April 18, 2014 by The Nation

Buhari threatens to sue PDP NEWS Page 6

•‘I’ve no role in Boko Haram’

Newspaper of the Year

News 47 score over 250 in UTME P5 Sports Ambrose: Eagles will stop Messi P24 Business Transcorp plans $1b power plants P53

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2822 FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

EKITI 2014

N150.00 •AND MORE

•No one can steal my mandate, says Fayemi ON PAGE 11 •APC to Sambo: Ekiti not war front •‘I’ve no varsity’ •‘I’ll industrialise Ekiti’•Race for Fayose’s deputy on

Parents join soldiers in bush search for 99 girls Borno govt: only 30 pupils back with us DHQ: we were misled

NXIOUS parents of some of the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, have headed for the forest in a desperate search for their daughters. More than 100 schoolgirls were taken away from their hostels by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Monday night. Contrary to the claim by the Defence Headquarters on Wednesday night that 80 of the girls had been rescued, the Borno State Government said only 30 could be accounted for - as at last night. The military agreed last night that its information was wrong, saying it was misled. School Principal Asabe Kwambura told reporters that the report from the military was “not true” and that “only 14 of the 129 kidnapped girls had escaped”.

By Our Reporter “Up till now, we are still waiting and praying for the safe return of the students ... the security people, especially the vigilantes and the wellmeaning volunteers of Gwoza, are still out searching for them. The military people too are in the bush, searching “So, let it be clear that all the information passed on to the media by the military, concerning 107 girls is not true,” she said. She spoke before the release of a statement by Borno State Commissioner for Education Musa Inuwa Kubo, who was at the school for most part of yesterday. A group of parents, according to the BBC, raised money to buy fuel and water, and had headed into the forest with a local vigilante group to search for the girls. One father told the BBC he was willing to die in the forest Continued on page 4

Jonathan shifts security meeting

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan rescheduled yesterday another meeting with governors over rising insecurity. The meeting will take place next Wednesday. The Presidency on Wednesday, through a statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, invited governors and the National Security Council for a

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

meeting yesterday to discuss insecurity. Although it was thought that all the governors were to attend, only the PDP governors turned up at the First Lady’s Conference Room, State House venue. Briefing State House corre-

BOMB VICTMS IN HOSPITAL NAME

SEX

MAITAMA DISTRICT HOSPITAL •Precious Samuel F •Monday Oshile M •Pat Umar •Simon Peter M •Vera Ojochide Jaja F •Chibuzor Oshouagwe M •Gabriel Peter Ibrahim M •Olowokere Taiwo M •Yohanna Ibrahim M •Gabriel Enyinnaya M •Paul Tanko M •Mustapha Abdullahim M •Auwal Harun M •Sani Nafiu M •Usman Yinusa M •Dada Je-Ogbade M •Umar Murtala M •Isiaka Abdul M •Adeoye Busayo M •Jim Anthony M •Job Daniel M

STATE OF ORIGIN

Imo Ebonyi Kaduna Kogi Imo Kaduna Ondo Kaduna Abia FCT Katsina Adamawa Katsina Kano Osun Sokoto Kogi Oyo Imo Benue

Continued on page 4

Osun, Oyo, Ondo on list of Abuja blast victims

FTER the initial shock, officials have settled down to find out the identities of the victims of the Nyanya suicide bombing in which no fewer than 75 people died and 164 injured. Imo, Katsina and Benue indigenes top the list of the injured. The police released yesterday security advisory to Nigerians for the Easter holiday. According to the figures released by the National Emergency Agency (NEMA), 126 are in nine hospitals. The clinics are Nyanya General Hospital(11); Asokoro District (26); Maitama District Hospital (22); PAN-RAF Hospital(nine); National Hospital (31); Mararaba General Hospital (eight); Customs Hospital (14); Abuja Clinic, Karu (four); and Garki Hospital (one). The victims are from 26 of

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

the 36 states. The states of 48 victims were unknown as at press time. Imo, Katsina and Benue top the list of the injured ones. The highlights are as follows: 48 (no states); Imo (eight); Katsina (eight); Benue (eight); Edo (six); Kaduna (six); Enugu (five); Kogi (five); Sokoto(five); Cross River (one); Ebonyi (three); Plateau (two); Kebbi (one); Kwara (two); Adamawa (one); Kano (two); Osun (one); Oyo (two); Delta(two); Nasarawa (two); Ondo (one); Abia (two); FCT (one); Rivers (one) Akwa Ibom (two); Anambra (one) and Jigawa(one). The police advisory urges Nigerians to be vigilant Continued on page 4

•IN THE SPIRIT OF EASTER : Pope Francis kissing the foot of a member of the congregation as he performs the traditional Maundy Thursday ritual in Rome ...yesterday

Continued on page 4

•SOCIETY P15 •SPORTS P23 •BRANDS P26 •AGRIC P38 •POLITICS P45 •FOREIGN P59

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

‘Abuja bomb bl

• Ambassador of Guatemala, Mr Acisclo Molina (left), presenting his letter of credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali, in Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•Chairman, Lawyers Unite Against Corruption (LUC),Mathias Emeribe (right) speaking at a news conference on the rot in the petroleum industry in Lagos...yesterday. With him are Ifeannichukwu Fubara (middle) and Emmanuel Ochai. PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

•From left: Representative of the Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr Oliver Heggelin; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Habiba Lawal and the Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina, at the inauguration of the National Joint Taskforce for PHOTO: NAN. the Prevention of Child Sex Abuse in Abuja...yesterday.

•General Overseer, The Christ Church on the Hill, Bishop Junita Nwendu, presenting a paque to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John Kennedy Opara, during the visit by Women in Clergy to the commission Iin Abuja ...yesterday. With them is the association’s President, Prophetess Nonnie Roberson. PHOTO: NAN

OME senators yesterday described the Abuja bomb blast as man’s inhumanity to man. They spoke when they were led to the scene of the blast by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West). They also visited the National Hospital, Abuja where Adeyemi donated N2 million to 48 victims receiving treatment at the National Hospital and the Asokoro General Hospital. Adeyemi said the amount is meant for the 25 patients at the National Hospital and 23 others at the Asokoro General Hospital. After inspecting the scene of the incident at the Nyanya Motor Park, Adeyemi and Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda became emotional. The two Senators, who could barely respond to questions from reporters, lamented the incident describing it as “man’s inhumanity to man.” Adeyemi said: “It’s unfortunate that this is happening in our nation. I want to assure Nigerians that the government would continue to do its best. Abuja has been relatively safe in the last one year so to speak. “It is unfortunate that this has happened. On our part we would look at the possibility of ensuring that now that we are still working on the FCT Statutory budget. We hope to make enough funding for security. “We are going to ensure that virtually in all parks and commercial centres of the city would have cameras that can capture movement of people. Cameras that would be far above what people can tamper with. “In essence we are going to ensure that good cameras are purchased. We are going purchase CCTV’s that are of international standard that can really do the job for us. We must realise now that we are faced with a very serious problem. “I sympathies with the families whose loved ones died in this blast. It is so painful. It is inexplicable. These are things that about a decade ago we read about in far away nations of the world. “We are seeing it right now in our own nation. Majority of those who died here were Nigerians struggling for their daily bread. “These were people who could not afford three square meals. I feel moved when I saw shoes and motorcycles. These were real people struggling to survive who have to ode this way. “My appeal to all those who may be involved in these attacks is to please have mercy on others and let us live in peace. Please let us have peace and have mercy. “Whatever are the grievances and issues can be resolved. But I know that it is going to be history. “This problem too will pass. I have the assurance of God. We have passed through very harsh situations in Nigeria before. “This period will come and go. Nigerians must be hopeful and must be courageous as a people. It is a trying period towards ensuring that we have a nation that all of us can lay claim to. “The fact is, this crisis is a process of development. We have passed through this process and Nigeria would always remain one.” Senator Aduda commended the health workers for their commitment and quick response towards helping the wounded. He said: “This is my constituency and it happened directly to me because among them we have family members, brothers and sisters and all those who supported me one way or the other politically. “It was indeed one sad Monday morning and it is unfortunate. We

•House of Representatives Leader Mulikat Akande Adeola(right) giving some cash to a victim of Nyanya bomb blast at the National Hospital, Abuja... yesterday. With her are two female members of the House, Stella Dogu and Betty Apiafi.

‘

We watched the news yesterday and I overheard some families of victims talking about the fact that some of the victims are un-fed and that disturbed me personally

‘

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

pray that it does not happen again.” He thanked Adeyemi for his gesture to the people. Chairman of the Board of the National Hospital, Dr. Tony Okam, told the lawmakers that despite the lack of space at the hospital the staff have been doing their best. Dr. Okam also refuted insinuations that the hospital was overstretched as a result of the blast. According to him, the trauma Centre was ready for commissioning and if there was need, the Centre would have been opened. He said: “We run three shifts, if there was need, we would have called up workers from the Centre and opened the Centre, which has 60 beds, and capacity to expand up to 80 would have ordinarily been able to accommodate everybody but our prayer is that it will not happen again.” Adeyemi said: “I am happy that these people are responding to treatment. I recalled that years back, my committee was over-sighting the National Hospital, when we came on board, the hospital was not on the template for budgeting. I was one of those who pushed for it. I assure you that we will do all we can to improve appropriation for the National Hospital. “We watched the news yesterday and I overheard some families of victims talking about the fact that some of the victims are un-fed and that disturbed me personally. I don’t know how you are coping with that. I don’t know what you are doing about the feeding because majority of them are down-trodden. I don’t know if it is true, if it is true, let us know what to do about that.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

mb blast is man’s inhumanity to man’ FRSC calls for standard motor parks

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday called for remodeling and reconstruction of motor parks across the country, especially in the North to discourage terrorists from using them to launch their attacks. The Bayelsa State Commander, FRSC, Vincent Jack, gave the recommendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, Mr. Wodu Kemasuode, in Yenagao. He condemned the bombing of Nyanya motor park in Abuja which killed over 70 persons and left many others injured, but lamented the porosity of motor parks in the country. Jack said state governments should begin reconstruction of parks to bring them to the expected standard. In the face of deadly attacks by terrorists, he noted that parks should be built with some security features to check the movement of vehicles and people. According to him if the Nyanya motor park were fenced with its entry and exit points secured by the road transport union, it would have been difficult for terrorists to use it as a base to launch the deadly attack. “If the park were a standard one, the people who use it would have been able to notice strange occurrences. They would have sighted the car-laden bomb and raised the alarm. The government should assist in building standard motor parks”, he said. Jack further asked the ministry to establish a traffic court

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

in the state to facilitate the prosecution of traffic offenders. He also called for a law on child safety adding that most parents risk the lives of their children while driving. Kemasuode, one of the new commissioners in Governor Seriake Dickson’s cabinet, said the government would take every necessary steps to protect the lives of the citizens. Aknowleding that the state has some traffic problems, he said his ministry had already started discussing a bill that would deal with traffic management. He said the bill if drafted and approved by the governor would be sent to the state House of Assembly for deliberation and passage. He said all the traffic problems in the state including issues of child safety would be dealt with in the proposed bill. Kemasuode thanked Jack for the visit and promised to maintain a good relationship with the commission. “Some of the traffic problems have increased since the restoration government turned the state to a massive construction site. That has also added more responsibilities to the FRSC. But we will do everything to make sure that our roads are free”, he said.

Awo’s cap fits Tinubu, says U.S-based professor

•Academic extols APC chieftain’s virtues in new book

HE popularity, political accomplishments, leadership virtues and dedication to the people’s cause of former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were celebrated yesterday at the presentation of a book written by an associate professor at the University of California, the United States, Dr Wale Adebanwi. The book, entitled Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria, was presented at the MUSON Centre, Lagos. It brought together political heavyweights, especially in the Southwest, as well as other parts of the country. At the event were Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande; former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; frontline Yoruba elders Chief Olanihun Ajayi and Senator Ayo Fasanmi; former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; a chieftain of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Chief Ayo Adebanjo; renowned academic and columnist, Prof. Adebayo Williams; Hon. Wale Osun, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Bashorun J. K. Randle and Chief Ajibola Ogunsola. The royal fathers included Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Oba Abimbola Akinyele and Oba Kola Ibiyemi; Lagos politicians Cardinal James Odunmbaku and Mr Jimi Agbaje; wife of a late legal luminary, Alhaja Alao Aka-Bashorun, wife of the late legal luminary, Mr Alao AkaBashorun; former Transport and Aviation Minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu and representatives of Ekiti, Ogun and Oyo states’ governors. Dr. Adebanwi paid glowing tributes to Asiwaju Tinubu’s dedication and courage. He noted that the APC chieftain is

•Jakande (middle), Adebanjo (left) and Adebanwi...yesterday. By Raymond Mordi and Leke Salaudeen

the most qualified, among the present crop of leaders in the region, to step into the shoes of the late sage and former Western Nigeria Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Reviewing the book, frontline journalist and Executive Editor of The News, Mr. Kunle Ajibade, quoted the author that Awolowo’s cap fits Tinubu. Ajibade said the masses of the Yoruba have always insisted on Awolowo, for their political direction. But in the absence of the late sage, the journalist asked rhetorically: who becomes the new leader of the progressive movement? Or, who steps into the big shoes of the late Awolowo? Ajibade answered the question. He said: “Adebanwi, in the light of other contenders for the throne, thinks the cap fits Bola Tinubu, who has ‘pursued the ambition to become both the leader in Yoruba politics and the leader of the progressive movement in Nigeria’.” Adebanwi, according to Ajibade, noted “that while Awolowo believed

that one ought to mobilise for power on the basis of ideological interests, Tinubu has demonstrated that it is only by accessing power that one can mobilise one’s interests and make one’s vision of society practical.” In his review, titled, The Genius of Obafemi Awolowo and the Contest for His Political Space, Ajibade quoted the author’s belief in Tinubu’s political prowess to take over from the late Awolowo. He said Adebanwi “tells us that Awolowo’s investment in education and agriculture brought into being a middle class to engage the rest of the world”. The reviewer noted that Awolowo remains a hero in the dominant progressive Yoruba politics. This is why even before he died, in 1987, some of his associates, specifically the late Justice Minitser, Chief Bola Ige and Alhaji Jakande, had been preparing to take over the mantle of Awo. The chairman of the occasion and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, hailed Adebanwi’s work. He said writers like him are important in the society because they cap-

ture the ideas that are needed to move the nation forward. “No nation moves forward unless ideas move them,” Gambari said. Ambassador Tokunbo AwolowoDosunmu, the Executive Director of The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, who representative of her mother, Mrs. H. I. D. Awolowo, said the Yoruba played a significant role in stabilising the country in the past. He noted that such a role is required now, as the nation struggles to find a good direction towards progress. Dr Awolowo-Dosunmu said she was usually upset when people said it was impossible to replicate what her late father and his associates did in the First and Second Republics. She said: “As the author states in the book, Awolowo saw power as a tool to deploy for the service of the people. I am very happy that this is being put out there for everyone to read.” But Dr Awolowo-Dosunmu expressed dissatisfaction with today’s style of politics in Nigeria. She said: “But how can we play that role (of stabilising Nigeria) when many are pursuing their personal

agenda?” She thanked Dr Adebanwi for his courage and sacrifice, saying: “I can safely say that he is the authority on Chief Awolowo among his generation.” The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation worked in partnership with Afenifere Renewal group (ARG) to present Adebanwi’s book to the public. Tinubu, who was the chief presenter of the book, noted in his address that the first reason the late Awolowo remained relevant to Nigeria’s present era was his reputation as a great alliance builder. The APC chieftain, who was represented by Aregbesola, noted that contrary to what the ill-informed about Awolowo’s politics would say, Awolowo never discouraged the possibility of cross-national alliance to save Nigeria. Tinubu said even though Awolowo started from Western Nigeria, he made efforts to go into alliances but “he did not always succeed”. The APC chieftain said there could not be a better moment in Nigeria’s political climate to celebrate Awolowo, by remembering the lessons he taught Nigerians, than now. He said Nigeria was faced with the urgent challenge of creating an alternative order at the federal level, adding that there was a lesson for Nigerians from the ideas the late Awolowo provided as well as the force of his examples. Tinubu said the challenge “before those of us, who have been tasked with responding” to the moment, is clear. “What we need to do is to build on those ideas, modify them - where need be - and then concretise them in the context of the strategic and tactical challenges of our own time,” he said. Ajibade noted that even though the narratives of Awolowo and the Awoist movement had been subjects of rigorous and vigorous scholarships, Dr Adebanwi had deepened the knowledge with new perspectives. He said: “In Yoruba Elites and Ethnic politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency, he (the author) writes lucidly about the crises that the physical absence of Awolowo brought about and the appropriation of his symbolic presence in Yorubaland.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS Abuja blast victims’ names released Continued from page 1

at motor parks, shopping malls and recreational centres.

•Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, during Kalu’s visit to the monarch in Minna …yesterday

Parents join soldiers in bush search for 99 girls Continued from page 1

in the attempt to free his daughter. The air force, army, police, local defence units and volunteers have all been involved in the search for the schoolgirls. Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima was also quoted by the BBC Hausa Service yesterday faulting the military’s claim. He reportedly said: “We have recovered 14 of the girls and we have announced a N50 million reward for any credible information that will help us get our girls released and rejoined with their families.” The Borno government, in a statement, said it had fully taken custody of only 30 of the 129 abducted pupils. It said it was still awaiting the return of 99 others who were said to have been rescued by the military in collaboration with civilian volunteers. The statement by the commissioner said: “I’m right at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, the scene of the unfortunate abduction. At the moment, we have taken custody of 30 girls. There is an increase of 16 students whose parents returned them to school after they ran home on the day of the attack. We had made announcements and called on parents whose children and wards ran home. “The aim is for us to take proper account of our 129 stu-

We were misled, says military

HE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) admitted yesterday that troops were still looking for the majority of the girls abducted by Boko

Haram at the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. About 99 out of the 129 school girls have not been found as at press time. The government of Borno State said it had 30 students, contrary to DHQ’s earlier position that troops had rescued 80. The DHQ said the the report forwarded to the public on the purported rescue of 80 girls was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public. Defence Information Director, Major-General Chris Olukolade, made the clarifications in a statement following the controversy over the fate of the abducted girls. The DHQ said although it got the initial rescue figure from an official channel, it had to defer to the school principal and the state government on the situation.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The statement said: “The controversy that has been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok is unfortunate. “The ongoing frantic efforts of security forces along with vigilante groups, including, hunters working to locate and free the abducted students have continued to be keenly monitored at the Operation Centre of the Defence and Army Headquarters as regular progress reports are being received from troops on the ground. ”In this regard, a report was filed in from the field indicating that a major breakthrough had been recorded in the search. There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately. “Surprisingly however, the school principal, Continued on page 59

dents who were at the hostel on the day of that unfortunate attack. You may recall that 14 students had earlier escaped from captivity as explained by Governor Kashim Shettima on Wednesday. “By our records of 129 students being at the hostel at the time of that unfortunate incident, we are expecting the return of about 99 students who might be among those said to have been rescued by the military. “Myself, the principal of the school, Asabe Kwambura, parents, other students and residents are awaiting the re-

turn of our students. We have no reason to doubt or contradict Wednesday’s announcement by the Defence Headquarters, given the fact that the military personnel are those leading the search and rescue operations along with civilian volunteers. “We are very hopeful that perhaps, the freed students are safely with the military and being brought to us. “We pray that not just all our students return in good health but also all the security agents and volunteers safely return in good health after a successful and patriotic rescue effort. We

call on parents to remain prayerful and hopeful that by the grace of God all the students will return to us in good health. “On behalf of the Borno State Government, my ministry, staff and students of the affected school, parents and the relations of affected students, I deeply appreciate the concern of all Nigerians and rest of the world for their solidarity and well wishes. I also thank the media for their very critical role as we look forward to overcoming this grieving experience.”

to other governors under the aegis of the APC, our governors did not attend. ‘’Now that the meeting has been held, it is incumbent on the Presidency to launch an investigation into the source of the call to the Kwara State Government and what the call was meant to achieve. ‘’Irrespective of the totally unfounded and absolutely irresponsible allegation that the APC is behind the escalating security situation, our party will not shy away from any serious effort to end the terrorist attacks in our country. Therefore, it is not true that our governors shunned the meeting with the President,’’ the APC said. After the President met the Service Chiefs and Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar in his office, they all moved to the First Lady’s Conference Room where governors were already seated. Governors at the meeting were: Gabriel Suswam(Benue),

Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Isa Yuguda(Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe). Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu). Also at the meeting were Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Olusegun Mimiko(Ondo), Garba Umar (Acting Governor Taraba), Deputy Governor John Jonah (Bayelsa) and the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State. Others at the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Defence Minister Aliyu Gusau, State Security Service (SSS) Director-General Ita Ekpeyong; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius

Anyim. Akpabio said: “This is a fallout of our meeting which we held with PDP governors and we felt that there was a need for us and to meet with security chiefs. Mr. President has listened to us even said that since it is a problem that involves all the states of the federation, it is better for all the governors to be in attendance. Because of that, he has graciously agreed to meet with all the 36 states of the federation on Wednesday by 4pm. “Of course, you know we are very much concerned, first as PDP governors and the centre belongs to the PDP and so we felt that we should see our dear president and if need be, with some of the security chiefs.” “He has graciously listened to us and he said since it is a national issue, we must have all the 36 governors in attendance. So I believe strongly a notice will be going out and all governors will be meeting with Mr. President and service chiefs next week

The police specifically cautioned those who will worship in mosques and churches to take precautionary measures. A statement by police spokesman Frank Mba, said: “Against the backdrop of recent security challenges in the country and the general preparation for the forthcoming Easter celebrations, the Nigeria Police High Command has urged worshippers both at Jumat and church services to take adequate measures to reduce the number of vehicles around these hallowed worship centres so as to make the tasks of keeping surveillance on the area easier. “ The police apex authority also advises that abandoned and disused vehicles should not be parked within or close to places of worship and residential areas. It further highlights the need for vehicles parked overnight in those premises to be properly vetted and identified. “While emphasising that empty containers and other forms of receptacles (including dustbins) not in use should be properly disposed or stored far away from the reach of unauthorised persons, the Police High Command highlights the need for

flower pots and flower edges around residential buildings, offices and worship centres to be kept clear and regularly checked for foreign or suspicious objects. “The Police High Command also enjoins worshippers to make conscious effort to know fellow members of their congregation, as this will make it easier to know who is a stranger in their midst. It reiterates the need for worshippers to be security alert and report all suspicious characters and observations to the Police. “The worship centres are enjoined to discourage hawking and clustering/loitering around the worship centres after service. Worshippers are equally advised to refrain from entering the worship centres with hand bags, brief-cases and other related items. “The Force equally advises operators of motor parks, shopping malls and recreational centres to work very closely with the police and other security agencies as they strive to strengthen general security in their respective facilities. “While assuring the public of his administration’s readiness and commitment towards ensuring a safe and secure environment, the Inspector-General Police, MD Abubakar also wishes Nigerians a very peaceful and happy Easter celebrations.”

BOMB VICTMS IN HOSPITAL •Aungwa Saater M •David Igho M •Georg Ediae M •Extr Gowimina M •Baby Goodness J. F ASOKORO DISTRICT HOSPITAL •Hamza Ibrahim M •Rikaya Suleiman F •Saidu Ayinde M •Adamu Abbisi M •Inuwa Musa M •Arimiyawa Saidu M •Ebele Ibezim M •Oguike Charles M •Samson Udo M •Sani Ismaila M •John Atanyi M •Blessing Aghi F NYANYA GENERAL HOSPITAL •Emmanuel Oduma M •Charity Enang F •Pius Nwaonuan M •Cliffort Nwafor M •Attah Friday M •Chidozie Iyoke M •Peter Omeh M •Ibrahim Salisu M •Shamsu Hussein M •Adamu M Bello M •Osaretin John M

Delta Delta Edo Nasarawa Nasarawa Katsina Kebbi Kwara Kogi Kogi Sokoto Imo Imo Enugu Katsina Benue Benue Cross River Ebonyi Enugu Ebonyi Kaduna Katsina Plateau

Jonathan’s security meeting with governors to hold next Wednesday Continued from page 1

spondents at the end of the two hours meeting, PDP Governors Forum Chairman and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said only PDP governors were invited for yesterday’s meeting. All the governors will be invited for the rescheduled meeting, he said. A statement by the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, explained the absence of APC governors. The party said the governors of APC-controlled states were given the impression that the meeting had been called off, hence they did not attend. ‘’On Wednesday, the Presidency called the Chief Detail of the Kwara State Government to say that the meeting had been called off. On the basis of this information, which apparently got

Wednesday so we can sit and discuss and profer solutions to the current insecurity in the country. I believe it will come to an end,” he said. On the state of emergency that will expire in the three Northeast states tomorrow, he said: “No, he didn’t go into details with us. Of course you know that it is a national issue and if you discuss it and as you know you can’t shave a man’s head behind him. The governors of the states that are involved in emergency are not here. So I believe that issue will be taken on when all the governors are around on Wednesday.” Asked why the APC governors were not at the meeting, he said: “No, no, no, they were not invited. You know there was an initial requisition of this meeting by the PDP governors; this was as a fallout of our own meeting. And so it wasn’t something that was extended to all and that is why I said they have been invited on Wednesday. We just want-

ed to meet with our president and some service chiefs to air our views and also make some suggestions. Now he is insisting, which is right too, that it is a national issue because it must be handled nationally and that is why all the governors must be here.” Explaining why LP Governor Mimiko and APGA Governor Obiano attended the meeting, he said: “You know there was initial call for governors to attend, I invited them. But Mr. President has invited them.” Confident that all governors will be at next week’s meeting, he said: “I don’t think there is a governor who will not love to be here to also add his voice and suggestion on how we can tackle the current situation. We must Continued on page 59

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

Only 47 candidates score 250 and above in UTME

HE Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released yesterday the result of the 2014 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted on Paper Pencil Test (PPT) and Dual Based Test (DBT). Of the over one million (1,015,504) candidates who registered for the exam last Saturday, only 47 scored 250 and above JAMB Registrar Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, who announced the result in Abuja, disclosed that 2,

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

494 results were being with-held. In all, 990,179 registered for PPT; 325 registered for DBT, bringing the total number to 1, 015, 504. According to Ojerinde, 23 schools in Abia, Rivers, Ebonyi and Imo states were involved in extortion of money from candidates and widespread cheating. The money collected ranged from N500 to N1000. The money

•JAMB withholds 2, 494 results collected from the students will be refunded to them. Over a dozen telephone handsets and irregular answer sheets among others were found on candidates. Ojerinde said a doctor who works at Gumel General Hospital in Gumel Local Government Area, Jigawa State, who was caught writing the UTME for his wife, will be reported to the Medical Associa-

tion (NIMA) and “he may lose his certificate.” His words: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Saturday 12th April, 2014, successfully conducted her sixth (6th) Edition of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on two modes, Paper Pencil Test and Dual Based Test. “The examination was one of

PHOTO: NAN

Why Financial Reporting Council can’t investigate me, by Sanusi In those conclusions and decisions they have taken, they have breached his fundamental rights to natural justice, because the plaintiff was not given any opportunity to defend himself before they reached those decisions By Joseph Jibueze

ants do not have the power to conduct the wide-ranging investigations. He added that the defendants cannot, therefore, conduct that kind of investigation regarding the period that the plaintiff was the CBN governor. According to Awodein, the defendants reached conclusions and made far reaching recommendations without giving Sanusi a fair hearing. “In those conclusions and decisions they have taken, they have breached his fundamental rights to natural justice, because the plaintiff

was not given any opportunity to defend himself before they reached those decisions,” Awodein said. For instance, the lawyer said FRC wrongly accused Sanusi of misappropriating N20.2billion in legal and professional fees. He said had the defendants given Sanusi the opportunity to defend himself, he would have shown how the money was spent. “It would have been clear that N19.8billion of that payment they call legal and professional fees is actually judgment debts owed to CBN pensioners by virtue of a Supreme Court judgment in

Abuja bomb blast: Egypt condemns attack

GYPT has condemned Monday’s bomb blast which killed 75 people and injured over 200 in Nyanya, Abuja. In a statement issued by the Egyptian Embassy yesterday, the spokesman of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Badr Abdul-Atti, expressed Egypt’s people and government’s condemnation of terrorist bombing. The spokesman expressed the deepest condolences of the Egyptian government and people to the Nigerian government and the brotherly people of Nigeria and the families of the victims, and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

“Abdul-Atti” also reiterated Egypt’s position in siding with Nigeria against terrorism that targets its security, reaffirming that terrorism belongs to no home or any religion, the spokesman Stressed the importance of uniting the entire international community to confront this phenomenon, adding that Africa is able to address this serious challenge because of political well and solidarity of the continent’s people, he also emphasized Egypt’s commitment to intensify cooperation with the African brothers and Nigeria in the face of the threat of terrorism.

Amao vs CBN, with number SC/168/2007, delivered on 21st May 2010,” Awodein said. He said Wings Aviation Limited, which Sanusi used, is actually registered, but that its name was changed to Jedidah Air Limited. He said the FRC wants to investigate after reaching conclusions. But FRC, through its lawyer, Segun Ajibola (SAN) urged the court to dismiss Sanusi’s suit. Ajibola said FRC did not act on its own, but was directed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to carry out the investigation. He said prior to the SGF’s correspondence to FRCN was the suspension letter to Sanusi, dated February 19. Ajibola said the letter from SGF, dated February 20, “incorporates the letter of 19th February 2014” and that the letters preceded Sanusi’s invitation by the investigating panel. “No where in those two letters was the issue of Briefing Notes referred to as being the basis of investigation. The basis of investigation is contained in the letters of 19th and 20th of February. “The fears of the plaintiff that made him file this action are completely misplaced and unfounded,” he said. On the issue of denying Sanusi fair hearing before FRC reached conclusions, Ajibola said it is misplaced because the council had not yet commenced investigation against Sanusi’s activities at CBN.

“In this year’s exercise, the Board experienced a remarkable decrease in the number of applicants that registered for the Paper Pencil Test (PPT). This reduction in number is attributed to the growing confidence of candidates in the Computer Based Test (CBT), which definitely will be full blown by 2015. Please take note also that the 2014 Computer Based Test (CBT) exercise will take place from Saturday, May 17, to Saturday, May 31.”

LAUTECH honours Tinubu with doctorate degree

•IGP Mohammed Abubakar (left), with Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, during the Security Council meeting In Abuja... yesterday.

USPENDED Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has accused the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of bias in its bid to investigate him. Arguing his originating summons before Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court yesterday Sanusi’s lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN), said FRC lacked power to conduct such probe. Sanusi is praying the court to stop his investigation by the council. He joined FRC and its Executive Secretary as respondents. According to him, FRC’s declaration in a Briefing Note dated June 7 and submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan were ultra vires (outside) its powers as contained in the FRC Act, 2011. The applicant is urging the court to hold that the defendants, having reached a conclusion as to his culpability as Governor of CBN, as indicated in the briefing note and newspaper publications, can no longer conduct any investigation on the same matter. Awodein said the defend-

the most successfully conducted exercises ever by the Board. The exercise took place in Thirty-Six (36) states of the Federation including the FCT. Let me also state emphatically that the Board conducted examination in Biu and no candidate’s life was lost. The Board is mindful of the security challenge in the nation and will continue to work with the relevant security organizations to ensure that our candidates’ lives are protected.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE LadokeAkintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) will confer a honorary doctorate degree (Honoris. Causa) in Management Sciences on the National Leader of the All Progressives Party (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, during its convocation, which starts today. Tinubu is the institution’s chancellor. The school also said it would establish a software engineering course in the institution. Its Vice- Chancellor, Prof Adeniyi Gbadegesin, spoke at a news conference on the institution’s 11th special convocation yesterday. Gbadegesin said: “ This university is unique in our programme.Very soon, in the next six months, we’ll establish a software engineering programme that will be producing soft ware for most of the industry in the country and even some of our sister universities in the country. “We also have it in mind to use it to solve economic and unemployment problem in the country and as well chart a new course for engineering future in huge country.” Gbadegesin said LAUTECH, which has fulfilled its academic obligations as its programmes will on April 23 graduate 12,181 in first degree programmes and 9,376 post graduate degree students spanning over three academic calendars-2009/2010,2010/ 2011 and 2011/2012. In all, 92 students made first class, 3,202 made second class upper , 6,300 made second class Lower, 1,961 made Third Class and 145 passed. Gbadegesin noted that for the first time in the history of the institution, “certificates of all the graduates are ready for collection in the various faculties immediately after the convocation.”

‘Abia APC congress not cancelled’

By Wale Ajetunmobi

HE State Congress Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State yesterday said the local government congress it conducted was never cancelled. It said the congress held on April 14 in the 17 local governments in Abia State. A statement by the chairman, Chief Sunday Akere, and members of the committee, Chris Amah, Adeola Olayiwola and Richard Tinubu, said only the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party has the right to take decision on cancellation of congress. The statement reads: “The members of the public are hereby requested to disregard the said announcement as Chief Iyke Ibe is acting alone and on nobody’s instruction. If there are any complaints arising from the said congress, the aggrieved party has the right to lodge their complaints with the Appeal Committee which will sit over them later. “The State Congress Committee has forwarded its Interim Report to the national leadership in Abuja and results from fourteen (14) out of the seventeen (17) local governments are in our custody while issues relating to the remaining three are being looked into. “Interested party members contesting election into state offices should pay the specified nomination fees to the bank and bring their tellers to collect forms, fill and return by Monday, 21st April, 2014. We hereby reiterate that Abia APC congress has not been cancelled but still ongoing.”

Kudos for APC leaders over congress

By Nneka Nwaneri

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APC) in Lagos State, Abayomi Sutton, has congratulated the party for organising one of the most successful political congresses in the country. The APC, he said, successfully elected about 9,802 party leaders across the 377 wards in the state in its first ever intra-party elections with over 500, 000 members of the party participating in the exercise on April 5. Sutton, who lives in the United Kingdom, said the APC made him and several other Nigerians overseas proud. He said: “The APC has proven that nothing is stronger than internal democracy. Without any bitterness, criticisms and rancour, the party members came together in all the wards, 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas led the party through the needed foundations. “For APC, this action coming from the party has shown that the 2015 elections of the party across Nigeria is just a walk through especially as Nigerians are seeking that change that would make the country the place its citizens want to really live. “Again, we all learnt that the congress was a success because an option A4 was adopted for the exercise. This same option A4, which National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had always campaigned to be adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, did the magic for APC. I sincerely congratulate Asiwaju Tinubu, other party leaders and every single member of the Lagos APC and the entire members of the party in the country.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

LASU lecturers threaten strike after ultimatum

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, chapter threatened yesterday to go on strike at the expiration of another 14-day ultimatum it declared on April 15. The union made the declaration at its Southwest zonal congress at the institution. Dr Adesola Nasir, ASUU Southwest Zonal Coordinator, said the ultimatum was effective from April 15. “The 14-day ultimatum trade dispute had been issued to accord the management an opportunity to address the demands of the union. “ASUU would be holding its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the expiration of the ultimatum and ASUULASU will embark on a full scale strike, if its demands are not met,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASUULASU, on March 25, declared a 21-day ultimatum trade dispute, following the non-implementation of some agreements reached with its management over 12 months ago. Nasir said ASUU, at the national level, intervened to resolve the crisis in the university through dialogue with the management. He stressed that the issue was being handled with levity by the institution’s authorities. “The national level had tried to arrest the trouble that is about to erupt at LASU. “But the university authority says there are lots of demands they cannot resolve, except with the aid of the state government,” Nasir said. The union leader said the university authority had not met the demands of the lecturers but engaged in propaganda against the union. He said the union, as a conscience of the nation, would not allow the hike in fees in the institution to remain. “Student enrolment drops yearly due to the hike in fees, ranging from N197, 000 to N350,000. “The annual enrolment in 2011/2012 , before the increment

Ex-electoral chief Uya dead

FORMER Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Peru, Paraguay and Chile, Prof. Okon Edet Uya, is dead. He died yesterday at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). He was 71. The late Uya was also a former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) during the regime of Military President Ibrahim Babangida. An indigene of Akwa Ibom State, Uya was also a professor of History and former Deputy

was 3,052, but it dropped to 1,119 in the 2013/2014 admission,” he said. According to him, the ‘no vacancy, no promotion’ policy had also not been addressed by the university’s management. He saidsuch policy would stagnate the progress of the staff members. Nasir said: “The management, saying promotion was ongoing, was being economical with the truth. Those who are due and qualified for promotion, there is no vacancy for them, and are not promoted.” He noted that ASUU-LASU may be denied the over N2 billion Needs Assessment intervention fund, because the available facilities had been under-utilised. “LASU is far behind the recommended National University Commission (NUC) carrying capacity for universities, as available facilities are under-utilised. “The university has at least 6,000 carrying capacity, but is now carrying 1, 500,” the official said. Nasir advised the authorities to implement the 2012 University Miscellaneous Provision (Amendment) Act by the Federal Government, to discontinue the continuous retirement of staff in the professorial cadre. He urged the management, governing council and the government to do the needful in the matter, so that peace and industrial harmony could be restored in the university. Meanwhile, the authorities of the institution had on April 14 urged the union to embrace peace, as efforts were being made to meet their demands. The management, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Kayode Sutton, said there were only three demands, out of the initial 20 of the union, that had not been met. It said the government had dealt with the issue of salary arrears by paying its part, while the university had also been paying its own part. “The schedule of paying the balance has already been announced and will be honoured,’’ the statement said.

Vice Chancellor and acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar. He was a member of the Panel of Eminent Persons of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). His sibling, Mr Edet Uya, an official of the University of Uyo, who confirmed the death yesterday, said: “I feel very sad. He has been my mentor. But I have to thank God for everything. He gave his life to Christ before he passed on.”

Borno abduction: Fed Govt inaugurates task force

HE Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development set up yesterday a task force on the prevention of the girl-child sexual abuse and violence. The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, who spoke at the inauguration, said the recent abduction of school girls, especially in the Northeast, showed the extent of violence meted to the Nigerian child. She said: “Violence against children has devastating physical, emotional and psychological consequences on children in the short and long terms.” The minister said the present administration was using necessary strategies to ensure that the remaining eight girls were released safely back to their families. Hajia Maina explained that the task force would provide a uni-

fied platform for the ministry and other stakeholders to jointly respond to child sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children in a coordinated manner. She said: “The task force will design a referral system with a template to facilitate networking on individual cases as well as tracking actions taken on a particular case to ensure the victim is properly rehabilitated and perpetrators brought to book. “The task force will evolve a system for the prevention of all forms of violence against children and, where it occurs, prompt response and prevention of re-occurrence.” The Executive Secretary of the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), Beatrice Jedi Agba, condemned the abduction of girls in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

•Members House of Representatives, from left: Uche Ekwunife; House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola and Princess Nnaji, sympathising with victims of the Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast during the lawmakers’ visit to them at the National Hospital, Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO:ABAYOMI FAYESE

Buhari: nothing to do with Boko Haram

FORMER Head of State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retract its accusation linking him with the Boko Haram terrorist acts, tender an unreserved public apology to him or face legal action. In a statement he signed yesterday in Kaduna, Gen. Buhari said: "I cannot sit back and allow my image, and that of my political party, be smeared by falsehood in the name of politics." The former Head of State said the widely publicised and serious allegations the PDP and its spokesman Olisa Metuh, made against him that his utterances were responsible for the current state of insecurity and terrorism in the land, were "absolutely without basis". He said: "To support his claim, Mr Metuh engaged in twisted logic and outright distortion - which he called facts - in which he said that I, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, beckoned on my 'supporters to go

•APC chieftain: I've never encouraged violence By Olamilekan Andu

on lynching spree' should I lose the 2011 presidential election, as a result of which 'an unprecedented violence broke out, claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent people. "I take very serious exception to this grave accusation against me by the PDP Publicity Secretary. It is a false allegation aimed at tarnishing my image and reputation in the hope of destroying my political and electoral standings, and that of my party, the APC, in the country. "Firstly, it is public knowledge that Boko Haram, as a terror organisation, long preceded the 2011 presidential elections. My utterances or lack of them on the 2011 presidential election could not, therefore, have created nor sustained the Boko Haram insurgency. "Secondly, the PDP Government of President Goodluck Jonathan constituted the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Panel of Inquiry to investigate and re-

port on the post-election violence in some parts of the country. The panel discharged its duties within its terms of reference and submitted its report to the President. This report was accepted by the government and a White Paper was issued. Nowhere in that report, a product of a thorough investigation of that unfortunate incident, was I mentioned in the remotest way to have uttered a word or acted in any form or manner that sparked off the violence. If I had, certainly, that investigation would have uncovered it. The truth is that I had not. "Thirdly, 2011 was not the first time I contested a presidential election and was declared defeated; it was the third! If I had had no cause to 'beckon on my supporters to go on lynching spree' in the two previous occasions, I would have had no cause to change in 2011 - and I did not." The APC chieftain said the PDP National Publicity Secretary also deliberately misquoted the interview he gave in Hausa on May 14, 2012 in

which he said the opposition was determined to fight in the 2015 elections. He said: "I used the Hausa idiom 'Kare jini, Biri jini', which is a metaphor for a very tough fight. But, like the Islamic fundamentalist toga they falsely put on me because they cannot impinge on my personal and professional integrity, PDP apologists deliberately twisted this idiom to mean I called for violence. "I am not a violent person and, other than my professional calling as a soldier. I have never associated with violence; I abhor violence and have never advocated it. I have always been a law-abiding person who insists on due process and the rule of law in all my private and public affairs. "It is, therefore, a grave infraction to my person, personality and integrity that such a false and malicious accusation is being levelled against me by the PDP. This is dangerous politics by the ruling party and it must stop forthwith."

APC seeks to join PDP’s suits against defecting lawmakers

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has applied to be made a party in the two suits filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to compel the leadership of the National Assembly to declare vacant the seats of the ruling party’s members who defected to the opposition. The APC, in a joinder application filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, sought to be joined as a defendant in both suits. It asked the court to order the PDP to serve on it, within 48 hours, all originating processes in the suits through its lawyer, James Ocholi (SAN). The party, in a supporting affidavit, argued that it was a necessary party in the case, since it was the party the lawmakers, whose seats the PDP wanted to declare vacant, defected to. The opposition added that following the defection of the lawmakers from the PDP, their seats belonged to it. APC said since the plaintiff wanted those seats to be de-

Declare defecting Reps’ seats vacant, Ebute tells Tambuwal •He’s only ranting, says Gbajabiamila

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

FORMER Senate President during the military diarchy in 1993, Ameh Ebute, has urged House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to declare vacant the seats of the 37 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ebute, who was elected on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke yesterday in Abuja. He urged Tambuwal to stop the salaries of the defected members and prevent them from participating in House activities. But the APC and House Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said Ebute’s was “a lone voice in the wilderness”. Gbajabiamila noted that though the former Senate President, a member of the ongoing National Conference, “is entitled to express his own opinion, unfortunately, Nigerians collectively disagree with his ranting”. From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

clared vacant, there was no way the cases could be decided without its interest being affected.

