The Nation April19, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Nigeria’s break-up won’t hurt us, say North’s leaders P4 Sports Drogba’s goal nails Barcelona in Champions League P60 Business Gas supply emergency plan for power stations P11 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2098 THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

NNPC, PPPRA, marketers to refund N1.070 trillion Report exposes subsidy fraud

S

OME details of the rot in the oil industry were laid bare yesterday – courtesy of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HOUSE PROBE REPORT •NNPC to refund N595.49b to Federation Account, PPPRA •NNPC should be unbundled, management and board to be overhauled •Executive Secretaries of PPPRA from 2009 to 2011 for trial •OAGF paid N999m in 128 times within 24 hours •N2,587.087 trillion blown on fuel subsidy as at December 31 •Committee Approves N557.70b for subsidy in 2012 •EFCC, ICPC to probe, recover N230.1billion from 72 oil marketers.

•N999m paid to unnamed entities 128 times (N127.872billion) •18 firms to refund N41.936b •15 oil marketers to refund $402.610b From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Management.

The committee yesterday directed the Nigerian Na-

tional Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency, oil marketers and others to refund over

N1.070trillion.

The Farouk-Lawan panel also recommended the immediate unbundling of the NNPC and prosecution of top

officials of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Besides, called for investigation of 72 oil companies and recovery of N230, 184,605,691.00.

It referred 15 oil marketers to the EFCC and ICPC for collecting $402.2.610b as FOREX in 2010 and last year without but did not import petroleum products.

The panel said another set of 18 oil companies who benefited from the Fuel Subsidy Scheme but refused to appear before it will refund Continued on page 2

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Deputy, Mrs.Titi Laoye-Tomori; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman Superior Evangelist Abraham Akinola Aladeseye, Osun State Chapter (fifth right) and other Christian leaders after a meeting between the State Government and CAN at the Government House, Osogbo, Osun State ... yesterday. Story on page 2.

ACN governors: Aregbesola’s persecution unjust From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

G

OVERNORS of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)- controlled states have condemned the “unjust persecution” of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, by the Peoples Democatic Party (PDP).

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, on behalf of his ACN governor – colleagues, issued a statement in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, saying the PDP chose to demonise Aregbesola in a bid to cripple his administration and foment a crisis in Osun State and the Southwest.

Continued on page 2

•Glo Divisional Director (Southeast) Mike Ehumadu (left) and Glo ambassadors Chioma Akpotha and Nonso Diobi presenting the keys to a brand new Toyota Venza car to a winner in the Glo “text4millions” promo, Amuzie Innocent, a lawyer and official the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and his wife Charity (middle) in Enugu ... yesterday .

Govt kicks as US issues Boko Haram warning •Senate: end to attacks From Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

A

MERICA issued yesterday a Boko Haram attack warning. But the Federal Government said security agents are prepared for such challenges. Should any country have doubts, it should contact the Nigerian authorities, the government said.

The U.S warned its citizens living in Nigeria that Boko Haram is planning attacks in major hotels in Abuja.

“The U.S. Embassy has received information that Boko Haram may be planning attacks in Abuja, Nigeria, including against hotels frequently visited by Westerners,” an emergency message on its website said yesterday.

“The Nigerian government is aware of the threat and is actively implementing security measures.”

The U.S. authorities issued a similar warning in November, naming the Hilton, Sheraton and Nicon Luxury as Abuja hotels that could be targets for Boko Haram, but it later retracted it.

The Federal Government said then that high profile hotels were always a possible target but security was tight and people should not live in fear. However, occupancy at those hotels dipped after the last U.S. warning.

The embassy did not name specific targets this time. The Hilton in Abuja said it always took security seriously.

Continued on page 2

•SPORTS P16 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •E-BUSINESS P51

2

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

NEWS Continued from page 1

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second right) speaking to the Project Manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Mr. Lucas Stone (left), at the site of the fly-over project at Mokola Roundabout, Ibadan . With them are the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde (right) and others.

Aregbesola being persecuted, say ACN governors Continued from page 1

Fayemi, according to his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said ACN governors were concerned about the highly orchestrated campaign of calumny mounted by the opposition against Aregbesola.

He said: “The smear campaign, which started as a market place rumour, has now assumed a dangerous dimension, especially with the dubious attempt to equate some actions of the state governor to secession plan.

“We have watched this melodrama with some measure of amusement, especially the desperation of the opposition, led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to demonise Governor Aregbesola, who by all intent and purpose, had contributed positively to the emergence of the civil rule that we all enjoy in the country today.”

Saying that an injury to one is an injury to all, Fayemi said the other ACN governors could no longer afford to keep quiet and watch the PDP turn Osun State and the

Christians back Osun governor

C

HRISTIANS rose yesterday in support of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who has been accused of planning to Islamise the state.

They resolved to support the administration’s plan to develop the state.

Representatives of the Christian communities, led by the local Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officials, at a meeting in Osogbo, the state capital, assured the government that Christians would not be available for politicians to use for any dubious agenda.

Rev. Elijah Onifade, an executive member of CAN and a retired Baptist clergy, who spoke on behalf of the Christian leaders, said CAN had queried one of its members who was reported to have granted an interview where he alleged plans to Islamise the state.

He said the concerned member had told the body that his response to media inquiry was distorted by the newspaper to suit its purpose adding that the report by The Sun was calculated at setting the state on fire.

He regretted that within the weekend that the newspaper published its reports, one day after the other, rumours meant to cause serious disaffection among Muslims and

Southwest into a crisis zone.

Fayemi added that Aregbesola is entitled to his administrative style, and

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Christians were circulated.

Assuring the government of CAN’s support, Rev. Onifade said all Christians prayed for the birth of the administration, adding: “We cannot be part of any plans by politicians to bring down the same government.

We love you as new born babies are loved.

We adore you like new brides are adored; how then can we support some politicians in their agenda to bring down the same government.”

The clergy said all issues being peddled as instances of religious bias against the governor were false, noting that the controversy over the use of hijab in schools had been settled long ago.

He said: “We settled the matter of hijab a long time ago and nobody can bring it up again. Governor Aregbesola, through a state-wide broadcast, had debunked the allegation and reminded the people of the state of the various programmes of his government to ensure fairness among people of all faiths.”

Rev. Elijah also expressed satisfaction at

could choose not to be friendly with those he regarded as enemies of the culture of decency for which the

Continued on page 61

Yoruba are known.

The statement added that Continued on page 61

But the Federal Government expressed concern over the security alarm raised by the U.S. Information Minister Labaran Maku at the end of yesterday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, cautioned the media against inadvertent support for terrorists and their activities through their reporting.

Maku said there was nothing new in the US warning, noting that it is similar to the one issued about a year ago.

While stating that the Federal Government concedes to every country the duty to ensure the safety of its nationals, the minister, however, said this must be done in such a way that it would not create panic in Nigeria.

Maku said: “I still appeal that if they (foreign governments) have any doubt about the preparedness of our security agencies to tackle insecurity in the country, they should communicate to us.

“Our security agencies have increased their capacity to respond to these threats here in the FCT and other parts of the country and other places of public interest. We will continue to appeal to all foreign agencies to align more with our security agencies. Security does not come from such measure (such statements).”

Maku added: “The media need some time off; it appears to me that we get a lot of panic from sensational reports. We have a responsibility in this country to have some discernment on the time and space we give to anti-state groups.”

“I believe it is wrong; I believe it is creating panic and hate across the country.”

Boko Haram’s purported leader, Abubakar Shekau, has appeared in two al Qaeda-style videos posted on the Internet this year but has made only vague threats and no clear demands.

The Senate yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to crush the Boko Haram in-

US issues Boko Haram warning surgents at all costs.

This followed a unanimous adoption of a motion entitled “Terrorist attack on Kaduna”, sponsored by Senator Sani Saleh (Kaduna Central) and 10 others.

Tension was high amidst emotional outbursts as the motion was being debated.

The lawmakers specifically dwelt on the Easter Sunday blast in Kaduna. More than 40 people died in the attack.

The Senate specifically called on the Executive to recognise that terrorists have declared war on Nigeria, which is a threat to the sovereignty, existence and economic wellbeing of the country.

The lawmakers resolved to ask the Federal Government to “respond (to the development) with all instruments of national power at its disposal”.

They condemned bomb explosions in parts of the country in its entirety and observed a one-minute silence in honour of those who died in the explosions and other attacks across the country.

The Senate mandated its joint committees on National Security, Intelligence, Defence and Army, and Police Affairs and Interior to intensify their oversight functions over the security agencies with a view to improving their capabilities in handling the security challenges.

However, the prayer that the government should compensate to victims of the Kaduna bomb explosion was rejected.

In his lead debate, Senator Saleh urged the Senate to note with deep sense of grief, the dastardly bomb explosion at Junction Road in Kaduna on Easter Sunday, by some suicide bombers.

He noted that the explosion was a stark reminder of last Continued on page 61

NNPC, PPPRA, marketers to refund N1.070 trillion Continued from page 1

N41.936billion.

These highpoints formed the major thrust of the recommendations in the Ad Hoc Committee’s Report.

In the Executive Summary of the report, which was released to the media, the panel established that the NNPC and the PPPRA are riddled with corruption, including gross abuse of the Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF).

Apart from overhauling the two agencies, the panel recommended immediate prosecution of some of their top officers, including some of those in the management and board of the NNPC. The committee cited how N999m was paid to unnamed entities 128 times to the tune of N127.872billion.

In the report are graphic details of the mismanagement of fuel subsidy and a recommendation that N1.070trillion be refunded.

•The NNPC is to refund kerosene subsidy of N310.4 billion and N285.09 billion for funds paid above PPPRA recommendation. It should also pay N108.6 billion, which it gave itself as self dis-

count.

•Marketers are to repay N8.6 billion for “total violation” of the PSF. •Companies invited to the probe, but which failed to show up are to pay N41.9 billion.

•The PPPRA is to refund N312.2 billion for “excess payment to self”.

Other transactions antigraft agencies should investigate, according to the panel, include: “payment of N999 million to unnamed entities 128 times to the tune of N127.872 billion. Companies who collected FOREX to the tune of $402.610b whose utilisation is questionable to the committee.

The report said: “The 72 companies listed under the financial forensics are hereby recommended for further investigation by relevant anticorruption agencies, with a view to establishing their culpability and recovering the sums indicated against their names totalling N230,184,605,691.00.”

It listed other issues to be investigated as “the over recovery of N2.766b and N5.27b, which were not ac-

counted for by the office of the Accountant –General of the Federation,” and “the cases of double deductions by the NNPC for subsidy payments in 2009, 2010 and 2011 mentioned in this report.”

The report added: “The committee believes that if the PSF scheme was properly managed, this sum of N1.070 trillion would have been available to the three tiers of government for budget enhancement.

In all, 15 Companies were listed in the report as those who obtained FOREX but did not import petroleum products. Those who collected in 2010 are: Business Ventures Nig Ltd ($22,927,339.96), East Horizon Gas Co. Ltd ($20,735,910.81), Emadeb Energy ($6,606,094.30), Poat Nig. Ltd ($3,147,956.19), Synopsis Enterprises ($51,449,977.47) and Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd ($232,975,385.13).

Those guilty of the same offence in 2011 are: Carnival Energy Oil Ltd ($51,089.57), Crownlines ($4,756,274.94), Ice Energy Petroleum Trading Ltd ($2,131,166.32), Index Petroleum Africa

($6,438,849.64), Ronad Oil & Gas W/A ($4,813,272.00),Serene Greenfield Ltd ($4,813,360.75), Supreme & Mitchelles ($16,947.000.00), Tridax Energy Ltd ($15,900,000.00) and Zamson Global Resources ($8,916,750.00).

“Marketers who obtained FOREX but did not import petroleum products should be referred to the relevant anti-corruption agencies with a view to verifying what they used FOREX for,” the panel said.

The committee identified 18 oil marketers that will refund N41.936billion. It claimed that “the companies deliberately refused to appear because they had something to hide”.

The companies and the amount to be refunded are: Mut-Hass Petroleum (N1,102,084,041.30); Nepal Oil and Gas Service (N2,353,911,979.10); Oilbath Nigeria (N1,019,644,138.97); Techno Oil (N1,036,514, 387.08); Somerset Energy Services (N3,015,221,487.94); Stonebridge Oil (N1,784,158,258.14); Mobil Oil Nigeria (N14, 934,

371,661.76); AX Energy (N1,471,969,643.31) CAH Resources Association (N1,052,466,415.28); Crust Energy (N1,192,651,581.76); Fresh Synergy (N1, 417,029,059.70); Ibafon Oil (N4,687,730,540.46); Lottoj Oil and Gas (N1,427,429,910.95); Oakfield Synergy Network (N988,920,219.15); Petrotrade Energy (N1,471,027,874.73); Prudent Energy and Service (N1,360, 898,638.10); and Rocky Energy (N1,620,110,167.58).

The Committee explained its findings on the volume of petrol consumed by the nation and how the subsidy regime should be addressed.

The report said: “Based on the facts, issues and investigative interactions, the Committee hereby makes the following recommendations for the consideration and approval of the House.

“From the findings of this Committee, the consumption level for 2011 is estimated at 31.5 million litres per day.

However, in 2012, marginal increment of 1.5 million litres per day is recommended in order to take care of unfore-

•Farouk Lawan

seen circumstances, bringing it to 33 million litres per day.

“And to maintain a strategic reserve, an additional average of 7 million litres per day (or 630 million litres per quarter) for the first quarter of 2012 only is recommended.

Thus, PPPRA is to use 40 million of PMS in the first quarter as its maximum ordering quantity per day.

“In subsequent quarters, PMS daily ordering quantity should be 33 million litres per day.”

For kerosene, the Committee recommends a daily ordering of 9 million litres.

Continued on page 61

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

3

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

NEWS Nigeria’s break-up won’t hurt us, says North From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

N

ORTHERN leaders yesterday spurned agitators for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), where they intend to determine the continued co-existence of the regions.

They said the region has nothing to lose if the country breaks up and the North goes its own way.

The regional leaders said the North has not gained anything from the present arrangement of the country and would not be hurt by any break-up.

The northern leaders, under the aegis of the Arewa Elders’ Forum (AEF), said though they could survive in a divided Nigeria, they would not be the cause of the break-up.

A leader of the new group and a former Special Adviser to former-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Food Security, Prof.

Ango Abdullahi, told the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), monitored in Kaduna, that the North has always been on its own and could survive without the oil resources from the South.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was reacting to calls from southern leaders for the convocation of an SNC. He said some people are hiding under the agitation to show that they are tired of staying in a united Nigeria.

Abdullahi said: “We know this is an old call, because it has been on for over 20 years. They have been saying the corporate existence of the country and the federal system is faulty. They are keen on sitting down to discuss what kind of arrangement would be conducive for Nigerian. Some people are hiding under the guise of this agitation to show that they are tired of staying in a united Nigeria.

“Therefore, we have resolved that we are not going to be the cause of Nigeria’s break-up. But if others decide that the country should be divided, we would not say no, because there is nothing we are getting from the current arrangement that other sections of the country are not getting.

“If they insist, why do we not sit down and talk? If in the end everybody agrees that Nigeria should should break up, let it be.”

He said the North has always been on its own because the poor in the region have always been on their own.

Abdullahi said: “The poor feed themselves from what they cultivate in the farms and feed Nigeria up till tomorrow. It is possible that all northerners could return to what their forefathers did through agriculture, with which proceeds they built the North and Nigeria.

“The land is still there and the water. Our forefathers built all the factories, the textiles, the oil mills in Kano from agricultural proceeds. God has given us fertile land. So, if we return to what we have, we would not lack. We will surely stand on our own, no matter the situation this country finds itself.”

He lamented the state of insecurity in the country and reiterated their resolve to work towards the continued existence of the nation.

Mimiko runs billboard govt, says Boroffice

T

HE Senator Representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof.

Robert Ajayi Boroffice, has said Governor Olusegun Mimiko is running a “billboard governance” to shield his “non-performance”.

The governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) spoke in AdoEkiti, when he visited Ekiti State.

He said the Mimiko administration has continued

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

to deceive the people and has failed to develop Ondo State.

Boroffice, who dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the ACN, said “if Mimiko fails to fight corruption, the electorate will show him the way out.”

He said the high number of aspirants vying for the governorship ticket of the ACN is an encouraging sig-

nal for the party.

Boroffice said it would not harm the party’s chances in the election slated for October, 2012.

He said the poor performance of the Mimiko administration is responsible for the “popular” agitation for change, adding that the governor’s “non-performance” should not surprise anyone.

Boroffice said: “There’s nothing on ground to justify

what the Mimiko administration has collected from the Federation Account and what he has given to the people.”

He assured the people that ACN will dislodge LP and Mimiko in October, saying “the party will come out stronger after the primary election.

The senator urged ACN members to be ready to accommodate more defectors from LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Court dismisses suit by ex-Ondo council chiefs

T

HE Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday dismissed the suit filed by the 18 former local government chairmen elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ex-council chairmam are challenging the dissolution of their committees by

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

They are insisting that their tenures have not expired.

The appellate court held that the lower court was right in restraining the local government chairmen from functioning.

It said Section 31 of the 2006 Electoral Act, which stipulates

that 150 days must be given before the conduct of any election, was not complied with by the plaintiffs.

Justice Akin-Kekereekun said Section 12 1 (4) of the State Law, which allows for 24 days before the conduct of the election, is inconsistent with the Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly.

He said since the election

ran foul of the law, the lower court was right in setting aside its conduct and restraining them from functioning.

But the court said the former council chairmen have the right to their salaries and emoluments, which they earned before the court’s pronouncement.

The appellate court dismissed the appeal.

Osun/Oyo Customs impounds truck-load of rice

E

IGHT suspected smugglers, who converted an oil tanker into a rice smuggling vehicle were arrested at Guru Maharajj Village on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway by men of the Osun/Oyo Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Though the smugglers were shielded from reporters yesterday, authorities of the Oyo

Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

/Osun Area Command of the NCS said they would soon be charged to court.

The DAF petroleum tanker marked Lagos XH 134 BDG, with the logo of Total Petroleum Plc, was loaded with 208 bags of rice illegally brought into the country.

Command Area Controller Mogaji Mohammed said

the smugglers were arrested following a tip-off.

Mohammed said the command impounded 43 vehicles with fake number plates and documents last month.

He said: “The Customs of today has no cause not to perform. We have been encouraged through many incentives by the Comptroller-General, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde.

“People must look for legitimate means of earning a living and avoid illegal trade.

The current onslaught against smugglers will be sustained with all vigour to protect the nation’s economy from the rampaging smugglers”.

Mohammed said N2,869,420,075.46 revenue has been generated this year by the command.

Rep joins Ondo governorship race From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A

MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, yesterday joined the Ondo State governorship race.

He will contest the election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Abegunde, who represents Akure South and Akure North Federal Constituency, said he desires to serve the people.

He said: “Ondo State is endowed with human and natural resources. However, we have not been able to optimally tap these resources, due to the action and inaction of those saddled with the power to run the affairs of the state.

“To sustain development, I believe there are policies that need to be addressed. Even though all sectors of the state’s economy are important, emphasis should be placed on education, health, agriculture, housing and security.”

The Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management had earlier submitted his letter of intent at the ACN State Secretariat. He was received by the State Acting Chairman, Chief Olorunsola Adesoji; Secretary Adegboyega Adedipe; Treasurer Ade Adetimehin; Ondo Central ACN Chairman Dr. Bayo Ademodi; Ondo South ACN Chairman Elder Wale Akintimehin; Women’s Leader Erelu Modupe Johnson; State Auditor Mrs. Lola Fagbemi and Otito Ikuopenikan Abegunde told the party executives that he admires ACN because of its laudable programmes and the emergence of many aspirants, which he said is an indication of its popularity.

Adesoji thanked Abegunde for quitting the Labour Party (LP), which he described as ’’a sinking boat’’.

He said ACN would soon take over governance in the state.

Adesoji said the state executives are expecting the guidelines for the primary from the party’s national leadership.

Oyo lawmaker arraigned for murder From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

A

MEMBER of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Olatoye Temitope, alias Sugar, was arraigned yesterday before a High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in connection with the murder of Bukola Okunlana.

Okunlana was allegedly killed in 2004 in Odeda, Ogun State, while the accused was living in the area, before he relocated to Oyo State.

The Accord lawmaker was arraigned with an alleged accomplice, Ajasa Balogun.

Temitope and Balogun pleaded not guilty to the charge. Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje adjourned the case till April 23 for hearing.

•Ibirogba (second right); Ifijeh (right); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mrs. Oluranti Oduntola (second left); and the Director of Press, Mrs. Ronke Osho...yesterday

L

Fire: Well-wishers visit The Nation

AGOS State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lateef Aderemi Ibirogba; Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Joe Igbokwe; and his deputy, Chief Funso Ologunde, were at the Matori, Lagos, corporate headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, yesterday.

Their mission was to commemorate with the organisation on the inferno , which razed its photo and cartoon sections on Saturday night.

Ibirogba, whose delegation included a permanent secretary and directors, represented the Lagos State Government.

Igbokwe and Ologunge visited on behalf of the ACN. They were received by the company’s Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Victor Ifijeh; the Executive Director of Finance and Administration,

By Joke Kujenya

Mr. Ade Odunewu; Sunday Editor Mr. Festus Eriye; and some editorial staff.

Ibirogba described The Nation as “an indispensable medium of information”.

Ibirogba said: “I just cannot afford not to come here when I heard of the fire incident. As far as Governor Babatunde Fashola is concerned; every person and property in the state must be protected.

“It does not matter whether the person or property is of Lagos origin. What matters to us is that the person and the property are within our state.

That is why it is important that The Nation, just like other media houses, must be protected as long as they are situated in Lagos.

“The Nation is one newspaper I have grown to appreciate, especially its in-depth reportage and aesthetics. We are

a friend of the Nigerian media, and since we always share the good times with them, we must also share in their moments of need. This is one of such and that is why we are here.

“I am not just here on behalf of myself. I am here on behalf of all information ministries across Nigeria, both at the federal and state levels.

“I am here to show you all what a medium of information, such as The Nation and others, means to us managers of information. The Nation is one newspaper that has been doing its job professionally.

“Many times, you have commended us in Lagos when you feel we do it right. Similarly, when we miss it, you have given us knocks.

“I really appreciate it, because we love people who tell us we can do better. I thank God that the incident did not escalate beyond remedy.

“We pray that God will not let this happen again.”

Igbokwe said: “We came to sympathise with an organisation that is committed to the defence of freedom.

The fire could have been worse, but for God’s hand that was in it.

“More damage could have been recorded, if not for the intervention of the committed employees of the company, who mobilised themselves to prevent the spread of the fire.

“Despite the closeness of the affected sections to the Press Hall and the generator room, the fire did not spread to other areas. The cartoon and photo were the only places razed.

“We also thank God that volunteers, neighbours and fire fighters responded on time and the situation did not get out of control. We really thank God for this miracle.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

5

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

6

NEWS JAMES IBORI GOES TO JAIL

James Ibori and The most corrupt officials are often the most generous, but letting this system continue only preserves the giver's power

T •President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being welcomed by Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako on his arrival in Germany... yesterday. With them are Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (left), Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and his Water Resources counterpart Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe.

•Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu flanked by his Deputy Ahmed Ibeto (left) and Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri at the seminar on Good Governance and post-Fuel Subsidy Appraisal

by NOA, held in Minna...on Tuesday

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (middle), Commissioner for Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (left), MD/ CEO, Keystone Bank, Mr. Oti Ikomi, Executive Director, Public Sector, Mr. Shehu Abubakar and Special Adviser, Governor's Office, Mrs. Funmi Ajayi during a visit by the management of Keystone Bank to the governor in Abeokuta...yesterday

•Minister of State for Works Bashir Yuguda (left), his counterpart in Education, Nyesom Wike and Minister of Works Mike Onolememen at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

HIS week, former Nigerian state governor James Ibori was sentenced by a British judge to 13 years in prison. He is guilty on two counts. One is corruption - a crime of which many other Nigerian leaders are guilty. But the second is his belief that some people are "somebodys" who are born to own, control and enjoy while others are "nobodys" whose lot is to serve, toil and endure - a mindset shared by most Nigerians, at every stratum of our society.

Here, the politician can't accept that "nobodys" like his driver and cobbler are expected to appoint him to the throne. Instead, he seeks the anointing of powerful godfathers, and then arranges to rig the elections.

The nurse takes home the bedding donated by charity to the government hospital wards; she knows that the wretched patients are used to sleeping on sheet-less beds in their homes anyway. The newspaper editor would rather make a lead story of the minister's mother-in-law's 80th birthday ceremony than of the fact that 400 children died of lead poisoning in Zamfara state. The wealthy madam doesn't bother that the nannies accompanying her prim children are dressed in rags; she can afford to clothe them nicely, but then, she can also afford to cast pearls on

swine. The dead body lies in the street until it bloats and bursts, because no person of worth has reported a missing relative.

Is it then surprising that many Nigerians will do almost anything to rise just that one more level higher than someone else? All in the hope of more dignity and more respect. And as soon as someone on a lower rung edges that one level up, they immediately claim their licence to disparage and abuse as they have seen others do, and so the cycle of oppression continues.

But being "somebody" in our society is not all about barking orders and being waited on hand and foot. It's a role that comes with great responsibility. The "nobodys" look up to you for solutions to all their problems. They consider it their right to reach out to you for aid. And the more people reaching out for your help, the more highly you are regarded. Public officers even tend to view their jobs - when they bother to do them - as an extension of their philanthropy. TV stations constantly show grateful citizens expressing their appreciation to the governor or council chairman or minister for

Ibori’s conviction an indictment of judiciary, says Agbakoba

T

HE conviction of former Delta State Governor James Ibori in far away Lodon has been described by some lawyers as an indictment on Nigeria’s judiciary.

The lawyers, who spoke in separate chats with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, said Ibori’s conviction on Tuesday should serve as a warning to all.

Ibori, who pleaded guilty to several charges of money laundering before the Southwark Crown Court, got a 13-year jail term.

In his reaction, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba, said the trial, conviction and sentence showed that a lot needed to be done by the judiciary.

According to the human rights’ activist, this becomes necessary as the Nigerian court had initially found the former governor innocent of several charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC).

Agbakoba, therefore, advised that the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 should be strongly implemented to avoid a repeat of what happened.

His words: “He should have the maximum possible jail term and it is also an indictment on Nigeria as a whole as a nation actually, that the Nigerian political, legal and judicial system could not catch Ibori and it took the English to do that for us.

“So, it’s a shame and an indictment on all of us, absolutely all of us and the lesson is that the president should resolve that this cannot go on. It is a major slap on the face of Nigeria that the English can get this man so I am very upset about it.’’

Also commenting, Mr Femi Falana, a former president of the West African Bar Association (WABA), and also a rights’ crusader, said Nigeria has a lot to learn from the trial and sentence of Ibori.

He said that the English law which found him guilty presupposes a workable judicial system when juxtaposed with Nigeria’s system.

Falana said that the statement by the English prosecution which was very indicting showed that there could be no manipulation of the law.

The lawyer-activist said: “As far as their law is concerned, there is no manipulation as it is the case here. If you read the very indicting statement of the prosecution yesterday you will know that he is in for trouble. Again it is a lesson for Nigeria to learn to apply our own law to the criminal element amongst us.’’

He said Nigerians must intensify the fight against corruption, money laundering and related crimes and also be more focused on the development of our society.

Mr Wale Fapohunda, a former Secretary of the Committee on the Reform of the Judiciary, said that Ibori’s conviction would serve as a big lesson for all Nigerians.

He said that the sentencing of the ex-governor showed that there could be no sacred cows to the issue of global corruption.

According to him, it is sad that Ibori is a Nigerian but the fact remains that other Nigerians should take a cue from his trial and conviction and avoid giving Nigeria a “brand name’’.

Fapohunda urged the Nigerian judiciary to ensure that the provisions of the money laundering act were applied cautiously and without omission.

Another lawyer, Mr Henry Okeke, who is also a human right activist, said it was time Nigerians embrace the fight against corruption which was giving the country a bad name.

“Our judiciary must strive to equip its organs to combat corruption and cases of mismanagement, ’’ Okeke said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

7

NEWS JAMES IBORI GOES TO JAIL

nd the 'somebodys' and 'nobodys' of Nigeria How ex-Delta governor was nailed

A

FORMER corrupt Nigerian state governor who admitted embezzling millions of his country’s public funds is starting a lengthy custodial term after a complex and unique investigation.

After being cornered in the first case of its kind by officers from the Met’s Proceeds of Crime Unit, James Ibori (49), an ex-governor of the African country’s oil-rich Delta State was finally handed down a 13-year sentence.

“Corruption is a cancer in developing countries and the coalition government has a zero tolerance approach to it.”

Officers from the unit – which is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and specialises in investigating corrupt foreign officials seeking to launder stolen assets – were satisfied at the result.

Spokesman Det Supt Matt Parkes said: “We will now be seeking the confiscation of all James Ibori’s assets so they can be repatriated for the people of Delta State.

“It is rewarding for anyone on a proceeds of corruption case to know the stolen funds they identify will be returned to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”

The sentiment was shared by International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell who added: “Corruption is a cancer in developing countries and the coalition government has a zero tolerance approach to it.”

Ibori, who pleaded guilty to ten offences relating to conspiracy to launder funds from Delta State, money laundering and one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception and fraud, siphoned off an estimated $250million of funds.

Southwark Crown Court was told how the Nigerian-born defendant had entered politics after returning to the African state from the UK in the 1990s.

He was elected governor of Delta State in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 for another four year term, having lied in declarations to the Nigerian Election Commission about both his previous convictions and financial status.

During that time he stole funds from the public purse, secreting them in bank accounts across the world. His methods included the inflation of state contracts, kickbacks and the lift of cash from the state accounts by employees in his inner circle.

The cash was used to fund a portfolio of luxury houses in the UK, fleets of top-of-the-range cars, fees at the most exclusive boarding schools, first class travel, hotels and even a $20 million private jet. His monthly credit card bills alone amounted to $200,000.

He was helped by family members as well as a series of corrupt professionals, all of whom have now been tried and sentenced in the UK courts.

The Proceeds of Crime unit began investigating Ibori in 2005 while working with Nigeria’s anti-corruption unit – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While Ibori was able to claim immunity from prosecution under Nigerian "what he has done for us". These acts of charity include building roads, renovating schools or drilling boreholes. The masses don't realise

that these good works are their entitlement, the natural functions of a government.

And so some of the most corrupt

• Ibori

law until 2007, he was finally arrested in the African state and the Met Proceeds of Corruption Unit froze UK assets worth £35 million allegedly belonging to him.

Two years later, a court in Nigeria dismissed 170 charges of corruption, saying that there was no clear evidence. Although the EFCC reopened the case in 2010, Ibori managed to evade arrested and fled to Dubai. But he was detained in the emirate at the request of the Met and extradited to the UK in April last year.

•Culled from newsnow.co.uk government officials are the most generous, preferring to dispense their state's budget directly from their pockets rather than from the

public treasury. The stories of Ibori's "generosity" are enough to fill the pages of an encyclopaedia. Some I've heard could bring tears to your eyes.

This false charity preserves the giver's power, keeping the people ever grateful and indebted. No wonder Ibori's squadron of supporters are ready to bite anyone that threatens the hand that feeds them.

On the same day that Ibori was sentenced, a group calling themselves the South-South Grassroots Coalition took full pages in some Nigerian newspapers to announce their unwavering support for him. They drew comparisons between their compatriot's current "persecution" by Britain, and that of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi of Benin and Jaja of Opobo, two traditional rulers from the same Niger Delta region as Ibori whose historic resistance to the British colonial government fetched them exiles in foreign lands. The Urhobo Youth Leaders Association, official representatives of Ibori's 14 millionmember tribe, also threatened to sabotage Nigeria's oil production when a Dubai court decided in 2010 that he was to be extradited from the UAE to Britain. The previous year, three days after Nigeria's defunct NEXT newspaper published documents showing evidence that Ibori was indeed an ex-convict, he was the chief speaker at a Nigerian Institute of International Affairs event. His talk was something along the lines of "how to move Nigeria forward".

Even if all our leaders were to be immediately marched off to British jails and a new set took over, very little would change. There is a multitude of latent Iboris temporarily keeping themselves occupied with noisy calls for reform.

I wish my country could show other Africans the way forward by bringing in experts who can advise how to change the attitudes of our people. That is our only hope for permanent, long-term deliverance from degeneration on this continent.

Rights groups hail UK judiciary

R

IGHTS groups yesterday described the conviction and sentencing of former Delta State governor, James Ibori by a London court as a dent on the nation’s anticorruption efforts.

The United States-base Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Access to Justice (AJ) based in Nigerian are of the view that the development was an indication that the Nigerian criminal justice system aide criminality as against punishing criminal acts.

The groups noted that for Ibori, who until he eloped to the United Arab Emirate (UAE ), was an influential politician in the country, to have been convicted in London, having been acquitted by a Nigerian judge, was an indictment on the country’s judicial system.

According to HRW, the money laundering conviction and 13-year prison term for Ibori “is a landmark in the global fight against corruption. Ibori might have been untouchable in Nigeria, but not in the United Kingdom, where he had laundered some of his stolen money.

“London’s Metropolitan Police Service secured an order from a London court, in 2007, to freeze $35 million worth of his foreign assets, including a private jet.

“The world has just got smaller for government officials who believe they can loot their country’s resources with impunity. By prosecuting Ibori, the UK authorities have struck a blow not only against finan-

By Eric Ikhilae, Joseph Jibueze and Precious Igbonwelundu

cial crimes at home, but also against impunity for corruption around the globe.” Daniel Bekele, HRW’s Africa Director said in a statement yesterday.

Bekele noted the case was not just about financial transactions in British banks, but about acknowledging global responsibility for helping to stop the devastating human cost of corruption in Nigeria.”

AJ, in a statement by its Director, Joseph Otteh, noted that “the tenacity and vigour with which the UK’s Crown Service apprehended ex-Governor Ibori who was outside the UK when arrests warrants were issued against him is remarkable.

“The events giving rise to the offences for which James Ibori was sentenced today took place in Nigeria.

This is where the money was removed from, where contracts were inflated, where money was concealed, disguised and wired from. This is where most of the witnesses to grand-scale corruption are resident.

“It was Nigeria’s legal system that had far better strategic and logistic advantage to pin ex Governor James Ibori. But it drew blank. Not once, but twice.

“The Nigerian justice system has systematically failed when it came to holding James Ibori accountable, and the contrasts between the outcomes from Nigerian and UK courts on the

•THE ACCOMPLICES: Badresh Gohil, Theresa Ibori, Christine Ibie-Ibori and Udoamaka

‘

The world has just got smaller for government officials who believe they can loot their country’s resources with impunity. By prosecuting Ibori, the UK authorities have struck a blow not only against financial crimes at home, but also against impunity for corruption around the globe ex-Governor give serious cause for concern, and for many, dismay.

“First, Nigerian courts could not confirm whether James Onanefe Ibori, the convict, was the same as

‘

James Onanefe Ibori the Governor, in spite of the clarification made by the Judge who made the conviction that the Governor was the convict!

“Second, the Nigeria’s justice sys-

tem could not find that James Ibori had laundered money with impunity, but the UK’s court did not need to have a long trial before Ibori owned up to what he had done. The judiciary’s commitment to extirpating corruption from public life is sagging at this time.

“Where Judges allow corruption trials to be held up interminably by those being tried, they endanger the trials by their lack of effective management of the trial process. They make it harder for the prosecution to locate and bring witnesses and easier for witnesses to be suborned.

Our Judiciary is in need of ideological transformation too,” AJ said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

8

CITYBEATS

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

• Left to right: Commodore Otaru’s property being thrown out. Inset: Otaru

“T

HEY came banging on my gate, then on my doors. Mr dogs were

barking.”

With these words, Air Commodore Danjuma Otaru (rtd) captured his forceful ejection from his 11A Adeyemo Alakija Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos home last Thursday

by Air Force men.

He described the experience as harrowing, adding that he has briefed his lawyer, Mr Femi Falana.

Falana described the eviction as a “primitive onslaught on the rights of a law abiding citizen.”

Otaru said the Air Forcemen, in a commando style, forced their way into his houseat 4 am, harassing his family and guests and threw their belongings to the street.

"It has been very traumatic, I must tell you. Imagine you are in

My experience in the hands of Air Force men, by evicted Commodore •Falana describes incident as ‘barbaric’

By Eric Ikhilae

bed in the pitch of the night, around 4 am, no light, and then, you start hearing banging on your main gate, then on your doors. My dogs were barking.

"I became worried, but concluded that this cannot be robbers, because robbers will not be coming into your property and be making this kind of noise.

"To my surprise, they were armed men, about 15 of them.

‘Adesuwa cost me N18m'

H

OW much went into the production of the blockbuster movie, Adesuwa A wasted lust.

It costs about N18million, says the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Johnsources Films, Mr John Chukwuma Abua, whose first movie is Adesuwa.

The movie, produced and directed by Lancelot OduwaImasuen, premiered recently at the Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

The long - awaited film will hit cinemas nationwide on May 4.

Abua said the movie is his contribution to the Nollywood phenomenon, adding that it was borne out of the desire to discover, develop and expose talents.

"My foray into the African film business is borne out of a driving desire to discover, develop and expose talents into the Nigeria movie industry in order to move it to the next level in terms of quality and increase in revenues. Also, I want to contribute my quota to the Nollywood phenomenon and Adesuwa is that contribution," he added.

He said as executive producer of ADESUWA, he bought the movie script for N300,000 from Mr Ossa Earlice, who is a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

On the challenges encountered,

•Abua

By Ozolua Uhakheme

Abua said some directors in Nollywood want to take all the credit without acknowledging the role of the executive producers, which he said, is painful.

Reacting to the multiple nominations of Adesuwa in this year's AMAA award, Abua who studied Law at the University of Benin, said: "I am very happy with the awards nominations attached to my first African audio visual production. The nomination categories include (i) Best Most Outstanding Film 2011 (ii) Best Director (iii) Best Cinematography (iv) Best Editor. Altogether, it was nominated in 10 categories at the upcoming AMAA awards. It has also received the NIGER-DELTA advancement award and it won at the TAVA awards 2011, bagging Best Director, Best Editor, Best Cinematographer and Best Outstanding Movie 2011.

They took all of us out, including my wife, son and visitors. I reminded them that we have valuables in the house, and that my visitors, who came into Lagos to trade equally had money.

"They asked me to just watch them and they went about just ripping things up and stealing. My wife caught one of them putting our items into their vehicle. My wife lost some of her valuables and money. The same with my visitors.

"My 15-year old son could not attend school to write his exams.

He ought to be writing his A-Level examinations, but he has not been able to attend school. My wife is also disturbed. The experience is traumatic," he said.

Otaru, who until his retirement, was the Director, Electronic Warfare, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, wondered why the Air Force allowed itself to be used as an agent of unlawful ejection in a house it claimed, some years back, to have ceded to the Nigerian Airways.

He produced documents, including on October 13, 2008. signed

by Squadron Leader E. Akintunde, entitled: "Notification of de-requisition of properties," with which the Air Force claimed to have ceded the house to the Nigerian Airways. He also produced another document to back his claim that his bid for the house was not only successful, but that the then liquidator of the Nigerian Airways, Babington Ashaye issued him a letter of offer.

He said the property had been a subject of litigation since 2004 when the Federal Government decided to liquidate the Nigerian Airways. A company called Abuja Investment Limited, he said initially claimed to have bought the house, but later transferred it to a firm, Suru Ventures Limited, which went to court.

