. The Nigerian government is a free rider. That is the problem. This is not America where government makes money from its people and spends the money with the approval of the citizens. It is a free rider because it does not generate revenue. Government does not pay tax; it only collects tax and spends. Others work while the government spends. That is why it is not looking at any probable loss to the economy because it does not generate revenue. “If you check your wallet and know how much you have, you cannot spend the money anyhow. But if you have limitless free money in your wallet, you can afford to spend it anyhow. Have you ever slept in a hotel where all that is required of you is just identify yourself and sign in? All you need do in this picture I just painted is confirm that you are the individual the hotel room had been reserved for and then you stay there for as long as it takes and sign out when you are leaving. You don’t know the room rate, the price of the food you ate while there, the rate of room service or any other cost you might have incurred. That is what we are talking about. Have you ever seen a government official who is asked to go for a programme abroad and he would stay in a two-star hotel? No. He would definitely go for a five-star. Reason: he is not the one paying for the hotel from his wallet. They must definitely maximise their comfort because it is not their sweat.” HE shutdown was a different story in satellite towns and suburbs. Businesses went on as usual and there was no presence of security men as recorded in the city centre. This, a resident said, showed the tactlessness of the Federal Government. “Thousands of security personnel are in the city centre so that Boko Haram will not disturb the meeting. What if they decide to bomb the outskirts, like we saw in Nyanyan? What signal would that send to delegates at the meeting. I am sure they would all rush back to their countries and the conference would end abruptly. That is not a good image for Nigeria. Much as the Federal Government is protecting foreigners, citizens’ welfare too should be considered. A taxi driver told The Guardian: “All these are as a result of the elections in 2015. When I go home for Christmas, I will stay there till after the elections because nobody knows what could happen. I think some people do not want Jonathan there again and so they are trying to frustrate his government. This started in the form of a religion crisis, but it is beyond that now.” Other people who spoke to The Guardian said they wish the security measure put in place by the Federal Government for WEFA would be sustained on a daily basis in and around the FCT. They urged a situation where armed security men would be at strategic points while policemen patrol the entire city and suburbs like it is done in other countries of the world.

THE GUARDIAN

Sunday, May 11,

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CITYFILE Tears, As Rainstorm Wreaks Havoc On Ogungbade Community By Gbenga Akinfenwa

HE rainy season had come, and residents of Ogungbade-OniT hale in Ifo local government area of Ogun State and adjoining communities were waiting for their turn to welcome the showers. When, therefore, on Monday, May 5, 2014, thick clouds gathered in the sky, the people were optimistic. Little did they know that the waters would herald sorrow to the entire community. Today, the residents are counting their losses. Over 45 houses were damaged, including shops, churches and schools. Electricity poles were also tossed to the ground by angry winds. Observers put the financial toll of the disaster at millions of naira. The rain began at about 3pm. It was a heavy downpour, accompanied by a ferocious wind, which uprooted houses, tore roofs apart and threw down fences. With the number of electricity poles that were destroyed, the community could be in total blackout for many days to come. When The Guardian visited the community, few minutes after the rain had stopped, the rubbles from affected buildings were everywhere. Some residents were seen moving their belongings, like mattresses, clothes, sofas, etc from their damaged homes, and spreading them on the ground. However, some items like foods and cement were beyond redemption. The wall of a school was reported to have collapsed on some pupils, who sustained various degrees of injury. Their principal was also said to have received a cut in the neck. An electricity pole also tumbled on the fence of another school, as frightened pupils hid inside their classrooms. The rainstorm destroyed the roofs of many shops along the busy Agoro-Ogba Iyo-Ijoko road. The road was also damaged by the fury of the floodwater. The Imise, a popular river in the area, broke its bounds, making the passage of vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians dangerous. Persons who dared the floodwater were almost swept away. Mrs. Alirat Ibuowo, a landlady, whose entire roof was blown away by the storm, said her loss ran into hundreds of thousands of naira. She described the incident as a huge setback, lamenting that she has nobody who could help her financially. Another victim, Mrs. Dorcas Adewunmi, a widow, whose roof was also blasted away, said she was inside the house when she heard the terrible sound, which forced her to run out to safety. Though she couldn’t provide an estimate of properties destroyed, she however, appealed to the local and state governments for help, so that she could rebuild the house. An official of the Community Development Association (CDA) described the incident as unfortunate, calling on government to offer aid to the community. Scenes of destruction following the rainstorm PHOTO: Gbenga Akinfenwa

RESIDENTS:Bensther Street Is Worst In Akowonjo GOVT: No, They’ve Not Followed Building Regulations

Flood-prone Bensther Street in Akowonjo

By Yinka Ogunjobi ENSTHER Street is terrible, and residents in the Akowonjo area of Lagos State are not happy about it. They described the road, which has witnessed years of neglect, as the worst they have ever seen. Mrs. Abiodun Bamgboye, a resident, told The Guardian that people in the area have experienced almost 10 years of anguish. She explained how, following heavy rains, some people in the area are even forced to abandon their homes because the road lacks good drainages.

PHOTO: YINKA OGUNJOBI

“When it rains, it become dangerous to move around. Properties are also damaged. Children on their way to school sometimes fall into gutters because, as a result of the flood, they are not able to tell the road from the gutter. We can’t even buy home appliances because of the fear of loosing them to flood,” she said. “We are suffering here,” said Alhaja Salmota Idowu, another resident. According to her, the people have made several appeals for help, to no avail. She said that besides taking the matter to the local government authorities, they have also cried to state officials at Alausa, the seat of the Lagos State government.

All they did, Idowu said, was send people to take measurements of the road, snap pictures, and then never showed up again. She added that during the last election, a political campaign team came to grade the road, promising that it would be fixed if their party was voted into power. “I have lived here for over 25 years and I know a lot about this road. This road used to be one of the best. Motorists were always happy to ply it because Bensther leads to the major road,” she said. Mrs. Akindele, who runs a sewing business on the street, said she has lost a lot of customers, as a result of the terrible state of the road. “Cars are unable to access it. Commercial motorcyclists too would charge you exorbitantly to bring you here. Some would even refuse outright to ply the road. Walking through is worst; your feet get all muddied up. Many shop owners here are fed up with the condition of the road,” Akindele said. The information officer of Alimosho local government, Mr. Fashola, however, blamed the residents for not following approved building directives, saying there would be no intervention until the people listened to the government. He said: “The residents didn’t follow the approved building plans. Check out their plans; they are below standard. That is why the area gets flooded when it rains. There are no setbacks in the buildings. So far, some of these buildings ought to be closed. That is why even when they write to the state, the state will not answer them, because they are not ready to follow regulations.” Fashola added: “Nigeria is yet to construct the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Has any one asked why? Allocations cannot go round. Following the receipt of funds, the local government is saddled with different programmes. Do you know how many programmes there are? We have empowerment programmes, health programmes, educational programmes etc. Do you know how many books we provide? There are pupils who can’t even afford schoolbooks. We cannot tie the government’s work to road construction alone because it doesn’t make up the economy. So, we prioritise the little money we get. We have carried out many road constructions. Do you know how much that cost, and yet they would say the government is not working. The fact that Bensther road has not been constructed doesn’t make the government altogether bad. We are supposed to be commended for the good works we have done, rather than be criticised.”

Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN, www.ngrguardiannews.com

NOTEBOOK

Doomed Communication Of Nigeria’s War On Terrorism Nigeria needs to change the way it communicates its war on terrorism. Officials need to imbibe the three key steps in crisis communication: preparation, preparation and preparation. Additionally, officials should take the lead in following the broadly accepted formulas when there is crisis: when an incident occurs, officials should seize the “golden hour” and manage the information, move to the “action zone” by swiftly telling the population what is going on. The idea of moving straight to “blame time” by government, opposition politicians or the mass media is not helpful.

By Ambrose Akor HE world sided with Nigeria this week in its war against terrorism but there were no accolades for how the nation has communicated that war in official, diplomatic channels and publicly. I am sure that as the commander-in-chief of Nigeria’s armed forces, the President, Goodluck Jonathan, would accept criticisms for a campaign, which reached its lowest ebb on April 14 with the kidnapping of over 200 schoolgirls by the terrorist group Boko Haram. Certain strong words have been used to describe the government and its conduct of the war. But federal officials and knowledgeable foreign governments claim that the administration is working hard on the war in general and on the mission to rescue the kidnapped schoolgirls. Few in Nigeria and around the world buy that analysis. It is not difficult to see why there is a world of difference between official position and public perception. In terms of the true state of the war between Nigeria and Boko Haram, government officials and citizens seem to live in two different universes. And the government is not alone in what appears to be a clear miscommunication of Nigeria’s war on terrorism. Nigerian politicians of all parties, Nigerian journalists, the military, and the police all appear to lack an understanding of the magnitude of the problem facing the nation and at what levels the war should be waged. Rather than form a common front for the war, the nation is engulfed in general suspicion and has been at war with itself – to the delight of Boko Haram. The current uncertainties have significant impact on how other nations view Nigeria’s war on terrorism. First, I will focus on government’s failings in crisis communication management. I will start with an example: the widely discussed presidential media chat that was held last Sunday. To start with the tiny oversights that undermined the president’s message, the setting was the same as six previous presidential media chats of the Jonathan presidency: a spacious presidential room with the same patterned curtains or drapes in the background, a President very comfortable at home, four journalists that looked more like dinner guests than a pack of news hounds. It was more of what Nigerians will call an “arrangement” press briefing with predetermined questions and no aggressive follow-ups. The scene showed no reflection of a nation facing a major, national emergency. The president took the same sitting position as in the previous six occasions, wearing needless glasses that would make it impossible for the empathy he expressed with his mouth to shine through his eyes. It was such a familiar sight; a viewer would think it was a scene in Groundhog Day, the 1993 American comedy film starring Bill Murray. The difference was that last Sunday was supposed to be important, a day the president intended to seize the initiative in what has turned calamitous for how the President, his government, and the nation are viewed globally. More importantly, it is beyond belief that it took 21 days after the abduction of the schoolgirls and the Abuja bombing that killed scores of innocent persons for the president to pointedly address the nation on the kidnappings and respond to the attack. If the government had been idle, the docility in communicating to Nigerians and the world could be easily explained, but as Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told CNN this week, there has been a problem with communicating government’s efforts at rescuing the abducted girls. It should be a major concern that even when the president and other key officials have made statements promising to end terrorism by Boko Haram, they sounded hollow. That

President Goodluck Jonathan

will continue to be the case as long as government does not deliver timely, effective and concrete information to the public when they are under threat or after an incident. The key objective of a terrorist is to instil fear in citizens. To begin to give confidence back to citizens, they need to know as quickly as possible the nature of the threat or the degree of a terrorist incident. Somehow, Nigerian officials think they can deny Nigerians of the timely and vital information and still expect them to trust government’s plans of actions against terrorism. The greater worry is that the trend has been emblematic of how Nigeria’s war on terror has been conducted since it started over seven years ago. Perhaps, the global dismay and anger brought about by Nigeria’s woeful performance in crisis and public communication will change all that. There is need for the nation and its government to recognize that communication management and psychological operation are major parts of a war on terrorism. Nigeria is facing a major crisis and skills in crisis communication must be employed as a major plank of the war. In times of crises, Newton’s Third Law applies: for every action there is going to be a reaction. The incidents of April 14 did not only require a reaction but needed employing Rapid Response mechanisms. In addition to having a 24-hour monitoring of events, there should have been in place a master plan for strategic responses. Such a master plan should have spelt out who should respond – depending on the magnitude and location of threat or terrorist action. The longer it takes for official response, the more alarming it is for citizens who need to have a clear picture of events, especially if they have to lend their weights to the war. What follows in that vacuum is misinformation and the resultant public fear. Equally, it is surprising that it took Nigeria all those many years to engage diplomatic channels

and ask for international support in the fight against Boko Haram. Up to Tuesday when United States offered to help find the missing girls and in the broader objective of defeating Boko Haram, US departments of state and defence repeated that Nigeria had not asked for specific help. Equally, there are no public demonstrations of cooperation with neighbouring Cameroon and Chad in the effort to contain Boko Haram. To emphasize unity of purpose in the fight against Boko Haram, along with the accompanying publicity, President Jonathan should be seen meeting with leaders of those countries. There have been speculations that the government seems to be embarrassed to ask for help. If that were to be the case, it paints another picture of a nation that had failed to appreciate the magnitude of the crisis that it faces. It would seem unreasonable that Nigeria, which has supported other nations in similar situations (including recently Mali), would not ask for assistance from friendly nations with vital expertise in the war against terrorism. Some have suggested that government was hedging from asking for external support because, internally, it could be viewed as weak. That claim is not totally unfounded. Opposition politicians have repeatedly portrayed the war as the government’s or Jonathan’s war. The signal they send to their party supporters, foreign governments, and terrorist groups is that this war against Boko Haram has no national support. It is not surprising that the United States and other nations who have offered to help, according to observers, want to limit their involvement so as not be caught up in Nigerian politics. When diplomats read and watch politicians gloat over the failings of the Jonathan administration in the war against Boko Haram, they wonder if they might be hurting their future interests by fully

supporting the war. Also, the lack of coordination of communication and operational plans between the armed forces, police and intelligence services have been a major concern. The lingering confusion over the number of girls abducted on April 14 resulted mainly from this confusion. As already mentioned, there should be pre-determined channels of communications during a threat or after an incident. Journalists, on the other hand, should be wary of information coming from suspicious channels. The Nigerian media have generally adopted the same idea that failure to defeat Boko Haram amounted to failure of the Jonathan administration. That cannot be further from the truth. Boko Haram started its terror campaign before Jonathan came to power. There is no guarantee that the terrorist group will stop the killing and kidnapping of Nigerians if Jonathan were to leave office. On the other hand, there is no magic wand to fighting the group tucked away somewhere by an alternative politician. Finally, by daily publishing pictures of bodies of victims of Boko Haram’s terror campaign, Nigerian newspapers and website are helping the group entrench fear in citizens. Worse than that, they are devaluing the lives of Nigerians, which is the main object of Boko Haram. Such display of obscene photographs do not only break the Nigerian media law, they turn the news organs as tools in the hands of Boko Haram. In conclusion, Nigeria needs to change the way it communicates its war on terrorism. Officials need to imbibe the three key steps in crisis communication: preparation, preparation and preparation. Additionally, officials should take the lead in following the broadly accepted formulas when there is crisis: when an incident occurs, officials should seize the “golden hour” and manage the information, move to the “action zone” by swiftly telling the population what is going on. The idea of moving straight to “blame time” by government, opposition politicians or the mass media is not helpful. Above all, Nigerians of all political affiliations must recognize that this is a national war, not Jonathan’s war. That means also that the government owes citizens a responsibility to inform them of impending dangers or when there has been a terrorist attack. It must integrate crisis communication as a necessary component of the war on terrorism. And any individual, party or institution on the side of the Nigerian people must back the government in this war against Boko Haram.

Dr Akor, who researches mass media’s role in public policy and foreign policy processes, wrote from Manchester, UK

Bring Back The Book, The Letters And Our Girls! By Oronto Douglas HE Chibok abductors may never have imagined the consequence of their action. As the world rose in unison in protests and demonstrations against the assault on the dignity of humanity in North East Nigeria, long suffering womanhood stands out once again as the undisguised victim. The call to action is for the freedom of the future mothers of our nation now held captive by a group many believe have no respect for the education of the girl-child nor the respect for the right to choice on the fundamental issue of when to marry, who to marry and what age to tie the nuptial knot in the present world. The call to action is feeding into the narrative of slavery, trafficking in children and the pain and suffering unleashed on girls now fettered in agony as a result of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) – an ailment that results when an immature pudendum is repeatedly violated in sexual assaults. Twelve year a slave gave, a chilling account of what African American women and men went through in plantations in the days of slavery in the new world. The performance of Lupita Nyong’o as she was repeatedly raped by her masters forcing her to request that fellow slave Chiwetel Eziofor kill her so that she can escape

the daily assault on her dignity is quite telling. The account is no different from Nigeria’s Stephanie-Okereke Idahosa’s dramatization in her epic docu-drama DRYin which she narrated the shame and suffering VVF victims go through. Only the discerning can draw parallels in womanhood’s collective suffering in these slavish conditions. In December 2010, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan launched a very popular initiative aimed at Bringing Back the Book into the frontline of Nigeria’s literary consciousness so as to help us advance our present civilisation. The initiative was launched as a citizen action coated in the idea that only citizens can liberate themselves from illiteracy. Even as momentum was gathering in the book question, a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, fired a letter to President Jonathan in which he heaped a number of allegations on the incumbent President. Before President Jonathan could reply, the former President’s daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo bombed her father with a letter wherein she accused him of hypocrisy, and not fit to write any letter to Jonathan. Many letters were to follow including the one from a former Senate President Ahmed Ebute, Chief E.K. Clark, Asari Dokubo and over five hundred

such other letters and comments. The Environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey stepped in with the fabulous parody of Bring Back the Letters, which he drew attention to the dying art of great letter writing in an age of “internet” and “texting” in which the elegance of language is sacrificed. As womanhood is denigrated and degraded in Chibok, campaigners have now taken up the “bring back” narrative of President Jonathan to fast forward action in bringing back our girls! The hope of all who believe in freedom and in the deepening and strengthening of our young democracy is that the parody of the “bring back” must not end with only the release of “our girls” but should feed into a new movement in which the very source of our existence – womanhood- receives continuous support, protection and defence in an unfair world. We must not allow the opportunity of the global attention on the abducted girls of Chibok to be lost on the negative narrative of an alleged slow-to-act of government to becloud and befog the burning issues of early marriage, girl-child trafficking, slavery, rape, VVF, illiteracy among others. In addition to bringing back our girls, the collective action of bringing back the dignity of humanity, especially of womanhood must not be lost.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Backlash Abraham Ogbodo

08055328079 (Sms only) abogbodo@yahoo.com

Too Much Noise In The System E love making so much noise in this counW try. We talk while we eat. We talk while we work. We are always talking and most times talking anyhow. The net consequence of all these uncoordinated talking is under performance in virtually all departments of national life. But we are not bothered. We try to make up for whatever shortfalls in the management of the political economy with more big talk Once upon a time, Nigeria was the fourth largest democracy in the world. But when General Muhammadu Buhari visited with his cohorts on December 31 1983, from number four, we fell to no democracy at all. Nobody remembered to do the rating to establish how we fared in the succeeding years of totalitarianism. But I can bet that Nigeria might have improved significantly to the largest autocracy in the world under General Sani Abacha. We missed that beautiful opportunity to chart global leadership. By the way, where do we now stand on the global democratic scale? I suggest we also rebase our demography and other vital statistics to ascertain our true position. But if we were fourth in 1983, which is 31 years ago and with less than 100 million people, we should move a notch higher with about 200 million people to the number three slot after India and the United States of America, and undoubtedly number one in Africa. That makes the country both the number one economy and democracy in Africa. I am surprised that this additional feat has escaped the attention of everybody in government. It is something to crow about, even far more substantial as a publicity subject matter than the centenary celebrations in January this year. Now that I have raked it to the surface, I expect an effective follow up by the relevant departments of government. I only ask that as the originator of this idea, I and my organisation

should not be forgotten in the implementation of the publicity budget when the time comes. In the ongoing democratic experiment, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been a game changer. It was she who woke up one morning and paid off Nigeria’s over $12 billion debt to the Bretton Woods creditors just like that. That was another global first, which we missed to place on the front burner and create good noise. While other debtor nations including the US and Brazil would only service their debts and then run with the capital till the end of time, Nigeria got a strange inspiration from Ngozi to show a new direction in such matters. The country issued one cheque leaf to pay both capital and accruing interest as if it would not borrow again. Now, one account puts Nigeria’s accumulated external debt after the pay off at $7 billion and domestic debt at N13 trillion. When the mega deal was cut in 2006, Nigeria’s GDP was about $76 billion by one record. Oil revenues represented about 20 per cent of that figure. In real terms, the debt repayment to the Paris Club translated to off loading about 15 per cent, just five points less than the total oil earnings for that year, into a morbid source that created no multiplier benefits whatsoever on the economy. Some macro-economic experts had argued that the same amount would have gone almost all the way in addressing the epileptic supply of public electricity, which is considered as the most critical factor in the turnaround efforts of the Nigerian economy. Even Adam Smith who presented all the beautiful sermons on how nations could increase their wealth would have advised against such a transaction. Depleting the strategic foreign reserves by almost 50 per cent to settle a creditor is not the way of wise nations. What wise nations do is to use borrowed funds to expand their economic capabilities such that the

strains of repayment are comfortably absorbed by the resultant buoyancy in their economies. Although it was done the foolish way in Nigeria, some people got applauded for acting wisely. Former President Obasanjo who approved the dole was somehow shortchanged. He was the first head of state (maybe in the whole world), to pay-off an entire national debt in one swoop. Painfully, this was not properly canvassed during the campaign for third term for Obasanjo. The outcome would have been probably different if the handlers had driven the tenure elongation campaigns around this strong point. All of that is now history. Meanwhile, Ngozi the super performer is on call again after her brilliant performance under Obasanjo. And the noise making has increased. The economy is growing at almost double digit she shouts. Nigerians may not be as sound as the World Bank technocrat in macroeconomics, but I think they know enough to feel growth when any is underway. In which department of national life is this seven per cent annual growth rate that is being bandied felt? Is it in the adequacy of physical and social infrastructures such as roads, electricity, education, health or security? Besides, which sector of the economy is experiencing expansion? Can we put a coefficient to all of this and say how much of this annual growth rate is manifesting in the creation of new capacities in the manufacturing sector, which is the engine room of growth in a wellcoordinated economy? If anything, this sector is shrinking in the face of rising challenges chief of which is inadequate supply of public electricity. One report says capacity utilisation in the sector “has hovered around the 1990 levels” of less than 50 per cent in spite of reported increase of the sector’s contribution to the GDP from N634 billion it was in 2011 to N761 billion in 2012. Instead, what I can see is growth in the size of government and the clan of idle profiteers who live off government. There are more political aides and emergency contractors. This can be described as under growth or at best a lateral bloating of the political economy, which does not show up in the sky for capturing and measurement. This kind of growth causes obesity and ill health in any system. That is where we are in Nigeria and to hold on to that as growth, is not only fraudulent but self-affliction. Economic growth is not expansion of statistics. Any growth that does not translate to job opportunities and better life

F recent, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola O Ahmed Tinubu, two frontline opposition leaders have stepped out more forcefully to be

SUNDAY NARRATIVE

counted among those who joined in the crusade against the devilish activities of Boko Haram. After the Nyanya, Abuja, bombings and the abduction of over 200 female students at Chibok, Borno State, it was as if by concert, the two leaders were tutored to demonstrate what could be misconstrued as political correctness by lending their voices in very clear terms to support government’s effort to battle the insurgents. First it was Buhari, who wrote passionately about the need for a united affront against the terrorists. It was the first time in many years that Buhari, a retired military general and former Head of State would provoke many hearts regarding his love for a united Nigeria. He condemned the attackers and showed an unusual understanding of government’s challenges and efforts. He told the insurgents that they were on their own and they cannot divide Nigeria. Some Nigerians were very happy, because Buhari is not a man of little reputation. He is well respected across the country and his followership is huge. The feeling was that once he begins to come out so forcefully to condemn the activities of Boko Haram, that even the bloodsuckers themselves would soft-pedal. But that was not to be, as they soon returned to Nyanya and killed more people. We later saw the video of Abubakar Shekau, the trader of young maidens, taunting Nigeria and promising to capture more girls. And he did. The most important point here is that Buhari has spoken and whether Boko Haram listens or not is another matter we shall look at later. Then the Jagaban Borgu did his own pan-Nigerian treatise last week. The first part was equally passionate about Nigeria and why Boko Haram has hit a dead end. Tinubu equally told the insurgents that they cannot divide Nigeria; instead, they shall fail and Nigeria will prevail. Hear him: They want Christian to curse Muslim and Muslim to curse Christian. They want to pit southerners versus northerners. By the spilling of innocent blood, they hope that we come to blame each other for what they are doing to us. We shall never fall into this fool’s trap and, though they may win the moment, they shall never prevail in their vile scheme. We stand united against this threat to our national existence. What can be more patriotic? Truth is that it is at moments like this that citizens show their love for the fatherland, irrespective of party af-

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

Buhari, Tinubu And Changing Tactics filiations. The United States was one united country against 12/11 and the bonding was unmistakable. You could not say who was a democrat and who was a Republican. But since the assault on Nigeria by the Boko Haram, leading politicians have said unprintable things about what was happening and how to deal with it. It was heartwarming to read Buhari and Tinubu writing by themselves, one after the other, to publicly denounce the insurgents and lending support to government’s effort. Even the Jonathan administration has hailed Buhari’s call for a united stand against Boko Haram and amply commended the General. While Buhari restricted himself to condemning the insurgents in his essay, Tinubu, in his second part said he would not refrain from apportioning blames and proffering solutions. For those who keep a close watch on the polity, the things said in the second part are not too different from what the opposition was used to saying, which in summary is that the Jonathan administration had been largely clueless in dealing with the insurgents. Not minding that slight variation in the tempo of the two essays, what is interesting here is that we are seeing leading opposition figures changing tactics as 2015 unfolds. It appears we are seeing Buhari and Tinubu attempting to expand their frontiers to embrace the whole of Nigeria, irrespective of religion and tribe. Perhaps, we are going to see more of experiments like this, seeing and hearing the two leaders test the tempestuous political waters ahead February 2015. Whoever is giving them coaching lessons has done well, but not timely enough. A lot of water has passed under the bridge and whatever is said and done now, no matter how patriotic could be misconstrued. And that is where the APC has to be careful. Of late, many APC friendly commentators have expended a lot of ink trying to explain the potentials in a Buhari/Tinubu joint ticket. They have also attempted to explain how harmless a

Muslim/Muslim ticket would be. Unfortunately for them, it is one of their own, Mr. Femi Fanikayode who volleyed the debate into the national arena and sustained it there. A lot of Nigerians would rather look at other factors, like age and character as being critical for assessing the next presidential aspirants. But now that the debate is out there, it is worth talking about. It is a fact that religion is an issue, a big one at that. Therefore, a Muslim/Muslim ticket in 2015 if not carefully analysed and delivered could be another source of anxiety and might lead voters to react with suspicion. This is not the best of times to exacerbate religious hysteria in the polity. Boko Haram has done enough damage to put the country on this dangerous edge. It is the responsibility of political leaders to deliberately steer away from issues and discourses that are religiously contentious. When some governors made so much noise about introducing aspects of the Sharia legal system in their states during the era of president Obasanjo, they were so sure that that was the most politically correct thing to do. They were largely unmindful of the possibility of fundamentalist elements desiring to extend the frontiers of Sharia at a later date. Now that Boko Haram is here, the political class has to demonstrate discretion by not behaving as if this were not a plural society. What is mostly cited as an example in this debate is the Abiola/Kingibe ticket of 1993, which produced one of the best results in Nigeria’s political history. It was a Muslim/Muslim ticket, but majority of Nigerians did not care because there were yet no threats by any religion to lord it over the other. At that time, Nigeria was under a military government and most of the expressions seen and heard under this democracy could not have survived then. We had one federal government that was operated by the rules of the military without a constitution. Religion was not a major item of governance then.

for the generality of the people is a piece of propaganda. For three days last week, from Wednesday to Friday, the nation’s capital was shut down to allow the meeting of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA) hold in peace in Abuja. After the noise about the rebased GDP, which brings the Nigerian economy to the number one slot in Africa and 26 globally, the WEFA was presented by the private organisers and government as a logical follow up. That is, a kind of call on foreign investors to come and take advantage of the expanded domestic economy to do good business in Nigeria. In the consuming euphoria, nobody bothered to pause to do a proper profit and loss account of the hosting of WEFA in Abuja. For one thing, it wasn’t a good time to stage high profile international meets in Nigeria, but since the country had rushed to appropriate the hosting right of the forum after the 2013 edition in Cape Town South Africa, the show must go on anyhow in spite of Boko Haram. For another, there was nothing to showcase outside propaganda to convince investors of the friendliness of the Nigerian business environment. The 1000 or so foreign delegates and some 13 heads of state who came to Abuja knew this and if they were required to act, they would follow the evidence of their senses and not the persuasive arguments of some government officials. And so, what did we gain in return of shutting down Abuja for three days? Nothing! For purposes of analysis, let’s put the GDP of Abuja at N900 billion. It means more than N7 billion of the city’s annual production was lost to the WEFA meeting, in addition to the billions that it could have cost to host the forum. Maybe there are too many theoreticians in the Jonathan administration. Every improvement has been at the level of theory. Improvement in the supply of public electricity is theory. Creation of jobs is theory, economic growth is theory and even the orchestrated agric revolution has been more at the level of talk shows than actual cultivation in the farmlands. The raw statistics are still very scary. About 70 per cent of the population live in poverty and 40 per cent of employable youths go about without jobs. Where is the growth? A way out of this is to introduce real economic practitioners into government. The economy needs people who can work better than they can talk or propound theories. No more, no less! The personalities of Abiola and Kingibe were a factor that helped the people to look beyond religion in accepting them. These were two Nigerians that were at home everywhere. MKO was at home with everybody and every part of the country. He spent his money generously to promote issues that appealed to all religions. Nigerians then had no reason to be suspicious of a Muslim/Muslim ticket. Today, things are rather different. The political class has divided and fractured the polity. They are the ones responsible for expanding the differences and dividing the polity. They are the ones who ganged up to write the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which originally endorsed a rotational presidency between North and South, allegedly. They are the ones who later changed it when Umaru Yar’adua died. But they are not sincere enough to spell it out in the Constitution of the Federal Republic. 2011 was a major turning point in the politics of Nigeria. We saw gang-ups that threatened to divide the country between North and South. It did not work, but it did a lot of damage to political cohesion. There were threats to cause mayhem and that manifested in post-election violence at some centres in the North. It is not unlikely that Boko Haram and other undesirable elements took advantage of the political divide to ply their own trade, which at first got the tacit endorsement of some stakeholders. Others were largely indifferent, until now that the heat is burning all of us. In preparing for 2015, politicians must look well before they leap, because the fire next time could be all consuming. That is why we are saying we do not need to elevate religiosity above other important factors. In terms of experience, Buhari has sufficient knowledge to stabilize the polity. As military leader in 1983, fellow Nigerians did not reckon with him in terms of his religious persuasion. We did not care; what we saw and were interested in was his high level of discipline, a no-nonsense leader who was ready to show the way out of the despondency of the Second Republic. And he tried his best. The APC has to juggle the cards very well and if convinced that a Muslim/Muslim ticket would do the magic for the party in 2015, so be it. Others would meet them in ‘battlefield’ with their own winning streak. The point is that it must not be by do or die; and nobody should incite anybody to cause trouble. The conversation should be more about capacity and the integrity of those on the ballot. The people will decide the rest.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 11, 2014 11

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Outlook Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s Paralysing Economic Model By Lawson A. Omokhodion. RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan was visibly angry at the way the World Bank recently classed Nigeria as one of the five countries with the largest concentration of poor people in the world. How can the World Bank say an economy with a rebased GDP of US$510 billion and with its businessmen harassing the poor citizens of Kenya with their myriad of supersonic private jets be numbered amongst the poor? How can the World Bank say that Nigeria, which has produced an Aliko Dangote, one of the 25 richest men in the world be classified as poor? Quite often institutions like the World Bank are too quick to insult developing countries. Instead of congratulating Nigeria for an upgraded GDP they have found another measure to burst Nigeria’s balloon. President Jonathan scored another high point in his response to the World Bank pessimistic classification of Nigeria when he said the problem of Nigeria is that its wealth is concentrated in very few hands and that the challenge of his transformation agenda is how to redistribute this wealth to the poor and downtrodden people of Nigeria. The President’s statement means that he fully understands that Nigeria is a rich country with poor people. We must make Nigeria a rich country with rich people. An internally consistent economic model that suits Nigeria must be developed. The current model is paralysing the economy. A hidden agenda of the World Bank Group, and the IMF is to ensure that some countries remain essentially poor and on the receiving end of donors’ mercy. This hidden agenda is behind every conceivable policy prescription of the World Bank and the affiliate institutions. It is the policy plank of the Bretton Woods institutions. World Bank/IMF staff are taught the one best way to solve economic problems in developing countries. The standard prescription is: cut down on the size of the public service, privatise the public enterprises, remove subsidies on commodities, open the market for free and unimpeded flow of capital and goods, embrace globalisation and market forces, remove government from production sector and cut off the budget deficit. Personnel from the Bretton Woods Institutions do not have any degrees of freedom of initiative. They must follow the prescription not minding local conditions. Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the de facto Prime Minister, is a product of the Bretton Woods. The World Bank model is in her blood stream. For this reason, the Nigeria economy has not moved beyond the beggarly level it was when she came into office three years ago. Forbes and Time Magazine have named her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. That is no problem as she is doing their bidding. For President Jonathan to achieve a redistribution of Nigeria’s wealth within the period of his presidency requires that another type of thinking should jointly guide the management of the economy. The country needs a strong fiscal policy advocate to challenge the debilitating assumptions of the monetarist. There is a better way to run the Nigerian economy and achieve macro-economic stability, a non-inflationary growth, a sustainable, steady

CONversation

and qualitative rise in the people’s quality of life and an all-inclusive participation in its development. The OECD countries are true experts and controllers of their destiny. When their economies face a crisis they blend both monetary and fiscal policy prescriptions to solve their problems. They stimulate spending, put resources in the hands of households and organisations, expand their public service employment potential, reduce taxation, ease credit extension by reducing interest rate and make resources available to small and medium scale industries through the specialised (not the political) small business agency created for that purpose. These OECD countries continue to subsidise agricultural production, give food subsidies to the poor, make available subsidised housing to citizens, pamper their citizens with social security benefits, provide free medical services to the poor, insure and subsidise their security personnel and grant student loans to their undergraduates. However, in the case of Nigeria, with the massive unemployment and economic crisis it has which has led to 60% of its people living below the poverty line, the policy prescription of the Economy Minister is to allow things gradually fall in place as determined by the private sector and via the invisible hand principle of the legendary Adam Smith. The ability of the invisible hand to achieve allocative efficiency in Nigeria is totally compromised by corruption and funds misappropriation, idleness and excessive consumptive behaviour of the legislature, a retreating public sector, a debased educational system, a disconcerting absence of infrastructure and a destructive political system. A fiscal policy minded Finance and Economy Minister would apply policy prescriptions to turn Nigeria into a project site. Regular long term 5-year national development planning, not the World Bank short-term perspective plans, is crucial for Nigeria. Federal government funds must be applied for development not embezzled or misappropriated. A Finance Minister must know when funds are lost in government. Her policy is ‘see no evil and hear no evil’. Under her watch pension scam is rampant. Missing money in NNPC! Theft in all arms of government, National assembly expenditure is increasing because of unhealthy allowances, the share of the capital budget estimate in the annual federal budget remains at less than 30% not because of public sector salaries but because of mind boggling emoluments of political office holders, legislative staff, over-priced capital projects and excessive overheads. Where are the proposals from the Finance and Economy Minister to tame these excesses in government? Her answer is to move the nation’s funds into a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) for future use by the Nigerian people who can barely live today. Just as she paid US$12.8billion to Nigeria’s foreign creditors in 2005/6, the next is to ensure that the Sovereign Wealth Fund is in place. Bretton Woods Institutions will be happy with her for this. A fiscal policy minded Economy Minister will be at the

Finance Minister and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala forefront of the anti-corruption war and apply funds being warehoused in the SWF into special economic development and regenerative programmes at state and federal levels to create jobs and redistribute wealth. Nigerian furniture makers have packed up because of used furniture imports. In public markets, Lebanese traders hawk rubber slippers, Chinese sell plastic buckets, Indians sell used clothes, Syrians trade in pure water and the Pakistanis sell jerry cans. The local petty trading jobs have been taken over by low quality foreign labour because of Nigeria’s free market economy. The domestic market must be protected from dumping and mindless competition otherwise the nationals will become scavengers. The government policy that any foreign investor investing certain amount in Nigeria will be given 20% foreign labour quota in the company cannot be helpful for the economy. The consequence is that foreign labour will squeeze out Nigerians and the joblessness rate will only soar with the permission of government. Furthermore, the new automotive policy that requires local assemblage of vehicles through the importation of completely/semi knocked down parts is highly commendable. But the aspect that allows a company to import two fully built up vehicles at a highly reduced import duty for every one locally assembled vehicle is counterproductive and undermines the job creation potential of this policy. It is like the Nigerian economic thinkers are forever apologising for taking initiatives to grow and give meaning to the local economy. Allowing the importation of fully built ups by

local assembly plants at lower duty will open the floodgate to corruption and customs manipulation. It will negate the intentions of government in job creation. The Economy Minister must see Nigeria as her main concern. I have continued to maintain that the N2 trillion Nigeria is spending on petroleum subsidies annually must be removed. It is very clear that subsidy removal in an election year will have a backlash on the incumbent government. But this fuel subsidy should go 48 hours after the Presidential election. Savings from subsidy removal should not be used to import buses and cars for government officials but must be channelled to job creation initiatives and in expanding the public sector. It is a pity that the nation’s old refineries still produce at 30% of capacity and new refineries that will aid job creation are yet to be built. Again, the state of Nigeria’s educational system must be an embarrassment to the Economy Minister. Pupils sit on bare floor in classrooms that have no roofs. Students take lessons under trees. Undergraduates prostitute and rob to raise money to pay fees and feed. Yet under the watch of the Finance and Economy Minister the federal government establishes political universities to produce hopeless graduates. A workable proposal is to convert some of these universities to trade centres and thereafter set up more of skill acquisition/technical centres and vocational training institutions. Help must come for the true undergraduates. Like in OECD countries, Nigerian undergraduates should have access to federal government loans repayable on gainful employment after graduation. These students should pay adequate tuition fees in the universities, which will now have independent funds to execute projects. A fiscal policy minded Minister is sympathetic to the poor and has a welfarist orientation. The OECD countries care for their weak and poor people and manage their public sector enterprises efficiently. Nigeria’s Economy Minister studied in the United States and knows that it is better to grow the Nigerian youth properly rather than putting funds away in the SWF. As Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Okonjo-Iweala must forget her Bretton Woods garb. She must be conscious of how jobs can be created for the Nigerian. She must be ready to finance and intervene in ventures that can create jobs. No department of government must escape her watch. Even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot contradict the full employment goals of government. INEC must be told that it should employ graduates in the street as ad hoc staff for the Osun and Ekiti elections and for subsequent elections in Nigeria. INEC should not use NYSC members as election officers. Furthermore, NYSC members are already fully engaged and so the jobless graduates in the streets should receive the stipends that INEC has to pay for elections. Managing an economy that has such massive rate of joblessness requires Finance and Economy Minister with a dynamic thinking cap. The Minister must argue for more fiscal policy measures rather than surrender to the private sector. Mr President, the above explains why the World Bank says Nigeria has a huge concentration of the poor. • Chief Omokhodion is former MD/CEO, Liberty

By Obe Ess

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Editorial On The Need For State Police HE rejection of the creation of state police by the relevant committee at the on-going National Conference is most unfortunate. But let no one mistake the issue as settled. It will not go away until, and unless, the letter and the spirit of federalism is justly brought into consideration and inevitably in favour of the creation of state police as part of a devolution of power from an ‘almighty’ centre. The argument is overwhelming in favour of this critical component of nation-building and it must be resolved sooner or later. This conference has a great opportunity to do so. The argument against state police is that the unitary Nigeria Police is one of the unifying institutions in the country and it should not be ‘balkanised’ and subjected thereby, to divided loyalty. Another is that Nigerian politicians are not sufficiently ‘matured’ to exercise the power of coercion in fair and just manner irrespective of who is affected. It is also said that the states cannot afford the cost to raise and maintain a full police force that will require barracks, training, equipment, personnel emoluments, including pension. Some say that the federal police can be effective if given the necessary resources and that if a poorly motivated federal police is failing in its duty to enforce the law, there is no guarantee that similarly under-resourced state police bodies will not but fail to meet expectation. But, first, the unitary and sole federal police structure is a post1966 creation; before then, some regional governments and native authorities maintained their police forces alongside the federal police. And this arrangement worked by and large. Deriving from this, it can be argued that the idea of state police is not intrinsically bad, but its workability is subject to the character of the politicians that control it. Second, there is no more debate on the suitability and continued desirability of a truly federal system for this country of diverse world views and values, needs and wants. If so, a single and unitary police formation violates, obviously, the entire concept and intent of federalism, a system of government in which major executive powers are shared among a central and smaller units of government. The structure and policies that govern policing must, ipso facto, be federal. This is how it operates in those places from where the present presidential system is borrowed. This is how it done in even the largest federal democracy – India. And, from the experience of other nations, the establishment of state police does not negate the need for a federal police with its unique mandate. Third, insecurity is almost always first and foremost a local issue that, if ignored, snowballs and assumes supra-local dimensions. Insurgency, anarchy and brigandage begin small and within local confines. Therefore, society needs protection primarily at the local level. State and local police, living within the community and with a better knowledge of the whom, what and where of that locality are better positioned to detect criminality and respond in familiar environment. This is supported by the concept of Subsidiarity that a larger or higher organisation should not arrogate unto itself those functions that can be best performed by smaller units of it. So, if government’s effort to secure life and property is to be taken seriously, there is no alternative to allowing states to own and control their security apparatuses. The impression abroad is that the Federal Government, for whatever reason, is unable, or unwilling, to maintain an efficient and effective police even in its present unitary form. This explains the huge financial and material support that the states are constrained to lend to the federal police formations assigned to them. This is an aberration even more so because state chief executives, as chief security officers, have limited authority over the police on which they nevertheless expend substantial funds. The recent events in rivers State have shown, indeed, that there is good reason to say that the present unitary structure of the police has failed to secure the state at all levels. As a law enforcement agency that should discharge its duty without fear or favour, it has been unable to rise above the corruption ravaging the society. In the United States of America as befits any proper federal society, policing responsibilities and powers are shared between federal, state, and local authorities with the federal controlling the smallest percentage of the 17, 800 or so police agencies. And it is estimated that of the nearly 800, 000 certified police personnel in that country, only about 11 percent are federal, 10 percent are state, and 80 percent are local. In the republic of India, there is an All India Police Service controlled by the centre; but each of the 28 states and seven union territories maintains and superintends its own police force with the respective legislatures making laws on their functions. If Nigeria aspires to do things according to global best practices, it obviously must run a federal system that includes a truly federal police structure.

LETTER

Nyanya: The Signs Were There Ir: Nigeria is at a Slethal crossroads and this ‘cup’ may not just pass over her so long as our leaders and security agencies continue to throw caution to the wind, ignore hints and clues on attacks, and also remain insensitive to glaring warning signs. The service of a soothsayer is not needed for one to establish the very high possibility that the April 14, 2014 Nyanya bomb attack could easily have been a fall-out and a heinous riposte to the failed jailbreak attempt by Islamist extremistsBoko Haram — at the National Headquarters of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Abuja, sometime last month. The incident was an obvious warning sign and a premonition of an even more unpleasant attack but was apparently ignored as no

counter-measures were put in place. So, should this be a case of the ‘gods’ are not to blame? I do not think so! Needless to mention names but not without apportioning blames, our security agencies and leaders treated intelligence reports and events leading up to that Nyanya bombing with laxity. In a country where we now live each day of our lives fighting to stay alive, how the authorities failed to see it coming still baffles my imagination, knowing that a foiled jailbreak would be an unacceptable deadend to these monsters. We are not ignorant of their ‘no retreat no surrender’ audacity which turns them into fearless dare-devils capable of carrying out the most dangerous of attacks even if they would end up as casu-

alties. Hence, following the incident at the DSS Headquarters, threat level should have been raised and/or security beefed up as both reactive and proactive measure aimed at preventing the insurgents from clawing their way back to unleash terror in and around Abuja. The innocent lives lost and all those affected by the Nyanya bombing are a painful price paid for the security laxity, negligence and insensitivity on the part of our security agencies and also leaders. We can only hope and pray that the ‘Egyptian’ we see today, we shall see them no more in no distant time. But we must take heed both the security agencies and general public be on the alert and on the lookout as this could yet be a forewarning of more despicable and callous attacks. • Igomu Onche, Abuja

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 11, 2014

HEALTH Pregnancy And Spiritual Healthcare the expectation for a good outcome. A 2009 HAT benefit can spiritual healthcare afford study documented the relationship between religious involvement and health risk behava pregnant woman or an expectant dad? After all, one might argue that, despite the gross iours in childbearing women, concluding that such involvement significantly correinsufficiency of the doctor-to-patient ratio in lated with less-risk health behaviours. Nigeria, pre-natal clinics are still one of the betThere are many accounts from women who ter staffed and equipped of all other types of testified that spirituality had a measurable medical facilities. Statistics reveal that a signifiand positive influence on their pregnancy. cant percentage of medical doctors opt to speSeveral are often attested by the medical faccialise in obstetrics and gynaecology after ulty. As a consequence, many countries in Eugraduation from medical school. According to the Population Reference Bureau rope and the US make provision within their 2010, of the almost 72,000 registered doctors (of laws for expectant parents who so choose, to rely on spiritual healthcare. With the World which only about 39,000 actually practice in Nigeria), and of the roughly 281,000 nurses and Health Organisation indicating that 283,308 more doctors are needed in the country, and midwives in the country, about 41.9 per cent of especially with Nigerian healthcare ranked as health facilities provide ante-natal care. With such an emphasis by the medical faculty on pre- 51 out of 53 African countries by the Mo natal, ante-natal and post-natal care, it is no sur- Ibrahim African Governance Index, many who sneer snidely, look pityingly or shake the head prise that, anyone choosing to rely on spiritual healthcare during pregnancy, is usually seen as incredulously at any one choosing spiritual healthcare for themselves and their unborn too poor to afford the tried and tested medical route; alternatively, they may be seen as needing child, assume it is due to poverty, yet, might Nigeria not take a leaf out of the book of her supernatural deliverance from one mysterious more developed neighbours? enemy or another, specifically targeting the Mary Baker Eddy, talking from direct experipregnant mother or her unborn child. Is it really reckless and irresponsible though to ence, states, about pregnancy and spirituality, trust the well being of an expectant woman and in her book Science and Health with key to the an unborn child to the care of God, provided all Scriptures, that spiritual thinking results in legal requirements governing the situation are more natural and safe births and less birthing related injuries. Such children, she found, duly fulfilled? This is a question that requires have meek beginnings, sturdy growth and undeep thought and careful consideration, espedecaying maturity. It is pertinent to point out cially as it involves a vulnerable, yet-to-be born that Eddy established a US government apchild who nonetheless has inalienable rights. proved College in the Twentieth Century. It Putting the welfare of any individual in God’s hands can certainly not harm. Basing health on was the only one of its kind ever approved in America, and it was licensed to teach obstetspiritual development rather than mortal and material history, purifies thought and improves rics, based entirely on spirituality. m_asolanke@hotmail.com

By Moji Solanke

Medical Officer, Health, Apapa Local Government, Dr. Tanimowo Shola, mother of a baby boy born on World Malaria Day, Kafayat Tajudeen; Roll Back Malaria Manager, Apapa Local Government, Finnih Oluwatoyin and Brand Manager, Mortein Oladipupo Ogundele during the presentation of certificate and gifts to the baby at the hospital in Lagos.