The party said it was impossible for the suits to be “effectively and finally determined” without being made a party in it. The opposition averred that

it would not only be affected by the outcome of the suit but would also be bound by the court’s decisions. Its applications, filed in both suits, could not be heard yesterday because some of the parties had not been served. Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned hering in the matter till April 29. The PDP is, in both suits, seeking to, among others, compel the leaders of both chambers of the National Assembly to declare vacant the seats of the defecting lawmakers. The first of the two marked has Senate President David Mark, 12 defecting senators and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants. The second marked has House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, 40 defecting members of the House and the INEC as defendants. The PDP, in the suit against Mark and others, posed three questions for the court’s determination.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS Obiano buys gunboat to assist Navy From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

How we’re battling crude oil theft, by Naval chief,

Surveyor canvasses Southwest integration

•’90 illegal vessels held’

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

BOUT 90 illegal vessels have been arrested by the Navy between last year and this year, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) , Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade has said. Fifty three were seized last year while 37 vessels have been impounded this year. He said the Navy was committed towards ending illegality at sea in Lagos. Alade spoke at the opening ceremony of Obangame Express 2014 at the Western Naval Command headquarters, Lagos. The FOC told the participants that based on adequate preparations put in place, he was optimistic that the exercise will be successful. According to him, about 23 countries across the world were taking part in the games, adding that the espionage was not envisaged since the exercise is multi-national. On the effect the games would have in the fight against crude oil theft, Alade said the Navy would derive a lot of benefits, and more gains would be consolidated. Also, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin assured the participants of Obangame Express 2014 of

NAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday said his government will buy a gunboat for the Nigerian Navy to battle crime in the water ways. Governor Obiano made the pledge while reacting to the arrest of an arms dealer and four robbery suspects. He hailed the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), led by James Nwafor, for apprehending the gun dealer and arresting some notorious criminals. The governor assured of a speedy dispensation of justice, with the establishment of a special court. “We can’t afford delay in justice in line with our resolve to sustain comprehensive fight against criminals.’’ He said the state government would repair grounded naval vessels to enable the Navy secure the waterways, stressing that arms were smuggled through the River Niger. Obiano said: “Ndi Anambra shall go home and sleep. The war against criminals will be on throughout my administration. More criminals, drug barons and arms dealers will be arrested and their routes blocked. ‘’Criminals must be prosecuted and if convicted, face the penalty. Kidnapping attracts the death penalty. We are going to ensure a speedy trial.” Obiano said the war was in the second phase and it involves targeting those who supply arms to criminals and smuggling routes. Commissioner of Police Gwary Usman said the command arrested four robbery suspects. Usman, while parading them, restated the command’s determination to rid the state of criminals. He said the arms dealer, Alphonsus Ngwu, who was arrested, was assisting the police with information. The commissioner said the gang, which specialised in snatching vehicles, was arrested in Ajalli, Orumba North with two locally-made pistols, 12 cartridges and charms. The police, he said, recovered some of the stolen vehicles. The arms dealer admitted that he had been in the business for 15 years. One of the robbery suspects, Mr. Uchechukwu Orizu, said he was arrested with his girlfriend and an- •Senator Ngige...yesterday other member of the gang at Isuofia while trying to rob a woman.

Pa Shodipo dies at 104 FORMER Traffic Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Pa Johnson Odetoki Shodipo is dead. He was 104. The late Shodipo worked as time keeper at the Nigeria Marine in Dockyard, Apapa, before he joined NRC, where he retired in 1976 . He was a devout Christian and Treasurer of Palm Avenue, Mushin branch of Methodist Church. ThelateShodipowasthesecretary of the Elders’ Union for a decade. He is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

•The late Pa Shodipo

By Precious Igbonwelundu, Staff Correspondent

their safety and security throughout the duration of the multinational sea exercise in the Gulf of Guinea. He said all modalities have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise. He said the Navy was engaging its available platforms to combat crude oil theft, adding that the objective of the exercise, which began on April 10, is to improve maritime interdiction capability and power projection. Represented by Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda, Jibrin said securing the “living and nonliving resources” on the Gulf of Guinea has continued to pose a major challenge to Nigeria and other maritime nations in the axis. He said Nigeria’s collaboration with international partners especially the US and other maritime nations will go a long way in securing the Gulf of Guinea. “Regrettably securing those resources on the Gulf of Guinea have continued to pose a major challenge not only to Nige-

ria but also to maritime nations in the region. In her remark, the Exercise Director, Captain Nancy Lacore said this year’s Obangame Express witnessed 400 per cent increase in participation. “This high level of participation is indicative of the regional cooperation that has been building in the Gulf of Guinea, cooperation that we hope to solidify at the operational level as a result of this exercise. “Every nation represented here today plays a critical role in regional maritime security and we all know that no single nation alone can ensure safe maritime operations. “It is through exercises such as Obangame that nations can work together to lay the foundation for the regional cooperation that will ensure the safety and security of military, commercial and civilian operations at sea. “Obangame Express is designed to enhance tactical and operational maritime security capabilities. This exercise will also improve international and interagency coordination for responding to

maritime threats. And, for the first time, OE will enable the region to operate under the construct of a multi-national force. Over the next several days, we will be boarding ships, responding to medical casualties, and standardizing communications between maritime operations centers. We will be busy,” she said. On their part, the 200 delegation Turkish Navy, which is visiting Nigeria for the first time since 1866 expressed excitement to be part of the exercise. The team led by Turkish Ambassador, Mustafa Pulat and Admiral of Southern Region, Vice Admiral Hasan Usakilogu said aside joining in the fight against piracy, their presence in Nigeria will enhance both nations’ bilateral relationship. Addressing reporters onboard Turkish vessel TCG ORUCREIS (F245), Admiral Usakilogu said that while piracy at the Gulf of Eden was reducing, the vice was on the rise at the Gulf of Guinea. He said of 25 cases of piracy at sea recently recorded, 23 occurred at the Gulf of Guinea region, which calls for multinational approach in tackling.

Ekiti block makers seek SON standard By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

APC holds hitch-free council congress in Anambra

HE All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday held its postponed congresses in 20 of the 21 local government areas . But the congress was rescheduled in Onitsha North, following a mix up. It will now hold on Saturday. State leader of the party iSenator Chris Ngige, who represents Anambra Central , told reporters yesterday that the congresses were free and fair. He said the people elected their leaders, some of them through consensus in an orderly manner. Ngige debunked claims that the national leadership cancelled yesterday’s

N estate manager, Dr. Bolarinde Patunola-Ajayi, has called for an integration of housing development in the Southwest. Speaking during the 25th anniversary of a foremost estate surveyor & valuation firm, J. Ajayi Patunola & Co, Patunola-Ajayi, who is the Pincipal Partner, said any integration in the region without housing development will not make the desired impact as construction is one of the largest employer of labour. He said the governors of the region should not only encourage mass and social housing but also work on integrating other infrastructure development such as road, electricity, rail and water transport. On the high cost of housing especially in Lagos, he said the price of property is determined by the forces of demand and supply of same. According to him if more properties come to the market, the price will come down, if fewer properties are in the market compared to those who can afford it the price will continue to be high.

•Disciplinary panel submits report on Okonkwo •Ngige hails APC faithful From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

congress, describing the rumour as the handiwork of APC’s enemies. The senator said the congresses were held according to APC guidelines, adding that the mix up that led to some elective officials moving to Oyi instead of Onitsha North had been ratified. At some councils yesterday, materials for the congresses were distributed as early as 8 a.m. Some councils visited yesterday included Idemili North, Idemilin South, Njikoka, Orumba South, Awka North and

Awka South, among others. One of the APC state Chairmanship contenders from Orumba South, Chief Ben Oranusi, said the congresses went smooth. He said: “APC is a peace-loving party, we are not like others, we did our things in the party according to the party’s guidelines with our leader, Senator Ngige, in control. “We thank God that forces or agents of darkness who always put stud in good things have not identified with APC,” Oranusi said. The exercise yesterday was monitored by officials

of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Ebele Otti was the INEC electoral officer in Idemili North. Chief Denis Ngene, one of the APC’s congress chairmen and Onyinye Okongwu, the party’s woman leader in Anambra, described the congress as smooth. The party’s disciplinary committee that investigated Senator Annie Okonkwo’s alleged offences had submitted its report to the national leadership. Ngige said yesterday that the party would take a decision on Okonkwo.

HE Association of Sandcrete Block Moulders in Ekiti State has vowed to attain the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) Certification of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). The association’s Caretaker Committee Chairman Mr. Samuel Ayodele said this during a meeting with the new Head of SON office in Ekiti State, Mr. Bola Fashina. While advocating self regulation among the Block Moulders under the guidance of SON, Fashina advised others involved in the business in Ekiti to embrace the Association in order to have a common and stronger voice. Ayodele said they face challenges of nonavailability of quality sand and patronage. He acknowledged SON’s continuous guidance in improving the quality of their products since its establishment in the State.

Sacked ABS staff redeployed From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

HERE was jubilation in Anambra State yesterday following the redeployment of 138 workers of the Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation (ABS), Awka to ministries where they have comparative advantage in competency than ABS. Outgoing Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike announced this while handing over to Chief Tony Onyima, former managing director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun.

THE NATION FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

I lack power to deploy soldiers, says minister

INISTER of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro has said he lacks the power to deploy soldiers. He said the military was too professional to become a political tool. In a statement yesterday, Obanikoro’s Personal Assistant, Ikenna Ezekwe, debunked allegations that the minister had been using soldiers to intimidate the opposition.

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

It reads: “The unfounded but imaginatively contrived reports of the use of military personnel to intimidate political opponents remains as described, an unfounded but deviously conceived attack on a person perceived by his political detractors to be the most formidable threat in the lead up to a round of elections. “For the avoidance of

doubt, Obanikoro is one of the most charismatic and approachable political figures in the Southwest. But for his present office, he has no need for a security detail. It has to be noted that the minister is not responsible for the deployment of military personnel, either in his detail or in operational circumstances. “More importantly, he has no mandate to give soldiers orders. The military is too professional to become a

tool in a game of political brinkmanship. The reference to the minister’s unscheduled visit to the Ilubirin Housing Project site on Lagos Island as the act of a meddlesome interloper proves that he is a committed stakeholder. “There is no truth in the assertion that work on the site was disrupted by the military detail that accompanied him. It must be emphasised that the serious

environmental, statutory, legal and ethical issues raised by the minister have still not been addressed by the relevant parties. “The minister assures discerning Nigerians, especially Lagosians, that he will never betray the trust reposed in him by the President. In the same vein, Obanikoro is mindful of his antecedents as a proud, passionate and patriotic Lagosian.”

Ondo REC: my colleague mistaken for Obanikoro was nearly lynched •PDP threatens to sue INEC official •’LP is afraid of supplementary poll’

NDO State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Akin Orebiyi has said he did not accuse Minister of State for Defense Musiliu Obanikoro of disrupting the Ese-Odo/ Ilaje Federal Constituency by-election on April 5. In a statement yesterday, titled: “Need for clarification”, Orebiyi said: “What was meant simply was that the presence of Obanikoro, who had been in the constituency and left before the election day, led to some agitated youths mistaking one of our officials for the minister and nearly lynching him on Sunday, April 6.” Orebiyi said he spoke in the context of malpractices generally perpetrated by political parties during the by-election, which had been commended for its unprecedented logistical arrangement and timeliness by all parties. He said: “The intention of my statement was to denounce the near-lynching of a colleague of mine who was mistaken for Obanikoro and not to denigrate his person or imply that he was responsible for the mob action.” The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatened yesterday to sue the REC for “indicting Obanikoro”. In a letter by its State Secretary, Mr. Ibine Oyedele, to Orebiyi, PDP asked him to retract the controversial statement or face a court action that would compel him to do so. Also yesterday, House of Assembly Minority Leader Akpoebi Lubi said any attempt to disenfranchise the people of Arogbo and other areas in Ese-Odo Local Government will be resisted. The by-election was declared inconclusive by INEC because election did not hold

Osun offers free train ride

HE Osun State government will offer free train rides from Lagos State to Osogbo and vice versa during the Easter season. The first train leaves the Iddo Terminus in Lagos to Osogbo by 10am today. Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment Ismail Jayeoba Alagbada said the free rides will ease transportation and enable indigenes to come home and celebrate the Easter with their families. On Easter Monday, the train will leave Osogbo for Lagos by 11am.

From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

in some areas. A date is yet to be fixed for supplementary election in those areas. Lubi, who represents EseOdo State Constituency, said the people of Arogbo Ward Two were ready for the election. He alleged that the Labour Party (LP) caused crisis in areas where it was not popular to influence the outcome of the by-election in its favour. At a news conference in Akure, Lubi, who is the only PDP legislator in the House, said about 28,000 people who were prevented from voting during the by-election must be allowed to exercise their franchise. He said the LP was afraid it would lose the election because the government “had not done anything in the coastal area in the last five years”. Lubi said: “There has been no infrastructural develop-

ment in our area since Dr. Olusegun Mimiko became governor. They are talking about Mother and Child Hospitals only in Akure and Ondo. None has been built in the old Okitipupa Division.” He lamented that his people were still dying during child birth due to lack of medical facilities, saying: “There are no roads; no water; no hospitals. The government has killed the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). It has killed local governments. So, our people cannot vote for the LP, besides that, the area has been a stronghold of the PDP since 1998.” Lubi alleged that the hoodlums who disrupted the byelection in Arogbo Ward Two were sponsored by the LP. He explained that Obanikoro came to campaign for the PDP candidate two days before the election, but was not in the area dur-

ing the by-election. The by-election has created a disagreement between the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). NANS is advocating the declaration of the candidate with the highest number of votes as the winner of the election while NAOSS is urging INEC to conduct a supplementary poll. NANS National Financial Secretary Timileyin Ayenuro, during a protest in Akure, urged INEC to declare Mr. Kolade Akinjo of the Labour Party (LP) winner of the election. Speaking with reporters in Akure, NAOSS National President Awodola Afolayan urged INEC not to be pressurised into doing what is against the electoral guidelines. He said INEC’s electoral manual clearly states that a winner should not be declared where the margin of lead by votes of the leading

candidate is not in excess of the total number of registered voters at polling units where election was cancelled. Afolayan said: “It is sad that after the election, some people set out to pressurise INEC to announce the result of an inconclusive election in a place where voting has not been exercised by over 28,000 people. “It’s a known fact that the margin between the leading candidate and the first runner up is lesser than 2,000 votes. Without equivocation, election must be conducted in the remaining polling units as this can affect the result significantly.” He called for tight security devoid of political interference during the supplementary election, adding: “We urge the people to vote for candidates that will represent their interest.” NANS described NAOSS’ position as “unconstitutional”, insisting that “INEC goofed by not announcing the winner of the election”.

‘No fee increase at EKSU’ By Adegunle Olugbamila

KITI State University (EKSU) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Patrick Oladipo Aina has debunked rumours that the institution was planning to increase tuition fees. Speaking with The Nation yesterday in his office, Aina described the rumour as “mere figment of people’s imagination”, adding that oftentimes, people wonder why the university continues to “fire from all cylinders with such low tuition”. He thanked Governor Kayode Fayemi for increasing the institution’s monthly subvention from N210 million to N260 million. Aina said: ”People often wonder how we are able to run the university with such low tuition; but they forget that we have an internal mechanism in addition to the subvention received from the government. The Ekiti State has just increased our subvention with N50 million making it 260 million. “We have a government that does not dictate to the Governing Council to raise fees. Besides, our governor is an intellectual and he knows what it is to have a world-class university. He knows the state he is running is the second least receiver of Federal Allocation nationwide. He knows the people are poor and he is trying to improve their lot by making poverty a thing of the past. So he cannot over tax the citizenry. This is why he is also helping the university with linkages to top universities across the world.” On assumption of office four years ago, Fayemi reduced the university’s tuition fees, which were between N150, 000 and N180, 000 (including varying departmental charges) to N50, 000 across board.

Ajimobi urges artisans on proficiency By Adebisi Onanuga

O •Smoke from burning tyres on Oba-Adesida road...yesterday.

Akure youths protest distruption of carnival

OUTHS in Akure, the Ondo State capital, protested yesterday the state government’s disruption of their much publicised “Akure Youth Carnival”. The irate youths barricaded the popular Oba Adesida Road and vandalised many facilities. It took the intervention of policemen to disperse them. Earlier, at the Akure City Hall, the youths were addressed by the President, Akure Youth Coalition (AYC), Adekanbi Oluwatuyi,

From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

who expressed his disappointment over the heavy presence of security men at the venue of the carnival. It was learnt that the carnival, slated for yesterday, had been advertised for over two months. Popular musician Saheed Osupa was billed to perform at the carnival. It was learnt that on getting to the venue, the youths, Akure indigenes in the Diaspora and their guests, dressed in uniform Ankara

fabric, met the place cordoned off by policemen, who told them to leave. Oluwatuyi said the event was initially scheduled for last year but was shifted to yesterday because of the death of the Deji, Oba Adebiyi Adesida. He said they wrote to the state government and security agents to inform them of the event and request the use of the Democracy Park. Oluwatuyi said on April 1, a letter of approval was sent to him for the use of the Democracy Park, but three days

ago, he received a letter from the Ministry of Transport that they could no more use the park because it was undergoing construction. Oluwatuyi said the Police Area Commander told him the event had been cancelled because Boko Haram members were in Akure. Police spokesman Yemi Lawal said the police were told by the Commissioner of Information, Kayode Akinmade, that the government cancelled the carnival in view of the insecurity in the country.

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged artisans to be proficient in their work. Ajimobi spoke at the conference hall of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, at the opening of the “Up skilling Training Workshop for Construction Artisans and Tradesmen in Southwest States” organised by the Nigeria Institute of Building. The governor said artisans need to be continuously trained to prevent building collapse, adding that their importance in the construction industry cannot be overemphasised. Ajimobi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey, Isaac Omodewu, said artisans are major stakeholders in the delivery of quality and functional buildings. National President of the Nigeria Institute of Building Tunde Lasabi urged artisans to be proficient in their work.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS LAUNCH OF YORUBA ELITES AND ETHNIC POLITICS

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola displaying a book: Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria at the presentation in Lagos...yesterday

•Book reviewer Kunle Ajibade ...yesterday

•Former Chairman, Punch, Mr. Ajibola Ogunshola (left) and a scholar Prof Adebayo Williams

•Chairman of the occasion Ambassador Ibrahim Agboola Gambari (left); National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande; Aremo Segun Osoba and Rev. Tunji Adebiyi

•Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu

•Chief Ayo Fasanmi

PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

CITYBEATS

NURTW denies involvement in Ketu/ Alapere mayhem

THE National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have denied any involvement in the recent mayhem that broke out among hoodlums in Ketu/ Alapere axis on Ikorodu Road, Lagos. The state chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, said those linking his union with the crisis are doing a disservice to its image. “What actually happened is that hoodlums engaged one another in a free-for-all as a result of ward congress of a political party in the area. It has nothing to do with the NURTW “We didn’t hold any election. Our delegates’ conference is once in four years. The last delegate’s conference was held in 2011 and another will not hold until 2015, so the report is totally wrong”, he said.

Church prays THE Triumphant Baptist Church,Akowonjo will on Saturday hold its monthly programme, “Heavenly Dew.” Its theme according to its organisers, is: “Let us go to Gethsemane”. Pastor Sunday Oladejo said the programme is an avenue for people to pray for themselves and to avert danger in the country.

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Fear as council chief, police officer bicker

HE Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Comrade Ayodele Adewale and the Area ‘E’ Commander, Dan Okoro (ASP), were once inseparable allies as they joined forces against insecurity in their domain. But today, the friction between them has posed a threat to security in the area. Residents of the area, according to Adewale, are now in fear as insecurity has deepened. The trouble, which climaxed a fortnight ago during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward Congress in the area, left Adewale badly injured by members of Community Policing Youth Vanguard (CPYV). A Neighbourhood Watch official, Odeyemi Odusanya and Adewale’s police attaché, were also injured. The group, residents alleged, is being sponsored by the police officer. Okoro reportedly accused Adewale of refusing to recognise the Youth Vanguard and fund Neighbourhood Watch. But the chairman, at a briefing on developments in the area, said: “Why should I recognise a group whose members are of questionable characters? They wrote a letter to notify me of their existence in November and came to me. I picked up the microphone and addressed them that go-

‘Insecurity has become the order of day here ... there is hardly a day without crime here. Is it that Okoro can no longer arrest criminals ... These are the things that should be investigated’ By Precious Igbonwelundu, Staff Correspondent

ing by their nomenclature, policing is sensitive and they would have to subject themselves to screening by the SSS. “I also told them to go and register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as well as the local government so that they can be legitimate. I told them what they wanted to do was a good initiative, but that they must follow due process to avoid a situation where in future I can be accused of funding or supporting militia. “They demanded an office in the secretariat and I told them we did not have office space here. But I offered them a table and chair for use at our annex office at Mile 2 while processing their registration, but they refused to register.” Adewale further said: “Okoro has been saying I fund Neighbourhood Watch but

• Odeyemi … receiving treatment after being allegedly attacked by the Youth Vanguard

refuse to sponsor his Youth Vanguard. Why would I not fund Neighbourhood Watch which is created by state laws and has been in existence in the past 18 years? Neighbourhood Watch came into being through an enactment made during the military rule of Buba Marwa as Lagos Governor. “I fund them. I bought a vehicle for them just as we do with the police. Irrespective of the fact that I have problems with the operational dealings of ASP Dan Okoro, it did not stop the council from renovating the area command; it did not stop us from buying vans to aid their job. Currently, we have bought two vans which are still with Briscoe, and Okoro comes to the secretariat to collect his imprest monthly.” “I told his Youth Vanguard I cannot work with them unless they are screened by the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies because the police in the area under ASP Okoro have been compromised. It is a question

of the legitimacy of the Youth Vanguard. Who are their guarantors? What do they do for a living? Where are they living? Why are they using the state government’s logo and code of arm? Okoro who is the police officer should answer these questions,” said Adewale. He added that since all the petitions he wrote to Manko received no response, and that since the command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, claimed that his attack and the injuries inflicted on his men were not reported, a probe panel should be constituted by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the police to ascertain who was telling the truth. “My orderly who was attacked with blood covering his face is a police officer; he wrote his statement. Besides reporting officially at the station, I wrote the office of the divisional police officer. I copied all necessary bodies including the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Police Service Commission (PSC). I have had cause to report Okoro’s illegal activities to the AIG and IG,

but each time, I hear that he boosts of being IG’s boy and that nothing will happen to him. ACP Okoro should be held responsible if anything happens to me. If I am kidnapped or assassinated, he should be held accountable. “Insecurity has become the order of day here. The governor’s aunt was recently robbed; there is hardly a day without crime here. Is it that Okoro can no longer arrest criminals because he benefits from their proceeds or what? These are the things that should be investigated,” he said. Okoro described Adewale’s allegations as belated and false. He told this reporter: “Interact with other crime reporters. Come to Festac and investigate all the false stories he gave you. Find out more from a reporter, Odita; then we can see.” The group’s leader, Emma Onwa, could not be reached on phone. Its coordinator, Fatai Onifade, declined to comment on the issue on phone.

Excitement as lawmaker lifts the needy

HE Chairman, EtiOsa Local Government, Lagos State, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, has sought more commitment to poverty alleviation by public office holders across the country.

By Akeem Lawal

He spoke during a poverty alleviation gesture organised for about 215 residents of the local government area, by a member of House of Representa-

VACANCY VACANCY VACANCY!!! Marketers, Secretaries and Drivers required at a Real Estate Company based in Osogbo. Submit CV to greenlandshome@yahoo.com Salary is very attractive

08030560012, 08033707997

tives, Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, Hon. Jide Akinloye. “Now, governance is very competitive because we watch television and see what others are doing. Even if you don’t want to do it, when you see what others are doing and what people are saying about them, you don’t have a choice but to emulate such good things so that you too can be in the people’s good books,” he said. The council chief added: “Political office holders should embark on programmes that will touch the lives of the populace; programmes like infrastructural development, poverty eradication, and empowerment among others. “We are elected to put things in order so that the lives of our people will be better than how we met them on assuming office. They should emulate the good part of governance and do more for the people.” Elegushi said he was inspired by Akinloye’s gesture, adding: “It inspires me to do more from where he stops now because as you can see, people are going out of this local government today with joy that somebody has set them up to do something. We too will continue in that spirit to support whatever they have done in terms of poverty eradication.”

THE NATION FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

EKITI 2014

•Fayemi (second right) addressing the crowd at Osan Ekiti...yesterday. With him are Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu (second right), House Speaker Adewale Omirin (right) and APC Chairman Jide Awe. PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

No one can steal my mandate, says Fayemi •’I’ve not established a university anywhere’

KITI State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) gov-

ernorship candidate in the June 21 election Dr Kayode Fayemi has said his mandate cannot be stolen. The governor launched a long legal battle to retrieve his mandate in the last election. He spoke during his campaign rally in Epe, Moba Local Government Area. The governor said his administration had put in place a conducive environment for investors. “We have constructed roads. We have put in place social amenities to make Ekiti conducive for investors. If we did not do all that we have done, it would have been difficult for any investor to come in. “We have also restored peace to Ekiti. It would have been difficult for any investor to do business in an atmosphere of violence. You know it used to be one day, one trouble in Ekiti State, but Ekiti now enjoys peace,” the governor said. Fayemi noted that his administration created jobs through agencies, such as the State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA), Peace Corps and Volunteer Corps, adding that there are still many unemployed youths for whom jobs must be provided. “Government cannot provide jobs for everyone, but we will partner investors to establish industries to stem the tide of unemployment and make poverty a thing of the past in Ekiti State. This will be the focus during my second term in office.” Fayemi also told the people not to be scared of the antics of vote-riggers, adding that the people’s votes would be adequately protected. “Don’t let anyone scare

Activists mobilise for Ekiti governor

UMAN right groups under the aegis of the Peoples Campaign Organisation (PECO) have launched a grassroots campaign across the 16 local government areas in Ekiti State to ensure the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, at the June 21 election. The groups’ members will move from one market to the other. Churches, mosques and farm settlements are also prime targets. The group launched the campaign in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday with the inauguration of 36 coordinators established to lead 350 volunteers across the 16 local government area of the state. PECO is a coalition of about 100 civil rights groups drawn from across Nigeria including Ekiti State. The Secretary of the group, Mr Popoola Ajayi, said the coalition was put together to serve as a pillar for promoting sustain-

able development in Ekiti State. He said the civil rights movement will lead the independent campaign for the purpose of Fayemi’s re-election saying that PECO which to turn the campaign into a mass movement. He said the group would focus primarily on non-party communities in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State. “Due to years of military repression, there is a perversion of thoughts to the extent that some people have lost the appreciation of what the common good is all about. We are in Ekiti working with local people to ensure we share our experiences with them in the bid to ensure the re-election of Dr Fayemi on June 21. The election is also about credibility. It is about honour. It is not a local affair, but rather an issue that also concerns the international community, “ Popoola stated. He said the group has recruited volunteers, students, artisans whose primary goal is to convince voters on the need to return Fayemi as the governor in 2014.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

you. We will protect our votes. No one can steal my mandate,” he said. The governor urged the people to be wary of electoral robbers who still lurk around. The governor said most of the projects executed by his government in the town had never been done before. He listed such projects to include road construction, renovation of the palace, construction of townhall, stipend for elderly citizens, amongst others. He promised that the ongoing road project in the town would soon be extended to Osan/Ora boundary. A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in the town, Olabisi Oluwawole, led other PDP youths to defect to the APC. Teachers, students and beneficiaries of the social security came out to show their support for the governor. A representative of the teachers, Mr. Abiodun

Adelye, praised the Fayemi administration for giving teachers rural allowance, core subjects allowance, laptops and for ensuring their prompt promotion. The president of the Osun Students’ Union, Gboyega Bode, said the students were grateful for the prompt release of their bursary allowance, renovation of schools and the transformation of Ekiti State University into a world class university. Also yesterday, Fayemi denied establishing a university in Ghana. Speaking at the Holy Mass commemorating the renewal of priesthood in the Catholic church at St. Patricks Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi also described as untrue the plans of his government to increase tuition at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti. Fayemi urged the people to investigate claims of the opposition about his administration, assuring he would always offer the truth on any matter on their request.

Said he: “I don’t have a university anywhere in the world and I don’t even intend to have one. My plan is to pick up lecturing job at the EKSU come next session.” “My name is important to me. I am a catholic and as someone who takes the holy communion, I won’t do anything that will desecrate the Catholic church.” The governor affirmed that non completion of some processes by some pensioners was responsible for delay in pensioners’gratuity.

APC to Sambo: Ekiti not a war front

•APC warns Obanikoro to keep off

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has decried Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s description of Ekiti and Osun states as warfronts. It said the statement was not only ill-timed but also unfortunate at a period the nation is trying to quell insurgency. In a statement by its Director of Publicity and Media, Segun Dipe, APC described the statement as a desperate and an unguarded one. The party said: “It is as an irony that while the PDP-led Federal Government has not been able to find an answer the deadly and seemingly intractable Boko Haram insurgency, Vice-President Namadi Sambo is planning to convert the peaceful Ekiti State into a war front and boasting to capture the peace-loving people of the State who are currently enjoying dividends of democracy being served them by APC through their chosen Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi. “PDP can only be at war with itself and not with the people of Ekiti State. We have a tested and trusted governor in government.”

I’ll industrialise Ekiti, says AD governorship candidate

HE governorship candidate for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ekiti State, Victor Osekita, has promised to industrialise the state if elected. Osekita spoke yesterday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. According to him, Ekiti is blessed with abundant mineral and human resources which if properly harnessed would make it an industrialised state. “The state has abundant human and natural resources to be an industrialised state. What is needed is for the po-

litical leaders to work towards the realisation of this goal. “If elected into office, I will facilitate the setting up of industries in every constituency in the state which will transform and help the state to develop, while reducing unemployment,” he said. On education, Osekita promised to give free education to every child in the state from primary to secondary school levels, adding that free education was part of the party’s ideology. He also promised to reduce the cost of healthcare in the state by ensuring that drugs were purchased directly from the manufacturers.

Former envoy, ex-Speaker in race for Fayose’s deputy

FORMER Nigerian envoy to Canada, Dare Bejide, former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile and seven others are jostling to be teh running mate of the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose. The Nation learnt that other contestants include former Chairman of Ikere Local Government, Alhaji Tajudeen Adejumo, Dr Kunle

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Afolayan, Mr Idowu Richard, Mrs Sade Akinrinmola and Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Ayodele. They have appeared before the Chairman of the screening committee, Mr Ranti Akerele, who is a former governorship aspirant. The screening held at Akerele’s residence in Adebayo Area of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital . Giving hints about the

emrgence of the deputy governor at a peace meeting with Prince Dayo Adeyeye in AdoEkiti, Fayose said the party would play active role in the emergence of his deputy. He said he would not influence the party. He said: “I am ready to work with anybody as long as he is qualified and if he is a member of our party. “I am now a leader in the PDP and I owe it a duty to see all members as one, regardless of whom they see as their leaders.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

Zuma Film Festival to highlight Nigeria’s centenary achievements •Ejiofor and Onyeka Owenue in Half of a Yellow Sun

‘Chiwetel Ejiofor’s civil war experience’

HIWETEL Ejiofor, a British-Nigerian actor, who was in Nigeria for the premiere of Half of a Yellow Sun movie, has said there is a correlation between his personal experience and the setting of the movie. He said: “The Biafra war was a seminal part of my upbringing. In fact, I’ll say the Biafra war was the reason I was born in London and not Nigeria. It was as a result of the war that my parents left Nigeria. It was something I remember being talked

about in my household. Years later, I spoke to my grandfather about my mother’s side. He spoke about his experiences between 1960 and 1970.” In the movie, he experiences the Biafra war, which his life is tied to, while he proves true love in the time of war. He also said the movie caught his interest, so he was glad to star in a major role as Odenigbo. The N10 million movie was shot in Tinapa in Calabar, and was directed by UK-based playwright, Biyi Bandele.

HE Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Danjuma Dadu, has said that the 2014 Zuma Film Festival will showcase the centenary achievements of the nation’s film industry. Dadu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the festival, which coincides with the nation’s centenary celebrations, would mark 100 years of outstanding achievements, success, development and growth of the film and video industry. According to him, the programme would offer Nigerians and the international

By Babatunde Sulaiman

community an opportunity to review 100 years of film production in the country. He stated that the movie industry had help to project the nation’s rich cultural heritage to the world and contributed to the development of human capital. “Nigerian films are fast transmitting our cultural values and idiosyncrasies, which have had a profound impact particularly on the African continent. As Nigeria celebrates 100 years as a nation, we are also celebrating her development and endowment in natural and human resourc-

es. As a nation, Nigeria is blessed with a rich cultural heritage and diversity in arts. “Nigeria has made significant progress in diverse areas of her social, political and economic life. Presently, Nollywood stands as a home grown industry, with clear evidence to the initiative and enterprise of the Nigerian-can-do spirit,’’ he said. He added that the event, which is the seventh edition, would be an avenue to further harness the vast potential and creative abilities in the industry waiting to be developed. Tagged “Nationalism and Patriotism”, the event, which is scheduled to hold from May

•Yemi Blaq

Kosoko, Blaq in Eko: The Blessing of Olofin

N epic movie, Eko: The Blessing of Olofin, which is centred on the true story of Lagos, may soon be released. The producer, Fola Onifade, said the 500-cast movie, will be directed by Femi Bright. “I decided to do this movie to enlighten the people about Lagos. There is a popular mis-

conception that Lagos is a noman’s land. I want everyone to know that Lagos is somebody’s land.” The film to be released in a few weeks, is shot in Ifo and Badagry. It features top actors like Bukky Wright, Jide Kosoko, Iya Awero, Leye Adeshile, Orisha Bunmi, Yemi Blaq and Kanran, among others.

4 to 8, at Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, will feature brainstorming sessions by stakeholders in the film industry. According to him, some of the events lined up for the festival include the premiere of new films, film and video market exhibitions, emerging talents film festival, master classes workshop, children film festival and Zuma Film Festival awards night, among others.

Monalisa Chinda, Lanre Nzeribe part ways

T •Jide Kosoko

•Dadu

•Monalisa Chinda and Lanre Nzeribe

By Mercy Michael

OP Nollywood star, Monalisa Chinda, may have parted ways with her long-time lover and business partner, Lanre Nzeribe, following some irreconcilable differences. In a statement, her publicist, Isaac Oladipupo, the Executive Director of Media Wise Worldwide, said: ”We regret to officially announce the resignation of Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda, from Monalisa Magazine, which also marks the end of her partnership with Mr. Lanre Nzeribe, due to irreconcilable professional differences. “Over the past few months, both parties have made concerted efforts to retain their partnership, to no avail, which led to their mutual agreement that a separation would be the best course of action. “Though she has, so far, committed so much time, energy and resources into the project, it is high time she moved on, as she pursues renewed ethos to raise her standards of professionalism and focus on projects closer to her heart.” The actress thanked the entire staff of the company for what she described as “the great working experience during the time.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS U.S. Navy delivers Project Handclasp

HEAD of Exercise Obangame Express, a multinational naval exercise being co-hosted by the Nigerian Navy and the United States Naval Forces in Africa, the U.S. Naval Ship (USNS) Spearhead will conduct a port call at the Lagos Harbour. Aboard Spearhead are humanitarian items donated by welfare organisations in the U.S. to recipient charity organisations in Nigeria. The items are being delivered by the U.S. Navy as part of a programme called Project Handclasp. “Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy programme which accepts and trans-

ports educational, humanitarian and goodwill materials donated by America’s private sector on a space-available basis aboard U.S. Navy ships for distribution to partner nations. The programme started in 1962 and has since been a regular feature in several U.S. Navy port calls around the world. This shipment includes over 30,000 pounds of personal mobility handcarts, wheelchairs and medical supplies for local organisations. The shipments are worth $2.6 million. The shipments are arranged between the donors and the recipients and then forwarded to the U.S. Navy through

the Project Handclasp office and coordinated for delivery to the appropriate ports worldwide. Donations were received from Personal Energy Transport (PET) International, Hope Haven International and AERObridge International. PET International is a private charity organisation which constructs and distributes Personal Mobility Carts to organisations that help people who cannot walk. Hope Haven International is donating wheelchairs to Hope for Independent Living and AERObridge is donating medical supplies to Deseret International, for distribution to relief organisations.

31 die in road accidents in three months, says FRSC

HIRTY-one persons died in 87 road accidents in Lagos State from January to March, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said yesterday in Lagos. The state Sector Commander, Mr Chidi Nkwonta, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 160 people were injured during the period. “The command recorded 87 road crashes in which 31 people died. “Also, during the period, 160 people were injured,” he said. According to him, the command recorded 32 crashes in January alone with 15 dead and 63 injured.

Nkwonta said 10 deaths were recorded in 24 crashes in February with 46 persons injured. He said: “For instance, in March, we recorded 57 victims in 31 crashes with six persons dead and 51 injured.” The sector commader said the command inspected over 26,365 vehicles on the highways to ensure their road-worthiness, adding that 3, 078 motorists were cautioned. “We stopped 8,879 drivers in January; 9,155 in February and 8,331 in March for road worthiness inspections, while 1,169; 1,043 and 866 drivers were cautioned in January, February and

March,” Nkwonta said. He listed the major roads on which his men operated as the Lagos-Ibadan, the Lagos-Abeokuta, the LekkiEpe and Lagos-Badagry highways. The FRSC chief stressed the need for continuous public enlightenment and rallies at motor parks on road safety campaigns. On the Easter festival, the sector commander urged road users to obey traffic regulations, adding that special patrols had begun to ensure an accident-free season. “Speeding, dangerous driving and over loading of vehicles should be avoided as they cause accidents on the highways,” Nkwonta said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

PEOPLE

THE NATION

A SIX -PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

President Goodluck Jonathan's daughter, Faith Osakwe, has wedded Prince of Osimotu Kingdom, Godswill Osim from Abi, Cross River State. The two-legged carnival-like wedding took place in Otuoke, Bayelsa State home town of Jonathan and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. MIKE ODIEGWU reports

The President’s daughter’s wedding E

•’You’re now my son’

VER witnessed the wedding of a president’s daughter? It is full of pomp, colour and ceremony. This was what happened when President Goodluck Jonathan’s daughter, Faith Osakwe got married. The whole country virtually descended on his Otuoke, Bayelsa State hometown and Abuja for the two-legged ceremony. The engagement was held on Otuoke and the wedding in Abuja. Faith met her beau, Godswill Osim, a prince of Osimotu Kingdom in Cross River State at the University of Calabar. Osim is from the same community with Governor Liyel Imoke, who played a major role at the wedding. He and his wife, Obioma joined the Osim in asking for the President’s daughter’s hand in marriage at Otuoke. The engagement, which began on Friday climaxed the next day when the President formally handed over Faith to her in-laws. Bayelsa was agog for the ceremony. The capital, Yenogoa, wore a colourful look as the president and his entourage passed through the town to Otuoke. The celebration began at the Port-Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Rivers State, where a group of women received the President. The negotiations for the bride price lasted till late in the night. Jonathan, after accepting the Osim family’s offer, asked them to return the following day for faith. The Jonathan home was filled with top politicians, captains of industries and other well-meaning Nigerians who came to share in the couple’s joy. The ceremony, which had the trappings of Ijaw culture, was chaired by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who was with his wife, Hajia Amina. He said he was honoured to be part of the ceremony, adding that the event was ordained by God. Sambo urged the couple to embrace the secret of a successful marriage which he identified as faithfulness, tolerance and honesty. "The secret behind a successful marriage, he said, is for both the bride and the bridegroom to be faithful to each other, to be tolerant and honest. When you do this, God will manifest in your life and good luck will be your portion." The congregation thundered Amen. Imoke recalled how Jonathan called him some years ago that his daughter had gained admission into the University of Calabar. He said nobody envisaged that the admission would snowball into a marital union between Cross River and Bayelsa states. He reeled out the traditional rites satisfied by the groom and the state. He said they paid N51,000 dowry, adding that the President did not collect all the money. The President's daughter was in ‘good’ hands and would be adequately taken care of. He said: "We are honoured. We came with trepidation and went through a tedious exercise. I got the deal of the century. The President ensured that his daughter was given to us with a condition. He asked us to pay the price of N51,000 less N1000. The President took it and asked us to go and come back. Now we are back and fully prepared to take our daughter." The host, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, blessed the couple and thanked the guests, for supporting the Jonathans. He said the young man who crossed many creeks to find a wife at Otuoke had done well. He hailed Dame Patience for nurturing Faith, saying the first Lady has proved herself a worthy mother and an excellent example for women. Concluding the marriage rite after Faith had identified her husband and taken him to her father, Jonathan blessed the couple. He said: "With what has happened today, you have now

•President Jonathan (right) hands Faith over to Prince Godswill

become my son. Congratulations, my son. We pray the marriage will succeed". The second leg of the wedding at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja last Saturday was breathtaking. The ceremony started at 10.56 a.m when Jonathan and his wife, wearing blue traditional attires, led Faith into the venue. They were accompanied by family members. Faith's wedding gown was exotic. It is believed that she made history. The wedding was officiated by the Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Nicholas Okoh, assisted by Bishop of Kubwa Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Timothy Akamisoko. The couple exchanged vows following which they were pronounced husband and wife. The groom, took the first Bible lesson from Genesis 2, the bride took the second from Ephesians 5: 21-33. In his sermon, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye admonished the couple to live in peace and harmony. Pastor Adeboye charged Godswill that as the head of the family, he should not criticise his wife but correct her with

love. Adeboye, who said he has been married for 47years told Godswill: "You are the head of the family; being the head means that you are extremely important. The success or failure of the marriage rests on you. The head contains the eyes; it is the light of the body. So, you decide where the marriage will go. The head also has two ears and one mouth. Be swift to hear but slow to speak. When your wife cooks for you, don't think it will be like that of your mother; your mother has been on it for long. If there is too much salt in the food, or the meat is tough, don't blame her but try and use wisdom to tell her." Adeboye enjoined the couple's parents not to interfere in their affairs, saying: "Those who God has joined, let no man put asunder." Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi stole the show at the church. Dignitaries and others were surprised to see them. Clad in a white agbada, Obasanjo arrived at the church about 11:15am after the sermon. Amaechi, who was there earlier, left at 10:30 am before the service ended. •Continued on page 16

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

SOCIETY •Continued from page 15

Prayers were later offered by President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and other clergies at the ceremony. After signing the marriage register, the couple was ferried from the church to the International Conference Centre, Abuja, in a beautifullydecorated horse-drawn carriage for the reception. Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon, who chaired the reception told the couple that marriage, is give and take. "No matter the problem that may come your way, never allow the day to pass without resolving the problem through prayers and love. It is only you that can make it a success. Look at your parents and emulate them," he said. The cutting of the cake was supervised by the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Helen Mark. The father-daughter dance by Jonathan and Faith saw many guests •From left: President Jonathan; groom’s mother Mrs Edna Edward; the couple - Godswill and Faith; groom’s father Solomon Edward and the First Lady, standing to catch a glimpse. Dame Patince Jonathan described the day as special, saying. "We are all smiling and dancing; but also note that there will be periods when the relationship will not work smoothly. That is a part of the life of husband and wife." According to him, there is no couple that will not have some moments when their faces will not be too bright, but it depends on how they reach out and really find time to understand themselves. He wished the couple a happy married life saying: "Our duty as parents is to continue to pray for you, to encourage you; and if there are some issues you feel we can solve, you can tell us. But don't depend on your parents to solve your matrimonial problems. If you have disagreement with your husband…, don't always run to parents or get •Vice-President Sambo and his wife, Hajia Amina •Governor Dickson and his wife, Rachael advice of your mother or father. Sometimes, they will not give you the best advice because your parents are analogue people while you are digital generation. "So, we don't belong to the same generation and so don't expect us to give you the advice of the modern way of life. But we will encourage you to succeed," he said. Security was tight in Otuoke and Abuja for the twin events. Security agents were deployed to ensure things went well. Dbanj and Iyanya thrilled the gathering. On the roll were Senate President, David Mark and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, led a delegation from the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, also led members of the lower chamber; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), •From right: Chief Obasanjo; Pa Clark and Chief Anenih •Primate Okoh Anyim Pius Anyim; Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Governor Theodore Orji (Abia); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Idris Wada (Kogi); Willie Obiano (Anambra), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) as well as former governors of Ogun and Oyo states, Gbenga Daniel and Adebayo AlaoAkala. Also were Chairman, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Forte Oil Chairman Mr Femi Otedola; Managing Director of Access Bank, Aig- imoukhuede; Chairman of Visafone, Jim Ovia; ministers including Olajumoke Akinjide (FCT State), Emeka Wogu (Labour) and Diezani AlisonMadueke (Petroleum); immediate past Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai (Jigawa); former Head of Service, Ebele Okeke; People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Adamu Mua'zu; Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, former PDP Deputy Chairman, South West, Chief Bode George among others. •From left: Alhaji Mua’zu; Chief Wogu (third left); Chief Don Etiebet (right) and other guests PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN

The The President’s President’s daughter’s daughter’s wedding wedding

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

SOCIETY

An Associate Professor of Counselling at the University of Lagos, Dr Monday Bassey Ubangha, has given out his daughter, Patience Komommo’s hand in marriage to the 2 I-C Provost of the Nigerian Customs, Yaba, Lagos Mainland Easter Eteng Eyong, in marriage. The solemnisation took place at the Grace and Dominion Chapel of the Assemblies of God Church, Oworonshoki, Lagos. NNEKA NWANERI was there.

ALK of a colourful wedding. A parade of officers; a union of families, show of friendship, solidarity and a bond between two young people. It was all these and more when Patience, daughter of an Associate Professor of Counselling at the University of Lagos, Dr Monday Bassey Ubangha, exchanged marital vows with her beau, Easter Eyong in Lagos. To the couple, it was a dream come true. Men of the Nigerian Police and Customs Service were there to share in the couple’s joy. The nuptial knot was tied at Grace and Dominion Chapel of the Assemblies of God Church, Oworoshoki, a Lagos suburb. With the opening hymn: “My Hope is built on nothing less,” the bride was ushered into the church by her father. At the altar already waiting was the groom, kitted in ash-coloured Customs uniform. Rev Ekah Egere, from The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Idimu, Lagos branch, where the groom worships, in his homily, admonished the couple to see marriage as a respected institution ordained by God. He urged them to treat each other with respect and lean on God who has promised to neither leave nor forsake them. After the sermon, the Grace Choir rendered a special song for the couple after which they were joined by the host minister, Rev Israel Nnejiwuihe, who later presented them with their certificate. The filing out of the church was dramatic. Customs officers did a parade for their colleague. It was a match past with the couple in their midst. Patience was all smiles as she clung to her man. The officers replaced the conventional grooms men, but the set up comprised ladies too, all numbering about 10, led them out of the church while others followed behind. Officers with feathers on their caps and swords above their bellies did a slow match, lifting each foot simultaneously to the beat of theacomplanying band which produced epic tunes using the Scottish pipebag. They also stood at attention one after the other before the couple and threw sharp salutes. The wedding train moved to the Police Officers Mess in GRA, Ikeja for

•Bride’s parents Dr Ubangha, and wife Mary

Marital bliss •Groom’s mother Mrs Ikwo Eyong and his brother Dr Michael Eyong

•The couple, Patience and Easter cutting the cake.

the reception, where many guests were already waiting. Guests shone in orange and green coloured Ankara, George fabrics and blouse. There was a tent outside for those who could not get a seat in the hall. The couple’s entry into the hall was as dramatic as their exit from the church. Their friends did a replica of the parade they put up in the church. As they marched, their sword jackets dangled from their sides. They led the couple all the way to where they sat. Chairman of the occasion and the Chief Executive Officer of St Anthony Group of Schools, Otunba Edward Ohore, urged the couple to tolerate each other as the only way to ensure a lasting union.

WEDDING

Communication, he said solves a lot of problems. He enjoined them to always apologise to each other for peace to reign in their home. There was the presentation of the sword. ASP Estu Mesembe, in introducing the presentation, said it is a symbolic gesture given to the military and paramilitary. The groom’s sword was given by the Comptroller General. His colleague, ASP Omini Ebri, who attended the same school with the groom, and also joined the customs service with Easter in 2011, handed it to him. The groom, on receiving the sword kept matching on the spot. Same sword was used to cut the wedding cake amid fireworks. Dr Ubangha told The Nation of the mixed feelings he has for the day.

Though visibly excited, his parting was with h i s daughter is one that will be difficult to forget. He •Mrs Ngozi Iloh and Mr John Ofeim Inyang also said he is not bothered that Patience get married to a uniformed man. “Though she has come of age, parting with her is not an easy thing. My daughter has been my friend, companion and confidante. She has been very close to me apart from my wife so it won’t be easy coming home daily without seeing her,” he said.

PHOTO S : NIYI ADENIRAN

He urged the couple to be tolerant, even in the face of challenges. The bride’s mother, Mrs Mary Ubanga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ijaiye Ojokoro, a Lagos suburb, described her daughter as a friendly and jovial girl.

MARRIAGE

CONJUGAL BLISS

•Judith Ngozi and Obiora Francis Oliobi during their wedding in Surulere, Lagos

•Former Miss Oluwatoyin Oladipo and her beau, Bamidele Alao during their wedding in Lagos

•Mr Ridwan Saheed and his wife, former Miss Zainab Busari during their wedding in Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

SOCIETY

FUNERAL OF CHIEF ODUNOLA MORAWO ABEJE AKINTOLA AT ORITA-MEFA BAPTIST CHURCH, IBADAN, OYO STATE

•From Left: Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha; Justice Kayode Ariwoola; son of the deceased Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), his wife, Justice Boyede; wife of Oyo State Governor Mrs Florence Ajimobi; Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Oyo State Governor Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi

•Former Governor of Oyo State Senator Rasidi Ladoja and his wife, Mutiat

•Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) (left) and Mr Yusuf Alli (SAN)

•Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) (left) and Chief Wole PHOTOS: FEMI ILESANMI Olanipekun (SAN)

The Igbe Community Central Mosque in Ikorodu, on the outskirts of Lagos, has conferred chieftaincy titles on some of its members. AMIDU ARIJE was there.

Vessels of honour

EOPLE came from far and wide for the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some members of the Igbe Community Central Mosque in Ikorodu, on the outskirts of Lagos. The event was held at the Linksbond College, Igbe. It was a two-in-one ceremony - a N100 million fund raiser for mosque development and chieftaincy title conferment. Members of the mosque looked resplendent in white and cream attire. The event started on a prayer note, with Imam Jamiu Alabi and Alfa AbdulGaniyu, officiating. Chairman of Igbe Community Central Mosque Alhaji Jubreel Olasanya, said the essence of the ceremony was to appreciate the contributions of some members of the mosque to the development of Islam and community. Lagos State House of Assembly Chief Imam Alhaji Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef was the guest lecturer. Father of the day Justice Abdul Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) was represented by Alhaji, Musiliu Adaran. The honorees, citation was taken by the masters of ceremony. The chiefs were accompanied to the seats allotted to them by family members amid dance The chiefs filed out according to their titles. They wore white lace. Among them were Alhaji Abdul Rasheed Oladele, a surveyor as the Aare Adinni; Alhaji Jimoh Akinlaja - Asiwaju; Alhaji Ismail Alaba - Seriki; Alhaji Muhammed Qoseem Ejire - Giwa; Alhaja Modinat Atoke Adeyemi as Mogaji and Alhaja Aminat Agbaje - Iya Eleto. The were filled with Joy when they were called. They waved and shook hands with their guests. In his lecture entitled ‘My rights and duties’, Alhaji AbdulLateef urged all present to per-

•Alhaji Oladele (middle) receiving his certificate from the clerics

form their duties to God, saying God would not hesitate to perform His duties on them. He enjoined the title holders to be careful with their position and not to be intoxicated by power. He seized the occasion to appeal to political office holders to administer with the fear of God, saying that is the only solution to the problems of the country. Chief Imam Igbe Community Central, Alhaji Abdul Wadiu Salaudeen led other clerics at the turbaning. Before carrying out the activity, Alhaji Salaudeen requested the pleasure of the Chief Imam General of the Igbogbo /Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, Sheikh Dhikirullahi Andu to pray on the caps and clothes to be used for the turbaning. It was carried out with excitement. He prayed for the long life and good health of the title holders. After the prayer Sheikh Salaudeen carried out the turbaning amid cheers.

All shouted Allahu Akbar as the cap was put on the head of the honorees. Eulogies and appreciation kept pouring in from people as all the chiefs were handed over their certificate of office. Alhaji Oladele thanked Allah and all that have come to grace the occasion. He described the title as surprising. He promised to keep committing himself to the service of Allah and the community. “I feel happy being recognised by the community in the service to humanity. Many have made great contributions without any honour so for me I just need to thank God,” he said. In attendance were: the Chief Imam of Ikorodu, Sheikh Saefudeen Ademoritan Olowooribi; Mr Isiaq Oladele; Chairman Linksbond College Alhaji Akin Tijani; Alhaji Bello Shitta; Chief Olujonwo Bamgbala; Chief Tajudeen Onasanya; Chief Olusola Olotu; Alhaji Amusa Dosumu among others. •Alhaji AbdulLateef

THE NATION FRIDAY,APRIL 18, 2014

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIAL

Subversive generosity • Reported multiple car gifts to the president’s daughter and her husband are a veneer covering systemic corruption in the country

HE Edwards, new couple made up of presidential daughter, Faith and her husband, Godswill Osim Edward, a prince from Cross Rivers State, deserve all congratulations for their wedding. That was a private affair, as any wedding ought to be. But that the bride is the president’s daughter puts the ceremony pat in the public space. Still, the newly wedded deserves everyone’s prayers and good wishes. We at The Nation therefore join other Nigerians in wishing the new couple sheer matrimonial bliss. Gifts are legitimate parts of any wedding. It is friends’, families’ and acquaintances’ show of love and affection — and why not? Weddings, after all, other things being equal, come once in a lifetime. So, no one should ordinarily begrudge the couple whatever presents they got. It was their happy day and they perhaps deserved all of their good fortune. Still, because the president was involved and because you cannot divorce the person of the president from the office of the president in this case, the matter cannot be left alone. Indeed, there are reasonable grounds to suggest that the quantum of the wedding gifts can be directly linked to the fact that the president’s daughter was wedding. Now, when does a present cross the threshold of love to subtle subversion bordering on corruption? That is why every Nigerian must be bothered by reported obscene and cynical gifts reported to have changed hands, most probably from contractors, sundry

business persons and politicians seeking presidential favours. Some media reports even claim a virtual armada of cars has been the lot of the happy couple, aside from other gifts. Though this might not have been initiated by the president, and it is certainly no fault of the couple, the end result is subversion: that sooner than later would come to haunt the exchequer. It is yet another corruption of an otherwise solemn event by a greedy and corrupt elite. True, such venal practices precede the Jonathan Presidency; and would appear institutionalised at every level of governance. Earlier, the whole country watched aghast as former President Olusegun Obasanjo suborned the business class and the elite public sector to “donate” money to his presidential library project. It is the practice in the United States where the idea originated from to stage such launches after a president has left office. So, why did a sitting president insist on staging it? It was another Nigerian penchant to corrupt otherwise noble concepts. The victim, as usual, are the people, whose collective matrimony are raided for these subversive donors to recoup their money. That is why we have no hesitation to condemn the cynical gifts by do-gooders at the wedding of the daughter of the president. If corruption is the bane of our underdevelopment and the sweeping poverty plaguing Nigerians today, Nigerian leaders must be more discerning in whatever gifts they allow themselves to receive. Such gifts and their bearers are tanta-

mount to the proverbial Greeks bearing gifts. It might cost the receiver more than he or she ever thinks! Nigerian leaders must be wary of gifts sure to trigger corrupt practices, which further worsen the present mass poverty and underdevelopment. Those who literally pelt the first family with cars and expensive gifts, on the excuse that their daughter was wedding, certainly know where they will recoup their money. It is the bounden duty of patriotic leaders that such hustlers are barricaded far away from the common wealth. But how can they do this if they had earlier fallen for their cheap, subversive and cynical generosity? LITERALLY.

‘Nigerian leaders must be wary of gifts sure to trigger corrupt practices, which further worsen the present mass poverty and underdevelopment. Those who literally pelt the first family with cars and expensive gifts, on the excuse that their daughter was wedding, certainly know where they will recoup their money’

Something to cheer

•Nigerian-American girl, Chiney Ogwumike, is best American women college basketball player

HOUGH this Nigerian dream is subsumed under the American, it remains Nigerian all the same and it is remarkable in its power and glory. Nigerian-American, Miss Chinenye (Chiney) Ogwumike, is the top overall draft in 2014 for the Women National Basket Association (WNBA). What this means is that she is the best college player graduating to the huge and lucrative National Basketball Association (NBA) professional league. She was picked by the Connecticut Sun team. This feat is the second in the Ogwumike family in what seems like a genetic trait; just two years ago, her sister, Nneka, was also the overall top WNBA draft

‘The exploits of Nigerians in all spheres of human endeavour across the world is a reminder of what might have been and of course what would be should we show a bit of dexterity and commonsense in managing our affairs. With a modicum of good leadership and a revamp of our institutions, Nigeria is like a latent volcano of human potentials waiting to erupt and reverberate across the world. Can the feat of the Ogwumike sisters trigger our revival?’

(2012). The 22- year- old schooled at Cypress Fairbanks High School in Cypress, Texas from where she started her exploits in the ball game. She was named a WBCA and McDonald’s All-American. She participated in the High School All-America Game, where she scored 24 points and earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours for her team. Excelling both in academics and sports, she chose Stanford University over Connecticut and Notre Dame to join up with her sister. Many Stanford basketball records fell under the sheer power and prowess of the 6 foot 3 inches power forward. As at January 2014, Cheney (as she is known in America) holds the record for most rebounds in the history Stanford women Basketball. She was in the USA Basketball Under-18 team that participated in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women. She started in all five games and as leading scorer and leading rebounder, she helped the USA team capture the gold medal. Players would naturally progress from the Under-18 to Under-19 but Chiney bucked that trend. She played so well as a U-18 that she was promoted to the US World University Games team for the 2011 World University Games held in Shenzhen, China. She was in the US team with her sister, Nneka. Chiney led her team in shooting percentage and helped it win all six games and earn the gold medal at the tournament. Between 2011 and 2014, Chiney has

won over a dozen awards including Freshman Player of the Year, 2011; Player of the Year, 2013 and 2014. She was also in the ESPNW First All-American Team of the Year, 2014 and the USBW All-American Team, 2014 and the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, 2014. Now that she has joined the elite league of top-rated basketball players in America, the NBA at the top, it is hope that she would continue with her winning streak and dominate at the highest level too. Chiney and her sister Nneka before her are clear testimonies that Nigerians are full of potentials waiting to explode. Though the conduct and practice of the game is at best haphazard, like most other things, yet Nigerians exfoliate and excel whenever the condition and environment are right. Recall Akeem Olajuwon in the 80s and 90s who dominated the NBA and numerous other less prominent players in that pre-eminent American pastime. In the just ended collegiate season, two other Nigerian girls were in line for drafting. The exploits of Nigerians in all spheres of human endeavour across the world is a reminder of what might have been and of course what would be should we show a bit of dexterity and commonsense in managing our affairs. With a modicum of good leadership and a revamp of our institutions, Nigeria is like a latent volcano of human potentials waiting to erupt and reverberate across the world. Can the feat of the Ogwumike sisters trigger our revival?

U.S. sanctions on Russia over Ukraine would buy negotiating power

USSIA AND the United States have pursued dramatically different strategies on Ukraine in the 10 days preceding a diplomatic meeting Thursday in Geneva. While loudly denouncing what it has described as direct Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine and threatening tough sanctions, the Obama administration elected not to take any concrete action in the hope that the meeting, which also includes the foreign ministers of Ukraine and the European Union, will produce positive results. The administration also has refused Ukraine’s desperate requests for non-lethal aid for its military as it attempts to turn back the quasi-covert offensive. Russian President Vladi-mir Putin, in contrast, clearly is unconcerned about provoking the other side. Russian operatives, who apparently have infiltrated military forces, have been steadily stepping up their attacks on Ukrainian government installations in a dozen or more cities and towns. On Wednesday these forces and their Ukrainian followers managed to turn back a weak effort by the Ukrainian government to retake some of the installations, in one case disarming a column of government soldiers and confiscating their armored personnel carriers. Consequently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Geneva with considerable leverage. With eastern Ukraine in Russian-induced chaos, Moscow is ready not to negotiate but to dictate terms. “Ukraine,” said Mr. Lavrov on Wednesday, “must be forced to start genuine rather than cosmetic constitutional reform.” By that he means Ukraine should be forced to dismember itself into autonomous regions that the Kremlin could manipulate and ultimately control. What chips do the United States and European Union have to counter Moscow’s bald aggression? Little more than vague threats. “We are actively looking at our options,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney on Tuesday. Officials privately say they are working with the Europeans on a modest expansion of last month’s sanctions against Mr. Putin’s inner circle — while holding off on the far-more-potent “sectoral sanctions” that Mr. Kerry said were “on the table” last week. The Obama administration is not wrong to pursue a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis. But diplomacy can’t succeed when the underlying balance of forces is lopsidedly in favor of a U.S. adversary — and the administration declines to take actions that might create incentives for compromise. That’s as true of Mr. Putin’s Russia as it is of Bashar al-Assad’s Syria, which dismissed the last U.S. effo rt to broker an accord in Geneva after Mr. Obama elected not to provide significant support for Syrian rebels. Administration advocates of inaction argue that Washington should move only in concert with European governments, which have much larger economic interests in Russia and consequently are more reluctant. But as it demonstrated with Iran, the United States has the power to take potent action on its own, especially in the financial sector — and such steps can induce other countries to join in. By waiting for Europe, the Obama administration essentially hands a veto over its response to what it describes as unacceptable transgressions to states such as Cyprus and Malta. The Obama administration’s attempt to smooth the way for a diplomatic solution has virtually ensured that the Geneva meeting will fail. Once it does, the president should take action that will give Mr. Putin tangible cause to pull back. - Washington Post

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Dep. Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: I still can’t fathom the type of leeches and sycophants who surrounds and counsels President Goodluck Jonathan. For him to strut out and go on political campaign in Kano soon after over 100 Nigerians lost their lives to a terrorist bomb blast at Nyanya Bus Stop in Abuja is quite inexplicable. However the part that is more baffling to me is the President’s own decision to engage in scurrilous attack on the governor of the state he went to campaign at. The fact that the campaign event also happened on a day Professor Wole Soyinka, Nigeria’s only Nobel laureate, called for a bipartisan solution to the ongoing terror war is quite numbing. The

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

President’s toxic hustings while Nigeria burns

questions that kept coming to me are: what is wrong with Aso Rock? Are there no adults around anymore over there? But the most embarrassingly shocking thing for me are the content of the president’s words at the campaign event. This is indeed a case of Nero fiddling while Rome burns. Let’s take a look at the president

campaign rhetoric at Kano, on a day he had just visited blast site and learned that additional 80 Nigerian school age girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists. According to Punch newspapers, “President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday took on Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State, accusing him of embezzling the money

his (President’s) campaign office provided to mobilize the state delegates for the 2011 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party and the main election. “Even the little money that my campaign office provided for refreshment of the Kano delegates and for their transport, Kwakwanso refused to give to the delegates. “He did that

of this inhumanity before the entire machinery of government now moved to Kano for the morbid grave dance called political rally? Are we this jinxed? It calls to mind the immortal word of the Holy Writ “Woe to thee, oh land,

when thy king is a child and thy princes eat in the morning” Eccl 10: 16. I weep for my beloved country, Nigeria. While Rome burns, Emperor Nero fiddles! •Chris Edache Agbiti, Esq., Abuja

Grave dance called political rally

IR: AS much as one hates to believe conspiracy theory out there that the government may not totally be innocent of the current siege bedeviling the country, however, the sustained malfeasance of the ruling party always gives credibility to this theory. Has the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria become this pedestrian for the President to descend this low and exchange diatribes with a subordinate at a time like this? If Governor Kwankanso did not vote for the President nor supported him at the last electioneering, so what gives? Does the President not realise that he is the embodiment of the corporate image of the federation, whose mien, demeanor, utterances and general conduct must at all times be pace-setting? I shuddered to behold the President at the Kano political rally dancing naked, as it were, just to get even with his political opponent, Governor Kwankwaso, while the mangled corpses of the innocent children of the land struggle for space in the morgue. This came barely after the horrific holocaust at Nyanya. Pray,

beyond the usual banalities and platitudinous remarks of condemnations and feigned concern by the government officials in response to the incident, has the government even decided on any steps towards the burial of the helpless victims

Femi Segun: A tribute

IR: I met the late Femi Segun during my final year in secondary school when he came around with a group that we later learnt were members of the school’s old students association. Unlike most others, Segun was a jolly good-fellow who mingled freely with students, sharing thoughts and encouraged friendship, considering the fact that his set left secondary school way back (mid 70s’), when most of us were born. My deep impressions about him would later necessitate my involvement in old boys’ activities in the school while promoting friendship with him. His simplicity and humility were endearing. On my graduation from the university, he was one of the few I ran to for assistance to get a job. I recall

that he not only gave me notes to two different places same day, but instructed his office to process my application to see if I could fit in. Recently when I was involved in road traffic accident, I sent him a text on my predicament; a week after when I was being moved to the theatre for surgery, quite early in the morning, we saw Femi Segun with bags of fruit and beverages! For me it was an honour from a very senior old boy. He followed-up on my recovery with calls and a promise of a meeting, which unfortunately never materialised. It was on social media platform that I saw Segun in full paraphernalia riding speed bike. One could not but marvel at what form of exercise was, given our country’s poor road network, but I knew Segun would have taken necessary

precautions before taking into the sport. As it turned out, we lost him through the sport. I got the information of his accident through a mutual friend who really did not know the magnitude. We both agreed it would be hasty to see him then as we were sure doctors would still be battling to stabilize him. Later, the same friend would call on that Friday evening that we’ve lost Segun. I was shocked. Femi Segun’s contributions towards humanity will remain with those who had the opportunity of meeting him while on earth; his love and devotion to his alma mater, Igbobi College will remain evergreen. • Badejo Adedeji Nurudeen Surulere, Lagos State.

so that the Kano delegates will be angry and they will not vote for me. “Even for the main election, the little money the campaign office sent to Kano State to facilitate the movement of people, Kwakwanso refused to give the money to anybody. How can Kwankwaso tell people that he voted for me?” Let’s set aside the propriety of the president making such a jejune issue a campaign talking point, (because if the money is “little money” it matters little to him and probably to politicians like him), and focus on legality of providing money to voters during election time (apparently to sway their votes), be it at the primary (it is expressly prohibited by PDP constitution) and general election (INEC statute actually makes this a ground for criminal investigation and disqualification). A president dumb enough to campaign on the day he lost a centurion of his citizens and over 80 young girls kidnapped is definitely not a serious leader. It is high time Nigerians of all hue begin to talk about a post Jonathan administration in Nigeria. Nigeria leadership of all hue needs to come together in a bipartisan way to address the terror stalking our land. The charade going on in the name of National Conference is not a vehicle that will get us there. You do not go ahead with a National Conference where only those who agree with you attend. You work out the kinks and reach out to the opposition to get them involved. So forget the sleepers at the National Conference. Let all Nigerians begins to clamour for the leadership of the two political parties to come together and establish a joint framework on how we can decisively deal with violence in our land whether it be those fomented by MEND, OPC, Kidnappers or Boko Haram. We cannot rely on this presidency to get us out of the quagmire that politicians drove us into. The time for change is now! • Francis Adewale Spokane, WA, USA

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 16

COMMENTS

Fantasy of thieves, perverts and blinkered murderers

Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

OMEDAY, death will become more than an unexplainable mystery to the incumbent ruling class. Every public officer will die; their family members too. Despite their inhumanity, they are human after all. They breathe and bleed just like we do. At their demise, they shall discover what manner of life they deserve in the afterlife. They shall find that money and rank they covet are useless after the last howl had fallen silent, at their funeral. They shall learn that currency-activated prayers their clerics hoist above them shall serve like raincoats under a blitz of cannon balls, at the end. In the wake of their demise, how shall they be remembered? How do we remember men who summon our joys to harness it with a sable bind? Shall we remember them with rage and rant? Shall we wish they burn in the earth, like splinters of wood fed into the hearth to spite the fire? Shall we wish that they lie in plagued repose low down with the worm and ant? How shall we be remembered? How shall posterity remember the ones who have perfected the art of letting their voices trail off in confusion at decision time? What will our children think of our desperation to keep the worst of our kind in power? What

pantheons or dungeons shall we inhabit in the annals of Nigerian politics? The troubles of our world are unwieldy like a storm. By our perversions, we impregnate and corrupt history and civilization 54-years old. Great evil lies in you and me, and by our perpetuation of it, we make history the way of the diabolic, who decapitates his newborn to satisfy his hunger pangs. Too many threads of heedlessness, woven of gluttony and lust, of racism and fear, inequality and blind hate of the stranger, form in our souls, a thick network. Yesterday, we suffered violence and bloodshed by militants in our creeks, down in the Delta. Today, we suffer violence and bloodshed by Boko Haram. Every day, we suffer greater violence and bloodbath by murderous and incompetent ruling class. The most remarkable characteristic of the Nigerian ruling class, according to Prof. Itse Sagay, “is its complete and total insensitivity to the public outcry and outrage over the percentage of our resources that the members appropriate to themselves for their own consumption.” Sagay, in his lecture on ‘Good Governance and Enforcement of Law and Order’ at the Nigerian Institute of Management’s 2013 Management

‘We are past the novelty of coordinated mockery and moral outrage. The most powerful indignation we could express exceeds the pages of acerbic columns and social media; it subsists in latent courage and will we haven’t yet summoned the courage to express’

RAN into a friend at the 75th birthday reception of Chief Bisi Akande, the interim National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Eko Expo Centre a few months back. Knowing how my friend is intricately connected to the country’s political power grid both in the past and present on either side of the ideological divide – if ideology is not an oxymoron in the nation’s body politic – I quickly engaged him in a political discourse during the munching period. As someone always on the move around the world and not knowing when I would run into him again, I had to quickly pick his brain as I asked him, among other things, how APC will keep the political ‘rock stars’ in its fold from violently colliding with themselves in their efforts to become the party’s presidential flag-bearer in order to prevent a rupture in the party. I also asked him in whose direction he thought the pendulum for the president will likely swing among the key political actors in the party. “It’s going to be Buhari’, he deadpanned. The formation of a political organization, or any human organization for that matter, is to advance either some identifiable monolithic interests or to bring into fruition a multiplicity of disparate interests under an organizational umbrella. ThereforeAPC cannot be any short of a gathering of people seeking political power of various kinds in which there is bound to be different groupings with similar interests, jockeying for political advantage against other groups whose interests seems dissimilar and vice-versa. Although he has not made his intention publicly known as to whether or not he will vie for the country’s Number One seat, General Mohammed Buhari has become such an enigma that has since metamorphosed into a cult personage so enthralling that his decision to or not to run in 2015 is bound to have some ripple effects not only on APC but the polity itself. As a result of this image that the General has carved for himself – wittingly or unwittingly – his decision either way will most definitely arouse a significant amount of intensity from just about all strata of society. With Buhari joining the presidential fray in 2015, being indifferent or non-committal by Nigerians will no longer be an option or a luxury. But whether this will bode good or ill for our democratic experience will remain to be seen. While ordinary Nigerians with good grasp of the ills of the society but knows who among the present top echelon of the political class they think would likely make a big difference would be greatly agitated if Buhari is unable to get the presidential ticket, Nigeria’s small but very lethal economic and political elites would no doubt heave a huge sigh of relief if Buhari decide to take a pass in 2015. To them, preventing Buhari from becoming the country’s chief of state once again is the beginning of their financial wisdom. While the people should not expect General Mohammed Buhari to be that messianic democrat they’ve been waiting for (if elected) given his military antecedents, the institutions and

Day, lamented that while Nigerian Senators and House of Representative members earn $1.7m and $1.4m respectively per annum, American Senators and British parliamentarians earn 174, 000 and £65,738 respectively per annum. Yet income per capita for the US and UK is $46,350 and $35,468, respectively, while that of Nigeria is $2,248. Simply put, Nigerian legislators pay themselves the highest salaries of all legislators in the world, even though their country is amongst the least developed in the whole world. More worrisome is the government’s inequitable distribution of benefits and punishments meted out to people from different classes and professions, along with the asymmetrical distribution of respect and dignity. Eventually, you get the feeling that some people don’t count and never expected to count in the Nigerian State. In the wake of violence and bloodshed by successive terrorist groups, mostly constituted by youths, in the country, Mr. President, legislators and governors simmer in frustration and moral outrage. Jumping on to the bandwagon of these elected representatives’ deceitfulness and officialese, monarchs, clerics, newspaper columnists and other bastions of society pay lip service to the degeneration of the Nigerian youth and State. It is hardly astonishing that the government and cohorts resort to explanations of criminality, a feral underclass, and dysfunctional parenting. These are easier explanations for which the government does not need to accept responsibility. However, a careful assessment of the situation reveals that a greater percentage of the culprits are motivated by poverty, illiteracy, dysfunctional parenting, unemployment and in-

equality induced by unfair government policies, insensitivity and oppression by the ruling class. But such cruelties by the most insidious leadership as we currently have do not justify the descent of the Nigerian youth into barbarism or bloodthirstiness of any kind – but they do anyway. Insensitivity and bloodlust enjoy sweet repose in the psyche of the Nigerian youth thus habituating them to all manners of savagery and triviality. Hence it wasn’t surprising to see the Nigerian youth, the media and the general public descend on Shema Obafaye, former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) as violently as a mugger, as frighteningly as an armed robber, and as deadly as a hit man, over his gaffe when he featured as a guest on a breakfast show on Lagos-based private television, Channels Television. For Obafaye’s “My oga at the top” slip-up and his inability to accurately state his organization’s internet address, he became an object of nationwide ridicule. Footage of his blunder went viral on the social media making him an object of malicious jokes and caricature on Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry Messenger, T-shirts, and rascally musical medley by local disc jockeys (DJs). It was one gaffe that Nigerian youths particularly, couldn’t forgive; consequently, branded mugs, face-caps and T-shirts with the inscription: “My oga at the top!” were produced and sold at a profit in merriment over Obafaye's gaffe. Several celebrities cashed in on the madness and donned the branded Tshirts to major public events in pitiful desperation to replenish their dwindling acclaim. A smart movie pro-

ducer attempted to cash in too on the national ridicule of a man and public servant while it lasted by hastily putting together and releasing a film titled, “My oga at the top.” Nobody cared what sorrow or misery burdened Obafaye’s heart nor did anyone pause to imagine what shame and disillusionment his wife and kids are forced to relive and suffer daily long after the mockery had quieted to a murmur. If the Nigerian citizenry, the youth particularly, could be so coordinated and methodical in their perpetration of such “good-natured” ridicule and hate, would it not do Nigeria immense good to have us unite in more coordinated and disciplined revolt against the oppression and cruelties of the incumbent ruling class? We are past the novelty of coordinated mockery and moral outrage. The most powerful indignation we could express exceeds the pages of acerbic columns and social media; it subsists in latent courage and will we haven’t yet summoned the courage to express. Until we mature in grace and learn to apply ourselves to passionate pursuits for the love of the good, our pains shall run amok where we seek ease and bliss, always. It’s a matter of choice; to which system of thought should we commit our lives to? Is there anything in our norms worth saving? Shall we define the Nigerian dream in the language of humanity? Shall we begin to officiate for posterity’s sake? Shall we begin to affect the honesty and decency to which we pay lip service? Shall we choose the right candidates and vote them in at election time? It’s about time we refined the subtleties that make the Nigerian dream the fantasy of thieves, looters and blinkered murderers.

APC: The Buhari challenge By Femi Odere laws that are necessary for nurturing democratic ethos in the citizenry –the political class inclusive – has been missing for far too long, and General Buhari cannot be an exception to this fact. But Buhari can make up for this democratic deficit by the party’s insistence that he’s surrounded by avidly democratic ‘Young Turks’ to guide him about those little but extremely important nuances of democracy that he may consider to be irritants due to his military background. One must, however, also be cognizant of the fact that Nigeria is most definitely on the brink. Either because of the happy-go-lucky nature of the people or the crass incompetence of the leadership almost since independence, the country is structurally weak and morally depraved that she needs someone who stands relatively morally a shoulder above the rest of the political class who can pull her away from the precipice. General Buhari fits this bill. That corruption is now believed to be the single most important problem capable of ultimately destroying the country if not checked on time in a country in which her people hardly agree on anything except their national football team, the opposition All Progressives Party (APC) presidential flag-bearer must be seen by the generality of Nigerians as having the moral authority to wrestle with this hydra-headed monster that they’ve concluded that President Jonathan is unwilling to address, let alone effectively tackle. Aside from corruption, institution-building is another critical element that nations that are placed on sound socio-economic and political pedestal has also been drumming into our ears that we also need if we desire a sustainable society. So, since it’s almost a foregone conclusion that President Jonathan – who has demonstrated that he would rather not be

bothered with corruption, let alone building institutions – will run for re-election, APC, as part of its winning formula may have to settle for Buhari as its presidential candidate. As a known quantity in the north, most specifically in the Northeast and North-west geo-political zones where the votes will probably decide who wins the presidential election (barring rigging from the ruling party), Buhari’s candidacy will probably make much sense for the APC and voters more likely to see that the party is serious about stabilizing the drifting ship of state with his candidacy. Even if it wins the presidential election, APC should be under no illusion that the battle has been won as the real test of the ‘new leadership’ then will be how intelligently corruption is being fought. In order not to get too bogged down thereby becoming lethargic within a short period, the ‘new leadership’ may first have to stabilize the country’s runaway corruption by putting it on a leash. This it can do by compartmentalizing this social behemoth into what can be termed the ‘old’ and ‘new’ corruption. A “carrot approach” may first have to be deployed for those villains of the ‘old corruption’ to encourage them to voluntarily relinquish their loots to the state for job creation and other developmental agendas, while stringent laws are being put in place, existing institutions strengthened and new ones created to handle them (if they refused) and those that falls into the ‘new corruption’ category. It means that the four years of the APC government will be a period of legislative renaissance for a ‘New Nigeria’ with radical overhauling of existing laws and reforming the judiciary. Therefore aspirants to the National Assembly in 2015 without sound minds may not contest. • Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com.

‘Since it’s almost a foregone conclusion that President Jonathan – who has demonstrated that he would rather not be bothered with corruption, let alone building institutions – will run for re-election, APC, as part of its winning formula may have to settle for Buhari as its presidential candidate. As a known quantity in the north, most specifically in the North-east and North-west geopolitical zones where the votes will probably decide who wins the presidential election (barring rigging from the ruling party), Buhari’s candidacy will probably make much sense for the APC’

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

COMMENTS

‘These are the times that try men's souls’ -- Thomas Paine HE Boko Haram sect, it clearly seems, would stop at nothing to destroy the northern parts of the nation without the slightest compunction. They get more emboldened by the day - and the reason is simple: They have gone away undetected with so many atrocious acts that left reasonable people wondering what happened to the nation’s security apparatus. Otherwise, why would they plant a bomb at the popular Nyanyan motor park in Nyanyan, about five minutes drive to Abuja - a day after the Christians’ Palm Sunday? The motor park serves as terminus for commuters working in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and also a hub for travellers to some part of the northern states, including Nassarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Bauchi states. Barely 24 hours after this sad event, these highly invidious sect members similarly struck with frightening speed when they abducted 100 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok that were writing their West African Examination Council(WAEC) examinations in the southern part of Borno state. Many dastard acts may have happened by the time readers are reading this piece just to underscore the level of insecurity currently ravaging the country. It is pertinent to ask: Do we still have government in place? What has happened to the billions of funds currently being spent on the socalled prosecution of Boko Haram onslaught in the north eastern part of the country? The Nyanyan bombs devilishly sneaked into town like a thief at night, wrecking heartrending explosions at around 5.55am - shattering in the process, 16 luxury buses and destroying more than 24 other vehicles. The police - known usually for being officially frugal with reports - publicly stated that 71 people died, while 124 sustained injuries in the incident. The casualty figures are certainly higher now that the entire disaster has fully unravelled- some reports put death figures at not less than 200 with injury sustaining casualty of slightly above this. The attendant devastation reportedly affected buildings, whacked glasses and devastated cars parked near and several metres from the scene. Those caught in the web of the blasts were mostly workers, petty traders, artisans and passers-by that left home early so as to get to their different places of work in good time. The Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Emergency Management Agency officials and

EPORTS filtered through a few days ago in all the major newspapers across the country that former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu broke with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to endorse Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of State of Osun for a second term in office. Kalu is a respected political actor who served two terms as Abia governor between 1999 and 2007. His visit to State of Osun coincided with two major political events in the state. First, it was the day his political party, the PDP, conducted primary election for its governorship aspirants in the state: namely, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi a former Minister of Youth Development and Honourable Wole Oke former chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence. Earlier, Senator Adeleke, the first governor of Osun had withdrawn from the race with a proviso: “I don’t want the blood of my political supporters to be shared because of my governorship ambition.” The Senator alleged that he and his supporters were thoroughly beaten by the thugs of Senator Omisore and those of the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan. “There is a likelihood of a breakdown of law and order if I participate in the primary election. Therefore, I am announcing that I will boycott tomorrow’s primary. Why should I allow somebody possessed by the devil to waste the lives of our people because I want to be a governor? “A minister has continued to threaten that he would waste so many lives in the primary. I am boycotting the primary; I will participate when our party decides to conduct a free, fair and violence-free primary. But I will work for the success of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.” Senator Isiaka Adeleke has a reason to be circumspect for not letting down his guides. The PDP candidate in Osun, Omisore has yet to explain satisfactorily to the people of Osun state and Nigerians at large, his alleged involvement in the murder of Chief

07011117777

Nigeria’s unending calamities

• Abuja bomb blast

other security personnel got to the scene 20 minutes after the incident. This, in itself, raises serious question about the nation’s response to emergency situations. Definitely, 20 minutes after the occurrence of an emergency is not a good score-card for the nation’s purportedly well funded security and emergency institutions. This column, as usual, finds preposterous, President Goodluck Jonathan’s routine tepid vow to do everything possible to end insurgency in the country, while being conducted round the scene. His aversion that “the issue of Boko Haram is temporary and that Nigeria will overcome it” has become a cliché and his minders need to tutor him on what to say when

(God forbid) such happens the next time since his government has no answer to the insurgency, which has become a recurring decimal. His commendation for the security services for his perceived ‘prompt action’ is quite curious and outrageous. One would ask: Is the president not personally embarrassed that his expensively maintained intelligence services failed to unravel the dastardly act before it occurred? Yours sincerely finds rather absurd the highly contemptuous visit by the president to Kano state to attend a political rally and, a social party in Ibadan, Oyo state, barely 24 hours after this national tragedy in Abuja. The compassion in President Jonathan must have taken flight! What is quite clear now to all is that Boko Haram members have proved themselves to be creatures of rage and lunacy because they ceaselessly inflict darkness on the country’s humanity. Nowadays, faces grow forlorn not out of personal volition but because the days ahead are marked with unexpected affronts that the government could not provide answers for. Most of these are usually disastrous and more worrisome is the fact that the process is irksome and incessant. Do we have a country governed by rules and with full compliment of state instruments of coercion in place? This is becoming doubtful because attrition avoidably rules the air at the moment with little hope that it would disappear soonest. What is our government doing? Better put - what is the administration of President Jonathan doing to end this unceasing bloodshed? Why is the widely touted official effort against the sect not effective? Are we scheming for self-

Orji Kalu’s endorsement of Aregbesola By Erasmus Ikhide Bola Ige, then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. If he did, it’s likely that Nigerians are not satisfied with his explanations, even though he has been exonerated by the courts. Kalu may have been disenchanted by the PDP’s inordinate strive for bloodcurdling politics. He sees in Ogbeni a model of civil political buffer and a transformational figure whose commitment to good governance goes beyond merely gloating over a reconstructed kilometre of road by the previous administration. More so, he saw no reason to be wild about an Omisore’s candidacy. The PDP leader, therefore endorsed Governor Aregbesola’s continuation in office, saying: “You don’t change a winning team”. He made the endorsement on Saturday, April 5, at the 15th edition of the Walk-toLive in Ipetumodu, Osun State. Walk-to-Live is a monthly physical exercise that involves trekking of at least, eight kilometres by interested citizens of the state after which a round of various other physical exercises follow to ensure that the citizens remain physically fit and mentally alert. The programme - in no small dimension appears the best in closing the gap between the people and the government. Each edition of the programme sees excited citizens who cannot join the usually long and winding procession either staying in front of their houses; climbing topmost parts of their buildings to catch glimpses of the governor, movie actors and actresses and sportsmen who have become regular features of the event.

Young mothers who cannot stay at home strap their babies to their backs. Physicallychallenged persons waddle their ways through the crowd to ensure they complete the ‘race’. Students, market men and women, old and the young want to be part of what they see as an engaging event that help them regain their self-confidence. It is common scene to see excited, ordinary citizens wanting to get handshakes with the governor and other top members of his administration. Under the six-point development agenda of the state administration, which he calls “My Pact with Osun”, promotion of healthy living is one. “There can be no healthy living without constant physical exercises.” Ogbeni is always quick to remind his people each time people troop out to partake in what is appearing the biggest platform for mobilizing the people to action in the state. Apart from other benefits now accruing from the event such as raising the political consciousness of the people, Governor Aregbesola has never failed to remind enthusiasts at the events on monthly basis that “Walk-to-live exercise was introduced because we realised that we have all forgotten the need to physically exercise ourselves. We are highly sedentary and socially wild; we must compliment this with engaging in physical exercise. Osun is promoting Walkto-Live to ensure that we have a healthy people in a healthy state.” This was what attracted the sport-loving former governor of Abia State to Osun that led to his endorsement of the governor of the state. He would later enthuse: “I am a statesman and PDP man. I made a promise a month ago to honour this Walk to Live event. Omisore is a personal friend of mine.

destruct? Are things going to continue like this until there are very few people left to kill in that part of the country? What assurance is there that the menace will not spread to other parts of the country? The Boko Haram bombings/killings/abductions could best be described as nothing but a national tragedy despite the fact that some lucky parts of the country only read the story and view the ruins on television sets. But for the humanity that flows in human veins, they may never fully appreciate the pains and anguish of victims who dread to sleep for fear of Boko Haram-induced nightmares. The sorrows that the sect brought on humanity, through impiety, remain the hardest to bear. Is there a way to safety? Can someone guide these afflicted people since this administration seems incapable of providing effective escape route from the looming destruction? Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State, a protégé of President Jonathan and a chieftain of the ruling People’s Democratic Party(PDP), diplomatically indicted the president on the spate of insecurity in the land when he reportedly spoke during a recent visit by PDP stakeholders from the North-Central and entire north. The governor and Jonathan apologist frowned at the fact that nobody had been arrested for the violence and killings in the North-central. His clincher to the president: Tell your security men to arrest these criminals! This counsel needs to be urgently heeded by Mr President to save this country from the claws of Boko Haram and other criminal elements. But unfortunately, our Aso-Rock Presidential Villa chief tenant has erroneously been telling the world that he runs a benign and enlightened government; but the truth is that the nation is turning into a fiefdom of criminals where political collaboration, treachery and devilish manipulations reign uninhibited. From the festering sore of Boko Haram, what is undeniable is that authority and law now covertly elevate crime and other criminal tendencies. That is why today’s Nigeria is plagued with tragedies where devils in human skin have decided to ride us all like a horse and torment us all like assaulted bees. When will these victims-inflicted trials, struggles and losses come to end? Quite sadly, this column does not see any hope of liberation out of the abyss of despair for victims of violent afflictions with the half-hearted handling of the Boko Haram onslaught by this administration. This period is really a trying one to our souls. It is time we rose from our slumber! Aregbesola is my friend as well. Governor Aregbesola has worked for the people of Osun. You don’t need to change a winning team. I also wish to express my support for our President, He is trying. Let’s pray for President Jonathan and let’s pray for Aregbesola.” He would also add: “I want to thank the Governor for making today’s Walk Exercise in a way I have never done before. Governor Aregbesola has done well. I am not here on party basis. II am a bona fide member of my Party (PDP) ...When someone has worked, we should learn to recognise performance in Nigeria. Governor Aregbesola has worked. There are few governors that can walk as we have walked today, without pure water being thrown at them. If what I have seen today is a test of popularity, then Aregbesola is indeed popular.” Dr Kalu has engraved his name in gold as one individual who turned his back on inconsistent characters with moral deficits within the same political party to pitch his tent with a progressive candidate who can deliver the goods to the people - just the same way General Colin Powell broke with Republican Party to endorse Barack Obama’s presidency. But when twinned with the partisan blindness in Nigeria political orientation, his endorsement of Aregbesola does reflect a significant shift. Kalu studiously spoke the minds of Osun citizens after several years of inelegant style of governance and outright despondency. It’s obvious that the people have been delivered from the grip of an administration and a political party that has little or no sociopolitical and economic direction for them. Being permanently welded to acidic politics of bloodletting cannot change the people of Osun’s resolve to remain on the part of change. That is what Orji Kalu’s endorsement of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for continuity in office is about. • Ikhide wrote in from Lagos, Nigeria.

BUSINESS

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

At the moment, there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap. - Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

NACCIMA, Namibia sign MoU By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

HE Nigerian Associa tion of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Namibia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NCCI). NACCIMA Director-General, Dr. John Isemede, said the MoU signed at the Nigeria-Namibia Business and Trade Forum in Windhoek, Namibia is aimed at promoting mutual business cooperation between the two countries. NACCIMA National President, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, who was represented at the forum by a National Vice President of the association, Ide John Udeagbala, expressed hope that the MoU would consolidate business deals that would be beneficial to both countries. Udeagbala said the peculiar challenges of business and investment environment like that of Namibia have tremendously improved with numerous opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, solid mineral, oil and oas, tourism, electricity (power) and telecommunication. President, Namibia Chamber of Commerce, Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, said the MoU is expected to yield joint venture partnerships for the private sector of both countries. Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga led discussions on trade and commended NACCIMA for its efforts.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

• From left: Manager, Pricing & Tariff, Monisola Alabi; Head Mass Market, Idowu Adesokan; Head Customer Experience & Retention, Biola Edun; Etisalat, all of Etisalat Nigeria, its customer, Moshood Ismael and its Director, Network Engineering, Temi Ogunbambi, at the Akure edition of Etisalat Customer Forum 2014, at Ruby’s Court Events Centre, Oke Ijebu, Akure, Ondo State.

Nestle invests $850m in Nigeria, others

ESTLE has invested more than $850 mil lion in Nigeria and other parts of Africa over the past five years, its Chief Executive Officer, Nestle, Mr Paul Bulcke, has said. Speaking with The Nation, Bulcke said the company also plans to increase its investment on the continent, adding that the number of factories in Africa will be increased to 32 by next year. He said the continent is considered a major contributor to the company’s overall growth and represents holds significant potential for business development. “The African continent is considered internally as a major contributor to our overall growth and repre-

By Toba Agboola

sents significant potential for business development. We have therefore invested more than $850 million in our operations in Nigeria and the rest of Africa over the past five years. We plan to increase the number of factories to 32 in 2015,” Bulcke said. He said the company is focusing on rural development in Nigeria and Africa as a whole because the rural areas remain the major abode of a large part of the population. According to him, the aim is to reduce poverty and hunger by adding more value to the raw agricultural products of the rural farmers.

His words: “At Nestle, we focus on three areas where we think we can have a meaningful impact. These are nutrition, water and rural development. Rural development is the backbone of Africa’s economy. “Today, 80 per cent of Africa’s poor live in rural areas and depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. Therefore, our rural development initiatives in Africa aim to reduce poverty and hunger by adding more value to the raw agricultural products. “For example, in Central and West Africa, up to 30 per cent of cereal crops are lost to mycotoxin contamination, caused largely by humidity and poor drying and storage

Samsung unveils Galaxy S5 in Nigeria

• Bulcke

practices. With Nestle’s Grain Quality Improvement Programme (GQIP), 10 000 farmers from the region were able to produce grains that met Nestle standards. “Last year, the number rose to 30 000 farmers. Training those farmers and linking them to markets helped them achieve greater yields and higher quality crops which meant increased income and better living standard for them.”

‘Excessive tax on African remittances hurts devt’

FRICANS face the highest remittance fees globally, regularly paying a “super tax” to send money home at a cost that hurts families and holds back development in the world’s poorest continent, a think-tank has said. The London-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI) said reducing remittance charges to global average levels would generate $1.8 billion, enough to put 14 million children through primary school, or provide clean water to 21 million people. The average cost to transfer $200 to sub-Saharan Africa was about 12 per cent, compared with a global average of 7.8 per cent, ODI said in its report, “Lost in intermediation”, branding the higher fees a “super tax”. “This remittance super tax is diverting resources that

families need to invest in education, health and a better future,” said the report’s co-author, Kevin Watkins. “It is undercutting a vital lifeline to hundreds of thousands of poor families in Africa. Africans living in the United Kingdom (UK) make huge sacrifices to support their families, yet face charges which are indefensible in an age of mobile banking and internet transfers,” Watkins said in a statement. Weak competition, “exclusivity agreements” between money transfer operators, agents and banks, and flawed financial regulation contributed to pushing charges higher, ODI said. The institute said two money transfer operators Western Union and MoneyGram - accounted for two thirds of remittance transfers to Africa. Western Union said the av-

erage global revenue it earned from transferring money was 5-6 per cent of the amount sent. “However, our pricing varies between countries depending on a number of factors such as consumer protection costs, local remittance taxes, market distribution, regulatory structure, volume, currency volatility, and other market efficiencies,” it said in a statement. There was no fee for money transferred online from Britain for a cash payout in Africa when done through the sender’s bank account, it said. Officials from MoneyGram were not immediately available for comment. In 2013, remittances to Africa were valued at $32 billion or around two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). In 2016, they are projected to rise to more than $41 billion, ODI said.

“With aid set to stagnate, remittances are set to emerge as an increasingly important source of external finance,” it said. The ODI said there was no evidence of a fall in fees for Africa’s diaspora, even though governments from the G8 and G20 have pledged to reduce charges to five percent. It can be even more expensive to transfer money within Africa. For example, migrant workers from Mozambique pay charges as high as 20 percent to send savings home from South Africa, the report said. ODI called for an investigation of global money transfer operators by European Union and US anti-trust bodies and regulatory reform in Africa to revoke exclusivity deals between money transfer operators and banks and agents.

By Alvin Afadama

AMSUNG Electronics has unveiled its new Galaxy S5 smartphone, alongside the latest in its industry-leading wearable device line, the Gear Fit and Gear 2, in the country. The devices are already on sale at all Samsung Experience Stores and accredited dealers’ shops nationwide. Speaking at the event in Lagos, its Managing Director West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, said the Galaxy S5 will redefine how technology innovation enhances quality of life. “With the Galaxy S5, Samsung is going back to basics to focus on delivering capabilities that matter most to our consumers. Consumers today are on the lookout for mobile tools that inspire and support them as they improve their everyday lives. The Galaxy S5 represents an iconic design with essential and useful features that focus on delivering the ultimate smartphone on the market today through people-inspired innovation,” he said. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is dust proof and can be submerged in up to one metre of water for about 30 minutes. The device, which features a screen that is slightly larger than that of the Galaxy S4, has been described as having the “best smartphone display ever tested’ by highly-respected gadget display performance calibrators, DisplayMate. The Galaxy S5 offers 27 per cent improvement in display power efficiency over its predecessor, the Galaxy S4, while using 18 percent less display power. The highlight of the smartphone is a new fingerprint scanner, which is integrated with the device’s home button and provides consumers with a safe, biometric screen-locking feature.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

Since the beginning of the year, Legend Extra Stout from the stable of Nigeria Breweries (NB) PLC, has been unrelenting in its campaign to take over the market. Others, such as Castle Milk and Turbor King, are following closely behind. Despite this marketing onslaught, the popular Guinness Extra Stout has yet to respond, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

The stout war

HE stout market is experiencing a boost. Thanks to innovative marketing. The market, which parades old rivals, such as Guinness Extra Stout and Legend Extra stout; and new entrants, such as ‘Castle Milk Stout’, Dark Ale and Turbo-King, is becoming more competitive following the ever-changing taste of consumers. With new entrants striving to stimulate demand, the story of the old rivals has continued to follow the narrative of the Biblical David and Goliath, mustering enough marketing budget to fight one of the most daring campaigns beyond the above-the-line media to outwit one another. Though analysts at Proshare said Guinness Extra Stout is the market leader, the inability of the brand to step up its campaign in the year despite brand presence, is making analysts to believe the brand may lose to close chaser, Nigerian Brewery’s Legend Extra Stout. ”It’s as interesting as it is instructive. Legend Stout is positioning itself as the competitor to Guinness, the premier stout in the country,”says a Proshare analyst. Despite its dominance of the market in the last 30 years, the premier stout might face some difficulties, according to sources, as sales decline where the old rival brand push its marketing cmpaign to get to the top spot. “To gain and maintain market share, the brands are engaging in repackaging and rebranding as well as innovative campaign themes to push themselves up as a dominant brand. Though observers believe that market followers, such as Castle Stout and Dark Ale, may have decided to enhance their brand equity in regional markets, Legend Extra Stout from the stable of Nigeria Breweries, is pushing its brand up for the market leadership position,” Brimstone Edward, an analyst at BrandPullPush, said. Last year, Guinness made one of the most impressive brand activations using the African Nations Cup in South Africa to drive its Fly With the Eagles. The Guinness Colourful World of More Concert was a major campaign for the Guinness Stout in the same year. The event lived up to expectation as one of the greatest musical concerts that connected consumers of the brand at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The footfall could be compared to fans rushing to the stadium to watch a match between the Super Eagles and the Samba Boys of Brazil. The show, which featured Flavour, Tiwa Savage, Chidinma, and P-square, was electrifying as guests danced and savoured the drink. The concert was aimed at heralding the new look of Nigeria’s oldest stout brand, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. The following day, Nigerians woke up to a Guinness-sponsored wrap around campaign for its repackaged stout brand in some newspapers, a toast to its market innovation designed to create customer satisfaction, though not without some criticisms. According to Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu, “At Guinness Nigeria, we are widely known for our consistency in delivering great brands with ground-breaking innovations and unique experiences to our consumers. ‘’The concert was a wonderful experience with the array of talents featured.” Earlier last year, the company sponsored 100 fans of the Super Eagles to South Africa to support the team at a victorious outing after 19 years of gracing the podium as the best football team in Africa. According to brand communication analysts, providing consumers with an unusual “freebees”, such as the Guinness Colourful World of More Concert and trips to South Africa are some novel ways brands connect with their consumers.

A lecturer in Mass Communication at Redeemers University, Mr. Myke Esiri, argues: “Such experiences bring brand confidence, great bonding and identification with the brand, and, ultimately, create brand loyalty. However, in continuously maintaining the consumers’ loyalty, the brand must be consistent in terms of quality and having set the standard must always create more innovate ideas to wow their consumers. Overall, most consumers will generally associate with brands that give them such unforgettable experiences.” Also, a Public Relations guru and former Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Jide Ologun, said: “When brands come up with such innovative ideas, it shows they care about their consumers. As an investor, your basic business is to get people to patronise you and when you show you care with unique experiences for your consumers you make a bold statement. It develops your business, giving back to your consumers.” However, since January, this year, Legend Extra Stout has been making efforts to outwit the market leader to reach the top. A few weeks ago, the brand handlers kicked off a campaign tagged “Black REALvolution” and the market was led into the warfare where Legend, a market challenger, is pushing for the top spot. A brand analyst, Toye Olatunji, wonders what Legend Extra Stout has in stock to get to top of the hitherto monolithic market chart. The activation was spiced with poetry, drama, celebrity performance as well as a 10-minute video that heralded Legend. The event also witnessed the unveiling of a new Legend bottle: Golden, sexy. Earlier, ad-

verts appeared on the worldwide web, saying there was “Black REALvolution” on in town. Also, there were outdoor messages driving the campaign around town akin to the “Three Orange Men” campaign that was used in the early 90s to relaunch Mirinda soft drink. The Sales Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Hubert Eze, described the new Staniol neck labelling of the Legend Stout bottle as a milestone in the lifespan of Legend Extra stout, adding that it is one of Nigeria’s most enduring brands. “What we just unveiled is the culmination of one of the most successful social media campaigns, which kept Nigerians guessing for weeks. We also had a tour bus traversing the length and breadth of Lagos, creating awareness about this unique packaging re-launch. We presented the BlackREALvolution as a movement and it is, indeed, a movement for consumers that yearn for more in terms of satisfaction and quality,” he said. Also, to capture the market, brand managers are deploying other ideas, such as REAL DEAL Consumer Promo, to enhance brand equity. “As we all know, the only constant thing in life is change. And for the change to be meaningful, it has to be an upgrade. Today, Nigeria’s fastest growing stout brand, Legend Extra Stout is being upgraded,” Eze said. He said the REAL DEAL National Consumer Promotion would fly lucky winners into Dubai in an all-expense paid weekend. “For the 2014 edition, Legend Extra Stout National Consumer Promotion is bigger and better. This time around, beginning from the f April 7 to June 7, Legend is taking 30 lucky consumers to Dubai to shop for gift items worth

‘To gain and maintain market share, the brands are engaging in repackaging and rebranding as well as innovative campaign themes to push themselves up as a dominant brand. Though observers believe that market followers, such as Castle Stout and Dark Ale, may have decided to enhance their brand equity in regional markets, Legend Extra Stout from the stable of Nigeria Breweries, is pushing its brand up for the market leadership position’

up to a million naira each in an all-expense– paid trip. The 30 lucky winners will emerge through series of transparent raffle draws that would be held at different locations across the country in the promotion,” Eze added. Meanwhile, the marketing campaign of Legend Extra stout may not become leader of the market category soon, according to the owner of the brand, but to explore innovative marketing approach to show quality. Its brand managers are training their preiscope on the future. The Marketing Director, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Walter Drenth said: “I don’t think we are responding to any competition; as stated earlier, innovation is in the DNA of Legend and we believe this will progressively push the brand to its deserved place at the top. A quick flash back about our support for Legend in the last few years will convince all that rather than responding to others, other players are following our footsteps. This explains why the brand has, in the past years, remained the fastest growing stout in the market. We have to keep growing; we want to give consumers the best by emphasising the quality of our brand. This is part of our strategies. And again, I want to reiterate this; it’s part of our ways of showcasing a premium quality.” Drenth added: “Basically, there were two things: change and innovation. Here in Nigeria Breweries, change and innovation are important to our success. Also, our consumers are open to change and often ask for it. In line with this phi1losophy, innovation is part of Legend’s growth strategy and we showcase this through the re-launch, which everybody cherished. Now, from the brand perspective, because this brand is quite exciting, the thinking behind the revolution was done to take our consumers through a journey in change. We conceived an idea that would give them something better and something they will never forget in a hurry.” He said the brewery is keen on moving forward from its second spot to the top position. “We want to move forward, we want to improve on how to serve our consumers better,” he further said. With the challenger stirring at competition and market followers limiting themselves to advertising and marketing becuase of the inability to face the big spenders, industry watchers are waiting to see how Guinness will respond to the onslaught.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Brandnews

Ad agencies are not poor, says Sobanjo T

HE Chairman, Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Sobanjo, said there are juicy accounts as against the picture painted by some of his colleagues that many ad agencies are not doing well. He said: “These are some of the things I don’t agree with. There will always be juicy accounts; they ask for guarantee and you deliver. Owners must eyeball the clients. Many agencies want to hang on to the brief and accept anything and when the procurement guy gets involved, he starts to cut down on margin.” But, the Chairman, Market Space, George Thorpe does think so. Speaking at a summit by Marketing Edge in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of Marketing Edge magazine, Thorpe said the notion of juicy accounts is a myth and should be challenged in the interest of the pro-

Stories by Adedeji Ademigbuji

fession. Thorpe, who is co-founder of MediaReach OMD, Tequila and TBWA Concept, said when

• Sobanjo

agencies win multinational accounts, it makes a major headline in the newspapers hence prompting the use of various adjectives, such as ‘lucrative’ and ‘juicy’, whereas the agency is

PR is dead, says expert

PUBLIC Relations (PR) practitioner and Head of Jericho Chambers, Robert Phillips, has declared the obituary of PR in his latest book, titled: Trust Me, PR is dead! A Visiting Professor at Cass Business School, London and co-author of Citizen Renaissance, Phillips has seen it all in the industry. He has been working at the leading edge of communications since co-founding Jackie Cooper Public Relations in 1987. A former President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Edelman, the world’s largest PR firm and Global Chair of its Public Engagement & Future Strategies group, for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) markets, Philips has been advising global corporations and writing, publishing and speaking on the future of communications for over 25 years. Last year, Philips co-founded Jericho Chambers and launched the Progressive Communications Network to promote the transformative agenda and to help

• Thorpe

business make real the ideas of radical honesty and radical transparency. Jericho Chambers speaks to communication through action, not words, and the fact that corporations would need to change their behaviours before they change their communication. However, his book appears to provide answers to the communications challenges. “We are all naked now – so we might as well look good,” said Dr Mohamed “Mo” Ibrahim, a Sudanese-British mobile communications entrepreneur and billionaire. Philips, who in 2012 quit his highly-paid and high-profile job at one of the world’s largest Public Relations (PR), said: “I no longer believed in either the business model or the purpose of the business I had chosen to profess. ‘’I felt like an imposter and a hypocrite and I knew it was time to quit. I had no plan in Novem-

ber 2012. I wanted to take time to think through the implications of the failing, tired model of Public Relations and what might replace it. And I wanted to write a book. What turned out to be this book,” he he added. “It was not just that the global financial crisis and/or the social digital revolution had changed the world irreversibly (both did); nor that clients were growing weary of big consultancy firms with cookie-cutter solutions, in endless sales mode, under-performing against expectations (they were). Instead, it struck me that the PR industry was about to sleepwalk over a cliff – and I had no desire to either lead or follow its decline,” he declared. Though he noted that the book is part personal, partly observational, partly survival manual peppered with anecdotes, interviews with business leaders and politicians and practical navigation tools. Trust Me, PR is Dead is an optimistic book.

SO&U staff win Miami ad scholarship

WO SO&U staff have won the Miami Ad School Scholarship Competition. One of the recipients, Ms. Adenike Akinbisehin, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the competition for creating a platform that “encourages and rewards creative excellence”. She explained that her decision to participate in the competition was to enable her “imagination roam, without having to consider limitations posed by cultural or production concerns”. Adenike also said the competition, which was “an exciting opportunity for growth, was fun and was, indeed, one of her proudest achievements”.

The second staff, Mr. Ifeanyi Mazi, said it took him four days before the ideas hit him. For him, “this is just the beginning; the best is yet to come”. The SO&U Creative Director, Mr. Anthony Ekun, commended the staff for their success.“I am not surprised by what Ifeanyi and Nike have achieved. Their creativity and passion is consistent and very inspiring. “At SO&U, we are confident that we will be seeing more of their achievements in the years to come.” Mazi won the keenly contested MAD Laifer’s category with Sandra Ebulu.

Also, another staff member of the agency at the Lagos Advertising and Idea Festival (LAIF) Awards, have been offered the opportunity to visit France for this year’s Cannes Award, which is the world’s biggest yearly awards show and festival for professionals in the creative communications industry. The agency’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Udeme Ufot, expressed delight, saying: ‘’Greatness can only be achieved with passion for excellence and willingness to move out of one’s comfort zone. Nike and Ifeanyi are shining examples of the achievements of commitment and hard work.”

Airtel introduces promo in Sweet Sensation outlets IRTEL Nigeria is partnering

Sweet Sensation to increase the value of the two brands. The deal is expected to make electronic airtime recharge available at every outlet of the fast food brand. The service, branded, ‘Refresh and recharge’ was unveiled at the Sweet Sensation, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos. It is coming two weeks after the

telecoms firm unveiled Airtel Premier, an exclusive club for elite customers. The Lagos Regional Operations Director for Airtel, Mr. Adebayo Osinowo, noted that Airtel conceived the promo for its customers in addition to the numerous convenient channels available for access to recharging their lines and purchasing data bundles. “The service, which is first of its

kind in telecoms products and services in Nigeria, was borne out of the need to give customers of Airtel Nigeria quality service as well as convenience and value. “Each time Airtel customers walk into any Sweet Sensation outlet to get their meals, they can also top up their lines with Airtel Easy Recharge, which is a convenient, timesaving and secure way to get airtime without scratching cards,” he added.

broke and yet busy working for the clients. He said to look financially healthy to lure more clients, an agency will buy a new car for the chief executives and paint the office. “When an agency wins new accounts, the marketing publications give a caption, such as juicy accounts and you see it in the CEO’s car, the office economy and the agency, on its part, a throw party, but nobody asks how the company is doing financially because people measure the success of the business with a 4wheel drive car, office architecture, rather than the balance sheet profit and loss account,” Thorpe said. He continued: “These GSM companies spend some money you can never imagine, but for us agencies, none of them qualify as juicy accounts. When you have a GSM account, you

will throw party, increase your workforce because of the demands of handling such accounts, but at the end of the year, you don’t have a good cash balance. I don’t think any of our clients qualify as juicy or lucrative account.” Also, the former Marketing Director of MTN, Mr. Bola Akingbade, argue that 50 per cent of advertising budget is a waste. He complained that media agencies often mismanage media budget. “I do not want to critique what Thorpe said. But often 50 per cent of an ad budget is a waste. People do not know how to manage a media budget.They are many blind media buying, but credit should go to Thorpe for bringing accountability to the media buying through media star which enhance accountability,” he added.

Chicken Republic unveils Easter promo

O ensure families enjoy Easter, Chicken Republic, the leading Chicken Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), has unveiled a special offer tagged Easter Pick ’n’ Mix. It combines some of Chicken Republic’s most popular products at a discount price. The firm’s Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Susan Rotimi said: “Easter Pick ‘n’ Mix is designed to offer extraor-

dinary satisfaction at great value.” The Chicken chain announced an impressive first quarter performance growth, a feat, according to the Chief Operating Officer, Kofi Abunu, is attributed to the company’s store revamp, product innovations, operational improvements, and aggressive customer service training programme.

‘Maggi Chicken best in aroma, taste’

HE Nestlé’s Category Busi ness Manager (Culinary), Guy Kellaway, has rated the new Maggi Chicken as the best in aroma, colour, taste and flavour. Kellaway spoke at the launch of the brand. He said the brand is available in cubes and tablets for families while in large 800g powder for caterers and restaurants. “Maggi is all about innovation, constantly pleasing consumers, always one-step ahead of the game. We are very excited; it’s a new renovated cube, it provides the best colour, aroma and taste to all of your dishes. We encourage everyone to try it.

Maggi is available in cube and tablet formats; it is already available for caterers and restaurants in large 800grams powder format,” he said. The Brand Manager, Maggi, Emeka Nwodo, said: “Maggi is the original seasoning and clearly the number one; we have high level of trust and that means that we are always bringing the best product into the market. “Maggi star cube, which is the original cube, is totally unique; made of fermented soya beans, iodine salt, fortified with iron, best colour and aroma of all chicken seasonings.”

‘Embrace Konica Minolta’

N expert has advised printers to embrace qual ity printing using Konica Minolta Digital Solutions to satisfy their customers. During an exhibition in Lagos, the Managing Director of Skysat (a printing technology solutions company), Izzat Debs, noted that since the introduction of Konica Digital Printing Solutions in the country three years ago, the firm has grown as a result of its offering which has enhanced the market share of the company. He said with the help of the product, his company has tre-

mendously improved the quality of print products from the stable of most commercial printers in the market. The Senior Area Manager, Mark Oldfield, explained that the firm was launching for the first time in Africa one of five devices of printing. The Minister of Federal Capital territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was represented by the Managing Director of Abuja Technology Free Zone, Hauwa Nabin, said the introduction of Konica Minolta has enhanced printing in the country.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS SHOPPING

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

Sms : 07035302326 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

The tempo of activities in and around most shopping places across Lagos has been on the increase this past week because of the Easter celebration, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN.

Shoppers storm malls for Easter

ASTER is here again! Celebrated every year by Christians world over in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Easter is the most significant holy season, which starts with the Holy Thursday, culminating in Good Friday, the day of crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Though a holy season, which offers Christians the opportunity to reflect on God’s fulfilment of his covenant through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christians across the world take time off to observe the celebration with pump and pageantry. It is indeed, a season of immense splendour, as people use the opportunity of the public holiday to meet their friends, relatives, and loved ones to relive cherished moments amid feasting. Alongside the usual get-together, merry-making, and social networking, most people find grocery shops and entertainment/fun spots interesting places to be. Expectedly, there has been upsurge of social and economic activities in and around shopping complexes and fun spots across the Lagos Metropolis. Several gift shops parade varieties for the celebration. Many high street shops visited by The Nation Shopping have an array of lovely Easter themed items such as the Easter gift basket, handmade or personalised gifts, photo gifts, beddings and bath, baby gifts, accessories, personalised jewelry, and Easter crafts, among others. On account of the upsurge in social and economic activities in and around these places in the last couple of weeks, there has been an upward adjustment of prices of consumer goods and other gift items. Already, there has been intense competition among shopping malls and gift shops. To these shopping outlets, festive periods such as Easter is an opportunity to make more money. In Lagos where most residents are already in Easter celebration mood since last week, human and vehicular traffic has picked up around most grocery shops, as shoppers storm the place despite the slight adjustment in price of items. A consumer, who was at The Palms in Lekki, Victoria Island, Lagos, Thomas Chike, said it is during festive periods such as Easter that businesses boom hence, retailers usually take advantage of the opportunity to make more money. He said, “Whenever it is time for one celebration or the other, I notice some changes in the prices of items, reduction in the quantity or changes in the quality of some consumer products. And I suspect it is just an avenue for these retailers to make more money” Chike’s wife who was with him at the mall, noted that shopping places are good at luring people during festivities. “Shops have one strategy or the other to entice customers. If they are not reducing prices, they are giving out free items or introducing innovations different from what customers are offered before the

• Leisure Mall,Surulere

• Ikeja City Mall

• Inside the Palms, Lekki

• Inside Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere

celebration.” she said. Indeed, increase in prices of commodities always pinch shoppers at every festive season, which is why to most consumers, prices of most needed goods are often increased for traders’ selfish gains. Secretary, Daleko Market, Mr. Biodun Amuwa, attributed the increase in prices of items during festivities such as Easter to the deplorable state of Nigerian roads, hike in transport fares, and pump price of fuel, among other things. He said that the high cost of items has nothing to do with festive seasons. “People only misunderstand things. Even when prices are stable but quantity is reduced, they still attribute it to the festive sea-

son. Traders can only sell what they buy,” he explained. Confirming this, a rice dealer at the market, Mr. Musiliu Gbadamosi told The Nation Shopping that the constant increase in the prices of rice is caused by high transport fare as well as the increase in demand by the people. According to him: “The increase as you have observed isn’t our making and we are not happy about it, because many people believe we normally increase the prices to make more gains during festivals. It is not so. We do not just increase prices of goods just like that; the problem is that during festive periods, there is increase in transport fares in conveying these goods from the north to Lagos.”

Mr. Gbadamosi also said the current scarcity of fuel in the country has not helped matters. “We all know the fuel crisis in this country and for us to cover the unit cost of these goods, including the transport fares, we have to increase their prices so that we don’t lose,” he emphasised. However, most Lagosians are not deterred by the high cost of food and gift items. The Nation Shopping found that there has not been any significant drop in patronage of these food and gift items, as shoppers say they have to feed and share gifts as part of the Easter celebration. Some food stuff traders confirmed that business is booming and more people are coming for

‘Expectedly, there has been upsurge of social and economic activities in and around shopping complexes and fun spots across the Lagos Metropolis. Several gift shops parade varieties for the celebration. Many high street shops visited by The Nation Shopping have an array of lovely Easter themed items’

foodstuffs as they can’t do without it, whether during festivity or not. To get round the issue of high cost, Mr. Tola Odusote, a Consumer Behaviour Specialist, advised that consumers should prioritise their needs and make the best purchase decisions within their limited resources during festive periods. He advised that people should operate within the limit of their resources to avoid cash crunch after the celebration when money is always scarce to attend to family needs. Some shopping outlets, as part of effort to cushion the effect of the price adjustments and attract more customers, also operate discount sales, especially during festive periods such as Easter. While this may encourage more patronage particularly by customers in the lower rung of the economic ladder, the same cannot be said of high networth customers, who, despite the current hike in prices, are ready to make big purchases.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

•Irikefe

SECURITY THREA TS THREATS

TEARS, ANGER

A security expert, Benjamin Irikefe, and Secretary, Board of Trustees of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency, believes the renewed security threat in the Niger Delta is the handiwork of foreigners.

ONE of the victims of the Immigration job stampede in Port Harcourt was buried amid tears and anger by his family, friends and neigbours who believe the government has been insensitive.

•PAGE 34

•The late Okezie

NEWS ANALYSIS

Rivers’ deepening judiciary crisis

•Continued on page 32

PAGE 29

AKWA IBOM THE Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Eastern Zone, Sir Victor Etefia, explains why petrol is sold at above approved price in Akwa Ibom State. •Etefia

•PAGE 33

‘

We didn’t have shoes. Where would you get it from? Both in primary and secondary schools, we went to school without shoes. This is because our parents were not well to do. Both here at St. Stephen Primary School and St. Michaels Primary Schools at Oloibiri, we trekked to school without shoes. But at a time in our secondary school at Imiringi, we managed to have one pair of sandals.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

HE immediate past Chief Judge of Rivers state, Justice Iche Ndu, retired on August 19, last year. The 22-member National Judicial Council (NJC), on July 17 of the same year, recommended to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Justice Daisy Okocha, who hails from Rukpakwolusi, Rumuokoro in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area for appointment as Ndu’s successor. On August 20, Amaechi appointed Justice Peter Agumagu, an Ikwerre from Elele-Alimini, as the Acting Chief Judge. A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA, 20002002), O. C. J. Okocha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and an NJC member, who is a Port Harcourtlawyer, is the immediate younger brother of Daisy and is pushing for her appointment. The NJC wrote to each of the judges in the Rivers State Judiciary not to accept from Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), their appointment as acting chief judge, to avoid being sanctioned. In spite of NJC’s recommendation of Justice Daisy for appointment as Rivers chief judge, she was rejected by Amaechi, who opted for the most senior judge of the Rivers judiciary (Agumagu). Agumagu, the then President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal, was cleared on March 18, through the judgment of Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt. He (Agumagu) was immediately screened by the members of the Rivers House of Assembly and inaugurated at the Government House, Port Harcourt on the same day by Amaechi. The new Rivers chief judge was on March 26 suspended as a judge by the NJC. The council's Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye, in Abuja on March 27, declared that the NJC would not recognise him as the chief judge and would not deal with him in that capacity. NJC, according to Oye, also issued Agumagu a query, directing him to explain in writing, within four days, why he should not be removed from office as a judge for his alleged failure to abide by his oath of office to uphold the Constitution and Laws of the country, especially for going against Section 271 (1) of the Constitution.

•PAGE 32

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

‘ Sister, friend relive

•Dr Jonathan

Jonathan’s childhood If you are expecting to see a flamboyant woman with all the trappings that usually go with having a very influential relative in power, you might be disappointed when you meet Madam Obebtiatein Jonathan. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s biological sister may pass for the woman next door. There are no overzealous bodyguards, no exaggerated hairdos and headgears or clothes. She is simply down-to-earth and has a simple lifestyle. Madam Jonathan is a teacher at the Community Secondary School, Otuoke in Bayelsa State. EVELYN OSAGIE met her. She recounts her childhood with the President. The Reporter also spoke with his childhood friend, His Royal Highness Augustus Elliot Osomu. The monarch of Imiringi Kingdom under Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State gives rare insight into the man Jonathan. SEE STORY ON PAGE 30

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

We truly had no shoes, President Goodluck Jonathan’s sister, Madam Obebtiatein Jonathan, spoke with EVELYN OSAGIE on his brother.

OW do you feel having your brother as the Number One Citizen of Nigeria? I am his biological sister. It is just me and my brother in the family. Our father, Lawrence Ebele Jonathan, is late but our mother, Mrs Eunice Ayi Jonathan (nee Afem), is still alive. I am afraid. In short, I am scared for my brother. Scared! Why? One would have thought that you would be happy with all the fame and fortune that go with it? Happy? Fame, which kind fame? Fortunes, which fortunes? I am scared for my brother; you are talking of fame and fortunes. It makes me scared and worried all day long. I am scared for my brother’s life, especially with the raging of this Boko Haram people. They should leave my brother alone and let him do his job. How was Mr President like when he was a child? He used to be very slim and small (laughs). He has always been quiet. Politics has made him even more outspoken but he used to be very quiet. And he likes smiling and doesn’t like trouble. If you look for his trouble, he would rather walk away. I am the jovial and outspoken one. He has always been very intelligent and studious. He likes to observe things. He loves reading. No be today he start to dey read book o. And he has been like that ever since. One thing my brother does not like is cheating and lying. He is a straightforward person. His “yes” is “yes” and his “no” is “no”. Has he always possessed leadership qualities from a young age? Yes. Like I said, he doesn’t talk anyhow and he likes to observe. From a very young age, he has always led his peers. He has paid his dues. As a young man, he was the leader of the youths. He was one of the best students in his days. What were some of the values that your parents taught you that helped to mould you and Mr President into who you both are? Our parents were not rich but we were not beggars. Our father was a disciplinarian who taught us to tell the truth all the time. We were taught to be contented with whatever we had. You dare not bring somebody else’s thing to the house. Our father influenced us a lot. He

did not allow the situation to stop us from going to school. That upbringing helped to set us on the right path. We were determined to be somebody in life. Today, we thank God, he is who he is and I am a teacher; I teach in a secondary school. Is it true that when he was small he went to school with no shoes on? Yes o. We didn’t have shoes. Where would you get it from? Both in primary and secondary schools, we went to school without shoes. This is because our parents were not well to do. Both here at St. Stephen Primary School and St. Michaels Primary Schools at Oloibiri, we trekked to school without shoes. But at a time in our secondary school at Imiringi, we managed to have one pair of sandals. But we kept and maintained that sandal very well with care because if it cut quickly, then, you would be in trouble in the hands of our father. So to stay out of trouble and keep his instruction, if we want to go to school, we would remove it and move with barefoot so that it would not cut. We carried our books in hand because we could not afford school bag. That seems rather tough. How was growing up like for you? It was tough then. Things were very tough. We suffered a lot when we were young because our parents were very poor. Our father was a canoe/wood carver while our mother was farmer. But like I said our parents tried their best to see that we did not beg. They love us so much. Although our mother didn’t have money to sell, she never allowed us to stay hungry. She was a true mother who cared for her family. She struggled to bring food for the family. She would go to the farm to bring plantain, cocoyam, and sugarcane and at times she also sells the foodstuff from her farm in the village locally to help the family. And our father goes to carve canoe in the bush. Whenever we need something in school, we would come and tell our father. He would always warn that: “You know that I am a poor man. If your teacher asks that you should bring anything in school fees, uniform or anything, always inform me on time. And if you inform me on time and the ca-

•The secondary school Jonathan attended in Otuoke

•Ms Jonathan

Jonathan’s childhood, by friend

His Royal Highness Augustus Elliot Osomu, who is President Goodluck Jonathan’s childhood friend, spoke with EVELYN OSAGIE on the president’s childhood.

OU seem to be close with Mr President. We are both from the same community. Mr President and I grew up as little children at Otuoke before l later went to my paternal home at Imiringi. Maternally, I am from Otuoke. That is why I stood in for the Obanema of Otuoke, HRH Lot Ogiasa, Oke X at the celebration of Arrow of God held in the town. When we were small, President Jonathan used to be very quiet; didn’t talk much. He is the reserved type; very calm but very brilliant. He does more of smiling than laughing. He has always been someone who likes education so much. He schooled at St Stephens Primary School here, which is now the State

School in Otuoke, which I also attended briefly before leaving for Christ the King State School, Imiringi. From there, I graduated into secondary school (Mater Dei High School, Imiringi) where we met again. While he was in Year Two, I was in Year One. He graduated in 1975; I in 1976. Then from there, we went to Port Harcourt, where we also often met in the Ogbia Youths meetings, which was under the socio-cultural organisation of the entire Ogbia people. And he loves me so much and I love him too. I tell you one thing, he is a great guy. When I was the Secretary-General of the Ogbia People, anytime we were forming committees, I liked putting him in the committees that I be-

longed because he is intelligent and matured in his way of doing things; and the love and relationship that have been subsisting between us. There is this joke that anybody he deputises for either gets kicks out of office or kicks the bucket. Funny as it sounds was that a trait also seen in his childhood? No of course! When he was with Alamieyeseigha, nobody ever thought Alamieyeseigha could be impeached. What has happened to him thus far is destiny for you. When God wants to place you in a strategic position, He would pave way for you. But I must say he has always had that leadership quality from when we were young. He started actively playing leadership role from secondary

noe is not ready to be sold, I will go and carve mortal pestle. If I quickly carve the mortal pestle, I will sell it quickly and give you the

money you need.” And he kept to that promise, so we did not lack things in school too much. But no money for sandals, we went on

barefoot. But that did not keep us from going forward. Did you ever know that your brother would one day be the

2015: Ijaw governor not negotiable in Delta, says retired General

HE Ijaw ethnic group in Delta State has said that one of their kinsmen must become the governor of the state in 2015. Brig Gen Cletus Emein (Rtd), former Military Administrator of Niger state, Interim Chairman of the Delta Izon Congress (DIC), said zoning along senatorial rather than ethnic lines was unacceptable to his kinsmen. The DIC chair, in a communique issued by the group at the weekend, said the governorship of the state must rotate among the five ethnic groups of Urhobo, Ndokwa, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko in the interest of equity, peace and unity of the state. He said: “The Izons of Delta State must strive assiduously, in tandem with democratic principles, collaborate and consult with the other ethnic nationalities of the state to produce the Executive Governor Delta State in 2015 “It was also resolved that no Izon citizen in Delta State

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

should aspire to any lesser political office other than the Executive Governor of the state. This adopted resolution remains the official position of the Izon of Delta State,” it added. The group described Delta State as a microscopic representation of the Nigerian State in view of its ethnic diversity, social-economic and political contribution to the nation’s wellbeing. Nevertheless, it lamented that key offices of the governor, deputy governor and secretary to the state government have continued to elude their kinsmen so much so that “our geographical identity may be questioned as whether the Izons are part of Delta State.” The Nation gathered that the position of the Ijaw group could

truncate the aspiration of the Igbo-speaking people of Delta North Senatorial District who are already warming up to succeed incumbent, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as governor in 2015. DIC stance may also pitch the Ijaws of the state against Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, who has reportedly pencilled a female aspirant from Delta North Senatorial District as Uduaghan’s successor. The Igbo-speaking parts of the state believes it is their turns to produce the next governor of the state, arguing that other areas have had their turn. Candidates, such as business mogul, Mr Peter Okocha, are already putting finishing touches to their campaign machinery ahead of the elections. It remains to be seen how it all plays out.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

, says Jonathan’s sister

•Jonathan's primary school in Otuoke

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

school where he was a Class Prefect in Year Three, was Secretary to the

School Food Committee, Masterson House Prefect and later Chairman of the Committee of Prefects. Looking at his leadership history from then till now one could see he has got a great destiny from the very beginning. He worked briefly in the Customs Service, then went back to the university and I think he taught at the College of Education before he moved to the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) that metamorphosed into NNDC. From where he was lured into politics where Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha then took him as his running mate and then they won the election and he automatically became the Deputy Governor. From Deputy Governor, through the impeachment of Alamieyeseigha, he became Governor, then he re-contested and won but was lifted up to be a running mate to Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory where he became Vice President, from where because of the predicament of the President then, he became acting President. Thereafter, he contested and became the president of this great country.

And all those were destiny at work. There is the joke about how the name one bears could rule over ones destiny. Do you know when he was small; his father called him Azikiwe, after the Great Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Zik of Africa. And he has manifested that name. Like I’ve said he is a great guy. And Nigeria can benefit from him immensely if they would allow peace to reign. He is someone that has sympathy for people that are suffering. But I am praying that this Boko Haram insurgency subsides. And let Nigerians not be acrimonious against him but allow peace to reign. There and then, Nigeria will enjoy the dividends of democracy. Has his becoming the President been good for Otuoke? Yes. What is so fundamental and paramount is the establishment of the Federal University in Otuoke because it is for life and will develop a lot of people. In fact, it has brought a lot of development to the town and environs. Because of the university, property development is growing on rapidly. People are building and others are selling. He is also helping to train

a lot of young men and encouraging them. In addition, he has given the community a comprehensive health centre to take care of the health of the members of the community and the environs. He is also setting up a mega water system to distribute to nearby communities. But there is a lot more that people are expecting from him. Like what? We are still expecting a lot from him because the wealth of this nation was first extracted in large commercial quantity from this region at Oloibiri oilfield. For instance, more development should be done in the region. Take Otuoke, for instance, it should be a modern city – a presidential city. But he always likes to serve people. He keeps his own at the background while he projects and builds others. That does not mean that he has forgotten his people. I am sure he has his own plans for his people. In your opinion, what should be done curb militancy in the region? In my view, it is borne out of anger over over-exploitation of the people for several years with the people living in squalor. When youths are jobless, what do you think would hap-

pen? They will go into robbery and violence – militancy. When and if these issues are properly addressed and the youths are engaged in school, trainings and jobs, the energies would be channelled into something constructive. They should direct them properly, just as you have children in the house. Let the government have a deliberate focus on how to sustain the youths of this country, not just in the region by creating opportunities for employments; give them technical trainings and education that will enable them be self-reliant and become entrepreneurs. At the same time, the government should build infrastructure within these areas to enhance the smooth running of the projects. They should build infrastructures. I am not happy that the whole of Ogbia Local Government Area, the Presidential LGA, for almost a year, there has been no light but total black out. Bridges have collapsed for over a year and for almost a year, the bridges have not been reconstructed and the people are suffering. Our major road that leads to Yenagoa has collapsed due to the 2012 flood.

President of Nigeria? Who would have known that? It is the Lord’s doing. But he has always had the leadership quality like

I have said. He is always on top in his class. So how does it feel today that your brother is Mr President?

I thank God. Everything is the work of God. But like I said I am also scared and afraid for my brother. I pray for him always that

God would keep him alive for me. You know have only got each other. Do you have a word for those with a humble background like

yours? Don’t give up, believe in God and pray; things will change one day for good.

•HRH Osomu

On riverine governor we stand, says Eastern Delta People’s Association

HE Eastern Delta People’s Association (EDPA) has said the next governor of Rivers State must be from the riverine area. The association, in an advertorial in this newspaper, also rejected the alleged endorsement of Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike by First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan. The group, through a statement by Elder L.F. Jumbo and Prof O. Georgewill, said: “The headline on the online publication Information Nigeria of April 7, 2014 reads: I’m solidly behind Wike for Rivers Guber, says First Lady. “The statement was apparently released by Ayo Adewuyi, her Media Assistant in responses to an accusation that the First Lady was scheming to install her preferred candidate as governors in Bauchi, Bayelsa, and Rivers States in 20115. “The statement begins with a sensible denial that ‘the First Lady does not meddle in the affairs and selection process of the ruling party, the PDP’. “Unfortunately, the statement veers away from that dignified and

•Rejects Dame Jonatna’s endorsement of Wike sober note into an equivocal cesspit. Party of the statement reads as follows: ‘In the case of Rivers State, the First Lady wishes to state categorically that the Supervising Minister of education, Chief Nyesom Wike is the leader of the PDP in Rivers state…. It is therefore mischievous to insinuate that Mrs. Jonathan is working to ensure that the governorship candidate comes from of the riverine areas of Rivers State which may not be where the people are going… Mrs. Jonathan has not withdrawn her support for Chief Wike at any time… As far as the First Lady is concerned, there is no shaking in Rivers State.” “The inference to be drawn from the statement is that Dame Patience Jonathan is afraid of Chief Nyesom Wike. This portends an insult against the collective intelligence and sensibilities of Rivers people. “Rivers State is a multi-ethnic state. Despite this plurality Rivers people have coexisted in remarkable peace and harmony because of their sense of equity and fairness. Even the people of Nigeria are

borrowing a leaf from the Rivers example. In 1999, Nigerians decided on equitable grounds to elect Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from the South-West as President, Subsequently, the same sense of equity inspired Nigerians to elect Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a South-South Indigene as President as a means of co-opting the Niger Delta on the governance platform. The Rivers model that Nigeria has copied is in danger of being jettisoned. Chief Nyesom Wike is an Ikwerre man. The Right Honourable Chibuike Amaechi who is currently Governor of Rivers State is also an Ikwerre man. Would equity and fairness be promoted in Rivers State if another Ikwerre man takes over the governorship of the State from an Ikwerre man? “It is imperative for everyone to abandon selfish political ambition or immediate gain in favour of what is just in a plural society. Injustice is an invitation to anarchy.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Tears, anger as victim of stampede is buried

One of the five victims who died in Port Harcourt during the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) employment disaster, Sunday Okezie Kalu, was recently buried in Ohafia, Abia state. PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA, who witnessed the ceremony, reports.