Otaru said he was surprised that Suru Ventures withdrew the case in the course of hearing, indicating its interest for an out-of-courtsettlement. He accused the company of being behind his eviction.

He said he would seek redress in court.

Falana said he has written to the Chief of Air Staff over the development. He said he planned to approach the Lagos State Govern-

Lagos Assembly seals off property

A

BUILDING at 48/50 Balogun Street, Lagos Island belonging to Alhaji Tajudeen Olugbode has been sealed off on the orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Physical Planning, Urban Development and Central Business Districts.

The order was given by the committee during the investigation of activities of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), sequel to a submission the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, OlutoyinAyinde.

Ayinde said an in-depth study of the properties of the agency was carried out and it was during the exercise that the structure in question owned by Gbode Ventures

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Limited boss was discovered inhabitable and ought to be pulled down.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe said the panel has the responsibility of managing matters relating to approval of building plans, control and removal of illegal structures, urban renewal programmes and matters relating to central business district development.

Egberongbe said the probe was not a witch hunt, but in investigating of the internal workings of the agency by requesting for documentation (both oral and written) from stakeholders and proffer necessary assistance towards repositioning the operations of the agency.

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

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

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

ment to compel the Air Force to rebuild the property that had since been demolished and restore Otaru to his house.

"Even under the worst form of military dictatorship in Nigeria, the armed forces were not allowed to brutalise Nigerian citizens, talk less of their own accomplished officer who has retired having served the country meritoriously.

"This barbaric method (the early morning eviction and immediate demolition of the property) in order to prevent the court from following the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of the Military Governor of Lagos State vs Ojukwu, where the apex court ordered the military government in Lagos to restore Ojukwu to his father's property on Queen's Drive, Ikoyi before the government could be heard in court.

"We must let these guys know that we are operating in a civilised environment. If they can do this to themselves, it means the rest of us are in danger. We must put an end to this brutalisation of lawabiding citizens by those who are paid to maintain the territorial integrity of our country," Falana said.

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

Some people, he said, have turned the state’s properties to theirs especially within the Central Business Districts while some property developers and the agency’s tenants have failed to remit money into the government’s coffers.

Egberongbe said some transactions between the agency and developers were not under agreement while some companies have broken the terms of agreement as in the case of Gbode Ventures.

“If there is no agreement there will be no room for accountability and probity”, he said. He said after the verification of some documents, it was found that some agreements were not firm while most of the deeds are porous and corrupt.

A member of the Committee, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King said over 131 buildings have no agreement with the government, casting doubt whether they pay tax due to their illegal activities, adding that LASURA ought to have the data base of the structures belonging to them.

Alawiye-King then urged LASURA management to serve contravention and requisite notices to the structure owners as well as their status

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

9

NEWS

Southsouth states to partner Rwanda S

OUTHSOUTH states are to partner Rwanda on issues of development, conflict and post-crisis management challenges.

A delegation, including the chairman of the Southsouth Governors Forum, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali on Tuesday to work out modalities of the partnership.

Kagame will later this month attend the Second Economic Summit of the Southsouth states in Asaba between April 26 and April 28.

After the meeting on

Tuesday, Uduaghan said the region under the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta) Commission resolved to share from the Rwandan experiences.

“We believe we should have someone who has had experience and success in crisis management and post-crisis management in tackling our peculiar situation.

“Hence the need to look in the direction of President Paul Kagame and Rwanda,” Uduaghan said.

He said the objective is to come together to see

how the region can transcend its crisis to become an investment destination.

“We believe that Africa should first look inwards.

“What has been happening even from colonial era is that we have been waiting for others to come and develop us.

“But we have the natural resources and most importantly the human resources in Nigeria and Rwanda to be able to grow far beyond where we are now.”

Other members of the delegation at the Kigali meeting are the DirectorGeneral of the BRACED Commission, Amb Joe Keshi and the Chairman, Southsouth Economic Summit Organising Committee, Nduka Obaigbena.

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has condoled with the State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Mrs Joy Ogu, widow of Chuka Ogu, a cameraman with the Independent Television (ITV), Benin.

Ogu was shot by assailants last weekend.

In separate condolence messages, Oshiomhole said it was unfortunate that such a promising young reporter was killed in his prime.

While conveying the condolence of the people and the government as well as his personal commiseration, the governor said: “We are deeply pained and saddened not only by the fact of his death, but also by the way he died.

“However, be assured that you are not alone in mourning. Our hearts are

Oshiomhole condoles with NUJ, reporter’s widow

•Group donates N200,000 with you at this very difficult moment.

“He would be missed not only by his family, but also by the rest of us who knew him.

“Chuka was a welltrained professional, who applied himself to his job with exceptional diligence and drive for perfection.

He prayed God to comfort his family and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) David Ugolor yesterday donated N200,000 to the widow.

Ugolor said the money was to provide immediate needs of the family.

The ANEEJ boss said: “We came to share your grief and to let you know that your husband’s memory will remain with us. Only God knows what happened.

“It is only God who can provide for those he left behind. It is only man who disappoints but God cannot disappoint.”

The family's spokesman, Gashun Mba, urged security agencies to bring the killers to book.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

10

NEWS

TETFund spends N58b to upgrade UI, 29 others From Yusuf Alli and Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja

T

•From right, President, Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Governor Liyel Imoke and Ambassador Joe Keshi during the meeting of Southsouth governors delegation to Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of the forthcoming Southsouth summit in Asaba...yesterday.

America’s support for scrapping of EFCC unlikely •U.S. to assist Lamorde rebuild anti-graft agency

T

HERE are indications that the United States (U.S.) will not support any attempt to scrap the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Reacting to The Nation’s enquiry on the recommendation of the Steve Orosanye Report seeking the scrapping of the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) , U.S. yesterday said it believes the Federal Government may be interested in consolidating rather than eliminate antigraft agencies.

It said it looked forward to supporting the EFCC in its work.

The spokesperson of its embassy in Nigeria, Ms. Deborah MacLean, said America hopes to see Ibrahim

By Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News)

Lamorde rebuild EFCC. Ms. MacLean, in an e-mail response to The Nation’s enquiry on U.S.’s reaction to the Orosanye Report’s recommendation that EFCC and some other agencies should be scrapped, said: “As we understand it, the Nigerian Federal Government may decide to consolidate anticorruption agencies, rather than eliminate the important functions that they can perform. Currently, as in the past, we provide training to investigators and prosecutors. We are very supportive of the EFCC and its work to fight corruption and financial crime in Nigeria and look forward to working with Chairman Lamorde as he re-

builds the agency.”

America has always taken interest in the running of the EFCC and has supported it in the areas of training and logistics. It cut off its support during the era of Mrs. Farida Waziri because, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton put it, the agency had ‘fallen off’.

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja, Clinton said the EFCC had ‘fallen off in the last two years.’ She said: “The EFCC has fallen off in the last two years. We want to see them start work again as before.”

It is believed that America played a role in Waziri’s sack and the appointment of Lamorde, who on the invitation of the American government was recently in Washington to hold discussions with law enforcement and other agencies.

Speaking last Monday at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs

•Lamorde

Johnnie Carson expressed confidence in the new leadership of the commission.

Carson said: “For four years, the United States scaled back our technical assistance programs to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because we did not believe the previous leadership was committed to reform. In November, President Jonathan appointed a new Chairman to run the EFCC – the country’s main anti-corruption agency. The appointment of Ibrahim Lamorde to lead the EFCC gives us confidence that the high-level corruption that has hobbled the delivery of government services will be seriously addressed.”

Jonathan makes TIME 100 influential people’s list

I

NFLUENTIAL American based tabloid, TIME Magazine has listed President Goodluck Jonathan as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in the 2012 edition of its annual list of influential personalities.

In its 2012 edition released on yesterday, Jonathan featured on the influential list alongside other world leaders, industry pioneers, business moguls and celebrity figures.

Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who wrote the citation for Jonathan, described him as a reflection of the political change that is sweeping through the African continent. "(President Jonathan) exemplifies the African political renaissance at a time when the people of the continent are starting to reap the fruit of their resources and their hard work," she stated.

She pointed out that the period during which Jonathan emerged was a crucial moment in the history of the country, and that he has helped move the country out of "its past of corruption, mismanagement and brutality".

She added that he has in two years at the helm of affairs shown the same good governance qualities that stood him out when he was governor of Bayelsa State, adding that he has retained "the same ability to find the remedies to the many complexities of running a nascent democracy".

Johnson-Sirleaf, who was re-elected for a second term as president of Liberia in February, declared that Jonathan had been instrumental towards maintaining peace and security within the regional West African states.

"From the onset of our own crisis, Liberia has benefited from the support of Nigeria and President Jonathan not only upheld the trend but added to it," she said. "With leaders like President Jonathan, Africa is sure to move toward prosperity, freedom and dignity for all of its people."

Also featuring on the TIME Magazine list for 2012 are US President, Barack Obama, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, Argentina and Barcelona football star, Lionel Messi, British songstress, Adele, amongst others.

HE Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday said the agency has sponsored 5, 277 varsity lecturers for postgraduate studies in the last three years.

He also said the Fund has at the spent N58billion on Special High Impact Project to upgrade facilities University of Ibadan and 29 others in the six geopolitical zones.

Mahmud, who spoke at a leadership forum of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper in Abuja , said very soon Nigerian universities will be one of the top ones in the world.

He said the Fund is trying its best to improve the quality of lecturers in our tertiary institutions, especially universities.

Yakubu said: “The majority of lecturers teaching in our tertiary institutions, especially universities, are Lecturers I and below.

The majority of them are not PhD degree holders and the small number of those enrolled as postgraduate students study in the same universities where they graduated from and where they teach.

“Until 2008, the only effort made to sponsor academic staff for postgraduate studies was the one-off allocation of N1.75million to each university in 2004.

“So far, some 5,277 lecturers from Federal and State tertiary institutions have been sponsored for postgraduate studies, out of which 1, 204 are currently studying abroad(629 for PhD, 575 for Masters) while 4,073 candidates are studying in Nigeria(1, 612 for PhD and 2,461 for Masters).

“An average of 1,759 lecturers has been sponsored for postgraduate studies annually in the last three years.

“This is the most aggressive training programme for lecturers of tertiary institutions in the history of this country.”

He also said the Fund has also spent N58billion on Special High Impact Project to upgrade facilities University of Ibadan and 29 others in the six geopolitical zones.

In order to progressively upgrade facilities in our institutions of higher learning, the Federal Government assigned to TETFund the responsibility for progressive upgrading of programmes and improvement of teaching and learning environment in select tertiary institutions across the geopolitical zones with the aim of nurturing the emergence of centres of excellence.

“The sum of N3billion was allocated to each university while each polytechnic and College of Education received the sum of N1billion each.”

He gave the list of beneficiaries of the N58bllion between 2009 and 2011 as follows: University of Ilorin(N3b); FCE Kontagora(N1b); University of Maidiguri(N3b), FCE Gombe(N1b); ABU Zaria(N3b); Kaduna Polytechnic(N1b); UNN Nsukka(N3b); Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic, Unwana(N1b); University of Benin(N3b); FCE Omoku(N1b); University of Ibadan(N3b) and Yaba College of Technology(N1b).

Jonathan to meet German business community today

P

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will today in Berlin, Germany, meet with selected Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of German corporations under the auspices of the German-African Association.

He will also meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for bilateral talks and later join her for a media briefing on the cooperation between both countries.

Dr Jonathan is expected to visit the German Council of Foreign Relations where he would hold an interactive session.

He will round off his first day in Germany with a reception for African ambassadors, representatives of Nigeria and other stakeholders.

Fed Govt adopts central data base for policies

T

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

HE Federal Government yesterday said it has begun the production of a central data base for its agencies.

The process, which was discussed at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, would eliminate duplication of data centres by government agencies.

Information and Communications Minister Labaran Maku told reporters at the end of the council meeting that the proposed data base system would provide a single data base for all government agencies and reduce the cost of governance.

He said: “Currently, we have a data base that is maintained by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Identity Card, among others. We also have banks keeping their own data base for their clients across the country. This is not supposed to be so. We need a coordination such that the nation can develop one data base and different agencies can subscribe to it.”

The draft was based on a policy proposal sent to the FEC by Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, to co-ordinate the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facility to government offices.

According to Maku, the data base will serve as a “one-stop shop” for information gathering that could serve all the agencies”.

He added: “Banks, FRSC, INEC, etc, and all the agencies can subscribe to it. The ministry sought to coordinate and emphasise the need also for training.”

The minister said the proposed data base would make it easier for government activities to be treated online.

“You can send even your memos online,” Maku said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Nigeria to issue N210b, N290b bonds in Q2

N

IGERIA plans to raise between N210 billion andN 290 billion ($1.33 billion - $1.84 billion) in sovereign bonds ranging between three and 10 years in the second quarter of the year, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said.

This is more than its first quarter debt issuance.

DMO said it would auction between N15 billion and N25 billion in three-year paper in April, N30 billionN40 billion worth in fiveyear and 10-year bonds each in the same month.

In May, the debt office plans to issue between N30 bilion-N40 billion worth in five-year and 10-year bonds, while in June it would raise between N25billion-N35 billion in five-year, sevenyear and 10-year paper.

Nigeria, Africa’s second biggest economy, said all were re-openings of those previously issued, except for the issue of N25 billion-N35 billion in seven-year paper in June.

Africa’s biggest crude exporter issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

Nigeria’s secondary bond market remained subdued in the last two weeks as bond holders waited for the release of the second quarter auction calendar.

Dealers expect it would serve as a stimulus to boost activity in the secondary market in the coming days.

Hence forth, no MDA is allowed to go to the National Assembly and seek a fresh budgetary estimate outside the one that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would have carefully sat down to plan and send to the National Assembly.

- Labaran Maku, Minister of Information

NSE to adopt new trading system, rules

Fed Govt declares gas supply emergency plan for power stations T • Appoints CEO for new gas firm T

By Taofik Salako

HE Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, has declared one year gas supply emergency plan designed to correct the misalignment and challenges that exist in the gas to power programme.

Mrs Alison-Madueke said a key aspect of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan is the accelerated and sustained delivery of the much needed energy services to the Nigerian people and particularly, electricity.

The Minister said: “Accordingly, delivery of gas to assure sufficient, uninterrupted supply to existing, as well as new thermal generating plants has been a special focus area of mine and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Up to recent times, gas supply to power plants outstripped demand to the extent that significant volumes of available gas remained unutilised on a daily basis. However a close

By Emeka Ugwuanyi and John Ofikhenua from Abuja

analysis of the supply chain has revealed that over the last 10 years or so, there has been significant misalignment between power projects and gas supply sources.

“Even so, with the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) coming on stream, there are indications of increasing pressure to meet up with the quantity of gas required as fuel to power the plants and at the correct locations.

“To quickly and holistically address the misalignment, I am immediately deploying a 12-month Domestic Gas Supply Emergency Plan. During this period, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, together with the NNPC and the gas producing companies will deploy extraordinary measures to

accelerate opportunities for quick wins in order to ameliorate the potential gap between gas demand and supply.”

To accelerate gas supply, the Minister with the approval of President Jonathan, has decided to strengthen the capacity, as well as the roles of the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria Limited (GACN), which is a DPR-regulated company of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources with responsibility for gas sourcing and allocation, as well as operator of the commercial framework of the Gas Master Plan. She said the decision was taken in view of the extraordinary situations the country faces.

“Accordingly, in addition to its traditional gas demand management role which includes processing requests from gas buyers, managing gas supply/demand alloca-

tion, as well as facilitating Gas Supply Aggregation Agreement (GSAA) negotiations, the GACN will, henceforth, be accountable for the following: identify gas sources/suppliers and design incentives for accelerated domestic gas delivery, drive the implementation of the findings of the recently constituted Emergency Gas Committee with emphasis on short and medium term gas supply, and on a sustained basis, ensure integration as well as alignment between gas demand and supply to ensure robustness of longer term gas supply to power, and provide implicit data to enable the DPR to be more proactive in compelling suppliers to meet domestic gas supply obligations.,” the minister said.

President Goodluck Jonathan also approved the appointment Kunle Allen as the Chief Executive Officer of GACN. He will, within this period of emergency report to the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

FIRS to review Capital Gains Tax, others From Nduka Chiejina, Asst.

Editor and Adebowale Adenike, Abuja

A

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$123.6/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N6.503 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would next week wrap up the $10 million deal to transit into NASDAQ X-Stream as it prepares to implement new rules on trading hour, price movement and short selling to tickle the market recovery and enhance efficiency.

The NASDAQ X-Stream is a high-performance, robust and scalable, multi-asset, multi-market matching trading engine being used by the NASDAQ OMX. The signing of the new trading system is scheduled for next Tuesday.

Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Adeolu Bajomo, said the exchange selected the NASDAQ OMX X-Stream system because of its versatility as it is being used by more than 20 exchanges around the world.

He said the new trading system would replace the current trading system, known as horizon. With this, equities, fully functional bond market and exchange traded funds will come in phase one, while the introduction of derivatives to the exchange would come in the second phase.

• From left: Head, Administration and Finance, Tom Associates, Mr Biodun Abiola; Chief Operating Officer (COO), Miss Olutoyin Osibogun; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abiodun Toki and two senior management staff members, Mr Adekola Adediran and Mrs Titi Ashiru, during the presentation of outstanding performance award to Miss Osibogun and training for media executives to commemorate the firm’s 20th Anniversary, at Anthony Village, Lagos ... yesterday. PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Customs suspends benchmark on imports

T

HE Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, has announced the cancellation of the newly introduced benchmark on cargoes by the government.

Speaking on behalf of Dikko at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, Assistant Comptroller-General, Victor Gbemudu, urged clearing agents to advise importers to make proper declaration of their goods, adding that the service is set to pursue its revenue collection drive with renewed vigour.

His words: “Let me say this benchmark thing should be put to rest for now. Go to the port and make your declaration and pay your duties. We are not treating any issue like benchmark anymore. I

By Oluwakemi Dauda

think the issue has been unduly over-flogged. It is not something we should lose sleep over. The bottom line here is collection of our revenue. Make your declarations and be guarded by our section 46, 47 and 164.

“Our doors are even open on Saturdays. Go there on Saturdays and pay your duties. We are going to work on Saturdays to clear these backlogs. We need this revenue. We have to achieve it and get it. It is no longer an issue of Monday to Friday.

On Saturdays, we are there.

The issue of benchmark does not arise anymore,” Gbemudu said.

He, however, warned that when the necessary duties are not paid by any importer

or clearing agent, the service, backed by section 46, 47, and 164 of the Customs and Exercise Management Act (CEMA), would seize any goods that are not properly declared.

He appealed to importers and clearing agents to partner with the Customs by making genuine declarations of cargoes to ensure that the customs realises the N1trillion revenue target set for it by the Federal Government.

Reacting to the development, the National President of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, commended the Customs for the cancellation of the benchmark, saying Customs officers were already hiding under the guise of bench-

mark and trade facilitation to extort money from members of the association.

With its cancellation, Shittu assured the Customs and the Federal Government that they would continue to do their business as patriotic citizens.

He said there is need for a symbiotic relationship between the clearing agents and the Customs. “Today, we are no longer an association that is local. We now belong to the league of international customs brokers. We are the bridge between the Customs and the importers, but part of the major problems we have always had, is the Nigerian factor. Nobody wants to do the right thing, and because of this, we have always had problems between Customs and agents,” Shittu said.

REVIEW of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Stamp Duties (SD) Acts is underway to ensure that the laws are in conformity with global best practices, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), said yesterday.

Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, who disclosed this at a workshop on Administration of CGT, SD and Personal Income Tax (PIT) for optimum revenue yield held in Abuja, said the Service would also embark on massive sensitisation of the public and create awareness on best practices that would help drive improved collection of all taxes.

Mashi said there is the need for the FIRS to focus more on CGT, SD and PIT to ensure increased revenue generation and maximise revenue potential from various sources that have remained untapped.

He stressed the need for CGT, SD and PIT contributing more to the total tax take in view of the pressing need to improve revenue accruable to the government.

“This position must, however, be reversed if we are to meet our targets and ensure that these taxes begin to make substantial contribution to overall revenue collection”, he said, adding that the realisation of the 2012 Budget is dependent on earnings from taxes.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

13

14

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

15

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

17

INDUSTRY

Infrastructure key to success of Vision 2020 T

HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has said without necessary infrastructure and appropriate policy framework to attract foreign direct investment, the country’s quest of becoming one of the world’s 20 most industrialised nations by the year 2020, would be a pipe dream.

Against this backdrop, its President, Dr Herbert Ajayi, has called on government at all levels to en-

Stories by Toba Agboola

sure the enhancement and development of the private sector by putting in place appropriate and effective enabling policy measures and programmes that will make businesses thrive.

Ajayi said the government needed to focus on policy measures that would tackle the numerous constraints faced by businesses.

He said no economy in the world could experience a sustainable level

of real growth and development, if the necessary economic reforms and incentives to spur growth and position its economy to attract and encourage local and foreign investors were not put in place.

On the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Ajayi implored the Federal Government to ensure speedy conclusion of the exercise, saying the government should ensure the implementation of the Road Map for Electricity Power Sector Reform

in order to inject private capital and management expertise into the power sector.

He said such a development would ensure provision of electricity to Nigerians and industries 24 hours a day in no distant time.

Ajayi stressed the urgent need to facilitate a communal scheme whereby stand-by generators woud be installed with changeover facilities for power distribution within residential and industrial clusters and estates, with resi-

dents as major stakeholders.

He said the government should promote and subsidise renewable sources of energy for power generation to meet household electricity needs, especially in the rural areas.

Ajayi expressed satisfaction with the increased awareness on the part of government of the need for public and private sectors to partner for enhanced economic recovery and development of the economy.

Institute pushes for investment

T

HE Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria has said investing in economic infrastructure and putting in place enabling environment are necessary measures to address the challenges of insecurity, unemployment and corruption, among others.

IoD President/Chairman Mr Thomas Awagu said this at a briefing on the maiden convention of the institute in Lagos.

Awagu said before Nigeria can meet international expectations, local industries must sustain the current trend and improve on it.

He said: “Morgan & Stanley has projected that Nigeria would be one of the 25 fastest growing economies in the World by the year 2025 and the World Bank also projected that by 2050, Nigeria would be among seven growing fastest economies in the World ahead of Italy, Canada, France and Taiwan.

“Capital market is the only place to source for long-term loan that can transform our economy but investors’ confidence has been eroded.”

He said the challenges confronting the nation today have put the IoD on their toes to explore ways of making the country more competitive on global scene and to attract necessary investments and create jobs.

He added that the IoD believes that a lot of hope exists for the nations to realize its potentials and be transformed to its desired status which is the reason why the institute has scheduled to hold its maiden convention on the 10th of May, 2012 at the International Conference Centre, Garki, Abuja with the theme “Good Governance for Business Sustainability”.

“The event is structured with a view to facilitate the implementation of the National Transformation Agenda vis-avis the realization of the country’s vision 2020 objectives with President Goodluck Jonathan as the special guest of honour and different key players from corporate Nigeria, global delegations, entrepreneurs and other relevant stakeholders discussing constraints to progress and agreeing on issues that need immediate response”.

“We intend that at the end of the convention, a communiqué will be issued as a policy paper which will be submitted to the government. We also intend to set up a special committee to monitor the implementation of the communiqué by the government. The summary of the discussions at the convention will be structured in such a way that the government will know the benefit to the society”, said Awagu.

•From left: President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Goodie Ibru; Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion

Commission (NIPC), Mr Mustafa Bello and the Deputy President of the Chamber, Alhaji Remi Bello during a presentation by NIPC at the chamber in Lagos.

SON seizes N450m sub-standard cables

T

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized substandard electric cables worth about N450 million.

Its Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who announced this at a briefing, described the activities of the syndicates behind the trade as disheartening.

The seizure was made barely two weeks after SON seized cables worth over N200 million and large quantity of substandard products.

He said despite the extent of sensitisation that the organisation had embarked, some people appeared bent on trading in substandard products, daring the consequences.

Odumodu said as much as SON was concerned, destroying seized

substandard products amounted to destroying resources that could have improved Nigerian lives. He argued that the agency for now did not have an alternative.

“The point is that as long as they continue to bring in substandard products, we will continue to destroy them,” he said, stating that the seized products included substandard cables, used LPG cylinders, fake electric pressing irons, ball point pens and substandard assorted alcoholic beverages.

Making particular reference to the cables, Odumodu said it was sobering that they came in with SONCAP certificates supposedly issued by SON programme managers. He said the implication of this is outright deception of innocent buyers, promising that SON

would leave no stone unturned in arresting and also seeking the prosecution of those behind the trade in substandard products.

He said SON’s visit to warehouses led to more seizures, to the extent that its own warehouse is filled with seized substandard products. He promised that the raid would continue until the economy is appropriately sanitised.

“The fellows behind these acts are actually the enemies of Nigerians and Nigeria. I have promised that very soon, we will parade them for premeditated murder,” Odumodu said, adding that the organisation is exploring other avenues of checkmating the problem, including a review of SONCAP to block the loopholes

the unscrupulous merchants were exploiting, as according to him, some people apply for SONCAP certificate with the right product only to ship something else.

He said in three months time or thereabout, that a new SONCAP would come into force, adding that the whole essence is to make the crusade against substandard products to be effective.

Reacting to a suggestion, he said the SON would seek audience with the Lagos State government towards taking stiffer punitive actions like closure of market clusters which are entrenched in the trade in substandard products since other peace moves with them appear not to have yielded the desired result.

Govt plans common mining regime for ECOWAS

N

IGERIA is pushing for a common mining regime for countries within the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS).

This is coming from the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada, who spoke at the weekend, when he met with the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs Zainab Ahmed, and representatives of Haruna Yahaya & Co, a mining auditing firm.

Sada defended the push for the regime, saying it would ensure that member countries of ECOWAS adopt a common mining regime so that the same rule is applied in all countries within the region.

The minister also disclosed government’s plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Trade

and Investments to create mining corridors in Africa for the development of processing plant and industry, based on the type and the quantity of available mineral.

He said the sector was neglected for a long time due to the discovery of oil, adding that the present administration had put in place a lot of reforms, in addition to institutional and regulatory frameworks, to boost investment in the sector.

He expressed government’s readiness to support the auditing process for the development of the minerals and metal sector of the Nigerian economy.

Sada said collaboration with relevant stakeholders in a transparent manner, would facilitate exploration, exploitation, value addition and sustainable development of the minerals and metal sector of the country.

He said for the sustainable de-

velopment of the nation’s minerals and metal sector, “the custodians, regulators and operators must all come together and work out something better for us to be able to move forward in harmonious and transparent manner.”

He added: “With the current reforms of government in the country, the minerals and metal sector is private sector driven while the government plays the role of a regulator. No private investor will put his money in an opaque situation, if situations are not cleared as to the way forward for the sector.”

Sada welcomed the current administration’s readiness to audit the solid minerals sector through the NEITI, describing it as timely.

He expressed the hope that the auditing process of the minerals and metal sector of the country would ensure that things are

done right to move the sector forward.

“The ministry tried to create a group independently to see what people are doing in the sector; it was just in the process that NEITI came in.”

In her address, the Executive Secretary, NEITI and leader of the delegation, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said the purpose of their visit was to thank the minister for his kind gesture towards the approval of the audit of the solid minerals sector for the year 2007 to 2010 by the Federal Executive Council, as well as to formally introduce the auditing firm, Haruna Yahaya & Co to him.

She said: ”It will be a credit to Nigeria, if we are able to guide our country to meet all the requirements of Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (EITI) to become a full member towards the implementation of EITI”.

18

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Patience is in town!

•First Lady Patience Jonathan betrayed crass insensitivity by paralysing Lagos on a visit

C

OMEDIAN”Basketmouth” dismissed the hurting event with a laconic joke: “Be patient with the Lagos traffic jam,” he tweeted to hurting Lagosians, “Patience is in town”!

It was First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s visit to Lagos on April 12, which paralysed the traffic for more than eight hours, because key road arteries were blocked, as Mrs Jonathan was attending a function at Oceanview Restaurant, Eko Hotel and Suites, on Victoria Island in Lagos.

Among the blocked roads were Adetokunbo Ademola Street where a police armoured tank was parked bang across the road between 8.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. on a business day; Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, as well as CMS, resulting in horrid traffic jams in all parts of Lagos Is-

‘Let it not be mistaken: the president, his spouse and children are entitled to the best protection the state could offer, being Nigeria’s first family. But it is the brainless way the security agencies go about doing it that is always a subject of public scorn. It appears as if Nigerian leaders – and their wives – do not know how to project power unless it needlessly hurts the citizens who, by their votes, put them in power. That is to be absolutely decried in a democracy’

land, Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, the man under whose constitutional charge Lagos is, could not afford “Basketmouth’s” laconic swipe. He said it as he felt – and as most Lagosians felt.

“It is particularly worrisome because this is not an elected person,” Governor Fashola told a retreat for Lagos State commissioners and permanent secretaries.

“And I think we all, including the security agencies, must know how they pander to our high officers, especially VIP movement, at the risk and expense of citizens and taxpayers, whose money was used to fuel all the vehicles that we use to block the roads against those who pay those money.” Talk of double jeopardy!

It could not have been better put.

Indeed, for Lagosians, it was more than double jeopardy. For starters, the event that the First Lady attended was basically to thank South-South women in Lagos for mobilising their folk and others to vote Goodluck Jonathan in the April 2011 election. Though Lagos is a melting pot that caters for all, the question is why Lagos, if the focus was South-South women?

Why not any of the South-South cities?

Then, even if Lagos voted the president, it is doubtful if this is the right time for anyone to move round thanking the people. With all due respect to Mrs Jonathan’s sense of timing and welled-up feeling of gratitude, has the president impressed anyone with his performance to justify a “visit of appreciation”, likelier to make people rue, than celebrate, their choice?

As for the bit about visiting Lagos on “Peace Advocacy”, the nebulousness of the whole thing easily reminds of the military era, where Nigerians were treated to high sounding but dubious programmes, just because the spouses of the initiators had shot their way into power, and their respective wives thought they should share in the glory of office, at the expense of luckless Nigerians. Mrs Jonathan’s initiative may well be different, but the nuisance her security apparatus constituted to Lagosians was enough for such bad memories to start flooding back.

Let it not be mistaken: the president, his spouse and children are entitled to the best protection the state could offer, being Nigeria’s first family. But it is the brainless way the security agencies go about doing it that is always a subject of public scorn. It appears as if Nigerian leaders – and their wives – do not know how to project power unless it needlessly hurts the citizens who, by their votes, put them in power. That is to be absolutely decried in a democracy.

Let the president, his folk and his security agencies know this: any untoward action, like the Lagos traffic meltdown of April 12, can only nibble at the president’s popularity, which is not exactly at its peak right now. So, let those who love him think of his interest before acting. Besides, let that be the last time any state official, no matter how highly placed, come to town to subject citizens to unnecessary hardship. It is a brazen affront on citizens’ right.

Elechi’s holiday jamboree

G

•There is no sense in crippling the state just to mark the governor’s election victory

OVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State in an ideal situation is not expected to pander to frivolities. An occupant of such exalted position should, as a matter of fact focus on lofty ideals that would make people in the state positively feel the impact of governance. But how do we describe Elechi’s recent declaration of public holiday in his state just to ensure that civil servants, market women and others attend the thanksgiving service convoked to celebrate his election victory at the appellate court?

Definitely, we know that self ingratiating public consumption camouflaged in spiritual robes where interdenominational church service was held to celebrate emptiness will not advance the interest of that indigent state. Surprisingly, Jerry Obasi, chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the main opposition political party in the state, alleged that a colossal sum of N50 million was budgeted

‘We believe that the governor can thank God quietly with his family and aides without involving the entire Ebonyi State people, thereby denying the state of a whole day’s valuable economic activities. The crippling of the state’s commercial and state services for a nonsensically despicable and profligate celebration is too dire a cost for that poor state and its people to bear’

and spent on the celebration. Neither the governor nor his aides has denied this accusation.

Rather than disabuse this perception, Chike Onwe, the state commissioner for information reportedly defended the contemptuous celebration: “When we recollect the travails we passed through during the elections, the long battle and the chains of litigation, we have every reason to thank God for his mercies…Such recollections prompted the governor to declare a solemn assembly, where all Ebonyi people would assemble in prayer and thanksgiving...”

We believe that the governor can thank God quietly with his family and aides without involving the entire Ebonyi State people, thereby denying the state of a whole day’s valuable economic activities.

The crippling of the state’s commercial and state services for a nonsensically despicable and profligate celebration is too dire a cost for that poor state and its people to bear.

We are aware that Ebonyi is perhaps the poorest amongst the states comprising the eastern bloc of the country. The state, under this administration, has been finding it increasingly difficult to pay the new minimum wage of N18, 000; the state remains the most backward under this and previous administrations when rated in terms of infrastructural provision among its peers from that region, just as poverty is obviously rampant. Yet; the leadership finds it convenient to spend tens of millions on election victory. It is sad that nothing meaningful is being done in the direction of lifting the state out of its economic and infrastructural quagmire.

This is a state that has just come out of

communal tragedies where hundreds of lives were lost. We ask: what will be the feeling of the communities devastated and that of the people that lost dear ones towards the governor?

Furthermore, the governor has not demonstrated a deep understanding of what the civil service stands for; it is doubtful whether he was properly debriefed on this or that he voluntarily ignored wise counsel. We are seizing this opportunity to remind him that the civil service’s fundamental guiding principles of neutrality and anonymity are still very much relevant today and that it is institutionally faulty of him to declare a frivolous public holiday so as to coerce civil servants in the state to attend his flamboyant court victory thanksgiving service at the Abakaliki Township stadium.

Why should civil servants be forced to partake in partisan celebrations with great impunity as demonstrated by the Ebonyi state helmsman? This kind of executive rascality will no doubt further destroy the civil service that is looking forward to reclaiming its lost glory.

We condemn in entirety the declaration of public holiday just to satisfy the lust of the governor. Next time, it will be opportune for the governor to distinguish between his personal victory and victory for the entire people of Ebonyi. Obviously, his victory at the court is private and should in future not be made a state affair. Would the governor have declared such a holiday if states were to fend for themselves? We doubt, because the manhours lost to the so-called thanksgiving would have meant so much to the governor.

Talking with Iran

I

RAN’S agreement over the weekend to hold a new round of nuclear talks next month with the United States and five other powers is a constructive development. On Monday, Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Tehran is ready to resolve its nuclear disputes “quickly and easily” and suggested flexibility on uranium enrichment.

But nothing is ever quick and easy with the Iranians. They are masters at diplomatic sleight of hand and have provided ample reason for mistrust. Resolving concerns about the country’s nuclear activities — a source of international alarm since the once-covert program was first exposed in 2002 — remains a long shot. But tough international sanctions on Iran, including an oil embargo that is set to take effect in July, and Israel’s threats of possible military action may be forcing Iran’s leaders to reconsider their posture.

The actual results of the weekend talks in Istanbul were very modest. Still, the Iranians seemed ready to talk seriously about their nuclear program and even put some ideas on the table. No details were disclosed, but the two sides were encouraged enough to schedule another session for May 23 in Baghdad. The pressure is now on for that next session to produce some concrete agreement. The most immediate needs are to get Iran to stop enriching uranium to 20 percent purity, just a few steps from bomb grade; to move its stockpile of uranium enriched to 20 percent out of the country; to close the underground production facility at Fordo; and to cooperate more fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran’s unsurprising push for an immediate lifting of sanctions must be resisted.

Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief, was right to stress a “step-by-step approach and reciprocity” if Iran complies with its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, including a promise to forgo nuclear weapons.

The major powers also need to confront Iran’s divided leadership by spelling out explicitly a vision for the kinds of diplomatic and economic incentives — including access to peaceful nuclear energy — that Tehran would gain if it gives up its weapons-related nuclear activities.

Iran’s nuclear ambitions are real and dangerous, though there is no proof yet that it has made the decision to move from producing fuel to building a bomb. It’s not clear that any mix of sanctions and diplomacy can persuade the mullahs to abandon their course. But we do know the only possible way of achieving a negotiated deal is for the international community to stay united and keep on the economic pressure.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •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 •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: There has never been a more depressing time for millions of much exasperated and helpless Nigerians to come to terms with the reality that their dear nation is, indeed, in a firm grip of all manner of ravenous cabals.

Some unrepentant looters and economic saboteurs, including the heartless pension funds fraudsters have mindlessly ripped Nigeria, a nation generally adjudged the sixth largest producer of crude oil of its massive wealth meant for the good of millions of the citizenry. And, this time, retired senior citizens deserving their survival money are the worst hit.

The scale of fraud in the Federal pension scheme involving very senior officials, including a Permanent Secretary and Directors of the Pensions Office who stole billions of Naira is shocking and scandalous.

At the beginning of the ongoing investigation into the pension fraud allegations, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in conjunction with Pension Verification Committee, purportedly discovered N180million, N500million and $2million in the account of certain a Deputy Director (Finance and Accounts), and N12million in the account of 29year-old lady, who is also a clerk in the office, among others who equally shared in various sums in the pension booty.

Thus far, reports have indicated stolen pension funds, ranging from sums of N2billion, N3billion, N4.6billion, N9billion, N25 billion, N32.8 billion to N152 billion have been discovered by the Pension Reform Task Force Team on different occasions in the course of investigation. It is appalling in a nation that parades a frustrated army of unemployed but qualified

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

No mercy for pension fraudsters youths, decayed social infrastructure and prostrate small and medium scale enterprise (SME) sector.

Specifically, during the ‘physical’ recovery of the looted funds, a staff of the Police Pension Office reportedly brought out N1billion cash, whereas another surrendered three luxury estates with about 27 blocks of deluxe flats he built in Abuja.

Another whopping sum of N2 bil-

lion cash was recovered from a house of a suspect, while hotels and fuel stations belonging to other suspects have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies.

The pension looters, through some banks were able to effect illegal withdrawals, using multiple cheques in fictitious names. Alarmingly, it was revealed that they were able to do that in excess of 30 cheques per day to withdraw cash

from their bankers, amounting to over N14 billion. Sickening!

The government, through its pension regulatory authorities in conjunction with anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) must ensure these barefaced violators of PRA 2004 are made to bear the

Baba Abolarinwa: a great mentor goes home

S

IR: The weather this late afternoon was temperate and friendly. The sun which had earlier made its scorching appearance had disappeared sooner than expected, yielding position to a rather cool and clement late noon.

The little boy traveller, two months short of 12 years, was all set for the journey to a destination, which, in the next five years, will prepare him for the challenges of the future and shape his world outlook for ever.

Dateline: Friday September 5, 1975. Welcome to Omupo Grammar School of the 1970s and 1980s under the firm but fatherly grip of the then Rev. Samuel Oyeniyi Abolarinwa, the man all students affectionately and reverently addressed as Baba; the old teacher, educator and educationist who impacted on generations of young

Kwarans, nay Nigerians who today occupy positions of authority in several spheres of life. It was this veteran education icon and role model that transited to the great beyond on February 24. Arch Deacon S. O. Abolarinwa answered the Lord’s call at 88.

The reverence with which Baba is held by teachers and students could not be lost on the new comer, even from Day One. His magisterial arrival into the morning open assembly in front of the staff room elicited pin drop silence and readjustment of standing positions from both the teachers and students alike.

His speeches, mostly extemporary, were delivered in guttural, deep voice of a presiding Justice, with each word carefully chosen and deliberately delivered to make maximum impact.

Baba was more than just a school

Principal. He was a mentor, spiritual guardian, enforcer of rules, a strict but compassionate administrator, an educationist, a dyed in the wool teacher and, above all, a true father of all.

Baba proved a first class administrator through remarkable mobilization of the lean resources available to achieve incredible results. He mobilized the teachers and, through leadership by example, encouraged them to work hard and long. He ensured that the available facilities were well maintained and never tolerated indolence on the part of staff (teaching and non-teaching).

A graduate of Geography, you could be making a mistake of your life if you came to Baba’s class prepared for only Geography for our Baba believed in round education.

A typical Geography class could

Good reading pattern for students

S

IR: Constant and organised reading is very important in the life of students. No matter how intelligent a student is, without revising what the teacher as taught in the class, there is the tendency that some of the key points in that particular lecture would be forgotten. It therefore becomes necessary for students to engage themselves in incessant reading, especially when the sub-

full wrath of the law.

In tightening the seemingly loose financial system, the CBN needs to sit up and apply weighty sanctions against any bank account managers or branch managers of commercial banks allegedly involved in those illegal transactions.

The Government has to do more in terms of restoring hope in the citizenry through good governance.

Scores of Nigerians are too fearful of what the future has in store for them and their dependents in terms of self-realisation and improved standard of living. Hence, the warped mindset to furiously loot as much as they can at the slightest opportunity many have to access the public and oftentimes, private treasuries.

Gbenga Kayode, Lagos.

jects to be covered are many.

People read for many reasons and purposes; it depends on what the reader has in mind. For instance, a person reading a newspaper is doing that just to, among other things, know what is happening both in the local and foreign environment. He has nothing at stake besides that. But students reading say a topic in chemistry have many things at stake. They

are reading to know, understand and be able to answer any questions that might come up during examinations. They must be able to know and cram some laws that are involved in that particular topic in order to excel in examinations.

For this reason their reading environment cannot be the same with that of a newspaper reader. Therefore a serene and secluded environment is recommended for students.

Students should thrive to observe their siesta in order to prepare themselves for evening reading. Remember, every day reading is necessary in the life of a student. Examinations are formidable but the best way to subdue it is through constant reading.

• Gabriel Orhuwhorun Field Crest International High School Ekete Warri Delta State.

result in resolving a knotty mathematical equation or tackling the issue of a badly spoken English sentence by a student. He believed students deserve comprehensive learning and saw every opportunity as an avenue to deepen their knowledge.

Baba was a moral instructor who saw the school assembly as an extension of the pulpit. The daily assembly is not completed without a homily which we often rounded up with a hymn from our Songs of Praise. But in spite of his being an Anglican Reverend, his secular stance to religion matters needs to be acknowledged. Muslims had their mosque, the Friday Jumat was compulsory for all Muslims and special arrangements were made for us during Ramadan to enable us participate in the Ramadan fasting.

Baba was not just a principal to those of us who were privileged to have passed through his tutelage.

He was our everything. Every alumnus of Omupo Grammar School held him in deep respect.

None of us wanted to be seen where Baba would not be proud of him. In physical and non physical form, we will forever revere and cherish his memory.

Good Night, Baba Abolarinwa: A true father and A great mentor • Ademola (Mustapha) Adedoyin, Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Police welfare

T

HE new Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar appears to be coming into his position with a big broom ready to sweep out all the things that give the police a negative image in Nigeria. We welcome his decision to close down road checks on the high ways. These road checks are a disgrace to our country and also an embarrassment to most of us especially when seen by foreigners.

Having removed the road checks and all the paraphernalia by which policemen shake-down commercial vehicles owners and other motorists, the I.G. should realize that those who previously benefited from this extortion ring would fight back and would try to sabotage his effort; they would do this by unleashing armed robbers on motorists who ply the highways so that there would be a demand for the police extortionist ring to return to the highways. This can only be avoided if the I.G. strengthens the highway patrol unit of the police force. He should do this by increasing the personnel and providing them with patrol cars, appropriately fitted with communication gadgets. He should demand for special appropriation, if necessary, from the National Assembly. If he launches a drive to raise additional funds from the public, he will be overwhelmed by the tremendous support he would get.

Police Welfare: The I. G. should also lead a drive to form an organization of friends of the police. I believe millions of Nigerians would support him. I, certainly would commit a substantial amount of my money to any fund to be launched to support the police. This is not because I have any special need to protect myself, neither do I have expensive properties to protect, but I believe the Nigeria Police is grossly short-changed in so many respects.

A visit to Navy and Air Force barracks shows in broad relief how grossly underdeveloped police barracks are. We

‘Our policemen also need to be well-kitted and to be well-trained, we must ensure that all policemen are proud of their uniforms. There should also be an irreducible educational minimum below which police recruits cannot fall’

S

INCE the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost Osun State to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on November 26, 2010, it has been fighting tooth and nail to get back to power. It seems there is nothing the PDP would not do to achieve its aim. To actualise its illconceived plan, it has in collaboration with the security agencies, concocted stories about how Governor Rauf Aregbesola intends to islamise the state and also secede from Nigeria.

In a so - called security report, they detailed how Aregbesola is planning to secede from the country. In intelligence work, security reports come in handy in crime prevention. This means that intelligence officers must be thorough in their work in order to come out with a report that will stand the test of time. Security reports are not just issued for the sake of it. They must be based on facts and figures collected in the course of serious investigation. Did the so - called security report on Aregbesola pass this strict test? The answer , I say, without equivocation is no.

A security report must be worth the paper on which it is written because it is a sensitive document which contents can break a country if it is full of lies. Not only that, a shallow security report may cost an innocent person his life or his right to freedom. This is why security agencies are charged to be thorough and painstaking in their investigation in order not to implicate the innocent in matters they know nothing about.

Some of our security agencies, however, find it difficult to be tactful in their work. The case is even worse when the government is involved. In that situation, the party being investigated is found guilty before the outcome of the probe.

Why do our security agencies find it difficult to detach themselves from the powers - that- be in the discharge of their duties? Must he

need to re-develop all Nigerian Police barracks starting from the wretched ones occupying expensive portion of Bank Anthony way in Ikeja. Man is a product of his environment, we should not expect policemen and women who are poorly housed and are living rough in unhealthy environment to behave as normal human beings and to treat the public gently and in a civilized manner.

If we want a decent police force in our country, we must start by providing them a decent environment in which to live and to raise their children, if we cannot do this, then we should not complain.

Police barracks all over the country are a terrible eyesore and they must be healed and rehabilitated, if we cannot maintain the police barracks, then we should have a new philosophy of policing and make provision for policemen and women to live among the people. In that case, we can tear down the unsightly barracks and give every policeman and woman loans to build their homes among the people.

There is an advantage in this and this will increase the ability of the police to gather useful intelligence which would be necessary in cracking criminal cases.

Our policemen also need to be well-kitted and to be welltrained, we must ensure that all policemen are proud of their uniforms. There should also be an irreducible educational minimum below which police recruits cannot fall.

Ideally, all policemen should have at least the minimum of the National Diploma and as much as possible, all police officers must be graduates and they must be trained and retrained for National and International service.

In short, our policemen need to be greatly remunerated and properly kitted, properly trained and educated and decently accommodated. Ideally, no policeman should earn less than a N100,000.00 monthly. This is what is done in Malaysia and Singapore. Infact, the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew believes in paying all government officials including the police high salaries in order to make them incorruptible, that is why the Prime Minister of Singapore earns four-times the salary of the American President and the Ambassador of Singapore in Germany when I was there earned four-times my salary as Nigeria’s Ambassador in Germany.

The point I am making is that we need to make corruption unattractive and unworthy of our policemen by ensuring that they do not lack the basic necessities of life. A society gets a kind of policemen they deserve. We in Nigeria cannot say we have no money to pay the police when every day we read in the news papers politicians and civil servants

stealing billions of naira and members of the National Assembly earning unethical salaries and allowances while the rest of us live in absolute poverty and penury.

If at the end of the day we put our police men and women on a material scale much higher than where they are now and they continue to demand and receive bribes then we know that corruption in the African is a congenital problem. I personally

Jide Osuntokun

do not believe this is the case. Most people respond to external stimulus of pain and pleasure. People will run away from what brings pain to them and move closer to what brings pleasure. This Benthamite theory should compel us to improve the material conditions of the police because the police certainly if well provisioned, would avoid the humiliation of openly beggarly soliciting for and extorting money from the public.

Local Policing Finally, we need to change from federal policing to local policing by recruiting from and deploying people to their areas of birth. This will reduce the antagonism between local people and policemen who invariably do not speak the local languages thus undermining the concept of community policing adjudged to be the best all over the world.

Community policing will also enhance intelligence gathering and bring the police into friendship with their communities. These and other recommendations, if followed, will not only reduce crime but will enhance the environment with the reduction of crime. Investment friendly environment will lead to the creation of jobs and employment in a win-win situation because with employment will come reduction in crime and less visibility for the police and less inclination for the police to use strong armed measures for policing.

What a way to secede! who pays the piper call the tune when it comes to security matters?

Can’t our security agencies see the danger in being beholden to their principal whether right or wrong?

Should security agencies allow political consideration to becloud their professional reasoning in doing their job? Naturally, the answer should be no. But it is not so in our dear country where everything is given political coloration. To the PDP, Aregbesola is not only a political pest but also a security risk who must be got rid of by hook or by crook. When he had yet to become governor, it was easy for them to deal with him by bringing up trumped up charges against him. It is no longer that easy now he is a governor.

Remember the case of a ‘forged’ police report on the Osun elections.

Remember the charge of ‘instigating’ the people against the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration and so on and so forth.

Aregbesola went through hell before he recovered his stolen mandate from the PDP which was in power for over seven years without any tangible thing to show for it. The Osun people have in the last 16 months seen what difference purposeful leadership can make in their lives. But those who want to keep them under for life are daily scheming to cut short their joy.

They don’t give a hoot if Osun people remain under perpetual bondage as long as they achieve their aim. These people are ready to kill. Or how else can we describe their tendentious security report which claims that Aregbesola is training militants in Cuba; wants to islamise Osun and secede from Nigeria? Their bogus claim is premised on the grounds that: There are indications that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is nurs-

ing the ambition of islamising the state.

Already, he has taken control of the Jam’atu Ta’wunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria (TA’AWUN) spearheading the use of hijab in all public schools in the state. The group founded in 1994 at Iwo by one Dawood IMRANMOLAASAN (Sheikh), has also spread its tentacles to Kwara, Lagos, Sokoto and Kaduna states. Members of the group serve as bodyguards to the governor and are making frantic efforts to dislodge conventional security operatives from the Government House.

Their unprofessional conduct is a source of embarrasssment to well-meaning indigenes of the state, especially at public functions attended by the governor.

The state government is planning to introduce a general uniform for all primary and secondary schools in the state that will be acceptable to the group, not minding the feelings of the Christian population. The governor has also changed the name of the state from ‘Osun State’ to ‘The State of Osun’ which is at variance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. The Nigerian Coat of Arms has been removed from government offices and replaced with the Coat of Arms of ‘The State of Osun’. The State anthem has equally replaced the Nigerian National Anthem at schools, state public functions and at the opening and closing of transmission of the State radio and television stations. The governor also deployed members of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and O’clean Corps as state police. hrough his activities, the gov ernor has polarised the state along religious divides, with Muslims boasting that it is their time which they must utilise to the fullest.

His involvement in the activities of TA’AWUN has emboldened the sect to invade schools to enforce the wearing of hijab by female Muslim students. The introduction of an Islamic agenda in a

T

secular state is an invitation to chaos, particularly against the backdrop of the growing influence of the sect in the state’s polity. Some northern governors fraternised with members of the Boko Haram before they graduated to the present status. It is necessary that the attention of the governor be drawn to the implications of his excesses on the security of the state. More importantly, his secessionist tendencies should be checkmated using necessary legal and constitutional means.

I want to believe that those who prepared this report were around in 2000 when the Zamfara State government introduced the Islamic Sharia law. What did they do then to protect the integrity of the nation given the tension generated by that action? The security agencies conveniently looked the other way while the nation was virtually on fire.

If they had information that ‘’northern governors fraternised with Boko Haram’’ before the sect became a thorn in our collective flesh, what did they do to bring the governors to book? Again, they did nothing. No wonder, Boko Haram has grown into the monster it is today.

Come to think of it,what is treasonable in a state having an anthem besides the National Anthem to promote its values and ethos? Has Aregbesola broken any law in creating an anthem for Osun just as some governors did before him? Is there any difference between ‘Osun State’ and ‘State of Osun’? Does that change in nomenclature amount to treason? Aregbesola still moves about with the security operatives provided for him by the Police and State Security Service (SSS) and those who ply our roads have run into his entourage on one or two occasions. Is it possible for any governor to move about with militants

Lawal Ogienagbon

lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

or militia men, as their report claimed, with our security agents watching? If that happens, I’m sorry to say, that means our security agents do not know their job.

With this outlandish report, our security agencies have given secession a different definition. It is so sad that such report emanated from those who should know better.

This fairy-tale report should be consigned to the dustbin where it rightly belongs.

‘What is treasonable in a state having an anthem besides the National Anthem?

Has Aregbesola broken any law in creating an anthem for Osun? Is there any difference between ‘Osun State’ and ‘State of Osun’? Does that change in nomenclature amount to treason?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

P

DP intra-party squabbles usually have the character of messy ‘family affairs’.

And they are often over political offices. But because of their far reaching implications for our nation, we must take more than a passing interest in their current unfolding battle over 2015. It started last week when one of its chieftains, Mr. Cyrus Njoku, filed a suit seeking to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential election. He is in court to determine among others: Whether Section 137(1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections applies to the 1st Defendant who first took an Oath of Office as substantive President on May 6, 2010 and took a second Oath of Office as President on May 29, 2011.

President Jonathan is fighting back, insisting even though he is yet to make his interest in the 2015 race known; he is nonetheless entitled to another term under the 1999 Constitution because he is doing his first term of four years in office. It is only in Nigeria that a party like PDP will start to scheme for another term with its dismal performance in the last 13 years.

But we need to remind ourselves what the battle is about. It is all about acquiring power without responsibility. Obasanjo had no regard for the electorate or even the constitution. His eight years were years of fiscal irresponsibility. Yar’Adua got power through rigged election and left the country’s fate in the hands of his sons in-law and wife. Fiscal irresponsibility under Jonathan has been more pronounced. In 2010, he spent 74% of the budget on recurrent expenditure while a whopping N1.6 trillion was spent on phantom fuel subsidy in 2011. In the current financial year, he is spending about a N1 trillion, about a third of the budget on security when we are not at war.

In 1999, PDP and Obasanjo promised ‘a total transformation of Nigeria’ through urban development and privatization, stable electricity supply, constitutional review of our troubled federalism, public service reform, war on corruption, asset recovery, education and healthcare’. Others include roads and infrastructure, high interest rate, and putting an end into a regime of massive consumption of foreign goods’.

What we got instead were urban decay, collapsed infrastructure as exemplified by three of the most important highways in the country critical to the transformation of the nation’s

T

HE evidently diseased minds stirring the wheel of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are astir yet again. As usual, it is not with the noble intention to lighten the insufferable economic burdens and social woes of the suffering and struggling Nigerian populace. Being irreversibly incapable of that lofty ideal, they are now happily at ease stoking the fire of destabilisation, malicious allegation and patently ludicrous falsehood through a compromised section of the media.

It is no longer a secret that the effete Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government in cahoots with its amoral Southwest hangerson are restlessly plotting to summarily implicate the visionary Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in what they wickedly described as plans by him and his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), to Islamise the state and cause it to secede from Nigeria. The barnstorming PDP through its Southwest Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, has been assaulting the public with differently contrived concatenation of stories of such nature. And without minding the yawning lacuna in their hurriedly packaged fibs, they take the centre stage crying themselves hoarse in the hope that the public would accept their barely disguised falsities hook, line and sinker.

It is worrisome to note that the desperation of these men of oily manners has so beclouded their rationality that they are willing to go to any length to compromise the sacred institution of the media and the professionalism of security agencies. We note with dismay that some newspapers have deliberately, of their own free volition, chosen to help the PDP in spreading its false claims against Governor Aregbesola as truth. If the way The Sun and Nigerian Tribune reported the PDP fabricated story against the Osun helmsman is anything to go by, there is little to doubt as to whether these newspapers are not favourably disposed to the reprehensible plot to rope in the governor and destabilise the peace of the state.

Were this not to be the case, these newspapers would have verified the accuracy of the information they published, all in a bid to prove their irrevocable and unequivocal commitment to defending democracy. The suspen-

The PDP battle for 2015 economy- the Apapa Port- Oshodi Express Road, the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road and Shagamu-Benin Express way. The roads constitute such a nightmare to motorists that a foreign ambassador passing through the Lagos –Ibadan highway described the government neglect as ‘human rights abuse’. Under Abacha in 1996, Nigerians knew when and the number of hours to expect electricity. Today 150 million Nigerians depend on power from generators. Thirteen years after, and $16 billion down the drains on contract scams, the government could only generate of 3000 megawatts of electricity compared to 45,000 South Africa provides for its 40 million citizens.

Obasanjo’s attempt at constitutional review to correct a defective superstructure ended in a third term fiasco and frittering away of about N10 billion. The crisis in our education and health sectors now threaten our future. Our best brains and medical personnel are in USA, Britain and Saudi Arabia. Like the educational sector, the bureaucracy, which is next to God in the hierarchy of social institutions, has collapsed. Instead of generating ideas and planning for future social change, an institution once the best in Africa, attracting the best brains from our universities has become a haven for miscreants. Under PDP government, the office of the Head of Service is the epicenter of the recently discovered monumental pension fraud.

In the midst of his war on corruption, Obasanjo publicly blackmailed contractors and collected several millions in support of his private library. The Halliburton case in which PDP stalwarts took a bribe of $180m to secure the LNG Bonny plant contract involved one of his personal staff. For all his efforts at selective

war on corruption, his legacies include unprosecuted indicted governors either for stealing state resources or people’s mandate, and ex-lawmakers wielding enormous influence within PDP. Under Jonathan, the mindless looting goes on.

We now know what privatization meant under PDP administration. Thanks to Nasir ElRufai, Obasanjo’s right hand man while in power, and the strong man at BPE before becoming the minister for the Federal Capital Territory. He recently admitted that government sold off enterprises on which it had ‘invested over $100 billion of tax payer’s money between 1970 -1979 for $1.6billion. In his judgment, the ‘capturing of these enterprises by the elites for their own benefits,’ amounted to ‘stealing from the poor and giving to the rich’.

El Rufai, a repentant friend of those poor, hungry and jobless; member of the Buhari crowd looking for a messiah forgot to tell us the names of the PDP members or their cronies that bought Unipetrol, AP/National oil, Ashaka Cement, WAPCO, CCNN, BCC Calabar Cement, Capital Hotel, Abuja Sheraton, FESTAC 77 and land mark structure like Tafawa Balewa Square.

And what did Jonathan and PDP promise us during his inauguration on May 29, 2011?

‘To fight for (our) future, through ‘improved healthcare for all our citizens’, ‘Access to first class education, power supply and focus on agriculture.

He told us to look beyond hardship we had endured (by inference under Obasanjo and Yar’Adua). ‘The time for lamentation is over, now is the time for transformation: I know your pains because I have been there’ he had admonished.

Concocted security report on Aregbesola

By John Uwadiegu sion of the grand rule of accuracy of reporting by these news agencies clearly exposes their complicity in the plot against Governor Aregbesola. No principled media organisation runs with the hare and hunts with the hound.

Let it be known that it is not for nothing that the PDP apparatchiks are peddling all kinds of lies against the governor. Their main plan is to instigate political unrest in the state thereby creating the impression that the state is ungovernable and by so doing make it possible for a state of emergency to be declared in the state. Their calculation is that once this is done they can then find it easier to, to use their preferred expression, ‘capture the state’.

The emergency rule will serve as a launching pad for them to repossess the South-west region in 2015, or so they think.

Rational minds cannot but be worried that the PDP leaders are yet to be cured of the illusion of the gravest species they are popularly known to be assailed with as far as the South-west people are concerned. The conscious people of the region for which they are eerily plotting against their nemesis – Aregbesola – will never again open their door to them. Let the PDP hounds know that they have shown how eternally they are incapable of providing impactful leadership through their intolerable reign of terror, mainstreaming inanity and their increasing shoddy performance at the centre in the last 11 years. In the South-west, it is certain that the party will always come as a sad cropper.

More, the suffocating perfume of vapidity and shallowness being sprayed by the PDP top echelons is equally undermining the ability of many a federal security agency to discharge its duties sensibly and constitutionally. Notable among these agencies is the Department of the State Security which is be-

ing unfortunately compromised by its present leadership. Given the indisputably false intelligence that the leaders of this agency claimed to have gathered on Aregbesola’s plan to islamise the state and secede, there is no scintilla of doubt that these security men of diluted principle are unable to make a clear distinction between loyalty to the president, the PDP and Nigerians. Intelligence gathering involves unearthing dangerous subterraneous plans that are unknown to the public. But when an intelligence gathering agency of the Federal Government takes the widely advertised laudable policies of a state government and callously imputes negative meanings to them and reports same as ‘uncovered plot’, then it needs not be argued that the Nigerian government wastes tax payers’ money on unintelligent ‘intelligence men.’

If these intelligence men are as efficient as they tried to show with their sponsored intelligence on Aregbesola, why were they not able to uncover the many dastardly plans of Boko Haram, MEND, etc., before they were unleashed on the fragilely secured society? Is it that they are deliberately denying Nigerians of their expertise? The truth is that the agency is crowded with men whose skin-deep professionalism has been bought by the PDP government – the bidding of whose it is ever willing to do in utter disregard to the terrible consequences this may have for the well-being of Nigerians and the integrity of these institutions. Anytime the Nigerian government is hell-bent on executing a backward agenda, it always finds a willing ally in the SSS and other agencies which, in incestuous alliance with some condescending media organisations, fabricate stories bordering on imagined tension and unrest – as it is being promoted in the case of the State of Osun.

To achieve these promises, Jonathan administration assembled an unwieldy list of 42 ministers and 18 special advisers of cabinet level compared to Germany 16, France 21, Britain 23 and USA with the biggest economy in the world about 23. And for every crisis, there is a committee.

But barely six months in office he approved review of price of fuel up by about 300% ignoring the PDP appointed fuel importers and government officials diverting about 30m litres of fuel to neighboring countries.

Jonathan, like the typical northern elite in power, has been hijacked by Ijaw ‘vultures’ as elders and the former armed militants he tries to empower to the detriment of the millions in the slum of the Delta.

Today after 13 years of PDP massive looting of our resources, and clueless leaders, we depend on importation of everything including rice on which the nation expends about N600m monthly when Ofada village in Obasanjo’s backyard can, with government support, produce all the rice needed in the country.

This therefore is to remind those impressionable youths who were three years old in 1999 but would attain voting age of 18 in 2015 of the legacies of 15 years of rudderless reign of the PDP. It is also to remind the warring opposition members including those who do not understand that compromise is democracy’s highest badge of honour, the ‘cash and carry’ as well as today’s ‘beautiful bride’, that history will not spare them if they allow PDP and its buccaneers to continue the ravaging of our well endowed nation. The time to also start strategising is now.

‘This therefore is to remind those impressionable youths who were three years old in 1999 but would attain voting age of 18 in 2015 of the legacies of 15 years of rudderless reign of the PDP. It is also to remind the warring opposition members including those who do not understand that compromise is democracy’s highest badge of honour, the ‘cash and carry’ as well as today’s ‘beautiful bride’, that history will not spare them if they allow PDP and its buccaneers to continue the ravaging of our well endowed nation’ This method is not new. It was used in the 1964 chair-throwing episode in the then parliament of the South-west region. That little incident of disturbance, deliberately precipitated by the Northern Peoples Congress-led FG, and which was confined to the chambers, was seized upon to declare a state of emergency on the whole region. The purported tension being now attributed to Osun is engineered by the PDP government at the centre.

The Nigerian people must warn the Federal Government very sternly that the move it is making in this direction will affect the whole country negatively.

What is more, that the Jonathan government quickly acted on the boondoggle the SSS leaders called intelligence report by placing Aregbesola on a 24-hour surveillance (as exclusively reported by Saturday Sun) fitly confirms the fact that the whole allegations against Aregbesola and the ACN are not without its misplaced backing. If Jonathan had acted swiftly against the Boko Haram insurgence as he did in this case, Nigeria would definitely not be this overwhelmed by this sect and other ones.

It is saddening and dispiriting to note that the FG and its security agencies are looking in the wrong direction. Boko Haram has rolled back the Nigerian state in many parts of the North and is in effective control. It has boasted of its plans to kill the president, having been emboldened by its unbroken successes. Meanwhile, the SSS is clueless and supine in the face of this clear and present danger.

We advise the FG and the PDP to stop dissipating their tenuous energy on a man who is unrepentantly determined to transform the State of Osun into a hub of enduring socioeconomic development. No amount of blackmail or muckraking will make him to abandon this dream. If daring to be different in a land filled with short-sighted leaders is in the PDP book the same as secession or islamisation, then they must be ready for a long-time disconsolation as Aregbesola will stand pat. Our advice is for the FG to focus on the grave security threats to the country. This wild goose chase in Osun will not work.

• Dr Uwadiegu lives in FESTAC Town, Lagos

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

23

24

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

The story of Oluwaseyi Falusi, the best graduating student at the Third Convocation of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, offers a tonic to students who believe that lack of parental care may impede their dream of good education.

ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA reports.

F

OR some members of the Apostolic Faith Church who know her well, the announcement of Oluwaseyi Falusi, a graduate of Economics, as the Valedictorian of the Year at the Third Convocation of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State last week Wednesday, made them shed tears of joy. Amid deafening applause and standing ovation, the unassuming young valedictorian repeatedly stepped onto the podium, as her name reverberated almost endlessly for awards. … Remi Olowude Prize for the Best Student in Economics Oluwaseyi Falusi; Prof Peter Okebukola award for Overall Best Graduating Student - Oluwaseyi Falusi; Departmental Prize for the Best Faculty Student - Oluwaseyi Falusi; Parents Forum award for the Best Economics Student – Oluwaseyi Falusi, and many more… Swamped by photojournalists scrambling to get a good shot of her, the young Falusi, still looking rather innocent, stood tall. Sometimes, her steps seemed unco-ordinated; she fidgeted while on stage as she collected one award or the other from the ViceChancellor, Prof Samson Ayanlaja.

Oluwaseyi's intimidating Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.80 drew endless applause. Her story is one of triumph against all odds. It is also of a lonely spirit determined to create a world of her own. And she did.

In 1995, at age five, the young Oluwaseyi lost her mother, Mrs Florence, just when she was making her entry into the primary school. The responsibility of shouldering her education and that of her younger sibling Muyiwa, then rested on their father, Mr Emmanuel Falusi, a full-time minister of the Apostolic Faith Church.

Oluwaseyi demonstrated the traits of a genius during her secondary school days at the Apostolic Faith, Anthony, Lagos, after leaving Bolaju Universal Nursery and Primary School Ibadan, in 1998, to continue her education in Lagos. But in 2005, her father also died of a strange illness making Yemi and Muyiwa orphans, and at the mercy of the church and their uncle, Pastor Ibidapo Oluwadara and wife Modupe, who became their foster parents.

Due to Pastor Emmanuel Falusi's

• Oluwaseyi in a handshake with VC, Prof Ayanlaja at the convocation

Standing ovation for the brightest commitment to God’s vineyard before his death, coupled with the desire of the church not to allow budding talents like Muyiwa and Oluwaseyi waste away, the duo were offered scholarships by the church up to the university level.

It was at Crawford University, however, that Oluwaseyi unleashed her intellectual deposits.

Speaking with this reporter after the convocation, Oluwaseyi recounted how words of admonition from the late Rev Paul Akazue, founder and African Overseer of the Apostolic Faith

Church (now late), stirred her to do limitless exploits.

Oluwaseyi said: "I feel a prophecy of the founder and pioneer of Crawford University, Rev Paul Akazue, has just been fulfilled in my life. I remember I went to meet him (Rev Akazue) shortly after my admission into the university and he told me 'My daughter, you have to make this university proud by making a First Class.'

"I looked at myself and wondered how possible that could be because I was so small then. I also knew the university was not

like secondary school where you just sit in the classroom and write exams. But, today, I see the fulfilment of the prophecy. I believe I don't deserve it, but it's through God's grace. I'm grateful to God because I am not worth it.

To dwarf her colleagues, parties and other social gatherings were kept at bay. "I don't party,” Oluwaseyi said. "I disciplined myself in such a way that fun does not get hold of me. I plan my life and time. I love watching movies; but once I want to read, even if the movie is very interesting, it cannot distract me. Whenever I'm too

‘I remember I went to meet him (Akazue) shortly after my admission into Crawford and he told me 'my daughter, you have to make this university proud by making a first class. I look at myself and wondered how possible that could be because I was so small then. But today, I see the fulfillment of the prophecy. I believe there is nothing impossible, by determination through God's grace I made it’

weak to read, I relax. but once I recover I resume my reading."

For Oluwaseyi, the major challenge was how to bring out her best in a developing university like Crawford which made its debut in 2005.

"The university is young and we are still developing as we do not have complete infrastructure in place. Despite that, I thank God I made good use of the few available resources on ground," she said.

While crediting her success to God and hardwork, Oluwaseyi advised her peers to be determined always, and look up to God for divine intervention in times of need.

"There is nothing impossible, if they are determined. I thought I would never be able to make it as the best student, but here I am today," she added.

Her foster father, Pastor Oluwadara thanked the church for • Continued on page 26

INSIDE •THERE IS HOPE FOR NIGERIA, SAYS EDUCATIONIST

- Page 26 •BABALAKIN

SEEKS REPEAL OF

NUC

LAW

- Page 38

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

26

EDUCATION

• Deputy Governor, Lagos State Mrs Joke Orelope-Adefulire (middle) with Senior government officials during the launch of the Lagos State School Leavers Modern Apprenticeship Training and Graduate Vocational Employability Skills Training Programme at Ikeja ... on Tuesday PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

There is hope for Nigeria, says educationist

School holds funfair ATTWOOL School, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos has held its parents, teachers and children funfair where children had the best of time as they got involved in different activities, such as rock climbing, bouncy castle, gladiators, train ride, carousel, swimming and dancing competition.

Parents were not left out as some of them took to the pitch to play football and participate in dancing competitions. The highpoint of the event was the raffle draw in which winners clinched various prizes such as microwaves, home theathres, deep freezers, as well as several consolation prizes.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the fun fair committee, Mr YomiHussain lamented that one of the most unfortunate parts of a typical Nigerian lifestyle is lack of requisite relaxation and recreation.

This, Hussain added, has translated into high hospital bills, bad health conditions in some extreme cases death.

"That is why we need to imbibe the culture of relaxation and fun into the lifestyle of our children," he said.

Akpabio counsels youths

YOUTHS have been asked to see education as a panacea for greatness and prosperity to engender the desired peace and development in the country.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, who made the call at the Salvation Army Church, Ukana Corps in Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state, said it was wrong for the youth to acquire wealth through violence, kidnapping and robbery.

Akpabio said: "Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria must continue to pray to God for our children to go the right direction. Let our children not look for prosperity and greatness in the wrong direction through violence, or kidnapping, but in the right direction through education to bring in peace and development in the country.''

By Medinat Kanabe

• Mrs Mbubaegbu

M

RS Stella Mbubaegbu, Principal and Chief Executive, Highbury College, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, sees hope in the nation’s education sub-sector, despite myriad of troubles Mrs Mbubaegbu spoke to The Nation on Tuesday ahead of the inauguration of a partnership programme between Highbury

College, an academic/skill acquisition institution in the UK, and the Lagos State government aimed at arming young school leavers and workers interested in entrepreneurial with entrepreneurship and skill acquisition programmes.

She said: “If there is no hope (in education), then there would be no point of me being here at all. About 50 years ago, the Nigeria education system was superb and we had a lot of qualified people with lofty ambition and students were also passionate about learning. But somewhere, something has gone wrong. That is why we are here partnering with Lagos State to make things better.”

Highbury College, she stressed, would serve as strategic partners to the Lagos State Technical Vocational and Education Board (LASTVEB), via a two-proged initiatives- School leavers Modern Apprenticeship Training Programme (SL-MATP) and Graduate Vocational Employability Skill Training Programme (GVESTP) She hinted some of the trainees, who are from Highbury College

would offer training in about 37 facets of entrepreneurship and apprenticeship programmes, such as fashion, housekeeping, construction, framework, leather work and others, noting that the programmes would be taken in phases.

A Commander of the British Empire (CBE), Mbubaegbu lauded LASTVEB’s apprenticeship and graduate employability programme, describing them as highly innovative and groundbreaking.

“There is the graduate employability skill programme and there is also modern apprenticeship programme for school leavers,” Mbubaegbu said. “The apprenticeship framework allows for young people, who come out from school to work with employers so that they can get technical skill training with major employers, who have come on board to be partners as well, while the other is for graduates. They would also acquire the skillss the employer needs and even get to become entrepreneurs and job creators.”

Explaining further, she said as a

Loud ovation for the brightest •Continued from page 25

lending a helping hand when it mattered most. He is happy- the younger Falusi, Muyiwa, is in 300Level Industrial Relations and Personnel Management at the university.

A lecturer at the Lagos City Polytechnic, Pastor Oluwadara said had he succeeded in changing Oluwaseyi's course of choice, her academic triumph would have been truncated. He said he wanted her to study accounting while Oluweaseyi preferred Economics. He admitted

that it was a mistake trying to altering her orientation before she secured admission into the university.

"The experience has given me the impetus to, henceforth, advise the young ones to pursue the vision God has laid in their hearts. She had always wanted to study Economics.

Despite that, I wanted her to study Accounting. But, thank God, I didn't force that down her throat; perhaps she may not have achieved what she achieved today.”

When asked about her next line

of action, Oluwaseyi, who is doing her mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ibadan hopes to commence her Masters’ programme in Economics in any world-class university outside the country.

But, at present, however, she's engrossed in her pre-occupation.

"I'm at present a facilitator at the Millennium Developemnt Goals (MDGs) office. I train students on what the MDGs are all about and their roles as individuals in the society. I think I’m enjoying that for now."

graduate who is employed, there would be a three- day leave for graduate every two weeks to go for the skill acquisition.

According to her, part of the partnership also consists of training teachers and lecturers to achieve a new orientation in teaching through a teacher education programme.

“We have worked with certain organisations such as the Lagos State Polytechnic, where we are working with lecturers to change the way teaching and learning is undertaken. They do say that they are enjoying the teacher education programme and that there is a great difference in the ways we teach.

“At Highbury, we pride ourselves on teaching, learning assessment within the vocational context which is quite different from teaching, learning and assessment within the academic context.

The academic context is highly theoretical and in the vocational context, it is about work, employability, skill, and we are very passionate about student success.

“We are very interactive in terms of our teaching, engaging students, getting their opinions and getting them involved in the teaching process. We try very hard to use technology to learn. We are also employer focused; so, our curriculum is driven by what employers need in different professions. This is what we are introducing to the Nigerian schools,” she added.

According to her, her key challenge is getting organisations to understand and accept the novel idea and partner with them. She however thanked the Lagos State the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and Commissioner for Education Mrs Oladunjoye, who subscribed to the initiative when it was introduced to them and are really making sure that things work out.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

27

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08022664898

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Finalised (9) 7. Employ (3) 8. Tear (3) 9. Succeeded (3) 10. Consumed (3) 12. per Unit (4) 13. Bird (4) 14. Beer (3) 16. Imitate (3) 18. Bed (3) 19. Resort (3) 21. Justly (9)

DOWN

1. Correspond (9) 2. Pinch (3) 3. Sexual Desire (4) 4. Ourselves (2) 5. Moisture (3) 6. Discourage (4) 10. Expression of Surprise (3) 11. Get with Difficulty (3) 15. Enumerate (4) 17. Bird (3) 18. Taxi (4) 20. Father (2)

MISSING LETTERS All the words in the columns below have lost their first letters as indicated by the blank spaces above them. You are required to find and affix them. When done, all the first letters will form a 9-letter, sexually offensive word or action. Happy Puzzling!‘

SHOWbLitzz Rihanna’s dad okays Chris Brown

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Eliminate Fuzzy Thinking “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”

Alexander Graham Bell

Rihanna’s dad won’t be getting any father of the year awards, judging from a new interview. Not only is Ronald Fenty taking credit for Rihanna’s sleek physique, saying that he prodded her to workout by calling her “fat,” he also revealed that he would be fine if Rihanna were to rekindle her romance with Brown, who plead guilty to assaulting the singer in a lover’s quarrel turned physical in 2009.“Chris is a nice guy and everybody’s entitled to make mistakes in their life. God knows how many I’ve made,” Fenty tells the new issue of Heat magazine, when asked about the singer collaborating with her ex on two songs. “She’s her own woman now.”“I actually thought she was a little fat the last time I saw her,” he said. “When I saw her at this year’s Grammys, I thought she was back to her normal size. I used to joke with her, ‘Robyn,you’re getting too fat.’ But I think she’s fine. I think she looked excellent, as everyone saw, at the Grammys. She’s dieting, she’s working out.”After two years of not speaking, Rihanna and Fenty only started communicating again in 2010. At the time of their reunion, Fenty said, “Maybe we’re not as close as we were when she was growing up here … But we are blood, we do not stay angry.”

Pep Talk

Lacking confidence...

Feeling unsure about what you should do next...

Jumping from one marketing strategy to another...

Being unclear about when you’ll reach your business goals...

All of these issues (and many more) can be traced back to one of the biggest challenges struggling entrepreneurs face: lack of focus.

It is called fuzzy thinking.

Fuzzy Thinking Stems From Neglecting to Acquire Critical Information Too many entrepreneurs are missing critical information. Not having this information inflicts incredible damage on their chances of success.

Because it keeps the path to achieving their dreams out of focus, fuzzy.

And you can’t follow a fuzzy path. So they bounce around, get confused, become overwhelmed and attempt to copy what other people are doing... But the path that’ll lead them to success still remains out of focus.

What’s worse is that most entrepreneurs are not only unaware that this information is absolutely essential... they don’t realize it’s missing. So they never track it down.

In order to go from fuzzy thinking to focused thinking, you need to know the answers to three questions...

1. What, exactly, do you want?

2. What’s the absolute minimum necessary to have it?

3. What’s the fastest and easiest way to get it?

Think about it for a moment...

HUMOUR True Believers The two thousand member Baptist church was filled to overflowing capacity one Sunday morning. The preacher was ready to start the sermon when two men, dressed in long black coats and black hats entered thru the rear of the church.

One of the two men walked to the middle of the church while the other stayed at the back of the church. They both then reached under their coats and withdrew automatic weapons. The one in the middle announced, “Everyone willing to take a bullet for Jesus stay in your seats!”

Naturally, the pews emptied, followed by the choir. The deacons ran out the door, followed by the choir director and the assistant pastor.

After a few moments, there were about twenty people left sitting in the church. The preacher was holding steady in the pulpit. The men put their weapons away and said, gently, to the preacher, “All right, pastor, the hypocrites are gone now. You may begin the service.”

Getting Into Fights A young couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word.

An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position.

Now don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this solution. As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the husband Answering these questions - especially question three sarcastically asked, “Are they relatives of yours?”

- requires some heavy-duty thinking. Nobody can “Yes,” his wife replied. “I married into the family.” give you the answers.

Our ideas like orange plants, spread out in proportion to the size of the box which imprisons the roots.

– Edward Bulwer Lytton

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

EDUCATION Imo donates study centre to NOUN IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has donated the High Court building in Owerri to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as its study centre in the state.

This donation was when a delegation from NOUN led by the institution's Council Chairman, Prof. Gregory Iwu, with other council members and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe, visited the governor in Owerri.

He promised NOUN management that he would refurbish and assist in equipping the structure as part of the governor's commitment to boosting his educational policies in the state.

Iwu thanked the governor for his generosity to the institution.

Committee commends Ekiti Health College HE Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Health, has commended the authorities of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti for achieving a lot in its short stay in office.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Alex Adeejo, while speaking during visit to the institution, lauded the efforts of the Acting Provost, Pastor Bayo Ojo and the Governing Council of the institution.

Some of the places the committee visited include new hostels, reactivated medical laboratories, newly restructured college health centre, proposed site for the new blocks of 15classrooms approved by the state Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Adeejo, who led other members of the committee, affirmed that the Ekiti Assembly was poised to tracking down and recovering the funds misappropriated by the former administration of the college.

Pastor Ojo said the Council has approved the construction of football pitch and long tennis court from the college’s internally-generated revenue in the second quarter of the year.

Elizade varsity inaugurates BoT, Council FOUNDER, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, has said his resolve to reverse the craze for overseas education by the youth motivated him to establish the university.

Elizade University, he promised, would be a training ground to reeducate the youth and build leaders that would bring about the muchdesired change in Nigeria.

Elizade said this at the inauguration of the university’s Board of Trustees and Governing Council. Ade-Ojo expressed delight at the calibre of people on the board, noting that he is convinced that the university would make a success with their support.

Ade-Ojo also charged new members of the Governing Council to be prepared for the big task ahead of them.

The founder reiterated his passion for distinction, excellence and honesty, noting that the university of his dream was that of excellence in all ramifications.

Members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) include Chief Ade-Ojo, Prof.

Gabriel Olawoyin and Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi.

Others are Rt. Rev. Michael OmojoyegbeIpinmoye, Chief Sam Bolarinde, Dr. Femi Ogunsanya, Mrs.Funke Osibodu, Mr.Demola Ade-Ojo and Prof. Ladipo Adamolekun.

• Cross section of gruaduands at the Third Convocation of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State.

PHOTO JOHN EBHOTA

‘Why tertiary textbooks lack quality’ •Book Fair for next month OW output of quality tertiary textbooks written by Nigerians has been blamed on the absence of a national book development commission to co-ordinate policies that can stimulate the growth of the sub-sector.

While Nigeria achieved self-sufficiency in the authorship and publishing of primary and secondary school texts as far back as the ‘80s, the tertiary sub-sector has suffered neglect leading to the influx of foreign texts that are not adapted to the local curriculum.

Chairman of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), Mr Samuel Kolawole, told The Nation that Nigeria would do well to learn from India which has developed local au-

L

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

thorship and publishing by providing an enabling environment for academics to write and publish.

For instance, he said for international books to be sold in India, publishers must partner with local authors, who help to adapt their contents to the Indian experience.

"In India, you need to partner with local publishers and authors to sell international books. That is why they have the local versions of so many international books.You find that their authors are involved in the writing of such books because the government stipulates it must be so. That is why their books are now flooding Nigeria," he said.

Explaining further, Mrs Ronke

NANS lauds NDDC head on student welfare

T

HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has commended the Christian Oboh-led Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC’s) approach to issues on students in the region.

National President of the association, Comrade Mohammed Dauda, said this during a courtesy visit to the commission headquarters in Port Harcourt.

He commended Oboh for putting students' matters on the front burner.

He recalled that, among the former's pronouncement on assumption of office, was the payment of fees for students on foreign scholarship.

Muhammed disclosed that one of the association’s cardinal objectives is to reposition students in enhancing academic excellence , which he said the commission's policies were in line with and pledged support for the management.

Responding, Oboh, represented by the Director, Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, Dr. Princewill Ekanim, said the NDDC was also mandated to boost the education sector in the region, stressing that the commission had over the years, granted scholarship locally and internationally, especially in sciences and engineering.

•Comrade Mohammed

Orimalade, a trustee of the NBFT and former President of the Nigerian Booksellers Association, said in addition to the Indian government subsidising tertiary publishing, it also encourages Indian publishers to grow because the government compels foreign publishers to partner with them.

"Once you sell 1,000 units of a book in India, you have to sell the rights to a local publisher. In India, they have a subsidised tertiary books publishing scheme that encourages Indian academics to write.

But publishing at tertiary level is nil in Nigeria. What you find in most university bookshops is what I term executive handouts.

She advocated the establishment of the book development commission as was muted in the 80s to engender growth.

"When we still had national development plans, there was one that set the goal of 50 per cent selfsufficiency in tertiary publishing by 2000 or so. That was in the ‘80s.

The plan noted that we had achieved sufficiency at primary and secondary levels but not tertiary.

However, there was no follow up.

This is because we have no agency in Nigeria that looks after the book industry. Let us have a national book development commission.

Let NERDC face curriculum issues and let the book commission nurture authors, publishers, and co-

• Kolawole

ordinate policies for the industry," she advised.

Meanwhile, the 11th Nigerian International Book Fair will hold between May 7 and 12 at the Multipurpose Halls of the University of Lagos.

In addition to book trade and exhibition, the fair will feature an international conference on May 8 during which keynote speaker, Mr Richard Crabbe, a former World Bank employee, would speak on the theme: "The state of infrastructural development in Africa and the future of the Book Trade."

Kolawole said the fair is expected to have more than 127 exhibitors, with more than 50 coming from outside Nigeria. They include Ghana, Senegal, Cameroun, United States, India, Turkey, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.

• Ahmed Adigun, a lawmaker representing Akinyele Local Government Constituency (left) presenting a scholarship to one of the winners of the quiz/debate competition organised by the wife of the Governor Mrs Florence Ajimobi at HLA Primary School, Ojoo, Ibadan.

29

Travails of teaching practice

Suspected studentthief held

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS

Page 34

Page 31

*GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

For two weeks, 400-Level students of the Department of Geology, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, were in the bush. One of them, BABATUNDE ALAO, writes on their experience and the motive behind the adventure that saw them celebrate Easter in the jungle.

•AAUA main gate

I

T was barely one week after their return from Igarra, Edo State, when again 400Level students of Geology at the Adekunle Ajasin University AAUA), Akungba-Akoko, went off to the jungle in Akoko land in the northern senatorial district of Ondo State. The venture, described as “independent mapping”, was in search of the various types of rocks in the area.

Unlike the trip to Igarra where the students were made to see rock exposures under the supervision of their lecturers, the independent mapping was an avenue for the students to bring to the field what they had already read and learnt about rocks, on their own. Having been divided into 18 groups, with an average of eight students in a group, the ultimate search of the mineral potential of Akoko land began.

Different groups went to different towns which include Erusu, Ajowa, Ikare, Akunu, Ayere, Oka, Supare, Okeagbe, Ibaram, Ikaram and Arigidi. With the maps of their various

Easter in the jungle areas and with a clinometer compass to show them direction, the students began work immediately they alighted from the bus that took them to their locations.

Having arrived a week before the Easter weekend, it did not immediately dawn on them that they would mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the jungle. When that realisation became clear, each had to call their family members informing them of their unplanned absence from the Easter festivities.

On the resurrection morning, CAMPUSLIFE wanted to know how some of the students were faring. A tired-looking Tosin Olowokere said his faith did not immure him from the insects and threats of wild animals in the bush. He

said: “Easter is a period of reflection but Geology has succeeded this year in taking away the passion of Christ from me because it has been a hectic day.”

With his group mapping in Ikare, Olusegun Olatinpo, who said Easter should be enjoyed with one’s family lamented, “mapping in this period is not a good one. It is not easy.”

Ademola Adegbeleji, who was caught in the base after a rugged maneuvering in the jungle, regretted not celebrating Easter with his family. “This will be the first time I’m celebrating Easter away from home. All the same, I did offer prayers to God for my salvation and I sent messages to my loved ones. But I tell you, it is not smooth here.”

The stress was all written on his face as Davies Manuwa hardly spoke words. In a group that mapped Erusu, all he enjoyed about the mapping was the kindness extended to the students by the traditional ruler of the town who sent them food. He muttered: “It is not a good experience as I already planned how my Easter would look like until Geology interrupted and I found myself here in the jungle”.

For him, words like “tiresome” and “stressful” capture his experience.

According to Toyin Owoeye and Leonard Ndujiuba, who mapped Ajowa and Ayere respectively, it was a rugged one as each described the experience as “very bad”. Leonard regretted the day’s work as his group was pursued by cows in the jungle.

Afolabi Akinwande said “I am now scared of going to the field because I heard that an indigene, sighting us, ran away because he had •Continued on page 31

•Room-mates land in police net for alleged robbery - P32 •’Maths is the best’ - P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE Dealing with our ‘trouble’

R

ECENTLY, someone reminded me of an analogy I gave sometime in 2011, in the heated run-up to the general elections. While making an impassioned plea to some of my colleagues to use their heads, I had likened voting for President Goodluck Jonathan to parents giving their life savings to their sweet 10-year-old to manage as he best saw fit. I had made it clear that just as the son loves the parents and clearly would want the best, in his view, for them, Jonathan was a good man who clearly would want the best for Nigeria. He was, in my view then, unlike Olusegun Obasanjo who could be vicious when the mood caught him.

The problem with the 10-year-old and Jonathan, I had added, was that both lacked the mental wherewithal to manage the enormous resources thrown at them. In other words, each would be so overwhelmed that he would flounder and make everyone regret trusting him. Thus, it was best that we allowed them to remain the “simple, good man” or “boy” that each was.

But that was a time when, for most of us in the southern part of the country, it was “taboo” to speak against the candidacy of Jonathan. Thus, I was shouted down.

In the churches, in the buses, in the offices, in the markets and everywhere a group of people could come together, the talk was about “God’s choice” – Jonathan.

Many took it farther than that. A senior staff of a leading telecommunication company who had a new son then named the baby “Goodluck”. The man holds an MBA from the University of Lagos (UNILAG). A friend who I served together with in Akure, Ondo State, ten years ago, had a son (hers came in 2010, after Yar’Adua’s death) and used all the persuasive powers she had as a woman to convince her initially “unbelieving” husband that the son – their first – must be named “Goodluck” so that “the same anointing following President Jonathan would follow” the baby. My friend works with a bank and equally

Pushing Out

night. In all my years of living and driving in Lagos, it was the first and only time I saw myself alone on the notorious Apongbon Bridge at 1am. I didn’t stop praying until I had safely packed my car in my compound.

I have gone to this length to remind us that Jonathan was massively voted with into office by the majority of us. He might not have garnered the number of actual votes ascribed to him especially from some of the Southeast and 08054503104 Southsouth zones, but I do believe he (SMS only) won that election.

He won because we are a deeply re•campuslife@thenationonlineng.net ligious nation which believes, even in •ladycampus@yahoo.com the face of death, in the divine power holds an MBA from the Federal University of to “rule in the affairs of men”. I believe so as Technology, Akure (FUTA). These two would well; but my little study of the Bible, then nasuffice; I mentioned their jobs, educational quali- tion building and emerging economies at the fications, (one a man, the other a woman; one University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Yoruba, the other Igbo), tribe and gender to un- UNILAG taught me that God first equips men derscore the frenzy that accompanied the before He sends them. I tried to see one leaderJonathan campaign. It was not just some semi- ship attribute or developmental programme that literate fishermen in the Niger Delta creeks who was initiated by Jonathan in his over two years were enraptured by the Jonathan candidacy. as Bayelsa State governor; I saw none. I searched I was at a dinner campaign hosted by Mrs. for a sound quote on leadership or nation buildPatience Jonathan to woo professional women ing that came from him; there was none. to vote for her husband at the Eko Le Meridian, Reading through readers’ comments to last Lagos, in February, 2011. It is a well known fact week’s news of the President declaring that even that street women are usually not invited to if he was not the best, God chose him to lead such events; the venue itself makes it an exclu- Nigeria at this time, I wondered what had hapsive affair. Besides, attendance was “strictly by pened in just a space of one year to change our invitation”. general perception.

At the gig, that is what it was, any woman Many of the responders were simply livid with who was anything in the corporate world was the man for daring to mention God. They insist there. Professional women bodies – lawyers, that God did not choose him, but the “PDP and doctors, bankers, journalists, lecturers, even their wuruwuru (cheating tactics)”, as one put it. governors’ wives and so on – were all repreThe same last week, the story broke of sented. It was supposed to start at 6pm but the Muhammadu Buhari recanting to declare his chief hostess did not show up until 9pm, by interest to run, for the fourth time, for president which time the place was so rowdy one won- in 2015. He had pronounced last year that he dered whether the gaily dressed, chatty women would not be running again. Many responders were professional or market women. were equally unkind to him. Just as he was pilWell, by the time the jamboree got under- loried last year for what many, in the South, way, emotions had risen so high that a one-line perceive as his religious and ethnic zealotry (real song soon reverberated through the expansive or imagined), it was clear that the image has not hall. It went: “Patience will bring us Goodluck!” changed.

Oh, to see the “professional ladies” caught up in From Jonathan’s body language, we can see the passion of the song! that he is eager to run again in 2015. I will not It was a new experience for me; one I didn’t bother with his eligibility or lack of it. My aim like. But as I was there on work, I had to stay till in this write-up is to remind us that we had a the very end, by which time it was past mid-

Ngozi Agbo

‘I am afraid of failure’

•Chizoba

H

OW did get involved with computers?

I started in 2000, at 11. My elder brother took me to a café where he wrote programmes. After the first day, I got curious and visited the café even without my brother knowing.

Since then, I have made the computer my best friend and maybe I am socially impoverished because I spend an average of six hours on the PC every day.

Tell us about campusebay.com In 2007, I had this idea about a classified advert site and there was none in Nigeria as of that time. Around March 2010, I bought this new generating set and got financially stranded some time later.

So, I decided to sell it off. When I wanted to sell, I didn’t know how to go about it. So, I started asking around for who would want to buy a generator. It was really challenging. I printed some hand fliers which I shared around before I could finally sell my generator.

Then it occurred to me that what I did then was marketing but at a rather local level and I thought: there could be tens if not thousands of people who needed to buy the generator but since there was no means I could get to them, they never knew. That was when I

chance which we squandered in 2011. This is also the beginning of a periodic series which I hope will become a nudge on our consciences to start early to build the portrait of the leader we will vote for in 2015. For the first time, we must use our heads, no longer our pockets, hearts and stomachs, to decide our leaders.

This is not just about the President; it is also about the governors and the lawmakers – especially those at the National Assembly.

In 1983, Prof Chinua Achebe, then also a politician as he was the deputy national vicepresident of the PRP (People’s Redemption Party), published a book called The Trouble with Nigeria. The book’s release coincided with that year’s general elections which outcome was seized by the military to sack the civilians. On the first page, Achebe says bluntly: “The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility and to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership”.

In the book, he addresses Nigeria’s problems, aiming to challenge the resignation of Nigerians and inspire them to reject old habits which inhibit Nigeria from becoming a modern and attractive country. He professes that the only trouble with Nigeria is the failure of leadership, because with good leaders Nigeria could resolve its inherent problems such as tribalism, lack of patriotism, social injustice and the cult of mediocrity, indiscipline and corruption.

It is the same task that 30years down the line, I attempt to undertake on this platform.

I am tired of talking about how students and higher institution managers should or should not behave, talking about what Jonathan, a governor or the lawmakers have done wrong again, how we need an emergency in our education sector and all the regular repetitions.

This is because, like the renowned novelist Achebe, I believe that the trouble with Nigeria is fundamental; it is to do with the “unwillingness or inability of (our) leaders to rise to the responsibility and to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership”.

We must, from now, look for the men and women whose personal examples we can hold up as mirrors. Anything less will be too catastrophic.

Ciao

Emileomon Akhihiero, a 400-Level Animal Science student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), is Face of Edo. The spoke to NOSA UWADIAE.

Chizoba Achukwu is a 300-Level student of Computer Science at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. She is the brain behind campusebay.com, an online market for undergraduates. She spoke to NGOZI EMMANUEL. thought of other students like me who could be looking for hostel apartments or to sell off some used stuff but didn’t know how to. So, I began thinking of a way to help us get across to one another. That led me to conceive campusebay.com. I bought the domain and then began designing it myself, connecting to several other students at the same time.

It was a fun and challenging engagement. But when I was done, it came out just fine. And now, students from across other campuses in Nigeria are connecting, buying and selling and making money. It’s an easy life and everybody loves it. Campusebay.com is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

How do you manage the site and what returns is it giving you?

I try to publicise it and I alone do the upkeep of the site for now. I try to talk to everybody I meet about it. And I have recorded a great turn-out as the site administrator. How do I make my •Continued on page 31

•Emileomon during a visit to one of the orphanages

A queen’s thought for orphans

T

HE reigning Face of Edo, a 400Level student of Animal Science at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Emileomon Akhihiero, has launched her pet project. The 24-yearold queen said her project would help orphans realise their dreams. According to her, the less privileged should not be left to fend for themselves, especially as they do not live in isolation.

It was this that drove Emileomon to donate items such as books, food stuff, clothes, toiletries and others worth over N500, 000 to some orphanages in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

“As Face of Edo, it is a great privilege and opportunity for me to give back to the society. I don’t want the underprivileged to be abandoned because they are poor. The difference between you and them is lack of enablement,” she

added.

According to her, the orphans and other poor people, “if given the needed support today, the sky would become their starting point, thus, they would end up not only being productive to themselves but also to the state and the country in general. Let us give them the opportunity to grow and have a sense of belonging”.

Her expectation from the people of Edo and Nigeria at large, she added, is to assist her to achieve her desired dream and individually support the underprivileged.

Other than donations, she has also vowed to rehabilitate two orphanages in Benin, because according to her, it is the only way her purpose as the reigning Face of Edo can be fulfilled.

“Sincerely, the underprivileged are

my pet project. I want to also see it as God’s project. I know nothing good comes as a bed of roses. I have had disappoints from some sponsors. They promise you that they would help you, but when you start calling them, either they do not pick your calls or when they do pick, they start giving flimsy excuses. I hope that by God’s grace, by the end of the day, I will be able to make appreciable impact.”

So, how does she cope with the demands of her academics despite her busy schedule as a beauty queen?

“There is a time for everything. I actually take my academics seriously because it’s the key to life. I still attend classes timely. I plan my time, and ensure that none actually suffers for an•Continued on page 31

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

31

CAMPUS LIFE

Travails of teaching practice Teaching Practice (TP) is undertaken by students studying education courses. In this report, HANNAH OJO (400-Level English, Obafemi Awolowo University) writes on the experiences of some students who have completed the exercise.

A

PART from being a compulsory engagement, it is also a worthy cause. Teaching practice affords them the opportunity of cutting their teeth in one of the world’s most selfless professions. But the start of the sojourn usually does not bring zeal and excitement as it is seen by some of them as the beginning of a daunting task with no reward.

“For most of us, the environment was not conducive. We bore the cost of transport and accommodation since the hostel was shut against us at that time. Those six weeks were filled with work, work and work!” If this lamentation seems familiar, then welcome to the world of students with sordid TP experience.

Adeniyi Adeola (not real name) did not start her TP on a high note. She had heard of how private schools drain student-teachers even without paying stipends to reward their efforts. Thus, she decided to go in search of a public school where she hoped to find flexible working conditions. As a student studying Mathematics and Integrated Science, she got a place to teach Basic Science at Ife Girls High Junior School. Close to being a waterloo, she was decisively beaten by what she called the state of despair and hopelessness among the students. “Majority of the students are dull; their handwriting was illegible. Imagine JSS I students who could not speak and understand simple English. Even after teaching and revising all over again, they still could not get it. It is in this same school that an SS 3 student on the verge of writing WAEC was stating pronouns as nouns”.

How does one reconcile the exertion of great effort with little or no result to show for it? This could be

said to be the case of another student teacher who simply identified herself as Rachael. “I did my TP at a public school in Ife. I started numbering my days right from the very first day I started. I taught a JSS 2 class English and the experience was like pouring water into a leaking basket.

Sometimes I go home with headache as I had to repeat over and over again in the simplest terms the concept I teach. I gave them series of tests and assignments. But for the effort of few among them, all I did seemed to be for naught.”

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that many other TP students who served in public schools, especially in rural communities, had to battle with a handful of man-made challenges.

Teachers in most of these schools, the TP students claim, do not write lesson notes. They pass their notes to students to write on the board while they sit in the staff room chatting. In cases where a state government gives instructional materials, teachers are too lazy to use them. The case, according to a TP student who pleaded anonymity, is “more or less like one is being sent to a dammed spot once the time for TP is announced. The puzzling part of it is that unlike Industrial Attachment in other faculties where students can choose to work in places outside the location of their school, here we are restricted to work within the environs so as to aid easy supervision and assessment by lecturers.”

In most cases, student-teachers are expected to be stolid and not get upset. Examples abound where some were beaten and others harassed while dealing with difficult students.

The story was told of how a female student-teacher was teaching and a male student, in a show of “swag”

•Some of the TP students after the programme

•Tosin(middle) and some of his students during his TP

walked up to her and touched her breast, to the excitement of his classmates. She reported the case.

Nothing happened! These are common occurrences that some TP students have to put up with.

Corroborating this assertion, Tosin Oyelakin, a student of Biology Education who taught at Oluorogbo Junior and High School, said: “In the school where I worked, students would cooperate if you do not cross

come late to school on market days.

They help their mothers in the morning with house chores, hawk when they are back from school, get tired and sleep. It’s a revolving cycle and it is hindering their development.”

It was not all about sad tales after all as the future teachers took time out to unwind after the end of the exercise by organising a party termed Oleku, the old school party.

‘I am afraid of failure’

Easter in the jungle

•Continued from page 30

money? Right now, I’m not making any money from campusebay.com. I am more like investing in it now and hoping to earn my own Google assent.

What future for campusebay.com?

I see it as a place every Nigerian student can say we have a market for us. Where we can interact and sell our used stuff and get information on new products in the market. With time, I see campusebay.com in other African countries too. It’s for the youth, for college students.

How many visits do you get on campusebay.com daily.

•Continued from page 29

mistaken us for thieves. I began to imagine that if such a boy had a gun on him or perhaps he was a hunter, he would have pulled the trigger in self-defense.”

Not even her gender could protect her from climbing the mountains as Blessing Amedu almost regretted being a Geology student. “I had never imagined Geology to be as tedious as this. My friends made my mouth water with tales of the various delicacies they ate during Easter and here I am making do with a dry breakfast and an equally dry dinner daily.”

Does that mean she had nothing for lunch? “It depends on what we find as we were usually out mapping. Sometimes, we could come across mango and cashew trees which we took our time to explore”.

Narrating his group’s ordeal in Akunu, Olayemi Fasheki said: “There was a direct encounter between my team and hunters in the bush. We were in an outcrop along Ikaram road when we heard gunshots. The two ladies in our group were at the peak of the outcrop while

your ‘boundary’. Even other teachers get harassed once in a while. The only person they tend to give utmost respect is their principal.”

Olaneeno Olateru-Olagbegi did her TP at Ife Girls Junior School. She advised that parents and government should help to arouse the interest of secondary school students towards appreciating education. “Sometimes you can’t really blame the students for being dull. They don’t have time to read. Some of the students I taught

I get about 200. Really it seems everybody has something to sell off or buy. It’s like building a popular market like Oshodi market, online.

What drives you?

I am afraid of failure; I admire success a lot and want to have it.

What’s your advice to the Nigerian youth?

The online community is growing fast in Nigeria and soonest, our everyday life will be ordered by the Internet.

It will be a good thing that every Nigerian youth is not just computer literate but online literate and well informed.

A queen’s thought for orphans •Continued from page 30 •Some of the students on the hill

some were at some point measuring strike and dip. All of a sudden, we saw dogs running at us. We ran, while shouting at the same time.

Thank God we came across four of the hunters who said they were pursuing an animal. They later assured us of security and we were calm. It was an awful experience.”

So, how did his Easter go?

Olayemi retorted: “There was nothing to enjoy”.

On a supervision tour, the stu-

dents’ lecturers praised them for a job well done. The Head of the Department (HOD), Prof Akin Ige, also encouraged them saying: “Though you are paying the sacrifice now, there is gain at the end of the pain.”

Mr Anthony Oyesomo, the Field Coordinator, praised the students and described the exercise as a platform to expose them to what they are to meet in future, should they decide to pursue a career in Geology.

other. If you want to be sure of what I’m saying, ask my lecturers about my academic performance. Most of them do not even know that I am a reigning queen. This is because class work and responsibilities do not give room for that. Besides, when I’m in class, it’s a serious matter, it’s all about academics.”

Emileomon describes the beauty pageant industry as a world of fame; she said it attracts people. How does she cope with the men thus attracted?

“As a beauty queen, a lot of people come around, especially the male folk, but they don’t get what they want.

Though, some guys could be a pain in the neck, but I always maintain my stand. To scare them away, sometimes I tell them I am married or engaged and even tell them my guy is a very harsh guy who does not need guys around me. However, I have been able to manage them in such a way that the serious minded ones are still my friends without them getting what they want. Besides, I need them; they support me. You have to keep them as friends, let them know that you’re their friend. As a beauty queen, I’m a role model to people; therefore I should be seen as a mirror through which others are seen.”

32

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE CBN donates conference centre to varsity

T

•Some of the guest speakers at the forum

S

‘Media practitioners must adopt new development’

TUDENTS of the Mass Communication Department of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, have been charged on global best practices and new developments in today’s media industry. The charge was given by Mr. Nosike Agokei at the fifth Communication Forum, a programme organised by the department.

Agokei, who was the guest speaker and former Managing Director of John Holt Plc, delivered a lecture titled: Telecommunications and the new media. He admonished the students to rise to the challenges in the communication industry, following the advent of technology as a verital tool of communications.

In view of the emerging trends in journalism practice, especially in the new media, practitioners, he emphasised, must be at home with the rudiments of the media as it concerns new technologies. These, he added, require expertise as well as consummate skill.

The guest speaker remarked that “media houses are breaking out of traditional forms and formats to deliver richer news and information services,” pointing out that

From Wale Ajetunmobi LAGOS

“this was more in concert with the way consumers are choosing to access and use such resources”.

Drawing a distinction between the old media model and the new, Agokei argued that, previously, there was “only one source of truth”, which the editor published in his judgment, but “in the new model of interactive environment, there are multiple sources of truth”.

The guest speaker was of the view that not all of today’s journalists and editors would make the transition to the development in the new media. He opined: “The media audience today and people in the future will be happy to decide for themselves what is credible or worthwhile, and what is not.”

He, therefore, enjoined the student audience to work harder to acquire needful professional skills and competence to be able to carve out niches for themselves in the profession.

He also expressed the view that

media practitioners and teachers of the discipline should regularly undertake training programmes to bring them in line with modern telecommunication technologies which have reshaped the structure of the media business generally.

The speaker was of the opinion that given the impact of the new media and telecommunication technology on the mass media profession, they should become an integral part of the study curriculum in higher institutions.

Present at the programme were top media executives including the Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo; Online Editor of The Nation, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, among others.

The two-hour session was chaired

by Mr. Adesina Abubakre, Deputy Bursar of the institution, who praised the lecturer for his insight.

The Mass Communication Forum was launched in November 2011 to promote the professional and academic development of staff and students of the department through experience sharing and presentations by accomplished professionals and academics.

•Najeem receiving his prize in Ghana

Corps member wins medal in Taekwondo

A

MEMBER of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Ekiti State, Najeem Abimbola, has won a silver medal in the bantan weight category, 63 kg of the Second Mission Open International Taekwondo Championship. It held at the National Stadium, Accra, Ghana.

Najeem and Tochukwu

From ‘Seyi Oluwalade GHANA

Anyakora, who also won a gold medal in the heavy weight category, represented Nigeria in the contest. Najeem, who graduated from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, expressed happiness over his performance, saying the feat was a boost to his career.

“I want to thank Almighty Allah who helped me to come this far. I am very happy and I want to say this will complement my dream to become a world Taekwondo Champion in the nearest future,” Najeem said.

The competition took place between March 29 and 31; about 170 contestants drawn from six African countries participated.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has begun the construction of a state-of-the-art conference centre for the University of Jos (UNIJOS). The cost of the project is put at N9.5 billion.

The Project Manager, Mr. Lawal Yankara, while showing the project site to the contractor last Wednesday at the permanent site of the university, said the apex bank took up the sponsorship of the project because of its desire to develop manpower in the country. According to him, “CBN has been carrying out many reforms in the financial sector and the next reform it is pursuing is development of manpower that will drive the reforms”.

He added: “We are bringing in this facility for conducive learning, research and dissemination of knowledge particularly in the area of finance and economy.”

He said the centre would contain a 450-capacity lecture hall, a 200-room five-star hotel, cafeteria, sporting arena and swimming pool among others. He maintained that the centre

Mathematics students hold week

T

HE National Association of Industrial Mathematics and Statistics Students (NAIMASS), Ebonyi State University (EBSU) chapter, has held its annual week. The events for the week started in Presco campus and climaxed with a dinner at Hotel De Tycoon, in Abakaliki.

Events began on March 26, with an “old school” day, in which students of the department dressed in all kinds

From Esther Mark UNIJOS

would be linked to other universities across the globe through online lecture and research.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, thanked the CBN for selecting the university to site the project, saying “it is the best decision because of the contributions of UNIJOS to the economy of Nigeria.”

He promised that the institution would take advantage of the centre to increase the quality of education as it is targeting being ranked among the best 10 universities in Africa.

The president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Amos Nambol, thanked the CBN for the project and called on corporate organisations to emulate the gesture.

The contractor handling the project, Tecnis EPC International Ltd, through its representative, Mr. Lorenzo Boutigny, promised to complete the project within the stipulated time of 130 weeks.

From Daniel Lawrence EBSU

of old fashion attires and moved in procession to the department’s office and around the campus.

The following day witnessed a cultural day, when students displayed different ethnic dances and food. The day ended with a drama presentation on culture and heritage at Fan’s Hall. Also, there was a symposium on academic excellence and health matters.

President of the association, Nicodemus Nwibo, thanked the students and staff of the department for their cooperation “which led to the success of the week.”

Room-mates land in police net for alleged robbery

W

HAT would make a student to loot his fellow students’ property? This is the question bogging the minds of other students at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) following a robbery incident in an off-campus hostel. Two of their colleagues have been arrested in connection with the crime.

The suspects, who are roommates and identified simply as Christopher and Anthony, visited a hostel at Umuchima area to rob another student, Azuka Nwankwo. They were said to have dispossessed Azuka of his Dell laptop and jewelries worth N30,000.

However, when the report of the incident got to the students who lived nearby, they quickly gave the suspects a hot chase. Anthony and Christopher were later caught and beaten with all kinds of materials. An eye witness account said if not for the timely intervention of the police, the suspects would have been set ablaze.

One of the robbers, who is a 300Level student, claimed he came to the hostel to visit his sister. “When the occupants saw that my face was

From Francis Egwuatu FUTO

strange, they mistook me to be a robber”. True enough, when the “sister”,Juliet, was contacted, she identified the culprit, Anthony, as her cousin.

However, when the suspects were pressed further, they later confessed that Juliet was an accomplice. They further claimed that they were contacted by a friend in Kano, who alleged that Azuka stole his cloth and jewelries and begged them to help retrieve the property from him.

Azuka told CAMPUSLIFE that he was typing his Industrial Training report when the suspects knocked on the door to his room. “I thought it was a neighbour, so I hurriedly opened the door. As they entered, I was asked to respectfully lie on the floor and I obliged because they were armed with knives”.

The angry students, who apprehended the suspects, booed the policemen as they whisked away the three suspects. They said they wanted to burn the “thieves” to send a strong message to others who still take delight in robbing students.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

33

CAMPUS LIFE SUG orientates freshers

A

•The Maths department team last year

T

HE president of National Association of Mathematics Students of Nigeria (NAMSN), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, Babatunde Fatoki, has expressed the readiness of the department’s football team to lift the upcoming Dean Cup conmpetition in the school.

This followed his team’s superlative performance which won it the tropgy last year.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE last

‘Maths is the best’ From Ayodeji Adesina UNILAG

weekend, Babatunde said that without sporting events, academic activity in any institution would not be complete.

“I have concern about my department lifting the Dean’s Cup in the second semester. This is why I am

working closely with NAMSN Sports Secretary, Busayo Adepoju, to ensure that our footballers put in their best to win the 2012 Dean’s Cup.” He said the team had discovered the winning strategy. “Our team will shine and with the support of other executive members, we will win.”

Engineering students get new leaders

T

HE Nigerian University Engineering Students Association (NUESA), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) chapter, has inaugurated new leaders to oversee the affairs of the association for another year.

The programme, which took place at Teezers Eatery, was wellattended by students of the faculty.

In his address, the outgoing president, Kelechi Obilom, charged

From Oluchukwu Igwe UNIZIK

the incoming executive to come up with policies that would take the association to new heights.

Members of the new executive were formally introduced to the Awka branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). The new president, Nathaniel Njoku, thanked the NSE for its continual

support.

Other members of the executive include Chioma Allison (vice president 1), Ekene Mgbechikwelu (vice president II), Paul Mgbako, (secretary general), Chidimma Udoye (assistant secretary), Nwangwu Irechukwu (treasurer), Emeka Offorkansi (financial secretary), Chijioke Ojah (director of social I), Oluchukwu Igwe (public relations officer) and Victor Udedbor (director of social II).

Students honour their HOD

•Dr. Jigam (middle) and some of his students at the ceremony From Faith Olaniran FUT MINNA

department’s lecturers did not support him.

One of the students at the pre-

sentation, Michael Adekunle, in 500-Level, told CAMPUSLIFE: “Dr Jigam has taught us to be hardworking and to make our academic work first in priority list”.

Council donates to Corps members

S

UCCOUR came the way of corps members deployed to Ogbia town, the headquarters of Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, for their one year mandatory national service. The Ogbia Council chair, Mr. Samuel Boy, donated materials to be used in the corpers’ lodge located in the area.

The items donated include a 10KV

Catholic students hold Federation Week

T

HE Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS), Imo State University (IMSU) chapter, has concluded its week.

There were series of programmes that took place during the week.

A football match was held to open the week. The male and female categories of the soccer event was won by “Ojukwu Bombers” and Igolo Stars” respectively.

Trophies were presented to the

From Isaac Mensah YENAGOA

mobile generator, 3000ml overhead water tank, mattresses and electrical pumping machine.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, the head of Works Department in the council, Mr. Major Ayibakuro, who made the donation on behalf of the council boss, noted that the council

placed premium on the wellbeing of corps members posted to the area. He maintained that the items donated would help the corps members to carry out their duties during the service year.

The corps members thanked the chairman for the gesture, saying they would make judicious use of them.

From Faith Olaniran and Tolulope Ajobiewe FUT MINNA

but got its definite ideological direction from the materialist thinkers, who made workers and peasants the vanguard of historical change.” He regretted that student unionism has lost its ideals, adding that students’ union politics across Nigerian institutions was pathetic. He advised the new students to imbibe virtues that would guarantee them fruitful academic years.

Charles Okenson, in 100-Level Geography, said the orientation programme gave him the chance to meet the VC and other principal officers as he was absent during the matriculation ceremony.

During the programme, Prof Audu commissioned four tricycles for commercial purposes to ease the transportation problem within the main campus.

He promised to commission the newly-built mini market on the institution’s convocation day.

From Ugochukwu Egwumba IMSU

winners by the Special Adviser to Imo Governor on Student Affairs, Mr. Jerry Okosun.

There were also a talk show, a film show, games, excursion and a cultural day to mark the week.

The excursion was to Oguta town, where the students paid a courtesy visit to Justice Chukwudifu Oputa (rtd). On the last day of the week, the NFCS organised a thanksgiving service at the St. Joseph Catholic Chaplaincy, IMSU, during which members dressed in their native attires displaying various cultural heritages.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Prisca Tochi, one of the students, said the week was unique because she met “a great man like Justice Oputa.”

Firm donates computers to department

P

T

HE National Association of Biochemistry Students at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA), has honoured the head of the department (HOD), Dr Ali Jigam, with an award of excellence and service. The presentation took place at the departmental laboratory II. Jigam, who has been the HOD for some years now, was said to operate an open-door policy that allows students easy access to him. It was gathered that during the last session, graduating students from the department were the first to defend their project, a feat that earned the HOD accolades from the students.

Reacting, Dr Jigam thanked the students for seeing him as a role model but said the feat would not have been possible if the

S fresh students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) were being welcomed into the campus, officials of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) have deemed it necessary to organise an orientation programme for the students to guide them against breaking the rules and regulations of the institution.

The programme, which took place at the auditorium in the main campus, was graced by the university’s principal officers.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof M.S. Audu, charged the students to take their academic work seriously and make the best use of their stay on campus. The VC promised free tuition and accommodation to students who score a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.5 and above after the session.

The SUG President, Jefferson Akinsheye, told the students of the importance of student unionism in a university setting, saying “unionism has a long history

LATFORM Petroleum Company Limited, an indigenous upstream company in the oil and gas sector, has donated 10 desktop computers and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to the department of Petroleum Engineering of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Presenting the items, the Chief Operating Officer of the firm, Mr Owieadolor Osariemen, said the gesture was in line with their policy of “building enterprise on best practice and social responsibility”.

According to him, the donation was in recognition of the immense contribution of the university in producing quality graduates, who have made notable strides in the exploration and production industry across the world.

He also expressed appreciation for the developmental

From Gerald Nwokocha and Jeremiah Udoka UNIBEN

programmes of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Osayuki Oshodin, saying the “good work” would make the institution to be respected among its peers.

The Dean, Engineering Faculty, Prof F.O. Edeko, praised the gesture, saying the computers would complement the VC’s drive to improve teaching facility in the university.

Speaking, the Head of Petroleum Engineering Department, Dr O. A. Olafuyi, said the department was poised to assist the oil and gas industry as well as the government in solving some of the energy problems in the country.

He added that the department was being repositioned to undertake innovative research that would stand the test of time and add value to humanity.

34

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE As a Law student, he was supposed to know better.

Instead, he took to crime: an ill he was being trained to fight. IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI (300-Level Mass Communication) captures the intriguing tale from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State.

Suspected studentthief held

I

T is the stuff bestsellers are made. On March 5, around 8.30pm, a 200-Level law student at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, climbed the storey building housing the institution’s senate. On getting to the roof, he removed the ceilings and entered the building.

After the “visit”, items that were missing included one laptop, a desktop computer, a chambers 21st century dictionary, an external AVT, clothes, 51 packets of stapled pen, a flash drive and a packet of marker, among others, all valued at N450, 000.

The next day, he went to his own domain, the Faculty of Law. He broke the faculty door and entered the Dean’s office around 1am. He removed a laptop, some law books, AAUA diary, six yards of Ankara and some yards of Guinea materials, and soap among others.

Apparently emboldened by these successful raids, the student waited for a week before striking again. This time, his port of call was the university bookshop; date was March 14.

Using his usual entrance-the ceilinghe carted away several law books.

These include Law for Business, Laws of Environment Property, The Nigerian Constitution, Law of Tort, Family Law in Nigeria, Criminology and Criminality in Nigeria, a book on Barrack Obama and a packet of tempo biro, among others.

He was not done, yet. Three days later, he invaded the Information and Communication Technology

(ICT) unit after forcefully removing the burglar proof. He carted away an HP laptop, computer speakers, five different types of diskette, a Sony CD cassette and N13,100 cash.

On March 25, he revisited his Faculty. Maybe because it was a Sunday, he came in broad daylight, at about 2pm. He made away with law textbooks such as those on common law, another copy of the 1999 Constitution, a book entitled: Face your master, six diskettes, a small towel and a freezer.

Our correspondent learnt that on the same day at 4pm, he also invaded the Staff school and stole several items, among which were an LCD colour TV, a DVD player, a standing fan, one Tiger generator, two Morison’s, 34 textbooks, two tins of insecticide, a rechargeable lamp, an electric iron, some bunches of keys among others.

The suspected thief is Olanrewaju Samuel Adeola.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt, that after each raid, Adeola would erase the university’s name inscribed on the properties, before selling then to an accomplice, Olasunkanmi Banjoko (not a student). Banjoko, in turn, sell to Olumide Sunday Adebuyi.

Luck ran out on Adeola when he went for another raid, after robbing the staff school. A source, who did not want to be named, narrated how the suspect was caught: “we had received disturbing reports of the robberies; thus we mounted our men at strategic places for surveillance. On the same day he burgled the staff

•Students sipping the cattle milk (Fura de Nunu) for breakfast

T

HE cool of the dawn is the best time to milk the cows.

After milking to your satisfaction, the purification process starts. The milk is sieved to remove all that is physically seen and pasteurised to make sure all microorganisms die. It is then left over a period of time to cool. After, it is stirred vigorously for about 30-40 minutes so that the fat floats. The floating substance is then drained off and the bottom, which is the milk is ready. This is one the simplest process by which one of Africa’s traditional and prestigious meal is produced. In Nigeria, it is predominant in the

•Adeola pointing out to the police and the university security unit how he climbed the building

school, at exactly 8.10pm, Adeola came again to the Law Faculty and tried to launch another attack. Since the place was dark, he did not know that one of our female officers was lying in ambush, waiting for him.

As he entered the faculty building, the female officer screamed: ‘Thief!

Thief! Thief!’ and other security operatives came to her aid. As Adeola saw them, he took to his heels; but the security operatives chased him, alerting other operatives. At last, he was caught and taken immediately to the Akungba Police Station.”

At the station, he confessed to all the burglaries. He even took them to where he kept the items he was yet to dispose of; he also named the duo who buy from him.

The police arrested his two accomplices and recovered most of the stolen items from them. Some other items were also recovered from Adeola’s house.

The next day, the policemen and

some university staff took the three suspects round the scenes of robbery asking Adeola how he single handedly raided the places.

While responding, Adeola said: “Often times, I pass through the ceiling after I might have gained entrance into the building by skilfully removing the window”.

A few days after his confession, Adeola, Banjoko and Olumide were arraigned before a magistrate court sitting in Supare-Akoko.

Adeola was remanded in Owo prison, but the others were grantedN300,000 bail with two sureties in •Adeola showing the ceiling through which he like sum. entered the bookshop

•The cattle milk vendor selling to her customers

Surviving on Fura de Nunu For many staff and students of the NTA Television College, Jos, Plateau State, a day is incomplete without a taste of the local delicacy Nunu.

JOHNPAUL NNAMDI (400-Level TV Journalism) writes.

North and it is wildly regarded as Nunu.

Mallam A. Aljasawu, a lecturer at the NTA Television College, Jos, said he takes nunu because he grew up with it, being a cultural deli-

cacy. He is not the only one who takes it, but unlike him, his students who hail from different parts of the country take nunu because they have fallen in love with it.

Nunu is primarily served by add-

ing sugar to taste. At times, it is also mixed with Fura or Dambu, other local delicacies, depending on the choice of the consumer. This is one food the college community enjoys not just for one reason.

For Flora Chukwura, in 200Level Journalism, nunu is a requisite for rest. “You discover that when you take nunu, it relaxes the nerves and you will want to relax.

I don’t take it when I have a lecture or when I have serious work to do.

I only take it when I want to rest.”

Like every other food, nunu has nutritional values. The “protein” and “fat” it contains are what makes Julius Nyam, 400-Level TV Production, to take it.

Dayo, a 200-Level student, pointed out “cost” as an important •Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Before varsities conduct 2012 post-UTME

A

DMISSION seekers know that the March 24 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME) was not the last hurdle for the fruition of their dreams. Of course, the exam heralds a season of post-UTME, a major determinant to the Jambites’ ambitions.

The scheme, which was originally termed post-JAMB, was introduced by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, the then Minister of Education, in 2005 to correct the anomalies observed in the admission processes of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) into universities. Barely a year after, polytechnics and colleges of education followed suit. To make the scheme credible, Ezekwesili affirmed that no applicant should be charged for the exam. When tertiary institutions’ management complained about the cost of the process, they were asked not to charge applicants more than N1,000.

However, post-UTME denied me the admission into a university of my first choice but granted me admission into the institution of my second choice, in which I am a student today. While my first

A

RENOWNED professor of Literature, Chinua Achebe, said in one of his books: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.

There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenges of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.” Indiscipline seems to be the message in the sentence.

Recently, the campus of Benue State University (BSU) was shut following a violent demonstration by students who were protesting the killing of two of their colleagues by a truck driver along the MakurdiGboko road. The demonstration and its attendant violence are typical examples of happenings in Nigerian higher institutions, where students go on protest to register their displeasure on certain indiscipline on the part of our leaders. In BSU, it was bad road that led to the protest, whereas in others institutions, it may be irregular power supply or scarcity of water and so on.

Following the riot in BSU, the Benue State government immedi-

choice university would have insisted I was not credible for admission because I did not have good score in my UTME, not to talk of the post-UTME, the institution that offered me placement confidently said I and other admitted applicants deserve the admission.

As preparations are in top gear for this year’s post-UTME, all participating varsities should not do so to discredit the credibility of the matriculation exam. If it had been alleged that the past JAMB officials always passed undeserving candidates, it should be observed that the present UTME board under Prof Dibu Ojerinde has been hitting the bull’s eye consistently in the last three years.

A scenario where a candidate, who scores high mark in UTME and fails to prove his worth in post-UTME, does not necessarily mean the applicant got the UTME score through illegal means. Syllabus is the major problem bedeviling post-UTME. Students study for post-UTME using past questions when there is no available syllabus anywhere. Institutions do not have a definite method of con-

ducting the post-UTME test. While some schools may opt for current affairs and knowledge in information and communication technology (ICT), others may go for more conventional questions relating to course of choice.

This shows that post-UTME has no basic standard. It is an exam for those who can pass it. Poor examination condition for candidates undergoing the examination is another bad factor. Some universities are getting it right. An example is the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Painfully, universities like the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, are frustrating the efforts of their applicants.

In 2010, over 38,000 applicants were choked up in Ife town on the same day to sit for a one-and-half hour paper. Only about 8,000 reached the benchmark score showing about 80 percent failure.

This is discouraging. In 2011, over 43,000 witnessed the same trend and over 80 percent failure was recorded. Unlike the OAU, UNILORIN spent a week for the exercise across three centres in Nigeria and each year close to 50

The trouble with Nigeria From Msonter Anzaa gsontel@yahoo.com

ately began the construction of bumps on the portion of the road where the accident happened. Motorists have discovered that they have to spend extra time in passing that stretch of road because of the bumps. Now, the question is: why do we waste time in doing the right thing and make life difficult for ourselves? The answer is simply an act of indiscipline.

Wherever we go and in whatever we do, we do not keep to time and we don’t do the right thing at the right time. In our bid to do things fast, we disorganise an otherwise ordered sequence of events and all this amounts to very repulsive culture of indiscipline. In the process of doing this, we are unwittingly holding Nigeria down.

For instance, our leaders spend huge sums of money to build roads for our use, but because of inclination to shortcut, the infrastructure soon becomes a death trap for the users because certain features, such

as bumps, culverts, etc are not present. As a result, government spends more money in fixing these features, of which they should have done when the roads were being constructed initially. Alas, by the time they come to fix the problem, many preventable accidents would have occurred. But this is leadership indiscipline.

What about the common man? He is the guiltiest. I watched heavy-duty trucks moving faster on the bumps recently built by Benue government on the same road where two students were killed. Ostensibly in a hurry to deliver their goods, the trucks were making their pass amidst a noisy bang that attracted the attention of commuters. The thought that came to mind was: “do the truck drivers ever wonder why it was necessary to put in place the bumps in the first instance?”

Why do we seem not to possess the basic discipline possessed by human beings elsewhere? Imagine passengers of a bus throwing out empty plastic bottles of yoghurt indiscriminately on the road, thereby

T

the conductor began to collect fares from other passengers. When he asked for my fare, the driver told the conductor not to bother. He left me and also the policeman sitting beside me.

But I reminded him that he had not collected money from the policeman, he replied that police officers don’t pay fares because “they are uniform men”.

I don’t know if this is a law but from the above scenario, if policemen are described as uniform men, how should one describe corps members?

If policemen and other security agencies are agents of national assignment, what then does the assignment of corps members represent? Seriously, who, among policemen and corps members should pay transport fare?

Is it the policemen who are paid more and also extort money from motorists or corps members who are poorly motivated and work more for the development of the communities?

Corps members have no other means apart from the allowance from the federal government and mostly by our employers. Some employers will even claim that they are not supposed to pay corps members because of federal allowee, thereby leaving the serving youths in a state of confusion.

It is even more worrisome when one compares the exorbitant fee payable

making the passage of the oncoming vehicles unsafe. Today, our highways are littered with nylons of sachet water and other packing materials. This is a result of indiscipline on our part as the common men. The packaging materials, apart from constituting danger to other road users, cause environmental pollution.

It seems to me that as a people, we have lost our rationality. Our conduct to the environment and our fellow human being is indicative of poor minds and rotten consciences.

This manifests everywhere in our national life. Take politics for instance. It is only in Nigeria that politicians base their campaign programmes on the same issues every election year. Ever wonder why provisions of portable water and electricity have always topped political campaign since 1960?

In education sector, no one has been able to find lasting solution to the recurring problem of exam malpractice. In the recently conducted Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME), many results were withheld

From Michael Adebayo michaeladebayo_2005@yahoo.com

tegration of the scheme and JAMB so that there will be no case of wrong admission letters and double admission.

What could be said about a scheme through which admissions are offered to thousands of students who drop out after their first year due to academic incompetence?

Michael, 200-Level Computer Science, UNILORIN because of unwholesome practices.

What law have we made against the retrogressive desire to acquire certificates through the backdoor? And where we make them, how many people have been made to face the music? In fact, we have become a nation that acquires degrees, chieftaincy titles, political offices, awards, national honours through fraud. It is indiscipline!

Achebe complained that “we have given ourselves over so completely to selfishness that we hurt not only those around us but ourselves even more deeply. . . .” This is true. The truck drivers who did not have the patience to be orderly while passing on Makurdi-Gboko road may never see reason to move slowly on bumps until they are hurt in the process.

To use the word of Mahatma Gandhi: “we must become the change we seek in the world”. Let us deliberately pay attention to rules and develop a national culture of discipline and maturity. When we do that, we would be building a new Nigeria where citizens and visitors are not subjected to preventable trauma through acts of indiscipline.

Msonter, 200-Level Medicine, BSU Makurdi

Deception in student politics

Corps members’ welfare HE role of corps members in community development and indeed Nigeria is unarguably rewarding. Corps members have played and will continue to play viable roles in ensuring that the standard of living, especially for the rural dwellers are lifted, while also ensuring that the clarion call to serve is fully justified despite the challenges involved.

Despite increased allowances being paid to the serving youths, there is one critical aspect which governments at all levels must look into. This is the issue of welfare. There is an urgent need for the government to enhance corps members’ welfare by providing the necessary support to enable them increase their level of participation in the nation’s development.

Recently, I ran out of cash and I was fully kitted as a corps members to catch up with my colleagues to face the challenges of the day. When I arrived at a motor park to board a bus to my destination, I met with the driver of the bus and explained my predicament to him. Being a good man, the driver permitted me on the warning that he would not tolerate such excuse next time. Sitting next to me in the bus was a police officer.

No sooner had we left the park, than

percent reached the benchmark score.

Charges for this examination are the major problem. In this case, there is no sympathy as applicants are extorted and exploited for an examination that will aid their failure. It is quite unfair as most varsities have moved away from the status quo to overcharge mercilessly. The sales of various scratch cards like registration, result-checking and admission status cards have taken centre-stage.

This is why most varsities oppose the scrapping of the post-UTME scheme. Some private varsities charge as high as N20,000 and for this, they admit all sorts of exam fraudsters in a method that can be best described as bribing for admission.

It is recommended that the Federal Government should monitor this scheme in every varsity, be it federal, state or private. Things to be looked into and monitored must include cost, preparedness of varsities, integration of syllabus and future consideration for applicants who reached the benchmark but could not secure admission. There should be a proper in-

HAVE had time to brood over the origin of campus politics. There is no doubt that the concept has come to stay because the campus is now the most veritable training ground for future politicians and leaders. Students who participate in unionism may not necessarily be studying Political Science or similar courses. But they are people who are inclined to politics.

Therefore, when they speak, it is not uncommon to hear phrases like “I am loyal”, “my oga”, “I remain my humble self.”

However, it may not be a surprise to many that few of the students who participate in campus politics understand the concept of unionism.

The Students Union Government (SUG) is a machinery put in place to mediate and communicate issues between students and the management. It is an organ that strives to protect the interest of students. Sadly though, after many years of existence, the SUG has become an avenue through which unscrupulous ones make good fortune.

This is the reason student politicians fall over themselves to “grab” seats in the executive, legislative or judicial arm.

My worry, therefore, borders on

I

By Hassan Afegbua hassanluv2@yahoo.com

as transport fare by corps members to what they get as stipend.

It is on this note that I wish to recommend that the federal and indeed state governments should urgently look into this aspect as part of corps members’ welfare package. Let it be that any corps member who boards a bus to his daily assignment be exempted from paying transport fare and such a corps member, while entering the bus, must display his or her identity card. This will enable us to save more money so that after the service year, those who will wish to establish a business of their own can do so which will in turn reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. Hassan is a corps member, NYSC Lagos

By Violet Lambert lambertviolet@yahoo.com the effect of such hypocritical tendencies on both the student leaders and their subjects. While still aspirants, they appear extremely convincing and trustworthy in that they deliver good moving speeches and readily give good answers to anyone who questions the reason for their aspirations. And one thing they dare not fail to preach is “change” – an elusive concept as far as student politics is concerned.

They tell you they are loyal. I ask, are they paying loyalty to their godfathers who promise to give them positions or are they just making instantaneous declarations and empty promises in order to win student support? Who is fooling who? What kind of change and loyalty are they talking about? This trend continues as the years roll by, without any meaningful change in the way students conduct politics on campus.

This set of people will graduate to become full-time politicians and they will continue their lies.

This is sad and things must change for the better.

Violet, 400-Level Information Management Technology, FUTO

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE The telephone is a very important gagdet, on and off the campus. CHISOM OJUKWU (500-Level Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri) writes that many students are so addicted to their phones that they have become the “used” rather than the users.

Culture of telephony on campus

S

OME say it was Johann Philipp Reis. others say it was Antonio Meucci, yet another group of people believe it was Alexander Graham Bell and the rest staunchly maintain that it was Thomas Edison. It is clear that the identity of the discoverer of the telephone remains a mystery. Bell might bear the title of “father of telephone” but fact is that the modern telephone is not the work of one inventor, but of many. Since the initial prototype, modulations upon modulations have led to what we have today as our telephones – the global system for mobile communication (GSM) or cell phones.

Cell phones are undisputedly high up in the list of the common personal items for everyday use. They serve as diary, planner, mini-computer, pet and even companion. To students, however, the general consensus is that cell phones are a way of life. Whether a Nokia of the E or N series, a BlackBerry, an Apple iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy tab, your average student couldn’t have a complete day without the comforting weight of his cell phone in his pocket or handbag.

“With my BlackBerry, I can reach all of my friends in Nigeria and outside,” said Joseph Orji, a 300-Level student of Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester.

“Wherever they are, they are only a ping away. How much easier could it get?” he said.

As much as these tools are commended, their disadvantages make an interesting bunch. “First among the many disadvantages of cell phone usage is the erosion of moral values and ethics among users,” stated Callistus Osunwa, a 300 Level student of Industrial Physics at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). As far as Callistus is concerned, the Internet is strewn with pornographic as well as other “carnal” sites which phone users, through their mobile internet access, are exposed to. “Sometimes,”

•A student busy pinging while lecture was on

•Variety of mobile phones

he posited, “one enters such sites even without intending to and soon, inadvertent addiction sets in.”

Cell phones equally prove to be major distractions for students and teachers alike in the classrooms. “Some of them (students) carry their ‘studio’ into the classrooms all in the name of cell phones” complained Mr S. Opebiyi, a lecturer in the department of Chemical Engineering, FUTO, “often during lectures, students’ phones ring out and the owners are seen ducking under desks to take calls or texting away in the middle of a lecture.”

Cell phones, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, could also be held accountable for the erosion of social skills in the present crop of users. The convenience of texting, especially boosted by the popularity of the ‘in vogue’ BlackBerry phones (BB), is responsible for communication and social interaction deficiencies in modern day cell phone users. A student who sought anonymity shared his experience with CAMPUSLIFE. He purportedly met a friend

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

on 2go – one of the leading mobile social networking media – who seemed very witty, funny and interesting while chatting.

Eager to meet this new friend in person, he arranged a meeting but was subsequently disappointed. “She (the friend) couldn’t even look me in the eyes while we talked,” he recounted, “she was so boring that I couldn’t believe it was the same person that had so enthralled me on 2go.”

Money issues also come up. The average student, while relying solely on parents or guardians for upkeep, loads a minimum of N100 worth of airtime every two days. The “BB-craze”, as Tombari Akpe, in 400-Level Mechanical Engineering, FUTO, put it, is not helping student pockets either.

The habitual copy-cat attitude of Nigerian youths, Tombari believes, has evolved the BB into a students toy, a must-have for any student who wishes to be regarded with an iota of “substantive social standing.”

Shadows have also been cast on the impact of cell phones on the general physical health of their users. Every day, people send or

read text messages, make or receive calls, and browse on their phones while driving or walking in the streets. A study conducted at the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, US used brain imaging to document that when driving and listening, activity in the parietal lobe, the portion of the brain associated with driving, was reduced by 37 per cent, much less when driving and texting. It is, therefore, not surprising that such acts of carelessness have many a time, resulted in major injuries to and sometimes death of the cell phone users.

A fair analysis shows up the advent of cell phones as having done a lot of harm but more good to the human society of users. Uche Nnamadim, in 300-Level Mechanical Engineering, is of the opinion that in order to reap the benefits of cell phones while cutting down on the evils, “discipline is expedient”. Another student, Alexander Onukwue, believes that “we need to learn how to use our phones and not let our phones use us.”

Surviving on Fura de Nunu •Continued from page 34

factor that makes nunu endearing. He said: “Apart from the nutritional values, what makes me to like it is that it is very cheap when compared to other industrial milk.”

He added that it also serves “as a sure energy booster”.

Despite the advantages of nunu, Tony Mendie, a Diploma II student expressed concern over what he described as the poor hygienic conditions under which it is usually prepared. He had this to say: “I have always heard that poorly prepared nunu could cause tuberculosis. That is why I am always careful when consuming it. Although I rarely take nunu, when I do, I take it alone, not with Fura or Dambu. This is to minimise the exposure to the effects of poorly prepared meals.”

One of the students, who preferred not to be mentioned, claimed that she has fashioned out a way of detecting if it is properly prepared or not. “If I add lime to the nunu and notice some worm in it, I will not take it, but if there is none, I will take knowing full well that it was properly done,” she said.

Some students have no particular reason for taking it. For Jane and Jacinta, in 100 and 400 levels respectively, to be in the college where taking of nunu is wildly practiced, they do not want to be left out. Jacinta stated that before coming to TV College, she knew about nunu but had not tasted it. She added: “But

when I got here, almost all my friends were taking nunu, so I just joined them.”

In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, Mr. Samuel Hoshen, a nutritionist, stated that nunu has a lot of benefits “considering the fact that it is taken from animals which is a first class source of protein and fat”. He stressed on the nutritional value saying it contains protein which helps in replacing worn out tissues, cells and builds the body’s immune system to fight infections. Comparing the fresh cow milk to industrial milk, he said: “Unlike other milk, nunu comes naturally without addictives or preservatives. But the only fear is that if the cows are not healthy, it can transfer certain illnesses to the consumer. Then, the delicacy can be a direct source of waterborne infections if there are faults in the mode of preparation.”

However, a nunu vendor who spoke in Hausa stated that for nunu to be appreciated and have good taste, it needs to be prepared in a hygienic environment and that is what she strives to achieve. She said:“I make sure I pasteurise the milk carefully and my environment is always kept clean because if you prepare nunu in a dirty environment it will not have a good taste. Thus, people will not appreciate it.”

Although this food is common on campus, Abdulahi Muhammed, a Fulani, thinks it is an invaluable meal. “Nunu is a great meal; it satisfies one and has a lot of nutritional benefits. I want everybody to see the value in it.”

‘Apart from the nutritional values, what makes me to like it is that it is very cheap when compared to other industrial milk.” He added that it also serves “as a sure energy booster’

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

EDUCATION

Ekiti seeks support for education

T

HE Ekiti State government is canvassing the support of stakeholders, including parents, groups and corporate bodies, for the advancement of education in the country.

The state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, spoke at the weekend while hosting a sevenman Visitation Panel set up by the Federal Government to probe the activities of polytechnics in the country.

She urged stakeholders to partner with the government in its efforts to redeem the dwindling fortunes of education.

She stressed the need for the stakeholders to unite and present common front on the education of children.

She said the state government

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

feels especially responsible for the care of the Federal Governmentowned institutions in the state because it believes they have a primary role to play in the development of the state.

She noted that the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led government, has consequently ensured that federal polytechnic in the state is well supported to discharge its role as a tertiary education institution of note.

She said: "Education, being an abiding legacy which the state is working hard to sustain and promote, has continued to receive prime attention as attested by the recent distribution of laptop computers to all teachers and

students of secondary schools in the state.

Chairman of the panel, Prof.

Richard Anao, said the panel was neither on a mission of vengeance nor to expose anyone, stating that the government set it up to look into the activities of the 21 federal polytechnics and colleges of education in the country between 2004 and 2011.

He said the panel is part of the Federal Government's education transformation goal to ensure products of institutions are made to weather the challenges of the globalised age.

Anao gave kudos to Governor Fayemi for the good job he has been doing since he assumed office, particularly in the education sector.

Speaking earlier, the Rector of the

IBBUL FILE Students win competition

•Dr. Fayemi

Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Mrs. Taiwo Akande, thanked the state government for its cooperation and assistance for the institution, particularly for the luxury bus it gave it and the renovation of the federal roads leading to the school.

Don extols importance of radio

Edo school is best

L

UMEN Christi International High School, Uromi, Edo State, has, for the third time, received an award in the best school category at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) yearly awards.

With this achievement, Lumen Christi has thus reaffirmed its position as the best West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results among countless schools in the country in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The award was presented to the Principal of the school, Rev. Fr. Theophilus Itman by VicePresident, Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan. The event marked the 60th Annual Council meeting and anniversary of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja to recognise outstanding performances by students in the May/June 2011 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

WAEC Registrar, Hajiya Mulikat Bello, said: "The award points at recognition of hardwork, while the gesture was one of the major objectives of the council's

•The Principal, Rev. Fr Itman, receiving the award from Vice-President Namadi Sambo in Abuja.

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

endowment fund.”

In 2007, Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi which was established in 1986 by the then Archbishop of Benin City, Most Rev Dr P. E. Ekpu, for the first time in the history of WAEC awards dwarfed other secondary schools to receive the award as the

school with the best WASSCE results.

According to WAEC, the trophy is given to the school in Nigeria that has the best aggregate, determined on the results of its best 50 candidates, provided that the grades for English Language, Mathematics and a science subjects are included in determining the aggregate.

NGO donates educational materials

S

MILES were all over pupils of the Special School Goniri, in Gujba Local Government as they received educational gifts from a Damaturu-based NonGovernm e n t a l O r g a n i s a t i o n (NGO), World Changers Development Initiative (WOCHDI).

The materials which include school bags, school uniforms, notebooks were presented to over 200 orphans and vulnerable children of the school.

Making the presentation, the Executive Director of WOCHDI Mr Lapinni Akinyemi, said the gesture is an initiative of Network on Ethics, Rights, Law, HIV/AIDS Prevention, Support and Care (NELA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to strength systems that support vulnerable children and orphans.

He added that they are giving education support to 200 vulnerable children to empower them to break the cycle and chains of poverty, noting that knowledge is power.

One of the teachers in the school, who received the WOCHDI delegation, thanked the NGO.

MASS Communication students of the Ibrahin Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), have won a prize of N.5million at the ninth edition of the Best of the Best Television (BOBTV) University Challenge 2012 at the Ladi Kwali International Conference Centre of the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

They won the prize with the Pan-African University, the Bingham University and the University of Benin.

The team produced a documentary on The effect of climate change in Lapai: The demise of rivers Etswan and Lembu.

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

One the beneficiaries, Habiba Salisu a 12-year-old Primary five pupil of Islamiya Primary School Buni Yadi, also thanked WOCHDI, NELA and USAID for the opportunity for partnersimng with her towards the realisation of her future ambition, becoming a medical doctor.

WOCHDI, through her indirect services to vulnerable children, has also renovated two toilets in Waziri Ibrahim and Dukumari primary schools in Damaturu Council and rehabilitated two hand pump boreholes and a well in three schools in Gujba Council.

Mr Lapinni said his organisation has been able to reach out to 4,462 pupils.' This, he hopes, will encourage active attendant in schools and healthy living of vulnerable children in the local government councils.

As part of his concern to ensure that children get treated on time for minor injuries, WOCHDI he added, has donated six first aid boxes and materials to six schools in Damaturu and Gujba councils of the state with a total population

of 12,604 pupils.

He called on stakeholders, spirited individuals and organisations to team up with WOCHDI."Together, we can put better smile on the faces of more vulnerable children," he added.

RADIO has been identified as the single communication tool that can bring out development in Third World countries and emerging economies.

A lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, IBBUL, Osita Aniemeka, started this during the Second Media and Communication lecture series of the department.

Citing three schools of development communication – the South America School, the Asian School and the African School, he said some countries have employed participatory and educational rural radio approaches to empower the marginalised, adding that development communication in Anglophone Africa use radio for community education, adult literacy, health and agricultural education At the event were some staff and students.

Students celebrate Unizik FM tomorrow

S

TUDENTS of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka will this Friday celebrate the fifth anniversary of the University Campus Community Radio station - Unizik 94.1 FM. Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is expected as the special guest of honour, while the Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), V.N. Eke, an engineer, will be the guest of honour.

Chairman of the occasion is the Chief Executive Officer of Orient Magazine, Newspaper and Communications Limited, Mr Godwin Ezeemo while the

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Vice-Chancellor Prof Boniface Egboka is the chief host.

The event will feature installation of patrons and patronesses of the Unizik FM and Raffle draw.

According to a statement by the Station Manager, Mrs Ify Obi, the event is scheduled for 10.00 am at the university auditorium.

Meanwhile, the university just elevated the Head of Department of Mass Communications, Mrs. Kate Azuka Omenugha, into the status of a professor.

2

• Mrs Dima Obi (middle) presenting overall winner’s cup to Odigie Walter (left) with Mr Edward Segun, the school’s Director of Studies, Seward College, Ogba, during the Second Inter-House Sports Competition of the school at Technical Government, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

IDAHPOLY FILE Rector seeks peace RECTOR, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, Mr Matthew Itopa Akpata, has called on all religious groups on campus to work in peace on the campus.

The Rector made this call when the polytechnic's chapter of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), paid him a courtesy visit.

He cautioned all members of the institution community to shun religious bigotry, fanaticism, and any act that could jeopardise the age-long peace and corporate existence of the polytechnic.

He promised to continue playing a fatherly role over all students of the polytechnic irrespective of their faiths and creeds, but warned that any member who uses religion to disturb the peace on campus would face the full wrath of the law.

New mgt for staff school NEW board members have been appointed for the staff nursery and primary schools.

They are Mr Chikeze Ogbuke of the Department of Surveying and Geo-informatics (Chairman); and Mr Moses Arome, the Head Master of the school (secretary).

Others are Emmanuel Elegba, Department of Urban and Regional Planning; Mr Francis Omika, (Bursary); Mr Ernest Okoriko, (personnel); Mr Paul Ayinoko, Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering; and Mr Sunday Kalio (Rector's Office).

The appointment is for two years, but may be renewed for another term.

APPROACHING DEADLINES Scholarship for the Master of Arts in Politics and Security Program, 2012-2013 Kyrgyzstan Master Scholarship in the field of Arts in Politics and Security for the applicants of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan at The OSCE Academy, 2012-2013 Kyrgyzstan Study Subject(s):Arts in Politics and Security Course Level:Master Scholarship Provider: The OSCE Academy Scholarship can be taken at: Kyrgyzstan Eligibility: Applicants must meet the following admission criteria: -Successful completion ofanacademic degree of higher education (BA, MA, MSc, Diploma) in Political Science and other related fields, or enrollment in the final year of an undergraduate degree -Excellent knowledge of English -Applicants should not be older than 32 years on 3 September 2012 -Citizenship preferably of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan -Applicants from other OSCE participating states can be accepted for the program, but on a limited basis only Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Scholarship Description: The OSCE Academy in Bishkek invites appli-

cations for the Master of Arts in Politics and Security Programme 20122013.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 23 April, 2012 Call for Applications: University of Pavia (UNIPV) Scholarship for Developing Country, Italy 2012-2013 Scholarship for Developing Country Students for Studying, Research and/or Training at University of Pavia, Italy 2012-2013 Study Subject(s):Courses offered by the University Course Level:Studying , Research and/or Training Scholarship Provider: University of Pavia (UNIPV) Scholarship can be taken at: Italy Eligibility: Only the following candidates can apply for a scholarship: only citizens of a Developing Country classified as a low-income economy or as a lower-middle-income economy by the World Bank , and students from a Developing Country who received a scholarship financed through the FC&K for the academic year 2011-2012 (in this case, expenses for VISA, residence permit, and for travel will not be covered).

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Developing Country How to Apply: Post Scholarship Application Deadline: May 18, 2012

Babalakin seeks repeal of NUC law

T

HE Chairman, Association of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities in Nigeria Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has called on the Federal Government to strengthen the law establishing the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) to enable it to deal with any institution that does not conform with its regulations.

He said this in Abakaliki last weekend during the Third convocation of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.

He described as cruel the admission of students into institutions that lack basic amenities and other facilities needed for qualitative education in the country.

He said: "For better tertiary education in the country, the Federal

By Ogbonnaya Obinna

Government must strengthen the Nigeria Universities Commission.

The law establishing NUC was done a long time ago, it has to be repealed in a way that it would give NUC the powers to penalise erring institutions in the country.

"You cannot bring students in and purport to educate them when you have no facilities. It's cruel. So, we have to change all that," he said.

The Pro-chancellor University of Maiduguri regretted that the school fees paid by Nigerian students abroad are huge investments running into billions of US dollars to those countries, adding that with better facilities in the country's tertiary institution such investment

would ordinarily accrue to the country.

Babalaki, who gave the convocation lecture stated that 75,000 Nigerian students are studying in various schools in Ghana paying roughly a total of $15, 000 yearly, an amount the frontline lawyer described as a child's play when put side by side the cost of sponsoring Nigerian students in USA, Canada, Britain and other European countries.

"That's about $1.1billion or $1.2 billion (annually) and that is roughly about N180 billion. That's our contribution to Ghanaian education alone. As I'm saying this, that is even more than what we are spending in the federal budget. So, we have to do something more resourceful in improving our resources. That's what I'm saying. We

‘For better tertiary education in the country, the Federal Government must strengthen the Nigeria Universities Commission. The law establishing NUC was done a long time ago, it has to be repealed’

need more money to change the education environment," he said.

Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced that a new funding regime has been worked out to ensure not only increased funding but equitable distribution of the funds among all the universities and other tertiary institutions.

He stated that the former Education Trust Fund (ETF) was renamed and restructured to become TETFund to increase the financial impetus to tertiary institutions.

"In TETFund no university receives more than the other in normal intervention. What we give to the University of Ibadan, which is the oldest is what we are going to give to Bauchi State University which is the youngest. So, we fund the universities on equality, Ebonyi State will continue to receive the intervention on that basis."

The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, who is also the visitor to the University, reiterated that the government had decided to make the university a single campus structure and has chosen to develop Ezzamgbo Campus as the permanent site.

Elechi announced the donation of two luxury buses. He had earlier donated three. He also gave automatic employment to five best graduating students and scholarship to 10 others.

Prof Chinue Achebe, who was represented by Prof. Nnaemeka Ikpeze, was honoured with D.LITT (Honoris Causa), while Dr. Bolanle Babalakin (SAN) and Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu were conferred with honorary award of LLD (Honoris Causa) and DPA (Honoris Causa).

NGO gives tips on employment, others

T • Dr. Babalakin being decorated while Dr. Alex Ekwueme, EBSU Chancellor looks on

600 take oath at Tai Solarin College

N

O fewer than 600 new students of the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State, took their matriculation oaths to pursue programmes in the National Certificate in Education (NCE) for 2011/2012 academic session.

The students pledged to pursue their studies with diligence, obey constituted authority and regulations of the institution as well as shun acts that could truncate their studentship.

The College Provost, Dr. Abiodun Ojo, charged them to set

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

their life goals early enough and follow them with diligence so as to achieve it.

While imploring parents to pay closer attention to move them towards the path of positive disposition, he advised the new intakes to flee vices such as cultism, truancy and drug utilisation because of the dire consequences on their careers and life.

"One of the most cohesive organisations in the school system is cult group. They operate a

very strict secret outfit many at times deceitful and sometimes very difficult to penetrate. " The danger of being a part of them is not only limited to the risk of life or physical incapacitation and poor academic results, the stigma is there for life," he said.

The Provost lauded the state government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for giving the college necessary support and non-interference approach in the running of the institution.

HE President of Unemployment Solution Initiative (USI), a non-profitmaking organisation, Mrs. Esther Jacob Nwokobia, has assured that the group will continue to tackle the problem of unemployment bedeviling the country by empowering the youth.

She gave the promise at a workshop on self-sustainable employment opportunities for Nigeria graduates Egbeda, Lagos.

She stressed the need forthe government to productively engage the unemployed youths to stop them from indulging in violence.

She said: "USI has, therefore, prudently earmarked strategies that would encourage young graduates to excel in their respective careers and masters of their own, through skills empowerments, vocational training with free consultancy services by professionals in various

By Oluwayemisi Awe

fields. This will help the youth discover themselves by acquiring professional education on various fields of endeavors such as modern agriculture (live stocks and crop production farming), shoe making, medicare service, hospitality and catering services, waste recycling , supermarkets and pharmacy as well as production of plastic chair among others."

Further, she said the group will provide mentoring to any individual who intends to be selfemployed after participation in the empowerment trainings, and link them with like-minded organisation, such as World Bank, trade unions and cooperative societies, International Labour Organisation (ILO), among others.

She is, however, seeks funding, materials, technical assistances and partnerships from kind-spirited and committed individuals and government bodies.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

39

MTN, Intel partner on e-learning

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

• Mr Akingbade

ONCERNED by pupils’ exposure to inappropriate content on the internet via mobile phones and computers, MTN and Intel have rolled out an e-learning package that may put the concerns of parents and teachers to rest.

Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Mr Bola Akingbade, disclosed this to The Nation.

He said the two organisations have come up with a rich bouquet of exclusive educational content, specially designed for this category of learners - complete with security that ensures they do not stray.

He said the bouquet can be accessed by parents who sign on to the MTN Education Bundle loaded into Zinox and Samsung notebooks and laptops with three-month free internet access.

He said learners will enjoy access to resources from the innovative elearning website, Skoool.com, developed by Intel to provide interactive digital lessons in mathematics, chemistry, physics and English language, among others.

"This is an initiative aimed at ensuring that Nigerian children are equipped with 21st century skills, including computer proficiency and critical thinking, as well as, deep understanding of such critical school subjects as mathematics and the sciences. In essence, this initiative is aimed at enabling our children to thrive and take advantage of the knowledge economy", he said.

In addition to Skoool.com, other resources on the education bundle include: Encyclopedia Britannica, loaded with information on every topic imaginable; the Zinox Card, provides access to 500 Mathematics/Physics practice tools, 2000 parental e-books, 10,000 classic literature e-books, among others.

There is also a collection of African folklore in the Ajapa applica-

C

tion software, powered by Learn Africa Plc, which teaches good morals, and African culture and traditions, while the Intel PC Basics and AppUP provide them with tools for basic ICT literacy and loads of educational games to keep them entertained.

While enjoying all these learning tools, Akingbade said the bundle limits time spent on the internet, access to inappropriate sites and contact with strangers online through Schools also make attempts to limit what primary and secondary pupils can do when online. But these efforts are not easy because of the vastness of information available online and the difficulties in monitoring the activities of children and teenagers in the name of learning an entertainment.

This gesture by MTN is a relief to parents. One of them, Mr Onuora Molukwu, recounted to The Nation how his friend's son's regular visits to pornographic sites nearly rocked his marriage.

"My friend's wife accused him of visiting pornographic sites because she saw the evidence on his laptop internet history. Nothing, he said, could convince her about it. I was the one that told them to ask their teenage son. I volunteered to help, and by the time I counselled the boy, he opened up about visiting such sites. His parents were very shocked," Molukwu said.

Besides, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, has caught a pupil viewing sexually-explicit videos on her mobile phone during a meeting she had with secondary school pupils recently. This made her to empower teachers in public secondary schools to seize phones from pupils in school.

Pornography is not the only concern about internet access. There is also the danger of being exposed to violence and wrong relationships with strangers.

It is for these that the Principal of Wellspring College, Omole, Lagos, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade, also said her pupils are not allowed unlimited access to the internet to ensure they are focused on their academics.

"At Wellspring, we don't allow distractions for those in the boarding house. We don't allow them to waste time on the internet. ICT is good as an instructional aid. But someone will have to monitor that they don't do the wrong things," she said.

• Representatives of Grace Children's School, Gbagada, Lagos and their teachers lifting the Maths Whiz trophy they won at the Inter-School Primary Level Mathematics Quiz organised by the Scholastic Hall, Opebi, Lagos.

T

Cleric commends Obi for handing over schools to missions

HE Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Revd Valeria Okeke, has commended Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, for returning schools to the original church owners.

The cleric described Obi's action as 'providing the younger generation with brighter future' He cleric said it would enhance character-formation as good schools were fundamental in shaping the behavioural pattern of children.

He made the commendation dur-

S

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

ing the mass to mark the Divine Mercy celebration and end of International Youth Pilgrimage of the Holy Family Parish, Brooklyn New York, United States of America, at the Basilica of Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.

In his remarks, Governor Obi said Nigeria has enough potential to become great among comity of nations. He said the country is

blessed with abundant human and material resources which, if well harnessed, would elevate it to a pride of place and reposition it for sustainable development.

He stressed the need to instill in youths positive national consciousness that will equip them properly for their future leadership roles. The leader of the Holy Family delegation, Revd Fr John Arman expressed gratitude for the warm reception given to them.

Mike Okonkwo essay competition opens entries

ECONDARY school pupils nationwide have until Children's Day on May 27, to submit entries for the Ninth edition of the Bishop Mike Okonkwo Essay competition.

They are to write on the topic: "Dependence of the Nigerian Economy on Crude Oil: Any Alternatives".

The top 10 essayists assessed by a panel of judges made up of seasoned professors, will be invited for a live retake during which they will

write on another topic under examination condition to ensure that they wrote the initial essays submitted themselves.

The top three winners of the competition and their schools will be rewarded with cash and gift prizes including N100,000 and a laptop for the winner and three desktop computers and a printer for the school; N75,000 for the second runner up and two computers and a printer for the school; while the third placed winner and school will get N50, 000 and one computer.

The other seven will get consolation prizes.

A statement made available to The Nation, stated that prizes will be presented to the winners during the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture scheduled for September 5 at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos.

The essay competition is part of activities lined up to mark the birthday of Dr Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) yearly.

It was begun by the church in 2004 and some of the past winners have enjoyed scholarships after their secondary education.

'Sport key to development' PORT can be used as a very important vehicle in a nation's development.

An engineer Uwas Nnadozie stated this at the Third Inter-House Sports Competition of the Dabitos Schools, Ilasa, Lagos at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Sports Complex, Akoka.

He said: "A healthy body leads to a healthy nation, sound agriculture, economic growth and sound judgment. In Nigeria, we have leaders without sound judgment because they don't get involved in sporting activities."

He advised parents to allow their children get involved in sports, and that the latter should take sports as serious business after their studies.

The Proprietor of the school, Mrs Nike Osindero, said education is more than reading and writing.

"For us, it is compulsory for the children to do sports because it will help a lot. Any child who is involved in any sport activity will be

S

• Chairman, Lagos Branch Ogbomosho Grammar School, Old Students Association (OGBOSA), Col Feyiseyo Ladoye (rtd); National President, Prince Dipo Adisa; Rev Ola Akande, his wife; Treasurer M. Akande and an old student, at the 60th anniversary of the school at the Methodist Church, Arowomole, Ogbomosho.

By Medinat Kanabe

healthy. We can also start watching and picking the ones that are good to participate in local or international sports from today."

Osindero said debunked claims that the standard of education is falling; rather, legions of immature children who today cram the nation's institutions of higher learning need to be checked.

She said: "In our days, you must be mature before you can go to school. In some companies these days, you won't get employed if you are more than 26. But in those days, you must be old enough to get a job before you are employed."

The event, which featured varying games such as, march past, races of different metres, high and long jumps, among others, saw the Red House winning with 75 points while Pink and yellow houses emerged second and third with 66 and 63 points.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

40

EDUCATION

Kwara, Aisat colleges of education matriculate 1,865

T

HE Aisat Memorial and Kwara State Colleges of Education have matriculated 1,865 candidates for this academic session.

While Kwara State College of Education matriculated 1,800, Aisat Memorial, the first privately owned college of education in the state, matriculated 65.

The state college of education matriculated candidates for the National Certificate in Education (NCE) for the first time in five years.

The Bukola Saraki-led administration had suspended all NCE programmes being run by the institution, but the government, after much entreaties from prominent the people of the state, reverted to the status quo.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Addressing the matriculants in Ilorin, the state capital, the Acting Provost of the state College of Esducation, Dr AbdulRahman Ibrahim, said: “The college shall promote and maintain academic excellence and shall not relent in our effort towards an excellence business of teaching and learning. I enjoin all the students to make judicious use of the limited period they have to pursue their academic programmes.

“To crown it all, students must, as a matter of fact, abide by the rules and regulation guiding the conduct of examinations as any student caught in the act of examination malpractice or misconduct will surely face the music.”

In another development, the Proprietor, Aisat Memorial College, Dr Raheem A. Issah, admonished the new students to shun all anti-social behaviour, adding that “success does not tolerate laziness and idleness.”

“You cannot afford to be playful and irresponsible. The library is there for your maximum use and the ICT is now being completed to make your studies easier. If you are diligent and hardworking success will smile at you.”

He added: “Avoid associating with friends with questionable characters, who will easily derail you and destroy your future.The slightest or even the most remote suspicion that any student is a cultist is just enough to put him or her in serious trouble.You will be thrown out of this place and handed over to security agents.”

•From left: Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai; Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike; and Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr Emeka Eze, at a workshop on Effective public procurement for principals, bursars and secretaries of tender board of Federal Unity Colleges in Abuja ... on Tuesday.

'We need more public schools in Ifo local govt

A

MEMBER of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) AbdusalamTajudeen Ademola has commended the education drive of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led government in Ogun State, especially in the basic education sub-sector. He wants the governmnt to extend its hand to his constituency, Ifo Local Government.

He appealed to Governor Amosun to rescue them from the proliferation of private schools which,he claimed, are killing education in the area.

He noted that while fees charged by good private schools are outrageous and beyond the reach of many residents, the substandard ones which are ubiquitous have cashed in on the situation to provide half-baked education also at fees far below what they provide.

Ademola, who claimed to have lived in the area for about two decades, noted that the population of Ifo had soared over the years, creating the need for more public primary and secondary schools. He lamented that while Ajuwon High School, founded in 1980 still remains the only existing secondary school in the local government with congested classrooms, no primary

By Adegunle Olugbamila

school save one Irepodun Community Primary School established in 1997 through self-help by the community, exists till date.

"Majority of us living around here have no government presence. The few facilities here are overstretched.

"Actually, the number of secondary schools in this council compared to the population is very small. In this area for instance, we have just one secondary school - Ajuwon High School serving over 10 communities, such as Alagbole, Lambe, Akutre, Ogunlowo, Abule-Odo, and others. We have more than 150 pupils in each class and because quality is being affected.

"The primary is even worse because we don't have an approved one yet. The primary school we have is through self help by the community.

Pupils who attend the school are too many and this has led to the proliferation of mushroom private schools. Some of them (private schools) are not registered. Some of them, because of the fraudulent things they do, establish their schools in locations where people hardly have access to.

"Many private school operators are taking advantage of lack of govern-

‘Many private school operators are taking advantage of lack of government presence to exploit hapless residents. Unfortunately, many parents think the high tuition they pay private schools equally translates to high education quality for their children which is not’

• Governor Amosun

ment presence to exploit hapless residents. Unfortunately, many parents think the high tuition they pay private schools equally translates to high education quality for their children which is not.

Ademola, therefore, advised that Governor Amosun should set up a committee to evaluate the quality of output of private schools in the state. This, he added, would help government checkmate quacks and exploiters in the state.

He said in the local government, securing a land for a school is a problem because almost all the land had been exploited. He suggested that the government should acquire the few unoccupied areas to build massive schools that can accommodate larger pupils, with fair compensation to landowners.

"We want government's speedy implementation of its free education) plan in this local government.

Our people are impatient.They want to start enjoying dividends of democracy from the government they voted in. But they did not know the government, which is barely a year old, inherited huge debts from the previous administration. But we believe we have delivering party and a listening governor, he added.

EDUTALK Disabled students, challenged education

with

IT was the MTN Foundation science and technology/visually impaired scholarship awards for undergraduates on April 2 that brought the plight of physically-challenged stuKofoworola dents into focus for me.

I have met wheel-chair bound students in the past and thought little Kofosagie@yahoo.com of the challenges they face trying to 08054503077 (SMS only) get tertiary education. I even had a physically-challenged classmate who coached the male football team of my class. There were usually people to help him move around from one point to the other on campus.

However, I have never contemplated what living on campus means for a visually impaired student. At secondary school level, I come across visually impaired pupils mostly at King's and Queen's Colleges. (I do not know of many other mainstream secondary schools that accept them in Lagos save the seven junior secondary schools designated as inclusive units by the state government).

That they finish their secondary education and continue to earn a degree is novel, considering that many belong to families not very high on the socio-economic ladder. But when they get into school, beyond the sympathetic support of classmates and perhaps some lecturers in their departments, I do not think there is adequate provision to cater for the peculiar needs of challenged students by government or school authorities.

Physically, most buildings on campuses are not constructed to ease their mobility challenges. Wheel-chair bound students will find it difficult climbing a flight of stairs - ditto the visually impaired. They also have to compete with their able-bodied counterparts for the limited spaces in many lecture rooms and laboratories, not to mention what they go through completing assignments and preparing for examinations.

My interaction with some of the visually impaired recipients of MTN Foundation's N200,000 scholarship largess was revealing. For them, attending classes is beyond having notebooks and biros to take notes.

They have to record whatever transpires in class - to serve as their notes.

What happens when the lecturer writes on the board? Or what happens when the class is noisy, interfering with their recording? That makes their learning even more difficult.

There is also the cost of getting the recording device. Many rely on the same kind of midgets that journalists use to cover events. The type with micro cassettes, which is now old technology, costs N6,000. The digital midget costs N16,000 and many journalists squirm to buy one, how much more the students.

While others can turn in handwritten test and examination scripts, and sometimes assignments, visually-impaired students have to type. They may be trained to read Braille but not their lecturers, which means they have the responsibility of presenting their academic work in a format their teachers can read. For them, a typewriter and, increasingly, a laptop, is an absolute necessity - but not many can afford it.

Not many can also afford the many other types of equipment they need that would make life easier - like walking canes, mobile phones, Braille wristwatches, textbooks, and machines. One of the recipients I spoke with told me she was going to buy a walking stick from the scholarship fund. She had been going without one and almost all the items listed above.

My interaction with Mrs Foyinsola Oyebola, the Economic Empowerment Portfolio Manager, MTN Foundation, was also very instructive.

She said the foundation went into the project without a database of what proportion of undergraduates is visually impaired. But they found that many of the visually impaired students enroll for arts, education and social sciences-based courses in institutions that are friendly to physically-challenged students. They do not subscribe for science-based courses because there are no facilities to support their education in such areas. To qualify for the scholarship, they needed a minimum of 2.50 Cumulative Grade Point Average. To their credit, Mrs Oyebola said many of them had higher CGPAs despite the challenges they surmount to study.

Providing more opportunities for physically challenged people to contribute their quota to societal development should be the aim of our governments and institutions. We will gain more if we have them joining the ranks of professionals in various fields rather than being destitute and in need of handouts. The Federal Government should lead the way by formulating policies that would ease their access to education; provide them with books; equip schools with facilities that would support physically challenged students alongside their regular peers; sponsor their education on scholarships so that they can afford the equipment they need for their studies. Also, government should give incentives like grants and equipment to schools, especially at the tertiary level, that admit a sizeable number of them.

Belo-Osagie

‘The Federal Government should lead the way by formulating policies that would ease their access to education; provide them with books; equip schools with facilities that would support physically challenged students alongside their regular peers; sponsor their education on scholarships so that they can afford the equipment they need for their studies’

From My Inbox PS: Readers interested in featuring their opinion articles on issues in the education sector can send their pieces to the above email. The essay should not be more than 800 words.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

41

42

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

43

44

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

Heat from bitter politics and scorching weather T

HE heat is on. I am not talking about Nigeria’s political temperature which, according to trend observers, may continue to rise as the 2015 General Elections approach. I am talking, rather, about Nigeria’s weather, which has been excessively hot since about last month, and about which many people do little or nothing. We can all see clearly the threat from politics and are all trying, in one way or another, to kit up against it. Even the churches, ever so prayerful and vigil keeping all night long, have learned the hard way that triumph in struggles with the Warfare in Nature characteristic of earth-life requires not only prayers, but praying, watching and working as well. Warfare in Nature is a phenomenon many people do not quite understand, and for which some people even doubt the existence of the Creator. Even a part of the Godhead Who became a threat to the power and influence of the leaders of religion had to be put away. And when their dastardly act was exposed, with the risk of public uproar and rebellion, His Mission had to be distorted in a grand deception many acknowledge as gospel truth today. It takes the alert fighting instinct to wrench soul and spirit from this morass which the leaders of religion today are refueling.

We can see struggle and fighting instruct in the seed of corn planted in the soil. If it does not struggle and fight its way out, it cannot germinate, sprout, flower and fruit, to become useful in Creation. Political heat should, therefore, be seen not negatively all the time but also for the profit it brings at the end of the day. It helps to awaken slumbering souls to rise and fight to survive in the warfare going on all around. Fighting back, however, does not mean pulling a tooth for a tooth.

It calls for inner alertness which soon takes a physical form. The more considerately the environment treats the host, the more slothful it becomes. Rising in constant defence, we become psychically awake and our intelligence becomes keener. Most of the prayers of today are noisy. The most powerful prayers are heartfelt, not routine, and are not even said with words. They come as power waves from the stirred spirit. This power is weakened when we have to find the words (a product of the brain) to transport them upwards. Whoever shouts at God Almighty for deliverance when armed robbers are shooting at the gate? When the Lord’s Prayer says “Thy Will be done..,” we are reminded the Creator wills. As His creatures endowed with free will as an intrinsic part of our being, we, too, can will. He willed Creation into being, we are taught. Our prayers should not be shouting petitions, which are often much ado about nothing, but silent and more powerful willing which everyone can carry out in the comfort of the bed or toilet seat. It takes the knowledge of Creation to appreciate this.

T

HE foregoing is an abridged speech I gave recently to a Christian group concerned about Nigeria’s political trends. I was going to write today on the current heat wave of the weather in response to suggestions by some readers of this column. Everyone feels the heat to the teeth. In buses, women who strap babies on their backs have to carry them on their lap when traffic jams make the heat unbearable and the little ones cry for freedom. Many residents of downtown neighbourhoods sleep outdoor at night because there is no electricity to run electric fans or generators. Mosquitoes have a field day in such situations. Many people come up with skin rash, wrinkled skin from moisture loss from bottom layers of the skin. Aging men with kidney or prostate problems often rush to see their doctors at this time. They are urinating less and they believe their conditions are growing worse. The doctor may advise, without running a test, that much of the water to be voided as urine, or perhaps more, has been evacuated through sweating and, so, the kidneys are on some sort of holiday. Ambient (atmospheric) heat increases heat in the blood and the cells. So, to prevent a boil –over and tissue or organ damage, as happens to the gasket of an overheated car radiator, the blood circulates more to the skin to lose some heat through sweating. As the largest excretory organ, the skin, of course, helps in the elimination of some water which would have had to be voided through the kidneys. This may pose a little more toxin exposure to the skin, and it is its reaction in some cases which manifests as a rash. This is not to be confused with HIV rash which makes some people with border-line health panic.

I DO NOT THINK this season caught many people unawares. We are already a water drinking people. For some years now, many people have become aware of the need to drink about eight glasses of water every day outside meals to rehydrate. And sachet water and bottled water businesses have, therefore, become good businesses. But what I believe, from observations that many people are not doing or doing well enough is to remineralise or to revitaminise. If you taste the sweat, you’ll find its SALTY. That means a lot of SODIUM is going out of body chemistry. But it isn’t only sodium that is lost. Potassium, calcium, magnesium and the water soluble vitamins (B and C) are departing as well.

And, very soon, deficiencies of these substances may

occur which may lead to suboptimal health if they are not well replaced through diet or food supplementation.

As this column often says, borrowing the expression of Dr. Robent Young in his pH MIRACLE, there are two great rivers in our bodies. To start with, each adult human body is composed of about 100 trillion cells, of which about 70 per cent is water. Scientists believe this water is in three reservoirs: a) Inside the cell (66%) b) In spaces outside the cells (22%), and c) Inside blood vessels (12 %) Potassium, together with Calcium and magnesium, among other electrolytes, keep water inside the cell. If the levels of these substances drop, water level, too, may drop, and the cells would shrink, like a flabby football, which is why dehydrated old people look shrunken.

Unfortunately, these substances are lost through excessive sweating and their loss may affect the health and functions of the cells.

Sodium and Choride hold the water balance outside the cells. They try to enter the cell and take residency there. But potassium and Co push them out across the cell wall. This constant entry and repulsion creates an electrical circuit which produces the sodium battery and the sodium/potassium pump. It is this pump which pumps into the cell its nutrients brought by the blood into the interstitial fluid (water and materials in spaces around the cells) and ejects into this fluid waste products from inside the cell for elimination through the skin, - kidneys or intestines. Where the sodium battery is weak, as a consequence of sodium loss, this pump, too, is weak.

Thus, oxygen and other nutrient are not well deliver and wastes are not promptly eliminated. The loss of this electrolytes in a serious heat wave have been known to cause sunstroke and death in some cause.

Cell salt

T

HIS, therefore, is the time for generous dietary intake of cell salts, other minerals and trace elements.

Luckily, the season is richly laden with many fruits and vegetables. Generous intake of water alone does not supply all that is lost in excessive sweating. Top of the season’s offers is good old mango, plantain, antagonised by the rains, is retreating. So I think is banana. But water melon, pineapple, cashew and orange are still in town.

Mango will provide potassium, beta carotene, from which vitamin A is made, and other vitamins and minerals.

Banana, too, provides potassium. So does plantain.

Cashew has too much phosphorus for my liking. So, I suggest it be taken with care as too much phosphorus causes calcium to leach from the body. In the Law of Balance, one part of calcium and one part of phosphorus unite. Two parts of magnesium unite with one part of each. Consuming too much of phosphorus may, therefore, upset many a balance. Watermelon and pineapple are potassium- rich as well but may not be good, as all sugary fruits are, for the diabetic or someone trouble by Candida, a lover of blood sugar.

With so much potassium everywhere, how do we get a balancing factor in sodium, which many researchers suggest should come in a 1.4 ratio with potassium? Well, there’s some sodium in every plant and, in restaurant meals, there’s a lot more added by the cooks, especially through monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavouring agent. These sources are not ideal, as they are unnatural sources of sodium which have been implicated in hypertension, heart disease and strokes, among other degenerative conditions. The objection of many doctors to the consumption of table salt in these conditions is justifiable. But abstinence from sodium consumption would weaken the sodium battery and the sodium/potassium pump, causing a wide range of problems, such as can also occur with excessive sweating.

e-mail: www. olufemikusa@yahoo.com

Electrolyte depletion through excessive sweating may be resolved therapeutically through the use of biochemical cell salts and green powder drinks. It is now believed that the cells are composed of 12 basic biochemical salts, thanks to Dr Wilhelm H. Schuessler, the German who condensed to 12 basic salts Dr. Hahnemann’s more than 200 homeopathic remedies. These salts are said to occur in various ratios in various organs, depending on the nature and function, and that deficiencies of these salts result in states of disease. And when these salts are used to treat these disease states, the symptoms disappear all too often. Cataracts, for example, are said to respond to cal. flour. ( calcium fluoride), and silica, headaches to natru. Mur. (sodium chiloride), heart palpitation, like troublesome coughs to mag. phos. (magnesium phosphate). When it comes to congestions or deoxygenation, ferrum phos. is it. Calcium phosphate (cal, phos.) heals and purifies the skin. Potassium chloride (kali mur.) is active in brain, muscle and nerve cells, especially where severe inflammation is involved. It is well recommended for convalescence after fever has broken out. For women who experience menstrual clotting, potassium choride combines well with ferrum phosphate, and this immediately recommends it as a blood thinner much safer than aspirin. Dr. Shuessler recommends it, along with ferrum phosphate, for cold and catarrh. Potassium phosphate is held out as the most important of the potassium cell salts. It is a vital brain substance, combining with other substances to form the “gray matter” of the brain. It is a good support for people troubled by psychological problems, including anxiety and irritability.

It is also good for headaches and restful sleep, memory loss or dementia. Some cancer researchers, such as Dr. Max Gerson, believe that it is potassium depletion inside the cell and sodium influx into it which sets the stage for fermentative cellular life that, in their view, causes cancer. To such researchers, therefore, oxygenation of the cell, using potassium and ferrum phosphate, is helpful to cancer therapy.

W

HAT about sodium, easily lost as well in exces sive sweating? We cannot avoid sodium intake if we wish to remain alive. It is the wrong type of sodium we must avoid. The king of this type is the table salt. It is made from the natural sodium by bleaching it from brown to white. this removes about 80 biochemical minerals associated with sodium to render it harmless.

The bleached sodium, far more readily than the natural one, aborts water and may cake as well. To present this, aluminum, as an anti-caking agent, is added to table salt. Yet, aluminum is a dangerous metal, which has been implicated in brain damage. And when combined with sodium delinked from its helpful nutritional associates, the product called table salt becomes a dangerous product. On the other hand, natural salt or sea salt is what Nature would seem to prefer take residency in the fluid which surrounds the cells. Otherwise, why does it exist naturally and found in this fluid? We must be careful, though, in choosing a sea salt brand if we are changing over from table salt, for some sea salt brands are made by simply evaporating sea water to leave a residue of salt and impurities in a polluted sea.

The best forms are made from salt mines or caves which exist naturally, such as REAL SALT brand. In the cell salt family, sodium choride (natru. mur) is labelled a preeminent headache remedy, although its chief function is to set up the sodium/potassium pump and, thereby, oblige osmotic action which feeds the cells and clears their wastes.

The cell salt sodium phosphate (natru phos) is the antacid of chorice found in the blood, nerves, brain and muscle cells where it neutralises pain-causing lactic acid and emulsifies fatty acids. As acidity of the blood has become established as primary cause of disease, thanks to Dr. Robert Young and Co., it is useful in almost every ailment and, as a nerve remedy in combination with other four phosphate salts.

Sodium sulphate (natrum sulph.) is a counterpale of natru. mur in that, while the latter conserves water or balance body fluid, natrum sulph takes away excess water. Thus, it is handy in ailments caused by cold or dampness such as asthma. It is said to attract twice its bulk of toxins and excrete them.

Green powder drinks offer so much in terms of minerals, vitamins, enzymes, trace elements hormones, and co-factors, most of which are not readily available dietarily and are, nevertheless, easily lost either through more demand for them by the body during stressful conditions or through excretion. There are many brands of these green powder food on the Nigerian market today such as Barley Max, superior Greens and Beyond Greens.

So, while the weather is heating up, these is a richly stocked armory of abundant food supplement from Mother Nature to rely on to cool off. It is the heat from politics we may be unable to do much about unless, of course, we resort to willing for beautiful souls to take over the reins of leadership at all levels of human activity ... religion, government, the professions, schools, and homes ...

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, APARIL 19, 2012

POLITICS Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (A CN) governorship aspirant Dr. Olu Agunloye spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on preparation of the party for the next election.

Rep pleads with Kogi communities to live in peace

‘Ondo is ready for power shift’ H W

HY did you defect from LP to ACN after losing out at the senatorial pri maries in LP? I was kicked out of the Labour Party. It was like I was kicked out of the party like a ball. It has nothing to do with falling out with the governor. Ten hours before a particular event, I thought I was a strong member and part and parcel of the LP and everything was going on well. But suddenly it just unfolded and I was asked to step down, and I discovered I was alone. It was that suddenness that led to the phrase ‘kicked out.’ It was five days to the primary, 50 days to the screening of candidates and 10 days to the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to submit nomination forms. Contrary to what many people say, I did not lose the primary.

How will the ACN candidate emerge out of 20 aspirantsaspirants?

That is not my immediate concern because I believe that the party has the structure to manage the crowd of aspirants. But it is sufficient to say that, at the moment, ACN is the only party that is 50 years old because it has continuously evolved from the Action Group (AG) to the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD), and Action Congress and ACN. It has evolved successful ways of selecting or picking candidates. So, I believe that wisdom and justice will prevail and we will pick or select the right person.

The reason we have many people coming out to contest is because the wind of change is already blowing in the state and it is not a strange thing to us. The wind that blew the last time is blowing again and now it is the turn of ACN. It is obvious that ACN will win and that is why we see several people coming out to seek the party’s ticket.

What is your chance at the selection process?

Well, personally, I will say my relationship with the people of Ondo is an added advantage. I have made a lot of effort so far in building the ACN in the state and I have the belief that I command respect in the party and among the people. I have a record of long interaction with the progressives and this will be put into consideration. I have spent the last 10 months building the ACN structure in Ondo and it was not only aimed at winning over party members, but also the voting masses.

How can violence be averted in Ondo State during the election?

Violence begets violence. When there is absence of justice, there will be violence. When change cannot be allowed to take place peacefully, it will beget violence. Nobody has monopoly of violence. So, let people remain calm

•Agunloye

and peaceful so that they will not provoke violence.

On the issue of ego between ACN and LP, it was the same scenario when Governor Olusegun Mimiko wanted to unseat Olusegun Agagu. The issue then was that 18 councils, the Federal Government and probably the military backed Agagu. A similar scenario is unfolding now. Mimiko is pulling all the resources available to any incumbent and the governorship aspirants are having all the support that can be mustered by all ACN people, not only in Ondo, but also across the entire Southwest and beyond. The power of incumbency has never been enough to protect past governors in Ondo.

What is your assessment of the LP government?

Before discussing the issue of performance, I recently went to Irele Council where the people were greeting one another and saying “one governor, one term.” When people of Ondo have made up their mind on one governor, one term, what else do you expect? This is a philosophy that has evolved in Ondo and that can be regarded as one of the basic determinants of election in the state. No past governor ever had more than one term.

In terms of performance, the LP performance index is poor. What the government has concentrated on is what they call high mark projects rather than land mark projects. We

have a bunch of markets being built and some of them in areas where people cannot use for trading. It does not even matter whether they are in good areas or not, building of markets is just the responsibility of the councils. The government cannot continue to deceive Nigerians with propaganda. Remove the entire road network Agagu constructed, it will be amazing that the LP government has not done much in area of infrastructure. What is the income accruable to the state compared to what the government is doing or has done? They are miles apart and that is why we say his performance is low. More of the things, which we have been doing in the state under Mimiko, are what could be described as wealth cancellation and not wealth creation.

There is no sustainable development. If we are to compare what is happening under the present administration with what happened under the late Ajasin, we will be amazed. In those days, the administration of Ajasin, despite the paltry amount that came in, was able to create industries and basic infrastructure for the development of the state. If critical steps are not taken to address the way LP administration is running Ondo, it is going to cause serious problem. This is why many aspirants are coming out. We talk about Mother and Child Hospital, but we do not know who owns it. What is the purpose of having one Mother and Child Hospital when you could have built several Public Health Centres across the state?

We just hope that behind all the mega projects, there is no mega fraud.

How will the candidate of ACN emerge?

I consider myself close to the ACN governors. I have met them talking either casually or formally at occasions and they have never given any impression that they are under any pressure from Tinubu. The impression I got from them is that they are not able to repay the man for the things he has done for them.

The place of Tinubu to the ACN governors is like that of a father to his sons. No son can pay back what his parents invested on him. It is not about issue of pressure but the integrated development strategy for the South West region this is what Tinubu is devoted to.

Any reasonable person in the zone would support and embrace the idea. It is going to bring collective development and improvement to the zone with a positive effect on the entire nation and even beyond. It is also going to reduce over-dependence on the proceeds from oil. It is a good idea and no state can afford to be exempted in the arrangement.

I have also heard that Tinubu is likely to impose somebody in Ondo, but the question is where did such a thing happen before?

Lawmaker bemoans govt over pension fund scam From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

• Adepoju

A

CTION Congress of Nigeria(ACN) member of the House of Representa tives from Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency , Hon. Sunday Adepoju, has described the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre as a monumental failure .

He implored Nigerians reject the party at the polls in 2015, adding that it has nothing

to offer.

The lawmaker, who was guest of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel , Ibadan was reacting to the massive embezzlement of the Police Pension Fund. He lamented that several billions of naira were diverted into private pockets of some government officials .

Adepoju said: “ It is a testimony that the internal control mechanism of the PDP government at the centre is weak, meaning that the government itself is weak and bereft of ideas needed to ensure good governance. “ If the PDP government is not weak, it will not be possible for any government official to amass such a huge amount of money without being checked. In a responsible government, there is always a mechanism of checks and balances, which the PDP government lacks”.

The lawmaker expressed sympathy for pensioners who are the victims of the fraud.

He said: “Their lives are miserable. One can imagine what the pensioners have been subjected to , those who have spent all their energy, time and resources for the service of the nation. Those who ought to be treated with honor and dignity , senior citizens of high repute were made to suffer hunger and

abject poverty because of the greed of a few in the society”.

He assured Nigerians that the House of Representatives committee members probing the pension fund fraud would not relent in their determination to ensure that those involved would be brought to book.

He said: “I want to let you know that the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Bello Tambuwal, is under serious pressure from the PDP leadership on the matter , but we thank God that the Speaker has proven to be a man of integrity and courage”.

Speaking on the Sovereign National Conference, Adepoju stressed the need for a national debate to discuss the problems of federalism in the country.

He noted that the PDP is not comfortable with the Sovereign National Conference because it has majority of members in government.

Adepoju addded:”Anybody that thinks that the National Assembly will solve the problem is just joking. The PDP-led government has the majority in the House. Whether we like it or not, we are able to stamp our feet and say no on some issues just because we have those that are well focused in the opposition. But the PDP-led government will not like that. That is what is happening in the National Assembly.”

OUSE of Representatives member Sunday Karimi has urged warring members of Okunran, Okoloke, Isanlu-Esa and Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State to eschew violence and live in peace with one another.

Karimi, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency, made the plea at separate meetings with traditional heads of the four communities during the Easter holidays.

At the meeting with traditional rulers, chiefs, community leaders and youths from Okunran, Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa held at the Okoloke Town Hall, the legislator said there was no alternative to peace and harmony.

He said land ownership, which was at the root of the recent communal clashes, could have been better solved through constitutional means.

Karimi said: “We have inter-married. We have shared so many things together and this has aided the development that we have witnessed in the various communities. One thing that is certain is that, whatever we have, whatever we gather in this world, the Bible makes it clear that everything is vanity.

“Be it land, be it vehicles, be it whatever, we will leave them one day and go. Why then must we fight over land? We did not create the land. We met the land there”.

The Obalohun of Okoloke, Oba James Dada Ilufemiloye, praised Karimi’s peace move and promised that the leaders would work for peace.

The monarch said: “We are indeed encouraged by your visit to us today. You have demonstrated a high level of courage as a responsible leader with your coming here to talk to us. We have heard you and we want to promise you that we will work for peace”.

Monarch calls for Sovereign National Conference

By Emmanuel Oladesu

L

AGOS monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfill his campaign promises to Lagosians who voted massively for him in the last presidential election.

He lamented that Lagos State had been neglected by successive administrations, urging the federal government to accord the state a special status.

The traditional ruler also spoke on the security situation in the country, charging Nigerians to assist the federal government in halting the tragedy of Boko Haram. He said the activities of Boko haram are not in the best interest of the country, adding that the motivation may not be the desire to attack adherents of religious faiths.

Akiolu urged Nigerians to furnish security agencies with useful information to tackle insecurity.

The monarch lauded President Jonathan for launching the ‘almajinri education’, saying that it is a right step in the right direction.

Akiolu said: “Whether we like it or not, there is the need for a Sovereign National Conference. We should sit down and discuss how things can be better in this country. We should have even development. When I call for special status for Lagos, there is a reason for it. The pressure on infrastructural facilities is too much. They should give us our dues. Look at the condition of Apapa/ Osodi road. If we have light, water and good road, everybody will be happy, and the level of poverty will be drastically reduced.

Akinolu said: “When the first lady Patience Jonathan came to my palace, I told her that all the political promises made to Lagosians by the God-chosen President of Nigeria have not been redeemed. Agreement is agreement and a man of honour and integrity must always keep his promises”.

The royal father said only good governance can spare the country of ethnic sentiment, adding that Nigerians would not care about the state of origin of any President, if the system is made to work.

He said political leanings do no matter to him, if those in power are able to satisfy the yearnings of the • Oba Akiolu electorate.

46

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

47

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

51

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

e-Business

It’s war against Cash-less: Experts advocate protection of critical infrastructure counterfeiting, says HP

E

XPERTS in the Information Technology (IT) sector have advised financial institutions and other business organisations in the country to leverage latest technology to protect critical database or risk attack from cyber criminals.

They said one way organisations can mitigate cyber attacks as the economy moves towards increased use of electronic channels for financial transactions is to strengthen the protection of their database through deployment of latest security solutions to protect their corporate information, as well as those of their customers and clients.

The experts spoke during a data security and optimisation workshop, organised by Oracle, a software solutions firm, in conjunction with its ‘Platinum’ partner, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), an indigenous IT firm.

Pre-sales Consultant at Oracle, Mr Peter Boglo, lamented that in spite of ongoing development of Nigeria into an electronic-based economy with focus on data security, banks

Stories by Adline Atili and other organisations have not taken advantage of latest database security solutions from Oracle to protect their vital infrastructure and networks.

He said: “With the shift towards automation and electronic transactions through the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) cash-less initiative, susceptibility of financial channels to cyber threats is inevitable.”

According to him, organisations can check these threats through deployment of the Oracle database security innovation, the Oracle 11g, which he said, would improve IT economics and business agility.

He said most financial institutions and organisations still utilise the outdated version of Oracle database security solutions, stressing that the new Oracle 11g comes with new security features such as grid computing, which ensures maximum availability; storage management and data encryptions.

Pre-sales Consultant, Database Security at Oracle, Mr Hamilton Iyoha, said the importance of incorporating Oracle Database Vault and Oracle Audit Vault in an organisation’s overall security solutions to guard against security breaches within and outside was of paramount importance.

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer, ExpertEdge, the software arm of CWG, Mr James Agada, said: “If we believe we are prone to having more attacks in the cyber space as we push the cashless initiative, then we should be prepared.

“Today we are talking of electronic commerce and cash-less economy, which implies that the volume and value of information that you have increase. And because it has monetary value, the data is likely to be targeted by hackers; this can rob organisations of several billions of naira.”

He noted that new security features had been built into the Oracle database solution to guarantee improved security for critical infrastructure.

A

S part of its commitment to delivering quality and genuine products to customers, Hewlett Packard (HP) has strengthened its relationship with local dealers to stamp counterfeit products out of the market through conferences and awareness campaigns, incentives and fostering relations that could help eradicate substandard products.

Additionally, the company is routinely investing in Research and Development initiatives to ensure that counterfeit products are eradicated from the market, a move which has seen the company come up with a hologram, a product security feature which helps to identify original HP products. The company also developed a numbering identification mechanism that can also be used to differentiate genuine products from counterfeits.

HP said the initiatives have significantly reduced volume of substandard HP products in the Nigerian market, raising the market scope of dealers and the distribution performance of its major distributors and creating a channel flow of genuine

MTN launches enterprise mobility apps

M

• From Left: Sales Manager, ExpertEdge, Nasiru Izegwire; BDM Financicial Sector, Olusola Kokoye; Head, Products Management Unit, Oduwole Tayo; Assisant General Manager, Femi Ibine and Oracle Product Manager, Adeola Adebari, at the workshop in Lagos.

Cisco launches collaboration solutions for enterprises and individuals

N

ETWORKING giant, Cisco, has announced new solutions aimed at making it easier for people to collaborate anywhere, and anytime in the post-Personal Computer (PC) era.

According to the company, the solutions which include desktop and mobile Cisco Jabber collaboration applications and Cisco TelePresence systems, make it easy for users to move from one collaboration solution to the next, in order to promote business growth, innovation and productivity.

The offerings, including a new immersive TelePresence system with optimised collaboration capabilities, are completely integrated, giving customers more mobility options while extending the reach of the Telepresence investment.

According to the General Manager, Cisco Nigeria, Mr Said Rechchad,“Increasingly, people expect freedom of choice in how and where they work, and that in-

cludes having access to a variety of integrated collaboration solutions and interoperable endpoints. IT managers are looking to provide highly secure, enterprise-class options that enable employees to interact across a broad range of tools whether via video, PCs, tablets, or smartphones.”

To expand customers’ collaboration capability, he said that the company is extending the Cisco Jabber solution to the iPad and Windows Operating System (OS), building on its extensive Jabber portfolio for Android, iOS, Mac, BlackBerry and Cisco Cius tablets.

He said with this development, Cisco is enabling Jabber customers to collaborate from anywhere and across the most popular OS, utilising high-definition video, voice, presence, instant messaging, desktop sharing, conferencing and visual voicemail. “Cisco is also expanding native integration between Jabber and TelePresence, giving

mobile users a way to initiate and connect into a TelePresence session whether in the office or on the go,” he said.

With a new three-screen immersive platform, the Cisco TelePresence TX9000 Series, one of the collaborative solutions also introduced by Cisco, delivers high-quality video experience along with advanced collaboration capabilities, riding on Cisco’s wide array of TelePresence endpoints for all customer segments.

The Cisco boss noted that the TX9000 integrates with other collaboration tools like such as Cisco WebEx with one touch simplicity and is also designed to be interoperable with all standardsbased endpoints from other vendors.

Cisco’s Director of Collaboration Group, Michael Smith, said with the solutions, Cisco is aiming at making “any device to any device a reality, while helping customers collaborate on their own terms on a range of devices that provide a rich and consistent user experience.”

products to various vendors across the country.

Chief Executive Officer of Amason Computers, a dealer in HP products, Mr Ethelbert Amaefule, said counterfeiting was one of the ills plaguing the Information Technology (IT) industry, affecting dealers’ business operations severely. He said the measures taken by HP would go a long way in curbing the menace as well as boosting confidence in HP products in the country.

He suggested a more-concerted awareness campaign to achieve set goals. He said: “I would want HP to be more practical by building a robust task force that will work with other security operatives to descend on those imitating their products and selling them to customers.

“If the awareness has practical effect in terms of severe sanctions and clamp down on the fake dealers, it would go a long way in tackling the menace. This, however, requires concerted effort in sanitising the market, so that products that will be in the market will be genuine. Thus, customers will derive maximum benefit from what they are buying.”

TN Nigeria has launched a suite of Enterprise Mobility Applications (Apps) for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) as well as corporate customers. The MTN Enterprise Mobility Apps is a business-to-business Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools designed to empower customers, ensure efficiency, secure mobile applications as well as improve company productivity.

Speaking during the launch of the applications in Lagos, Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer at MTN Nigeria, Mr Babatunde Osho, said the industry is witnessing a transformation led by smartphones and tablets. This, he said, means enterprises and SMBs would need to deploy mobile strategies that expand the use of smartphones, in addition to investing in mobile apps that address the needs of all types of employees.

According to him, mobility solutions not only bring improvements to the mobile worker but also deliver key enhancements to the broader business process. He said MTN was committed to continuous provision of innovative business

solutions to corporate customers.

He said: “The MTN Enterprise Apps are applications that run on phones, tablets and other handheld devices designed specifically to provide mobile workers access to their organisations’ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and applications on the go, thus making them more productive. MTN Enterprise Apps transforms an organisation’s workers into an empowered mobile workforce that can effectively get work done in or out of the office, anywhere and anytime.”

Some of the apps include the MTN Transport and Logistics App, that enables organisations with large fleet, monitor, track and manage their vehicles, drivers and deliveries remotely from their phone or other mobile devices and the MTN Field Force Automation App, which allows field sales teams take customer orders remotely and initiate deliveries without having to return to the office.

Others, applications introduced by the Telco were MTN Device Security, MTN Device Backup and Sync, and MTN Cloud Storage Apps.

Google empowers businesses, individuals with Google +

G

OOGLE Nigeria has urged businesses in the country to take advantage of its social networking platform, Google + to improve their online presence.

Google+ page provides a means for businesses to establish a presence on Google’s social network and engage with customers to share new products or services, provide added value, answer support questions, and more.

At the Google + event in Lagos, Country Manager, Google Nigeria, Ms Juliet Ehimuan, said Google+ is a fertile ground for businesses looking to forge stronger customer relationships and instil brand loyalty.

“The word-of-mouth endorsement, and approval of trusted individuals within the social network, carry a lot of marketing weight and present a great opportunity for businesses to promote their brands,” she said.

Ms Ehimuan added that businesses listed on the Google+ page would be indexed and appear in Google search results; a veritable platform for businesses to reach and connect with consumers.

Business Development Analyst at Google, Mr Lanre Aina, said Google’s

‘Hangout’ feature enables businesses ‘connect’ better with customers.

Hangout is a group video chat feature which lets you chat with up to 10 people at the same time. From the point of view of Google, such conversations can lead to better customer loyalty, ability to pass on information about products and sales and a way to get immediate feedback from committed customers.

He added that the platform provides a better and more relevant overall user experience across the Web. “As a business owner, you can have conversations about your company online as well as post latest news, pictures and videos of products or services on your Google + profile or page. Google + gives you opportunity to create social interaction around those videos or posts, thereby enhancing your engagement with your customers or followers.”

In addition to businesses, the social networking site caters for individual users, helping to connect them with their friends, colleagues and followers and promote their interests, brands and activities.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

52

e-Business

Convergence: Everything on IP (EoIP)

Matters e-Rising Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

I

N five hours at the yearly one-day IT Edge West Africa Convergence Forum, about 157 stakeholders from sectors as diverse as broadcast, telecom, banking and courier, considered the thinning lines in an industry in transition. For a forum that has gained as much value in pedigree as in ability to gather critical stakeholders in the last six years, this year’s conclusion for the one-day event re-coached the outcome of Forum 2005: everything will ride over IPInternet Protocol (EoIP).

An exciting conclusion that reinforces the arguments for change within the regulatory space, the need for government and private sector stakeholders to rethink their policy and business strategies. The conclusion incisively asserts: mobile payment platforms holds the ace in a society bound to go cashless; broadcast, telecoms and other once distinct services have become simply contents passed through delivery pipes; once providers build the infrastructures, content providers will emerge and consumers will come; regulators must contend with tackling the new game changers; and copyright issues will arise as often as consumers seek new converged services.

The key to getting converged services is

robust infrastructure. As Aki Innocent, Senior Project Manager, Alcatel-lucent Middle East, Turkey and Africa put it in his presentation during Session I that asked the question: 'Where are the infrastructures to drive Broadband & Convergence?' "From the infrastructure point of view, African countries need to transform their networks to develop broadband."

Africa appears already to be working on transforming its infrastructure landscape. In the last four years, much bandwidth capacity has been built round undersea cables owned by private sector infrastructure owners. For instance, capacity of internet broadband coming into Nigeria through submarine cable is 4760 Gbits/s from SAT-3, MainOne, and Glo-1. Add that from Nigomsat-1R, a satellite communication backbone, you have more capacity to drive convergence on robust connectivity pipes.

Nigcomsat-1R carries a communication payload that comprises of 40 transponders; 28 active and 12 redundant. Despite all these, Nigeria and most of Africa are tasked with taking the connectivity to the last mile users where the communication begins to have relevance. Much of Africa capital cities and most rural communities are still not connected

making services within converged environment such as MobileTV, mobile money elitist offerings in major urban centres.

And there are other issues outside of infrastructures in the converging environment.

Everything is changing, the media for instance, and so are banking and courier services among several others. Take the broadcast media industry for instance, “the combination of shifts in communications control and patterns is redefining the competitive landscape, giving rise to new business models. In contrast with traditional models, emerging models are based on open platforms that support many-to-many and collaborative patterns,” said Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Engr.

Yomi Bolarinwa.

“Convergence is altering and providing new ways on how information can be accessed. The increasing demand of these new technologies implies employment in the content business…. The new environment demands the development of new skill and knowledge by broadcast operators and practitioners,” said Engr Gregory Gbadamosi, former Zonal Director at the Nigerian Television Authority.

The driving factor for convergence in the

media according to Mr. Raji Oladipo, General Manager, DCC Networks (Communications division of Computer) include “consolidation”, the need to have “one devise for every service, and have all service on any device; the need to do more within less time and the need to do more activities simultaneously; the need to know just as it happens because timely information is money.”

And in the financial sector, “the widespread adoption of Internet and mobile technology is changing the way people connect and transact across the globe. The number of mobile phone subscribers would hit six billion people in 2013 and about 80% of the world population lives within cellular networks.

Makers of mobile devices distributed a total of 101m smartphones in the last three months of the year, up 87% from the same period a year earlier, according to International Data Corp, the market researcher. Within the growth there are strong influences changing the shape of the industry. They include Convergence and its consequences in the financial sector including e-Money, contactless NFC, e-Wallet and e-Commerce among others,” said Mr. Chuma Ezirim, Group Head, eBusiness, First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

NITDA set to diversify economy

A

S PART of efforts to develop the nation’s human capital as well as use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to grow the economy, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is set to grant scholarship to 80 Nigerian graduates drawn from the six geo-political zones across the country.

The objective of the scheme, according to NITDA, is to create an alternative source of revenue for the Federal Government other than oil, in addition to accelerating Nigeria’s quest towards achieving the Vision 20:2020 through the ICT for Development programme (ICT4D).

“Our goal is to create a critical mass of Information Technology (IT) knowledgeable workforce able to play at the highest levels in the global knowledge economy,” Director-General of the agency, Professor Cleopas Angaye, said.

He said that the scholarship will enable beneficiaries study for doctorate and Masters Degree in any institution of learning in the world. While six applicants would be

• To create alternative source of revenue Stories by Adline Atili

sponsored for doctorate degree, 72 would go for Masters Degree.

“The NITDA graduate scholarship scheme began last year when six candidates were chosen for the doctorate degree programme and 72 for the Masters programme.

“Qualified candidates are free to choose any university of their choice in any part of the world to pursue their programme. An equal number of applicants will also be selected next year to benefit from the scheme, which has become an annual programme.”

Apart from the scholarship, NITDA has begun plans to train about 750 lecturers in core Information Technology (IT) curriculum in tertiary institutions across the country.

This is in addition to over 15,000 people trained on basic computer appreciation skills using the Mobile Internet Units (MIUs) across the various states and local government areas and schools in the country.

Glo partners international airtime provider

G

LOBACOM has signed an agreement with a prepaid airtime provider, Prepay Nation to offer international top up services in North America and Europe.

In a statement by the Telco, through the partnership, individuals living in the United States, Canada, and Europe, would be able to transfer airtime of small currency value to Glo customers in Nigeria, from a diverse array of retail locations.

“This means that the growing Nigerian expatriate community in North America and Europe which is estimated at over 5million people, as well as those with relatives living in Nigeria can now get instant access to Glo international mobile top up cards through Prepay Nation’s expansive retail distribution network,” the statement read.

Head of Glo Gateway, Mr Adeniyi Olukoya, said the partnership would help to improve the connection between Nigerians in the Diaspora and their loved ones at home who can be sent airtime from Europe and North America.

He said: “This partnership is significant as it offers greater opportunity to millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora to support their family, friends, colleagues and loved ones by easily replenishing their mobile airtime minutes on the Glo network from a nearby partner retailer.”

Head of Marketing at Prepay Nation, Sa-

rah Feidt, said the company was delighted to partner with Glo in provision of airtime to subscribers.

“We are excited to partner with Glo. They are pioneers in the African market, and our international mobile top-up services are a perfect fit with that. We’re also pleased to serve Nigerians in Diaspora, which remit an estimated $20billion annually. Being able to send small amounts to their loved ones instantly in the form of airtime minutes will no doubt be extremely valuable to this supportive demographic,” she said.

• From Left: General Manager GOtv, Mr Mayo Okunola; Director of Broadcast Policy and Research National Broadcasting Commission, Mr Tom Chatta; Head of Corporate Communications Multi Choice Nigeria, Mr Segun Fayose, at the launch of GOtv in Port-Harcourt

Wema bank deploys Finacle software

W

EMA Bank PLC has deployed the Information Technology software product, Finacle, to offer core banking, retail electronic banking and treasury services to customers through its 137 branches across the country.

“Built on new generation technologies, open standards and service-oriented architecture, the Infosys product will support over 1.3million user accounts and is cen-

Firm attains gold status

W

ECO Systems, a systems integration firm, has achieved gold certified status in the NetApp Partner Programme. As a Gold Certified partner, Weco Systems has demonstrated expertise with NetApp technologies and proven ability to meet customers’ needs.

In a statement, Head, Presales and Architecture at Weco Systems, Nnamdi Onyebuchi, said: “When it comes to IT management, software and integration of business services, Weco Systems has excelled both in the quality of consultancy and competence in creating solutions. In terms of the authorisation process for the Gold Partner status, our jointcustomers have received advice of the highest standards not only in the areas of

data storage and data management, but also in meeting general infrastructure requirements.”

He noted that Weco System’s implementation and comprehensive support of such end-to-end solutions enables enterprises to accelerate their business processes, manage their data centres more effectively and prevent loss. It also helps achieve significant cost reduction.

“Weco Systems not only supports organisations in the implementation of virtualised data centres but also provides a comprehensive support service, working with leading equipment vendors. Gold partnership with NetApp is a reward for our efforts and expertise. This is an incentive for us to continue developing in the data centre field.”

tral to our growth strategy based on customer experience,” the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Segun Oloketuyi said in a statement.

With Finacle’s scalable and secure architecture, the bank was able to move its critical operations to a cost effective, integrated platform capable of supporting round-theclock multi-channel transactions.

Oloketuyi added that: “Finacle's robust implementation policy has enabled us to move our 137 branches simultaneously to the new centralised banking system reducing both time and costs. We have leveraged the software to provide customers multichannel flexibility to access services and make transactions.”

As part of its core banking solution, Finacle, developed by Indian software solutions firm, Infosys, allows the bank’s customers choose from a range of innovative products and services, enable its audit and control teams to comply with regulatory and security requirements and seamlessly integrate and automate treasury operations.

The local business partner of Infosys, Computer Warehouse Group, for over a decade, has played an integral part in implementation and ‘go-live’ support of Finacle’s in Nigeria.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19 2012

53

NEWS

Boko Haram militants kill 92-year-old cleric

G

UNMEN suspected to be Boko Haram militants have shot dead a 92-year-old Islamic cleric, Goni Mustapha, in his home in Gwange, Maiduguri.

Relatives of the victim told reporters in Maiduguri yesterday that the gunmen invaded the home of the

deceased around 7.30 pm on Tuesday and killed him.

“About four gunmen invaded his home in the evening shortly after prayers.

“The attackers divided themselves into two groups, the first group went in to kill the cleric, while the other group kept vigil at the

entrance,” said Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman, a witness.

He said the killers met the deceased inside his compound and shot him many times before fleeing in different directions.

Sulaiman said the remains of the cleric had been buried at the Gwange cemetery.

Mr. Samuel Tizhe, the Public Relations Officer of the Borno Police Command, confirmed the killing.

“It’s true that the incident happened,” Tizhe said.

He blamed the continued killing in the city on people’s reluctance to give information.

“The killing took place

yesterday in the evening but nobody came to inform the police.

“How can we trace the killers without information?

People must learn to supply vital information to the police to enable us carry out our duty of protecting life and property.”

Four suspected ritualists arrested From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

F

OUR suspected ritualists have been arrested in Ilesa, Osun State for allegedly killing a 21-year old secondary school boy, Jacob Ajayi.

The suspects, including the victim”s friemd, Tobi Ojo, and a ritualist, are already in the police custody in Ayeso police stattion, Ilesa.

According to the victim”s father, Ayo Ajayi, a car wash operator, his son’s head and genitals had been removed by the suspects when the police discovered his body inside a soak-away pit around the Stadium-Irojo area of the town.

He said his son was living with his friend at Stadium area of Irojo in a one-room apartment he rented for him to attend school in Ilesa.

The father alleged his son’s friend, Tobi last Saturday colluded with the other suspects, including the ritualist to murder his son apparently for ritual purpose.

The victim’s father lives at Idominasi, a village of about 15 kilometres from Ilesa.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Taiwo Oluwagbemileke, said he is yet to be briefed about the incident.

Fed Govt panel on Oko Poly meets stakeholders From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

T

HE Federal Government’s Visitation Panel to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, yesterday met with stakeholders in Anambra State on how to restore peace between the school and the host community.

The panel is also expected to assess facilities at the school.

The six-man panel, led by Prof. Tayo Fashoyin, was set up by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayatu Rufai.

After the meeting with the traditional ruler of Oko, Prof.

Laz Ekwueme and others, the panel visited the ViceChancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Prof.

Boniface Egboka.

Fashoyin said: “We have 13 faculties in Oko Federal Polytechnic, which are functioning, and it is rare to see such in most institutions. We are impressed and believe that the school has what it takes to be upgraded to a university.

“But we want to see the relationship between the host community and the institution grow stronger.”

Egboka decried the incessant disagreements between the students and the host community.

He said: “There is no reason why the school and its host should not work together. I want the panel to look closely at that aspect and see what can be done.

From left: Anglican Bishop of Idoani, Rt. Rev. Ezekiel Dahunsi, Rev. Canon Taiwo Olupitan, Lord Bishop of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Peter Awelewa Adebiyi and Venerable Gbenga Oniye during the institution and installation of Canons and Collation of Archdeacons held at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos... last weekend.

Gunmen kill police inspector, ex-Customs officer in Maiduguri

G

UNMEN on Tuesday shot dead a police inspector shortly after the early morning prayers near his home in Gwange, Maiduguri.

Some eyewitnesses told reporters that the police inspector, popularly called Baba Ataka, was shot as he came out of the mosque after the congregational prayers.

“The killers positioned themselves at strategic places

and shot him immediately he stepped out of the mosque.

The shooting created panic among the people as the assassins disappeared,” Malam Nuhu Ibrahim, an eyewitness, said.

He said the victim died immediately as he was shot at close range.

Also killed in a related incident was a retired Customs officer, who was shot dead around noon by gunmen in

Simari.

Relatives of the murdered ex-customs officer told reporters that he was trailed by the killers from his home in Ruwan Zafi before he was shot in Simari.

“Two teenagers believed to have trailed him from Ruwan Zafi walked to the borehole house and met the deceased inspecting the facility.

“They shot him before fleeing with his car,” Malam Idris

Shuwa, a relative, said.

He added that the remains of the deceased have been buried according to Islamic rites in Gwange.

Alhaji Bala Hassan, the Commissioner of Police in Borno, who confirmed the killing of the police inspector, described it as sad.

He, however, declined to comment on the killing of the ex-Customs officer, saying he was yet to be briefed.

FCDA renders thousands homeless in Abuja

T

HE Federal Capital D e v e l o p m e n t Authority (FCDA) Development Control Unit has begun the demolition of illegal structures at BassanJiwa, to ensure security of lives in and around Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

An unidentified middleaged man slumped as he watched his house being pulled down by the bulldozers from the department.

In an interview with reporters, the District Officer, Airport Road and Aviation Village, Adamu Garba, said the exercise was carried out because most of the people who had built houses in the

F

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

area had no approval, adding that over 80 per cent of the houses in the area would be affected.

Residents, however, decried the demolition, saying they were misled by the department and were also not given enough time to remove their property before the commencement of the exercise.

They said they were informed by the department that the demolition would only affect houses in the areas where the FCT administration planned to carry out rail expansion.

“The indigenes even went round and collected N2,000

each from us, assuring that our houses would not be affected. So we were shocked when they came and demolished our houses.”

A resident, Ahmadu Aliko, alleged that indigenes connived with government officials to collect money from some non-indigenes, promising them that their houses would be spared.

“They paid amounts ranging from N150,000 to N300,000, depending on the size of the houses, so that their buildings would be spared,” he added.

Reacting to the allegations, the Director, Development Control, Yahaya Yusuf, said they are unfounded as no worker in the department will

Jude Isiguzo

and granted N7 billion loan without Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) directive.

He was arrested yesterday morning by operatives on the order of the Commissioner of Police in charge of SFU, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin.

It was gathered that the

irregularities were discovered by the management of Access Bank, after it had acquired it.

Sources disclosed that after the discovery, Access Bank management wrote a petition against Alabi to the SFU which later arrested him.

By Adebisi Onanuga

T

HE Lagos State Government has reacted to the dismissal of its application, in which it asked a Lagos High Court to stay action on its judgement in favour of a Nigerien, Mamman Keita, who was in prison custody for over 10 years without trial on allegation of murder.

In a statement yesterday, the state’s Solicitor-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) said the state cannot be held responsible for the action of the Police, a federal agency, over which it does not have control.

Justice Habeeb Abiru had in a judgment delivered on December 16, 2011, ordered the state Attorney-General (AG) to pay a sum of N7 million to a Nigerien, Mamman Keita as compensation for illegal detention in prison for over 10 years without trial.

The judge had held that Keita’s detention without proper arraignment and trial in court was a violation of his fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

He had ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar and Ipaye to tender an apology to the 43-years old ram seller for unjust detention on the allegation of murder.

But the Lagos State SolicitorGeneral in reaction to the dismissal of its application for a stay of the judgement argued that there was nothing to show that the case file of Mamman Keita was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) for legal advice by the police.

He said that the state government should not have been found liable for the detention of Keita as the matter was not brought to the attention of the state’s Attorney-General.

The statement issued by the Solicitor-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro(SAN) titled: “Suit No. ID/766M/2011: Mamman Keita v. Attorney-General of Lagos State” stated as follows: “The application that was considered by the Honourable Court today, April 18, 2012 was our application to stay the execution of the judgment delivered by the Court on December 16, 2011.

Funeral for woman

•FCT Minister Bala Mohammed

do such.

His words: “I can assure you that development control workers will not compromise and collect money from anyone because they know they will be caught.”

Ex-Intercontinental Bank MD Alabi arrested

ORMER Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Mamoud Alabi, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Millverton, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Alabi is being interrogated over allegations that he wrote off a loan of N9billion

Lagos not responsible for police’s action, says Solicitor-General

Confirming the arrest, Ogunsakin said Alabi is undergoing interrogation over a petition.

According to him, the new bank that acquired Intercontinental Bank brought a complaint against Alabi.

He said Alabi is helping the police in their investigation.

LADY Juliana Simisola Jibodu (nee Onafadeji) is dead. Aged 77, she died on February 23.

A service of songs was held in her honour yesterday at her home, 3, Jibodu-Oyinbosun Close, off High Court Road, Sagamu, Ogun State at 5pm.

Lying-in-state takes place today, while Christian wake holds today at Makun High School, Sagamu at 5pm.

Funeral service will hold tomorrow at Methodist Church, Ijoku, Sagamu from 10am.

Interment follows at Methodist Cemetery, Oko Sagamu.

Lady Jibodu is survived by her husband, Chief O.A. Jibodu, children, Mrs. Olufunke Ojo, Justice Adetokunbo Jibodu, Miss Yemisi Jibodu, Mrs. Bunmi Elewodalu, Mr. Ayo Jibodu and many grandchildren.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-4-12

Forte Oil targets N1b profit in first half •High-cap stocks spur bullish rally

F

ORTE Oil Plc has projected profit before tax of about N1 billion, saying it has laid a strong foundation for sustained recovery and profitability.

In the forecast for the first half ending June 30, 2012, the board indicated that pre-tax earnings would build up on the back of the first quarter performance by improving sales to about N1 billion by the first half, signaling a major turnaround for the oil marketing company.

The pre-tax earnings projection represents pre-tax earnings per share of about 92.6 kobo during the period, which translates into a conservative average annualized pre-tax profit of about N1.90 per share for this year.

The forecasts underline positive net earnings this year and prospects of dividend payment for this year after a streak of losses impacted on the company’s bottom-line and shareholders’ returns. Forte Oil has about 160,000 shareholders.

Commenting on the forecasts, acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil, Akin Akinfemiwa, said 2012 is a year of recovery for the company, as it continues to build on the foundations laid in 2011 to give it the required leverage to return to its position as a leading oil stock.

He said management expects the financial momentum to be sustained, as the company restores highvalue output in all areas of its business and also

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

realises new projects in the areas of upstream exploration and production.

He said Forte Oil has carried out a complete restructure of its business and transformed into a lean, talent based and technology driven company that would be more responsive to the needs of its customers.

“As part of improved operational efficiency, controls have been improved across business lines; stronger corporate governance and compliance are being ensured at all levels as well as the introduction of the foremost business enterprise solution and implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS),” Akinfemiwa stated.

He outlined that as part of its repositioning efforts, the company has started rebranding of its retail outlets nationwide, which altogether would translate into strong market dominance, sustainable profitability and good returns to shareholders.

Meanwhile, market capitalisation of quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by N120 billion as highly capitalised stocks rallied the year-to-date return at the stock market to 1.76 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted companies rose to N6.728 trillion as against its opening value of N6.608 trillion, representing an increase of 1.81 per cent. The bench-

mark index- the All Share Index (ASI), also trended upward by 1.80 per cent from 20,722.40 points to 21,094.50 points.

The bullish rally was orchestrated by gains by several highly capitalised companies including Dangote Cement, Nigerian Breweries, First Bank of Nigeria and Guaranty Trust Bank which garnered N4, N1.02, 94 kobo and 12 kobo to close at N120, N102, N10.20 and N14.56 respectively.

Other top gainers were CAP, which rose by N1 to close at N25, First City Monument Bank that rose by 23 kobo to N5, National Salt Company of Nigeria that added 21 kobo to close at N4.55, Stanbic IBTC chalked up 20 kobo to close at N7.20, Union Bank of Nigeria gained 16 kobo to close at N3.41 while Vitafoam Nigeria appreciated by 15 kobo to close at N3.24.

However, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria led the slackers with a loss of 98 kobo to close at N19. Presco followed with a loss of 49 kobo to close at N10.01. PZ Cussons Nigeria dropped by 42 kobo to close at N22.43.

Ashaka Cement lost 28 kobo to close at N8.01. Oando dropped by 25 kobo to close at N15.95. Avon Crown Caps dropped by 23 kobo to close at N4.39. Access Bank declined by 18 kobo to close at N5.56 while Learn Africa slipped by 15 kobo to close at N2.94 per share.

Turnover stood at 339.6 million shares worth N2.57 billion in 3,695 deals. FCMB was the most active stock with a turnover of 57.83 million shares valued at N278.31 million in 99 deals.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated followed with a turnover of 39.88 million shares worth N457.28 million in 85 deals while United Bank for Africa recorded a turnover of 32.04 million shares valued at N82.2 million in 245 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-4-12

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

UBA Q1 profit hits N16b U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has posted a profit of N16 billion in the first quarter of 2012, surpassing the N15.1 billion profit forecast announced earlier on in the year.

Details of the bank’s unaudited first quarter results released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, showed that gross earnings increased by 33 per cent to N53.9 billion from N40.5 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2011. Profit before tax grew by over 200 per cent compared to the N4.8 billion recorded in the corresponding period of last year.

Stories by Collins Nweze

However, cost to income ratio dropped to 65 per cent from 77.7 per cent in 2011, as the benefits of the group’s Global Shared Service centre and other cost control measures took effect. With solid capital adequacy and liquidity ratios of 22.94 per cent and 57.02 per cent respectively, the bank capped the first quarter performance on a strong note.

In a related development, UBA has also released its 2011 full year results, which indicated a loss of N10.5 billion, principally due to one-off write-offs, including those arising

CBN to improve supervision of offshore banks

from the transfer of loans to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

Nevertheless, the balance sheet growth in 2011 was quite impressive with total assets increasing to N1.94 trillion, representing a growth of 20 per cent from the N1.62 trillion achieved in 2010.

Contributing to growth in balance sheet, were increased borrowings and deposits, which grew by 134 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. With a loan to deposit ratio of 48 per cent and a strong capital adequacy ratio, the UBA group has significant capacity for credit cre-

ation in the coming quarters.

“The financial performance of the bank in the first quarter of 2012, attests to the resilience of the group and a turnaround in our business performance, having cleaned up our balance sheet in 2011,” the Group Managing Director/CEO, Phillips Oduoza, stated.

“The first quarter result reaffirms UBA’s strong earnings capacity. The underlying fundamentals of our business remain very strong, and we shall continue to optimise the balance sheet for even stronger earnings. This year will also see significant contributions from our solid

U

NITY Bank has recorded growth in key balance sheet items in its full year results for the 2011 financial year.

However, both Gross Earnings and Profit Before Tax (PBT) showed declines of 27 per cent and 77 per cent respectively.

The previous year’s figures were boosted by huge recoveries from bad loans which were mainly one-off

T

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

internally here in Nigeria, they are adequately capitalised and structured to be able to sustain international operations,” he said.

He said there is an ongoing crossborder supervisory co-operation and coordination with other jurisdictions where Nigerian banks have presence, adding that there is also an evolving effort to set up a forum of Chief Risk Officers (CROs) of banks to provide a platform to periodically discuss risk issues in individual banks and the industry at large.

transactions.

The Managing Director, Ado Yakubu Yanka, in his reaction, assured investors and customers that the bank’s rejuvenation programme and other measures that are being implemented, would boost the bank’s efforts aimed at improving growth and profitability in 2012 and beyond.

The bank’s overall balance sheet

G

UARANTY Trust Bank plc has extended its franchise within the West African sub region, by commencing banking operations in Cote D’Ivoire, the bank’s first subsidiary in Francophone West Africa.

Commenting on the development, Segun Agbaje, Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank said the new Cote D’Ivoire subsidiary is part of a well thought out strate-

gic plan to extend the operations of the bank into Francophone West Africa.

‘Our operations within the subregion have been successful because we accurately understand the unique needs of our various stakeholders. Our knowledge of different West African markets, expertise in corporate, commercial, retail and personal banking as well as a culture of excellence and pas-

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

MANAGED FUNDS Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 18-4-12 SYMBOL

FIRSTBANK UBN LIVESTOCK VITAFOAM NASCON FCMB GTASSURE RTBRISCOE SMURFIT CAP

O/PRICE

9.72 3.25 0.82 3.09 4.34 4.77 1.47 1.05 1.09 24.00

C/PRICE

10.20 3.41 0.86 3.24 4.55 5.00 1.54 1.10 1.14 25.00

113m

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

Current Before

C/PRICE 1.71 4.39 0.77 19.00 1.37 2.94 0.59 0.79 10.01 0.53

CHANGE 0.09 0.23 0.04 0.98 0.07 0.15 0.03 0.04 0.49 0.02

29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

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

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

March 2012

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 18-4-12

SYMBOL O/PRICE BAGCO 1.80 AVONCROWN 4.62 DNMEYER 0.81 GLAXOSMITH 19.98 AGLEVENT 1.44 LONGMAN 3.09 GOLDINSURE 0.62 CONTINSURE 0.83 PRESCO 10.50 JAPAULOIL 0.55

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

0.48 0.16 0.04 0.15 0.21 0.23 0.07 0.05 0.05 1.00

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

sion for exceptional service delivery are the benefits we are bringing to this new market’.

The bank has vast business interests in Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom. It presently has an Asset Base of over N1.5 trillion, total equity of over N238 billion and employs over 5,000 people in Anglophone West Africa and the United Kingdom.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

size, including contingents, grew significantly by 64 per cent from N309 billion in December 2010 to N506 billion in December 2011. This growth is in line with the its overall objective of significantly increasing its market share. Its final year result for 2011 showed that the bank also grew customer deposit by 20 per cent from N222 billion as at December 31, 2010 to N267 billion in December 2011.

GTBank commences operations in Cote D’Ivoire

FGN BONDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

expansive solid Africa franchise,” the Chief Finance Officer, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said;

Unity Bank grows balance sheet by 64%

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said it would raise the level of supervision and control of Nigerian banks operating abroad. This followed complaints of breach of operating guidelines brought to the attention of the regulator from host countries.

Speaking yesterday at a retreat by Risk Management Association of Nigeria, CBN Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, said steps to be taken, “include, but not limited to ascertaining the sufficiency and capital adequacy of the banks to ensure they can effectively operate abroad.

“We want to make sure that Nigerian banks that are operating in foreign countries, especially west Africa, comply with all the regulatory requirements of their host countries.

Secondly, we want to make sure that

NIDF NESF

•Oduoza

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.59 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 100.06 THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.75 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.08 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.89 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,694.93 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.13 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,259.48 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 122.48 99.58 0.72 1.08 0.88 1,689.75 7.74 1.33 1.80 7,071.36 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

57

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

V A C A N C I E S INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following posts: (1) College Registrar.

(2) College Bursar (3) College Liberian.

(4) Director of Works.

(5) Deputy Registrar: Academics (6) Deputy Registrar: Administration (7) Deputy Registrar: Establishment.

(8) Chief Security Officer.

S N POSITION

QUALIFICATION

DUTIES

TERMS AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF SERVICES

1.

REGISTRAR

Candidate should possess a good honors degree in social sciences or Humanities plus 17 years post qualification cognate experience or a holder of masters degree in public admin plus 15 years cognate experience.Applicant must have served in a tertiary institution. The candidate must be computer literate, a member of a recognized Professional body. Must not be less than 45years and not more than 55 years old

(1). Shall be responsible togoverning council through theProvost.

(2). Shall take charge of Registry department.

(3). Shall be secretary to the Council, academic board and other statutory committees.

(4). Shall be responsible for keeping all the records in the institution.

2.

BURSAR

Candidate should have a good Hon B. Sc Degree or its equivalent in Accounting with ANAN, ICAN etc from a recognized Institution with at least 17 years post qualification cognate experience.Must be a member of a recognized Professional body e.g.

ICAN/ANAN. Must be computer literate.Must not be less than 45 years and not more than 55 years old.

(1). Shall be responsible to thegoverning council through theProvost on financial matters ofthe college e.g. budgeting, preparation of accounts for audit etc.

3.

COLLEGE LIBRARIAN

Candidate should be a holder of B. Sc degree or masters degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science from a recognized Institution with at least 17 years cognate experience post qualification for BLS or 12 years experience for MLS.

The salary is CONTEDISS ‘15’and other conditions of service are as stipulated in the schemes of service of the Institution.Other benefit as obtained in other tertiary institutions subject to prevailing government conditions of service or circulars.

4.

DIRECTOR OF WORKS

Candidates should possess a good Hon. Degree orMasters Degree in Architecture or BuildingEngineering from a recognized Institution.Must have 17 years or 12 years cognate experiencefor B.Sc/M.Sc respectively Must be registered with a professionally recognized body. Must be computer literate. Must not be less than 45 years and not more than 55 years old.

(1). Shall be responsible to theProvost for the maintenance of all structures and vehicles. Ensure quality and standard of projects being executed.Receive ideas and translate them into new projects.

Ensure cordial relationship between the College contractors and consultants.

The salary is CONTENDISS ‘15’ and other conditions of serviceas stipulated in scheme ofservice as applicable to other Institutions.

5.

Deputy Registrar (Academic, Establishment & Administration)

Candidate should possess a good Hon. Shall be responsible to theProvost Degree froma recognized University through the Registrar inline with plus 15 years cognateexperience Master responsibility of theOffice.

Degree in public Administration isan added advantage. Must have served in a tertiaryInstitution. Must be a member of a recognizedProfessional body. Must not be above 50 years old.

Salary is CONTENDISS 14 andother conditions as stipulated inscheme of service of theCollege.

6.

Chief Security Officer

Must be a retired police Officer of not Shall be responsible to theProvost less than the rank of an Assistant through the Registrar.Shall be inSuperintendent of police. charge of all securitymatters of the College and training of Security Must not be less than 50 years old and Officers.Shall be responsible to not more than 60 years old.Must be a theGoverning Council through member of a Professional Association theProvost for formulating e.g.NLA. Must not be less than 45 years theoverall Library policies, and not more than 55 years old. makingcontacts and liaising withdepartments and engaging inother matters of commoninterest for the benefit of theCollege.

Shall be on contract appointment on CONTENDISSOther benefits as stipulated inscheme of service of theCollege.

(1). The salary is CONTEDISS’15' as approved by the stategovernment.

(2). Other entitlements areaccording to currentgovernment circulars andpolicies applicable to other tertiary institutions.

The salary is CONTEDISS ‘15’ and other conditions as perscheme of service of theInstitution.

METHOD OF APPLICATION Interested candidates for these positions should forward their applications and curriculum vitae and photocopies of their credentials.

The CV should highlight the following: (1). Full Name: Surname First (2). Date of Birth (3). Marital Status (4). Number of Children (5). Your Phone Number (6). Your Postal Address (7). Nationality (8). State of Origin/LGA (9). Schools attended/Qualifications obtained with dates.

(10). Positions held with dates (11). Membership of Professional Bodies (12). Names and Addresses of 3 referees.

The applications should be forwarded to the Registrar, College of Health Technology, Zawan. P.O. Box 2573, Jos Plateau State not later than 2 weeks from the date of this advertisement.

The post applied for should be written at the top right side of the envelope.

NOTE: Only qualified candidates shall be invited for the interview.

Signed: BWEDE D. DANIEL for: Registrar.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

58

NEWS ACN lawmakers fault PDP, DSS on Aregbesola

Appeal Court dismisses Ondo PDP council chairmen’s suit T

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) caucus in the National Assembly has faulted allegation of secession levelled against Osun State Governor Rauf Aregebsola by the Department of Security Service (DSS) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing reporters in Abuja, the federal lawmakers described as ill-spirited the security report which allegedly indicted the governor.

To diffuse the intended religious and political confusion the allegation was meant to create, Senator Babajide Omoworare, in company of other members of the caucus, affirmed that Aregbesola has not breached any constitutional provision for seeking an identity for Osun. He added that the governor did not engage in religious bigotry.

Omoworare said: “Unequivocally, we stand solidly with our party, the ACN, under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who, since his first day in office, has made clear his developmental mission and set machinery in motion towards attaining economic and infrastructural excellence without being distracted.”

The lawmaker noted that “…the supposedly non-partisan security apparatus of the federation has allowed itself to be dragged into the murky waters of politics without recourse to professionalism or fear of credibility”.

He added: “These very acts

PUBLIC NOTICE YISA I, formerly known and addressed as YISA RAOLAT ATINUKE now wish to be known and addressed as THOMPSON RAOLAT ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

•Senator Omoworare From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

of unprofessional acts of the Department of State Security (DSS) are either products of inducement or professional sycophancy, which are capable of disrupting the peace of the nation and the stability of our polity.”

The lawmaker said rather than disrupt the peace of any community in the country, the DSS should serve the nation more, if the security agency adheres to its responsibility of securing the country through comprehensive information gathering and processing as well as promoting peace.

Citing the instance of Cross River, Omoworare regretted that the allegation of secession showed the ignorance of the PDP because it is not alien, under federalism, for federating states to maintain independent identities vis a vis state flag.

According to him, the rage and quest to regain relevance at all cost has deprived PDP the capacity to appraise its warped logic, adding. “A clear understanding of structures and practices of federalism and governance with a view of revamping the lost practices and cultures ideal to genuine federalism, should not have generated any resentment but praise and encouragement from others to emulate”.

HE Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday dismissed the suit filed by 18 local government chairmen elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They were challenging their dissolution by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The Appellate Court hinged its decision on the fact that the state law, which the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) based the conduct of the election upon, was inconsistent with Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2006.

However, the court, in a unanimous verdict delivered

by Justices Kudirat KekereEkun, Chinwe Eugenia Iyizoba and Moore Adumein, held that the governor erred in law by dissolving the coun-

T

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

cils without following constitutional procedures.

The Labour Party (LP) government under Mimiko dissolved the local government executives with PDP shortly after it assumed office almost four years ago.

Dissatisfied with the governor’s action, the executives, through their lawyer, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN), went to court.

Justice Nelson Adeyanju upheld the dissolution of the councils, saying the non-compliance with the provisions of the law in the conduct of the election did not invalidate the

governor’s action.

The former council helmsmen urged the Appellate Court to set aside the decision of the lower court.

The Appeal Court held that the lower court was right in restraining the local government chiefs from continuing in office.

Justice Akin-Kekereekun said Section 12 1 (4) of the state law, which allows for 24 days before the conduct of an election, was inconsistent with the law passed by the National Assembly on the conduct of the election.

Since the election ran foul of the court, it held that the lower court was right in set-

ting it aside and was also right in restraining the council chiefs from functioning or parading themselves in that capacity.

However, the appellate court held that the former local government functionaries have the right to the salaries and emoluments, which they earned before the court’s pronouncement.

It dismissed the counterclaims of the chairmen, saying the governor was right in the dissolution of the councils.

The Appellate Court dismissed the appeal of the PDP members and upheld the decision of the lower court.

‘I’m under pressure to withdraw suit on Jonathan’s second term bid’

HE suit challenging the right of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek reelection in 2015 may be settled out of court, it emerged yesterday.

An Abuja High Court adjourned till May 30 for report on the settlement process.

Jusctice Mudashiru Oniyangi granted the adjournment at the instance of the plaintiff, Cyriacus Njoku, who said he had been under pressure to settle out of court from his Zuba ward in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where he is a registered member of the PDP. The plaintiff’s lawyer Mr. Osuagwu Ugochukwu, said his client wanted to consult further and see if there could be an amicable settlement.

The lead counsel to the President, Mr. Ade Okeaya–lnneh (SAN), did not give any commitment to the out-of-court settlement.

He said: “The provisions of the 1999 constitution are very

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

clear.It is illogical for the plaintiff or anyone to claim that a president who acted in an acting capacity has been sworn in as a substantive president twice. That is not our understanding of the law and indeed the provisions of the constitution that the plaintiff is seeking a review of are not by any stretch of the imagination ambiguous. The plaintiff said he wants to consult with his ward with a view to settling the matter.well thats fine but how do you settle a constitutional matter.”

The Plaintiff filed the suit following a statement credited to the President that he is serving his first term in office.

According to Njoku, Jonathan cannot be a candidate in 2015 because he is running a second term in office.

Citing Section 137 (1) (b) of the Constitution, the Plaintiff maintained that the President cannot swear to an Oath of Office three times.

Joined in the matter are the President (first respondent), the PDP (second respondent), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the third Respondent.

Njoku, through his counsel raised two questions for determination by the court.

‘Whether Section 135(2) of the Constitution which specifies a period of four years in office for the President is only available or applicable to a person elected on the basis of an actual election or includes one in which a person assumes the position of President by operation of law as in the case of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan ‘Whether Section 137(1) (b)

of the 1999 Constitution which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections applies to the 1st Defendant who first took an Oath of Office as substantive President on May 6, 2010 and took a second Oath of Office as Presidenton May 29, last year’.

Justice Oniyangi struck out an application by the President seeking extension of time within which to enter defence in the suit.

The judge struck it out after the president’s lawyer; Mr. Samson Omage admitted that the motion was incompetent.

Plaintiff’s lawyer Ugochukwu, who objected to the motion capitalised on the defect in the motion paper, stating that it was filed in contravention of the rules of the court.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

59

NEWS

No subsidy buses for Osun

T

HE Osun State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said the Federal Government has not allocated buses to the state to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy.

The party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, spoke in a statement in Osogbo yesterday.

He was responding to a statement by the Peoples

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that Governor Rauf Aregbesola rejected the buses sent by the Federal Government.

The PDP, in a statement by its Director of Media and Strategy, Mr Diran Odeyemi, alleged that the state government rejected the buses “on the excuse that the state cannot maintain them”.

But Oyatomi denied the claim.

He said: “The ACN in Osun has deployed the propensity of the PDP for disseminating lies each time it opens its mouth to talk. In response to the current falsehood being peddled by the PDP that the Osun State governor has rejected allocation of subsidy buses from the Federal Government, this is an embarassment...

“To put the record straight, in February, the Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Ngama, told the Commissioners of Finance that the Federal Government would need the National Assembly’s approval before it could distribute buses to the states. Since then, Osun State has heard nothing. So, why didn’t the PDP ask Abuja authorities when they sent buses to Osogbo and who they sent them to?”

Fashola, Fayose, others condole with Fayemi on mother’s death

L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday condoled with his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, over the death of his mother, Mrs. Dorcas Aina Fayemi, who died last Sunday. She was 83.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the governor expressed sadness over the death of “the exemplary and virtuous woman”.

He said: “She was a great role model and a pillar of support in the quest for socio-economic and political justice in our national scheme of things, given her unwavering support throughout the testy legal battles to reclaim her son’s then stolen mandate. The matriarch of the Fayemi family will be sorely missed by all.”

Acknowledging that the death of a dear one, like a mother, is always traumatic, Fashola urged Dr. Fayemi and other members of the family to take solace in her legacy of service to the people of Ekiti State, which she left behind in the person of the governor.

“Mama lived a fulfilled and good Christian life. She has paid her due to the people of Ekiti State and Nigeria by donating you (Fayemi) to them as a symbol of her love and devotion to the service of the people, the community, the country and humanity in

O

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin and Oziegbe Okoeki

general,” Fashola said.

Former governors of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni; the Kwara State governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Dele Belgore (SAN) as well as Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, yesterday condoled with Fayemi on the death of his mother.

Fayose urged Fayemi to take solace in God, who “giveth and taketh”.

In a statement, he said: “Although it is always painful to lose one’s parent, but Fayemi should be happy that Mama lived a fulfilled and compassionate life worthy of emulation and she died at a ripe age.

“We thank God for her life of discipline, commitment and selfless service to God and humanity.

“On behalf of my family, I pray that God will grant the soul of the faithful departed eternal rest, and I also pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Oni, who is the National Vice-Chairman (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), prayed God to comfort the governor and his family on their mother’s death.

He said: “On behalf of myself, my family, friends, associates and the entire members of the PDP, I commiserate with you on the departure to glory of Mama, your beloved mother.

“Having passed through this path not long ago, I know how it feels. I pray that Almighty God will condole and support the entire family.”

Belgore said: “We thank God for the purposeful life of this noble woman who, incidentally, hailed from OboAiyegunle, Kwara State. We pray the Good Lord to grant her soul eternal rest and give her family and the people of Ekiti and Kwara states the fortitude to bear the loss.”

He also commiserated with the management and workers of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, on the fire that razed its photo section last weekend.

In a statement by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, the politician praised The Nation for “its fearless journalism and service to Nigeria”.

He expressed “regret over the incident,” adding: “We thank God that no lives were lost.”

Ikuforiji commiserated with the governor and other members of the Fayemi family of Isan-Ekiti on their mother’s death.

In a chat with reporters at the Lagos State House of As-

Restore sanity to councils, Aregbesola SUN State Governor urges Auditors-General Rauf Aregbesola has

urged local government Auditors-General to restore sanity to governance at the grassroots.

Aregbesola spoke at the Annual Conference of Auditors-General of Local Governments in the Federation.

Represented by his Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, the governor said the rot in the third-tier of government is worrisome.

He said only Auditors-General can bring sanity to governance at the grassroots.

Aregbesola urged them to

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ensure prudence and transparency in the councils, so that meaningful growth can occur in the rural areas.

He told them to be up to the task of serving as watchdogs in their councils.

The governor noted that if auditors-general discharged their duties assiduously, corruption would reduce.

The Auditor-General for Local Governments in Osun State, who is the newly elected National President of the as-

sociation, Alhaji A.S. Akewusola, gave a pass mark to auditors-general in the country.

He said: “We have proved ourselves capable of discharging the onerous statutory responsibilities imposed on us by the law.

Auditors-General have proved to be reliable sources of information about local governments and are reference points for investigators and planners as attested to by interested agencies locally and internationally.”

Aspirant joins Ondo governorship race

A

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant on the platform of the the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, yesterday said the Labour Party (LP) administration in the stste was peforming below standard.

The former bank chief executive noted that with the resources of the state, the life of every resident should have improved.

He alleged that the resources that could have been used to develop the state have been spent on frivolities.

Ekungba told reporters after a meeting with ACN state executives at the party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, that he

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

joined the governorship race to displace the LP government.

He said the LP-led government in the state has failed to encourage accountability.

Ekungba said: “I am making my intention known publicly to the people of the state through the leadership of the ACN. “I want to contribute my quota to the development of the state. Right now, there is a disconnect between the government and the citizenry, and we need somebody who can link people with the government.”

The aspirant was received at the ACN secretariat by the Acting Chairman, Chief Olorunsola Adesoji, and other members of the executive.

Group mobilises LP members for ACN, Boroffice

S

CORES of members of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State have defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Irun-Akoko, Ondo North Senatorial District.

The defectors joined the ACN through the Akoko Elite Forum (AEF) in solidarity with a governorship aspirant and the senator representing Ondo North, Prof Ajayi Boroffice.

There was a large crowd of party supporters, led by the ACN Chairman in Akoko North West Local Government Area, Prince Ayo Bello.

The party chairman hailed AEP President, Yomi Arodu, and other members for mobilising opposition members, particularly from the ruling LP, into the ACN. According to him, ACN has become the party to beat in Akoko land, as it is the only party that can make the

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

most impact in the area.

He accused the Mimiko administration of neglecting Akoko land in the provision of infrastructure and jobs.

Bello said only the ACN, with its people-oriented programmes, can bring dividends of democracy to the people.

Boroffice, who was represented by AEF Vice-President, Prince Boye Ologbose, said he was committed to the welfare of the residents.

He expressed appreciation to the forum for reposing confidence in him as the major aspirant that could unseat Olusegun Mimiko.

The defectors promised to mobilise more supporters into the ACN. They accused the Mimiko administration of losing focus and deceiving the people. The defectors burnt LP T-shirts.

Anglican to discuss Osun at synod •The late Mrs Fayemi

sembly yesterday, the Speaker noted that the late Mrs. Fayemi lived a fulfilled life as an industrious woman and a caring mother.

A former commissioner in the Fayose administration, Mr. Kayode Otitoju, commiserated with the Fayemis on the death of their mother.

In a statement, Otitoju said: “Your Excellency, I wish to condole with you on the passing to glory of your mother.”

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

T

HE Bishop of Osun Anglican Diocese, Rev. James Afolabi Popoola, has said the situation in Osun State would be on the agenda of the ninth synod, which will hold from April 26 to 29.

Addressing reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, Rev. Popoola said some Christian leaders would meet Governor Rauf Aregbesola on some controversial issues, such as the government’s decision on model public schools, school uniforms as well as allegations on security matters.

He noted that the synod, which will hold at Ada, Osun State, would examine the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to educate participants on its advantages and disadvantages.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

60

NEWS Saraki: I’ve no link with Joy Petroleum SENATOR Bukola Saraki last night reacted to the arrest of former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Mamoud Alabi over allegations of fraud.

Saraki, in a statement by his media aide Akintoba Fatigun, said he had no link with Joy Petroleum mentioned in a petition.

The statement reads: “The attention of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s media office has been drawn to a media report titled: “Police Nab Former managing Director of intercontinental Bank, Alhaji Layi Alabi over bank loan fraud relating to Senator Saraki”, “We are aware that there is a petition that was submitted by the brother to Senator Saraki’s former Personal Assistant Mattew Obahor of blessed memory to the special anti-fraud unit of Nigerian police over a company called Joy Petroleum.

We want to categorically state that Senator Saraki is not and was never a shareholder of any Joy Petroleum company; the company was that of his formal Personal Assistant, Late Mattew Obahor.

“Unlike it is being insinuated that Mattew was assassinated under questionable circumstances, we want to state categorically that Mattew was a diagnosed diabetic who was flown to different parts of the world by Senator Saraki for treatments but later gave up his battle to Diabetics after 10 years of battling the disease. He died in 2010 through diabetic coma in a hospital. Records are available which can support this.

We are also aware that this matter as related to loans with Intercontinental Bank which was thoroughly investigated and thrashed out by all appropriate authorities years back after receiving all manner of investigation. It should be recalled that it reoccurred during Senator saraki’s presidential bid and again thrashed out and we are once again surprise it is resurfacing.

“The attempt to link this baseless petition to Senator Saraki is purely a blackmail and character assassination; it is surprising that we are coming back to this again in 2012 which is a distraction and the timing is very questionable.

“Senator Saraki continues to reassure his constituents and country that he will play his legislative role even at this crucial time of our polity.”

Ex-Commissioner’s birthday FORMER Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye will celebrate his 50th birthday on Saturday. His family, relations and friends have lined up series of programmes to commemorate the event. Today, there will be public presentation of a book on “Local Government Administration, My Reflections”, at Eko FM, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Lagos at 10 am. Thanksgiving/ Reception takes place on Saturday at Yard 158, Event Centre, opposite Balmora, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos at 11 am.

FOREIGN

Brothers held for kidnapping in Edo

T

WO brothers were yesterday paraded by the State Security Services (SSS) in Edo State for alleged kidnapping.

Kingsley Ewohime (32) and Nicholas Ewohime (22) said they were members of a kidnapping ring that abducted a pastor.

Kingsley said he had been involved in two other kidnappings where he was paid N200,000 and N150,000 before he was arrested when the pastor was abducted.

He said their victims were made to pay N3.5million, adding that they kept their victims at an apartment he rented at Oko Central in Government Reservation Area.

His brother, Nicholas, said he was paid N18,000 for opening the gate whenever any victim was abducted.

Other suspects paraded included the kidnap gang that killed an SSS operative, Amenaghawon Ogbeide-Ihama

Man gets 15 years for stealing From Osagie Otabor, Benin

A

23-year-old man, Thank God Osayande, has been sent to jail for 15 years for stealing.

Osayande, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to jail by an Area Customary court sitting at Idogbo in Ikpoba Okha Local Government of Edo State.

The court was told by police prosecutor Inspector Victor Ehiorobo that Osayande stole jewelry, a handset and N110,000 belonging to Rita Okojie on December 24 at No 1, Okoro Street, Upper-Sakponba,Benin.

Ehiorobo told the court that Osayande sold the stolen items to Sani Mohammed and used the proceeds to purchase a Honda Daylong motorcycle.

President of the court Ms Esther Eweka said stealing related offences was with hard labour and without an option of fine.

Ms Eweka said the sentence will serve as deterrent to others and ordered that the motorcycle be auctioned and the money paid into government coffers.

Aba Bulama, who acted as surety for Mohammed, was remanded in custody since Mohammed absconded. during a ransom payment.

Those paraded included Mojiri Solomon, Moses Mojiri, Chukwudi Uche and Chike Chigbo.

They, however, denied being members of the kidnap gang.

A new generation bank worker, Chinwe Melahe, and

a part-time student of the University of Benin , Beatrice Arthur, whose husbands are currently on the run for kidnapping, said they never knew their husbands were into kidnapping.

The slain SSS operative will be buried tomorrow. He was 32.

SSS State Director Bakori Bello-Tukur said they would do their best to wipeout kidnapping in the state.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who came to see the suspects, urged victims to stop paying ransom to kidnappers.

Oshiomhole said: “The arrest of these women will send a message to others that you must not marry a man whose business you do not know.

The message is clear and we will get criminals.”

He urged citizens to give information to security agencies about activities in their domain.

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs AdejokeOrelope-Adefulire speaking at the launch of a book, Chronicles of a cancer survivor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos. With her from left are Julia Oyefunke Furtune (author), Mrs Femi Taiwo, representing wife of the Lagos State governor and Executive Vice-Chairman, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Remi Oluwude PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Akpabio, Dickson swear in commissioners

A

KWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday swore in 25 political office holders.

He urged them to serve selflessly and join in transforming the state.

Akpabio said: “We have built a momentum of development and we expect you to sustain that momentum or improve on it. We will not ask for less and Akwa Ibom will not accept anything less.

“This is not a mere ceremony, it is a sacrifice you must give to the state.

“It is also an oath of commitment. Your job is to make sure that government didn’t fail.”

He urged the political appointees to show loyalty and commitment to work in order to move the state forward.

Twenty commissioners and five special advisers were sworn in but the governor is yet to assign portfolios to them.

Shortly after swearing-in the political office holders, the governor summoned all the appointees into an emergency

•Umanah, nine others back in Akwa Ibom From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo and Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

state executive council meeting.

Akpabio dropped commissioners for Health, Education and Economic Development, Francis Udoikpong, Nseabasi Akpan, and Jerry Akpan, after he dissolved his cabinet.

Commissioner for Youth and Sports Oyong Asuquo died in a motor crash.

Some of the commissioners who returned and their former portfolios are: Aniekan Umanah (Information and Communications); Don Etim (Works); Emmanuel Enoidem (Housing and Urban Development); Clement Bassey (Culture and Tourism); Adasi Obulom (Commerce and Industry); Obong Eno Akpan (Agriculture and Natural Resources); Enobong Uwah (Environment and Mineral Resources); Sonni Ayang (Rural Development); Bassey Akpan (Finance); and Mrs. Comfort Etuk (Science and Technology).

The new comers are Martyns Udoinyang; Godwin Afangide, Effiong Abia and Dan Abia.

Former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uwem Ita Etuk, is to serve as special adviser.

Ita Etuk is to join Senas Ukpanah (Bureau of Investment and Industrialisation Planning); Etido Inyang (Technical Matters); Godwin Udom (Cooperative Matters) and Samuel George Frank (Political and Legislative Affairs).

In Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson also swore in 25 commissioners. Dickson said there should be close monitoring of appointees to ensure accountability and warned against associating with people of questionable characters no matter how highly placed they may be.

The commissioners are: James Dugo (Local Government and Community Development); Thomas Commander (Agriculture and Natural Resources); Ayakeme Massah (Trade and Industry); Francis Ikio (Energy); Sylvanus Abila

(Environment); Duate Iyabi (Finance); Mrs. Sarafina Otazi (Women Affairs) ; Max Fafee (Information and Orientation); Akpoebide Alamieyeseigha (Youths Development); Metama Obodo (Sports Development).

Others are Dein Binadoumene (Water Resources); Lawrence Orizakpo (Works); Mrs. Marie Ebikake (Transport)James Agari (Special Duties); Walter Odogu (East Senatorial District); Williams Alamene (Central Senatorial District).

Gesiye Isowo (Special Duties Governors Office) ; Furuebi Akene (Lands and Survey); Ball Oyarede (Housing and Urban Development); Felix Tuodolo (Ijaw National Affairs); Nelson Belief (Tourism and Development); Ambrose Alfred (Employment and Manpower Development); Zuwa Konugha (Capital Development); and Fred Obuah (Special Projects ) .

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Health were not announced.

Norway’s mass killer demands acquittal or death

A

NDERS Behring Breivik has told his trial in Oslo he believes there can be only two “just” outcomes to his trial - acquittal or the death penalty.

Breivik, who killed 77 people last July, said he considered a lengthy jail sentence “a pathetic punishment”. Norway does not have the death penalty.

He also said he had been “very surprised” to have survived the day of the attacks.

Prosecutors have been quizzing him on his links with militant nationalists.

On the third day of the trial they have been trying to disprove his claim of the existence of a far-right European network.

Under cross-examination, Breivik said: “There are only two just and fair outcomes of this trial - acquittal or capital punishment. I consider 21 years of prison as a pathetic punishment.

Asked if he wanted the court to give him the death penalty, he replied: “No, but I would have respected it. I would not recognise 21 years of prison, it’s ridiculous.”

Breivik killed 69 people at a Labour Party youth camp on Utoeya island, having first set off a bomb outside a government building in Oslo that killed eight people.

Breivik’s been really defensive in court this morning.

The prosecution has really been pushing him hard to give details about the networks of militant nationalists he says he became part of about his supposed contacts with Serb nationalists in Liberia, and with English nationalists in London.

They simply do not believe that he did form links with such people. They’re trying to discover whether he’s a fantasist. And he is definitely on the back foot. As he left for a recess, he gave a big smile to his lawyer.

Drogba’s strike nails Barca

C

HELSEA recorded a priceless 1-0 triumph over Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final first-leg encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Didier Drogba was the hero for the Blues, with his goal on the stroke of halftime giving Roberto Di Matteo’s men a lead to protect for the return fixture at Camp Nou. For the Catalans, it was a case of what could have been, as a series of missed chances and some resolute defending by the hosts shut them out in England and leaves the tie on a knife edge.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola handed Cesc Fabregas a start in the visiting XI, to mark his first game on English soil since his summer move from Arsenal. Meanwhile, for Chelsea, Drogba was preferred to Fernando Torres in attack after his inspired performance in the 51 FA Cup semi-final win against Tottenham on the weekend.

The Ivorian nearly repaid his manager’s faith early on, twice coming close to breaking through on goal on the counter in the opening exchanges.

61

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

NEWS

N4.5b scam: How ex-pension director bought N359.25m hotel T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained how a former Director of Pension in the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, used N359.25million to buy Brifina Hotel in Abuja.

Shuaibu, who is the Director of Finance in Petroleum Ministry, Mrs. Phina Ukamaka Chidi (a serving director in the Federal Ministry of Transport) and 30 others are standing trial for allegedly looting pension funds.

Both Shuaibu and Mrs. Chidi had served as Director and Deputy Director in the Pensions Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

In a Proof of Evidence presented to the court, the EFCC gave graphic details on how Shuaibu used N359.25million to buy Brifina Hotel in Abuja.

The Proof of Evidence reads in part: “So far, investigation was able to trace money from

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Dr. Shaibu Sani Teidi to Mohammed Muhamud accounts, in which Mohammed Muhamud stated that the monies were paid to Chief Anthony Azeweputa through his A.E. Bright Future Motors Ltd accounts for the purchase of Brifina Hotel.

“He also stated that the agreement for the sale of Brifina Hotel to Dr. Shuaibu Teidi was drafted and signed by Anthony Prince Ameh, a lawyer, who signed on Dr. Shaibu’s behalf and was managing the hotel for Dr. Shuaibu as well.

“This has been confirmed from Ameh, who came to the Commission and volunteered his statement under caution from 29/3/2011 to 7/6/2011.

“From the analysis of the response of our letter dated 17/

Shaibu Sani Teidi.

“Although the N399million was said to be the value of Brifina Hotel and the amount for which it was sold to Dr. Sani Shaibu Teidi, investigation has so far traced the N359.25million as payments made to Chief Ezeweputa from Dr. Shaibu Sani Teidi through Mohammed Muhamud in regards to the purchase of Brifina Hotel.

“Chief Anthony Ezeweputa was invited to EFCC, where he came and volunteered his statement under caution which was recorded at various times from 31/3/2011 21/6/ 2011 and could not properly explain the purpose of which the payment of the total sum of N324.25million was made to him from Mohammed Muhamud. He also declared his asset to the Commission 31/ 3/2011(202), where in an attempt to hide the funds he failed to declare his A.E. Bright Future Motors account with Bank PHB.

US issues Boko Haram warning

Christians back Osun governor Continued from page 2

answers provided by the government on the proposed uniforms for the state’s schools and construction of new schools and the rumoured plans to change the names of the schools.

Aregbesola reminded the Christian leaders that members of his executive council belong to one church or the other, advising them to relate with Christians in government to get clarifications on new policies.

The governor said the events of the last one week showed clearly that the opposition has a calculated agenda to cause confusion, with a view to securing a state of emergency.

Samples of the new schools uniforms were displayed to the religious leaders, who expressed satisfaction at the designs.

5/2011(212) to Afribank Plc, it was discovered that N165million was paid to Chief Anthony Ezeweputa from Muha Motors account with Afribank account 1490529977612 on April 8, 2009 through A.E. Bright Future Motors Nig.Ltd account with Spring Bank Plc, a company belonging to Chief Anthony Ezeweputa.

“A letter dated 9/6/11(69) signed by Wakili Mohammed was sent to Spring Bank Plc to furnish EFCC with relevant documents in respect of A.E. Bright Future Motors Nig. Ltd. Account, and their response confirmed the transaction. Another letter sent to Spring bank on 18/5/2011 (75) signed by Wakili Mohammed in respect of A.E. Bright. Another letter was sent to Oceanic Bank on 18/5/2011 (76) in respect of A.E. Bright.

“Another payment of N109.25millon was traced to Chief Anthony Azeweputa from Muha Motors account 1490529977612 with Afribank Plc on the same day April 8, 2009 through his company A.E. Bright Future Motors Nig.Ltd. account with Bank PHB Plc. A letter dated 9/6/ 2011(68) signed by Wakili Mohammed was sent to Bank PHB Plc to furnish the EFCC with relevant documents in respect of A.E. Bright Future Motors Nig. Ltd. account.

Their response also confirmed the transaction.

“Following the analysis of the response of our letter sent to UBA Plc dated 19/7/2011 signed by Wakili Mohammed in respect of Smart Investment Acct.

NO. 10116770857 which they responded on 10/8/2011, it was discovered that N25million was paid from Smart Investment Account to A.E. Bright future Motors Nig. Ltd. on 6/ 4/2009 on the directives of Dr.

•US Ambassador Terrence McCauley Continued from page 2

year’s Christmas Day attack that left dozens of people dead in Madalla, Niger State.

He observed that terrorist attacks continued unabated nationwide despite the assurances of our security agencies of “being on top of the situation”.

He said that the Easter bomb explosion in Kaduna claimed 13 lives, injured 32

people and destroyed property worth millions of naira, bringing untold hardship on victims, their relatives and residents of the city.

The prayer that the federal government should be asked to recognize that “these terrorists have declared war on Nigeria, which is a threat to our sovereignty, existence and economic wellbeing and to respond with all instruments of national power at its disposal” was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

Senator Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna North) described the bomb blast as sad.

He said: “It is a problem concerning all of us; we should volunteer information to security agencies to be able to arrest the situation. All measures including dialogue, should be used by government to solve the problem,” Makarfi said.

Senator Gyang Dalong Datong (Plateau North) said: “This country is going through

a very sad moment because every Nigerian that is killed is either a brother or sister.”

Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi (Ekiti North) noted that the Senate has refused to pass a vote of no confidence on any security outfit.

He said: “Nigerians are tired of condemnation, of bombings and observations of one minute silence. One of the questions Nigerians are asking is: ‘Do we have a government?’”

The poser led to an uproar in the Senate.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said: “Let’s take the matter with the seriousness it deserves. Let us allow our colleague to express his opinion. This is the high point of democracy.”

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe noted that the country is at war.

He said: “When you are at war, you do the needful. Security agencies have to step up to the challenge. They attacked

the security agencies first in the North, which made them duty bound to protect themselves and in the process protect the citizenry. “ Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) said something must be done about children who are affected psychologically.

Senator Mohammed Magoro said: “What we are facing is a very serious situation.”

He added: “It is because we have not been following the trend of events. Kano, Kaduna and Borno are at a standstill. Training and acquisition of modern equipment is necessary for security. Security agencies are doing their best.

Physical checking of vehicles cannot take you anywhere.”

Ekweremadu said: “The most important business of government is the protection of lives and property and that is fundamental. If we need to even borrow money to deal with this security challenge that needs to be done.”

NNPC, PPPRA, marketers to refund N1.070 trillion Continued from page 2

“With regards to the 445,000bpd allocation to NNPC to refine for local consumption, the Committee established that the allocation is sufficient to provide the nation with 40 million litres per day for PMS and 10 million litres of HHK. “The above can be achieved conveniently through SWAP arrangement, offshore processing and outright sale of the 445.000bpd and or partial sale of the excess from the local refining capacity of 53 percent.

“Therefore, though we have quoted 40 million litres as a liberal figure, in the course of monitoring the implementation of the subsidy regime, the actual daily consumption will then be determined.”

The report said: “The NNPC should refund to the Federation Account the sum of N310,414,963,613 paid to it illegally as subsidy for kerosene, contrary to the presidential directive of July 29th 2009 withdrawing subsidy on the product.

“The Committee recommends that the NNPC should be unbundled to make its operations more efficient and transparent, and this we believe can also be achieved

through the passage of a well drafted and comprehensive Petroleum Industry Bill.

“The Committee therefore urges the speedy drafting and submission of the bill to the National Assembly.

“The Committee wishes to recommend that the House do direct for the auditing of the NNPC to determine its solvency. This was as a result of plethora of claims of indebtedness and demands for payments by NNPC’s debtors which, if not well handled, will not only affect the entire economy of Nigeria, but also the supply and distribution of petroleum products.

“The House should direct the NNPC to stop any form of deduction not captured in the Appropriation Act before remittance to the Federation Account, and the corporation should submit its transactions to the operational guidelines of the subsidy scheme.

“NNPC Retail, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) should be the outlets for the distribution of kerosene to ensure availability and affordability of the product to Nigerians.

“The NNPC should also re-

fund to the Federation Account N285,098b being over-deductions as against PPPRA approvals for 2011.

“The relevant anti-corruption agencies should further investigate the corporation for deductions for the year 2009 and 2010.

“As postulated earlier in this report, data provided by NNPC and CBN tends to suggest that for 2009, 2010 and 2011, NNPC deducted subsidy payments from two different accounts. It is the recommendation of this Committee that relevant anti-corruption agencies conduct thorough investigations into this matter and where it is established that double withdrawals were made, the extra amount should be paid back to the Treasury and those involved prosecuted.

“The committee recommends that NNPC be unbundled to make its operations more efficient and transparent and this we believe can be achieved through the passage of a well drafted and comprehensive PIB Bill.

“All those in the Management and Board of the NNPC directly involved in the infractions identified for the years 2009 -2011 should be investigated and prosecuted for the

abuse of office by the relevant anti-corruption agencies.”

“The Management and Board of the NNPC should be completely overhauled and all those involved in the following infractions be further investigated and prosecuted by the relevant anti-corruption agencies: *Payment of N285.098b in excess of the PPPRA recommended figure for 2011 *Subsidy deductions of N310,414,963,613 for kerosene against a Presidential directive; *Direct deductions from funds meant for the Federation Account in contravention of Section 162 of the Nigerian constitution. *Illegal granting of price differential (discount) of crude oil price per barrel to NNPC tot the tune of N108.648b from 2009-2011.

“The relevant anti-corruption agencies should carry out a due diligence investigation to determine the total demurrage payments and outstanding incurred by NNPC for the period 2009-2011 “Under the PSF Scheme, importers especially NNPC, should be mandated to patronise Nigerian flagged vessels, provided they produce standard safety and sea-worthiness

certificates in tune with international best practices.

“All payments which the PPPRA made to itself from the PSF account in excess of the approved administrative charges which were due to it under the template, should be recovered and paid back into the Fund.

“These confirmed illegal payments were the sum of N156.455b in 2009 and the sum of N155.824b in 2010, a total sum of N312.279b.

“All staff of PPPRA and DPR involved in the (a) processing of applications by importers and (b) verification, confirmation and payment for imported products by importers and NNPC should be investigated/prosecuted by anti-corruption agencies for negligence, collusion and fraud.

“The Executive Secretaries of the PPPRA who were the accounting officers, and under whose watch these abuses were perpetrated that led to the Government losing billions of naira, should be held liable.

“Therefore, we strongly recommend that those who served as Executive Secretaries of PPPRA from 2009 to October 2011 should be further investigated/prosecuted by relevant anti-corruption agencies.

Aregbesola being persecuted, say ACN governors Continued from page 2

the Osun State Governor had not breached any section of the Constitution and queried the logic behind accusing Aregbesola of planning to secede simply because Osun State has its own anthem and flag, whereas Lagos, Ekiti, Kaduna, Cross River, Ondo and many other states also have one form of identity or the other.

“The accusation that Governor Aregbesola is on a secession bid simply because Osun has a state flag, its own anthem and identity is as puerile as it is stupid. Ekiti has its own identity, Cross River, Lagos, Kaduna, Ondo and several other states do. Does that mean they all want to secede?

This is nothing than calling a dog a bad name in order to kill it. But those behind this evil scheme should be ready for a fight,” Fayemi said.

The statement added: “The crudity of the various allegations against the Osun State Governor has become quite worrisome, especially with the tendency for unsuspecting members of the public to believe the falsehood that is being peddled by the PDP in the bid to foment crisis in Osun State in particular and the Southwest geo-political zone in general.

“Thus, we can no longer keep quiet and watch as these court jesters destroy the peace and progress that is fast taking root in the region.

“It is important to state with every sense of responsibility that the allegations against Governor Aregbesola are not only spurious, they smack of a poorly scripted plot aimed at painting him in a scurrilous light and then cripple his government. At best, those allegations are unwarranted, unsubstantiable and constitute an avoidable distraction to the governor’s efforts at taking the state out of the doldrums which they plunged the state in the first place.

“It is rather unfortunate that at this critical stage of our democratic development when all hands should be on the deck for the socio-economic, industrial and infrastructural development of the country, all that interests these charlatans is childish witch hunting of Governor Aregbesola, a development that has consistently heated up the polity in the past few weeks.

“Governor Aregbesola, no doubt, is entitled to his own style of relating to nemesis of the opposition in the state and the Southwest. He does not have to be friendly with those he regards as destroyers of the culture of decency and honour to which the Yorubaland has long been associated.

“We say no to this pull – him – down syndrome and the idea of battling with bull shit, those we could not dazzle with brilliance, or those whose brilliance we cannot match. This must stop.

“We are guided by the Constitution and Governor Aregebsola has not breached any provision of this constitution. We will not take kindly to unwarranted and unjust persecution of the governor or any citizen of the country for that matter, including those who cannot lay claim to any positive development in the states they illegally administered in comparison to the positive development Osun State is currently witnessing.”

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

63

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

www.thenationonlineng.net

‘If Okonjo-Iweala thinks herself an economic goddess of

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7, NO. 2100

any kind, she has an inalienable right to such endeavor as long as she understands that the deities as well as the heroes of an epoch are basically recognizable as its clearsighted ones; their deeds and their words are the best of OLATUNJI OLOLADE their time’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

F

OR many a commentator, these are strenuous times. Not for lack of what to say or write, but for the choice of what to comment on amid a flood of exciting events happening simultaneously. How does he choose what to comment on and what to ignore? Will his choice meet the reader’s expectation? How should he weigh in on a topical issue without being seen as stale? What fresh perspective should he offer? These and many others are some of the questions that stir his heart. Today, Editorial Notebook is hit by such dilemma.

Some of the key items in the notebook have links with events that have their roots overseas, but I assure you this is no flight to Afghanistanism–the act of commenting on events in far-flung corners of the world even as the home front is boiling. Neither is it about the insanity in Syria nor the madness in Mali. Nor the savagery of the Norwegian butcher who told the court he would do it again after killing 77 people. No. Here we go: Those who do not believe in miracles must have had a change of heart following the inexplicable recovery of Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who was pronounced by the club’s doctor as “in effect dead” for 78 hours during his side’s FA Cup encounter against Tottenham Hotspur on March 24.

Doctors, in a desperate battle to restore his collapsed heart, applied 15 defibrillator shocks. He was out of the hospital – alive -on Monday. Then, I thought: what if the incident had happened here? I remember Sam Okwaraji, the skillful midfielder who collapsed – dreadlocks and all - on the National Stadium pitch and died on August 12, 1989.

Muamba was revived at The London Chest Hospital. When are we going to have such a specialist hospital in a country where millions, hobbled by economic pains, have become hypertensive and may soon need a cardiologist? A country where many die of malaria and polio is fighting to return, many years after we were told it had been conquered. A country divinely blessed with riches but cursed with delinquent leadership.

Pity.

Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala lost her bid for the World Bank’s presidency.

It was a well fought battle in which the best woman for the job lost. American candidate Jim Yong Kim, a health expert, won the race to fix the ailing bank. Okonjo-Iweala has congratulated Kim and all her backers have accepted their fate. But many are wondering why America insisted on Kim even as the developing world and media giants pushed for Okonjo-Iweala, who is more experienced and, going by her antecedents, better prepared for the tasks ahead of the institution?

No need to make a song and dance about this loss. For six decades, America has chosen the head of the bank. Why call elections when you already know that your will shall be done? Where lie America’s democratic credentials? Hypocrisy? All this steered by a man who himself is the epitome of an unprecedented change? God bless America!

In London, former Delta Governor James Onanefe Ibori got the prize of a life of crime – a 13-year jail term. The Ogidigboigbo admitted having his fingers in the till, amassing an

RIPPLES Strike: FED GOVT DARES PHCN WORKERS–News

...Yes, they can go to HELL

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

Ibori and other stories

•Ibori

amazing fortune with which he funded a royalty lifestyle, cruising the world in exotic vehicles and partying like a movie star while his people suffered hardship.

But, even in his moment of self-inflicted adversity, Ibori has not lacked admirers. An unknown group, the South-South Grassroots Coalition, in a newspaper advertorial on Tuesday, praised him as the “governor’s governor” and a champion of his people’s dream and victim of a grand political conspiracy. Really? The elegiac advertorial, entitled “Ibori, you will never walk alone”, is an insult to true indigenes of Delta who are

the owners of the resources the man grabbed as they grubbed about for food on the farms and in the creeks.

Ex-soccer star John Fashanu mounted the witness box to deliver a eulogy meant to mitigate Ibori’s punishment. He spoke of how Ibori built stadia for the people and urged the court to consider his good side.

What an allocutus! Many were sad as the prosecution lashed Ibori, calling him a common thief in the government house. They were sad because this is the hopeless picture of our leadership that will be more celebrated whereas there are still some men of conscience up there.

As many mourn the Ibori saga’s effect on our collective psyche, some have found in it another hilarious avenue to reduce tension.

All manner of jokes have come up since Ibori climbed the tinted prison van for the bumpy ride to jail. Alone he was; all alone.

Consider this sent to me by a friend: “As Pope John Paul II lay dying, he sent for James Ibori and Lucky Igbinedion. When they arrived at the Vatican City, they were ushered into his bedroom. As they entered, His Holiness held out his hands and motioned them to sit on each side of the bed. The Pope grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling. For some

time, no one said anything. Both Ibori and Igbinedion were–touched and flattered–that the old Pope could ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled because the Pope never gave any indication that he liked either of them. Finally, Ibori asked, “Fader, which one?Wetin you ask the two of us to come do here?” The old Pope mustered up some strength and said weakly, “Jesus died between two thieves ...I will like to die like him.”

In Lagos last Thursday, motorists and other residents had a nasty experience. The streets were jammed. Traffic got stuck. Many were trekking. Some who were lucky enough to find an escape route called it a day and rushed back home to enjoy a forced holiday. What happened? First Lady Patience Jonathan was visiting – to thank Lagosians for voting her husband last year. Whoever needed an example of how not to show appreciation, there it was under the scorching Lagos sun. Why should roads be blocked and the economy of a city paralysed all because the First Lady was in town? When are we going to grow up?

If the Federal Government embraces the recommendation of the Oronsaye Panel, we may soon wave a final bye to some agencies and parastatals. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) and many others are likely to die. The government, by killing them, plans to reduce its workforce and save some cash from its huge recurrent spending, which it plans to plough into capital projects. Good. But, have we thought of the social implications of sending thousands of people home without alternative jobs? Are the conditions that sprouted these agencies no longer there? Have we exterminated ghost workers from the system? I think the government should focus more on fighting corruption. It should expand the economy by taking its eyes off oil for a while and sparing a thought for tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. Should we cut our nose to spite our face?

Aregbesola, his traducers and our sense of humour

W

ONDERS will never end. Waving an anomalous security report, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s opponents have been accusing him of secession and all manner of bizarre allegations. The government of Osun State has proposed a change of school uniform to the local adire batik – they claim the governor decreed that girls must wear hijab – and has rebranded the state in a way that the culture of integrity, respect for elders and hard work as the only way to success – as against fraud – has been revived. They alleged that he has a new flag for the state.

The last time I checked, the green-whitegreen national flag was flying at the state secretariat. There is nothing strange about the miniature flag Aregbesola has been

M

ALIANS are playing with two dangerous fires. There is on one hand the subtle takeoff of a diarchical relationship between the coup plotters who took power on March 22 but were forced by ECOWAS sanctions and mediation to cede power last week and the interim administration approved by the regional body to midwife a new election in 40 days. There is also on the other hand the problem of the coup plotters who reluctantly ceded power but are still, like a snake only scorched but not killed, dangerous enough to do incredible damage to the Malian body polity. Lost for ideas and fearful of being defied endlessly, ECOWAS had unwisely entered into a humiliating compromise gingerly put together by regional mediators led by Foreign Affairs minister of Burkina Faso, Djibril Bassole, and the coup leaders led by Captain Amadou Sanogo.

Meanwhile, the coup leaders have begun to arrest Malian dignitaries, opposition leaders and politicians, some of whom were supposed to be candidates in the original April 29 date of the presidential election truncated by the March coup. The transitional leader who was

accused of carrying. Companies fly their own flags alongside the national flag; religious institutions and social groups as well as sports clubs have flags. Why the fuss?

Aregbesola may be accused of throwing so much passion – some insist emotion – into whatever he does; he may be accused of being hyperactive in the pursuit of a cause he believes to be good; his bluntness may be atypical and biting; but treason?

Come off it. That’s taking political chicanery too far. Damn too far.

The governor is accused of forming an Islamic group, which his traducers liken to Boko Haram(western education is a sin). But the Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen, which pre-dates the Aregbesola administration,

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

ECOWASmaking a mess of Mali also Speaker of the parliament, Dioncounda Traore, has been powerless to do anything about the arrests. Apart from former president Amadou Toumani Toure who is under unlawful house arrest, the other arrested politicians and military figures are being detained in military barracks awaiting screening and interrogation.

This column had warned on April 9 that the compromise with Mali’s coup leaders was unwise and short-sighted. It argued: “By negotiating with the coupists and granting them immunity from prosecution, and, worse, by impliedly endorsing the removal of President Ahmadou Toure, whose term was due to end after the previously scheduled April 29 polls, ECOWAS has obviously given in to lawlessness.”

Hardball further warned: ”If the coup lead-

has come out to say the difference between it and Boko Haram is like light and darkness. It cited its love for education and vowed to sue the State Security Service (SSS) for giving it a bad name.

Aregbesola’s opponents should judge him with his performance; not with this mystifying yardstick. The governor and his team need not fret at these laughable allegations, including being accused of renaming Osun State as the State of Osun.

Lexical palaver? Since the SSS has been trying to redefine secession, I have been watching the reactions, especially from the soulless Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and asking: where is our sense of humour?

ers (had been) forced out and prosecuted, it would have sent a much more enduring message to all of West Africa and even the continent as a whole that military intervention would no longer be accepted under any guise.

ECOWAS has once again lost a unique opportunity to reaffirm its appreciation of democracy and its commitment to its high and lofty ideals, and this failure can be put down to the dearth of statesmen and leaders with the requisite character required to lift the continent into the 21st century. This deal, though expedient, is regrettable, poorly considered, foolish and short-sighted. It will engender peace in the short run, but the regional bloc will rue its misses and folly in the long run.”

It is clear where all the nonsense is heading.

The coup leaders are subverting democracy.

But ECOWAS can still arrest the drift by coaxing the coup leaders to do what is lawful and sensible. If they don’t, they must then be compelled. If need be, they must be told that they would forfeit any amnesty previously granted them, for it is becoming apparent they won’t go down without fighting.

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:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302.

E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO