The Nation April 09, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

I’m finished, says dad of Ibadan fire victims

Aregbesola lashes PDP over Cuba trip NEWS – Page 8

NEWS – Page 4

•Police to charge driver with negligence

•Governor: show proof or shut up

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2088 MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Explosion near Plateau Governor Jang’s Lodge in Jos UK, Arewa, ACN, PDP, Obi, lawmakers condemn blasts Pope seeks peace JTF kills three Boko Haram suspects

Easter Sunday suicide bomb kills 40 in Kaduna •See also pages 2,4, 59& 63

OR: Soldiers and onlookers at the scene of the explosion in Kaduna...yesterday •SCENE HORROR: SCENE OF HORR

PHOTO: AFP

were in the holy communion service and I was exhorting my people and ‘We all of a sudden, we heard a loud noise that shattered all our windows and doors, destroyed our fans and some of our equipment in the church ’ •NIGERIA OFFERS AMNESTY TO MALI COUP LEADERS P59

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS Explosion near Plateau Governors’ Lodge

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•The smouldering remains of the suicide bomber’s car...yesterday

PHOTO:AFP

BOMB exploded in Tundun Wada area of Jos, the Plateau State capital, last night.

The sound of the explosion at about 8pm was heard from far and near as it sent fear into the people.

The explosion took place at a beer parlour near the Tundun Wada motor park. The casualty figure could not be ascertained as at press time. The scene of the explosion is about 300 metres from the headquarters of the Special Task Force (STF), the military team in charge of security in the city, and barely 200 metres from Governor Jonah Jang’s Lodge in Jishe.

Security men immediately

Easter Sunday suicide bomb kills 40 in Kaduna

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ADUNA, the North’s political heart, had a bloody Easter Sunday yesterday. No fewer than 40 people were killed in an explosion at the ever-busy Junction Road/Sardauna Crescent, near the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

There was a big explosion; then a fire and thick, black smoke. In minutes bodies lay on the scene and panicky residents rushed indoors.

The road was strewn with charred motorcycles and debris. The scene usually hosts many residents who gather to eat at informal restaurants and buy black market gasoline.

Nearby hotels had their windows blown out by the force of the powerful explosion, which engulfed a group of okada commercial motorcycle operators.

At least, 38 people were killed in the blast, said Abubakar Zakari Adamu, a spokesman for the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Others suffered serious injuries and were receiving treatment at local hospitals, Adamu said.

The explosion badly damaged the nearby All Nations Christian Assembly Church where an Easter service was going on. The church was the possible target of the bomber.

Witnesses said it appeared the explosive-laden car attempted to go into the compound of that church before it detonated.

“We were in the holy communion service and I was exhorting my people and all of a sudden, we heard a loud noise that shattered all our windows and doors, destroyed our fans and some of our equipment in the church,” Pastor Joshua Raji said.

Another witness, Augustine Vincent, said he was riding a motorcycle just behind the car when it exploded.

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Nigeria: al-Qaeda’s new heartland of terror

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EW outside Nigeria noticed the death of Mohammed Yusuf, a radical preacher, at the hands of the country’s famously brutal police almost three years ago. The only achievement of a man who had publicly insisted that the Earth was flat appeared to have been the creation of a quixotic Islamist cult dedicated to banning Western education.

Today, Boko Haram – Yusuf’s creation – has become one of the deadliest terrorist movements in North Africa and the chosen vehicle for al-Qaeda to penetrate the largely Muslim states of northern Nigeria. The ideology of global jihad would have inspired those who kidnapped Chris McManus and Franco Lamolinara, the British and Italian hostages who died in the failed rescue mission on Thursday.

The arrival of this pitiless worldview in Africa’s most populous country is Yusuf’s most lasting legacy. His posthumous achievement – if that is the correct term – serves as a reminder of the impact that one charismatic figure and a highly motivated cult-like movement can have in an impoverished country where all forms of state authority are corrupt and ineffectual.

Yusuf founded Boko Haram, which From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

“God saw our heart and saved us,” he said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though suspicion immediately fell on Boko Haram sect.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is sacrilege” in Hausa, is waging an increasingly bloody fight with security agencies and the public. More than 380 people have been killed in violence blamed on the sect this year alone, according to an Associated Press (AP) count.

The sect, employing suicide bombers and assault-rifle shootouts, has attacked both

By Con Coughlin

loosely translates as “Western Education is Prohibited”, in 2002 with the aim of purging northern Nigeria of the corruption and decadence of the Western way of life. This extended to stamping out scientific beliefs that Yusuf held to be incompatible with Islamic teaching.

On the question of how rain is made, he insisted: “We believe it is the creation of God rather than an evaporation caused by the sun that condenses and becomes rain.” As for the suggestion that the earth is a sphere, Yusuf said this alien theory “runs contrary to the teachings of Allah”.

But the preacher was careful not to reject every aspect of Western culture, at least so far as his own life was concerned.

“He lives lavishly and drives a Mercedes-Benz,” one of his contemporaries once remarked. “He is very well-educated in a Western context.”

It was not long before Nigeria’s security services had labelled Boko Haram the Nigerian “Taliban”, even though it had no known links with the Afghan movement.

The group soon came into conflict with the Nigerian security services, and Yusuf was personally blamed for instigating a

Christians and Muslims as well as the United Nations’ headquarters in Nigeria.

The sect has rejected efforts to begin indirect peace talks with Nigeria’s government. Its demands include the introduction of strict Shariah law across the country, even in Christian areas, and the release of all imprisoned followers.

The blast also comes as Britain and the United States had warned its citizens that violence was likely over the Easter holiday in the North.

In his Easter speech at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI mentioned the ongoing violence in Nigeria. Catholic churches have been targeted in previous attacks.

wave of attacks against government buildings in northern Nigeria, in which hundreds were killed. He was detained and, within hours of being taken to a local police station, it was announced that he had been shot dead “while trying to escape”.

Given the security forces’ reputation for brutality, there was general scepticism about this claim. A few hours before his death, Yusuf, 39, had been filmed at the police station looking calm and relaxed as he cooperated fully with his interrogators’ questions. Later footage showed his bullet-riddled body lying on the police station floor, covered in blood.

Whether Yusuf himself had any dealings with al-Qaeda is unclear. The Nigerian security forces claim they seized weapons and ammunition supplied by Islamist sympathisers when they raided his home in the northern state of Borno.

What is not in dispute is that since Yusuf’s death in July 2009, Boko Haram has formed close links with al-Qaeda’s North African network, to the extent that it now tops the list of emerging terrorist threats being tracked by the major Western intelligence agencies.

“To Nigeria, which in recent times has experienced savage terrorist attacks, may the joy of Easter grant the strength needed to take up anew the building of a society which is peaceful and respectful of the religious freedom of its citizens,” he said.

The Nation gathered that the suicide bomber attempted to go into an area with about three or more churches located side by side, but was turned back by the security who mounted a road block at the junction. The blast also destroyed property worth millions of naira, with majority of those affected being commercial motorcyclists and black marketers of petrol.

Continued on page 59

SEMA boss Adamu said: “We took seven persons at Rakiya Memorial Hospital, out of whom five have died while the remaining two have been transferred to 44 Army Reference Hospital where about 20 others have been taken. At the St Gerald Hospital, out of the 10 people taken there, five have died while the remaining five are receiving treatment.

“At Barau Dikko Hospital, we have six bodies with six others injured; while about 20 people died on the spot. In all, we have about 36 bodies while 13 others are seriously injured.”

A Red Cross official who would not want his name in print, said the agency collect

Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

cordoned off the area after the blast Spokesman of the STF, Captain Markus Mdahyelya, who confirmed the explosion, however said no one was either injured or dead in the blast. Eyewitnesses however said about four people were injured and taken to Jenvak Hospital .

When our correspondent visited the hospital, only one of the injured was admitted due to trauma while the others had been treated and discharged.

The blast – believed to be from an improvised explosive - forced people to return home early, cutting short their Easter celebration.

RECENT CAR BOMBINGS IN NIGERIA •April 8: A car bomb detonates in Kaduna, killing at least 38 people on a busy roadway on Easter Sunday after witnesses say it was turned away from a church.

•March 11: A car bomb detonates outside of a Catholic church in Jos, killing at least 10 people. No one claims responsibility for the attack.

•Feb. 26: Boko Haram claims responsibility for a car bombing in Jos outside of a church that kills at least three people.

•Feb. 19: A car bomb detonates outside a church compound in Suleja, near Abuja, wounding five people.

•Jan. 20: Boko Haram claims responsibility for a series of coordinated car bombings and gun battles around Kano that kill at least 185 people.

•Dec. 25, 2011 : Boko Haram claims responsibility for a car bomb attack on a Catholic church in Madalla Niger State and assaults elsewhere in the country that kill at least 44 people.

•Nov. 4, 2011 : Boko Haram sect members bomb government buildings and shoot their way through Damaturu, Yobe State, killing more than 100 people, while bombs and a suicide attack in Maiduguri leave four dead.

•Aug. 26, 2011 : A Boko Haram sect member detonates a car loaded with explosives at the United Nations headquarters Abuja, killing 25 people and wounding more than 100 others.

•June 16, 2011 : A car loaded with explosives detonates at the Police Headquarters in Abuja , killing at least two people.

Continued on page 63

SSS repels attack on training school in Bauchi

TATE Security Service (SSS) operatives in Bauchi yesterday repelled an attack by gunmen on their training school, killing two of the attackers.

In Maiduguri, three suspected Boko Haram members were gunned down by the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Order.

Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Alhaji

•JTF kills 3 Boko Haram men in Maiduguri From Abiodun Joseph, Maiduguri

Mohammed Ladan, said that one of the attackers was apprehended.

“I am just coming from the scene. Two of the assailants were killed while one of them was arrested.

“The arrested person told us that they were four. It

means that one of them has escaped.”

According to him, a rod and wire cutter, pair of pliers, ropes, spanner and cell phones were recovered at the scene.

He said besides the two people killed, no other lives were lost. He said no damage was done to any property at the Senior Staff Train-

ing School of the SSS. An Assistant Director of the SSS, Mr Olu Justine, said they had an intelligence report on an impending attack on the school as a result of which operatives were placed on the alert.

Justine said five of the gunmen came for the operation at about 4 a.m. and that two of them entered the school

through a water way.

“Our patrol team spotted them and opened fire, gunning down the two, while the remaining three retreated. One of the retreating assailants was, however, arrested by the vigilant neighbouring local community and handed over to us.”

In Maiduguri, the JTF killed three suspected members of Boko Haram after an attack on their hide out.

Two members were also

arrested in the attack confirmed by Lt.-Col. Shamsu Musa, the spokesman of the JTF. He said the raid at Bulabulin Ward yesterday morning also led to the recovery of one rifle, two locally made pistols and 185 rounds of assorted arms.

Also yesterday, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was destroyed by the JTF at about 3pm at Kwaner Yobe General.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS EXPLOSIONS IN KADUNA

•A shattered lock-up shops •An injured woman being helped into a truck...yesterday

•The remains of a four-wheel

•The scene of the explosion

UK, ACF, PDP, ACN, Obi, others condemn blast

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HE UNITED KINGDOM yesterday joined others in condemning the deadly explosion that rocked Kaduna which killed 40 residents and injured many.

Others who berated the destruction of lives and properties included: the Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) among others.

The British Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham described the act, believed to have been master-minded by members of the Boko Haram sect, as horrific.

In a statement by Hooman Nouruzi, the press secretary of the British High Commission in Abuja, the Minister said: “I condemn today’s bomb attacks on the Nigerian city of Kaduna. This horrific act took place on Easter Sunday injuring and killing innocent people. The full tragedy of the attacks is not yet clear, but I send my sincere condolences to those who have been injured or bereaved.”

The ACF, in a statement in Kaduna and signed by its National Publicity Secretary Anthony Sani, said those responsible for the explosion were determined to undermine peaceful coexistence in the country.

It reads: “The news of bomb explosions in Kaduna

which claimed many lives and destroyed properties today (yesterday) suggest some people are determined to undermine the needed peaceful coexistence and national security.

“This is unconscionable and so condemnable. Few things are less pleasing to God when innocent people are killed in the name of God. “Yet, ACF asks Nigerians not to be discouraged by the spate of bomb explosions.

Rather, they should regard the challenges by the insecurity as a collective responsibility by living up the collective challenges.

“ACF therefore condemns the bomb explosions and condoles those who lost lives and properties, as well as pray for the repose of the

souls of those who died. May He make it possible for replacements many folds.”

In his reaction, Governor Obi said: “It negates the spirit of Easter, whereby humanity is called in a special way to emulate the virtues of Christ, who taught the importance of the life of service and love of the neighbour.”

He said that instead of harnessing the celebration to bring the people closer to one another in the spirit of love and understanding, some people chose to use it to promote the culture of hate.

Obi said the consequence of promoting such a culture transcended religious affiliation.

He warned the trend could affect all strata and people in the society irrespective of re-

ligious affiliations.

The governor urged those behind the orgies of violence to have a rethink, even as he prayed to God for continued peace in the country Obi prayed God to grant President Goodluck Jonathan the wisdom to steer to ship of the state to safe anchor.

Condemning the explosions though his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu said the act of terrorism was mean, distasteful and out of style with the nation's cultural and religious values. ``Nigerians must unite to fight those behind these incessant bomb attacks because it is not in our character, cultural or religious values to waste lives," he said

Ibadan school bus fire: father of three loses two children

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WO more victims of the Ibadan bus fire died yesterday. They are two of the three children of Mr. Yakubu Abdulrasak admitted at the emergency ward of the University College Hospital (UCH) in the city.

Musa (six), Monsurat (12) and Latifat (nine) were involved in the incident.

Latifat escaped from the fire through the bus window, but her siblings suffered severe burns.

Musa was among the five children confirmed dead by the management of UCH last Thursday. Monsurat died around 7.45pm on Friday.

Mr Abdulrasak, who con-

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

firmed the death of his oldest child, Monsurat, said: “I want to inform you sir that Monsurat is dead. We buried Musa yesterday. Now I will go home again to bury Monsurat. I have been monitoring her since Wednesday.

She spoke with the governor when he came to the hospital on Thursday, but my daughter could not survive. I lost two children out of my three children. I am finished.”

Abdulrasak had earlier narrated how his daughter, Latifat escaped from the fire through the window of the bus.

According to him, Latifat broke the window of the bus when she realised that she and other pupils had been trapped.

“She got down from the window and was shouting for help. She later ran to my father’s house, which is just a stone throw to IyanaChurch, the spot of the unfortunate fire incident, to alert him that her other siblings and other pupils were being burnt in the fire,” he said.

The school’s proprietress, Mrs Oke Ejemuta, who is said to have suffered a shock, is being treated at the same hospital.

A source said Mrs. Ejemuta deposited N300,

000 to the hospital for the treatment of the children.

The Police said they would prosecute Oyedele, the driver of the bus, for alleged negligence.

The driver whose son, Usman was among the pupils, who got sustained burns, was also admitted at the emergency unit of UCH. But Police Commissioner Yabo Mohammed, who visited the hospital, explained that the driver would be prosecuted, insisting that it was his carelessness that led to the tragedy.

According to the police boss , the incident has sent a very bad signal to all security agencies on the need to monitor vehicles plying the

road and check their road worthiness, adding that a mobile court would be set up to check the anomalies.

“This is clearly a case of sheer carelessness on the part of the driver. I understand the driver bought fuel and somehow along the line, the vehicle caught fire. Before you leave your house every morning, you ought to check your vehicle and ensure that everything is working perfectly before going on the highway. Once you are on the highway and the vehicle develops a problem, it’s not only dangerous to you but to other road users. I think this is carelessness. So, if the driver is still alive, he will surely be charged.”

CAN urges Christians to forgive attackers From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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HROUGH its Bauchi State chapter, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has appealed to its members nationwide to forgive those who attacked churches across the country.

Its Chairman Rev Lawi Pokti gave the advice at the weekend while speaking with reporters on the significance of Good Fridayand Easter Monday in Bauchi.

The cleric’s appeal came hours before members of the deadly Boko Haram sect struck in Kaduna State.

He said: “We must forgive each other, the attackers of churches all over the country should be forgiven so that peace will reign and Nigeria should progress, in the spirit of unity and brother hood will be strengthened.”

Pokti challenged politicians to imbibe the spirit of true patriotism, love, togetherness, fear God and work hard to fulfill the promises they made during election campaigns to ease the sufferings of the masses He described Easter as the foundation of Christianity all over the world.

“The day being the climax of the Holy week which was characterised by sober reflection, humane, I admonish Christians in the country to emulate the divine qualities of Jesus Christ which is an embodiment of victory and salvation for mankind,’’ the cleric said.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS ‘Arik Air not taken over by AMCON’ By kelvin Osa-Okunbor

•The Apostolic Faith Choir and Orchestra during the Easter Concert held at the church auditorium in Authony Village, Lagos.... yesterday

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

ACN decries sentiments over Jonathan’s church ‘gift’

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said its reaction to the bribery allegation against President Goodluck Jonathan over the construction or “renovation” of a church in his village in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, has nothing to do with religious or ethnic considerations.

In a statement in Lagos yesteday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the issues involved are those of ethics, constitutionality and the rule of law.

ACN noted that anyone or group attempting to make it a religious or ethnic is doing a great disservice to the nation.

It urged religious leaders and other opinion leaders to always rise above politics and primordial considerations in commenting on such issues.

The statement reads: “Sadly, since the bribery allegation came to the fore, we have seen otherwise respectable religious leaders joining the fray and using uncomplimentary words, just to be seen to be defending the President. We have seen how they attempted to use religion to divide Nigerians.

This is unfortunate and must never repeat itself.

“Like these unwary religious leaders, we have also read comments from some ethnic jingoists, making it look as if the criticisms of the President’s solicitation and acceptance of

‘Church gift to President’s village in order’

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GROUP, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), has said the church gift to President Goodluck Jonathan’s village was in order.

An Italian firm, Gitto Contstruzioni Generalli (GCG), built a church in the President’s village, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

But, a social critic, Bayo Osiyemi, disagreed with the Primate of the Anglican Church, Rev. Nicholas Okoh, saying the cleric was partisan.

Okoh criticised the call by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the President’s impeachment over the ‘gift’.

He said the party has the legitimate right to call for impeachment.

Osiyemi said the onus is on the President and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to counter the call.

The critic warned that partisanship on the part of clerics may make nonsense of the genuine nation-building efforts of renowned religious leaders, including Cardinal Anthony Okogie, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Prelate SunBy Olamilekan Andu

a church ‘gift’ from a foreign construction company doing business with the government he heads is targeting the South-South or the Niger Delta.

“All these developments confirm what we have always known: this President is the most divisive Nigerian leader ever, and he and his ‘supporters’ will not hesitate to play the religious or ethnic card even when the issues involved have nothing to do with either. Any criticism of his actions is immediately interpreted as an attack on the Ijaw, the Niger Delta, the

By Emmanuel Oladesu

day Mbang, Bishop Ladigbolu and the Sultan of Sokoto.

Osiyemi said the country "needs the intelligent intervention of patriotic leaders , instead of interruptions and pollution merchants masquerading in religious gowns".

However, UNDEDSS Secretary-General, Tony Uranta, defended the donation , saying it trailed similar donations by firms to Niger Delta communities .

He also said that calls by the ACN for the impeachment of the President was mischievous and illogical.

Uranta said: "The Otuoke church project has been on since 2008 and it is a legitimate corporate social responsibility which does not personally benefit the President and his family.

We still find it amazing that anyone will be against such corporate civic responsibility projects, especially in the region.

"We equally wonder where critics of the Otueke donation were when companies were making similar donations nationwide".

South-South or Christians.

This is not the stuff of good leadership.”

“The last time we checked, Dr Jonathan was voted into office by people of all ethnic and religious groups. He is not the President of the Niger Delta, neither is he the President of Christians or Muslims, but the President of all Nigerians. He should always remember this.”

The party wondered where the religious leaders now rushing to the President’s defence were when ACN campaigned rigorously for him to be sworn in as Acting President, when his boss was ill and he was marooned; or

why they never came out to defend the late President Umaru Yar’Adua “when we criticised his administration’s policies”.

ACN added: “We will like to put it on record that our reaction to the issue was based on published reports that the President himself admitted soliciting and accepting the church gift. We maintain that this is an impeachable offence and that the National Assembly should investigate it and take the necessary action.

Whether the National Assembly does so or not will not mitigate the rightness of our stand.”

Arik Air yesterday said it has not been taken over by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria ( AMCON).

The clarification is coming on the heels of some reports that AMCON has acquired the airline.

In a statement by its Media Officer, Banji Ola, the airline said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication suggesting that Arik Air has been taken over by AMCON. “There is no iota of truth in the story and it was just another malicious publication against Arik Air. The story is at best a figment of the writer’s imagination and a show of irresponsible journalism.”

AMCON Managing Director, Mr Mustafa Chike Obi, who was quoted in the story, condemned the publication.

In a statement, the AMCON chief said he was disappointed at the report, adding that the story was “completely false and baseless...”

Reps rue US killing of Nigerian woman

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HE House of Representatives has decried the shooting of a 40year-old Nigerian woman in the United States by a gunman.

Mrs. Doris Chibuko, a mother of three, was rportedly preparing for her graduation in two months from the Korean Nursing School, Oakland’s Oikos University, East Oakland, California. She was killed when the gunman fired indiscriminately on students and workers of the school last Monday.

The Chairman House Committee on Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, noted that the deceased

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

worked as a lawyer in Nigeria before she moved to the US. Mrs. Chibuko was preparing for a second career in nursing, eight months into a one-year vocational programme.

“The House Committee on Diaspora sends its heartfelt condolences to the husband, Mr. Efanye Chibuko, the children – Chemelie (3), Ify (5), Chioma (8) and her mother, who also lives in Oakland.

“We pray that the mercies of God be with the family in this hard time,” DabiriErewa said.

Kano Christians celebrate Easter amid tight security From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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HRISTIANS in Kano yesterday observed a low-key Easter celebration with heavy security at strategic locations within the metropolis.

The Nation observed that in Sabon Gari, with predominant Christians and non-indigenes, men and officers of the state Joint Task Force (JTF) were at entry points.

Armed soldiers and other security agents guarded places of worship, as dozens of Christians attended church services for the Easter celebration.

Despite the apprehension over a possible attack on the city during the Easter festivity, Christians were in high spirits as they celebrated the occasion. Many of them, however, remained indoors throughout the period.

Our correspondent , who visited parts of the metropolis, said most churches recorded a low turnout of worshippers.

He addedn that the worshippers were frisked by security officials before they were allowed into the churches.

Mark to politicians: don’t play politics with God

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ENATE President David Mark yesterday urged politicians to detach God from politics.

He noted that service to humanity should be devoid of sentiments.

He spoke at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Otukpo, Benue State, where he marked his 64th birthday.

The Senate President said he would remain faithful to the service of God and humanity for the rest of his life.

A statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, said Mark “used the occasion to take stock of his journey through life and promised to continue to work for the political stability and economic prosperity of Nigeria”.

He said religion is different from politics, adding that

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

both should not be confused to avoid conflict of interests.

The Senate President frowned at the recent utterances of some politicians, saying they were capable of inflaming the already charged atmosphere.

Mark said: “I will continue to serve God and humanity honestly and selflessly. I have every reason to thank God for His mercies. His grace is sufficient for me.

“I cannot count my blessings over the years. His favours and mercies on me are unquantifiable. I will ever be grateful and dedicated.

“I am just emotional. I can’t count my blessings. I can’t

imagine what God has done in my life to see me to where I am today.”

He said service remains his watchword, adding: “I will continue to do my best to uplift my community, my country and humanity.”

In his homily, Rev. Kenneth Odeh urged the congregation to remain steadfast in truth and service to God because good will always triumph over evil.

He prayed for political stability and economic prosperity of Nigeria so that the nation could get out of the woods.

Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, who was represented by his seputy, Steve Lawani, said the synergy between the state government and Mark has facilitated the modest achievements the administration has recorded.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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NEWS WHO REPLACESS ROBERT ZOELLICK

Okonjo-Iweala quest t Envoy: Okonjo-Iweala “manifestly superior” to other candidates

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•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second right), Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker Suraj Adekunbi (left), Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), and the father of the former House of Representatives Speaker, Alhaji Alani Bankole at the burial of Chief Imam of Gbagura Central Mosque, Alhaji Sodrudeen Bamidele Biobaku, in Abeokuta...at the weekend

OR Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States (U.S.) Prof.

Ade Adefuye, the candidacy of Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the World Bank Group Presidency is “manifestly superior’’ to any other.

Adefuye, who spoke in New York yesterday, said following the endorsement of Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy by the African Union (AU), a meeting of the African Ambassadors to the U.S. was summoned and was attended by all Ambassadors.

He spoke in an interview with the North America Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The envoy said the meeting was also attended by ambassadors from other developing countries “where I spoke as much as I knew about the African candidate.

“As far as the condition of the post is concerned and quality is concerned, Okonjo-Iweala is above

other candidates.”

Adefuye urged his counterparts to appeal to the conscience of the world that it was time to emphasise quality and qualification, rather than politics in the selection of the bank’s president.

According to him, he had met the Ambassador of Jamaica to drum support for the minister, adding that plans had been concluded to meet the group of Caribbean Ambassadors to make the same point.

He said: “We want to appeal to the conscience of the world that it is quality that matters. Not that Okonjo-Iweala only has the relevant qualifications; she demonstrates competence in dealing with problems of the third world.

“She will make the World Bank more relevant to the developing countries. She will make developing countries to have sense of belonging in the World Bank

Orji lends support to Okonjo-Iweala

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•Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi (second right), former governor Otunba Niyi Adebayo (left), Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)Director-General Oscar Onyema (right) and NSE Executive Director, Market Operations, Mr. Ade Bajomo during a meeting between the Ekiti State Economic Management Team and the NSE Management Team in Lagos... recently.

•Executive Director, UAC of Nigeria Plc. Mr. Abdul Bello (left), Human Resource Manager Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) Plc. Mr. Olumide Adedeji and Special Projects Manager, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Mukhtar Yakasai, during the send-forth/luncheon for the past Presidents of Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers Federation (CANMPEF), held at Elephant Cement House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos...at the weekend.

BIA State Governor, Theodore Orji, yesterday threw his weight behind Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s quest to become the first female President of the World Bank. He said her presidency at the bank will help the developing countries to advance economically.

In a statement by his media aide Ugochukwu Emezue in Umuahia, Orji declared that all Abians home and in the the Diaspora are solidly behind her, being a worthy ambassador of the Abia State during her stay at the bank as one of its vice presidents.

Emezue quote his boss as saying: “As a daughter of the state, this is the time to give her all the support she needs to succeed especially through prayers and other diplomatic means, adding that all wellmeaning Abians should use their good offices to ensure she gets the job.”

The governor insisted that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has all it takes to head the bank, stressing that she is not only qualified academically but also have the requisite experience to excel as the president of the world apex bank.

He maintained that the minister of Finance and the Coordinating minister of theEconomy stands

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

shoulders high above others in the race, as exemplified by her outstanding records while she was at the World Bank.

Orji advised other countries not to allow the presidency of the World Bank to be determined by racial background by work and academic experience from those aspiring to head the bank.

He further posited that she performed well in the regime of Obasanjo as the finance minister, and from all indications, she is proving her mettle in the president Goodluck Jonathan regime as the coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Finance Minister.

Orji said: “Little wonder that she is enjoying this massive support from Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world since she has been tested and proved that she is equal to the task”.

He however thanked President Jonathan for the unequaled support he has the minister in the competition, assuring that she will not disappoint.

The governor also extended same appreciation to the Africa Union (AU) for its backing.

“I have the hope and confidence that our sister will make history soon. I can see it coming.”

WORLD BANK PRESIDENTS 1946-2012

•Senate President David Mark (second left) , House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal (second right) flanked by Benue State Deputy Governor Steve Lawani (right) and Senate Minority Leader George Akume at the 64th irthday thanksgiving service of David Mark at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Otukpo Benue State...yesterday

• Eugene Meyer (June 1946 – December 1946) • John J. McCloy (March 1947 – June 1949) • Eugene R. Black, Sr. (1949–1963) • George D. Woods (January 1963 – March 1968) • Robert McNamara (April 1968 – June 1981) • Alden W. Clausen (July 1981 – June 1986) • Barber Conable (July 1986 – August 1991) • Lewis T. Preston (September 1991 – May 1995) • James Wolfensohn (May 1995 – June 2005) • Paul Wolfowitz (1 June 2005 – June 2007) • Robert Zoellick (1 July 2007–

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

7

NEWS WHO REPLACESS ROBERT ZOELLICK

quest to lead World Bank: Politics over qualification

•Prof. Adefuye

•Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala

We want to appeal to the conscience of the world that it is quality that matters. Not that Okonjo-Iweala only has the relevant qualifications; she demonstrates competence in dealing with problems of the third world

By having a woman from Europe as the head of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and another woman from Africa as head of World Bank is the right thing to do and reassure the global community that equality is here to stay

I

T will be simply splendid! Splendid indeed to have a Nigerian woman become the President of the World Bank.

Three frontline nations and economic powerhouse in Africa - South Africa, Angola and of course Nigeria have endorsed her for this important post.

Nigeria has even gone further and has managed to get the African Union (AU) to stand by her. To buttress how serious Nigeria is committed to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the country’s diplomatic mission in Washington DC has started lobbying other foreign diplomats to support her.

The truth is that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has strong competitors and it will take more than qualification and credentials to topple those two other gentlemen.

To be frank, the most compelling competitor is Dr. Jim Yong Kim, a Korean American nominated by President Barrack Obama. The other gentleman, Mr. Jose Antonio Ocampo, is a Columbian who can be called a Latin American candidate.

Jose Antonio Ocampo is also a good candidate; he is a college professor and a former finance minister in Columbia. Ocampo is in the process but we all have a feeling that he will not get the position,because United States has an upper hand in the hemisphere.

Without mincing words, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is the most qualified to be president of the World Bank.

She has the resume, the requisitive education and experience to head the Brentwood institution. To top it all, she has worked for the World Bank for 25 years and she has hands on experience. She understands the philosophy, architecture and the nature of the job. She did not need anybody on the first day of her job to show her the cafeteria, conference room, library and the rest of the building. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala already knows the

•Orji

Little wonder that she is enjoying this massive support from Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world since she has been tested and proved that she is equal to the task

Okonjo-Iweala faces interview panel today

F

INANCE Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will today, feature in a series of sessions for World Bank presidential candidates in Washington D.C., United States (U.S.).

The organiser of the sessions, CGD, a Washington D.C-based think-tank, said the three candidates – Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, José Antonio Ocampo and Jim Yong Kim have all been invited.

However, only Dr. OkonjoIweala and Ocampo have so far accepted to attend, the group said.

The CGD, in collaboration with the Washington Post, said that at each session, candidates were expected to deliver opening remarks, followed by a discussion and questions from an audience, including members of the media. names of the most of the senior staff working in the building.

But it takes more than resume and experience to get the position. This is a political position that requires more than having a doctorate in economics from Ivy League college. United States (US) needs the position to able to pilot its international affairs with regards to democratic dispensation and capitalism. It would have been better if President Obama has nominated Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. But Nigeria as a nation has poor branding, despite being an oil-rich nation and Nigerian constituency in America have not yet started flexing their voting and political muscle.

You are beginning to get the idea: Yes, few months ago Dr. Okonjo-

THE CV • Worked for 25 years in World Bank • Holds P.hD in Economics, Ivy League College, US • Former Managing Director, World Bank • Former Vice President, World Bank • Former Corporate Secretary World Bank • Finance Minister, Nigeria “The events will be streamed globally on the Internet via the CGD Website and Washington Post Live and will include questions for the candidates from around the world sent via email and Twitter,’’ the CGD said.

Interviews to select a new president of the World Bank are scheduled to hold from April 9 to April 11 in Washington D.C.

Global civil groups have called on the bank’s Executive Directors to ensure that the three candidates debate publicly with each other as part of the selection process.

Meanwhile, some observers expressed concern that so far, there had not been any public forum where the candidates could explain their vision for the bank’s future and be questioned by the media.

Iweala was the managing director of World Bank before she returned home to become the minister of finance and economic coordinator for President Jonathan’s administration.

Before that she has been vice-president and corporate secretary at World Bank. Her stiff competitor Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the American nominee does not have a vast and ample experience like her in global economics and granulated management.

Yong Kim, who is currently the President of Dartmouth College, is a medical doctor by training and does not enjoy adequate sophistication on international economics and finance, unlike Dr. Okonjo-Iweala who has her doctorate and experience in the field.

Yong Kim has a couple of things going for him; he is from a minority population group in United States, Korean community. That will help for America to counteract the argument that a candidate from emerging nation is needed. Yong Kim was born in South Korea before he migrated to America for his advance and post graduate studies. He is an American citizen who was born in a developing nation and economically emerging market of South Korea.

Moreover, at World Health Organisation (WHO), he has been known to be generous with his care giving and dedication to the health of developing nations especially AIDS patients.

U.S. candidate has upper hand be-

cause since the inception of the two Brentwood institutions: World Bank and IMF, United States has always produced leaders of the World Bank while Europe takes over the leadership of International Monetary Fund (IMF) leadership. The U.S. has the most number of votes at the World Bank and together with its allies in Europe, Japan and Saudi Arabia; it will have its way.

But “let not your heart be troubled”, hope is not all lost. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala can still take it and win the position. It is possible but Nigeria has to up its game and take the issue direct to U.S. and Europeans. Nigeria must make her point direct and precise why it is necessary for an African woman to land the World Bank apex job.

Nigeria and Dr. Okonjo-Iweala have made the point that the time has come for a candidate from an emerging nation to lead the World Bank.

The point must be clearly established that Yong Kim having been born in South Korea, will not be equated as being acceptable to developing world.

For Yong Kim is now representing the developed nations.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala might also made the argument that the time has come to give a woman the opportunity to participate in global leadership. And by electing her as president of World Bank can prove to the entire world that women are to be taken serious, not just in talk but in action.

By having a woman from Europe as the head of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and another woman from Africa as head of World Bank is the right thing to do and reassure the global community that equality is here to stay.

Good luck to Nigeria and OkonjoIweala!

Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol Organisation

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS Ajimobi presents Staff of Office to Okere of Saki From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the weekend presented the Staff of Office to the Okere of Saki, Oba Kelani Olatoyese Kelani Olarinre II, six years after his installation.

The event was well attended by sons and daughters of Saki in Saki West Local Government Area.

As early as 8am on Saturday, soldiers, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), the Nigeria Civil Defence Security Corps (NCDSC), the Police and other paramilitary organisations were stationed at the venue of the coronation, OYSADEP Sport Complex.

People were screened at the entrance.

Journalists and photographers had a hectic day getting in and some were manhandled.

The governor restated his commitment to the welfare of traditional rulers through the prompt payment of salaries and urged them to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring security in their domain.

He urged the people to work with the government for the successful implementation of its programmes.

Ajimobi urged residents to be law abiding and always channel their grievances to the appropriate channels.

The coronation was attended by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Onitede of Tede, Oba Raufu Oladoyin; the Onijo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale; the Iba of Kishi, Oba Mosud Aweda Lawal; the Emir of Kita, Alhaji Idris Tutoru; the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola; and the Aare of AgoAre, Oba Jubril, among others.

Osun’s N17.5b contract for six roads •Govt to send bond bill to Assembly From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

HE Osun State Government has awarded the contract for the repair of six roads to Hunge International Limited at N17.5 billion.

They are Odeyinka/Orile Owu/Ayegunle/Gbongan road; Osogbo/Gbongan road junction/Odeyinka/Orile Owu/Araromi/Owu Ayegunle road; Ijebu-Jesa/Iloko/ Iwaraja road; Ijebu-Jesa/Iloko-Ijesa/Ilesa/Akure road; Ijeda-Ijesa/Erinmo-Ijesa road; and Igbajo-Oke-Irun-Iresi road.

Signing the contract at the Governor’s Office in Osogbo, the state capital, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport, Mr. Amudah Oladepo, said the contractor is ready to finance the project for a short period of time.

Oladepo said the contractor was mobilised with 15 per cent of the contract sum and the roads would be ready in 18 months.

He said the project would facilitate socio-economic development, link Osun with Ogun State and reduce accidents.

The Special Adviser urged the contractor to deliver the projects promptly and implored the people in the affected areas to co-operate with the firm.

The company’s representative, Mrs. Angela Seng, pledged to deliver the projects at the stipulated time and according to specification.

Yesterday, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Sunday Akere said the Bond and Fiscal Responsibility Bill will soon be sent to the House of Assembly.

The bill, when passed into law, would enable the government seek for bonds to finance capital projects.

Akere said the bill has been approved by the Executive Council and would soon be sent to the House.

He said the government is planning to secure a N60 billion bond, which would be collected in two tranches of N30 billion each.

Akere said the proposed interest rate is between 1414.5 per cent and is payable in seven years.

He said the bil, when it becomes law, will enable government raise long term loans at cheap and fixed interest rates.

The commissioner said the State of Osun Land Holdings Authority Bill, 2012, was also approved by the Executive Council for the administration and allocation of land to farmers.

He said the objective of the bill is to acquire parcels of land and create a landbank for investors in the agricultural sector and support the government’s policy on mass food production.

Akere said the state Agricultural Land Holdings Authority will be headed by a General Manager and will also have a law tribunal for the resolution, mediation and artbitration of disputes.

He said the tribunal will be chaired by a lawyer who has been practicing for over less than 10 years.

Members will include persons experienced in the agricultural; estate management; urban and regional planning and land survey sectors.

T

•Ajimobi (left) presenting the Staff of Office and certificate to the Okere of Saki, Oba Olarinre II... at the weekend.

Stop living in the past, Ogun PDP tells Oni T

HE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday told the party’s National Vice– Chairman (South West), Mr. Segun Oni, to stop living in the past.

It said the era of imposing party executives on members is over.

Ogun PDP was reacting to statement credited to Oni that there was no congress in the state and that a “fresh and all-inclusive” one would be carried out in

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

future.

During Oni’s visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, last week, he said: “I am aware that the National Working Committee (NWC) said there should be no congress and that means there should be no congress. And as far as I am concerned, there has been no

congress in Ogun State.”

But in an interview yesterday, the newly elected Ogun PDP Chairman, Mr. Bayo Dayo, said: “We are opposed to a fresh congress. We cannot continue to allow some elders to go into their room and write out names of executives.

“What we have done is to ensure internal democracy, because we all recognised the former executive, led by

Chief Dayo Soremi, as authentic and it organised congresses.

“We did the right thing and have got an injunction authenticating our congresses. The NWC approved congresses in all the states and Ogun was not excluded. We did not get any letter stopping us from conducting congresses and our congresses were monitored

by NWC representatives, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives.

Osun tells PDP to prove allegations over Cuban trip O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has debunked the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest that the Osun State Government was sending pupils to Cuba for paramilitary training.

He challenged the PDP to prove the allegation.

In a statement yesterday, the governor’s spokesman, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said: “The allegation that Aregbesola is sending pupils to Cuba for military training in furtherance of a secessionist agenda is a cheap lie.

“Can the PDP deny that Nigeria has diplomatic ties with Cuba? What is the essence of diplomatic ties if not for the economic, cultural and political development of the associating countries?

“Nigeria, like many other countries, has been sending people to Cuba. If Osun’s decision to send some pupils to Cuba this year is a threat to PDP, the ruling party has total control of the immigration and the intelligence gathering apparatus, so it can easily find out if there is anything clandestine about the trip and expose it to the world.

•Rights groups slam party

“But because there is nothing to expose, the PDP has intensified its lies just to misinform Nigerians and confuse issues, with the hope that this would redeem its battered image in the Southwest.

“The PDP should either present its evidence or keep quiet for ever.

Nigerians have had enough of its cheap lies.”

Also yesterday, the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) condemned the PDP’s .

In a statement by its Deputy Coordinator, Mr. Mathew Nwokocha, the umbrella body of 65 civil society groups in Nigeria described the claim as “a disgraceful lie and a primitive way to play politics”.

NHRC said: “We are compelled to respond to this claim, because for over half a century, the federal, state and local governments have been sending people to Cuba for training in the health sector and other areas of human endeavours, of

which Cubans have the expertise.

“Yearly, members of the Nigerian Human Rights Community are sent abroad, including Cuba, especially on May 1, during the Workers’ Day celebration.

“This year’s May Day event in Cuba is actually drawing a large number of Nigerians, including federal and state government officials, and several pupils, mostly from the Northern part of the country.

“The statement credited to the PDP portrays the party as hopeless, desperate, bewildered and anxious to do anything, including shooting itself in the feet, if only to draw attention and at all cost portray its Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) foe in bad light.”

The group said the greatest threat to Nigeria’s unity is not pupils visiting Cuba for May Day, but a combination of bad governance and the insurgencies of the Boko Haram sect and the Niger-Delta militants.

It said: “It is a dishonor that the statement of the PDP was silent on this world acclaimed sources of instability in Nigeria. We advise political parties to wage their campaigns on the truth and noble principles that will deepen democratic values and culture, instead of aiming to ride to power through cheap lies, deceit and unending deception.

“We are not members of any political party, but we urge the Southwest PDP to imbibe ethics in its campaigns. We wonder what future we are leaving for our children when political leaders become liars to score political goals, even when the tactics they employ continuously set them against the people they are expected to protect.”

The group urged all states sending labour delegates and pupils to Cuba for the May Day celebration not to be deterred by the PDP’s “propaganda”, but to sustain the good relationship between Cuba and Nigeria, which has lasted for over half a decade and has been constantly nurtured through bilateral exchanges, such as the May Day visits of Nigerian students.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2011

NEWS Ekiti contractors get seven-week ultimatum EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has given the contractors handling five-kilometre roads in each of the 16 local governments to complete them in the next seven weeks or be sanctioned.

The governor spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, when he summoned the contractors to a meeting where he expressed the government’s displeasure at the slow pace of work.

He said the contracts would be revoked if there is no improvement on the projects.

Fayemi said he was giving the contractors the last warning to justify government’s huge investment on the roads.

According to him, though the government had paid them for the construction of the roads, he would not hesitate to go after the contractors and retrieve government’s money from them after revoking their contracts.

Oyo lawmaker hails Ajimobi From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

THE Chairman, Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Transport, Waliu Ganiyu, has praised Governor Abiola Ajimobi for releasing funds to the contractor to complete the Assembly and the Agodi Gate axis road.

The lawmaker spoke during an unscheduled oversight visit of his committee to the project.

He noted that though the present administration inherited the project, it released the fund to fulfil its campaign promises to provide good roads.

Ganiyu, who was accompanied by other members of the committee, urged the contractor to ensure early completion of the project.

Oyo ACN berates PDP over Tinubu’s birthday allegation

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•Pa Meshach Emiola Ibidapo (left); his daughter, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello; her husband and Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello; the celebrator and Pa Ibidapo’s wife, Elder Jadesola (JP); and wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, at the 80th birthday luncheon party for Elder Jadesola Ibidapo at KFA Event Centre, Lekki, Victoria Island, Lagos...at the weekend.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Group alleges plot to cause crisis in Southwest A GROUP, the Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), at the weekend said there are alleged plans to cause political crisis in the six Southwest states through a string of killings and assassination of political leaders.

It said the alleged plot targets notable politicians, including Osun State Governor Adesoji Aregbesola.

In a statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by its Director of Information, Dr Akinwunmi Caleb Ibikunle, the group noted that those behind the plot are among the losers in last year’s elections in the region.

According to the group, having lost the elections in the most ignoble manner, the vanquished group wants to come back to power by all means, including but not limited to fulling the declaration of a State of Emergency in some Southwest states after a wellconceived chain of sponsored political assassinations.

ONAC, a coalition of 25panYoruba groups, said a rival

political group in the Southwest plans to cause political upheaval culminating in the possible assassination of Osun State governor.

The statement reads: “We have been reliably informed by a trusted security operative of plots to cause mayhem through the assassination of a serving governor. We have written to the Inspector-General of Police (IG) to investigate this plot. Since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost power in the Southwest, the killing gangs are yet to go to sleep.

“There have been series of meetings in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, by some prominent PDP leaders.

We have it on good authority that there are two major plans in the offing: the first is to assassinate the governor of Osun State during one of his visits outside the state; the

second is frame Aregbesola by charging him on trumpedup charges of treason. It was the same episode that drew public outrage in 1964 and 1993, when two outstanding Yoruba leaders, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief M.K.O Abiola, were framed up by the oligarchy with the help of internal conspirators.

“This time, the allegation against Aregbesola is that he holds a flag as a symbol of identity for the people of the Southwest at a time the AK47 rifle or bombs have become the symbols of groups in parts of the country.

“We are aware that the Northern Governors’ Forum has a flag; the BRACE states of the South-South also have a symbol of its identity. It is criminal and irresponsible for any government to seek to persecute a political leader on this kind of trite alter, in a

country that claims to practise pluralism and federal democracy. In the US, every state has its flag and anthem, whereas regional identity, through all forms of symbols, was part of the groundwork Nigeria’s founding fathers laid down.

“The reason Aregbesola has become a target is in the desperation of the PDP to maintain a 360 circle of atrocious supremacy on Nigeria, having successfully seized the Federal Government and most states of the country through aggression, threats and bullying. Under the current leadership in Abuja, Nigeria has become a killing field - on the roads, through accidents and invasion by armed gangs; at home, in the work places, through a perishing health policy; and other programes spiced with a scorching, excruciating selfserving economic policies.”

HE Oyo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused “recently selected” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials in the state and the Southwest for their “hyperactive falsehood” and embarking on “a baffling journey of self-mockery” over allegation that Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) states in the region contributed N2billion for the 60th birthday of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary Dauda Kolawole, the Oyo State ACN noted that the PDP regional leaders’ allegation was aimed at tarnishing the image of a “polished, urbane and dignified” political icon like Tinubu, by some people still ruing the exit of “disgraced governors” of the PDP in the region.

“It is apparent that just coming from the conclave where its officers were recently anointed, the PDP officials are psychologically harried to begin to justify the high level of pretence expended on them. This is what is responsible for the hyperactivity of the recently-anointed PDP officials in the Southwest. In their hyperactivity, they mix together irrelevances and latch on to glaring lies to justify their hyperactive falsehood,” ACN said.

The party noted that as much as Tinubu’s birthday was worthy of celebration, considering how he almost single-handedly rescued the Southwest from the vice grip of destructive mainstream politics, it would be an insult on the frontline politician to ask anyone to contribute a penny to his birthday.

LP leaders, supporters defect to ACN in Ondo community CORES of Labour Party (LP) leaders and members in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State have defected to the Omoluabi Platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at Ifon, headquarters of the local government.

The defectors, led by Mr. Akindele Dare Wasiu (aka Scorpion), and Baba Odogiyan, a renowned politician, said they were dumping the ruling LP in the state for a forward-looking, progressive party which cares about the welfare and wellbeing of the residents.

The ceremony, which attracted ACN leaders from different parts of the state, was attended by an ACN governorship aspirant, Dr. Olu Agunloye, and other notable leaders of Omoluabi Plat-

S

‘I won’t return to LP’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Ifedayo Abegunde, at the weekend said he would not return to the Labour Party (LP) after dumping it for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

A statement by the Public Relations of his campaign organisation, Abena Campaign Organisation (ACO), Mr Kayode Ojo, criticised those peddling the rumour that Abegunde wanted to return to LP. The federal lawmaker had, on February 1, announced his defection from the Ondo State LP to the ACN on the floor of the National Assembly.

The statement said: “It is true that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has been sending eminent citizens of the state, based in Abuja, to appeal to the lawmaker to return to the party as its founding member.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

form. ACN Chairman in the local government, Mr Ogundimbola Abayomi,

thanked the defectors for taking the decision early.

He noted that it is good for progressives to unite and work for the prty’s success in

the forthcoming governorship election.

The party chair hailed Agunloye for supporting ACN in the senatorial district and the state.

Agunloye said there are no new or old members in ACN because all of them belong to the same family.

He urged them to work assiduously for the party’s progress at the grassroots and propagate its ideals across the state.

The governorship aspirant warned that the ACN would not condone thuggery, which he alleged was the machinery of the ruling party in the state.

He said: “Violence is not the hallmark of an Omoluabi. But if provoked and pushed to the wall, the result might be unpalatable to peace-loving members of the society.”

Osun Assembly plans meeting over attacks on govt SUN State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam has said the House will convey a stakeholders’ meeting to deliberate on incessant attacks by some elements in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest on the state government.

He said the meeting would hold when the parliament,

O

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

currently on recess, resumes session.

In a statement by his Press Secretary Goke Butika, the Speaker noted that the meeting would enable political leaders and other stakeholders to defend the state’s peaceful coexistence.

Salaam said it would be

unpardonable for the leadership to watch the 20-yearold state turned into a theatre of violence, as being witnessed in some parts of the country.

For attacking some Southwest governors, Salaam said the recently elected the National Vice-Chairman of the PDP in the zone, Mr Segun Oni, has become an advocate of “politics of bitterness”

and “do-or-die”.

He described Oni’s comments that the PDP would make Osun State ungovernable as bad politics by the opposition party.

The Speaker said the outburst and comments credited to the former Ekiti State governor and some leaders of the PDP in the zone were uncouth and portrayed them as irresponsible.

•House of R Marco Mali inspection o

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Policeman assaults mechanic

‘Stray bullet killed subsidy protest victim’

By Jude Isiguzo

A policeman attached to the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, allegedly assaulted a mechanic while trying to tow a motorcycle parked in front of his shop.

The incident, which occurred on Adegbola Street, Anifowoshe, Ikejam Lagos, over the weekend, caused a minor traffic jam some artisans plying their trade in the area, had rallied round their colleague, breaking the glass windows of the towing vehicle which the police officers came with.

According to Olatunde Opeoluwa, a motorcycle mechanic, he was ill and decided to take a nap in his shop when some policemen came with the towing vehicle and attempted to seize the motorcycle he parked outside his shop.

Following his objection, the policeman allegedly hit Opeoluwa on the head with a big stick.

“I don’t know what my offence was as they are not Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials and have no right to seize a parked motorcycle. He hit me in the head for no just reason; the blow was serious, I have gone to the police station to lodge my complaint”, he said.

Another artisan, who identified himself as John, attributed the reason for the seizure of their motorcycles to their refusal to bribe the policemen.

He said the policeman were so aggressive while seizing their motorcycles and spare parts.

Calm returned to the area after some policemen arrived to disperse the mob.

The task force Commander Mr. Bayo Sulaimon, either responded to calls, or text messages sent to him.

Starcomms Easter gifts Leading code division multiple access (CDMA) operator, Starcomms Plc will tommorrow conclude a promotion, which is targeted at its data subscribers.

Starcomms chief executive officer Logan Pather said the promo is targeted at the company’s current and prospective customers.

The four-day promo he said would be available on both the 1X and IZAP platforms.

During the promo, existing and prospective customers can buy the IZAP USB modem + 100 hours for N5, 999; the 1X USB modem + 100 hours costs N3, 999.

Starcomms is in the forefront of bringing innovative services to subscribers.

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AGOS State Chief Coroner Teslim Elias has heard that the late Ademola Aderinto was killed by a stray bullet during the January fuel subsidy strike.

Aderinto was reported to have been shot by Olusegun Fabunmi, (CSP), the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), of Pen Cinema Police Station.

But the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Oluwole Alagbe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the coroner, who is conducting an inquest into Aderinto’s death that the deceased was killed by a stray bullet.

Alagbe, led in evidence by the Officer-in-Charge, Legal of the Police, Mr. Cyril Ejiofor, told the court that the gun that killed the deceased went off, when some hoodlums were struggling for a rifle with Fabunmi.

By Adebisi Onanuga

Alagbe said the DPO wrote in his statement that he received a distress call from the control room that some hoodlums were attacking people in the area and dispossessing them of their valuables.

The IPO said: "In his statement, he wrote that when he got there with his team, the hoodlums on sighting them attacked them by throwing bottles and stones.

"In the process, the hoodlums attacked them and struggled for the rifle with him. As they struggle for the rifle, the gun went off and mistakenly hit the deceased".

Answering a question, he said a distress call means that the life of the people in the area were in danger.

Alagbe said three other per-

sons treated at the General Hospital, Ikeja, were also mistakenly hit by gun shots.

Asked of the whereabouts of the suspect, Alagbe said the DPO was in custody at Panti Police station.

Earlier, a Director of Access for Justice, Mr Leonard Dibia and the Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Mr. Yinka Farounbi, told the coroner that they were having problems bringing witnesses to the court because the bereaved family resides outside Lagos.

Farounbi said some elders of Yaya Abatan community in Ogba have assured them that those who witnessed the shooting would appear at the next adjourned date.

Chief Magistrate Elias adjourned further hearing to Wednesday.

Festival of culture, colours at Boat Regatta

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T was a festival of acquatic colours and culture in Lagos yesterday.

Traditional boats, commercial ferry operators and floats, from various local governments and local council development areas in the state were a delight to watch at the Lagos Water Regatta.

The Regatta, which has become synonymous with the annual Black Heritage Festival celebration and Easter Carnival, attracted some dignitaries and tourists who relished the parade at the Civic Centre Water Front.

Participants slugged it out in swimming, rowing, Kayak race, power boat, jet ski and sea school displays.

Scores of fun seekers thronged the venue.

Governor Babatunde Fashola appealed to residents to protect the waterways.

“I implore all to understand that the water ways represent a big asset that we must protect and treasure. This water asset represents great opportunity for tourism, sports, transport, business and survival, there is need for us to join hands with the government to protect the waterways.

“It is not a place to dump refuse, let us be the policemen of these waterways. The possibilities are increasing and I assure you that the best is yet to come,” Fashola said.

Describing this year’s edition as the best so far, Fashola said a new water front was created to ensure better view and participation.

•A float group at the regatta...yesterday

By Miriam Ndikanwu

Fashola said: “After looking at the traditional boat display, I was wondering in what part of the country you would have this

kind of colourful display with militant Ijaw youths that are friendly, which shows that Lagos is a land that provides unique opportunity to be who you are.”

LAGOS EMERGENCY LINES STATE AGENCIES 4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 080-75005411; 080-60152462 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) 080-23111742; 080-29728371 Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 080-23909364; 080-77551000 070-35068242 01-7904983 080-79279349; 080-63299264

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 080-23321770; 080-56374036.

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No:080-33706639; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-34346168; 01-2881304

•Abiodun

070-55462708; 080-65154338 767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Earlier, Chairman of the Regatta Planning Committee, Mr. Olusegun Jawando, said the event is a programme meant to preserve Lagos State’s socio cultural heritage, as well as a way of explore opportunities that abounds in the water ways.

The Regatta he said is geared towards promoting the state’s tourism potentials as it provides each participating community opportunities to show what it has to offer He said this year’s edition has a lot of innovations and creativity as a Regatta Village and other innovations were introduced.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Driver arraigned for manslaughter

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27-year-old driver with Coca-Cola Nig. Plc, Juwon Kuye, has been arraigned before an Ikeja, Lagos Magistrates Court, for reckless driving and alleged killing of Bello Charles.

Kuye is facing a three-count charge of manslaughter, bordering on reckless driving before Magistrate Olufemi Isaac.

According to prosecuting As-

By Adebisi Onanuga

sistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Barth Nwaokeye, the accused on March 3, at 7:30pm, while driving a Coca-Cola articulated vehicle, allegedly caused the death of 33-year-old Charles.

Nwaokeye alleged that Kuye, “at the aforementioned date and time, had driven recklessly and dangerously along Oba Ogunji

road, Pen Cinema, Agege, Lagos.”

Nwaokeye added that Kuye drove the articulated vehicle with registration no XQ 764 FST without a valid driver’s license.

The accused, he also alleged, drove the vehicle without regard to other road users.

The ASP said the alleged offence is contrary to Sections 18 and 27 of the Road Traffic Law

Cap. 124 Vol.6, Laws of Lagos of Nigeria 2003.

He said the accused acted contrary to Section 7(1) of the Road Traffic Act, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

Kuye pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Isaac granted him N100,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum and ordered that N50,000 be deposited with the High Court’s Chief Registrar.

•2Face

Baby number six for 2face AFRICAN Queen crooner 2face Idibia is a proud father of six children after Pero Adeniyi, gave birth to a boy in the United States of America.

Pero who has tried to keep the news under wraps, now has three kids for 2face.

2face is yet to visit Pero in the United States, where he is presently with his fiancée, Annie Macaulay.

Mercy is Season 2 winner

• Cross section of corps members

FILE COPY

Pay us our allowances , say Corps members

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ATIONAL Youth Service Corps members attached to Lagos State parastatals, have pleaded with the government to pay their outstanding allowances.

They said the government hasn’t paid them their allowances this year. Besides the serving members, some of their former colleagues are also affected.

The members, who pleaded for anonymity, (because they are not authorised to speak with the press), urged Governor Babatunde Fashola, to intervene.

A corps members serving at a secondary school in Lekki, said they had complained to the Ministry of Special Duties, to no avail.

He said: “The problem started around December and in February, when we lodged a complaint at our educational districts, we were told thatAlausa was in charge of payment of all allowances.

“We then went to the Ministry of Special Duties where we put down our names and account numbers and we were promised prompt payment but two months later, nothing has been done.

“The Federal Government has been paying us our monthly allowance which is N19, 800, but the state government hasn’t.”

An ex-corps member, Frank Omaka, said the government is still owing him two months allowance.

“I finished my NYSC in Feb-

By Jude Isiguzo

ruary, but I wasn’t paid. Some of my friends have not been paid too and I think there is some sort of cover up,” he said.

Hundreds of corps members had gathered at Kosofe Local Government Area, Ogudu, last Thursday, protesting the nonpayment of their allowances.

A corps member complained that despite the government’s failure to provide them accommodation as stipulated in the NYSC laws, they are not being paid.

He said: “Brig.-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, the NYSC Director-General, had directed employers of corps members to provide accommodation, but Lagos State doesn’t provide

such, yet we are not being paid.

“Some of us just received our January allowance of N15, 000 in April. The Easter break is here and we don’t even have money to spend. It’s unfair.

“The account officials are saying the problem can be traced to the E-payment and the new cashless policy of the Central Bank and have refused to pay us, yet state workers are being paid.

Why should corps members suffer?”

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, however, denied that the corps members have not been paid, adding that if there is any problem at all, it would be from the banks.

“The Lagos State Government

does not owe any corps member. I just spoke with the Ministry of Finance and was told that all payments have been made. If there is any problem at all, it would be from the banks” Ibirogba said.

However, a source at a bank used by the corps members said banks only paid upon request of the account owners.

He said: “We do don’t have any issue with the NYSC or the state government. We pay based on instructions since they are the owners of the accounts.

“We have been paying the corps members their Federal Government allowances; if there is any problem with their state allocation, it would be from the owner of the account (the state government) and not the bank.”

BRT, BFS offer free bus service today

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HE Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plying Mile 12 to CMS and the Ikotun-Igando-Iyana-Ipaja-Maryland Bus Franchise Scheme (BFS), both regulated by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), will offer free bus services to commuters today .

The gesture is to promote the use of public transport, ease the movement of commuters and facilitate easy access to the Lagos State Water Regatta.

The free bus service offer which started in 2008, has enabled Lagosians move around to meet religious and social obli-

By Yinka Aderibigbe

gations on public holidays.

A statement by LAMATA’s Public Relations Manager Mr Kolawole Ojelabi said about 190 buses on the BRT scheme will be deployed to cover Mile 12 – CMS, CMS – Lekki/Ajah, Jibowu – Oyingbo – Mile 2, Oyingbo – Fadeyi, and Mile 12 – Oshodi routes.

On its part, the BFS operator would deploy 50 buses to cover Ikotun – Ikeja – Maryland, IyanaIpaja – Maryland, Ikotun – IyanaIpaja, Igando – IyanaIpaja, Igando – Ikeja, and Igando – Maryland routes.

Speaking on the free bus service the Managing Director of the LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola said it was also aimed at encouraging vehicle owners to drop them and use public transport.

He urged motorists to be safety conscious and guard against accidents usually associated with festive seasons as a result of drunk and reckless driving.

He commended commuters for the patronage of the BRT and BFS and assured that LAMATA would ensure that the operators continue to improve their services.

THE second season of the Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol came to an end yesterday.

After six months of auditioning, drills, evictions and emotions, Mercy Chinwo emerged the winner.

She edged off stiff competition from Joe Blue, to become the winner.

She walked away with the princely sum of $100,000 (N7.5m) a recording contract and a brand new Hyundai SUV. The two finalists performed Bobby Benson’s Taxi Driver together and it really got the audience all charged up for the night’s show.

Mercy also performed Fela’s Zombie, while Joe Blue performed Infinity’s song entitled Olorioko.

The grand finale was graced with performances from other established artistes such as Chuddy K, W4, Wizkid, and M.I.

Naeto C engages Nicole today NAETOCHUKWU Chikwe popularly known as Naeto C, and his hearthrob Nicole, will today be engaged in Owerri, Imo State.

Chikwe is the 30-year-old son of former Aviation andTransportation Minister Chief Mrs Kema Chikwe, who is also Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland.

The Lagos leg of the wedding is set for July 21, and the wedding is planned to be grand.

Incidentally, Naeto C and Nicole’s elder brother Osi Uwenyiora were school mates at Atlantic Hall, Epe, Lagos before Osi later moved onto Auburn High School, in the US.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

HEALTH

EMPOWERMENT

STEWARDSHIP

Agency urges more action on vaccines

Council trains 700 youths, women

Council chief presents scorecard

FCT

Lagos

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Lagos

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MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

•Nkala, Mrs Nwandu, with NUJ chairman, Mrs Omelu and participants

NEPAD tackles HIV in rural communities T

HE campaign to contain HIV/AIDS is attracting appreciable response in rural communities in Anambra State.

At Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area, the village square was filled to capacity when a team from the New Partnership for Africa’s sustainable Development (NEPAD) arrived.

Everyone wanted to hear what the visitors had to say.

And there was plenty to say. To those living with the virus, NEPAD brought hope on how they would lead fulfilling lives.

To the others, there was copious advice on how to avoid the dreaded virus.

“We want to bring hope to the communities,” said the organizer of the event, Mrs. Pamela Obi

Obi’s aide sensitises Anambra residents From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Nwandu, Special Adviser to Governor Peter Obi on NEPAD. We are talking of sustainable development, how to live right, how HIV/ AIDs can be contacted and how to live responsible lives.

“The input we are making in Anambra State is to make sure that people make wise decisions and we are targeting both the young and old; we want them to make eternal choices. We have come to bring hope and encouragement to the communities in Anambra.

The group has the same mission and message for 177 communities

in the state. NEPAD has also visited Enugwu-ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area. The aim is not only to ensure that the people are free of HIV/AIDS scourge, the group is also teaching ways of sustainable development, an area pioneered by Pastor Azubuike Nkala.

Also, NEPAD brought a German missionary nurse, Simon Kill, who has lived in Igbo land for seven years and has been giving free medical care to the rural dwellers.

Nkala, in his lecture to the participants, told them that the first capacity for development is having knowledge of oneself and the environment.

He said, “There is development

of love, there is development of peace and the development of man, when somebody is developed, his community will be developed”.

Other attributes of development according to him are self discipline, responsibility, freedom and financial independence.

Nkala further said that for communities to be like their counter parts in the cities there must be capacity building.

Mr. Simon Kill, who was the resource person in both communities, told the people that the clear ways of not contacting the scourge are total abstinence and sticking to one partner, preferably one’s wife or husband.

NGOs fight against violence

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•Dame Pauline Tallen

HE battle against religious violence is starting to receive support from nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). One of such organisations is Awesome Treasures Foundation (ATF) which organised a national Women Prayer Summit at the Indoors Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Awesome, established in 1999, has a vision of raising transformational leaders who will truly serve the people while leading them.

It does this by helping people to identify and develop their abili-

By Kehinde Falode

ties and deploy them to solve problems in their communities and the nation at large.

On March 17,the organisation gathered women in thousands to pray against violence.

Guest speakers and supporters of the summit and the foundation’s cause included Dame Pauline Tallen, former deputy governor of Plateau State, Nollywood actresses and producers Funke Akindele, Omoni Oboli, Stella Damasus and

Ufuoma Ojenebor and leading female pastors from different churches across the nation.

Founder of ATF, Jumoke Adenowo was the spiritual leader and chief host of the prayer summit.

She said: “We are at a point where the cords of nationhood are more fragile than a spiders’ web.

Until we find a national identity and every one of us can state clearly what it means to be a Nigerian, the ship of state will drift and our haven is not in sight. Until we have a corporate national vision

Again, he told parents to train their children in the fear of God, adding that rural communities have a high rate of HIV/AIDS and as Christians that people should say no to it.

He said that a visit to Universities, one would discover that out of four persons that one person would always have HIV/AIDS in the country.

According to him, “statistically speaking, out of five persons who claim to use condoms, one person must get pregnant and it shows that condoms are only 85 percent safe”.

The convener of the programme, Mrs Pamela Obi Nwandu told the people in •Continued on Page 45 we don’t have a true nation. The problems we bemoan-the corruption, lack of focus, waste, lack of meritocracy are mere symptoms of a deep-rooted malaise- lack of vision”.

She continued: “This is the third annual National Women’s Prayer Summit we are organising. Last year when kidnapping had become a raging epidemic and women lived in constant fear over their children’s safety, our theme was “Women against Kidnapping “. We prayed and we saw a definite change. This year we are coming against violence with the theme “Women against Vio•Continued on Page 45

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• Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire

Council empowers 700 youths, women

HOUTS of joy rented the air as over 700 youths and women graduated from a two-week free vocational skill acquisition workshop organised recently by Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Department of Ifelodun Local Government Area in collaboration with Olly Youth and Women Industrial Empowerment Initiative.The event took place at the council’s secretariat, Ajegunle, Lagos.

The workshop had participants drawn from Epe, Badagry, Apapa Ajegunle and Ogun State and were trained in the art of bead making,interior and balloon decorations, paint making, head gear, hat making, soap making, make up and pomade making.

Cleric reiterates importance of Easter

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HRISTIANS have been admonished to see Easter as most important period through which Jesus Christ won salvation for mankind.

The Karu Area Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Nasarawa State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Patrick gave the advice in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

Patrick stressed that: “The feast of Easter is a very special moment in the lives of all Christians worldwide.”

“There are compelling needs for Christians to celebrate Easter, because it was through the sufferings and, finally His death on the Cross, that Christ won for us our eternal salvation.”

Easter generally is about the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from the

death,” he added.

The clergyman said: “for the fact that He died and rose again, is a conclusive sign that when we die, we shall rise again,” adding: ``These are the essential things about Easter.”

Patrick advised that “as Easter people, we should celebrate it with modesty and sober reflection by worshipping God in a most special way.”

“This should be done through attending Churches, masses, and as a people who believe in the resurrection of Christ, we need to show to all that we are brothers and sisters,” he further advised.

The Cleric also called on Christians to be God fearing people “and we should be steadfast in all our endeavours,” adding, “As Nigerians, we should all shun violence and terrorism in all its ramifications.”

Free ambulance services begin

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Lagos

By Adeola Ogunlade

To Miss Precious Adeze, a student at the Nigeria Open University, who was trained in bead making: ‘’the training was exciting and enriching as I learnt a lot about selfemployment and self-confidence that is needed in institutionalising my skills”.

Also, Francis Robert, a graduate of Accounting, who learnt about interior and balloon decoration said that the workshop opened his eyes to the opportunities in interior and outdoor decorations.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, Hon Kamal Bayewu said that the workshop was a deliberate attempt by the council to build the human capacity of the rural poor in the area.

He said: “The training is a fulfillment of the promise made to the youth which is to empower graduates with new and marketable skills and enhance the capacity of drops-out to become self employed so that we will not have idle hands within the community”.

Bayewu said that tackling the growing unemployment rate at the community level can only be effective when we have responsive local government that takes interest building the capacity of its youth to make wealth.

•Governor Ajimobi

O

SUN State Government has reiterated its commitment to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target by 2015 through the provision of modern infrastructure across the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on MDGs, Mr Abdullahi Binuyo, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola is seriously committed to the achievements of the goals in line with the state Six- Point Integral Action Plan which is aimed at baniishing poverty and hunger.

Binuyo disclosed this in his keynote address at the monthly meeting and two- day workshop of the South West Zone MDGs technical officers for the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) and Local

Ekiti

By Dada Aladelokun

Faith Grammar School, Omuo Ekiti and Methodist High School, Omuo Ekiti.

Their representatives went home with a consolation prize of N20,000 each and book items worth over N500,000 to replenish their schools’ Libraries.

Before getting to the final, all these schools had struggled and beat other schools in series of competitions, which made the finalists, either winners or losers qualified as ‘geniuses’, as the participants –finalists were being referred to in the competition’s slogan In the final competition, students were tested in English, Mathematics, Sciences, Arts and general papers, which added more intricacies to the competition .

Presenting the cheques to the winner of the keen competition , Faparusi explained that , apart from the fact that he was fulfilling his electioneering promises to his constituents by the gesture , his few months sojourn at the National Assembly had further enlightened him that there is no alternative to sound and good education.

•Hon Faparusi (middle ) with the winners

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•From left: Mr Ogunsanjo Alaba, Zonal Technical Officer, South West Zone, Mr James Adeniyi, Ekiti State MDG focal Person Senior Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor on MDG, Mr Abdullai Binuyo at a s0eminar in Osogbo.

Firm empowers taxi drivers

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HE President of Lagos State Drivers and Cab Operators Association, Alhaji Lateef Oseni, has disclosed the readiness of the group to partner with state government at ensuring the success of its new mega city transportation agenda.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony of about 30 taxi cabs to beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation support scheme by Busy Wheels Ltd, Oseni explained that the association would provide all necessary support for the government transformational agenda in public transportation.

“Our association is ready to partner with government at ensuring that the transportation sector is greatly transformed in line with the new status of Lagos State as mega city.”

Speaking further during the occasion, Oseni said: “ I am really excited about this handover today. We requested for vehicles that are cost effective, strong for Nigerian roads and safe enough for passengers with necessary features such as airbags among other things and we had test run the vehicles for about 18 months. The result of the test was positive and the vehicles are very attractive equipped with safety equipment.

In his remark, General Manager of Busy Wheels, Mr. Omileye Oluwaseun, said the company initiated the scheme to assist taxi drivers in Lagos with a view to alleviating poverty and contributing toward viable transportation system in Lagos State.

“The need to assist taxi drivers was

HE Oyo State government has approved the purchase of four buses and 30 tricycles ambulances at the cost of N98million to kick off its free ambulance services.

Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the state Commissioner for Health, made this known at a media briefing in Ibadan .

Gbadegesin said the ambulance project was designed to enable health workers reach patients within a reasonable time in the metropolis and core rural areas of the state during emergencies.

He explained that the pilot scheme would take off from designated points on Ife-Ibadan expressway, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, MokolaUI secretariat road as well as Moniya and Challenge areas of Ibadan.

The commissioner said the tricycle ambulances would be deployed to core rural areas under designated sheds in the villages which

Osun restates commitment to MDGs

Lawmaker seeks better future for youths A

MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, representing Gbonyin/EkitiEast/Emure Federal Constituency of the state, is worried over the dwindling fortunes of education in the state.

To this end, he re-enacted a programme tagged: Bringing out genius in every child, a well organised quiz competition for secondary schools in his constituency, with the aim bringing out the hidden geniuses in Ekiti and give them the needed impetus that would propel them to stardom.

The programme, which started last year December , was handled by experts in the field of Education and the grand finale , was held at the Gbonyin Local Government Secretariat in Ode Ekiti, country-home of the lawmaker.

In the end, Government Science College, Emure Ekiti , which was represented by two students came first in the keenly contested final , having scored 215 aggregate mark out of 300 total mark to beat other six participating schools .

The finalists and eventual winners went home with N100,00 prize each , book items among other laudable benefits.

Other schools that made it to the final, but could not emerge winners are: St Silas’s Secondary School, Omuo Ekiti, Aisegba Community Grammar School, Aisegba Ekiti, Egbe High School, Egbe Ekiti, The Apostolic

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By Kunle Akinrinade

borne out of the need to reduce poverty and contribute our quota toward assisting in building a viable public transportation system in Lagos State.

“We are giving out about 30 vehicles out of the 250 vehicles in the first phase of the scheme and we have established a technical support arrangement with CFAO Motors, who are the manufacturer of the vehicles.”

Osun Government Areas He said government has spent huge resources on youths and women empowerment to facilitate wealth creation, employment and good leaving.

Stressing the impacts of MDG in all the tiers of government, Binuyo disclosed that the state government has embraced the scale up of the conditional grant scheme to the local governments with the selection of Odo- Otin, Ede South and Atakunmonsa East local government.

He said: “ It will be recalled that the objective of the LGA initiatives was to consolidate the success of the Conditional Grants Scheme, improve collaboration between the three tiers of government in achieving better service delivery “ I am pleased to inform you that the state and three local governments contributions have been paid and approved. The state has equally concluded the need assessment in the remaining 27 council areas in readiness for participation in MDGS CGS” “All stakeholders in MDGs at all levels of government are therefore enjoined to ensure the success of the scheme in their localities; this will no doubt guarantee sustainable developments at the local level.” he said.

Aregbesola aide stated further that through the window of MDG- CGS and other programmes, the administration has begun revolution in health sector, agricultural sector and rehabilitation of 200 kilometers rural roads.

The MDGs Zonal Technical Officer, Mr Ogunsanjo Alaba, while delivering the goodwill message of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDG, lauded Osun State for the prompt release of counterpart funds for MDGs Project and urged the participants to work hard for the attainment of the goal in 2015.

The participants were drawn from Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states.

Oyo would be accessible to people for emergency cases.

He said government also approved N50 million for the renovation of existing hospitals to enable health workers render efficient services to patients.

Gbadegesin said his ministry was collaborating with that of Works to assess the renovation of hospitals in the state.

He pledged that health facilities would be equipped with drugs and equipment for optimum service delivery.

The commissioner also said no fewer than 232 infants had been screened for Sickle Cell Disease (SDC) under the New Born Screening Initiative Scheme (NBSI) of the state government.

The test, he said, revealed that 53 infants had SDC trait while three were confirmed to be infected with the disease.

The commissioner said the NBSI was put in place to prevent infant mortality by giving necessary medical attention to children with SCD at birth.

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• Oseni, Managing Director of CFAO Motors, Mr. Regis Tromeur, National Commercial Manager of CFAO Motors, Mr. Idris Siyaka and Secretary of Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators, Alhaji Tajudeen Adetoro at the occasion

Group feeds 600 pupils Lagos

By Amidu Arije

“We hope to continue with the pace we have set, we will not relent on our oars at helping the less privileged in the society” she said.

She urged other voluntary organisations to help government in the education sector, saying it is the only way to make the system of education work in the state and country at large.

The club also gave water with water bottles and fruits to the pupils on daily basis A pupil of Sango Primary School, Favour Paul, thanked the club for the feeding and prayed that God would help them.

“I am very happy that they are giving us food, I pray may God help them,” she said.

School wins science competition

By Innocent Amomoh

F

ITJOY Schools, Agege, Lagos has been adjudged overall best school at the 18th National Junior Engineers Technicians And Scientists, JETS competition.

The school, which was one of the four schools that represented Lagos State at the national final recently held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, scored 75 percent of the total mark, dusting schools from 34 states of the federation in the Private Schools Category of the keenly contested competition observed by dignitaries including Commissioner for Education in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nseabasi Akpan, National Coordinator JETS, Mr. Adedibu, Director of Education, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Bayo Ibiyeye and a host of others.

With the victory at the national finals, Fitjoy Schools will represent Nigeria at an international science competition coming up later in the year..

Apart from JETS, the school also came second in the project exhibition of the Lagos State Science and Technology, LASSTECH, Week organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology recently.

The Project Supervisors of the school, Mr. Bamgbola Torha and Mr. Subair Bamidele said the feats recorded by Fitjoy Schools were made possible by the visionary drive and the support of the Principal, Mrs. Funmi Oyeyinka.

Bakers’ reality TV show debuts

HE first reality television show on baking is set to begin in July.

The show, tagged, “the master baker”, is to showcase the best of Nigeria baking talents on major national television stations across the country.

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HE Rotary Club of Agege,Lagos State , exhibited philanthrophy recently by feeding about 646 pupils of three public primary schools in the area .

The schools were Amosun Primary School, Sango Primary School and Ore-Ofe Primary School Agege.

The club’s president, Rot Agnes Oladunke Olatunbi, stated that the essence of the programme was to help cushion the effect of economic hardship on part of the parents who cannot afford giving their wards feeding allowance every day.

She stated that her organisation had also carried the exercise out to help children concentrate in class, saying a hungry child will never be able to listen to what the teachers are teaching in the classrooms.

“We have seen so many pupils coming to school without food and it is not easy to listen to teachers when they don’t have anything to eat. They will not be able to concentrate, there are so many pupils that come to school without food, so we decided to carve out three out of the whole schools to feed them,” she said.

Rot Olatunbi said the group will continue with the exercise.

By Risikat Ramoni

According to the organiser of the programme, Mrs Edith Ozumba Harold, the first prize is N1million, the second prize is N500,000 while the third winner will go home with N250,000.

Harold, the Managing Director of Acabado Perfecto Nigeria Limited said 30 bakers will be selected from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt zones during auditions in May. Harold stressed that the contestants will be in the baker’s Academy for 10 weeks. Every week, they will be given a new task and evictions will be done by judges and viewers.

“The show will produce five finalists out of which a winner would be crowned. Cash won will empower the winner to start their bakery business and also become employer of labour.

“It is not about winning, but about making your hand productive.

“Both male and female between the ages of 18 and 60 are enjoined to participate in the competition provided they have a baking talent, no matter how little”, she added.

Contestants are advised to visit www.themasterbaker.net for registration and other details.

She InteBakers Association of Nigeria and Bread Bakers Association are also involved in the show. Africa Independent Television, AIT; Television Continental, TVC; Silverbird Television STV; DSTV and the internet will be the major channels for the reality show.

• Students of Fitjoy Schools and their Project Coordinators after winning the competition

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Council chief urges mothers to immunise kids

HE Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Olatunde Adepitan has appealed to mothers to immunise their children against the dreaded polio myelitis.

Adepitan, who was flagging off campaign against polio virus in council area, enjoined mothers to educate others to ensure that their children receive adequate dose that will enable them combart the scourge of polio attack.

Adepitan said any child affected by polio cannot play football or engage in any other meaningful sporting activities. “Such a child will not be able to do what the other children in the neighbourhood are doing,all due to the negligence of the mother”.

The Medical Officer of the Health Centre, Dr. Adenike Oluwa said the health personnel in Mushin are well equipped to give adequate attention to all children. She enjoined nursing

Lagos mothers to make out time to ummunise their children, irrespective of their tight schedule.

“A polio- free child is a pride of any mother it takes a little effort of attention to ensure that children are free from diseases”.

Mrs Funmilola Banjo, the Local Immunisation Officer, thanked the chairman for sparing time to flag-off the programme.

She promised to do everything within her power to ensure that all the streets and areas of Mushin are covered- Itire, Ijesa, Papa Ajao, Ladipo, Fatai Atere, Olorunsogo, Idi-Oro, IdiAraba, Daleko Ilasamaja, Sadiku.

• Hon. Adepitan (middle)during the flag-off of the campaign against polio. He is being assisted by the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Adenike Oluwo and the Chief Nursing Officer.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Designed to fail?

•That cases like Halliburton and Intercontinental Bank are aborted for lack of competent prosecution seem curious

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T has been suggested that corruption and not transformation, is the thrust of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, and this assertion has been given credence by the crippling impunity that now pervades every institution in the polity. Two bewildering examples are the Halliburton and Intercontinental Bank cases. These two judicial proceedings of immense magnitude and significance to the polity were recently dismissed – to the surprise of Nigerians – for such reasons as incompetent prosecution and other flimsy technical grounds.

The handling of the Halliburton matter is the classical example of a State in end-stage decay. It is a nearly two- decade old story of bribery and corruption in high places in Nigeria. Halliburton, an American oil service major had bribed its way into winning multi-billion dollars oil and gas contracts in Nigeria in the late

‘This ‘designed to fail’ trend is real and examples are numerous.

Some of them are the N12.4 billion oil windfall case; the N40 billion case against former speaker, Dimeji Bankole; the corruption case against former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel; Tony Elumelu power contract scam and former works minister, Dr Hassan Lawal’s case.

We recall that Mr Adoke was much criticised for being adept at deploying nolle prosequi to abort justice’

1980s. The bribery scam had leaked and the firm’s home country, America, had carried out an extensive investigation, after which it had been determined that the bribe money totalled $180 million; the bulk of which was paid to some Nigerian senior government officials.

In the aftermath of their investigation and subsequent prosecution, two Britons and an American have been sentenced by a Texas, United States court, for conspiring to channel bribes totalling $180 billion to Nigerian politicians and high government officials. Halliburton and some of its affiliate companies have been made to pay huge fines and to institute elaborate corporate governance procedures to forestall a recurrence of such malfeasance. All these happened over two years ago.

Ironically, Nigeria, the very stage for the bizarre drama where all the dramatis personae are domiciled, the Federal Government, under the counsel of its AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, has stymied the matter, making sure that it never gets to its logical conclusion. After the initial investigation in Nigeria, Mr Adoke tried to make light of the matter by telling Nigerians that no notable government official was involved or indicted. The Nigerian government chose to live in denial, even as former U. S. Ambassador to Nigeria Ms Robin Sanders declared publicly that documents and evidence needed by the Nigerian authorities to prosecute the culprits in the scandal have been made available.

When eventually, some hapless suspects were dragged to court, it became apparent that government had no intention to prosecute anyone for the bribery

as the entire matter seemed designed to fail. A fortnight ago, Justice Abubakar Umar of an Abuja High Court had struck out the case, following the failure of the prosecution to arraign the suspects after over one year the case started. Justice Umar was quoted thus: “I have checked my records and in the past one year, since February 17, 2011 when I granted leave to the prosecution to arraign the accused; they have not done so.”

The same ‘designed to fail’ antics seems to be at play in the criminal charges brought against Mr Erastus Akingbola, former managing director of the now defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc. Accused of financial impropriety to the tune of billions of naira, Akingbola’s case was last week dismissed by Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos, over what he termed serious and professional incompetence of the prosecution team which comprised five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

This is a shocking development in a case where property belonging to the accused have been seized across the country and the bank in which he held substantial interest had been wound down.

This ‘designed to fail’ trend is real and examples are numerous. Some of them are the N12.4 billion oil windfall case; the N40 billion case against former speaker, Dimeji Bankole; the corruption case against former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel; Tony Elumelu power contract scam and former works minister, Dr Hassan Lawal’s case. We recall that Mr Adoke was much criticised for being adept at deploying nolle prosequi to abort justice.

We can only hope that this is not a new trick in his old bag. If it is, it is ominous for Nigeria.

So long, Obj •Ex-President’s resignation as PDP BoT chair is the end of his political relevance

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ID former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who just quit his job as chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, really resign or was forced to proverbially fall on his own sword?

That the man is Obasanjo, who wears his integrity as a monk would wear a hood, should be enough evidence that he is earnest. Besides, there is the publicised story of the letter of resignation; and the PDP national headquarters has not denied that the former president indeed handed over his letter to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the PDP new national chairman.

Yet, the former president’s sudden quit easily reminds of the Yoruba saying that tarrying too long in the latrine exposes you to the hostile droning of flies, all shapes and sizes. Why would an ebullient personage who, after the failure of an attempt at constitutional amendment to corner a third term suddenly give up the BOT chair, his last minute ploy at political relevance after the “third term” debacle?

And when former Gen. Obasanjo starts grandstanding about getting more time for international engagements, devoting more time for “my Presidential Library”, doing last-minute mentoring and facilitating more foreign investments for Nigeria, you must be sure the old fox is busy at deodorising– and that to keep out the putrid pus of creeping irrelevance.

That, of course, might be incorrect, but look at the sequel of events. When President Goodluck Jonathan was proudly plagiarising the Obasanjo patent of imposing the PDP national chairman, mum was the word from the old soldier, except of course the former president had, in old

age, learned leadership by followership by zestfully queuing behind his president.

Obasanjo’s voice was so muffled it was virtually the last minute that he was reportedly given the slot of national secretary.

Only a few days hence, the former president had galloped into town, trying to put life into the dead horses of his collapsed political empire in Oyo State and, by extension, the South West. Of all persons, he had to attempt cutting a deal with Rasheed Ladoja, the man he conspired to illegally supplant as governor of Oyo State; and the state chief executive he kept outside while listening to the futile pleas of the late Archdeacon Emmanuel Alayande to save Ladoja’s office, at the height of Obasanjo’s reckless presidential power.

It was this same Alhaji Ladoja in whose house Obasanjo was proposing to eat the trademark treacherous pounded yam: not for anything noble, but to undermine the Abiola Ajimobi government, which has a parliamentary alliance with Ladoja’s Accord Party (AP). Even at old age and after spurning rare divinely gifted opportunities to earn statesmanship, Obasanjo would play hustling politics to the very end!

It was this same “builder of modern Nigeria” that donned ethnic cloak after he had backed a wrong horse in the Speakership tussle; and suggested the rather fantastic supposition that Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the House of Representatives management step down after two years, in the interest of “justice and fair play” so that the South West (read Obasanjo’s cronies) could take their due slot!

Ironically, in the former president’s last

minute attempt to grandstand, all he mentioned were the very totem of corruption, which his presidential tenure nevertheless huffed and puffed to fight: the Obasanjo Presidential Library and even the BOT chair, which he seized by dint of legal corruption.

Obasanjo’s crumbled political empire is a sound lesson to all that whatever action they took in power would come back to haunt them. Nelson Mandela, the immaculate Madiba, needed not create a party contraption to remain relevant in global politics. He left after five glorious years, even if he had constitutional right to continue. Neither did Botswana’s Festus Mogae, to earn global reckoning. The duo’s work spoke and still speaks for them.

Obasanjo’s BOT chair’s resignation is the beginning of the end of his relevance in Nigeria’s politics and policy. It ought to have happened earlier. It is good riddance!

‘Obasanjo’s crumbled political empire is a sound lesson to all that whatever action they took in power would come back to haunt them.

Nelson Mandela, the immaculate Madiba, needed not create a party contraption to remain relevant in global politics. He left after five glorious years, even if he had constitutional right to continue.

Neither did Botswana’s Festus Mogae, to earn global reckoning. The duo’s work spoke and still speaks for them’

Cleaner Fuels, Cleaner Cars

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N late December, the Environmental Protection Agency drafted a set of rules that would force petroleum refiners to reduce the amount of sulfur in gasoline by twothirds. That change would enhance the effectiveness of catalytic converters in both old and new cars, resulting in substantial cuts in soot and smog-forming pollutants from automobile tailpipes.

The proposal resembles a similar measure adopted by California for cars sold inside that state. It has received strong support from other state regulators and the automobile companies, who say that it will be easier to make cleaner cars if they have cleaner gasoline to work with. But the rules are on hold because the White House has yet to review them.

The reason is largely political. The oil companies say that removing additional sulfur from fuel will increase refinery costs and the price of gasoline, and the White House is loath to give the Republicans, who have already turned rising gas prices into a major campaign issue, one more weapon to attack them with.

The White House is being too timid.

Indeed, President Obama should use these proposed rules to show that the benefits of environmental regulation outweigh the costs. For starters, the costs are trivial: a penny a gallon, according to most estimates, plus possibly an extra $150 per vehicle. But the benefits would be immediate because lower-sulfur gasoline will improve the operation of the catalytic converters in all cars.

The National Association of Clean Air Agencies, which represents state regulators, estimates that the reductions in pollutants from the current fleet alone would be equal to taking 33 million cars off the road. And the per-ton cost of pollution reductions from vehicles is only a fraction of the cost of reductions from sources like power plants.

Cleaner air, in turn, will mean thousands fewer premature deaths from lung diseases and heart attacks, and many thousands fewer hospital stays.

This should be an easy case for Mr. Obama to make.

– New York Times

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

20

9EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Without a doubt, the mosquito is the most dangerous creature on this planet. Mosquitoes and the diseases they spread have been responsible for killing more people than all the wars in history. Even today, mosquitoes transmitting malaria (the mother of fevers) that kill two million to three million people and infect another 200 million or more every year.

Tens of millions more are killed or incapacitated by a host of other mosquito-borne diseases, including filariasis, yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis, Chikungunya fever and perhaps a lot more. Mosquitoes also carry diseases that are grave threats to livestock.

No insects can rival the bloodthirsty mosquito in spoiling an evening outdoors. First, that relentless whining around the ears would drive one round the bend. It soon finds a landing pad on the prey’s exposed skin. The cunning little beast uses heat sensors on its antennae and around its mouthparts to locate capillaries near the skin’s surface. The serrated proboscis – a long, pointed mouthpart – is inserted to tap the capillary. As it injects saliva containing a mild pain killer, an anticlotting enzyme and its arsenal of

Why malaria business is good business parasites, left undisturbed, it draws the prey’s blood until the abdomen is full.

What use is mosquito to mankind?

To annihilate the human race perhaps. It exists only as our worst enemy.

Between the years 1947 and 1951 the United States succeeded in eliminating malaria from the entire country using the insecticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane).

This geared the WHO in 1955 to make an ambitious proposal for the eradication of malaria worldwide.

The program was on the path of success in many regions, governments around the world signed the protocol for the proposal. The Nigerian Prime Minister then announced a 10- year plan of eliminating malaria and its vector from the country. Not long after the laudable program was started, most of Africa,

South America, South East Asia became entangled in military coups and civil strives.

The industrialized world succeeded in ‘’fliting’’ off the mosquitoes with DDT thereby eradicating malaria. The developing world lost the malaria war.

The former countries before long realised that malaria could be a very powerful tool with which to subjugate rebellious colonies and soon came out with the idea of linking the rather cheap and astonishingly effective killer of mosquitoes - DDT with environmental pollution. The anti DDT lobbyists have always campaigned on behalf of multinationals pharmaceutical groups insisting that the global eradication of malaria is not feasible.

World malaria eradication is said to be impossible so the emphasis is on control of malaria. Control’’ here

means endemic and least developed countries would be burdened with perpetual payment for anti- malaria treatments.

New anti malarial medicines are rolled out of the pharmaceutical mills at regular intervals only to be told after a while that the parasite has developed resistance. The constant change of anti-malaria therapy adds to our social and economic burdens.

It’s almost three decades that the World Health Organization announced through its Tropical Diseases Research sector the intention to produce the malaria vaccine. We are still waiting and may have to wait many more decades.

In a country where about 60 million people suffer an attack of malaria twice a year, where Malaria fever accounts for about 60% of hospital out-patients in the country, and

President’s dress code and state visits

IR: It is disgusting to see President Goodluck Jonathan dramatise his ethnic group’s attire (tagged resource control) while attending international events and visits to head of states of international communities. If he can put on the attire of an ethnic group while on a tour of the state(s) to impress them, what prevents him from putting on well tailored suit while on state visits to heads of states or attending events outside the country? It really looks awkward to see the President in his ethnic attire in the presence of white men clad in well fitting or designer’s suits. When the President of South Africa Mr. Jacob Zuma who always puts on suit like every other African head of state, received our President, he was in suit. Why could not our president dress like the minister of foreign affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru who is always in suit and appears smart and

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elegant? This is how our president should be dressing; he can put on his ethnic attire on his visits to southsouth geo- political zone.

President Goodluck Jonathan is not the only president that indulged in this apparent self delusion of dramatizing religious and ethnic dress code as past civilian presidents did so. The fact is that enlightened Nigerians with balanced mind do not like the delusion of competition in dramatizing ethnic attires. Realistically, no one is against any body in an apparent covenant with his ethnic cum religious attire to dress as such but let our elected public officials dress in suit while attending international events. Suit is inarguably a world wide recognized and admired dress code as it allows one to handle office work without distraction which Agbada, Babariga and caftan do. Suit is elegant and it matches every climatic condition in

the world, and it is the best dress code believe it or not. Nigerian political functionaries should stop this delusion of show casing the so called ethnic and religious dress code after all Moslems in other countries dress in suit, shirt and tie.

No country has ever admired and copied the so called Nigeria and if people are very much excited over their ethnic and religious attire, let their ethnic and religious groups manufacture the sewing machines and other materials that go into the production of the attires. In other words, there ought to be ethnic and religious sewing machines, ethnic and religious shoes, ethnic and wrist watches, ethnic and religious eye glass etc. Why import the white man’s scientific and technological products to sew the supposed religious and ethnic attire? This fatalistic illusion should stop. News casters in the NTA should be allowed to

dress in suit, long sleeve shirt with a tie like their counterparts in the private television stations, in addition to allowing spinsters to be news casters. The management of state government television stations have sheepishly keyed into this naïve practice. Television station is not a medium to dramatize ethnic and religious values, it is a scientific invention and must be used to propagate scientific and technological inventions and internationally accepted values. Our children should be saved from the bondage of ethnic and religious value system. It is a mark of primitive mindset to accord unwarranted priority to cultural and religious value system which has been the bane of socioeconomic and political growth and development in Nigeria .

• Polycarp Onwubiko Awka, Anambra State

less than 15% of malaria cases ever report to health facilities. A land where about one million children and pregnant mothers die yearly due to malaria, where the government spends over N132 billion on malaria management and its citizens spend about a trillion naira in purchase of insecticides and anti- malaria drugs. These are sufficient reasons for the government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector.

Malaria and its definitive host the mosquito constitute major obstacle to the nation’s economic development.

Malaria is a very fatal disease yet attracts very poor attention.

The fight to eradicate malaria from the land will be costly, long, and rough. The insect is an old rugged warrior while the parasite is a dogged fighter. It will need huge funds, great patience, tactical planning and political will to out stage the malarial menace. The other formidable fighter is the donor nation who would rather want to hand out mosquito nets, and ineffective cocktail of anti-malaria-drugs and insecticides from their factories ‘’at subsidized rates’’ The malaria problem may be a ‘’staggering complicated’’ problem.

The solution is not that complicated.

The green lobby, the population control lobby, the powerful pharmaceutical lobby, the supervising agencies and their Nigerian unscrupulous collaborators have intentionally done so because malaria is seen as ‘’good business’’. Profiting from the misery of the poor is big business.

Since Nigeria has the world’s largest malaria cases, it should start the diplomatic drive to convince the international community of the need to understand the burden of the mosquito and malaria on our health and economy. Let us freely use DDT at least for IRS failing which government should reconsider its accent to the Stockholm convention on use of DDT. Government should encourage local manufactures in the production of our own cure for malaria rather than being a dumping ground for all fake insecticides and antimalaria medicines.

• Olu Jegede Ibadan, Oyo State

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

PHCN: Power saboteurs are reigning

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ORE and more, darkness might just be enveloping the land. Nigerians are increasingly becoming perturbed at the aggravated economic downturn. As the common wealth is being dumped into the ocean, poverty and lack are sweeping a once-prospective people out of glory.

Promises of improved power supply are being denied in greater measure than they are being made. The conclusion now is that the slipshod implementation of privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is the consequence of the self-centredness of some key government officials and the ravenousness of electricity workers. As things are turning, fortification of personal interest is pinning the nation down in darkness, with no light flashing at the end of the tunnel. So sad!

Last week, some top managers in the power sector were sacked on the basis of industrial disharmony owing to inaction, incompetence and marginalisation. Instantaneously, electricity workers under the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) fired back at what it called government ‘kneejerk’ action that will not solve the nation’s manipulated power problems. That is an expected reaction from the class of saboteurs.

To follow up, on Thursday, aggrieved workers at PHCN headquarters trooped out to protest the sack of their bosses. Meanwhile, a report in The Nation revealed that one of the principal officers was sacked not because of his technical incompetence, but more for the reason of his weakness as a leader which his workers were taking advantage of to undermine the system.

The report stated that another was dismissed because he failed to act on numerous public petitions on corruption and extortion, incompetence and ineptitude against PHCN’s staff. An instance was cited of a top General Manager who was still on the organisation’s full payroll two years after he was supposed to have retired.

Talk of corruption, the power sector is deeply ingrained in acts of financial criminality across the land. An ongoing local instance will suffice as an example. At the LSDPC Phase I Shopping Complex in Agege, Lagos, there was no light for several months towards the close of last year; yet inflated monthly bills were unrelentingly issued out. Following business strains, after pleadings, PHCN workers emerged sometimes in December to take away the transformer on the excuse that it was faulty. The promise was that it would be back by January. Three months after, there was no response beyond the regular monthly bills to where there was no electricity supply.

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HE recent allegation of corruption leveled against the chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on Capital Market, Hon Herman Hembe, by the Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ms. Arunmah Oteh, has no doubt brought unwarranted attention not only to the principal actors involved in the affair, but also on the operations of the Capital Market committee of the House as a whole.

Similarly, the approach with which the leadership of the House tackled the imbroglio has brought to the fore a hitherto unnoticed leadership quality of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

While many Nigerians still look forward to the final outcome of the panel empowered to get to the root of the bribery allegation, as well as finding the reason for the crash of the capital market, the intervention of the leadership of the House has set a positive precedence in managing the affairs of the lower chamber of the country’s legislature.

Unlike the thinking in some quarters that the matter would be swept under the carpet, the steeps taken by the Speaker in setting up an ad hoc committee to carry on with the capital market probe, as well as mandating the

‘In a speech immediately after Hembe announced his resignation, Speaker Tambuwal described the event as a challenge “which though not unusual in the democratic process, has subjected this institution to further refining. These challenges are necessary for the strengthening of our democratic institutions.”’

As the business neighbourhood was becoming overburdened on daily usage of generators reliant on puffed up fuel price, it was decided to lure the restoration of power by contributing N5,000 per shop as inducement to PHCN. Weeks after that was done, the complex still remained in darkness with excuses piling upon one another. Such is the story from corner to corner.

If the field workers are seeking for personal enticements rather than commitment to their responsibilities, it’s simply because of lack of honest and faithful leadership example to follow.

Over the years, the nation’s power administration has proven itself as saboteur of the sector just because of personal gains from a darkened nation.

The Obasanjo administration which claimed to have expended trillions of naira only ended the nation up at the ebb of power supply. Minister after minister failed as none could work out tangible solution to counter the saboteurs’ efforts.

The Goodluck Jonathan administration came in with the pledge to make a functioning power sector its priority. The stalled reform backed by Electric Power Sector Act of 2005 was to be revived. The serially frustrated privatization of PHCN seen as a way out was to take precedence. The appointment of respected Prof. Barth Nnaji as Minister of Power was considered as implanting a round peg in a round hole. Reforms that would flush out the saboteurs of light were anticipated. March 2012 was fixed for privatisation actualisation. Local and foreign investors began to mobilise resources to buy into the 17 succession companies of PHCN. The expectation was that by the end of 2012, the nation would have been enjoying at least 6,000 MW of power. The saboteurs were laughing, knowing

that so long as they remain in control, those were mere plans in name only.

And suddenly, the counter strategy emerged. The Bureau of Public Enterprises came out with a reviewed timetable. The Federal Government has now been compelled to shift the privatisation to October. Of course, this sudden change of date has become dissuasion to potential investors. Their enthusiasm has been dampened as they are being instigated into losses.

The latest report now is that most of them are considering somewhere and something else to venture their funds. Before it is seen, the delay might just be another signal to the death sentence of the privatisation agenda that is not in favour of the saboteurs.

If the Jonathan administration is truly resolute at attaining its power sector objective, why then should any impediment to the issuance of revised legal documents to bidders for the successor companies become the excuse for the shift in date?

Failure to issue appropriate legal documents to selected bidders for the succession power generation and distribution firms is contrary to integrity; which is why serious bidders are now getting discouraged.

Why allow the saboteurs to frustrate the supply of gas to some vital plants to the extent that power supply in a darkened nation keeps crashing by the day? Barely 3,000MW is being shared nationwide today in a country of more than 150 million people. If it is agreed that electricity is the livewire of any economy, why should the government give further inch to the enemies of the nation’s progress and development?

Ekiti’s bond for transformation

It is a heartening news that the N20 billion bond raised recently from the capital market is destined to accelerate the rapid development of Ekiti State.

Pledging to render quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the use of the bond, Governor Kayode Fayemi assured the Nigerian Stock Exchange stockbrokers and management that the proceeds from the bond would be prudently utilised to ensure the completion of all target projects.

The governor disclosed that some 11 roads contracts had been awarded. Beyond this will be the establishment of Ekiti State School of Agriculture, rehabilitation and expansion of Ado and Ero waterworks, Ikogosi Warm Spring development, construction of ultra-modern civic centre and market in Ado-Ekiti, among others.

The encouraging thing is his assurance that he had directed close monitoring and effective supervision of the projects, with the pledge that his administration is committed to complete them all within 24 months.

The infrastructural development is a major component of the Fayemi administration’s eight-point development agenda for the state.

According to the governor, the decision to source funds from the bond market was borne out of “commitment to the rapid

transformation of Ekiti State.” Before the emergence of his administration, the story has been that the low revenue accruable to the state could not cope with the high level socio-economic development desire of the people. It is therefore creative to access funds from other sources outside the available routine revenue. The bond which has a coupon rate of 14.5% would save the state considerable sum of money hitherto paid as interest on loans to banks.

Bonds might have been accessed in some states before without resulting in significant developmental impact. But the case was different in Lagos State, especially when the antagonistic Obasanjo administration illegally withheld the state’s monthly allocations on the unjustifiable excuse that new local governments were created. As fate would have it, the iniquitous intention to kill a productive Lagos turned around to what is being celebrated today. A new Lagos was laid upon the strategic developmental foundation of not depending on monthly federal allocations.

With Fayemi’s intellectualism being put into viable exploits, we can see his commitment to deliver on his electoral obligations. And this is why we are now set to see remarkable distinction in our ’state of honour‘ that was sadly polluted by the morally contaminated likes of Ayo Fayose. Things might not be working at the centre, some states are practically standing out. Eager Ekiti Ketes are on the verge of experiencing real transformation.

The bribey allegation and Speaker Tambuwal’s intervention

By Imam Imam House Ethics committee to dig into the bribery allegation, have reaffirmed the confidence Nigerians have on Tambuwal to lead the House to the desired destination.

In June last year when he got the nod of his colleagues to head the House, Tambuwal laid out his Legislative Agenda. At the crux of the Legislative Agenda is the determination to initiate a new order that fosters transparency leading to institutional integrity through efficiency of public expenditure management.

Also, it seeks to restructure the management and functions of legislative committees towards adequacy in capacity and improved productivity.

In addition, the agenda seeks to design and implement the electronic parliament (e-parliament) blueprint that elevates the National Assembly operations to international best practices and ensures public access to parliamentary information and process.

Importantly, the agenda seeks to review the legislative branch budget in line with the requirements of openness, effectiveness and accountability; review the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in all relevant areas in line with the aspirations of Nigerians; engage actively with other arms of government to restore public order and national security and finally to institutionalize mechanisms that facilitate effective engagement with various stakeholders including constituents and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Intent on implementing the agenda for the collective good of the polity, Speaker Tambuwal approached the bribery allegation in a manner that reinforced his age-long stand on fighting corruption in its ramification.

Tambuwal’s decision to appoint a respected MP, Ibrahim El-Sudi, to head the ad hoc committee and continue with the public hearing, along with Ini Idoku, Yakubu Dogara, Bimbo

Daramola, Toby Chukwu, Usman Mohammed and Rose Oko, is no doubt a visionary step that would go a long in reaffirming the faith Nigerians have on him and the House.

The decision to also appoint the Minority Whip of the House of the House, Hon Samson Osagie, to head the Ethics and Privileges Committee that will investigate the bribery allegation will go down in memory as a masterstroke aimed at giving all parties a fair hearing.

For those who may not know Osagie, apart from being a member of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the honourable gentleman has built a reputation as a no-nonsense and uncompromising lawmaker whose voice is respected across political divide in the House. With Hembe being from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the intention is to ensure that no one accuses the majority PDP members of moves to favour one of their own.

In a speech immediately after Hembe announced his resignation, Speaker Tambuwal described the event as a challenge “which though not unusual in the democratic process, has subjected this institution to further refining. These challenges are necessary for the strengthening of our democratic institutions.”

According to him, “The incidence of 15th March 2012 which forms the basis of the deliberations just concluded arose from an investigative hearing which was being conducted pursuant to a resolution of this House.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in Sections 88 and 89 places upon the legislature the duty and responsibility to conduct investigations into the activities of government for the purpose of exposing corruption, waste and inefficiency. This is no doubt a responsibility

which is hazard prone. However, as I have stated elsewhere, these hazards notwithstanding, it is a duty from which we cannot and must not abdicate”.

“Let me assure Nigerians once again that we are totally committed to the fight against corruption and shall deploy all energies available at our disposal to fight this war. The old saying that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going will continue to be our guide. I also wish to assure Nigerians that in fighting this war we recognize that we must, like Caesar’s wife be above board and suspicion.

“For the avoidance of doubt and the benefit of those who may be uninformed, all Committees of the House have constitutional backing.

“My dear Colleagues, we were not elected to lie on a bed of roses. Those who elected us expect that we represent their yearnings and aspirations. Nigerians have chosen presidential democracy as a bulwark against dictatorship, against corruption and waste and above all against executive recklessness, this is the duty to which we have been called and we have sworn to promote, protect and preserve the will of the people enshrined in the Constitution. The House of Representatives will continue to be a bulwark against injustice and vanguard for the promotion of good governance and the defense of the interests, yearnings and aspiration of Nigerians,” he added.

The Speaker has repeatedly said that the need to stimulate the socio-economic growth and development of the country is the cardinal objective of the Seventh Session of the House of Representatives. Accordingly, all hands are on deck to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country that is the envy and pride of all.

This House, under Speaker Tambuwal, has certainly indicated its desire and willingness to redeem and re-order its perception among the populace as a pro-Nigerian parliament.

The task ahead of us all is to rally round this objective and see to its realization.

• Imam is Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Speaker of the House of Representatives.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

W

HEN recently some northern leaders accused President Goodluck Jonathan of plotting tenure elongation, he aptly fired back that it was an attempt to distract his administration’s agenda. His spokesman Reuben Abati had argued that it was a contradiction to simulate a third term agenda when the president is still in his first term. Perhaps, the presidency had hoped with these clarifications, the noise about 2015 would die down. This is more so when he had in the past, cautioned members of his cabinet and the party attending meetings on 2015 to desist from it.

But this has not been exactly so. Hardly does a day pass by without sundry groups especially from his Ijaw ethnic group commenting on the issue. Chairman of Ijaw National Congress, Joshua Benamaisia said the constitution gives Jonathan the right to run for a second time. Ankio Briggs of the Ijaw Republican Assembly and some others spoke in the same vein. For Ijaw National Leader, Edwin Clark, it is only the Nigerian people that can decide the president’s fate if he decides to run. Though he felt it is too early to discuss the matter, he wants the north to note that only Nigerians have the power to stop anyone from becoming the president of this country.

The main thrust of this article is neither with the propriety of Jonathan running in 2015 nor the constitutionality of such ambition.

We are also not so much concerned with whether Jonathan keeps to his promise to rule for only one term or the purported internal agreement by the PDP to have him serve for a single term. These are the internal affairs of that party which they can address at the opportune time.

But there seems something sinister in the way Jonathan and the 2015 race are being bandied. From the point of view of those who oppose him and those in support, there is the underlying assumption that the unfolding political race is all about the PDP and Jonathan. That once Jonathan declares his interest to run, the presidency is there for him to grab; that the PDP as some of its leaders had boasted will rule ad infinitum irrespective of its inability to post positive dividends in the face of debilitating poverty.

This perhaps, accounts for the hue and cry over Jonathan’s ambition in 2015 even when he has found himself helpless in the face of rising insecurity, abysmal power supply and

“T

HE handwriting on the wall”, an idiom, is a portent of doom or misfortune. It originates from the Biblical book of Daniel chapter 5 in which the fingers of a supernatural hand wrote a mysterious message in the presence of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, who was drinking at a major feast. The writing foretold the demise of the Babylonian Empire and concluded with the Medes and the Persians killing the King and capturing Babylon.

The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere typifies Belshazzar. The major feast is the PDP campaigns for July 14 governorship election while the handwriting on the wall is the verdict of the people to the effect that Airhiavbere has been weighed in the balance and art found wanting.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has received a flurry of endorsements for his second term bid while the PDP candidate is still hovering from one place to another in search of endorsement with bags of money and since the voice of men is the voice of God, his days in the political space has been numbered and would be brought to an end July 14. Can Airhiavbere see it coming?

It all started on Tuesday March 6. It would remain evergreen in the minds of the Binis when the crisis-ridden PDP thugs invaded the palace of the Oba of Benin leaving no fewer than 50 plastic chairs belonging to the palace destroyed while a palace chief identified as Chief Inneh was injured.

Airhiavbere and his party had visited the palace to get royal backing. It, however, ended on a sour note. Airhiavbere, from Edo South Senatorial district as the highly respected Oba of Benin, visited the palace but trouble started as youths started fighting among themselves over money allegedly doled out to mobilize the crowd to the palace.

But for the presence of the security agents, things could have gotten out of hand.

The other drama was that the chairman of the party, Dan Osi Orbih wanted to turn the palace to a campaign ground and the highly respected Benin Monarch had to caution him not to campaign in his palace. The PDP chairman had told the Oba that the PDP dug deep to pick someone who, he said, “can provide services for the people.

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

PDP, Jonathan and 2015 worsening unemployment among others. In other climes, these are performance indices that will ultimately influence the decision to run again or not. But it does not seem so here.

Otherwise, what sense is there in dissipating energy over another chance for Jonathan instead of holding him accountable for his current mandate? If performance is the major criteria for voting people into such offices, why should someone who is likely to squander his mandate be rewarded for his incompetence? Why should a party that has held power for thirteen years now without anything positive to show for it be compensated for non performance? These are the searing questions that crop up in the current noise about Jonathan and his next political ambition.

Even then, there are latent and ominous signals in our sounding alarmist and helpless over the perceived posturing of Jonathan on the matter. The first is that the PDP and its incumbent must always win elections irrespective of performance. The second is, even when there is a popular opposition party, it will still be neigh impossible to unseat the government at the centre. Its corollary is that elections must always be manipulated at that level to give advantage to the incumbent or that free and fair elections are still a farce in this clime. If these conclusions are right, then they constitute the most potent danger to our democracy. They also constitute a serious challenge to the opposition and all those committed to the flourishing of genuine democracy. Instead of bemoaning what Jonathan intends to do, the concern of well meaning Nigerians should be how to build

broad based parties that could effectively hold the PDP in check.

The impression that all those desiring to rule at that level must anchor their aspiration through the PDP shows lack of foresight and indolence on the part of the political class. It is a recipe for one party state. That is the scourge Nigerians must rise up to battle against. It promises more devastating consequences than another chance for Jonathan. The impression that you cannot defeat a ruling party is fast festering that it may become the greatest obstacle to democracy.

If those who oppose Jonathan in the north are in the majority; if they have the people with them; if they can build broad based coalition and alliances in the south, PDP or no PDP, Jonathan can still be shown the way out in the next election. In building such broad based alternatives, the issue must go beyond the obsession to produce the next president to producing a winning coalition.

In effect, if it amounts to conceding power to some other zone so as to win the next election, all opposition committed to the flourishing of democracy should see it as not a too big sacrifice to make. That should be the main concern of the northern leaders instead of the impression that we are in a one party state. They must insist in building alternative political platforms that can also capture power at the centre. We saw such resilience in action in Senegal last week with the voting out of its former president for 12 years Abdoulaye Wade. In the last election, we saw that feat in Imo and Oyo states where incumbent governors were voted out

Airhiavbere: the handwriting on the wall

By John Mayaki Hear Orbih: “we find him dependable. He has respect for our elders, tradition and a burning passion to serve. We are concerned about the high taxation and demolition of houses. This is not the dream of our state”.

The Oba interjected: “I will not allow you to use my palace as a soap box”. Turning to Airhiavbere, the reverred Oba said, “I started watching you on television. I will continue watching you on television”. The top ranking palace chief, Amos Osunbor, who prayed on behalf of the Benin Monarch alluded to the massive achievements of Governor Oshiomhole and prayed that God should give Edo State a governor that would turn Benin City to a modern city.

However, if winning an election could be determined by the number of endorsements a candidate is able to garner before Election Day, Governor Oshiomhole, by now, should be relaxed, rest assured that his second term bid is fait accompli. But Oshiomhole is still working, and doing so round the clock by tarring more roads, rehabilitating more schools and hospitals and providing gainful employment. His aspiration to return to the Dennis Osadebey Government House for another four years has received public backing from virtually all the who-is-who in Edo State, including the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, former two-time governor and opposition party (Peoples Democratic Party) chief, Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Rev. Peter Obadan, Prof.

Oserheimen Osunbor, Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief Solomon Edebiri among others. But what ruffled the opposition to no end is the latest endorsement Oshiomhole got from organized labour.

A few days to the mass rally organized by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, the PDP

in Edo State called for the immediate cancellation of the exercise, saying it was being forced on labour by the Oshiomholeled administration but it collapsed like a pack of cards.

The Thursday rally had in attendance labour leaders, including past NLC president, Hassan Sunmonu; incumbent President, Abdulawahab Omar; his TUC counterpart, Peter Esele and NLC Edo chapter chairman, Emma Ademokun. All of them took turns to shower praises on Oshiomhole, who was also a former number one labour leader.

Before the rally, however, the Congress for Progressive Change in Edo State, ostensibly with the backing of the state chapter of the PDP, had secured an injunction, which was being passed round on the night before, but the effort failed, as the rally went ahead while federal lawmakers from the state, led by Minority Chief Whip, Samson Osagie, came out to condemn the injunction issued by the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, which sought to stop the rally from holding.

Oshiomhole has been receiving support for his continuation in office from diverse quarters; even from the traditional rulers and this has continued to draw the ire of some PDP chaps. During the visit of a 21-member strong delegation of traditional rulers from Edo North, led by the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’oba Erediauwa, the chiefs claimed to have come to thank the latter for endorsing Oshiomhole, who is also from Edo North and to felicitate with him on his birthday.

The Otaru of Auchi to the Oba of Benin that “The traditional rulers of the 34 juristic units of Edo North (Afemai) have decided to pay this courtesy visit to publicly adhere to the judgement of our time by first

through the resilience and determination of the opposition. We can also re-enact that feat at the federal level only if our politicians are broader in their approach; more futuristic and more patient in expecting returns from political engagements.

These they can do by identifying those structural defects that tend to perpetuate the government in power and wage decisive battle for their reformation. The electoral system is one. Autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission is another.

And our defective federal structure that concentrates much power at the centre also cues in. Though the last general election was a sharp departure from the past in terms of its susceptibility to manipulations, there are still several nuts to tie up. These are the issues that should engage the minds of all those committed to the development and survival of the country. These are the type of prospective discussions one expects the political class to engage in. If we have such formidable opposition and the PDP still behaves as if it is business as usual, it will pay dearly for that act of indiscretion.

That is the way to deepen democracy. That is the way to stave off the systemic stress we face as the disparate groups struggle for political accommodation through the PDP. If such a platform had existed before now, perhaps the outcome of the last election would have been different. Perhaps also, some of the dysfunctions that emanated from it would have been averted. Only then as Clark put it, will Nigerians truly exercise their inalienable power to stop anyone from becoming president. We are at such crossroads that something urgent must be done to stem the dangerous slide towards a one party state.

‘The electoral system is one. Autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission is another.

And our defective federal structure that concentrates much power at the centre also cues in’ appreciating God for your life and congratulating you for your unparalleled sense of judgment and for doggedly upholding the principle of justice and fairness demonstrated by your shrewd assessment of the ongoing uncommon performance of your son, the people’s governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole.”

The Okaijesan of Esan land, Edo Central, Alhaji William Momodu II, commended Oshiomhole for touching the lives of “Irrua people through the provision of peopleoriented projects.” The monarch said he was particularly grateful to the governor for the renovation of Eguare Primary School, Annunciation Catholic College, both in Irrua, as well as the re-construction of the UsugbenuUgbegun Road.

Also, enigies (clan heads) in Benin, Edo South had expressed their support for Oshiomhole for the July election. The traditional rulers, at a meeting with the governor, said, “You have our support and prayers even before you ask.” What else?

President of the Association of Enigies, Edo South, Dr. Omoregie Akenzua, on behalf of the others, told Oshiomhole, “We want to say that we have gone round the state and we quite appreciate the massive development you are carrying out in all the local government areas.

Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia said, “I salute your dedication, vision and loyalty which is all that you need to be sworn in July.”

Ogbemudia told Oshiomhole: “You go there, win and leave the rest for us. Your job is to go and win and come back to Osadebey Avenue.”

Narrating how he berated some spiteful members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who visited him recently, Ogbemudia said, “Those PDP people who came to see me, I asked them how did you come? They said they came through a brand new good road. And I said don’t you think you should say thank you to Governor Adams Oshiomhole who built it? They said their thank you will not go to Adams Oshiomhole but to the contractors who built it. And I told them that we should learn to give credit to whom credit is due.”

• Mayaki sent in this piece from Benin City, Edo State

Pg 41

Pg 41

• Haruna

BUSINESS

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

ISSUES

T HE CEO ‘Only 5% of land owners pay

FAAN versus Maevis: A marriage in trouble - P. 27 News Briefing

Insurance threatened POOR remuneration to insurance agents is threatening the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) meant to boost the sector’s growth, The Nation has learnt.

- Page 26

‘95% of transactions cash’ ALTHOUGH implementation of the cash-less policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has begun, 95 per cent of transactions are still cash-based, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, has said.

25 For now, what we want to communicate here is that we are going to rigorously pursue any hindrance to power supply. And to ensure that we clean up the system, we have to make sure that we deliver more reliable power to the country.

- Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

ground rent’

Page 32

Why power outage persists, by electricity workers

E

LECTRICITY workers under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) have attributed the frequent system collapse of the transmission network to old and obsolete facilities.

President-General of the association, Comrade Bede Opara, told The Nation that until the Federal Government embarks on massive infrastructure reinforcement of the power sector, the problem in the segment may not be easily addressed.

He said: “We have over 60 per cent of PHCN equipment as old as 30 years or older than that. At Kainji, most of the machines are due for turnaround maintenance. Some of them have not undergone

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

turnaround maintenance since they were installed over 30 years.”

Opara, who spoke against the backdrop of the sacked PHCN managers, said the problem in the power sector didn’t start with the administration because there has been neglect of the sector for a long time. He said before the Obasanjo administration in 1999, the sector had suffered neglect for about 20 years.

The sacked officers are Akinwumi Bada, Chief Executive Officer, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN); Uzoma Achinanya, Market Operator and the Executive Director, Human Resources (PHCN), Olusoga

Muyiwa Olusola Akinniranye, the Executive Director, Transmission Services Provider at the TCN was moved up to replace Bada as CEO; Evaristus Mogbo was promoted as Market Operator, to replace Achinanya, while there is no replacement for Olusoga Muyiwa the HR Director He noted that it was the Obasanjo administration that started making initiatives of improving power, which the present administration continued with. He said as much as the association appreciates the efforts of these governments to improving power supply, to sack the PHCN managers are not acceptable.

He said: “The power sector

has been neglected for a very long time and the problem of the sector is not what will be solved overnight. Therefore, for these career men to be punished for government’s inadequacies is not the best.

We don’t feel good about it.

They are not politicians, they are career civil servants but they were occupying more or less political positions. They have been in the organisation all these years and there is no reason whatsoever to sabotage the organisation they strived to build and sustain. The organisation is like our farm, we cannot destroy it. If we destroy it, where do we go to?

That is why we suggest liberalisation of the power sector.”

Opara said the workers had

- Page 30

Costain: from hope to despair

P

- Page 35

DATA STREAM

MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

Dangote to invest $7b in power, others

By Collins Nweze

WITHIN the past 48 months, Costain (W/A) Plc has gone from a highly promising investment into a technically moribund company. Investors in the company lost N3.5 billion of their N5.97 billion market worth in 2011, putting them as one of the worst-hit.

COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound

written the government several times on how to make the sector more efficient and stable but none of the submissions got response. “We have written to the government a number of submissions presenting what we feel that should be done to make the power sector better. We have told the government that the infrastructure is over-stretched and that there is need for massive reinforcement. We said the infrastructure you have 20 years before Obasanjo regime in 1999, which didn’t get attention because there was total neglect of the sector, needed to be reinforced. Within this period, the development of the network was stagnant and there was continuous increase in demand for power,” he said.

• From left: Head, E-channels, Skye Bank Plc, Mr Chuks Iku; Regional Director, Ikeja Region, Skye Bank Plc, Mr Owolabi Kamson and the President, Lagos Country Club, Mr Wale Osomo, at the Lagos Country Club... last Thursday

T

Investors fear loss of investment

HE sack of almost 50 per cent of the workforce of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), the Central Securities Depository (CSD) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is causing anxiety among investors over the safety of their investments.

It was gathered that about 65 of the 135 workforce of the organisation were asked to resign. The following day after the sack, the management employed a Human Resources Manager to recruit new hands to manage the organisation.

The CSCS is the CSD of the NSE where shares certificate of listed companies owned by shareholders are deposited for security reasons and easy accessibility.

Some stakeholders said although the CSCS is a private

By Tonia Osundolire

entity, but due to the level of businesses carried out in line with the NSE activities, shareholders are concerned about the safety of their investments.

The National Co-ordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) Sir Sunny Nwosu, said whatever reason given for the sack of almost 50 per cent of an organisation must be professional.

He said those asked to leave are professionals that were trained to protect the investment of the stakeholders, who have investments in quoted companies on the floor of the NSE. “If really the board and management of the CSCS were unprofessional about the way they sacked those af-

fected, I wish they speak out.

People should have faith in the judiciary system. They should push to be heard and get justice. The economy is in comatose now because a lot of people were wrongly sacked especially in the banking sector,” he said.

Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr Boniface Okezie, described the sack of the CSCS staff as “danger waiting to happen.” He said: “CSCS is making profit, so if the reason for sacking is trying to cut the overhead, it is understandable but if they are sacking and recruiting new hands then our investment is in trouble.

“It is not professional to remove experienced hands that were trained with those that will be retrained without experience. People have been

tested and can now be trusted with the kind of sensitivity the organisation portends. I don’t see the logic; they will only be jeopardising people’s investments. Also, those remaining will be working under fear at the same time it will give room for people to commit fraud,” he said.

On Wednesday April 4, the staff of the CSCS were summoned between 4pm and 5pm by the CSCS CEO Mr Kyari Bukar, who told them that the Oscar Onyema -led board approved the downsizing of the organisation.

According to the trio contacted by The Nation were also casualties, the staff were invited in one after the other and were asked to tender their letter of resignation with a six months exit package as com• Continued on page 26

RESIDENT, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, plans to invest $7 billion in power, petrochemical and mining sectors of the economy within the next four years.

Dangote said he will be contributing $2.5 billion to these projects while $4.5 billion will be borrowed from reputable international lenders such the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

He disclosed these at a send off for the IFC Vice-President, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Caribbean and Western Europe, Mr Thierry Tanoh, in Lagos.

The funds, he said, will be deployed in generating 2,000 mega watts of electricity. ”We want we want to do power, that will be about 2,000 mw, that is infrastructure. We will be investing in petrochemical, which has to do with fertiliser and so on. We will do mining.

These three things in the next three years, will be gulp $7 billion. We will put down our equity of about $2.5 billion and borrow $4.5 billion dollars,” he said.

Dangote commended IFC for committing huge funds to the Group businesses when many international lenders were not ready to give out credit to African companies. He noted that from as at 2006, the total loan portfolio in Africa was $150 million but has now increased to about $2 billion.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said the IFC has worked like a development bank with an eye on returns, adding that the bank has carried out development projects in a manner that allows it make good money while contributing to growth and development of the economy.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

26

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY

LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

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initiative.

Oyebadejo said it is worrisome that graduates engaged as agents are not adequately motivated and empowered to move around to market the product and win businesses to their employers. He said the initiative would only succeed if the agents are properly motivated.

Chairman, Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, said underwriters are having difficulties in selling the products covered by the MDRI. He said to sell insurance in Nigeria, underwriters need legislative support.

He said: “NAICOM has come up with MDRI showing all the classes of insurance that are compulsory. Those classes of insurance are relevant because they have been made compul-

“Retail wise, we are yet to begin maximising benefits of the initiative. This is because the level of patronage has been micro so far.

The economy really determines what happens when it comes to insurance penetration. Ideally, when the purse is lean, people should take insurance as an avenue to mitigate possible losses. But you find out that people do not take advantage of insurance. They have losses and they get poorer, because they did not take steps to

12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

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LAGOS – UYO 10.35

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•Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State(right) and Managing Director, Keystone Bank, Oti Ikomi, in a handshake, during his visit to Government House, last week.

NNPC facilitates gas supply to Olorunsogo Power Plant

T

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said the new 31km by 24inch gas pipeline being constructed by the corporation to supply gas to Olorunsogo Generation Company, will be operational by May. The Group Executive Director, Gas, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, disclosed this when he paid working visit to the site of the gas pipeline project at Itoki community in Ogun State.

The Olorunsogo power plant, which has installed capacity of over 700megawatts (MW), currently generates about 150MW. Ige, who was accompanied by the Managing Director, Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) Muhammed Saidu, and the Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr. Livi Ajuonuma, said the project, which is nearing completion became necessary as the old pipeline from Ewekoro is of small diameter and produces gas

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By Bidemi Bakare

pressure that is inadequate to support the turbines.

He said the project though due for 12 months is being completed within six to seven months by the contractor, Jaihind Morpol that has been able to deploy the best expertise and materials to get a quality job done.

According to him, the contractor broke the record as it achieved about 109 joints and welds per day, a feat, which is quite unprecedented in the industry and which made it possible to finish the job in record time of six months.

He added what is left for the completion of the project are some gas equipment such as the pig launcher and receivers, which are being airlifted due to the urgency in

the completion of the project.

Ige noted that once the pipeline project is completed, gas would be supplied through the pipeline to fire the plant, which is to add about 400MW to the grid.

He said: “Once we are done with this project we will be providing additional gas to the pipeline to supply gas to Olorunsogo. We are expecting about 800 million standard cubic feet (mscf) of gas from Chevron. We are equally expecting other volumes of gas from NPDC and these are due in the next two months. We are going to inspect the gas supply pipeline from Gbaramatu on the Excravos-Western line, which is to provide gas to Itoki Natural Gas Export Terminal. Once this is achieved, the major infrastructure bottleneck in the supply of gas to Olorunsogo would have been solved and the plant will be able to perform up to its installed capacity.”

Investors fear loss of investment • Continued from page 25

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15

By Chuks Udo Okonta

sory by law. We are not finding it easy selling them because in Nigeria, you need legislative advantage to sell insurance. Most of the time, people do not just believe in it.”

President, Lagos Area Committee of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB),Tunde Oguntade, said brokers are yet to reap benefits of MDRI, adding that efforts are being taken to woo people to embrace insurance.

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

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2.

3.

4.

5.

1. Dana

OOR remuneration to insurance agents is threatening the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) meant to boost the sector’s growth, The Nation has learnt.

Investigation revealed that most agents contracted by underwriters to market the initiative have resigned due to poor incentive offered by the promoters. The underwriters, it was also learnt, are grumbling over low returns from the agents.

Chairman, Technical Committee, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) on MDRI, Siyan Oyebadejo, said the committee would inform the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on the need to salvage the situation. He said unless something drastic was done, the initiative would fail to meet the industry’s expectations.

He said the committee has stressed the need for NAICOM to urgently increase the remuneration package to agents who are expected to drive the

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

‘Poor wage threatens insurance project’ P

pensation. Any staff who declined was told was threatened with a sack and forfeiture of six months exit package.

The source revealed that they were warned that it will be detrimental to their credentials if they are sacked from the organisation.

“We wish to press charges but from past experiences of those that were laid off after the removal of former Director General of the NSE, Dr Ndi Okereke –Onyiuke, there have been no positive development.

Government does not really understand what takes place at the Exchange and its connection to the nation’s economy. If not the government would have tried to find out why the sack rate has continued to increase. As a result of this the management feels they can do whatever they wish and nothing will happen.

“At the end of the exercise, we found out that those of us affected were brought in by the former CEO of CSCS, Mr Asinobi, Dr OkerekeOnyiuke and other senior staff off the NSE during Onyiuke’s regime,”

he said.

Also, the source revealed that the sack is in phases and will continue after this first exercise.

Effort to reach the CEO off the CSCS proved abortive as he neither answered his calls nor refused to return them.

The CSCS had explained that the exercise was in line with its new business strategy, which was approved by its Board and would position the firm as a highly innovative and globally respected central securities depository (CDS).

Controversy trails ALGON’s health projects From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor) and Frances Ajewole

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EQUEST for variation of the contract sum by the contractor handling the ALGON health centre projects across the country is threatening the early completion of the projects.

Already, the states’ commissioners of finance, after their last Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, said they would relinquish their interest in the projects.

The reaction followed the remark by the Chairman of FAAC and Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, who called on members to give him the situation report on the projects in their various states as the contractor had requested for variation. He said the Federal Government is unhappy with the pace at which the projects are being executed.

The Edo State Commissioner for Finance, John Inegbedion, according to the minutes of the FAAC meeting, cautioned other FAAC members “that the contractor took the case to court based on the stoppage of its payment by the Federal Ministry of Finance. The court ruled in his favour, stating specifically the amount to pay him and as a result, any issue on contract variation was not acceptable.”

He advised the meeting to be careful with the contractor and that the jobs done should be certified before payments were made.

Also, Yerima in the entries, asked for information on who signed the contract on behalf of the Local Government Councils (LGCs) and the roles of the Commissioners of Finance and those of the councils.

Ngama stated that ALGON was not in the constitution and could not disburse funds to them, but that since the Joint accounts were being managed by the commissioners, the issue of performance should be handled by them.

Firm plans N3b plant for Ogun

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By Daniel Essiet

$20 million (N3 billion) sesame processing plant is to be established in Ogun State

by Olam Nigeria Limited, a local subsidiary of Olam International, the world’s largest supplier of cashews and sesame seeds.

The art factory and warehouse facility to be located at Shagamu, will process 75000 metric tonnes of Sesame and provide jobs for 200 people.

A director of the firm, Prakash Kanth, disclosed these while addressing members of the House Committees on Trade and Investment and Customs on a mission to investigate management of the Export Expansion Grant (EEC). He said the plant will begin production in June next year.

The project, he said will contribute to increasing the quality and the quantity of sesame export from Nigeria.

Currently, Kanth said Japan imports 35,000 tonnes of sesame seeds from Nigeria, while there were export demands from other countries in Europe.

Kanth said the company has established various points of collection where the sesame seeds are received from the farmers and agents. These small lots are stored in quality warehouse with cleaning machines to ensure proper storage, quality upgrade and hygienic packing.

Estimating the country’s yearly production of sesame seeds to be 75,000 tonnes, he revealed that the country’s N1.5billion sesame processing plant in Lagos may not meet increasing demand. He affirmed that Olam was willing to assist entrepreneurs and state governments in growing high quality sesame seeds.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

27

ISSUES When some services at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, were concessioned, they were done with fanfare. Now the agreements are fallen apart, no thanks to the unending bickering over their contents and interpretations between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the concessionaires. Last week, FAAN parted ways with Maevis Limited, a concessionaire, and signed on SITA, another concessionaire. Will this marriage last KELVIN OSA- OKUNBOR asks.

•Muritala Muhammed International Airport Lagos

I

T was a decision foretold. Last year, Aviation Minister Mrs Stella Oduah warned repeatedly that concession agreements and permit in the sector which do not satisfy public interest would be reviewed. According to her, such arraingement that did not add value to the system will either be reviewed or terminated. The era of business as usuall,” she added.

True to her words, the Federal Government about two weeks ago, terminated the concession agreement between the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Maevis Limited, the check- in- operator that installed the automated operations management system

FAAN versus Maevis: A marriage in trouble at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

A new service provider, SITA, the check in service provider at major airports in the world , has replaced Maevis. It has started operations.

Court injunction The termination of the Maevis contractfollowed an injunction obtained from a high court in Lagos, which stopped FAAN from going ahead with such action.

The court urged the parties to return to the status quo, pending the resolution of

the issues at stake. However, FAAN’s Managing Director George Uriesi said the authority took over the facility to improve its revenue stream. He said FAAN was set to unveil an agenda to reposition its operations.

He said under the new arrangement, SITA will render services to FAAN under a charge regime of $1.40 per passenger, without the 35 per cent premium in the previous arrangement which, he argued, was not in the public.

He said under the arrangement, SITA will carryout all check - in facilities for FAAN without “ strangulating the au• Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

28

ISSUES

•Stella Oduah

•Tunde Fagbemi

• George Uriesi

FAAN versus Macvis: A marriage in trouble • Continued from page 27

thority." He denied any application of force by FAAN or any of its agents in easing out Maevis' personnel.

He said the move was taken in alignment with the transformation agenda of the government and also improve revenue generation. He said what happened to Maevis could be replicated with other concessionaires, whose agreements are considered unfavourable.

Uriesi said it was unacceptable for FAAN to allow Maevis dictate the pace in a deal where FAAN was the principal.

He said: " FAAN has gone ahead to begin to take a position on all agreements that are sub optimal. We have called on Maevis to engage us in a renegotiation discussions, Maevis refused for over one year. Even attempts by the Chairman of FAAN's board, Chief Ebitimi Banigo to resolve the issue were rebuffed. Having waited for this long, since February 24, 2011, two months was given to them to ease out, Maevis did not bulge. The concessionaire cannot be the boss, instead of adding value.

"This simply explains why SITA has taken over. It was a huge logistic process for the change over. Arising from this, FAAN is going to design a new template for all concession agreements that will add value and improve its revenue significantly.

“There are hurdles on the path of doing this and we are set to dismantle them."

Uriesi spoke of FAAN’s plans to utilise the International Air Transport Association ( IATA) billing settlement plan ( BSP) to collect its revenue from domestic carriers, saying many of them are indebted to the authority.

He said: “Maevis never earned revenue for FAAN, the authority generated its own revenue. The firm was supposed to collect revenue. That is the reason FAAN is going to dismantle all sub-optimal concessions, which will serve as a good example to others.”

However, The Nation investigation showed that President Goodluck Jonathan, in a letter signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Economic Matters, Ochi Achinivu, advised the Minister of Aviation to obtain the views of the Ministry of Justice, the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission( ICRC) on her request for approval to cancil/discontinue all under-perfoming cancessions, and make a re-submission to the President for consideration.

The memo dated January 18, 2012, reads in part: “As the subject of concession and leasing of airport facilities is part of a wider government policy which relates to other institutions, I am to request you to please obtain the views of establishment, such as Federal Ministry of Justice, BPE and ICRC on the matter and thereafter make a resubmission to Mr President for reconsideration."

The pact On October 31, 2007, FAAN entered into agreement with Maevis to provide an integrated Airport Operations Management System (AOMS) for the agency. But in compliance with a directive from FAAN, stemming from a decision of the Heads of the Ministries of Aviation, Labour and Justice, a of termination notice was issued to Maevis on February 24, last year with two months grace.

Earlier in May 2010, the Senate Committee on Aviation had invited the parties to a public hearing. After listening to the arguments and reviewing the terms of the agreement, the ??? body resolved that FAAN should dispense with the services of Maevis Limited since it was not adding value to the agency's revenue profile.

FAAN’s grouse Defending his agency, FAAN, at a briefing in Lagos, explained that the agreement was lopsided in favour of the concessionaire and, therefore, was not in the public interest. the agreement, he said, was terminated because Meavis failed to comply with the fundamental terms of the agreement ab initio.

“As a result, the continuing existence of the concession, presented not just a serious threat to FAAN's current and future cash flows, but also to the very viability of the Authority as a going concern," he said, adding: "bringing SITA on board with FAAN ensures that Nigeria's airports will benefit from their cutting edge systems, which are designed to improve airport services to airlines and passengers, while reducing costs.

"Most importantly, FAAN has entered into an Airport Service Contract with SITA, bringing it in line with global best practice, rather than a 'Revenue Collection Concession Agreement' that is designed to give away huge chunks of FAAN's revenue unfairly," he said.

On the allegation of FAAN forcefully evicting Maevis officials from their former office, Uriesi said the claim is not true.

He said: "Security men, including the police, State Security Service (SSS) and private security men engaged by Maevis were all on duty when FAAN officials took over the office, which is the Authority's facility, as part of the enforcement of the termination of the concession with Maevis.

"If we had violently done anything and there was any case of breakdown of law and order, the security officials, who were overseeing the facility before and after FAAN officials came to the place, would have stopped or probably arrested our men.

To be fair to Maevis, its men cooperated."

Maevis’ reaction Maevis frowned on FAAN, attitude affirming that its actions amounted to brazen acts of lawlessness. It was forced out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA) by FAAN, describing the action as another attempt to frustrate Private Public Partnership( PPP), in the aviation sector.

Its Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, Mrs Tokunbo Fagbemi, said the forced entry into its offices, could only be likened to “a brazen act of lawlessness.” She said the consequence of FAAN's actions, would result in chaotic check-in procedures for passengers travelling through the Lagos and Abuja airports.

She said: At exactly 12 am, on Saturday March 24, 2012, a group of FAAN & SITA officials, in a commando-style operation, simultaneously forcibly broke into the Maevis Data Centres & Intermediate Distribution Facility (IDF), both at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Lagos and Abuja to invade and illegally gain access to our Airport Operations Management System (AOMS) facilities.

"As at the time of FAAN and SITA officials breaking into the Data Centres in Lagos & Abuja, several Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) such as computers, boarding pass and bag-tag printers, passport scanners, information display screens, among others, already configured for the implementation of the AOMS in Kano and Port Harcourt airports were stored in the facilities.”

Mrs. Fagbemi said the action resulted in the destruction of the firm's Data Centres, IDF, biometric-controlled office doors, while some other items were carted away. She said some of the company’s employees were also molested, beaten and detained for several hours, allegedly by FAAN security officials.

She said FAAN's conduct was not only shameful and despicable, but also a complete disregard for the rule of law.

She alleged that the and Minister of

‘We further wish to clarify to the public that currently, each passenger is charged $1.40 for the CUTE installed and maintained by Maevis at the airports and the revenue is remitted alongside other revenues collected for FAAN and shared in line with the requirements of the FAAN/MAEVIS contract ’

Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), had through a May 24, 2011 letter advised FAAN through the Federal Ministry of Aviation to stay further action on the termination of the concession agreement pending the outcome of the intervention of the ICRC or arbitration.

Mrs. Fagbemi said: “The key issues to point out are as follows: The contract between FAAN and Maevis, obligated Maevis to provide world class Airport Operations Management System, Airport Operations Database, Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), Pricing and Billing System, Flight Information Display (FIDS), Departure Control System (DCS), Common Use Self Service (CUSS), all of which Maevis has provided at the airports, including the various software.

“Maevis has provided all the infrastructure and superstructure for the facilitation of passenger processing at the airport, identified new sources of revenue, significantly enhanced the revenue of FAAN and materially improved the revenue collection ratio monthon-month, despite hindrances from FAAN through instructions to clients not to pay, as well as by not enforcing the provisions of its credit policy, which are necessary for the enabling environment required from FAAN under the agreement," she said.

SITA, she said, has no investment and wants to reap where it did not sow. "We further wish to clarify to the public that currently, each passenger is charged $1.40 for the CUTE installed and maintained by Maevis at the airports and the revenue is remitted alongside other revenues collected for FAAN and shared in line with the requirements of the FAAN/MAEVIS contract."

She said the revenue sharing model was introduced by FAAN during its contracting process with Maevis and it is imperative to point out that concession agreements with this same model existed in FAAN prior to Maevis' entry, adding that in an effort to improve FAAN's revenue profile, Maevis carried out a reviewed agreements and leases in FAAN to ensure that all incomes due to FAAN were accounted for, billed and collected.

The firm, she said, introduced several other initiatives, which FAAN adopted.

Among these, she said, are the redesign of the Baggage Handling Systems at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for improved security and passenger facilitation; redesign of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport including recommendations for an expansion of the terminal building; invested in the redesign of the domestic terminal of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja; design of a trailer park to address the indiscriminate parking of aviation fuel tankers and improvement of the aesthetics around the nation's major gateway.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

29

PERSONAL FINANCE Investor’s Worth

An entrepreneur, investor

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been credited with creation of a viable cross-selling linkage that enables the insurance company to tap into his other businesses.

Besides his publicly declared shareholdings in quoted companies, Ade Ojo’s iconic auto business-Elizade Nigeria Limited, has over the years metamorphosed into a large business group with several subsidiaries including Toyota Nigeria Limited, Oodua Creations Limited, Crown and Gold Shipping Company Limited among others. He is also believed to have interests in several other companies including Moorhouse Sofitel Limited and Imperial Telecommunications Limited.

A self-made entrepreneur, Ade Ojo’s business and investment instincts were sharpened early in life. He had studied Business Administration at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and graduated in June, 1965. Upon graduation, he worked with some multinationals including C.F.A.O -which had sponsored his education for the last two years in the university and the then British Petroleum (BP), now Forte Oil Plc. It was at the then BP that he closely experienced unfair and discriminatory treatment, an experience that emboldened him to resign his employment and set out into private business. Given the high-profile status of “white-

HE name Michael Ade Ojo is synonymous with the auto industry in Nigeria. But beyond his private automotive business that has earned him global acclaim as an astute businessman, Ade Ojo is one of the largest investors in the financial services sector. The single largest individual shareholder in Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, Ade Ojo is also known to have substantial equity stake in Ecobank Nigeria Plc, where he served until recently as a non-executive director.

While Nigerian investors hold just a little more than one-sixth of equities in Ecobank Nigeria, Ade Ojo is one of the few Nigerians with substantial shareholding. Latest filing with the securities regulator shows Ade Ojo holds about 16.4 per cent equity stake in Custodian and Allied, a top-tier insurance company that he has helped steer through mergers and acquisitions and a crunchy industry recession.

Custodian and Allied is the highest-priced insurance company and with a market capitalisation of about N8 billion, Custodian and Allied Insurance is a top-tier stock within the insurance subgroup. As chairman of board of directors, Ade Ojo’s contributions go beyond his financial commitments to development of business strategy and linkages. He has particularly

•Ade Ojo

man- white-collar” job then, many thought that decision was the most stupid as it amounted to leaving certainty for uncertainty.

But with self-determination and the support of his wife, Ade Ojo built Elizade Nigeria Limited into a leading automotive brand.

A disciplinarian and a stickler for details, Ade Ojo’s investment sense is instinctively rooted in his neversay-no attitude, believing that every problem has a solution. He cherishes hard work, honesty and integrity, great attributes that separate successful investors from gambling speculators.

To Ade Ojo, investment is a business and a business is an investment, he has built enviable fortune focusing on the values rather than the nomenclatures.

Ask a Broker

What is an index fund?

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NDEX fund is a type of mutual fund which investments objectives and stock selection is linked to a specific index. Generally, indices are designed to measure performance of a group of stockswithin a sector, many sectors, the entire market or many markets. An index fund tracks and invests in the underlying stocks that form the index. As such, the return of the index fund is closely related to the return of the index. There are no known index funds in Nigeria but there are several in-

dices that an investor can track and invest in the underlying securities. The All Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is the benchmark value index for the entire Nigerian stock market and serves as country index for Nigeria.

ASI measures changes in prices of all quoted companies and provides average view of the return in the market. The NSE 30 Index represents the 30 most capitalised stocks at the NSE while the NSE Banking Index, NSE Food and Beverages Index, NSE Insurance Index and

NSE Oil and Gas Index broadly represent the key sectors of banking, food and beverages, insurance and petroleum-marketing.

Index fund is usually passive but it may sometimes benefit from the broadness of the index it is linked to, especially in a bullish market. The passive nature of index fund however makes it susceptible to the changing moods of the market, which necessarily may not be based on fundamental evaluation. Besides, return on index fund tends to fall below the average return of the linked index mainly because of selection and investment size errors.

Salient points to note in corporate governance report

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PUBLICLY quoted companies are required to include in their annual report and accounts a compliance report on codes of corporate governance. The Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies sets the minimum acceptable standards for quoted companies.

Launched in 2003, the code of corporate governance was reviewed and re-launched in 2011, with several changes to reflect the current globally acceptable practices.

As the companies provide corporate governance reports, shareholders need to have a broad sense of salient points to note in the segmental report and the general annual report and accounts. These are some salient points to assist shareholders in determining the compliance level of their company.

•Board composition: Members of the board of directors should not be less than five and the board should comprise a mix of executive and non-executive directors, headed by a non-executive chairman. The majority of directors should be non-executive directors, at least one of whom should be independent director. The positions of chairman of the board and chief executive officer shall be separate and held by different individuals. To safeguard the independence of the board, not more than two members of the same family should sit on the board of a public company at the same time.

•Remuneration: The remuneration of the chief executive officer as well as other executive directors should comprise a component that is long-term performance related and may

By Taofik Salako

include stock options and bonuses which should however, be disclosed in the company’s annual reports. Executive directors are not allowed to be involved in the determination of their remuneration. Executive directors should not receive the sitting allowances or director’s fees paid to non-executive directors.

•Independent director: Every public company is expected to have a minimum of one independent director on its board.

An independent director is a non-executive director whose shareholding does not exceed 0.1 per cent of the company’s paid up capital and is not a representative of a shareholder that has the ability to control or significantly influence management. In fact, an independent director must not have any contractual or familial relationship with the company.

•Shareholding disclosure: Every quoted company is expected to disclose in its annual report, details of shares of the company held by all directors, including on an “if-converted” basis. This disclosure should include indirect holdings. All directors are required to disclose their shareholding whether on a proprietary or fiduciary basis in the public company in which they are proposed to be appointed as directors, prior to their appointment.

•Insider Knowledge: Directors of public companies, their immediate families-spouse, son, daughter, mother or father; and other insiders as defined under Section 315 of ISA and Rule 110 (3) of the SEC Rules and Regulations, in possession of price sensitive information

or other confidential information, shall not deal with the securities of the company where such would amount to insider trading as defined under the Investment and Securities Act 2007.

•Meeting: General meetings are expected to be conducted in an open manner allowing for free discussions on all issues on the agenda. Sufficient time should be allocated to shareholders to participate fully and contribute effectively at the meetings. The chairmen of all board committees and of the statutory audit committee should be present at general meetings of the company to respond to shareholders queries and questions. Notices of general meetings shall be 21 days from the date on which the notice was sent out. Companies shall also allow at least seven days for service of notice if sent out by post from the day the letter containing the same is posted. The notices should include copies of documents, including annual reports and audited financial statements and other information as will enable members prepare adequately for the meeting. The board is expected to ensure that all shareholders are treated fairly and are given equal access to information about the company.

•Whistle-blowing: Every company is required to have a whistle-blowing policy which should be known to shareholders, employees, contractors, job applicants, other stakeholders and the general public. It is the responsibility of the board to implement such a policy and to establish a whistle-blowing mechanism for reporting any illegal or substantial unethical behaviour.

Ways and Means Knowing your rights under the cashless economy

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ITH the take-off of the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), banks’ customers are expected to increasingly rely on electronic products and services.

This places the focus of transactional security on electronic channels. Although the security of transactions under electronic banking, just as under conventional ‘show-your-face-and paper’ banking, remains a joint responsibility of the bank and the customer, several rules and regulations of the apex bank mandate the bank to provide certain facilities, data and services to enhance the security of electronic banking. Where any bank fails in any of the rules and regulations, the rules confer the right to restitution on customer and penalty on the bank.

CBN’s guidelines on operations of ATM requires among others that: •At least two per cent of ATMs by any bank or other institution

must have tactile graphic symbol for the use of visually impaired customers within the five-year time.

•Every bank must establish a fully functional help desk to attend to the needs of customers. Non-functional help desk contacts attract a fine for each day of infraction.

•Banks are expected to disclose ATM surcharge to customers and where any bank failed to disclose such surcharge, the bank shall be liable and the apex bank shall effect a refund of the surcharge to the affected customer.

•Any bank that installed an ATM without online monitoring mechanism, camera and back-up power (inverter) shall be liable to a fine, while the customer shall have a claim against the bank in the event of a fraud.

•An ATM deployer will be made to refund the full amount involved in any fraud perpetrated on its ATM for failure to provide footages on the disputed

transactions when required.

•Failure to respond to the customer or to the CBN on ATM complaints within 72 hours will attract a fine per day for each complaint after a 72-hour timeline until the response is received.

•In the event of failure to resolve any ATM dispute with evidence of resolution within 14 days, the deployer will refund the total amount involved in the fraud.

•Banks are also required to promptly report any fraud.

Several other rules and regulations of the apex bank provide banking customers with enough protective shields against electronic frauds and reassure on the safety and security of electronic transactions. Customers only need to keep their own side of the responsibilities by ensuring the confidentiality of their personal identification numbers and cards.

Feedback/Comments: Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk; SMS only: 080-2833-0861

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

30

MONEY LINK

95% of transactions still cash-based, says Rewane

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LTHOUGH implementation of the cash-less policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has begun, 95 per cent of transactions are still cashbased, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, has said.

Speaking at the Lagos Business School Breakfast Meeting for this month, he said 40 per cent of transactions are N500 or less, adding that the policy has good outlook for shopping malls and other consumer businesses.

He said the apex bank considered customers’ views when it increased the daily limit for cash withdrawal and deposits, adding that the effect of cashless economy in Lagos will increase velocity of circulation and transaction volume.

He insisted that the regulator may become accommodative in its policy to help boost lending to productive sectors, adding that increased exchange rate pressure may increase likelihood of further fiscal tightening.

He said the increase in fuel prices and electricity tariff is expected to impact on household discretionary income even as consumer expenditure growth is expected to decline from 9.7 per cent in 2011 to 5.5 per cent in 2012.

The analyst explained that savings from the subsidy is expected to be channeled to capital expenditure, adding that the full impact will be felt after the elimination of subsidy and full deregulation of the petroleum sub-sector.

He projected that the government may remove the fuel subsidy by the third quarter of 2012 even as inflation will accelerate to over 14 per cent this year and initial significant slowdown in consumer spending.

Stories by Collins Nweze

He said the National Assembly has approved this year’s Appropriation Bill, which indicates that increase in aggregate expenditure by 2.7 per cent mainly on capital expenditure projects. He said inflationary threats remain if funds are not channeled towards infrastructure development, adding that government remains adamant in its pursuit of fiscal consolidation.

“Fiscal deficit still remains below three per cent and is expected to recede gradually to two per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by

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2015. Deficit level is considered sustainable provided that efficiency on expenditure translates to economic growth,” he said.

Also, he reiterated that budgeted domestic borrowing is expected to decline to N744 billion from N1.104 trillion in 2010 or 1.75 per cent of GDP. He said the Federal Government aims at a progressive decline in debt to N461.75 billion by 2015.

“Domestic debt service budget of N511.98 billion will service total domestic debt cost at 10.89 per cent.

“The $6.28 million cut in recurrent expenditure will impact businesses negatively while increased

capital expenditure implies more construction activities,” he said.

He disclosed that asset mix of Pension Fund Administrators’ (PFA’s) investment in equities is 9.34 per cent compared to Federal Government bonds of 50.89 per cent, stressing that increase in equity contribution is likely to boost liquidity in the market.

He said improved performance of banks’stocks in the first quarter of 2012 likely to boost market performance. He said the bargain hunters are likely to return to the market in search of low valuations.

Nigeria T-bill yields to decline

IELDS on Nigerian Treasury bills are expected to drop further at an auction this week due to resilient demand from local and offshore investors. “More investors are showing interest in treasury bills and this will impact on yields at the end of the day,” one dealer told Reuters.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it would auction N183.64 billion ($1.17 billion) in Treasury bills at an auction on Wednesday.

Yields on the instruments were mixed at the last auction, with yields on the 91-day paper falling, while returns on 182-day bills rose.

Dealers said the bond market re-

mained subdued as bond holders waited for the release of the second quarter auction calendar.

“The market needs a stimulus to boost activity and many people believe that the bond auction calendar for the second quarter will tell us the direction for the market,” another dealer said.

FirstBank unveils FirstPay

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IRSTBANK has unveiled FirstPay, a web-based payment platform designed to allow customers to directly give payment instructions from their offices anytime in a very secure and efficient manner.

In a statement, the bank said with the product, payments and authorisations can be done regardless of location, as long as there is internet connectivity.

“FirstPay enables corporate organisations initiate and conclude payments without relying on the

branch to process on their behalf, efficient and timely payment of beneficiaries especially time critical payments, and approval of payments can be done from anywhere in the world regardless of the location of the authorisers,” the bank said.

According to the bank, the solution is most suitable for clients who carry out bulk payments against their accounts in form of Salary Payment, Vendor/Supplier Payment, eDividend, Pensions, among others, regardless of account bank. It also

provides a platform for corporate organisations to execute their payment instructions without first sending a physical instruction to the bank and waiting for the bank to effect the instructions.

The lender said the product allows uploading the instruction in an approved file format after which the transaction authoriser is notified by e-mail and/or SMS with the payment authorisation code. The code enables the authoriser approve payments, with corresponding debit and credit entries passed automatically.

FGN BONDS Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

NIDF NESF

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

OBB Rate Call Rate

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 5-4-12 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

PAINTCOM BERGER AGLEVENT UBN GTASSURE WAPIC FIDELITYBK OKOMUOIL ETI UNILEVER MOBIL DANGSUGAR

0.80 8.08 1.44 2.34 1.39 0.52 1.42 32.42 11.50 31.42 142.00 3.70

C/PRICE

0.84 8.48 1.51 2.45 1.45 0.54 1.47 33.50 11.88 32.39 146.00 3.80

113m EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES

CHANGE

0.04 0.40 0.07 0.11 0.06 0.02 0.05 1.08 0.38 0.97 4.00 0.10

Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

O/PRICE 10.60 10.64 19.96 4.45 1.94 2.38 0.96 1.14 1.16 0.58 10.00 4.00

C/PRICE 10.07 10.11 18.97 4.23 1.85 2.27 0.92 1.10 1.12 0.56 9.72 3.90

CHANGE 0.53 0.53 0.99 0.22 0.09 0.11 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.28 0.10

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

Date 29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

LOSERS AS AT 5-4-12

SYMBOL ASHAKACEM PRESCO GLAXOSMITH DANGFLOUR BAGCO REDSTAREX CONTINSURE RTBRISCOE STERLNBANK JAPAULOIL FIRSTBANK NASCON

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc has rewarded 161 customers who emerged winners at the bank’s Millionaire Savings Promo. The promo, which started in June last year, was concluded last Monday and was verified by Alexander Forbes Actuaries.

In a statement, the bank said a random selection of winners for January and February this year, produced two millionaires, Oluwole Adebanji Olasupo and Agu Innocent. Four other customers, Ogbonna Godwin, Ohirhian Peter Urhobo, Thankgod Maromitan and Olajide Simiat Kikelomo won N100,000 each, while another 40 customers also won consolation prices.

A total of 161 winners including the seven winners of the star prize of N1,000,000 each, were announced after seven monthly electronic random selections, which took place in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Port Harcourt to reward customers for August, September, October, November, December of last year.

Also, seven star prize winners of N1,000,000 each were Udoudo Edem, Wogbo Samuel Nwanneka, Oragwuncha Ifeoma, Onyekwere Ignatius Ojimadu and Onyigbo Ifeanyi Leonard,Oluwole Adebanji Olasupo and Agu Innocent.

Besides, 14 customers won N100,000 each while 140 customers went away with consolation prizes of N10,000 each.

DATA BANK

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

More winners emerge in FCMB promo

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.59 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 99.23 THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.75 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.08 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.89 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,691.82 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.13 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,259.48 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 122.48 98.79 0.72 1.08 0.88 1,686.98 7.74 1.33 1.80 7,071.36 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

31

MONEY MARKET REPORT Primary Market Auctionin million

Forex demand declines as naira stabilises T

RANSACTIONS at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS), which have been sluggish in the last one month, continued during a twoday trading held last week.

The combined $250 million sold on April 2 and 4, were all that was needed to secure five kobo gain for the naira, stabilising the currency against the greenback.

On Monday, the naira appreciated to N157.65 to the dollar on the interbankmarket,versusthe N157.70 a dollar the previous auction. The $240 million sales from three International Oil Companies (IOCs) enhanced market liquidity, providing support for the local currency. At the WDAS, $150 million was offered, and $100 million sold at a marginal rate of N155.90 to a dollar.

However, on Wednesday, the naira closed flat at 157.65 against the dollar on the interbank market, the same rate as the previous day. “Trading was quiet today, as there was no major activity that could upset the market,” one dealer said.

Traders said anticipated dollar sales by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to materialise, but dollar liquidity in the market was able to meet demand from customers.

At the bi-weekly auction, the CBN sold $150 million at 155.90 to the dollar, compared with $100 million sold at 155.90 to the dollar at Monday’s auction.

The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said the local currency has appreciated year to date by 1.88 per cent to N157.64 to a dollar at inter-bank market and has remained stable at the WDAS as at March ending. He explained the naira exchanged at N156 to a dollar, was at N157.64 at the Interbank and N159 at parallel market.

He said the forex demand in March remained below the 2011 average, 28.1 per cent less than $1.847 billion in February. This followed the of inflow as more funds into the reserves which stands at $35.8 billion.

T-Bills The CBN last week said it would auction N183.64 billion in treasury bills at its regular monthly debt auction this week.

It was bank said it would sell N30.15 billion in 91-day paper, N73.49 billion in 182-day bills and N80 billion in 364-day bills on Wednesday. Yields on the pa-

By Collins Nweze

pers were mixed at the last auction with yields on the 91-day paper falling, while returns on 182-day bills rose.

Interbank The interbank lending rates fell last week to an average of 14.41 per cent, down from 15.33 per cent the previous week, as matured Treasury bill funds boosted liquidity and helped ease pressure on the cost of borrowing.

Traders said though the market opened with a negative balance of N42.60 billion on Thursday, the repayment of about N98 billion in matured open market operation (OMO) bills boosted liquidity. Rates on short-term borrowing on the interbank had risen to around 15.5 per cent for overnight at the close of market on Wednesday because of large fund withdrawals by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“The injection of about N98 billion into the system from matured OMO bills brought down cost of borrowing among banks today,” one dealer said.

The secured Open Buy Back fell to 14.25 per cent from 14.75 per cent last week, 225 basis points above the CBN’s 12 per cent benchmark rate, and 4.25 percentage points above the Standing Deposit Facility rate. Overnight placement and call money eased to 14.50 per cent each from 15.50 per cent 15.75 per cent last week.

Microfinance Development Fund The Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Umaru Ibrahim has said the establishment of Microfinance Development Fund (MDF) will correct imperfections and anomalies confronting the

sub-sector.

Ibrahim told The Nation that the CBN’s plan to deepen the financial market has made the establishment of MDF imperative.

The CBN, had in a statement, tagged:“The Nigerian financial system: regulatory trends, opportunities and challenges”, explained the apex bank is working on deepening the financial markets through the introduction of new products and appropriate control structures.

The MDF when established would assist in addressing teething challenge of underfunding for microfinance institutions in the country. It will further complement past and current efforts aimed at strengthening the microfinance sub-sector of the financial system, improve financial inclusion and by implication improve the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate significantly.

Interbank loans The CBN last week issued guidelines that will assist lending at interbank market for banks. The apex bank said in a circular signed. As Director, Financial Markets Department, Emmanuel Ukeje, that the rates on facilities are set at margins above expected market rates so as to provide sufficient incentive for banks to look first to the interbank market before borrowing at the CBN. The apex bank has therefore offered to enter repurchase transactions under its Standing Lending Facility (SLF) and Term Repurchase Facility. Ukeje said the essence of these facilities is to provide naira liquidity to eligible institutions that are unable to access funds on inter-bank market and set an upper limit on rates.

The guidelines also contain terms and conditions for the operation of SLF andTRFand should be read in conjunction with the Nigerian Master Repurchase Agreement

(NMRA).

Infrastructure Funding

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,last week said the regulator’s balance sheet cannot support in frastructure funding.

He said the CBN had tried to use its balance sheet to support power, agriculture and real estate with little success. He, therefore, called on International Finance Corporation (IFC) to invest in critical sectors of the economy such as power, infrastructure and agriculture to enhance economic development.

Sanusi spoke at a send off for the International Finance Corporation’s Vice-President, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Caribbean and Western Europe, Mr Thierry Tanoh, in Lagos on Wednesday night.

He said Nigerian banks will not grow in the long-term, until there are structural adjustment into manufacturing, agriculture and agro-business, power. These he said would not happen without the basic infrastructure. He said these are the kind of things that the IFC should be focused on.

NDIC The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has adopted a risk-based supervision framework that would enable it to handle complex regulatory tasks for Nigerian banks more efficiently.The regulator is therefore, collaborating with the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) of the United States Treasury is conducting a six-week training programme on risk-based supervision to strengthen capabilities and skills of its workforce in this direction.

In a statement signed by the NDIC Managing Director/Chief Executive, Umaru Ibrahim said the corporation adopted the supervisory framework because both the system and the institu-

‘

Local currency has appreciated year to date by 1.88 per cent to N157.64 to a dollar at inter-bank market and has remained stable at the WDAS as at March ending. He explained that at the official rate it was N156 to a dollar, was at N157.64 at the Interbank and N159 at the parallel market

’

tions are getting more complex in terms of size, nature of products and volume of transactions.

He added that if these complexities were not properly identified, measured, monitored and controlled, they could inflict damages on the institutions and the system at large.

Ibrahim described the riskbased supervision as a proactive and efficient supervisory process, which focuses attention on the risk profile of financial institutions; enabling regulators develop the right supervisory tool for each bank.

Bank-to-bank report

The United Bank for Africa (Ghana) Limited, a subsidiary of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, profit for 2011 showed an increase of 143 per cent. The bank recorded a profit before tax of GH¢30.2million ($17.653 million) in last year against GH¢13.9 million ($7.86 million) in 2010. This represented an increase of 143 per cent over the previous year.

Profit for the year after tax also increased from GH¢9.2million ($5.20 million) in 2010 to GH¢22.4million ($12.72 million).

The result came on the back of improved risk analysis and prudent operational costs.

Diamond Bank also within the week said it was seeking shareholders’approval to enter into merger talks with other banks and to raise $200 million in bonds. The bank said it was trying to expand after the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) disclosed plans to privatise three nationalised banks within 18 to 24 months.

However, the bank did not say timing for the debt issue but insisted it will target strategic investors including the World Bank’s private sector lender, the International Finance Corporation .It plans to seek approvals at the next meeting of shareholders on April 30.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has introduced a new virtual account as part of its efforts to cater to the banking needs of all segments of the Nigerian populace. The new ‘GTBank e-Account’, which was launched recently is not only Commission on Turnover (COT) free, but also offers a 0.5 per cent interest rate above savings account interest rates. The account is specifically designed to meet the unique financial needs of salary earners and ensure they conduct their banking transactions quickly, safely and conveniently.

32

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

THE CEO

‘Only 5% of land owners pay ground rent’

•Eleh

Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) President Emeka Eleh is not satisfied with the development in the real estate sector, especially ons ownership and land management. He says enhanced property tax and tenement rates could shore up internally generated revenue for the government. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE met him.

I

N reality, what are you advocating in terms of viable land management?

We are advocating land reforms in the country. Our institution believes that no nation can develop without reforming its land tenure system as everybody has access to land, one way or the other. If you don’t own land in Lagos or any big town, you will certainly own one in your village. Unfortunately, the vast land of our nation is not covered by any title because less than five per cent of land in the country is covered by title.

This means that about 85 per cent of land in the country is neither usable nor tradable as government technically is aware of only

about five per cent of land in this country.

What’s the implication?

It means that in Lagos, for instance, only five per cent of land owners pay ground rent.

Unknown to the government, it’s better for it to give title to every land owner. Property tax is a very good income for any state government just as tenement rate is a good source of revenue for the local governments all over the world.

We keep talking of wealth creation, meanwhile, we have wealth in abundance that cannot be accessed by those who own it. You see a farmer in the village looking for N10, 000 to buy fertiliser and finds it difficult to

raise, though he has land in abundant supply but cannot raise money as land is just dead capital.

But if our land tenure system is reformed to the extent that every plot of land has a title, he can easily walk into a bank with the title to the land and obtain the loan he desires. This is the way America and Europe developed with every inch of land mapped and numbered. Our campaign is that rather than going from one local chief or family to the other when you want to buy land, it can be so liberalised that land transaction can be done online. Our advice to government is that, no matter what programme they have

in terms of wealth creation without reforming our land tenure system, it is unlikely to succeed.

Why is NIESV calling for National Land Commission?

As part of the success of the proposed land reform agenda, we are calling for a National Land Commission to drive the process. This process, we hasten to say, is not what can be managed by a Director of Lands in the relevant ministry. As valuable as land is, the highest officer in the ministry in charge of land is an Estate Surveyor & Valuer, If land • Continued on page 33

33

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

THE CEO

‘Only 5% of land owners pay ground rent’ •Continued from page 32

is given its pride of place, there is no reason somebody in the rank of a cabinet minister will not be in charge of the land ministry. It is not late to correct those anomalies. l use this opportunity to work tenaciously on the land-related Executive bills sent to the National Assembly to review the land use act, but up until now, nothing appreciable has been done in that light.

How are you relating with the Asset Management Company of Nigeria?

We all know that Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) came into being as a result of the banking crisis and huge debt portfolio of some banks that needed to be managed to keep the banks afloat. They have invited some of our colleagues to value some assets for them, but then it is sad that a body like that does not have an estate surveyor and valuer at the policy level. We should be on the board of AMCON and at the highest level of decision making, because by our training, asset management is our turf. One wonders how successful AMCON can be

without the requisite input of a strategic partner like us at every decision making point.

How about the Code of Conduct Bureau?

Corruption is a major issue in this country and we are of the view that if the government is concerned about the menace, the services of estate surveyors and valuers should be employed to confirm the value of government officials and politicians at the point of entry and when they disengage. It’s not just enough for government officials to submit a piece of paper done as asset valuation paper. The law establishing us said we are the only professional group that can value properties. We intend to pursue this and advice that before the acceptance of any valuation, it must be certified by us, that is the only way the fight against corruption will succeed.

Why are you advocating mega practitioners?

We are encouraging our members to embrace mega practice. The days of one-man firm is gone, and to be competitive you need to harness competences under one roof.

The economy is moving to a stage

‘It means that in Lagos, for instance, only five per cent of land owners pay ground rent; unknown to the government, it’s better for it to give title to every land owner. Property tax is a very good income for any state government just as tenement rent is a good source of local government revenue all over the world’

• Eleh

where organisations and multinational firms will prefer to use a single integrated firm rather than too many firms. We have discovered that a major impediment to our push for mega practice is the fact that a lot of people tend to want to be their boss and also to be in control of whatever that is accurable to them without out looking at the bigger picture in the future.

How are you dealing with quacks in the sector?

A major plank of what the institution desires to do is for the public to understand us for what we are professionally. Some people lump us with the run-of-the mill estate agents,’ whose only trade is ‘to let’ properties. Though letting and selling property is part of what we do as estate surveyors, it is however an infinitesimal part, compared to what we are professionally competent to do. People tend to forget our core competence in terms of valuation, appraisal, facility and property management.

Unfortunately, there are too many people who are into agency who bring disrepute to the profession.

It is an uncontrolled sector where all manner of people practice, both the qualified and the unqualified.

We intend to mount a public campaign on which we are-anybody who qualifies through our procedures by going to school to study estate management and qualifies in all the exams and processes.

Going forward, we also realise that we cannot neglect those agents as they service a segment of the society. On the back-drop of that, our intention is to bring agency under control; our plan indeed is to have a registered body separate from the institution where those who practice only agency can register. Sadly, a lot of people are duped on a regular basis by those who call themselves agents. They let out homes that do not exist and operate from a mobile office. We are strongly convinced that their activities should be regulated and brought under scrutiny in the interest of the public.

To underscore our convictions in this area, we have started the process and are currently putting our papers together to sponsor a bill in the National Assembly to ensure that all activities pertaining to agency is brought under our control. We want a situation where agency business will be conducted transparently. For instance, if somebody is letting a house in Lagos or Abuja, and a client wants to buy, the buyer will be privy to who the owner is and who is instructing the agent. This, in our thinking, will protect the buyer so that if anything goes wrong there will be a fall back mechanism.

What is the proposed multiple Listing Service meant to address?

We are poised to launch a multiple listing service. It is a platform of how good agency is practiced all over the world. Multiple listing services is a system that enables practitioners to list their properties under one platform, with what is listed in turn made available to those who are enlisted in the list serve. The idea is to revolutionalise agency practice in the nation giving opportunity to those who are listed on the platform to advertise their properties there. The beauty of the platform is that if somebody does not have clear instructions from the landlord and owner of a particular property, it cannot be listed. Before a property can be

• Eleh

‘Corruption is a major issue in this country and we are of the view that if the government is concerned about the menace, the services of estate surveyors and valuers should be employed to confirm the value of government officials and politicians at the point of entry and when they disengage’ listed, we will know who is behind it and where the person is trained.

The idea is that nobody gets duped, it will be impossible to list a property that you do not have authority to list and you can also not run away with people’s money, because all necessary information about the actors in a particular property will be in a verifiable data bank. The added advantage for subscribers is that those captured in this data bank will sell their properties easily because of public confidence and the publicity the listing will attract.

How far have you gone with this arrangement?

We are already talking with two service providers and before the end of the year, we will achieve it and that will bring an end to cases of agents absconding with peoples monies. Anybody that decides to practice outside the fold, or patronise anybody outside the list, will be doing so at his risk. To strengthen the project, we have also strengthened our secretariat with highly qualified hands that will run it proficiently to ensure responsiveness.

What stage are you on the data bank issue?

The institution intends to create a data bank; part of the challenge in the real estate sector is that to get any information, one will have to call up people. We believe that it is not sustainable. Our institution is in the process of creating a data bank that will be operated by the institution herself. A bank where information can be analysed

and collected in a way that it can be usable. It is apt at this time that if the public requires rental or leasing information in Lagos, lbadan or Abuja, all they need do is to get in touch with the secretariat and the information will be supplied.

The data bank will provide information, not just on rent and sales figures but also provide information on building material rates. We are already discussing with firms which are desirous of funding it.

The idea is to invite our members who are lecturers from the universities to spend a year of their sabbatical with the institution and get this through. From what we have put on ground before the end of the year, the platform will be set to generate basic information and analyse it.

What is your relationship with student members?

We plan to strengthen our relationship with our student body.

Currently, there are about 40 institutions offering estate management, but part of the challenge for us is that we do not have a strong liaison with the students’body. I am worried about what happens to them when they graduate, we do not want them to join other professions when they graduate, the idea for us is to encourage as many of them that read estate management to practice it. The challenge of land administration is huge in this country so we look forward to when the thousands that read the course in the university and polytechnics will be made to practice it in the real sense of it.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

34

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-4-12

Investors gain N92b as index rises

I

NVESTORS earned about N92 billion in net capital gains last week at the Nigerian stock market as sustained recovery in share prices of most equities nudged the average return at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by 1.4 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities closed the four-day trading week at N6.642 trillion compared with its N6.550 trillion opening value for the week. The All Share Index (ASI)-the benchmark index at NSE, appreciated by 1.40 per cent to close at 20,941.93 as against its index on board of 20,652.47 points.

Most other segmental indices trended upward during the largely bullish week. The NSE-30 Indexwhich tracks the 30 most capitalised companies; rose by 1.85 to 956.19 points while

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

the NSE Insurance Index appreciated by 1.32 per cent to close at 125.92 points. Also, the NSE Banking Index improved by 3.51 per cent to 292.97 points.

However, the NSE Consumer Goods Index slipped by 0.37 per cent to close at 1,701.75 points while the NSE Oil and Gas Index dropped by 1.66 per cent to 196.64 points.

The uptrend was largely driven by highly capitalised stocks with Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc leading the 28stock gainers’ list with a gain of N13.33 to close at N146. Okomu Oil Palm Plc followed with a gain of N5.49 to close at N33.50 per share.

On the other hand, 34 stocks recorded price depreciation with Guinness Nige-

ria Plc leading the pack with a loss of N9.70 to close at N230.14 per share. Oando Plc followed with a loss of N3.01 to close at N19.

Total turnover stood at 1.149 billion shares worth N7.796 billion in 15,027 deals. The financial services sector accounted for 857.99 million shares valued at N4.94 billion through 8,856 deals. The natural resources sector followed with 70.547 million shares valued at N35.54 million traded in 13 deals.

Banking subsector was the most active with a turnover of 738.97 million shares worth N4.87 billion in 8,450 deals. Turnover in the subsector was largely driven by transactions on shares of Diamond Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, which altogether accounted for 417.2 million shares, 56.46 per cent of the turnover recorded in the subsector.

The diversified industries subsector of the conglomerates sector followed on the week’s activity chart with a turnover of 66.26 million shares valued at N33.5 million traded in 212 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-4-12

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9 , 2012

35

EQUITIES WATCH

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Investors in Costain (West Africa) Plc lost 59 per cent of their market worth in 2011 and are still losing more value as the fate of the historic construction company hangs in the balance. TAOFIK SALAKO reports.

W

ITHIN the past 48 months, Costain (West Africa) Plc has gone from a highly promising investment into a technically moribund company. Investors in Costain lost N3.52 billion of their N5.97 billion market worth in 2011, putting them as one of the worst-hit investors in the generally negative Nigerian stock market. The benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had posted a full-year negative return of 16.3 per cent.

For shareholders in Costain, their loss was three times higher than the average loss recorded in the market. Costain, which had opened with a market capitalisation of N5.97 billion ended 2011 at N2.45 billion, its lowest capitalisation in more than six years. Costain’s share price, which had traded at a high of N7.97 per share during the year, trended downward to a low of N2.46 and closed the year at N2.45 per share.

Costain had made appreciable recovery in 2010 after a sustained depreciation that saw investors losing 86 per cent of their values between January 2008 and December 2009. With the generally optimistic recovery outlook in 2010, Costain had posted a full-year capital appreciation of about 71 per cent, an impressive performance above the overall market’s average return of 19 per cent.

The construction company had rode on the crest of what several investors took as a recovery to a high of N9.79 per share before closing 2010 at N6.49. It had opened 2012 at N3.80 and thereafter traded at a low of N3.52 per share.

But for hundreds of thousands of shareholders that had taken in the company’s message of restructuring and turnaround in 2007, it’s not only the recent losses that count but the entire pervasive sense of hopelessness that has taken over a company, which they bought into its corporate message of turnaround and public offer at N13 per share. With the emergence of Shoreline Energy International Limited as the new core investor in Costain, the company had floated a combined rights and public offer in December 2007 with a view to raising N8.04 billion. Nearly threequarters of the shares were offered to pre-qualified existing shareholders under the rights issue at a discount of N11 per share. New investors paid N13 per share to buy into the public offer.

As the application lists closed, investors watched eagerly as their share price hit a high of N26.55 per share by the end of January 2008.

But between 2008 and now, Costain’s turnaround hopes have fizzled into thick sense of despair. While investors might stomach the pains of the huge losses, the fear now is that they may even lose any sense of value determination. With consistent failures to provide details of its operations reports, the NSE had late last year placed Costain on technical suspension as a warning signal to poke the Karim brothers-led board and management of the company into consciousness. This has since been upgraded to full suspension, a general caveat emptor to investors and technical declaration of the company as moribund. The NSE owes investors the onerous duty of ensuring that companies listed on its floor are visibly operational and running as going concern. The post-listing rules are designed to measure and enforce this responsibility.

With the full suspension, no trading-in volume or price, will take place on the stock. Full suspension is the last step to delisting and the NSE had in recent years delisted several stocks after they were placed on full suspension. For minority shareholders, compulsory delisting closes the door to any sense of value. Investors have some N250 billion already stuck in some 31 companies that had been delisted in the past 40 months. While the NSE has, in consideration for shareholders, elected to keep Costain

• Seven -year net profit/loss

Costain: From hope to despair and other fully suspended companies on the official list for the meantime, the turnaroundgone-awry story of Costain is one of the downsides of equities this recession period.

From grace to grass Established in Nigeria in 1948, Costain is the first construction company to be quoted on the NSE. An iconic global and national brand, Costain- as a subsidiary of Costain (UK) Plc, was a construction company of first choice.

There is hardly any state in Nigeria where the company had not done major works including buildings, roads, dams, bridges and other civil works. Costain’s iconic projects included the University College Hospital, Ibadan; Oyo State Waterworks and Erinle Dam, Oyo State; Necom House, Lagos; Shell Housing Estate, Abuja; Kano State Water Treatment Plant, Tamburawa, Kano State and several roads and other projects that till date bear the distinctive ‘C’ corporate mark of the company. Costain was a leader in the construction industry until 1985 when Costain UK divested its shares. In the throes of collapse, Costain UK repurchased equities in the company and reignited a new sense of hopes. Costain UK later sold its equity stake to Shoreline Energy International Limited.

While it had won awards as a major quoted company in the 1980s and early 1990s, Costain turned into the new century as a troubled stock.

Net loss after taxes built up from N42.6 million in 2003 to N469 million in 2004 and spiraled to N1.5 billion in 2006 from N281.3 million in 2005. By 2005, sustained losses had completely eroded the shareholders’ funds with a deficit of N143.5 million. This later built up to net deficits of N1.43 billion and N1.29 billion in 2006 and 2007 respectively. A new sense of optimism emerged in 2007 with the return of net profit of N141 million and 171 per cent growth in turnover to N3.02 billion.

What happened to forecasts?

It was on this seemingly new sense of optimism that investors bought into. The board and

management of the company were also positive on the years ahead. Three-year forecasts made by the board and management indicated that profit before tax would rise from N114 million in 2007 to N538 million in 2008 and subsequently jump to N2.25 billion and N4.5 billion in 2009 and 2010. Profit after tax was projected to rise from N141 million in 2007 to N514 million in 2008 and subsequently leap to N1.7 billion and N3.2 billion in 2009 and 2010 respectively. With these, the beleaguered shareholders of Costain, whose last cash dividend was in 1997, were promised a dividend per share of 65 kobo in 2009 and more than a double in 2010 at N1.50 per share.

The projections, unlike Costain’s projects, turned to be castles in the air. From the first year in 2008, Costain failed to meet all key projections. Profits before and after tax came in below targets at N380.5 million and N353.2 million respectively.

Since then shareholders have not got a dime in dividends.

Which way to go?

Undoubtedly, the construction industry is a mixed-grill of opportunities and challenges. With the unpredictable nature of the public sector contracts, which dominate the industry, poor payment schedule, in addition to inflationary trend, mitigates the ability of construction companies to correctly estimate costs, leaving their margins at the vagaries of external factors. The Nigerian construction industry is also highly fragmented, leading often to sharp practice that undermine the bargaining strengths of quoted construction companies, which are subject to higher level of disclosures and transparency.

The contraction in credits orchestrated by the crisis in the banking sector has also adversely affected the capital-intensive construction industry. Poor capital budget implementation by government and cashstrapped companies has also resulted in major projections by construction companies hanging on either the necks of bureaucracy or the liquidity squeeze in the banking industry. Besides, the industry has to contend with general macroeconomic chal-

•Mr Ayodeji Karim

lenges including the lack of local skilled labour, power shortage and unavailability of materials.

However, most analysts see the construction industry has a growth industry with immense potential for operators. With the Government focus on infrastructure and private sector initiatives in housing and infrastructure, Nigeria has strong potential for the development of the construction sector. The largest country in Africa, with more than 160 million population and in critical need of development of infrastructure, the need for capital projects, especially in housing and roads has continued to grow yearon-year. With steady Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth, the outlook for the construction industry remains bright as it is generally accepted that the level of GDP per capital positively correlates with the level of construction activity. Then, why is an iconic brand such as Costain going bad at this time?

With the NSE flagging Costain as a highrisk company, absence of any recent operational reports to review the operations of the company, significant capital depreciation and unrealised cash dividend inflow, investors in Costain have come a long hard way enough to demand a reconstruction of their company.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9 , 2012

36

DUE DILIGENCE

Zenith Bank: Maintaining the lead?

Z

ENITH Bank Plc consolidated its performance in the immediate past year with strong growths in key profit and loss items including a positive balance sheet. Audited report and accounts of Zenith Bank for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed appreciable improvement in profitability underpinned by an increasingly efficient internal cost management and more profitable core banking operations. With 27 per cent growth in gross earnings, pre and post tax profits rose by 21 per cent and 18 per cent. The steady growth in profit consolidated Zenith Bank’s position as one of Nigeria’s most profitable quoted bank-by size. The uptrend trickled down to shareholders with a 12 per cent increase in cash payout per share to 95 kobo, one of the highest payout per share so far this earnings season in the banking sector.

With classified loans totaling four per cent of total loans and advances, the bank has surpassed the five per cent minimum bad debt ratio target of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Improved assets quality was simultaneous with appreciable improvement in the core banking operations of the bank, whose profit margin increased by six percentage points.

However, with the general business growth outpacing equity funds, capital adequacy and liquidity of the bank lagged behind, although both remained within a steady range. Besides, the overall underlying profitability slipped by a point from 26 per cent to about 25 per cent.

Capital adequacy Zenith Bank Group’s balance sheet expanded by 22 per cent to N2.31 trillion in 2011 as against N1.90 trillion in 2010. With 3.8 per cent increase in fixed assets from N66.32 billion to N68.84 billion, the balance sheet growth was driven by earning assets, which rose appreciably by 23 per cent to N2.24 trillion compared with N1.83 trillion in previous year. Total deposits grew by about 26 per cent from N1.32 trillion to N1.65 trillion. This impacted on total liabilities, which grew at almost similar rate to N1.93 trillion in contrast with N1.53 trillion in the previous year. While paid-up share capital remained unchanged at N15.7 billion, shareholders’ funds inched up from N363.56 billion to N380.34 billion.

However, the proportion of equity funds to total assets dropped

2007

2008

2010

2011

• Five-year pre-tax profit

By Taofik Salako

from 19.2 per cent in 2010 to 16.5 per cent in 2011. Equity funds covered about 46 per cent of loans and advances in 2011 compared with funding rate of 51 per cent in 2010.

Fixed assets/equity funds ratio remained steady at 18.1 per cent in 2011 as against 18.2 per cent in 2010.

Assets quality Zenith Bank showed appreciable improvement in assets quality during the year with significant decline in non-performing loans as against appreciable increase in gross loans and advances. Total loans and advances rose by 17 per cent from N746.05 billion in 2010 to N869.84 billion in 2011. Conversely, nonperforming loans dropped by 22 per cent from N44.27 billion to N34.71 billion. With these, the proportion of classified bad loans to gross loans and advances slipped from 5.9 per cent in 2010 to 4.0 per cent in 2011.

Possible threats from non-performing loans to the bank reduced considerably with classified loans/equity funds ratio of 9.1 per cent in 2011 compared with 12.2 per cent in 2010. In spite of this, the bank improved provisions for classified loans to 107 per cent in 2011 as against 74 per cent in 2010.

Profitability Zenith Bank rode on the back of expansive incomes from core banking operations and non-core banking incomes as well as improving internal cost management to consolidate its profitability. Gross earnings rose by 27 per cent to N244.07 billion in 2011 as against N192.49 billion in 2010. The gross top-line

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

•Emefiele

performance was driven by appreciable growths in the two broad lines of incomes. Interest income had grown by 26 per cent from N127.27 billion to N160.52 billion while non-interest income grew by 28 per cent from N65.22 billion to N83.55 billion. With a 2.3 per cent reduction in interest expense from N35.72 billion in 2010 to N34.91 billion in 2011, net interest income leapt by 37 per cent to N125.61 billion in 2011 compared with N91.55 billion in 2010. Operating expenses rose by 21 per cent to N118.26 billion as against N97.77 billion. Profit before tax stood at N60.7 billion in 2011 as against N50 billion in 2010, representing an increase of 21 per cent. In the same vein, profit after tax rose by 18 per cent from N37.41 billion to N44.19 billion.

Further analysis showed basic earnings per share of N1.40 in 2011 compared with N1.19 in 2010. The board of the bank reflected the improvement in net earnings on shareholders’ return with increase in cash dividend per share from 85 kobo to 95 kobo. Even with the 12 per cent increase in cash payouts, the sustainable dividend outlook of the bank improved with a dividend cover of 1.47 times in 2011 as against 1.40 times in 2010. Return on total assets was stable at 2.6 per cent while return on equity improved from 10.3 per cent to 11.6 per cent.

Intrinsic profitability analysis showed a generally positive outlook. Net interest margin, which indicates the actual profitability of core banking operations, improved from about 72 per cent to 78.3 per cent. While average income from lending had reduced from 12.4 per cent to 10.7 per cent, average cost of fund counterbalanced, dropping from 2.7 per cent to 2.1 per cent. The proportion of operating expenses

2011 %

2010 %

Asset Quality Gross Loans and Advances (Nm) Classified loans (Nm) % of classified loans Loan Loss Reserves/Classified Loans Classified Loans/Equity Stock

869,837 34,712 4.0 106.6 9.1

746,051 44,271 5.9 74.0 12.2

Capital Adequacy Equity/Total Assets Equity/Loans and Advances Permanent Assets/Equity

16.5 45.7 18.1

19.2 51.0 18.2

Liquidity Ratios Loans & Advances/Total Assets Cash & Bank Balances/Total Liabilities Loans & Advances/Total deposits

36.1 23.4 50.4

37.6 32.3 54.1

Profitability ratios Pre-tax Profit Margin Return on Total Assets Return on Equity Net Interest Margin Interest Income/Loans & Advances Interest Paid/Total Deposits Operating Expense/Total Revenue Non-Interest Income/Total Revenue Pre-tax Profit Per Employee (Nm) Staff Costs per Employee (Nm) Staff Costs/Gross Revenue Earnings per share (basic)(kobo) Dividend per share (kobo) Dividend cover (times)

2009

24.9 2.6 11.6 78.3 10.7 2.1 48.5 34.2 6.9 5.5 19.7 140 95 1.47

26.0 2.6 10.3 71.9 12.4 2.7 50.8 33.9 6.2 4.6 19.0 119 85 1.40

to gross revenue improved from 51 per cent in 2010 to 48.5 per cent in 2011. Non-interest income improved contribution to the top-line at 34.2 per cent in 2011 as against 33.9 per cent in 2010. Average contribution of each employee to pretax profit improved from N6.2 million to N6.9 million, just as average staff cost per employee trended upward from N4.6 million to N5.5 million. However, pre-tax profit margin, a broader measure of profitability that comprises core and non core banking operations, slipped marginally from 26 per cent to 24.9 per cent. The proportion of staff costs to gross earnings also increased from 19 per cent in 2010 to 19.7 per cent in 2011.

Liquidity The liquidity position of the bank slipped marginally in 2011 although a significant build-up of short-term investments, comprising largely highly liquid treasury bills, made up for shortfall in cash cushions against liabilities. The proportion of cash and bank balances to total liabilities dropped from 32 per cent to 23 per cent. However, short-term investments grew by 73 per cent, which altogether narrowed the decline rate to a single percentage point. Meanwhile, loans and advances/total assets ratio stood at 36 per cent in 2011 as against about 38 per cent in 2010 while loans and advances/ total deposits ratio closed 2011 at 50 per cent compared with 54 per cent in 2010.

Governance & structures Zenith Bank’s shares are held by about 682,000 shareholders with two shareholders holding more than 5.0 per cent. Mr Jim Ovia,

Fiscal Year Ended December 31 Profit and Loss Statement Gross earnings Interest income Interest expense Net interest income Total non-interest income Total non-interest expense Profit before tax (loss) Profit after tax (loss) Balance Sheet Assets: Cash and balances with other banks Short-term investments Loans and advances (net) Total earning assets Fixed assets Total assets Liabilities and Capital: Total deposit liabilities Total liabilities Paid-up share capital Shareholders’ funds Liabilities and equity

founder and immediate past managing director of the bank, holds the largest equity stake of 8.75 per cent while Stanbic Nominees Nigeria Limited, which represents the interests of some shareholders, holds 6.91 per cent. There is no evidence of foreign shareholding in the bank.

There was no any major change in the board and management of the bank. Sir Steve Omojafor still chairs the board while Mr Godwin Emefiele leads the executive management team as group managing director. Zenith Bank broadly complies with the code of corporate governance and the auditors’ report indicates there was no contravention of any banking regulations. On corporate social responsibility, total contributions to societal well being increased by 42 per cent from N503 million in 2010 to N716 million in 2011.

Analyst’s opinion Zenith Bank shows a commendable growth trajectory that reassures on the resilience of the bank’s growth strategy. With the decision to focus on core commercial banking, and as such divest from noncore banking businesses, the bank appears to be in better stead to consolidate profitability. Already noted as a technology-savvy bank, It stands to benefit more in the emerging cashless banking system.

While it needs to open up lending to strengthen profitability, its cautious risks assessment and low cost of funds would provide relative stability as it ventures out to explore greater risk-return potential.

Against the background of the operating environment, the overall outlook appears steady and reassuring.

2011 12 months Nm % change

2010 12 months Nm

244,070 160519 34906 125,613 83,551 118,262 60,698 44,189

26.8 26.1 -2.3 37.2 28.1 21.0 21.3 18.1

192,488 127265 35,719 91,546 65,223 97,769 50026 37414

452,100 516,142 832,828 2,240,589 68,838 2,309,427

-8.7 72.7 16.8 22.5 3.8 21.9

495,297 298,869 713,285 1,828,709 66,318 1,895,027

1,653,570 1,929,092 15,698 380,335 2,309,427

25.5 26.0 0.0 4.6 21.9

1,318,072 1,531,466 15,698 363,561 1,895,027

JOBS THE NATION

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

37

Culled from Google.com

• Job seekers at an interview session

They were offered jobs abroad under the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs two years ago. They grabbed the offer with both hands, but 24 months after, they are still stuck in the country.

Why? Those expected to replace them, the 2005 batch, are yet to return home. This has affected the biyearly smooth transition from one set to the other, reports DUPE OLAOYE-OSINKOLU.

Foreign job seekers’ dilemma T

HE Technical Aid Corps (TAC) was created 19 years ago as a foreign policy tool. Under the scheme, which is the brainchild of former Foreign Affairs Minister Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, professionals are sent to Commonwealth countries to work for two years and on their return another set goes to take their place. This arrangement has been going on smoothly, until a few years ago.

Usually, potential participants apply for the job and those shortlisted are invited for oral and written interviews. Those who are successful are subsequently posted out for service.

But for some years now, the successful candidates have not been deployed because those they are to replace have not returned home. The Directorate of Technical Aid Corps now has a backlog of candidates waiting for posting. The latest are those selected in 2010.

More than 5,000 candidates applied; 3,387 were short-listed for oral and written tests. No fewer than 1,000, who made the final list, are yet to be posted out for service. They were selected from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory

• Technical Aid Corps runs into hitch (FCT).

Those overseas have defied the two years’ duration by serving for over four and six years, depending on their year of posting.

Speaking with The Nation, one of those awaiting posting, who pleaded for anonymity, said if he had known that those selected four years earlier were still on the waiting list, he would have saved his celebration until after being posted out.

Instead of the specified two years, some ‘lucky’ candidates are reported to have spent six years abroad.

The Directorate’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Ajayi, debunked allegations of any malpractices, saying they have not been posted because their services have not been requested for by the recipient countries. This, he said, is why those who have been shortlisted since 2006 are still on the waiting list.

Asked why the directorate conducted the 2008 and 2010 interviews and the orientation when there were no vacancies, he said it needed to have a databank, where there

would be ready names to be posted anytime the recipient-countries requested for manpower.

He, however, did not say why those who were posted out over seven years ago under the scheme are yet to return.

Reacting to allegations that the “sit-tight” beneficiaries have greased the palms of some TAC officials, Ajayi said that was mere speculation.

“People can say anything they like. That is very untrue. Those are mere speculations.

Conditions are yet to be fulfilled by recipient countries; so, we cannot post people who are yet to be requested for.”

Thousands of professionals applied for the 2010 jobs following an advertisement placed by the ministry. The successful applicants were informed of their interview dates in the newspapers. They were interviewed in batches at the Nike Lake Hotels and Resorts, Enugu, for two weeks.

The successful candidates did their orientation in Kaduna, where they were informed

that they would soon be posted.

The directorate sought prospective applicants in various fields. The professionals needed include doctors, pharmacists, laboratory technologists, nurses/midwives, teachers, lecturers, artists, craftsmen, coaches, lawyers, radio-graphers, dentists and bankers.

The jobs are for two-years after which another set would be employed and posted out.

The directorate’s letter of interview reads: “The Directorate of Technical Aid Corps hereby invites the under-listed candidates for recruitment interview scheduled to take place from November 1 to 14, 2010 at Nike Lake Hotels and Resort, Enugu, Enugu State. ”Short-listed candidates are advised to carefully note the specific dates on which to appear before the panel of interviewers and, therefore, ensure strict compliance. Individual candidates are requested to bring along with them original copies of their credentials and valid practising licences where applicable.

• Continued on page 38

38

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

JOBS

TAC runs into hitch

• Continued from page 37

Please note that the interview starts at 9.00 am everyday as indicated in the dates allotted to individual states.”

The interview started with health workers under the medicine/pharmacy and allied fields category on November 1, 2010. The states that attended the interview included Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Kebbi, Kano, Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue, Gombe, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Plateau and Katsina as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The second batch was also under the same category. The date of the interview was November 2, 2010, with candidates from Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Cross River, Edo and Akwa Ibom states in attendance.

The nursing/midwifery category took its turn on November 3, 2010.

The interviewees were from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Kebbi, Kano, Kwara, Niger and Kaduna states and FCT. Also invited were candidates from Kogi, Benue, Gombe, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Plateau and Katsina states.

Another batch of nurses and midwives followed suit on Thursday

November 3. The were from 16 states.

Teachers from 36 states were interviewed on November 4 and 5.

The interview continued the following week and teachers that applied from all the states were interviewed for three days.

The exercise was rounded off with the supplementary category of information technologists, artists and craftsmen. Interviewees came from all states of the federation.

About 3,387 were short-listed from the 36 states. The breakdown is as follows: Abia, 168, Adamawa, 38, Akwa Ibom, 103, Anambra, 220, Bauchi, 30, Bayelsa, 42, Benue, 179, Borno, 66, Cross River, 83, Delta, 157, Ebonyi, 44, Edo, 151, Ekiti, 110, Enugu, 194, FCT, 9, Gombe, 29, Imo, 349 and Jigawa 19.

Others are Kaduna, 84, Kano, 82, Katsina, 29, Kebbi, 22, Kogi, 237, Kwara, 82, Lagos, 35, Nasarawa, 38, Niger, 64, Ogun, 87, Ondo, 93, Osun, 156, Oyo, 132, Plateau, 108, Rivers, 51, Sokoto, 29 Yobe, 17 and Zamfara, 50.

Those awaiting posting are appealing to the Federal Government to intervene. One of the 2006 would-be beneficiaries, said: “After the long wait, we lost hope.

Some of us were lucky to get other

• Minister of Labour, Chukwemeka Wogu

appointments. That seemed to be what the directorate officials actually wanted. They are collecting half of the salaries of those who have served beyond the specified duration of the foreign job. They, therefore, allowed them to overstay because of the arrangement.

They pay them half of what is due to them.”

Asked how she knew this, she said one of the beneficiaries boasted to a friend that he can remain in the Directorate for 10 years if he so wishes, because he is paying his dues.

She appealed to the government to investigate her claim.

“This country needs spiritual deliverance. Many bad things are hap-

• Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru

pening in the ministries. Look at what is happening in the pensions office. That is just a tip of the iceberg compared with the fraudulent practices in other government ministries.”

Another hopeful said only government’s intervention can save the situation. He has also waited for four years for posting. He prayed the government to, through the National Assembly, set up a committee to investigate the activities of the officials in charge of the foreign jobs placement.

The government established TAC as a foreign policy tool to serve specific national interests. It was established through Decree 27 of 1993.

As a foreign policy instrument, TAC scheme is an alternative to direct financial aid for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations.

Nigeria under the scheme is providing manpower for Southsouth countries. Southsouth refers to underdeveloped and developing countries in the southern hemisphere.

The objectives of the scheme include sharing Nigeria’s know-how and expertise with other ACP countries, giving assistance on the basis of assessed and perceived needs of recipient-countries and promoting co-operation and understanding between Nigeria and recipientcountries.

MOVER AND SHAKER

Total E&P appoints first woman director

T

om

• Mrs Ofili-Okonkwo

OTAL Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria has announced the appointment of its first Nigerian woman Executive Director. She is Mrs Edith OfiliOkonkwo, who was appointed as Executive Director, Human Resources & Corporate Affairs.

She was also appointed into the Board of Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI), a sister company.

The company’s Manager, External Communication, Charles Ebereonwu, in a statement, said Mrs Ofili-Okonkwo was appointed alongside Mr Olubunmi

Obembe, now Executive Director (Gas Business and Commercial).

Mrs. Ofili-Okonkwo graduated with B.Sc in Geology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1980 and obtained an MBA from the University of Lagos in 1987.

She joined the then Elf Nigeria in 1981. She worked in the Exploration Department responsible for Exploration Administration facilities/Budget and Cost Control from 1981 to 1994.

She was Head, Compensation and Benefits/Personnel Administration, responsible for compen-

sation and benefits from 1994 to 2000. She was appointed Personnel Manager from 2000 to 2003, and became Employee Relations and Benefits Manager from 2003 to 2005.

On August 22, 2005, she was appointed Deputy General Manager, Human Resources responsible for Manpower development, Career Management and Training. She was appointed General Manager, Human Resources in March 2009, a position she held until December 2, 2011 when she was elevated as Director.

Similarly,Obembe was appointed Executive Director (Gas Business and Commercial). In this capacity, he oversees the company’s interest in LNG; Domestic Gas and Power; and Crude Oil Commercial businesses.

He holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Port Harcourt. He attended the famous Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti.

He joined the company in 1980 as a Petroleum Engineer and served the company in various capacities locally and overseas in the first 21 years of his career.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

I

Should I really apply for the job?

STRONGLY believe this is one of the most frequent–often agonising question- virtually all seekers face. I have been reading a lot of articles lately about many jobs going unfilled because over 99 per cent of candidates are not 100 per cent qualified for the position. Sometimes employers are frustrated because they cannot find qualified employees.

With the millions of graduates unemployed in this country, there is not one qualified person to fill the requirements of the job? Incredulous? It sure happens.

The issue, in my considered opinion, is that job seekers do not understand how the job search works.

They review a job posting and mentally catalogue their positives and negatives for the position. Say there are 10 requirements for the job but the seeker only has six of them. What happens? The job

By Olu Oyeniran

seeker moves on to the next job and that job goes unfilled. Funny it may sound; most job seekers don’t have all requirements!!

Let’s be real for a moment. That job description with the requirements listed is for that illusive ideal candidate - not for the average job seeker. When a job description is put together, the Human Resources gets together with the hiring manager and they go over the job requirements.

The hiring manager, of course, knows more what is needed in the position but the Human Resources associate has done her homework, too - checking other companies for their requirements for the same type of position.

So HR prods the hiring manager into adding more requirements hoping to get that dream candidate

who will assist the company in meeting their mission. So, the hiring manager concedes to the HR associate and they put publish the open position with all of the combined requirements.

What happens when that job is advertised? Well, as a job seeker, I can tell you what happens. I see a job posting for a position that looks interesting to me. I open it up and start perusing the qualifications.

It doesn’t take long before discouragement hits like a boulder and I close the job posting and go back to my job search. Should you discount the interesting position because I am not 100 per cent qualified? Hell, No! Not at all!

Hiring managers know that they are not going to get everything that they ask for. Maybe you will present with skills and experience that the hiring manager and HR didn’t think about that might be

even more valuable than the requirements specified in the posting. Maybe the position has 10 qualifications but you only meet six of them.

What should you do? Apply for the position! Remember, hiring managers already know that they will not find a person with all 10 of the qualifications, but if you present with six of the 10, more than likely your resume will at least get a look.

Over the course of my 25 years of employment, I have been hired and worked at jobs for which I had only minimal qualifications. The reason I was hired? I showed the interest; I showed that I was eager and willing to learn and then, once on the job, I did exactly that. I worked my butt off! I learned and I grew in each position.

If you are looking for a job and you see a position for which you

do not have all of the qualifications, apply for the position. You are doing yourself a world of good and providing yourself with a powerful advantage. When you apply, state in your cover letter that you know that you don’t meet all of the qualifications they are seeking but that you are a fast learner and that you can bring additional skills that would be of great benefit to the company.

Or anything to that effect. Make sure the hiring manager knows where you stand, knows your work ethic and you will be surprised at the results.

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates.

Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

39

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

INSURANCE FIRST QUARTER REVIEW

Industry moves to reduce risks With the hope of attaining the industry’s N1trillion premium target, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and operators, in the first quarter of this year, rallied to implement resolutions they agreed on last year. Prominent among the efforts taken to reposition the industry is risk reduction.

CHUKS UDO OKONTA examines the initiatives that have shaped industry.

H

OW to make insurance work amidst the financial recession has been an assiduous task for the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and operators, especially as their N1trillion premium target is set to be actualised this year.

To ensure that efforts made to reposition the industry are sustained, NAICOM decided not to develop a new guideline for the industry by adopting last year’s guidelines. It noted that changes in the guidelines would slow the pace at which it hopes to achieve its targets.

Though the first quarter for the industry is often characterised with few activities, NAICOM and regulators have engaged in some activities, which observers believe would help prop the industry forward. These activities include guidelines on developing risk management frame work, engagement with external auditors on International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), withdrawal of errant brokers’ licences to mention but a few.

Risk management framework All insurers and reinsurers were urged by NAICOM to establish a process for identifying, assessing, controlling, mitigating and monitoring all material risks. They were asked to develop the process of their company’s risk management philosophy, set of shared beliefs, attitudes, values, culture and operating style.

The process was to be made with defined risk appetite, which should state the amount of risk the company is willing to accept.

Companies were also to be clear about who is in charge of risk oversight, assign authority and responsibility and set out an appro-

priate organisational structure.

They must also set standards for integrity, ethical values and a risk culture and ensure they secure commitment to competence, knowledge and skill of staff in relation to the management of risk.

Board of Directors were mandated to ensure an adequate risk management framework including principles for how risks should be identified, assessed, monitored and controlled or mitigated within the company’s operations.

They were to define the company’s risk appetite in line with the company’s financial resources, business strategies, management expertise and overall willingness to take risk, review and approve the risk management policies and procedures and reevaluate the framework and risk appetite at least annually, considering changes in the risk profile of the business (changes in products, markets, operating environment).

The directors are also to ensure that the risk management framework is regularly audited by appropriately trained and competent personnel that are operationally independent of the risk management activities.

All insurers and reinsurers were asked to establish a risk management department unit, which shall be responsible for measuring, monitoring and controlling risk, consistent with the established policies and procedures. The organs are to be headed by a Chief Risk Officer, who shall be responsible for establishing the risk culture throughout the company.

From left: Dr. Wole Adetimehin, CIIN President; Dr. Christopher Kolade and Mr Adegboyega Adepegba, CIIN DG, at the Pan African University, during the CEOs seminar jointly organised by CIIN and the Lagos Business School.

Insurance Brokers Limited and reinsurance companies and broStandard (IFRS), adding that Ma Aji Insurance Brokers kers were urged by NAICOM to insurance operators need to leverLimited. Also included are Mark eradicate errors and wrong comage on the professional compeof Security Insurance Limited, putations in financial reports of tence of their external auditors.

Mbc Insurance Brokers Limited, operators.

The Deputy Commissioner, FiWithdrawal of errant Mecartend Insurance Brokers Limited, Megatech Insurance Bronance and Administration brokers’ licences kers Limited, Multi-Lateral Insur(NAICOM) Mr George Onekhena, ance Brokers, Risk Guard Insursaid the commission in a bid to The industry regulator hamance Broker Limited, Royal Trust reposition the industry would mered some brokering firms that Insurance Brokers Limited, Shield henceforth not tolerate financial failed to comply with the Insurance Broker Limited, Tulip accounts that fail to meet the reindustry’s rules. The public was Insurance Brokers Limited, Uniquired standard. warned not to transact businesses Chartered Insurance Brokers, He urged the auditors to be with them until they are let loose Unimag Insurance and United more careful and vigilant in the from NAICOM’s hook.

Modern Insurance Brokers. auditing of financial returns of inThe firms are ADS Insurance surance operators, noting that the Brokers Limited, APL Insurance Claims settlement “credibility of your firm is at stake Brokers Limited, ASO Solid Insurhere. If you sign and affix your ance Limited, Bambi Insurance stamp on any account, it is taken Within the period under review, Broker Limited, CIB Insurance that such an account should be Royal Exchange General Insurance Broker Limited, Cachet Insurance credible. But anything contrary to Company, (REGIC), led a consorBrokers Limited, Clown Field this will impact negatively on tium of insurers to pay N3.636 bilRoyal Insurance Limited and your credibility and can put you lion claims to Frieslands Foods Cobal Insurance Brokers, Col-Val in trouble.”

West African Milk Company Insurance Brokers, Commercial He noted that auditors should be (WAMCO) over the flood disaster Marine Brokers. professional in their duties as clithat damaged major parts of its facOthers are Consolidated Insurents look up to them for quality tory last year. ance Brokers, Corporate Trust Inadvice, adding that auditors are Other companies in the pack are surance Limited, Delight Insurrequired to always advise their Custodian and Allied Insurance; ance Brokers Limited, Fair Deal clients on doing the right thing.

Cornerstone; Goldlink; Mutual Insurance Limited, First Cover Onekhena noted that auditors Benefits; Law, Union & Rock; CruMaster Broker Limited, Goodgate are required to play immense resader, Leadway; Sterling AssurInsurance Limited, Hope equity sponsibility in the industry’s tranance; Great Nigeria Insurance; Eq& Trust Brokers Limited, IBPC Insition and implementation of the uity Assurance; AIICO General surance Brokers Limited, Inland International Financial Reporting and NEM Insurance.

‘PenCom is greatly burdened’

International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) External auditors of insurance,

Leadway pays N2.3m to Army welfare scheme

L

EADWAY Assurance has paid N2.3million to the next-of-kins of four soldiers who died last year.

Major General Mohammed Isah, at the presentation of cheques to the next-of-kin of officers in Kaduna, said the Corps took up the welfare scheme out of sincere concern and passion for the welfare of infantry officers and their families.

He said out of 11 deaths recorded in 2011, the four officers were the only ones who were active participants in the scheme, adding that out of 1,328 officers of the Infantry Corps only 620 have shown interest in the scheme.

The cheques, totalling N 2, 303, 154.17, were presented to the nextof-kins of the deceased officers who expressed gratitude to the Infantry Corps and Leadway Assurance for

bringing succour to their families at this time.

Assistant Chief of Staff, G1 HQ ICC, Col. Femi Akinjobi, also thanked Leadway Assurance for the prompt settlement and congratulated the Infantry Corps on their foresight in implementing the scheme.

He enjoined Infantry Corp members to participate in the scheme and use the forum to further articulate its benefits.

The officers at the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State, were enjoined to take advantage of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Welfare Scheme being administered by Leadway Assurance Company Limited as the purpose of the Group Life (with savings) scheme is to cater for the welfare of retired officers as well as the families of deceased officers.

•Adediji

T

HE National Pension Commission (PenCom) should engage more independent and private organisations to assist it in discharging its responsibility

to enable it to devote more time to supervision and monitoring, Publisher Pensionscope,Mr Peter Adediji, has said.

Adediji, who disclosed this at a pre-launch press parley of his magazine entitled: Pensionscope, said PenCom is carrying a burden that should be equitably shared with the people. He said for a healthy pension industry, there is the need to have balanced information from PenCom and private individuals and organisations whereby all stakeholders would know what is happening.

He said it was the belief that the introduction of the Pension Reform Act 2004 would be the almighty formula for solving numerous problems bedeviling the pension industry. He added that less than a decade of the Act, there has been a

lot of revelation, which is now fast eroding confidence in the reformed system.

Adediji said it is worrisome that pension fraud is no longer in millions but in billions and that the Army and other arms of the military have pulled out from the scheme and probe has become the order of the day.

He noted that after a thorough research into the need of having a truly independent organ for the dissemination of reliable information about the operation and running of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), and getting feedback from the stakeholders for the development of the industry, the idea of having Pensionscope Magazine that would be exclusively devoted to pension and related matters, came up.

‘Inadequate information bane of industry’s growth’

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ACK of adequate information on insurance products and services are deterring the growth of the industry, Managing Director Sovereign Trust Plc, Mr Wale Onaolapo, has said.

In a statement, he said the industry needs to intensify efforts in educating the populace on the need for insurance.

He said the firm will, in this

quarter, launch its campaign on Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) on radio and the print media to further give vent to the on-going awareness instituted by the industry regulator.

He said it has become absolutely imperative to complement the efforts of the regulatory body in ensuring that adequate and effec-

tive awareness is created for the MDRI project.

According to him, the industry stands to benefit immensely from the initiative if practitioners are committed to it in every sense of the word. He identified lack of adequate information on insurance products and services as a militating factor against the growth of the industry in Nigeria.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

40

LABOUR FIRST QUARTER REVIEW

F

The many battles of Labour

OR the Labour movement, it has been three months of activism. This year opened on a note of struggle. Labour put up stiff resistance against some government policies, winning some and losing others.

Its first struggle was the resistance against fuel price increase. The Federal Government had announced an increase of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N65 to N141 per litre.

The disagreement between Labour and Government over the issue snowballed into a weeklong strike and protests that paralysed economic activities in the country.

The issue was, however, laid to rest when President Goodluck Jonathan met with the two labour centres and later announced a new price of N97 per litre. A lot of dust was raised by the reduction because Labour claimed it was unilaterally done by the Presidency, while its civil society allies alleged dishonesty, saying the mandate given to the labour leaders was reversion to N65.

On the long run, the reduction was counted as a plus for Labour.

National Minimum Wage is another issue

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

that has taken the centre stage this year.

Many state governments are battling to maintain peace in their states as workers keep threatening to down tools should government fail to meet their ultimatums. Even now, Oyo State workers are on strike. They want accurate implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act 2010.

The National Minimum Wage Act stipulates that the least paid worker should be on a salary of N18,000. Some governors said it would be easier for them to implement only if the Federal Government increase the monthly revenue allocation accruing to their states. Only a few states have implemented the wage Act to the letter. Labour has spent the last quarter struggling with such state governments.

Local Government workers are arguing that joint account system being operated by state and local government is delaying the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage to local government council employees.

The President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Ibrahim Khaleel, said deductions being made at the joint accounts have affected the local government councils as they cannot meet their financial obligations and discharge their responsibilities to the people.

He argued that if the statutory allocations to local government areas got into the councils’ coffers, the councils would not have remained in the current situation where they could not implement the payment of the national minimum wage.

On the minimum wage battle, the movement still has a long way to go.

On the private sector scene, many workers are losing jobs. President of the National Union of Chemical Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), Comrade Boniface Isok, said some policies of the government are affecting some industries in the chemical sector negatively. He said the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria for bank debtors to pay up their debts is part of the reasons for

factory closures and redundancy of workers.

As Labour silently grapples with increasing job casualties, it was roused by the bill sponsored by Senator Heineken Lokpobori (PDP, Bayelsa West) meant to amend the Labour law with a view to including a clause making it mandatory for unions to vote before embarking on industrial strike.

Trade unions said the bill was aimed at muzzling the trade union movement.

Senator Ayogu Eze, while supporting the bill said it was meant to ensure that the unions did not mix labour dispute with politics.

And the wind of reform? It blew open the pension scam. Public servants enriched themselves at the expense of poor old citizens. This is an on-going crisis which the Senate has vowed to resolve.

However, workers are now wary of the contributory pension scheme. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) is allaying their fear that the scam was perpetrated in the old pension system, which had been in existent before the Pension Act 2004 came into being.

For Labour, the struggle still continues.

• Protesters during the fuel strike.

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NLC kicks against Adamawa’s moves to ban strikes

HE Adamawa House of Assembly is considering a bill seeking to ban “essential service workers’’ in the state and local government services from participating in strikes.

The bill, sponsored by Alhaji Hassan Kaigama, representing Maiha constituency, has passed the first reading on the floor of the House.

The state council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), however, said the lawmakers have no right whatsoever to enact such law.

The NLC National secretariat has also resolved to meet over the issue.

The bill, tagged ‘Adamawa State Strike Prohibition Law 2012’, when passed into law, would totally ban traffic warders, health workers, staff of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and fire service workers from organising or participating in any strike.

Co-sponsored by Alhaji Abubakar Umar (PDP-Girei), Alhaji Abbuzarri Suleiman (PDPYola South) and Alhaji Aminu Iya-Abbas (PDPUba/Gaya), the bill prescribed six months imprisonment or N250,000 fine or both for any employee who takes part in or organises a strike.

According to the bill, it is unlawful for the

listed employees to engage, organise, take part in any strike or lock out prior to the decision of the National Industrial Court.

It stipulates procedures the employers and the employees must take in resolving disputes.

This includes forwarding any complaint to the Head of Service of the state, who would be mandated to within 30 days, set up a committee to negotiate settlement between the parties.

The bill gave any of the parties in the dispute the mandate to proceed to the National Industrial Court for adjudication, if the com-

mittee set up by the Head of Service fails to within 14 days resolve the matter.

It also gives the state Governor the power to proscribe any trade union or association of workers that engages in “acts calculated to disrupt the economy or obstruct the smooth running of any essential service’’ in the state.

It also empowers the governor to ban any union or association that fails to comply with the procedures specified in the law for settlement of disputes.

Meanwhile, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Dauda Maina has said the NLC would resist the lawmakers action. He said the per-

D

Delta stops salaries of 44 teachers

ELTA State has said it stopped the salaries of 44 secondary school teachers for absenteeism.

The teachers were alleged to have abandoned their posts for over three months without permission.

A statement by Mr Abraham Fabau, an official of state’s Post Primary Education Board, in Asaba, said that the sanction was in line with government’s policy that “ no form of emolument be paid to staff who abandoned their duties.”

The statement indicated that the sanction was the first step in the disciplinary measure to be applied on the affected teachers, who included principals and vice principals.

It said the Accountant General of the state had been directed on March 16, 2012 to quickly implement the order, adding that the order would subsist till further

son that sponsored the bill has no relationship with labour. And he wonders where he (the sponsor) got his inspiration from. He added that the law they want to make is not under their jurisdiction, and therefore should focus on matters that would bring peace and ensure good governance.

A senior official of the NLC, National Secretariat, Comrade Emma Ugboaja, said the government does not want freedom for the workers, but they cannot hold Labour to ransom under any guise.

“We would resist it. The NLC organs would meet over it and take an appropriate decision.

notice.

Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, said the directive for sanction was meant to instil discipline in the school system.

He warned teachers, including those in primary schools, to desist from acts of indolence and indiscipline or face severe sanctions from the government.

“I am back. I have answered all my critics, who said that I was finished.”

Monday, April 9, 2012

vs

Drogba is key -Lineker F

ORMER Barcelona star Gary Lineker says Chelsea can win their Champions League semi if they make the most of Didier Drogba's strength.

Lineker says Chelsea should take the aerial route to upset Barca.

He wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "Chelsea must overcome a philosophy of football in the semi-final. The only way I can see it happening is by reverting to tactics that are the polar opposite to everything Barcelona represent.

"Javier Mascherano is not a centrehalf. We saw against AC Milan in midweek how he can get caught out of position. If Barcelona can be put under sustained pressure, Chelsea could score

Mourinho •Drogba

one or two goals.

"To win, Chelsea must play defensive, yet direct. They must play an intense, high tempo game at Stamford Bridge, utilising all the strength, aerial presence and aggression of Didier Drogba at his best."

Meanwhile Barcelona plan to use Cesc Fabregas to convince former Arsenal teammate Robin van Persie about a move to the Nou Camp.

The Daily Star Sunday says Barca will point out to £40million-rated Arsenal skipper Van Persie that Fabregas has already won three trophies since his switch from The Emirates last summer.

Suarez will quit if Dalglish is axed L

•Suarez

UIS Suarez won't stick around if manager Kenny Dalglish is shown the door at Liverpool.

The Daily Star Sunday says Suarez is worried about his manager’s increasingly precarious position in the Merseyside hotseat.

If Dalglish, 61, is still at the helm next season, Suarez stays. He is a massive fan of the Liverpool boss, who loyally backed him throughout his racism row with Patrice Evra.

But if King Kenny is axed – as seems a real possibility – the Uruguayan hot-head may well demand a move back to Europe, where several top clubs are ready to offer him refuge.

A Kop insider confirmed: “Without Kenny as manager, there has to be a major question mark about Luis.”

MANCINI WARNS SPURS:

Sign Adebayor,or...

S

PURS have been warned they could lose Emmanuel Adebayor this summer after Manchester City boss Roberto Manicni admitted a host of top suitors are keen to sign the striker.

On-loan Adebayor has impressed during his spell so far at White Hart Lane, scoring 13 goals for harry Redknapp's Champions league chasing men.

Tottenham have the option to sign the former Arsenal forward on a permanent basis

A delighted Vijender Singh, speaking after becoming the first Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games for a third successive time after reaching the semi-finals of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan on Sunday

at the end of the season but it is understood they want him to lower his £140,000-a-week wages.

Mancini could even hand him a lifeline at the Etihad Stadium next term - if he remains as boss - but hinted several European giants are circling the Togo international.

'If at the end of the season he wants to stay at Tottenham they will buy him, or another team will,' said Mancini.

'There are a lot of teams that want Manu.

Adebayor is playing well and I am happy for him.

'He’s a good guy and a good player and I am happy.’

R

targets Bosingwa

EAL Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is eyeing Chelsea fullback Jose Bosingwa.

The Sun on Sunday says Real boss Mourinho is confident of winning the race with AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain also interested.

Reports in Spain suggest a deal has already been struck with Bosingwa’s agent who is allowed to talk to foreign clubs under the Bosman ruling.

Chelsea offered Bosingwa, 28, to PSG in January in a desperate bid to recoup some of his transfer fee.

•Mourinho

OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...

Isner takes US into Davis Cup semis JOHN Isner's big serve and solid forehand proved too strong for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, defeating the Frenchman 6-3, 7-6 (4) 5-7, 6-3 Sunday to put the United States into the Davis Cup semifinals.

Tsonga had chances, but could only break his serve once as the Americans took an unassailable 3-1 lead, setting up a match against either Spain or Austria for a place in the final.

Isner built on the U.S. team's momentum after a straight-set doubles win on Saturday.

•Isner He didn't face a break point, while the pressure was clearly on the sixth-ranked Tsonga to even the score at the Monte Carlo Country club.

Later, Gilles Simon was scheduled to play 19-year-old Ryan Harrison in the meaningless last match.

Vijender qualifies for London Olympics VIJENDER Singh became the first Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games for a third successive time after reaching the semi-finals of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan on Sunday.

The first Indian to win an Olympic and World Championships medal - bronze in both events - Vijender outpunched Chuluuntumur Tumurkhuyag of Mongolia 27-17 to not just assure himself of an Olympic berth but also a medal at the ongoing tournament.

“I am back,” were Vijender’s first words while speaking to PTI from Astana after winning the crucial bout, in which a loss would have ended his hopes of making the London Games.

The 26-year-old had failed in his first attempt to book a ticket for London in last year’s World Championships.

“I have answered all my critics, who said that I was finished (after losing in the first round of World Championships),” said the former world number one, who was gasping for breath after a draining encounter.

Before the 2008 Beijing Games, Vijender had won gold at the Asian Qualifiers at that time, which incidentally were also held in Kazakhstan.

43

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The call for a form of dialogue by the component units of Nigeria has become stronger in recent times, in the face of fresh challenges to the union. But, there is no consensus on the form. Should it be sovereign? Should it be plain conference?

What should be the mode? Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU, who has followed the debate, reports.

What manner of national conference?

A

CROSS the six geo-political zones, it appears that there are only a few dissenting voices on the need for a fresh conference to debate the future of Nigeria. However, there is a bone of contention. While a section of the stakeholders is rooting for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), another section is limiting its clamour to the convocation of a National Conference.

The two groups have not elaborated on the modalities for convoking the conference. They are silent on the number of ethnic nationalities expected to send representatives to the conference, the size of the delegates or how they would be selected, the finance, logistics, tenure and co-ordination.

But at the end of the conference, stakeholders expect the fashioning out of a people’s constitution that is truly federal in nature and appeal.

Among those calling for a Sovereign National Conference are men of the old order who had witnessed the derailment of the federal structure in the post-First Republic era.

They include staunch Awoists and arrowheads of pro-democracy movement; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Dr. Femi Okurounmu, Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Senator Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Mr. Ayo Opadokun; Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Olu Falae, Prof.

Itse Sagay, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Prof. Akin Oyebode, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Mr. Femi Falana and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba.

However, many compatriots who have endorsed the National Conference idea, instead of SNC, have insisted that, given the nature and current standing of Nigeria, it will be asking for too much to expect the government of the day, including the National Assembly, to surrender power to another sovereign assembly. The most strident voices among the patriotsin this camp in recent times is the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. Both groups have the same goal in mind, which is the restoration of true federalism.

To the first group, nothing is sac-

•Sagay

•Anyaoku

rosanct about Nigeria. At a recent meeting of a pro-conference group, the National Consensus Group, held at Dr. Tunji Braithwaite’s residence, Ikoyi, Lagos, Prof. Oyebode said that “the unity of Nigeria is negotiable”, adding that it has been an artificial creation forcefully lumped together by the British without the agreement and consent of the people. “We can converge to discuss all the matters, including whether Nigeria should or should not remain as an entity”, he canvased.

Anyaoku’s intervention may have been premised on the need to save Nigeria from disintegration, the same fear that Adebanjo has always allayed. Adebanjo said: “There is no alternative to SNC to discuss the problems of Nigeria and the basis for peaceful co-existence. A will say its own and B will say its own and if they agree on the terms, they continue together”.

Anyaoku shared the main view of the pro-SNC agitators, saying: “To return to true federalism, we need a major restructuring of our current architecture of governance”, adding: “We should aim at getting the national conference to reach a consensus on devolving

•Musa

from the centre to the six federating units responsibility for such areas of governance as internal security, including the police, infrastructure, education, health and economic development.

However, Anyaoku quickly added: “I must hasten to say that my support is for a national conference without the epithet of ‘sovereign’. This is because we already have in place an elected structure of governance that includes the Presidency, in which the citizens have, for the time being, vested the sovereignty that truly belongs to them”.

His view again aligned with those pushing for SNC in the area of referendum. The former Commonwealth Secretary-General stressed that “in order to give it legitimacy and better chance of enduring, the outcome of the national conference must be submitted to a referendum of the population of the country”.

President Goodluck Jonathan does not belong to any of the groups. While baring his mind to Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi’s group at Aso Rock, the seat of power recently, he ruled out the possibility

of entertaining the national question for as long as he is in charge, claiming that any threat to national sovereignty is not welcomed. The view, many believe, also tallies with that of the leadership of the National Assembly.

Observes believe that bad governance, injustice and inept leadership, especially at the centre are tonics for the intensification of the demand for a national debate to iron out issues germane to stability and happiness of the diverse component units. At issue is the foisting of what Tinubu described as a “unitary empire” on a supposedly federal state.

The slain Attorney- General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, delved into the heart of the national question about two decades ago. He asked: “Do we still want to live together as a country?” If the answer is yes, he again asked: how? To him, a debate was actually necessary to deliberate on terms for unity among the component units that are coordinate with the central government.

In 1947, Awolowo, in his book titled: Path to Nigeria’s Freedom, pointed out that only true

fedealism was the answer. It was an understatement. Governor Hugh Clifford, who took over from Lord Fredrick Lugard as governor of Nigeria was alarmed by the sheer fusion of the vast plural society. In his reckoning, the fundamental elements of plurality, including diverse languages, customs, traditions, and religions, would harbour the ultimate potentials of shaping their reactions and perceptions of the socio-economic and political milieu.

As the country was on the lane to independence, the reality stared the first set of indigenous leaders in the face. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, during the protracted constitutional conferences had said to the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello: “Let us forget our differences”. But Bello disagreed, saying: “We must understand our differences”.

At independence, Nigeria stood on a tripod -West, East and North.

Each developed at its pace, relying on God-given resources. The founding fathers of Nigeria settled for federalism and regionalism, with the advantage of healthy competition that went with the options. Later, the military dismantled the federal structure.

The early strain manifested in the three years of avoidable civil war.

When states and local governments were created in response to the elite’s scramble for power and relevance, the distribution by the military was lopsided, thereby engendering bitterness. The military nationalised the regions’ assets and formula for equitable, just and fair distribution of the commonwealth.

The principles of derivation, need and national interest were turned upside down and the goose that lays the golden eggs was inflicted with the burden of neglect and denial, prompting violent protests in the Niger Delta.

Gone also were the community and state police, which made security accessible in the earlier saner era. Up came the Land Use Act, the emasculation of the state and local governments, hijack of value added tax, and full concentration of power in the tiny federal appa•Continued on page 44

‘Constitution review should address national questions’

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• Ngige

WO issues are agitating Chris Ngige, medical doctor-turned politician who once presided over the affairs of Anambra State for 34 months. The first is the constitution review, which he believed should be carried out in a manner that would make it address the fundamental questions critical to national stability and peaceful coexistence. The second is putting together a coalition of progressive forces to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power in 2015.

“We are concerned by the boasting that PDP will rule Nigeria for 60 years. Their luck will not carry them too far. They were lucky the last time because opposition parties failed to come together. At the next general elections, PDP will not be that lucky”, the senator told reporters in Lagos.

The difficulty of presenting a common front by the scattered opposition parties is worrisome to the Action Congress of Nigeria

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

(ACN) chieftain. “We could not come together because partners in the alliance; Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari; are strange bedfellows. I, Tinubu and Ikimi represented ACN. Useni, Anga represented ANPP then. We had Abubakar Audu, Bafarawa, Bukar Abba Ibrahim. Later, the whole thing fizzled out. We were at the point of logo and name. We toiled with the idea of ACP, ACN. But other undercurrents led to division and the alliance was shelved”, Ngige added.

Indeed, ego was the main issue. This was at work when former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, who came up with his presidential ambition, crashed and left the fold. But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also repudiated ACN and retraced his steps to PDP. Buhari, Ngige recalled, also

formed the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) while the talks were on.

In the senator’s view, not only did personal ambition deepen the division, it was also evident that only few politicians could withstand the burden of being excluded from government. He therefore, commended the people of Southwest for their resilience in this regard. “Only the people of Southwest are used to being in opposition. They have progressive leaders who believe in the welfare of the masses”, he stressed.

Past disappointments notwithstanding, Ngige emphasised that the 2015 race would present another golden opportunity for the opposition to unite. “We have started. We have set up committees to discuss with other partners. I and Ikimi are parts of the Contact Committees; Achike Udenwa is also making contact in the East. We are optimistic •Continued on page 44

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

44

POLITICS

What manner of national conference?

•Continued from page 43

ratus.

When it was apparent that military rule was old fashioned, the departing soldiers and their civilian collaborators bequeathed the flawed 1999 Constitution, a fraudulent document which the late Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN) said lied against itself.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled between 1999 and 2011, approached the sensitive issue of constitution review with lip service. The hypocritical commitment has continued under his successors. The 2005 National Political reform Conference that he set up, with its “no-go areas”, collapsed with his third term ambition.

Lamenting the fate of the wobbling country, Adebanjo said SNC has been made elusive by the enemies of Nigeria. He warned that the fledgling federation may continue to be assailed by tension, religious crisis, flexing of muscles over derivation and gross insecurity. ‘ Southeast-Southsouth Professionals’ led by Emeka Ugwu-Oju, said, whether SNC or National Conference, the future is due for debate.

He urged the federal government to buy the idea, noting that, if a conference starts today, peace would return to Nigeria. “When there was

a national conference in Abuja and PRONACO in Lagos, there was no single case of violence in the Niger Delta for the whole year”, he pointed out. Ugwu-Oju urged speed, warning that delay may be dangerous. He said: “If we don’t want Nigeria to disintegrate as predicted that international agencies, the ethnic nationalities should agree on terms for living together”.

Reiterating his call for SNC, Tunji Abayomi, who spoke on the flaws of the 1999 Constitution said: “The foundation of this country is not clear. There is no agreement by the ethnic groups about Nigeria. Until there is an agreement on the basis for co-existence, there will be no nation. It will be worse for our children in the future.

“The military gave the power to make law to itself under its decrees.

But, it lacked the power to make a constitution for Nigeria. The people delegated to the National Assembly their power to make laws. Let them make a law that will give power to the people to make a peoples’ constitution. Yoruba, Ijaw, Boko Haram would meet. Yoruba may want agriculture. Ijaw know what they want. Boko Haram say they don’t want education. All these issues would be discussed. We will decide the way forward at the conference. We should agree on the terms for co-existence”.

‘Constitution review should address national questions’ •Continued from page 43

that this movement will yield results”, he added.

Ngige dismissed as unfounded the rumour that the ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, hobnobbed with President Goodluck Jonathan during the 2011 polls, recalling that the former Lagos State governor had cleared himself. He recalled that people also carried the rumour that he was set to dump ACN for his former party, PDP, just because Atiku, his friend, went back. Ngige said the rumour was unfounded, stressing that the former Vice President did not even consult him personally before taking the decision.

Ngige may not be a fan of Dr. Jonathan, but he acknowledged that certain factors worked for him during the electioneering. These factors, he said, were ethnicity and religion. “Jonathan gave a ray of hope that being a minority is not a curse. Political awareness is increasing”, he added.

However, the senator from Anambra Central District, remarked that 2015 may not be a smooth sail for the President. His words: “President Jonathan said he wanted to run for one term. He has not told us that he has shifted from that position”. The former governor refrained from elaborating on this remark.

Between now and then however, Ngige said Nigeria has one major challenge to summount, which is the proposed constitution review.

He aligned with the views of those who posit that the constitution should offer a new compass for the fragile federation. In particular, he said ACN believes that Nigerians should come together to discuss our political and economic structures. To him, calls for Sovereign National Conference or national conference show that people want national talk or dialogue, adding that they underscore the fact that the political structure is defective.

Therefore, for the exercise to be meaningful, it should address national questions which have re-

mained bone of contention among the constituent units.

“There is the need for political restructuring. We need a federal constitution. We need to revisit the revenue allocation formula. We need devolution of powers. Again, why should a ministerial nominee appear before the senate when the list submitted to the senate does not have portfolios attached to it. We should also look at the judiciary, the composition of NJC. Now, it is Appointment, Promotion and Discipline. If you appoint and promote, you should be able to discipline”, he stressed.

Since he became a senator, how has his home front fared? To this question, Ngige said there is no disconnect between him and his district, in spite of the political moves against him by political foes.

He lamented efforts by his rival in the last senatorial race and former Information Minister Prof. Dora Akuyili to provoke him. He said he and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) politician have family ties which politics cannot sever.

“I have refrained from reacting, despite all provocations by Dora because, after politics, family relations would continue. We were mates in UNN. She read Pharmacy; I studied Medicine. We did courses together. Her husband was two years our senior. When we were boys, we lived in Enugu. Our street was next to his street.

“Dora was coming to politics afresh and she wanted to win. In 1999, I lost to Mike Ajeigbo. I did not cry. Ajeigbo did not even know how PDP was formed. Dora knew that she did not win. She knew that the election was between me and Governor Peter Obi. They said I concentrated projects in Anambra Central when I was governor for 34 months; especially in Idemili East and West. How can she win?

She can only win councillorship seat. The Returning Officer rejected inducement and did the proper thing. As far as I am there in the senatorial district, Dora will not win”, Ngige added.

Oyo State is at the centre of Southwest politics. JEREMIAH OKE spoke with the Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, Honorable Adigun-Hammed Abiodun, on the dissolution of the state Independent Electoral Commission, the pressure on former Governor Rashidi Ladoja by the three parties in the legislature and responds to criticism that the Ajimobi administration has been slow in meeting the aspirations of the people.

‘Why we dissolved Oyo electoral commission’

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OLITICAL meaning is being read into the House of Assembly’s dissolution of the electoral commission. Do you think there could be any justification of that action?

People have forgotten that Akala also dissolved the Oyo State Indepenedent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) when he assumed office, not minding that its tenure was not over, so I think that is the rule of the game. The OYSIEC which was constituted by Ladoja was dissolved by Akala. That same committee that was pronounced illegal in court had to be dissolved

by Ajimobi in orderd to put things right. Here, I need to say that the Judiciary needs to give the serious attention by not leaving any stone unturned. We are still waiting to hear the final word on the true position of the law from them.

Don’t you think the local government election in the state is taking too long?

It is not, we need to trash out the case in court before we conduct the election. ACN believes so much in the rule of law; that is why we want the court to pronounce judgment before we organise the election.

Recently one of the opposition parties said Ajimobi and his Osun State counterpart, Ogbeni Aregbesola, visited Ladoja and described that as an indication of the governor’s incompetence and your party’s fear of losing the state.

How would you respond to that charge?

Losing the state in what sense?

That is not possible. The good work we are doing in the state will speak for us. On the visit, Ajimobi and Ladoja are cousins so they can visit each other at anytime. On Aregbesola’s visit, though I don’t know the relationship between them, I think they should be able to visit each other since they are both politicians and you can never tell whether Ladoja invited him to discuss a personal issue or are you saying anybody in public office has no free life? Note that neither of the two men gave indication on why they organised the visit. Whatever anybody is saying is based on speculation.

Ladoja as Accord leader defected back to the People Democratic Party (PDP) just before the pre national convention congresses, would that have any negative effect on the state House of Assembly, in view of the precarious composition of the Assembly since none of the parties has a clear majority?

The Accord honourables are still loyal to their party and if they eventually move to PDP that will never affect the House. We all stand for the improvement of the lot of our people, regardless of the party to which each of us belongs.

Looking at the maturity, charisma and the understanding of the people at the helm of affairs in the state, you see that we can easily stamp out any potential crisis that may jeopardise the peace of the house.

Each party is equally represented in the principal posts, for instance; we have ACN as the speaker, Accord as the deputy speaker, while PDP holds the post of minority leader, so peace has been our watchword. We are all more concerned about how to take the state to the next level and people

•Adigun-Hammed

should forget about Ladoja. He said he suspended negotiation, if he is going let him go, he will just nail the coffin of his political career and people will see him as an unserious leader who does not have vision.

However, I believe that reason will prevail.

Do you think Ladoja will fare better if he returns to the PDP than Accord?

PDP is not a party to reckon with, I don’t know why Ladoja is considering going back as the only option, though, it is a personal decision to join any party of his choice. To me, that shows that he is not focused, that he is not a politician who has the interest of his people in mind. Let him go and retire. You can now see where people are missing it by saying he is teleguiding Ajimobi. The PDP held their state congress in two different locations Olubadan Stadium and Liberty Stadium with attendant crisis and that is where Ladoja is heading. I wish him best of luck to him.

How do you think the federal government can tackle the insecurity in the country, especially the Boko Haram insurgency?

Insecurity is not peculiar to Nigeria, it is a global menace, it is everywhere in the world. However, government can negotiate with them before things get out of hand.

No doubt about it, Boko Haram has to do with religion, politics and possibly ethnicity, whatever the problem is, government needs to identify it and negotiate with them to stop wasting innocent people’s

‘The Accord honourables are still loyal to their party and if they eventually move to PDP that will never affect in discharging the House. We all stand for the improvement of the lot of our people, regardless of the party to which each of us belongs’

lives. Personally, I believe the problem is poverty and lack of formal education. I don’t know how much you will promise a well educated person who looks at himself as a potential leader to commit suicide. That is why we need to appreciate Baba Awolowo for liberating us.

Some people say the present administration in the state has been too slow in discharging its responsibility, compared to its Ekiti and Osun counterparts, what can you say to this?

I have heard that also, but considering the terrible condition we met the state, the administration cannot be said to be slow. The state was in sorry condition when Ajimobi came on board. We can liken this to two people who wanted to build a house, one has foundation on his land and the other one just bought a portion of land where they dump refuse, the latter will need to clear the land before he can do anything on it. So it has been with the Ajimobi government. It needs to put everything in order to avoid repeating the poor performance by the preceding PDP government.

Most of the roads constructed by the PDP are no more in use. That the Ibadan metropolis is an eyesore is a proof of this. And I don’t know why people are saying this, because we are just in our ninth month and what PDP did for eight years could not match what we have done. Let me start with Ladoja who ruled the state and left no landmark , Ajimobi came on board in less than one year he has employed 20,000 youths, he provided three wheelers in place of motorcycles to reduce the death rate of Okada. Akala brought some taxi cabs when he was about to go and left with them, you cannot see them on our roads again. Presently, rehabilitation of more than 500 roads are on-going with good drainage across the state. He has to pay the civil servants three months salary in advance, work has commenced on the construction of fly over of Challenge and Mokola in Ibadan, Peace which is the most important thing is also achieved unlike during Ladoja and Akala regimes that you could not walk freely in our garages without bullet proof vests. Many innocent souls were lost in the process.

Ajimobi also organises evening coaching for our students to correct the damage caused by Akala and his people in our education sector.

A bye-election to the House of Representatives was conducted in the Oke-Ogun area of the state with PDP defeating the ruling party.

Don’t you think, as the PDP is suggesting, it is proof that the party is now more popular than the ACN? If you are current about it you will know that some thugs were arrested in connection with that election. Also in that area they have their zoning formula, if a position is zoned to your village, the whole people of the area will vote for you regardless of your party. That was the thing responsible for the result of that election, but it is not enough to determine the strength of a party in the state. The local government elections will judge the electoral appeal of the parties.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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NGOs fight against violence •Continued from Page 17 lence”.

Its time for women to register their complete and total opposition to all forms of violence, from that of the terrorist groups to domestic violence against women which has become a silent killer. We are going straight to God Who has said the government will be on our shoulders and enforcing spiritually what we desire to see physically.

All Nigerian females who have faith in God are welcome. Last year we had women and even men of various faiths in attendance”.

Pauline Tallen also reiterated the extent to which violence has affected the country. She said: “What we used to read in the newspapers on foreign lands about various forms of violence especially terrorism is now happening here. We as mothers of the nation should be symbols of peace and such condemn these acts of violence by coming out of our shell and condemning such acts as well as praying onto God so that the future generation is not completely destroyed”.

Stella Damasus, a Nollywood actress and producer also added, “No government can stop violence, no single human can do it alone, it is only God that can stop this violence.

Where they are coming from we don’t know, who is sponsoring them we do not know, the equip-

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HE Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan has been described as an agent of development.

Religious and political leaders, community chiefs and other residents said this at a prayer session organised at the residence of the council chairman to mark his 47th birthday.

Reverend Peter Fabusoro, President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Ejigbo Chapter before offering special prayers for Bamigbetan, said the council boss is a man destined for greatness and has been able to prove his leadership.

The religious leader cited the monthly rendition of the council financial profile to residents at public hearings as one of the qualities that stand Bamigbetan out as a worthy leader. He encouraged him to continue to be committed to the well-being of the people and

•Ufuoma Ejenobor, Lanre DaSilva Ajayi, JumokeAdenowo, FunkeAkindele and Omoni Oboli at the event ment don’t know the sponsor. We cannot place a finger on the person who is sponsoring them because we do not know. It is a sign of the end time. All the things that were written in the bible are what is happening now. The thing happening here

also happens in America, there is no country you would go to that is not facing one issue or the other.

The only thing that can save us is prayers; that’s the truth”.

To back this up, Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele

now popularly referred to as ‘Jenifa’ added, saying, “the Nigerian woman’s role is to pray, it’s by God’s grace. It is only God that can touch the heart of those people behind this terrible act of violence to put a stop to it”.

Constituents hail council boss

By Duro Babayemi

also prayed that God should grant him long life and good health.

Chief Imam of Jakande Estate Mosque, Alhaji Fatai Shobajo and the deputy lmam of Ejigbo Central Mosque, Alhaji Mukaila Sanni, said Bamigbetan has been working hard to develop the council and save its residents from poverty.

They praised him for all the people-oriented projects and programmes he has introduced since his assumption of office in October 2008, adding that residents of the council never felt the impact of government until he was elected as the council chairman.

The two Islamic scholars prayed for Bamigbetan to succeed in office and have the opportunity to serve

the nation at a higher capacity in no distant future.

The prayer session was organised by members of the council’s executives and legislators under the supervision of its vice chairman, Alhaji Monsurudeen Bello-Obe. In his own remarks, the chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ejigbo Chapter, Hon. Michael Adegoke said he is happy with the numerous accomplishments of Bamigbetan in office, stating further that all the accolades showered on him by people present at the occasion could be likened to the glowing tributes showered on former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly during the special session organised to mark

•Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan (middle); Council Manager, Babatunde Mesewaku (third right); Head of Department, Agric, Mrs Moji Gbajabiamila (second right); Information Officer, Rabiu Hassan (right); Council Engineer, Mrs Olaniyan Sunday, (second left) and council Human Resources Officer, Mrs Aderinokun Apatira during at the event

the ACN leader’s 60 th birthday celebration.

The party chairman advised Bamigbetan to see himself as the leader of ACN in Ejigbo and should accommodate all members of the party irrespective of the caucuses they belong to. Another chieftain of the party, Pa Idowu spoke in a similar vein and assured the council chairman of his continued support.

The foundation carries out its activities through its three outreaches and they are; Awesome Treasure – The Female Outreach, Awesome – The Youth Outreach and Cutting Edge Business Outreach.

He congratulated him on his birthday and wished him long life and good health.

The event was well attended by political office holders, management staff of the councilwas well attended by all political office holders and management staff of the council and other personalities including the council chairman’s wife, Mrs Fatimo Bamigbetan, ACN women and youth leaders in the council area.

NEPAD tackles HIV in rural •Continued from Page 17 communities

Umunze and Enugwu–ukwu respectively that the safest way of avoiding the disease is to embrace God totally.

“We need to come back to God, He gave us desires, He created us, so, if we go and follow His ways, there will be joy, there will be peace and His grace will be upon us all” “We should educate our children, we want the people to live happily and respectively in the Lord too and that is the message we must all carry to our different homes”, Nwandu said.

At Umunze, the chairman Umunze caretaker committee, Dr. Donald Okoli, praised the resource persons and the conveners of the programme for giving the people what he described as the food for thought.

He however, advised the women of the communities to form cooperative societies for the state government of Mr. Peter Obi to help them through acquiring loans and

grants.

Also, a community leader in Enugwu-ukwu, community development Union (ECDU), Gabriel Okoye said most people have lost their lives through HIV/AIDS adding that the scourge is one of the avoidable things in life if people heed to advice.

“We should safe the future generation by making sure that this dreaded disease called HIV/AIDS is not contacted by anybody.

However, one of the women at Enugwu- ukwu, Love Igwe told Newsextra that what borders her is the rate of infidelity today in the society, and advised mothers and fathers to abstain from such a thing which she described as evil that has ravaged the society.

For Justina Ibekwe, it was an occasion for people to change their ways adding that the programme by NEPAD had really opened her eyes the more.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Agency urges more media role on immunisation

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HE media has been urged to drive the immunisation programme by sensitising the people on the use of vaccines and how it helps to avoid preventable deaths.

It was at a one-day media capacity building workshop held in Abuja. The workshop attended by health reporters, women, children and related beats from selected media houses around the country, was organised by the media committee of the National Vaccine Summit to sensitise media practitioners on the summit holding on April 16 and 17 in Abuja.

The workshop was declared open by the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado J.G. Muhammad while goodwill messages were delivered by the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii and the Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri.

It noted that improved routine immunisation is currently hampered by factors including inadequate cold chain capacity, proximity to healthcare facilities, attitude of health workers, unskilled vaccinators, delay in release of budgeted funds, inadequate funding at all levels, poor accountability, poor performance management, and transportation challenges at all points, inconsistent health policies by governments, among several others.

Stakeholders, therefore, charged journalists to always do a proper monitoring of the use of vaccines and develop a passion for report-

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

ing issues that affect women and children, irrespective of challenges.

In the communiqué issued at the end of the workshop, and signed by the Media Committee of the National Vaccine, under the leadership of Mrs Moji Makanjuola (Chairperson), participants observed that vaccine-preventable diseases have continued to be major causes of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries, especially Nigeria.

They also noted that with the recent certification of India as a polio-free country, the list of polio endemic countries have been narrowed to three with Nigeria still recording cases in some parts of the country.

Having resolved that childhood immunisation remains the most cost-effective public health strategy to reduce both the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases; the workshop therefore resolved: •That the Nigerian government must step up actions on immunisation so as not to be left behind in the global efforts to eradicate vaccine preventable disease so. The nation must also strive to improve routine immunisation.

•To achieve this, the nation must, as a matter of urgency embark on enlightenment campaigns in local languages to increase demands for immunisation among Nigerians •There’s need to build capacity for media practitioners to be actively involved in the nation’s immunisation programme.

• A girl being immunised •Journalists covering the health beat must develop a passion for reporting issues that affect women and children, irrespective of challenges.

•Government policy on immunisation should be sustained.

•Media houses should sustain functional health desks.

•Training and re-training of health correspondents should be a vital part of immunisation activities in the country.

•Journalists should hold politi-

cal office holders/government accountable for the promises made to the electorate during campaign.

•There’s need to establish adequate structure to improve the current immunisation coverage by providing the following: financial guarantees, even vehicle procurement and distribution, provision of solar energies, satellite cold storage centres, data checks, improve collaboration with traditional rulers.

Resource persons for the Work-

Rotary renovates school

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HE dilapidated Local Government Primary School, Oreta, Ikorodu, Lagos State established in the colonial era has bounced back to life, thanks to the Rotary Club, Gbagada which renovated it.

Master Emmanuel Majente, one of the pupils of the school, expressed delight at the renovation which changed the face of the 64year-old institution.

He and his schoolmates now enjoy running water, modern toilets and other facilities, courtesy of Gbagada Rotary Club .

The club said it got a lot of support from Nigerite which provided roofing sheets, among other items, to complete the N3.9million project.

Majente, who responded to the gesture of the visitors, narrated their ordeal before the renovation of the school.

“The building was making my friends to stop coming to school,” he said. “Now, they will be happy to stay in school.”

Governor, Rotary District 9110 Nigeria, Mr Kennedy Ejakpomwhe said the renovated structure has addressed the Club’s six areas of focus. “Rotary Foundation which is the biggest charitable body in the world brings help to humanity through financing of different project,” he added.

“The block has in it classrooms, sick bay, water and sanitary, generating set and TV and video. The project ensures basic literary education, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child

•Ejakpomwhe inaugurates the building. With him are members of the Club and guests

By Wale Adepoju

and maternal health and conflict resolution,” he said.

He said lack of sanitary facilities and poor learning facilities can make pupils stay away from school. “The project has addressed the problem of pupils and teachers. It will spur the government and the community to want to do more for them,” he added.

President, Rotary Club of

Gbagada, Mr Tayo Lawal said he got interested in the school after doing need assessment with the elders in the community. “I came here to see an uncle who retired after many years of working in the bank. He took me round the town to see places such as the market, mosque and school, among others, but I decided to do something after carefully consider their needs. The need assessment was initially about N10million but we had to scale-down to cover the renovation.”

shop included the Technical Adviser to NAFDAC DG, Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, Vice-President, Paediatrics Association of Nigeria (PAN) Prof. Adebiyi Olowu representing the PAN President Dr. Dorothy Esangbedo, Dr. Martina Agberien, Assistant Director Medicals at the Nigeria Television Authority, Public Relations Officer, NPHCDA, Mr. Salahu and the Chairperson, Media Committee of the National Vaccine and notable health Correspondent, NTA, Mrs Moji Makanjuola.

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MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

We will not sit and wait for allocation from Abuja before our people and communities are developed. It is only a lazy government that will neglect the viable resources and potentials available to it, and rely on the monthly allocation

Council chief presents scorecard T HE Chairman of AmuwoOdofin Local government Area of Lagos State, Comrade Ayodele Adewale has held a Town Hall meeting with residents of the council, but it was also an opportunity for him to showcase his achievements since assuming office three years ago.

The meeting was attended by community and religious leaders, youths and others stakeholders in the council. Adewale appreciated the support his administration enjoyed from the people.

He said he has delivered on his electoral promise simplified in a 10Point Agenda which include education, healthcare delivery, security, transportation, agriculture, improved infrastructure, human capacity development, sports development, youth empowerment and social integration.

He said: “I am proud to say that we have won Best EnvironmentFriendly Local Government from the Federal Government in 2009, Best Local Government on Health in 2009 and 2011.”

The restated the commitment of the council leadership to harnessing the potentials and resources in the council to the benefit of all the constituents, without having to rely on allocation from the federal capital.

“We will not sit and wait for allocation from Abuja before our people and communities are developed,” he said. “It is only a lazy

By Paul Oluwakoya

government that will neglect the viable resources and potentials available to it, and rely on the monthly allocation.”

Comrade Adewale also said he is sure Amuwo Odofin will enjoy massive support from the federal government when the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) takes the central seat in 2015.

On major environmental matters affecting the council, the chairman pledged his commitment to resolving them and making the council more attractive and conducive for investors.

In achieveing this feat, he said all auto mechanics in the council will relocate to their new site not far from former Durbar Hotel.

His words: “Just like if you want to get educated, you go to school, if you want health treatment, you go to the hospital, so if you want your cars attended to, you will go to the new Mechanic Village.”

Hon Moji Macauley, the counselor of Irepodun Ward B1, in her address, urged residents to be self-reliant and avail themselves of the various empowerment and development programs in the council, courtesy the Chairman.

Macauley strongly advised the youths in the council against relying solely on government or hop-

•Comrade Ayodele Adewale addressing the participants ing on white collar jobs to make a living.

She said government is more concerned about providing the enabling environment to enhance the people’s productivity.

She encouraged the residents to be more zealous in the issue of environmental sanitation as in time past. She rounded off by saying that

the council administration is a typical democracy that has brought government to the people’s doorsteps.

But even that brings the burden of responsibility on the recipients.

“To whom much is given, much is expected,” she said.

Chief Adewale Owabumuwa, the Amuwo Odofin Landlords’ and Resi-

A

•Chairman, Ikeja Local Government Area, Hon. Wale Odunlami (second right) being presented the award

by Ambassador Segun Olusola. With them from left, are Supervisor for the Environment, Hon. Sunday Shobowale and Personal Asssistant, Administration, to the chairman, Mr Biodun Olaofe

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HE chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos State, Hon. Wale Odunlami has been honoured for his efforts in leadership and grassroots development.

A non-governmental organisation, Civic Enlightenment Association of Nigeria, conferred the Man of the People Award on him in Ikeja, Lagos.

The honour was part of activities marking the 77th birthday celebration of Ambassador Segun Olusola.

The birthday anniversary was also organised by association.

Speaking during the award presentation, the President of the association, Dr Remi Arojewun said Odunlami won the award because of

Council chair wins award

By Adejo David

his impressive record in local government administration. Arojewun said his association painstakingly monitored activities in other Lagos councils before deciding that the Ikeja council boss stood out.

Responding after the conferment of the award, Odunlami urged people in public office to be selfless and dedicated in their duties, saying that he was not expecting any award, but has always adopted the principle of satisfying his conscience and pleasing God.

The council chair dedicated the award to the people of his council whose support, he said, helped in actualising his vision for them.

Ambassador Olusola congratulated the award winner but urged him not to rest on his oars.

“There are more hurdles and bridges to cross to attain the ultimate,” said the former Ambassador to Ethiopia.

The event was attended by dignitaries including former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, other politicians, bankers, academicians, amongst others.

S Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, prepares to celebrate its centenary, the Mayor of the city, Chimbiko Akarolo has declared that the commemoration would come like the Olympic Games. The city was founded by the British in 1912.

Akarolo stated this in Port Harcourt at the naming of the chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the celebrations.

In his words: “We will celebrate our city’s centenary with the same quality as we would if we were given the hosting rights to the Olympic Games”, Akarolo said.

He added that “Port Harcourt was founded one hundred years ago in 1912 as a major West African and international centre. The only standard deserving of celebrating the centenary of such a city is the Olympic standard”.

The mayor hinted that although November is being proposed to the Rivers State governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as the Centenary Month, many buildup events will lead up to the month-long celebrations including an all-year inter-borough football league competition for a Centenary Cup and special weeks, special days and special weekends to acknowledge and encourage the cosmopolitan cultures in Port Harcourt.

“The Indians will have their day or week or weekend. So will the Igbos, the Lebanese, the Sierra Leoneans and so on. These special days or weeks or weekends will run all year from April or May until November. Port Harcourt has always been culturally cosmopolitan.

We like it that way”.

Belema Papamie is to function as the chairperson of the LOC “Port Harcourt 100”. Papamie said although he was delighted at the opportunity to serve his city, he was

dents’ Association President while commending Comrade Adewale, noted that the present federal allocation to the local government cannot take care of everything in the area. He requested for effective septic tanks in the council.

He conceded that residents were to blame for the environmental hazards and degradation especially through indiscriminate disposal of waste.

Port Harcourt prepares for centenary

By Augustine Avwode

sobered to be the man to be accountable for such a big assignment.

“Port Harcourt is almost three times older than me. More than 20 million people around the world feel great passion for this city and call it their own. Yes, I am thankful to be the man to do this job but I am sobered. This 100th year means so much to this city and her people and to the life we live and enjoy here.

Aside from giving our city the quality of celebration she deserves, my plan is to use the opportunity of the celebrations to focus this city on the commerce and economy of the next 100 years,” Papamie said.

•Akarolo

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS

Facilities at UniUyo Teaching Hospital are overstretched, says Medical Director Professor Etete Peters is the Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. In this interview with KAZEEM IBRAHYM, the Consultant Physician speaks on a wide range of issues. Excerpts: meaning individuals to assist us. For instance, somebody donated a mothers' lodge which is still under construction and to be completed in few months. So we are expecting more individuals to do something that would enhance the health care delivery system of the state. There are so many things that could be done. We have been appealing to people to do something even if they want to partner with us in the form of Public-Private-Partnership initiative because we know government cannot do it alone.

At the moment we expect that people should be able to assist the government to ensure that health care delivery is enhanced with a better package because this is the only tertiary institution in the state taking care of four million people. In some areas, we are forced to take care of both the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary health because we would not be able to turn back patients. We still treat them. That is why most of our facilities are overstretched because of this high number of patients.

The internal roads within the institution need rehabilitation, how would you finance this?

It's been difficult but this is another area in which we are calling for assistance. We have made an appeal to the state government to consider us by constructing the internal roads.

I still want to believe that His Excellency has plans for do that for us just like he did at the University of Uyo. But while still waiting for the government, we felt that we should start something so that patients can walk comfortably within the institution. We still have major areas within the teaching hospital that are not tarred.

What are the major challenges you are facing as the CMD? I want to say it is quite enormous but the major one is in the area of financing. We know generally in the country now that funding has been a little bit difficult. So as a very young institution that requires a lot of services, we are really bombarded with the need to equip the institution with modern equipment and the need to put in place infrastructural design to house the equipment.

We have been trying to see how to complete some of the ongoing buildings and by

‘

We are trying to work on doctors and other health workers to improve on their attitude. What we have also done is to initiate Patientfeedback mechanism. In that all those working in the hospital must always wear their name tag for patients to identify them with their names. Also we have complaint boxes scattered all over the teaching hospital and if the complaint is serious what we do in most cases is to bring the attention of the staff to it for improvement. We also monitor to see the improvement

‘

In your opinion, how do you think the country can reduce its mortality rate?

Nigeria still has a high maternal rate. Basically it is because of lack of awareness and in accessibility to good health care. You see some people either because they don't have the money to go to hospital or they are not totally aware still believe that something like HIV/AIDS is not real or there are certain things that should not be treated in the hospital. So, these are the problems that we face.

We still have some pregnant women for instance who will register for antenatal clinic but when it is the time for delivery, the woman would disappear to the church or go to some native doctor. These are the things that contribute to it. So, it requires alot of advocacy that people should come to hospital. That they should not see the hospital as a very expensive venture, that with the Transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, all these things are now affordable and they can benefit from the health delivery system, with time all these things would be reduced.

Has the institution complied with the Minister's directive that cost of dialysis be reduced for more indigenes of the state to benefit from such?

We have complied although we are still waiting for the approval letter to come from the minister but we have complied as directed. We have also written to the minister to give us formal approval in writing. We have also initiated contacts with the state government to come and see how the cost of dialysis could be subsidised for the indigenes of Akwa Ibom because we believe as part of the uncommon transformation of the state governor, he has done so much as far as the health sector in the state is concerned. I believe the government should also assist in this aspect too because most of the patients in the state cannot afford the money. Dialysis is something that may require two to three sessions a week, lasting for two or three months as the case may be.

We have written a proposal to the state government to subsidise the amount and the governor has promised to look into it.

Besides federal and state government assistance, which other areas in the hospital, do you think you can seek assistance?

We sent a proposal to ExxonMobil to assist us at the Trauma Centre and Intensive Care Unit. We have a very good Trauma Centre and Intensive Care Unit that are poorly equipped and we need a lot of mechanical ventilators to make the place functional and other equipment.

We are expecting and praying that they should respond to the request. As the only tertiary health institution in the state, there is every need for them to support us because we are taking care of the health needs of the people. If there is anyway the citizens would benefit from Mobil, it would be through this exercise. If we can have a very good functional Intensive Care Unit, it would go a long way in boosting the health needs of the people. We have also written to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for support because we have not had any major intervention from the NDDC in the institution here. So, we are appealing to them to assist us. We are appealing to them to build hostels for doctors, interns, lab scientists and house officers within the institution.

As at now, we have so many intents now and a lot of them have been coming from outside town to the hospital and this poses problems when they are on call at night. We would appreciate if we can have a standard building that can accommodate up to 30 interns within the premises. We are also appealing to corporate individuals and well-

•Prof. Peters

the time we finish them, we would need to equip them with modern gadgets. It is surprising that we don't have a CT SCAN in Akwa Ibom State. It is always embarrassing sending our patients to Umuahia, Port Harcourt or Enugu. You see somebody that is ill and need to transport again, it is sad. So we feel that if we can start from there, it is better and we add other things that would make diagnosising patients and treatment quite easy. These are some of the problems.

Our facilities are overstretched because we have a patient load of more than 1,000 daily and on admission close to 10,000 in a month.

That is really heavy. Infact, in terms of delivery, we now record 20 to 30 on a daily basis.

Just like the minister remarked during the last visit that if we have new patient, where would you keep them. He said well may be the patient would lie on the flood while we search for another space. These are some of the challenges because of the patients' load, everywhere is fully occupied, yet you still have a lot of patients still hanging around, you feel challenged that there is need to assist these patients. So we have been working seriously to get some of these structures that would serve as wards completed for the patients.

Are you suggesting that patients could visit other hospitals in town if the illness is not that serious?

Ideally, that is how it should be. But you see it is the mentality of our people. They would tell you they wanted the teaching hospital for whatever reason. A situation where they come to the teaching hospital for minor treatment, we have to treat them. We cannot turn them back. Ideally, health care cases should be in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary level. The primary and secondary should be able to take care of the common one while more difficult complicated cases should be referred to the tertiary level. Teaching hospital shouldn't be where we start battling with Malaria or normal delivery but we believe that along the line with partnership with the state government, we would soon get to that level, where we would have enough facilities that can take care of everybody. Here, we don't discriminate at all because we know the untold hardship that would bring so we take care of everybody.

Where do you source for drugs because

some patients have complained that the drugs they purchase outside are better than the ones at the Teaching Hospital?

One thing with drugs is that quality matters a lot in terms of the cost. At UniUyo teaching hospital, we ensure that we stock the right quality of drugs because we source directly from the manufacturers. Somebody may go out and say he bought the same drug at a cheaper rate but you can not trust the quality. As you know, NAFDAC has been battling the issue of faking of drugs and we as an institution has been encouraging our patients on the need for them to go for right quality of drugs than say because of cost you want to go and buy fake drugs. The important thing is that in UniUyo teaching hospital, we stock the right quality drugs for our patients. We have a way of testing for quality drugs here at the teaching hospital.

How would you rate the attitude of health workers' to work at the hospital?

We are trying to work on doctors and other health workers to improve on their attitude.

What we have also done is to initiate Patientfeedback mechanism. In that all those working in the hospital must always wear their name tag for patients to identify them with their names. Also, we have complaint boxes scattered all over the teaching hospitals and if the complaint is serious what we do in most cases is to bring the attention of the staff to it for improvement. We also monitor to see the improvement. We also have ethical training for our staff and see on how they can improve their attitude because we believe that you may have the right equipment but if you don't have the right calibre of staff in terms of attitude, all those things would be defeated.

Patients would not be happy knowing full well that treatment is faith-based sometimes.

If the patient is not happy no matter the right amount of drugs you give to such patient, he would still not believe in what you have done and of course, he would not get well. So, we have been working gradually on this and it has been improving. I keep appealing to the nurses to cooperate with the patients because I heard most of the complaints are about the nurses so to speak. So we have been talking to them that now that people can easily identify them, if we have so much of this thing, we can take disciplinary action against you.

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MOTORING

LASTMA, VIO to undergo combat medics training

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AGOS State Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa has disclosed plans to collaborate with the Nigeria Army to train Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) and the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Combat Medics.

The Commissioner said this during courtesy visit by the students of Senior Executive Management Course 14, of the Nigerian Army School Medical Sciences, Ojo, Lagos.

Considering the nature of the duties of the VIOs and LASTMA, officials Opeifa said, the officers need to have an exchange of ideas and training from the Nigerian Army which is noted to be among the highly disciplined formations.

He added that with the Combat

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Medics training, both the Vehicle Inspection officers and LASTMA will be in a better position to take care of injuries sustained while on duties before going to the hospitals for medical attention thereby preventing loss of lives.

Opeifa hailed the Army School of Medical Sciences, Lagos for not only restricting its students to the study of Nigerian Army and Medical Sciences but also ensuring that they are knowledgeable on transportation and traffic related matters.

He said government has formulated the inter-modal transport policy to enhance the connectivity of the road, rail and water transportation.

He urged the Nigerian Army to

Lagos to partner insurance firm on transportation

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HE need for insurance for users of public transport in Lagos has been brought to the fore as the Consumer Protection Council in partnership with the Lagos State government held its monthly Lagos Consumer Forum at the Lagos Television (LTV) Multi-Purpose Hall, Ikeja, Lagos.

The theme Your Right and responsibility to public transportation in Lagos State has representatives of road users, regulators, insurance practitioners, lawyers, sector commandants and members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Union Workers Association of Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeifa said the state government is working out mechanism through a four year master plan developed towards the safety and security of passengers and drivers in Lagos.

“We have, Opeifa said, over seven million commuters using public transportation and we are projecting 15 million commuters in 2012 due to the enormity of what we are dealing with in Lagos, hence we want to partner with insurance company in the interest of commuters”.

He said insurance mechanism would help provide some forms of protection to millions of passengers of public transport in the state.

He appealed to road users to always lodge their complaints to appropriate quarters when their rights are infringed upon by LAMATA, LAGBUS and other public transport system.

Convener of the event, Consumer Protection Council, Sola Salako said the programme was to mobilise stakeholders in the trans-

By Adeola Ogunlade

port sectors to connect with a view to enlighten, empower and resolves issues for better services delivery in the sector.

always support and cooperate with the government and ensure that the officials of the Ministry have access to Military Hospitals whenever the need arises.

He enjoined the Nigerian Army to benefit from the well-equipped Lagos State Driver’s Institute by ensuring that their drivers are sent to the institute for re-training and recertification. He added that at the institute, the drivers with the use of simulators could learn how to move better on the roads, operate when there is a war and dur-

ing rescue operations.

Leader of the team and Director of Studies of the Nigerian Army School of Medical Sciences, Colonel Michael Adegbesan, commended the efforts of the Lagos State government in ensuring transformation in the transport sector.

Adegbesan said the visit was to broaden the horizon of the students and make them be level headed managers.

He said that since transportation forms a larger part in the day to-day activities of the

officers, especially as they move materials from one point to the other, the need to visit the Ministry became important.According to him, logistics win the war.

He urged the Lagos State Government not to relent in th e provision of adequate infrastructure for the people to enhance their living conditions.

The 29 visiting team comprised 26 medical students from various states and three directing officers.

‘Nigeria can achieve UN Decade of Action on drivers on the road and careHE Federal Road Safety road safety’ skilful less handling of vehicles and bad Commission (FRSC) has has

T

Nigeria can rank among other advanced countries in the world in achieving United Nation’s declaration on Decade of Action aimed at reducing road crashes by 50 per cent.

FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone Two Commmander Ademola Lawal said during a stakeholders’ meeting at Oshodi, Lagos that nothing is impossible, with enough efforts.

By Biodun-Thomas Davids

He noted: “Drafts of the strategies are already on ground, and would be taken to different states in the country.

“They are derived from the first twenty countries having safest roads in the world. We want to borrow from them and domesticate some of their strategies in Nigeria.”

Lawal argued that bad roads could be a factor in road crashes, but they don’t cause accident, but bad drivers do, adding that mechanical and environmental factors cannot cause accident without the intervention of human factor.

“For sometimes in Nigeria, we discovered that people were dying on Abuja good roads, more than that of other states in the country, because of recklessness and over speeding. FRSC studied the situation, and we moved into intervention efforts that brought it down,”he said.

Critall Hope Nigeria Limited Managing Director Alhaji Remi Bello traced road crashes in Nigeria to non-

roads.

Bello, who is also Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in overseas, driving is one of the areas through which people go to jail, even than other crime.

He wondered how some people are committing serious road traffic offences and are still go scotch-free.

Issuance of spurious driver’s license and collection of bribes are two other critical issues Lawal addressed.

Giving insight into the meeting, the unit Commander,RS2.19, Oshodi, Lagos, Mrs Kudirat Ibrahim, explained: “It is a forum whereby we come together, and tell the stakeholders the latest things that are happening within the community concerning road safety; in return they will tell us what they have been noticing in the society, what we are doing right what we are doing wrong, how we can improve on our activities. Generally, it is a forum whereby everybody will speak his or her mind concerning road safety so that we can make our roads safe for everybody.”

Firm offers free maintenance on new trucks IMBA Motors, the sole distributor of Chana trucks in Nigeria, has announced a jaw-dropping scheme to all intending buyers of their light commercial vehicles.

The offer that runs till the end of April allows anyone that buys a Chana Truck 1021 or 1040 be entitled to free Service and free spare parts for a 12-month period.

While unveiling the groundbreaking plan, Mr Ashish Kumar, representative of Simba Motors said: “Chana vehicles have become extremely popular in Nigeria, and over time, we have been able to learn more and more about the kinds of customers that buy our vehicles. Our vehicle owners are cost conscious, and are looking for

S

Chairman, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited Chief Michael Ade Ojo (right) presenting a plaque to FirstBank General Manager Mr T Bozade during the 8th Award night at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

ways to meet their capital investment needs, without having to spend money on servicing those assets immediately”.

He said further that the offer is helping to convince customers who typically are in the market for second-hand, or Tokunboh, vehicles to switch to brand new Chana trucks.

He added: “After all, when there is no cost of maintenance, there is the added security that your investment is safe”.

While other companies offer ‘free service’ to entice customers, Simba Motors is one of the first to offer ‘zero maintenance’ which covers not only free labour, but also free parts.

DRIVING TIPS

Warranty in auto industry: Any guarantee?

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ARRANTY is premised on the proposition and admonition that we must continue to strive towards perfection.

The internet is replete with websites showing the functionality, types and benefits of warranties on offer.Through the same medium, manufacturers of vehicles often announce the recall of their vehicles which are confirmed to be defective and their top executives have had to apologise for such developments. Auto recall is the most clinical expression of warranty and the executive admission of error is the best expression of guarantee.

The case in Nigeria is different.

Research has shown that 50 per cent of the new vehicles sold in Ni-

geria do not have genuine warranty.

Also, the warranty of 75 per cent of new vehicles in the country cannot be guaranteed. When it comes to recall in the auto industry in Nigeria, we have failed by 100 per cent. By the same percentage, we have failed on admission of error by auto managers for numerous blunders of the past (e.g. non-tropicalisation of some new imported cars brands).

The estimated average value of the warranty parts of a new vehicle is 9.5per cent per cent of the sales price; whilst that of a used vehicle is said to be 17.5per cent. An average of 80,000 units of new vehicles and 200,000 used vehicles are reported to be imported into the country yearly and that gulps N400 billion.

If the average price of a new vehicle in Nigeria is N3million and N240billion is reportedly spent on

new vehicles yearly, it follows that N22.8billion is the worth of manufacturers’warranty in the automobile industry yearly.Used (tokunbo) vehicle warranty should be more! The question is: how much of this is actually disbursed in terms of parts and labour? Where does this huge amount of money in warranty value go to?

Many new vehicles find their way into the country without warranty regulation or check and many Nigerians buy them without the full peace of mind that should normally come with them. Yet, some people nurture many wrong assumptions that are far from the truth. There are 12 of such assumptions that solicit for correction here and now: ASSUMPTION 1:Your car automatically comes with a genuine war-

ranty in Nigeria.

TRUTH: You have many choices of cars in Nigeria, there is no guarantee that all come with genuine warranty.

ASSUMPTION 2: There is extended auto warranty for used imported vehicles in Nigeria.

TRUTH:Auto warranty in Nigeria is not extended (does not cover used vehicles) and the industry is begging for genuine extended warranty sellers for 200,000 used imported vehicles.

ASSUMPTION 3:Auto sales people know the full extent of their manufacturer’s warranty.

TRUTH: Auto sales people are yet to exhibit full knowledge of their products’ warranty packages. Many know the duration but lack the knowl-

Dr Oscar Odiboh edge of the content and composition of their warranty offers.

ASSUMPTION 4: Bank financing covers your car’s warranty and you don’t have to worry.

•To be continued next week

54

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATION

•From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Nwanneka, at a service at the Aso Villa Chapel in Abuja. PHOTO:NAN

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (fourth left) Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev Gabriel Dunia and others watch the dramatisation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the annual 14 Stations of the Cross procession in Etsako East Local Government.

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right), Archbishop, Anglican Diocese of Lagos, Rev. Adebola Ademowo, his wife, Oluranti and Justice George Oguntade at the PHOTO: ISAAC JOMOH AYODELE Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos.

•Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Rev. Peter Adebiyi (middle) Dean, Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ven. James Odedeji (left), Deputy Registrar, Justice Ayo Philips (second left) Chancellor Justice Babasola Ogunade (second right) and Diocesan Lay Reader Segun Osunkeye

•Bishop of Lagos Mainland, Anglican Communion, Rev Adebayo Akinde (middle), Prof Ranti Adepoju (left), Mrs Ajose Adeogun, Chief Biodun Adeniji (second left) and Mr Lafun Ajose Adeogun at the Cathedral of St Jude’s, Ebute Metta PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•Worshippers celebrating at the Living Faith Church, Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State

PHOTO:NAN

Fashola, Aliyu, Akpabio, others urge Christians to emulate Jesus

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OVERNORS, politicians and other prominent citizens yesterday urged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ as they celebrate this year’s Easter.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said: “The greatest legacy that Jesus Christ left for us is the legacy of love and sacrifice. I believe the best way we can carry on that legacy is to fulfill our obligations to our society.

“Easter is a period when we engage in sober recollection of the ultimate and selfless sacrifice of love that Jesus Christ made on our behalf.

“We require abundance of love and sacrifice to maintain the harmonious and peaceful

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Oziegbe Okoeki, Adekunle Jimoh Ilorin, Jide Orintunsin Minna

co-existence amongst the various peoples in Lagos State for which we have come to be known.”

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said: “As you all wine and dance in the course of the ongoing celebration, I appeal to you all to continue to pray fervently for our great country, Nigeria, particularly at this time of general insecurity in the country.”

The Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in last year’s election, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) said: “For

our Christian brothers and sisters, the significance of Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, lies in its promise to the faithful of ultimate triumph over all challenges and adversity.

I pray the Almighty to let the peace and joy of this session abide by all of us.”

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu urged Christians to imbibe the ideals of perseverance, sacrifice and commitment to the will of God, as exemplified by Jesus Christ.

He said: “We are alive today only by God’s grace and favour and not that we are in any way special before the Almighty.”

Akwa Ibom State Governor

Godswill Akpabio said: “By His (Jesus) death and resurrection, love shall reign among our people.

“Christ died and resurrected so that we could conquer death and be cleansed from iniquities. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said: “As we share in this festival with our friends and families, we should all be reminded of the love and compassion that characterised the life of our saviour, Jesus Christ, by imbibing His teachings on piety, love and humility.”

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has urged the residents to pray for his government as he navigates the difficult ship of state. He said governance is a collective enterprise.

The governor assured the residents of people-oriented projects as he strives to reposition the state economically, socially and politically.

In his Easter message, Dickson appealed to the residents to contribute ideas and cooperate with him as he strives to develop the sectors of the state.

His Abia State counterpart, Chief Theodore Orji, urged Nigerians to embrace peace, sacrifice, unity and development.

In a statement by his media aide, Ugochukwu Emezue, the governor noted that these are the attributes the nation needs for nation-building.

He assured the people of security during and after the holiday.

House of Representatives members from Lagos Dr. Samuel Adejare (Agege Constituency) and Deji Jakande (Somolu) urged the people to pray for the peace of the country.

Adejare said: “Nigeria is in a trying period. What is required of us now is to ensure that we foster peace, development and progress by promoting peaceful co-existence, unity and love.”

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS Ngige demands strongers security

2015: Uwazuruike backs Igbo presidency

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HE new Ezeigbo Gburugburu and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has supported the call for a president of Igbo extraction in 2015.

He also decried the “poor performance” of Southeast governors.

The Ezeigbo spoke yesterday when he visited First Republic Aviation Minister Chief Mbazulike Ameachi at his Ukpor country home in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Amaechi was the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Council for Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC).

Ekiti Speaker sponsors 100 students From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

Uwazuruike was accompanied by his second-in-command, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka; former Imo State House of Assembly Speaker Noel Ajuluchukwu and other MASSOB officials.

He said the clamour for Igbo presidency would be feasible, if President Goodluck Jonathan does not run for a second term.

The MASSOB leader said his support for the call for Igbo presidency by credible and illustrious Igbo sons and daughters, like the traditional ruler of Nri, Igwe Onyesoh Obidiegwu, would not compromise his agitation for an independent Biafra.

He said: “You know I do not believe in Nigerian politics, but I had to shift grounds because of the genuine agitation by some revered Igbo leaders.

But President Jonathan’s next move will determine the po-

sition of Ndigbo.

“You also know I do not identify with Nigerian projects because of ethnic sentiments, parochialism, tribalism, corruption, bad leadership, inordinate ambition and selfishness. I have always stood for Biafra actualisation.”

Uwazuruike said his visit was to solicit Amaechi’s support and blessing for the new Igbo leadership.

He said the former minister’s wealth of experience is invaluable and will serve as a bridge between the old Igbo leaders and the emerging ones.

Uwazuruike lamented that Southeast governors have abandoned the nationalist, despite his contributions and sacrifices for Ndigbo.

He said Amaechi should be celebrated like his contemporaries in other parts of the country.

Ezeigbo said: “It is sad that

such a man, who sacrificed for Nigeria and Ndigbo in particular, should be abandoned at a time he should be reaping the fruits of his labour.”

Ezeonwuka said the time has come for Ndigbo to have a central leadership, where future politicians would come to seek the people’s support.

He said: “The time when politicians in the Southeast emerge from nowhere, contest and win elections without first undergoing screening from the central Igbo leadership is past.

“Many past and present political office holders looted our treasury because they were not accountable to anybody.”

Amaechi thanked Uwazuruike and his entourage for remembering him as the oldest politician in Igbo land and urged them to work together with the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo cultural organisa-

E

KITI State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin has awarded scholarships to 100 students.

He announced this at the weekend in Aisegba-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government Area, while donating empowerment equipment to his constituents.

Omirin also donated cash to widows. He donated motorcycles, grinding machines, helmets and pressing irons to teachers and other categories of the people.

He said the donations were made from his personal purse in appreciation of the people’s support for him and the state government, adding that the old practice of governmentfunded constituency projects is no longer acceptable.

Omirin said he would continue to sponsor the education of 100 students annually in the next three years, and by 2015, 400 students would have benefitted from the scheme.

He thanked Fayemi for citing the Entrepreneurial Acquisition Institute in AisegbaEkiti and repairing roads in the council.

The event was attended by royal fathers, lawmakers and top government officials.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

•Flays Southeast governors for poor performance

F

•Uwazuruike

tion.

Donating copies of two of his books, entitled: “This union: is it working, has it ever worked?” and “The forgotten heroes of Nigeria’s Independence”, to Uwazuruike, Amaechi said: “I do not have silver or gold to give you, but be assured that you have my blessings and support as the new Ezeigbo Gburugburu.

“I am delighted that you have Ezeonwuka as your second-in-command to make the new Igbo leadership formidable, focused and result-oriented.”

•Delta State Deputy Governor Amos Utuama presenting the Staff of Office to the Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom, Air Vice-Marshal Lucky Ararile (rtd) at the weekend. With them is House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei.

ORMER Anambra State Governor Senator Chris Ngige has urged security agents to strengthen security in the state.

Ngige spoke with reporters yesterday at Ogbunike during the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of Senator Edwin Onwudiwe He warned that the arms and ammunition stolen by hoodlums from a police station last week might be used for nefarious activities.

Ngige said: “The incidents of last week show that there is a breakdown of security.

The arms these criminals have taken away from the armoiries of the police in Amichi, Oraifite and Upkor would be used for evil operations.

“This is a wake-up call for the police command, the Joint Task Force and the military to sit up.”

On the Easter celebration, he urged Christians to live in peace with their neighbours.

Ngige said: “It is a time for forgiveness and healing, physical or otherwise, and for us to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country. Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice and liberated all of us from sins.

“For us, no sacrifice should be too much to offer, especially leaders, so that the people they lead will be happy at all times.”

Onwudiwe thanked God for making it possible for him and his spouse, Chinwe, to live together for 50 years.

He blamed Nigeria’s stunted growth on military rule and the imposition of leaders on the people.

Onwudiwe said: “The politics of today is not going in the right direction because the politicians we have are not capable. We were brought up in politics by the late former President Nnamdi Azikiwe, but the set of people we have today were imposed on the nation by the military, even though they cannot represent their people well and make better policies. “Through no fault of theirs, they have simply been reduced to mere warrant chiefs.”

How to tackle corruption in OSOPADEC, by ex-commissioner

A

FORMER Commissioner for Finance in the Adebayo Adefarati administration in Ondo State, Chief Segun Ojo, at the weekend said the high level of corruption in the state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) could be controlled if the commission is repositioned.

Ojo, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship aspirant, spoke during his official visit to Ondo South Senatorial District of the state.

At Irele, he received scores of Labour party (LP) members who defected to the ACN. The ACN chairman in the local government Chief Obajulaye David said the former commissioner is fit and has the

‘This will prevent a situation where a chairman of the commission will own over 30 exotic cars and starch over N500 million cash in his house. The headquarters of the commission must be moved to the oil producing areas of the state.’

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

charisma to govern the state.

Ojo decried the level of underdevelopment in Igbekebo in Eseodo Local Government Area, saying the motive for the creation of OSOPADEC has been defeated.

He said: “I initiated the memo for the creation of OSOPADEC and midwifed its establishment.

Through the support of God, Chief Adebayo Ade-

farati and I, OSOPADEC was created. In my memo, I suggested 60 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation fund because the level of underdevelopment in the area was worrisome.”

The former commissioner noted that fraud would continue in OSOPADEC until the commission is repositioned to its original ideals.

Ojo said: “The commission’s headquarters supposed to be in the southern district of the state,

just as the headquarters of Niger Delta Ministry is located in Port Harcourt.

“This will prevent a situation where a chairman of the commission will own over 30 exotic cars and starch over N500 million cash in his house. The headquarters of the commission must be moved to the oil producing areas of the state.”

In Odigbo, the governorship aspirant received 500 non-indigenes, who are resident in Ore, into the ACN. Among the defectors were: Alhaji Olayiwola, Kabiyesi of Igbira in Ore; Mr Dele Awopeju, Mrs Sola Owoeye, Shola Obe, Mr Kayode Ajayi, Mr Moses Akinyele, an LP House of Representatives aspirant, and scores of their supporters.

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi taking the reading during the Easter Mass at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka...yesterday

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58

NEWS

Benue Easter tragedy: Death toll rises to 22

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EATH toll in the tragedy at St Roberts Catholic Mission Church, Adamgbe, Benue State has increased to 22. Six children and 16 women have swelled the number of the dead. The church collapsed on Saturday.

The church is situated in Vandeikya Local Government.

Rev. Cosmas Jooli, the parish priest, recalled that he was about to celebrate mass outdoors when a rainstorm and a drizzle forced worshippers to come inside the church.

He said the incident occurred a few minutes to 9 pm.

Eyewitnesses said the worshippers, mostly women, went into the church and sat on mats when suddenly a wind blew off a part of the roof, pulling a part of the wall which collapsed on those inside, crushing many to death.

Philip Ierkwagh, Mathias Tyavger and Joseph Wuhe who said they were near the altar, added that many women died because they were inside the church while the men sought shel-

I won’t be distracted by critics, says Wada From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has said he would not be distracted by the comments of critics who do not mean well for the state.

Wada said his administration would remain focused, as he would not compromise standard in the appointments of credible individuals into the executive council.

Wada, who spoke through his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, in an interactive session with Kogi State indigenes in Ilorin, Kwara State, said in his efforts to transform the state, no amount of criticism would deter him.

He said the time for the state to get its right has come, adding that he is determined to act rightly.

Suswam's associate stabbed Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

AN associate of Governor Gabriel Suswam narrowly escaped death last night after being stabbed.

Mr. Ordue Goldman was stabbed about 8pm in front of his night club located in highbrow HUDCO quarters in Makurdi.

According to an eyewitness who pleaded not to be named, Goldman, who is the owner of a night club called Da'Virgin and some friends sat in front of the club when an armed man appeared and stabbed him with a sharp knife at the back.

Goldman was rushed to a private hospital in Makurdi for treatment.

•Sympathisers at the collapsed St Roberts Catholic Mission Church, Adamgbe, Benue State...yesterday From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

ter in the classrooms of a nearby primary school.

The eyewitnesses were from Holy Emmanuel Church, Ankungu, one of the 23 outstations that gathered at the mission head-

quarters at Adamgbe for the annual celebration of Easter.

They said over 3,000 worshippers gathered for the event.

Tyavger noted that some of the deceased were trampled upon during the stampede.

Jooli said the church was built in 1963, adding that its pillars were not constructed with iron rods.

The bodies of the victims have been deposited at the General Hospital, Vandeikya mortuary, while the 31 injured persons are receiving treatment at St

Elizabeth’s Maternity Health Centre, Vandeikya.

Some have been moved to St Monica’s Hospital, Adikpo.

Chairman of Vandeikya Local Government Mr. Benjamin Dowgo said the council’s swift response in conveying the injured to

Two suspected motorcycle thieves killed in Bauchi

T

WO motorcycle thieves were killed yesterday when they invaded the Staff Training School of the State Security Service (SSS)in Bauchi State.

A source told The Nation that the two men entered the school premises “and were mistaken for members of

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

the Boko Haram sect.”

“Their behaviour was suspicious and our men tried to apprehend them, but they ran. Consequently our men shot them,” the source said.

Police Commissioner

Mohammed Ladan confirmed the incident to our reporter in a telephone chat.

He said “they are motorcycle thieves.

Two of them were shot, one was captured while the other two escaped. It was not the intention of our men to

kill them. They wanted to arrest them.”

The two injured suspects were reportedly taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH),but they later died.

Police arrest couple over fake drugs

A

MAN, Maxwell Anyaogu and his lover, Chinasa Odin Ordai, were at the weekend arrested by the police in Niger State for operating an illegal drug manufacturing company that specialises in manufacturing adulterated products of a Minna-based pharmaceutical company.

The duo were picked up by the detectives following a tip-off.

The detectives were re-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

portedly stunned when they swooped on the residential quarters-turned-drug factory of the suspects on Top Medical Road, Tunga, Minna and discovered fake drugs bearing the names and logos of the Minna-based pharmaceutical company.

Items found on the production line of the couple included 16 quantities of 25kg bags of Gelosyle and large

quantities of Paraceutamol, Priton and Flaggyl tablets.

Also found were 300 rubber packs of 500mg containing 1,000 tablets as well as 320 empty packs. Others include 30 drug sealant tape, 2,000 labels, a generator, one pressing iron, improvised sealant and stamp pads for batch numbering.

Detectives also found tools used to inscribe manufacturing and expiring dates

on the fake drugs.

Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer Richard A. Oguche told our correspondent that the suspects have confessed to the crime and investigation into the operation of the fake drug factory is ongoing.

He said the suspects would soon be charged to court, adding that efforts are on to fish out the sponsors and collaborators of the suspects.

Sultan, Tambuwal for Muslim conference

S

ULTAN of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar

and House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, are among the dignitaries that will participate in an Islamic conference in Abuja.

The Nigerian Muslim and Democracy Conference is organised by the Coalition of Muslim Organisations in Nigeria . It is slated for the Conference Hall of the National Mosque in Abuja on April 14 and 15.

According to a statement

by Alhaji Waziri Isa Gwantu, on behalf of the Organising Committee Chairman, Prof.

Ibrahim Na’jya Sada, the theme of the conference is: “Nigerian Muslims and Democracy”.

The conference will discuss issues that border on the

rights and roles of Muslims, challenges and the way forward in the country’s democratic process.

It is expected to attract participants from all the states to chart the way forward for

the Muslims and evolve a process of advising government to ensure good and result-oriented governance.

The conference will also suggest solution to the problems that have been bedevil-

ling and threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria.

Other personalities expected are the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammad and Professor Daud Noibi, among others.

Rep condoles with Benue, Akwa Ibom

T

HE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Natural Disaster, Ifedayo Abegunde, yesterday condoled with the government and people of Benue State over the collapsed church building that killed 10 worshippers.

The victims, mostly women and children, were in the Catholic Church, Adamgbe in Vandeikya Local Government, for Easter vigil.

Abegunde also symphatised with the families of the deceased.

He described the development as sad, stressing that “it is unfortunate that these people met their untimely death during a church service.”

From: Damisi Ojo, Akure

The lawmaker, who represents Akure North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said his committee would visit Benue State soon to dialogue with the government to prevent a future recurrence.

He prayed to God to grant the departed souls eternal rest.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) legislator also commiserated with the government and people of Akwa Ibom State over the death of a former commissioner, Pastor Oyong Asuquo, in a motor accident.

Abegunde urged motorists to be cautious while driving.

hospital reduced the death toll.

He sympathised with the families of the deceased and the Catholic Church, saying the council would meet to determine its involvement in the treatment of the injured and burial of the deceased.

ABU remains pacesetter, says VC

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, has reiterated his commitment to continue to pilot the affairs of the university in line with the pacesetting dream, aspirations and ideals of the founding fathers of the university.

He said:” We are determined to sustain the cardinal principle upon which our university is founded to impart knowledge and learning to men and women of all races without any distinction on the grounds of race, religious or political beliefs. This principle is enshrined in the university law.”

Application of this principle, according to the vicechancellor, was what made the university the only true Nigerian university with staff and students representation in every nook and cranny of the country and other parts of the world.

Professor Mustapha said jettisoning the principle would reduce the ivory tower to a local university, a development which the late Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, would not be happy about if he were to resurrect today and find that we had negated the principle and embraced ethnic and regional chauvinism.

The vice-chancellor called on the stakeholders to continue to give the leadership of the university the support it needed to take it to the desired height.

He said Ahmadu Bello University has successfully been transformed today and has found an enabling and conducive environment for learning and research.

59

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9 , 2012

FOREIGN NEWS

Mali coup leaders to stand down as part of ECOWAS deal •Ex-president Nigeria offers coupists amnesty from trial resigns

C

OUP leaders in Mali have agreed to stand down and allow a transition to civilian rule, as part of a deal struck with ECOWAS. In return, the ECOWAS will lift trade and economic sanctions and grant amnesty to the ruling junta, mediators said.

The move came after Tuareg rebels in the north declared independence of an area they call Azawad.

The rebels seized the area after a coup two weeks ago plunged the West African nation into political crisis.

Under the terms of transition plan, military rulers will cede power to the parliamentary speaker, Diouncounda Traore, who as interim president will oversee a timetable for elections.

Once sworn in, Traore would have 40 days to organise elections, the five-page agreement says.

After four days of a total economic embargo, the announcement will certainly come as a relief for the Malian population.

The agreement says that ECOWAS will immediately prepare for the lifting of the tough sanctions it imposed on Mali earlier this week.

However, it doesn’t specify when Capt. Amadou Sanogo would hand over power to the head of the national assembly.

T

HE Federal Government has offered Mali military coup leader, Capt. Amadou Sanogo and other members of the junta automatic amnesty from trial if it restores democracy within the next 72 hours by allowing the Speaker of Malian National Assembly, Diouncounda Traore to lead an interim government that will bring back civil rule to the troubled West African nation.

It however said it will not recognise any separate Republic being planned by the rebel Tuaregs in Mali Also, Nigeria, along with other ECOWAS leaders, is facilitating the return of the Speaker to Mali from the Republic of Niger.

But ECOWAS leaders have placed a 3,000-man force on standby if the junta reneges on the agreement to cede power to the Speaker.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the Federal Government reeled out these conditions to a four-man delegation of the coup leaders which met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru in Abuja.

Informed sources at the session said the delegation came to plead with Nigeria to prevail on other ECOWAS leaders to allow the junta to oversee a transition to civil rule Programme in Mali.

One of the sources said: “ The Federal Government rejected the proposal from the junta and demanded immediate step down from power by the junta, restoration of the suspended constitution and a civil interim administration The northern crisis will probably not be addressed before a legitimate government is in place in Bamako but the situation is now critical.

Tuareg-led rebels have declared independence for a vast land of lawlessness and confusion from which at least half the population, already impoverished, has fled either south or into neighbouring countries.

It is also a land where Islamist combatants, some of whom

are linked to al-Qaeda, are now imposing Sharia law, and where witness accounts speak of abductions and rapes.

Regional defence chiefs of staff are drafting plans for a potential military intervention. But it would still take weeks and outside logistical help before it could be deployed.

The deal, signed by coup leader Capt. Sanogo, states that ECOWAS was prepare for the ending of sanctions, but did not

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

to be headed by the Speaker of the Malian Parliament, Diouncounda Traore.

“Ashiru told the delegation that the Federal Government will facilitate a negotiated exit for the coup leader and other members of the junta.

“The government offered the junta automatic amnesty from prosecution if it accepted to step down from power.

“When the delegation was reluctant, Ashiru said ‘It is better you leave in dignity than to leave in handcuffs.’

“The delegation was however excited by the offer of amnesty which Nigeria will facilitate for the coup leaders.”

As at press time, the Federal Government is facilitating the return of the Speaker of Malian Parliament, Diouncounda Traore from Niger to take over from the junta in the next 72 hours.

But if the junta is adamant, it was learnt that ECOWAS has placed 2,000 to 3,000-man force on standby to intervene and restore democracy in Mali.

Another source added: “We expect the Malian coup leaders to keep to the terms of the agreement reached with the Federal Government and ECOWAS.” On the control of a part of Mali by the Tuareg rebels, the sources quoted the Minister as saying “Nigeria recognises the sanctity and territorial integrity of Mali as handed over by the colonial masters.” name a date for Capt. Sanogo to hand over power.

“It will be necessary to organise a political transition leading to free, democratic and transparent elections across the whole of the territory,” it states.

Officers led by Capt. Sanogo seized power on 22 March, accusing the elected government of not doing enough to halt the rebellion in the north.

Earlier, international bodies rejected a call from Tuareg rebels for their newly named

region of Azawad to be recognised as independent.

The secular National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) is one of two main groups fighting a rebellion in the north.

Ansar Dine, an Islamist group, has also made gains and has started to impose Sharia law in some towns.

Rights group Amnesty International has warned of a major humanitarian disaster in the wake of the rebellion.

Malawi swears in new president

M

ALAWI’S VicePresident Joyce Banda has been sworn in as president following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika.

She becomes southern Africa’s first female head of state after taking the oath before parliament in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe.

Ms Banda, who had been Vice-President since 2009, was cheered and applauded before, during and after the ceremony.

Mutharika, 78, went into

cardiac arrest on Thursday, although his death was not confirmed until Saturday.

The delay in announcing his death had prompted fears of a power struggle.

There had been speculation that the late president’s inner circle was trying to circumvent Malawi’s constitution to prevent Ms Banda from taking over and instead install his brother, Foreign Minister Peter Mutharika.

Ms Banda had fallen out with Mutharika in 2010 and

became one of his fiercest critics. She was expelled from the ruling Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and formed the People’s Party.

She was elected as VicePresident in 2009 and Mutharika had failed in his attempts to have her removed from her post.

In taking the oath of office, Ms Banda pledged to “defend and preserve the constitution” and to do right to all manner of people, according to law.

She then asked parliament

to stand for two minutes’ silence as a tribute to Mutharika.

Asking Malawians to “focus on mourning our father,” Ms Banda added: “It is with a great sense of humility and honour that I accept the huge responsibility of that the people of Malawi have entrusted me with.”

At present, there are just a handful of MPs in her party but the BBC’s Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says many more are likely to join now that she is president.

Nigeria: al-Qaeda’s new heartland of terror •Continued from 2 Last month, the head of Nigeria’s armed forces publicly accused Boko Haram of having ties to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the terrorist organisation’s North African branch. This group, which is particularly active in the Saharan states of Mali, Niger and Algeria, now provides arms, expertise and ideological inspiration to support Boko Haram’s increasingly effective activities against the Nigerian authorities.

In January, the group struck eight targets in the northern city of Kano, killing at least 185 people in the space of a few hours. The tactics used in this assault bore all the hallmarks of al-Qaeda: suicide bombers and gunmen were used to inflict the maximum number of casualties.

The radicalisation of Nigerian Muslims first entered the public consciousness in the West when the “underpants bomber” failed to blow up an American passenger jet as it landed at Detroit airport in

December 2009. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian who is now serving a life sentence in the US, took a degree in mechanical engineering at University College London, before travelling to Yemen, where he was inspired by Anwar al-Awlaki, the Americaneducated jihadist who was killed by a drone strike last September, to join “al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula”.

Awlaki, who masterminded a number of high-profile plots against the West, trained the young Nigerian for his suicide mission, and provided him with the explosive device which, fortunately, failed to detonate.

So why has al-Qaeda, whose main base of operations has historically been in the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan, suddenly turned its attention to West Africa?

The main reason for this change in emphasis is the success the Nato mission to Afghanistan has had in denying al-Qaeda the ability to plan attacks from the region. The re-

lentless pressure brought to bear against its terrorist infrastructure there, particularly following last year’s assassination of Osama bin Laden, has forced the group to seek new havens.

Al-Qaeda has always exploited the ungoverned territory of failed Muslim states to set up its training camps and terror cells – which explains why Yemen and Somalia have recently emerged as new centres. More recently, al-Qaeda sympathisers have been actively seeking to exploit for their own ends the wave of anti-government protests that have swept the Arab world.

They were involved in the overthrow of Libya’s Gaddafi regime last year, and are known to have been participating in anti-government protests in Syria.

The al-Qaeda network is tenacious in its pursuit of new, safe territory from which it can pursue its radical Islamist agenda, and the fact that the Nigerian government is struggling to exert its control over

the Muslim states in the country’s north makes them an attractive proposition. The group’s ability to exploit such opportunities in the Muslim world certainly makes a compelling argument in favour of Britain and its Nato allies maintaining their military commitment to Afghanistan until the task of stabilising the war-torn country has been completed.

The deaths this week of six British soldiers, after their Warrior armoured personnel carrier was blown up by a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban, has inevitably led to calls for our Armed Forces to be brought home at the earliest opportunity. But while no one wants to see our young troops daily risking their lives, let us not forget that, if we leave Afghanistan before some form of sustainable infrastructure has been established, it won’t be long before al-Qaeda is building a new network of terror camps in the country, with all the implications that will have for our future security.

Saudi Arabia puts 50 al Qaeda suspects on trial

F

IFTY men suspected of links to al Qaeda have been put on trial in Saudi Arabia on charges of killing an American and attacking foreign housing compounds in the capital and in the Eastern Province, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

The report said five of the suspects had appeared at a special court in the capital Riyadh on Saturday, facing charges including the 2003 bombing of the al-Muhaya compound, where expatriates lived, and planning attacks on the United States and British embassies in Saudi Arabia.

Of the defendants, 47 are Saudis, two are Syrians and one is Yemeni, SPA said late on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia saw a militant insurgency from 2003 to 2006 in which al Qaeda members staged attacks on residential compounds for foreign workers and Saudi government facilities, killing dozens.

The kingdom responded by arresting thousands of suspected militants and launching a media campaign to discredit their ideology with the backing of influential clerics and tribal leaders.

“The Specialised Criminal Court in Riyadh started looking into the case, filed by the public prosecution, against 50 men,” SPA said.

“The first, second, third, fourth and fifth defendants appeared in court on Saturday and were read their charges.”

The session adjourned without setting a date for the next hearing, when the other suspects are also expected to appear.

PUBLIC NOTICE

•Banda

On Friday, Information Minister Patricia Kaliati had said Ms Banda could not take over as head of state because she had gone into opposition. The UK, the US and the EU all called on Malawi to respect its constitution.

Shortly after Mutharika’s death was confirmed, Ms Banda addressed journalists, flanked by the heads of the army and police, the Attorney- General and other officials.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogunmefun Olapeju Ruth now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oladosu Olapeju Ruth. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the allocation paper belonging to HAS NIG. LTD. & nbsp; & nbsp; With allocation space no.

LWS.1. with reference no.

AMAC/WKS/1694 and address no. Plot 1290, New Garki Apo Resettlement Area is missing. If found please contact the nearest police station.

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSOCIATION OF OSUN STATE BABALOJAS The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied for Registration under “Part C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IYIOLA DAVID -PRESIDENT 2. ALIDU OGUNTADE AKALA -SECRETARY 3. JOSHUA ADEAGBO ILELADEWA -TREASURER 4. IBRAHEEM AMOO OGOOLUWA 5. OLUKOSO AREMU 6. YEKINNI ALAO 7. KARIMU OWOLABI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To protect the interest of market traders 2. To protect the interest of members 3. To harmonize and create unity among members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: ALIDU OGUNTADE AKALA (SECRETARY)

60

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS Monarch calls for peace From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

CHAIRMAN of the Traditional Rulers Council in Calabar South Local Government of Cross River State Maurice Eyo has called for peaceful co-existence to ensure accelerated development.

This followed the recent spate of violence in the area in which several people were killed.

Eyo, who is also the Head of the Efut Akwa Ikot Ekpe of Ekondo Ancestral Clan, made the call in Calabar,.

According to him, for the area to develop, there must be peace among indigenes and residents.

Uduaghan inspects project DELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said the Ode-Itsekiri road was built to tap the economic potentials and open up communities between Warri and Ode-Itsekiri.

Uduaghan spoke at the weekend after inspecting the project.

He said the road was strategic because it would open up the axis for development.

The governor said the road would connect Warri from Ubeji to Ode-ltsekiri, adding that the project has 22 bridges, including a major navigational one.

Uduaghan said the project entails a lot of engineering technicalities and designs, stressing that the high cost of construction in the riverine communities is as a result of the difficult terrain.

Aides woo Edo voters

Four kidnap suspects arrested in Edo •N2.9m recovered •Victim rescued

T

he police in Delta State at the weekend rescued the wife of the Financial Secretary of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, Mrs. Adaku Adeiyi from kidnappers.

The victim was rescued unhurt in Edo State.

Mrs. Adeiyi was kidnapped in Ekpan , Uwvie Local Government Area by gunmen, who demanded N5 million.

The Commissioner of Police, Ikechuckwu Aduba, broke the news of the woman’s freedom while parading some kidnap suspects and their victim in Asaba, the state capital.

Aduba said men of the

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Anti-Terrorism Squad, acting on a tip-off, stormed the suspects’ hideout in Benin , the Edo State capital.

He said: “The Anti-Terrorism Squad stormed the kidnappers’ den in Benin City and arrested four suspects.”

The suspects are Omore Afiiuwho, Solomon Osagwe, Endurance Onwuka and Peter Ukpabor.

Aduba said N2.9 million , a black Siena Space bus EK 483 BEN and a greyAudi 80 AA 261 DGS were recovered from them.

According to the commissioner, they were

•Manhunt for syndicate

nabbed while attempting to collect the ransom.

The police chief assured all participants at the BRACED summit scheduled to hold in the state.

He pleaded with the public to assist by providing useful information about the activities of hoodlums in their neighbourhood.

The police have launched a manhunt for a syndicate, which specialises in printing fake employment forms.

The Nation learnt that the syndicate printed letterheaded papers of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Delta North, saying

it is an “application form” to be purchased with a N500 non-refundable” fee.

The activities of the gang were unravelled after complains from the public.

But the Senior Special Assistant, Felix Omel Melenu, said: “There was no time NDDC made such offer for employment.”

“Neither did I mandate anyone or group of persons to issue application forms.

“I wish to state that I have no knowledge of the employment opportunities at NDDC. “Members of the public are advised to discountenance the fake forms in circulation and be warned of the activities of fraudsters.”

Obasanjo on BOT chair: no comment

F

ORMER Chairman of Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP’s) Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday refused to comment on why he resigned as the PDP BOT chairman.

In his characteristic manner, the former President left reporters guessing.

Obasanjo, who was at the Edo State Government House to visit Governor Adams Oshiomhole, told reporters that he would talk about it next time.

Obasanjo, accompanied by his wife, later went for a private meeting with the governor for 10 minutes after which he emerged and told reporters that the visit was a private one.

According to him, “this is a very short visit. I cannot be in Benin and not see the

T

HE Akwa Ibom State Government has described former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as an icon of democracy.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Nsima Ekere, made the remark during a celebration for Tinubu in Abuja.

Akpabio said: ‘’We are here to honour a great icon and apostle of democracy, who has brought honour to Nigeria. He sacrificed his comfort to fight for the democracy of Nigeria and did a great work for the people of Lagos.’’ “ For us as democrats, we appreciate you for deepening democracy. It is your great works that we now enjoy.

He said with men like Tinubu, Nigeria would definitely be a better place, pointing out that the insecurity challenges in the country would pass away and be a thing of the past.

Governor joins procession

E

•Obasanjo (right) and Oshiomhole...yesterday From Osagie Otabor, Benin

governor. Thank you and thank you.

When I come to Benin again, we would talk.

“Today is not for talk. I will do a banquet where we

would talk.”

When pressed further, he replied, “ You no get ear to hear.”

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Oshiomhole dismisses N300m bribery allegations

AIDES of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole have started wooing voters to vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the July 14 governorship election.

The aides, who included Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on Special Duties, Civil Societies and NGO, Kenneth Edebiri, Efosa Iyasele and Isimeme Whyte, took ‘Vote for ACN’ to various groups across the state.

Edebiri said Oshiomhole would not go to court after the election because he will defeat the PDP. He urged the groups to join in the campaign against the sale of voters’ cards.

According to him, “this time around, Oshiomhole will not go to court because he will win convincingly.

“What the governor needs is your prayers and support and to ensure that those who want to rig are stopped.”

“Defend your votes. The era of election malpractices are over. When they come to bribe you with salt, rice or money, don’t hesitate to take them because it is your money but do not sell your conscience. We cannot afford to go back to those dark days.”

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday dismissed the N300million bribery allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the ranting of “confused, analogue, extinguished and failed politicians”.

The PDP last week alleged that Oshiomhole bribed the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Asari Dokunbo, with N300million for his support and endorsement.

Oshiomhole said he didn’t want to react to the PDP allegation because he does not want to be distracted.

He said Dokunbo wouldn’t have led the fight in the Niger Delta if he (Asari) was a man of N300million.

The governor said it was the PDP belief that money must be shared to get support, adding that the party is full of “cash-and-carry politicians”.

His words: “Who has endorsed me that they have not attacked.

“Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia openly supported me, they termed it anti-party activities.

“When the Esogban of Benin said they will not take a known performer for an unknown experiment, they

E

Akpabio hails Tinubu

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

called him names.

“When the Oba of Benin acknowledged my performances, they said he was being partisan.

“Senator Oyofo said I have done what other PDP governors could not do, they took a series of advertorials

against him.

“Chief John Oyegun gave his support, they organised some rascals to say they have expelled him from ANPP. “Their philosophy is share the money. NLC organised a rally to celebrate one of their own, they said we gave them N100million and even got an irresponsible court injunc-

tion.

“When the Enigies came to endorse me on account of proven evidence they said I was lobbying them with Kia vehicles.”

Oshiomhole said he and the PDP candidate, Charles Airhiavbere, would explain to the people why they were detained at various times.

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday joined over 3,000 Catholic faithful to partake in the 14 Stations of the Cross procession from Imiegba to Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government.

He promised to complete all projects the government has embarked upon.

“I came to join to offer prayers to God and thank him for what he is doing in our lives, families, the state and the country,” he said.

According to him, the two bridges connecting Igodo to Okpekpe and Igodo to Imiegba will be completed, while the Okpekpe to Imiegba road still needs to be worked upon.

“When we started work on the Okpekpe road, some people said I was wasting money constructing roads to hamlets where there are no people with vehicles. “ But today, everybody is happy with the Okpekpe road. I told our critics that if the people have no vehicles, their children will one day ply the road with their own vehicles,” he added.

PHCN liabilities hit N400b, says MD

T

HE Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s (PHCN’s) liabilities owed to various local and foreign organisations, the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and others have hit N400billion.

The Managing Director, Nigeria Electricity Liabilities Management Company (NELMCO), Sam Agbogun, who spoke in Abuja at the weekend, said: “Currently, all the liabilities stand at N400billion. But don’t forget that these liabilities also include foreign loans.”

Agbogun said the PHCN is also indebted to local creditors to the tune of N270billion, which includes the Independent Power Producers (IPP).

His words: “In the last three months, we have not paid the IPPs, which is where the bulk of the liabilities stand. The liabilities are actually in IPPs. All these liabilities now are about N400billion. But don’t forget that out of these liabilities, we still have some foreign loans which we might give to the Debt Management Office (DMO).

“We are not dealing with those ones, it is the local ones we are dealing with. If I talk of the local one it is about N250billion to N270billon.”

According to him, the PHCN is owing Agip $700million, while the NIPPs are owed over$40million.

He added that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is also on the list of the PHCN creditors.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

The NELCOM boss said it is obvious that the Federal Government alone cannot meet the power demand in the country, therefore, “the tariff should be quickly adjusted.”

He noted that for the industry to sustain itself there must be an appropriate tariff, stressing that government could subsidise the tariff for the low income earners for a period of time.

While commenting on the PHCN indebtedness to gas companies, he said: “When we talk about creditors that NELMCO is supposed to settle, I do know that the Nigeria Gas Supply Company is one of the creditors of PHCN. “And our record also shows that we are owing them some money. It has in a way affected gas supply. But that is not the major issue. The major issue of gas supply is appropriate pricing for gas . Just as we talk of appropriate pricing for power.”

Commenting on the payroll of the PHCN pensioners, he said: “The Federal Government has made provision for the adjustment in the payroll therefore NELCOM can accommodate the increase.”

Agbogun said the engagement of a management contractor for the Transition Company of Nigeria is a step in the right direction because it will help stabilise the sector.

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NEWS Easter Sunday suicide bomb kills 40 in Kaduna Continued from page 2

ed five bodies from the scene and are treating about 15 others for serious injuries, adding that there was the possibility of more casualty since the security agents and other emergency workers also evacuated bodies from the scene.

About 60 buildings, including Fina White House Hotel and Marhaba Hotel, residential houses alongside the All Nations Christian Assembly located along Gwari Road behind Marhaba Hotel were badly affected by the blast. Six vehicles, including a Honda CRV car, were affected.

The explosion, according to an eye witness account, occurred at about 9.45 am when the lone suicide bomber attempted to enter Gwari Road where the All Nations Christian Assembly and the ECWA Good News Church are located.

He was stopped.

The eye witness said the suspected bomber was dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. He had a set of military uniform on the car’s back seat.

One of the survivors, who claimed to have witnessed the explosion, said: “We were three inside the car when suddenly I heard a loud explosion in front of me and suddenly, I saw billows of smoke and fire under my vehicle. I quickly opened my door and when I looked around I didn’t see my mechanic again. I am still shocked how I survived.”

Augustine Vincent and his cousin, Aaron Idiawaje, who are receiving treatment at the St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, claimed that they were riding on a motorcycle directly behind the bomber when the explosion occurred. They attributed their “miraculous” escape to “the blood of Jesus”.

They said truly Jesus Christ resurrected and that was why they were saved.

“We were on our way to Christ Embassy church by Station on Kachia Road and God saw our heart and saved us,” Idiawaje said.

A guest of one of the hotels affected by the explosion said when the blast occured, the window of the hotel fell on his head, but no guest was affected. The explosion destroyed the hotel’s windows and doors.

Another survivor said: “I was driving past the scene of the incident along with two other occupants when suddenly I heard a loud sound that almost blocked my ear. When I looked in front of my car, I saw smoke all over the place while fire was coming out from under my car.

“The man at the back seat of my car, who is my mechanic was nowhere to be found. Even when I called his mobile phone, it was switched off, and so my fear is that he might have died as a result of the explosion.

I don’t know how to thank God for surviving this bomb blast,” he said.

One of the security men attached to ECWA Good News Church, Gwari Road where the suicide bomber was said to be heading, Francis Markus, said: “It was around 10 am when I saw a man trying to enter this

‘But within three minutes after he left, we heard the explosion across the road, along Junction Road’ street who said he wanted to pass through. I told him that he cannot because the church service was on going.

“We don’t normally allow people to pass through when service is going on because of security. I advised him to go through after the church service, but he insisted that he was going to his house. He pointed at a one storey building and I know many of the people living in the house.

“I did not recognise his face because I work here every Sunday. So, I stopped him from passing through the street. But he pointed at another house.

“He came through Arochukwu Road at about 9.45am. He drove in an Honda Academy ash-colour car. I told him that he cannot pass through here. He accused me of violating his right by not allowing him to go to his house.

“I asked him to wait till after church service before he could pass through, but he insisted. We dragged this for some minutes. He entered the car and drove towards me, yet I stood my ground and held the iron bar that we use to block the entrance. He hit the iron against me.

“At that stage, one of my church members came with his bike and intervened. We noticed that the man was carrying an Army uniform at the back seat of his car.

An Army cap too was behind the screen.

“I asked him if he was an Army officer and behaving like this? I told him, a disgrace to the Army, he is misbehaving, instead of giving me a helping hand. I politely told him to move his vehicle and leave the place.

“As we were arguing, the policemen posted to the church saw what was happening between us. They came closer and assisted me to get him out of the place.

But within three minutes after he left, we heard the explosion across the road, along Junction Road.”

Kaduna State Police Commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar said two vehicles were used for the operation. He said: “Situation report indicated that today (yesterday), 8th April, 2012 at about 8:45hours, intelligence report received said two suspected vehicles heading towards Kakuri / Sabon Tasha axis exploded while in transit.

“The two vehicles were pursued by Detective Corporal Francis Marcus and then, suddenly one of the vehicles hit the other, thereby causing a serious bomb explosion between the two vehicles on Junction road by Sardauna Crescent in Kaduna.

“The bomb explosion was massive, which resulted from the death of the sui-

cide bomber and five persons, 16 injured victims were passers-by. Police and other security agencies are investigating the issue and final report will soon be made public.

“I want to appeal to the people of the state to remain calm and to go about their lawful business and to report any suspicious movement to security agents for further investigation and action.”

Senator Mohammed Saleh, representing Kaduna Central, who visited the scene of the explosion, described it as a national disaster. He said security agencies should go back and do a postmortem to find out why it happened and how to respond.

Senator Saleh said: “at a time like this, we have to reassess our response to security situation as we go along. I am aware that before Easter, there was a massive security leakage because it was expected that something like this is likely to happen and certain measures were put in place, yet it happened.

“Left to me, this is a war situation and in a war situation, you use all the instruments of your power to fight it.”

The member representing Kaduna North in the House of Representatives, Alhaji Shehu Usman, blamed security agencies for the incessant explosions and called for the immediate disbandment of road blocks.

He said security agents should devise a way of checkmating suicide bombers and assured that the National Assembly will assist security agencies to restore the peace in the North and the country in general.

Usman also asked the Federal Government to go back to the negotiating table with the Boko Haram, with a view of finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in the country.

National Emergency Agency (MEMA), Director-General Mohammed Sani Sidi, who visited St. Gerard Catholic Hospital and Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, to see the victims, said the agency would foot their hospital bills.

There is usually a traffic jam on the Junction Road where the blast occurred.

A Consultant to Fina White House hotel, Juliusa Acholonu said: “This bomb blast is horrible.

“My happiness is that at the time it happened, there was only one guest in the rooms.

You can see the room he was staying; it is only God that can bring somebody alive from that kind of ruin. It was a terrible ruin. In fact, God did it in a way that the guest came out unhurt. And he checked out immediately.

“In all our hotels, we have put a lot of security measures in place. We don’t allow you to park your car in front of our hotel, except you are our guest and as you are parking, our security men will be there to welcome you and check your car. And as you are entering into the room, we have a security man to check your bag, your body, everywhere, before you are allowed to enter the room.”

www.thenationonlineng.net

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘As the Nigerian state has resigned itself to secular racketeering, so has the Church in Nigeria made its peace with spiritual racketeering. That would explain the Anglican Church’s spirited defence of a controversial gift, a scandal at best; mindless corruption at worst ’

VOL 7 NO 2,090

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

W

HEN the story of the President and the church broke into public scrutiny, I thought the President was going to say he had performed a miracle. He had played Jesus. He uttered a word about having a poor church in his subaltern hideout, Otuoke, and behold a 2,500-seater church.

Like Jesus who turned water into wine and urged his followers - President Jonathan included - to move mountains with their words of mouth, our President had turned a humble hovel of worship into a ‘glorious’ house of God. But either the President had no faith in the power of his words or the potency of humour in the topsy-turvy world of politics, he came out through his spokesman to deny everything. It was not corruption, he said.

He never gave anyone an order to build a church in his village. He only said the church did not befit his status as president of Nigeria.

If President Goodluck Jonathan understands the power of persuasion, he could have turned everything into a sort of high presidential comedy with a subtle apology and let the matter die a natural death.

The whole affair could have been hilarious if it was not so serious. What the President did is a reflection of either his naivety or wilful error. In either case, he has done the Nigerian people a grave wrong. It would be naivety, if he really did not know that what he did was an act of corruption. In his novel, No Longer At Ease, Chinua Achebe defined corruption as “improper use of influence.” Maybe President Jonathan thought that it would be defined as corruption only when he approached the Italian firm that worked on the church and asked them to hand him the money or if he asked them to directly build a church for him in his village.

If the President thought so, then he had failed woefully as Nigeria’s corruption czar.

In this case, the innocent is guilty. If you are president, ignorance is no excuse, and the law does not recognise such innocence. Before mounting a throne as a people’s leader, you must know right from wrong. If the President meant that he did not influence the building of the church, then this is the sort of innocence we call naivety, and it is not an excuse when you lead over 100 million people.

We can see that the sort of donation he derived from the Italian firm is common among our political office holders, and that is why the President sees it as usual. A governor, a commissioner, a minister, a permanent secretary gives a contract to a business outfit, and the outfit looks for an opportu-

•Dr. Jonathan

‘President Jonathan violated his oath of office. Some of his supporters say he is not the beneficiary of the church.

Really? If he did not want to benefit from it, why did he complain about the lowly, decrepit quality of the place of worship? If he is a villager or habitue of the place on weekends and during vacation, was he not going to worship there? Is he not then a beneficiary?’

nity to be grateful. The flourish of gratitude comes in different ways. It could be in the form of scholarship to the benefactor’s son, reconstructing the road leading to his street, buying him a $10,000 wristwatch or building a church for him in his village.

These things are common in the political and business worlds of Nigeria, and there is no doubt that it is wrong and it cannot be described other than as corruption. Those things come as influence. They are not necessarily solicited but accepted by some of our office holders. What Jonathan has done is not to keep their secret secret.

President Jonathan violated his oath of office. Some of his supporters say he is not the beneficiary of the church. Really? If he did not want to benefit from it, why did he complain about the lowly, decrepit quality of the

place of worship? If he is a villager or habitue of the place on weekends and during vacation, was he not going to worship there? Is he not then a beneficiary?

The Italian firm, Gitto Contstruzioni Generalli Nigeria Ltd. (GCG), said it was an act of social responsibility. Social responsibility in Otuoke? If Jonathan were not president, would they know of a place called Otuoke? What other village have they performed their social responsibility? Is the firm not aware that Nigerians are not only Christians but also Muslims and worshippers of local deities? Why bring faith into the affairs of social responsibility in a secular state?

Not long ago, former Governor Timipre Sylva accused the President of overpaying the contractor who built the uncompleted Tower Hotel in Yenagoa and asked him whether the

same contractor was not building a house for him in the village? If the EFCC is quick to dig into the affairs of Sylva, we should expect the same alacrity in the case of the President. At least we want to know the truth.

It was also disappointing that the Anglican Church accepted the gift. The Bible urges us to shun “all appearances of evil.” Like murder in the cathedral, the church donation is a living testimony of corruption. In Otuoke, it will become a monument to corruption.

When the President defended himself through Reuben Abati, what he did were two things. First, he gave an official stamp to the subterranean culture of corruption tearing apart the political and social fabric of Nigeria. He is saying, ‘yes, you can accept anything from a contractor or anybody you give a job in the course of performing your duty to Nigerians, even if not directly’.

Two, he has shown that he is not fit to fight a battle against corruption.

The President has been described as a snake in this column, and that is as in regards to his political life. He plays the game, strikes his enemies with sly precision without regard to the consequence for the law and morality. That is why he violated the constitution in pursuing his dream in removing Sylva, sent soldiers to the streets of Lagos, imposed fuel subsidy removal, imposed Bamanga Tukur as party chairman, and a host of other absurdities. But he does not play snake with governance. He plays rat. The rat destroys without knowing the consequences. It nibbles at a wedding dress, leaves its droppings in the only food in the house a la lassa fever. In the analysis of evil,one philosopher refers to the rat that, in innocent hunger, bites a cable that eventually burns down an edifice, obliterating whole families and destroying documents compiled over a generation.

President Jonathan is the parable of the snake and the rat, one a subtle calculating marksman; the other an innocent destroyer just like the characters in John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, all of whom are weak and innocent but want to destroy those weaker than they. Whether as snake or rat, he has not ennobled us as a nation.

This is the first time we are having a story of corruption strike the bull’s eye of the church, which is supposed to represent the highest values. “The corruption of the best produces the worst,” wept philosopher David Hume. If the church is where we ascend to for comfort and protection from the buffeting of the world, and the Christendom is quiet about it, then we know that the Nigerian church is not of the ascension but of the descension.And the Presidency is at the bottom with it.

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009& 2010 (D.A.M.E)

The parable of the snake and rat

RIPPLES Third term: I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT IF I WANTED–Obasanjo

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

T

HE deal to end the March 22 coup led

by Captain Amadou Sanogo and other soldiers is likely to be followed through. It was brokered by the foreign affairs minister of Burkina Faso, Djibni Bassoie, and it involves the standing down of the coupists, ending of crippling sanctions imposed early last week, transference of power to Diouncounda Traore, the parliamentary Speaker, and the holding of elections in 40 days. But it is precisely the sort of compromise that disgraces the regional bloc and makes nonsense of the principles by which democracy should be nurtured and resoluteness in the face of military adventurers be established once and for all time. By negotiating with the coupists and granting them immunity from prosecution, and, worse, by impliedly endorsing the removal of President Ahmadou Toure, whose term was due to end after the previously scheduled April 29 polls, ECOWAS has obviously given in to lawlessness.

There is, of course, no doubt that the deal spares Mali further agony. The few days of sanctions had already seen crippling shortages in the landlocked country and made the Tuareg rebellion begun in the northern part of the country difficult to resolve. That rebellion, which served as the And that would have been BABACRACY...not casus belli for the coupists who accused Toure’s DEMOCRACY government of doing little to tackle it, not

ECOWAS: Sense and nonsense in Mali only worsened after the coup, it has also now culminated in the declaration of independence for Azawad by the two main groups fighting the government. The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad and the Ansar Dine Islamist group have promised to sustain the rebellion, with the latter in fact declaring Sharia in its areas of control. It is partly to present a common front against the Azawad rebellion that ECOWAS was eager to broker a deal, any deal at all, that would ease the coup leaders out of office and maintain the territorial integrity of the country.

It is unlikely that the regional bloc will be influenced by any fanciful consideration of democracy in its efforts to heal the Malian rift and end the Azawad declaration of independence, a declaration the world has rejected, with France even promising to support any military effort by ECOWAS to reclaim territories captured by Tuareg rebels.

The deal with the coupists has also sadly already led to the formal resignation of President Toure who seemed relieved that the nightmare was about to end. Malians themselves have exulted that a deal was secured and life would return to some normality. And ECOWAS appeared satisfied

that a crazy incident would be resolved rather more quickly than they dared to hope after the coup was staged.

But none of these considerations makes the nonsensical deal any more tolerable than the original coup itself or the Azawad rebellion. If the regional bloc had persevered, the coup leaders would still have buckled under sanctions sooner rather than later. More importantly, if the coup leaders were forced out and prosecuted, it would have sent a much more enduring message to all of West Africa and even the continent as a whole that military intervention would no longer be accepted under any guise. ECOWAS has once again lost a unique opportunity to reaffirm its appreciation of democracy and its commitment to its high and lofty ideals, and this failure can be put down to the dearth of statesmen and leaders with the requisite character required to lift the continent into the 21st century. This deal, though expedient, is regrettable, poorly considered, foolish and short-sighted. It will engender peace in the short run, but the regional bloc will rue its misses and folly in the long run.

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