T was all tears, pains, sorrows, emotions and angers when the remains of a Micro Biologist, Mr Sunday Okezie Kalu, one of the victims of Port Harcourt National Immigration Service employment stampede, was brought from Port Harcourt to his home town in OkonAku Community, Ohafia Local Government of Abia State for burial, last weekend. The ceremony marked the end of the young man’s five fruitless years search for a job. His corpse left the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt by 6am on that fateful Saturday and was received by his grieving parents, relatives and youths of Okon-Aku Community in Ohafia by 12pm. The white ambulance carrying the remains of late Sunday was escorted to his home town by his weeping friends from Port Harcourt, who later handed the corpse over to the youths of Ohafia who then took it round the community in a final rite. When his body finally got to his family’s house, his 48-year-old mother Mrs Justina Okezie Kalu, who collapsed and was later hospitalized for days when she heard the news of her son’s death, collapsed again and almost gave up the ghost. His father took in the event with a stoic equanimity and speechlessly watched his son’s corpse being carried out from the ambulance. The only sign of the pains he felt was his two trembling leg. He nodded his head intermittently as if willing his body to come to terms with the pains that

flowed from his broken heart. The family and grieving community expressed their annoyance with the NIS by refusing the reading of a condolence message sent by Rivers State command of NIS. The message, which was signed by the Comptroller General was rejected by the community and the relatives of the deceased. The youths of the community said it was unnecessary as it would not bring back their kinsman. The mourners struggled with sorrow as they commenced the burial of a promising youth who they had touted as one of the futures of the community. Their anger became even more intense when they realised that the condolence letter was not accompanied by any official of the NIS. The grieving mother said she warned her son not to attend the recruitment exercise, but she gave in when he explained that he had to get a job to secure his future. Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Kalu, the father of the decease, a security guard with Abia State Primary School Board, said nobody should blame his son. Rather, he said the blame lies squarely with the organisers of the shoddy recruitment exercise for playing politics with human lives. He said the handling of the exercise showed clearly the organisers’ disregard for young Nigerians who responded to their requests. Kalu, 55, said: ‘’Some persons are saying he shouldn’t have apply for

tary of the NJC, Danladi Haliru, was being used as a point-man by OCJ to do dirty jobs in the council, thereby attempting to force Daisy on Rivers people as the substantive chief judge. The ally of the NGF chairman stated that no amount of pressure from the NJC would make Daisy to become the chief judge of Rivers state. He noted that Daisy was rejected at every point her name came up for appointment as Rivers chief judge, maintaining that lobbying by some persons in the NJC would never make her the state's chief judge. Ezekiel-Amadi said: "Daisy Okocha will not be Chief Judge of Rivers State. Not during the administration of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Maybe the Governor after Rt. Hon. Amaechi, in May next year, will appoint her, but under Governor Amaechi, she will not be Chief Judge. "It is not an issue of anyone being afraid of her. It is that nobody wants her. She is being rejected everywhere. The four branches of the NBA in Rivers State, that time, in making their recommendations to the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, rejected Daisy Okocha. "I challenge them to make public,

‘

Some persons are saying he shouldn’t have apply for the job but what do they want him do. As a graduate I think his decision to apply for the immigration job was in the best interest of the family. My son was an academic hero from primary to tertiary education •The late Okezie

•Mr Okezie Kalu and wife Justina

the job but what do they want him do. As a graduate I think his decision to apply for the immigration job was in the best interest of the family. My son was an academic hero from primary to tertiary education. He studied Micro Biology at Ebonyi State

Rivers deepening judiciary crisis HE Rivers State Government, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, however, insisted that Agumagu remains the substantive chief judge of the state, describing his purported suspension by the NJC as illegal and unconstitutional. The Rivers chief judge also filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, to challenge his suspension by the NJC. It must be borne in mind that when the NJC recommended to President Goodluck Jonathan for suspension, a former President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami, it was immediately effected, but when the council later asked President Jonathan to reinstate Salami, the advice was ignored, until the retirement of the eminent jurist, while the NJC now wants to force Daisy on Amaechi. A clear case of double standard. An ally of the Rivers governor, Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, declared that Daisy would never be the chief judge of Rivers state, except if another governor would appoint her. Ezekiel-Amadi, a lawyer, who is also Rivers Commissioner for Land and Survey, declared that the Secre-

•the casket being lifted

•being recieved by the youths

the report written by the immediate past Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iche Ndu, to the NJC. In his report, he (Ndu) too rejected Daisy Okocha. OCJ Okocha and his cohorts still went ahead to put her name forward through the back door. "Danladi Haliru, the Secretary of the NJC, is OCJ Okocha's classmate, not call-mate. The Secretary of the NJC is OCJ Okocha's point-man. That is the man he is using to do his dirty jobs in the NJC." OCJ, a former Rivers AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice (1990-1992) and the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education in Nigeria, however, insisted that the allegations levelled against him were absolute balderdash, hogwash, nonsense, falsehood and totally irresponsible. The former president of the NBA (OCJ), who is a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, said: “As at the time when in July 2013, NJC met and took a decision to recommend Justice Okocha (Daisy) over Justice Agumagu, I was not in the meeting. I had to excuse myself. “Everybody knows that in keeping with due process, if you have a personal interest in a matter and of course, the personal relationship is

‘

University and graduated in 2008, he served this great country during his one year compulsory National Youths Service Scheme (NYSC) and did his primary assignment at Baptist Grammar School, Otu-Itesiwaju Local Government of Oyo State.

“The painful part of the death of my son is that I suffered as security man to train him from primary school to university level and now that I am anxiously waiting the day I will eat the fruit of my labour everything has turned upside down.

It is unfortunate that I am to bury my son instead of the other way round. My son’s death has made me lose hope in anything that has to do with Federal Government. I don’t believe the Federal Government anymore even as they said they will compensate

the deceased family with jobs, as for me, it is just a story I don’t believe them.” Narrating how the family received the news of Sunday’s death, Mrs. Kalu, 48, said the last time she saw her late son was on Friday evening, a

enough to indicate that OCJ Okocha must have a personal interest. So, I left the room. “The allegation by the Rivers State Government that the NJC has been hijacked by political jobbers for selfish interest is absolute balderdash, hogwash and absolute nonsense. NJC is constituted by the most eminent judges in this country. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, (Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar) is the Chairman. “If they are accusing the entire NJC of being politicised, let them point to the particular member that is believed is a politician or being influenced by politicians. It is absolute falsehood and a totally irresponsible statement. “Agumagu is now being investigated. While his investigation is going on, it is only fair and right that he has to step aside, to allow for due process to be carried out. Agumagu is being investigated for what the NJC considers to be a bridge of his oath of office and a bridge of the code of conduct of a judicial officer. He has been asked to step aside and I hope that at the end of the day, we will all hear the outcome.” A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nimi Walson-Jack, who is also a former National Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), insisted that the judge to be appointed as Rivers chief judge must be recommended by the NJC, main-

taining that Agumagu was not recommended by the council, before his inauguration by Amaechi. A Lagos lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, however, described Agumagu’s suspension by the NJC as judicial lawlessness, while calling on the council to withdraw the query it issued to him, insisting that the action of the NJC was offensive, uncalled for and an attempt to intimidate, stressing that a body of eminent jurists should not be behaving like that. Aturu said: “The NJC has not appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, but now using its weight to suspend Agumagu, issuing him query. The NJC is abusing its office. That is trampling on the rule of law. “It is wrong, because if the NJC does that, it is going to create a reign of judicial anarchy and lawlessness. It is very disappointing. All you require to become a chief judge is just to be a practising lawyer for ten years.” The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, however, stated that the NJC acted in error over Agumagu’s suspension, which he said would not stand, in view of the pending suit at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, filed by Daisy. Chief of Staff also noted that the NJC should have waited for the decision of the appellate court, accusing the council of taking sides.

The Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, described the NJC as clearly partisan, self-interested and self serving, over its suspension of Agumagu, while also accusing the council of highhandedness and intolerance, unacceptable for a body charged with the responsibility of protecting the integrity of the judiciary. Semenitari declared that the NJC had chosen the path of unconstitutional bullying, lawlessness and injudicious racketeering, while accusing OCJ of influencing the council’s decision. Amaechi, while inaugurating Agumagu as the substantive chief judge, urged him to be dedicated in the official discharge of his responsibilities. Recalling that Agumagu was inaugurated after series of legal battles, the NGF chairman pleaded with the new chief judge to see beyond the contest and be fair and treat everybody equally. The Rivers governor said: “My Lord, let me congratulate you on this your appointment. The actual phrase would be ‘at last’ and to say that I was a bit worried with the way people in the judiciary fought over who would be the Chief Judge of the State. “I was more than worried when there was an attempt to take away the power of the governor to ap-

point a Chief Judge and rest it somewhere else and I was wondering if there was no need to ask for the interpretation of the constitution. “Today (March 18), we recognise and accept in total, the judgement of the Federal High Court of Nigeria and we say to you congratulations. “Do not forget that in every office in Nigeria, virtually every office in Nigeria, not even a bishop is appointed without a contest. So, I hope that you would see what happened as a mere contest and treat everybody equally and be fair and ensure that you remain as dedicated as you have always been”. Amaechi also lauded the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for ensuring that justice was done on the matter. Agumagu promised to ensure that justice delivery would be given its pride of place. The new chief judge said: “My agenda for the judiciary is to see a better judiciary, to make sure that justice delivery is given the pride of place and also to make sure that all staff of the judiciary get the best during my tenure.” Many Rivers stakeholders, especially the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the suspension of Agumagu as the latest action in the face-off involving President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Dame Patience;

day before the evil recruitment exercise. “He visited me in Port Harcourt to tell me that he was going to be part of the immigration job recruitment. But my spirit did not accept such movement so I told him to forget about the recruitment. But he said he was going to be fine. He also made me to understand that he was not comfortable living as graduate without job.” She added that when she received a call telling her that her son was among those who died at Eleekahia Stadium’s stampede, she became comatose. “Somebody told me on phone that my son was among of those who died, that was the only thing I could remember, because I was unconscious and hospitalized for days. Those who organize this recruitment are wicked and heartless.” Elders, chiefs and youths of the community wept uncontrollably as lambasted the Federal government’s insensitivity in setting up a committee for fresh recruitment. They argued that setting up a new committee for fresh recruitment when victims’ families are yet to bury their loved ones is unnecessary. They also said it is disrespectful to young and vibrant youths who lost their lives in the cause of shoddy recruitment exercise organised by Nigeria Immigration Service. “Nobody is stopping the Federal government from setting up a new committee to organise a fresh recruitment. What my people are saying is that it is bad to do that now when those who died on the last recruitment exercise are yet to be buried. We will protest if they go ahead to do that,” Chief Joseph Madueme said. Chief Lucky Chukwuma, another elderly man in the community, said: “The Federal government is not serious, look, we don’t expect any recruitment now until after one year. This is to respect those applicants who sacrifice their lives because of this job. Any further recruitment at this

Amaechi and the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, a Rivers indigene, who is scheming to be governor in 2015. Shortly after Agumagu’s inauguration, the APC, Rivers chapter, asked all the persons who were opposed to his appointment to sheathe their swords. Rivers APC, through its Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said: “What Hon. Justice Agumagu needs is not further distraction, but the cooperation of all, to ensure speedy and effective dispensation of justice in Rivers State. Those opposed to his appointment should respect the right of the Rivers governor to appoint a Chief Judge for the state. Rivers attorney-general further said: “The position of the NJC, which is very unfortunate, gives equally unfortunate and misleading impression to the public that the appointment of the Hon. Justice PNC Agumagu as Chief Judge of Rivers State occurred in nibubus (from the skies) and with no contribution of the NJC to it or that there is no history behind it.” Boms also stated that Agumagu was senior at the Bar and on the Bench to Okocha, adding that what the NJC did to Agumagu was an usurpation of judicial powers and functions.

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE ‘Why petrol is expensive in Akwa Ibom’ Sir Victor Etefia is the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Eastern Zone. In this interview with KAZEEM IBRAHYM, he explains the crisis rocking IPMAN.

PMAN as a body has been grappling with leadership crisis, can you give an insight into some of these issues? Yes. As you know, IPMAN as a body has been grappling with leadership crisis since inception. In retrospect, the perennial crises that rocked the Association could be traced to grave lapses in the 1983 constitution of IPMAN that had no provisions at all for some of the thorny issues that plagued the association, thus engendering mismanagement, leadership crisis, usurpation of powers and bickering amongst members. Consequently, in 1997 members converged to resolve these lingering issues; this necessitated the amendment of the 1983 IPMAN constitution with the objective of making it robust enough to resolve many of the pressing issues that confronted IPMAN as a body. The crises became very severe and almost heated the system, when the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued an order restraining the NNPC from supplying the Aminu group with IPMAN products. You know IPMAN products are being supplied to NIPCO. Who are the legitimate owners of NIPCO? It is the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). The documents are there. We bought the property from Lever Brothers in 2000. Since, association registered in part C of the Corporate Affairs Commission cannot operate as a business venture or as a Limited Liability Company, we decided to incorporate a Limited Liability Company that will serve as a commercial arm of the association, known as NIPCO. Sir, let’s look at the court judgment that re-affirmed Chief Obasi Lawson as the National President of IPMAN and the future of IPMAN. Yes, you see, like I said earlier, IPMAN has a culture of transparency and the rule of law. Obasi did not emerge through elections or appointment. He emerged following the succession structure of the association. He was the deputy to Alhaji Musa Felande and by the constitution he should have emerged in 2014 as the President. But because of the distortion, Obasi now went to court, in fact we all went to court. If you check the documents you will notice that over 14 marketers were in court from different parts of the country from the mid west, north east, north-west and south east. We went to court not Obasi and asked the Court to reconcile the present structure in the so called amendment of the constitution with what was in place from 1997 -2009. At the end of the proceedings, his Lordship came to the conclusion that something was wrong. That he could find nowhere where Aminu Abdulkadir could have succeeded as National President. Now, what this present IPMAN administration symbolises is that we are going to ensure that petroleum products which have allocated to IPMAN but have hitherto been diverted to NIPCO alone will go to other locations as well. What is your advice to other marketers? My candid advice to other marketers is that we should rally around and celebrate the change that has come after many years of struggle. This is a struggle that has been going on for the past 10 years. If God has answered our prayers, God has appreciated our sufferings; marketers should embrace this change and allow Obasi Lawson’s administration to stand. Since this administration will uphold transparency, listen to the yearnings and aspirations of members of the Association, and willing to reestablish the ideals and purpose of an Association. Let’s come back to Akwa Ibom State. Why is still difficult for marketers to sell PMS at government approved price of N97 per litre? That is exactly the issue! Which location feeds Akwa Ibom? Is it not Calabar and Port Harcourt refinery depot? So, if we have 30 metric litres of petrol to be circulated in Nigeria, why can’t 5 or let’s even say 3 metric tons come to Calabar? That will be about 3 million litres for IPMAN members, and we will have access to the products. We will lift the product on a weekly basis. In fact, I will be the one asking you to come and buy and not you going around looking for the products. The problem is the supply system. People have disrupted the flow of quantity that is supposed to go to IPMAN members, divert and sell it to non members of the association. Now, in Calabar depot, we have facilities that can take only about 3 to 5 metric tons, which can serve Cross River, Akwa Ibom and parts of Gombe, Suleja. As we speak, bridging is coming in from Enugu and Aba to bridge in Calabar depot. So where the demand is higher than supply, then obviously, there will be scarcity. Now, the IPMAN product that is supposed to augment the NNPC product at Calabar depot is nowhere to be found. It has been confiscated by 6 or 7 persons and deposited at NIPCO in Lagos. That is the problem. So, the products sold in Akwa Ibom State are obtained purely from secondary sources not primary sources. There are two major sources of petroleum products, primary and secondary sources. The secondary source is a private tank farm, while the primary source is the NNPC depot. When the NNPC depot has no capacity to supply, you have no other option other than to go to the secondary source, which is the private tank farm. And if you buy it, like today, we bought it at N103, you will have to do the processes, that is, loading, transportation, offloading. By the time it gets to your station, it stands at N115 then you have to sell it at N120. Does it make any meaning? It doesn’t! So 95% of products sold in Akwa Ibom come from the secondary sources, the private tank farms. That is why you have the price differential.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT INTERVIEW

‘Foreigners behind renewed security threats A security expert, Benjamin Irikefe, was a member of the Presidential Panel on National Security (between 2001 and 2002) and also a member of the first Presidential Retreat on National Security held in August 2001. Irikefe, now the Secretary, Board of Trustees of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency (NACOJSP), spoke with ERIC IKHILAE.

HERE is growing threat of renewed insurgent activities in the Niger Delta where the president hails from. Some groups have threatened to blow up some pipe lines, and people are saying that if the president cannot ensure security in his region there is guaranty that he will win the battle at the national level. What do you think? I will tell you categorically that militancy, in its true sense, has ended in the Niger Delta. The amnesty programme being coordinated by Kingsley Kuku has performed excellently well. What you have there now are just essentially criminal elements. Everybody can go to the cyber space and claim to be all kinds of things. Those who were doing the insurgency were agitators, they were not criminals. They were not faceless, and as soon as the Federal Government declared amnesty, they came out in the open and said ‘these are our grievances.’ And the Federal Government is doing very well. They are being trained; everything is in public domain. Many of them today are pilots, engineers and all kinds of professions, and some are doing education. So, if anybody tells you that there is an organized militancy in the place, that person is a liar and a wicked person. So, who are behind theses fresh threats?

The issue has to do with criminal elements, who are interested in oil theft. It has become an organized crime, where foreign nationals—Indians, Philippines, Pakistanis and so on and so forth are coming to commit crimes in this place, trying to steal our crude oil. It is not the local Niger Delta people that have these vessels. So the common people are suffering in the midst of plenty due to this illegal bunkering. The ex-militant leaders have full control over their boys and the Federal Government’s amnesty programme under the leadership of Kuku has succeeded. In the whole world, this is the only amnesty programme where there is no United Nations involvement, it is home grown and it is a total success. So I will not agree with you that there is resurgence. You can only tell me or call it criminality, people want to get rich. If you check today’s newspapers, you will see the story of a Briton arrested in the Niger Delta over this. He even tried to offer 20 to 30 million naira bribe, but the JTF refused. Your group has asked the governments of Adamawa Borno and Yobe states to end insurgency in their states within 30 days, given that they have got security votes to address the security challenges. Do you think your request is appropriate, given that they

do not control the military and the police? We are trying to point out that there is failed leadership here. If the leadership refused to provide for the youths, they become easy recruits to people, who can use them. This is because they become available to hungry power seekers and people who have agenda of trying to undermine the state, undermine the security and so on. So what this coalition is saying is that these governors are not doing enough to ensure that they provide employments for the youths; trying to empower people who, for instance are farmers, to get wholesome alternatives. That is the angle we are coming from. It is just a call that governors of these states must be alive to their responsibilities. That is just the long and short of it. It has nothing to do with the control of the security apparatus or security infrastructures. Do you believe that President Jonathan can win the next presidential election, given the current opposition against him? I must tell you with all sense of responsibility that, if you conduct an election today, President Jonathan will win 2015 election. The challenges of the country today are not caused by President Jonathan,

they have been there. These problems have been there and this government has tried to address them. For instance, in the power sector, this is the first time in the history of the country that power has been handed over to core investors. Although we know that it will be expensive, but the issue of power is going to become a thing of the past very soon that even the artisans would begin to enjoy their businesses. Because of his leadership style, which has won people hearts, he will triumph over others. There are people who just woke up and think that they will get popularity by beginning to make unfounded criticisms of the president. This is the only country where people will just wake up and begin to abuse the president. These are people who have been made to become governors, people who have been made to become ministers, people who have been made to be federal legislators. They get up and abandon their political party just like a woman abandoning her husband and go outside her matrimonial home and begin to abuse the husband. I don’t have any doubt; it is not a question of whether President Jonathan will win the election. It is the margin. You will be surprised. What happens if the opposition defeats him?

•Irikefe

If Jonathan does not win, heaven will not fall. But his track records will speak for him at the election. I have given you an example here that out of the 100 percent, he has already scored 59 percent. He has already had about 59 out of 60 and just left with 40 percent in examination. But people who have zero percent because of the fact that they are moving from one political party to the other have lost 20 percent, so there is no way Jonathan will lose any election. What is your assessment of the President and his governance style? President Jonathan is a

leader who has passion for leadership. He is a mobiliser, a harmonizer and a man of peace, who has a genuine desire to develop his country. But, who is confronted with daunting challenges, saboteurs, people who do not wish other well; those who just wake up in the morning and call others names. It’s like a case of a kettle calling pot black. So, even the international community looks at him as a man who is facing challenges that are not easy. They know that Nigeria is still a native country, with a lot of primordial groupings; anything you

‘Why Ndoma-Egba must seek re-election’ The race for who occupies the seat of the central senatorial district in Cross River State is hotting up. It is now occupied by Senate Leader Victor NdomaEgba. There are forces in high places against his fourth return. But, the chairman of the Forum of Past Student Union Leaders in the state and former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Jerome Egbe, spoke with NICHOLAS KALU on why he must seek re-election

HAT is your forum about? The forum comprises of all former students union presidents, all local affiliated students who have served in one capacity or the other in the universities, polytechnics or colleges of education. They form the nucleus of the forum and it is a kind of leadership training ground. You have expressed your support for the senate leader to run in 2015. Why did you take this position? We have observed that for the past 35 years when Cross River had an opportunity in the national political scene with the election of Senator Joseph Wayas as the Second Republic Senate President in 1979, which leadership was terminated by military in-

tervention. Since 1983 till date we also know that Cross River has not gotten a voice in the national politics. And now we have a victory of our own illustrious son in the person of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and he is the Nigerian Senate leader and that has been able to bridge that gap after 35 years. We felt that this kind of person need not return home. He needs to continue to consolidate on the gains of his past achievements and it is against this backdrop, that we say being the second highest ranking senator, we felt his return in 2015 is an embodiment of change in Cross River in totally. We also take note that his return in 2015 will not only sustain Cross River on the national political map, but we also say that in terms of effective and quality representation for the good

people of the central senatorial district, he deserves tenure. We also look at it that after these 35 years we have this young and dynamic senate leader we felt it is an added advantage to Cross River. We have also followed the trend of his leadership and we have seen his contribution on the floor of the senate. We also take note that he has been in several delegations of international dimensions. Most recently and most significant the presidency of the African Legislative Forum that brought over 150 presiding officers of African parliaments to Abuja and we felt that feat is second to none. We have also seen that out of the six specialist hospitals in the 36 states we have seen one sited in central senatorial district. Over 540 persons have directly benefitted from his scholar-

ship scheme in the central district. If he does not return we would have no option than to carry out a law suit against his person. It is our decision as a forum that Ndoma-Egba has made us proud and should go back. He does not need to retire. This is our chance to lend our voices and we urge all well-meaning Cross Riverians to lend their voices to support this struggle. Nobody is perfect, but we pray not to lose our position in the national space. Those against him say he has stayed too long and should let someone else take over. For us if a team is winning you don’t change it. Why should you substitute such a team? Why should you change something that is working? He is hu-

‘

If a team is winning you don’t change it. Why should you substitute such a team? Why should you change something that is working? He is human and would have his short comings. It is only when you have not performed credibly, that is when we have second thoughts

‘

man and would have his short comings. It is only when you have not performed credibly, that is when we have second thoughts to say let us look at what you have done whether it

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Bayelsa honours Gulder Ultimate Search ambassador

in Niger Delta’ H ‘ This security

threat is not limited to Nigeria; let us not give the picture that Jonathan is weak. It is across the whole world... With all the computers in the US, was bombed

‘

do, they hold you. They know that President Jonathan is not a weak leader. The only thing is that he is patient. Even my wife tells me at times that I am too patient and I just watch because at times when you react, many things will happen. That is it. You are rooting for the return of President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo in 2015. But, if you sample the opinion of Nigerians, many will tell you that both have not really done well, particularly in the area of security. What is your take on this? Well, I am not a mere per-

son in security issues. Like I told you earlier, I was a member of the Presidential Panel on National Security. I understand the national security infrastructure, the national security procedures and the complex nature of the country. What is happening in the Northeast is an insurgency that is not domestic; that has its foreign components. You cannot say these people are poor Nigerians, because they have all kinds of weapons. They have rocket propelled grenades, they have brand new jeeps and they seemed not to be short of ammunition and so on and so forth. So, it is something that is alien. This security threat is not limited to Nigeria; let us not give the picture that Jonathan is weak. It is across the whole world. Right when the Pentagon, the most secured place in the whole world, with all the computers in the US, was bombed, this issue has become a global one. How do you see the future of the country with President Jonathan winning the next election, given the threat by the North that power must return to that part of the country, and a counter threat by some individuals in the Niger Delta that there will be war should he lose? Let me tell you, the mere fact that Nigeria has celebrated its centenary shows that Nigeria will not break up. I am not saying that if President Jonathan did not win the election, people will riot or there will be war and all that. But I know that based on his track record, victory will be on his side. I don’t see any alternative to President Jonathan at this time to rescue Nigeria from this chaos.

ER physique belies her ability. Outwardly, she looks slim and fragile. She does not have all the muscles. But inwardly, Miss Ebikake Comfort, an indigene of Bayelsa State, is full of strength and vigour. Out of the 35,000 Nigerians that hustled and struggled to participate in the just concluded Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS), a talent hunt reality show organised annually by the Nigerian Breweries, Ebikake made the list of the 12 contestants that finally partook in the adventurous event. The state of President Goodluck Jonathan is, indeed, proud of her. In fact, the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson demonstrated its happiness recently. The Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodulor, invited Ebikake to the state for recognition. In a brief event that was held at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, and attended by the principal officers of the ministry, Tuodolor poured encomiums on Ebikake. He described her as small in stature but mighty in action. Tuodolor said the government has taken it upon itself to honour indigenes of the state especially youths who excel in national and international events. He said such persons who took part in such competitions and occupied enviable positions had been assisted tremendously in the past by the restoration government. “It is good that we recognise such persons so that they become ambassadors and set good examples for others to follow. Some of these things have been able to engage some youths, people should not look at all these events as wayward or childish. “So, we recognised such persons and did very well for them. We will continue to as a state and restoration government recognise all those that are making the state proud and taking our name positively beyond the shores of Bayelsa and Ijawland. “We will continue to recognise and encourage such persons so that other youths will also see them and know that instead of being idle or engaging in vices, they can also partake in such events and become recognise and also earn some money for it”, he said. Tuodolor who is the pioneer commissioner for the new ministry, said such persons recognised by the state in the past have been able to establish personal ventures to employ the youths. Reiterating that Ebikake who hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area had made the state proud, he observed that most people in the state did not know that an indigene of Bayelsa was one of the GUS participants. “According to my senior prefect, Governor Akpabio, (he was my senior prefect when l was in secondary school), when he saw the Bayelsa girl he said she looked so fragile and wondered whether she could participate among the 35,000 people. “She participated and became the last 12. In the finale, our sister didn’t carry last. She took fourth position possibly because many of us didn’t participate in the voting process. She took 4th and became the ambassador of the Nigerian Breweries. “We want to recognise people like her adequately and properly and then work with them to bring more development to the state. This is a programme to formally receive

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

the GUS ambassador to the state”, he said. Making some promises to Ebikake, he said: “We will partner with you to ensure that your name as an ambassador brings us good things and your name as an ambassador drags positive development to Bayelsa State. “It is also to ensure that your name as an ambassador will also influence other youths; that it will impact on other youths that are engaged in social vices; that your office can be used to make some persons repentant.” Tuodolor, who is the first President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, urged the youths to shun vices and imitate the zeal, resilience and doggedness of Ebikake and other ambitious youngsters from the state. To the youths, he said: “Look up to our ambassadors and shun vices. There is a room for you out there to excel, become a better ljaw person and a better Nigerian.” The commissioner decorated Ebikake with the state emblems and gave her some symbols of the Ijaw nation. He also gave another GUS ambassador from Anambra State, Mr. Michael Ogbuefi, who accomanied Ebikake one of the symbols as a vestige. Ebikake thanked Dickson and Tuodolor for the recognition. She observed that Dickson’s government was performing adding, “we can hear, see and feel it”. According to her, the empowerment programme of the governor is designed to end promiscuity and violence among the youths. She urged the youths to believe in themselves saying: “No matter where you are coming from, you can do it”. Ebikake said she would bring innovative ideas to move the state forward. She insisted that development should not be viewed as the responsibility of the government alone. Reliving her experience at the GUS, she said: “ When l went there everybody was like ‘you look so fragile. What can you do?’ But l look at them and laugh and said ‘you don’t know where l am coming from, if you know where l am coming from, then the size doesn’t really matter’. “And l did it. Out of the 9000 youths that were gathered that day, three people were picked and l was among them. They called again and gathered other people and out of the 30 people they picked from all the region because for the Southsouth region, they had only one and l was the only one that made it from the region. “We went through so many challenges and only 12 of us were picked. They looked at me and said, ‘you look so fragile but what you are displaying is not your size’. But l told them that size doesn’t matter. “When we went to Akwa Ibom State, the governor was so surprised. He was so particular about me because l looked so small, but l know where l was coming from, the Ijaw are strong people. We went there and l entered the jungle. Everybody was a winner. “The youths should shun violence. It won’t lead them to any where. The ladies should shun promiscuity and live a good life. Be certain that there is a glory covering this land and which ever height you want to get to, that glory will follow you.”

New dawn for Delta’s physically challenged

’

•Jerome Egbe

qualifies you to return or we look for a substitute. But for now Ndoma-Egba has done very well and we know that if he returns whoever we are

sending from central cannot be the senate leader and as such it is a monumental damage and loss to us as good people of the central and the state.

HE hall was packed full .It was a sea of yellow shirts and baseball caps as physically challenged persons stormed Asaba-the Delta State Capital in their numbers from the twenty-five local government areas. .Many came unaided, but some were brought in while others came with crutches, wheel chairs. They were all excited, expectant and hopeful of a better tomorrow. It was on the occasion of the disbursement of N18.4 million by the Delta State Government to physically challenged persons in the State in furtherance of government’s Human Capital Development agenda. A total of 249 physically challenged persons benefited from the financial empowerment with 119 persons receiving N100, 000 each, while130 persons received N50,000 each. The ceremony titled: “Teaching men how to fish”, put together by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and office of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on physically challenged,

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

aimed at training and empowering the physically challenged for economic self-reliance. Commerce and Industry Commissioner, Mr Kingsley Emu, who represented the Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, reiterated the commitment of the present administration to the welfare of the people who were physically challenged, adding that they were also covered by the Human Capital Development Agenda in the state. The Governor noted that the essence of the programme was to ensure that unemployment was reduced in the state describing them as being very beautifully made by God. He enjoined them to make the best use of whatever sum they were empowered with, to enhance their skills as well as justify the interest of government in them by the investment. He said that efforts would be made to ensure fair and equitable disbursement so as to enable all the beneficiaries get

their dues in the scheme. Also speaking, a resource person who addressed the physically challenged at the event, Mr David Anyaele, urged them to look beyond their physical appearance, noting that “there is ability in disabilities”. He charged them to be transparent in whatever business they are doing or want to venture into as that was they only sure way to success. Anyaele commended the Delta State government for its support for the physically challenged which he said would help to discover their potentials as well as encourage them to bolster their economic fortune. On her part, the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on the physically challenged, Ms Omasan Buwa, said the financial assistance was to boost their skills and enhance possible expiration of their businesses, having acquired skills. She therefore urged them to justify government’s effort by being committed to their businesses.

• Uduaghan

Also in attendance was the Economic Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Mr Afam Obiago.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

NTIL recently, zoning was one word that did not find a space in my dictionary. And for justification, I did not stay in this sphere. United States of America was a regular example for me to cite. I was always pointing at the fact that Mrs Hilary Clinton almost became America’s President eight years after her husband Bill left office. Americans saw nothing wrong in it. Also cited to back my aversion to zoning and the likes is the fact that George Bush snr and jnr led America some years after each other. But with time, I have come to accept that Nigeria is not America. Unlike America, Nigeria is a nation of over 250 ethnic groups, where as much number of languages are spoken. Americans speak only one language. Their country is far bigger than Nigeria. I actually see it as a continent. But the fact that they speak one language makes things a lot easier. Here our people feel a sense of belonging when one of their own is in power. They feel alienated when power is held by a part of the state or country for a long time. My concern this week is Rivers State, where Dame Patience Jonathan, our dear President’s wife, has done it again. For some time now, there has been a debate in the state about where power should shift after Governor Rotimi Amaechi must have completed his tenure. Amaechi, an Ikwerre person, will complete his eight years as governor next year. Before him, Sir Peter Odili did eight years. Both men are from the upland part of the state. The state geographically is divided into town, the upland and the riverine. Since the upland has done 16 years, the riverine people are saying this is our time and they held a summit not long ago to seek the understanding of the upland people for their quest. The First Lady is from Okrika, one of the riverine communities. Other communities that are riverine include Andoni, Opobo, Nkoro, Bonny and so on. Being a riverine person, not a few had expected the Okrikaborn First Lady to support the quest of her people for the coveted seat. But if the statement by an aide to the Dame is anything to go by, she thinks the people of Rivers may not be ready to have a riverine governor. The statement by the First Lady said she was in support of the governorship ambition of Supervising Minister for Education Nyesom Wike. It also described Wike as the leader of PDP in River State. What that means is that the First Lady considers Wike as more important in Rivers PDP than the likes of Odili, Dr Ombo Isokrari, Chief Victor Odili, Prince Uche Secondus (Deputy National Chairman of PDP) and Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the Minister of Sports. The First Lady was not done. She also said

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Our Dame has done it again

‘

It is insulting to the intelligence of Rivers people to say they are not thinking of having a governor from the Riverine area after 16 years of being ruled by governors of the upland part of the state and eight of those years being under an Ikwerre person •Dame Jonathan

the minister 'enjoys the followership of the people of Rivers State and that is why the First Lady is solidly behind Nyesom Wike'. For me, I think the First Lady should avoid dabbling into matters like this. She should follow the first part of her statement where

THE WEEK’S QUOTE

‘

This is the only country where people will just wake up and begin to abuse the president. These are people who have been made to become governors, people who have been made to become ministers, people who have been made to be federal legislators.They get up and abandon their political party just like a woman abandoning her husband and go outside her matrimonial home and begin to abuse the husband __

‘

Benjamin Irikefe.

T was an uppercut and well-delivered too. One of Niger Delta’s ‘war lord’ who has rejected the label of ex-militant and also refused to officially participate in the Amnesty Programme pounced on First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan and pummelled her deservedly. Alhaji Mujahhid Dokubo Asari’s anger stemmed from a statement from the Office of First Lady in which she expressed solid support for the emergence of Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike as the next governor of Rivers State. The statement was issued by Ayo Adewuyi, her Media Assistant in responses to an accusation that the First Lady was scheming to install her preferred candidate as governors in Bauchi, Bayelsa and Rivers States in 20115. It began with a denial that “the First Lady does not meddle in the affairs and selection process of the ruling party, the PDP”. The statement subsequently veered into an equivocal cesspit: “In the case of Rivers State, the First Lady wishes to state categorically that the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, is the leader of the PDP in Rivers State…. It is, therefore, mischievous to insinuate that Mrs. Jonathan is working to ensure that the governorship candidate comes from the riverine areas of Rivers State which may not be where the people are going… Mrs. Jonathan has not withdrawn her support for Chief Wike at any time… As far as the First Lady is concerned, there is no shaking in Rivers State."

‘

she said she never dabbled in party affairs. I wonder if declaring support for a particular candidate does not amount to dabbling in party affairs. I also think it is insulting to the intelligence of Rivers people to say they are not thinking of having a governor from the

LAST WORD

Riverine area after 16 years of being ruled by governors of the upland part of the state and eight of those years being under an Ikwerre person . The riverine people are serious about producing the next governor. Not long ago, they forgot political affiliations to chart a course. The theme of their summit was "The Eastern Delta in the Political Development of Rivers State: Past, Present and Future". Organised by the Eastern Delta People's Association (EDPA) , speakers after speakers at the Atlantic Hall of the Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt demanded to produce the successor to Amaechi in 2015.The event, which attracted persons across party lines, had in attendance the cream of Rivers Ijaws from all walks of life, including traditional rulers, elder statesmen, political office holders, religious leaders, women, youths and students. Interestingly, despite the political crisis in Rivers State, which has divided the people along party lines, the political elite still came under one roof to demand that riverside communities must produce the next governor. A speaker at the summit was quoted as saying there was an unwritten pact about power rotation in the state. Interestingly, Amaechi, who will play a big role in deciding who succeeds him, has been quiet. Though his commissioner for Information Mrs Ibim Semenitari was at the summit, she only seized the opportunity to highlight her boss’s achievements and called for unity among the Rivers’ Ijaw. There was no indication as to whether or not the governor believes in the riverine people’s cause. Interesting times sure lie ahead in Rivers and the First Lady needs to be careful. As an indigene of Rivers, she has a right to have interest in who leads the state. But she will be overstepping her bounds by seeking to impose a candidate on the people. I sincerely believe it will be unfair for the next Rivers governor to be another Ikwerre man. It would not have mattered if this were America. But this is Nigeria. The First Lady should stick to the first part of the statement by Ayo Adewuyi that she ‘does not meddle in the affairs and selection process of the ruling party, the PDP’. And to the riverine people, in deciding who to root for eventually, the best man should be chosen so that merit can still be achieved. Pedigree, character, fear of God, sincereity of purpose, evidence of touching people’s lives and, above all, the ability to deliver the goods should be major crtierion in deciding a candidate. Madam, your husband has enough headache, please do not add to it for him by being solidly behind a man whose kinsman has led the state in the last almost seven years and still has another year or so to go.

•Last Word is Niger Delta Report’s verdict on Southsouth affairs

Dokubo Asari’s tirade on Mrs Jonathan Dokubo said the alleged plan by Mrs Jonathan to impose Wike on the people was morally wrong in the light of the dominance of the political landscape of the state by the Ikwerre, to which Wike belongs, in the past 16 years. "To make Wike a governor in Rivers State in 2015 is not morally right. All the fellows endorsing him for whatever reason should know that it will injure PDP, it will injure Goodluck Jonathan. If Goodluck's name is brought into it, that he is in support of the perpetuation of an Ikwerre hegemony in Rivers State, which is not right by population, which is not right under any calculation, it will injure him and PDP," Dokubo stated in a newspaper interview. He said an Ikwerre man had no business in Rivers Government House in 2015, adding that it would amount to political suicide for PDP to field Wike in the next election. "It is morally wrong for any anybody to say that Igbo cluster should produce the next governor in 2015. I am an Igbo man also, by virtue of my origin, and so I am not against the Ikwerre people or against the Igbo. I repeat, I am an Igbo man; I can narrow it down: I have Ikwerre blood flowing in my veins. "In terms of population, when you remove the cosmopolitan population of Port Harcourt and Obiakpor, which is about 80 per cent of the population, is non-indigenous of those local govern-

ments. That is old non-Rivers indigenes and Rivers indigenes, who are not indigenes of Port Harcourt and Obiakpor local governments. If you remove those populations, the Ijaws are the majority as a single block. "When you look at that, for somebody to say another Ikwerre man should become governor is wrong. Yes, constitutionally, he has a right to aspire, everybody is free to aspire, but it is not moral, it is not right. Something can be legally right but it might not be morally right. "So if we are saying there should be justice in Rivers State… if we are crying against domination by others, we should not also oppress other people. "The First Lady needs not to be told that it is morally and politically wrong for her to support another Ikwerre man by 2015, after the Igbo bloc would have spent over 16 years. She has every right to support who she wants but that must be done in a morally and politically correct direction and manner." Is there anything more to add? Not much other than for Mrs Jonathan to realise than forcing a candidate on the people of Rivers as their next governor will amount to killing his husband politically in the state, which is already angry with him for some of his and her transgressions. A word is enough for the wise.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

SHOPPING

Supermartng.com launches in Lagos S L

upermartng.com, an online grocery and delivery service, has been launched in Lagos. Supermart enables customers to buy grocery items from various supermarkets on its website. The fact that customers are shopping from recognised supermarkets gives them an assurance about the source of what they are buying. Prior to starting Supermart, the co-founders, Gbolahan Fagbure and Raphael Afaedor were the Chief Operations Officer and Managing Director at the online retailer, Jumia. Gbolahan said: “We have worked

Stories by Tonia ‘Diyan

very hard to build a service we believe will add a great deal of convenience to the lives of people who prefer not to spend hours driving between various supermarkets, looking for parking at busy supermarkets and waiting on queues to pay for their shopping.” According to Raphael, “knowing that customers typically go to multiple supermarkets to complete their grocery shopping led us to develop this service. Supermart allows customers easily add items from the multiple stores into one basket and pay once. For the first

time in Nigeria, customers will be able to select when their order is delivered to their homes or offices, which can be in as early as three hours.” Supermart’s emphasis on providing superior customer service means that its team of personal shoppers who pick items for customer orders are carefully selected and well-trained to ensure they are selecting the freshest of what customers order. At the end of the chain are the delivery drivers who equally go through rigorous training prior to joining. “Our drivers are friendly and will carry your groceries all the way to your door-

step even if you live on the fourth floor of a building with no elevator…they go the extra mile,” said Gbolahan. To offer this time-saving service, which they estimate saves customers as much as six hours every week, Supermart has partnered with retailers Park ‘n’ Shop & Spar for groceries and every day essential items. Customers can currently shop from the 18,000 items these stores have for sale. The service will initially be offered in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Marina and Lekki up to Victoria Garden City (VGC) and subsequently, expand to other parts of the city.

Leisure Mall introduces innovations

LEISURE Mall, a new mall with spectacular views and with a goal to be positioned as the destination of choice for families in Lagos -Mainland, is now linked with its immediate mall, Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall. The ‘link bridge’ between the malls is to take shoppers from one mall to the other without stress and hassles. According to the Centre Manager, Leisure Mall, Mr. Seyi Shoyinka, “The link bridge between us and our neighbour is first of its kind. It is interesting to know that this provision is available only in Mainland-Lagos.” Explaining the need for the innovation, Shoyinka said the link bridge is to ease movement for shoppers from one mall to the other and establish a lasting relationship between the malls. “To initiate an easy access between Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall and our Leisure Mall, we decided to introduce a link bridge. This initiative is hundred percent ours. Now, customers can shop between the two Malls without the hassle of driving or walking through the gates. We saw the need for a symbiotic relationship with our neighbour and the importance to make our customers more comfortable,” he said. He added that enthusiasm and curiosity by shoppers to visit the other mall when already in one will come to play with the newly introduced link bridge. “The tendency to visit the next mall is bound to happen with this innovation. Also, we want to be able to benefit from each other. There are certain facilities in one mall that are not in the other. For instance, our film house (Cinema) is unique with us as well as our

1UNA products by Foreo have been launched on Nigeria’s number one online store, Jumia. Luna is a revolutionary facial cleansing and anti-aging product that promises to give customers the type of skin only runway supermodels can boast of. Luna, the topmost hygienic beauty solution for skin, has been described by Funmi Daniel, Head of Jumia Fashion as “welcome relief for people looking to have flawless and envy-inducing skin. Looking dashing and elegant begins with the way you take care of your skin and Luna products help take care of that and as such Jumia is excited to have them available to our customers”. Rachael Nsofor, Foreo’s Head of Sales and Marketing - Middle East and Africa, also had this to say, ‘We are thrilled to be entering the online African market with Foreo’s iconic Luna range, now available exclusively at Jumia. Offering beautiful, radiant and healthier-looking skin, the Luna range’s innovative solutions will revolutionise daily skincare routines across Africa’ The range of skincare products fits effortlessly into customer’s daily routine and in a similar fashion, Jumia.com, the exclusive retailers of Luna products, will be on hand to have them delivered straight to the doorstep of customers anywhere in Nigeria so that they will not have to sweat orrearrangetheirscheduletoacquirethese state-of-the-art beauty products. Jumiaisalsoofferingcustomersachance to win free Luna products. Consumers are expected to follow Jumia Nigeria on Twitter for the Jumia Foreo contest where they could win the Luna range for free by answering Luna and hygiene-related questions correctly.

Ikeja City Mall rewards loyal customers

• The link bridge

major clothing outfit (Mr Price).” The mall, which has been in operation in less than two years, is said to be fast becoming the best family entertainment centre in Lagos. Surrounded with misted glass exterior and interior open-air walkways, the mall looks more like a cutting edge modern art museum than what it actually is. It’s not surprising to know

that it is managed by Broll Nigeria, the largest mall property operator in Africa who also manages the grade A malls in Nigeria. These malls are; The Palms in Lekki, Ikeja City mall in Ikeja, Bayaro Mall in kano, Ceddi Plaza in Abuja, Kwara Mall in Ilorin, etc. Leisure Mall houses various top brands, among whom are; Mr Price, Standard Chartered Bank, Film House

cinemas, Bheerhugz Café, GNC Drugs, Accessories to die 4, Barcelos- Fast Food, Eddie kingburger- Fast Food, Easy holiday- travelling agent, Lego shop- toys, Nike- clothing, Scouzas, Deep Arg, Blucocktail, SOS, Milavin, HomeNail, Nireds, Indulgence, HitBox, Fome, River Jordan, Poise Global, and TM Lewins.

LG delights shoppers with ergonomics

OME appliances manufacturing giants, LG has showcased a line of new products in line with its products principle of ergonomics. According to the firm, the ten key principles of ergonomics are keep everything in easy reach; work at proper heights; reduce excessive forces; work in good postures; reduce excessive repetition; minimize direct pressure and provide adjustability. Others are provision of easy access; maintain a comfortable environment; enhance clarity and understanding. One of the products governed by these principles is its LG bedding cleaner: which it said allows consumers to exert 42 per cent less muscle use than conventional models, making it easier to pick up and operate with one hand. Tests have reported 27 per cent less

Flawless skin? Try Foreo’s facial cleansing product

By Lucas Ajanaku

human movement shown that minimal pressure on the user’s wrist and back; resulting in effortless cleaning. It added that the LG Kompressor Robosense Vacuum Cleaner. According to the firm, dragging a vacuum canister around the house could be cumbersome, arguing that Kompressor automatically traces the user’s path and follows at an appropriate distance. “Two breakthroughs: the automatic location recognition technology and active following wheel technology incorporate sensors located on the model’s body and handle to smoothly maintain a comfortable distance from the user.” “The air conditioning industry is perhaps one of the best if not the most immediately obvious exam-

ples of people-oriented technology design. Since the industrial revolution, climate control methods have had a direct impact on the people who occupy buildings and their ability to function productively within their surroundings. Researchers acknowledge that the ability to optimize environments are of great interest to society and economy and are forever on the lookout for ways of assuring human comfort and health, while reducing our impact on the environment and natural resources. The most advanced current technology powering the air conditioning industry can be found in HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) control systems. These systems utilize sensors to compare the actual state (e.g., temperature, humidity, and others with a target state. The control system then

draws a conclusion what action needs to be taken,” the firm said in a statement With consumer research showing that smartphone owners unlock and check their devices more than 100 times a day, it said LG was inspired to take KnockON to a new level with a one-step, easy-access power on and unlocking solution. Starting with the G Pro 2, key LG smartphone models introduced in 2014 will come with Knock Code, an upgraded version of the acclaimed KnockON UX feature. Since Knock Code wakes and unlocks the phone simultaneously; it provides more convenience and greater security over conventional password and pattern-based security options. And because Knock Code can be used anywhere on the display, it’s possibly to access one’s phone without even look-

HIS Easter, Ikeja City Mall known to cater for the needs of residents and visitors ,will be celebrating the 50th time of rewarding its loyal shoppers. The promo tagged, ‘ICM Easter Bunny & 50th Consumer Promo’ began April 10. It will end April 30 at 6pm. It will run daily for three weeks in selected tenant stores with four winners emerging. Ultimately, 10 shoppers will be rewarded on April 29 and 30 and their gift vouchers will be redeemed at participating stores within the Mall. Participating stores include, Black Up, Samsung, US Polo, Owen & Gert, Seven EagleSpur,Nike,Levi’.Swatch,TMLewin, Rhapsody’s, V Shop, Slot Limited, King and Queens, Kidz Country, Montaigne Place, DSTV, Enzzo, Mango, Bheerhugz, Jack and Jones and Silverbird Cinemas. To qualify, shoppers are to have a single purchase receipt amounting to N20,000. The mall’s Easter Bunny will move round with the Easter eggs in a basket containing pieces of papers to inform them of their qualification for the raffle draw. Six winners are to emerge from this exercise.

•Vaccum cleaner ing. In Knock Code the smartphone display is divided into four invisible quadrants. The user taps or “knocks” anywhere from two to eight times in the quadrants in a specific sequence. With more than 80,000 possible combinations and no fingerprint streaks, Knock Code offers a greater level of security.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

AGRICBUSINESS

e-mail: agrobusiness@thenationonlineng.net

Wanted! Improved infrastructure for rural farmers Given the role of farmers in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, experts are pushing for adequate infrastructure provision to boost their productivity. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

CCESS to credit, improved seeds, fertiliser, information on weather, poor prices and markets to sell their products, among others, pose enormous challenges to farmers, especially small holder ones. Poor road infrastructure across the country has worsen the situation, as most of them are unable to ferry their produce to markets or travel to where they can have access to vital input, such as fertiliser and pesticides. Yet, these are things taken for granted by their counterparts in most developed countries. Although farmers try to reduce their exposure to risks associated with dearth of infrastructure in the sector by minimising investment in inputs, most of them are trapped in a cycle of low productivity and poverty. This is despite that the country is endowed with fertile soil, favourable climate and water basins, which should have positioned it as a flourishing farming hub in the sub-region. Experts blame poor rural infrastructure to support farmers for the nation’s failure to fully exploit its potential to increase food and agricultural production. They also warn that the already poor transport system would come under increased pressure as farm productivity grows. A consultant to the World Bank, Prof. Abel Ogunwale, said poor infrastructure was hampering the efforts of farmers. He stressed the importance of transportation to the sector, calling for a greater action by the public and private sectors in funding. He pointed out that one of the key roles of infrastructure – be it roads, rail or ports – is to help farmers get their produce to market. Ogunwale further noted that if farmers must be competitive and contribute substantially to the success of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, then the government must ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place for farmers. Roads, he said, will allow food and agriculture produce to be moved costeffectively and efficiently to markets. This, he added, is important in making the most of opportunities presented by rapidly growing markets. The Programme Coordinator, Farmers Development Union (FADU), Mr. Victor Olowe, agreed with Ogunwale, noting that many rural farmers cannot get their produce to the markets on time because of bad roads. He argued that for farmers to remain competitive, investments in infrastructure is required in the sector. He said the sector was characterised by waste and low processing, with cases of damaged irrigation networks, which reduce the its ability to make efficient use of water supply. According to him, an estimated 40 per cent of primary produce is lost before reaching the market due to lack of proper handling, cleaning, sorting, grading and packaging facilities at the rural areas. Olowe added that problems have existed at each stage of production. He said, for instance, that the unreasonably long supply chain results in a steep increase in the total cost owing to procurement, transit and other taxes and service charges levied at various levels. All of these, he said, lead to poor yield and low rev-

•Farmers need grains storage facilities

•Olowe

•Adebayo

enue for small holder farmers. To make matters worse , he said climate change is impacting negatively on a wide range of areas across the country. The impacts are felt in rural communities in altered patterns of farm incomes and spending. The Director, Cassava Adding Value for Africa, Dr Kola Adebayo, said infrastructure in rural areas should be addressed by government. According to him, a wide range of innovations need to be developed to help increase farmers’ access to input, information and markets, and to boost their productivity. He said the government needs to improve infrastructure development in rural areas to link farmers to markets. He said rural farmers must have easy access to markets to reduce post-harvest losses. Interestingly, the need to address infrastructure deficiency in the sector is not lost on government, which was why the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), last year, said infrastructure development and building strong institution to support agriculture are some of the factors necessary for sustainable agriculture in the country. This was part of submis-

sions made by participants at the ‘Sustainable Agriculture Business Principles Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum’ by NESG and United Nation’s Global Compact in Lagos. Explaining the rationale for the forum, Director-General, NESG,Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, said developing principles on agriculture would provide the framework for partnership that would enable sustainable agriculture. He noted that it is central to poverty eradication and economic development, adding that the 19th Nigeria Economic Summit was centered on agriculture due to its importance to economic development. His words: “We believe that one summit is not enough to bring about the change. We believe that change could happen if we sustain advocacy. So, we take the 19th summit that happened months ago as just one step in the right direction; many more steps will be taken. You can see the broad nature of the stakeholders who have attended this section and so we will continue to engage.” Perhaps, to work the talk, the Federal Government has secured $1billion (N162 billion) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) loan to help

‘Poor road infrastructure across the country has worsen the situation, as most of them are unable to ferry their produce to markets or travel to where they can have access to vital input, such as fertiliser and pesticides’

in the provision of basic agriculture infrastructure in the selected Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs) across the country. Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said in Abuja the government had been sourcing funds from international donors to help provide basic infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, and water supply, among others, in selected areas. “The development of the SCPZs has received strong support from international organisations, especially the World Bank, DFID, the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” the minister said, adding “The development partners have committed a total of $2 billion towards the agricultural transformation agenda, including the development of the SCPZs.” Analysis of the infrastructure costs for the SCPZs master plan carried out by UNIDO put the total expenditure plan for the SCZPs at $1.1billion. A breakdown shows that $181.4 million would be needed for infrastructure in Badeggi, Niger State, where rice is produced, while $151.1million would be spent in Gafan area of Kano State where tomato, rice and sorghum are grown. Infrastructure provision in Omo area of Anambra State for rice would costs $186.6 million; $76.6 million would be used to provide infrastructure in Okolo area of Rivers State for fish, while that of Alape area of Kogi State where cassava is grown would cost $314.7 million, and $149.7 million would be needed for infrastructure provision in Adani area of Enugu State around rice zones. The minister noted that when the SCPZs are operational, they would generate additional revenue of N1.4 trillion to the government and create 200, 000 jobs. He added: “The SCPZs will reduce the cost of doing business for agroprocessors to ensure their competitiveness, and to create ready markets for Nigerian farmers, thereby reducing post-harvest losses.” The minister stressed that to revive the economy of the rural areas, the SCPZs would be complemented with the establishment of Agro-Industrial Towns (AIT), which would develop social infrastructure, including affordable housing for young commercial farmers, making living in the areas around the SCPZs attractive for youths and reducing rural urban migration. Adesina pointed out that the target of the SCPZs was to facilitate agro-processing that would be used to attract private sector investments into the local production and processing of agricultural produce.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

AGRICBUSINESS

Rising cost of feeds affecting rations

HE high price of feed has forced livestock managers to redesign rations using cheaper options with the same nutritional quality. The Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Adedotun Agbojo, said poultry firms were adjusting their ration composition because of rising costs. He said the revised ration was likely to stay until the cost of commodities, such as corn and soyabeans, is stabilised. Agbojo said the high crop prices and input costs have created more capital challenges. This is because feed costs are the largest single expenditure items for livestock producers, accounting for a third of production costs for dairy and intensive beef producers and around 60 per cent of costs in the poultry sector. He said the increase was putting pressure on producers, adding that the price of a metric tonne of maize ranges between N57,000 to N60,000. He expressed fears that the profitability of poultry farming was being threatened. As a result, the low return on sales is having a negative impact on the investment in the industry. Potentially, he said it would slow the rate of development of the poultry industry. Vice President, Agriculture Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Mr. Stephen

Stories by Daniel Essiet

Oladipupo, said poultry farmers were opting for new nutritious, lower cost feed imputs. He said the high cost of feed has forced producers to carry out many feed trials, which examine the nutritional impact of various feed options. This, he added, has helped producers evaluate if and when to take advantage of abundant supplies of alternative feeds. Industry watchers said the poultry industry is in a difficult situation because of feed prices. They are concerned that government has not allocated funds to support the industry to stop further increase of feed prices. Meanwhile, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported that feed prices are stunting poultry industry growth in the country. According to USDA: “The poultry industry in Nigeria had been rapidly expanding in past years, increasing from 185,300 metric tonnes(MT) in 2001 to 268,000 MT in 2011. However, high input costs in 2008 and 2010, caused flock expansion to cease in 2008 and in 2011.” Though an import ban on corn was lifted in 2008, most poultry producers are wary to import for fear that corn merchants with strong political connections will use Custom officials to frustrate such imports,

•Agbojo

according to a recent USDA report. Soybean meal is the dominant and preferred protein ingredient in poultry feed rations. Prices of soybean meal surged to $775 a ton in 2011, up from $485 the previous year. In ideal situations, poultry producers would prefer soybean meal inclusion rate of 30 per cent in compound their feed, but the scarcity and high cost of the product have forced them to reformulate in favour of low quality substitutes, such as peanut cake, cottonseed, and palm kernel meal. Nigeria banned the importation of live poultry (except day-old chicks) and poultry meat, including fresh, frozen, and cooked poultry meat, due to concerns over their ability to enforce SPS standards on imported animals and goods. In 2011, Nigeria’s hen egg production totalled 636,000 MT and was valued at $527.49 million, ranking 19th in world hen egg production and the top producer in Africa.

•From left: Ondo State Governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko flanked by the Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr NteranyaSanginga (left) and the Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, at the signing of a memorandum of understanding by IITA, Ondo State, FARA, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ibadan.

SMEs seek more allocation to agric

RESIDENT, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr Femi Egbesola, has urged the government to increase budgetary allocation to agriculture in line with the pledge in the 2003 Maputo Declaration. Under the auspices of the African Union (AU), the African Heads of State pledged to increase their countries’ annual budgetary allocation on agriculture to 10 per cent, to enable the continent attain a six per cent food production growth by 2015. The 10 per cent budgetary increase would also enable AU countries fasttrack the Millennium Development Goal (MDG-1) that targets eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. By increasing food production, Egbesola said the government would be able to curtail acute famine, malnutrition and poverty that currently dog the continent, resulting in low productivity, death and under-development. To spur growth in the sector, Egbesola said the government needs

to reduce the level of wastage of produce and give credit to farmers. He said sustainable agriculture, food security and food safety are urgent goals to achieve, adding that the agricultural sector has multiple roles in helping ensure food security, anchor rural development, and provide resources for the livelihood of Nigerians. Recently, the National Assembly stressed the need for adequate funding of the agricultural sector based on the achievements by the government, especially since the launching of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda in the country. Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, stated this during the budget defence by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina in Abuja. Bwacha, who noted that the N36.2 billion proposed for the ministry in the 2014 budget was below the N39.9billion in 2013, said the com-

mittee was not comfortable with the budgetary allocation for the sector in the 2014 budget. He said: “We are not comfortable with the budgetary allocation to agriculture. We will try to establish contacts to see how we can rescue the situation. The Agricultural sector is very vital. It is a sector that will bail us out. Our priority is to make sure that this budget is passed into law.” He affirmed that the agricultural sector is very vital in feeding the country, adding that every Nigerian is expected to support the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development so that it could achieve more successes in the sector. Also,Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adegbenga Kaka noted that the budget proposed for the ministry would not be enough for farming in two states. “The entire budget if we are to use it for farming in two states on road or infrastructures would not be enough let alone for the whole country to rely on it,” he said.

‘Invest in food ‘

HE Chairman, Southsouth, Southeast Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Hyke Ochia, has said new investment in food manufacturing and production is essential if Nigeria intended to become a food production hub. Ochia said the agricultural industry could have a very bright future if appropriate investments were made. He called on the Federal Government to introduce incentives and tax holidays in the manufacturing sector to help food companies invest in world-class facilities, arguing that such measures would help offset the high cost of production.

Ochia said the government’s support was essential if the food industry must supply quality products. The industrialist said measures must be taken to encourage investors through accelerated start-up allowances. This, he maintained, would allow manufacturers to invest in best-in-class manufacturing capability and other productivity-enhancing technologies to service the growing population. According to him, if Nigeria is serious about developing its food industry and becoming self-sustaining, then it must have the most efficient supply and manufacturing system.

‘Assist banana farmers’ get certification’

HE Federal Government has been urged to increase the number of banana farmers certified under the International Fair Trade system. This, the President, Anjorin &Atanda Investment Limited, Sunday Anjorin, said, would assist more banana farmers to get into export business. Fair-trade certification is a system designed to allow people to identify products which meet particular environmental, labour and developmental standards. It is overseen by the Fair-trade Labelling Organisations International and FLO-CERT. The Fair-trade label signifies that fruits are produced under environmentally-sustainable conditions and in keeping with standards of international labour. Anjorin said if Nigerians have the certification that they are producing banana under these conditions, then consumers in the European Union (EU) will be willing to pay a premium price. A component of that price will be related to the social and community projects. He said changes in the EU‘s banana regime has brought about increase in quality requirements. To this end, being fair trade certified in banana production involves meeting the requirement of growing the produce ethically, dealing fairly with workers, and observing cultural practices.

Worldwide, Fair Trade aims to improve the lives of poor banana farmers and workers by ensuring that they get a fair price for fruits on the international market. Anjorin said banana farmers and the country as a whole would benefit financially from this certification. He implored banana farmers to be mindful of the fact that they were in an internationally competitive environment and should, therefore, comply with world standards. He also urged farmers to joine an agriculture export market consortium to enable them to penetrate foreign markets and improve their incomes. He said joining the chamber of commerce will help create synergies with the international market, adding that local farmers should participate in regional and international trade fairs to enable the country’s agriculture sector recover. He also said trade groups help farmers search for new markets, assess competition or diversify sources, and benchmark national, regional trade performance, set priority products for trade promotion and development, evaluate tariffs and trade barriers and assess product diversification. According to him, if value chains are effectively developed, the production would increase and, in turn, there will be increase in the export .

How wild bees on farms can boost food production

CONSULTANT on bee farming, Mr. Victor Obi, has advised farmers to invest in habitats that attract bees to farms, saying this can increase crop production. Obi, formerly of the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, said studies have shown that habitats that attract wild bees help to increase crop yields. Bees have a much greater economic value than is widely known. While people think of bees as a source of honey, beeswax and other health and nutritional products, Nigerians are yet to explore honey bees as crop pollinators, he said. Bees, he explained, are a vital part of industrial food farming; without them plants cannot develop and produce food. He said bees help to pollinate the plants, carrying pollen from one plant to another as they collect their own food. He warned of the effects of pesticides, adding that such chemicals are synonymous with the demise of honeybees. Obi called for the protection of

bees, saying they are critical to food supplies. “Bees pollinate many important crops while pesticides protect those same crops from pest damage. Beekeepers also rely on pesticides in their hives to protect against various pests. As such, the plant science industry is committed to ensuring that both bees and pesticides can help agriculture thrive. Bees, birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects pollinate flowering plants. This means some crops used to produce foods and beverages are dependent on these wonderful creatures. Insecticide-treated seed evolved as a way to protect seeds and crops while minimising potential exposures of non-target insects, such as bees. “As the use of the pesticides has spread, so have questions about the long-term exposure on honeybees, bumblebees, monarch butterflies and other pollinators,he added. According to a 2011 report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), pollination by bees and other insects contributed about 153 billion euros ($204 billion) or 9.5 per cent of the total global value of food production.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

DISCOURSE

Text of a paper delivered by Mrs.Taiwo Makinde (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife at a lecture series organised by the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Integrity and Good Governance on the need for the preservation of the Yoruba Language at St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo on March 27, 2014.

Yoruba must not die: Our children must not lose their identity L Introduction

ET me introduce this talk by quoting that literary giant, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o who, in his work Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature (as quoted in Soneye, 2003) declared thus: The first sure sign of self-colonisation is when …one does not know enough of one’s own language, meaning that one knows more of another pople’s language (p.151). The quotation above aptly describes the situation among the Yoruba today especially the situation among the younger generation. Many Yoruba children find it difficult to speak the language while some even take pride in their inability to speak it. Some parents are also proud to declare that their children cannot speak Yoruba. What is responsible for this attitude, one may ask? Are there no benefits derivable from one’s ability to speak, write and understand Yoruba language? If there are, what are these benefits? What are the challenges contributing to the dwindling fortune of Yoruba language among the Yoruba? What are the consequences of neglecting to speak this language? Finally, what is the way forward – Kini ona a ba yo? We shall briefly look into the history of Yoruba language before attempting to answer the questions raised above.

Brief History of Yoruba Language

Yoruba is a Niger Congo language spoken in West Africa. The number of speakers of Yoruba was estimated to be about 28 million as at 2007. Yoruba is spoken among other languages in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo as well as in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas. A variety of the language known as Lucumi, is the liturgical language of the Santeria religion of the Caribbeans. Lucumi is closely related to the Owo, and the Itsekiri languge which is spoken in the Niger Delta and also Igala spoken in central Nigeria (Wikipedia, 2014). Yoruba lanaguage has a way of reflecting the culture of the Yoruba people just like any other language. Briefly, let us examine the relationship between Yoruba language and culture.

Yoruba Lanague and Culture

Generally speaking, language plays a very significant role in the totality of culture. According to Soneye (2003): Far from being simply a technique of communication, language is a way of directing the perceptions of its speakers and it covertly or overtly provides for their habitual modes of analysing experiences. For a Yoruba man to say ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ to his father or mother while prostrating would be incongruent. It is either that he prostrates or stretches his hand for a hand shake without prostrating. Handshake and prostrating do not go together. This simply shows that the lingustic item “hello” does not go along with the cultural act of prostrating. Simply put, the language that a person speaks will have an influence on his or her attitude. The two concepts – language and culture – are interwoeven and as stated by Babalola (2000:203) Language and culture are interwoven because social integration and development are practically non-existent where the people have no deep linguistic affinity, sympathy and accommodation. Universally, language for developmental aspirations is an important ingredient for socio-cultural co-existence and this is a reason why the English language was embraced in most parts of Black Africa where linguistic heterogeneity thrived (Soneye, 2008). Prof Akinwumi Isola, an erudite scholar and actor, in one of his interviews stated that “When God made about 7000 lnaguages of the world, he put the languages at the centre of each culture”. He, however lamented that the standard of Yoruba culture today is not encouraging because our children no longer speak Yoruba due to no fault of their own. These children, according to him, are not taught the language, neither are they nurtured nor brought up in the culture of Yoruba. For these reasons, our children are gradually losing their identity. One would want to ask why Yoruba language is dying gradually.

•Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

Why is Yoruba Language dying gradually?

Yoruba language is dying a gradual death, hence the need for this lecture. Yoruba ko gbodo ku! If we do not want to lose our identity, this language must not die. The reason for the gradual extinction of Yoruba can be traced to Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s theory of self-colonisation. Many parents prefer that their children know more of English language than Yoruba. They have made language learning subtractive rather than additive. Even though there is no harm in learning a new language but when such a language acquisition makes a person to throw away the mother tongue, it becomes dangerous. Such a person has contributed to the substractiveness of Yoruba language. Let us ask ourselves these questions: 1. In what way am I contributing to the gradual demise of Yoruba langauage? 2. Do I belong to that group of people who Ngugi Wa Thiong’o referred to as suffering from self colonisation? If you are a parent who prefers to speak English to your children exclusively instead of Yoruba, then you are one of those suffering fom that disease called self-colonisation. Many Western-educated Yoruba persons today seem to consider it a mark of sophistication for them to speak English where they ought to speak Yoruba, their native language. This is the only language they speak to their children at home and which they also prefer to be taught to their children right from the kindergarten to the university level (Awobuluyi, 2014). Our attitude towards Yoruba language is negative and this is borne out of colonial mentality on our part. It is a sign that we lack contentment with what God has given us, preferring what belongs to others. So, rather than refurbish our own langauage, we dump it for the language of the colonial masters. The above assertion is confirmed by Kole Omotoso (2014) in his article titled: “Language Research and Language Industry in Africa: The Case of South Africa and Nigeria” where he claimed that there is a language shift whereby “the older generation does not speak to the younger generation in the

‘In the area of moral, a Yoruba child who is well grounded in Yoruba language will possess high moral values and great respect for elders. Such values which are derived from oral folklore given by iya agba and baba agba are lacking in English language. Morals which are taught through story telling (alo) where animal examples are used, the chief of them being “ijapa ati yanibo” not only serve as moral instructions, they are also a means of entertainment’ mother tongue”. Under this circumstance, language loss is imminent. Unfortunately, some parents’ attitude to Yoruba language will only make them and their cildren to miss the benefits of the language. Benefits of Yoruba Language The benefits of Yoruba language can be grouped under three categories, namely, academic, moral, and social. Academically, Yoruba language helps a student who is well versed in the language to understand other languages better than those who choose to make English language their mother tongue. As far back as 1953, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) emphasised the importance of educating children in their mother tongues. In the Global Monitoring Report on Education for All (2004) choice of language of instruction is critical for effective learning. Little wonder then, that most of the Yoruba children who have been deprived of being well grounded in the Yoruba language perform poorly in school. So, academically, most of them do not excel because of their inability to think in their mother tongue. Since they are also not well grounded in the other language – English - they also fail to think well in that language. They are therefore neither here nor there. As a lecturer, I have come across some students who speak English like the Queen of England but when it comes to the writing of the language, I find it difficult to match the speaking with the writing. But for a child who is well grounded in the language, i.e. the mother tongue, he will be able to perform brilliantly because of the opportunity of being able to think in his/ her mother tongue. In the area of moral, a Yoruba child who is well grounded in Yoruba language will possess high moral values and great respect for elders. Such values which are derived from oral folklore given by iya agba and baba agba are lacking in English language. Morals which are taught through story telling (alo) where animal examples are used, the chief of them being “ijapa ati yanibo” not only serve as moral instructions, they are also a means of entertainment. Yoruba language is also a language of respect. It gives respect to elders. In English language, “you” is “you” whether you are an

‘Socially, Yoruba language has its benefits. In terms of greetings, there are ways the Yoruba will greet appropriately which cannot be expressed in the English language. There are various greeting modes in the Yoruba society which are vital aspects of her cultural heritage that cannot be accommodated by the English language since such do not belong to the English culture’

Oba, a Governor, or a Chief. But in the Yoruba ‘language, there is what we can refer to as “plural of majesty’ whereby you use “eyin” instead of “iwo” (you) for an older person. Socially, Yoruba language has its benefits. In terms of greetings, there are ways the Yoruba will greet appropriately which cannot be expressed in the English language. There are various greeting modes in the Yoruba society which are vital aspects of her cultural heritage that cannot be accommodated by the English language since such do not belong to the English culture. For example, E ku ile, E ku ataaro have no English language translation and this is why the speakers of English language can only sum everything into “welcome”. Yoruba language can also be used to pour encomiums (oriki) on people which are very “significant, indescribably emotive and culturally perenial. When an oriki is translated to English, it seems a “bundle of obscurity. A good example given by Soneye (2003) goes thus: Omo opo korobiti korobiti Omo opo korobiti korobiti Opo roso opo gbaja. Translation: The child of the long round post The child of the long round post The child of the long round post wears a wrapper, the post wears a sash. Definitely, the English translation is not what the person pouring these encommiums means. Another benefit is that Yoruba language is full of words of wisdom, especially in terms of proverbs. A lot of lessons can be learnt from Yoruba proverbs. For example, when you hear “Esin iwaju ni ti eyin nwo sare”, you’ll know that the older child is being told to show good examples to those coming behind him/ her. This means that he/she should be a good leader for those behind him/her to emulate. Another one which says “Eni to jin si koto ko ara yo ku logbon” means that a person can learn from another person’s mistake. Simply put, it means that “He who falls into a pit is a lesson to others”. We shall take a cursory look into the challenges confronting the survival of Yoruba language.

Challenges threatening the survival of Yoruba Language

There are various challenges confronting the survival of Yoruba. According to Kole Omotoso (2014) ... the most limiting challenge is the challenge of numbers, precision in matters of weight, measures and time. He asked: “how do you render in Yoruba the sentence that Hassan Bold beat his rival to the tape by one thousandth of a second?” Another challenge is that of the sound system and the method which has been used to resolve the challenge by the use of diacritical marks. Coupled with the above two challenges is the growing lingusitic colonisation whereby our native tongue is steadily, though subtly being devoured and supplanted by another langauage – English. This process of lingustic colonisation is referred to by Zabus (1991) as “glottophagia”. We cannot blame our colonisers for this glottophagic experience going on in Nigeria and in some other African countries. After all, the colonisers have since departed from our country, but, in spite of their departure, “our minds and tongues remained continuously colonised” (Soneye 2003). One can even sum this particular challenge as that of colonial mentality. Multiplicity of meaning or what can be referred to as semantic ambiguity is another challenge contributing to the gradual demise of Yoruba language. For example “Baba oko” does not always mean a father-in-law. It could also mean a younger or older brother to one’s husband. The last, but not the least, is the trivialisation of Yoruba proverbs which happen to be an important aspect of Yoruba language. In this discussion, the proverbs mentioned earlier will be used as samples. “Esin iwaju ni ti eyin nwo sare”, “Eni to jin si koto ko ara yoku logbon” The first one has been trivialized and changed to “Esin iwaju ni yio gba ipo kini”, while the second one has been changed to “Eni to jin si koto oju e lo fo”. •To be continued

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

From right: Representative of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda; United States Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade; General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Gen. Tamunomiebi Dibi and FOC, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admiral Goddy Ayankpele at the opening ceremony of Exercise Obangame Express in Lagos...on Wednesday.

•Osun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tope Ilori (left), Director-General of De-Raufs Volunteer Group, Comrade Amitolu Shittu and Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor on Special Project, Safriy Agbomeji, at the presentation of the De-Raufs in Ila-Orangun.

•From left: Former District 404B Governor, Lions Club, Senator Segun Bamgbetan; past chairman, Council of Governors, Jaiye Balogun; President, Ikeja Lions Club, Mark Ebare; incoming District Governor 404B, Lions Club, Alhaji Abiola Adedeji and past chairman, Council of Governors/guest speaker, Dr Teslim Sanusi at the Elders’ Awards Night of Ikeja Lions Club at Etal Hotel, Ikeja.

•Olofin Isheri, Adimula of Aworiland, Oba Nurudeen Adebowale Adekanbi (middle); his wife, Tawakalitu Olaide (left); Managing Director, Fountain Source Limited and Aare Atunluse of Isheri Aworiland, Mr Paul Njoku; Iyalode of Olofin Isheri Aworiland, Mrs Sinatulai Adeboye and Baba Oba of Olofin Isheri Aworiland, Chief Jimoh Sobowale, at the 10th Coronation Anniversary of Oba Adekanbi and the conferment of a chieftaincy title on Mr Njoku at OPIC Event Centre, Isheri, Ogun State.

•Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr Eze Chikamanayo (middle) receiving a souvenir on behalf of Governor Theodore Orji on the upcoming Africa Distinguished Gold Service Award for Excellence in Good Governance from Director-General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA), Dr Dafe Akpocha at Umuahia, Abia State. With them is Special Assistant on Media/ Publicity to Director-General, Mr. Adeniyi Odewale PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

•Pupils of GoldValley School at their first Easter Cantata and launch of a compact disc at De Hall Event Centre, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, LAgos

•Ace Music Producer, Olumide Ogunade ( ID Cabasa) (left); General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Mr. Kayode Idowu, Ace Music Producer, Amanyi Oche Gabriel (Terry G) and another Ace Music Producer, Doyinsola Joshua (D’Tunes) at a news conference to unveil the Naija Street Champ Challenge at the Club Royale, Ikeja, Lagos.

•Magistrate Patricia Titilola Ajose-Adeyemi (rtd) (second left) receiving a Crystal Recognition award fromDerin Odugbemi at the Citinet Economic Summit in Lagos. With them are, Mr Charles Adeyemi (left) and Citinet-International Co-ordinator, Mr. Ola Akintonwa

•Vice President, Retail Business, Schneider Electric, Tonye Briggs (left); Lagos State PRO, LECAN Bada Waheed and Adewale Adepitan, Retail Cluster Manager, Schneider Electric at the induction of Schneider Electric Green Currents loyalty program in Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

POLITICS

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

TARABA POLITICS

• Dankaro

• Yusuf

• Marafa

• Nyame

The race for the Senate has further divided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State. The camps of ailing Governor Dambaba Suntai and Acting Governor Garba Umar are at war. The aspirants supported by the governor are contesting against those enjoying the tacit support of the acting governor. As the gladiators prepare for the primaries, Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO examines the strengths and weaknesses of the contenders.

Taraba 2015: Clash of senatorial ambitions

OVERNOR Dambaba Suntai and Acting Governor Garba Umar are locked in a supremacy battle in Taraba State. The two leaders are throwing their weight behind different senatorial aspirants in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next year’s election. The tension between the two party leaders may escalate, ahead of the primaries.

Taraba North In Taraba North, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan has declared her interest in the governorship. Therefore, her seat will be vacant next year. Already, some aspirants are jostling for the seat. They include Rev. Jolly Tavuro Nyame and Ahmed Yusuf, an engineer.

Nyame He is the former governor of Taraba State. He hails from Zing Local Government Area. Nyame first ruled between 1992 and 1993. He was re-elected in 1999. In 2007, he bowed out of office, having completed two terms under the 1999 Constitution. The 58 year-old politician is a godfather to many politicians, including Governor Danbaba Suntai. He had wanted to become a senator since 2007. But, he dropped the idea when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made moves to prosecute him on allegations of financial fraud. Nyame, a cleric, contested for the Senate in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), but lost to Senator Aisha Alhassan of the PDP. He is now back in the PDP and he believes that he will get the ticket. He is popular and he has a strong political structure. Recently, Nyame reconciled with Suntai after over six years of frosty relationship. He also kicked against the proposal by Umar thatb he should be made the substantive governor.

Yusuf Yusuf served is a former Commissioner of Finance. He served in Nyame Administration. He was a strong stalwart of the PDP. But,

hhe defected to the ACN to contest for the gov ernorship. He was also a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Suntai persuaded him to return to the PDP. When he returned to the fold, he was appointed as the Chairman of the State Investments and Property Limited. Yusuf, an engineer from Jalingo, is very controversial. Observers have described him as the “Maradona” of Taraba politics . He knows the state’s voting strength and all the polling units by name. He is a a charismatic figure and a crowd puller. Having become a phenomenon in Taraba politics, his savvy and political profundity are both an advantage and a curse. Yusuf was recently sacked by the acting governor as the Chief of Staff iver some allegations.

Taraba Central In the Central Zone, Senator Abubakar Tutare has said there is no vacancy. He is seeking a fresh mandate.But, many contenders, including Bashir Marafa, have indicated interest to wrestle for the PDP ticket with him.

Bashir Marafa Bashir Marafa hails from Sardauna Local Government Area. He was elected into the House of Assembly thrice. He was a senatorial aspirant in 2001. But, he lost to Senator Abubakar Tutare at the primaries. To compensate him, Suntai appointed him as the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.To gain Suntai’s favour, it was alleged that he married the governor’s sister-in-law. But, during the political impasse, Marafa joined Umar in the rebellion against the governor. Marafa is a cheerful giver. He is a

grassroots politician. He is popular. and seen by many as a perfect gentleman who is deeply rooted in grassroots politics. However, he has been accused of disloyalty because he abandoned the governor in his trying period.

An architect, Dankaro is the Managing Director of Dasali Nigeria Limited. He is also a Consultant to Berger Paints Plc. The 50-year old politician hails from Takum. He is the son of the former Chairman of Nigerian Football Association (NFA) and Chairman Nigerian Sports Commission (NSC), the late Chief SunAbubakar Tutare day Dankaro. His father’s popularity is an added advantage to him. Since the crisis He is a former Finance and Works Com- broke out between Suntai and Umar, he missioner. That was between 2007 and has pitched his tent with the acting gover2010. He later became the Secretary to the nor. Government (SSG). He resigned as the Secretary to Government to vie for a seat in Adamu Ibrahim the Senate. Between 1999 and 2003, he was an aspirant for the House of RepreAdamu Ibrahim, 58, is a retired soldier. He sentatives. He lost to Dahiru Bako. was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) The 49 politician hails from Gassol Local 82 Division, Enugu. He retired as a Major GenGovernment Area. Central senatorial district. eral and joined the murky waters of politics. He is a popular politician. But, he is not To prove that he is not tired in his retirement, perceived as a vocal senator. General Ibrahim set up the ‘A-Dinota Group,’ The tragedy that has befallen Suntai is to a fuel ethanol producing firm, to engage the his advantage. Before the plane crash, the youths and turn around the fortunes of the governor was eyeing the Senate. Tutare is state. But, the firm did not see the light of the now an ally of the acting governor. day. Ibrahim hails from Wukari. He is among the Taraba South supporters of Umar, who want him to become the substantive governor. The senator representing Taraba South, The General is an intelligent and affable poliEmmanuel Bwacha, is now a governorship tician. But, some aspirants have vowed to aspirant. Therefore, the seat will be va- resist his military approach to political cant next year. The aspirants include scheming. Aliyu Dankaro, Adamu Ibrahim and Sam Taminu. Sam-Tsokwa Taminu

Aliyu Dankaro He is a veteran aspirant. In 2007, he lost the ticket to Senator Joel Ikenya. In 2011, he lost to Bwacha. Dankaro defected to the ACN and became its candidate. But, he lost his deposit. Few months later, he returned to the PDP.

‘Governor Dambaba Suntai and Acting Governor Garba Umar are locked in a supremacy battle in Tarabas State. The two leaders are throwing their weight behind different senatorial aspirants in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the next year’s election. The tension between the two party leaders may escalate, ahead of the primaries’

Sam-TsokwaTaminu is a lawyer. He is a member of the House of Representatives from Donga/Ussa/Takum Constituency. He was elected on the PDP platform for a second term in 2011. Born on May 29, 1959, Taminu hails from Takum Local Government Area. He is a former member of House of Assembly. he has also served as a commissioner. In spite of this pedigree, Taminu remains is a reclusive. He is not a vocal federal legislator. Suntai is his godfather. But, during the revolt against Suntai, Taminu defected to Umar’s camp. His foes are kicking against his senatorial ambition. But, as an observed said, he cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

POLITICS NATIONAL CONFERENCE Okun Development Association is the umbrella organisation articulating the interest of Okun and Oworo people in Kogi State. When its leaders recently paid a visit to Governor Idris Wada in Lokoja, the state capital, they protested the marginalisation of Yoruba in the state and offered suggestions on peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnic groups, Their views on the national conference is contained in their memorandum to the governor. Excerpts:

‘Yoruba in Kogi deserve better deal’

HEN Kogi State was created about 22 years ago, the Yoruba in the state had high hopes. Coming out the bitter experiences in the old Northern Region and Kwara State, and judging by its rich human and natural endowments, the state had very high potentials to be viable, if its human and natural resources were fully mobilised, deployed, distributed and exchanged, in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice. We have disturbing facts and figures about the way our state is going and as responsible stakeholders, we agreed among ourselves that we should, before anything else, meet with you and share the information with you. We came to Lokoja, believing strongly that: (a) Your Excellency wishes to promote the advancement and socio-economic uplift of the entire citizenry of the State in which the Okun people constitute an invaluable and principal actor. (b) Given the considerable level of frustration of our people, a forum like this would provide the Governor a veritable platform for a clearer perception of their feelings and accord our people their proper role that would engender patriotism in the interest of greater harmony and cohesion in the state. We wish to acquaint you with some of the sore concerns of our people and their present level of alienation and grave disadvantage, experienced perennially from manifest inequity, unfairness and marginalization in the scheme and skewed process of governance, especially from the aegis of the civilian administrations in the State since 1991 when Kogi State was created. Successive civilian governments in the state have compounded the trend of marginalization to a level that has become intolerable to the generality of our people. This is why we have decided to bring to the notice of the governor, the deplorable state of affairs meted out to our people by the state, with the hope that you will take urgent steps to reverse their fortunes positively. We have done this order to bring home palpably and unmistakably, the enormity of the inequity in the distribution of amenities, infrastructure, appointments and public goods suffered by our people relative to other pillars of the state and the East Senatorial District in particular. Our state is ailing and the ship of state is being assailed by a potentially disruptive storm. And we daresay that much of the adversity that afflicts the state is self-inflicted. Kogi State is built on three pillars of East, Central and West senatorial districts. These are like the three engines of a wide-bodied aircraft. Society thrives best if it upholds the time-tested principles of equity, justice and fairness. A man who has three wives, but chooses to fend for the needs of only one of them and her offspring would be deliberately inviting trouble into his own home. Based on repeated vicious circle of mistreatment, the average Okun citizen has become cynical, to the extent that he/she believes that there are positions in this State that he/she cannot and, indeed dare not, aspire to occupy simply by virtue of the place of his/ her birth, curiously in a democratic/ civilian government. No Okun person has ever been the Chief Executive of this state. No Okun citizen has been a substantive Accountant-General or the Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration. Our numerical strength in the work force has continued to acutely decline, even in the education sector where we undoubtedly excel above other groups in the state. We now, more concretely present

• Wada

illustrated profile of the state of unequal but conscious pattern of distribution of amenities, positions and offices in the state. Political Appointments: Of a weighted total of 293 political appointments by the Government of Kogi State, Kogi East carries the lion’s share of 166, Kogi Central has 51 and Kogi West takes 71. This amounts to 56.6 per cent for the East Senatorial District. Staff Disposition in the Civil Service: We are alarmed by the dwindling presence and influence of our people in the state civil service and unless urgent steps are taken to address the situation, the prospects are grim for us. At the creation of the state in August 1991, the size of the civil service stood at 19,806. Of this, Kogi East had 9,769 (about 49 per cent); Kogi West, 8,244 (about 41 per cent) while Kogi Central had 1,995 (about 10 per cent) members of staff. However, by 2013, the work force had ballooned to 35,209 (an increase of almost 78 per cent). Out of this, Kogi East has 24,621 (about 70 per cent); Kogi West, 6,519 (almost 19 per cent) while Kogi Central has 4,069 (almost 11 per cent). These figures show that while the relative share of the Igala/Bassa group has shot up consistently, that of the Okun/Lokoja/ Kotonkarfe group stagnated for a while before it began to dwindle dangerously. Civil Service Appointments (Directorate Cadre): Out of 637 positions, Kogi East carts 318, Kogi Central takes 124 and Kogi West gets 195. Kogi East sweeps nearly 50 per cent of the total directorate level positions in the civil service. Kogi State University: Although its name suggests that this institution belongs to and is indeed funded with the resources of the entire state, the staffing at all levels seems to portray it as belonging to Kogi East alone. All the vice chancellors of the university so far have been Igala. The same goes for the Director of Works. The Registrar and Librarian of the institution are at present also from Kogi East. Of the total staff strength of 1,516 in the university, 1,118 or 73.7 per cent are from Kogi East, Kogi Central has 62 (4.09 percent), Kogi West has 115 or 7.6 per cent while non indigenes constitute15.2 per cent of the work force with 230. Of the total senior staff of 855, Kogi East with 486 takes the lion’s share of 56.7 per cent, Kogi Central has 43 (6.8 per cent), Kogi West, 105 or 16.6 per cent while non indigenes with

• Prof. Eyitayo Lambo

221 make up the balance of 25.9 per cent. The picture for junior staff is per haps benumbing to say the least. Kogi East takes up 632 (94 per cent) of the total of 661. Kogi Central has 19 (2.8 per cent); Kogi West has 10 (1.5 per cent) while non indigenes with nine make up the balance of 1.4 per cent. Of all the Secretaries to the State Government appointed in the life of the State, Kogi East has occupied the position seven times; Kogi Central, two times and Kogi West thrice. Accountant-General: All officers that have occupied this critical position, except for once by Kogi Central have been from Kogi East. Of the 18 Honourable Commissioners in the State, nine are from Kogi East, five from the West and four from Central Districts respectively. Kogi East takes 50 per cent of the allocation. Indeed, in clear departure from the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, one of our local government areas, Ijumu has no Commissioner in Your Excellency’s cabinet. This is a disturbing aberration, regardless of how it came about. Office of the Head of Service: Four of the most critical positions here are the Head of Service, the Permanent Secretary Administration, Director of Administration and the Director of Staff Welfare are all held by people from Kogi East! They determine posting, staff welfare and accommodation. Two of the other positions are held by Kogi Central and only one post is held by Kogi West. Government House: Even at the Government House here, there appears to be a deliberate and total lockout of non-Kogi East persons in critical career and appointive positions. Indeed, the occupation of other ethnic groups except from Kogi East of the major offices has become a customary misnomer. We are aware that the positions of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Permanent Secretary, Administration and Director-General (Protocol) are held exclusively by people from the East senatorial district. The recent promotion of the erstwhile Director-General, Protocol to the position of Permanent Secretary and his subsequent transfer out of Government House presented an opportunity to give an Okun person who has been his deputy for years to assume the position. However, another officer of Kogi East extraction was hurriedly procured from another agency to take the position. Also the last time we checked, the Special Adviser, Special

Duties (Government House), Special Adviser (Security) and the Special Adviser (Media) are all from the Igala/ Bassa axis. Ministry of Finance: Only the Commissioner of Finance and the Accountant-General attend federation account allocation meetings and they alone can ascertain State allocations from that account. The two of them are from Kogi East. Not only that, the AuditorGeneral is also from Kogi East. Ministry of Local Government: All of the seven officers here are from Kogi East, including the Commissioner and Permanent Secretary as well as the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission. Distribution of Permanent Secretaries in Kogi State Civil Service: Of the 36 Permanent Secretaries in the Civil Service, 18 are from Kogi East, eleven from Kogi West and seven from Kogi Central. Kogi East takes 50 per cent of the allocation. The above statistics suffice to establish from these appointment and positional structures that Kogi East controls, firmly, all the administrative and financial machinery of the State. It is obvious that staff posting carried out by the office of the Head of Service is determined by ethnic imperative rather than by merit. The general picture graphically presented here is skewed toward Kogi East in pattern and structure of appointment scale. This reveals that Kogi East maintains a drowning dominance over and above the two other Districts put together. Kogi East produces, generally over almost 70 per cent of the State’s work-force. This runs grossly foul of the quantity and quality of the productivity scale of the populace. This grave imbalance bespeaks inequity and gross injustice such that provides a recipe for social discontent, citizen alienation and insecurity, if not promptly addressed by a responsive government as we believe your administration is poised to be portrayed before the citizens of the state across board and before the national spectrum. Security Your Excellency, a critical index of good governance, globally, is the state of security of lives and property. Today, Okunland is the most insecure segment of the State. Armed robbers are on perennial prowl on all the roads that lead to Okunland from Lokoja (through Obajana and Okene) and from Ilorin (through Eruku/ Egbe). People commute these roads with the greatest trepidation and justifiable fear, at all times of the day. In the towns and villages in Okunland, there is no guarantee of security of lives and property. Banks are incessantly robbed with numerous lives lost and money looted by gun-running persons to the extent that, virtually all banks are shut to customers on a near-permanent basis and transactions are hardly possible.Our findings from the Army and Police authorities confirmed that they lack adequate vehicles and appropriate logistics to carryout regular patrols in the area. Unemployment Okunland faces a very grave unemployment crisis, particularly among the youth. Your Excellency is well aware of the communicational and economic importance of road access in the lives of people. It not only enhances social interaction and exchange, it enhances

‘No Okun person has ever been the Chief Executive of this state. No Okun citizen has been a substantive Accountant-General or the Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration. Our numerical strength in the work force has continued to acutely decline, even in the education sector where we undoubtedly excel above other groups in the state’

economic growth, especially in economies like ours whose mainstay is agriculture. There is a crucial road infrastructure deficit in Okunland. All roads linking the various communities and all roads linking the people to the rest of Kogi State and its borders are virtually impassable. From Lokoja to Kabba, from Omuooke in Ekiti State to Kabba, from Ondo State via Ajowa and Ayere to Kabba, and from Ilorin via Egbe to Kabba, all the road networks are in acute stage of disrepair. Though some of the roads are said to be federal roads, yet we all know that it is not the federal government that plies those roads. While available records show that 70 per cent of the state’s internally generated revenue is derived from Central and West senatorial districts, 80 per cent of capital projects are sited in East senatorial district. In many of our communities, people struggle daily with livestock to bail water from the streams that had been abandoned when, courtesy of the military administrations in Kwara State, potable water was available to them through boreholes. Education Today, there is no functioning tertiary institution, state or federal owned in Okunland. The College of Education (Technical) purportedly located in Kabba exists only in name. It has no structures, no teachers and no budgetary allocation. There is a sign board somewhere in Kabba announcing its presence but that is all there is to it. Pension The disarray in the administration of pension in the state deserves to be urgently remedied. There is a general feeling that the state has adopted the policy of non-payment of gratuity to retiring civil servants. For people to serve their state for 35 years and are thereafter thrown into the streets empty handed does not speak well of us as a people. The reward for service to the state should not be utter impoverishment. Our prayers Bold and urgent steps are taken to correct the patent lopsidedness in the distribution of political offices such that all parts of the state are made to have a sense of belonging. In particular, we demand that a Commissioner from Ijumu Local Government Area be appointed without further delay. •The administration should take steps to halt the continued decimation of Okun and Oworo people in the civil service and that qualified and competent Okun and Oworo indigenes in the service are appointed into positions commensurate with their training and experience. •Equal attention is given to the revival of decayed infrastructure in all parts of the state. • Rather than the present approach of allocating political offices, we would like to recommend that all available positions be put in a basket and shared based on the principles of equity and fairness. In this regard, for instance, it should be possible to correct the misnomer in having both the Commissioners of Works and Finance come from the same district. •Urgent steps are taken to reduce the current large number of Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants to the Governor. The law establishing Kogi State University should be revised to facilitate decentralization of the institution to enable it fulfill the dreams of its founding fathers. •This administration should commence payment without delay, of gratuity to civil servants who retired in the last two years and also sustain payment to those who retire forthwith. In addition, government should intensify steps to source funds to clear the backlog of gratuity to those who left service before the inception of this administration.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18 2014

COMMENTARY

“I

NDEED, only Allah knows the Hour (of death); He sends down the rain and knows what is contained in the wombs (of prospective mothers). No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow; no soul knows in what land it will die or be buried. Indeed, Allah alone is all-Knower and He is well acquainted with all things”. Q. 31:34. Cries! Wailings! Tears! Sorrow! Those are the appropriate words with which to describe the tragic occurrence in Nyanya area of Abuja, last Monday morning, which fortuitously put the whole country on the extreme edge. The place was a popular motor park in the suburb of Abuja city. Like a devastating earthquake, a single bang of bomb blast erupted from devil’s own enclave and instantly sent scores of innocent people, including women and children, to the world beyond without any prior premonition. And when the electronic waves, especially the cable networks, throbbed with the sad news, the entire world shivered restlessly in frightful perplexity. The displayed pictures of the scene did not help the matter. It was indeed a devil’s day of action. But Oh God! Why this again? That was the common question on the lips of millions of Nigerians. Given that situation and its sudden occurrence, it became impossible to know the casualty figure immediately as families, friends and relatives trooped to the scene to look out for their beloved ones. But when the dust settled later, conflicting figures began to emerge from different sources. Some put them as 150, some said called them 200 and others estimated them to be 140. But the official figure which many Nigerians did not believe was 71. The fortuitous news of the misfortune simply mirrored the fang of destiny and precipitated untold agony across the African continent. The Global Mobile System (GSM) became unusually busy as parents, relatives, friends and business partners in Diaspora started to call in order to know whether or not their beloved ones were affected. All these were greeted by lamentations in the semblance of medicine applied to the corpse of a lifeless body. The rest is a story not meant for today.

Irony of life

If life is said to have an irony, this implacable tragedy is a typical example. Or how can one explain the situation whereby people who were innocently in pursuit of their daily bread; parents who were taking their children or wards to school; wives who saw off their travelling husbands to the garage; husbands who went to ‘drop’ theirs wives at the garage where they could join the buses that would convey them to their offices and newly employed youths who were going to resume work for the first time; all just fell to the claw of one destiny unplanned? Later in the day, it dawned on some parents who were expecting their children back from school that they had seen the last of them when the latter were going to school in the morning. Bachelors and spinsters who left home with the key of their rooms in their pockets would have the doors to those rooms broken after their demise. What a nightmare! What a dramatic turn of event! And the agents of Satan who precipitated that evil act would lurk in some corners to laugh away the agony of their victims not knowing what agony is awaiting them too. Our tears, our sorrow and our lamentations can only express our feeling. They can neither replace the lost lives nor bring restitution to their relatives. No amount of money can compensate for a lost life.

Natural demarcation

The demarcation between life and death is like the diaphragm between the thoracic and abdominal cavities. It takes only the grace of Allah for that diaphragm to sustain the natural but mysterious demarcation that keeps man intact until the otherwise happens. Death, like birth, is a divinely scheduled programme in the life of man. It is a phenomenon specially shrouded in mystery. The circumstances that precede death are beyond the predictions or permutations of man. They cannot be foretold except by sheer deception. Every soothsayer will die with his soothsaying and no atom of the world

FEMI ABBAS ON

“Man comes into the world and while he lives, he embarks upon a series of activities absorbing experience which enables him to formulate a philosophy of life and to chart his causes of action; but then, he dies; nevertheless, his biography remains a guide for those of the living who may need guidance either as a warning on the vanity of human wishes or as an example or both....”. Incidentally, Dr. Azikiwe was a journalist.

Public reactions

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Enough is enough

•A scene from the blast

will feel his exit. Kings die as much as slaves. Masters die as much as servants. And all together will lie helplessly beneath the earth without distinction. Because of its invisibility death is known only to the living as no dead person ever knows what has happened to him even as he cruises ahead in his dream-like sojourn to an unknown destination. The painful lamentations that follow the death of a person by his relatives and associates can never remedy that natural occurrence. Times and places may be different, but we shall all join the train of death one day.

Parable of coffin

From the very first day of man’s conception in the mother’s womb, a parable has occurred in his life. That parable is of a coffin. When a child is perfectly pearled in the womb of a mother, it hardly occurs to anybody that what we generally call pregnancy is a coffin in which the child lives all alone to enjoy the naturally provided facilities. While there, he knows neither the source of those facilities nor his next destination. But when he is eventually delivered into the world he feels ejected from the home of pleasure and cries out profusely in protest. Yet, it is that cry that gives assurances and comfort to those who usher him into the world. Yes, the world, in the eyes of sheer mortal beings, is quite large. But it remains a coffin for everybody as its large size is only to enable it to accommodate as many humans as possible which a woman’s womb cannot contain. Even as small as the womb of a mother is it sometimes accommodates two or three or four or even more children to confirm the concept of coffin in which man lives. Just as twins or triplets or quadruplets or even quintets are born on the same day and into the same hands so do people randomly die in singles or doubles or multiples sometimes at the same hour and at the same place even if they never knew one another. We only ignorantly move about in our individual coffins of life and behave as if the pendulum of death has nothing to do with us. And when the unexpected occurs the remembrance of whence we emanated or wither we are bound is completely lost on us. The entire planet called the earth is nothing but one big graveyard in which billions, even trillions of people had been

buried through the millennia. There is no single piece of land (even one foot) on earth that has not served as a grave in which skeletons of humans have been buried. Yet the same earth keeps beckoning to us in drones, indicating that she still has space in abundance for those whose time is up for transiting from life to death. And as we had no say in the choice of the mothers who piloted us into this world so we have no say in the choice of that portion of the earth that will pilot us into the hereafter. Our world is a transit along the unknown journey that transforms us from the living to the dead. The choice of place and time of where death will occur are determined only by the Supreme Being who created us and will ask us for the account of our existence on this earth.

Inseparable web

Death is the inseparable web of life from which no man can escape. The time, the place and the mode are the factors that make it a mysterious phenomenon. Whenever we are inside or outside our residences we must be conscious that we are in a coffin. Whenever we are in a vehicle, in an aircraft, in a ship or a train, we must not forget that we are in a coffin. If that coffin has not been closed on us it is only because the time is not yet ripe for death to lay its icy hand on us. There is no armour against death. That is why the Almighty Allah says in the Qur’an thus: “Say, verily, the death from which you are fleeing is bound to overtake you and then you will be brought back unto Him who knows all that is beyond the reach of human perception as well as all that cannot be witnessed by a creatures’ senses or mind, whereupon He will make you truly understand all that you were brought to do in life”. Q. 62: 8

Experience

Were an unborn baby to have a choice on whether or not to exit from its mother’s womb it would have preferred to stay put. But if the baby did not exit from its mother’s womb, how would it enjoy the pleasurable bounties of this world? This is the scenario which Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, gave a deep thought in the introduction to his autobiography (My Odyssey) when he wrote thus:

No sooner that the Nyanya tragedy occurred last Monday morning than reactions started pouring from all parts of the country and even the Diaspora. Many Muslim organisations and individuals reacted bitterly and expressed deep concern about what the issue of insecurity in becoming in the country. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in particular issued a press release in which it expressed sadness and condoled with the families of the victims. Read the full text of the press release below: Enough is Enough For the umpteen times the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) is hereby lamenting and condemning the bomb blast that once again occurred in Nyanya, Abuja in which scores of innocent Nigerians were killed in cold blood. For how long will these lamentations and condemnations continue in a country that is supposed to be guided by law is the capital question for now. We have a three tier government to which the citizenry look for protection and necessary provision of social amenities. Yet, feeling security look alien to an average Nigerian. Where is the place of loyalty and patriotism in this? Nigeria has consistently had a government in place for decades since independence (in civilian costume and military uniform) there has never been any difference. Is this a matter of carelessness or one of complacency? We need to ask ourselves where we are coming from and where are we going from here? Unless these questions are sincerely answered and the necessary decisions are taken at the appropriate time any hope of graduating from a country into a nation may end up in forlorn. Today’s precarious experience is not peculiar to Nigeria. Some other countries have passed through similar experience in their history. The only seeming difference is that while others were very serious in tackling such a horrible situation, the required seriousness is conspicuously absent in our own case. We prefer to pass the bulk even where bulk passing serves no purpose. It is strange that in a country which claims to be civilised is still applying an 18th Century solution to a 21st Century problem and yet expecting a deserving result. Treating the effect of an ailment while ignoring its cause as Nigeria seems to have been doing in the past three years is like scratching a monster on the head. While we do not necessarily need to repeat here that security is not about bayonets and tanks alone we are constrained to warn that with the current situation, Nigeria may have become engaged in a war of attrition with criminals who may have undisclosed scores to settle with country. And such a situation will rather require strategy and wisdom than military might to be tackled. We have lost enough lives to those who do not value their own lives let alone those of others. There is enough evidence to show that the same strategy used in the past three years has become obsolete for the problem at hand and it must be urgently changed. Condoling with victims of terrorism now and then can never proffer solution a seemingly insuperable problem like the one currently faced by Nigeria. Enough of losing lives of women, children and innocent Nigerians without any hope for a better option. As usual, we painfully condole with the families of the victims of this latest tragedy and all Nigerians who are directly or indirectly touched by the devastating effect of that tragedy believing that another one will not be allowed to occur soon. We pray the Almighty Allah to spare this country of a calamity which may not consume only those who wrought it but also the very innocent ones who know nothing about it. God save Nigeria for us and for those coming behind us. Amen!

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

SOCIETY

Ibiyemi, daughter of The Nation General Manager (Corporate Services) Mr Soji Omotunde, wedded her beau, John Ikechukwu, at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Praise Palace, New Oko-Oba in Lagos last Saturday. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO writes.

HE hall of La Royale Events Centre at New Oko-Oba in Lagos went up in celebration. Occupants of the front seats to those at the back, were all on their foot, dancing. Sister Bukola Bekes, a songstress at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and The Paradise Minstrels thrilled the gathering. The hall was electrified with irresistible soul-inspiring songs, and the guests responded with beautiful dance steps. Make no mistake, the gathering was not for Holy Ghost camp, Congress or Convention, rather a wedding reception between Ibiyemi Omoyeme, daughter of The Nation General Manager (Training and development), Mr Soji Omotunde and her beau John Ifeanyi Ikechukwu. The hall was tastefully decorated. The colour blended well with the colour of the uniformed attire, chosen for the ceremony. The bridal’s seat was awesome, backing a stylish satin clothes used to decorate the stage. The couple thrilled the gathering with good dance style while coming into the hall. They were led in by the bridal’s train. The groom, John, looked resplendent in an ash suit, a pink shirt and tie and matching pair of shoes. Delectable Ibiyemi, the bride shone in a white flowing gown, silver wrist watch and ear rings with beautiful shoes. The lovebird was the cynosure of all eyes. The groom’s men equally decked in same type of attire with the groom while the bride’s maids turned out in pink Ankara fabrics. Guests stood to catch a glimpse of the couple’s grand entry. It was preceded by their parents’ entry who danced through the hall to the seats reserved for them on the front row. The couple barely seated before the Masters of Ceremony led by a comedian, JC Victor called on Pastor Fred Thomas for the opening prayer. Chairman on the occasion, Mr Lekan Kareem, took the microphone after the prayer. Kareem congratulated the couple and their parents. He wished them successful marriage and long life in good health. He enjoined John and Ibiyemi to always be each other’s friend. “Always resolve your differences quietly and avoid third party’s intervention except God,” he said. Kareem urged the lovebird to always take decision together. The cutting of the four-layered cake was supervised by the emcee. Before feeding each other, the emcee asked the couple to show their love for the gathering and the couple kissed. This drew laughter from the hall. After feeding each other, one of the groom’s men, Oluwamuyiwa Akinmejiwa proposed the toast. Miss Damilola Sadiq, a banker and one of the bride’s maids beat other contestants to pick the bouquet thrown by Ibiyemi. The couple later returned to the dance floor with family members, guests and other well-wishers joining them. Earlier on at The Redeemed Chris-

A conjugal bliss •The couple Ibiyemi and John dancing

•Bride’s parents, Mr Omotunde and his wife Emiede

•Groom’s parents, Mr and Mrs Tony Ikechukwu

•Mr Dele Ogunsakin, representing Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left) and Mr Kareem

•Mr and Chief John Omotunde

•Pastor David Omuagbe (left) and Pastor Seye Adeniyi

•Mr Sola Fasure (left) and Mr Dipo Famakinwa

tian Church of God (RCCG) Praise Palace, (Lagos Province 17 Headquarters), New Oko-Oba, the couple was declared man and wife having fulfilled the rites of marriage. The church choir thrilled the gathering for 15 minutes before the ser-

vice commenced. After this, Mr Omotunde, a Pastor led his daughter in. The solemnisation featured processional hymn, praise and worship, bible reading, congregational hymn, joining and blessing, choir ministra-

tion, signing of marriage register and recessional hymn. A sermon was delivered by Pastor Thomas. However, it was Pastor-in-Charge Lagos Province 17 David Omunagbe who anchored the most interesting

part of the solemnisation – the joining of the couple as one and their presentation to the gathering. Shortly after joining them as man •Continued on page 50

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

SOCIETY

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS

Acceptance Speech

•The couple, assisted by their parents to cut the cake during the engagment

•Mr and Mrs Yemi Akeju

•Mr and Mrs Olusola Ogunsakin

•Pastor and Mrs Remi Oluboba

•Mr Ademola Oyinlola (left) and Mr Ayodele Akinkuotu

•Mr and Mrs Dare Babarinsa

•Mr Gboyega Ajibodu (left) and Mr Taye Adenekan

•From left: Margaret Ijeh; Srinivasan Hariharan; Parikshit Chandna; Ayo Adeboye and Bravo Kim. •Continued from page 49

and wife, the latest couple signed marriage certificate with their parents. John, a Field Service Engigeer with Schnieder Electric, described his wife as humble, loving, God fearing and intelligent. “Immediately she came into my life and today that God has actually confirmed it, I see the completeness in me. The rib that God took out of me to cre-

ate her is now back to my body. So, I feel complete and I feel so joyous and am so happy about that,” said the Delta State-born groom. Ibiyemi, the Samsung Electronics West Africa MDF Analyst, described her husband as loving and kind-hearted. “What attracts him to me is his commitment in church, a very loving person who is always ready to render assistants;

•From left: Danny Kim; Sunil Kumar; Chukwuma Ofoma and Mannohan Chandroth PHOTO S : DAYO ADEWUNMI, NIYI ADENIRAN AND SIMEON OKOSUN

he has a kind heart and most especially his love for God,” she said. Mr Omotunde said: “Today is my day of being blessed, my day of rejoicing, my day of celebration when my daughter is getting married. I see everything happening by the grace of God. I see today as a very wonderful day in my family. So, that is why you can see me smiling and happy.”

The bride’s father urged the couple to continue allow God to dictate their way of life. Representative of the groom’s father,‘ Tony Ikechukwu, an engineer, prayed God to give the couple the wisdom, the understanding, the love and the peace of marriage. “Above all, they will live to carry their children’s children and will live a long life and a prosperous one,” he said.

N 1942, Greer Garson, a British-born actress, received seven Academy Award nominations. An Academy Award is a recognition given by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to recognize the excellent performances of film professionals in the movie indusAMODU LANRE OLAOLU try such as directors, actors and ( Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. writers among others. So, out 07034737394 of the seven nominations, @lanreamodu Greer Garson won in the Best Actress category for the movie Mrs. Miniver. What is so important about Garson's award that is worthy of mention? I'll tell you. Greer Garson's acceptance speech entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest in the history of the Academy! How long do you think the speech was? Thirty minutes? One hour? Two hours? Far from it; her speech lasted five minutes and 30 seconds! How bad could a five minutes speech have been anyway? Well, if you consider that several people were presented with awards that same night, it becomes important to limit the time used by each recipient. Hence, the Academy restricted the winners to a 45-second deadline ever since. This brings us to our topic of today, which is acceptance speech. This can simply be defined as the response given by the recipient of an award in appreciation of the recognition. From what has been said so far today, I'm sure you know that acceptance speeches should be very brief. Nevertheless, there are two very important factors that may affect the length of your speech: •Single recipient award: in this situation, an award ceremony is specially organized for a single deserving individual. Here, since a whole ceremony is dedicated to an individual, the individual may have the luxury of a few more minutes to speak. Of course, it is still not expected to be long. •Multiple recipient awards: in this case, several people are being recognised and one person may not be considered more important than the others. In order to ensure that they all have their moments, time limit is given for their speeches. There are three major elements that an effective acceptance speech should contain. They are the elements of: •Gratitude: since you are being appreciated for your excellent performance, you should also appreciate the people presenting you with the award. Not only that, you should acknowledge people who contributed to your success because you could not have done it all by yourself. This is, perhaps, one of the most important parts of the speech. For instance, if you are being recognized for being the best staff of your organization for the year, you should know that if your other colleagues did not cooperate with you, you wouldn't achieve the success. So, share the appreciation. Please note that you can't possibly appreciate everyone directly or remotely connected with your success. Acknowledge only the most important ones. That reminds me of another record setting speech given by Olivia Mary de Havilland when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946. At that ceremony, she set the record for the most people thanked in an Oscar acceptance speech by thanking 27 people. •Humility: it is important that you are humble in your acceptance. Can you imagine a recipient saying this, "I want to thank the organizers of this award for giving me this well deserved award. No doubt that no one deserves it better than me. In fact, the list of my achievements is much longer than the one read here. Did you know that I singlehandedly build an orphanage? …" Wouldn't you lose respect instantly for that individual? The more humble you are, the more people believe you really deserve the award. Michael and Suzanne Osborn, in their book on public speaking, quoted part of Elie Wiesel's acceptance speech when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. According to them, Wiesel said, "It is with a profound sense of humility that I accept the honour you have chosen to bestow upon me." You can't but admire such modesty. •Value for the award: you should be able to show your audience that you are conscious of the responsibility that comes with the award. Now you have become an example for others to emulate. Accept the award with all sense of responsibility and tell your audience how much you value it. Tell them what that award means to you personally. For instance, if you are given an award for the Best Salesman of the Year in your place of work, you may say something like this, "as I hold this award in my hand, with much honour and respect, I realise that I have been given the rare privilege of sharing in the pride of our esteemed organization. I realise that all eyes will be on me from now on to be an example to my young colleagues in this room today. And I promise right now that I will not disappoint your expectations." Accepting responsibility will make your audience see that you don't think you have 'arrived,' but that you believe it is a time to renew your commitment to the organisation. Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

BUSINESS EXTRA

‘New GDP places Nigeria on faster economic growth’

HE Executive Secretary of the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Carlos Lopes, has said the emergence of Nigeria’s new Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has placed the country in a new world economic perspective for faster growth. Lopes told reporters yesterday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the upward review of the GDP had significant implications on the economy through the application of the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA). He said: “Nigeria’s new GDP has important implica-

tions for the rest of the continent. It raises the question of whether or not there are other African economies with a systematically underestimated GDP. “Using a recent base year and applying the 2008 System of National Accounts (2008 SNA) implies that the price structure is more representative of the economy.” Lopes explained that a wider basket of products and activities were considered when national accounts were calculated. The executive secretary said the result of the re-benchmarking of Nigeria’s accounts suggested that the real size of

many African economies might likely be larger than their current estimates. “It also suggests that as a whole, the role of the African continent in the global economy might have been underestimated,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s nominal GDP had nearly doubled; becoming Africa’s largest economy and the 26th largest economy in the world after it was re-based with the application of the 2008 SNA. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the latest GDP estimate of N80.2 trillion, or $509.9 billion, is 89

per cent higher than the previous figure, based on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) average exchange rate for last year. Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio had dropped from 19 per cent to 11 per cent. The GDP is attributable to the emergence of new economic activities, particularly the growing services sector. This encompasses telecommunications, banking and entertainment services with the share of services in GDP rising from 29 per cent to 52 per cent. Lopes hoped that a more diverse economy would

strengthen consumer base to attract more foreign direct investments. “In releasing the new GDP figure, NBS made available all the data and methodological bases. “This shows the maturity of the Nigerian statistical system, which is a foundation for good governance and sound policy and decision-making,” he said. NAN reports that ECA’s 2014 African Centre for Statistics survey showed that seven African countries still based their GDP on 1990 data or earlier years. Ten countries have their base-years between 1991 and 2000 while 19 others have baseyears between 2001 and 2005.

Dozie Ezigbalike, the Head of the African Centre for Statistics at ECA, said only Nigeria and eight other African countries had partially or wholly adopted the 2008 SNA, while the other countries were still using previous versions. “As shown by Nigeria’s case, it is crucial for African countries to regularly re-base and re-benchmark their GDP figures, considering current lists in the basket of products and activities that better capture the size, structure, and trends of economy. “It is also important that countries use the same classification and methodologies for better cross-country comparisons and regional integration,” Ezigbalike said.

‘Perishable food sellers lose N84m daily’

• From left: General Manager, Consumer Products Division, Sekou Coulibaly and Managing Director, Idorenyen Enang L’Oreal Central West Africa and Chief Executive Officer, House of Tara, Tara Fela Durotoye at the media launch of Maybelline Clear Smooth All in One Powder held in Lagos. PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Transcorp to raise $1b for power plants

RANSNATIONAL Cor poration of Nigeria Plc, which has interests in industries ranging from agriculture to oil, plans to raise as much as $1 billion to build power plants as it seeks to triple profit in 2014. “We think we can reach financial close by January 2015 and start construction” of a 1,000 megawatt gas plant, its Chief Executive Officer Obinna Ufudo, said in Lagos. The company will explore fundraising options including bank loans, selling shares or bonds, he said. Nigeria sold control of 14 power companies to new owners last year including Siemens AG, Korea Electric Power Corporation and Lagos-based Transcorp to attract private investment to reduce blackouts. Transcorp bought the Ughelli gas plant in the Niger

Delta and plans to boost its output to 700 megawatts by the end of the year after spending as much as $300 million on turbine repairs, Ufudo said. An increase in power generation capacity will help treble pretax profit to N30 billion ($185 million) this year, Ufudo said. “With the kind of expansion we plan in key sectors we operate, our vision is to make about N160 billion in profit by 2018,” he said. Transcorp was set up in 2004 to invest in industries in Africa’s biggest economy. The company is 44 per cent owned by Chairman Tony Elumelu and its market capitalisation has increased almost tenfold to N149.4 billion since 2008, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The shares fell 0.8 per cent to N3.86 by the close in Lagos yesterday. Transcorp plans to start the $500 million construction of

three “international standard hotels” this year in the capital Abuja, Lagos and the oil-rich Rivers State and it will upgrade the existing 670-room Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Ufudo said. The company said it plans to build eight hotels under the Hilton brand by 2018. Ufudo said: “With improved occupancy and performance, our hospitality business is contributing to profit. With Nigeria a strategic investment destination in Africa, we expect the hospitality business to continue to improve.” A rebasing of the way Nigeria’s economy is measured for the first time in two decades showed that it’s the biggest on the continent, larger than South Africa’s, the National Bureau of Statistics said April 6. The country is Africa’s most populous with

about 170 million people and also the continent’s biggest oil producer. Transcorp opened a fruit concentrate production plant in Benue State last year with a capacity of 26,500 metric tons a year, Ufudo said. The company has secured land to start construction of another factory with a capacity of about 100,000 to 120,000 metric tons. “As the nation imports almost all of its fruit concentrate, the market is there for us to take,” he said. The company is awaiting regulatory approval to begin pumping oil from its Lease 281 in the Niger River delta, Ufudo said. Transcorp jointly owns an oil lease with Johannesburg-based SacOil Holding Ltd. (SCL) and Londonbased Energy Equity Resources Ltd. “We’ll start drilling this year if we get the approval,” Ufudo said.

Fashola to Fed Govt: solve power problem with missing $20b

AGOS State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has advised the Federal Government to intensify efforts to recover missing $20billion, saying the money could help resolve the challenge of electricity in the country. He gave the advice yesterday while commissioning Addo- Kekere, Lagbasa and Ajah Badore Roads in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state. He said: “If the Federal Government finds the $20 billion that is missing, we will have constant power supply. I know that if we have $1 billion, we will have 1, 000 megawatts of electricity in the country. So that is equivalent of 20, 000 megawatts.”

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Speaking on the current security challenge in the country, the governor charged Lagosians to be vigilant, saying security has been beefed up in motor parks across the state. “This is holiday period; we have to be vigilant. I know a large percentage of residents of Lagos will be travelling out of the state to celebrate the Easter with their relatives. And others will be travelling into the state. “I have met with all the leaders of the motor parks in the state and we will improve security in motor parks and other public facilities in the

state. “These are difficult times and they don’t last long. It is tough and sensible people that survive. Every family and community go through some tough times. And I know that we are tough people and we will last. “It is not enough to be tough, we have to be vigilant, sensible, love and secure ourselves. We are doing everything that we can to ensure that there is adequate security in the state. Your communities are safe and continue to do your business and duties lawfully.” He urged residents of the state to continue to tolerate one another and live in peaceful co-existence.

“At the moment, we should not be concerned about religion divides rather we should concern about how to improve security in the country. What is important is prosperity for all. “Not how people worship but the provision of basic amenities and to provide security. As we all travel, we should be vigilante. Whenever you get to any motor parks, look at the person next to you because we cannot pretend that we are not aware anymore,” he added. The governor who also inspected some housing projects in the axis counselled that, “ The basic things we should begin to do now is to raise alarm whenever we discover any strange car in our community.”

RADERS that deal on perishable goods in Mile 12, Market lose about N84million daily, a research conducted with marketers and transporters of perishable goods in the market has shown. Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, who disclosed this yesterday at a press conference in Alausa, said perishable goods such as tomatoes, onion, and pepper among others are mostly affected. He said the research revealed that perishable goods entering the Mile 12 market everyday is 600 metric tons, adding that 240 tons or 40 per cent of the total valued at about N84 million is wasted daily. He explained that one way the state government is working to reduce the loss is by adopting a more modern means of transportation that will reduce the incident by between 25 and 30 per cent. He said: “In order to reduce the loss, the state government is changing the mode of transportation of produce within the state to a modern one that will reduce spoilage by about 25 per cent. As at today, advertisement has been sent to the Lagos State

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Procurement Agency and within the next one or two weeks, investors wishing to invest in transportation and packaging value chain are advised to express their interest.” He said it behoves on Lagos as a megacity to revolutionise the method of transportation and packaging in the market. “Our future plan is also to ensure that conditioning centres are located in our major markets,” he said.

PUBLIC NOTICE CHIKELUE

I formerly known and address as CHISOM JENNIFER CHIKELUE Now wish to be known and addressed as CHISOM JENNIFER UDOHCHUKWU. All former documents remains valid, general public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original title document of the Lagos State Certificate Of Occupancy Registered as NO39/39/ 1986B dated 12th March 1986 of the property located at Mende Village ,Maryland in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Survey Plan No.PSL 314 annexed to Occupancy aforementioned belonging to MRS. NKEOBI UMENDUKA OF 9, KODE STREET, MENDE,MARYLAND, LAGOS STATE. All effort made to trace it prove abortive. If found please contact MRS. NKEOBI UMENDUKA of the above address.

GABROVIC AGRIC GOOD NEWS!!! ZEIGLER FISH AND SHRIMP FEEDS, Aqua equipments are now available in Lagos Buyers and distributors needed CONTACT-GABROVIC AGRIC, 74 Ekoro rd, Abule Egba, Lagos. Tel-08032725547; 08072429201; 07012527818 PORT HARCOURT ADDRESS: OZONO NIG. LTD 14 RD ROAD (PREMISES) 14 NVUIKE ROAD, OFF OKPORO ROAD, RUMUODARA, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE Email :gabrovicagric@yahoo.com

AUCTION! AUCTION!! AUCTION!!! This is to inform the general public that there will be auctioning of unserviceable vehicles and obsolete stores items at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Kwara State Office on the 22nd & 23rd of April, 2014. ANNOUNCER: ALHAJI ABUBAKAR ADAMU 08038737832

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-4-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-4-14

2014

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

EQUITIES

UBA grows lending to N1.1tr in Q1

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc stepped up lending to various sectors across its pan-African operations in the first quarter as the bank grew loans and advances by 16 per cent to N1.1 trillion. Interim report and accounts of UBA for the period ended March 31, 2014 released yesterday showed that the bank further expanded credit support to the emerging sectors in Nigeria and Africa with its loans and advances hitting a new record high. UBA’s loans rose by 16 per cent from N937.6 billion by December 31, 2013 to N1.067 trillion by March 31, 2014. Gross earnings had risen

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

by 8.2 per cent to N68 billion in 2014 compared with N63 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Quarter-on-quarter, profit after tax rose by 36.37 per cent from N9.23 billion by December 2013 to N12.59 billion in the first quarter of 2014. Net interest margin , which shows the quality of the bank’s earning on its lending activities, remained stable at 5.9 per cent. Cost of funds also remained stable at 3.6 per cent while return on assets remained stable at 1.9 per cent. Return on equity improved to 22.1 per cent from 21.3 per cent.

The report showed operating income of N45.5 billion within the first three months of this year, a marginal increase on N44.6 billion in the first quarter of 2013. Commenting on the results, group managing director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said the bank has focused on a number of strategic initiatives aimed at increasing its market share in the Nigerian and African markets. “We are optimistic that the gains of our improved electronic banking channels and financial inclusion initiatives will materialize in successive quarters during the year. We remain confident that we have

the right tools to achieve our business goals for the year whilst ensuring we continue to improve our customer service delivery and further consolidate our growth momentum,” Oduoza said. According to him, the UBA Group remains a highly diversified financial services provider, the leading player in three different markets and controlling significant market share in 19 different African countries. He noted that the bank has a strong retail franchise across the continent offering its more than seven million customers a bouquet of products and services tailored to meet their different financial needs.

GTBank records mixed performance in first quarter

UARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc recorded modest growth in gross earnings in the first quarter but its bottomline was suppressed by relatively higher interest and operating expenses. First quarter report of GTBank for the period ended March 31, 2014 showed that while gross earnings rose by 6.0 per cent, profit before tax slipped marginally by 2.0 per cent. Net profit after tax however inched up by 2.0 per cent. The performance of the bank across the profit and loss accounts and the balance sheet was tight with slight increases in key balance sheet items. Deposits rose by 3.0 per cent while loans and advances inched up by one per cent. Net assets rose by 6.0 per cent. Gross earnings stood at N67.58 billion in first quarter 2014 as against N63.86 billion in comparable period of 2013. Profit before tax dipped from N28.49 billion to N28.01 billion. Profit after tax inched up from N22.56 billion to N23.11 billion. Earnings per share thus increased by similar ratio from 80 kobo to 81 kobo. Customer deposits rose from N1.44 trillion in first quarter 2013 to N1.49 trillion in first quarter 2014. Loans and advances increased marginally from N1.01 trillion to N1.02 trillion. Net assets rose by 6.0 per cent from N332.35 billion to N352.89 billion. GTBank on Monday distributed N42.67 billion as final cash dividends to shareholders for the 2013 business year, representing a dividend per share of N1.45. The bank had paid interim dividend of N7.36 billion, implying a dividend per share of 25 kobo. The total dividend for 2013 stood at N50 billion, representing N1.70 per share. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of GTBank for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed modest growths in the top-line and bottom-line. Gross earnings rose

by 9.0 per cent from N223.06 billion in 2012 to N242.67 billion in 2013. Profit before tax inched up by 4.0 per cent from N103.03 billion to N107.09 billion in 2013. Profit after tax also rose marginally by 4.0 per cent from N86.69 billion to N90.02 billion in 2013. Earnings per share thus improved slightly from N3.06 to N3.17 per share. The report showed that the bank recorded 28.6 per cent growth in loan book from N783.91 billion in 2012 to N1.01 trillion in 2013 while customer’s deposits grew by 24.3 per cent from N1.15 trillion in 2012 to N1.43 trillion in 2013. Total balance sheet size closed 2013 in excess of N2 trillion while shareholders’ equity increased by 17.9 per cent from N281.83 billion in 2012 to N332.35 billion in 2013. GTBank also maintained top position in the industry with pre-tax return of equity of 34.9 per cent and pre-tax return on asset of 5.6 per cent. Risk management framework in the bank emerged stronger as non-performing loans ratio decreased to 3.58 per cent in 2013 from 3.75 per cent in 2012. Chairman, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Mr. Egbert Imomoh, said the bank expected to consolidate its growth in 2014. According to him, GTBank will take advantage of all emerging opportunities and remain focused on improving its customer experiences and creativity to improve on its performance in the period ahead. Imomoh said 2014 will be another phase in the bank’s journey to be the foremost financial institution in Africa. According to him, the bank would continue to seek innovative ways of growing its business while staying the course and working hard to maintain its reputation. “We are poised to take advantage of all opportunities that will arise during g the course of the year and are committed to maintain our

position as the bank of choice for discerning customers in all economies we operate in,” Imomoh said. Managing director, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje said the commitment of the bank is to continue to grow its business in a manner that is beneficial to all stakeholders. He noted that the bank made appreciable progress in 2013 in spite of the competitors, which were of-

fering basically the same services as the bank and the peculiarities of the operating environment. “With our performance, we will maintain our commitment to maximizing shareholder value with a dividend payout of N1.70 per share, an increase of 10 per cent over N1.55 paid in2012 and share price appreciation of 17 per cent in 2013,” Agbaje said.

Fidson MD lists benefits of listing

ANAGING Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae has urged healthcare and pharmaceutical companies to list their shares on the Nigeria Stock Exchange in order to grow their businesses. Ayebae, who founded Fidson and subsequently listed its shares on the NSE, said listing creates several opportunities that allow companies to survive internal and external challenges. According to him, listing is a planned, deliberate and strategic decision that companies must make if they must expand their business. He outlined several benefits of listing on the Exchange including business survival beyond the founding owners, potential capital growth and brand visibility. Other benefits, according to him, included immense ability for wealth creation, ownership diversification, structural sustainability through corporate governance, industry rating, free media mention as well as business expansion through investors’ participation.

Forte Oil doubles 3-month profit to N1.3b

ORTE Oil Plc continued in its strides in the first quarter with significant growths in sales and profitability. Key extracts of the unaudited report and accounts of Forte Oil for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 made available by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that turnover grew by 30.74 per cent while pre and post tax profits rose by 100.6 per cent and 107.8 per cent respectively. The report showed that turnover rose to N34.78 billion in the first quarter of 2014 as against N26.6 billion recorded in comparable period of 2013. Gross profit rose by 72.4 per cent from N2.68 billion to N4.63 billion. Profit before tax doubled from N633.07 million to N1.27 billion. After taxes, net profit stood at N1.10 billion by March 2014 as against N530.60 million recorded in corresponding period of 2013. Basic earnings per share rose from 49 kobo to 75 kobo. The first quarter report came on the heels of distribution of N4.32 billion as cash dividends to shareholders for the immediate past year ended December 31, 2013. Breakdown of the dividend indicated that shareholders received a dividend per share of N4. The dividend payment, Forte Oil’s first payout in several years,

followed impressive performance in 2013. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that turnover rose from N90.98 billion in 2012 to N128.03 billion in 2013. Profit before tax increased to N6.52 billion compared with N1.15 billion recorded in 2012. Profit after tax also leapt from N1.01 billion in 2012 to N5.0 billion in 2013. With these, earnings per share jumped to N4.32 in 2013 as against 93 kobo in 2012. Chairman, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola, who spoke to shareholders recently on the outlook of the company, has said would continue to distribute the larger part of its net earnings to shareholders. He assured shareholders that the company would surpass its previous figures in the 2014 business year noting that the board and management would pursue initiatives that will enhance margins and ensure increase in shareholder value annually. He pointed out that the company has strong future growth potential noting that the earnings from its power subsidiary, which contributed 10 per cent of group’s earnings within two months of operations, is a clear indication of what to expect in the years ahead. According to him, the company’s short-medium term focus of ex-

pansion into upstream and oil and gas sectors through participation in government bids rounds and acquisition of marginal fields from the international oil companies remain on track. “We shall continue to pursue initiatives that spur business growth and efficiency, liquidity management and aggressive diversification into related high margin business that would continue to increase shareholder value and distributions on an annual basis,” Otedola said. Group chief executive officer, Forte Oil, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, said the decision of the company to pay more than 85 per cent of its net earnings for the 2013 business year as dividends to shareholders was to compensate shareholders, who had waited patiently for the past five years without dividends. “Dividend decisions going forward, like we did this year, will be driven by our earnings, liquidity and growth needs,” Akinfemiwa said. According to him, the group will continue to review its processes and use technology as a driver for talent, business efficiency, cost reduction and improvement in profitability. “We remain very confident of not only a sustainable but an improved business performance in 2014,” Akinfemiwa said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

MONEYLINK Bank of America’s profit dips

CBN releases guidelines for N200b MSME Fund

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled guidelines for the management of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Fund it launched earlier in the year. In a circular yesterday, the CBN said the fund will be managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). It however added that the apex bank will commence the management of the fund pending the establishment and appointment of the SPV or Managing Agent. It said a large number of unserved and under-served clients exist in the Nigerian MSME subsector. To address the funding requirements of this critical segment of the economy, 80:20 ratio has been designed for on-lending to micro enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) respectively. The CBN said that women’s access to financial services should increase by 15 per cent annually in order to eliminate gender disparity. To achieve this, N132 billion of the fund has been earmarked for providing financial services to women. The regulator said in operating the fund, special consideration will be given to institutions that will provide financial services to graduates of the CBN’s Entrepreneurship Development Centers (EDCs). Also, 10 per cent of the fund (N11 billion) will be earmarked for social and developmental objectives as grants; Interest Drawback Programme will get N6.60 billion while Managing Agent’s (MA)

By Collins Nweze

Operational Expenses will get N4.4 billion. However, MA is expected to generate income from its operational activities to fund its future expenses on a sustainable basis. The CBN explained that N6.6 billion earmarked for Interest Drawback will be used to settle the rebates to financial institution’s customers under the fund who repay their loans as and when due while the N11.0 billion for grants will fund programmes that are aimed at developing the MSME sub-sector. However, 90 per cent of the Fund, amounting to N198 billion, will be utilised for the provision of direct on-lending facilities to participating financial institutions. It said participating financial institutions could only finance agricultural value chain activities; trade and general commerce; cottage industries; artisans among others.

•Acting CBN Governor, Sarah Alade

The banking watchdog said to ensure that productive sectors of the economy continue to attract more financing necessary for employment creation and diversification of the country’s economic base, a maximum of 10 per cent of the commercial component of the fund will be channeled to trading and commerce.

Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

Dubai in 2007 and Qatar National Bank’s $1.9 billion purchase of Societe Generale’s Egyptian business in 2012. It could also mark a revival of significant merger and acquisition activity in the Gulf where mergers tend to be difficult because major shareholders - often governments or prominent families - can be reluctant to cede control unless they get a generous price.

DATA BANK WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate

Price Loss 2754.67

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Date 28-04-2012 “

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 17-4-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

AGLEVENT STERLNBANK NPFMCRFBK MAYBAKER STANBIC RTBRISCOE FIRSTALUM WAPCO HONYFLOUR MANSARD

1.44 2.29 0.84 1.72 20.45 1.15 0.50 106.00 3.81 2.25

1.58 2.40 0.88 1.80 21.36 1.20 0.52 110.01 3.94 2.32

0.14 0.11 0.04 0.08 0.91 0.05 0.02 4.01 0.31 0.07

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

LOSERS AS AT 17-4-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

OKOMUOIL 39.90 MRS 54.44 COURTVILLE 0.70 LEARNAFRCA 1.77 OASISINS 0.59 COSTAIN 1.19 LIVESTOCK 3.16 NESTLE 1,185.00 MCNICHOLS 1.37 DIAMONDBNK 6.20

C/PRICE 36.02 51.72 0.67 1.70 0.57 1.15 3.06 1,149.90 1.34 6.10

CHANGE -3.88 -2.72 -0.03 -0.07 -0.02 -0.04 -0.10 -35.10 -0.03 -0.10

IAMOND Bank Plc has announced its 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM). In a statement, the bank said the meeting will afford the bank’s management the opportunity to formally present to the shareholders the bank’s financial report for the year ended December 31, 2013. For the period under review, the bank recorded excellent financial performance with a double digit return on equity as it announced a 16.7 per cent increase in profit before tax to N32.1billion. On the back of this performance, the bank has proposed a dividend of 30 kobo per ordinary shares.

AUB is one of only a few banks in the Gulf region with pan-Arab operations and as such offers scope for further growth in countries such as Egypt, where western banks are seeking to cut their exposure. “A strategic review is underway in an effort to identify suitable investors,” said one of the sources who asked not to be named because the talks are private. “One way to do it is to combine AUB with another banking institution.”

FGN BONDS

NIDF

Diamond Bank holds AGM

AhliUnited Bank considers $5b sale, merger deal

HLI United Bank (AUB) is evaluating a sale or a merger with a rival bank in a potential $5 billion deal, several bankers familiar with the situation said yesterday. The bank is Bahrain’s largest lender. A deal of this size would be the largest banking transaction in the region for the past 20 years, according to Thomson Reuters data, beating Emirates Bank’s $3.7 billion acquisition of National Bank of

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

its first since the second quarter of 2011, underscores how much the bank is still suffering from its disastrous acquisition in 2008 of Countrywide Financial Corp at the height of the financial crisis. That deal was a key factor in the more than $50 billion of legal expenses the bank has logged since the financial crisis. In March, Bank of America agreed to a $9.3 billion settlement to resolve claims that Countrywide and other Bank of America entities overstated the quality of the mortgages they sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac between 2005 and 2007. The bank had previously set aside funds to cover much of the settlement with the two agencies, but not all of it. Indeed, the bank still has other home loan issues to resolve. In March, Bank of America said it was still subject to penalties and fines from the US Department of Justice, state attorneys general, and other government authorities for mortgages and related bonds.

ANK of America Corp reported an unexpected firstquarter loss after it took a $6 billion charge to cover litigation expenses, a figure that far exceeded the legal settlements the US bank announced recently. Revenue improved in many of the bank’s major businesses, but the results were overshadowed by its bigger-than-expected legal costs. The bank had previously said a settlement would cut into its earnings by $3.7 billion before taxes. The extra litigation expenses came from setting aside money to cover future legal settlements tied to previously disclosed mortgage-related matters, Chief Financial Officer Bruce Thompson told reporters. Still, the bank’s setting aside more money does not mean a settlement is imminent, Thompson told analysts on a separate conference call. The bank’s shares fell 2.1 per cent to $16.04 on the New York Stock Exchange shortly after midday. Rivals JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup Inc had made profits for the quarter. Bank of America’s quarterly loss,

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name Offer Price AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 154.22 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.09 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.71 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,634.20 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,061.91 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,063.29 FBN HERITAGE FUND 114.62 FBN HERITAGE FUND 115.39 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 1,087.30 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTE ED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 2.50 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,910.24 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND

Bid Price 153.47 9.08 1.07 1.17 0.72 1.33 1,631.63 1,061.01 1,063.01 115.44 114.59 1,087.00 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 2.44 1,903.64

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

1.2524 1.2952 0.9090 1.1574

Movement

1.2636 1.2952 0.9261 1.1574

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

Ex-police chief, herdsman killed

UNMEN suspected to be assassins have killed a retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CPS), Attah Udom, in Akwa Ibom State. Udom, who hailed from Ata Obio Akpa Community in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, was murdered yesterday at 6am on his way to church. Sources said the killing may not be unconnected to a face-off between Udom and some persons over the ban

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

on Ekpo masqueraders and other cultural practices in the community. Also, an unidentified Hausa herdsman was reportedly killed in Abak Town, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area. His body was said to have been deposited at a junction in the town. Police spokesman Etim Dickson confirmed the murders, saying no arrest had been made.

Two drown in Cross River

WO people have drowned at the Owakande Beach in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State. The victims were a teenager, Ime, from Akwa Ibom State and a young man, Ifochi, from Ikom in Cross River State. An eyewitness, Okpa, said some boys were playing football on the beach, when one of them kicked it into the water. According to him, one of the boys went into the water to retrieve the ball and almost drowned. It was learnt that Ime dived in to save his friend. “Ime held the boy and swam with him to a shallow area, but he strangely slipped

Students chase out teachers, workers

TUDENTS of the Edo State School of Nursing yesterday chased out their teachers and other workers to protest the appointment of a new principal. The students locked the gate and stopped people from coming in. Lectures were paralysed as the placard-carrying students vowed to continue the protest, until their demands are met. It was learnt that the new principal was to take over yesterday but the handingover was disrupted by the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

students’ protest. President of the Student Union Government Anyanbu Johnson said: “The principal will retire today and the government appointed Mrs. Osazuwa, who is the Principal of School of Midwifery as our principal. “Our grievance is that she does not have the criteria to be our principal. “The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria stipulates that the principal of a nursing school must be a nursing tutor and not a

midwifery tutor. “We are saying no to the appointment of a midwife. She was the principal of School of Midwifery and the school has not been accredited in the past three years. There are only two students in that school. “Our school was also not accredited. We want to speak with the government on this matter. “We have qualified lecturers in our school that the government should appoint and not from midwifery that is a specialty under nursing.”

Another student, Osadolor Marris, said they wanted the government to reverse its decision and work towards the school’s accreditation. “We do not have tutors. The nursing council said our hostel must be ready before our school would be accredited,” she said. Commissioner for Health Aihanuwa Heregie could not be reached for comments. Sources said Mrs. Osazuwa was appointed in an acting capacity, pending when a substantive principal would be named.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

and fell back into a deeper part of the water and was not seen again. “The person he went to save was rescued but he got himself drowned instead. “A rescue mission was immediately organised. The rescuers got in a boat to scout the area but Ifochi said he wanted to begin the search by swimming from the shore. “He was advised against this but he remained adamant. He got lost in the water and has not been found.” Ime’s body, it was gathered, was found close to Akataka Beach in neighbouring Ebonyi State where it had drifted to.

PDP chieftain seeks peace

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Adebisi Olopoenia has called on the party’s national headquarters in Abuja to checkmate the activities of some members in the state, which is capable of scuttling in the peace of the chapter. He spoke with reporters Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Olopoenia praised the move to reposition the party for success during next year’s election. According to him, I’m using this medium to call on the national chairman of our great party to call some of our members to order, especially, those who only rely on Abuja to actualise their ambition. They should allow the elders and the state executive committee to provide a level-playing ground for all governorship aspirants and allow the eventual candidate emerge through free and fair primaries.

Five shot dead in Rivers community

IVE persons have been killed in Ogbogu, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. It was gathered that the killers threw an explosive into the house of the President-General, Egi People’s Assembly, Oris Onyiri, damaging a portion of one of the buildings in the compound. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen also shot three other persons in their legs, before

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

fleeing. They said policemen engaged the killers in a gun duel, killing one of them. Police spokesperson Grace Koko confirmed the killings. The people of the community have been enmeshed in a crisis over who should represent them in the negotiation with multinational oil companies, operating in the area.

Pa Durojaiye for burial

HE funeral arrangements for Baba Aladura A. B. G. Durojaiye, who died on January 29, have been released. There will be a farewell rally and carnival by the youths of Melototah Church of Zion on April 21, at 10am. This will be followed by a service of songs by the Livingstone Church of Zion, Sabo, Sagamu, the next day at 4pm. Another service of songs will be held on April 23 at 4pm by the church choir

and other gospel artistes. A wake will hold the following day in the church auditorium at 5pm. On April 25, the funeral service will hold in the church auditorium at 9am; the internment follows immediately. Guests will be entertained at the Papa-Ajao Nursery and Primary School, 90, Ladip o Street, beside First Bank Plc, Mushin, Lagos. There will be an outing service on April 27 at 8am.

•The protesting students...yesterday.

Shell probes Forcados export line breach

HELL Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has launched an investigation into how crude oil thieves installed an underwater theft point on its sophisticated and well-guarded Forcados Terminal export line in the Niger Delta. The Managing Director and Country Chair of Shell Companies of Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, said this at the second Delta State Oil and Gas Stakeholders Forum, in Effurun-Warri, Delta State. Sunmonu, who was represented by Manager, Ogoni Restoration Project, Austin Igbuku, said: “We discovered that a line was welded

PHOTO: OSAGIE OTABOR

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

to our Forcados Terminal export line, where export quality crude oil was being stolen. “Such an underwater operation does not come easy to us in the industry, but some criminals were able to install a theft point without detection. “Investigations are ongoing to understand how this was done. “So, who is behind these activities? Unfortunately, SPDC is unable to say.” It was gathered that the criminals siphoned high

quality crude oil for yet unspecified period before the breach was uncovered, a development that caused ripples in the oil and gas industry. Sunmonu said there was an order in the seemingly chaotic operations of crude oil theft and refining, adding that some reports had identified two operational levels of these crimes. The first level, he said, involves those engaged in the theft of crude oil, which is inefficiently refined for supply to local markets. “At the other level is the larger scale, more organised operation for international

Court voids FCT’s Park-and-Pay

HIGH Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has voided the park-and-pay policy of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), describing it as illegal. The court, in a judgment yesterday, also restrained the FCT Minister, FCTA and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) from collecting taxes, rates and fees from motorists, except such is provided for by a valid subsidiary legislation. “The defendants by themselves, privies, agents, servants or whatsoever name called are hereby restrained from operating pay and park scheme save and except the same is provided for or authorised by a valid bye-law,” Justice Peter Affen said. The judgment comes as a relief to many vehicle own-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

ers in the FCT, who have since the introduction of the policy been subjected to harassment by touts engaged by the private firms involved by the government to execute the policy. Under the policy, sections of roads, streets, and unoccupied areas in the city are designated as “pack-and-pay zones,” where a vehicle owner is charged between N50 and N100 per 30 minutes on parking his/her vehicle. Justice Affen held that though the park-and-pay policy may be described as an excellent policy, it lacked the backing of the law. He observed that Section 118 of the Regulation states “that the Transport Secretary may from time to time des-

ignate any operational area or zone as a park-and-ride area or route for the purposes of traffic management between 6 am and 6 pm.” The judge declared the park-and-pay scheme “illegal, ultra vires, null and void”,and proceeded to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, Sun Trust Savings and Loans Limited. Sun Trust had by the suit, challenged the legality of collecting fees from motorists through the park-andpay policy. It asked the court to determine whether the park-andpay policy is in pursuant of any Act of the National Assembly as provided by the Constitution and whether the defendants can exercise the powers to collect taxes, rates and fees without the act of the national assembly.

export, which we know reaches far across the globe. “The latter has fast become a parallel industry with a developed supply chain and growing sophistication. “The operations at both levels involve trained engineers, who weld valves to high pressure pipelines, allowing the criminals to return at night to siphon crude oil. “Boat yards help to construct and supply barges to the thieves to transport crude oil around the creeks,” he said. The Shell Chairman denied that the company or its staff were involved in the crime. But he conceded that he could not vouch for thousands of workers attached to hundreds of contractors working for the company. On how to end crude oil theft, Sunmonu said: “Concerted action is urgently needed at the local, national, regional and international levels to address the crude oil theft. “Requirements include improved intelligence gathering, stronger policing and the prosecution of suspected criminals. “There is now an understanding within the industry and government that the scale and complexity of the problem is beyond the control of any company, governor, committee or even country. “The next step is to galvanise coordinated action. Conferences like this are an important part of that,” Sunmonu said.

THE NATION FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014

NEWS

Three arrested with fake number plates

Community petitions Jonathan From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

THE people of Mubi community in Adamawa State have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly on the killing of a businessman, Mohammed Abdullahi. Abdullahi was allegedly tortured to death by the Military Joint Task Force in the town, last Friday. The community, in a petition by its solicitor, Mohammed Marafa, lamented that the army was yet to disclose Abdullahi’s ‘sins’. The petition reads: “A post-mortem showed that his fingernails were pulled out. There were rope marks around his neck, signifying that he was hanged.” They noted that on April 8., some soldiers invaded Abdullahi’s house and took his wife and children away. “He went to the palace of the Emir of Mubi to report and to inform the monarch of his intention to go to the military base where his wife and children were being held. “When he got there, he was arrested, beaten and taken into custody. Pleas by his family members, who were still being detained, were ignored. “We want you to use your good office to unravel this mystery. Our law is no respecter of any person. If the army has anything against the late Abdullahi, it ought to charge him to court.”

Wife of ex-bishop for burial THE remains of the wife of the retired Anglican Archbishop of Ondo Province and Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Mrs. Janet Olufunmilayo Abosede Abe, will be buried tomorrow at the St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Iju, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. Mrs. Abe, died after a brief illness on March 9. She was 70. According to the family’s spokesperson, Dele Omojuyigbe, there will be a wake and lying-in-state at the St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Iju, today. A thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday at St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Iju. Mrs Abe is survived by husband, Rev. Samuel Adedayo Abe, children and siblings.

Man gets award Oba Nurudeen Adebowale Adekanmbi, Olofin Isheri, Adimula of Aworiland, has honoured Paul Njoku with the title of Are of Atunluse of Olofin Isheri Awori land. Oba Adekanbi said Njoku was honoured because of his self-commitment to the people of Aworiland. He said: “We are doing this to courage him to do more. The growth of our country is our collective responsibility and he had demonstrated that by completing some abandoned projects. He renovated a primary school at Isheri.”

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

•Some All Progressives Congress (APC) members queuing during their congress at Gabasawa ward in Kaduna…yesterday.

Farmers to Umar: we’ll live with you in Jalingo T

IV farmers in Taraba State have said they are leaving their villages to go and live with the Acting Governor, Garba Umar, in Jalingo. They said they will move to the capital to be close to Umar, “If we are attacked there, it will be under the acting governor’s watch”. A Tiv district head, Simon Uosu, who spoke at a briefing in Jalingo, said the decision became imperative, following persistent attacks and killings of Tiv farmers by Fulani herdsmen. He said Fulani assailants have killed hundreds and injured thousands of Tiv farmers in several attacks, during which they destroyed their homes and farm crops. The district head said they tried to comply with the acting governor’s directive asking them not to flee their homes but the herdsmen have continued to kill them. Their children, aged parents and wives have been maimed and their valuables looted. Uosu and other Tiv leaders decried the security setup in the state. They accused some local

‘Attacks politically-motivated’

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

ENATOR Emmanuel Bwacha yesterday said the spate of attacks in Taraba State is politically orchestrated. Bwacha, who represents Taraba South Senatorial District, said the attacks were meant to show that Taraba South was not prepared to assume the governorship seat in 2015. The lawmaker told reporters in Abuja that the crisis was as a result of agitations for power shift. “The thinking by those perpetuating or fueling this crisis is to create the impression that the region is crisis-ridden and so does not deserve its fair share of the power equation being sought for.” He called on the Acting Governor Garba Umar to stop mortgaging the future of the state through incessant borrowings. “I have some appeals to make for those in-charge of affairs in the state to please in the interest of generations unborn that those who are in-charge of affairs for now should put on hold their plans for indiscriminate borrowing. “We are aware that N30 billion bond is being negotiated with UBA and there is also a N4 billion loan sought from Skye Bank. This is outside of the monthly borrowing that is done to pay salaries. In essence, the state is being run aground and I feel for the state.” From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

government chairmen, traditional rulers of other ethnic groups and divisional police officers (DPOs) of failing to protect the “de-

fenceless innocent Tiv people” from Fulani attacks. They said the Emir of Gassol, the DPO and the council chairman of Gassol have refused to take the plight of the Tiv into consideration.

“The acting governor should caution the Emir of Gassol and his village heads to control their subjects -the Fulani. “If nothing is done fast to clampdown on the perpetrators now, they may soon start attacking everybody and it would become more difficult to contain them thereafter.” Uosu said he feels sad that “since the beginning of the attacks, no relief materials have been given to the affected people.” He said some of the victims have relocated to Sabon-Gida and Dan-Anacha yam markets. The district head expressed dismay that despite a peace deal reached by Tiv, Fulani and Jukun people, the killing of Tiv people by Fulani herdsmen is still rampant in the rural areas. “Coming to the state capital is the only way the acting governor may heed to our cry. There is nothing else we can do. Our people have become scared. “They have been defenceless and innocent of what is happening. They need to evacuate to Jalingo before they are all killed.”

Security forces foil attack on town HE police in Bauchi State have said a combined team of security forces on Wednesday foiled an attack by gunmen on Misau town in Misau Local Government

Area. Police spokesman Haruna Mohammed told reporters in Bauchi yesterday that the gunmen stormed the town around

midnight in three Hilux vans. Mohammed said the security forces who were on “red alert,” engaged the assailants in a gun battle, which forced them to retreat. “The gunmen were forced to escape with bullet wounds and we are on their trail.’’

Ekiti poll: between light and darkness Contiinued from Back Page

Ekiti is in dire need of big, nice sunny dreams such as building on one of its strengths and becoming the intellectual capital of Nigeria for instance; like hosting a world class university, model secondary schools and international vocational institutes. How’s that for a campaign call? The Nyanya massacre: woe unto murderers He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword…he who visits innocent men, women and children with gruesome death by the bomb

shall meet the same fate. That is divine injunction. Nigerians who chose the peak period of a Monday morning (April 14) to let off bombs in a crowded motor park, to kill and maim hundreds of fellow compatriots will not go un-avenged. Especially so the architects, the hidden hands and the financiers – they will not go unpunished. The mass murderers will surely be unmasked. Some things to cheer:

It’s not a fluke in Anambra! Former Governor Peter

Obi’s revamp of education in Anambra continues to earn plaudits. National examination results consistently prove the quality of the reform. In the past three years, Anambra candidates have topped NECO-organised National Common Entrance examinations. Anambra students have also led in WASCE, NECO and UTME exams. It’s quite a feat to cheer for a state that had high (male) school drop-out rate before the Obi era. The new governor, Willie Obiano must raise the bar even higher.

200 for Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme (PSSS) In the first edition, it was 101 first class graduates of Nigerian universities sponsored to 25 top universities across the world under the PSSS. In this second edition, 200 of Nigeria’s brightest and best have been shortlisted to go conquer the world - so to speak. Over 300 in two years; imagine the sheer number of this plucky group in about 10 years and the impact they are capable to bring to bear not only on Nigeria’s worlds. It’s the way to go.

HE police in Niger State have arrested a four-man syndicate, which allegedly specialises in printing and issuing fake number plates. Members of the gang are two officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Number Plate Making Plant in Abuja and two Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) from the Ministry of Transport. The suspects were said to have swindled the public of millions of Naira. They ran out of luck when the police arrested a Minna businessman for having fake number plates on his commercial vehicles. Parading three members of the gang yesterday in Minna, Police spokesman Richard Oguche said the gang issued 42 fake number plates for N1.4 million to the businessman. He said the businessman approached Yakubu Ahmed, a Vehicle Inspection officer to assist him get the new number plates. “He was asked to pay N1.4 million, which he did. He was given the fake plates. “Ahmed, working with Abdulmalik Mohammed (VIO), contacted Ibrahim Mohammed of the FRSC in Abuja for the number plates.” But Ibrahim Mohammed claimed he gave the contract to his colleague, Garima Musa, who is on the run, without knowing that Musa had been sacked.

Kidnap suspect lynched in Ilorin From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

WOMAN kidnap suspect was lynched by a mob in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday. The incident happened on the Oyun Bridge, at the same spot where another suspect was killed by a suspicious mob The police despatched undercover agents to apprehend the mob. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred at 6.30 pm. The suspect was said to have been taken to a spot on the bridge. The killing brings to three the number of suspects who have suffered the same fate. Two others, according to the police narrowly escaped being killed due to the timely arrival of security agents. Police’s spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident. He said the command was now ready to enforce its earlier warning on the killing of suspected kidnappers. He added that officers and men of the command would enforce the law wherever they notice infringement on peoples’ rights.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

Lavrov: Ukraine crisis 'agreement reached'

USSIA, the US and the European Union have said that all sides have agreed to steps to "de-escalate" the crisis in Ukraine. Their foreign ministers were speaking at the end of talks between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and US in Geneva. Analysts say the outline agreement could stay economic sanctions the West was preparing to impose on Russia. Russia then annexed the Crimean peninsula - part of Ukraine but with a Russian-

speaking majority population in a move that provoked international outrage. This was followed by the seizing of government buildings in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian separatists opposed to the new order in the capital Kiev. Following the Geneva talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said there was agreement that all illegal military formations in Ukraine must be dissolved, and

that everyone occupying buildings must be disarmed and leave them. They added that there would be an amnesty for all anti-government protesters under the agreement. These steps will be overseen by monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Mr Lavrov said the crisis must be settled by Ukrainians themselves and there must be long-term constitutional reforms.

Mr Kerry said the extent of the crisis had been highlighted in recent days by the "grotesque" sending of notices to Jews in eastern Ukraine, demanding that they register themselves as Jewish. He praised the Ukrainian government for the restraint it had shown in the face of what he said was provocation from pro-Moscow elements. Baroness Ashton said the agreement contained "concrete steps that can be implemented immediately".

LENTEN MESSAGE Theme: Have you been to Gethsemane? W HEN things are good, peaceful and prosperous, your friends will know you but when things get bad, either when false accusations are thrown at you, when there is no more power, money, influence or when death is close by, you will know your friends. Human beings enjoy the sweet taste of hands soiled with palm oil soup but detest the palm of blood and abhor it’s sight, goes a common saying to affirm that men are not absolutely dependable and reliable - it is Hosanna today and crucify Him tomorrow. This often times dictates the choice of political parties that practitioners align with or cross-carpet to. When Jesus Christ knew that His time was at hand, He decided to pray alongside His trusted allies called the Boarneges, that is the sons of thunder (Mark3:16). He took them to Gethsemane to intercede for Him. Unfortunately, while He was busy praying and sweat was oozing from His body, His trusted ‘friends’ were busy sleeping. All His entreaties to them to lift Him up in prayers failed. That experi-

Text: “... He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth....” John 11:43-44

By The Revd. Henry O. Adelegan

ence marked the beginning of the mother of all betrayals from Judas Iscariot who gave Him up for few pieces of silver (Luke 22:47) to His most trusted ally, Simon Peter, who had vowed to die with Him if the need arose but denied very bluntly thrice that he ever knew Him (Matthew 26:59-75). Mount Gethsemane is a place where close friends deny ever knowing one; it is a place where a person you have assisted turns his back on you. It is a mountain where what comes next is unknown. Mount Gethsemane is a place of betrayal of trust, evil gang-ups and falsehood. It is a place where the sons of Belial are employed to bear false witness against the innocent (Matthew 26:60; 1 Kings 2:10) On the other flip of the coin,

Mount Gethsemane is the lowest point one can get to as a believer before a rise up. Jesus Christ has assured that “... Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). David confirmed it that “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up” (Psalm 27:10). Mount Gethsemane is the death point that leads to resurrection; it is disappointment that leads to appointment. It is the breaking pointing that heralds a divine rising. It is the seemingly ugly bridge that connects to destiny. This is a mountain that great men of faith had to ascend for divine lift up and place their feet towards the realisation of their lives purposes. Abram encountered it with Lot

(Genesis 14), Daniel faced it with the other Presidents of Babylon (Daniel 6), Shadrack and his friends were conspired against by rulers of the provinces in Babylon (Daniel 3), Joseph was betrayed and sold by his brothers because of his ‘coat of many colours’ (Genesis 37) and Mordecai had issue predicated on envy with Haman (Esther 3:6; 5:914) among many others. The good news however is that for each of them, their Gethsemane was the inevitable ingress that took them to the top. For Jesus Christ, Mount Gethsemane was the needed step to the right hand of God and a name with eternal supremacy over whatever is in heaven, on earth and below the earth ( Philippians 2:8-11). After His betrayal and death on Good Friday, which was a time of Suffering of the Son was Easter Sunday which marked the supernatural intervention of the Father (Matthew 2:6; 1 Corinthians 15:4). When He arose, He was given the keys of hell and of death (Revelations 1:18).

NEWS CJN inaugurates first woman Appeal Court President

HIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar yesterday inaugurated the nation’s first woman President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa. She urged judges to shun unethical practices, particularly corruption and acts that negate their oath of office. Justice Mukhtar spoke while swearing in the sixth PCA. She observed that by their calling, judges were expected to always be above board and shun all acts capable of discrediting their offices. Justice Mukhtar, who observed that the new PCA was assuming office at a critical time in the nation’s life, urged her to

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

shun all forms of political pressures and discharge her responsibilities in consonance with the oath of office she just subscribed to. She challenged Justice Bulkachuwa to provide a purposeful leadership; be dedicated to duty, shun all external pressures and lead by example. Justice Mukhtar noted that Justice Bulkachuwa was assuming office at a time the Judiciary was undergoing reforms. She urged the new PCA to make all efforts to reposition the court and ensure that confidence in the court is restored. “The office of the President

of the Court of Appeal is very tasking and arduous, by this, you are charged to demonstrate purposeful leadership and ensure proper coordination of all the Justices and activities of the court in order to foster greater efficiency in the dispensation of justice. I emphasise here, leadership by example. “Judicial service is a noble calling. A judicial officer’s nobility is exemplified in the personality of the judge, for in reality, the idea of citizens submitting their failings, vulnerability and frailties for determination before a human arbiter underlies the need for the exercise of the highest standard of professionalism.

“In fulfillment of this noble role, I therefore enjoin you, as a custodian of this sacred position, to shun all forms of political pressures and discharge your responsibilities in consonance with the oath of office you have just subscribed to. “I congratulate you for your historic achievement, just as it is equally imperative for me to let you know that the task ahead is enormous and demanding. The Judiciary no doubt, has come a long way and we cannot afford to fail at this critical point in our nascent democracy,” Justice Mukhtar said. Justice Bulkachowa assured the PCA of her commitment to the reforms in the Judiciary, particularly the fight against corruption.

are hampering the search for survivors of the South Korean ferry disaster. Emergency services are still searching for 287 people missing after a ship carrying 475 people sank. Officials say 179 people have been rescued. Most of the passengers were pupils at the same high school. South Korea’s president visited the wreck and urged rescuers to “hurry”. Park Geun-hye said that time

Are you facing hard times at home, work or church? Are people ganging up against you to discredit you? Are trusted friends turning their back on you? Are you being betrayed by close friends? Are you being maligned unnecessarily? Is it that the people you are to lean on have laced their palms with thorns? Is it that the close friends that are supposed to assist blow off specks from your eye, have pepper in their mouths to inflict more damaging harm? Brethren, don’t lose hope. You are already on Mount Gethsemane. I congratulate you because weeping may endure for a night but your joy is coming (Psalm 30:5). As He lives, you shall never be put to shame. Are you yet to get to Mount Gethsemane, please be ready because it is a mountain you must necessarily get to before you can get to where God has destined for you. And when it comes, don’t feel bad but rejoice in all because better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Solomon in Ecclesiastes 11:8 spoke further about the certainty of Mount Gethsemane that “... if a

Continued from page 4

one of the sources quoted in the report, has denied all that was attributed to her - for whatever reasons. “This is an unfortunate development, indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone. ”It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the school principal and government of Borno State.

•Revd Adelegan

man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity”. As you are on the verge of ending this year’s Lenten season, please be assured that no matter what you may be passing through now, every problem has an expiry date. After the suffering on Good Friday is the supernatural intervention of the father on Sunday. What you need to do is to put your trust in God, He will intervene in your circumstances and give you reasons to celebrate and be celebrated in Jesus’ name. Prayer: Lord, I thank you for this Lenten season, give me grace to remain in you forever and always stand by me in my moments on Mount Gethsemane, in Jesus’ name.

“Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious. ”In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.”

Konga offers free Easter trip to Dubai

cumbent on humanity to reciprocate the gesture by dedicating their lives to the service of God Almighty. He said: “Our dear country is in need of love, sacrifice and forgiveness. As we strive to attain these noble virtues, we must all join hands with security agencies to end the spate of killings pervading our dear nation. “As we celebrate Easter, we should bear in mind that the nation can only rise from the grip of pain and desolation which many are going through at the moment if there is determination

and unity of purpose. “We in the House of Representatives feel the pain of parents, friends and colleagues of the abducted girls. We are with them in these trying moments. I urge our security agencies to close ranks and brighten our homes with cheering news by ensuring that all the girls are reunited with their families.” The Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, The Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo, urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sincerity, fervent prayers and love so that our na-

tion could take its rightful position. Rev Ademowo urged leaders to seek the common good instead of individual comfort and interest. “Our leaders should also tap into the opportunities and invest in agricultural and agro-business with the view to empower the unemployed in the country, he said. He called on Nigerians to use the spirit of this season to imbibe the true spirit of National building which is characterized by being responsible citizens, living sacrificially, being God-fearing and hard working.

uation to an end. “I believe that if you are not a soldier, you can also be an informant. And, of course you know that this thing is becoming like an HIV, if you are not infected you are affected. Your children are also involved, your

grand children and relations. If people are now attacking schools to disrupt the lives of children how will you not be concerned? A market woman is affected when motor parks are being bombed, so there is no way any governor in Nigeria will not be

concerned and will not show interest.” “In bringing this situation to an end, all Nigerians must know that we must be our brothers keepers as far as security is concern,” he stated. Abia State Governor The-

odore Orji said: “We undertook an essential discussion on the security of the nation that is exactly what we did. Details are not for public because they are security issues. Of course, no governor is happy with what has happened but bear in mind that

By Olatunde Odebiyi

critical. Nine people are confirmed to have died, with dozens more injured. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency has reported that one Russian and two Chinese are also among the missing Military divers have been fighting high winds and waves to try to access the vessel but were not able to get into any of the cabins, the Chief of the West Regional Headquarters of the South Korean Coastguard, Kim Soo-hyun, said.

We were misled, says military

NLINE mall Konga is offering free trips to Dubai, United Arabs Emirates (UAE) for its customers as part of an Easter package. The programme in which daily shopping vouchers will also be given away to lucky customers, is being done in collaboration with Travelstart Nigeria. Shoppers need to check the Konga website for what to do to win. Konga publicist Ifeanyi Abraham said the offer is tied to the Easter celebration. “Easter is a special season of sharing, therefore, as Nige-

Tambuwal seeks prayer for abducted girls

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterdayurged Nigerians to unite and confront the threat of terror facing the country. He said: “As we celebrate Easter, we should intensify prayers for the safe return of our girls forcibly abducted from school in Borno State”. In a message to commemorate Easter in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said the message of Jesus Christ brought salvation to the human race, making it in-

Weather blights S/Korea ferry AD weather, murky wawas running out and that every search ter and strong currents minute and every second was

By Tonia ‘Diyan

ria’s largest online mall and marketplace, we are giving people the opportunity to go on holidays while they share gifts with friends, family and colleagues using our Easter Shop.” He added that with the newly launched Konga Marketplace packed with many amazing new features for the buyers and sellers, online shopping in Nigeria had truly reached a new milestone. Abraham added: “This opportunity is fresh and hot with an amazing selection plus other promotions on the social media.”

Jonathan’s security meeting with governors to hold next Wednesday Continued from page 4

face the situation and it is not something we can politicise, you don’t politicise security. All hands must be on deck, the entire country, every single Nigerian must contribute its quota towards bringing the current sit-

the meeting is at the instance of the PDP governors. “We took a decision when we went to Jigawa and we requested the president to invite us to a meeting with the security chiefs. That is why we are here. We initiated the meeting,” Orji said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

ONG-distance penmanship has its strains and stresses, not the least of which is limited control over time and logistics. The piece that came out last week was the wrong one, and careful readers must have noticed its uncharacteristic incoherence. My apologies! Here’s the correct one. The burning question before the National Conference is “what structure?” Thus far, however, President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech has taken a chunk of attention. But there has been more of commendation than analysis or debate. It is to be expected and the President must be very pleased. I only hope that in our native hagiographic tendencies, we do not lose sight of the basics. The President wants delegates to his conference to remake Nigeria in a way that enables her to fulfill what he regards as her destiny. Time is running out already. While I appreciate the caliber and antecedents of a sizeable number of the delegates to this conference and have no reason to doubt the integrity of many more, I am not very optimistic about the outcome. This is because of the mixed signals coming from the groups and entities that matter. One day, we are told that the conference’s resolutions will be subject to a referendum of all citizens. The next day, we are informed that there is no enabling law and the conference resolutions must have to go before the National Assembly and be debated as amendments to the constitution. I am wondering if our privileged legislators have seriously entertained the question of whether the fundamental question of “what structure?” is fixable by way of amendments. Of course, fixing anything by a patchwork of amendments is not utterly inconceivable. The challenge, however, is that if such amendments are extensive enough to cover all flaws, we may end up having the semblance of a completely new constitution. Isn’t it better then to discard an ill-fitting outfit than go through a process of alterations that destroy its beauty? But there is, at least, one more important consideration than the aesthetics of constitutional amendment. No matter how we dress it up with the fanciful language of legitimacy, it is obvious that the 1999 Constitution was an imposition by a military clique bent on having its will after a self-inflicted indictment in the court of the people. The fact that the nation has been contemptuously made to put up with it for the last 14 years simply shows the pretentiousness of its “democratic” awakening. It should have been a triumph of the people’s will over the dictatorship of the gun if in 1999, elected representatives opted for a new beginning that prioritises a genuine constitu-

KITI is a blank billboard in my head. That is to say, at the snap of a finger I do not have a brand icon to associate this state with. Not a great name like Obafemi Awolowo, Wole Soyinka, a Rufus Giwa or even a Lamidi Adedibu. Not institutions like U.I., O.A.U, I.I.T.A. No such socio- corporate entities like Omotoso, the national power hub; Ewekoro, the dusty, sprawling cement enclave and Cocoa House, that towers in her ancient majesty over Ibadan. Okay, Ekiti boasts of the vivacious Ikogosi Warm Springs, but that’s about it all. Even in monarchical stature, a neophyte like yours truly would remember first, the Alaafin, the Ooni, Soun, Olubadan and the Alake before he would pick on the Ewi if ever. What about great towns and cities of the west: count Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ede in Oyo; Ota, IjebuOde, Sagamu in Ogun; Okiti-pupa, Ore, Ile-oluji in Ondo. But for Ekiti, a non-indigene would most probably pick out only Ado-Ekiti. Why, Ekiti is the land-locked, little cousin of the west. No disrespect to the great academic clan of Ekiti, notably our dear poet laureate Niyi Osundare and a teeming number of professors perhaps the highest in the land. But intellectual asset by itself will not do. Ekiti is a clime in dire need of a giant leap forward to be conceptualized and wrought by a man of stable mind, giant heart and gargantuan energy. Ekiti will be the setting for an epic gubernatorial battle come June 21, featuring the incumbent, Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress, (APC); Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Still a question of structure

•Justice Idris Kutigi

tion of the people by the people and for the people. It didn’t happen because those who found themselves beneficiaries of the people’s revolution from 1993 to 1998 were not representatives of the people but sympathisers of the military cabal and its civilian clique. The long and short of the matter then is that a military-imposed democratic constitution is an absurdity that has to be excised. What has made governance in Nigeria ineffective and thoroughly detestable in the last fourteen years? I don’t know of any reasonable analysis that focuses on just one causal factor. There is a multiplicity of factors, including bad leadership, docile followership, poor accountability regime and an inadequate constitutional arrangement. However, since it is the foundation of all other factors, the constitution has a pride of place in the constellation of factors for the explanation of bad governance. For instance, the immunity clause in the constitution explains why bad leaders are difficult to get rid of. The revenue allocation formula ensures that the states are beggars at the table of the federal government, meaning effectively that a greedy governor with no moral qualm

only has to be a mainstreamer and all is well for him. But that doesn’t translate to a buoyant welfare scheme for his people. Witnessing the opulence that is displayed in Abuja and the developmental eye-sore that confronts them from the Creeks to the Sahel, militancy has an unusual, if deadly, appeal to the hopeless youth. But there are reasonable people who think that the constitution is alright and the revenue formula is sacred. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s so-called National Political Reform Conference in Abuja of 2005 brought to light the sharp divisions among its component parts that this country has yet to overcome after fifty years of coexistence. What the North wanted, the South was against and vice-versa. It then appeared that the unity of the country was jeopardised more after the conference than before. Of course, as it turned out, there was a hidden presidential agenda that finally nailed the coffin of the conference. By putting it this way, however, we do a lot of injustice to ourselves. For it appears we blame ourselves for what others before us have not been able to achieve due to no fault of theirs. Scotland and England have been together for far longer and they cannot boast of eliminating divisions. The last elections showed that the Scottish National Party won more votes in Scottish Parliament than the Labor Party and may now opt for independence from the United Kingdom at the next opportunity. So divisions in a multi-national state are not abnormal and, indeed, they should be the foundation of our constitutional arrangements. This is the merit of a genuine federal system which we do not now have. This time around, it appears that some consensus is gradually emerging among delegates over the centrality of the question of structure. Speaker after speaker across the regions and zones have observed that our “fake federalism” is the bane of our ideals of democratic pluralism and national unity. Northern

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

Ekiti poll: between light and darkness Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party, (LP). Fayemi, who got to the government house after a tortuous post-election litigation, has brought elan and commonsense to statecraft. An intellectual and democracy activist, he has handled power with utmost dignity and aplomb that only a cultured mind could muster. Watching from afar, he has run a government with a human face, (or a nice smiling face if you like) creating a welfare environment for the aged and frail. He is reported to have revamped most city roads, upgraded the warm springs to attract visitors and impacted education. From my spot, however, his forte must be the order and peace he has brought to this hinterland state. But to compare Fayose with Fayemi, to put it plainly, is to compare darkness with light. It is not because Fayose has limited education (HND) comparatively, and even a more lim-

ited record of structured work experience (he is a trader). Far from it, even a drop-out can excel as a leader if he is imbued with requisite talent and grooming. But Fayose showed no such traits in his first outing as governor (20032006). He is possessed of the rabble mentality (which is a necessary ingredient for getting ahead in PDP, mark you) and he is a master at working up the hoi-polloi in his affected populism. For more than three years in office (before he was consumed by the rapscallions of the PDP that threw him up in the first place) he was the picture of an excitable child riding the wild-swirling carousel of power. You will remember him for his feisty hyperactivity and a woebegone poultry project. Would anyone with the appellation of ‘governor’ build a poultry farm in this age? It’s unpardonably obtuse. But a multi-billion naira ill-fated poultry is Fayose’s legacy for which he still faced trial until the super unscrupulous PDP sprung him once again and assaulted us with his candidacy. There are many such like him in the fold. Once, there used to be honour even among thieves. Why has PDP become decidedly

OLA TUNJI OLOLADE AT

leaders, including delegates and non-delegates, have presented reasonable ideas to move the nation forward. We have heard about northern losses under the present yoke of unitarism. We have listened to the Middle Belt delegates and the leaders of the Southsouth. I have not read of any submissions from any of the speakers thus far hailing the present structure. This is a far cry from 2005 when the Northern position was firmly against any form of restructuring and all it wanted was to strengthen and re-affirm the corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible, indissoluble and plural national state under a Federal System, comprising three tiers of government Federal, 36 states and 774 local governments. Of course, there is still a long road ahead. And while a good number of delegates favor restructuring, it is still not clear what each means or understands by that concept. The devil of what comes next is in the details of the proposals from zonal representatives and ethnic nations. How, for instance, would the idea of making geo-political zones the federating units be taken by the conference? Considering how statist we have all become and how jealously each state guards its mythical autonomy, I cannot even contemplate the reaction of state delegates, including those from zones that make it their foremost proposal. Yet, it is an idea that has to be given serious consideration because the state structure is clearly not working. Another hot button issue is resource control. While Section 44 (1.3) of the 1999 Constitution provides that the Federal Government should “hold in trust, control and facilitate the exploration and exploitation of all mineral resources in the country”, the provision has been a source of national malaise which has to be addressed and resolved. It is what makes the central government so arrogant and out of touch. And it accounts for the attraction of the center to treasury looters and political pirates. If we want a nation that prides itself in the strength of its component parts, and through their strength is also made strong, then we need to revisit the question of fiscal federalism and resource control. These two issues—regionalism and resource control—are capable of turning around our national fortune and creating a nation of patriots. The ball is in the court of conference delegates. But assume that they do their part, will their resolutions become law? Will we have a new constitution? Or will this exercise end in the way of others? •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

amoral and contemptuous honour? Fayose’s candidacy is an affront not only to the people of Ekiti but to all discerning Nigerians. What is to be said of Opeyemi Bamidele? A lawyer and activist who may be deemed to be afflicted by an acute case of what Shakespeare described as ‘vaulting ambition’ and perhaps an illusion of grandeur? Spiting all entreaties, he broke ranks with his benefactor and a political family which afforded him everything and raised him to his current status. He doesn’t seem to stand much chance though, but to think that he could have easily strolled into this same office four years hence, if only he knew a thing about patience and gratefulness. Bamidele did not only chew the finger that nourished him, he would saw off the entire benevolent arm to sate his ambition. But there is a stench about treachery and ingratitude which lingers and reaches the heavens. Expresso pontificates, therefore, that this election is Fayemi’s to win or lose. Though the state is a very lean one, he had nearly four years to prepare. If he has any difficulty convincing Ekiti people to return him to office that could only mean he has not done enough. With his kindly mien and his pretty, activist spouse, Ekiti people almost got blessed with two governors for the price of one. But as much as the soft issues are important, the big matters as pointed out above require a gargantuan heart and energy. •Continued on Page 58 •For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO