April 12, 2014 by The Nation

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

•L - R, Blessing Saviour, Elizabeth Sonubi, Joy Okoro and other.

–Teenage mothers from ‘Baby Factory’

OR 17-yr-old Blessing Saviour from Akwa - Ibom State, the labour pains experienced last week before being delivered of her baby boy at the state hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have thought her a lesson - that motherhood is not a tea party and that the fruit from it is not something to be traded off. She is one of the rescued inmates of a baby - making factory located in Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, where she was holed up along with eight others for the purpose of breeding babies for commercial gains by the captors. The anti-crime team attached to Ajuwon Division of Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force had three weeks ago, following intelligence gathering, stormed a baby-making factory where pregnant women were kept to produce babies for sales and arrested the owner, Mrs Angella Chigozie, 39. They also rescued Blessing and eight other pregnant girls of ages between 16 and 22 years within the facility.

INSIDE

n Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta n

Two of the rescued pregnant girls, joy Okoro (20) and Blessing Saviour (17), were delivered of their babies at the state hospital, Ijaiye, last week, a boy and a girl. But on Tuesday, Blessing said she would not sell her baby, christened King David Etimbo Omotoyosi Omo Amosun, even if someone offers her N1,000,000. She expressed gratitude to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the state Ministry for Women Affairs, the Commissioner, Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi and the Nigeria Police Force, Ogun Command, for her rescue, care, support and safe delivery of her baby boy. Blessing spoke with reporters at the premises of the Stella Obasanjo Children's Home, Ibara, Abeokuta, shortly after the naming ceremony of her baby by the Ogun State Government. The one named Queen Elizabeth Onyinyechukwu Morayoninuoluwa Amosun is born by Joy Okoro (20)

My husband hooked me atak1en8yi Ey –Minister of Housing Akon

Pages 27,28&37

from Imo State. Also, Joy who claimed she still has the link to the biological father of her barely ten-day-old baby, said she would not sell the girl again for any price. She urged girls of her age who are being abducted or lured into the illicit practice of baby-making factory to speak out so that deliverance could come their way. Giving them the separate names eight days after delivery, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi, expressed the hope that the two should grow into becoming king and queen in the society. Mrs Sonubi counselled the teenage mothers to understand that God has a purpose for their lives, saying now that they have been delivered safely, they

Y BLOOD for

Thursday f ur sons 70-yr-old, foPages 13-15

We won't sell our babies, even for a million naira

Joy who claimed she still has the link to the biological father of her barely ten-day-old baby, said she would not sell the girl again for any price. She urged girls of her age who are being abducted or lured into the illicit practice of babymaking factory to speak out so that deliverance could come their way

should think of the possibility of going back to school or acquiring skills that would make them useful in future. Sonubi said: "You have the opportunity to live a new life; you can go back to school or go into business and be a model to others." According to her, the two mothers and seven others awaiting delivery would be handed over to the government of their respective states - Imo, Abia and Akwa - Ibom.

NEWS 3

THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan seek media partnership for national development

•From left: Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta; Chairman of the occasion, Sen. Jubril Aminu; Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku; and Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo at the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ fund-raising dinner for the building of Editors’ Plaza in Abuja on Thursday. NAN

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan wants the media to report the country positively. A similar challenge came from Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, both of whom asked the media to help fix the problems in the country. Jonathan spoke through the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, during the dinner to raise funds for the building of the Editors’ House by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Abuja on Thursday. He hailed the leadership of the guild for its decision to build a befitting edifice

I’m grateful to God, says Ikimi at 70

•From left: NUJ President, Malam Mohammed Garba; President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Femi Adesina; and Commissioner for Information, Sokoto State, Malam Danladi Bako, at the dinner NAN

N early morning mass to mark the 70th birth day of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi, took place in Benin City yesterday. In his homily, Rev. Fr. Daniel Ewah of St Joseph parish, Igueben, Edo State urged Nigerians to always express gratitude to God for the gift of life. Rev Ewah, who centred his message on thanksgiving, noted that Chief Ikimi has cause to appreciate God for attaining the biblical three scores and ten. The cleric attributed the septuagenarian’s achievements to God’s grace and en-

joined him to allow God’s wisdom reign in his life. He described Ikimi as an instrument for achieving peace and unity and encouraged the APC national leader to continue to be the advocate of peace and unity in the society. The morning mass to commemorate the birthday was attended by Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; his Deputy, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe; state Head of Service, Mr. Jerry Obasele; former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; among others.

Nigeria is sliding towards imperial presidency under Jonathan, Tinubu warns

former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has raised the alarm that the nation is sliding towards imperial presidency under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. He urged the media to save the nation from drifting from democracy. He also asked the Nigerian press to avoid partisanship as the countdown to the 2015 elections approaches. He said the hijacking and distortion of news reports by powerful interests have turned the media into a commodity with a price tag. He said the media, as a monument or symbol of Nigerian democracy, is at risk because of a weakening foundation at this critical period in the nation’s life. Tinubu bared his mind on the state of the nation in some remarks presented during the N850millon fundraising dinner for Editors’ Plaza at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Thursday. The remarks were presented by the Chief of Staff to the former Governor, Mr.Sunday Dare. He said: “The character flaws and the political footworks of our present leaders are similar to the jackbooted-back steps past

Yusuf ALLI and Sanni ONOGU, Abuja leaders took when we suffered dictatorial leadership. “The approaching sounds of the drum of ethnic tension are now heard, religion has become a tool of hate-thyneighbour politics. “An imperial yet parochial presidency arrogates to itself the powers of national assembly and the courts. Meanwhile, it withholds funds from state and local governments in order to bring them under heel and to quash political dissent and opposition. “As long as it persists in this effort to use the enormous resources and powers of the federal government to intimidate or impoverish those who are not in their camp, the federal government has wedded to the path of arbitrary rule and an overconcentration of power. These bear the marks of dictatorship and they imperil the sanctity of the Nigerian national project. “The people need to understand that a great change is underway, but not the change they want. Instead,

of wobbling slowly forward, the government is taking us steadily backward. “We move not towards the future, but towards the past. The people are being feted on a false feast of true lies.” He urged the Guild of Editors to save the nation by being in the vanguard of building a new Nigeria. He added: “To save Nigeria, we need a whistle blower or a courageous town crier to alert and wake us. In this vein, the media remains the one vital institution upon which we depend to play the role of watchdog. “You, as an institution, must hold the political system under your gaze and hold those who operate it accountable to the people. The Guild of Editors should be in the vanguard to build a new Nigeria. “As an organization for journalists who have achieved the exalted position of Editor at their various publications or media organizations, the Guild possesses the calibre of people that can lead other journalists in the right direction towards crisp investigative and reporting and political analysis. “If you maintain your in-

tegrity and that of your publication, if you show the way by example, if you remain objective, open and uncompromising, you will show the path for the media, the political class and others to follow.” Tinubu questioned the purported non-partisan role of the Federal Government. He said: “ However, recent events bring into question the purported non-partisan stance of the organization when one considers how many editors have turned their publications over to select interest groups. “Servicing interests at variance with the sacred oath made to the public to disseminate factual and comprehensive news and information is not the way of professionalism. The hijacking and distortion of news reports by powerful interests have turned the media into a commodity with a price tag. It has made a mockery of the very notion of nonpartisanship to which the media subscribes. “Editors and newspapers that willingly turn over their pages or wittingly publish misleading and false stories that serve narrow interests

or spike the more accurate reports dealing with an alternative viewpoint have lost their way. “They may be making money, but they choke democracy just to curry favour and gain a few pieces of silver. The only partisanship allowed of the media is neutral partisanship that stands on the side of truth”. The APC leader set agenda for the media on 2015 elections by asking them to be objective and balanced. He said: “Today, that monument is at risk because of a weakening foundation. We approach a sober moment in the nation’s history. Next year, elections will be held and they will pit the incumbent conservative elite against a band of reformers. “If things go as they are, many of you will meekly report what the government suggests. Or you will report at the superficial level regarding the various personalities and interest groups that comprise both camps. “However, a few of you will get to the core issue: That the two sides have vastly different visions for the nation. We are engaged in a ideologi Continued on Page 4

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor Northern Operation and Sanni ONOGU, Abuja that would serve as its secretariat. Describing the Nigerian press as one of the best and freest in the world,he said :"I will say that our profession is making progress. The Nigerian media represent the best and the freest on the continent today and everywhere around the continent, we are looked upon as the leaders of this profession. "This freedom did not just come overnight. It is something we have fought for and it is something Nigerians have recognized and in deepening this freedom, let us act with serious sense of responsibility and let us uphold the unity of this country. "Nigeria represents the basis of the freedom of Africa. Our country, no matter what challenges we have faced, had done tremendous things for this continent. "We must realize that the work of the Federal Government is huge. What President Jonathan has done in the last four yes has been very significant. The problem is that the rot has been there for a long time." Mr.Maku said that the Jonathan administration has built 10 power plants, revitalized the railways and established 13 universities in the last four years. He said that the Federal Government now has the funding requirements to complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, saying: "But because Jonathan inherited a lot of problems, it is difficult to notice what he had done so far." He added: "I want to call on my colleagues, because today when people read some of the things you write, the impression is that this country is so bad, they should not even come here. "The reality of it is that this country is the number one destination for investment in Africa for the last four years because of our policies and the nation is developing. We need patience. "This country has suffered from impatience. Each time we are having a breakthrough, something will happen. "My appeal to us is to also ensure we report our country positively. We are leading in several ways.” On his part, Governor Oshiomhole appealed to delegates at the ongoing National Dialogue to work towards the peace and development of the country. He noted that countries which are considered safe havens today have had to work for their development. Oshiomhole said: "My appeal is that anyone who has been nominated and is part of the confab would have been nominated on the assumption that he has no other country but Nigeria. "Therefore, since he does not have any other country Continued on Page 4

THE NATION

4 NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Reps uncover fresh plot against Tambuwal

fresh plot to unseat Speaker Aminu Tanmuwal of the House of Representatives has been exposed. The plot came to light on Wednesday at a close-door meeting of the Representa-

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

tives. The day was, however, only saved by the maturity of the Speaker and his loyalists who are in the major-

ity, sources said yesterday. So charged was the session that anti-Tanmbuwal Reps created a scene with a female member of the House, said to be loyal to a minister from the South-South, mounting a table to shout

•People scooping kerosene at the scene of a tanker accident at Uselu in BeninCity...yesterday NAN

Permanent voter cards ‘ll be used for 2015 elections —Jega

HE Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) would be used for the 2015 general election to check electoral fraud, it was learnt. According to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, distribution of the cards will commence nationwide between May and September 2014. The period, he said, would enable every registered voter collect his/her PVC. He made the disclosure while addressing a joint interactive meeting of the INEC and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Abuja. Jega also said the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) would also take place to give room for those who turned 18 years to register and vote. During the CVR exercise,

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja

those who have lost their Temporary Voter Cards (TVC) and cannot be located on the data base would also have the opportunity to have their biometrics captured and cards issued subsequently. Regarding the ongoing restructuring in the commission, he explained that the screening of Electoral Officers (EOs) across the country would soon be concluded and the “commission will know those that would stay as EOs and those who will be replaced.” The INEC boss said the commission had resolved to ensure credibility and prompt service delivery through internal restructuring of its personnel and policies. He noted that the Civil Society Desk of the commission

had through the restructuring exercise been upgraded as a division so as to add value to the job of the INEC. “Placing round pegs in round holes”, he said formed part of the restructuring as the members of staff had been placed according to their professions and expertise so that the 2015 election would be successful. According to him, “no stone would be left unturned in order that 2015 election is better than that of 2011”. He explained that both internal and external reviews of the conduct of the 2011 general election was done with a view to highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. Consequently, he added that the commission had learnt a lot of lessons from the mistakes of the past and was poised to make the 2015 election better than the 2011 general election.

Ukraine: The storm will be over soon —Bishop

HE publisher of Our Daily Manna and Gen eral Overseer, Manna Mountain (Inter-denominational) Ministry, Ogudu Orioke, Lagos, Bishop Chris Kwakpovwe, has assured his followers and ODM leaders in Ukraine that the siege currently ravaging it will be over soon. The man of God, made this known at the monthly anointing service held at the MPM auditorium penultimate Saturday with the theme: Enough is Enough! “This nonsense must stop”, buttressing his claims in his

sermon and quoting from the Bible books of Jeremiah 20 v 11 and Proverbs 23 v 18 respectively, amidst rain of prophetic revelations. However, there were a lot of testimonies and miracles recorded at the event. A man who had a swollen leg and pain was healed. Similarly, a woman who was on life-support received healing, and her daughter came to share the testimony in the presence of the huge congregation. Also, one Juliana Wasem, who has been battling with her left breast, was healed. Indeed, many were healed of

their afflictions and the anointing service would remain indelible in their minds. Another prominent man of God and guest preacher, Apostle Cletus Aichimien of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ogba, Lagos commented on the life of Bishop Chris. He said, “Anybody that gives you access to his life, celebrate him”. He urged the Bishop to remain focused. Dr. Chris assured his members that his God is awesome, and by March next year, he shall dedicate seven children in the church and there shall be marital thanksgiving.

at the Speaker. A crisis almost erupted in the process. A principal officer of the House(who is interested in becoming Speaker) and two loyalists of the serving minister are the arrowheads of the plot,it was gathered. Some governors are also alleged to be part of the plot. Their specific roles were not clear at press time. What is clear is that the three plotters, alongside some pro-Presidency Representatives, had on Wednesday asked the Speaker to account for every Kobo budgeted for the House. They sought details on how the House votes had been spent. They also demanded an increase in their quarterly allowances and running costs as preconditions for passing the 2014 Budget. But majority of the members saw through their demands and put up a resistance ,leaving the arrowheads to rue what might have been. One source said: " At a point, a female Representative from the South-South climbed a table and started shouting and banging the table to provoke the Speaker and his supporters. "With the support of some members, she asked the Speaker to render an account of how the House budget had been spent. The agitators also said the 2014 Budget would not be passed if the allowances payable to members were not increased by the leadership." A member from the SouthEast said: "They even said there was need to increase the

allowances because the election year is almost here and members would have to spend more. "Some of us, however, suspected foul play when a hitherto reserved and eloquent female member rose up to cause a scene over nothing. "Initially since her point was on money, there was sympathy, but when members discovered that the agitators were after the Speaker, they lost our sympathy." A Representative from the North-West said: "The truth is that these forces are after the Speaker and they have mapped out a four-point plot. "The plot entails creating disorder in the House to slight the Speaker; awaiting court judgment on 37 Representatives who defected to APC to create rumpus in the House; planning to use the tyranny of PDP majority to hold the House leadership to ransom; and removal of Speaker Tambuwal. "But they have forgotten that they cannot force a Speaker on the House even if PDP is in the majority. What is the likelihood that the PDP candidate will be acceptable to members who are mostly independent. "I hope they will not stoke the fire of North-South war in the House. Tambuwal's leadership transcends party lines." Another Representative said: "Most members did not buy into it. So, the plot fell flat on its face. They wanted to use the agitation for enhanced allowances as baits to cause crisis in the House, but members resisted them. They

are the same forces who had wanted to lead the House but were rejected. "It was shocking that those who claimed to be loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan did not want the House to pass the 2014 Budget unless more allowances were paid to them by the leadership. "This contradiction made many of us to suspect that there was a bigger picture behind the sudden agitation by the affected members. "These forces have not been happy that the Speaker refused to declare the seats of some Representatives who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant. "They decided to latch on any issue to cause commotion in the House and embarrass Tambuwal." A Principal Officer said: "The Speaker gave a satisfactory response which was acceptable to members. He said the budget of the National Assembly had remained at N150billion and he could not exceed appropriation limit. “Tambuwal reminded members that the same scenario of more allowances forced the House under exSpeaker Dimeji Bankole to take N10billion loan from a bank. "He said at the end of the day, Bankole was sacrificed by members as he was made to face an avoidable trial. "At the end of it all, Tambuwal was firm when he declared: 'I won't take loan to pay more allowances to members. I won't go beyond House budget.’ ”

News 5

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Northern governors move to end Fulani-farmers clashes

ORTHERN governors have resolved to put an immediate end to the incessant bloody confrontations between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in that part of the country. The crises have occurred more in Taraba,Benue and Nasarawa states where about 2000 people have been killed and property including houses,livestock and farm produce destroyed. Consequently,the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has scheduled a meeting with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders

Jide ORINTUNSIN, Minna

Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) next week for the purpose of tackling the problem. The date and venue of the meeting have not been disclosed for security reasons. Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Chair of the forum on Thursday met the state leadership of MACBAN in Minna as a fore-runner to a larger meeting slated for next week. Leaders of MACBAN at the

•To parley with Miyetti Allah next week

Thursday meeting expressed the readiness of the association to work closely with the governors to unmask the criminals masquerading as cattle breeders to inflict mayhem on innocent citizens. Shedding light on the proposed meeting Aliyu’s spokesman, Malam Danladi Ndayebo said : ”members of the forum and leaders of the Fulani association will fashion out strategies to address the disturbing state of insecurity in the region

and proffer practical and enduring solutions.” Aliyu said that the decision to dialogue with MACBAN was taken at the last meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) during which governors of the 36 states of the federation constituted a panel headed by Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State to handle reconciliation, healing, peace and security within the troubled region. The NSGF chair said the

governors are poised to collectively push for a national policy to settle nomads and provide adequate grazing reserves and cattle routes, since not many states have been spared of the assaults on persons and institutions by insurgents suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Speaking at the end of Thursday’s meeting, Chairman of Miyetti Allah in Niger State, Alhaji Ismaila Ahmed Rebe lamented the loss of human

lives occasioned by incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers and urged governments at both state and federal levels to take immediate steps to set aside dedicated areas of land for pastoral use. Rebe complained that lack of proper demarcation of grazing fields for herdsmen and the non adoption of a comprehensive pastoral resource development programme were major causes of constant friction between farmers and herdsmen especially in the North.

Kelvin again

•Two killed as gang unleashes mayhem on Kokori

WO persons were feared dead in troubled Kokori , Ethiope East Local Government Area Delta State yesterday after armed youths , believed to be loyal to the suspected gangster , Kelvin Iburvwe invaded the town. The incident sparked a bloody confrontation betweent the gang and troops of the Joint Task Force who were deployed following an SOS from the community. Among the victims was a middle aged man identified as Kelvin’s maternal uncle. Kelvin, who is facing trial in Abuja, is the leader of the militant group Liberation Movement of the Urhobo People. A reliable community source said the deceased met his death during a visit to Kelvin’s mother’s house . The source said, “Kelvin’s boys were on the rampage in Kokori. There was a heavy shooting in Kokori yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday). There was heavy shooting. “Two persons were killed. Kelvin’s uncle who went to visit his (Kelvin’s) mother was among the victims but the man was not a member of

Shola O’NEIL, SouthSouth Regional Editor the group. He was a quiet man who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.” It was further learnt that the Secretary of the town council, identified as Treasure Ogbe was abducted by the hoodlums to their camp on the outskirt of the town. It was gathered that he was tortured and ordered to go back and convene a meeting where he would pressurize the elders and chiefs of the community to agitate for Kelvin’s release or face more molestation. A source close to the community scribe said he was released shortly after troops moved into Kokori. Residents are understood to be worried by the resurgence of Kelvin’s gang. The gang is accused of masterminding the recent murder of two lawyers and attack on a police convoy. A source said:“We are afraid. The boys are a constant threat, their camp is nearby and the military know it but am surprised they have not moved to clear them.”

We’re not involved in Clark’s son’s kidnap — Okah, brother

HE incarcerated Okah brothers –Henry and Charles – yesterday dismissed the allegation by the Ijaw leader,Chief Edwin Clark,linking them with the recent abduction of his son,Ebikeme. Henry, currently serving a jail term in South Africa for gun running, and Charles,in prison custody at the Kuje Prison ,Abuja, called the allegation outlandish and outrageous. “The accusation is factually wrong and logically untenable,” they said in a statement through their counsel,Mr.Festus Keyamo. Mr.Keyamo said: “our clients are in prison custody both in South Africa prisons and Kuje prisons, Abuja. They are under the watchful guidance of security agencies. It is therefore unthinkable that such a complex plot as a kidnap will be hatched and executed from such distance and confinement. That will be a scathing indictment of security agencies and prison officials. “Secondly, it is curious that Chief Clark never mentioned any other fact to back his accusation. His accusation is hang-

ing in the air and is, at best, a figment of his imagination.” The Okah family,he said, wondered why Chief Clark “ seeks to apply the sledge hammer on their sons that have already been wrongly accused and oppressed as a result of hire-wired politics.” He warned that the Okah brothers would “ seek legal redress if Chief Clark continues his diatribe against them.”

•Dr. Tunji Braithwaite (second left); Dr. Joe Odumakin (second right); Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi (left) and Dr. Olufemi Kayode (right) at the national stakeholders forum on the 2014 National Conference held in Lagos... yesterday. PHOTO: Precious IGBONWELUNDU

HE global rating agency, Fitch, yesterday affirmed its rating of Nigeria’s economy at BB- and declared that the nation’s economy has a stable outlook. It cited improving stability in the economy after the suspension of CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the recent boost in the Excess Crude Account, rising oil production and improved efforts to tackle pipeline vandalism, as reasons for a stable outlook. The agency is also of the view that the Boko Haram terrorist insurgency will not have serious consequences for economic performance. It said Nigeria’s sovereign and overall external balance sheets, current account surplus, debt service ratio and external liquidity are all stronger than ‘BB’ category medians although it noted that “the current surplus has been declining (4.1 per cent of GDP in 2013) and may be overstated given large errors and omissions. FDI is less than 1 per cent of GDP, amongst the lowest in the region.” Fitch Ratings said it has “affirmed Nigeria’s Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer

Fitch rates Nigeria BBDefault Ratings (IDR) at ‘BB-’ and ‘BB’, respectively. The Outlooks are Stable. The issue ratings on Nigeria’s senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds have also been affirmed at ‘BB-’ and ‘BB’, respectively. The agency has also affirmed Nigeria’s Short-term foreign currency IDR at ‘B’ and Country Ceiling at ‘BB-’. It gave the key rating drivers as the foreign exchange market and international reserves which ,according to it,are ”stabilising after the shock of central bank (CBN) governor Sanusi’s suspension on 20 February.” It said: “demand for Foreign Exchange (FX) in the official auction reverted to normal levels in March and CBN intervention in the inter-bank market has fallen away. The interbank naira/US dollar rate has strengthened from its lows although it remains outside the upper limit of the 155 plus or

minus 3% band.” Fitch added that “official reserves rose in March, helped by an increase in the ECA fiscal buffer (Excess Crude Account). Although reserves have fallen appreciably over the past year, they remain in line with ‘BB’ category peer medians at a Fitch projected 4.6 months Current Account Payments (CXP) at end 2014, although weaker than similarly rated oil exporters (Angola and Gabon).” Fitch said it believes that as an institution, the CBN has been strengthened in recent years and should retain its autonomy over monetary and financial policy, notwithstanding the suspension of the former governor. It noted that on 25 March the Monetary Policy Committee continued the gradual tightening of liquidity seen over the past year, with an increase in the private sector cash reserve requirement to 15 per cent. Inflation fell to a new low of 7.7

per cent in February, within the target range of 6 per cent to 9 per cent. Oil production, Fitch said, remains volatile but rose in the first quarter of 2014 to average 2.25mb/d, in line with the trailing 12-month average, and above the recent low of 2.1mb/ d in November/December 2013. In added:”improved production and increased efforts to tackle pipeline vandalism and oil theft may help explain the increase in the ECA in March. The issue of corruption in the oil sector and lack of transparency in oil flows has gained heightened prominence this year and the President has agreed to a forensic audit of the flows between state-owned oil company NNPC and the budget.” Other factors supportive of the affirmation include: Nigeria’s low debt burden, which after the recent GDP re-basing is just 12.6 per cent of GDP (general government) at end-2013, is well below medians throughout the rating scale. Fitch’s debt sustainability analysis shows “the debt ratio would remain well below the ‘BB’ median in

financial crimes in all facets of our lives, but to rise up and do something about it,” he said. Lamorde, however, warned students to desist from using the internet to defraud innocent people and called attention to the arrest,on a daily ,of offenders in various cases of internet scams. ‘’ And 65 per cent of these people are undergraduates . Please learn to use the internet positively,’’ Lamorde, charged. The EFCC Boss noted that it hurts so much to see the future leaders of

Nigeria languishing in jails , adding , ‘’ but the law must take its course.’’ Also speaking, Hajiya Aisha Larai-Musa, the Head of Public Enlightenment and Re-Orientation Unit of the commission explained that the commission came up with the idea of the club in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS). She said the idea was mooted against the backdrop of the high rate of criminal activities in tertiary institutions and the pervasive nature of corruption, economic

and financial crimes in Nigeria. In the same vein, Vice Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto Prof. Riskuwa Shehu represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of academics, Prof. Abubakar Bagudo urged Nigerians to collectively and frontally fight corruption. ‘’ Unless this is done, the dream of achieving sustainable growth and development in Nigeria would continue to elude the nation,’’ the Vice Chancellor pointed out.

•Says Nigeria’s FDI of 1% of GDP, amongst the lowest in the region

773 convictions secured so far by EFCC, says Lamorde

HE Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde,yesterday gave an update on the achievements of the agency since inception in 2003 and said it has so far secured 773 convictions. Billions of naira has also been recovered by the agency from convicts,he said in Sokoto. He was presenting a paper entitled ‘’ Students should lead the fight against economic and financial crimes,’’ at the launch of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University,

Adamu SULEIMAN, Sokoto Sokoto chapter of Zero Tolerance Club- ZTC.’’ Lamorde who was represented by Mr Osita Nwajah, Deputy Director, Public Affairs Department of the Commission, said economic and financial crimes constitute a great challenge to the Nigerian economy and the nation’s image both at home and abroad. ‘’ The commission has been re-orienting Nigerians to not only see the devastating effects of corruption, economic and

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Text of the remarks by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the launching of the building fund of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE) in Abuja on Thursday T gives me great pleasure to be with you today. I feel comfortable being among one of the great constituencies of our body politic. What you do is dear to my heart. As I scan the hall today, I see familiar faces many of who fought during the dark moments of dictatorship to free this nation so that democracy could take root in our land. When the nation needed you, many of you answered the historic call by braving the oppression to stand as beacons of conscience, freedom of speech and human rights. The media served as an advanced guard for democracy. Where would we have been without those who demanded a free press? What would have become of our democratic destiny if the media had not stood in defence of our rights, our freedoms and constitutional rule? Nigeria would have become a huge barracks run by the men in uniform and their civilian confederates. Because you manned the barricades alongside pro-democracy activists and progressive civil society, the reign of the jackboots ended. Nigeria rediscovered constitutional rule. I am tempted resign all of that to history, but I cannot because history more often repeats itself than it slips quietly into the past. This is so because the character flaws and the political footworks of our present leaders are similar to the jackbooted- back steps past leaders took when we suffered dictatorial leadership. The approaching sounds of the drum of ethnic tension are now heard, religion has become a tool of hate-thy-neighbour politics. An imperial yet parochial presidency arrogates to itself the powers of National Assembly and the courts. meanwhile, it withholds funds from state and local governments in order to bring them under heel and to quash political dissent and opposition. As long as it persists in this effort to use the enormous resources and powers of the Federal Government to intimidate or impoverish those who are not in their camp, the Federal Government has wedded to the path of arbitrary rule and an over-concentration of power. These bear the marks of dictatorship and they imperil the sanctity of the Nigerian national project. The people need to understand that a great change is underway but not the change they want. I nstead of wobbling slowly forward, the government is taking us steadily backward. We move not toward the future but toward the past. The people are being feted on a false feast of true lies. To save Nigeria, we need a whistle blower or a courageous town crier to alert and wake us. In this vein, the media remains the one vital institution upon which we depend to play the role of watchdog. You, as an institution, must hold the political system under your gaze and hold those who operate it accountable to the people. The Guild of Editors should be in the vanguard to build a new Nigeria. As an organisation for journalists who have achieved the exalted position of Editor at their various publications or media organisations, The Guild possesses the caliber of people that can lead other journalists in the right direction towards crisp investigative and reporting and political analysis. If you maintain your integrity and that of your publication, if you show the way by example, if you remain objective, open and uncompromising, you will show the path for the media, the political class and others to follow. However, recent events bring into question the purported non-partisan stance of the organisation when one considers how many editors have turned their publications over to select interest groups. Servicing interests at variance with the sacred oath made to the public to disseminate factual and comprehensive news and information is not the way of professionalism. The hijacking and distortion of news reports by powerful interests has turned the media into a commodity with a price tag. It has made a mockery of the very notion of nonpartisanship to which the media subscribes. Editors and newspapers that willingly turn over their pages or wittingly publish misleading and false stories that serve narrow interests or spike the more accurate reports dealing with an alternative viewpoint have lost their way. They may be making money but they choke democracy just to curry favour and gain a few pieces of silver. The only partisanship allowed of the media is neutral partisanship that stands on the side of truth. As far back as 1972 during your annual conference, you launched your Code of Conduct. In that document, among other things, you committed to firm journalistic ethics and nationalistic ethos. Part of the preamble states: "But experience has shown many lapses in the practice of the profession and it has for long become apparent that a code of conduct must be established among practising journalists themselves, if they must fulfill their true functions and if a standard below which journalists may not be expected to fall may be laid down." The NGE made these solemn declarations among others: • That the public is entitled to the truth and that only correct information can form the basis for sound journalism and ensure the confidence of the people. • That it is the moral duty of every journalist to have respect for the truth and to publish or prepare for publication only the truth and to the best of his knowledge. • That it is the duty of the journalist to publish only facts: never to suppress such facts as he knows; never to falsify either to suit his own purposes or any other purposes. • That once information has been collected and published, the journalist shall observe the universally accepted principle of secrecy and shall not disclose the source of information obtained in confidence. • That it is the duty of every journalist to correct any published information found to be incorrect. While a section of the media have performed creditably well, a growing section seems besotted with power, often

‘

• Asiwaju Tinubu

Tinubu to editors: Let’s rescue this democracy

Next year, elections will be had and they will pit the incumbent conservative elite against a band of reformers...Let us try to rescue this democracy by giving the people a chance to exercise that collective wisdom by giving them your best journalistic product at this time

‘

crossing the line. The lines have been crossed. The newsrooms have become shopping centers where interests shop for the most pliable editor or reporter to push their point of view or story. Investigative knack is gone. The fire of patriotism continues to be extinguished and that of professionalism is now only a flicker. Journalism has become not just a danger to itself as a profession but now inflicts harm to the republic by knowingly feeding the people half truths, innuendos and outright falsehood. When reporting and reality are too far apart, journalism has ceased and propaganda has begun. A nation awash in propaganda is a nation dry and devoid of democracy much like a desert is devoid of water. I have chosen today to strike at the heart of the perils confronting journalism and the dwindling influence of the media because no matter how big and beautiful the physical edifice we build, unless the practitioners of the profession and the occupiers of the building reform internally and commit themselves to be professional, the building becomes more of a symbol of wasted opportunity than a model of right and justice. It serves to extol but to indict. NGE has the responsibility to ensure that our media leaders are held to the highest standard. It must lead the crusade side by side with the NUJ to tackle this problem. Once an editor is upright, it will be difficult for his reporters to compromise. You must revive the spirit of courageous and non-compromising journalism that described the fight against military rule. Then, the media became the last hope of the common man. Even the judiciary had caved. Those were days when dictatorship reigned supreme and impunity was the order. Under a suspended constitution our rights, freedoms and privileges were taken away. All opposition groups and points of dissent were decimated. Only the media remained standing. You the journalists, the editors will not stand down.

Rather, you stared dictatorship in the face until it blinked and returned to the barracks. I will never forget what Prof Wole Soyinka said of the media after that struggle (1986-1999). I paraphrase: “When it is all said and done, we shall erect a monument to the Nigerian media for their positive role in seeing to the exit of the military and a return to democracy...." Today, that monument is at risk because of a weakening foundation we approach a sober moment in the nation's history. Next year, elections will be had and they will pit the incumbent conservative elite against a band of reformers. If things go as they are, many of you will meekly report what the government suggests. Or you will report at the superficial level regarding the various personalities and interest groups that comprise both camps. However, few of you will get to the core issue: that the two sides have vastly different visions for the nation. We are engaged in a ideological battle for the soul and future of the nation. Yet, you report as if such a struggle does not exist. Those of you who say this battle does not exist are simply being disingenuous, lazy or cynical. The contrast is there but you must have the intellectual courage to report it. That is your job. Once you have done so, the people will be amply informed and they will make the choice according to their collective wisdom. Let us try to rescue this democracy by giving the people a chance to exercise that collective wisdom by giving them your best journalistic product at this time. If you do less than this, you fail your national mission. If Nigeria fails, if democracy falters, your profession is again endangered. Why risk a return to a time when being principled journalists made you an enemy of the state and placed your life and limb at risk? As editors, you hold the key to change our society. The media has a role in upholding the rule of law, justice and fairness for all. Let us build this democracy together. Then, the edifice you launch today will sand the test of time. The storm of change is blowing. There is change in the air. I urge you to be part of that change. I leave you with these two quotations: “Let us resolve to be masters, not the victims, of our history, controlling our own destiny without giving way to blind suspicions and emotions.” -- John F. Kennedy “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” -- Barack Obama. Thank you for listening

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

COMMENTARY

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It is an indulgence, and a provocative one at that too, to talk of so much wealth in a nation with so much mass poverty in the midst of such plenty

igeria rebased its GDP recently and the government gleefully announced that its new size makes Nigeria's economy the biggest in Africa, having displaced S Africa which occupied that enviable position prior to the rebasing. On the worsening crisis in Ukraine the US accused Russia of using its supplies of gas to Ukraine to control that beleaguered nation just as the US is tightening sanctions on Russia for recent invasion of Crimea in Ukraine. On the internet this week was a story that a 14 year old Nigerian girl who was forced to marry a 35 year old husband in Kano had killed the husband with rat poison and is to be charged to court as a juvenile. It is my considered opinion that each of the news items I have identified for analysis today can stand on its own in terms of the politics behind its nature, occurrence, socio economic and even diplomatic implications. My goal today therefore is to show that in each case serious issues arise which have to be appreciated and tackled in a realistic and just manner if equity and justice in these matters are to be achieved in the local and international environment we are dealing with. We start with the $510 bn Nigerian GDP which has raised so much hullabaloo. The opposition APC has said that the government has ridiculed itself by the exercise. In response the government spokesman called the Opposition a 'global irritant' which I think is an unfortunate though good piece of malapropism - a ludicrous misuse of language, as the APC is just doing its legitimate duty of check mating the government in power, as expected of any opposition worth its salt in Nigeria, and I do not think that can be described as a global nuisance by any stretch of the human imagination. Aside from outpacing S Africa in economic size I do not see the real value of the rebasing of the Nigerian GDP. It immediately reminded me of what former British Labor PM Harold Wilson said when the British pound was devalued during his tenure of office. Wilson told the British people that though the pound has been devalued it does not mean that the pound in their pocket will buy less in Britain. In a cynical way one can say the same of this Nigerian GDP rebasing. It has added no value to the value of the naira on the streets of Nigeria and we all know that in terms of purchas-

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The politics of GDP, energy and justice ing power of Nigerians, the naira is buying less and less, in terms of consumption of essential goods and services by the day, with the teeming masses of impoverished Nigerians. While one grants the government the right or is it the duty to update statistics on the GDP, it is an indulgence, and a provocative one at that too, to talk of so much wealth in a nation with so much mass poverty in the midst of such plenty. And such huge disparities between the rich and the poor, in a nation where youths die on employment lines while potential employers make money out of selling jobs application forms. Indeed there is something inherently mischievous and suspicious about the timing of the rebasing. It again reminded me of some wayward revaluation of assets in banks which can be either legitimate or fraudulent. Some so- called 'smart' bank managers can quickly revalue security assets so that more loans can be given out, even when they know the security value can never cover loans disbursed in the event of a break down in repayment arrangements and schedules. Banks have been known to revalue assets close to Annual General Meetings so that the Shareholders think their balance sheets are solid when all they are doing is to convert foreign currency holdings to their naira value. Which is so mischievously similar to this highly trumpeted rebasing of Nigeria's GDP. With regard to the US accusation of Russia of using its supplies of gas to control Ukraine, the US should know that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. The US is using economic sanctions to deal with Russia over Crimea and in the process has opened the eyes of the Russian bear to what it could use in retaliation. Russia has threatened to turn off its gas supplies to Ukraine because that nation is owing Russia a huge gas debt of $2.2bn. On the surface this is a normal business transaction between a buyer and a seller but it runs deeper than that. The aim of the Russian threat is to ward off future EU sanctions

because Ukraine is a conduit for gas supplies to many EU nations. Gazprom the Russian oil giant has threatened that it will seek advance payment if Ukraine does not pay its present gas debts and that it would turn off the gas if immediate payment is not forthcoming. So if the US is calling the shots and muzzling the foreign accounts of Russian President Vlladmir Putin's close aides, Russia is absorbing the pressure but turning the heat on Ukraine an ally of the US over the supplies of gas and gas debts owed Russia by the Kiev government inUkraine. So, both the US and Russia are on tenterhooks over Ukraine and we are watching to see who will blink first in the undeclared war of sanctions and gas debts that the invasion of Crimea by Russia is slowly but gradually ballooning into, in the global diplomatic theatre. In the case of the under aged Nigerian girl who killed her husband with rat poison, the interplay of culture, religion and justice come to the fore. I say categorically that it is wrong of anyone, whether adult or juvenile, to take human life except perhaps, in self- defence. It is very arguable that the culprit can claim self -defence successfully in a court of law in Nigeria. But given the huge discrepancy in age between her and her husband and the fact that she had no choice in the matter of her choice of husband, the rat option may have looked as a liberation option to her young mind, out of her incarceration in a relationship she knew she could not live with for the rest of her life. The morality or rationale of her now executed escape route from forced marriage is definitely criminal, but did she really have any option other than to commit murder so as to exact the capital punishment to give her an escape route out of her culturally approbated, infant predicament, matrimonial subjugation and slavery? I doubt, and I watch the trial of this murderous juvenile wife with great interest as it unfolds in our hallowed temples of justice here in Nigeria.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

8 COMMENTARY

So, Jonathan was embarrassed? Knucklehead resident Goodluck Jonathan may not inspire anyone either as a raconteur or a gifted orator, but he sure has a way of knocking the truth on the head. He did exactly that earlier in the week when he confessed to being ‘embarrassed’ by the negative impact the electoral heist of 2007 inflicted on an administration in which he served as Vice President until he, fortuitously so, emerged as President following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Personally, it was uplifting that a sitting President, who was also a direct beneficiary of an incredibly flawed election which was dubiously supervised by Prof. Maurice Iwu, would come out clean on the matter seven years after he and many others were dashed the stolen mandate in a do-or-die election. I just hope Iwu and his aides who spent millions of naira on advertorials trying to justify the shoddy job would find time for an introspective moment on Jonathan’s observation. It’s to Jonathan’s credit that the 2011 general election was a radical departure from the sickening madness foisted on the nation by Iwu and his gang in 2007. And isn’t it intriguing that we didn’t have to wait that long before the truth they so much struggled to bury had to catch up with them? No doubt, Nigeria is not anywhere near the conduct of a free, fair and acceptable election. Yet, it is soul-lifting that Jonathan did not just speak of his frustration but also promised an improvement in the 2015 election. Listen to him: “After taking the oath, …each time one travelled abroad, people asked all kinds of questions that even got one angry. That was when I promised myself that if I had an opportunity to oversee elections in Nigeria, no other president or vice president should suffer that can kind of harassment by the international community. That is why in the 2011 elections, even though I was a candidate, I said nobody should manipulate elections for me; that my ambition and the fate of the country are two different things. The interest of the nation is much more superior to any other ambition and I kept faith with that. At least, at the end of that election, observers accepted it locally and internationally. And I promise that 2015 elections will be better.” I just hope that, for his sake, Jonathan walks his talk as 2015 approaches. If he claims to typify a breath of fresh air, then let him show it both in word and in deed. We do understand how it feels when the President of Africa’s biggest economy is embarrassed, harassed or needlessly questioned over issues relating to his emergence as President in a shambolic voting process. We share his pains, anguish and anger. But then, there are a thousand and one things back home that should also embarrass him and probably nudge him to take urgent and immediate action. For example, he should be embarrassed that, in spite of the efforts being put into the fight against terrorism by the

With

military, hundreds of lives are being hacked to death daily. It is embarrassing that gunmen now brazenly storm communities and eliminate hundreds of villagers without being challenged. I also believe the President should be outraged by the level at which blood now flows freely on our streets. He should be embarrassed by the tempo at which the country seamlessly slides into anarchy. We cannot, in all honesty, blame some government officials and voodoo economists for going into a wild frenzy following the fantastic figures released after the rebasing of the country’s economy. It is something to be celebrated by those who feel the impact and those who need to latch on it as a major tool for campaign. But that, I must confess, is pedestrian and untenable. Nigeria may jolly well have a great Gross Domestic Product totaling $510 thereby making it the 26th largest economy in the world. Now, how does that affect the price of fish? How does that eclipse the reality of biting poverty and incremental rate of unemployment in the country? What positive impact has this tremendous leap made on the society? How does it affect the health, education, power and other critical sectors? Why should our case be that of a big economy amid a growing tribe of poverty-ridden populace? Was Jonathan riled by the statement credited to his Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the ultimate picture painted by the humongous GDP figures was that of a nation whose citizens live worse than they were before the leap? Did he get a jolt of the realities before him as President or is he cool with the scenario of an economic leap that draws the citizenry backwards? For sure, it’s not just about what Ngozi said or didn’t say. It is more about how we feel about the contradictions in our lives. If they knew this rebasing thing would offer nothing other than a temporary bragging right for the economic juggernauts in high places to hug the limelight, why did they project the false impression of a looming economic Eldorado? Surely, the realities are quite different. On this matter, a little bit ‘harassment’ of the President should spur him to action. This time, his vow should be directed at correcting the anomalies in an economy with a rich dad breeding a generation of poor, malnourished kids. That is exactly what the Nigeria Labour Congress was alluding to in its statement titled, “Good GDP without sustainable and viable jobs: A time bomb.” Or is there still anyone out there doubting the union’s declaration that living conditions have continuously been nosediving in the last couple of years? What’s there to celebrate in a GDP that could not cater for the needs of millions of desperate, angry and traumatised unemployed youths in the economy? Shouldn’t the President be deeply embarrassed by this kind of economics and queer development? Does the situation in the real sector call for any partying? How

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913

many industries have emerged from the collapsed empire where multinational firms have had to relocate to neighbouring West African countries? Shouldn’t Jonathan be embarrassed that, few days after the official announcement of a soaring GDP that places Nigeria as the 26th largest economy in the world, the World Bank has come out to warn that the rebasing of the GDP does not necessarily translate into foreign financial inflow in the absence of good policies and prospects? To rub the message in, the Bank’s Chief Economist, Africa Region, Mr. Francisco Ferreira, was quoted as saying: "I think it’s great to have a sense of how large the economy is; it (Nigeria) is also the most populous country in the region. But going forward, what matters are living standards for everyone and the productivity that generate(s) those living standards. I don't think investors seeking foreign investment in London, New York, Beijing or Tokyo are looking at GDP statistics necessarily, they are looking at how profitable investments they can make in that country are." The question to ask, Ferreira said, is: can Nigeria boast of a marked improvement in per capita income and the living standards of its citizens? I guess even delegates being served a N4000 ticket per meal at the National Conference know the answer to this question. The embedded message is simple: we should all smell the coffee and stop celebrating inanities all in a bid to remain politically correct! On a lighter note, I guess the President should chew on this parable of the rich and his povertystricken children as posted by Biodun Komolafe on his Facebook wall: He writes: ‘The richest man on our continent is worth $510 billion. But he cannot afford food, accommodation and clothing for his children. Every day, armed robbers and terrorists attack his household, kill his children and plunder their belongings. In the 21st century, he is so much in love with hurricane lamps for supply of light at night. He is at the mercy of nature for agriculture. His manufacturing sector is dead. He depends on contaminated water from polluted environment for his family daily water needs. His children can only afford to buy secondhand materials to use. I want answer from all parts of the world, what manner of man is this superrich man on my continent?’ Does anyone have the answer?

The NIS recruitment fiasco: My take s the nation (?) mourns the dead who lost their lives in search of a better life for themselves and their families, there is need to hold someone responsible for this human resource management fiasco. How many people did the NIS hope to engage by this exercise? This is where to start. If truly, the aim of the sham was to get a specific number of youths off the labour market, the number must have been determined. This number is what should have formed the basis for whatever screening the NIS would have engaged in. If truly this was done and the number of vacancies was established to be 3,500 or 4,000, why did the service invite hundreds of thousands of applicants to a screening? This is failure of HR planning. Or was it a deliberate attempt to show off the government as trying to reduce unemployment? If it was, it terribly backfired! Before the date for the aptitude test, the NIS ought to have used several screening measures to have pruned to a reasonable, yes, reasonable size, the number of applicants for the available positions. Many yardsticks ranging from number of times one sat for WAEC, to marital status, to age. They should have used other methods such as drawing a cutoff date for the applicants. All these should have been done in order to reduce the number of applicants. If all these measures did not reduce the number to a manageable size, the best thing under the circumstance, would have been to

Titus A. ORNGU

phase the exercise in order to reduce stampede at the centers. But if the NIS did all of that and yet, ended up with the mammoth crowds that turned out at the various stadia, more than those who go to watch our premier league matches, then, the exercise should have been called off! Yes. But since it was a cheap popularity stunt, the more, the merrier for a government that does not give a damn about anything, including human lives; a government that knows that when you push Nigerians to the wall, they break the wall! So, Nigerians thronged to the stadia in droves in search of government jobs and scores lost their lives yet the government officials who failed to plan properly for the career and safety of these young Nigerians have turned to blame the dead for being the cause of their deaths! It is high time someone took responsibility for this failure rather than blaming the desperate applicants, some of whom may have been unemployed five years or more, post graduation. The Minister who superintended over this shambolic popularity stunt should most respectfully, quit his plumb position; the head of the NIS and the HR Director should follow suit. Even if the Minister were trying to score cheap popularity with the exercise, as it clearly is evident, they should have known better

and given a professional advice that would avert this mishap. And if the Minister insisted on the charade of a stunt, they should have honorably left and allowed him to stew in his broth. But since they didn't, they should both go the same way. As sad as the incident of last Saturday is, it has shown, once again, that the unemployment problem in Nigeria is enormous and needs strategic planning and tackling. It is not a matter for political rhetorics. It has also shown that Nigerians would rather push down the wall when they are pushed tight against it. The dead have already been left to their fate and families while life continues as if nothing happened! To some of the applicants, it is fewer competitors for the available slots! The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia started when a young applicant, Mohammed Bouazizi, who was selling fruit had his cart ceased by corrupt government officials and seeing no further hope in Tunisia and life, decided to end it all by burning himself in front of a government office. How many more will die in Nigeria before we will know that Nigeria needs to be reformed, reworked and realigned? As I write this, some youths are shouting themselves hoarse to ensure that the same people who have brought this hardship on them are still ensconced in the luxury of their plum positions while the rest of us are fed to the earthworms. All because everyone of us sees himself as a survivor! I'm sick!

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

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Deputy Mayor of London Borough of Lambeth, Councillor Adedamola Aminu (left) presenting an award of outstanding contribution to Education and Empowerment in Nigeria to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at Monarch Suite, Hilton, London Metropole, London … Last Saturday. With them isLlabour Councillor Lib Peck.

Jide BABALOLA

13 THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

•Mathew

BLOODY

Thursday for 70-yr-old, four sons Story on pages 14&15

•70-yr-old Hunkokoe showing the lump on his back

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

•Mathew

‘They attacked me I fainted... I don’t kn

n Kunle AKINRINADE n

They grabbed my bag containing N271, 000 and 255 CFA. They attacked me with cutlasses and I fainted. They went further to attack my father and my siblings who came to rescue me and vandalised our stations. I did not know how I survived till date because I was terribly dealt with by the heartless thugs

T was a frightening scene at dusk on Thursday April 3 in Ijofin community near Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, when fiercelooking hoodlums numbering over 30 attacked a family of four. The victims included 70-year-old Pa Simeon Hunkokoe and his children namely: Mathew (25), Peter (35), Emmanuel (28) and Idowu (30). Some of the victims are now in critical conditions in hospitals after being attacked by suspected hoodlums at a petrol station. It was learnt that the hoodlums allegedly claimed to be agents of one Titus aka Oppressor, who is a chieftain of a group of petrol dealers, allegedly stormed Alpha Best Petrol Station, Ijofin, demanding for the sum of N50,000 as ‘settlement’. They were said to have switched off the generator used to power the station and stopped the station attendants from selling fuel to customers, while they also threatened to deal with them unless their demand was met. One of the attendants, who is a brother to the manager of the station, Mathew Hunkokoe, reportedly declined to offer the hoodlums any settlement asking for time to get clearance from his brother on the telephone. Mathew’s posture was said to have angered the hoodlums, who grabbed his bag containing proceeds of the day’s sales and tried to run away. Mathew was said to have grabbed one of them asking for the return of his money. He was allegedly attacked with cutlasses and axe by the hoodlums led by one Samuel. The hoodlums were said to have hurriedly left the scene when Mathew passed out.

Mathew’s father, Pa. Simeon Hunkokoe, was not spared as he too was attacked by the hoodlums during an ambush when he attempted to rescue his son. Recalling the incident, an eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: “The incident happened about 7.10pm on April 3 when one Samuel and his boys stormed Alpha Petrol Station, Ijofin, asking for N50, 000 settlement. A sibling of the station’s manager, Mathew, refused to give them any money and Samuel attacked him with a cutlass, while his boys numbering about 30 joined him to deal with the innocent boy until he passed out. They left him for dead and threatened to further deal with other members of his family. “When his father was told of his son’s predicament on phone, he quickly went to the scene in company with his other children to take Mathew to a nearby private hospital but they were ambushed by the hoodlums. They were attacked with dangerous weapons and inflicted with machetes, while the distraught father of the boy was hit in the back with an iron object which left him with a swollen back. It was learnt that Pa Hunkokoe ran into a nearby church from where he escaped

•Idowu into a forest to avoid being killed by the hoodlums, who, it was learnt, went further to vandalise Sesewe and Royal Petrol Stations belonging to some members of the distraught family. Not satisfied, the hoodlums went further to vandalise two petrol stations belonging to a kinsman of the victims called Solomon Atagbo. Not a few pumps and windows louvers were destroyed during the operation which lasted hours. According to Atagbo, “The attack was carried out by the hoodlums soon after they left Alpha Best Petrol Station where they hacked the station’s attendants and their siblings.The hoodlums have been disturbing many petrol station operators in this community and I want to use this opportunity to call on security forces to rescue us from the grip of the lawless hoodlums.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

•Peter

•Emmanuel

with cutlasses and ow how I survived’ The incident was reported at Idiroko Police Station while our correspondent gathered that the suspected leader of the group Samuel has gone underground. When our correspondent visited the victims in various hospitals in Ipokia and Cotonou, Benin Republic, some of them could not speak because of their conditions. Peter Hunkokoe, (35), who is now on oxygen at a specialist hospital in Cotonou, was seen battling excruciating pains as a result of several injuries sustained during the attack, while Mathew only managed to say: ” I was attacked by 30 hoodlums led by Samuel who came to our station to demand for money. They grabbed my bag containing N271, 000 and 255 CFA. They attacked me with cutlasses and I fainted. They went further to attack my father and my siblings who

came to rescue me and vandalised our stations. I did not know how I survived till date because I was terribly dealt with by the heartless thugs.” It was gathered that men of Idiroko Police Division had visited Samuel’s residence to arrest him but he was said to have relocated. “Policemen from Idiroko Division had been to his house to arrest him several times since the incident but he had bolted away. Surprisingly, he forwarded a petition to the Ogun Police Command, Eleweran, alleging that his victims had robbed him which made police to arrest my father for interrogation”, Mathew added. Our correspondent made fruitless attempts to speak with Samuel on phone. He promised to revert to our correspondent after he had introduced himself and reasons for the conversation but did not.

•Emmanuel

When our correspondent called him again, he immediately switched off his phone without saying a word. Speaking with our correspondent, Titus aka Oppressor, explained that Samuel was not his staff or agent, adding that he did not send him to demand for any money from petrol marketers. “Samuel is not my employee or agent and I did not at any time instruct him to extort money from anybody. I know him to be working for an association of petrol station dealers in the community but I don’t know anything about his mission to the stations you mentioned. Besides, I don’t even live in their community; I live in Ajegunle.’’ The Manager of Alpha Best Petrol Station, Mr. Olutayo Hunkokoe, explained that the hoodlums had been terrorising innocent petrol station owners in recent times. He said: “Samuel and his boys have become our nemesis lately. They would come to our station to demand for money which I usually turned down. They have labelled me an enemy of their syndicate and that is why they came to my station in my absence to attack my staff who are mostly my siblings. I have reported his incessant threats and harassment to community leaders in the past but I was asked not to engage him in any confrontation.” When contacted, Ogun State Police spokesman, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “Although, Samuel had rushed down to the command with a rather frivolous petition, the elderly man (Simeon Hunkokoe) that was arrested has since been released but I can assure you that the case would be painstakingly investigated by police and justice would be done on the matter.”

Samuel is not my employee or agent and I did not at any time instruct him to extort money from anybody. I know him to be working for an association of petrol station dealers in the community but I don’t know anything about his mission to the stations you mentioned. Besides, I don’t even live in their community; I live in Ajegunle

FROM COURT

Kolade ADEYAMI, Kano Rukayat JIMOH

Innocent DURU

Vivian OKORIE

Kunle AKINRINADE

EMERGENCY/DISTRESS LINES Call the police on the following numbers: Police Control Room One: Emergency/distress call telephone numbers: 07055350249; 07035068242; RRS Control Two: Alausa 0806399264 and 767 toll free line.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Size of the bottle of all tested products is 100ml Dr. Ajibade

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Korede YISHAU

Akinbile

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

•An aeria view of the city

•Alekuwodo Road at night

OSOGBO:

•Freedom Park

OU begin to feel the splendour of the Osun State capital, Osogbo, right from the satellite towns. On the median of the express road that leads to the town are neatly arranged and beautiful street lights, which have combined to add colour and beauty to the road. On either side of the express road are beautifully designed houses and offices. You do not need a soothsayer to confirm to you that Osogbo has benefitted from the cordial relationship between Osun and Lagos states. The ubiquitous exotic vehicles with Lagos registration number surely elicit curiosity. And one out of seven private cars you see in Osogbo is likely to have Lagos registration number. Explaining the trend, a resident of the state capital, Alade Jacobs, said the presence of private cars with Lagos registration number is largely connected with the influx of people who have seen hitherto absent opportunities in the state capital. “Of recent, people from Lagos are trooping here probably because of the business opportunities and the peaceful atmosphere that pervades the town. Here, crime is not something that you hear often.” Ever since it took over the reign of power in Osun State a little over three years ago, the present administration has made no pretentions about its determination to turn around the fortunes of the state capital from its agrarian setting and make it stand shoulder to shoulder with other capital cities around the world. And with sure-footed measures, Osogbo is gradually wearing a look, which many have agreed has fast-forwarded the status of a city, which prior to this time had only been made popular by the Osun Osogbo Festival. Today, entering Osogbo, you would but appreciate the transformation that it has witnessed in recent times, especially if you have been away from there for sometime. For the first time, Osogbo is looking like a true state

From rurality to modernity n Gbenga ADERANTI n and Segun AJIBOYE capital. And everywhere you turn, the air of security around you gives an added assurance to both old and new residents, both day and night. The presence of patrolling anti-crime policemen in well-maintained Hilux vans and the Armoured Carrier Personnel (APC), manned by Swift Action Squad (SAS) is a warning sign that there is no room for crime and criminality in the state. A few years ago, Osogbo, like other towns

Massive developments and transformations! That is the only way to capture the the new looks that Osun wears in almost all the facets of its life at the moment...

of similar status, goes to sleep as early as 10pm, leaving night crawlers with no other choice than an early romance with their beds. But all that have today been consigned to the dustbin of history. Even as early as 3am, you are sure of getting commercial motorcles (Okada) to wherever you are going. Driving in Osogbo from the Iwo Road axis going to Stadium road, you need not go through the town, because you have the newly constructed East Bye pass of the Ring Road; Capital-Awosuru will also afford road users who want to avoid the Okefia axis to burst out to the Gbongan-Ibadan Express Way. Another is that of the newly-constructed Capital - Tinumola Estate Road that links the newly completed Oroki Estate- LAMECO Junction Road. Going through the Mainland of Osogbo, you will have the Isalegbemu-Balogun Agoro-Oluode terminating at Boorepo Ayetoro axis. You will also avoid the main road and traffic going through Okebaale beside Eid Praying Ground to Oke-Abesu Road. On the Ogooluwa axis is that of Omigade

Cit

area, Guarantee Trust side road and FOMWAN- Okoso Road. The list of the newly constructed roads which were left unattended to before the advent of the Aregbesola administration have been completed to service people within the capital city. Like a typical state capital, the atmosphere in Osogbo during the working hours is always busy and serious. But as night approaches, the business and official lifestyle fades, giving way to an atmosphere of robust, but simple energy. Done with the day’s work, fun seekers quickly pull off the official suit and tie and change into simple night attire before converging on the different clubs that have sprung up in the town. For instance, The ‘Pavilion’ and ‘The Place’, located along Olusegun Obasanjo Way and Dada Estate, have become the hotspots for fun seekers. According to a resident and patron of the clubs, Taju, ‘These two places have become unarguably the biggest spots in Osogbo.” When our correspondent visited ‘The Pavilion’ at about 8 pm on Sunday, activities at the club were at their peak. At this mo-

Pe a c Ys

ment, the barrier of class, sex and age was broken, as guests, young and old, male and female, the rich and the not so rich mixed freely, enjoying the cool night breeze to the fullest. Unlike other places where social activities and night crawling have become a thing of the past, in Osogbo, whatever time you want to move out, you do not have to entertain fears of being mugged or molested. Little wonder, no time is too late for both male and female to walk on the street. Wherever you visit in the town, you are sure to be confronted with one construction site or the other, with all the constituencies experiencing one form of developmental project or the other. Added to these are scores of roads that have been completed. Also, aesthetics have found meaning in Osogbo. Today, you cannot ignore the neatness of the city. The urban renewal programme already put in place by the present administration has really helped in shaping the town. Schemes such as O’Clean and the beautification scheme of the environment ministry have been responsible for the city’s cleanliness.

A new comer to the Okefia and the old railway station (now Freedom Park) areas of Osogbo will appreciate the turnaround that has taken place in there. Just a little over four years ago, those places were congested, littered with old buildings and shanties, which gave the city an image of ancientness. Okefia and Freedom Park today wear beautiful and modern looks befitting a state capital. For the first time in the history of the state, lovers of football and the European football leagues can watch the beautiful game live on the two large LED screens installed in the areas. Popularly called ‘big television’ by local residents, the LED TV screens give the city a beautiful outlook at night. “You can see that the big televisions have given us the opportunity to watch football with our friends in a beautiful atmosphere. The first time that the televisions were put on at night, I almost did not believe that I was still in Osogbo,” a resident told our correspondent. While the TV screens give the residents a new outlook of modern life, the Freedom Park offers them a new rendezvous that was hitherto unavailable to them. At the end of the day’s work, fun seekers who cannot af-

ford the highbrow clubs in town converge on the park. With neatly arranged chairs and tables and, of course, cool music blaring from music boxes, the people can relate with the experience that has long been denied them. The giant TV screens at Okefia and the one at Freedom Park are crowd pullers anytime there is a big football match, especially the one involving Nigeria. Whether you are in Osogbo for business or pleasure, the allure of the town will surely make you want to come back. Speaking on the trend, the Director of Bureau of Communication, Semiu Okanlawon, said: “Massive developments and transformations! That is the only way to capture the the new looks that Osun wears in almost all the facets of its life at the moment.’’ He added: ‘’Miffed by the degree of decay in almost all sectors when it came in, the Aregbesola administration had said there must be renewal of its urban centres in a manner that will be attractive to investors, tourists and others. Cities like Osogbo, Iwo, Ilesa, Ejigbo, Ikire, Ile-Ife, Ila, Ikirun, Ede each in the nine federal constituencies were marked for the demonstration of how modern cities with economic values must look.

While the TV screens give the residents a new outlook of modern life, the Freedom Park offers them a new rendezvous that was hitherto unavailable to them. At the end of the day’s work, fun seekers who cannot afford the highbrow clubs in town converge on the park. With neatly arranged chairs and tables and, of course, cool music blaring from music boxes, the people can relate with the experience that has long been denied them...

“Osun in partnership with UN-Habitat, is implementing structural adjustments and replanning nine cities in the state. The manifestation of the afore-mentioned is conspicuous in the state capital, which hitherto could not live up with the status of a state capital, but with the coming of the present administration, the story is now changing. “It all started with the beatification exercise in Osogbo with all the roundabouts in the state capital, which was like home to destitute persons, now wearing a different look as you enter Osogbo from all the entry points. The present administration of Aregbesola has completed about 700 kilometres of roads out of about 1000kilometeres of roads it has embarked on.”

27 THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

MY HUSBAND HOOKED ME AT

–Minister of Housing Akon Eyakenyi

Pg 33

Pg 30

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

with KAYODE ALFRED E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com Tel:08116759807

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

41 with KAYODE ALFRED

E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com TEL:08116759807

with KEHINDE OLULEYE (e-mail: kehindefolade@thenationonlineng.net) Tel:08023689894

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

GOVERNOR AJIMOBI

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

GOVERNOR ORJI

RepairIlosin-Olowosoke-AgbeyeRoad

Introduce Chinese in unity schools

Revive Umuahia brewery, ceramic industry

Gov Ajimobi

NATIONAL CONFAB DELEGATES

IGANDO-IKOTUN LCDA CHAIRPERSON

Provide drainage system for Eshidana Road Mrs Adeshina Williams

Justice Kutigi

COORDINATING MINISTER OF EDUCATION

Scrap National Mathematics Centre Wike

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Osun dep gov, Ooni honour industrialist at 75

•Osun State Deputy Governor Titilayo Tomori (1st left), Chief John Odeyemi (middle) and his wives.

he ancient town of Ile-Ife was thrown into festivity last week as one of their illustrious sons, Chief John Agboola Odeyemi, marked his 75th birthday. Chief Odeyemi is an industrialist and a philanthropist and holds the traditional title of the Obasewa of Ile-Ife, among other titles. The thanksgiving service to mark the event was held at the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), IleIfe. It was an event that attracted the high and mighty. Top on the dignitaries’ list were the Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Tomori, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade. At the service, the Lord Bishop of Ife, Rt. Revd. Oluwole Oluranti Odubogun, said birthdays offer unique opportunity for reflections. He described Chief Odeyemi as a man with “robust faith and clarity of vision. I found him to be compulsive positive reactor to anything that will enhance the display of the glory of God and add value to the created order.” He also advised Chief

•Mrs. Tomori (first left), Chief Odeyemi and wives

Okorie UGURU

Odeyemi to continue to call on God to give him the Holy Spirit to help him navigate through life as he will give account of his life on earth to God. Speaking on Chief Odeyemi, one of his sons-inlaw, Ani Bassey-Eyo described his as a multifaceted man. He said: “He has got a very good heart. People who know him know he actually has a soft heart. Even though he could put a hard face sometimes, the inside is soft. He is someone who loves his children dearly. He is always trying to bring the family together. He really has a heart for family and even those outside his family.” The first son of Chief Odeyemi, Tayo, said the family was thanking God for the life of his father “because these days and age, not many live to be 75 years good health”. Mr. Bassey-Eyo further said: “When I lost my grandmother, he took time out of his busy schedule to come for the funeral in Calabar. This was when I was still dating my wife. He all members of his family.”

•Oba Sijuade and wife • From left: Chief Bisi Omidiran, Professor Siyan Olawoyin and another guest

• Bishop Odubogun and other ministers • From right: Chief Sunny Kuku, a guest and Chief Joop Berkhat

• Otunba Segun Onifade, Bayo Shodipo and Prince Felix Adegboyega • From left: Mrs. Folashade Odubogun, Mrs. T.M.O. Onayemi and Mrs. Temitope Adesoji

Photo by Okorie Uguru

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Dr. Isanbor

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

From me to my facebook friends

on't end up with the dumb girl whose only contribution is to wait for the pay cheque

To you young men who are yet to get married, don't follow the footsteps of some brothers before you o. Because that woman is intelligent, hardworking, sophisticated and sociable you think she'll make you feel inferior so you avoid marrying her. Don't end up with the dumb girl who appears quiet and reserved. The only contributions she will make to your life is to wait for the pay cheque and kill you with no ideas even when your business needs a sharp brain to get it going. That social one will mix with the best brains and you will tap from that. She will add 2 plus 2 and your business gets 22. And the sophistication! People will respect you because they think to have married her, you must be rich. •42 Likes: Ebun Adebayo, Taofiq Ademola Mustapha, First Lady Chizzy Ibebuike AdaBiafra and 39 others like this. •Hydee-id Idowu Bakare: This is good, however, love and personal affection must be established regardless of the background of the girl! Emmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun: Gooooosh why is it that all your post just have to minister to me....thenks...Mummy G.O. Adeola Agoro: I have seen marriages with solid love crashing out of poverty and lukewarmness to matters of finances by the woman. You come home and bring a business idea - no contributions. You need instant cash to help secure a business - no assistance from her. Very soon, you will wonder if love is enough to keep you afloat. It's so easy for a man to fall when the woman is empty. • Emmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun: Jeeeeesus.. See how she talked Hydee-id Idowu Bakare's opinion Wait...who is this lady called Adeola Agoro? Your approach to issues atimes makes me wonder...where you came from.... Adetilayo Oridupa: Nothing explains it better. Another good the dumb girl does is using more children to tie down her man; God knows where that mentality comes from. Adeola Agoro: Proverbs 31:10-31: 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her

•Children of Queensland Academy, Okota, Lagos during their annual International Community Day.

household: for a l l h e r household are clothed with scarlet. 2 2 S h e maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

3 0 Favour is deceitful, a n d beauty is vain: but a woman t h a t feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. •Adeola Agoro: Adetilayo Oridupa, I wonder o. Imagine getting pregnant every year and not giving the man enough space to enjoy the money he brings. Emmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun: I said ...Mummy G.O. Adeola Agoro..pls just note that I’m always good at the ushering unit and also girls coordinator. ..Lol.. Mon sere ni ooo Adeola Agoro: Emmmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun, I'm just doing what God sends me to do. Islam is also clear on the kind of wife you should be seeking. The Prophet e said: “A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status, her beauty, and her religion. Hydee-id Idowu Bakare: 'Deola, haven't you seen a man that married a rich lady, but

What makes you win the heart of your spouse - food, character or the sexual intimacy? •Matured audience... Rated R!!!! Tayo Adedeji-Phillips asked this question via Facebook and here are the responses.What do you think? •Folake Jubril: Both and more, your character speaks volume regardless of whether you are good in the first two. Imagine having a nagging partner who can cook and good in intimacy, I'd rather you spend your money on mamaput than living wit a crazy spouse. •Bode Adebola Asake Flakky Twinkles: Nice expression •Tayo Adedeji: Phillips Folake Jubril , well said paa! Character! Character!! Character!!! •Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: We also have to remember that some spouses are blessed with good character and equally good in cooking with seasoning but they have a very low 'libido' for sexual intimacy. So how do you compensate such people, Bode Adebola Asake and Folake Jubril ? •Bode Adebola Asake: There so many factors that lead to low libido...which I suggest should be ironed out between spouses... •Toyin Folly: Both ni o..... •Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: Stress and lack of sufficient estrogen may also be a factor including death of a loved one and depression. •Aji Amachree Ihetu: This question isn't for women I guess? Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: Spouse! •Aji Amachree Ihetu: Ok. I think it is a combination of good food, crazy sex, intelligent conversations and a peaceful and clean home. That's what keeps him. What keeps me is simply the Benjamins. Mmmmmm, maybe throw in security and peace. •Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: I think you've just nailed my own preference as a guy...intelligent conversations! Thus, such conversation will transit to good intimacy because it arouses curiosity. Nice one Aji Amachree Ihetu . •Folake Jubril Tayo Adedeji:-Phillips on that level, all they need do is teach one another what to do, visit a sex therapist, sometimes lack of sexual libido could be a medical situation... •Tayo Adedeji:-Phillips It may also be genetics... •Rele Abudu: All of the above....but character and the koko is very ......very.....very....very.....key gan ni. •Rele Abudu: Me like character, intelligence, the koko, education and cleanliness. •Adeola Agoro: Folake Jubril. Right on point.

because there's no love in between the rich lady is dumped for a lady of choice....please don't make women with money believe they can purchase husband! Adeola Agoro: Hydee-id-Idowu Bakare, I have said my own. Whichever marriage is bound to break up will find its way down the hill with or without money. Munir Etu: Spot on, my mistake initially but wiser now sister Balogun Danjuma OmoBaale DaleKatunsa: I still prefer the quiet and reserved... lobatan Kunle Bolarinwa: I need quiet and reserved one... Homely Woman... That's my type.... Adesoji Ogunkola: You are right ma Monzur Olohungbebe: It's no all about money though I agree the woman must be able to complement the man positively David Ayodele Bolarinwa: Lovely piece here with thanks...however, being quiet or reserved is not equivalent to being dumb neither is being a social butterfly synonymous to being smart...they are all different qualities at different zonal classifications. Dupe Zeniat: Even though you’ re making sense Hajia but the ego in our men ‘ll not allow that, more so some men ‘ll prefer those ladies dat they ‘ll be able to toss around like coins. Abiodun Alaran:Men get it clear madam said intelligent and sophisticated woman •Adeola Agoro: My brothers, go and do your survey - most hardworking women may be shy, respectful and carry their husbands on their heads, but they're not quiet and reserved. Quiet and reserved people cannot make it to board meetings neither can they survive the wuruwuru nature of the business world. Most times, those who claim to be quiet may actually, not have anything to say. Common Facebook, they don't have friends because they don't have nothing to post. So how can they advise you as a man and what ideas would they pass to their children? •Ayoola Adebowale: Well, you are right and you are wrong because some ladies are both introvert n extrovert...So are you saying the quiet ladies should get wild just because they want to make their husband rich? Adeola Agoro: Not being quiet and reserved does not mean wild. It means being friendly, accommodating and lively. I know what I'm talking about. Ayoola Adebowale: Now you are talking... you don't have the right to say quiet people are dumb. It's wrong Adeola Agoro: Ayoola Adebowale, I take your point. Ayoola Adebowale: Smiles... Omolara Oshodi Tolu: Very good point Idris Nasir: Hhmmmmmm!!!!! Kehinde Ayodele Olabintan John: God bless you for your super brain. Nice advice.

From right: The Kabiyesi of Oja Village in the old Village Headmaster, Mr Akin Lewis; Chairman Managing Director Evergreen Musical Company Limited, Mr Femi Esho (third right); Nigeria's first cinematographer and the former Chief Cameraman Nigerian Television Service, Victoria Island,Lagos Mr. Ganiyu Davis, at Davis 80th birthday in Lagos dring the week.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

He thinks I'm a poor and struggling girl. I need to get a large sum of money from him so I have to keep acting 'poor'. So, act as if this house, the cars and everything in it belongs to you. You can say you got them from your father who is a wealthy business man. Mind you don't expose me or you will go and look for somewhere else to stay!

‘I live a double life — angel by day, hustler by night!’ (3)

Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org

Coping with diseaseS With Prof. Dayo Oyekola Ph.D. (Ibadan), NMD,FNCP Tel: 0803-330-3897 Website: www.holisticlifecare.com E-mail: kolemetric@yahoo.com

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Dare ODUFOWOKAN, Assistant Editor

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

‘It is easier to do business in Nigeria than overseas’

• Patrick

Innocent DURU n ATRICK Omeje is an international businessman whose business activities cut across different sectors of human endeavours. In spite of the numerous challenges bedeviling the country, he sees and describes the nation as the best place to carry out profitable business activities. With his wealth of experience in the business world locally and internationally over the years, he Noted that Nigeria provides an enabling environment for businessmen, starters in particular to do their business with little capital. This, he said is almost impossible for a foreigner to achieve overseas. “ Doing business in Nigeria is very good. You can never compare what it takes to start business in Nigeria with what it takes to do so in places like the USA and the UK. When you pay taxes in the US you will understand where Nigeria is better. It is not like we are not paying taxes in Nigeria. But if you are a black man and you are in a white man’s country, it is different from when you are in your own country. If you give me 20 opportunities

of doing business outside this country, I will still stay in Nigeria. There is no place like Nigeria. I prefer the business environment in Nigeria than what obtains abroad. “As a Nigerian businessman, where do you start from in the US? It is not easy for you to get business permit in the US without having what it takes. But in Nigeria, you can have N50, 000 and start a business. That is why I said there are many opportunities in Nigeria with less restriction than the US,” he said. He also identified passion as one quality that a business man must have to succeed. “Everything I do is with passion and this is what every businessman needs to succeed. When you do something that you love, you would not complain. We have huge overhead cost on weekly basis in my businesses but I do not complain because I love what I am doing. It is when you have passion for what you are doing that you will not be frustrated by any challenges that you encounter in the course of doing your business. “It is not a bad idea for a business man to take loan. The problem in this part of the world is that when people take loan, they use it to buy cars. When you get a contract of N10million, they have not mobilized you then you go to the bank to get money to buy a car of N2.5 million meanwhile you have not touched the job. This is why I don’t believe in loan. Our system here will not work that way . I don’t believe in loan and I don’t think I have taken one before. ” he stated. He also said that he has no grudge with the government about the business environment. He particularly applauded the Lagos State government for providing basic infrastructure that an average businessman needs to succeed. He said: “I don’t have any problem with the government as far as doing my business is concerned.The government has done all it can for me. They have given me street light and provided adequate security for us. I really appreciate the Lagos State government for providing all these facilities for us. If I have my way, I would

extend the tenure of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola fo another ten years. I bet you that if that is done, the next thing he will do will be to put flyovers all over Surulere and the whole of Lagos. He is a fantastic man and his government is quite good. I am not saying that the previous administrations are bad. They tried their best but the present governor is good.” Omeje whose foray into the hospitality industry, has also received aapluse from industry watchers also spoke about why he chose the name ‘The Bomb’ for his newly opened event centre and lounge. “ Everything about me has always been like a bomb. Talking about my coming into this world, my business, and every other thing has always being the bomb. This is why my friends call me Olu The Bomb. For me, it is not all about opening a club, it is about knowing the business. You may have a million dollar today and open a club and within a year, it all goes down. This Bomb you are seeing is going to be our starting point because soon going to have many branches across Lagos State. I am into big time interior decoration business. For everything you see in The Bomb, I designed it. In the next five years, I see The Bomb exploding. We are already planning to buy a place in the space where we would land because we must get there. The challenge as far as I am concerned is between me, myself and I. That is the three personalities in me working like a team. There is a connect in the business. For me to call this place The Bomb, it must explode.” Though the establishment of the centre appears to have broken the dominance of the clubbing business by operators on Lagos Island, Omeje said it is not out to compete with anybody. “ We are not competing with anybody. The Bomb speaks for itself. We are on point and all we can say is that we wish others in the same business all the best. When we get there we would cross it.” In spite of his tight schedule, he said he takes time off to go relax. He said: “ I play table Tennis and Lawn Tennis very well. I also swim a little but I don’t know how to play football. I am in love with cars. I have Jaguar, Range Rover and so many others. I relax by spending time with friends, I am the talking type. I like comedy a lot. I like jokes. I like partying and sometimes, I want to be left alone. I prefer going to Asia for holidays this time around. I have had enough of holidaying in the UK and the US. Now, I prefer places like Vietnam. If you watch closely, you will find out that the economy and every other thing is driving back to Asia and Africa. I don’t have a particular meal that appeals to me but I eat rice a lot, I love beans and eat amala very well too. I love Gucci and several other international designers. Back here in Nigeria, the first person that designed my clothe was Dakova but I have not seen him in a while. I don’t know if he does fashion anymore but he did for me back then. I also have Ghanaian designer that is based in London. For some reasons now, I take only spirits. I don’t take champagne anymore.

Corporate governance for SMEs Introduction here are several definitions for corporate governance. However, the most appropriate definition which is more relevant to small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) describes corporate governance as “a set of roles, regulations and structures which aim to achieve optimum performance by implementing appropriate effective methods in order to achieve the corporate objectives” In other words, corporate governance refers to internal disciplines or systems which govern the relationships among key players or entities that are instrumental in the performance of the organization. The guidelines of corporate governance aim to achieve greater transparency, fairness and hold executive management of the organization accountable. In doing so, corporate governance plays a pivotal role in protecting the interest of various stakeholders. While the executive management should have reasonable level of power to run the business, corporate governance

ensures that such powers are set to in n Tomi OMOJUWA n many organizations order to minimize misuse of authority to serve objectives not necessarily in the best Implementing corporate governance for SMEs interest of the shareholders. A short prescription to deal with the challenges and assist in Therefore it provides a framework for maximizing profits, implementing corporate governance framework for SMEs: promoting investment opportunities and eventually creating • Separate ownership from management duties and specify more jobs. clear roles and responsibilities for business In general, corporate governance highlights owners, partners and other stakeholders. two major principles. • Introduce non-executive directors into the • Oversight and control over the executive board. They play an important role in ensurmanagement’s performance and strategic decisions. ing integrity of the financial data provided to the board and also help to protect shareholders’ interest. They also exercise • Accountability of the executive management to the owners control over executive management and reduces the risk arisof the business. ing from poor management practices or gross negligence. For these reasons, the principles of corporate governance • Introduce code of business conduct. apply on those who assume the ultimate responsibility for suc• Raise corporate culture with a focus on benefits of corporate cess of the organization. On the other hand, it is imperative to governance. understand that the proper implementation of good corporate • Develop senior management’s administrative and technical governance does not necessarily guarantee success of the skills particularly in areas such as strategic planning and leaderorganization. Meanwhile, a bad corporate governance and ship. practice is certainly a common syndrome causing failure in

SMEs Corner

News 57

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Court declines jurisdiction to hear Lagos VAT suit T HE Supreme Court yesterday declined jurisdiction over a suit filed by the Attorney General of Lagos State in which he challenged the legitimacy of the power of the Federal Government under the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act to impose and collect taxes on the supply of all goods and services in Lagos. The Lagos AG had wanted the apex court to declare the VAT Act unconstitutional to the extent that it provides for the imposition and collection of taxes on goods and services in Lagos and other states which,in his opinion, is beyond the legislative competence of the National Assembly. He prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government, by itself, its servants or any of its agencies from continuing to give effect to the provisions of the VAT Act to impose and collect taxes on goods within Lagos State. The suit had the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as the first defendant and the Attorneys General of the other 35 states as co-defendants. Ruling on the suit yesterday,the Supreme Court held that the reliefs claimed by the plaintiff did not fall within the provisions of Section 232(1) of the Constitution, which outline the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, in the lead judgment, upheld the objection by the AGF and declared that since the reliefs sought in the suit were not against the Federation of Nigeria or any state or states of the federation as its constituent units the suit did not qualify to ignite its original jurisdiction to hear. The court also held that the suit was an abuse of court process because there were similar cases existing on the same subjected matter in both the trial and lower courts.

Eric IKHILAE, Abuja

It noted that the Court of Appeal decided on one of such cases on July 13, 2007.The plaintiff did not appeal that decision but instead, chose to initiate the fresh suit at the Supreme Court in 2008 exactly one year after the Court of Appeal judgment. It then struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction. “It is quite clear that for this court to exercise its original jurisdiction under that section - Section 232(1) – the plaintiff’s action against the 1st defendant (AGF), this court has to be satisfied that the dispute for the adjudication in the action is one between the plaintiff, Lagos State of Nigeria, as a constituent unit of the Federation of Nigeria and the Federation of Nigeria, also as a distinct unit under the Constitution. “The words used in Section 232(1) of the Constitution, describing the parties are ‘the federation,’ ‘a state’ and ‘states.’ In other words, the dispute must be between the Federation and a state or between the federation and more than one state or between a state or states in their capacities as members of the federating units of the Federation of Nigeria. “The section, in my view, is not expected to provide avenue for the resolution of disputes between the Federal Government of Nigeria and a state government of Nigeria or between a state government and another state government of Nigeria, all of which are only products of elections. “Therefore, since the reliefs claimed by the plaintiff, particularly the injunctive relief is against the Federal Government of Nigeria, its servants and its agencies, the relief is not being against the Federation of Nigeria or any state or states of the federation as constituent units of

NDLEA detects 11.5kg of cannabis in cosmetics tubes

FFICIALS of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have detected 11.5kg of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis in cosmetics tubes. Anti-narcotics agents made the discovery at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) warehouse during screening of goods on a KLM flight to Suriname. NDLEA Commander at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the cannabis was destined for Paramaribo, capital of Suriname. He said the suspect, Oguike Franklin, 33, “brought a consignment of cosmetics for shipment to Suriname. In the process of search operation, officers found out that some of the soap containers had been replaced with dried weeds that tested positive for can-

Kelvin OSA Okunbor nabis. The drug weighed 11.5kg”. The 33 year-old Aba based electronics trader said that he was introduced into drug smuggling by a friend when his business was no longer flourishing. ”He told me that I could earn 5,000 dollars. My business has been going down and I am indebted. This is my first time” the suspect claimed. He is married with a child. Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade commended the officers for detecting the drugs and urged the public to avoid drug trafficking and report suspected drug traffickers to the Agency. “We shall take necessary measures in preventing the country from being used for drug trafficking” Giade stated. The suspect will soon be charged to court.

the federation, is not within the purview of Section 232(1) of the 1999 Constitution to confer original jurisdiction on this court,” the court said. In also upholding the second leg of the AGF’s objection, the court said the fact that there existed, and still exist in the trial and lower court, suits relating to issues raised in this suit, it amounted to an abuse of court process. “From the undisputed facts on the pending matters the

plaintiff has at the High Court and the Court of Appeal, listed in paragraphs 15 and 17 of the affidavit in support of the originating summons, seeking the declaratory reliefs touching on the power of the National Assembly to legislate on certain provisions of the VAT Act, some which reliefs had been granted already or refused by those courts, resulting in pending appeals at the Court of Appeal, the action of the plaintiff, in refusing to appeal against that

judgment of the Court of Appeal of July 13, 2007 affirming the decision of the Federal High Court on the validity or otherwise of the provisions of the VAT Act complained of, only to file a fresh action in this court, after more than one year of the delivery of the judgment of the Court of Appeal seeking same reliefs sought at the High Court and the Court of Appeal, is certainly an abuse of the process of this court,” the court said.

Justices John Afolabi Fabiyi, Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, Musa Dattijo Mohammad, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and John Inyang Okoro, agreed with the lead judgment. Reacting to the judgment, the Attorney General of Lagos, Ade Ipaye said since the apex court has said it lacked jurisdiction and struck the case out, the state would reassess the situation and take the appropriate step.

•From right: Dr Modupe Ajayi, Registrar; Professor Adedayo Fasakin, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics; Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor; Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry; his wife, Esther, and Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, during a special programme tagged ‘Morning of Divine Visitation’ at the Federal University of Technology Akure... yesterday.

Insist on no election without new constitution, Braithwaite urges Nigerians

OREMOST lawyer and activist, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, yesterday asked Nigerians to insist that there will be no election in 2015 unless a new constitution is in place. Speaking at a national stakeholders’ forum on the ongoing National Conference, organised by Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN), Braithwaite said the time-frame for the conference was enough to conclude deliberations and produce a constitution through a referendum. Braithwaite said the country’s problems are manifold, adding that the current constitution cannot help in solving them. “Nigeria’s problems are manifold, though some people might trivialise them. While some are making genuine sacrifices, political blood suckers are only interested in occupying elective positions. “Unless we deal with them, we are going nowhere.The only way we can deal with them is to insist that there will be no election until we reconfigure this country and give ourselves a brand new constitution. “A constitution that will guarantee that our resources are no longer looted and that will hold the people accountable. The

•Rebased economy meaningless Precious IGBONWELUNDU present constitution allows some office holders to go away with murder and looting. “With the calibre of people at the national conference, I personally think we can produce a new constitution within the time-frame. “Everyone knows the problem of this country. If we are at the conference with sincerity of purpose, we will achieve our aim.” He blamed Nigeria’s problems on the structure of governance. “We boast of a large population, but we are nowhere near India. Indian got its independence from Britain just a few years before us, but see where they are today,” he said. “We need to configure this country, such that every sector would have a commitment. Because of the structural problems, Nigerians do not feel obligated to give their best to the country. “If we solve that problem that makes an average Nigerian find nothing good in the country, then the country will attain its potential.” Continuing, Braithwaite lampooned the country’s rebased Gross Domestic

Product (GDP), which has placed Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy. He said that the new economic status has no meaning to the masses because their basic needs have not been met, adding “they are deceiving themselves that they are the largest economy in Africa.” He then turned to the crowd, and asked, “Does the rebased economy mean anything to you?” to which there was a resounding “no.” Commending CD President, Dr. Josephine OkeOdumakin for organising the forum, tagged “Towards a people’s oriented agenda for the national confab”, Braithwaite said “the blood suckers will not release their wicked grip on the nation unless the masses engage in regular protest. “That I have been imprisoned and tear-gassed means nothing to me. I will not stop fighting. As long as I live, God forbids that the young generation will wander aimlessly. We will continue the struggle and will reclaim this country from the wicked.” In address of welcome Odumakin urged the stakeholders to insist that the outcome of the confab must only be subjected to a referendum to avoid being

tinkered with by the National Assembly. She said the consultation was necessary to enable the CSOs collate the views of the people they are representing. “The situation in Nigeria presently deserves the voices and contribution of all and sundry.Our mission is therefore to collate these submissions and present them on their behalf at the conference,” she said. Odumakin, who denied claims that the delegates were receiving N4million per month for the three months duration of the conference, stated that alerts she has received twice at intervals of two weeks each, showed that what each delegate gets is N1.460million. She said she and GECORN’s Coordinator, Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, have agreed to use a large percentage of their confab honorarium to organise regular interactive sessions with the civil society, as well as compile research materials from CSOs and academia across the country to support a people oriented agenda. In her remark, AkiodeAfolabi said 80 percent of the confab delegates are the same people responsible for the problems confronting the country.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Tambuwal, Tinubu to grace Yewa traditional festival

Ajimobi increases interest-free loan to artisans YO State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has approved an additional N100 million interestfree loan for members of the state chapter of Tradesmen and Artisans Association of Nigeria. He gave the approval while speaking at a special prayer for the sustenance of peace and progress in the state, organized by the association at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan on Friday. The governor said that the decision to add to the N50 million earlier approved for the association was based on the expanded membership of the association coupled with the determination of his administration to improve the socio-economic activities in the state. He said that his administration would not relent in its efforts at supporting and maintaining cordial relationship with tradesmen and artisans as well as those engaged in legitimate businesses for their immense contribution to the economic development of the state. Governor Ajimobi assured that his administration would not play politics with the various supports being given to traders, adding that he remained the governor of the people of the state and not that of a particular party. ``Oyo State is a state of traders and these are the people contributing to the economic development of the state. We must encourage them as much as possible, even if we give them more than that (N100 million), it is not too much; they have 80 different associations with each association having about 5,000 members.

n Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta n

Panic as gunmen invade Makurdi varsity, rob bank n Uja EMMANUEL, Makurdi n HERE was pandemonium inside the main campus of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, yesterday, when armed robbers stormed the Skye Bank branch, located inside the campus. In their bid to escape, the armed robbers fired several bullets into the air to scare away the people, causing panic within the campus as students and staff ran for dear lives. With fulani attacks still fresh in the heart of the students, on hearing the gunshot took to their heels and ran in all directions. The Public Relation Officer of UAM, Mr. Zerkaan Fanafa, confirmed the incident. He said the school security men blocked all the possible escape routes in an attempt to ensure that the criminals did not escape, but regretted that the armed robbers escaped through a bush at the back of the female hostel.

HE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, are two of the high profile dignitaries expected to grace the grand finale of the 2014 edition of Yewa Traditional Festival, Ogun State. The chairman of the Central Organising Committee, Yewa Festival 2014, Otunba Akeem Adigun, gave the hint in Ilaro, the Headquarters of Yewa South Local Government. Yewa traditional Festival was initiated by the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, as a yearly event to forge stronger unity of Yewa people at home and abroad. Addressing a world press conference to herald the commencement of the cultural event, Otunba Adigun said the duo of Speaker Tambuwal and Asiwaju Bola Tinuby have been duly invited, and expressed the hope that they would honour Yewa sons and daughters with their presence next Saturday. He also disclosed that a proposal by the people of the area to effect a name change from Egbado to Yewa has been submitted to the National Assembly where the document has passed through first and second reading with the final stage being awaited. According to him, this is to ensure that the name of Yewa is reflected in the nation's constitution and political delineation of the area, as against their previous name- Egbado.

•Members of Muslim Vanguard besieging the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest the planned demolition of their mosque, PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES located at Mafoluku, Lagos...yesterday .

Governorship polls: APC to pick candidates in Ekiti, Osun today A HEAD of the governorship elections, billed to hold on June 21 and August 9, 2014, in Ekiti and Osun States respectively, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will today hold its primaries to elect the candidates to represent the party in the elections in the two states. Speaking on the primary election in Ekiti State, a statement signed by the National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso, noted that APC would adopt the direct primary method in all the 177 wards of the state, and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would monitor the entire process from the Ward to the State level. This, according to him, is in keeping with the Electoral Act, which stipulated the conduct of primaries for the emergence of party candidates for both the governorship and presidential elections

n Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti n

in the country. Izunaso, who led a six-man committee from Abuja to oversee the exercise, said the party would deploy two electoral officers and a returning officer to each of the wards for the exercise, while a returning officer would be appointed for each local government. He said the Local Government returning officers would be responsible for the collation of results from the wards within each of the 16 local government areas and they would in return transmit results to the State Collation Centre. "APC had taken this step to ensure a transparent and credible process as well

as to comply with the stipulations of the electoral act," Izunazo said. The APC national organising secretary who assured that the exercise would be smooth, free and transparent said that the registration officers and ward local government supervisors during the party's recent membership registration exercise would be deployed to handle the exercise. Also speaking on the Osun primary in a statement, APC’s Publicity Director, Kunle Oyatomi, said Governor Rauf Aregebsola is the only aspirant who picked and returned the intention form. He said the primary would hold in the 332 wards in the state, adding: “The primary will take off at the ward centres

Court strikes out suit against APC, Akume, three others Makurdi High Court, presided over by Justice Aondoaver Akaka'an, has struck out a suit brought by Alhaji Usman Abubarka and three others against Senator George Akume and the All Progressive Congress (APC) harmonization committee. Justice Kakaan upheld the preliminary objection of the defendants' counsel, Barrister Emmanuel Agbakor, who questioned the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the

n Uja EMMANUEL, Makurdi n matter and originating process, which he described as faulty and does not comply with the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004. Justice Kaka'an, in his ruling, stated that "nothing on originating process served on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants (APC, APC Benue state, Gen. Ahmed Aboki, APC National Vice Chairman, North Central and Senator George Akume respectively were en-

dorsed for service outside the jurisdiction as ordered by the court and is contrary to the mandatory provision of Sections 97 and 99 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act (Supra), Justice Kaka'an held.” He continued: "I put aside the service on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, and these being principal actors in the suit before me, my resolution of the order issues will be mere academic. "On the whole, however ,

having decided that the process served on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants were not properly served on them, and due to the fact that the plaintiff did not exhaust the domestic remedies available to them before coming to this court, this court shall have no jurisdiction. The preliminary objection is upheld in part, and the originating summons file before me is here by struck out," Kakaan ruled.

Lagos plans fresh sanction for telecoms operators over masts HE Lagos State Government has threatened to impose fresh sanction in the form of fines on all telecoms operators over their refusal to submit the accurate list of telecoms masts of the oper-

ators to the state. The General Manager, Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU), Mr. Joe Igbokwe, who gave the hint in Lagos, said "the state government is worried by the dis-

Oduduwa varsity gets Acting-VC new Acting Vice Chancellor has been appointed for Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu- Ife, Osun State.

She is Professor (Mrs.) Olajumoke A. Olayiwola of the department of Industrial Chemistry. Prof. Olayiwola, who is expected to resume her new position on Tuesday 15th of April 2014 is presently the provost at the Chemical Science department. Born over 40years ago to the family of Engr. Lateef A. Oladipo and Mrs. Olalonpe M. Oladipo, Olayiwola attended Township Primary School, Jos, Plateau State and Obaseiku High School, Eruwa, Oyo State. She had her BSc. Chemistry (2nd Class Upper Division), MSc. Analytical Chemistry and Ph.D. Analytical and Environment Chemistry, all from the University of Ibadan and PGDE from National Teachers’ Institute Kaduna.

crepancies in the figures of masts submitted by some of the operators, and the refusal of other operators to submit any list." UFRU is the state agency responsible for the supervision of all installed infrastructure in the state, including telecoms masts. Igbokwe said UFRU would henceforth embark on the numbering of all telecoms masts in the state, and warned that any operator whose figure varies from the actual number of masts it operates in Lagos, would attract a penalty of N5 million per mast. He called on operators to be honest in submitting the list of their operated telecoms masts in Lagos without further delay. Igbokwe, who also frowned at the recent collapse of a hol-

low type communications mast belonging to Access Bank, said the UFRU would begin the decommissioning of all hollow type masts and towers in the state after April 30th this year. He explained that banks, insurance companies, government agencies, oil companies, ICT companies, hotels, schools and other small users of communications masts have ignored the state government's ultimatum to replace old and dangerous hollow type masts with galvanized steel masts. Recounting the dangers of hollow type masts, Igbokwe said many people have lost their lives and property worth millions of naira to collapsed masts in the state, insisting that all users of communications masts must replace them with galvanised steel masts.

Boko Haram: JAMB assures candidates of safety in Maiduguri Bodunrin KAYODE, Maiduguri HE Zonal Coordinator of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board in Borno State, Alhaji Ahmed Ali, has assured the candidates for today’s University Matriculation Exams UME of adequate security. He said that prospective candidates and their parents should not harbor any fear, promising that no student would be attacked while writing the examination. Alhaji Ali revealed that inspite of the vulnerable nature of Barma town, a distance of less than 100km from Maiduguri, soldiers were going to surround the exam halls at the College of Education COE, where the exam will be held. Other centres where the university entrance examinations will be held outside Maiduguri are Biu, Damaturu and Gasua. Ahmed said that the agency was fully prepared for the exercise, especially for those candidates who would be coming from faraway places like Pulka and surrounding villages of Barma Local Government Area. He, however, expressed regrets that many of the candidates in the area were not willing to be tested through the computer-based tests (CBT system). Meanwhile, candidates in scattered centers in Maiduguri have been moved to the University of Maiduguri to write the CBT, DBT and PPT, but maintained that the zonal office would be fully computerized by 2015.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

•Honorary Special Adviser to the President on Finance, Peter Obi (left), welcoming the President of the Senate, Rt. Hon. David Mark (right), at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, yesterday

Man jailed 7 years for stealing N20,000 phones n Osagie OTABOR, Benin n 23-year-old man, Jolly Igbinidu, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an Ikpoba-Okha Area Customary Court for stealing phones and N20,000 cash. Jolly pleaded guilty to the two-count charges preferred against him. Police prosecutor, Inspector Victor Ehiorobo, told the court that the convict committed the offence on the 19th of February, 2014. Inspector Victor said Jolly broke into an apartment and robbed the occupants of phones and N20,000 cash. The President of the court, Princess Esther Eweka, said the court gave the verdict based on the confessional statement and the guilty plea of the convict. She sentenced Jolly to three years on count one and four years on count two, but gave an option of N60,000 fine for count one and N70,000 for count two.

Police smash baby-stealing syndicate in Imo •Medical doctors among suspects HE Imo State Police Command, yesterday made a major breakthrough in the fight against child-trafficking and other related crimes in the state, when it smashed a notorious child trafficking syndicate. The 10-man gang, headed by a 52-year old medical practitioner, Dr. Innocent Onwuseraka, was said to be responsible for the rising cases of stolen babies in the state. According to the Command's Police Public Relations Officer, Enwerem Andrew, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who paraded the suspects on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, the suspects have been raiding homes and hospitals where they steal newborn babies at gun point and sell to their customers. He stated that the suspected traffickers take the stolen babies to the Unity hospital in Okigwe, owned by the ring leader, before they were sold.

Okodili NDIDI, Owerri The police image maker, added that based on a tip-off, the Command's Scorpion Squad stormed Umoke Umueri in Njaba Council Area, where the suspects had already snatched a four month old baby from the mother after shooting sporadically into. One of the suspects and wife of the gang's co-leader, Chiamaka Ojobi, 23, confirmed that her husband usually bring little babies to their home at night. "I have reported the activities of my husband to the police severally, but nothing was done. "I have seen him bring over five newborn babies to the house in the night and take them away early in the morning. When I confronted him, he threatened to kill me. So he forced me to help him take some of the babies to the doctor's place where they are sold."

Commissioner commends agric college YO State Commissioner for Water Resources of Oyo State, Hon. Adewale Adeoye, has commended the management of the Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora (OYSCAI) for the entrepreneurship initiative put in place in the College. The Commissioner disclosed this during an unscheduled visit to the Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora. Adeoye when conducted round the College facilities noted that the College was progressing satisfactorily. He maintained that with the level of the facilities at the College main laboratory complex, the ministry of water resources would be willing to partner with the College, in the aspect of soil and water analysis considering the soil and water kit that the college has. He revealed that at least 36 boreholes would be sunk in Ibarapa region while noting that the drilling of the borehole would be extended to all parts of the state. He therefore expressed joy at the soil and water kit available in the college. He stressed that the college should be able to increase her internally generated revenue if she could handle soil and water analysis for his ministry.

•(L-R) Former Managing Director, Sun Newspapers, Mr. Tony Onyima; Ifeatu Onejeme and Chinedu Emeka, former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, being sworn in as commissioners by Governor Willie Obiano...yesterday.

Obiano swears-in ex-Sun MD, 18 others as commissioners G OVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday administered the oath of office on 19 Commissioners and 10 Special Advisers earlier cleared by the state House of Assembly to serve in his government. Obiano, while performing the ceremony at the Government House in Awka, said that he demanded 100 percent loyalty from the newlysworn commissioners and special advisers and that anyone found wanting would be relieved of his appointment. The Governor described the new commissioners as some of the finest in Anambra State, and encouraged them to abide by the oath of office they have sworn to, reminding them that Anambra people look forward to their delivering on the four pillars of the administration.

•Governor signs 2014 Budget

n Odogwu EMEKA Odogwu, Nnewi and Nwanosike ONU, Awka n The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Anali Chude, who spoke for the newly-sworn-in appointees, pledged to work at the pace of the Governor and not to disappoint him and noted the vigorous effort put in by the Governor to accomplish his task of sifting from the many names available to him and thanked him for finding them worthy. The new commissioners: Anali Chude, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Callistus Ilozumba, who served under Governor Peter Obi, retained his portfolio as Commissioner of

Works; Mrs. Azuka Enemuo, who also served with Obi, retained her portfolio of Commissioner for Local Government Affairs; Greg I. Obi, Commissioner for Finance, and Prof. Kate Omenugha, former Head of Mass Communication Department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University-Education. Others are: Professor Solomon Chukwulobelu, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget; Mr. Ifeatu Onyejeme, Commissioner forTrade and Commerce; Dr. Mrs. Vicky Chikwelu, Commissioner for Women Affairs; Chinedu

Delta 2015: Students' group drums up support for Okowa HE governorship aspiration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has received a boost, as the National Union of Urhobo Students (NUUS ), Delta State University, National Headquarter, Abraka, declared its support for him. The declaration was made at Asaba, the Delta State capital, when the group, led by its president, Comrade Austin Omokpe and secretary, Daniel Orakporaye Umukoro, paid a courtesy visit to the Constituency Office of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. Speaking on behalf of the students' body, the President, Comrade Austin Omokpe said the visit was to appreciate and commend Senator Okowa for his numerous em-

n Segun AJIBOYE n powerment efforts since his days as commissioner and SSG in Delta State. "We are here primarily to say thank you to Distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who on different occasions had extended assistance to students across the state. He is a man who believes in the welfare of the downtrodden in the society. He has continued to identified with not only the students but the less privileged," Comrade Omokpe stated. The body, which used the opportunity to declare their support for Senator Okowa's gubernatorial ambition, said they had taken time to assess all aspirants and had come out with a resolve to throw

their weight behind Okowa, who they described as the most capable and prepared to lead Delta State come 2015. "Okowa is the best and most fit of all the aspirants. We are not supporting him because of any other reason but because we are confident of his ability to deliver good governance to Deltans . He has consistently shown good record of performance. His good works are there for all to see and assess," the group added. Earlier, while welcoming the group, the Director of Administration, Senator Okowa Constituency Office, Mr. Austin Onianwa, expressed appreciation for the visit and said it was an honour to have them identify with Senator Okowa and his aspiration.

Delta spends N6b on BRT, road delineation HE Delta State government has put the budget for its ongoing BRT/Roads delineation project in the Warri metropolis at N6 billion, just as it employed 750 persons as road wardens to instill sanity in road users in the city. Disclosing this yesterday during a courtesy call on the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase II, in his palace, the Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, also said the state government had acquired two incinerators to tackle the problem of refuse disposal in the state. Professor Utuama, who led other members of the

n Bolaji OGUNDELE, Warri n Special Sanitation Team to seek the permission of the paramount ruler to enter Itsekiriland to execute their mandate to clean up Warri environ, also said the state government had devised means of sustaining the gains of the 10-day special clean-up exercise, announcing the employment of 1000 men and women to enforce the new regime for cleanness in the city. Speaking further, the deputy governor informed the monarch that the era of filth and disorder had ended in the three council areas of

Warri South, Uvwie and Udu, where the special sanitation exercise is ongoing, adding that street hawking, erection of illegal stalls and illegal granite markets have been prohibited in the state. According to him, “we are here for the purposes of environmental sanitation exercise. We are aware that the Itsekiris are very clean people, but because of urbanization all sorts of people have come to Warri, generating all sorts of filth. Filth brings all sorts of diseases and Government is committed to beatification of our cities to appeal to visitors. It calls for behaviour change.

Emeka, who was former Deputy Governor to Chinwoke Mbadinuju, was appointed Commissioner for Public Utilities and Water Resources and Community Development; former Sun newspaper Managing Director, Tony Onyima, Information and Culture; Chief Chukwuma Mbonu, Transport; Chief Evaristus Ubah, Environment; Mrs. Stella Onuora; Lands, Survey and Urban Planning. The list also include: Chief Nnamdi Meko, former Chairman of Nigeria Farmers Association, Anambra State chapter, Agriculture; Obi Nwankwo, Science and Technology; Tony Nnacheta, Sports, Dr. Joseph Akabike, Health; Chief Nobert Obi, Special Duties; Chief Tony Nnachetam, Youth and Sports and Chief Law Chinwuba, Commissioner for Housing.

Ripples as Dickson reshuffles cabinet n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n HERE were concerns in Bayelsa State on Friday after the governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, inaugurated eight new commissioners and carried out a major cabinet reshuffle. Some said the governor carried out the exercise to politically cleanse his cabinet and prepare it for a looming reelection battle. The new commissioners were sworn in to fill the vacancies created by the recent sacking of eight cabinet members. Dickson scrapped the Ministry of Capital City Development and ordered that the functions of the ministry be transferred to the Capital City Development Authority (CCDA). He said all the ongoing projects in the scarapped ministry should be transferred to the Ministry of Special Projects in the Governor’s Office. The governor further divided the Ministry of Energy into two, creating the ministries of Power and Mineral Resources. He also split the Ministry of Local Government into the ministries of Community Development, Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government Administration.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

Reps member empowers 215 in Eti-Osa T was a moment of joy for the people of Eti-Osa Local Government as a member of House of Representative, Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, Hon (Prince) Jide Akinloye gave out materials worth millions of naira to over 215 beneficiaries. Those that benefited from the empowerment programme held at the Eti-Osa

n Akeem LAWAL n Local Government ground include indigenes, residents and party faithful of the Action Congress of Nigeria (APC) within the constituency. Items distributed include 52 Deep Freezers, 30 Grand machines, 12 industrial sewing machines, five mini

buses, 30 industrial, standing and ceiling fans, 10 hair dryers, 540 crates of eggs, 19, 200 exercise books, financial aids of N20,000 for 100 individuals etc. In his speech, Hon Akinloye highlighted some of his achievements in his federal constituency which includes ensuring the implementation of an effective drainage system for the 30 resettled villages, provision of 10 transformers and three multimillion naira water projects, the continued sponsorship of indigent residents, especially youths on vocational training. “Although our primary responsibility as lawmaker was to make law for the good governance of Nigeria, there is also the need to impact positively on the people who ensure that mandate was given to us by ensuring that dividend of democracy trickles down.

•From left: A columnist and Fellowship Coordinator, Healing Wings, Mr. Femi Aribisala; Professor Karen-King Aribisala; musician and the Coordinator of Tosin Ladejo Foundation, Tosin Ladejo and the author of ‘My Nigeria…..People, Places and Culture’ Costance Kola-Lawal, at the introduction and donation of free copies of the book in Lagos.

Ekiti poll: I'm ready to give Fayemi the red card, Fayose insists F

ORMER Ekiti State governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose, yesterday boasted of having full-proof means to send the current governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, out of office in the June 21 governorship election. Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, said the surest way to defeat Fayemi was to expose a horde of his administration's failures to make him more unpopular among the electorate. Speaking through the Publicity Secretary of the party, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, Fayose said the state governor has failed to fulfill his election promises to the people which, according to him, is why poverty was rampant among the people. He explained that Fayemi’s failures included his refusal to honour his promises to teachers, local government workers, civil servants and several others in the state, adding that the administration had equally inflated all the road contracts awarded, especially the road between the Okeyinmi area of the capital and Old Garrage, which he said was awarded at over N1 billion. The PDP spokesperson said: "The pensioners who he has refused to pay their entitlements, the disparities in the salaries of medical doctors in the state and councils, and the preference for foreign

•Fayose’s choice will aid Fayemi’s victory- APC

n Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, n Ado-Ekiti contractors against Ekiti based ones are all facts which would work against Fayemi on 21 June. "Needless to add that the unprecedented hike in the school fees of state-owned tertiary institutions has made life horrible for parents and students, while the okada riders a sure to lose their jobs if Fayemi should win. But reacting, the spokesperson for the APC in Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Dipe, while expressing assurances

about the re-election of Dr. Fayemi, maintained "the choice of Fayose by the PDP will be a factor in support of Fayemi's second term in office." According to Dipe, Fayose lacked "the moral fibre to criticise either the APC or Fayemi, given the fact of his (Fayose's) going in and out of court regarding a sum of N1.2 billion poultry project which was mismanaged during his tenure." The APC spokesperson said that Governor Fayemi's infrastructural projects across the state passed both trans-

parency and accountability tests, which he noted, "is why no project has been abandoned or uncompleted today out of the nearly 1,500 projects embarked upon". Noting that Fayemi has increased the salaries and allowances or workers three times since he assumed the leadership of the state in October 2010, Dipe said, "the issue of the medical doctors is being resolved, as both sides have met and reached an agreement." He maintained that it was Fayemi who slashed the hike in school fees by the Engr. Segun Oni’s administration by more than half, adding "the records are there for Fayose to confirm if he is interested. "No monarch would stick his neck in support of a former governor who made life horrible for many of them.”

Yobe lawmaker seeks Joint Task Force to replace emergency rule HE member representing Gulani, Damaturu, Gujba and Tarmuwa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, has called for the replacement of the Joint Task Force Operations with the emergency rule currently running in the three north eastern States. The female lawmaker made the call while who fielding questions from newsmen in Damatutru, noting that the insurgency can be contained with a Joint Task Force security operations. The extended State of Emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe is billed to expire on the April 19. “Personally, I think we need to have all the help that we need to curb the insurgency. You

n Duku JOEL, Damaturu n don’t have to impose a state of emergency. You can actually put in place a joint task force within the state without actually saying there must be an emergency rule. I think that is a possibility. So, I don’t see any reason why they should extend the state of emergency,” Khadija said. Hon. Khadija, wife of former governor of Yobe State Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who is also the current Senator representing Yobe East senatorial district, also lamented that the insurgency has killed her enthusiasm in politics. Hon. Khadija, who regretted that contractors executing constituency projects, sometime abandon the jobs for fear of Boko Haram attacks, stressed that “this has resulted to so many abandoned projects for the people.”

Angry youths lynch suspected kidnapper ENSIONS were high yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as angry youths attacked a middle-aged woman for allegedly snatching a toddler from her mother. The mob was said to have stripped naked the suspected kidnapper whose identity is not yet known. The youths, it was gathered, descended on the suspect and beat her to pulp. The incident, which occurred along Emir's road, near Opo-Malu junction, caused panic among residents, shop owners, commuters and pedestrians. It was also gathered that

•Clear streets of lunatics, residents urge govt n Adekunle JIMOH, Ilorin n the incident caused heavy traffic gridlock along the road, as motorists passing through the area could not access the road while the melee lasted. It was learnt that confused passersby ran into nearby residential buildings to seek refuge. Meanwhile, residents of the city have called on the state government to evacuate lunatics from all parts of the state, saying that criminal elements in the metropolis now perpetrate crimes while feigning to be mad.

However, the deployment of armed policemen from the A Division of the state police command to the scene has returned peace to the area. The policemen fired teargas canisters into the air to disperse the irate youths. The policemen later spirited away the suspected kidnapper, who was in a coma, in their Hilux van. A source at the scene said that the suspected kidnapper was about to make good her escape when the mob descended on her. "The incident happened this morning (yesterday). A

nursing mother who was cuddling a baby was alighting from okada (motorcycle) and asked the suspect to help her hold her baby. Before we know what was happening, the woman fled with the toddler, but she arrested by the people. She was giving the beating of her life. The state Commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisabo, confirmed the incident and said that the suspected kidnapper later died while being taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).

THE NATION

NEWS 61

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

South East governors to Jonathan:

Declare for 2015 now

EADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East and the governors of Enugu,Abia and Ebonyi states yesterday told President Goodluck Jonathan he must seek re-election next year. The PDP leaders and governors spoke at the zonal rally of the party in Enugu. They said they and the five South East states had all resolved to back him in the race. Senator Ike Nwachukwu spoke on behalf of Abia State, Ken Nnamani for Enugu, Arthur Eze for Anambra State, Sunny Ogbuoji for Ebonyi and Steve Uzodinma for Imo State. Former Aviation Minister, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, spoke for women of the zone. The governors then followed with Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, saying the rally was organised to ask the President to accept to run and should not disappoint them by saying no. "We are not here to be converted. We are not here to campaign, but only for you to say yes", he said. The Abia State governor and Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, Theodore Orji, told the President that the

•President: I won’t disappoint Chris OJI, Enugu South East zone would "conscript" him to run if he said no. Orji told the President that they would not take no for an answer as the people of the zone would "mob us if you decline". "You have given the people of the zone a sense of belonging. It is during your tenure that our people occupied positions that were forbidden for them. "It is during your tenure that an Igbo became Chief of Army Staff, Secretary to the Federal Government, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and so on", Orji said Jonathan said his response to the call for him to contest would come ‘later’. He pledged not to disappoint the zone. "You have even asked me a question whose answer will come later. "I will never, never disappoint Nigeria, particularly the South East," he said. The President thanked the people of the zone for their huge turnout and said that the PDP is the only party they

should join. Said he: " The PDP is number one party. We are yet to see number two. There is no rival party. By their fruits we shall know them". The president is optimistic that the PDP would sweep the polls in the zone next year. "What is needed is total commitment. The PDP is the only democratic party. Other parties can never take Nigeria to the democratic world," he insisted. Senate President David Mark said he has not seen a crowd as large as "this since my career in politics". He said the turnout showed that the people of the zone love President Jonathan. According to Mark, the turnout indicated that the South East is the biggest rallying point of the PDP. Vice President Namadi Sambo in his speech said he was highly elated by the unity rally. Others who spoke included the National Chairman of the party, Mohamed Mu'azu; the BOT chairman, Tony Anenih; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Austin Akobundu.

Nigeria is sliding towards imperial presidency under Jonathan, Tinubu warns Continued from Page 3 cal battle for the soul and future of the nation. Yet, you report as if such a struggle does not exist. “Those of you who say this battle does not exist are simply being disingenuous, lazy or cynical. The contrast is there, but you must have the intellectual courage to report it. That is your job. “Once you have done so, the people will be amply informed and they will make the choice according to their collective wisdom. Let us try to rescue this democracy by giving the people a chance to exercise that collective wisdom by giving them your best journalistic product at this time.

“If you do less than this, you fail your national mission. If Nigeria fails, if democracy falters, your profession is again endangered. Why risk a return to a time when being principled journalists made you an enemy of the state and placed your life and limb at risk? “As editors, you hold the key to change our society. The media has a role in upholding the rule of law, justice and fairness for all. Let us build this democracy together. Then, the edifice you launch today will stand the test of time. “The storm of change is blowing. There is change in the air. I urge you to be part of that change.”

Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan seek media partnership for national development Continued from Page 3 but Nigeria, he will stay in that conference and work towards the progress and development of Nigeria.” He hoped that those who are privileged to lead the country cannot afford to become ethnic champions. "Let us leave ethnicity to those who are detained by their domains, so that those who have responsibility beyond domains, who are defined and identified by our green passports should speak for the people of the Federal Republic

of Nigeria because we have no other country we can call our own,” he said. Also speaking,Governor Uduaghan noted that those agitating for war in the country are doing so because they have not witnessed any in their lives. He called on the media not to incite the younger ones to violence through their publications. He said: "I say to those who today are saying they are Biafrans that if they had seen war before they would be very careful in their agitations. "What I want to plead with

the guild is that we should not incite, especially our young ones, to cause crisis because it does not pay. Nigeria is one. "We should not incite with our microphone; we should not incite with our pen because this country has a lot of potential." President Jonathan announced a donation of N50million towards the building of the House, the Governors of Rivers and Kwara states donated N10million and N5million respectively. Most of the other dignitaries did not announce their donations.

•Assistant Comptroller Yahaya Biri Usman (second right), leader of Nigerian Customs Service's Headquaters Monitoring Team, Idiroko axis of the FOU Zone 'A', with his men at a site of a huge seizure made by the zone.

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

God forbid •Continued from back page

•Villa •Robben

•

•Ronaldo

Bayern face Real in mouth-watering UEFA semi-final R EAL MADRID will meet holders Bayern Munich in a UEFA Champions League semifinal, with Atletico Madrid facing Chelsea in the other tie. Real, who edged through 32 on aggregate in their quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund, are chasing a record 10th European crown and attempting to reach a first final since 2002. They will host Bayern in the

first leg, with Pep Guardiola’s side attempting to become the first side to defend the trophy since the competition’s inception in 1992. The German champions knocked out Manchester United 4-2 over two legs in the last eight and are aiming for their third consecutive final appearance. Guardiola will come up

against familiar foes Real for the first time since he was in charge of their arch-rivals Barcelona. Chelsea, meanwhile, will meet Atletico Madrid in their semi-final encounter, with Thibaut Courtois set to be pitted against his permanent employers as Jose Mourinho bids to claim another Champions League

title. The first legs will be played on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 April, with the return games the following week, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April, while the tournament concludes in Lisbon on May 24. Champions League semifinals April 22: Atletico Madrid v Chelsea April 23: Real Madrid v Bayern Munich

sporting competition is a fundamental principle for UEFA. “Both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match. “It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as UEFA is concerned.

“Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the UEFA Champions

League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly.”

UEFA frees Courtois to play Chelsea

EFA has ruled that Thibaut Courtois will be allowed to play for Atletico Madrid against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Atletico’s president Enrique Cerezo had claimed that the club could not afford the fee, believed to be above •10 million, required in order for the on-loan goalkeeper to feature against his parent side. But after the two sides were paired together in Friday’s draw, UEFA stated any clause in the 21-year-old’s contract with Chelsea is “null, void and unenforceable” during a Champions League fixture. A statement from UEFA read: “The integrity of

Guardiola expecting ´huge´ Real challenge

EP Guardiola is expecting a “huge challenge” when Bayern Munich face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semifinal. Yesterday’s draw in Nyon

saw the European giants paired against each other, with the first leg in Madrid on April 23 before the return in Munich six days later. Both sides are chasing what would be a historic victory in the final, with Real aiming to win Europe’s premier club competition for the 10th time, and current holders Bayern out to become the first team to defend the trophy since the competition’s inception in 1992. The two met at the same stage two years ago, Bayern prevailing on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate scoreline, only for Bayern to lose the final in their own stadium, also on penalties, to Chelsea. It will be the first time Bayern coach Guardiola has encountered Real since he managed their arch-rivals Barcelona in a four-year spell that yielded three La Liga titles and two Champions League wins. “The draw is the draw,” said Guardiola yesterday. “Real Madrid are a tough group but we’re looking forward to it. I know their team well. “They have a great team and a great coach, so it will be a huge challenge for us.”

•Courtois

matches. It turned out to be the best option when on Sunday, Mikel made Chelsea’s squad for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint Germain (PSG) at the Stamford Bridge Stadium. But did Mikel play against PSG? No; he didn’t, but he loosened up on the sideline in the second half, meaning he could have played had Mourinho not opted for an all-attacking formation, when Chelsea were looking for the vital winning goal scored Demba Ba in the dying minutes of the game. I panicked until I saw Mikel warming up. I felt he could miss Nigeria’s 2014 World Cup matches like he sadly did in South Africa, four years ago. Mikel is our biggest player - in terms of pedigree in the European game. Mikel would be the peg on which pundits would hinge their previews and reviews of Nigeria’s matches. Mikel missing Nigeria’s shirt again in Brazil, amounts to a taboo. God forbid, I said unconsciously while writing this article. Even Eagles’ stars would be downcast if the news comes that Mikel is out of the games. Recently, Mikel showed he is world class. In Brazil, he will give his best, knowing that he could get a new club, given his limited appearances with Chelsea under Mourinho. Even Mourinho will have a rethink. Certainly, Mikel shouldn’t leave Chelsea for Inter Milan. If Mikel must leave Chelsea, he should join any club that qualifies for UEFA Champions League regularly. I digress! With the European leagues drawing to a close and the quest for the UEFA Champions league diadem high on the minds of the stars in the four teams (Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid), it remains to be seen how many of these games Mikel will play. Victor Moses hasn’t complained openly about his bench role at Liverpool. It may not be his style. But the few minutes he has played for the Reds show that he is a damn good player. He could be benched because those playing in his position are Englishmen. Do you blame them? It is their league. If a foreigner isn’t clearly better than their wards, it is only fair the Englishman is given a run of matches to sharpen the rustic ends of his game, especially in a World Cup year. If Chelsea wins the UEFA Champions League trophy and Liverpool lifts the Barclays English Premier League diadem, Mikel and Moses would be star-acts of the Super Eagles in Brazil. Emmanuel Emenike is a big star in Turkey. He was voted the best player at the Africa Cup of Nations, yet he will rank behind Mikel and Moses, when pundits start to zero in on the Eagles. Irregular appearances for Oguenyi Onazi in Lazio in the Italian Serie A, Shola Ameobi in Newcastle, Godfrey Omeruo for Middlesbrough, Ahmed Musa, Elderson Echijile for Monaco in the French Ligue 1 and Brown Ideye in the Russian league is worrisome. Not much is expected from them when Eagles play in Brazil. Nobody knows how Godfrey Oboabona is faring beyond reports of his own goals. Yet the silver lining in the Eagles is that goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide have been marvelous at their clubs, not forgetting Ambrose Efe, who was part of the league winning Celtic side in the Scottish Premier League side. But soccer is like the biscuit you don’t know where it will crack, like the Sierra-Leoneans would say. The Eagles could be the surprise package for the World Cup if the selection doesn’t divide the squad. One was excited watching on television the video of Brazil’s manager Fillipe Scolari discussing with his players in England. He watched Chelsea beat Stoke 3-0 and also saw some other games involving his players in other English clubs. That further cemented the relationship between the coach and the players. Scolari’s dinner with his boys enhanced bonding. He must have told them his philosophy for the Mundial. Talking about bonding between players and coaches, this writer screamed, watching Everton’s manager Martinez and his left back Leyton Baines at the stands during Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League game against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in the first leg game, which ended 1-1. Martinez told the media in England that he took Baines to the match because he wanted the left back to watch how Bayern’s captain Philip Lahm plays. He wanted Baines to observe how the German performed both in offensive and defensive positions, not forgetting how he combines his role as the team’s captain and the being the coach on the pitch. These are some of the ways that coaches bond with their boys and also get them to see themselves as an indivisible unit. Managers or players shouldn’t lead needless revolts. Up Eagles! Up Nigeria! Of course, Oba Khato Okpere, Ise!

Hosts Morocco force Flying Eagles to another draw

OSTS Morocco forced their Nigeria Under 20 counterparts to a 11 draw in a second friendly played in Casablanca yesterday. The first match between the two teams on Wednesday also finished in a 2-2 draw. “Overall, I will score the team above average after the two matches. We would have to improve on our finishing,” said Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba after yesterday’s game, which was aimed at preparing both teams for next month’s 2015 African Youth Championship qualifiers. “Morocco’s equaliser was also a soft goal. We cannot

afford to let in such goals.” The Flying Eagles started brightly with Alhassan Ibrahim aka ‘Mu-azam’ firing at the Junior Atlas Lions goal after just four minutes. The gangling forward will open scoring in the 22nd minute when he cashed in on confusion between the goalkeeper and his skipper to go clear and slot home. It was his third goal in two matches as he also scored his team’s two goals on Wednesday. Striker Khaba Hamza restored parity for the home team on the half hour mark when he went past a napping Junior Eagles defence to shoot

past goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar. The second half was characterised by several biased calls by the Moroccan referee, but to their credit the Flying Eagles did not lose their cool as they continued to search for the winning goal. On the hour, the Flying Eagles failed to connect a dangerous cross from the right, before Mu-azam saw his shot from outside the box miss by whiskers in the 75th minute. Morocco could have snatched a winner six minutes from time against the run of play, but scorer

Hamza fired well off target from inside the box with goalkeeper Adamu at his mercy. Flying Eagles vs Morocco U20: Adamu Abubakar, Mustapha Abdullahi, Izu Omego (Ifeanyi Nweke 46), Wilfred Ndidi (Capt), Zaharadeen Bello – Akinjide Idowu, Ifeanyi Matthew, Abdullahi Alfa (Mathias Samuel 46), Musa Yahaya (Bernard Bulbwa 58) – Taiwo Awoniyi (Abubakar Lawal 61), Alhassan Ibrahim Muazam (Sulaiman Abdullahi 86) Bookings: Izu Omego 29; Mathias Samuel 85

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

EQUITIES DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-04-14

Oil, banking stocks lift stock market

HE Nigerian stock market regained its bullish stride yesterday after a momentary bearishness on Thursday as leading banking and petroleummarketing stocks rallied the overall market position. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose by N37 billion after gains by Forte Oil, Mobil Oil Nigeria, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and United Bank for Africa (UBA) offset losses by several other stocks. The main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) also crossed the 39,000 points to close at 39,083.66 points as against its opening index of 38,969.26 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of quoted equities improved from N12.517 trillion to

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

N12.554 trillion. While there were 26 losers to 20 gainers, considerable gains recorded by highly capitalised stocks in the petroleum-marketing and banking subsectors moderated the overall market situation. Forte Oil led the bullish rally with a gain of N12.57 to close at N135.27. Mobil Oil Nigeria followed with a gain of N3.94 to close at N123.99. Cadbury Nigeria placed third with a gain of N2 to close at N79. Julius Berger Nigeria added N1.40 to close at N69.90. Zenith Bank rose by 45 kobo to N21.70. Access Bank chalked up 37 kobo to close at N7.78. Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) gathered 29 kobo

to close at N3.84. GTBank garnered 28 kobo to close at N27.48 while UBA rose by 20 kobo to close at N7.40 per share. On the other hand, Total Nigeria led the losers with a loss of N2.38 to close at N17. Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria trailed with a drop of N2 to close at N106 while Nigerian Breweries lost N1.85 to close at N149 per share. Aggregate turnover stood at 291.11 million shares valued at N4.03 billion in 9,415 deals. Financial services sector remained the most active with 214.09 million shares worth N1.55 billion in 2,558 deals. Access Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 58.40 million shares valued at N446.15 million in 162 deals.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-04-14

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 2816

The second thing that struck me was that the government might have deliberately been trying to keep the literacy level down, much the same way you would keep the noise level down in the house —Oyinkan Medubi

HESE are indeed interesting times in the history of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the most significant opposition political party in Nigeria’s political history. The party seeks to consolidate its position in the country’s political space. Yet, the PDP spares no effort to demonise its rival in the perpetuation of the country’s political hegemony. This is as it should be. It is up to the APC to get its act together or let the PDP, utilising its huge incumbency advantage, to perpetuate the current so obviously undesirable status quo. The speculated possibility of the APC, picking a Muslim-Muslim ticket, possibly General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates respectively in the 2015 election has thrust new opportunities to aim daggers at the very heart of the party. It has been so entertaining watching the absolutely fascinating Femi Fani-Kayode dance his way back into political reckoning in Abuja on this score. The Ife political chieftain was so obviously in his elements when he was received by no less a personage than President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential Villa in Aso Rock. On the basis of media speculations and without exhausting options for a definitive conclusion on the issue within his party, Femi Fani-Kayode has been up in arms trumpeting his Christianity from the roof tops. If the Jonathan presidency offers him an appointment, there is no doubt that the excitable chief will grab at the opportunity on behalf, perhaps, of Christians. In his political sloganeering on the possibility of a Buhari-Tinubu ticket for the 2015 polls, Fani-Kayode has been exceptional in trumpeting his self- proclaimed Christian credentials. He is the new champion of Christianity in this regard. Fani-Kayode believes that if a Christian is not represented on the APC’s presidential ticket, then millions of Nigerian Christians will suffer grave damages. Unfortunately, he does not tell us exactly why this should be so within the context of Nigeria’s secular constitution. President Goodluck Jonathan is a Christian. He has made a habit of peripatetic wandering from one church to the other in penitent worship of his God. But how has his religious belief rubbed off on the welfare of millions of his fellow Christians? Yes, Jonathan has led Christians to the holy pilgrimage in Israel. He was recently in Rome to pay obeisance to the Catholic Pontiff. But that has absolutely nothing to do with his responsibility as Nigeria’s head of state. His ineptness or otherwise is a question of personal ability and not religious affiliation. President Olusegun Obasanjo before Jonathan was another leader who insensitively thrust his private religious belief in our faces. He was forever preaching and

APC: Much ado about Muslim-Muslim ticket

‘

•Buhari

•Tinubu

quoting scriptures to us either at the Presidential Villa Chapel or different churches across the country. Yet, he left the country much worse than he met it in every respecteconomic, social, moral, material etc. In spite of these glaring experiences, it is amazing that otherwise brilliant individuals like Fani-Kayode would make an issue of the religious colouration of a party’s electoral ticket. And this is even more inexcusable coming over two decades after Nigerians demonstrated that they had transcended such parochial considerations in the landmark June 12 presidential election. Tai Solarin was an atheist. He refused to bow to any God. Yet, only very few could meet the exceeding moral standards he set for himself. This was a man who resigned from office as Oyo State Public Complaints Commissioner because he was caught driving without his drivers’ licence on him. The

It is not professed religious belief that makes the man. It is so sad that otherwise reasonable and rational people would seek to evaluate the APC’s purported electoral ticket on the extra-constitutional basis of its religious colouration

’

engineering genius, Professor Ayodele Awojobi was an agnostic just like the revered human rights activist and medical doctor, Beko Ransome-Kuti. Yet, they contributed immeasurably to elevating the ethical standards of society just by their personal example. It is not professed religious belief that makes the man. It is so sad that otherwise reasonable and rational people would seek to evaluate the APC’s purported electoral ticket on the extra-constitutional basis of its religious colouration. Now, does the forgoing suggest that this column supports the speculated APC BuhariTinubu ticket? Not necessarily. However, the fact of the duo being Muslims cannot be a convincing reason to discredit the combination if ultimately presented to the electorate. Buhari is a man of sterling character and

unblemished integrity. His qualities can certainly go a long way to help sanitise our society and lead us on the path to national regeneration. But, can he effectively ward off perceptions of religious fanaticism and sectional extremism that will most certainly influence voting patterns? At over 70, can he muster the energy to effectively lead Nigeria at this critical point in history? These and not his being a Muslim are the pertinent issues. Of course, it is exceedingly absurd to campaign against Tinubu’s electoral eligibility on the basis of religion. His record as one of the most liberal, urbane and sophisticated Muslims in this political dispensation is difficult to equal. Just like the late MKO Abiola, his legacy of philanthropy transcends ethnic, regional and religious boundaries. His example of governance in Lagos between 1999 and 2007 and successful transition to the paradigm-changing Babatunde Raji Fashola administration remains unrivalled. But then, what should be Tinubu’s political priorities at this time? Should it be to aspire to being Vice President of Nigeria or helping to build and consolidate the APC as an enduring political structure capable of contributing effectively to the institutionalising of sustainable democracy in the country? That and not his religion should be the vital question. If Buhari and Tinubu ultimately opt not to run, there are limitless combinations within the APC that can offer Nigeria effective leadership. Competence and not religion must be the watch word at all times. It is unfortunate that in our miraclehungry age, the issue of religious affiliation has been allowed to shove more pertinent variables of competence and integrity to the side lines. Nowhere is this more evident than in the understandable whirl of speculations as regards BRF’s possible successor in office as Lagos State Governor. Thus, a frequently named aspirant like Akin Ambode, a former Permanent Secretary and Accountant General of Lagos State is analysed more in terms of his religion than his easily verifiable record as a brilliant administrator and financial engineer. In the same vein, someone like Dr Obafemi Hamzat current Commissioner of Works in Lagos State is routinely telescoped by political analysts as a Muslim and not as one of the keenest, most brilliant and articulate actors in Nigeria’s current public space that he is. We all have a duty not to abandon the political arena to opportunistic spiritual combatants like Femi Fani-Kayode. Of course, the brilliant lawyer and polemicist has found his way back to Aso Rock contention courtesy of his religious fulminations. But that for Nigeria is certainly not the way to go.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

God forbid A

SK any Green Eagles star his regrets, he will definitely list the fact that he didn’t play at the senior World Cup. Most of them were very skillful but Nigeria had not acquired the status of being a regular at the Mundial. Many have reasoned that our economy wasn’t as poor as it is now to compel the stars of old to consider the star trek to Europe. Those former stars who went abroad chose to acquire education, perhaps because of the orientation in those countries where they played the game – most times at the novelty level. Not for the new generation of Super Eagles players since we clinched our first Africa Cup of Nations diadem outside Nigeria in 1994. The year also marked our epoch at the senior World Cup, with many of those who excelled at the USA’94 World Cup hitting it big with European clubs. The ripple effect of Nigeria’s superb outing in 1994 at the Mundial dovetailed into our winning the gold

medal of the 1996 Olympic Games’ football event in Atlanta. Given our achievements and the players’ exploits with foreign clubs, our football hit its apogee in 1994 and 1996. But we lost track when the demented Abacha regime barred the Super Eagles from defending the Africa Cup of Nations which they won in 1994 in South Africa in 1996. Things fell apart for our soccer. Providence intervened at the Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa, last year. We won. Our exploits at the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2010, since we broke the jinx of attendance in 1994, have been nerve wrenching, especially with the after competition tales. Things changed last year. It appears now we are poised to shock the world, only if we settle the wrangling within the team. It is interesting to note that the NFF have chosen to work with Eagles Chief Coach Stephen Keshi. The Big Boss has also turned a new leaf. Equally cheery is the news that Keshi

would be paid his outstanding four months salaries. He will also an upfront payment until June 30. Keshi’s assistants are to enjoy the same treatment. The salary palava over, leaving the coaches now have their job cut out for them; they should produce a good squad for the Mundial. It presupposes that Keshi would be allowed to pick his squad, even if he decides to pick goalkeeper Chidozie Agbim. The story was told how Keshi refused to go with a third goalkeeper for the game against Mexico, simply because the technical committee disagreed with his inclusion in the team. Keshi had his way because it was a oneoff game. He certainly wouldn’t try that with the World Cup. For crying out loud, the technical committee should allow Keshi pick his squad on April 22. The technical meeting should be followed with a press conference where the list will be made public. NFF should allow the media drill Keshi over his list. Whatever reasons he advances will serve to determine his fate when

the chips are down in Brazil, beginning with Nigeria’s opening game against Iran on June 13. It means that we could rule the world at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, if only all the parties are sincere with their resolve to work together. Nigeria’s quest for a remarkable performance in Brazil, beginning with the opening game against Iran, has being dogged with the agony of our reliable players either sitting on the bench or being left out their European clubs’ matches. But the flipside to this scenario is that we would have injury-free players, a situation most of the managers whose players star regularly for their teams would pray for. The pain of watching our stars in limbo has been worsened by the tale from Jose Mourinho last Friday that Eagles midfield pearl John Mikel Obi was injured. Mourinho didn’t state the nature of Mikel’s injury. I quickly swept this tale away, given Mourinho’s pedigree for mind games before •Continued on Page 63

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