Loss Of Memory (I) By Passy Amaraegbu

HEHU, the chairman of Orbit Oil and Gas company was telling Ernest, the company managing director, the story of encounter at Heathrow airport the last time he travelled, when a phone call came to one of his mobile handsets. It was Aisha, his first granddaughter. Shehu excused himself and began to chat with his beautiful grand daughter. Five minutes later, the chairman ended the call and with a big simile on his face, he asked his company CEO, ‘yes, Mr. Ernest, what was the matter before Aisha’s call came through?’ What was wrong with Shehu? What happened to his ability to remember his previous line of action? Loss of memory. Forgetfullness, inability to recall or remember. And one can rightly ask why do we forget or are unable to remember events, circumstances or even people? Why? Why? Let us quickly note that there are different types of loss of memory. These include, shortterm and long-term, temporal and permanent degree of memory loss. The degree and durability of loss determines the level of damage and disturbance to the individual and society. Shehu manifested the occasional or temporary form

of memory loss, which can be attributed to interference of information. The brain can experience distress due to sensory overload, interference, strain or stress. In terms of interference, old memory (or learnt material) can interfere with the new and

Practical Psychology vice versa. For instance, the former popular way of communication through posted letter writing can hinder elderly people from using the Internet (a case of the old interfering with the new). Or like the case of Shehu, which was an example of the new material interfering with the old. The theory of interference is a significant theory (reason) why human beings experience loss of memory. Each of us has to examine ourselves whether it is the old or the new memory that is hindering our progress in life. Drug can and does affect our memory. This includes drug usage and abuse. Even under professional guidance and prescription, such drugs like antidepressants, antihistamines, tranquilizers, pain medications and others are implicated in some form of loss of memory. The sphere of selfmedication provides a larger, perhaps an unqualified spec-

trum for loss of memory. This is the area of drug abuse and some of the easily abused drugs include, alcohol, tobacco, and the group of psychometrics. Many people tend to forget that drugs are primarily chemicals, which necessarily produce certain definite effects in the body. Consequently, minimal alterations in their degree of concentration, admission, ingestion or consumption can result into different degrees of harm to the system. This is a major reason why we need to consult professionals and specialist such as pharmacists, doctors and pharmacologists in the usage of drugs. For instance, many people erroneously think that alcohol is an activator or motivator (upper) but this motivating feature of alcohol is at the initial stage of the ingestion of the drug. Later and ultimately, all alcoholic consumables and drugs are depressants (downers). We mean that alcoholic drinks and drugs, end up causing brain functions to be dull instead of active. As we can see, issues of memory are crucial to both human survival and success. Imagine forgetting one’s international passport inside a public toilet!

Dr. Passy Amaraegbu, A clinical psychologist lives in Lagos. drpassy@yahoo.com

Mind, Jesus And Heaven (11) By Babatunde Ayo-Vaughan

Health And Your Mind

HE understanding of the conT cept of faith has unifying po- the fact that the sense of it must tentials. The unity of everything not be tainted by parochialism in creation and the binding of the whole of creation of God is resting on the functionality of faith. In the principle of faith you will find the other virtues of spiritual understanding that are not tainted by religious parochialism – such virtues as love, law, morality and justice. In the understanding of faith we will actually see the connection between love and law and how the two work inter-changeably in man to bring the blessings of Heaven to man, which will help us to understand clearly those other ways in which Jesus referred to the concept of Heaven that does not strictly suggest that it is a divine abode somewhere that we must focus our attention to go when we die. When mankind collectively begins to understand that the only thing of spiritual importance required of us by God is the understanding of the methodology of faith, it will become the glorious dawn in the evolution of man that will put to rest the shenanigans and confusion of religious practices. The unity, peace and prosperity of man everywhere will be guaranteed. We will all come to know the meaning of Heaven on earth and why man does not need to leave this earth to experience Heaven. In the last article in the understanding of the nature of faith, we could see the connection between law and love. The two principles are united by the concept of morality. Morality is about the enlightened understanding of what is right and what is wrong. The enlightened sense of it lies in

and prejudices. The true spirit of law and that of love demand this. This is an education about the true development of the mind of man. It is about the development first and foremost of a healthy sense of morality. It is the foundation for the understanding of the true process of faith. If morality is about a sense of what is right and what is wrong, then it becomes a method of principle. In other words, you have to have an underlying process of law to be able to determine the validity of what is right and what is wrong. This is where law becomes the derivative of a sense of morality. It is the foundation for the understanding of the true process of faith. It highlights the principle of ‘cause and effect’ — cardinally represented in that cliché — whatever you sow you will reap. This same apparent principle of law imaginatively translates into love, when the sense of empathy is brought in to evaluate its credibility. It is in this same spirit of law turned into love that gives rise to that equally popularly cliché that — you do unto others what you will like the others to do unto you. This is the real spirit of religion. It has no religious name. You contaminate it when you affix the name of a religion to it. It is when this spirit of law in the enlightened development of the mind moves into the healthy understanding of love, that the potential of faith is developed. Then the road will be clear as to how to use this healthy under-

standing of the meaning of faith as a key to open the door to Heaven. This state of a healthy understanding of the meaning of faith provides the mental and emotional state of inspiration that captures the meaning of life and the purpose that is needed to negotiate through it successfully. This becomes the real journey towards Heaven and in this respect one will be able to understand easily the many other ways that Jesus used the concept of Heaven in His teachings. You have to have meaning of faith in view to be able to make sense of the various usages that the word Heaven is put to. We are already familiar with ‘seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and everything that you need will be added unto you. Jesus had already told us that if you are of little faith, it may be difficult for you to achieve this. This statement also buttressed the real idea that Heaven may not just represent a place somewhere; its actual meaning may be more flexible than that. Jesus also said ‘the kingdom of Heaven is within you’ and I don’t know in what other way anyone could want to interprete ‘within you’ if not to suggest the real being that the mind is in you. With the understanding of faith in view, you will get to understand what Jesus meant when he said; ‘lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal. Ayo-Vaughan, a psychologist, lives in Lagos babatund_2@yahoo.com

14 Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

INTERVIEW

OWOJAIYE: More Girls Were Kidnapped, We Only Listed The 180 From Chibok It Was Well Planned And Professionally Executed Matthew Owojaiye is the immediate-past chairman of Northern States Christian and Elders Forum (NOCSEF), the body which last week released the names of some of the kidnapped female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Here, Owojaiye who signed the controversial statement gives more details in an interview with a select team of journalists. The Guardian was there. How did you come about the list of the abducted girls? HE issue is I am a Northerner. I went to Government College, Keffi. The late President Yar’Adua was two years my junior. There is no part of Nigeria I do not know. So, instead of asking how I got the list, they should say my information is wrong first before I tell them where I got it. So, you won’t say how you got the list? No, I won’t. Let them invalidate it first then we would see. Why did you not surrender the list to the Police or government first, before making it public? My brother, if you want something to get out there, you have to be tactical. If I go to the police, would I be able to say whether it is a Boko Haram officer or not? You don’t want anybody to kill your information. You see the issue is that the list is authentic? I am an elder in the North. I get invited to the Northern Elders’ Forum meetings. Everyone in the North knows me whether Christian or Muslim. I am not an upstart or a nonsense speaker. They should first fault my list and then we can talk further. Many Nigerians reacted with outrage to your statement that the girls were Christians. Was it the fact that they were Christians that got you interested? You see, we would still have screamed, but you see, we have been deliberately marginalised, persecuted and underdeveloped over the years, all the Christian communities in the North. We should talk about that too because that is injustice. When I was asking for compensation for the girls, did I ask for only the Christians? I asked that N50million be given to their parents while rescue efforts are ongoing. So, there is no religious motive or an attempt to politicise it. The stark truth is that these kidnapped girls were 90 percent Christians and we should let people know. There is what you call punitive judgment. Do people expect me to ask for N5? If you ask for N50 million, government might approve N10 million after negotiations. If you ask for N10million, you might get N2million and they will say that is what we can afford. Were they expecting me to ask for N1? Will I get a kobo out of it? It did not sink well with the people that you demanded N50million compensation when the girls had not even been rescued It was just to make the parents happy. When a man is in trauma, he needs all the help he can get. When you get some help, it gives a sense of relief. That is why I asked for the compensation. So, it is not for you? Not at all. I was not kidnapped, neither were any of my girls. Have you been to Chibok since the incident? No and I won’t go. Why? That is simply because they will locate me within an hour of my arrival. I tell you, everyone in the North knows me. I am not just a northerner but have lived there all my life. You see even our people can’t share information with anybody because they are damn afraid. I can’t sneak in there for a day before they know. Don’t you know these people have spread their networks everywhere? Do you know that any Muslim who condemns them they kill? So, when you are gathering things, you send your people that are not known; you don’t send a known person because you won’t get the information. What is the mood like now in Chibok? One, they are happy that I have shouted. They are sending me texts, saying ‘God, bless you’ and ‘we are proud of you.’ They are feeling relieved that the whole world is paying attention now. But before, they were inconsolable and hopeless. But even if these abducted girls are rescued,

what is the guarantee that others will not be abducted again? That is what we are saying now. If you read my statement, it says we should move people out of some of these volatile areas to safe locations. Those students in SS1-SS2 should be relocated because they are still vulnerable. I said the abducted girls should be sent overseas for rehabilitation because, let me tell me you, how many soldiers do we need to guard schools? How many soldiers do we have? So, to say we should place soldiers everywhere is impossible. So, we need to move these girls away. We are hearing rumour again now that they still want to kidnap more girls. It is a soft target, easy to access. You think Chibok is a big place? The first person to go to secondary school in Chibok, called Karam Chibok was my classmate in Government College Keffi in 1963. So, when you see that kind of number it is huge, compared to the population. Last Sunday, you jostled the nation by releasing names of some of the abducted girls. Why did you squeal? Actually, some people are even saying nobody was abducted, as if the story was cooked up. Can you imagine that? If your daughter was abducted and there is no trace three weeks after, how will you feel? Then someone comes to say there was no abduction. And it was only from one local government that the girls on the list came from, just Chibok local government. That is where the school is located. Other people from other places send their children to the school. We couldn’t get their names because we had no way to know. Is that why you had only 180 names of the kidnapped girls on the list? Yes, you are very right. There were more girls kidnapped, but only the ones from Chibok local government could be traced. So, it is just a partial list for just Chibok girls. Two, they knew that Chibok local government is 90 percent Christian. Why didn’t the abductors go to other boarding schools in Borno State that are still running? And speaking with the locals, they knew that

the terrorists were coming, at least two hours before they arrived. They didn’t know whether they were coming for the girls, but everyone in Chibok knew they were coming. Then, are they goats? Can you carry 234 human beings and go away with them without the DPO of the town knowing? The DPO didn’t know those girls were being shipped away like goats? The security forces could not send alerts and distress calls around? Within 24 hours, why couldn’t the government surround the entire place and cordon them off? We are treating this issue with levity as if the girls are not important. It is a tragedy. They knew that this is where they can get the most girls. Some highly placed persons in Abuja are wondering if the entire abduction saga was not stage-managed from the word go… …That is why I am boiling. If your daughter is missing and someone says it is stage-managed, wont you feel more terrible? Will you lie over such a sensitive issue? Have you spoken with some parents of the girls? Let’s not even think or assume this is a lie at all. It is nauseating. It will be a betrayal to think it is a lie. Okay, what are we going to gain? It is very painful indeed. Since you released the list, how many people in government have reached out to you? None. Why? Because they know it’s true. Let me ask you, if these children did WAEC, are you telling me that WAEC doesn’t have their names? Are you telling me that WAEC doesn’t have their pictures? The people in the North, those in government, know me very well. Nobody can tell me the list is a lie. So, even in the security forces, nobody has asked you how you came about the list? They don’t need to because they know me before. We carry integrity. I preach on the TV every week and I have handled national issues. I am an activist, fighting for the truth. The Muslims like me in the North. They say, ‘you speak the truth. Whoever is wrong you rebuke. If it is Muslims, you say so. If it is Christians, you

My brother, if you want something to get out there, you have to be tactical. If I go to the police, would I be able to say whether it is a Boko Haram officer or not? You don’t want anybody to kill your information. You see the issue is that the list is authentic? I am an elder in the North. I get invited to the Northern Elders’ Forum meetings. Everyone in the North knows me whether Christian or Muslim. I am not an upstart or a nonsense speaker. They should first fault my list and then we can talk further

still say so.’ Had there been any threat to your life after the list was published? No. Nobody has said anything to me. You have not received any SMS or death threats? Nothing at all. So, you will still remain in Kaduna? Oh, yes. I am moving around. There is no reason to relocate or move. Why should I? The people know that I am speaking the truth. I move around freely. I take okada and go anywhere I like because people know me. Do you have plans to meet with government officials and present the list to them? Why should I? I told you government knows about these girls already. They have their pictures and identities. Didn’t they apply to write WAEC? Can’t the government collect their data from WAEC if they don’t have them? If they can’t still get it, then it is a terrible thing. The President in his media chat last Sunday called on the parents of the missing girls to help with information…. …What information again? You see the parents of these girls are afraid. If they speak, they could come after them. They could be gone too. You mean the principal does not have the pictures of her students? Well, she said they were burnt during the attack Okay the ones in WAEC too were burnt? Are you angry that this saga is becoming increasing politicised? My brother, whoever is playing politics with this thing, God will judge because lives are involved. A nation that does not respect lives is in trouble. So, which is the way out of this issue? You see, I have recommended so many measures before on my TV show, Old Time Revival hour. I said government should take like 20,000 youth from that side and send them to India, China and others to learn vocational skills. Give each N1million for take-off after graduation. That is nothing compared to what government has spent on security. When these terrorists hear about their transformation, they will want that kind of life too. Do you think somebody who is established can support terror? The government must take concrete steps to employ youth in that area. With this insecurity, which excellent teachers will go to the North? We are damaging ourselves the more. I was in a meeting where Maitama Sule said, ‘you people you are doing the wrong thing.’ He said revolution is coming and they will cut off our heads if we are not careful. I like the man a lot. He is a very honest, straightforward man. So, this thing we are doing, we are destroying the north. And who should develop the north most? Is it not we northerners? If our children are not getting educated, are we not destroying the north? Is this insurgency religious or political; one is tempted to ask because Muslims also get killed. It started with religion because the terrorists said they wanted Sharia law in the whole north. It is public knowledge that that was what they wanted. But whoever stood up to criticise them got killed. They said themselves that every Christian is an enemy but they have turned themselves to the enemies of the nation. And now, they are ready to take on the whole world. So, we must all come together to fight them. When you go to the market to buy things, do you use religion? Let’s not play politics because this country is being destroyed. How long more are you ready to continue with this advocacy; won’t you retire? No, I won’t because this is my assignment from heaven. This is what I will do until I die. If I die now, will they say I die young at 67? This is a lifetime struggle for me. All those who have known me since my secondary school days will tell you this is my life. They used to call me UPGA back then. Those who listen to me on TV will say that I am the only one that can say it and if I say it, it must be the truth. Are your children still in Nigeria? They are all here. Only one out of my six children is doing his Masters in Canada. He left from here and will return after studies. I tell you I am in the thick of this and there is no going back. The way out is that we must pursue honesty and justice for all. Nigeria belongs to all of us. We are more than the politicians. So, why can’t we vote them out of power? Education is programmed to fail. The rich do not want children of the poor to be educated so that they can keep them under.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

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COVER P/19 Cattle Ranching As Tool For Wealth Generation...

SPECIAL REPORT P/24 TINAPA: A Dream... Still So Faraway

BUSINESS P/35 Another Era Of Cement ‘Armada’ Yielding So Little For Nigerians

OMANGE

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

16 Sunday, May 11, 2014

SPECIAL REPORT ON OUTSTANDING ALUMNI OF UI UI IMBUED IN ME THE VIRTUES OF SELF-DEPENDENCE PROF SENATOR JONATHAN ZWINGINA CHAIRMAN, IEI ANCHOR PENSIONS LIMITED ISION, if well planted on a fertile ground would always bring forth bountiful harvest when the time is ripe. He had the dream to make a mark for himself in a nation of opportunities and the University of Ibadan was where he thought this dream could be nurtured. So, Jonathan Silas Zwingina the social crusader of truth with unique and strong leadership qualities, a politician and an administrator, followed his dream by ensuring that he got admitted into this foremost university in Nigeria.

Born August 1, 1954 in Falu, Guyuk Local Government area of Adamawa State, Jonathan got admitted into the University of Ibadan in 1974 to study Political Science and he graduated with a B.Sc honours in 1978. In 1981, he enrolled for his Master degree in the same course and in the same university. He obtained this in 1982 but because he had his sights on obtaining a Ph.D, he enrolled at the Flinders University, Australia for this and earned his doctorate in Politics in 1987. Recounting how he received the news of his admission into the University of Ibadan, the successful politician and manager of resources said, “Before I was admitted into the University of Ibadan, I was already in Kings College, Lagos for my Lower Six. So I got the news of my admission from the newspapers where I saw my name on the list of admitted students for that year. My admission made me leave Kings College for the University of Ibadan, Jos campus for my Preliminary Studies. Going for preliminary studies gave me one year advantage over my mates, so that was the first attraction; the second attraction was that University of Ibadan was incomparable to any university in Nigeria as at that time”. Recalling those that had the greatest impact on him while studying at the university, Zwingina, a man of quiet disposition and dignity was full of praise for his lecturers who he described as the best in the world. He said, “There were lots of them, starting from my head of department, my supervisor and other lecturers; we were quite close then, I took them as my role models. I can remember Prof. Richard Joseph, Dr. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Kolawole, Dr. Akin Ojo, Prof Nuge, Prof Bill Dudley and a host of others, they all had great impact on me, and I can say am where I am today because of their modelling”. The professor had this to say concerning the level of education in the nation today: “I think the level of education is still high because the intelligence quotient of children has risen tremendously. When you see a little child now, he or she will operate a computer perfectly which was not like that before. Though there are also negative effects of technology but the advantage is enormous”. The seasoned administrator started his working career with the College of Preliminary Studies, Yola as a lecturer in Politics but left to serve as the Director of MAMSER for Gongola State in 1987. He was there up to 1990 before his transfer to Plateau State, also as the Director. In 1992, he was appointed as the National Coordinator for the MKO Abiola Campaign and functioned in this position until 1993 when the election that was conducted was annulled by General Babangida. Afterwards, he was invited to his home state, Adamawa State to serve first as Commissioner for Health and later Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development. From 1999 to 2007, Zwingina was a Senator representing his people in the Senate, and in fact, was the Deputy Senate Leader between 2003 and 2007. The Professor of International Relations thereafter went into pension business by establishing IEI Anchor Pension Ltd, the company he has since been its Chairman.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE MEETING STUDENTS FROM OTHER BACKGROUNDS AT UI E is one of the worthy ambassadors of the H University of Ibadan whose professionalism and sustained commitment to nation building have continued to inspire many to live a life of purpose. Daniel Alifa Akoh, Managing Director, Alfa Laboratories Ltd, the man whom we speak of is somebody who has relentlessly applied the knowledge he acquired at the premier university to create value in the Nigerian society. An indigene of Kogi State, Daniel Akoh had his primary and secondary education at Okene before he proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. The outstanding alumnus later did his post graduate studies in Food and Drug Chemistry at Chelsea College, University of London, just as he earned another post graduate degree in Advanced Management from the Royal Institute of Public Administration, London. On what motivated him to attend the then University College, Ibadan, the former President of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria said: “Apart from the fact that University College, Ibadan was the only university available in the country then, the institution could compete among the best in the world and even people from other countries came to study there. When I graduated in 1961, my degree certificate was issued by the University of London”. Undoubtedly, the top notch education he acquired at the University of Ibadan helped to drive his career in life. Starting his career as a Pupil Chemist in the Ministry of Health, Kaduna in 1961, the dynamic professional later worked in the Federal Civil Service. He became a Chemist at the Federal Ministry of Health in 1970, and through hardwork, diligence, and

DANIEL ALIFA AKOH, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALFA LABORATORIES LTD continuous training on the job rose to become Director, Food and Drug Administration and Laboratories Services in the ministry seven years later. It was not surprising when he was appointed a Permanent Secretary and the pioneer Chief of Staff to the Vice President in 1982. As the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, the ingenuos professional also took charge of Police and Political

Affairs. After he retired meritoriously in 1986, he set up Alfa Laboratories Limited. Recalling the kind of life they lived on campus, he said: “Most of our lecturers were expatriates, Prof Devan and Prof Cosmos were two of the lecturers that taught me. My schoolmates were Akintoye, Senator Ahmadu Ali, Adamu Ciroma, John Oyegun and Olu Falae. It was a great experience meeting students from different backgrounds from other parts of the world. Apart from academics, I participated actively in sports: lawn tennis was my favourite sport then”. Concerned about the continuous drop in the standard of tertiary education in Nigeria today, the Managing Director, Alfa Laboratories contends that there is a need to match the student population with adequate infrastructure and staff. In his words: “During our days in the university, our population was less than 1,000, so we were very close to our lecturers. In fact as a science student, we were put through serious practicals because the facilities were available and they were enough for us, but most of the graduates of today are not opportuned to have this. Though I must say that technology has eased learning today, but most of our universities are still under-staffed and unequipped. Apart from this, the attitude of the average undergraduate today has changed, they do not study hard as we did then”. Proud of his alma mater and committed to his profession, the UI ambassador has nurtured Alfa Laboratories into a firm of repute. Focused on the provision of analytical and consulting services, Alfa Laboratories is known for its proficiency in the quality assurance of food, drugs, cosmetics, water, chemicals, petrochemicals and other industrial raw materials. It also undertakes environmental consultancy services.

I AM GREATLY INDEBTED TO MY LECTURERS AT UI DR. MUFUTAU OLATINWO, RECTOR, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, OFFA ORN almost 60 years ago in Offa, Kwara B State, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo, current Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, bagged his

Awe, Ette, Maduemezia and Oni. According to him, they and other lecturers in the Faculty of Science all did well to shape their lives in those days. Comparing his days in the institution with the present, Olatinwo had this to say: “Of course, things are changing on daily basis. Besides, you cannot compare education in the 60s, 70s and 80s with what we are having now. There are so many new developments that have cropped up over the years, technological advancement and others, so obviously, we can’t compare”. He however enjoined both staff and students to continue to keep the flag of academic excellence for which the institution is known flying. After his graduation and subsequent youth service, Olatinwo who went on to acquire higher degrees started out as a Graduate Assistant at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 where he rose to become a lecturer 1 in 1991. In 1994, he transferred his services to Federal Polytechnic, Offa where he has been since then. He was made the Acting Rector in 2006 and became substantive in 2008.

B.Sc in Physics at the University of Ibadan in 1977. According to him, the desire to attend UI was the dream of every admission seeker at that time, so he felt great when he got admitted there in 1974. “The high quality of academics, the high standard of discipline, and also, the prestige that comes with the name University of Ibadan, all these among others will make any student wish to study in the institution. Also, the great impact the university had on the society endeared it to many of us”, Olatinwo enthused. He described his experience in the institution as “fun” adding that he was able to engage in about two extra-curricular activities but was careful not to be taken away by these to the detriment of his books. He feels ever indebted to his dad, and mentor, Prof Oyawoye, whom he stayed with for most of the time on campus. And he is equally appreciative of his lecturers at the Department of Physics, like Profs

I HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARDS FOR THE ACADEMIA OF UI CHIEF AREOYE OYEBOLA, CHAIRMAN, BOARD PUBLICATION LIMITED HE enthusiasm to take on all tasks and T make a success of them remains one attribute he absorbed at the University of Ibadan and this has stuck with him ever since. He is one of the worthy ambassadors of this university whose competence has become another definition for resourcefulness and has continued to yield positive results and whose trusted character has become an asset to those who are close to him. Chief Areoye Oyebola is not just an experienced economist, he is a well bred person with social conscience who is loved by everybody, admired by his contemporaries and respected by those who are working with him. He is also a journalist and a publisher of class. The foundation on which Chief Areoye Oyebola’s successful career was built was laid while he was a student of the University of Ibadan. Born in Ibadan in December, 1936, he had his primary education at Olubi Memorial Primary School and Saint Paul’s Primary School, Ibadan between 1954 and 1958, Cooperative College, Ibadan in 1961 before he was admitted to the University of Ibadan in 1961 and graduated with a B.Sc Economics in 1964. Oyebola is unarguably a man of many partsversatile writer, veteran journalist, activist, author and lots more. He started his career as

a secondary school teacher at the Ibadan Grammar School where he taught Economics at both O’ and A’ Level before he went into journalism in 1968 when he joined the Daily Times during which he rose through the ranks quickly to become the Editor in 1971

which made him the first university graduate to edit a national daily in the country. A former President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Oyebola who has authored over 26 books also served as Commissioner for Home Affairs and Information in the Western State of Nigeria in 1976 and Commissioner for Local Government and Information, Old Oyo State in 1977. Speaking about his days at the University of Ibadan, the widely travelled journalist said: “I chose University of Ibadan because it was the only university at that time and I was happy I made it to the university. The location and planning was superb. The library was one of the best in West Africa, and so, I was glad to be admitted into the university”. Oyebola was lauded exceedingly by the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo at the Founders Day in 1973 when UI celebrated its Silver Jubilee. Said the sage of him and Adamu Ciroma, “The duo of Areoye and Adamu have one paradoxical quality in common. Both of them are as the ancient Romans would put it, “Gaviter In Modo Forteir In Re”: quite, shy and unassuming in manners”. Oyebola who is ever proud to be an alumnus of UI till today holds the academia of the institution in high esteem. According to him: “I have the highest regards for the academia of the University of Ibadan who have sustained the lofty height of the institution for many years”.

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Sunday, May 11, 2014 17

Sunday, May 11, 2014

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ENTERPRISE By Bisi Alabi Williams OYIN Omange is the C. E. O of Teamo Events, a complete events management company. They call her “pretty face” because she comes across as an understanding person with a great sense of humour and a sweet smile. Beyond her flawless skin and pretty face, however, is an independent, tolerant, humble, committed, selfless and honest woman. Toyin grew up in Lagos, though she is from Delta State. She is the second child and first daughter from a family of six. Her experience, while growing up was a wonderful. “I am from a strong Christian background, which readily influences and informs my views, values and decisions,” she says. As a university student at Lagos State University (LASU), it was lectures and home, as she did not experience hostel life or how the university system runs. So, her inspiration has been mainly from her parents, teachers, lecturers, friends and her immediate environment. “Mum knows how to make me snap out of a depressing or upsetting situation. Once she realises I am down, worried or upset about something, such usually has a short life span. She goes ahead to feed me with the word of God and once she finishes talking to me, I feel like I have no problem in the world and there’s nothing to worry about. As each day passes, I have gathered the strength to keep moving despite failures, mistakes and challenges,” she says. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that she has a strong belief that every challenge will surely pass away. Dad’s saying that, “a little thing is a little thing; honesty in a little thing is a big thing,” has also helped in no small measure to shape her life and person. She learned it’s expensive to be dishonest and that God should be trusted. So, she works hard and plays hard. Toyin is fun loving and doesn’t joke with her fun time. She relishes live music, jazz music and dinner with friends, while settling down to a bowl of pepper soup and soft drinks. For her, fashion is wearing comfortable dresses she can confidently walk in. She is not sure though what she wouldn’t be caught wearing, because her fashion taste is unpredictable. As an events manager, Toyin carefully studies the intricacies of branding, identifying target audience, required conceptualisation, planning of logistics and the co-ordination of technical aspects before actually launching the event. And she is always busy planning, decorating, coordinating and managing all manner of events for corporate organisations, the ever-busy high- flying clientele, her business associates, acquaintances and friends. She is also involved in the preparation of such refreshments as small chops and special drinks, such as specially requested fresh palm wine for special occasions. It is easy for her to associate with the industry because she loves bringing smiles to people’s faces and adding value to their events. This is what really drives her and serves as mission statement of her outfit. The vision is to build her company to a worldclass level, which will exceed imaginations and creativity, where event designs are concerned. The idea is to create beautiful memories through innovative events planning strategies. “Our aim and strong point is our unique outstanding services that focus on satisfying our clientele,” she says. Toyin studied human resources and is a student member of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Nigeria (CIPMN) and an associate member of the Institute of strategic

OMANGE: Creating Beautiful Memories management, which has helped her in the management of people. Her rich background as an industrial relations and human resources management, decoration and events management puts her at an advantage and naturally gives her an edge over her competitors. “Personally, I do not consider it competition with regards to the number of event planners springing forth. Rather, I see it as abundance and that is what has kept me motivated. And even, when sometimes there are turn-downs, I still aim higher and strive to move on to the next page,” she explains. Toyin is an event and party freak. Asked her what she loves most about events and she’d tell you, “I basically love events and outings. I also love want seeing everything well organised. From the entertainment, to the lightenings, the music, the floral arrangements and decorations, she ensures that all the minute details are perfectly incorporated. “Every event tells a story and I love what I do, even as I enjoy meeting new people and building

new connections,” she says with a smile. It all started from her university days in 2004, when she served as an usher at celebrity and high profile events. And as the years went by, she was sure of one thing: she would definitely run her own events company someday. Toyin sees her work as a progressive journey and though gradual, she sees herself moving on with the conviction that she will surely get there. She has a way with these events and has lost count of all the weddings she had ushered. But what exactly does Toyin love about events that made her venture into the glamourous world of pepper–soup, chicken Perry–Perry, cocktails, exotic foods, fun and laughter? “I realised I enjoy meeting the needs of clients/guests, when they organise, which makes me happy. Interestingly, it also makes them very happy. This, for me, is the greatest joy of all. The knowledge that I can thrill people, make them happy, elated with self-satisfaction and a sense of accomplish-

ment after the event just by the way I handle their parties and programmes is more than gratifying. It’s incredible. Her philosophy about work is, “Always put a smile on your face and enjoy your job”. This has always been her guide. In line with her determination to keep improving herself and business, she attends business leadership programmes and conferences, as well as trainings from her university days. Unlike some, who feel that they can only give back to society, when they are rich or old, Toyin, though still very young, has always thought of contributing something to society. This is what led to her establishing ‘Voluntarism Actions’, a programme, which aims at giving back willingly, supporting and engaging in activities to improve the lives of others. “Since 2006, I have volunteered in different developmental projects with youths and communities. I see myself as a patriot. I am bothered by the fact that many young people are selfish and self-centered, only seeking what they can get from Nigeria and not what they can contribute or give up for her. I believe that Nigeria is a country with abundant talented individuals, especially its young population. We are the hope of our nation. “As an individual and a youth, I believe once you lose faith in the Nigerian system, it will lead to frustration. To avoid this, determination and faith in our nationhood is important. I believe that the youth should have their values, goals, mission and vision statement clearly spelt out for clear direction. I wrote mine in 2006 during a LEAP Africa Youth Leadership Programme Funded by NOKIA. “This action of writing down my mission and vision served as a guide for my personal and professional life. I advise others to do same,” she says. Toyin strongly believes that people’s brand reflects, who they are, what they are trying to sell, how they want to be perceived and why they are here. So, she tells young people to look inwards, discover their passion or gift, work at it, find a name, create a logo, have a vision and mission, which will guide them through life. She identified certain attributes that can give a discerning youth an edge in life as professionalism, innovation and daring to be different. “Once we are able to take responsibility for our actions, we will keep moving forward. I’m yet to get there but looking at how I started, I believe I have achieved a few things. “I am not there yet, but I am a mission and a vision unfolding. When in final year in school, I worried about what I wanted to do in life. It was like I wanted to invent something or do something on my own. Being a member of the Lagos YWCA, we used to have programmes/conferences. There was a particular one I attended, which had had to do with soap making and it caught my attention.” The training came at the right time because she got back home and made a business out of it. She also learnt other new things such as how to make lotion/disinfectant, etc. She also got into involved in other developmental programmes. In between, she travelled and worked as a youth volunteer coordinator in the U.S. for a while. It was then that she decided to go for training in events management. Her dream of an ideal Nigeria is a country with the basic infrastructure such as stable electricity and a conducive environment for youths to harness their potentials. “Nigeria is great and we as individuals need to show that greatness. I believe our future must be better than our past and this starts with me Toyin Omange and the other millions of Nigerians.” She is of the view that government alone cannot tackle the nation’s numerous problems, which means that the love, cooperation and support of the citizens are needed to move the country forward.

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Cattle Ranching As Tool For Wealth Generation, Stemming Herdsmen-Farmers’ Crisis By Fabian Odum N a world faced by numerous economic challenges, agriculture remains a veritable tool of raising family income and consequently, reducing poverty. With an average daily protein requirement of less than 65g per day getting more difficult to attain among a burgeoning 160 million Nigerians, it becomes even more critical to exploit the benefits of the livestock value chain to boost the nutrition benchmark. Available statistics from the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) reveal that the population of both large ruminants like cattle, buffalo, camel and small ruminants – goats, sheep – is growing. There are 19 million cows, 45 million sheep and 35 million goats, but even that number is not enough to feed the entire Nigerian population and give the required growthenhancing nutrient. Incidentally, even the rather slow gestation cycle of nine months on the average for a cow, and the shortfall in the number of available grazing fields or reserves have put more pressure on the supply side of the equation. The Grazing challenge FROM the onset, the objective of setting grazing reserves is to acquire and protect pastoral land for the millions of herds with the aim of reducing the almost

unending squabbles between the nomadic herdsmen and crop farmers in different states of the country. The government has always desired a peaceful coexistence between communities around grazing reserves and the herdsmen, therefore the need to separate as much as possible cultivators and the Fulani cattle people. It would be important to observe that increasing national income, better management of herds, improving land use and getting the nomadic herdsmen some measure of social amenities are key to grazing reserve development. In essence, the grazing reserves should become the centre of further improvements in agro-pastoral improvement, like “easing seasonal migration, improving the quality of herds, multiplying outlet for bovine product, and enhancing access to extension and social services,” writes Dr. Ismail Iro, founder of Gamji.com. He says the Fulani are competing with large-scale agricultural schemes that narrow the grazing horizon, adding that the use of tractors, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and improved seeds in these schemes has revolutionized farming and has enabled the extension of agricultural land into the grazing land. “The use of inorganic fertilizer, N.P.K., allows farmers to open farm-plots in marginal or borderline areas used for grazing while areas

once cultivated by a hundred manual farmers using out-moded tools such as hoes and cutlasses can now be cultivated by a single farmer using a tractor.” Other factors like better vaccination, improved veterinary services, and pest control have led to the increased animal population, ruminants inclusive. With this, there are more livestock to feed and the dire need for grazing areas in different parts of the country. According to Iro, “rural and urban sprawl, commercial ranching, river basin projects, wildlife reservation, and the construction of roads, railways, schools, airports, research stations, state, and local government headquarters have shrunk the size of the grazing land.” Until the recent resolve by the President Jonathan administration to take up, the grazing reserve matter there was nothing to hold on to. Agriculture minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said in a recent programme with the Governors of 19 northern states on grazing challenges that confront the nomadic herdsmen that “this is the underlying factor heightening herder-farmer clashes, which are now assuming strife proportions in the country.” In finding solution, a committee was set up with a two weeks time frame to submit a report. The supply gap (to consumers) in the livestock value chain presents the opportunities

for entry by private sector entrepreneurs in different parts of the country as a means of raising cattle either for beef or milk. Not long ago, the Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola established the Oloba Farm Settlement at Iwo to underscore the economic lift that would come to the state, on the short term and even when fully expanded. With the geographical position of the state midway between the north central and southwest states of the country, the state sees itself as playing the ‘middleman’ in the cattle (beef) supply chain. Aregbesola said that, “about 6,000 cattle are slaughtered daily in the abattoirs in Lagos state, while the remaining five states (of the south west) combined conservatively accounts for another 6,000 judging by their total population”. The economic implication of this massive beef consumption translates to a about N4.4 billion yearly by the mathematical extrapolation of financial analysts. This huge financial potential in the marketing and distribution of beef is being sliced off the inter-state commerce between the core cattle-rearing north and largely beefconsuming south, and the southwest in this case. In these, the state reasoned, lies the job- and wealth-generating power of the agricultural sector.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

20 Sunday, May 11, 2014

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COVER

Breaking The ‘Nomadic’ Crisis Thread From Anietie Akpan, Calabar. Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo, John Ogiji, Minna, Joseph Wantu, Makurdi ROSS Rivers State Chief Press C Secretary/Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, confirmed that the herdsmen who relocated from Benue state last year to Cross River in the heat of crisis with the people of Benue state have all gone back. It is recalled that communities in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State had cried out to the state government over the alleged dumping of Fulani refugees in their localities by the Benue State government last year. The refugees, who are Fulani herdsmen, were said to be indigenes of Taraba State. Then, the clan heads of Utanga, Bagga and Besenge communities frowned at the idea of having over 3,000 Fulani refugees escorted by armed soldiers into their community without any prior notice. Accordingly, they called on the Cross River state government to return them to Taraba if the Benue State government could no longer accommodate them in Katsina Ala and few other places in the state. The immediate past Chairman of Obanliku Local Government area, Mr. Benjamin Ajua Ambe, who was disturbed by the presence of the refugees, described them as a security threat. When they arrived Cross River last year, a spokesman of the displaced persons, Alhaji Wakili Shede Abdullahi, who spoke through an interpreter, Alhaji Yusu Usman, Chief Imam of Obudu Central Mosque, said that they fled their home land in Takum, Taraba State because of inter-tribal war between Fulani and Tiv and they moved to Katsina Ala, Benue State from where they were forcefully moved to Obanliku in Cross River. The Southeast: From the southeastern flank, the IzuUmunna Cultural Association of Nigeria, a pan-Igbo think-tank warned against the creation of grazing reserve in any part of

Igboland. President of Association, Prof. Zebulon Okoye and Secretary, Chief Elvis Chukwu drew attention to the South-East delegates to the National Conference that, “various schemes currently being adopted by protagonists to actualise the grazing reserve project either by default (through acquiescence to forceful occupation of farmlands by armed Fulani herdsmen) or by legislation and advised against caving in to such designs.” The Izu-Umunna noted that any grazing reserve for Fulani herdsmen in Igboland on several grounds is the absurd socio-cultural impact and existential catastrophe that would attend the creation of an enclave of a socio-culturally distinct ethnic population, and the fact that Igboland has dire arable land constraint. “Cattle rearing is not an occupation of Igboland and no group should be imported to inaugurate and entrench it. They feared the established trend in the history of the founding of Hausa/Fulani settlements among non-Hausa/Fulani host populations in the North, Fulani settlers are wont to dislodge the indigenous population of any officially designated grazing reserve and after a period of residence, certainly claim political autonomy. In addition, they think they would demand to be governed by Sharia law and for the inclusion of the same in the law of the host state since, as muslims, they would not want to be subjected to the customary law that operates n the host state.” Niger State: In what it termed a proactive step, the Niger State government evicted some 250 Fulani from the state. The governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu said the Fulani herdsmen did not perpetrate the killings that took place in some states. The evicted herdsmen were said to have migrated from some of the conflict-ridden states.

The Herdsmen in their desperate search for a settlement area, relocated to Gurusu village in Shiroro Local Government Area. On their arrival, apprehensive residents and indigenes of the community, who saw the herdsmen arrive in their numbers, allegedly put security agents on alert. Alarmed by this development, the state government did not only order immediate eviction of the Fulani herdsmen but also provided trucks to evacuate them back to Kaduna State, from where they initially relocated to Niger State. This, however, did not go down well with the North/Central zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Isma’ila Rebe. Insisting that the ‘harmless’ herdsmen were forced to relocate to the state after losing their grazing land in Rijana village of Kaduna State, Rebe said his men had relocated to Biri in Niger State after their grazing land in Rijana was sold to members of the public. A meeting between Fulani herdsmen and the state government resulted in a 13-man committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the State Government, Mallam Idris Saidu Ndako, to organise a ‘Fulani Summit’ where issues affecting the welfare of the Fulanis and the need for a peaceful co existence with their neighbours will be discussed. Osun State: The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), a Yoruba Socio-cultural association, therefore, urged federal and state governments to put an immediate end to the orgy of violence being perpetrated by herdsmen against local farmers. Publicity Secretary of ARG in Osun State, Mr. Adekola Olabisi, who spoke with The Guardian on the issue, said the development reflects the failure of the Federal Government, which has the constitutional responsibility to provide security for all Nigerians. He, therefore, called on President Goodluck Jonathan and governors in the affected states

to take drastic measures with a view to ending the violence. In Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, for example, the Fulani cattle rearers also wreck havoc on their host communities. They maim, kill and rape innocent citizens at will on ground that their cattle were killed by farmers, whose farmland was destroyed.” He said the herdsmen in Oyo North have allegedly become terrorists, attacking innocent people. Olabisi also alleged that, in some cases, the Fulani herdsmen were caught in armed robbery in OkeOgun area and other places in the Southwest. He said the ARG, in conjunction with other stakeholders in Yoruba land, are planning a summit on how to eradicate violent attack by Fulani cattle rearers on innocent citizens in the Southwest. In the interim, he noted that since there is legislation on grazing route established by government, the herdsmen should be restricted to keep within the limit while proper enforcement should be done in order to prevent fresh conflicts with the local farmers. Benue State: THE former Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. David Iorhemba, has called on Benue State government to set up camps for internally displaced persons so as to tackle the brewing humanitarian crises in the state. Iorhemba, who is representing Guma constituency in the state assembly, made the appeal in Daudu, Guma Local Council, while on an assessment visit of the crises areas in his constituency. He said the camps, if set up, would enable effective distribution of relief materials to the victims including healthcare. While lamenting the plight of these displaced persons, some of whom are staying under trees, in public primary schools and the Catholic mission in Daudu at the moment, the lawmaker decried the poor sanitary conditions under which they are living. Iorhemba urged the state government, through its relevant organs, to avert the possibility of an epidemic such as cholera and other water borne diseases.

Ranching Your Way To Profit By Fabian Odum and Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi

THINGS to know starting up OMMERCIAL scale livestock farming with reference to cattle and grazing can make the required impact in producing milk and beef, as well as related products and, the entry into the space by small and medium scale would cover some ground in reaching more consumers with the desired supply. This is particularly strategic this year, where Family Farming is being pushed as the way to reduce hunger and poverty as well as earn income. Depending on what part of the ranching business an investor wants to take on, the ranch may be stocked with a species that is beef yielding or dairy yielding. Female calves (heifers) with dairy breeding may be kept as replacement cows for the dairy herd. Occasionally, a cow may become a poor producer of milk and in that case, she could be sold or go to the slaughter slab to serve as beef. Male calves can either be used later as a breeding bull or sold and used for beef. At 13-18 months of age, depending on the breed, female cow usually begins breeding or can be artificially inseminated. A cow’s gestation period is approximately nine months. Newborn calves are removed from their mothers quickly, usually within three days, as the mother/calf bond intensifies over time and delayed separation can cause extreme stress on the calf. Domestic cows can live to 20 years, although for the purposes of producing beef, they could be fattened and made ready for the market, so they do not live as long. However, those raised for dairy live longer, as the average cow is removed from the dairy herd around age four and marketed for beef. Cows that no longer serve the purpose as economic asset can be culled from the milk-producing lot and sold for beef. On the other hand, these animals may be sold due to reproductive problems or common diseases of milk cows such as mastitis and lameness. Leap frogging into cattle ranching An indispensible factor of production for ranching is land, and it could be leased or purchased for that purpose out rightly. Guardian investigation showed that even a plot of proper-

ly fenced land could take as many as 20 cows in which two males (bulls) can be used to service the rest 18 females (heifers). At about a year and half, the young cows are getting set to start procreating and in the next 18-24 months the calves start hopping in the grounds of the small ranch. Like in Plateau state, the selling price of the young cows is not much different; the males are cheaper, costing about N50,000 each as against between N80,000 and N100,000 each for the females. With good feeding and medicare by veterinary professionals, the cow would attain a market weight that would attract as much as N200,000 - N240,000 each in the 4th year. So, if a small investor enters the growth cycle at 18 months, sells at 48 months (except for the mothers with the calves), he would have waited for 30 months to start making Returns on Investment (ROI). Meanwhile, the female, which gives only a calf in a litter and only in nine months, continues for some more years. With good management and low mortality rate, 18 heifers can deliver an average of 15 calves in a year and so on. The tendency is that space must be made available to take the increasing number and also grow the young ones to maturity. A reliable source told the reporter that the investor must be on ground to physically supervise the herd else loss of animals through stealing can occur. Although, it is pertinent that an herdsman, usually a Fulani, be employed to take them out for grazing. “When I started, some years ago, I bought for N25,000 – N30,000 for a year-old ‘babies,’ as he called them.” They were sold for about N150,000 each in the next two and half years. With what I made on one cow, I bought three other ‘babies’ for the ranch,” the reporter was told. However, he pointed that veterinary services would cost as much as between N50,000 to N80,000, though he thinks the cost of the services is rather on the high side. He particularly recalls the bull that was sold for N220,000 in the fourth year from his ranch. Cattle differ in breed and performance and some would not withstand heavy rains in the south. Care should be taken during purchase so as not to buy the wrong breed. He revealed that there are four major places to buy the cows, and they include Abeokuta, Igborra and Ibudo Musa

in Oyo state and Ilesa Bareba, a locality between Kwara and Oyo states. Fattening for the market Mallam Ardo Abdulhameed resides in Angwan Rogo, Jos North local government council of Plateau state. He has 12 cattle heads for commercial purpose so that he could dispose of them during the forthcoming Muslim festival. Abdulhameed said that he bought them from Adamawa State and Taraba state. “I bought them when they were young. Each goes for between N35,000 and N60,000. You rear them for about one year and six months. Then you sell them when they are fully grown up. You make more gains during festivities like Sallah, weddings and Christmas; that is when you make more gains.” He said depending on the size, each costs about N120,000 and N250,000. He added that the cows are fed with different foods like the chaff from the corn or millet. The rudiment of the cooked milled corn is also good food for the cows. Also dry leaves of groundnut, guinea corn and millet form vital feed for the cows. “I buy their food from Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Kaduna states. In spite of this purchase, I still make gain. I buy the food in sacks ranging from N300 to N1,500. The consumption rate is between seven to 10 bags per month.” Abdulhameed said that he has been in the business for the past five years. He equally said that the dung from the cows is also of commercial value as he sells it between N700 and N1000 per bag to local farmers, which they use as manure. One of the greatest challenges is the immunisation and drugs being provided for the cows against rinderpest and also there is the problem of water supply. “If other cattle rearers and farmers can confine themselves to enclosed individual grazing reserves as I am doing and you don’t have to go to invade farmers’ land with your cows to eat their crops, the clash between the farmers and the herders will be minimised,” the Jos based farmer pointed out. However, the Ibadan based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) serves as a resource institution to discuss start-ups, management, breeding, fattening and building partnerships with entrepreneurs and institutions.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

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We’re Pushed To Fight, Says Leader Herdsman • No, You Kill At Will, Berom Community Leader Insists decades, regretted the fact that the natives fail to understand the psychological make-up of an average EADER of Fulani herdsmen in herdsman, who, according to him, Plateau State, Dodo Shehu, has attributed the conflict between loves his cow very dearly. “We attach so much importance the Fulani herdsmen and Berom to our cows; if our cows are in labour Farmers to persistent rustling of and, at the same time, our wives are their cows by the Berom natives, a in labour, we shall take care of our development he describes as “very cows first before going to our wives. unfortunate.” But a Berom The reason is that the Almighty Allah Community leader, Da Chuwang John, who lives in Heipang village of has endowed our wives with reason and wisdom. But the cow does not Barkin Ladi Local Council, told The have such wisdom and reasoning. Guardian that the herdsmen are So, we have to rescue the labouring mere pretenders, who kill at without serious provocation. The Barkin cow first before we talk of our wives whom God has already endowed Ladi area of the state has remained one of the hot spots in the last three with how to take care of themselves in the face of danger. years. “The animals are animals. They But the herdsmen leader, who has lived with the Berom people for cannot reason as human beings as

From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos

to the next step to take to avert disaster. So, our Berom people do not know this sort of importance we attach to our animals. So, when you go all out to kill one of our cows because of avoidable circumstances, we will go out and revenge this and lives will probably be lost in the process.” Shehu, however, said his herdsmen have great value for human life, which he said is more important than that of an animal. “How many times do cows destroy farm crops? We always try to stop the animals from eating farmers’ crops. But when the animals are terribly hungry, you cannot stop them from encroaching on farmers’ lands. But, in this unfortunate and unavoidable rare occasions, the

OROH: Businessmen Should Set Up Private Ranches For Their Cattle Abdul Oroh, a former member of the House of Representatives, is the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources. He spoke to Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu in Benin City. What will you say about the recurring clashes between herdsmen and villagers that? HE nomadic cattle herdsmen have been part of Nigerian history for a long time, they are everywhere in West Africa. But I think we have multiple methods of animal husbandry of livestock management. I believe we should try to set up ranches, create specific reserves for grazing; there is also need to create grazing routes to the extent that they walk on those routes to organised and well-maintained reserves. Those reserves should have facilities for water, veterinary services, residential quarters and nomadic schools so they don’t have to be moving around the country destroying crops, polluting water, eating up people’s crops and then fighting and even killing farmers. But the way it is now, they are not just ordinary herdsmen; they are heavily armed with modern weapons. So, it is the duty of the Federal Government to find out who is arming them and for what purpose? Is for protection against cattle rustling, if is that is the police involved in the process? If the police involved, to what extent and if they are not involved, why? I believe some of these steps need to be taken to resolve this problem. I was reading in the papers recently that the northern governors have finally seen the reasons to resolve the issue and that the umbrella organisation of the nomads have also been talking with some governors in the north and that the federal government has set up a process of setting up reserves. I think the problem is a nationwide problem. If the

Confusion in Jos herdsmen attack

natives will blame us and they will try to take their own pound of flesh in a hard manner and that is where the conflict comes in. But this is very unfortunate, because the native farmers will not forgive but take full vengeance on innocent animals.” According to Shehu, when ‘unwarranted attacks’ lead to cruel murder of the cows, “we have to resort to invasions on the people of Berom and lives will be lost in the process. At times, the natives would mobilise themselves and attack us while we were peacefully grazing our cows. You know, this is very provoking and annoying. What then do you expect us (the herdsmen) to do? We have to defend ourselves but the government frowns at this. That is the crux of the matter.” Shehu denied the allegation that the herdsmen deliberately let their animals destroy farms in the course of grazing. “It is this type of happening that fuels insecurity in the country and this should not be blamed on the herdsmen. Are we not Nigerians? We don’t believe in shedding blood. But (when we are attacked), we go to the extreme, which the natives do not want.” The herdsman, who spoke in Fulfulde (Fulani language), said that they also blame the federal government for not demarcating grazing reserves. On carrying arms by the herdsmen, the Ardo said that they are just doing that to defend their “human person. “We don’t attack but we defend ourselves against any external threat. We are not the aggressors. We have had occasions where our men were killed innocently. That is why we may carry sticks and the like just to defend ourselves.” On the way forward, Shehu said that there should be confidence in their innocence. “There should be a compromise between the herdsmen and the native farms so that conflicts are kept at bay permanently. We

Federal Government wants to set up reserves in the North, they should also assist state governments to provide lands for them to work out the basis for creating these reserves all over the country. I believe in dialogue, I believe we can talk to ourselves as Nigerians — whether you are Fulani or other tribes — because the situation could lead to a major national crisis; the people might rise up against them. Right now, the Fulani have an upper hand, but if we don’t do something about it, that may not be for too long. People might revolt against them and it will not be in the interest of anybody. There have been calls for new laws to regulate grazing, what is your opinion on this? All these institutions I am talking about could be created in a legitimate way. They also have economic benefits; it will regulate the way the business is done. From the studies that were done in Edo State, only 10 per cent of those cattle belong to the Fulani, the rest are owned by businessmen who will buy them and give to them for grazing. Why can’t these businessmen set up ranches. For a 200-hectre land, you can have about 100 herds of cattle, properly managed with needed facilities. It can be done; so, why can’t rich businessmen create ranches with all the facilities and take care of their animals. In Edo state, we have identified areas where we can set up reserves; so, we need the federal government to come in and assist us to set them up. But before now, the state had some ranches, what happened to them? We have cattle ranches, but there is a plan to privatise them and allow private sector to do it, because the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 state is not good in managing things efficiently. So we want the private sector to be involved. The process is on The governor believes that the and we will soon advertise for the one in Igarra. The snowball effect the ranch would one in Ubiaja has been privatized, but we still have the have on wealth creation would go diary farm, which is yet to be privatised.

don’t like taking lives. But when you are pushed to the wall, you have to turn back at your enemies and attack. That is what is happening.” On his part, a Berom community leader, Da Chuwang John, who lives in Heipang village of Barkin Ladi local government of Plateau State, emphatically shifted the blame to the Fulani herdsmen, saying that they are always on the aggressive and are culpable for all the heinous attacks in the locality. According to Da John, “the Fulani herdsmen do not have value for human life: They kill children; they kill hapless women; they kill old men and women. Tell me, what do the innocent children, women and old people have to do with cattle rearing? The Fulani herdsmen are pretenders. If an opportunity presents itself, the Fulani herdsman goes wild beyond limits. They should stop pretending. “We have witnessed situations where a one-month old child strapped on the mother’s back were slashed into two by the Fulani. Now, what is the sin of that one-month old child? In fact, they have sinned against humanity. They have sinned against God. Lives do not mean anything to them. They kill at will. “Even when their cows were just chased from eating farm crops, the Fulani will come back to kill people, innocent people. “Well, let us bury the hatchet since we are looking for solutions to the lingering conflicts. Let them come to a round table and all the parties will table their grievances. By this, we will know what each party feels reagarding the conflicts and we will all adopt a compromise position. That is all I can say. And when we adopt this position and all the two parties genuinely agree to the peace pact, then there will be peace. “But we do not want a situation whereby an agreement is reached and the next moment, Fulani will strike again. That is pretence. Let us come together and chart a way forward.”

Ranching As Tool For Wealth Generation across state boundaries to enable people plug-in. For instance, the project would develop hundreds of hectares of land into grazing reserves, cattle markets, breeding centres, and fattening hubs. This will spur the development of new abattoirs in different towns in the state, in addition to the new central abattoirs that are being developed. But of managing a business requiring cutting edge technology and management, which the public service lacks, the current magic wand of Private Public Partnership (PPP) would definitely come into play. “The state government will not own any cattle. The cattle will be owned by members of the Osun public and investors who decide to invest in cattle fattening side of the value chain. Government will lease out space to such people and charge a fee for the use of its land and infrastructure on the ranch.”

IVE hours by road, northeast of Calabar, capital of Cross Rivers FState is the location of Obudu

Cattle Ranch in Obanliku local government area. The ranch is situated at an altitude of 1,576 metres above sea level and has a temperate climate ideal for livestock farming with temperatures ranging between 26 degree to 32 degree Celsius between November and January, while the lowest temperature range of 4 degree Celsius to 10 degree Celsius is recorded between June and September. This is an ideal weather for breeds from parts of Holland like the high milk yielding Friesian cattle and other temperate climate-surviving breed. One advantage of the weather is that cattle can forage large areas without the fear of Tse tse fly nuisance. Like the Osun state project that hopes to hand over to a PPP arrangement, the Cross Rivers State has placed the Obudu ranch on the market shelf for investors to buy into the potentially revenue loaded agribusiness. Barr. David Amiye, secretary of the states’ Privatisation Bureau says investors are being sought to take over the management of the dairy side of the farm.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

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Herdsmen: Legislative Moves To Resolve Violent Conflict With Farmers From Adamu Abuh, Abuja WICE this year, the House of Representatives had to be forced to brainstorm on how to end the recurring clashes between farmers and nomadic Fulani herdsmen across the country. The most recent was the motion initiated by Mrs. Christ Alaaga (Gwer East/Gwer West: Benue), which underlined the lawmakers resolve to proffer a permanent solution to the problems that led to loss of lives and properties worth millions of naira. Claiming that the herdsmen, in continuation of their attacks on farmers in her constituency, had unleashed mayhem on Agena, Mbatsada and villages in Mbalom council ward of Gwer East LGA, she painted a gory picture of the incidence during the plenary of the House presided by Aminu Tambuwal. She claimed thus: “Heavily armed herdsmen laid siege to the village overnight and by dawn, they fired sporadically in the air and as people ran helter skelter in panic, they mowed them down with A-47 rifles and slaughtered them with matches. A total number of 20 bodies were found and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi Benue State. The village is located close to Ikayoungo, 25 kilometres from Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Claiming that her constituents from Agena, Mbatsada, Nyamshi, Merkyen, Tyoughatee/Injaha, Gbagatongov, Ikyaghev and Sengev communities have been displaced in the latest attacks, he went on:

Earlier in the year, the House had adopted a similar motion moved by Mr. Sunday Karimi, calling for an expedited legislative work on a pending Bill seeking the establishment of national grazing reserves and routes in Nigeria. Karimi (Kogi/PDP) was prophetic at the time when he warned that drastic should be taken to arrest the ugly trend. The House, while adopting his motion, enjoined President Goodluck Jonathan to convene a meeting of stakeholders and leaders of concerned ethnic groups on how to put an end to the killings. At the time, the lawmakers also endorsed a proposal canvassed by Hon Bitrus Kaze (Plateau/PDP) urging governments at all levels to implement all reports of committees set up in relation to the clashes. In 2011, the House minority whip, Mr. Samson Osagie, led an ad-hoc committee at the instance of the House to explore how to resolve the conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and local famers in Guma Local Council of Benue State, which ironically falls within the area worst affected in the latest crises. Bill On National Grazing Route And Reserve The Bill sponsored by Karimi before the relevant committees of the House for consideration specifically seeks establishment of a national grazing route and reserve commission to manage national grazing routes and reserve in all parts of the nation and other incidental matters. Among others, the Bill provides for the establishment of the Headquarters of the Commission, which shall be situated in the

Federal Capital Territory. Abuja, and there shall be established an office of the Commission in each State of the Federation. It further provides that the Governor of each State shall make provision for the office of the Commission in the Ministry of Agriculture or Ministry of Lands of Each State and that the Commission shall consist of a Chairman, who shall be appointed by the President who by reason of his ability and experience or specialised knowledge on land and agricultural matters and whose professional attainment is, in the opinion of the President, capable of making outstanding contribution to the Commission. Other provisions of the Bill includes: (b) One Representative each from all the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation and one (1) from the Federal Capital Territory. (c) Each of the Representatives referred to in (h) above shall be: (i) Legal Practitioners; (ii) Land surveyors: or (iii) Other persons knowledgeable in land matters. (d) One Representative from the National Boundaries Commission. (c) One representative from the Border Committee Development Agency. (1) The Chairman of the Commission referred to in (a) above, shall be appointed from one of the representatives from each State as stated in (b) above. Among penalties prescribed in the Bill were that anybody who enters the Grazing Area unlawfully shall be prosecuted by the Commission and shall be liable to a fine of

N50,000.00 or imprisonment of Six (months). On the procedures for acquiring grazing routes and reserves, the Bill stipulates that the Commission shall approach the Governors of all the thirty (36) Six States and the Minister of the FCT, and express its desire to establish a Grazing Route and Reserve in accordance with this Act. •The Commission shall undertake a physical/geographical analysis of the land use in each of the States in order to ascertain the best and most appropriate place to locale the Federal Government Reserve and Route within the said State. • The Commission shall after having undertaken the analysis of the Grazing Reserves and Routes, approach each State Governor, with the cooperation of the member of the Commission from that Slate lo negotiate with the Governor to transfer the land to the Commission for the purpose of Grazing Routes and Reserve. • The Governors in each State shall co-operate with the Commission in the furtherance of its objectives tinder this Act. • Whenever land has been transferred by the Governor to the Commission for use as Grazing Routes and Reserve, the Governor in each State shall make an order that shall set forth: (a) the limits of the land which constitute the Reserve. (b) that the land has been transferred to the Commission for the purpose of Grazing Route and Reserves The Bill also states that the

Commission shall provide the necessary infrastructure for decent livelihood in the Grazing Routes and Reserves. • It shall be unlawful for any nonNigerian to enter the Grazing Routes and Reserves unless expressly authorised by the Commission. • It shall be unlawful for any pastoralist to graze livestock outside the established Routes and Reserve, except expressly authorized by the Commission. • The Commission shall set forth expressly, the conditions for allowing foreigners/non-Nigerians access into the Grazing Routes and Reserves. • The Commission shall set forth the fees and permits payable for persons who shall be allowed in the Grazing Routes and Reserves. • The Commission shall do all that is incidental to the furtherance of its object as stated in this Act. • The Commission shall from time to time make regulations necessary in the furtherance of its duties under this Act. A similar Bill was also sponsored by Senator Zainab Kure, wife of a two-time Governor of Niger State. Incidentally, when she initiated the proposed legislation in 2008 during the 6th National Assembly, it was greeted with stiff opposition on the floor of the upper legislative chamber. Senator Kure”s Bill particularly seeks to provide for, among other things, the establishment of the National Grazing Reserve Commission of Nigeria, for the preservation and control of national grazing reserves and stock routes in the country.

SULAIMON: Government Should Revisit Previous Panels’ Recommendations Aisha Anne Suleiman is former deputy National Secretary of Good Support Organisation, an initiative of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration. She told KAMAL TAYO OROPO that government should revisit recommendations of previous panel of enquiries on clashes between herdsmen and farmers. Why Clashes Persist T is an uncomfortable fact that confrontations between farmers and Fulani herdsmen have been a long-standing occurrence in the country for decades on the belief that the main cause of violence between the herdsmen and farming communities was the destruction of cultivated crop by cattle. The herdsmen are believed to be the nomadic Fulanis, who are constantly in search of the best grazing land for their cattle. However, there is a big ‘but’. Who really are the attackers under the umbrella of Fulani herdsmen? Deep in history, the Fulani centered and ruled over Sokoto, including the Hausa states and parts of old Borno as well as Western Cameroon. A vast majority of Fulani live in rural settings, due to tradition and their reserved nature, they tend to have communities, which are spread out. Whether the culprits in this regard are strictly Fulani is a matter of great concern. Let us take a closer look at the incident at various communities in Benue State, for example. The attacks and killings have become more sophisticated. The Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, sounded a note of warning to the attackers, but just few days after he gave this warning, the invaders attacked again. This time, the invaders slaughtered over 22 persons at Anyii and Ayilamo and Logo villages where the governor hails from.

Also, Guma, where the supervising Minister of Aviation, Samuel Ortom, hails from, has been under sporadic attacks from Fulani militias since the beginning of this year. Before Suswam was attacked, the so-called Fulani gunmen, late February, killed 30 persons and razed over 14 villages, including the village of a former member of the House of Representatives, Godwin Ikerave. Also torched during the attack on Guma was the palace of the traditional ruler of the Tivs. And there are high tendencies that the attackers, who are likely to be Nigerians or Non-Nigerians, are being used by some people to perpetrate evil.

Finding Lasting Solution Finding solution to the situation seems difficult due to lack of will power to embrace peaceful co-existence. I would love to believe that the government is not doing enough to help in pushing for an enduring solution to this plague due to non-implementation of reports by series of Panels, Committees and Commissions that have been instituted in the past. Hence, this non-implementation has seriously encouraged sense of impunity among the previous, current and

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COVER

Dialogue Will End Recurring Crises, Says Afenifere From Tunji Omofoye, Osogbo

HE recurrent bloody conflicts between herdsmen and local farmers in Benue and Plateau state communities present a sordid picture of inhumanity to man. At the centre of this avoidable bloodletting are Fulani herdsmen, who are up in arms against defenceless local farmers. The conflict, though not totally new, attracts much public concern due to the large number of casualties involved and the way the gruesome murders are orchestrated. The orgy of violence in the Middle Belt zone of the country has become more worrisome in view of the intractable challenge posed by the Boko Haram menace in the Northeast. Reacting to the issue, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), a Yoruba Socio-cultural association, therefore, urged federal and state governments to put an immediate end to the orgy of violence being perpetrated by herdsmen against local farmers. Publicity Secretary of ARG in Osun State, Mr. Adekola Olabisi, who spoke with The Guardian on the issue, said the development reflects the failure of the Federal Government, which has the constitutional responsibility to provide security for all Nigerians. He, therefore, called on President Goodluck Jonathan and governors in the affected states to take drastic measures with a view to ending the violence. Olabisi lamented that the ‘senseless conflicts’ in the region have made ordinary people in the area, particularly the local farmers, endangered species in the face of nocturnal and broad day armed raids being perpetrated by herdsmen. “It is sad that, almost on daily basis, we read reports of deadly attacks by these herdsmen against their fellow Nigerians; some of the attacks are perpetrated at a time the villagers least expect them, while, in some cases, a whole village or family is wiped out and houses destroyed,” said Olabisi. The ARG scribe linked the bloody activities of the herdsmen to the levity with which the issue of Boko Haram was handled, before the group grew wings and began to attack the nation on a large scale. According top him, government should have taken proactive measures to prevent possible escalation of the conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and local farmers, since the ‘actors’ have long history of sev-

Riot after herdsmen attack in Benue

ered relationship. The ARG spokesperson observed that the conflict transcends disagreement over grazing route and destruction of farmland by cattle, pointing out that old rivalry, ethnic differences and religious issues are in the mix. He said, “ARG is sad about the needless killing of innocent citizens in the Middle Belt zone and other places. We cherish sanctity of life and believe that Nigerians, irrespective of where they live should have access to adequate security and protection of life and property”. He opined that all stakeholders, including the three tiers of government, leaders of the Fulani cattle rearers and leaders in various Middle Belt communities have role to play in resolving this conflict. The group also expressed serious concern about how an average Fulani cattle rearer that used to move about with sticks used in controlling their cattle now posses sophisticated weapons with which he attacks his victims. Olabisi stressed that the source of the arms and possible sponsors behind the terrorist act should be identified and treated appropriately as part of measures to resolve the conflict. Afenifere said the search for peace between the herdsmen and local farmers should not be limited to the Middle Belt but that government should also take a holistic look at similar attacks in other parts of the country, including the

Southwest, where, he noted, conflict between herdsmen and their host communities also exists. According to the ARG chief, in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, conflict erupts between herdsmen and host communities over cattle grazing, adding that in the course of looking for pasture for their animals, the cattle rearers often destroy farm crops belonging to local farmers. He explained that the destructive tendency of the cattle often infuriates farmers, whose means of livelihood, has been destroyed. “But the herdsmen would always want to protect their cattle even to the detriment of the local farmers,” he said. “The violent disposition of Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt only came to limelight due to the genocidal dimension it has taken. We also have our own fair share of the herdsmen undue militancy in the Southwest. In Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, for example, the Fulani cattle rearers also wreck havoc on their host communities. They maim, kill and rape innocent citizens at will on ground that their cattle were killed by farmers, whose farmland was destroyed.” He said the herdsmen in Oyo North have allegedly become terrorists, attacking innocent people. Olabisi also alleged that, in some cases, the Fulani herdsmen were caught in armed robbery in Oke-Ogun area and other places in the Southwest.

Govt Should Revisit Previous Panels’ Recommendations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 intending perpetrators. It is obvious that there are other issues surrounding the clashes, if not why would the village of the Benue State Governor, the traditional ruler’s palace and some other dignitaries are attacked shortly after the Government sounded a note of warning? Allegation of stealing cattle This feeling may not be too far from being true, especially against the backdrop of the style and manner of some of these clashes. But having said that, taking laws into your hands can hardly yield any positive dividend under this situation. We have also seen where some supposed farmers, or even the so-called herdsmen, hired criminals to engage each other. The thing about such recourse, is anyone who engages the services of a criminal, stand the risk of being a victim. Whenever the criminal lacks money, he/she will like to come back for more and when there is no more assignment, any available crime goes. Christian Association of Nigeria’s opposition to proposed grazing routes and reserves The opposition by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to the proposed grazing path is not constructive enough. The CAN leadership ought to realise that there is no civilised country in the world where animals are allowed to roam the streets indiscriminately. On the other

hand, the CAN leadership should have persuaded the Federal Government to embrace the idea as a solution to the perennial crisis. The fact is that the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers have been having issues for over a decade and they have been co-exiting in spite of this problem. It is believed that some people, who have vested interest, are taking advantage of this negative inclination to cause problem in the country. The way out In the light of what we have seen, it is very important to stress that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) should be reminded of its statutory obligation and be alive to its responsibilities by manning our porous borders. This will, in no small measure, tackle the claims that the attackers are foreigners. Adoption and domestication of Teff grass in Nigeria will go a long way in solving this problem. Teff grass is the fastest growing forage for livestock and commercial hay producers who often need a fast growing, high yielding crop with competitive forage quality. Adapted in many advanced countries to serve as silage or pasture for cows and horses. But above all, government should have the will power to put an end to the ugly recurring decimal by dusting the recommendations of all Panel of enquiry, Judicial Commissions and Committees with a sincere purpose. This way, it will come out with workable solution for lasting peace.

Suleiman

He said the ARG, in conjunction with other stakeholders in Yoruba land, are planning a summit on how to eradicate violent attack by Fulani cattle rearers on innocent citizens in the Southwest. In the interim, he noted that since there is legislation on grazing route established by government, the herdsmen should be restricted to keep within the limit while proper enforcement should be done in order to prevent fresh conflicts with the local farmers. The ARG spokesperson, while attributing the action of the herdsmen to lack of access to western education and hardship they undergo in the course of tendering their flocks, also suggested intensive education for the cattle rearers’ children by establishing more nomadic schools while the government should provide incentives for attendance. “The local farmers should not be left to their fate in the face of the terrorism being inflicted on them by the herdsmen; but concerned authorities, including opinion leaders, community leaders and governments in the affected states should create platforms for dialogue between community leaders and herdsmen.” He said resolving the conflict would be better facilitated when government reaches out to the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen and convince them to embrace peace.

TheGuardian

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Special Report

Tinapa Water Park and Funfare

From Anietie Akpan, Calabar INAPA is a business and leisure resort, an initiative of former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke. It was opened for business on April 2, 2007. The first phase gulped over $350 million. Located in Adiabo, by the Calabar River in the outskirts of Calabar in Calabar Municipality, the original designed was to be in four phases, under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement being promoted by the Government of Cross River State. It is located within the Calabar Free Trade Zone. It occupies about 80,000 square metres space to accommodate wholesale, retail and entertainment activities, four emporiums of 10,000 square metres each (the size of a football field) for retail and wholesale activities as well as leisure and entertainment, while the entertainment strip contains a casino, digital cinema, children’s arcade, restaurants, a mini amphitheatre, a night club and pubs. There is an artificial tidal lake that feeds from the Calabar River, a Water Park/Leisure Land and parking Space for about 4,000 cars. Other business facilities include; an open exhibition area for trade exhibitions and other events, and a movie production studio, commonly called “Studio Tinapa”, a 243 room international three-star Hotel, a truck terminal, and an independent power plant that also feeds the streetlights in Calabar. However, since Tinapa was commissioned in 2007 by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, business activities have remained extremely low. The dream of making it the trade and business heartbeat or hub of Africa like Dubai in the United

TINAPA: A Dream... Still Arab Emirate (UAE) has remained a mirage, in the face of inconsistent government policies orchestrated by the Nigerian Customs, general lack of patronage by investors and customers, horrible road network into Calabar, shallow Calabar Port channel that hinders heavy ocean going vessels from coming in, lack of deliberate and aggressive commitment on the part of the state and federal governments. The Cross River government has explored several avenues to ensure the realization of the objective for which Tinapa was established, but none has worked. Shops like the ‘Trade Wind’, ‘Wooden’ and a few others are operating in Tinapa, but sources in the FTZ said with the coming of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), “we understand there are moves to replace the current management. AMCON is supposed to appoint an administrator and the state government too will appoint its own representative to work alongside with AMCON. Though for now there is no official communication yet to that effect. They are still in the process.” For now the activities of the companies in Tinapa are shutting down as their containers are still held back in Onne, allegedly due to

the activities of the customs. Business activities are at a lull and the companies are gradually winding down. In fact, foreign and local investors in Tinapa have threatened to shut down business, alleging “harassment and sabotage by the Nigerian Customs in Onne port, Rivers State” a situation that now threatens over 20,000 jobs, even as one company alone has reportedly lost over N50million. Spokesman for the investors, Mr. Nnamso Nyong argued that “the Laws establishing Tinapa Business and Free Zone Resort recognizes the fact that Tinapa is the transit hub for goods within the sub-region and Africa and the existing gazette says Tinapa is 100 percent import duty free. Customs has no right to hold any consignment coming to Tinapa. For Customs to come and ask us to pay duty in Onne is a total violation of the law establishing Tinapa. Nigerian Customs is frustrating us.” He said; “we are indeed shocked and bewildered why customs at Onne command stopped the processing of investors’ consignments, which are on transit to Tinapa Free Trade Zone. This unilateral, illegal act by the Customs at Onne in stopping Tinapa bound

consignment is against the spirit and letter of the law that set up Tinapa as a Free Trade Zone. “We view this Nigerian Customs serial impunity with regards to trade transactions in Tinapa as a calculated attempt to truncate business activities within the Free Trade Zone, thus rendering all human, material and financial resources invested in establishing the zone as a total waste.” With this development, the investors said, “shops are shutting down, people are losing their jobs, demurrage is increasing every hour on containers at Onne Seaport, whereas others are busy smuggling rice through the borders, while the Customs look elsewhere.” This they said has led to “loss of revenue running into millions of naira, loss of confidence from trade partners, inability to honour letters of credit hinged upon receipt of goods, inability to meet financial obligations, loss of suppliers’ confidence and closure of shops and loss of employment, with its multiplier effect to the host communities and Cross River at large.” The investors have appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and call Customs to order for a proper interpretation of the law establishing Tinapa and free trade zones in the Country. One of the investors, Mr. Chris Nedum said for

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SPECIAL REPORT with reference no SSG/GSA/300VOLXV1/223 and captioned Re-Approval for the Transfer of controlling interest in Tinapa Business Leisure Resort to AMCON from the State Government. The letter stated that “following the inability of the Resort to meet desired expectations of both Cross River State Government and core investors, especially Banks and some local government councils in the state, it has been realized that the most viable options to salvage the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort is to seek private sector equity investment and divestment of significant interest of the State in the project.” The matter which has been presented to the Cross River State Executive Council and given a thorough consideration approved the transfer based on the fact that a private sector holding in Tinapa would provide the needed platform for the revitalization of the project and the state will be relieved of the huge debt burden, to enable it channel available funds to other critical areas of development. While presenting the letter, the Speaker told members that, “the development is a thing of joy to the people of the state that negotiation has been concluded and cheering news to members of the Cross River State House of Assembly.” However, the member representing Ikom 1, Agbiji Mbe Agbiji observed that the content of the letter did not mention the contributions of local governments to the investment, which the state now wants to cede to AMCON and other details of the Memorandum of Understanding. He said the letter did not also convey the total state investment in Tinapa as these are some of the vital details people of the state would wish to know. The member representing Boki 1, in the House, Chief Jake Out-Enyia commended the wisdom of the state government in the divestment, but noted, “we should not just pass it because it will amount to legislative rascality; we need to put things straight because when I was chairman of council I contributed N180million, so also other council areas” It is recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had at the flag off of the Goodluck/Sambo 2011 Presidential Rally in the state promised to revive Tinapa if elected saying, “we will continue to work with the state government to revive the resort. What we have in Tinapa is a major investment that both Federal Government and the Cross River Government will not allow to waste…We will advertise and patronise it robustly to ensure that Tinapa attracts international tourists to the state and the country.” Commenting on the current status of Tinapa and the AMCON take over, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor/Special Assistant, Mr. Christian Ita said, “Cross River state is owing N18 billion and that is what the Imoke administration inherited on Tinapa and the N18 billion is from banks. You know AMCON buys toxic assets from banks, so rather than allow them take over, we negotiated and the agreement is that apart from taking over, they will now invest another N26 billion into Tinapa to make it work. Ita dismissed rumours making round that the Managing Director had been sacked. He said, “I am not aware of his sack, nobody has sacked him. The whole issue about Tinapa now “is all about making it work and it is not as if Cross River is totally divesting its interest. This is to stall a hostile takeover.”

So Faraway weeks now customs have frustrated business and his company had lost over N50 million, leaving their foreign partners to now see them as fraudsters. This is a deliberate act to frustrate business in South-South and South-East. An Indian investor, who gave his name as Mr. Poadeep kumav decried the activities of Customs and blamed the Nigerian government of policy inconsistent. Customs officials in Calabar have kept sealed lips on this, directing those with enquiries to go to Abuja. The issue of perennial power cut in the country is really taking its toll on Tinapa. Andem said. Over N500 million is spent annually on diesel and “we are not connected to the power grid; so we spend so much on diesel. We buy forty thousand litres of diesel weekly, amounting to N6.4 million and N300 million annually. When we have big activities, the amount could go higher. So I can say N360 million is spent on diesel annually. When you add the cost of maintenance, you can just easily say half a billion annually.” He pointed out that electricity supply was almost non-existent in the facility, but that Tinapa management was optimistic that the facility would become a success in spite of the

challenges. The management, he said, is ready to provide the necessary infrastructure to create conducive investment climate for investors. According to him, Tinapa was destined to be a Free Trade Zone that was supposed to attract the interest and attention of the federal government, but that has not been the case, “so we need the federal government to make proper use of the zone.” He also called for the dredging of Calabar Port, to enable bigger vessels operate in the zone and boost commercial activities in the resort. Troubled by the poor business status and its several challenges that have hindered progress, the state government recently announced that AMCON is to take over the management of Tinapa Business Resort with a buy back of its total debt profile of N18.509 billion. As part of the package which the Cross River State government will transfer its controlling interest in Tinapa, AMCON is to provide the sum of N26 billion for the revitalization and resuscitation of the Resort to reposition it as a private sector driven enterprise. The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly Mr. Larry Odey had informed members of the transfer plans through a secular Studio Tinapa

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SPECIAL REPORT

Tinapa Is An Opportunity For Nigerians To Buy Quality At Good Price Mr. Frank Umeh is the managing director of Tradewinds Duty Free Market. Tradewinds is a bulk importation and logistics company, and advocates for free trade in all its ramifications. Umeh spoke with ANIETIE AKPAN of The Guardian on the challenges facing Tinapa and the way forward. Could you tell us a little about Tradewinds? RADEWINDS is a duty free market located in emporium “D” in Tinapa. We engage in bulk consignments, which include items from fabrics to building materials and household equipment, including things you could find in big superstores around the world. We are a licensed free zone enterprise established to engage in high volume trading and bulk importation of goods into Tinapa. We have been in Tinapa for two and a half years. You recently had a special business meeting on Trade Import Network from Dubai. Could you throw some light on this? Cross River is a state that is right on the border and states that have border towns witness boom in commerce. Look at Lagos, Ogun, Sokoto and Maiduguri. Why not Cross River; what could be the problem? We know that Cameroonians come into Cross River and enter Nigeria. There are light vessels coming in every day. We have seen the buses that pick them straight from the terminal down to Aba and Onitsha. So they don’t even contribute a pin to the Cross River economy. They come into Cross River, transit straight into Onitsha and Aba, buy whatever they want to buy and transit back to the border and back to Cameroon. Douala, which is about two or three hours away from Calabar, is the commercial capital of Cameroon and it is just close by. A commercial capital of another country is close by a border town, yet there is no traffic and trade, something must be wrong. You look also at the cost of goods in Calabar; the cost of goods in comparison to other cities is double the price. So what could be wrong? A border town that is close to a commercial city of another country, that has Tinapa, which is a duty free centre, that has even a port, which can be developed strategically, yet not working. Something must be wrong. So how do we deal with it? We had impersonal relationships with the traders. We say come let us see how you can import containers. To do this business in Dubai would take from 10, 000 to 15, 000 dollars. From here we can take care of your visa, arrange for a bed space for you, flight ticket, guiding you in Dubai as we have a transit logistics hub in Dubai to see how we can manage those purchases. The cost of those goods when they arrive Tinapa should not be different from the cost in Dubai by more than five per cent. If we are able to get them to start this Dubai transaction, this is a short-term measure because we know that Dubai gets most of their goods from China. In no time, maybe in one or two years, we would start encouraging them to start doing straight from China to Tinapa, but first measure is buy those goods in Dubai, give it to our logistics office in Dubai and the next time you are going to see it is in Tinapa. You come in and trade with us as family members of Tradewinds. The workshop was an eye-opener for them. It made them understand those goods can be bought at a reasonable price and get them into Tinapa. When these Cross Riverians have come to understand the whole process of Tinapa, it would be easy for them to take over the Cameroonian market. Douala is just here. Cameroon from our understanding of their trade, rely so much on tax. Entire goods that come into Tinapa can leave in the same bulk quantity to Cameroon free. Cameroonians that travel from Cameroon to Dubai would know that Tinapa is there. Why would they go to Dubai? We already have Cameroonians who are doing this business with us. So it is very easy to take over the economy of Cameroon with Tinapa. The workshop was actually a call for duty. We have been in Tinapa for three years and we have been engaged in serious research on how to get the place to work, finding out issues that need to be properly taken care of before you can engage in successful trading activities within the zone. We have been to manufacturers around the world. We have also studied the local markets and their nature, looking at their variables,

the costs, the logistics and the demands. Tinapa, being a duty free centre is similar to what you have in Dubai free zone and we have looked at the success in Dubai and wish to replicate the same success in Tinapa. So our trading experience so far in these two and a half years has been that of everyday learning and so far we seem to be getting to the point. You import any quantity of products of interest from Dubai Free Zone, and have it delivered to Tradewinds Duty Free Market, Tinapa Free Zone, Calabar within 40 days for sea containers or within seven days for air cargo. What did your research find out? My understanding is that anywhere you have a free trade zone, good products and good price is the key. If you don’t have good products, you have limitation; if your price is not good, you also have limitation. So the simple key is, can you get good products and can you get it at a good price? Once you are able to have those two answers then you get the place to work. Tinapa, by virtue of its laws is actually a transit point. Goods in Tinapa could not be said to be in any country. Just like Dubai, goods in Dubai are in transit. So it is looking at the transitory nature of these goods. If these goods are in transit in Dubai, can you get it in transit into Tinapa? So that Nigerians who go to Dubai to buy goods in Transit 1 can come to Tinapa and buy it in Transit 2. Now, moving those goods from Transit 1 to Transit 2 is part of the research we have been doing. Again, if we are talking about transit, there must be an origin. We have origin from China and origin from Dubai. We have imports from China to Tinapa, which is first transit. So the goods that leave China get to Tinapa on

the first transit. We have goods in Dubai, which transit from China, to Dubai then to Tinapa. That means we are doing two-phase transit. Se we are approaching the issue of Tinapa from both ways; transit straight from the manufacturers and transit from the first transitory point to the second transitory point. Buying from Dubai gives you room to buy varieties, so working in Tinapa, we are not just looking for the Cross River market, we are also looking for markets in other parts of Nigeria; that is Aba, Onitsha, Port Harcourt – those that buy in bulk. But charity begins at home. When you come to Tinapa and get those goods at the cheap price because of government incentive, that time you spend in the hotel, taxis you take and food that you eat, add to the economy of the nation. So keying into Dubai is realizing that in our trading activity, we need to create a balance. Dubai also has a regulation on standards you can bring into their territory. So you still have good quality with a reasonable price. That is, goods that are still in transitory point and you transit it from there. So Dubai is a key for now pending when we would start having the high volume Tinapa. How do you ensure that the goods imported are not sub-standard? Once you are importing, you are responsible for what you are bringing into this zone. The zone also has regulatory agencies and zone management. If your activities start constituting a nuisance to the zone, I am sure the zone management is competent enough to take due action, but we also have our own responsibility. In the modern economy, the customers are king. If you start bringing in substandard goods, I am sure you will start

I don’t think the place is failing. I just think the owners are thinking more of the consequences. They don’t want to put more money in a place or they think they have overinvested. Or it is the belief that they have already invested and they want the business minded people to come in and do their part. It started from Donald Duke, who was able to get the infrastructure in place and get it commissioned, then Liyel Imoke, who commenced the process of getting the law to be gazetted and Yar’Adua, who signed the law. So government, on their part administratively, has contributed to the success. It is now for the private sector, the businessmen to come in and do what they do best

Lakeside Hotel Tinapa

losing your market share. You seem to have so much faith in Tinapa, even in the face of so much challenges and skepticism about the future of the place? I don’t think the place is failing. I just think the owners are thinking more of the consequences. They don’t want to put more money in a place or they think they have overinvested. Or it is the belief that they have already invested and they want the business minded people to come in and do their part. It started from Donald Duke, who was able to get the infrastructure in place and get it commissioned, then Liyel Imoke, who commenced the process of getting the law to be gazetted and Yar’Adua, who signed the law. So government, on their part administratively, has contributed to the success. It is now for the private sector, the businessmen to come in and do what they do best. The incentives when you read the law are enormous. It is the first in Nigeria. Giving Tinapa law is like bringing Onitsha and Aba in one zone. It is like merging the influence of Goodluck Jonathan and the business acumen of Dangote in one place. Now if all these forces have been put in a single law, the part of the businessman is to say, how do I get good products at a good price and you break that into phases – short term, medium term and long term. Ultimately, the long term is that vessels would need to be in Calabar. So you can just offload it straight to your shop and have just a two or three per cent difference from the cost of manufacturing and the cost of goods in Tinapa, which instantly removes Nigerians from attempting to go to China with the high cost of flight and difficulties in getting the visa, or building a framework to determine the quality you would be getting and it is all in an effort to reduce cost that drives some traders into reducing the value. Nigerians believe in good pricing. They could tolerate good quality that the price difference is like five per cent. But if the price difference is like 50 to 100 per cent, they can say you can go to hell with good quality. I would manage my China product and that is why China has taken over. Again, Tinapa is a window for Nigerians to enjoy good products, quality products with a reasonable price. The same China manufactures things for the United States, it manufactures for Europe, but when you go there, they ask, what quality you need, African quality or European quality. I think Tinapa is a window that allows people to enjoy European quality at an afford-

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Sunday, May 11,

SPECIAL REPORT Mr. Christian Ita is the Chief Press Secretary/Special Assistant to Governor Lyel Imoke of Cross River State. He explains government’s dream, challenges and plans for Tinapa in this interview with ANIETIE AKPAN. What was government’s idea regarding Tinapa? OVERNMENT’S dream for Tinapa is to turn it into a global shopping hub and tourism resort, as is the case with Dubai. The challenge we had was that the place was not originally gazetted. It was supposed to be a free trade zone, yet you still have customs operating there. The roads from Calabar to Aba and Calabar to Makurdi are not good; the Calabar River has not been dredged and ships that are supposed to berth here first go to Onne and these are all the factors militating against the success of Tinapa. Cross River invested about N18 billion on Tinapa and you are aware that because of the debt the present government inherited from the last administration, Cross River has already reached its threshold on borrowing; meaning that we cannot even borrow. Now cross River spends at least N100 million to maintain Tinapa every month and the current administration has done everything to make Tinapa work, which is why they bring in all sort of things into Tinapa, like the Tinapa Knowledge City, Ebony Live Television and the Water Park, which was not there before. If you go there today, the small money they are making is from the hotel or water park. So the state government has done everything possible to make Imoke Tinapa to work. Why is government developing another Summit Hill when Tinapa is there? Again, it is because of Tinapa that the new development area is being developed and that is the Summit Hills, where state government is building the International Convention Centre (ICC). There is a new road government has constructed because it realized that getting to Tinapa from the city centre is about 14 kilometre drive, but this new industrial development shortens the distance to Tinapa by almost eight or nine kilometres and bring Tinapa closer to the city centre. Then of course, part of the money that was borrowed to build Tinapa was from banks and AMCON is the agency that buys over toxic bank assets. So, rather than allow AMCON to take it over, we negotiated and AMCON is not just takAgain, Tinapa was also predicated on the asing over Tinapa, it is investing another N26 bil- sumption that about 25 flights will come into lion in Tinapa to get it working. Tinapa is in Calabar every day and may be 80 percent of Cross River and nobody is taking it away from those flying in are going to Tinapa, but that is Cross River. If Tinapa works, it is to the glory of not the case now. Cross River because most of the people that The Ibo businessmen who are supposed to work there are Cross Riverians. So AMCON is in- make use of Tinapa cannot because the road vesting another N26 billion to build the enterbetween Aba and Calabar is bad. Similarly, the tainment aspect within Tinapa aimed at northern states that are supposed to use the increasing patronage. road from North East/Central to Calabar canThe first problem in conceiving Tinapa was not do so because of the bad roads and the low that all the factors were not under the control canopy at Ikom Bridge. The Calabar channel of the state government. All the factors that we into Calabar port has not been dredged and needed to make Tinapa work, none was under heavy ships cannot berth. So these are the facthe control of the state government. There was tors militating against Tinapa and its dream. no policy and Tinapa was never gazetted. You What message do you have for the Federal Govcall it free trade zone, but customs are there, ernment? which is why we keep having this back and The message is simple. The Federal Governforth argument. If you buy something at ment should help Tinapa to work by doing Tinapa now, customs are waiting for you at the what they need to do. For Tinapa to work the gate. Is that the same thing in Dubai? Calabar River must be dredged for ships to

ITA: A Number Of Factors Didn’t Work In Tinapa’s Favour berth; the highways linking the South-East, South-South, North-East and North Central states have to be fixed and there should be proper regulatory policy for Tinapa. Then the issue of customs has to be addressed. These are the issues working against Tinapa and none of them are in the hands of the state government. Notwithstanding, the state government has come to the rescue by retailing some of the facilities. For instance, the state government has given out one of those emporiums to General Electric (GE) to commence their training school which will commence in the next one or two months. All of that is to just get Tinapa working. We also have the Tinapa Knowledge City, the Ebony Live, which has employed over 100 people. Even the Summit Hills is to make Tinapa work. Apart from Abuja and Lagos, Calabar is the next destination for conferences in Nigeria.

We are building a multi-purpose conference centre and this thing is being marketed all over the world. It will be ready in December and opened for business next February. So right now, Summit Hills is being marketed as a world travel event all over the world and bookings are coming from all over the world. When people are coming, they will naturally go to Tinapa because the monorail is being constructed to link the Summit Hills and Tinapa. Already piling work on the monorail has started and will be completed in about 10 to 12 months. So all these are the additions to make Tinapa and Calabar work generally. Where is the place of the local investors in all these? The biggest problem we have is actually that our people’s approach to opportunities being developed here is poor. These things are throwing up opportunities, direct and indirect jobs and lots of money is coming in because lots of events are holding in Calabar that are not government related and our people need to key in. Even the hoteliers are making a kill and our people need to seize these opportunities and tap into them and not waiting for government to share money. The government is creating an enabling environment for them to take advantage. Whilmer company alone is currently employing about 2, 000 workers and it is estimated that in the next five years, Whilmer alone will provide employment to at least 30,000 people. The population of Cross River is about three million and one company alone is providing jobs to about 30,000, while the state government’s entire civil service is about 19,000. So these investments are throwing up job opportunities. It is just for our people to wake up and take advantage because it is going to be competitive. That is one of the reasons why the state government has built the Institute of Technology (ITM) and management in Ugep to provide skilled manpower for the state and the nation. All these will complement Tinapa and make Tinapa work. On its part, the state has done all it can to make Tinapa work but the Federal Government should also do its part and that is why the idea of AMCON coming in makes sense.

The Federal Government should help Tinapa to work by doing what they need to do. For Tinapa to work the Calabar River must be dredged for ships to berth; the highways linking the South-East, South-South, North-East and North Central states have to be fixed and there should be proper regulatory policy for Tinapa. Then the issue of customs has to be addressed. These are the issues working against Tinapa and none of them are in the hands of the state government

There Are Great Potentials If Stakeholder Do The Right Thing — Umeh CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 able price. When you look at the price between the manufacturers’ cost and the cost in Nigeria, sometimes you see 100 per cent difference. The difference is actually high. That means the cost difference is the logistics of bringing goods. But in Tinapa, you pay for the goods, it hits the ports, you take it into Tinapa, you offload and sell it duty free. It means identifying the cost difference is a problem of logistics and the cost of moving it from the point of manufacturing to the last point. Inflation that you see, a price is N300 today and tomorrow it is N800, is actually the logistics cost because for the manufacturer, some of the things they give us at three dollars, today it is still about the same price a few years ago. Sometimes the price is the same for four years, so the cost difference is the challenge. But Tinapa would hit a reasonable cost. Things you buy in Tinapa today you could still come in the next two years and get it the same cost, maybe with a slight change. So it is a stabilizer on its own. What are my short, medium and long-term programmes? Now, short-term programme is trucking service. We currently truck our goods from Onne Port in Rivers State to Tinapa in Calabar. It has been difficult when you know the trucks are rickety; you have accidents on the bad roads, time wasted and other issues. If I could encourage the state government again, I would say, why don’t you just provide trucks as a short-term support, while they are pursuing the dredging of the Calabar

Port? The funny thing about the dredging of this Calabar Port is that in Dubai, in the main market, it is canoes that bring goods. It is not really the big vessels and Calabar Port can handle vessels that bring in three hundred containers. Why can’t we do three hundred containers then use canoes or boats to do the rest? Must we do 1,000 containers? You must have taken a lot of risk operating here? We have been here for over three years. Yes we have taken all kinds of risks. We have spent money. We have taken the time to look at the situation. It looks easy now, but it was not that easy when we first started. We have had our own ups and downs. We have had our own massive importations and heavy losses on our own side that has run into millions, but we also are willing to share these ideas. Government took the initiative to give it a duty free status. We have been there knowing there must be an answer. A place that has this kind of law, that is located in such a secure area as Calabar, what could be the problem? You bring in your first goods, you learn. Trade in Nigeria is not like trade in any other parts of the world. You need to work with the traders here. You learn from the traders what make Nigerians to be with them, and then improve. Tinapa was commissioned in 2007, but it took two years before the law was signed. So after those two years, knowing businessmen and the risk, they don’t want to move to an uncertain ground. Everybody feels it is dead and nobody wants to come in and

try. They are looking at the negatives and not the positives. But on that positive side is the law. No matter what you do, it is not same when you have been given the legal instrument. Tinapa has the potential, but again one tree does not make a forest and we are in a hurry to bring in people and say why don’t you come in and have a synergy with us. There are ideas that you have that we may not have. There are ones that we have that you may not have. Also, I have been using some agencies to do the clearing of some goods into Nigeria. We took the bold step to do the investments, the logistics, the training. We know that we have the manufacturers, the logistics, but what of the market. If a person has not tasted an item, no matter how you describe it he would not understand. So we say without any risk on your own part, we guarantee whatever loss you think you may incur. Before the end of this year, Tinapa would be in new shape. We have test run with some consignments and we have 500 to 1000 people struggling to enter the gate. We believe that we have positioned to deliver what Tinapa is actually set up to achieve. Tinapa would create that other complementary roles that is the vision and it is the intention of the government to see the business booming, the skyscrapers coming up, a civil service economy coming to the forefront in terms of commerce and so on. I see Tinapa merging with tourism to create the necessary benefits it is meant to achieve. The coming of AMCON is a good development and we look forward working with them.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPECIAL REPORT

Tinapa Studio where EbonyLife TV’s oﬃce is located

By Gregory Austin Nwakunor HE crisp Thursday evening air whipped through the open plains when the flight conveying guests to Carnival Calabar touched down at Margaret Ekpo International Airport. The air hugged tight to everybody’s skin as the revving engine wound to a stop. The vehicle conveying guests to the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort drove through the six-kilometre, dual carriage, bypass in a slow, steady manner to give visitors proper view of what the city looked like in December. The city was already winding down when the vehicle got to the Destination Cross River roundabout. In fact, a sprinkle of lovers could be seen cuddling to stay warm, as the cool evening breeze blew across. Though the sun rises early in Calabar, and often, the weather is unpredictable, don’t expect to see grey skies or thin smog hang in the air, as industrial pollution has not become a common staple here: the land is still green, and the sky, crystal clear. The city is plain, clean and devoid of the hustle and bustle of commercial Lagos and Port Harcourt. Though not austere, there are lots of economic activities going on in the state with the recent private sector involvement. In the last decade and a half, Cross River has moved from being a laid back state to something between a global player in tourism and national ‘entrepot’. Under Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke, the architects of Destination Cross River, the state has become a magnet for tourists, especially its rain forest, waterfalls, rare gorillas, Obudu terrain, and many others. Cross River State has grown ceaselessly on the back of a ‘revolution’ to make it close to the heart of Nigeria’s tourism. This sector, in fact, has received a huge boon. And the state continues to suck in information and content, whether historical or monumental. Imoke, however, is credited with improving basic services, tourism, information technology and the agricultural sector — ancillaries to good tourism development. His tourism initiative has resulted in the state being the number one holiday destination in Nigeria. It is, thus, interesting to note that Destination Cross River is not a metaphor or rhetoric, but a confirmation of the tourism potential of the state. But everything goes to the foundation laid by Duke. His 55 billion Naira Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort is a wonderful facility with its own magic.

on 265 hectares of land in Calabar, BUILT Cross River State, taking a trip round the

...Leisure Holds Future resort will leave you with unforgettable experience. The Waterparks, water slide, which is the largest in Africa, shopping malls, gigantic Tinapa studio currently being occupied by Ebonylife TV and Tinapa Lakeside Hotels with 242 rooms, 183 standard rooms, 27 executive rooms and 39 suites are spectacles to behold. You get inspired as you take a boat ride on the lake from the Marina of Calabar River to Tinapa. The cool breeze from the river will not only rejuvenate your senses, but also ensure that you enjoy the best of nature. Tinapa is more than just a perfect holiday destination as it’s currently bursting with once-in-alifetime experience that offers natural highs. There is usually an evening of fun every Friday, which has become a new sensation in Cross River State. Every Friday, everyone in Calabar wishes to be in Tinapa between 5pm to 11 pm. That is when the facility showcases the traditional Calabar delicacies and palm wine. In the minds of its creators, the resort will rival Dubai or London as a shopping and trading paradise for rich and enterprising Nigerians. Duke’s assumed assumed that people who go to places like Dubai do so because they want to have fun, and at the same time, go for shopping. In conceiving the project, the government, therefore, envisaged that Tinapa would succeed because there was pent-up demand for it, from affluent Nigerians, who travel to Europe, the United States and United Arab Emirate on shopping holidays. The target customers, it was reasoned don’t watch Nigerian television, but permanently on DSTv. The government’s dream was for people to associate Tinapa in their minds with what they see in Dubai or Paris. The government argued that most Nigerians, who go abroad, for instance, are not going to the historical places, but most times go for shopping. To this end, the state came up with the idea of promoting an enterprise that also promotes shopping. The tourists that come can do their shopping. The other key target group for Tinapa was Nigerian traders who take frequent flights to Dubai, India or China to buy goods, which they bring back as luggage and sell at home. UT all these seemed to have become ecoB nomic façade, as the huge investment in facilities have not been realised. The place is now a shadow of what it was at birth. There is lack of

patronage, even among Calabar that could make it rival Dubai in terms of eco-tourism attraction. The number of guests in the resort this Carnival period showed a great decline. A social commentator noted that Tinapa might have being a beautiful spectacle from the hitherto lush rubber plantation of 250 hectares of rubber trees and sloppy terrain in 2004, but a huge question mark surrounds its sustainability. Tinapa Lakeside Hotel is the only hotel in Cross River State that is not connected to national grid. The facility is independently powered and this is taking a good number of its revenue. And that is why it has gone out of the box to increase the volume of business that can cater for this energy cost without being driven out of business. The only place that still enjoys modicum of activities is Tinapa Studio. In 2009, the now defunct pay TV company, HiTV, signed a deal with the Cross River State government to takeover the world class studios. In the deal described by Toyin Subair, CEO of the company, as a ‘milestone’ in the history of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, HiTV will explore the state-of-the-art studios in a way that will be mutually beneficial not only to the parties involved, but also to the people of Cross River, Nigerians and Africans at large. Subair said, “Nigerians should brace up because this is the dawn of a new era in Nigerian entertainment industry as Tinapa Studios is poised to bring back the lost glory in the production arm of our industry.” According to him, complaints about the quality of production in the country’s movies and music will be a thing of the past when the studios finally open for business. Production quality, he said would be world-class. Before HiTV settled down fully to the terms of the deal, the company closed shops leaving the facility to lay waste as there were no Nigerian filmmakers ready to take advantage of the place. The Guardian gathered that it has not been easy making film in the studio because it is very expensive to do so. Apart from the exorbitant cost of making use of the facility, the hotel is also very expensive, which makes the place unattractive. It costs between N25,000 without meal and N45,000 for a room in Tinapa Lakeside Hotel. When you include

meal, it will go higher. The place is also not accessible, as it is in the outskirt of the town. You have to spend more on transportation to get there. At a forum organisesd in 2012 to sensitise filmmakers on the need to use the facility of Tinapa, it was discovered that it even cost more to shoot films there. Most marketers don’t have that kind of money that are required. Thus, to make a film in the studio, you’ll need N1 million everyday. You can imagine what it will cost at the end of the day. Since the place was opened for use, only two films, Half of a Yellow Sun and The Streets of Calabar, have been shot there. And, no doubts, there was serious involvement of the state in those projects. Though many filmmakers would have loved to do their films there, they can’t considering that it takes away distractions they face having to rent equipment and shoot outside that is also subject to the vagaries of the weather. However, through a Joint Venture (JV) Agreement with the Cross River State government, EbonyLife TV became the concessionaire of the studio, which is Africa’s first and only state-ofthe-art and purpose-built film studio, in 2012. The studio is expected to provide first class production and post-production services for all the channel’s content, and from where the channel will deliver on its promise of delivering a fresh new energy and perspective to audiences across the globe. Some of the quality programmes that have been shot at the Ebony Life TV studio include The Sistaz, a reality show about fashion, modelling and entertainment seen through the eyes of three gorgeous women, whose sisterhood sustains them through the challenges of life as well as The Fattening Room, a show about four beautiful young women from different parts of Africa, who embark on a journey of self- discovery in Calabar. These feisty modern women are molded into ideal partners and are taught the secrets to finding and keeping love. However, turning Tinapa around is a collective responsibility. The Federal Government has a role to play in encouraging Nigerians to patronise a world-class studio in the heart of Nigeria because rebranding starts with Nigerians buying Nigerian goods and services. Nigerians currently go to South Africa to shoot documentaries, commercials, movies and music videos. It was envisaged that would stop soon because, whatever degree of quality they are looking for elsewhere could be found at Tinapa Studios.

TheGuardian

Sunday, May 11, 2014 29

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Junior Guardian Cambridge College Holds Valedictory Ceremony HE Director of CamT bridge College, Wale Odunlami has advised the graduating students of the College to keep to the standard they have learnt from the college no matter the institution they find themselves in future. Speaking recently at the valedictory ceremony, held in Lagos, the director said that one of the greatest legacies parents could give to their children is quality education. He noted that there are a lot of students, who have graduated from the college and are doing very well in their various fields. Odunlami also commended parents, who have chosen Cambridge College. He promised that the school would continue to maintain its quality and keep to the standards at all times. In his message, the guest speaker, Pastor Bukola Ayeni admonished the students to let the fear of God be their watchword in all

they do. “Graduands should build self-confidence and trust God in whatever career they choose in life.” A parent at the event said he chose the college based on the quality for which it is known. “Before your children gained admission into the university, it is always good to let them enroll for Alevel in order to prepare them well. I passed through it and I know what it means. I always let my children pass through A-level before going to the university for them to be well grounded,” he says. Ihejerika Chinedum, the overall best students for the 2014 academic session said the school has high standards in terms of academics and they were taught the fact that it is only hard work that can get anyone to places.” — Gbenga Akinfenwa Cambridge students at the event

SOLUTIONS TO BRAIN TEASER (3) CONVERSE PROMISE

THREAT CONTINUE

CENTURY PROCEDURE

Paper Qualification/Natural Gifts (1) RESTORE SERIOUS

DISCOVERED from personal exIbrilliant perience with students that the ones always prefer to go

neers that are sitting in offices and banks and who don’t even like ing for admission into the univerworking with machines. Have sity. I would advise you consult the medical doctors and nurses that into the science class, while the current JAMB brochure to be sure are so harsh and rude ever atnot so brilliant conclude that Art of the paper requirement for entry tended to you? What is the proband commercial classes are the into desired course. A lot of stulem? They don’t have natural gifts best places for them. dents are frustrated because they for what they are doing. I hope you The above assumption is, however, not true. One of the most im- didn’t study a course that involved know that some people studied their best subjects. medicine just for the prestige and portant things to consider, when honour. choosing a career, is your best sub- Even as a science student, studying medicine can be frustrating if Let’s look at some natural qualifijects. This should be the guide, cations that go with some courses. when going to Art, Commercial or you are not very good in Biology. The same is true for someone with- Accountancy: Some of the natural Science class. out a flair for Physics and yet wants qualifications required to be a Those that just finished the to be an engineer. good accountant are carefulness, School Certificate exams and are Apart from paper qualification, ability to deal with figures and inabout entering the University, natural gifts and talents are very es- terpret them intelligently, honesty, your paper qualification (SSCE) open mindedness and an inquisishould be the guide, when apply- sential. I know of so many engi-

RIDDLES • I am something school children love most, what am I? • Papa Dafe has three children. Their names are Lola and Tayo, what is the name of the third child? • I am a room people cannot enter, what am I? • I am a table you cannot use, what am I? • I am an object. If I want to die, I do so on my mother’s back, what am I?

Clamber a) climb b) scramble c) scale d) mount Parley a) conference b) meeting c) confab d) discussion Wallop a) blow b) thump c) bash d) smack

Collate a) order b) organise c) gather d) assemble

Greenspring Students Want Pornography, Nudity Regulated moralities, especially pornography addiction and indecent dressing among teenagers in the country. This call came from speakers during Greenspring College’s Season 5 annual talent hunt competition, tagged “P.C’s Got Talent” held recently at its Lekki boarding campus. Delivering a speech on the theme, Depicting Talent in Service, a youth ambassador and guest speaker, Richard Bynoe, who defined talent as proficiency in doing certain things, explained that the positive or negative utilisation of endowment is what distinguishes a good person from a bad one. “It’s obvious people of our generation are a bundle of talents and skills. And no

Wane a) diminish b) decline c) fade d) decrease

Fret a) worry b) fuss c) vex d) agonise

By Abdulhakim K. Haliru Garki-Abuja

doubt, a competition such as this helps us discover more of these gifts and even sharpen them for positive usage. However, I’m very worried that some of us are using our talents negatively, thereby unfortunately eroding the cultural values of others. “For instance, consider the spread of immoralities among teenagers today: pornography, indecent dressing and many other unthinkable atrocities being committed by a supposedly innocent class of people. I find it hard to believe that a musician can proudly sing about smoking weed and Indian hemp. Through this song, many teenagers that have listened to it may have consciously or unconsciously taken to smoking weeds. So, there is need for government through existing regulatory agency, to regulate these absurdities,” Bynoe said.

WORD POWER GAME Coax a) cajole b) charm c) persuade d) entice

Frugal a) prudent b) thrifty c) sparing d) careful

Answers • Success • Dafe • Mushroom • Vegetable • Matches

OVERNMENTS at all levels have been G urged to adopt a more aggressive approach against the alarming spread of im-

ISSUES

The programme, which had the revered Nigerian artiste, Joke Silva as the chief judge, an experienced music teacher, Antoni Nowakowski and a dance instructor, Lawrence Igho as members, paraded five contestants at the grand finale. They are Ifeoluwa Dayo Alao, Anita Udoh, Charles Bassey, Daniel Kure and Damilola Adesina. The contest featured three stages of talent exhibition namely musical performance, articulation (exhibition of participant’s intellectual capacity through loud soliloquising) and presentation of rhythmic monologue. At the end of the day, Adesina was declared the overall winner, beating speculated favourite winner, Anita Udoh to second position on technicality, originalCOMPILED BY KIKELOLA OYEBOLA

Risk a) danger b) jeopardy c) peril d) menace Haughty a) conceited b) proud c) arrogant d) puffed-up Coerced a) forced b) pressed c) compelled d) bullied Wispy a) thin b) light c) delicate d) fine

POEM Send Me A Gift

Send me a gift Round like a full moon Square like a cube Thin like a needle Sour like vinegar Send me a gift Sweet as honey Tall as a tale Bold as a bull Happy as a harp Wise as a sage Send me a gift Send me a gift

By Esther Adunola Lawal, Ibadan

30 Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 11, 2014 |31

IBRUCENTRE

Sunday School The Second Coming Of Christ

... With Pastor Enoch Adeboye

Memory Verse: “.. Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Why? heaven? … Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so He is coming again to: come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” Acts 1:11. • Complete the salvation of saints, Heb. 9:28. • Be glorified in His saints, 2 Thess.1: 10. Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; 5:6. • Reveal the hidden things of darkness, 1 Cor. 4:5. • Judge, 2 Tim. 4:1. Introduction • Reign, Rev. 11:15. Acts 1:10-11. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ was real, visible • Receive us, Jn.14: 3. and with power. His two-part return will be no different. • Destroy death, 1 Cor.15: 25-26. • The Hidden, 1 Thess.4: 15-17— when the Lord comes for His saints How? and we meet Him in the air. • In the clouds, Matt. 24:30. • The Open, Rev.1: 7 — when the Lord comes with His saints to set • In the glory of His Father, Matt.16: 27. up the millennium reign 1 Thess.3: 13. Only God knows when - Matt. • In His own glory, Matt.25: 31. 24:36. • In flaming fire, 2 Thess.1: 8. Prophecies Of His Second Coming • With power and great glory, Matt.24: 30. His second coming was foretold: • Bodily, as He ascended, Acts. 1:9-11. By the prophets, Dan. 7:13. • With a shout and voice of the archangel, 1 Thess. 4:16. By Jesus Himself, Matt. 25:31. • With His saints, 1 Thess.3: 13. By Paul, 1 Tim.6: 14. • Accompanied by angels, Matt.16: 27. By angels, Acts 1:10-11.

Be Strong And Courageous By S. K. Abiara

OLDNESS, confidence, B bravery, courage and fearlessness are synonyms. What it means is to have inner strength firmness, when everything is working contrary to your belief and vision. It is also a strong determination to stick to an undertaking. It is the same thing at work, when couple facing marital crisis refuses to give up and decline the breaking of their vows. Boldness in the Lord and His words is a thing of the heart. A man in shipping business once said, “you need a heart of steel to succeed in the business.” I must confess here, every human being needs same heart to succeed in life. After the death of Moses, the servant of God, the burden of leading God’s people fell on Joshua. God knew it was going to be a great task and if Joshua must succeed, he needed strength and courage. “Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to

obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Jos.1: 6-9. Life is not fair to anybody, but note that successful people only live by faith and you cannot use faith in any circumstance without some measure of confidence. The truth is there are no life, profession, family, country, church, mosque, nation, company, business, association and society without their peculiar challenges. The knowledge of this should help keep your head above the waters, when faced with contrary situation. “Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort. Because you have the knowledge that the testing of your faith gives you the power of going on in hope; But let this power have its full effect, so that you may be made complete, needing nothing.” James 1: 2-4. You must also know that whatever confronts you in life per time is what you can handle. That is what the Bible says; God is all knowing. He knows He has endowed you with the ability to overcome. So, do not fret in the face of difficulty. When

you refuse to give up, courage takes charge. You will be surprised at your boldness. “You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but He will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.”1 Corinthians 10:13. Prophet Abiara, General Evangelist, CAC Worldwide. skabiaraofciem@yahoo.co.uk

The Responsibility Of Fatherhood

close attention to what their children are watching on TV now. There are a lot of adult programmes masquerading as children’s programme. These so-called children’s programmes do not espouse any values that can help our children grow into respectable members of the society in the future. “Unless proactive measures are taken to establish moral truths and life lessons through captivating, Biblebased movies, there may not be a remedy for small children’s mind getting negatively affected because of corrupt movies.

man is made up of spirit, soul and body. We are not here by accident. An all-powerful God, Who wishes that we partook of His divinity and creativity, created us into this earth. But how can we partake of His divine will? How do we understand His divine will for us in the first instance? Like the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us in its first chapter, sub-section 27: ‘...The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to Himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for...’ Part of man’s purpose on earth is to be productive. To be productive, he needs to work. Scientists have since proven that the day a man stops to be productive, he begins to die slowly. Our God does not like idleness. We are told that He worked for six days and rested on the seventh day. And since we are made in His image, laziness should be a foreign concept in our dictionary Real fathers shun extra-marital affairs. How many of us here seated can claim that they do not have lady friends, I mean lovers outside? Check yourself. Be true to yourself. Sometimes you may have been tempted to do so. Your spirit does not want to, but

your flesh keeps drawing you to it. Good fathers must be faithful. They also must have unshakable faith in God. St Joseph is a good example of who an ideal father should be. He was a committed and faithful husband and that was why the angel of the Lord visited him severally with divine vision. Because he was spiritual, he was able to understand the enormous task given to Mother Mary and was always there to assist her all the way. Imagine if he had been a drunkard or an unfaithful spouse! To be a good father, you must pray for self-control, to live above board. You cannot be a good father if you continue to find comfort in the arms of strange women. For the people of the world, there is nothing wrong in adultery. It is the vogue, especially among celebrities. But we are not of the world, though we live in the world. Our lord and Saviour have bought us at a price. (Cor. 7: 23) Adultery has been responsible for the fall of many men. Consider the lives of David, Solomon and Samson and all the battles they fought all because they could not control themselves. Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

are already tired of the situation you find yourself. You have given up hope. Others are even tired of living. True! Some are now contemplating suicide. No, don’t! God is bringing back sweetness into your life. Yes, it will happen. The power behind this message will bring it to pass. He is the Almighty God, the power behind the creation. He that creates things out of nothing! He said that even if what you are asking for is not in existence, He would create it. True! No sickness is incurable before Him. No situation is without solution. He does not have the word impossibility

in His dictionary. He is saying that you are healed now. He is saying that He has sorted you out now. He is saying that that delayed blessing, breakthrough, and promotion have come now. Look at it. Receive it in Jesus’ name! Every protocol holding you back has been broken! Look at that man, everything was tightly against him, but God of possibilities stepped in and changed the situation. Jesus will always make the difference. He will overrule all those reports against you. I always see Him doing this and He will do it for you. Within minutes this man’s 38 years of

sorrow, pain, unfavourable report, lack and loss of opportunities, hopelessness and helplessness were turned into jubilation. I repeat, I am hearing the sound of the praise that will flow from you this year, as those things holding you back give way. Listen, “…Jesus told him, Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!’ Instantly, the man was healed...’ John 5:1-11 He rolled up the mat and began to walk! I command you to rise now! Stand up! Till next week, God bless! Rev. Agbo is a minister with the Assemblies of God Nigeria. gabrielagbo@yahoo.com

By Gabriel Osu ‘Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.’ (Gen 1, 7) T is a generally accepted view that the father is the head of the family. This is in line with the biblical story of creation, which refers to Adam as the first human created by God. In the first instance, it is already an established fact that man was created in God’s image and likeness, and that

Director Warns Against Children Viewing Corrupt Movies From John Okeke, Abuja HE Regional Director, Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN Africa), Anglophone West Africa, Dr. Felix Oisamoje, has urged parents to prevent their children from watching corrupt movies, which are capable of influencing their lives negatively. Oisamoje, who spoke in Abuja at the launch of the new SuperBook, an animated children’s TV series, said that many television programmes watched by children today do not inculcate moral values in their lives. Said he: “Parents must pay

• Suddenly, Mk.13: 36. At the rapture, we will meet Him in the air, 1 Thess.4: 17. At the revelation, we will descend with Him to the earth. The Signs 2 Timothy 3:1-7 lists 23 signs of His second coming. Matthew 24:5-7, 12-38 lists 10 signs, which are: • False Christs. • Wars and rumours of war. • Famines. • Pestilences. • Earthquakes. • Iniquity to abound. • Love of many would wax cold. • Gluttony. • Revelry • Merrymaking. Matthew 24:6. The gospel would have been preached everywhere. Conclusion His second coming is sure and certain - 2 Pet.3: 3-12. Expect Him at any time - 1 Thess. 3: 12-13. Even today.

Breaking Protocol (2) By Gabriel Agbo ES, God can suspend any law, any process or procedure just to bless His own or fulfill His ultimate purpose. Like the Americans will always boast that they are the makers and breakers of secret codes. God, Jehovah, the God of Israel is the maker and keeper of all natural and spiritual laws and He can suspend any of them at will. I am saying that He will set aside the usual to give us the unusual this year. And I am already hearing the sound of praise for what He is doing in the spirit. Listen, God said that He has blessed us. And

when He talks like this, nothing, I mean nothing can stop Him. I heard Him clearly on this. Begin now to rejoice for it is our year of breaking through the protocol. Praise God! Look at what happened at the Pool of Bethesda in John chapter five. The sick man lying there had almost everything against him before Jesus stepped into the situation. Listen, he was sick. He had an infirmity. That is, he had lost his limbs. He was disabled. And he had stayed in that terrible, hopeless condition for 38 years. He had nobody to help him in any way.

Other sick people – the blind, lame and paralysed, surrounded him. He was close to the house of mercy (Bethesda) without receiving mercy, blessing, help, healing or miracles. He had given up hope, resigned to fate and definitely waiting for death, and it was on a Sabbath day. Everything, I mean, everything was against him. Everything was negative. My God! But Jesus, I said but Jesus the Master of all situations suddenly showed up. God will show up for you this time in the mighty name of Jesus! Yes, He will! There are some of you who

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IBRUCENTRE Springs Of Wisdom Living Waters Stand Your Faith On God’s Power By Pastor Lazarus Muoka ELOVED, it is necessary at B this trying time that we get good understanding of what the Almighty God is capable of doing, for this knowledge will strengthen our faith and relationship with Him and reassure us that in the midst of this dangerous situation, He is able to deliver us. He did it in the Bible days, when He delivered His people in Egypt. Then, when it looked like the oppression being suffered by children of Israel in the hand of Egyptian taskmasters, would no longer come to an end, God intervened through Moses and delivered them. On their journey to the Promised Land, in the wilderness, where there was no water and food and they were vulnerable to wild beasts attacks, when it seemed there was no hope of survival making them

to demand to be returned to Egypt, God intervened as a good shepherd and delivered them. On their arrival at the Promised Land, their hostile neighbours gave them no rest and became a thorn on their flesh, and when it looked like they were about to be overpowered, God, through different Judges cum military leaders, delivered them. Beloved, God who has glorified His own name in the time past will glorify it yet again, and comfort us. With our faith standing upon the power of God Almighty, we should not fear the present situation, but be assured that very soon, the finger of God shall appear for us and the Egyptian we see today, shall be no more in Jesus name. Ps 24:1 says: “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein 2 For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” We should know that our God is the Creator and Governor of the world. The world is

His property. Men may claim districts and kingdoms of it, but God is the Lord of the heaven and earth. HE spoke, and it was done, HE commanded, and it stood fast. And all these He did to prove to the world that He is all-powerful. Having known what God can do and His ability to deliver us, we should be provoked to repose absolute confidence in Him to deliver us even in this dangerous time. We must let the world know that our faith is not resting on human, but on Christ the Solid Rock, on divine power. 1 Cor. 2:5 says: “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”. If our faith to be saved from any force is deeply hinged upon the power of God, the public enemies of Christ’s kingdom and their threatening insults shall not dam our understanding to know that God is our refuge, for we have found Him so and ever will He be. We should learn from our biblical fathers who conquered nations, overcame

challenges, and were delivered by the mighty Hand of God because they placed their faith upon His power, that such disposition removes mountain. Psalm 46: 2-3 says, “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” Those that have chosen God as their portion, and put their trust in Him, should have cause to believe that their faith in His power will never be in vain. That the wicked are everywhere perpetrating crime and instilling fear in us does not mean that our God is too weak to deliver us. Amidst the persecutions of the church, the reign of heresy, the ruin of families, and whatever may be trying the faith of believers, we should remain steadfast.

Christian Families Tasked On Proper Parenting By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku HE importance of family T and its role in helping achieve a morally sound society through the early inculcation of fear of God and obedience to His commandments by children has been reechoed. Also, Christians has been called upon to eschew segregation and discrimination among themselves, which stems from age-long traditional beliefs about people designated as one thing or the other in their villages, as in the case of Osu Cast System in the eastern part of the country. This was made known at a Family Congress held by Holy

Family Catholic Church, Festac Town, titled: “Family as a Domestic Church,” the guest speaker, Rev. Fr. Julius Akinyode, said that parents are the first custodians of faith and morals of their children and as such, hold the ace to what children turn out to be and the impact they will make in the society, as adults. “In the Catholic church, we believe that without the family, there cannot be the church. And what does the church teach? It teaches us to know God, to love and serve Him. Even though the church teaches it, the journey begins with the family because both parents are the first custodians of faith and morals that the child encounters after

birth. So, if a child is going to grow up to know and serve God, to impact the society and the church positively, then, the family must exert some effort to make the child develop in a positive and useful manner, to himself and then to the church and the society.” It will be recalled that on February 27, 2014, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins declared this year, the year of the family. Akinyode said that the intention of the Archbishop in doing this is to celebrate the beauty of the family life, to celebrate the family as a special grace to the human race

stating that without the family, one cannot talk about the society because the society is definitely going to suffer. Speaking on the Osu Cast System, the speaker, Mr. Kenneth Chino noted that anybody who calls himself a Christian and still sees or calls his fellow Christian, Osu is not worthy to be associated with Christ. According to him, someone is declared an Osu if he/she comes in contact with an Osu, spills his/her blood or associates with him/her. Going by this, he said almost everybody has somehow come in contact with an Osu and by virtue of this, has become one.

come to pass. The only way He will change His mind concerning our situation is when we make a positive change in our lives. Because each one of us has an appointment with God that we cannot avoid, we need to be prepared to meet with Him. What does it mean to prepare? It means to rehearse ahead of time or to train for a specific task or mission; it means to set a foundation for that which you want to achieve. You need to examine your life and determine what kind of foundation it is that you have now and the changes that you need to make to it to ensure that your life becomes better tomorrow. For example, if your foundation is full of lies and deceit, you must destroy that faulty foundation and make a foundation of holiness immediately. To prepare also means to equip, furnish or make suitable; to be prepared to meet God means that you must be suitable to appear before

Him. To prepare also means to arm with necessary weapons of spiritual warfare, such as prayer, vigils and fasting. Preparation is a very serious matter. God Himself is a God of preparation and so we must be prepared to meet with Him. When a lot of Christians come to church, they are prepared to meet all sorts of people, but are not prepared to meet God. You can tell this by the way they come to church, how they look, how they sing, sit and pray. It is sad that the majority of people, who go to church on Sunday, go not because they are looking for God, but because they are looking for something else.

Spiritual Revival (5) By Seyi Ogunorunyinka ll of us have an appointA ment to keep with God and no one can escape it. It cannot be rescheduled or postponed. It has nothing to do with age, wealth, money or health. This appointment is the day we die and when it is time, no one can change it. Nobody knows when his/her time will come but it will surely come. Amos 4:11-12 states, “I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; yet you have not returned to Me,” says the Lord. “Therefore, thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” Some of the problems we may be going through in life may be because God has overthrown us, as individuals, and as a nation. We were once burning hot for the Lord like fire but then we began to focus on the less

important things. God overthrew us from our previous positions yet we refused to return to Him. So, as per this Bible passage, He will take us away to face our judgement. Jeremiah 18:5-10 summarises what the Lord is saying to us. It states, “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” The Lord is able to bring us down from our lofty heights in an instant and once He makes up His mind concerning something then it must

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

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

Power Of Forgiveness In Prayer or pardon of sin, is the most essential, FeverORGIVENESS the most blessed, and the most difficult act that God did for man. It is the most essential, because it keeps us from eternal suffering in hell and gives us joy and fellowship with God in our present life. It is the most blessed because it secures for us a place in heaven. It is the most difficult because it cost God the very life of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. By His death, Jesus made forgiveness readily available to the repentant and earnest seeker. Forgiveness of sin is man’s deepest need and God’s greatest gift. And the Lord has promised that if the sinner confesses and forsakes his sins, and by faith in the sacrifice of Christ, trusts God for forgiveness, he will be pardoned and granted the privilege of sonship. Every sinner must learn to pray like the psalmist: “For Thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great”. Only those, who come to God knowing their debts are so great that they cannot pay, relying solely on the mercy of God and the merits of Christ, will receive forgiveness. With humility and sorrow of heart for sinning against God, such a sinner turns to God for mercy and pardon. In return and as gratitude for being forgiven, he willingly overlooks all wrongs done to him by other people. This singular act of forgiveness is so important, The Lord taught us to pray: “And forgive us our debts.” These debts are variously described as sins, transgressions and trespasses. Our sins are moral and spiritual debts to God. Sin makes men guilty before God and brings them under judgment. Sin is missing the mark of God’s required standard. It is transgression, stepping across the line drawn by God to demarcate what is right from what is wrong. Sin is lawlessness — the breaking of God’s law —and God will judge all acts of lawlessness. It is slipping, sliding or falling – losing control and falling into a degrading lifestyle. It is also a debt and except God graciously writes off the debts of sin we owe, no man can hope to pay it off from birth. This then underscores the need for us to pray: “Forgive us our debts; forgive us our sins.” It is a plea for personal forgiveness. There are occasions, when believers can pray: “Forgive us our sins.” This could be when pleading for national forgiveness, as Moses did when he pleaded: “O Lord, ... I pray Thee, ... pardon our iniquity and our sin.” Daniel too, identified with his nation and prayed in the same vein. Also, within the family circle, a child may ask the father’s forgiveness. Without personally committing sins that damn the soul, we can still pray: “Forgive us our debts,” especially as we speak on behalf of a group, such as family or nation. God’s word is full of His promises of mercy and forgiveness. Examples of great sinners such as David, Paul and the people of Nineveh receiving forgiveness should encourage every sinner to come forward and ask God for mercy, grace and forgiveness. The Lord promises pardon on condition of repentance from all wrongdoings. Man’s greatest spiritual need is forgiveness and that is what God has promised and provided. He has also promised the removal of the ultimate penalty for sin and victory over the power of past sins. Once forgiven, the believer ceases to come under condemnation and power of sin; he is no longer destined for hell. The eternal Judge declares him pardoned, justified and righteous. God becomes his heavenly Father and the Spirit of God bears witness in his heart that he is now a child of God. This experience of forgiveness and the joy of salvation fill his heart with love and gratitude to God. He is eager to extend love and mercy to all, who have any contact with him. Having received infinite mercy and great forgiveness, we ought to show gratitude to the Creator by forgiving everyone that wrongs us. From then on, forgiveness becomes a normal and natural disposition in our hearts. Such forgiveness is not meant to curry God’s favour, but the natural consequence of the joy we have for being forgiven by God. He, who will not show mercy and forgiveness to others, rejects mercy and forgiveness for himself. If a man comes before God, harbouring dark and vengeful thoughts, how can he expect God to show him the mercy he is unwilling to extend to others? A life without forgiveness is a life without love and Grace. It is a life without Christ. The divine plan is that those, who receive mercy from God, must bestow same to others.

References: Matthew 6:12,14,15; Psalm 25:11; Luke 18:13,14; Psalm 51:113; Isaiah 1:16-18; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Exodus 34:8,9; Daniel 9:4-19; Isaiah 55:6,7; Proverbs 28:13,14; Acts 5:30,31; 13:38,39; 26:18; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9; Hebrews 10:16,17; Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25,26; Luke 6:36,37; Ephesians 4:31,32; James 2:13; Galatians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:13-17; Luke 15:25-30. (All scriptures are from Kings James Version).

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IBRUCENTRE

You Will Triumph THE “For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH (Ephesians 2:8)… Without FAITH, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6)… All THINGS are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). RIEND, no matter the negFwards ative currents of life toyou, your faith in God will always be rewarded. Your definite act of trust, faith and reliance on God is consequential. Heaven re-

sponds to the cry and acts of faith. Faith in God will still triumph in the face of a million defeats. The woman with the issue of blood in the synoptic gospel (Mark 5:25-34) – who was losing blood everyday for 12 years came with her faith to touch JESUS – the Anointed One – the Messiah. The Law of Moses condemned her to isolation but her faith brought the grace of healing into her life. When circumstances or people condemn you, your faith in the Merciful and Gracious JESUS will make you whole in

your body, business or career. You will surely TRIUMPH today, TRUST in the LORD JESUS afresh. His irrevocable grace will make a way for you. PRAYER: FATHER GOD, I refuse to quit. I come to trust in You today. I believe in and rely on the LORD JESUS – the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. In the Mighty Name of JESUS, I receive a complete turnaround, healing and breakthrough right now. Email: bishoplanreobembe@yahoo.com Prayer Lines: 08128110565, 07033477441, 08023280877.

FAITH

GRACE

DIMENSION with

Bishop (Dr.) OLANREWAJU JOSEPH OBEMBE

‘I Called A Rally For People To Hear Me’ Rev. (Prof.) Paul Emeka is the embattled General Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church Nigeria. For the first time since the lingering crisis rocking the church started, he decided to speak on the issue. In this interview with LAWRENCE NJOKU, in Enugu, he tells the genesis among other issues. So many allegations bordering on corruption and high handedness have been leveled against you. Certain sections of your membership said these allegations are the source of the current crisis rocking the Assemblies of God Church. What is your take on this? HE problem started when we got licence to operate the Evangel University. The board of Trustees employed people and members of the church, but they began to mismanage and mis-run the university, making it too expensive for the church to continue with. They employed without consulting. By the law of the University, statutorily as the General Superintendent, I am the Chancellor and equally the Visitor. As the Proprietor, I was concerned that they were spending too much. We had 73 admitted students, but they went ahead and employed 135 workers. They brought N6m in their first salary schedule. We protested but had to pay. The second salary schedule went up to N9m and it never came down until it became N13m. They were employing and not consulting with us. They were meant to interview people and bring the list to us to vet and make recommendations but they did not. Each time we call them to give account, they said they were not accountable to the BOT or even the Executive Committee of the church, that they were only accountable to the governing council. There was a problem, as nobody was accountable to us. So, the Board of Trustees, in the process of adopting a pragmatic approach in running of the university, suspended them and then set up a panel to look into how the university was being run. But the suspended people ran to a body of Ambassadors of the Kingdom in the Assemblies of God Church and complained to them. This body is not meant to be an association; it has no place in our Constitution or organogram of the church. It was an award by my predecessor to recognise those that laboured for the church. But somehow, the Ambassadors came together and began to see themselves as a pressure group or political arm of the church. The suspended Vice Chancellor of the school, who is a member of the body, ran to them for help. They came to the Executive Council, our highest ruling organ, to see us and we asked them to wait that we will invite the BOT and explain everything to them. Few weeks later, they came up with a write up, which they addressed to the Presbyters (these are Pastors in Assemblies of God and are up to 2000 in number). They didn’t address it to the Executive Committee members, which is the highest decision making body of the church. This was where the trouble started. All of us had different approach towards solving it. What are the allegations and how do you react to them? They alleged many things against me. For instance, they talked about a house we bought in Germany. The allegation associated with the purchase of the Germany is very shapeless, as the story keeps increasing by the day. It was a calculated attempt to smear my image in the public. There was also an allegation concerning what we call the Assemblies of God Ministers Benefit Fund. Every month, the Pastors make contributions to the Fund. Whenever a Pastor retires, he is given what he contributed with interest and the balance remains with the church. They also alleged that I made a pledge to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) without consulting the Executive Council, and that my brother in-law was the one hiring equipment and being given N2m each time we are to do a programme and helping himself from that. The truth about these things is not far-fetched. My predecessor started the purchase of the project in Germany. The advance was N20m and was paid by the General Treasurer, who served under him. The church obtained a loan from GTBank and it was the responsibility of the General Treasurer and the Accountants there to repay the loan, which they did until the money was completed. They have copies of the cheques with which the payments were made and the receipts were given to

Pastor in 16 years, is only N123m. N300m and more was spent on administering the office. The purpose of that scheme was not to run office or such things but to help our Pastors after retirement. But many of them are suffering and our conscience is free leaving them in that state, while we pay lip service to our holiness. I said such is not good. Ironically, however, it is the people guilty of this misdemeanour that turned round to say that Paul Emeka is a thief. They are louder, as they have a very large network of information spread. I wouldn’t speak as they do because I am a preacher and wouldn’t want to speak against anybody. My predecessor, Rev. Charles Osueke chaired the forum, where I was declared suspended, even though he was not supposed to. Suspension in the Assemblies of God Church means you are to take the back seat, nobody shakes hand with you, and you cannot be General Superintendent or Pastor or even preach until they deem it fit to reinstate you. Thereafter, you serve a probationary period of one year before you can now be allowed to minister again. They made Rev. Chidi Okoroafor the acting General Superintendent. This is what has been rocking the church. Last Friday, people came from different parts of the country to denounce what the group did. They passed a vote of confidence in me and cancelled all that they did. It is true they did this, but we still need more to restore peace because there is no normalcy for now. Are there other hidden issues apart from what you have mentioned? There could be other remote issues, but even if one is sure, you won’t say things you cannot clearly defend. There were certain things that happened and they became obvious. I know that bias played a role and that some people do not want me to continue. The bias came in different shapes but I won’t mention Emeka names. I’ll stop at things that I can at least defend to an extent, but there are so many things that many other people also know about. ‘ I Am Not A Hard Man, If You Work With Me; Why did you call a rally recently? I Try To Make Provisions For People… ‘ It was for people to hear my side of the story because since it us. I didn’t have anything to do with the money. All this is con- happened, I haven’t done this. I have tried speaking to Rev. Osueke a couple of times to tell my story, but he wouldn’t allow it. tained in our Minutes. But when they were making their alleI felt that even if people brought up allegations against me, I gations, they didn’t behave as if all these things are in the should be heard. That was the first time the General Committee minutes; they spoke as if I woke up one day and carried the money to buy a property in Germany. The Pastors Benefit Fund sat on the matter and even if I didn’t go, they should have re-invited me to ensure they listen to me but nobody cared. They started about 16 years ago. Each Pastor contributes automatinever gave me the chance to explain myself. The position I am cally to the fund from his salary and goes home with what he holding is not a small one. Suspending a General Overseer with contributed on retirement with interest. I discovered that a wave of the hand, without hearing from him is absurd. Again, each month, all Ministers of Assemblies of God Church conthere were so many illegalities, which followed what they did. tribute an average of N30m, but in a given month, the retired Ministers don’t take up to N6m and there was a board set up to Are some of those affected in the re-organisation members of ? use that money and invest. It was from there that we built our the Executive Committee? There are no permanent members in the General Committee, bank called AG Homes. This continued for many years until I became the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God. but we have statutory members. By virtue of my position, I am I proposed to the Executive Council that there should be sepa- a statutory member and by virtue of the position of the Youth Director, he is a statutory member. But for the others, it is when rate management for the funds and our bank; that it should no longer be one person managing the two and they agreed. I the Presbyter nominates an individual that he comes. The peralso suggested we should do something to enhance the living son nominated today may not be the same person nominated another day. But in that particular meeting, without being standards of retired Ministers since they don’t benefit from the investment their monthly contributions were used for and nominated, all these Ambassadors came and decided what should be done. . what the General Council pays as monthly pension is too What could lead to the suspension of a small. By the time the former board was handing over, they person in your position? had about N2.5billion and I said to the people it was possible We are four in number, I as the number one. Then there is my for us to use part of that amount to increase their pensions so deputy, the General Secretary and the Treasurer. We meet althat they don’t suffer. The members accepted and adopted it most on a daily basis to strategise on how to run the church. It unanimously. What is happening is that there is a group of is assumed that my position is number one and it is spelt out men in the church, whose interest in the finances of the clearly in the Constitution and by-laws of the church the things church became threatened and they felt I was the one spearthat could lead to the cessation of an officer from the office. heading it. But when I was making the re-organisation, it was These include death, insanity, if he is no longer living in this not my intention to step on anybody’s toe. I was only doing country, if convicted of a crime by a law court and if he is recwhat I felt would help the church move forward. To me, I ommended by the General Committee to be disciplined or redidn’t feel comfortable standing every day before the church moved from office. The same constitution said if the general to raise committee recommends that this person be disciplined that funds. Instead of church members listening to sermons, you way, it must be by two–third of the general committee. If they are telling them about money, whereas we have several ventures that could yield money to the church. Without worrying pass it, he is not removed until he comes to the General Council people, our offering and tithe should be enough. That was my in session, which comes up in November, when delegates from all over the nation will gather and one of the items in the aim. We had money. If N250m is properly invested, it will inagenda will be the recommendation by the General Commitcrease the church’s revenue. tee for removal. The two–third majority will say ‘yes’ we support As at last year, the Pastors fund generated N2.5 billion from what the general committee has done and that then is when the time the scheme started, and all that had been paid to the they have finally succeeded in removing someone.

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IBRUCENTRE By Ernest Onuoha HE Diocese of Nike is just seven years old T and last weekend, it held its second session of the 3 synod from May 1 to 4, 2014 at Saint rd

Andrew’s Anglican Church, Trans-Ekulu in Enugu State. The event was well attended from within and outside the state. The synod preacher was former Archbishop of Ibadan Province and the Bishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa. The theme was: ‘acid test of our Christian faith with emphasis on joy’, I Pet. 1v8-9. The word ‘acid’ is an indicator/proof in a chemical laboratory, but in the Biblical sense, it is used to show one’s unshakeable belief or faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Interestingly, highlights of the synod hinged on the presidential address or charge giving by the Bishop to his flock, partly as an account of stewardship for a period under review and at the same time his message to his flock and the wider society. The Lord Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Ibeagha used the occasion to give an account of his stewardship of many giant strides recorded within the period under review including construction of a new maternity home, refurbishing of some churches, progress work at the new cathedral and cash donations given to widows of pastors among

From The Rector Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor

Gleanings From The Synod Of The Diocese Of Nike others. He welcomed his brother Bishops, who found time to be with him in his synod. They include: Rt. Rev. Jwan Zhumbes, Rt. Rev. Prof. Anthony Nkwoka, Rt. Rev. Chijioke Aneke, Rt. Rev. Kenneth Ifemena, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Ugwu, Rt. Rev. Daniel Olayin, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma (Archbishop Elect), Rt. Rev. Sosthenes Eze, Rt. Rev. Christian Ebisike and Rt. Rev. Monday Nkwogu. The Bishop drew the attention of God’s people to the theme of the synod: ‘acid test of

Diocese Of Ughelli Holds Synod By Gabriel Kpagban HE Diocese of Ughelli AngliT can Communion held the second session of its 6 synod th

at the St. John’s Anglican Church Okpare–Olomu in Delta State with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and under the Chairmanship of the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Cyril O. Odutemu from April 26 to 30, 2014 with the theme: ‘The wind of strange doctrine in a multi-denominational society: A methodology for flock stealing,’ Eph. 4:14. The venue, Okpare–Olomu is unique because the church there has existed for over 100 years. So, delegates were of the outstanding evangelical labours of the early white missionaries, who came with the Gospel with fervent zeal, as

well as their great quest for church planting. Besides, Okpare-Olomu was a booming education and commerce centre, where the Europeans had early contact with their indigenous palm oil merchants. The synod was remarkable because of the highly inspirational and soul touching sermons preached by the guest speaker, Rt. Rev. Prof. Dapo Asaju, who is the Bishop theologian of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), as well as the Rector of the Anglican Crowther Graduate School in Abeokuta. He admonished all Christians, both the Clergy and Laity to wake up to the challenge of strange doctrines, which are being currently propagated in

Wife of the Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Mrs. Oluranti Ademowo presents a gift to the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, during the official opening of the Diocese of Lagos second session of the 32nd Synod in Lagos … on Monday, May 5.

modern day Christianity. In the same vein, Christians should reposition themselves to be able to uphold the truth as contained in scriptures. Since God has given the power to them, they should manifest same to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit, as they carry out the great commission in the demonstration power. The president of synod, Bishop Odutemu during his well researched and articulately presented address, called on all Anglicans to be wary of false prophets and teachers, who come in sheep clothing but are like ravaging wolves that tear Churches apart. He identified the quest for power, greed and materialism as the reasons for the frequent breakaways as seen in churches today. Christians should, therefore, be wise and hold on to the true teachings of the Holy Scriptures. While commending the President Jonathan for strides taken so far in his administration to move the nation forward, the Bishop drew his attention to the gradual alienation of prominent sons and daughters of Urhobo origin from mainstream political appointments, such as ministerial positions and the like. In a communiqué issued at the end of the synod, the diocese commended the Delta State governor, Dr. Eweta Uduaghan for his achievements in terms of infrastructural and human capital development, as these are important areas for improved quality life and economic productivity of the state.

Bishop Urges Forthrightness Among Conference Delegates From John Akubo, Lokoja HE Catholic Bishop of T Lokoja Diocese, Bishop Martins Dada Olorunmolu, has urged delegates at the ongoing national conference to be apt and forthright, when they debate on issues that border on religion. He also called on government to stop being partisan in religious matters. Rather, they should provide enabling environment for religious groups to carry out their activities in the true worship of G o d . The cleric frowned at government’s penchant for patronis-

ing some religious group at the expense of the others. “The national conference is a golden opportunity if only we are open and sincere. Knowing that God has been so merciful, as to keep us together for 100 years of the amalgamation. There were so many thorny issues that should have torn us apart, but we should use the conference to look at issues sincerely. “I think it is a question of give and take. No particular section of the country or group should think its own voice should always prevail. Not even the Christians or Muslims should do this.”

Olorunmolu said the groups should not expect government to favour a particular religion more than the others and think that things would augur well. “This is why the Catholic Bishops’ conference has a position paper, saying there is need for government to see how it can allow religious communities to be independent, while providing enabling environment and not direct intervention, which will eventually show favouritism. The clergy said there should be a limit to government’s patronage or involvement in issues of religion to avoid

our Christian faith’ and said, Peter wrote: ‘…in order to encourage his readers by reassuring them that they stand in the grace of God. Though tested and tried by the hostile environment in which they lived, they must remain confident that they were the royal priesthood of God (2:5, 9). Since they were the holy priesthood of God, they must maintain the virtues of Christian conduct in an environment that was hostile to their beliefs (I Peter 4:12-16). In general, the epistle is an exhortation to maintain Christian integrity in a time when the world of the Jews was changing’.

For the Christian not to lose his joy in modern times, the Bishop recommended that he should have: joy in believing, joy in hearing the word, joy in obeying the word and joy in abiding in Christ. Such joy is inexpressible, as the believer not minding the hostile environment, should believe God at all times. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Ven. Ernest Onuoha Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. www.ibrucentre.org

Leadership And The God Factor ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3) N March 30, 1863, against O the backdrop of a divisive and bloody war that set the United States of America on the brink of collapse, President Abraham Lincoln employed the most unusual strategy — he declared a national day of prayer and fasting. Mounting the rostrum he said: “…Let us then rest humbly in the hope authorised by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.” The American Civil War, which had dragged on for two years, came to a halt shortly thereafter and peace and progress returned to the nation. The year was 1940. This time around, it was not the United States, but Britain. And the moment was one of the darkest in the history of the British people. More than 300,000 troops found themselves pinned down in northern France with Nazi forces bearing down on them. The British soldiers had insufficient ammunition and supplies and, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from Hitler’s forces. Britain faced imminent an-

nihilation. Churchill, at his wits end, turned to God and requested King George the VI to call Britain to a National Day of Prayer. That Sunday, May 26th 1940, British people showed up at churches all over the country. There were queues to Westminster Abbey. The churches were full with men and women of different social strata: royalty, high profile politicians and the general populace. They prayed and begged for the Lord’s mercy on their fathers and sons on the frontlines, and for their national survival. And the Lord heard those heartfelt prayers and responded with what became known as “the miracle at Dunkirk.” Hitler inexplicably delayed giving his generals the order to finish off the British soldiers. A great storm over Germany prevented Nazi planes from taking off. The British people quickly assembled some 900 fishing boats, yachts, trawlers, and other private and government vessels, and began ferrying the troops from the French beaches and back to England a few at a time. By the grace of God, nearly a third of a million souls were saved as a result, as was the British nation. The two leaders in the foregoing accounts are heroes of history. Their leadership models have been the subject of books and countless studies. Separated by centuries and situated in two different continents, they faced similar challenges

Odukoya that imperiled their respective nations and defied their human capacity. Pressed for solutions they turned to God, and the result was the preservation of entire nations and the reversal of what would have been the destruction of entire generations. The truth is that there comes a time in the life of every nation and its leadership, when it is faced with situations that confound human intelligence, skills and power. It was Albert Einstein that said we cannot solve our problems at the same level from which they were created. No matter the height of our education or the depth of our experiences, there are some problems that will stretch our human faculties and require us to step up to a higher plane. This is what both leaders did. Gandhi, another greatly admired leader once said, “Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.” Nigeria Has a Great Future!

Cleric Tasks Youth On Job Creation By Gbenga Akinfenwa HE Senior Pastor of the Livingspring International, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, has urged Nigerian youths to take charge of their lives and stop blaming government for not providing jobs. The cleric, who spoke last weekend in Lagos at the conference organised for youths, said that people should stop looking for white-collar jobs that do not exist. There are so many things one can use his/her hands and intellect to create and do exploits. Speaking on the theme: “Wealth Creation,” Emmanuel

said that individual could create wealth through knowledge. He explained that there is need for the youths to think of what they can do best and work on it so that they can be more relevant in the business world. He noted that the essence of the conference is to empower worshipers on how to fish instead of giving them fish. Knowledge and training would open their minds to the possibilities in their environment,” he said. The Guest Speaker, Pastor James Abiona, in his message titled: “How To Start A Million Naira Business With Zero

Kobo”, said that one should not be afraid of financial implication in any God-given vision, as this gives financial security in any business. He noted that money answers to heavenly-based projects and what man needs in doing business are spiritual and character capacity.” He advised the youths to be faithful in whatever they do. Mr. Paul Alake, a consultant, advised the youths to invest in education. He said for one to be valuable and relevant in business world, he/she must be skilful.

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

TheGuardian

Sunday, May 11, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

BUSINESS

Another Era Of Cement ‘Armada’ Yielding So Little For Nigerians • As Prices Hit The Rooftop Also putting the blame at the doorstep of the retail market, the Lafarge statement notes: “We are not involved in pricing at retail T N2000, how many Nigerians can afford a bag of cement, much more think of building end. Retail prices are being driven by demand-supply dynamics, some of which are their own houses? Amid claims of self-suffispecific to locations. We are working hard to ciency in cement consumers and export to address supply balance through our strucother African countries, manufacturers now tured distribution system.” grapple with the unfamiliar paradox of ‘glut’ Perhaps, the period that could best match toand high prices. Across the country, including Lagos and Abuja, day’s cement market, is the post-civil-war era, when the market, being flooded with cement, a 50kg of cement sells between N1,900 and curiously defied the law of demand and supN2,300. Until recently, it sold for as much as ply. N2,300 in Cross River State, while the price Post-civil-war, the product was almost taken stands at N1,950 in Anambra. for granted following the notorious ‘Cement Major manufacturers, including Dangote CeArmada’ of the 1970s, which has remained inment and Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, delible in the annals of commercial events. blame the middlemen, saying their official prices remain the same. Dangote, for instance, The Israeli-Arab war at the time had quadrureportedly stressed that the company would be pled global crude prices; and Nigeria’s military government, all of a sudden, had a lot of implementing direct supply strategy. money to spend. Under pressure from the Responding to The Guardian’s inquiry on the military, the government committed itself to above subject matter, Corporate Communications Manager of Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nige- massive barrack-building programme and to execute many infrastructure projects, includria Plc, Mr. Ade Ojolowo, mere said, “it is worth mentioning that our prices have been stable in ing construction of stadia. It ordered 16 million metric tonnes of cement for the MOD the last three years. In fact, prices reduced by alone, amounting to 80 percent of total ceover four percent between 2011 and 2013. “For Lafarge, “our volume (supply to the mar- ment imports at the time. The Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, who reket) has not reduced, as all our plants are producing optimally. There has been no change to portedly boasted of the country’s wealth, had implemented the Udoji salary awards in 1974 our ex-works trade prices. These have not gone and doubled the salary of civil servants; and, up for the last four years, in spite of increasing with the new-found wealth, most Nigerians input costs and foreign currency movements rushed to build their own houses. that have adversely impacted cost of imported Although all Nigerian ports combined could inputs.”

By Marcel Mbamalu

only handle 6.5 million tonnes of general cargo per annum, the government had expected all 16 million metric tonnes for the MOD delivered within 12 months. The result was that all the seaports were congested, forcing the government of the day to create task forces to decongest them. It was said at the time that the cement shipped to Lagos could build the whole of Lagos three times. The cost of importing the cement at the time could build 20 cement factories in Nigeria. By April 1975, about 105 ships were waiting facilities on the high seas. Two months later (in June), the number had climbed to 455, of which 300 vessels were carrying cement. Forced to wait an average of 180 days before berthing, freight surcharges of 30 to 100 percent were being paid per ship with the effect that cost of imports rose astronomically. The situation became so bad that ship owners accumulated huge demurrage, so much so that it was probably more profitable for them to empty the cargo in the Atlantic and return to base. Even the government reportedly paid $ 4,100 per day in demurrage for each cement vessel delayed over 10 days. Asked to comment on the era of Cement Armada, Professor Pat Utomi painted a rather graphic picture: “ If one were able to fly in those days and look into the water, ships were lined up for miles into the Atlantic, waiting to enter our underdeveloped harbours.” But, as Utomi, also observed, the glut did not temper down prices of cement due to the circumstantial high cost of importation.

JUST like the era of cement armada, the market is today flooded, not just with imported cement, but is buoyed by local manufacturing that has made the country an official net exporter of cement. The introduction, 12 years ago, of backward integration policy, which required that cement import licences be allocated only to importers who show proof of building factories for local manufacturing, has helped the country make substantial progress in its march to self-sufficiency and increase in production capacity. Yet, the product remains generally expensive. Using the correlation between gross fixed capital formation and economic growth, mediumterm cement consumption outlook in Nigeria accounts for about 25 percent of Sub Sahara Africa’s cement usage. Analysts, last year, projected that consumption would grow by 9.4 percent to 23.6mtpa in 2016. Annual consumption currently stands at some 2 “It is apparent that even at the minimum, Nigeria’s demand will continue to match production in the near term. Thus, with … Nigeria’s low per capita cement consumption of …107kg…Nigerian cement market remains a cement producer’s reverie, given the enormous potential for growth,” stated a recent report by Cardinal Stone Partners. All of these point to a very good market for manufacturers. Yet, prices keep moving northwards, calling to question, the Federal Government’s protectionist tendency without a clear-cut antitrust policy to protect consumers.

36 Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

BUSINESS By Daniel Anazia HE Nigerian cement industry, over the years, T has grown but has not been able to meet local demands. The gap has always been filled by imports. However, in 2012, production reportedly surpassed the local demand for cement by approximately 55 percent the product. According to industry operators, the astronomical growth in capacity is linked to the Backward Integration Policy introduced by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2002, which challenged investors to build adequate local cement production capacity. As a result, an estimated eight billion dollars was injected into the industry between 2003 and 2009. Following the backward integration policy and other favourable industry initiatives of the Federal Government, cement prices fell, while production capacity rose. As of 2013, industry capacity reached 28 million tonnes per annum, making Nigeria the largest manufacturer in sub-Sahara Africa, while prices remained less than N1,700 per 50kg. However, Nigerians still pay the highest price for cement in the world, as a 50kg bag now sells between N2200 and N2500. Stakeholders in the housing industry say the rapid increase, which is about 15 per cent, took them by surprise. They insist that the new price increase in a wet season is unusual, especially as massive constructions are not being undertaken across the country. Many, therefore, attributed the price hike to high input costs following the new mining levy imposed by Federal Government on cement manufacturers, costs of distribution, which is relatively high; unstable power supply, dynamics of demand-supply and the fluctuation of foreign exchange. Speaking to The Guardian, the Chairman of Apakun Block Fabricators, Apakun-Mafoluku Oshodi area of Lagos, Alhaji Muriana Ogungbade Salau, explained that the increase in cement price is as a result of many factors including the new mining policy by the government on cement manufacturing; scarcity, which is the major cause of the price increase and cost of transportation. “The price increase in cement now is unusual, as we are already in rainy season. Cement price is often high during dry season because that is the time alot construction of activities are massively ongoing in the country. The price of cement has in the last few months, gone up by almost 25 per cent. For instance, in December, the price went up N1,800 from N1,200 in November 2013,” he said. He noted that the price hike has resulted in suspension of major building projects, especially in Lagos and other states, where construction activities had witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years. “There is a great drop in our sales. Before now, we sell the nine-inch block for N190, trans-

Cement Retailers Blame Major Dealers For Scarcity, Price Hikes portation inclusive, but it is now N210, while the six-inch block, which sold for N170, now sells for N195 and N200, depending where you are taking it,” he said. He added, “This is not the first time we are experiencing increase in cement price. It has become a usual phenomenon in Nigeria. In May 2013, the price of cement rose to about N2,900 per bag, but Federal Government had to intervene by issuing directive that compelled all manufacturers in the country to cut down the price.” Reacting on the issue of fake cement importation, Muriana said, “We don’t use re-bag, rather we buy from notable dealers. I don’t think there is importation anymore, because the Federal Government has banned it. What we heard that prompted this new increase in price is that there is breakdown in some factories, especially at Dangote.” Mufuatau Balogun, a retailer in Mafoluku, Oshodi, said the major cause of hike in price of cement is the high cost of transporting the commodity, but also blame the major distribu-

tors who most times create artificial scarcity to make huge profit. “Apart from the high cost of transporting the goods, the major dealers sell to us at high prices. When you ask them, they say it is no longer easy to get the commodity, and that the costs have increased, but I do not think so. They only pack the cement in their warehouses and then create artificial scarcity to make more profit. It is not my usual practice to sell at high prices always, but this particular new increase was necessitated by the pressure on cost, which include transportation,” he said. According to a production capacity data analysis of the various cement plants in the country, Nigeria’s total cement production capacity is estimated at over 30 million metric tonnes (mmt) per annum, while the country’s cement consumption is put at over 25 million metric tonnes. Dangote Cement with a production capacity totaling 20.3 million tonnes across its three plants — Ibese cement plant in Ogun State, Be-

Jonathan

nue cement in plant, Benue State, and Obajana cement plant, Kogi State, is leading the market with about 90.8 percent share and expansion strategy into 13 other African nations, bringing its total capacity to over 60 million metric tonnes by 2016. Other cement companies like Lafarge WAPCO with three plants also — Ewekoro 1, Ewekoro II and Shagamu Cement Plants, contributes a total of 7.5 million metric tonnes, while Unicem produces 2.5mmt and Ava Cement produces 500,000 metric tonnes. Ashaka Cement, Gombe state recently had a ground breaking ceremony for its expansion, and President Jonathan, during the event said that the Nigeria cement industry had attracted about six billion dollars (N960 billion) local and foreign investments into the country. Dangote Cement Plc at its 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos last week, decried the high cost of production, which it explained has resulted in price hike.

Aganga

Cement Price Fluctuates In Cross River From Anietie Akpan, Calabar RICES of cement in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, have been fluctuating between N1, 400 and N2, 300 per 50kg bag in the last two years. A cement dealer, Mr. Ita Okon, said, “the price of cement remained at N1400 and N1500, until April this year, when we were made to pay as much as N2, 300 for a bag of cement. This is not acceptable, but unfortunately, there is nothing

we can do.” He attributed the high cost to some challenges that forced the closure of UNICEM occasioned. A builder, Mr. Etim Udo said the hike in prices have affected construction works in the state. “I have suspended work. We expect government to step in and do something; but the same government is adding to the challenges of builders, as it has introduced new taxes forcing cement trans-

Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Osita Nebo, welcomes Mr. Austin Avuru, CEO of SEPLAT at the signing ceremony for the Edo IPP project facilitated by SEPLAT and Azura. Looking on are Mr. David Ladipo (left), MD of Azura and Mr. Godwin Obaseki Chairman, Edo state Economic Management Team.

porters to pass the burden on us. Since the beginning of this month, the price has dropped from N2, 300 to between N1, 650 and N1, 800 per bag and, with the rainy season, it is hoped that it will drop further.” Another builder, Mr. John Effiom pointed out that, “it may even be worse now that the government is contemplating forcing cement manufacturers in the country to step their quality to 52.5 cement grade, which is mainly for industrial consumption. Small consumers like us will suffer because the price per bag will further go up.” One of the cement distributors, who simply gave his name as Mr. Peter, attributed the fluctuating prices to several factors like bad roads, high taxes, cost price, cost of transportation and others. He said under normal circumstances, prices of cement are supposed to be low in Calabar, because “we have the factory and the raw material here. The government should do something on the bad roads and high taxes.” Commenting on the high cost of cement, the Managing Director of UNICEM, Mr. Olivioer Lenoir noted “prices have generally been stable for more than a year and amongst the lowest in the country in SouthSouth and South East Regions.” However, he said, “some external factors like road levies, high cost of energy, poor road infrastructure with attendant impact on cost of transportation and general inflation in the country has resulted in the in-

crease currently experienced, though demand and supply balance have also a direct impact and distributors play a key role in retail prices.” He lamented that, “cement manufacturing is highly energy dependent as consistent and adequate supply of gas is a must. We experience frequent interruptions, leading to loss of production and increased cost. Poor infrastructure like the absence of rail and poor condition of roads in our operating region is a big handicap – this result in slow and costly movement of incoming raw materials and dispatch of finished goods (cement) to the customers. Taxes and levies in Nigeria are not harmonized. This exposes operators to multiple taxes by government at different levels.” Despite the high cost of cement, Lenoir said, “there is good demand, steady growth of 15 percent in 2013, primarily driven by the need of housing and infrastructure. Total cement consumption has reached about 21million tonnes as at 2013, as against nine million metric tonnes in 2005.” He attributed this growth to “the backward integration policies of the government along with the strong support of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment have been a catalyst for the growth of the cement sector. It should be emulated in other manufacturing sectors as a role model. However, Nigeria’s per capita consumption per annum at 110 kg is lower than many other developing countries. It has potential to grow higher to transform Nigeria into a developed nation”.

Sunday, May 11, 2014 37

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BUSINESS

ADE-ODIACHI: No Local Content For Professional Services • Nigerian Audit Firms Out-crowded By The ‘Big Four’ government, regulators or the companies Mr. Robert Ade-Odiachi, a Chartered that engage the audit firms? Accountant,is the Chairman of the There is a law. The 2010 Local Content Act SIAO, a Lagos-based professional serv- stipulates clearly what is to be done by indigeaccountants. The Nigerian Content Deices firm. In this interview with MARCEL nous velopment Board should enforce this aspect MBAMALU, he argues that local audit of the law. Unfortunately, they enforce it in they don’t enforce it at all. But governfirms are being given the wrong end of breach; ment is there to ensure that our laws are the stick. He calls on relevant governobeyed This board does not oversee all the other secment agencies and other institutions, tors; does it? AcChartered of including the Institute No. At least, it is there for the oil and gas seccountants of Nigeria (ICAN) to offer a tor. The law should have been enforced but helping hand for economic growth and they are not doing it, especially for the professional services for the oil and gas sector; it is development of indigenous firms. important that it is done. Now, we move over HAT would you say is the major chalW lenge faced by local audit and accounting firms?

IN terms of competition, the major challenge for local firms is capitalization; in the sense that you have to have professional capacity in the house. And for you to have that capacity, you have to be able to attract the best brains and give them enough work to do and sustain them. The major challenge is to attract, source, train, keep and sustain them within the firm. That is our biggest challenge. The problem is that there is a quantum of professional work that you must do to sustain yourself as a practice, because the cost of training, grooming and deploying staff is heavy. Now you look at the industry and you say, do you train and develop staff and wait for the work to come or you wait till you get the work before you develop your staff. No, you have to train and develop them before the work will come. That means you must have the resources on ground, which we have. But you don’t want to train, develop, deploy the resource and idle it away; because there is no off taker, no work for you to do. At the base end, nobody gives you a chance. It’s like the work that you need to do at the level at which we are today is reserved for the big four, and for us to get in there is impossible; nobody would look at us. The last time the ICAN president was here, he was shocked that we had so many accountants in the house and we are indeed a Nigerian firm. So, it’s like everybody has that impression that ‘it cannot happen.’ Now that we have been able to come together, we are asking that we should be given a chance to compete, that we should be given space. We should be given that recognition to know that not only do we have the capacity; we should be given the opportunity to show that we can do the work. One would think there should be a policy to protect local operators in the professional services sector to build expertise? We are asking that the local content must be applied across board, such that the alien firms don’t come and out-crowd us or suffocate the environment, because they are doing that now. They choose and pick what they want to do: They pick the best of staff, they pick the best of jobs and they really don’t have anything for the growing firms. This is a Nigerian environment; we must transfer technology and build local competence. It is a patriotic call that we can best handle certain transactions because, at the end of the day, we are not going anywhere. But the fact to us is that the foreign firms are here to stay. We don’t mind them staying here, but we mind their exclusive retention in certain industry. Exclusively, they are in the finance industry, they audit all the banks 100 percent. They do all the oil companies 100 percent, they do the telecom industry 100 percent — they do all the jewel of the crown exclusively. What is wrong with joint auditing, wherein a big firm can partner with a local firm so that there is exposure in that kind of sector? There is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong with pegging the accounts by saying that local firms should exclusively handle certain limits of turnover; while figures above that limit should be jointly audited? This is exactly what thy do in South Africa, Middle East and Asia. You cannot just go there as a foreign firm and dominate the terrain. Who do you blame for the lopsidedness —

to the regulatory authorities; the Security and Exchange Commission cannot say it does not

you must be formed in Nigeria. None of those companies are formed in the country; yes, they are registered in Nigeria but are not formed here. They are merely registered to work, but the law states that, to qualify as a Nigerian company under the content bill, you must be formed in the country. It is called formation origin; so, there is no way any of the ‘big four’ can say they were formed here. No, they were registered in Nigeria and then they employed the citizens to do the work. The other day the federal government gave a 1.7billion contract to a foreign audit firm to advise it on how to collect taxes. The company is not a Nigerian company and it is not registered by the CITN. Government can employ whomever it likes, but N1.7billion would build capacity locally. The other day, I spoke to the minister that Nigerians could do this job. She said to me

ODIACHI know the law; yet, it accepts accounts being audited by these people, whereas they should ensure that the law, which states that” up to 70 percent (in some cases, 100 percent) is enforced. Are you saying the extant law is being flouted? Yes. The local content stipulates what should be done for the oil and gas and the Board is supposed to enforce it and then SEC should know. The Institute of Chattered Accountants of Nigeria should know also that they have a primary responsibility to develop the local accounting profession so it should publicise the laws that provide an environment for those people to thrive. We had to show the ICAN the law. ICAN should publicize it and make sure the local accounting firms have a stake in all the sectors of the economy; finance, oil, and so on, because, in our training we were taught to audit oil industry, finance, telecoms industry but in practice we are students. There is no way an MTN, for example, can come to Nigeria and be audited by a foreign company even if the foreign company employs Nigerians. How do you react to the argument that the so-called foreign companies employ Nigerian accountants, some of who head the organizations? It is true (that) most of these firms employ Nigerians to do the work and the Nigerians turn out and pretend as if they own the firms. The law is very clear; it says that to be a Nigerian firm, you must be formed in Nigeria. It is very clear. It does not only say you must be registered here or owned by a Nigerian. It says

that she doesn’t know what SIAO did (and SIAO) happens to be the biggest Nigerian professional services firm. How can the Minister say she does not know what SIAO did? The company is 10 years old; if, at that level, she does not know the company, then it shows where the trouble is. Government officials should be Nigerians in practice; all they know is to find foreign solutions to problems; and that is why we are nowhere. The solution they bring does not fit the local environment. Now that they want to do forensic auditing, they have gone round to say they want an international firm to do audit for NNPC. We all know what happened in NNPC, and by the time the foreign firm starts to understand the environment here, the contract time is over. If they think we don’t have the capacity to do forensic auditing, what is wrong in bringing in forensic auditors and partnering them with us so that we can learn how to do it? The banks do the same thing. Because of the correspondence banks abroad, they must use foreign firms. So we have 20 banks and only four companies audit them. The banks are charged heaven and earth because they don’t have a choice (they have to pay it). Even the Federal Government, the other day, said it wanted to do Sovereign Wealth Fund and hired foreign firm to employ the managing director. I am sorry to say it, but it is a trap. That is how the foreign firms are controlling the heights of our economy and then we don’t go anywhere.

The Institute of Chattered Accountants of Nigeria should know also that they have a primary responsibility to develop the local accounting profession so it should publicise the laws that provide an environment for those people to thrive. We had to show the ICAN the law. ICAN should publicize it and make sure the local accounting firms have a stake in all the sectors of the economy; finance, oil, and so on, because, in our training we were taught to audit oil industry, finance, telecoms industry but in practice we are students.

When one of the foreign audit firms was enmeshed in the fuel subsidy scandal, they turned round to say they are a local firm. But when they were getting the jobs and parading themselves around, they were multinational. And I keep on saying it, you cannot be foreign name today and when you get into trouble you say you attach a local name to the original. So, they (foreign audit firms) have the policy to come here and just take the money. If you look at NNPC today, they are computerising the account. But if we talk about probing the corporation, they all duck. Let them put their hands down and say they want to do the NNPC probe, you will see that not one of them would agree to do that job. They wont touch it. There is a clear and present danger to the accounting profession in Nigeria. We are witnessing a trend of discrimination and marginalisation of indigenous firms by industry stakeholders. This situation is at its peak and it has, therefore, become imperative that the Body of Nigerian Accountants take action to protect, preserve, nurture and grow indigenous firms and expertise in the country. There is an undeniable discrimination against indigenous accounting and auditing firms both in the public and private sector even where there is ample evidence that such discrimination is unjustified as there is adequate and knowledgeable local content and support structures capable of providing first class professional services in the country. After the overthrow of the Shehu Shagari led regime there was a discontinuance of the mandatory policy to use only local firms to audit public interest firms. During this time, professional practice in the country had grown and flourished, going beyond the shores of Nigeria — developing the initial standards with which it has emerged today as a driver within the Nigerian economy and beyond. The change in regime brought with it a gradual and systematic ‘takeover’ by foreign firms/franchises, leaving the local firms struggling to stay in business and basically tottering on the brink of failure and poor capacity build ups. Over the years there has been preferential treatment for foreign firms operating in Nigeria, lack of opportunity and even outright denial of opportunity for indigenous professional services firms in Nigeria. All these have resulted in the demise of once strong and prestigious locally grown firms in the country. The Nigerian pride has been eroded, and historical feats forgotten and abandoned. Local firms have had to adopt strategies of sustaining themselves by practicing in non-core areas, leaving the oversight functions weak and almost ineffective. The mainstay of firms has become its primary loss leaders. The foreign firms can only hire so many people and since the local firms are barely able to stay in business, the Nigerian Accountant has found himself/herself taking on job descriptions which are way below his qualifications for a paltry salary. Thousands of Chartered Accountants now respond to job advertisement for clerks and storekeepers. Foreign qualifications are now better preferred as the loss of dignity and lack of knowledge transfer has brought about a continuing erosion of investment in local professional accounting and advisory practice in the country. All these have been going on for years and the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants has done nothing; made no comments or taken any decisive action (s) to turn around the situation. What the solution should be I advocate that the Local Content Act be fully implemented and its provisions strictly complied with. All MDAs and government parastatal are required to be up to date with their filing; they are to file their annual audited accounts with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation. Private companies are mandated by the Companies and Allied matters Act to file their Annual returns at least once every year with the Corporate Affairs Commission. The reality, however, is that most of these Companies and Agencies have failed to comply with these laws and regulations. This failure to comply with regulation is another reason for the lack of opportunity for growth and development being experienced

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BUSINESSAGRO FG Launches SCPZ Initiative For Agriculture Investment Opportunities By Fabian Odum and Gbenga Akinfenwa OWARDS the repositioning of Nigeria as the T powerhouse in food production, the Federal Government has taken steps to implement Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs) in select states across the six geopolitical zones in the country as a means of unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural investment capability. This economic growth and agricultural potential places the country in a vantage position as investors’ choice, but more than that, the SCPZs would create a competitive operating environment for agribusinesses across the country and address key investment challenges. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at an interactive session with governors of Kogi, Anambra, Kano, Niger, Enugu and Lagos States, to discuss opportunities for investment in the SCPZs. Tagged “Staple Crop Processing Zones: Unlocking Investment Opportunities In Nigeria’s Agriculture,” it is government’s initiative to drive investments into Nigeria’s agriculture sector through the promotion of integrated agro-processing in areas of high food production. Adesina said the focus of the initiative is on development of the value chain and critical roles of infrastructure. He added that govern-

ment would provide physical provision of incentives in rural areas, where there is food production potentials to assist private sector. The Minister stressed that it would also create at least 208,000 jobs in the rural areas, control rural-urban migration; would add four trillion naira to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and would also upgrade rural areas as economy of the future, among others. “The way to keep the youths in rural areas is to provide social infrastructure to see viable business in Agriculture. There are opportunities across the country waiting to be tapped with SCPZs, which would transform the country to be powerhouse in food production,” he said. He noted that in the last two and a half year, 15million metric tonnes of food were increased by the present administration, just as Nigeria has emerged as the largest producer of cassava in the world, and number two in the world in citrus production. He added that there is urgent need to unlock Agricultural potentials in the country, saying Agriculture should be run as business. On the avalanche of benefits that awaits investors, Adesina said Nigeria has all the necessary natural conditions for robust agricultural development such as 84 million ha of arable land, 60 per cent unutilised; large population of 177 million people, 60 per cent farmers; wide range of agro-ecological zones; humid tropical

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria President, Chief Kola Jamodu, standing; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and other government dignitaries at the World Economic Forum session on High Energy Foods in Abuja at the weekend. climate conducive for variety of crops; potential irrigable area of 3.14 million ha; and 279 billion cubic meters of surface water. He however, noted that there are investment challenges that have been cited through a survey of the private sector, such as infrastructure, financing, securing supplies and policy & regulatory, among others. Adesina disclosed that part of solutions to

unlock the country’s investment potentials, investors would enjoy attractive location in the middle of dedicated high-production areas called Agribusiness Investment Regions (ABIRs); provision of infrastructure and service to connect investors with producers and end markets and a competitive cost advantage that can reduce costs by 14-36 per cent and provide IRRS of 25-50 per cent for both farming and processing.

FIIRO, NAFRC Consolidate Partnership On Skill Acquisition By Paul Adunwoke HE Commandant, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Monday Rikku Morgan has commended the effort the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) in adding value to cassava and the production of cassava bread for consumers in the country. AVM Morgan made the observation during a working visit to the institute at the weekend to renew the collaborative process and strategic partnership on skill acquisitions. The Commandant, who was accompanied by other top military officers, toured some departments of the Institute for mutual benefits. He commended the Director General of the institute, Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Elemo for her efforts in accelerating research

and development in the Institute and Nigeria at large. Morgan said: “The development should continue, and with what I have seen, I am convinced that the Institute has achieved a lot in terms technology development. I must commend the cassava bread, it offers the nation a way out of poverty if it is optimally utilised.” At present, he noted that, “not much value is being added to cassava, which explains why Nigeria does not earn much foreign exchange from it. This will help to achieve Millennium Development Goal by the year 2020:20 and also the transformation agenda of the President, he said We also ready for the relationship, there are a lot of skills our people can learn and help them selves,” he said. FIIRO DG, Mrs. Elemo said that the institute has made collaboration and strategic partner-

ship with relevant organisations a topmost priority, since she assumed office three years ago. “I have discovered that no organisation alone has it all in terms of funding, infrastructure and even manpower but with collaboration with relevant institutions, a lot more can be achieved together.” The DG disclosed that that the Institute has good working relationship with the Nigerian military. “As part of our relationship with Nigeria military, I am pleased to say that on the 31 January, 2013, the Institute received a team of top military officers from the Research and Development Department of the Defence Headquarters and the institute is currently working with the Chief of Armed Staff, Army Headquarters on the establishment of Nigerian Armed Forces Composite

Ration Company in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. “Also after the courtesy visit of last April, 2013, a technical working team was constituted shortly after to fashion out what the partnership could achieve in the very short term. Issues on Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship Development training were extensively discussed.”

Eventually, seven officers from NAFRC were sent to the Institute on Technology Transfer training covering Soap making, Fish smoking and Cassava processing into High Quality Cassava Flour from 2426 June 2013, Mrs. Elemo said. She added that the institute wishes to conduct full Entrepreneurship Development Training with

NAFRC to benefit from the package on pre-retirement entrepreneurship training. In January this year, the Institute conducted pre-training entrepreneurship training for 33 about-to-retire staff of an Intelligence Agency based in Abuja, with the promise to engage the Institute as a permanent partner because of the programme’s success, she said.

How Nigeria Loses Revenue From Root, Tuber Crops From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia EAN of College of Crop and Soil Sciences at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state, Prof. Damian Asawalam has said that despite that Nigeria is a major global player in the production of major root and tuber crops, Nigeria imports virtually all the products obtained from them including starch, flour, sweetners, adhesives and ethanol. Delivering a keynote address titled “Stimulating Root and Tuber Crops Based Industrial Development To Create Wealth” at the opening session of the 2014 annual Research Review and Planning Workshop of the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike (NRCRI ), Prof Asawalam stated that Thailand that accounts for only 10 per cent of global output of Cassava, accounts for 80 per cent of global addition while Nigeria that is the world largest producer accounted for close to zero. Similarly, that while Nigeria tops the world in Yam production, contributing approximately two thirds of global output, it is Ghana that leads in Yam export. According to the NRCRI Executive Director, Dr. Julius Okonkwo, Nigeria is and has been the world largest producer of Cassava, Yam and Cocoyam with annual production outputs as 52,37.1 and 3.2 million metric tonnes respectively. Prof. Asawalam, who remarked that, “it is not enough for Nigeria to be the largest world producer of Root and Tuber crops without profiting from the incomes they generate and industrialisation they stimulate, urged that deliberate effort ought be made to create wealth from the root and tuber crops. He consequently proposed to NRCRI to develop Value Chains for all root and tuber crops and stimulate their Value Addition enterprises that

would create markets for farmers within their established Clusters. Corroborating him, Prof. Ike Nwachukwu, also of the MOUA, who chaired the session, urged NRCRI to set up outlets where their research products would be accessed and procured by members of the public. While addressing the participants of the workshop, whose theme was, “ Consolidating the gains of Root and Tuber Crops Research and Extension for Agricultural Transformation”, the NRCRI Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Dr Julius Okonkwo said that his Institute has justified her existence as a commodity based research institute. He stated the NRCRI national statutory mandates as : research into the genetic improvement, production, processing and marketing of root and tuber crops of economic importance including Cassava, Yam, Cocoyam, Potato, Sweet potato, ginger, sugar beet, turmeric and Rizga, research into the farming systems of south east geo-political zone of Nigeria and production of the most needed middle level manpower in Agriculture. According to him, NRCRI has in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ( IITA ) Ibadan, developed and released to farmers high yielding and disease resistant varieties of these root and tuber crops saying they have contributed in placing Nigeria in the first position in world production of Cassava, Yam and Cocoyam. Other developments and releases he said the Institute made within the past two years were seven improved high yielding, disease resistant Cassava varieties including five Pro vit. Arich Cassava varieties that combat Vitamin A deficiency in children and pregnant women thus brought to 33 the number of Cassava Varieties so far developed and released to farmers.

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SUNDAY, May 11, 2014 OAU VC Warns Against Protest As Students Get New Union Leaders HE Vice Chancellor, T Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole, has advised the newly elected Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders of the institution to avoid any protest that would lead to the disruption of the school’s academic calendar. He made this known in a statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju during the week. In the statement, the VC said, “We eulogise the maturity displayed by the students during the election. Academic, moral, administrative and political blend are the menu OAU normally serve its students.” He urged newly-elected officers of the union to see themselves as partners in progress with the university management. “Always approach the university management for clarification on any issue that may seem unclear instead of resorting to an unwarranted ‘aluta’ that may elongate academic calendar unnecessarily,” he said.

UNICAL Turns Out 50 Medical Doctors O fewer than 50 medicine N and surgery graduates of the University of Calabar, recently became licensed medical doctors as the university held her 38th physician oathtaking ceremony also known as sponsio academia. The ceremony which was conducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) was attended by the top-notch of society, including Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Angela Oyo Ita; Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. James Epoke and Provost College of Medical Sciences, UNICAL, Prof. Etuk Saturday.

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Students of University of Calabar (UNICAL) during their Bring Back Our Girls protest

Celebs, Youth Ambassadors Join #Bring Back Our Girls Protest unconditionally. The abduction of the girls from S the Bring Back Our Girls their school, Government protest continues to height- Secondary School, Chibok, Borno ened, some of Nigeria’s leading state, had since elicited worldentertainers and youth ambas- wide condemnation. sadors, including Bankole Speaking to CNN in Lagos on Wellington (Banky W), Kate Friday, actress Genevieve Nnaji Henshaw, Genevieve Nnaji, said; “Everyone is involved. We Bimbo Akintola, Sound Sultan, are all mothers, we are all and Femi Brainard among oth- humans and these are young ers on Friday joined in the call girls that have been taken into for the release of the Chibok captivity. We just felt that some school girls that were abducted of us who have a bigger face and since three weeks by Boko more recognizable in terms of Haram insurgents, and stated being celebrities and having a that the girls must be released large fan base, we thought it’s

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our responsibility to help shed light and bring the fight to the forefront and stop this inhumane act.” Banky W in a chat with News Agency Nigeria (NAN) same day, said the return of the girls was not subject to negotiation. “We want our girls back. The issue at stake is the whereabouts and the restoration of those poor little girls to their respective parents. But is that possible after over three weeks of abduction by terrorists? We just have to keep our fingers crossed,’’ he said.

Screen diva, Kate Henshaw, said that the abduction of the innocent girls was wickedness in the highest order. “No one can fool, God; no one can challenge God. Anybody who tries to fight against God loves death. Boko Haram at the moment is trying to attack God by kidnapping his beloved daughters and talking rubbish,” she said. In the same vein, musician, Sound Sultan said that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is just being stupid

LASU Inaugurates New Students’ Union Leaders (DSA), Prof. Kabir Akinyemi, urged the new students’ Joseph (PRO); Adetunji Adetowo trying to solve some of the chal- union leaders to obey constiNigeria, and after several post- (Welfare Director) and Adisa lenges it met on ground when I tuted authorities on campus, follow proper channel of ponements of the inauguraIdowu Ridwan (Social Director). assumed office as the seventh communication in tabling tion ceremony of the elected In attendance at the ceremo- Vice Chancellor of the institustudents’ union leaders, ny were principal officers of the tion. For us to move forward, we their demands and avoid authorities of the Lagos State institution including the Vice need to have a stable academic cultism. University (LASU), has finally Chancellor, Prof John calendar,” he said. swore-in the new students’ Obafunwa. While admonishing He disclosed that the institu- TWO WORDS /40 union executives at a colourful the new students’ executives, tion had not experienced any ceremony held at the school Obafunwa, said the 30-year-old strike in recent and had been MBA Hall in Ojo campus. institution cannot afford to graduating students as at when The new executive is being experience another strike as due because the staff unions led by Nurudeen Yusuf such action will derail the acaand stakeholders agreed not to Temilola (aka Optimist) as demic calendar. embrace strike as an option. President; Adesanya Temidayo “My administration has been The Dean of Students Affairs months after conductFtiveOUR ing the historic and innovastudent union election in

VC Urges Peace and Stable Academic Calender

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and satanic. “Shekau in his demonic lies against Allah said that it was God that instructed him to sell human beings as slaves.” Actress, Bimbo Akintola, said “we need all hands on deck. The problem is with the girls in Boko Haram’s custody; they would be used as human shields. But nightmares like this will always come to an end, no matter what, as God will expose them. All of them will regret their acts,” she declared. Every week, Life Campus Reports on events in students’ communities across the country. You can contribute by sending stories, gossips, reports on events and your pictures for Campus Faces to us at: counarconsult@gmail.com; evangelistdan@yahoo.com

CARTOON SERIES /40

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uki@poisenigeria.org,

Get Weird... Uki Dare Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition fee is very high... “Average doesn’t win award” – Mavi Isibor, Group C.e.O, Poise Nigeria N MY VIeW, there is no reason to be normal. The problem with being normal is that normal is normal and most of the time, it is average, regular and unremarkable. Sometimes being good enough is not enough, you need to be abnormal. Please let me explain with a personal experience:

Tina returned from her interview so excited. It had gone very well, so well in fact, better than she expected. She went over all the questions that the members of the panel had asked her and she knew she answered them well. I can testify to that because I was on the panel, we interviewed about 27 people that day. Tina knew she answered us well because she downloaded an interview skills manual from the internet and when she cross checked after the interview, she was proud of how close to the manual her answers were. She followed the format perfectly, she used the rights words and so on, “Lucky me!” she thought, she shut down her computer, “I am so sure they will pick me.” While

Tina was reveling in her great performance at home, the other interviewers and I were going over our scoring of all the candidates. We were discussing and trying to decide on which 5 to call back and our conversation sounded a little like this:

Panelist B :“Yes, but we also have to take that intelligent funny one who said he was selling pure water If it is good: Embrace It in school and still came out with a 2:1.” You don’t want to stand out for bad performance so, Panelist A: “Most of them sounded the same to me. Panelist A: ”I almost forgot him, great! Add him as if it is bad: Overcome It I am looking at the names and the CVs and I am struggling to even remember half of the things they well. Does anyone remember any other person that stood out? For good oh! Not the one that wore jeans If it is neither good nor bad: Enhance It said.” Everyone nodded. and was saying he could not remember what the When you are done: Package it vacancy is for because he sent is CV to so many Panelist C: “What about that Emeka guy?” places.” To be abnormal can also mean ABOVe NORMAL. Panelist A: “Yes! The one that said he ran an NGO while in school.” Everyone smiled, and comments Everyone roared with laughter and the session end- So, in all you do, feel free to follow the guidelines, don’t break the rules but please, embrace your ed. like “I liked him”, “sounds intelligent”, “I recomindividuality and don’t be afraid to mend him” flowed. The sad truth is that I do not know Tina. Her …GET WEIRD name could have been Titi or even Tope. She is a Panelist B: “There was also that girl that spoke so representative of all those who scored high but passionately, what was her name?” blended into the crowd because they followed PS: Please do not throw away your preparatory manuals for Panelist C: “Ah! I cannot forget that one, Bola, she good guidelines to the point of losing their indi- interview skills, you only need to learn how to let your personality shine through. I also teach interview skills (with a seems to have so much drive. I think she will bring viduality. Though they did well, they were all twist) at Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy so feel free to ‘the others’. grouped together as new life to her department if we choose her.” stop by if you want some tips. uki@poisenigeria.org ‘Get Weird’ is not saying that you Panelist A: “She is chosen already, no contest. Let should just be weird for the sake of being weird. us call those two back add any three of the others I am not saying that you should be different just that got high scores, just pick any three. Let’s see for the sake of being different. Just embrace the them next week.” things about you that make people say “Why are your own things always different.” When you Panelist C: “Please there was a girl named Chioma, discover what is different/weird about you and she shouldn’t fall into the others o. She got high

NANS Zone B Inaugurates excos Amidst Rowdy Session FTeR a successful convenA tion that held last week at Cross River College of education, Akamkpa Cross River State, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B comprising 11 states in the South east and South-South, has inaugurated its new executives that will stir the affairs of the students’ movement in the zone in the next one year. The swearing-in ceremony held at the main auditorium of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State amidst rowdy session. The new executives include Okorie Ikechukwu Santos, Zonal Coordinator (FUTO), ekutu Richard, Deputy Coordinator (UNIBeN), Okafor Chuks, General Secretary (FUTO), Pedro Chibuzo-Obi, Public Relations Officer (DeLSU Abraka), Lah Ledogo Amabu, Assistant General Secretary (UNIPORT), and eze Paul, Director of Sports (ebonyi State University). Others were Victor ezenagu, Director of Action and Mobilisation (eSUT), enadamen Aliyu Director, external Affairs (Ambrose Ali University, ekpoma), Aniefie Inyang, Director of Special Duties (University of Uyo), Okwuisi Rodney, Treasurer (Abia State Poly), Ogah Mercy

scores but her explicit dressing will put people in trouble”

you learn how to sell it, then that is true packaging. Someone could be ashamed of the fact that he sold pure water, recharge cards or even food in school but if he learns how to package it, then it becomes an edge that makes people admire his resilience. Someone might be a scatter brain who always forgets where they keep things. You just might be chosen as a perfect marketer for a company that sells Key Holders with SIM Cards in them. Whatever it is about you that makes you feel weird:

Awu, Financial Secretary (UNICAL). Trouble started when some students from Abia State Polytechnic insisted that the newly elected Treasurer, Okwuisi Rodney, from their institution will not be sworn-in as the treasurer on the ground that he is not a student of the polytechnic. According to the leader of the delegation, Nwamu Chikezie Clinton, Rodney was expelled and has been declared wanted by the polytechnic management. However, amidst their protest, the Chairman of 2014 Convention Committee, Comrade Aruna Kadinu, sworein the new executives including Rodney, and described the protesters as enemies of progress, stressing that all the candidates were thoroughly screened by the Department of Security Service (DSS) before the election. Anambra State Governor, Dr. Willie Obiano represented by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Youth Mobilization, Comrade Chinedu Obidigwe, congratulated the new excos and charged them on hard work, commitment and selfless service, adding that Anambra State will at all times support any good cause of the organization.

New executives of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B after their first executive meeting at FUTO

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National Development Strategy Series and the strategy is to undermine Christians as we saw during the Babangida Administration in Nigeria. And that fact that we are even today still fighting the results of that administration when a so called Secular Nation (Nigeria) was forced to join the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) which sowed the seeds for Islamic Fundamentalism in Nigeria which we are still today still suffering from and for which has resulted in the most brutal and inhuman terrorism known to man, Boko Haram, and other forms of extremism. Just in case you did not know, the Nigeria Boko Haram has currently over taken al Kadir and is fast over taking the Taliban as the most deadly terrorism group on the Planet today. And it all started with the Nigerian Political Leadership trying to combine their Religion with the State.

NICHOLAS OKOYE, Founder EMPOWER NIGERIA Initiative,

FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO PILLAR 3 SYSTEMS, STRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PAPER 3

SYSTEMS HAVE been discussing the so called “NIGERIAN SYSTEM” and what is fueling this old school thinking, out dated and inefficient way of doing things. Why do we like doing things the way we do them in Nigeria? And what is driving our inability to change and to keep doing it the same old way we have been doing it and expecting a different result? In paper 2 I talked about the two strongest influences on the Nigeria System and the Nigeria way of life and I mentioned that they are Culture and Organized Religion. I say Organized Religion because when religion is practiced in the privacy of the home is does no harm and does not take on the monster image it is taking in Nigeria. Religion in private does not seek to force others to accept its beliefs, does not discriminate against other religions and does not take on the central order of being the ones that are carrying out GOD’s commands as many of our so called organized religious leaders would have us believe. I have outlined, in pervious papers, the fact that many Nations around the World have fought hard to discard the strangle hold religion has had on their political life and it was only when they were successful in separating the Church and State that true continental progress (especially in the USA and Europe and more recently China) was made and which eventually saw to the greatest period of human accomplishment in World history. This is true for many of the Nations of Europe, Asia and even the United States. In fact as I outlined in paper 2 of Systems, Structure and Infrastructure, the United States as a Nation, was founded on a foundation that excluded religion almost entirely. And I am not talking about the colonies of Great Britain (Virginia, Massachusetts, the Carolinas, New York, Philadelphia etc) which preceded the United States as a single Nation. And the doctrine of separation of Church and State was one of the bedrocks of the declaration of Independence and of the United States Constitution. Why was it so important for Thomas Jefferson and the other founding Fathers who authored the United States Constitution, to be so emphatic about separating the powers of the bishops and the clergy form roles of political leaders? Well this is largely because the rise of the United States came after the deadly mistakes and the crisis of the European Nations had completely played out, and even the colonies had experienced their fair share of religious dictatorship. They had all witnessed the millions of people that had been burned alive, murdered or massacred in the crusades all as a result of religious differences between Nations, between peoples and between systems. Any student of history will tell you of the bitter struggle between the catholic faith and the Church of England in their fight for the soul of the British Empire and the monarchy. In fact for many years the internal blood line of the house of Tudor was destroyed by murder, sabotage and assassination due largely to which Christian denomination each of the children of King Henry Tudor and other descendants gave their loyalty. King Henry the eight created the Church of

Dubai is one of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. UAE is a very strong Islamic Country and they practice their religion very strictly. However that have separated their beliefs from the everyday life in Dubai and in the process they have attracted the World to participate in the building of a monumental investment destination. The Religion of the UAE is not in conflict with Development of the Emirates and this model should be studied by Religious and Political Leaders around Africa especially Nigeria, who are holding their Nations back by insisting on mixing Religion with State Politics. England and separated from the Catholic Church due largely to the fact that the Church and the Pope refused to permit him marry a new wife while Catherine of Spain was still alive. He defied the Church, formed his own church and that was it. Whereas Prince Edward died early after becoming King, he had initially handed over to his cousin lady JAN Grey a fellow Protestant who he hoped would continue with the church of England but his sister Mary deposed her in a bitter battle and had her beheaded. Mary who was Catherine’s first daughter took over and brought back the Catholic Church to England. She was responsible for the murder of hundreds of Protestants in England in the name of the Church and in an effort to reestablish the Catholic Church in England. She was nick named “Bloody Mary” as a result of many that perished under her rule in the name of church and religion. When she died Elizabeth her half-sister, who was Anne Boleyn‘s daughter took over and reestablished the Church of England, kicked out the authority of Rome and the Pope and once again used the power of State to dictate to the people which religion they must worship. The Government of Spain ruled by Philip of Spain sent an Armada to depose Elizabeth in the name of the Catholic Church but the effort failed, and the Church of England stayed on till this day. The current Queen of England is still the head of the Church of England, in an old and outdated doctrine that still believes that God installs Kings and Queens and so National Leaders are also the Leaders of the National Church.

decisions are being made either depending on where the Leader worships or where the sympathy of the leader lies. Our Pastors, Islamic and Religious Leaders are having a field day, they claim direct communication with GOD, as did the corrupt and murderous religious Leaders of Europe did in the 13th, 14th and 15th century, and they use that intimidation to scare our political Leaders into towing their line and the result is always to keep other religions or other denominations at bay. This almost always brings crisis, resentments and the fighting continues. It is always worse if the Leader is of a different religion completely such as a Moslem

National Systems and Organized Religion continued Whereas I gave you a few quotations in paper 2 about how the founders of the United States tried to distance their new Government and their new Nation from the strangle hold of the Religious Leaders, this separation is only evident in Nigeria on paper only. We claim we are a secular State and that our multi religious society is built on the freedom to practice and worship where and when you like. However nothing can be further from the truth. We are in fact the most religious society on this planet Earth, and that is a fact. There is no other country in this World that has more churches or religious organizations per square mile, or per capita than Nigeria. And many of our political

Ahmed Rufai Sani Yerima is the man that started it all. He introduced Sharia Law in Zamfara State when he was Governor largely because he was out of ideas on what to do for the people of the State. He felt that a combination of Religion and Politics is just what the doctor ordered and so he set off a chain reaction that is presently threatening the very existence of Nigeria as a united Country. Sadly the Federal Authorities at that time did not do anything to stop him, so a little religion in politics has now given rise to the deadly Boko Haram and other forms of extremism which has resulted in blood and tears and little development for the people. Yerima is also known to have married a 13 year old child in a shameful, pedophilic act and crime. He hides behind religion, to justify his crime.

How can you develop a society when you are more worried about how where and how your citizens worship the Almighty? Why should it matter? Why are we still dancing around in circles when Nations around the World have committed these mistakes and have learnt from them? Why must we make the same mistakes when we can easily learn from the mistakes of others? When you take a long hard look at the World what do you see? The Nations that practice the crudest form of Religion and State combination are Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran etc. How far are they in terms of development? How far are they in terms of providing the basics for their people? In contrast the Nations in the same religion that practice a more moderate form of religion and State combination and some separation are the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and even Saudi Arabia, now what is the difference between these Nations and the first few? What are the GDP per capita of these Nations, what is the standard of living? What are the economic opportunities? It is clear to see that the Nations practicing a crude form of Religion and State combination as dictated by their Leaders who claim to be communicating with GOD, are not doing too well. Their people are poor, the conditions of their society and environment are terrible and they are the last place anyone will want to invest their money. However look at the second set of Nations, everyone wants to invest in Dubai, and Abu Dabi has also caught on after a period of trying to be as true to Islam as possible, they recently have loosen up, and the investment is pouring in. Not many people remember and some young people do not even know, that India and Pakistan were once the same country. It is very hard to believe now. When you look at the progress that India is making economically and the state in which a blind dictation and directioning by Religion has dragged Pakistan. Sadly Nigeria is in a similar situation as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. We have been dragged into this Religion and State Combination System and we think we can build a modern society in this way. It just will not happen. It is not possible, as the nature of Human Beings is to express themselves and no matter how much you try you will always have people who will want to practice their own religion which is different from the so called State sponsored Religion, and if you are forcing the State Religion on them you will have a conflict. And there can be no development during a conflict it is as simple as that. So no matter how much we believe that our Religion is the right one, no matter how much you believe that you are the one communicating directly with GOD, no matter how sure you are that everybody else is wrong and that we will all burn in Hell if we do not believe what you believe, and no matter how strongly you get your visions and your miracles which you want to share with the rest of our Nation, please for the sake of Nigeria and for the sake of the Nigerian children, keep your Religious beliefs to yourself. Let us build a New Nigerian System which is separated from Religious Beliefs so all can be accepted, all Nigerians can participate and all Religious beliefs will be welcome.

46 Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

EMPOWERNIGERIA CASE STUDY

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURAL LEADER

ROGER PENSKE:

become an entrepreneur. As a teenager he bought older cars, repaired them and sold them at a profit from his family’s home in Cleveland, Ohio. In 10 years, Penske raced and sold about 32 cars. Starting in 1958, Penske purchased, raced and sold race cars, and was very successful both financially and on the track. Penske made his first professional racing start at the now-abandoned Marlboro Motor Raceway in OGER S. PENSKE was born on February 20, 1937 Upper Marlboro, Maryland. and is the owner of the automobile racing By 1960, he was a well-known race car driver team, Team Penske, the Penske Corporation, and (Sports Illustrated SCCA Driver of the Year), winother automotive-related businesses. Penske also ning prestigious races until 1965, when he retired owns the most victories as an owner in the as a driver, to concentrate on his first Chevrolet Indianapolis 500; 15 owner victories. A winning dealership in Philadelphia, PA. He subsequently racer in the late 1950s, Penske was named 1961’s began his now famous Penske Racing in 1965, as Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated. After retiring from driving a few well. Interestingly enough, although Penske competed in two Formula One Grand Prix, and won a years later, he created one of the most successful teams in IndyCar Series and NASCAR racing. He is NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model race at Riverside in 1963, he never ran the Indy 500. In fact, he was also known by his nickname of “The Captain” offered a rookie test at Indianapolis, but turned it He also is one of the corporate directors at General Electric and was chairman of Super Bowl down for business reasons. Rookie Mario XL in Detroit, Michigan. He was previously on the Andretti stepped in for Penske to take that test at board of The Home Depot and Delphi Automotive Indianapolis. His team first competed in the Indianapolis 500 before resigning to chair the Detroit Super Bowl in 1969, winning that event in 1972 with driver Committee. He has an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion. He is a 1959 graduate of Lehigh University Mark Donohue, and their first NASCAR win was in 1973. His teams have won many races in the subin Pennsylvania, where he was also a member of sequent years. He closed his European-based the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Formula One business in 1977. In 1982, he became His father was a corporate executive for a metal the Chairman of the Penske Truck Leasing busifabrication company and encouraged his son to

CAR RACING BILLIONAIRE R

YOUTHMAGAZINE ness. In 2005, Porsche set the stage to make a comeback in sports car racing in the United States and chose Penske Racing to run in the LMP2 class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The Penske Porsches took center stage in 2006, winning immediately, including victories at Mid-Ohio finishing 1-2 ahead of Audi (competing in a higher classification) and the annual Petit Le Mans, a 10hour showcase event held at Road Atlanta. His team scored an overall victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2008. Penske also ran a Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype in the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona, with Kurt Busch, Ryan Briscoe, and Hélio Castroneves driving. The car was run in conjunction with Wayne Taylor’s SunTrust Racing. They finished third overall. For 2009, Penske has suspended his participation in the ALMS, switching to Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series for the full season. They are using a Porsche-powered Riley with Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas driving. Penske recently purchased the old Matsushita air conditioning plant in Mooresville, NC and reconditioned it to consolidate his racing empire. Now, all of Penske’s racing operations are under one massive roof, with his IndyCar, NASCAR, and American Le Mans Series (through 2009) teams sharing over 424,000 square feet (39,400 m2) of space encompassing 105 acres (42 ha). The shop includes all the necessary pieces to compete on the highest level in all of his racing endeavors, including a state-of-the-art, in-house wind tunnel. To complete the facilities, Penske imported over one million tons (250,000 pieces) of Italian marble. Penske, also an avid car collector, owns many rare American and European automobiles, including a Ferrari FXX, of which only 30 were made. Penske won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship with driver Brad Keselowski on November 18, 2012. In 1998, Penske was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1995. 2012 Sprint Cup Championship car owner While CEO of Penske Automotive Group in 2008, Penske earned a total compensation of $2,706,388, which included a base salary of $1,000,000, no cash bonus, stocks granted of $1,680,005, and no options granted. He was involved in an attempt to purchase the Saturn Corporation, makers of Saturn cars. On September 30, 2009, his Penske Automotive Group announced the deal to purchase Saturn had fallen through. Penske has five children, two with first wife Lisa and three with second wife Kathy: Roger, Jr, Gregory, Blair, Mark, and Jay Penske. His business interests include, Team Penske (IICS), (NASCAR), (ALMS), Penske Automotive Group (PAG:NYSE - a 40+% stake) - With 151 United States car dealerships and 101 international car dealerships, it is the second-largest dealership group in the world, Penske Motor Group - This group owns and operates automobile dealerships in California, Penske Truck Leasing - joint venture with GE Equipment Management, Penske Logistics - transportation logistics, TruckLite - lighting manufacturer for heavy trucks, QEK Global Solutions - a provider of integrated support services to vehicle manufacturers, tierone suppliers, and other businesses, Davco manufacturer of Class 8 heavy-duty, diesel-powered truck fuel/heater water separators and filter systems, Ilmor - engine builder, Deer Valley Ski Resort - part owner, Internet Brands - An early investor in CarsDirect, he has been a director since May 2001, FER Fahrzeugelektrik - Lighting Manufacturer,Tamsen GmbH - Car Dealer for Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati and Sytner Group He is also on the board of directors of Universal Technical Institute, a nationwide provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. NASCAR Technical Institute is located in Mooresville, North Carolina. Penske Racing donated $500,000 to Restore Our Future, Mitt Romney’s Super PAC. Penske was discussed as a potential candidate for Mayor of Detroit, but he declined to run

Guide to Personal Development By Nicholas Okoye

nokoye@empowernigeria.com

STRATEGY

(Personal, Entrepreneurial and Corporate) AM going to take my education and mentoring to the next level in this series. I will provide for you and all our readers a true path to greatness for anyone who chooses to participate he will be on the road to success and greatness. I have out lined for you in the past few week a few insights into the principles of success and in some write ups I have also given you the path to success. I have talked about Peak Performance and how we must all seek to attain Peak Performance if we want to Rich. So in the coming days and months I am going to break it down for you as I have broken it down for the Nation in my National Development Strategy Series. I am going to break it into three broad parts

The Individual Success Path. I will outline how Peak Performance plays into the ability of the individual to achieve greatness and how greatness can be determined. I will provide for you the measurements of Greatness which in some cases may not be measured in money terms but in terms of how you set your standards and whatever goals you choose. I will tell you what is important and what is not so important. I will tell you what to embrace and what to avoid. And in the final analysis I will help you and guide you to achieve what you have set out to achieve. You must however set the standards nit me. It is what you want that will determine how and when we have succeeded. The Entrepreneurial Success Path. I will break it down for the micro, small and medium business owner. I will provide for you the essential elements for success and how you can position in Nigeria. I will outline for you the opportunities as well as the strategies that you must embrace if you want to be successful. I will share with you the wisdom I have learned on my own Entrepreneurial journey and I will also share with you some of the wisdom I have learned from some of the masters of the Universe, local and foreign. Corporate and Institutional Success Path, I will not leave the large corporate institutions out. I will examine what they truly want and provide them with a path to growth, better earnings and lower costs. I will help them seek out new markets in the global community as well as identify new markets in Nigerian by applying horizontal and vertical integration strategies. I will also help them maximize the use of their present structures, their present staff strength, and their present financial positions by pointing out over looked areas of opportunity that will increase earnings and extend profitability. And at the end of it all I will integrate my teachings on these pages with our Nigeria Leadership Summit at the end of every year so that new Leaders can be borne in the Corporate, Political and Entrepreneurial Worlds of Nigeria and Africa. Watch this space.

Sunday, May 11, 2014 47

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

LAFETE

YOUTHMAGAZINE

BY BENSON IDONIJE benidoni@yahoo.com

All That Jazz

Pianist Horace Silver… Still Doin’ The Thing! FEW piano players from different generations are known to have moved the instrument from its conventional, accompanying role and that of merely providing solos - to a solid status where the instrument now creates layers of rhythms, funk, intimate colours and various other dynamics - by itself – to stand on its own. To say that Horace Silver is one of them would be an extreme understatement. Errol Garner of Misty fame and Art Tatum may have created the platform for this movement with the various recorded piano solos we heard in those early days of Vogue Records, but Bud Powell, the founder of ‘Bop Piano’ took over and carried along with him the likes of Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, Thelonious Monk, Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill, Red Garland, Hank Jones, Junior Mance and others. However, the guys who are crusading this funky, hard bop trend are Herbie Hancock, Chic Korea, Joe Zawinul, Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes, ex- John Coltrane pianist Mc Coy Tyner and of course Horace Silver who in fact paved the way for this new pianistic feat to blossom. And one of the finest recorded examples of this trend is Doin’ The Thing recorded in live session at the Village Gate by the Horace Silver Quintet. Doin’ the thing was a common term employed by jazz musicians in those days to describe genuine musicianship, artistic creativity and the finest of the art form called jazz. When a musician came up with a creative phrase in the course of a solo or wrote a song that sounded revolutionary, he was said to be ‘doing the thing.’ Horace Silver took modern jazz to an elevated level in 1961 when he titled his live recording at the Village Gate, Doin’ the thing featuring such great side men as Blue Mitchell, trumpet; Junior Cook, tenor saxophone; Gene Taylor, bass; Roy Brooks, drums . Horace Silver himself was on piano. Silver had done quite a number of recordings under Blue Note, but this was the first time he was recording under on-the-job conditions. Outstanding among Silver’s many attributes is his ability to communicate deeply and directly to his audience. Perhaps this positive quality is the cumulative effect of all his best traits..And it might well be that he imbibed this spirit from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, an outfit whose philosophy was to communicate with an active audience that was bound to respond by shaking their heads, patting their feet and in fact doing whatever they chose to do in demonstration of their response. Whatever it is, he can ignite his listeners to a level of healthy excitement: The applause that greets Filthy McNasty, perhaps the funkiest

Silver tune in the album, is not contrived but real. The audience is genuinely knocked out and they let the group know it. All the songs have their different qualities and effects: Mc Nasty is a new personality in the Silver song and storybook. Horace introduces him to the audience as a “mythical young man of dubious character.” As the horns tell the funky little tale in an ear-catching manner, Silver tosses in some colourful pianistic adjectives. He continues to rumble and hubble under Mitchell’s sure- fingered solo. After Cook’s inspiring tenor saxophone solo, Silver leaps in for some of his typical, individually patterned, headshaking solo work. To cries of “more,” which can be heard on the recording, the quintet responds with the second of four new Silver originals, a minor blues entitled Doin’ the Thing which happens to be the title of the album itself. Cook moves out of the ensemble choruses to wail on the saxophone while trumpeter Mitchell turns on the heat in no uncertain manner. Silver keeps the thermometer up during his solo stint before giving way to a short exchange between the horns. A Roy Brooks drum solo bristling with electric energy precedes the final theme. Kiss Me right is in a minor groove but it differs in tempo and mood from Doin’ the thing. Cook and Mitchell are both lyrical without neglecting to swing. That’s something everyone in the group never fails to do. Silver goes into a quoting groove along

an exciting solo line and adroitly works bits and snatches from such classics as Joshua fits de Battle of Jericho, Bud Powell’s Tempus Fugit and Filthy McNasty. The latter reference does not mean repetition; it is merely an example of a theme recurring quite naturally, in a musician’s mind during the course of an evening’s performance. Horace describes The Gringo as being “somewhat in the Latin vein.” ‘ Somewhat’ is an accurate word, for between the Latin rhythm at the beginning and end, there is driving, slashing, up tempo 4/4, except for the opening portions of Cook’s and Silver’s solos. Everyone is in spirited form here, but especially stimulating is Brooks’ drums with rhythmic patterns that give percussive drive to the ensemble. Brooks was influenced by Art Blakey and it is no wondered at all that he propels every soloist to action and more action. One chorus of the quintet’s theme entitled Cool Eyes, serves as a closer to the set. A complete version of this song can be heard in Six Pieces of Silver, one of Horace Silver’s previous hit albums and an equally remarkable session. Even though a studio recording, the performance carries memories of live action that are unforgettable. Reminiscent of Horace Silver’s Doin’ the thing album is Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, by the Julian Cannon ball Adderley Quintet with the funky, hard bop treatment propelled by pianist Joe Zawinul who also wrote the song. Apparently influenced by Horace Silver, here is an Austrian fellow you would think would be at home, immersed in arias and recitatives or at best playing pretty waltzes, but he came to America and laid down jazz like he was the fellow who invented it. In addition to Mercy, mercy, mercy, which was a big, hit, he also wrote Hypadelphia. And it is pertinent and relevant to mention the great Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes who leads the group, Irakere. Also a Horace Silver disciple, he’s one of today’s front line jazz pianists whose layers of rhythms have attracted Grammy nominations. Horace Silver’s brilliant career began in the fifties but he came into the limelight sitting on the piano chair of The Jazz Messengers led by the drummer, Art Blakey. Elements of his ear- catching, funk-oriented piano style was observed at the time, even though in small quantities, but his compositional power was immediately recognizable. He wrote a wow song for the Messengers that stretched the band to its limits, challenging the creative abilities of every one in terms of solo construction along the intricate progression of the song titled Ecaroh which, spelt backwards, means Horace . However, with deep involvement in space music, Silver went spiritual in the 90s and began to give lyrical and vocal expression to his new music.

Around and about... After AMVCA , Deadwood Plans International Release UTSIDE the acting awards, the only other O diadem grabbedby Nollywood at the last Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) was in the documentary, where Deadwood, a work on the plight of pensioners, was voted the best. Nominated also in the best short film category, the film, based on a newspaper article written by Dr Gilbert Chigbo, was produced by The Scarlet Trail and Derwin Productions and helmed at the Mighty Tot Studios in Lagos. Chief Executive Officer of Scarlet Trail Production, Enuma Chigbo, described the award as ‘mind blowing’. She said that it was first amazing to see the work they started with ‘almost no budget’ come to fruition. “The film is based on a newspaper article my father wrote, which was published in The Vanguard Newspapers in July 2010. So, to see the different phases: from a newspaper article to an award winning documentary is simply divine and means a lot to me,” Enuma said, adding that the next stage for the crew behind the documentary would be to exploit the international market. “The film still has a journey on the international sphere, but within Nigeria it needs to be fully exploited. It won an award at the Cross River State Merit Award and it was also nominated on the AfriNolly platform. We hope to show it on both terrestrial and cable networks,’’ Enuma said. Speaking on the making of the documentary film recently, Chief Executive Officer of Mighty Tot Studio Stanlee Ohikhuare explained that they embarked on the production of the documentary because of the touchy issue that the article addressed. ‘’I was inspired by the story and the script by Enuma and Grace Oboba Edwin-Okon. We shot in Calabar and Daddy (Dr. Chigbo), who handled the narration, got the hang of his role overnight, and shooting was just a walk in the park,’’ Ohikhuare said. The star of the documentary, Gilbert Chigbo said he is yet to get over the excitement of the AMVCA winning. ‘’It was totally unexpected. I never thought it would go this far. I am happy about it,’’ said the 79 years old pensioner who maintained that the story that was captured in the documentary was motivated by a real life occurrence. He said: “My father worked and retired in the Railways, I think in 1946. But for two years, this poor old man who had nine children did not get a penny of his gra-

BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI

shaibu70@yahoo.com

tuity or pension. You may wonder how the title came about. It was as a result of a very disturbing statement an ex- Governor made. He called pensioners ‘Deadwood’. This is a governor, who was supposed to ensure that pensioners got their dues. Rather, he called them ‘Deadwood’ saying that he did not have money for them and if they did not have children to look after them they should go home and die. There must be a system that should check all that instead of subjecting your senior citizens to such inhuman treatment’’. For the co-writer and Producer at Derwin Productions Grace Oboba Edwin-Okon, the need to give pensioners a voice was the motivation for the production. She said funding and the challenges of moving equipment from Lagos to Calabar almost stood in the way of the project. ‘’We also had the challenge of making some of the elderly people understand what we were trying to do. We had to take time to explain and get them used to their lines.’’

WAPYV’s Morning Show, Kookoorookoo, Expands ALE Adenuga Productions-owned Cable TV W Channel, wapTV, has already blazed the trail by becoming Nigeria’s first TV Channel

where Pidgin English is used to broadcast, thus making it accessible and interactive with over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria as well as to millions of viewers in several other African countries. WapTV’s Kookoorookoo Morning Show, which airs from 7:00am to 10:00am daily, features the brilliant wapTV presenters – Douglas, Veronica, Omonla and Mazi Ukpaka as they review the morning’s newspapers, interview guests, interact with viewers via phone calls and Social Media, discuss a wide range of topics, present weather reports and conduct a Vox Pop Segment. But in addition to these elements, wapTV has also introduced additional entertaining Skits and Segments, which make this Kookoorookoo Morning Show stand out from other morning shows across Africa. The comedy Skits and Segments in wapTV’s Kookoorookoo Morning Show include Akpan and Oduma, People’s Court, Okafor, The Gate, Cartoon of the Day, Bingo, Joke of the Day, Omonla, Horoscope, Papa Ajasco & Company Skit, Humourous Quotes, Nnenna & Friends Skit, Magana Magana, Weather Forecast and LOL; with even more entertaining content currently being developed. WapTV, the family entertainment channel, is available on Cable TV

Deadwood team displaying the AMVCA’a statuette platforms across Nigeria and several African countries; as well as to viewers all over the world through its Live Online Stream on www.thewaptv.net. As a testament of the channel’s ingenious content, which has generated mass appeal and popularity among viewers and advertisers, wapTV was awarded “Cable TV Channel of The Year” at the 2013 edition of the esteemed Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Award (NBMA).

Ojez, NFVCB Mourns Amaka Igwe HE Managing Director of Ojez Limited, Chief Joseph Odobeatu, has described the late T Nollywood icon, Amaka Igwe, as a lost ‘asset to the industry’’. Odobeatu, also a record label owner (O’jez Music), said Amaka was “a Nollywood rights activist, who was passionate about the industry that her passion became an obsession.”While expressing his sympathy to the family, the movie industry and the entire nation, disclosed that O’jez would be proud to

be part of the funeral activities when the family finally announces the schedule. “That will be an honour on our part as an entertainment centre that has been heavily involved in Nollywood activities for almost two decades now,” Odobeatu said. Meanwhile, the management and staff of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has also condoled with the family on the loss. Director General of the NFVCB, Patricia Bala, described the late Amaka as an icon of Nigeria’s creative industry who will be remembered for her pioneering role in Nollywood. Bala also said, “Checkmate, the television soap which she created had the roads emptied on the evening belt when it was broadcast. It was later to become the acting nursery, which supplied Nollywood many of its early stars. Without resting on her oars, the late motion picture matriarch went ahead with other epochal interventions setting up production studio, creating award-winning television series, founding BOBTv and growing it to become an industry benchmark with her husband.’’

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

48 Sunday, May 11, 2014

GRASSROOTS

Imo TROPCOM Chairman, Monarchs Decry Marginalisation From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri ONARCHS from the Oil M Minerals producing communities in Imo State (Izombe and Oguta, in Oguta Local Council), under the auspices of Traditional Rulers from the Oil Mineral Producing Communities (TROMPCOM), recently rose from a meeting decrying what they called large-scale marginalisation of their communities despite the oil produced in it. In attendance were the duo of the Imo State chairman of the body and a monarch in Izombe, Eze Boniface Nwauwa, and the Chairman of the Oguta Traditional Rulers Council, and the monarch of Obudiagwa, Eze Ignatius Nwanano. The meeting also admitted a newly recognised monarch of Umunwagu, Izome autonomous community, Eze Chijioke Egwuagu, who joined in demanding that the Federal and Imo State Governments should intervene to solve the problem of

marginalisation of their communities to ensure that their entitlement as communities that produce oil are given them. Nwauwa urged the authorities to pay attention to these

IMO needs, adding infrastructural facilities, and social amenities, such as health institutions, as well as scholarships needed to be put in place by the oil com-

HE Lagos State Government T has created 10 Job Registration Centres within 10

Okorocha

ABIA stratification, adding that in this regard, Malaria Parasite Sentinel Surveillance Sites (MPSSS) have been established in all states of the federation for routine data collection. According to him, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) and Integrated Community Case Management of Malaria (ICMM) strategies have also been introduced to further halt parasite transmission in children under five years, while Drug Therapeutic and Efficacy Test has commenced in eight states in Nigeria. The purpose of this, he said is to ensure that the malaria parasite is still susceptible to the approved medicine for the treatment of the disease and to detect any resistance as soon as possible.

According to the State Health Commissioner, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah, the war against malaria is being won gradually, adding that since the year 2000, malaria illnesses and deaths have fallen drastically. He revealed that as 3.3 million lives have been saved, and the scourge mortality in Africa fallen by 49 per cent and global malaria mortality rates also decreased by 42 per cent. Said Ogah, “We can defeat malaria if we invest in scientific approaches-Malaria control/elimination especially environmental management, research and sanitation.” Orji, thanked the minister for accepting to celebrate the WMD in Abia, lauded Prof Chukwu’s performances in the health ministry, saying they are in line with the President’s Transformation Agenda in the health sector.

Traditional Rulers Lament State Of Community Road RADITIONAL Rulers in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the Federal and Delta State Governments to urgently rehabilitate the Mbiri-Umunede road, which is currently inaccessible. In a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the traditional rulers at Owa-Oyibu under the aegies of Ika North East traditional rulers committee, the royal fathers decried the deplorable state of the road, saying that Mbiri community has been cut off from other communities in Ika North East area because of the bad road. In the release jointly signed by the First Vice Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Obi of Owa, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor the second and Obi of Umunede, Ezeagwu Ezewenali, the

rulership, Eze Nnani Nzeribe, expressed joy that Egwuagu, after going through the trouble for more than four years of being fully recognised, got the staff of office from the state government, leading to his ascendancy as a member of Oguta Council of Traditional Rulers. He said that out of about N4 billion-

derivation share that come to the state, monarchs from the area receive only a “paltry” N100, 000 monthly. He regretted that most monarchs had absconded their area due to the activities of restive youths who feel marginalised in benefitting from the oil resource from their communities.

Lagos Creates Job Registration Centers

Minister Lauds Orji On Health Projects At Grassroots From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, has commended the Abia State Governor, Dr. Theodore Orji for his health programmes and projects including the 250 Primary Health Centres, built across the 17 council areas, which brought the total in the state to 710. Chukwu made the remark while commissioning the Eye Centre built by the governor during his recent visit to the state to mark this year’s World Malaria Day. He said to fight malaria more effectively, it has become increasingly important to tailor malaria interventions to the specific malaria situation in an area and discontinue the one-size-fits-all approach. The Minister also stated that relevant data must be obtained for appropriate

panies operating in their area, while the monthly 13 per cent derivation should also get to them. The monarch, who is partially blind said: “Government should talk to the oil companies to recognise us, host communities.” The Paramount ruler of Oguta and the 46th in the

MBIRI Royal Fathers explained that the bad state of the road has made it practically impossible to transport farm produce from the community to urban centres in the state. The traditional rulers remarked that the largest Agricultural Farm Settlement in West Africa and the Nigeria Army Command Secondary School are both located at Mbiri Community and therefore stressed the urgent need for the Federal and State government to fix the road to enhance communication and facilitate easy evacuation of farm produce to major towns in Delta and Edo States. They maintained that the Mbiri road is a gateway and link road to Edo State and other adjourning communities like Umunede and Emuhu in Ika South Local government Area of the state.

Local Government Secretariats in the state, as part of government’s efforts to tackle the problem of unemployment and avail those at the grassroots the opportunity to benefit from its job creation and youth empowerment programmes. Dr. Wale Hammed, Commissioner for Special Duties disclosed this at the 2014 Ministerial Press briefing in commemoration of the 7th Year in Office of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), adding that the centres are saddled with the responsibilities of registering job appli-

LAGOS cants, issuing them identity cards, collating data and providing applicants with available jobs in the state. He explained that the Skill Acquisition Centres, which are specifically created for the compilation of data banks for unemployed youth, men and women who are seeking job placements and skill acquisition, are located within the local government secretariats of Agege, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Kosofe, Somolu, Surulere, Ikorodu, Ojo and Mushin. The Commissioner also revealed that the state government oversees the full utilisa-

tion of the Job Opportunity Centre, Igando previously established to actualise government’s efforts for the facilitation of regular Skill Acquisition Programmes as well as providing basic industrial equipment for use by the less privilege that are unable to equip themselves with the essential working tools to earn a living. According to him, “The Job Opportunity Centre is a small engineering / manufacturing outfit with a broad range of requisite equipment and facilities for top class services”, adding that “the Centre is well equipped to support and service artisans, who are yet to or are unable to establish on their own”.

Party Stalwarts, Community Pledge Support For Government By Gbenga Akinfenwa HEAD August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun State, party leaders and traditional chiefs in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State have pledged their support to ensure the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his positive turn around of the state. The Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Otun Jagun of Ilobu, headquarters of the council area, Chief Daud Ademola Alabi, at a recent peace parley among party leaders in the community, disclosed the readiness of the community to vote massively for Aregbesola in the forthcoming election, while also revealing the people’s resolve to guard against election rigging. Alabi, nicknamed “Government of Irepodun” by the first Executive Governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke during his tenure, commended the leadership of the party in the local government for the ongoing mobilisation within the party to ensure Aregbesola’s victory at the polls. He specifically commended the council party Chairman, Mr. Abayomi Oyedeji, for his doggedness and loyalty amidst intimidations by various individuals and organisations’, adding that Oyedeji-led executive council’s efforts has resulted in mass exodus from the opposition into the party. Alabi also commended the governor for the reforms currently being carried out in the

OSUN major sectors of the state’s economy, saying the ongoing reorientation, massive infrastructural upgrade, school reform, and peaceful atmosphere, among others have aided the works of party mobilisers in no small measure. “When you look at the last general meeting held at the party’s secretariat we understand there were many defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Congress (APC). Others are already reaching out to the party to announce their defection and I think this is due to the commitment of the party leadership especially the chairman. “I personally feel he deserves commendation and the for-

mer Secretary to the State Government too, Engr. Sola Akinwumi, who also deployed his wealth of experience to keep the party members together, despite several challenges,” he stated. Alabi however, urged the party to be careful with the new entrants so that they do not serve, as moles within the party, saying caution should be their watchword. He also advised party members to be peaceful and go about their businesses without causing any trouble anywhere. “Even when opposition attempt to frustrate them, they should avoid them because our fathers would say “the vanquished don’t always accept defeat without causing trouble.”

Kogi First Lady Fetes Widows, Orphans She urged them to key into KOGI Agricultural Transformation

From Kolawole Timothy, Lokoja S part of the flag-off of the monthly Food Outreach programme, Kogi Women Empowerment Network (KOWEN), the wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajia Halimat Wada has put smiles on the faces of widows, orphans and the physically challenged, as she has distributed food items worth millions of naira to them. During the event, which took place in Okpo, headquarters of Olamaboro Local Government, she explained that the project was geared towards poverty alleviation among women, youths and persons with disability in the state.

Agenda of Governor Idris Wada, by embracing farming in order to boost their income and to ensure food security in the state. The governor’s wife, who decried the plight of widows, orphans and physically-challenged, noted that they were singled out as recipients of the programme, due to their condition. Wada equally explained that every month, her team would be visiting each of the 21 council areas to distribute food items, in order to reduce their suffering, stressing that apart from the free food programme, her office would so embark on other schemes aimed at eradicating poverty in the state.

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Birthdays NOIBI, Professor Dawud Olatunbosun Shittu, clocked 80 recently. The scholar of Islamic Studies and recipient of the prestigious Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) hails from Ijebu Imusin in Ogun State. He was however born at Sapele in the present Delta State of Nigeria in 1934. He had his early education in the town and later learnt dressmaking for five years. Following a teacher-training programme, he proceeded to Egypt where he bagged the B.A. and M.A. degrees from Cairo University and the American University in Cairo (AUC) respectively. He later taught at the University of Ibadan where he also obtained the Ph.D degree in Is-

Noibi

lamic Studies. He was for 10 years the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan mosque. Prof. Noibi spent 18 years in the United Kingdom as consultant to an Islamic education organisation, and Adviser/Consultant to the Nigerian Muslim Community

in the United Kingdom. He also did voluntary post-graduate teaching and supervision at the Muslim College, London. He was involved in international inter-faith activities in many parts of the world and was awarded the prestigious Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his “contribution to inter-faith cooperation.” He also holds the Fellowship of the Islamic Studies, Nigeria (FISN). He is currently the Executive Secretary of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN). AKINLAGUN, Samuel Okunola, teacher, educationist and philanthropist would be 77 on Thursday, May 15, 2014. Born on May 15, 1937, he was edu-

cated at Ereko Methodist School, Lagos, 1945-55; C.M.S Grammar School, Lagos, 195660 and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, 1961-62. He also attended and received a degree in Botany from the University of Lagos, 1965-69; and later a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan), 1974-75 and Advance Management Certificate (AMC) from the Administrative Staff College (ASCON), in 1991. He worked at the Federal School of Arts &Science as lecturer, between 1969 and 1978, St. Timothy’s College, Onike, Yaba; Government College, Eric Moore; Government Teacher’s College, Epe; Schools Management Board, Ikeja; Awori College, Ojo; Eti-Osa Local Government Education District as Assistant Director of Education and TESCOM Zonal Office, Badagry as Director of Education, among others. He rose to the level of Director of Education in the office of the Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor from 2000 to May 2002, from where he retired. He holds the traditional titles of

Otun Balogun Ijo of the United African Methodist Church, Badagry, Jagunmolu of Youth Christian Association of St. Michael’s Church, Epe

and Jagunmolu of Idumota, Lagos Island. Compiled by Gbenga Akinfenwa gbengaherkin@yahoo.com

Member, House of Representatives, Otunba Yomi Ogunnusi (right) with Catholic Bishop of Ijebu Archdiocese, Dr. Ayinde Fasina when Ogunnusi was honoured as the Grand Patron of Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Condolence Visit: Lady Doja Otedola, widow of former Lagos State Governor, Sir Michael Otedola, Akinwunmi Ambode, former Accountant General of Lagos State and Mrs. Sarah Adebisi Sosan, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State during a condolence visit to Lady Otedola at her home in Epe, Lagos.

Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju (left), Acting Registrar, Mrs. Folake Okor, Distinguished Guest of Honour, Prof. Emeritus Akin Mabogunje, Country Organisation and Human Resources Director, Lafarge Nigeria, Mrs. Fidelia Osime, Director, MRD, UN-HABITAT, Prof. Oyebanji Oyeyinka and Prof. Samuel Daramola at the launch of UN-HABITAT State of World Cities Report (SWCR) at Main Lecture Theatre of the University in Imota, Lagos.

Events

Head of Delegation, Prof. Olu Obafemi (right), Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs. Oluseyi Williams being presented with a plaque by a participant at the closing ceremony of a week study tour of Lagos State by the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 36, 2014 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

• John Obayuwana, the Managing Director for Polo Limited has been selected to speak at the Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit 2014. He’ll speak on the evolution of the luxury industry in Nigeria, where the industry currently is, the challenges facing the industry and why is there a spotlight on Nigeria’s luxury industry. The Summit is taking place at the St. Regis Hotel in Mexico City on May 11th through May 13th. Book Launch • Rich Country Poor People: the Story of

Nigeria’s Poverty in the Midst of Plenty, a book written by Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka would be launched on May 15, 2014 at the NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos. Oyelaran-Oyeyinka is the most senior director with the United Nations, HABITAT headquarters in Nairobi. He is the first professor of Innovation and Industrialization Policy in Nigeria, a professorial fellow with the United Nations-MERIT, and professor of Innovation and Development at the Open University, UK; fellow, Nigerian Academy of Engineering.

Transition

Director, Brand & Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye (left); the evicted contestants, NyroLove and Ms Oge, and Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Ogiemwanye, during Etisalat presentation of gift to evicted contestants, at the Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol eviction party, held at Ikoyi, Lagos.

Balogun Olugbon of Ogbomoso, Olatunde Okelana (middle) and friends at the golf tournament played to mark his birthday, recently in Ilorin.

• Mrs Irene Ngozi Morenikeji Craig is dead. She died on April 15. She was an ardent lover of children and was dedicated to their education and care. She held various positions in education and childcare, her last formal appointment being House Mother at The Atlantic Hall, Epe. She was the Managing Director of Gozyren Nigeria Limited. She also authored the 'Kima' series, a set of books for children; as well as a member of the Old Girls Queen's College (O.G.Q.C) and an active member of the International Women's Society (I.W.S.) She is survived by her husband and three children.

Craig

•The burial rites of Chief Samuel Adedeji Ogunmosin of the Ogunmosin family of Okola Street, Odo-Aiyedun Ekiti, Ikole LGA of Ekiti State who died on August 21, 2013 would commence on Friday, May 16, 2014 with Christian wake keep at his residence, D14, Okola Street, Odo-Ayedun Ekiti at 5pm. Funeral, outing and thanksgiving service on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Methodist Cathedral of His Glory, Odo Ayedun Ekiti at 10am. Reception of guests at Methodist Primary School, Odo Ayedun Ekiti. He is survived by Mrs. Joke Akinpelu, Mrs. Bunmi Olosunde, Mr. Ayo Ogunmosin, Mr. Jide Ogunmosin, amongst others.

Ogunmosin

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Opinion Beyond Boko Haram, And Goodluck Jonathan S it turned out, we needed foreign assistance after all. In the same week in which President Goodluck Jonathan shut down his government so he could host a conference, he also invited what he called “powerful” countries to help his government to find the hundreds of girls abducted by the murderers who are posing as religious zealots. And so, days after he said he had no idea where the girls were, he was again boasting he would get them back. Just as soon as he had said that, he announced that the girls had probably been separated and sent to different countries. That shameful scenario was possible because for almost three weeks, he callously sat in Abuja focusing on running for the presidency again next year. Three weeks after the abductions, Patience Jonathan, who does not understand she is not a part of the government, went on television to shed fake tears. “Diaz God o!” she cried. It was unclear whether she was saying that in approval or regret, but I must hope she was saying it in prayer. In that case, it is time to advise the Jonathans to take their faith seriously and pray without ceasing. I offer this unsolicited advice because it is important for them to understand that the story of the abducted girls may turn out to be a terrible nightmare for them. Hopefully, they understand that the introduction of foreign expertise into the equation also means opening the front door to the intensive scrutiny they try to deny Nigerians. In an editorial last week, the New York Times dismissed Mr. Jonathan as leading a corrupt government, and with little credibility. “The kidnappings occurred just as President Jonathan is about to hold the World Economic Forum on Africa, with 6,000 troops deployed for security. That show of force may keep the delegates safe, but Nigeria’s deeply troubled government cannot protect its people, attract investment and lead the country to its full potential if it cannot contain a virulent insurgency.” And in a description that applies to the

Jonathan era as much as any other, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted how Nigerian leaders have squandered the country’s oil wealth and nurtured corruption. “Now they are losing control of parts of their (own) territory because they would not make hard choices,” she said. The Economist warned: “The incompetence of Nigeria’s president and government is hurting the country’s reputation at home and abroad.” The abductions certainly expose the philosophical hollowness of Boko Haram, but they expose Mr. Jonathan even more. Since his arrival in 2010, he has succeeded principally in the arts of promises and propaganda. His lack of true concern for Nigeria is reflected in a democracy on the verge of collapse because, as I have often described in this column, he has become the problem. Under Mr. Jonathan, impunity and corruption have become a major industry, leaving negative forces such as Boko Haram with a massive pool of the poor, the unemployed and the disillusioned from which to recruit. Under Mr. Jonathan, there is a battery of dubious statistics and numbers in circulation, most of them manufactured and manipulated by the government propagandist. Under Mr. Jonathan, the unemployed are despised. Privately, they are recruited as thugs to inflict pain and defeat on political and business opponents. Under Mr. Jonathan, the same Nigeria Army that was famous for peacekeeping has been exposed as being unable to maintain peace at home. The police seem lost in the shuffle between their responsibilities to the constitution and helping wives of the Big Man to carry their vanity bags. Mr. Jonathan’s supporters are always eager to say that he did not create the problems for which he is being blamed, as if he was voted to solve problems of his own making. If so, he has not repaired his ineptitude of such a historic scale he is becoming the dar-

ling of international comedians. What is crystal clear is that he lacks the capacity to make clear, patriotic choices, let alone implement them. The situation is so bad that he can be on one television station making hollow declarations while his wife is on another referring to herself in the third person as if she is a political factor under the constitution. Some of us knew what lay ahead. When Mr. Bode George was released from prison in 2011 and Mr. Jonathan invested in the celebrations, I pointed out that he was making clear what kind of country he would run if he won the elections. In “The Fortune Teller of Aso Rock,” (March 6, 2011), I said of Jonathan’s celebration: “His true message is therefore very simple: ‘I am Bode George. Take me as I am.’ Give him your vote, and that is your future foretold.” That is the precisely the kind of country Nigerians got, and that is the quality of governance that has nurtured Boko Haram. Where does Nigeria go next, in a situation so laughable that even Mr. George last week called for war against corruption? Hopefully, we will get the abducted girls back. But it is obvious now that Nigerians would be stupid to allow themselves, in future elections, to be blinded by emotion. To go into the polling booth on the wings of emotion is like a man choosing a wife with a blindfold on. In this regard, the only choice before Nigerians next year is to campaign—and vote—ABP. That means Anyone But PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), and Anyone But Patience Jonathan. But Patience was not elected, some people will cry. To which I would answer, “My point exactly!” Unless a Nigerian is a masochist, it is clearly time to prospect seriously for good governance—not goodluck governance— because as we have seen, the quality of administration Mr. Jonathan offers can

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

only lead to a regrettable political Sambisa forest. Mr. Jonathan is the best proof of what can happen when a people fail to focus on what is important. It is also important for the international community to recognize the important lessons in the Nigeria experience. As I have argued elsewhere, the post-war multilateral architecture, with firm boundaries of sovereignty and territorial integrity, demonstrates its shortcomings in countries such as Nigeria. That architecture grants the benefit of the doubt to the country that is exceedingly dangerous in the hands of a rogue leadership. When that leadership is rotten, as we have seen in much of the past 50 years in Nigeria, the multilateral system does not know when to stop feeding the monster, and vast populations suffer immeasurable consequences. This is why, when one considers the countries coming to the aid of Nigeria over the Chibok girls, it is interesting that most are the same countries that have in various ways aided and strengthened Nigeria’s corrupt leaderships in the past 50 years. It is time to consider a scenario where such countries as Nigeria can enjoy an alternative—or parallel—path to development without having to travel through a horrendous graveyard that could have been avoided.

A Tribute To Nyanya Victims By Eriye Onagoruwa OW do you console a man who hugged his wife and wished her a lovely day at work only to receive a phone call less than an hour later that his wife was dead? What do you tell the kids aged six and three years, respectively, who keep asking for mummy? What do you tell Edwin, a lawyer planning to get married later this year that his fiancée was among the dead in the Nyanya bomb blast? What about the lady whose arm and leg got torn off violently from her body? How do you pick up the pieces of your shattered life and start all over again? The baby who was rescued but may never live a normal life? So many sad stories. Victims of a yet-to-be-explained bomb blast cut down in their prime. Survivors with various body parts yanked off due to the sheer force of the bombs as they detonated. Is it possible to convince them that the government cares about them when less than 48hrs after the blast pictures appeared online of government officials attending to “important” state functions? A cenotaph may never be erected in memory of these victims. Our flags were not flown at half-mast. The wealthy really have nothing to do at Nyanya, a suburb on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory. Most of the victims are representatives of Nigeria’s struggling class, on their way to eke out a decent living. The proceeds of their livelihood would never be enough to send their kids to private schools, holiday trips abroad, access to good healthcare system (whatever that means in Nigeria today). Most of them were on their way to work in order to provide food for members of their household. People caught in the web of complex intrigues and idiosyncrasies in a country fast becoming a land of deep despair and hopelessness. As if to underscore this point, government officials came out quickly to trade blame and offer well-worn out clichés and platitudinous speeches. As a nation, we seem to have become immune to these sorts of senseless deaths.

Body parts strewn all over Nyanya Bus Park (reputed to be the biggest park in Abuja), charred bodies, debris from burnt cars and buses, the entire scene reminiscent of a horror movie. Unfortunately, however, this is no horror movie. This is slowly but steadily becoming the order of the day in Nigeria. And dare I add quickly that we are not at war. This is not Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. This is not Syria. It is just a nation whose leaders have systematically failed its citizens over and over again; the effects of which continue to reverberate in all sorts of socio-economic disasters. As I continue to mourn over the victims of that unfortunate bomb blast, too many issues are brought to the fore; questions in dire need of sincere answers gnaw at the innermost recess of my heart. The mass transit scheme buses or El-Rufai buses as they are popularly called at the Nyanya car park have only one door. Passengers enter and exit from the same point. It seems a small issue, but who buys buses with only one door? Arguably most of the passengers could have died from the internal stampede inside the buses. Needless to point out that this is a real safety hazard and a tragedy waiting to happen. We can and should change those buses. It is unthinkable that in this modern twenty-first century where developed and not so developed nations are advancing inter-city transportation and improved transportation systems; we are using these pre-historic buses as a means of transportation. Most of the victims were rushed to different hospitals. A lot were rejected on grounds of space constraint. It is perhaps important to consider building more hospitals and equipping them with functional facilities to cater for emergencies such as these. A family friend said that as she saw her sister writhing in pain with an arm and a leg blown off, she prayed silently that she would die, as it seemed better for her to die than to be alive in such a hopeless condition. We are never prepared for emergencies in Nigeria. It is always reactive rather than proactive measures that we continuously adopt when incidents like these occur. April 15th was the Boston bombing anniversary. I still remember the anguish, horror of the victims and the atti-

tude of the American government. Most importantly the resolve to find answers, get whoever was responsible and ultimately send the message that America had zero tolerance for acts that make the country unsafe for its citizens. The anniversary was aired on CNN and marked with another marathon and several interviews with some of the survivors. I am not sure next year we would remember the Nyanya bombings. It is even less likely any government official knows where the survivors live or work or if there would be any extra measures taken to protect further loss of lives and property. As is usual with us, the roads would remain blocked and manned by fierce looking security personnel. There would be checkpoints that would contribute to gridlock and discomfort for passengers. All of these would fizzle out in the next couple of months. NNPC, DHQ and other key buildings would remain permanently blocked. My heart goes out to the victims most of whom never had the chance to say goodbye. They could not have seen it coming. And the survivors? Life has literally stopped for most of them. A survivor was interviewed on CNN and he wondered why God spared his life. It was reported in a UK newspaper that the white widowSamantha Lethwaite had a hand in the Nyanya bombings. They alleged that she was spotted in Nigeria about six months ago but she bribed her way to freedom. Nothing has been mentioned about this in Nigeria. Life has indeed lost its essence in our country. What a senseless waste of lives. To the victims, I say Rest in Peace. Words are never going to be enough to express the void and ache your absence would cause in the lives of those who loved you. We still do not have answers. We cannot promise hope or succour to those you left behind. Children that would grow up without knowing their mums or their dads. Breadwinners gone without the chance to say goodbye. We live everyday in Nigeria unsure of what to expect. Rest in peace. Our hearts are with you. To live in the hearts of those you love is never to die. Sun re o

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Opinion Trouble Lands In Chaos And Confusion HREE flights land within five minutes of each other. They flew in from Johannesburg (bringing the world to Africa and taking Africa to the world), Atlanta and Dubai. The air is not really the temperature outside of the airport but cooler could be better. There would be about five hundred travellers, Nigerian and foreign arrivals, waiting to have their passports stamped. There are no clear queue lines but there were queues of sorts. It is the fault of the planes coming in one after the other. They should not have landed so close to one another and letting out so many passengers, crowding the arrival lounge to a standstill. There were only three immigration officers attending to five hundred passports, Nigerian and foreign. Out on the side of the queue, an off duty female officer wanted a passenger on the queue to jump the queue, come out and give her his passport. A few people on the queue told her she could not do such a thing. She said she was an officer. The people on the queue told her the more reason she could not do such a thing. When she moved near the queue to help the passenger out of the queue, the people in the queue said they would show her and her passenger pepper if she tried to cheat on the rest of the people of the queue. At that point she seemed to have taken a new look at the people on the queue. She retreated to the corner and there was no more threat of corruption on the queues. There was a person on the queue who’d come from no one knew where who kept on encouraging everyone to be patient saying as loud as possible that patience brings good luck but

nobody picked him up. Then he quoted a verse from the Quran to the effect that Allah was with the patient. And did they not know that it was easier to leave the country than to come into it? Months ago, even a couple of years ago, it was a difficult to arrive as to leave. But now, it was only difficult to arrive while it had become easy to leave. And look at it again, months ago there were only two rickety rolling platforms for the delivery of the passengers’ luggage. But look to your left today. How many of those rolling things can you see? Three? Four? And by the time you finally stamp your passport your luggage is waiting kampe for you to collect and go through nothing to declare except that you are happy to be home and sweating. Except that your ordeal is not over. From landing and walking out of that furnace of immigration, luggage collection and customs clearance has taken two hours. Ten o’clock in the night is almost here and this is Lagos. Outside it is like Oja Oyingbo or Oja Jankara or Balogun. From all sides touts of all forms and specifications proposition the traveller. Change dollar? Good price! Taxi sir! Any where in Lagos and beyond we go. Good price! We must get to the bus stop and actually take a bus which would drop the passenger at the car park, the new car park. There is some suggestion of a bus shed with passengers and their touts spread over a hundred metre stretch pushing trolleys of four, five suitcases or dragging over sand and gravel suitcases with additional bags over them towards a single bus that is just arriving. The

bus arrives, teases everybody over a twenty metre stretch of I’m stopping, I’m not stopping play-play and finally stops. The rear doors pull apart and the space opened into the bus is assaulted by luggage and passenger at the same speed. Luggage blocks the entrance. Neither luggage owner nor other passengers and their luggage can enter the bus. And shouting begins. And curses and quarrels and where are there no proper airport officers to ensure that there would be a queue and people would be orderly and luggage and passenger would enter smoothly and make the two km distance to the car park with little headache and heart ache. Why don’t things simply work out in Nigeria, complains a white guy who kept saying he was not satisfied with this kind of service, and did his contact expect that he and his colleagues would come back to this kind of chaos next time? The short man by his side is saying it is because of the upgrades to the airport, that things would be better in the future. This is not my first time here David. The last time I was here it was not as bad as this, It is deteriorating, is what I am saying

and you have nothing to say to that. The luggage is pushed in and passengers and other luggage find their way into the bus. The front door of the bus opens and a crowd blocks the entrance and fight their way into the bus. It leaves with a passenger shut out while his luggage got in! Screams! We are thinking of walking the two km to the car park. It was late. That bus just gone might be the last bus of the day. And nobody would tell you that it was the last. Then from the other side another bus appears, drags itself along while some hundred people and luggage assail the still unopened door of the vehicle. Fight to finish. Luggage placed at the door is dragged back on to the ground and passenger climbs in only to be pulled down by owner of luggage pulled to the ground and roforofo fight begins! What does it take to make things comfortable for ourselves? Does anybody at Murtala Mohammed International Airport cares about the horrible impression this display of crudity, confusion and chaos gives of the country? Does it matter to anybody? But for the fact that Trouble is here to stay, he would take the easy way out and not come back

Attorney-General’s Letter On APGA Crisis

By Ikenna Nwaobosi

N April 2, 2014 the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF) Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke wrote a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF). The AGF was advising the office of the SGF on the issue of who, between Chief Victor Umeh and Chief Maxi Okwu, nominates delegates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA). And from the contents, it was obvious that the letter was in response to the SGF’s request. Captioned, ‘Re: Nomination of APGA delegates to the National Conference’, the letter began: “Please refer to your letter with reference number SGF/30/S.3/111/952 dated 27 march 2014 requesting for my opinion in respect of the above subject matter”. Within the last decade APGA has made itself the most crisisladen political party in the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria. The leadership crises in the party defined its existence in the nation’s polity. During the 2005 Political Reform Conference, the issue of who should represent the party also featured. Then, the founder and National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie and not Chief Victor Umeh was recognised after a series of correspondences between the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and the Presidency under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. However, for the ongoing National Conference, INEC’s opinion was not sought perhaps on account of the fact that the commission has been joined in most of the cases pending at various Courts around the country. Apart from the fact that INEC is a party to various suits in the APGA leadership crises, there are reasons to believe that the electoral umpire may have contributed to the musical chairs in the party by failing to play its role effectively through its department of Political Party Monitoring Committee. It is on the strength of this that the implications of AGF’s letter on the APGA conundrum should be weighed especially given a similar disputation of who between Governor Willie Obiano and

JAW JAW By Didi Onu

Dr. Chike Obidigbo, was the authentic governorship candidate of APGA in the November 16, 2013 election in Anambra State. In his letter outlining his position on the contest for authentic National Chairman of the party between Umeh and Okwu, the AGF stated: “I have examined the decision of High Court of Anambra State in Suit No. A/126/2013: Onwudinjo Vs Maxi Okwu & ors and that of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. A/126/2013, Onwudinjo V Maxi Okwu & ors, which validated the national convention of APGA, held on April 8, 2013. I have also examined the decision of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/563- Chief Maxi Okwu & Ors V. Chief Victor Umeh & Ors, which invalidated the position of Chief Victor Umeh as National Chairman of APGA. I wish to observe that though the case is currently on appeal, no valid order of stay of execution exists”. I am, therefore, of the respectful view that on the basis of the above decisions, Chief Maxi Okwu should be recognised as the National Chairman of APGA…” Ordinarily, the fact that the National Convention of the party held on April 8, 2013 was done according to the APGA constitution should have settled the matter if those involved in the leadership squabbles have the interest of the party at heart. But it is perplexing that one of the contestants was quoted as telling Chief Chris Uche, the National Vice Chairman, (South) that unless he was national chairman, he would see to the demise of APGA. May be he owns the party but the Abuja Federal High Court judgment which the AGF referred to actually underscored the point that Chief Victor Umeh and Sani Shinkafi had overstayed in their offices as national Chairman and Secretary respectively. While the court held that Umeh’s tenure expired on December 2010, the court also discovered that his attempt to railroad himself back to power through an affirmation congress, which was actually convoked to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for the presidency; violates the APGA constitution. Again, the Abuja High Court noted that Shinkafi had exceeded the maximum two terms in office of eight years

allowed by the party’s constitution. It could be seen from the foregoing that the inability of APGA leaders to respect the constitution of their party contributes to the prolonged power tussle in APGA. The current squabble over who is the authentic candidate of APGA could also be traced to impunity and disregard for the party’s constitution. It is a matter better left for the Courts to decide whether the fact that his tenure had elapsed by December 2010, makes Umeh’s decision to sign Obiano’s nomination forms invalid. But Dr. Obidigbo, after raising objections to the screening and nomination of Obiano by Umeh’s three-man panel, went ahead to win the primaries conducted by the authentic APGA led by Maxi Okwu. However, though Umeh did not refer to any section of APGA constitution, he contends that the Constitution confers on APGA national chairman the power to erect a screening and appeal panel. Could it be that a chieftain of the party was seeing himself as the alter-ego of APGA or that he resents the route to due process and rule of law? May be it is that disposition that makes Umeh to plead that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate in the internal affairs of a political party. But it is expected that when the constitution of an organization is at issue, the Court could step in to interpret. The intervention of the AGF could be appreciated from that perspective. Who knows, the decision of the Federal High Court, Awka to grant a motion ex parte for INEC to accept the names of Obiano and Obidigbo pending the determination of who emerged in consonance with APGA Constitution, might have been informed by the reasons adduced by the nation’s chief law officer, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, the AGF. The place of the Court in the practice of genuine democracy cannot be overemphasised. In a nation where money rules, only an upright judiciary can make sure that impunity or overriding of the law do not go without censure. Nwaobosi writes from Umuota, Obosi Idemmili LGA, Anambra State

Sunday, May 11, 2014 55

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JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA (1924-2014) TRIBUTE Between April 2003 and October 2010, The Guardian had two enncounters with the late jurist, Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, in his home town, Oguta, and Abuja. As tribute to the icon, who passed on last Sunday, May 4, 2014, the encounters are reproduced here as published by the newspaper. he has stopped active engagement and does By Gregory Austin Nwakunor only stretching up in bed. T is evening. There’s a red sun in the sky signi- He says, “when I was younger, I used to run two fying approaching dusk. Chaffing wind blows or three miles and this has helped me greatly.” to keep the temperature low. A cab parks in Oputa says, “growing old is a bad habit that front of Charly Boy’s Punk Palace in Gwarimpa, active people never want to cultivate. Well, I stay Abuja. The engine hums softly. It’s still new, so, long hours in my study, but it doesn’t affect me.” the exhaust breathes almost invisible haze of He adds, “I’m still reading and writing at my smoke. A man walking along the edge of the age.” road crosses where the driver is, and asks where What kind of book does he read now in his old he is headed. The man walks away disappointed- age? ly. “Books?” he asks. “Philosophy is a natural There is a gentle tap on the ornate gate, and the option for me to read, history follows, law is small door opens. A security man comes out, alright because that’s been my livelihood.” and throws some question at the intruder Nigeria, at 50, has it been a success story? before finally throwing the main door open. The erudite justice looks up, and says: “Well, we Inside, there is large gathering of friends, kins- have tried as a nation. Progress may be slow, but men and media personalities. The whole place ‘slow and steady’ wins the race.” rocks with greetings: hugging and warm He adds, “each generation has its challenge; life embraces. is not a bed of roses; it is an uphill struggle and ‘Ajie’ Chukwudifu Akunne Sylvester Oputa how you encounter and tackle it that matters.” walks into the living room accompanied by How will you compare the kind of education some family members including the Royal you received to what children are receiving Punkness and self-acclaimed Area Fada, Charles these days? Oputa. The elder Oputa sits on a three-sitter There’s a sudden change in the old man’s counleather couch, his walking stick gently placed tenance. He fumes: “What we are doing now is a on the table in his front. travesty, unfortunately, everything has been Even at 86, he is still active. Apart from his devalued and depreciated.” physique that has shown signs of ageing, his He says, “in the past, there was serious competimemory is still as sharp as when he was tion; in my first year at CKC, everybody in the younger. class scored between 80 and 96 per cent. This is exactly true of Oputa. He absorbed the Competition was keen.” habit of achievement from home, though, with- Justice Oputa, however, believes that all the out a father or mother. blames should not be put on government. “You don’t wait for government to do everything for N October 2, 2010, the Justice Oputa you. We owe ourselves the duty to develop our Foundation (JOF) was launched. Tagged intellect. Government will only provide the facilCelebration of integrity, the event brought togeth- ities: Libraries, books, building, and transportaer members of the judiciary, civil society, media, tion, everything that is required for you to have public and private sector. a conducive environment to read. The rest is How does he feel at 86 and with a Foundation yours to develop.” for humanity just established? On non performing leaders, Justice Oputa says, He smiles, relishing a deep excitement and the greatest judge is the populace. “This is the says, “I feel fine, happy, and contented. I’m fultime to shun leaders who are not performing. filled.” We need leaders, who are looking forward to satJustice Oputa adds, “looking back professional- isfying the yearnings of the people.” ly and church wise, taking all together, I feel a bit happy.” HAT is his take on immunity clause in the The Foundation is an initiative committed to constitution, when rules are turned upside raising the bar on jurisprudence and good gov- down? ernance through its campaigns against poverty He asserts forcefully: “Let lawyers wake up and and, for social, democratic, human and environ- check immunity clause and see how it has been mental justice up to shoring up the dignity of implemented in other places. L. Warren in African people, making use of the instrumental- America; Lord Denning in England; they were all ity of assured food security system. vocal in saying that if the law does not keep pace According to Justice Oputa, the Foundation is with social change, it has lost its salt. Law has to aimed at youths. “It operates from the deep keep pace, and if legislation is wanting, lawyer understanding that it is virtually impossible to should initiate the process of change.” address the malaise bestriding the continent The erudite justice says, “if the law is to serve a without sound, people-oriented governance forward-moving society, it has to be forwardconstructed on sustainable developmental moving too; and not only forward-moving, but modem. This modem demands essentially that forward-looking as well.” the legitimacy of state should squarely rest on He adds, “if the Rule of Law imposes on such its capabilities to deliver core values in the pro- individuals a duty to obey, and they don’t, vision of basic needs to the citizenry.” democracy is gone. It becomes a dictatorship.” He adds, “JOF aspires to eliminate poverty and Oputa reasons, “no country can exist with anyinjustice, as part of a global movement for body being above the law.” He adds, “what does change working together with like-minded Rule of Law mean?... Behave lawfully, obey rules organisations, partners and allies around the and regulations. In order to be free, obey the world to bring about lasting change.” laws of the land. Nobody should be above the law.” USTICE Oputa is among the very few people, Justice Oputa is his own best critic. He doesn’t who have used their knowledge selflessly to go to deliver any judgment without first taking fight for the downtrodden and uplift humanity. critical look at the issue involved. His indelible mark in pursuit of justice will for“Don’t deliver judgment in a hurry. Write it ever remain in the annal of Nigerian history of three or four weeks before, then read again and justice, equity, and ultimate respect for rule of again.” law. He says no case is as important as that of This, perhaps, informed the decision of Pan Fundamental Human Rights. “It is crucial to a Ndi-Igbo Foundation USA, Inc. to bestow on happy society; a nation where no man is him, in 2006, Lifetime Achievement Award. oppressed; a society where law has found its In a statement, PNF USA underscored the quali- objective.” ties of the man, who has worked tirelessly for The old man recites a line in the 1960 national the common man. anthem: “With peace and plenty, Nigeria may be “This award is given to someone who has exem- blessed.” plified him/herself in various works of life with However, on the issue of backlog of cases in ardent commitment to serving humanity. An court, he says, “justice delayed, is justice denied. individual who advocates for human rights, A man who is not worthy to be a clerk of court is compassion, honest leadership, etc., Justice made a judge; what do you get? In those days, Oputa, a renowned jurist, a legal scholar and a you don’t ‘campaign’ to become a judge. It man of the people, excelled the criteria set for comes as a surprise. The danger is, if you’re too the coveted award.” ambitious, you may not be as hardworking as an A few months ago, you would have found the industrious lawyer, who didn’t want to be a knighted justice, who is the ‘Ajie’ (the oldest judge.” man) in his village, doing a lot of exercises; but CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA (1924-2014) TRIBUTE ... In The Sands Of CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55

Judicial Footprints

ORN on September 22, 1924 to Chief Oputa Uzukwu and B Mrs. Nwametu Oputa, Chukwudifu knew little of his parents. He was only three months old when his father died, and his mother died when he was barely six months old. His upbringing was thrust on his grandmother, Ogonim Enesha, a notable trader with the Royal Niger Company. She made provision for him, most especially his education. “My grandmother was there for me. She took a very good decision by sending me to school,” he says. She sent him to a catechist who instilled a sense of discipline in him and provided the necessary Christian upbringing. Sylvester, as he was called then, attended the Sacred Heart School, Oguta from 1930 to 1936, and (C.K.C) Christ the King’s College, Onitsha 1937 to 1940. After secondary education, he got admission to the Higher College, Lagos. However, as a result of the emerging World War II, he was moved to the famous Achimota College, Gold Coast (now Ghana), where he obtained the B.Sc degree in Economics in 1945. It was also at this period that he studied at home to obtain B.A (Hons.) in History from the University of London. On his return to Nigeria from the Gold Coast, he took up a post as a teacher. His first school was the African College, which also had on its staff prominent Nigerians such as Chike Obi, the famous mathematician, and Dr. Pius Okigbo. Later on, he transferred to the Kalabari National College (KNC), Buguma, where he was made the principal. One of his pupils was Professor Tamunotoye David West, former petroleum minister. His search for knowledge led him to study law in England, and by June 1953, he received his LL.B (Hons.) degree. He was called to the English Bar-Grays Inn, London, on November 26, 1953. He returned to Nigeria in 1954, and enjoyed a highly successful private legal practice for the next 12 years. As a legal practitioner, he appeared in virtually all the magistrate and high courts of the then Eastern Region of Nigeria, as well as the court in the Region of the Cameroun. He also made regular appearances before the West African Court of Appeal, the Federal Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He was the leading counsel in the Harcourt Commission of inquiry into the Oguta Chieftaincy dispute (1958/59). Among his other representations are: Leading Counsel in the Ukelonu Inquiry into the Nembe Amayangbo Dispute (1959/60); Leading Counsel in the Harding Commission of Inquiry into the Onitsha Obiship dispute (1960/61); Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into revenue collection in East Central State (1975). This Commission first recommended the use of the tax clearance certificate as an instrument of revenue generation for the state. This became a worthy example, which was soon taken over and adopted by Federal Government.

ADMIRALTY On determining if a claim falls within admiralty jurisdiction: … It is apparent that the situs, the locus in quo for the assumption of admiralty jurisdiction should normally be the high seas. Lord Esher, M.R. called it the locality. That something happened on the high seas (irrespective of any statute) is prima facie, other things being equal a necessary condition for the assumption of Admiralty jurisdiction. In the case now on appeal, the loss did not take place ‘on the high seas’. The ship M.V. River Aboine has docked at the Apapa port and the goods had been fully discharged into the warehouse of the Defendant/Respondent. It was from that warehouse that 47 packages were lost. Thus the ‘locality’ (the high seas) Principles propounded by Lord Esher, M.R. in Queen v. City London Court supra does not extend to this case. Per Oputa J.S.C in AMC v. NPA (1987) 1.N.W.L.R. (PT 51) 475 at 501

APPEAL LODGED OUT OF TIME

On implication of court hearing appeal filed out of time: Section 37 of the Native Court Ordinance above mentioned gave all appellate courts in that hierarchy of courts the power and the jurisdiction to grant leave to an Appellant to appeal out of time. In this case, the Governor’s Court possessed that power. Now when an appeal is before the Governor’s Court albeit field out of time, the Governor may choose to hear it though filed, out of time or not. But when he does hear it, he has impliedly grant his leave, which was anyway his to grant or refuse. It is a notorious fact, that under the Native Court’s Ordinance, and in the native court practice, what is aimed at is substantial justice, which is not to be fettered by technical rules of procedure. The hearing of an appeal filed out time, to my mind, and in my humble view, indicates that the court hearing such appeal has by implication granted its leave. From this angle again it will be wrong to argue that the Plaintiffs APPEALS appeal to the Governor’s Court was nullified by the mere fact – not even fact but suspicion (not fact) that it might have been APPEAL AGAINST RULING ON PRELIMINARY OBJECTION filed out of time. But even if it were, by actually hearing the On the need not to allow appeal on preliminary objections to HE year 1966 marked the beginning of his career on the appeal, the Governor will be deemed to have granted his leave delay the determination of substantive case: Bench with his appointment as a judge of the High to the Plaintiff to appeal out of time. An appeal against a Ruling delivered on preliminary objection Court of Eastern Nigeria. Per Oputa J.S.C in seems to be rather an ‘unwarranted’ luxury. Since the preliminary How did he find himself on the Bench? Aladegbemi v. Fasanmade (1988) “It came as a surprise. When I stood up to present my case objection will not finally determine the real questions in controver3.N.W.L.R. (PT 81) 129 at 160 sy in this case such points arising therefrom could have safely one morning, the judge asked me on which side do I belong: Bench or bar? It didn’t occur to me that I had been awaited the eventual outcome of the case and then be urged on BRIEF IN A MURDER CASE appeal against the final decision. appointed a judge until the judge said it was announced on radio in the morning. From then, my career on bar end- … In the final result and for all the reasons given above this appeal On the need to file a comprehensive Brief in a murder case: ed. Though it condemned me to penury, I accepted this as is wholly and completely unmeritorious and it ought to be disA Brief in a murder case (a case having very serious consemissed. It is a matter for regret that these preliminary skirmishes a service to the nation. It is part of sacrifice needed for the quences for the Appellant) deserves to be more purposeful, should be allowed to delay the determination of the real issues in development of our jurisprudence.” more substantial and more comprehensive if a Brief has to be dispute in the substantive appeal which are matters of manifest, During the next 10 years, he discharged his duties credfiled at all. public interest. The people of Muri want to know who their emir is itably, serving on several divisions of the High Courts of Per Oputa J.S.C in and so does the Gongola State Government. The Appellant himself the region and later, East Central State. Adelumola v. State (1988) points but in knowing whether he is still the Emir or Muri. Let all Another major landmark in the career of this eminent 1.N.W.L.R. (PT 73) 683 at 689 concerned face these important issues with objectivity squarely jurist occurred in 1976, when he was appointed the first and promptly. Chief Judge of Imo State. He held this position for about Per Oputa J.S.C in COURT OF APPEAL ENTERING AN ORDER OF STRIKING OUT eight years until July 2, 1984; and during the period, he Tukur v. Govt of Gongola (1988) helped to set up a solid judicial structure for the fledgling 1.N.W.L.R. (PT 68) 39 at 45, 52 On when an order of striking out, or of a non-suit is usually state. His exit from the state judiciary was due to his elevation made: to the position of Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Now justice in civil proceedings is not a one way traffic. It is Life on the Bench and the Human Rights Violations not justice for the Plaintiff/Appellants alone. No. it is also jusAPPROPRIATE CONSEQUENTIAL ORDERS TO MAKE BY AN APPELLANT tice for the Defendants/Respondents. Striking out the claim for Investigation Commission — The Oputa Panel and the COURT National Political Reforms Conference? a declaration will be of immense advantage to the losing “It is there for posterity and the people to assess,” sighs Plaintiffs (who can thereafter proceed afresh) without any corOn the distinction between an order which a court has no jurisdic- responding advantage to the winning Defendant/Respondent the old Jurist. tion to make and an order made erroneously: He has received numerous awards and honours from in the Court of Appeal. Justice that is not even handed is not One must draw a distinction between an Order or a judgment Christian organisations, including the highly revered justice. It may be injustice. The Court of Appeal showed some which a court is not competent to make and an order, which even Knight Commander of St. Gregory the Great; Knight sympathy for the Plaintiffs but as I observed in Willoughby v if erroneous in law and in fact is within the Court’s competence: Commander of St Sylvester: and Knight of St Mulumba. International Merchant Bank (1987) 1 N.W.L.R 9pt. 48) 105 at p. Timitimi v Amabebe (1953) 14 W.A.C.A 374 at p. 377. In the case now Chief Gani Fawehinmi: His Time and Age. A critical assess132, justice should do far better without the bandage of prejuon appeal, the trial court dismissed the Plaintiff’s case. It had jurisment of his contributions to Nigerian law and Jurisprudence; dice or sympathy around her eyes. Law as an Instrument of Nation Building; To restore the dignity diction to do so but it might have been wrong in doing so. But Per Oputa J.S.C in being wrong does not rob the trial court of jurisdiction to be right of Man. The role of the university; Shananhan, the Apostle of Ogbecie v. Onochie (1988) Light, The irony of Christian Witnesses; The role of the Christian or wrong. Declaring title in the Defendants who claimed none was 1.N.W.L.R. (PT 70) 370 at 396 Elite in the religious and civil life of the country and many oth- definitely wrong and that error goes to jurisdiction. The trial High Court had no jurisdiction to grant any part that which he did not er papers have been presented by the highly respected Source claim. jurist. Judicial Footprints Per Oputa J.S.C in Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, His notable pronouncements (Supreme Court Awoyegbe v. Ogbeide (1988) This was first published in October 2010 Years, 1984-1989) 1.N.W.L.R. (PT 73) 695 at 715 Compiled by George Oputa

Sunday, May 11, 2014 57

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JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA (1924-2014) TRIBUTE

In Oguta, Oputa is ‘King’ HE weather was clement on this bright Sunday. The time was few minutes past 4pm. The vehicle had just arrived Mgbidi junction. Before one could alight from the car, hawkers, drivers, cyclists, touts and street urchins had swooped on the car; peddling their wares and calling out various routes-for the benefit of the passengers. With luck, one meandered through the maze of people in one swoop, moved inches away from the riotous scene while trying to get a bearing. The question that played on one’s mind was how to proceed further. Then one recalled that the musician Charly Boy had way back in Lagos, said that once you mentioned the name, Oputa, one thousand and one persons would only be too glad to lead one straight to the residence of Justice Chukwudifu Akune Oputa in the very heart of Oguta. Just then, a number of cyclists raced down to the spot wanting to know one’s destination: “Justice Oputa...” before one could even complete the name, the cyclists had shouted in unison, almost in a well-rehearsed manner: “O! Oputa Panel, let’s go.” Immediately, one of them grabbed one’s bag and literally dragged one to his bike. Negotiation and all such were done as the journey proceeded through the stretch of tarred road that led to Oguta. By the way, the town has been in darkness for about two months. Calmness reigned at the Oputa’s 61/63 Agbatani residence; the man who was the mightiest news in the country only a few months back. Parked in the compound were two cars-a 406 Peugeot with the Presidency registration number and a blue-coloured Merecedes Benz car. The floor and pathway are covered with concrete while flowers and trees lined the wall fences. This of course, accentuated the serenity and aesthetic appeal of the compound. In the lobby were some chairs, on sat in one of them. Not quite long, the retired Justice of the Supreme Court came out from one of the rooms; he was in his evening jumper, looking quite casual. Without his pair of glasses, the familiar feature on television and newspapers during the heydays of Oputa Panel, was not visible save for his baldhead. Briskly, pleasantries were exchanged. “Sir, we would like to have an interview with you...”. “On what?” the old man interjected. “On your personality, life in the village and all sorts..” A furtive glance at his face showed he was not quite persuaded. Then for good measure, one dropped in that his son Charly Boy had actually promised to alert him of one’s coming. “Well,” he said: “When do you want it?” Not wanting to push one’s luck further, “At your convenience,”one responded. “You can see it is quite dark now and we don’t have light in the town.” He explained that he was billed to travel to Owerri the next day (Monday). However, he gave an appointment for 4pm the next day; and if he wasn’t back in town then, the following day (Tuesday) at 9am. The next morning one was in the bathroom having his bath when a knock came on the door. it was Anayo. His mission: The Old man had brought the 4pm appointment forward to 10am this Monday morning. He is no more going to Owerri. Anayo would go on his behalf. By 10.05 am, Solomon, one of the Oputas’ aides, ushered the visitor to the library. He handed over a copy of Oputa’s CV and went in search of a book he said the Justice had asked him to give to the visitor. The 11 pages CV, was of course, quite revealing and intimidating. A well stocked library, all the books are neatly of Oputa, all reflective of various events and stages of transition in his life. Meanwhile, Solomon was still searching for the book. While an intruder may have a swell time searching for any book in the shelf, Justice Oputa, effortlessly went to any part of the shelf to fetch any book in the course of the chat. He knows the library like the back of his palm. And as it turned out, of all his earthly possessions, the library is his most prized and valued. Presently, it is the centre of focus and activities of his life. He spent almost 90 per cent of his time in there.

... With son, Charles, popularly known as Charly Boy When locked in here, working, which sometimes lasts into 4am the next morning, he brooks no disturbance or intruder in whatever disguise. By 10.30am, Oputa stepped in through the door into the library. Despite his age, 78 (He was born on September 22, 1924 in Oguta), he looked quite trimmed and agile in his well-tailored native long top and trousers, all grey colour-stripped flannel. His pair of glasses sits comfortably in place. A white sparkling handkerchief trucked into his top pocket completes the picture. The sartorial modesty around the famous Judge is admirable. There was no majestic air of any sort. His informal manner is winsome. As the interview commenced, Justice Oputa disclosed that Charly Boy had called last night and ‘commanded’ him to cancel his Owerri trip and finish up with the interview first. Before the interview, the old man sought to know if one is a Christian or not. “Yes”. “Catholic or Protestant?” he asked, “Protestant”, and a Baptist.” “What are you protesting,” he asked. At first, one didn’t catch the humour implied, but when one did, there was a good laugh. And all through the session, Oputa was at his best wit; quite humorous and harmless in the ways

to illustrate his points. His audience would marvel that despite his age, he still retains a fertile memory of such vast classical works. Event his knowledge of Latin is not in doubt as he effortlessly and copiously quoted aphorisms at intervals. Again, his staying power and strength of character are unparalleled. All through the session, he never showed signs of weakness or weariness. He carried on as if he was in a court session. Calling for break is unthinkable. But for two intruders, first an elderly relation who came into the library, unannounced, whom he politely told to come back, as he is busy – that is the kind of distractions he referred to in the interview when he is locked in the library working; and the second was a nephew of his who came all the way form Lagos. He took time out to hold discussion with him. Besides these interruptions, the interview went on till 2.15 p.m. At the end of the day, Oputa gladly gave one a tour of the building. First, the cellar, where two of h is children were buried. Next to this, is his vintage car: the Shoreline Limousine- 1950 model. The car is presently used for ceremonial events such as marriages. Then the living room down stairs. Again just like the library, everything here was Spartan, from the settees to the pictures on the wall. The piano that Charly Boy first started out with, is placed in one corner covered up just like the various musical sets and records that Oputa once cherished. Taking a final leave of Oputa, what comes across is the fact that one has encountered a rare gem, a Socrates’ of his time and “an erudite scholar across disciplines,’ whose charm is obvious for anyone that comes across his path to see. Indeed, Oputa is a virtuous performer, who not only proselytise, but dispenses with justice, educate, counsel and illuminate your he responded. path as well as entertain in a very oracular He came across as a grand master, who knows manner. when to turn on the magic, how to hold his Talking to his brethren in town, the impresaudience spellbound. The feeling one comes sion one gets is that Oputa is highly respected away with is that Oputa is not just a lawyer or and revered by his people. He is indeed, the Justice alone, he has vast and masterful underLord of the Manor. The encounter at Mgbidi standing of issues at stake. He comes across as a junction just turned out to be an iceberg; teacher, priest, father, counsellor, philosopher, because almost everywhere in town, everyone nutritionist, scientist and many more, all men, talks good of him. depending of course on the circumstances. At his ancestral home, there is a kind of adoWhat one finds most intriguing about Oputa is ration that the people associate with him. the way he espouses his points, coating them in They regard him as the Lord of the home and a deep philosophical garb. And of course, no one living legend of their time. Elsewhere, he is can miss his deep religious sensibility. The way generally referred to as the grand old man and he quoted the Bible and relates the Lord’s teach- father of all. ings to issues he sounded like a priest. What easily comes to the fore is the humanInterestingly, Oputa clearly manifests as a ness that surrounds the personality of Oputa. staunch Catholic and social engineer of sort; Ever since he moved to the village, the people infact, a Knight of St. Sylvester; a prominent most times, go to him for counsel and advice member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, on any issue. He is said to be quite accessible. Oguta, located few metres away from his resiAnd ever since his Oputa panel days, there is dence. this kind of cult or larger than life image that His use of anecdotes to drive home his points is is associated with him. He has become more quite enlivening it brightened the scene, as they popular and highly respected. Some would clarify the points at stake. He also has a deep even want to worship him. He has in a way put sense of history and historical events. Perhaps, Oguta on the map as many visitors come more exciting, is his literary skill. His deep mainly to the town these days to hold court knowledge of the classics and great works of lit- with him and also to see the town just because erary arts comes easily to the fore of the fact that he lives there. Most times, he waxes poetical and like an actor, he quotes passages form Williams Shakespeare CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

‘Charly Boy’, My son VERY living father has a bit of selfish ambition. From the word go, Charles had a mind of his own. When I bought a piano for them, I had a teacher. He preferred to vamp rather than go through the normal lesson. And then, when he came back from abroad, we tried to have a small studio for him there (pointing towards the direction). Then, he made up his mind one day and just left to Lagos. And I told the mother, don’t worry yourself. What business can he make here. You can’t pocket him. He is grown up. Let him go into the world, make his own mistakes, correct them himself. Luckily for him, we came to Lagos. It was a bit difficult then when he used to wear brown shoe and black shoe differently. I worried about it then. One day, he came to me and said, ‘Papa, don’t give yourself high blood pressure

because of me. I am not dressing to please you. My fans like it. Whether you approve or not I will give them what they like.’ There was a time he was dying his hair – one colour here and another there. And somehow, he had a lot of fans but his philosophy of life is a little bit difficult, especially with this Okada people, I don’t know what he sees in them. The power that he understands that he is just doing his bit. Look at his last action, where he showed the film of the prisoners. Some people liked it. The authority was so miffed by it. They arrested him and then they took him to his friend… they didn’t know that he was very friendly with the Inspector-General, Tafa Balogun. So IG said ‘oh! Charly na you? Why didn’t you get permission?” This is a special project, which needs to be

addressed. Maybe the people didn’t know it exists. Our duties as communicators, media people are to make people aware that there is this problem. Honestly, those who saw this film were shocked. Look at where they were fetching water to have their bath. Some of them have been there for seven years and more. No pension, no gratuity. As he was talking somebody fell down and died. And when he went to the station after blaming him for filming, they said ‘what do we do now? Let’s get N50,000 to buy bread.’ They had two trucks of bread. The people were scrambling for this bread. So he is doing a yeoman service. I wish our people would understand it that way. I hope they do.”

58 Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA (1924-2014) TRIBUTE

... Life Has Not Been Dull In My Homeland CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57 Y father died when I was about three month and my mother when I was about six months. My grandmother brought me up. She allowed us to get out of Oguta. I didn’t really know much about what Oguta looked like as a young man. I was with this man called Mr. Azike. He was a teacher. And it was a very funny incident that made us to come together. I went to school the first time and they said my hand hadn’t reached my ears (he demonstrated) so, they will not accept us. At the end of the day; the teacher asked about three, four of us to come to his house. We went. Rice used to be a very big and mighty feast. It was eaten only on Christmas days. So, this man cooked rice and gave to all the children and they were eating. He gave me and I said no, mama said I shouldn’t eat in another man’s house. I wasn’t eating’. He did everything to persuade me to eat. I did not, I don’t eat in people’s house except mama say so. And as we were discussing this, my grandmother was looking for me. They said I was in teacher’s house. She came and met us and said what was wrong. The teacher said I refused to eat and; unless mama said I should eat I won’t eat. So, she said it was true, ‘he will not eat unless I say eat’. She said alright, you could eat. So, I took the plate that he gave me. That surprised the teacher. When we were going on holidays. He asked my grandmother whether he could take me on holidays to their town, my grandmother said yes. When we reached his town (Achina in Anambra State), he was transferred from Oguta. He came to Oguta without me to ask mama whether he could take me along. He was transferred to Ozubulu. So I followed him to Ozubulu. Form Ozubulu he was transferred to Ihiala. That was around 1935. Then I left and came to Oguta. I had my Standard 5 and 6 in Oguta; otherwise, the rest was done outside. Later, I went to CKC Onitsha. I didn’t enjoy much of the childhood here. We were under the discipline of a teacher. Then, a teacher was a very big man. I was a teacher myself. I came back from Achimota, Pius Okigbo (late), myself, Chike Obi (Professor of Mathematics) were teaching. He had his B.sc. in Onitsha through Correspondence College; had his Master’s in Onitsha too. So we thought it was a very big achievement. And we all went to CKC. We joined him in Africa College, we taught there. We started working for our Inter (intermediary) BA. And we got our Inter BA in Onitsha. Pius got his Inter BA in History. Both of us did History. When I left, I went to Buguma as a teacher. The night before I arrived, there was a dispute between the school and the principal. So when I got there, they asked me to be the principal. I said how could I be principal at this age? I wasn’t up to 30 years. And I haven’t got a BA. But they say ‘na you go be principal. Ah! Well, what I did was to try and talk the children in physical training (laughter). To make it appear that I was very strong (he demonstrated with his two hands) we did all these things in Achimota. So I became a principal with an Inter BA. It was when I was there that I got my BA. People like Professor Tam David West. Justice Karibi Whyte (rtd) were my students. So when we reached the Supreme Court we were admitted to the court the same days. But he was sworn in before me. So, I find you are my senior (to Karibi) and he said, ‘no no sir.’ (laughter). Growing up in Oguta When we were young, Oguta was a community that was closely knit together. You don’t need to go out to know your brethren. They lived in the same compound. Although it was a family of polygamy but yet everybody lived in the same compound; you know one another. At festive occasion. You go from one house to another. And not only on festive occasion every Sunday, when you close form mass, you go visiting before you finished, it’s time for Catechism class, which is about 4 p.m that don’t happen again. When we were young before you are at the age of seven you must know how to paddle your canoe (Oguta is a riverine enclave). You must know how to swim. You can’t paddle canoe without knowing how to swim.

Then we used to play football in front of the houses. Ihiala was 12 miles away and one used to walk from here to Ihiala with our toll bells. Friday of the month that we went to Ihiala. I went to school in Ihiala at St Martins, Ihiala and St. Michael, Ozubulu (All in Anambra State) I don’t even think I went to school here, except classes five and six, all other were outside Oguta. That was a very big experience if you had to live outside your town. And compare and contrast what they have and you haven’t got. Nowadays, things are very easy. Those days I lived with my grandfather who was a teacher. There was strict discipline. If your father or mother tells you to do something, It’s a command and you do it. In our culture, you never greet an elderly man standing. No, you have to bend down. But for the youths now, whether you call it development, positive or negative I don’t know ... but there is a revolt; sometimes, not totally their fault. Formerly, parents took time to know where their children went and what they did. Any bad report, you call the child to order. Nowadays, very few parents have the time for their children. There is mad rush to make money, the children are allowed to grow wild. When the missionaries were in charge of schools, they made sure they instilled discipline. And as Duke of Ellington said, ‘if you teach your children three Rs – Reading; R: Wring: R: Arithmetic... and you leave the fourth R of Religion, it produces a fifth R of Rascaldom.’ Now, the youths have taken over; to do what they like. They command the elders, they beat them up at times, it is unfortunate very, very unfortunate. In some villages, they fight the elders. Look at Lagos look at Benin, you have a lot of unemployed youths, which is a very dangerous things to any society. And it is a very big problem when you have graduates unemployment. I referred to it once as a ‘time bomb.’ If we don’t take time, it will consume this country. Every state has at least one university, what are they going to do when they leave? Many of the armed robbers are graduates. And they are more dangerous having studied science and technology. You lock your doors. They can pour nitric acid and everything will dissolve, they open the doors. What lessons do you give to these youths to learn? Look at the political killings. Now you teach them to shoot your way to power. Now, many of the campaign funds, what do you use it for? My grandson came home recently, he just left this morning. He said that he wrote a project and they said that except they bring N20,000, they will not score the project! I said, I won’t give you that because I won’t feel happy in my consciences if I give N20,000 to bribe your teacher’. And he started crying I said ‘you can cry from now till tomorrow, I don’t think it right and I won’t do it. I didn’t let him buy something for his teacher. So they went and bought. St. Remy for N750! Now, how can a teacher, a professor accept gift from a student? That is our society for you. Homecoming to Oguta It is not that easy to come back home but for the inescapable factors you have to come back home one day or another. When I was a lawyer, I was based in Port Harcourt. When I became a judge, I travelled the length and breath of the old East Central State. When Imo State was created in 1976, I returned home from Onitsha, my last station. My first station was Enugu, then Enugu to Abakaliki, Abakaliki back to Enugu. Then during the civil war, we served near Akwa; from there to Achina. After the Civil War, we came back home and I was posted to Onitsha. When Imo State was created, I came to Aba, then Aba to Owerri. I was in Owerri for a year or two before I became the Chief Judge of Imo State High Court. I served in this position till I went to the Supreme Court in 1984. I was in the Supreme Court till 1989. Then I retired. When that phase finished, I attended some arbitration. I did that for about two, three years. And then this latest assignment — Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission, which they named Oputa Panel. We did that for about three years, submitted our report in 2001. Then relocated back here (Oguta). And it has not been that dull. With these

books here, you can’t have a dull moment (laughter). No way. The only thing is that people are not used to your own routine of life. To be able to write, you need time for yourself, collect your thoughts, revise them, and put them down. I am busy round the clock. But when people come to visit you, they think they are doing you a favour (laughter), they are disturbing you but they don’t understand. That is why I normally work at night. I sleep during the day as much as I can. I start by 9pm; sometimes, I stay awake till 3am or 4am (working). When I finished with the panel on the Judiciary, Kayode Eso (Justice) was our chairman, I came out with two books… All these (pointing to a certain section of the library) are what we did in the inquiry (Oputa Panel). Choice Of Oguta For Retirement But this is my home, whereelse will I settle? I don’t

starch. You don’t need too much of it for sitting down and writing. You have to make sure that anything that does not agree with your system goes. Whether you like it or not, the system are tired and weak, don’t overload the system. Otherwise, they will revolt, and when they strike, you have paralysis. So you got to be careful of what you eat, what you drink after the age of 60, 65. And cut down on the things that you don’t really need. But keeping good health, first of all, if you needs are not many you are happier. If you want the whole world you will never get the whole world. You will be struggling and struggling and you will never get the whole world and you will be unhappy. So, I usually tell people when there is a funeral, that there is no pocket in a shroud. A shroud is what

even believe in settling outside your home. If you are young enough and want to engage in business, yes. I am not a politician. I am not a businessman. Why should I settle outside? Where will I carry these books to? So, I am more at home here with this library here. And if you are writing without your library near, you can’t do much. Secondly, you have written so many things, you have to make sure you don’t contradict yourself. So, before you consider any new subject, bring out everything written on similar issue and let them harmonise. You can’t go on carrying all these things (the books) wherever you go. As you see, it (Oguta) doesn’t took like a village. Many people are surprised when we call it a village. Eating Habit I don’t know whether you read William Shakespeare’s As you like it. If you did, it gave the seven stages of man. First, the infant, second, the whining schoolboy, then the lover, then the politician, then the old retired man. But when you reach that age, between 70 and 80, you are no more active again. The aim of eating is to have energy to grow, to work and when you are a sedentary worker, sitting down here form morning to night, you don’t need as much energy as someone tilling the farm. So, you have to cut down on your consumption of

you wear a dead body. All the money you amass, where would you put them? Choice Of Food Well, I am lucky, my wife was a nurse. She is very keen on what and what goes in to this stomach. Depending on your make up, you constitution, some people cant digest oil, if you know that is your problem, the less oil you eat then the better. And salt has a lot of ill effect. People eat a lot of salt too. All these vital organs help to keep you stay alive. You got to be concerned how to preserve them because it has reached a state of preserving them. They have worked for about 70 years of your life and they are getting tired. If you have a family doctor, he may give you what and what at that age you will need to have a comfortable life. My daily routine When I wake, I pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Not all that went to bed wake up. There are two things. The grace given to us by God gratituously. Like you wake up, the

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Sunday, May 11, 2014 59

JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA (1924-2014) TRIBUTE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 58 air you breathe, did you buy it? We take them for granted. We take it for granted. Why shouldn’t I breathe. You also take it for granted that you woke. You don’t take it as granted’. But if you take it ‘as granted’, that is, it is a gift. If you are properly brought up, once anybody gives you a gift, you say, thank you. Kindness begets gratitude. Until you mix kindness with gratitude, the world will not change. My Relaxation Oh! I relax. Here (the library) formerly I use it as my table tennis room but now the library is more important than table tennis. I convert it into a library. Not much these days. If you want to take a walk, the children are too ill-mannered that they can just knock you down. When I was a student at Achimota, we used to do a lot of exercise. I was in the army during the last war… I don’t know where we kept the photographs… All the members of Achimota College, from class four to university were drafted into the army. We found Achimota Home Generals. Oh! Yes That was in Ghana during the Second World War. My Love For Music I had a lot of musical records. I have a piano. I got a piano for my children. They had a teacher. The sister was playing properly, but Charly (Charles Oputa) was vamping. There were no records then I didn’t have, all the records, all sorts of gadgets, some of them now, I don’t even know how to handle. I was very keen on music. When I was a student in London, we used to have dancing schools. One Asaba chap, he was very, very good. He won a prize twice. We did a lot of dancing, a lot of playing records, all sorts of records. Once it was published, you bought one. I don’t know whether what they are playing now is music. Do they call it music? Sound, yes. But music, I don’t know. You know we are all old fashion. Before you go to dance, you practice with your partner and when you come, everybody looked at the variations. You learned how to dance. No elderly person will look at what they are doing now and call it dancing. It looks like a mad house because that is the age, when you have a big generation gap. Go to church, for instance, what they are doing now, maybe good because the mass is in the vernacular, but it is not as solemn as it used to be. And if you go to church on Sunday, then, you think God is descending, but here when they are dancing and clapping, it is not much different from what you see the village. My Success In Life First, to God, Second to the way you were brought up. There is nothing like this teacher training. The teachers were very disciplined. You woke up at 4am every morning; you go to the stream to fetch water. You come back and prepare…we were young we couldn’t cook but there was an elderly boy who did the cooking. So, we tried and walked three miles to school. Three miles everyday. If that doesn’t toughen you, what else can? To walk three mils back from school and start cooking the lunch, getting ready for the next day! After God, the next person you have to be grateful to is my Godfather (Mr. Azike), the one who brought me up in that hard way. Once you indulge a child, you are ruining him. If you want the children to be anything later on, let them do it the hard way, no matter who, whether a son of the minister or not, they have to stand on their legs. If you don’t stand on your leg, you still want to be pampered. It is not necessary. But if you started fending for yourself at a young age you will continue. Me and Wealth If you look at the Lord’s Prayer: ‘Give us this day our daily bread! Not ‘give me’. If the money given to you is given ‘us’ then you got to be concerned with your neighbour’s plight, if you are so concerned and you are called to help, will you be rich? You may be comfortable, but not rich. I trained more than four, five persons who are not my own children. If you take this money as well as spent the money, they give you more joy than your own children. You have some joy in using the small money you make to help train others. If they are 10, at least one of them will remember you. And lucky for me, all those I trained they still come here. They still have some relationship with me. That is what my friend, Udoji, (Chief Jerome Udoji of the Udoji Award fame) is doing in his community. I went to his house, he was not in but they had a lot of people in the compound. Those who were in difficulty, they go there every week and he gives them something (money) to support them; every week. The office told me that is what

I Have Found My Peace In My Homeland they do. It may not be much but that is how to Although she is gone, if you see them you spend money. If you spent it that way, you can’t remember their mother whenever they be rich. He also built a Church, alone for his come I say look oh! When we build this people and a hall in memory of his late wife. house, your mother has her room, you peoSo money is meant to be spent in the right ple go there, whether you are three or four way. If you spent it that way you will be com- stay in your mother’s room. I am not ready to fortable, but not rich. And you will be happier extend the house I don’t even have the monthan those who have millions. What are they ey for that. doing with the millions? The people are using Movement to the bench them to trade and your next door neighbour is Why do I have to go the bench? (yes). You starving. ask my wife that I wasn’t responsible for my My Lifestyle Well, there is a saying, empty vessel makes the greatest sound. There is nothing to be flamboyant about. It’s not necessary. People know your worth. No matter what you wear to deliver a lecture, the people’s interest is in what you are HE profession that were in vogue then saying. If they are satisfied with what you are were law and medicine. It was only later saying, any day you are going to deliver a lecthat Engineering came. Then we ture, they will come. They don’t bother about watched those ahead of us go to courts them. what you wear. That does not mean that you Your young impressionable mind told you will not appear neat and presentable. that this is the sort of thing I want to do I told the lawyers, there is no point having so when I grow up. big a signboard with all such. No, the greatest When the houses started (House of parliaadvertisement that you have is yourself. When ment), most of the people there were people meet you, they say no wonder. If you lawyers. The chances were limited – either have a collar let it be white, if you have shoes law, medicine or teaching. Somebody like polish your shoes, if you have a suit, iron it Ejiwunmi who did teaching, Okorodudu before you wear it. You don’t need extravagan- who is an itsekiri was educational officer at cy. Arts College, Yaba. But many of the people we Regret saw and admired, were lawyers. He! My regret. Our Lord said take up your So, you got sort of enamoured in the profescross and follow me. Anybody who says he has sion. And two, anybody who did liberal arts no regret is not faithful to himself. But can it and literature, is a stepping stone to law; and really be regret? If you know that everything then to politics. The first book I wrote when I that happens no matter how bad it looks, ulti- was a Judge was this (strolled to the shelf for mately, it has a reason. the book)... then I said if you only did law and If you believe in God, as you ought to, you will nothing else, then you will be better known be satisfied that what happened is for your as a legal mechanic. good. He knows the reason. If that is your phi- Because a mechanic will just see this nut, losophy of life fine. When I lost my first child, untie it and fix it. But he doesn’t know when Michael, two months ago, well that was a very it is working. But an engineer is different. If big blow. I loss my only daughter sometime you want to be a legal social engineer you ago too but her first daughter is a lawyer, her have to do more than law. The philosophers second daughter is a doctor, the third is the are here, this side is Religion – one, two, one who left this morning (Emeka). He should three, four five , six all these are different have finished this year but for the strike. He types of Bibles. The Koran, this is prowas the baby boy the mother was delivery Judaism, the various religious of the world before she died. –one, two, three.

going to the bench. Not at all. I was dragged to the bench by my wife. I didn’t know about this until they said I was going to be a judge. I was doing a case in Owerri and when I came to Elele on my way back, I heard over the radio that I was appointed a judge. So, when I reached home I pretended that I wasn’t angry, my nephew, who is now a judge in the Court of Appeal, said ‘congratulations.’ I said Oh! ‘Have you heard the results’ (laughter). She said ‘not the result, they have made you judge.’ Then the Chief Justice called and wanted me to come and see him the next day. But I told him it was not possible because I had to travel to go and do a case. Then he said ‘before whom,’ I said ‘before Godson Ikenne.’ ‘I am not sure you can do it,’ he said. I said, ‘why not sir? I have been paid, it is a special feature for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.’ And then he said, ‘I will talk to the judge.’ Then I interjected, ‘is it because they have made me a judge?’ He said, ‘who told you?’ I said ‘I heard from the radio.” He said ‘Oh, no, that was not our agreement! I said I should see you first before the announcement. But now that they have announced it you have to come.’ I said ‘I have no option. If I go to court tomorrow the judge will say are you still there (Bar) or here (Bench).’ So, I went. He told me two things. One, my wife had been worrying him that she wanted to go back to England with Charly. That, what kind of life is this? You don’t see your husband, today he is in a Kaduna, tomorrow he is in Sokoto, next tomorrow he is in Bermuda and then Lagos. That the money may be alright but what about family life. So, to prevent me travelling, the Premier, (Michael) Okpara, said they would make me a judge. If I am a judge at least I would not travel from place to place. So I went to her, (my wife)… ‘I hope you can manage the life of a judge, there is no money there?’ She said, ‘don’t mind, I will manage.’ That was how I became a judge. And then the Chief Justice said, ‘I know you like reading, I posted you to Enugu where we have a good library.’ That was where I wrote two of my first books. So, I was posted to Enugu. I made a very good use of their library. There was no money in it. But I said the money would just be enough for the upkeep. Now, having built this house… this house was built in 1958, it was opened in 1959… we managed. Things were not expensive then. And I had two or three cars from my practice days. One of them is still there. it but what we did and what they saw us do in the commission the whole country knows it (even globally, I added).

First published on April 6, 2003

My Affair With The Legal Profession

Law practice And Personal Gain All the houses I built, I built as a lawyer and not as a judge. Of course, you can’t, if you are an honest judge, your salary will just be enough to feed you. I built this (the Oguta house) as a lawyer. I built four houses in Port Harcourt as a lawyer. They took two, left two for me. I said thank you (laughter). These two can support me plus my pension. And why people want to make more money than they can manage, I don’t know. The Virtues Of Law We must see law as an instrument of social engineering. Law should be a means to an end, not an end in itself. If you make law an end, things go wrong. But if you make law a means, at the end is social justice and peace. Then law will be a useful servant. Judiciary It is not easy for any judge or lawyer to criticize the judiciary without knowing the facts… any judgement that doesn’t serve a national end. Does not serve the ends of social. Justice may be legally right but there is a but. And in every given case, there is a grey area where the judge can explore to do what are socially, rationally desirable and still remains within the confirms of justice. A judge should be able to look more than the letters of the law. Look at the circumstances surrounding. But extreme legalism will lead us nowhere. It does take a judge with a wider vision then just two plus two, four. Lets interpret the law, no matter the harm we do.

60 Sunday, May 11, 2014

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POLITICS EKITI 2014

DARAMOLA: We Must No longer Put Ekiti Future In As time ticks for gladiators in the forthcoming June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election, the pattern the poll will take is beginning to manifest. The Director General of Dr Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Hon. Bimbo Daramola spoke to MUYIWA ADEYEMI on the hurdles facing his All Progressive Congress (APC), even as he notes that Ekiti people have not altogether lost sight of history.

Fayemi With election campaign in top gear, what challenges have you observed? OME people go around on campaigns of calumny, dishing out tonnes of lies because

they do not have anything to say. We said, from day one, that our campaign would be issues-based; we have not failed on that. At every community my candidate, Dr Kayode

Fayemi, has gone to, they have been full of gratitude. Virtually all monarchs expressed their gratitude on the tangible projects he had implemented in their communities. They can connect the development in their communities to the fact that Fayemi has had opportunity to lead this state in the last three and half years. Women have come out in hundreds of thousands to say thank you to Fayemi for providing social security for them. They say they have seen a governor that cares for them beyond buying roasted plantain for people at roadsides or drinking local gin with a few persons. We have elevated the depth of discourse and brought real and tangible meaning to governance. We are superlative, and this is obvious. Nigerians know them and Ekiti people are not oblivious of their antics. They know their predisposition to violence, and they are now going to town accusing the APC of attacking them. You seem to have a task dismantling the Fayose persona; why so? When I said we have tried to exercise a level of control in the face of series of provocation, I know what is going on, because this issue is beyond card-carrying members of APC. I know that our people are saying that in the face of what Fayemi has done in the last three and half years, ‘why should anybody who does not have anything to show for Ekiti people want to put the state into reverse gear?’ Fayose said you can only judge a man by his past. He said it in an interview with a national newspaper recently. And we know his past. Anywhere he goes, he says, ‘I am now a changed person; I am different now’. But I say that the only thing that can validate that is if he shows us the evidence that he has done a transplant, and that the heart he had when he was governor between 2003 and 2006 has been removed and he has been given a new heart. Every action of man is driven from the heart. Fayose cannot show us a brand new heart or evidence that he has done a heart transplant. Then we cannot trust the fate and lives of about three million people into his hand. It is not enough to say, ‘I am a changed person’. Saul met Christ on the way to Damascus and he became Paul. We need evidence that Fayose

has gone the same way. Even for him to say he is now a changed person is an admission of what we all know him to be. And if by his admission that you can measure a man by his past, then our people are not foolish and they are not bad students of history either. Are you afraid of Fayose? This is a funny question and I cannot but laugh at it. There is a myth around Ayodele Fayose, and I know him very well. He knows me; we relate. He is my elder brother. When he started in 2003, I was there. But we can’t put the future of about three million people in jeopardy because of our personal aspirations. We need to conceptualise what this election means to us. It is about the integrity of Ekiti people and our determination for a better tomorrow, and this goes beyond Fayose. He has been tested, and the result is still living with us. PDP had a chance to have a new brand and outlook in Ekiti. They had the opportunity but they bungled it. So PDP should have themselves to blame for the defeat that awaits them, not Ekiti people. Whatever reconciliation they had after their primaries, what is the place of people in it? The peace they brokered was about settlement and sharing of posts that remain elusive. So the reconciliation is about trading off reputation. Fayose has lost election in this state. People rejected him when he wanted to become a senator and the same people are still there. The marking scheme to score him is still with the people, and the result is obvious. You seem to be dissipating much energy on the PDP without any reference to the Labour Party (LP). Are you not making a mistake of underestimating the party? We are not underestimating any party – LP, Accord Party or KOWA party. We have a broad based system to take care of all the opposition. We will distil each of them according to their strength. We are not over concentrating on the PDP. But in profiling the opposition, you don’t go dissipating time and attention on the party that cannot produce structure in less than half of the 177 wards we have in Ekiti. Ask LP to parade 177 ward chairmen. They don’t have such structure and so how will they win the election. Elections are won based on structure. All the people you see here have parents

Barrister Kole Ajayi, candidate of Accord Party (AP) in the June governorship election in Ekiti State, told MUYIWA ADEYEMI (Head South West Bureau Ado Ekiti) why Ekiti people would vote for him. What are your chances in the coming election? ur chances are very bright; first of all, the game is now very obvious against the incumbent, people don’t want him again. Once the incumbent, Dr Kayode Fayemi is no longer wanted, people are now looking for where to go from there, they want a credible alternative. But we are the only party that has a message, because we lay our principles on home-based government. We started from Ekiti Koya. The principle of Ekiti Koya is for a home-based government. Welfarism, no to capital flight and no to godfatherism, good and transparent governance. It was on this four basis that Accord was brought to Ekiti and we keep reechoing this because if you look at the history of Ekiti, you will realise that since 1999 people that have been coming to superintend over the state do not understand the terrain. They are people that are alien to the system, they don’t know where the shoe pinches the people; they even do not understand the

Ajayi

cultural values of Ekiti. The truth is that they cannot even speak Ekiti dialect, as homogenous as Ekiti dialect is. So Ekiti people have identified where the lacuna is, and they believe that the only panacea is to ensure that a homeboy takes over governance and with what is on the ground now Accord is the only home grown political party. I am the only candidate that has been living among the people since I was born. But your party is not as visible compared to the APC, PDP and LP? Visibility is subjective. It depends on individual assessment, and I don’t understand what you mean by visibility. Are they visible because they share some bags of rice, is it as a result of many posters, is it because they are dishing out money or moving around in exotic Jeeps? To me, that is not visibility. One thing I want you to know is that ever before the preparation for this election we have been with the people. When we started Ekiti Koya, Fayose was still probably relaxing and yet to understand what to do

and of course, Bamidele was still enjoying the blues with APC, but we were out. Ekiti Koya was the only group confronting this present government, telling of its excesses. We rolled out drums and of course, we have not wavered at all. From Ekiti Koya, we moved to a political party to make sure we achieve what Ekiti people wanted. So when you talk of visibility, we are more visible because our message is like spirit that moves around with the people. We are not doing badly at all; if anything, we are more in the consciousness of people than the other parties. As I have told the people, I am going to sign a comprehensive, open bond with the people on what I am going to do, this is an oath, so that by and large, by the time we get there, we want to focus on the masses, that is welfarism. There is this impression that the election is going to be a straight contest between Fayemi and Fayose, do you agree? No, that is wrong, this election is not between Fayemi and Fayose, please go to town again and do random sampling. People don’t like violence, anywhere there is violence their minds will shift from there. We don’t shoot, we don’t carry guns, we are free with the people as you

Sunday, May 11, 2014

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EKITI 2014 POLITICS

OLAYISADE: No Alliance Between LP And PDP

Jeopardy

Prince Akin Olayisade, a chieftain of Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State and the director, Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) Campaign, denies any alliance between the LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke to MUYIWA ADEYEMI, (Head Southwest Bureau, Ado Ekiti)

and people. Go to Opeyemi Bamidele’s house in Iyin Ekiti, you will see people there. But after there where else? You can fool some people sometimes but you can’t fool everybody at all times. Bamidele is now on the field, and I am sure he can start to gauge how far he can go with this personal issue he is contesting. Everything about LP is personalised around Bamidele. I challenge him to come and tell the truth about the rag tag people around him. He has been on the street and that popularity he claims has been tested. We saw his rally in Omuo Ekiti and some other places. He knows the result already. That scenario will soon play out. But you see, there is a place in the Bible where somebody who used to speak with God had to consult diviners and sorcerers. You know how it all ended. We know they will gather and they shall fail because their gathering is not of the Lord. Bamidele used to be part of us. The issue at stake is more than Kayode Fayemi. Ekiti people have seen what government and governance is all about. I was deeply shocked to hear him say that he was going to donate his salaries and allowances to orphanages. Is that the duty of a governor? When he said Fayemi had no experience, I asked who his own teacher was? Has he ever been governor? One million and one special advisers or commissioners do not equal a governor. Yes, he started with Asiwaju Tinubu as personal assistant till Asiwaju made him what he is today. But what happened? Is he not an ingrate? And if he writes 20 chapters of his biography, Asiwaju must feature in 18 chapters. But all the lies he told people by trying to appropriate Asiwaju has been exposed. And I challenge him, a lawyer, to tell us how many cases he has won. Let him tell us the number of times he appeared at magistrate courts, high courts and the number of cases he won. Let me say this: those whose kernels are cracked by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. He has every right to vent his anger against the leadership of the party or against Fayemi. But we have said ambition is personal but aspiration is collective, and when ambition confronts aspiration, ambition gives way.

can see me, I am the freest man on earth. Election is not supposed to be a door-die affair, if you want to rule over the people and you keep killing and maiming, it is appalling. How will you react to insinuations that you may step down for another stronger candidate? That is not possible because my being in this race is because of my strong belief in the fact that I will be the next governor of Ekiti State. We are not God, when God says yes, nobody can say no. I have been trying to exercise some reservations in terms of the spiritual thing. I have a very strong conviction that this is a divine project. If I wanted to negotiate with any candidate, that would have happened since. I want to assure the public that there is no going back, no retreat, no surrender. Everybody that knows my antecedent knows that I was not brought up as a coward. Check my resume, you will see that God has, indeed prepared me for the journey. With what the current government has done in the last three and half years, what do you want to do differently? There are a lot of areas previous and present governments have abandoned in Ekiti, especially the area of welfarism and industrializa-

Is it true there is no difference between the LP and the PDP in Ekiti? S I know, there is no alliance between PDP and Labour Party. We have our own constitution, we have our manifesto and very soon, our candidate will launch our manifesto for people to see what he wants to do for Ekiti. Our constitution is quite different from that of the PDP and Ayo Fayose is not even a friend of our candidate. So, it is all propaganda. If we have alliance, how come we fielded different candidates? How do you marry that? Ayo Fayose will want to win the election more than anyone else. The way they sent him packing in Ekiti, he will want to come back by all means and at all cost. So, will you tell Fayose now that ‘oh, go and work for Labour;’ or MOB, by his antecedents is it possible for PDP to tell him ‘work for us?’ Is it for money? Is it for pride? Is it for position? I see that as pranks people are playing. We are not in any alliance with PDP. The only reason they can adduce is that we are not fighting ourselves because the incumbent is the person we want to remove from power. Fayemi is there and has plunged Ekiti into economic crisis. He also has his records that we can work against. It is only MOB that has not been there. He was in Lagos and spent quality time as a special assistant, special adviser and as a commissioner and while there, he was the one fending for the party in Ekiti for seven and half years. We all felt his impact. He gave largesse to some leaders and the entire populace and thereby endeared himself to the people of the state. What are those things you think your candidate would do differently if he becomes governor? The first is that he will govern differently. By that I mean that he will govern with human face. I have been saying it and I know it is his number one priority. I know that he will return our people to the pride of yesteryears. In the old Western Region, cocoa aided the development of the region. In the time of Awolowo, cocoa was the pride of the West and 35 per cent of the cocoa came from Ekiti. At that time, Western Region was the largest exporter of cocoa in West Africa and we know what we did with cocoa in the region. So I know he will face agriculture and I know that he will turn us all into agriculturists. He will make us to bring the beauty of God out of the ground by tilling it. He has analyzed it, saying that about N4billion worth of food is consumed daily in Lagos and most of it is import-

tion. I don’t know why Ekiti does not have industries, so that we can shift the economy from the table of the governor to a system driven economy. We want to package a holistic programme that will put Ekiti on a very promising economic stead and we shall do all these within a comprehensive framework. We are planning to make sure industries spring up in every local government and these industries will be based on tapping materials from prevailing agricultural products available in that local council. Where we have a lot of fruits, grapes, oranges, lemon, we shall set up a fruit juice making industry in that locality, so with that our market women don’t have to travel to Lagos or South Africa to bring juice. Government will not be directly involved in setting up industries but government will put equity, be involved financially on behalf of Ekiti people. It is going to be a tripartite arrangement; the community cum local government will be on one side, investors on one other side, while the government will be in the other side to ensure that it works well. The basis of industries establishing industries in each local government is to ensure one hundred percent employment for people in that area. Bamidele

ed from the North. Ekiti is just about four hours to Lagos. Even if it is only N200million worth of food we supply to Lagos, our farmers will not go hungry. So, he will invest heavily in agriculture. He will open the rural roads so that the farmers can bring their products to the market easily. Another thing I know he will do is to make Ekiti people to start to benefit from her commonwealth. What I mean is that Ekiti people will be enjoying the benefits of Ekiti. Right now, it is foreigners that are enjoying what Ekiti people should enjoy. The entire infrastructure they say they are developing in Ekiti are being done by foreigners; they have been bringing people from Ghana, from China and so on. A Chinese company is constructing the government house; foreign companies are building all pavilion and civic centre. Are we saying that we don’t have engineers from Ekiti? They have reduced our people to hewers of wood and drawers of water. They are not benefitting anything. But this MOB of a man has said if he becomes governor, he will engage artisans in the state. He will engage the Ekiti professionals in the business of Ekiti. The onus would now be on the professionals so engaged to do it right and if you fail to do that, everybody knows your father’s house. You will spoil your own father’s name. But right now, they siphon the money out of the system, the money does not stay in the economy and people are suffering. Those are some of the things I know that Bamidele will do differently. At the outset of your fallout with the Kayode Fayemi administration, you were said to have suffered some persecution. What about it and have you forgiven your alleged persecutors? They didn’t offend us, they offended God. Whoever takes another man’s life either for politics or for anything, the judgment is between the person and God. So, who are we to say that we have forgiven somebody? It is only God that can do that. In my wisdom, I can only say that they should beg God for forgiveness. As for us, God said, “touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.” God is able because of his anointing. How do you see the chances of Labour Party in the election? Our chances are bright because we have been mobilising for the party since about seven months ago. We have been going from one house to the other. The response by the people has been heart-warming due to a number of

reasons. The first reason is that LP is regarded as the only progressive party in the real sense of progressivism, because ideologically, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lost it as a party. They have merged with some sections of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and all other parties. So, ideology has taken flight and APC just wants to win election by all means and at all cost. So, it is no more ideological the way it used to be in the time of Awolowo. Some say your party has no presence in many of the wards. Do you agree? It is a misnomer for people to say that we don’t have presence in all the wards in the state. In 80 percent of the wards in Ekiti, we have over 600 members. We have a register and we registered people right from their units. The PDP and APC know this fact and that is why the APC is unnecessarily being aggressive now. In each ward in Ekiti today, we have an average of 500 members in our register. We have over 118,000 members in our register, I mean genuine people. You used to be a key member of the Fayemi administration. Why did you leave? I contested for a seat in the Senate in the party and I won the primary, but they took the ticket from me the same way they took a ticket form MOB. I didn’t join the party because I must be in the Senate. However, when you are in a party as a full-fledged, strong financial member and you are treated like an interloper, you leave. If you don’t know (Bola) Tinubu in Lagos, if you are not in the good books of Yemi Adaramodu here in Ekiti, if they lie to the governor against you, it is a serious cause for concern. Then, when MOB comes to my house to say hello, they will tag you ‘MOB man.’ If they want the governor to ostracize you, they will just go and say you are a ‘MOB man.’ In the government, I was put in charge of project monitoring, but I had no single vehicle to work with, there was no running grant. I said how could I monitor projects without a single vehicle to move about? So all these things combined made me to decide that enough is enough. You now want your former party out of government through the ballot? Yes. And by the grace of God I will do all that is humanly possible within my own power, and in everywhere I have people in the state to achieve this. I am very much entrenched in the politics of Ekiti State because I have been

Sunday, May 11, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

FOREIGNNEWS Sarajevo’s Iconic War-Bombed City Hall Re-opens BOSNIA ARAJEVO’S city hall - housing Sbeen the national library - has re-opened - 22 years after it was destroyed by shelling during the Bosnian War. The iconic building was hit by a mortar and burned down during the Bosnian Serb siege of the city in 1992.

It was restored to mark the centenary of WW1, which was triggered by the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He was shot dead after leaving city hall on June 28, 1914. The city hall was re-opened at a ceremony on Friday, with 3D projections on its facade showing key moments in the history of the 19th Century building.

Lawyer For Doctor In Bin Laden Case Quits Over Security HE lawyer for a doctor PAKISTAN T accused of helping the US find Osama Bin Laden has told

Armed pro-Russian activists search a man at a checkpoint near the eastern Ukranian city of Slavyansk… yesterday, on the eve of an independence referendum. PHOTO: AFP

the BBC that he has quit the case after receiving frequent death threats. Lawyer Samiullah Afridi also cited US pressure on Pakistan for the release of Dr Shakil Afridi as another reason for his decision. Dr Afridi is accused of using the cover of a door-to-door vacci-

nation campaign to help the US find Bin Laden. Pakistan was not informed of the 2011 raid, which killed the alQaeda leader. Samiullah Afridi told the BBC that his life had been under threat since he took up the case two years ago.

France, Germany Threaten Russia Over Poll UKRAINE RANCE and Germany have Fsanctions threatened Russia with further if Ukraine’s presidential election on May 25 fails to go ahead. President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement they feared further destabilisation of Ukraine. They also said referendums

result in the “self-destruction” of planned by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine for Sunday would regions that vote in favour of federalisation. be illegal. The French and German leadThey called for a visible reduction in Russian forces on the Ukrainian border. Russia is estimated by Nato to have some 40,000 troops near the border, though Moscow says they have been UNITED STATE pulled back. S First Lady Michelle Obama Ukraine’s interim President has said the mass kidnap of Olexander Turchynov, meanwhile, Nigerian schoolgirls is part of a warned the referendums could wider pattern of threats and

ers’ statement was issued after they met in Chancellor Merkel’s constituency in Germany. “If there is not an internationally

recognised presidential election, that would lead unavoidably to a further destabilisation of the country,” it said.

Michelle Obama ‘Outraged’ By Abductions U

intimidation facing girls around the world who pursue an education. She said she and her husband Barack Obama were “outraged and

heartbroken” over the abduction on April 14 of more than 200 girls from their school. She was speaking instead of her husband in the weekly presidential address.

TheGuardian

Sunday, May 11, 2014 63

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports Bad Signals Ahead Glasgow By Gowon Akpodonor IGeRIA’S abysmal performance at the N London 2012 Olympic games, where the country’s athletes fired blank at all events triggered a call for change in the sports sector. It was so devastating to many sports loving Nigerians back home that even President Goodluck Jonathan got talking. And to avoid another pitfall in the nearest future, the Presidency staged a sports retreat in Abuja. A similar crusade took place in Asaba, Delta State capital, a week after. It was organised by Governor emmanuel Uduaghan, who held a heart-to-heart discussion with long jumper, Blessing Okagbare, on the need to hold a sports summit, after watching Nigerian athletes crash out one after another at the London Olympic Games. The man on the driving seat of the new world power in athletics, Jamaica’s Track and Field Coach, Bertland Cameron, and South African Olympic gold medal winning Rowing team, Barrow Roger, were among the resource persons invited to Asaba to deliver papers at the sports summit. People from all walk of life, including serving and retired athletes, coaches and sports administrators, who attended the Presidential sports retreat in Abuja and the sports summit in Asaba, applauded the government for the initiative. To demonstrate his commitment to the promotion of sports in the country, Jonathan promised to fully implement the recommendations of the Presidential sports retreat. He vowed that Nigeria would never experience the type of shame brought upon the country at the Olympic Games in London. But like in other aspects of the polity, all the energy and resources thrown into the organisation of the sports retreat may have been wasted, if ‘poor’ signals from the various sports federations preparing for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are anything to go by. Since the poor outing in London two years ago, Team Nigeria has not taken part in a multi sports games. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, which holds between July and August, will prove if all the country has learnt any lession from past mistakes. But everything seems to be pointing at same direction, as the sports federations expected to prepare the athletes for the Commonwealth Games’ crying of ‘no fund,’ barely two months to the games. The situation seem to be getting out of hand and those who have been ‘borrowing’ money to fund training and camping of their athletes have decided to cry aloud. Rising from their board meeting during the week in Lagos, the federations’ presidents, who make up the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said they have been left to source for funds to prepare their teams for the Commonwealth Games. They lamented that two months to the games, no money has been released by the Federal Government to commence preparation of the teams and there is no hope in the horizon that it may happen soon. This, they say, would prevent the athletes from sparkling in the Games. “What this means is that Nigerians should not expect any miracle

One of Nigeria’s medal hopeful in athletics, US-based 400m speed star, Regina George ahead of Patience Okon in a recent competition. George is expected to lead the 4x400 relay team in Glasgow from the athletes we are taking to the Commonwealth Games,” the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, said shortly after the meeting at the NOC. Ogba, who doubles as the second vice president of the NOC, further said that if two months to the Games money has not been released for preparation, what then do you expect from the athletes?” He likened the scenario to that witnessed during planning for the London 2012 Games, which ended in a fiasco as no Nigerian athlete made podium appearance. “We were in a similar situation for the Olympic Games in London two years ago. At the end of it all, no Nigerian athlete won any medal and we the administrators were blamed for the failure. It is to avoid taking blames for what is not our

Edem Offiong is looking forward to a better performance in Glasgow

After the dismal performance in London, I had expected that we would have learnt our lessons but that is not the case now as we can all see that nothing is happening. direct faults that we are sounding it loud and clear that nobody should expect medals from Team Nigeria in Glasgow,” he said. Apart from the AFN’s Golden League and All Comers, Nigeria’s elite athletes late last month featured in the Mt Sac and Penn’s Relays in the United States of America. “On our own, we are running our programmes at the AFN, hoping that this will help put our

President Goodluck Jonathan in handshake with Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo

top athletes in shape for the Commonwealth Games. “If you remember that it is only the Americans that are not going to feature in the Commonwealth, the opposition in Glasgow is going to be strong. The Jamaicans and their Caribbean neighbours are coming with their strong teams. Same with the British,” stressed Ogba. Also speaking on the matter, President of the Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, said he was not happy with the manner of preparation for the Commonwealth Games. “After the dismal performance in London, I had expected that we would have learnt our lessons but that is not the case now as we can all see that nothing is happening,” observed Igali, who is Technical Commission chairman of the NOC. Nigeria is listed to participate in eight sportsathletics, boxing, shooting, table tennis, weight lifting, wrestling, para-athletics and power-lifting. But the new sports minister, Tamuno Danagogo is confident that Team Nigeria will excel in Glasgow. Addressing members of the Nigeria Football and other sports supporters club in Abuja during the week, Danagogo said the National Sports Commission (NSC), was working round the clock to see that Nigeria records appreciable impact in both the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Many analysts believe that for Danagogo, who is from the South-south region to succeed, the Presidency should be to make funds available for him to operate, especially in preparing teams for major competitions. President Jonathan had said earlier in the year that he is looking forward to a better performance from Team Nigeria in this year’s Commonwealth Games.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Okagbare Hits Season Best In Doha, Loses 100m To Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann • Omeiza, Brume win in AFN Golden League in Akure By Gowon Akpodonor With Agency Reports IGERIA’S speed star, N Blessing Okagbare was beaten to the 100m title by Jamaica’s Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, at the opening IAAF Diamond League meeting of the season in Doha. But the Nigerian clocked a season’s best of 11.18 seconds. FraserPryce was faster crossing the line in 11.13. After the Jamaican got away to her customary smart start, she was pushed to the line by the taller Okagbare who ran one lane outside her. The third place went to FraserPryce’s compatriot Kerron Stewart in 11.25. The Jamaicans took first, third and fourth spots, separated only by Okagbare. The women’s 800m provided similarly compelling racing as Kenya’s 2013 world champion Eunice Sum bid her time before letting loose over the final 200 metres to win in a world-leading 1:59.33. Back home in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria’s 400m rising star, Omeiza Akerele, and women long jumper, Ese Brume, won their respective events at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League. Omeiza ran 46.88 seconds to win the 400m race, a slight improvement on his time two weeks ago in Ilorin. Brume also won the long jump event for the second time in two weeks.

Messi: Let’s Grab Lifeline ARCELONA star, Lionel B Messi is determined not to waste the unexpected lifeline his side have been given in the Primera Division title race. Barca’s players all but conceded the chances of retaining their Liga crown - or picking up any major silverware this season - were over following last Saturday’s home draw with lowly Getafe. However, 24 hours after that loss Barca saw their two title rivals also drop points, with leaders Atletico Madrid going down 2-0 at Levante and Real Madrid drawing 2-2 at home with Valencia. And there was more good news for Barca in midweek as Real were held again, this time by relegation-battling Real Valladolid after conceding an 85th-minute leveller at the Jose Zorrilla. The net outcome of those results means Barca now have control of their own destiny, lying three points behind Atletico with two games to go but with a home match against Diego Simeone’s men still to come on the final day of the season.

Toure is hoping to lift the EPL crown today

Gerrard may have to wait for another time

Pellegrini Looks For Big Finish, As Rodgers Remains Focused ANCHESTER City boss, M Manuel Pellegrini has urged his side to carry on where they left off in midweek and complete their title charge in emphatic style today. City scored four times in the final 26 minutes against Aston Villa on Wednesday to put themselves within touching distance of a second Barclays Premier League crown in three seasons. Pellegrini’s men, with a twopoint advantage over Liverpool and much superior goal difference, effectively now need just a point from their final game at home to West Ham today to finish the job. But Pellegrini has no intention of settling for a draw and intends to play with the same attacking verve that has served his side so well for much of the season. City beat West Ham 6-0 on the London side’s last visit to

the Etihad Stadium, in the Capital One Cup in January, and a repeat would certainly do nicely. City’s 4-0 victory over Villa took their tally of league goals for the campaign to 100. Sergio Aguero - who has scored 17 of those goals, and is the club’s top scorer overall with 28 - could return after missing the midweek win with a groin injury. The Argentinian knows all about last-day heroics having scored the late winner against QPR when City snatched the title from Manchester United in dramatic fashion in 2012. Yet if he is not deemed ready to start, City certainly have another in-form striker to turn to who can keep the goals flowing in Edin Dzeko. The World Cup-bound Bosnian, inconsistent throughout his three years at City, has delivered in recent

weeks in Aguero’s injuryenforced absence and following Alvaro Negredo’s loss of form. In City’s crucial last three games, when they have seized control of the title race from Liverpool, Dzeko has scored five - doubles against Villa and Everton, and another at Crystal Palace - and now has 26 for the season overall. Another player earning plenty of praise lately is midfield, driving force Yaya Toure, who is City’s top league goalscorer with 20. Toure’s goal against Villa, when he charged from his own half to finish clinically in the 90th minute, was merely the latest illustration of his powerful impact throughout the campaign. Meanwhile Liverpool’s manager, Brendan Rodgers insists the spirit in the Liverpool camp has been “excellent” ahead of today’s

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clash with Newcastle, despite the hammer blow of the draw at Crystal Palace. Monday’s contest at Selhurst Park, in which the Merseysiders were held 3-3 after leading 3-0 with a little more than 10 minutes to go, appeared the final nail in the coffin for their Barclays Premier League title challenge. If they are to emerge from Sunday’s top-flight finale as champions, they will need to beat Newcastle at home and hope West Ham win at leaders Manchester City. Rodgers’ men had looked destined to claim a first league title for the club in 24 years not long ago and their

devastation was clear after the final whistle on Monday. But while he is keen for there to be lessons taken from such painful experiences, the Northern Irishman has also emphasised the importance of not dwelling on what might have been and continuing to look forward. Asked at his pre-Newcastle press conference how the spirit had been since the Palace match, Rodgers - who is adamant he has not yet given up on the title - said: “It has been excellent. “You could see the emotion after the game and that was pretty much the same in the dressing room afterwards.

Fixtures Premier League Cardiff v Chelsea Fulham v Crystal Palace Hull v Everton Liverpool v Newcastle Man City v West Ham Norwich v Arsenal Southampton v Man Utd Sunderland v Swansea Tottenham v Aston Villa West Brom v Stoke

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