The Nation April 20, 2012

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VOL. 7, NO. 2099 FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

•NO

TO RAPE: Women and girls protesting against rape at the Lagos State Governor’s Office gate at Alausa, Ikeja ... yesterday

H

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

HE President yesterday requested Germany to deploy its technology in support of the government’s battle against Boko Haram.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan told German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint news conference in Berlin that with the Continued on page 4

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

‘We were under pressure’

Jonathan seeks German aid to fight Boko Haram

T

N150.00

•Dr. Jonathan

OUSE of Representatives Petrol Subsidy Probe Committee chair Farouk Lawan yesterday spoke of how its members warded off pressure to alter its report.

Lawan said the pressure came from various quarters, including government offi-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

cials, oil marketers and even colleagues in the parliament.

According to him, the

•MORE ON PAGES 2&3 members stood their ground because they were united and also “because none of us had

any previous dealings in the sector”.

The members of the panel, besides Lawan, are Ali Babatunde Ahmad, Eucharia Azodo, John Enoh, Alphonsus Gerald Irona, Umar Abubakar Sade, James Abiodun Faleke and Continued on page 4

Panel: waste disposal firm got N1.9b fuel subsidy 3.171b litres of petrol missing Conoil, AMG, Rainoil cleared WHAT THE PANEL SAID ON: PPPRA

NNPC All those in the management and board of the NNPC directly involved in all the infractions identified for the years 2009-2011 should be investigated and prosecuted.

M •Farouk ... yesterday

ORE sordid details of the multi-billion naira petrol subsidy bazaar emerged yesterday.

A waste disposal firm got N1.9b subsidy for products it never supplied, according to the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc

All staff of PPPRA involved in the processing of applications by importers and verification, confirmation and payment for imported products should be investigated/prosecuted.

From Yusuf Alli, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Committee which probed the controversial subsidy.

More than 126 oil marketers and top officials of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) should be investigated and

PPMC PPMC appeared not to be alive to its responsibilities. A case in point is the embarrassing failure of the Managing Director to provide the committee with the retail market price of kerosene.

prosecuted by anti-graft agencies – if the authorities accept the recommendations of the Committee.

They are to be probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

But the panel cleared three firms of misconduct. These are: Conoil Plc, AMG Petroleum Energy Ltd and Rainoil Ltd. The committee discovered that about 3, 171,644, 336 litres of petrol, allegedly subsidised, never got to the Continued on page 4

•CITYBEATS P6 •AGRIC P17 •SPORTS P23 •SOCIETY P25 •BRAND P29

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

2

NEWS SUBSIDY PROBE REPORT

‘How NNPC, marketers,

The Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives’ Committee, which probed the administration of fuel subsidy, has issued a damining report. Excerpts:

B

ASED on the facts, issues and investigative interactions, the Committee hereby makes the following recommendations for the consideration and approval of the House.

1 From the findings of this Committee the consumption level for 2011 is estimated at 31.5 million liters per day. However, in 2012 marginal increment of 1.5milion liters a day is recommended in order to take care of unforeseen circumstances, bringing it to 33 million liters per day. And to maintain a strategic reserve, an additional average of seven (7) million liters per day (or 630milllion litres per Quarter) for the first quarter of 2012 only is recommended. Thus, PPPRA is to use 40 million litres 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 quantity of 9 million litres.

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 forty million litres per day for PMS and Ten million litres of HHK. The above can be achieved conveniently through; SWAP arrangement, * Offshore processing, *Outright sale of 445,000bpd and or partial sale of the excess from the local refining capacity of 53%.

Therefore there is no reason for government to grant subsidy importation to any marketer.

Even 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.

3 The NNPC should refund to the Federation Account, the sum of N310,414,963,613 (Three hundred and ten billion, four hundred and fourteen million, nine hundred and sixty three thousand, six hundred and thirteen naira only) paid to it illegally as subsidy for kerosene contrary to the Presidential Directive of July 29th, 2009 withdrawing subsidy on the product.

4 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.

5 The Committee wishes to recommend that the House do direct for auditing of the NNPC to determine its solvency. This was as a result of plethora of claims of indebtedness and demand 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.

Examples: Nigeria Customs Service =N46 billion Nigeria Ports Authority =N6billion Trafigura et al = $3.5billion 6. The House should direct the NNPC to stop any form of deduction not captured in the Appropriation Act before remittance to the

Federation Accounts, and the Corporation should submit its transactions to the operational Guidelines of the Subsidy Scheme.

7 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 of Nigerians.

8.

The NNPC should go also refund to the Federation Account the sum of NGN 285.098 billion being over-deductions as against PPPRA approvals for 2011. The Relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies should further investigate the Corporation for deductions for the years 2009 and 2010.

9.

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 amounts should be paid back to the Treasury and thos involved prosecuted.

10.

The Management and Board of the NNPC should be completely and all those involved in the following intractions be further investigated and prosecuted byt he Relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies. a.Payment of N285.098 billion in excess of the PPPRA recommeded figure for 2011. b. Subsidy deductions of N310,414,613 for kerosene against a presidential directive. c. Direct deductions from funds meant for the Federation Account in contravention of Section 162 of the Nigerian Constitution. d. Illegal granting of price differential (discourse) of crude oil price per barrel to NNPC to the tune of N108.648 billion from 2009 - 2011.

11. The relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies should carry out a duediligence investigation tio determine the total demurge payments and outstanding incurred by NNPC for the period 2009 - 2011.

12. Under the PSF Scheme, importers especially NNPC should be mandated to patronize Nigerian Flagged vessels provided they produce the standard safety and seaworthiness certificates in tune with International best practices.

13. All the payments which the PPPRA made to itself from the PSF account in excess of the approved administrative charges wihich were due to it under the Template should be recovered and paid back into the fund. The officials involved in this infraction shlould be further investigated/prosecuted by the relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies. These confirmed illegal payments were the sum of NGN 156.455 billion in 2009, and the sum of NGN155.824 billion in 2010, a total sum of NGN312,279 billion.

14. 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 AntiCorruption Agencies for neglience,

•Chairman House of Reps on Media, Zakari Mohammed(left), Chairman House of Reps Ad-hoc committee on the probe of Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan and Chairman Committee on Public Accounts, Adeola Solomon Olamilekan during a news conference on the submission of the Subsidy Probe Report in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

collusion and fraud.

15. The Executive Secretaries of the PPPRA 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 January 2009 to October 2011 should be further investigated/ prosecuted by relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies. This should also include GM Field Services, ACDO/ Supervisor-Ullage Team 1, and ACDO/Supervisor-Ullage Team 2 within the same period, for their roles in the management of the ullaging under the subsidy scheme.

16.

The Chairman of the Board of PPPRA from 2009 - 2011, and the entire Membes of the Board during the period are hereby reprimanded and their decision which opened the floodgate for the Bazaar is condemned in the strongest terms.

17.

It is hereby recommended that Mr. President should reorganized the Ministry of Petroleum to make it more effective in carrying out the much needed reforms in the oil and gas sector.

18. Given the large and complex nature of the Ministry of Petroleum

Resources, the Committee recommends that two ministers should be appointed to take charge of the upstream and downstream.

19. the current template being used

by PPPRA in computing and paying PSF is full of in-built prices for wastages and inefficiencies (eg.

Lightering exercise, demurrage) that could be plugged to save the nation’s scarce. We therefore recommend the revision of the template.

20. Henceforth the PPPRA margin of error on the payment Template for ascertaining allowable volumes on imported products should not be more than +/5% as against the current +/-10% 21. The PPPRA should provide the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA advance copies of allocation and vessel arrival notification documents to enable the Navy Monitor, track and interdict vessels seeking to avoid Naval certification.

22.The Executive Secretary of PPPRA 2009- February, 2011 should be investigated and punished for the official recklessness he exhibited in the implementation of the Board decision to reverse the qualification for participation in the scheme. The allocation/approvals to import products given to thirty-five (35) Companies before their formal

‘

CBN and the Federal Ministry of Finance should critically examine and review the policy guiding payment for importation of petroleum products to avoid the current fraudulent system that allows importers to bring in products from off-shore “Lome” or “Cotonou” to qualify for forex payment.

‘

registration with PPPRA testify to this, Companies that lack the require competence and expertise to import petroleum products and even those who did not meet up with the agreed standards were also awarded large chunks of the allocation, an act that culminated in huge loss of resources to the nation. Many Companies under his watch who had neither depots nor through-put agreement were allowed to participate in the Scheme contrary to the revised eligibility guidelines.

23.The practice whereby PPPRA as a regulator in the petroleum downstream sector being supervised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources whose Minister is the Chairman of the Board of NNPC (a major Importer/participant in the PSF scheme) negates the principles of checks and balances and international best practices. The Committee therefore recommends that the regulatory capacity of PPPRA be strengthened and the National Assembly should commence the process of amending the Act to make the Agency autonomous.

24.

The PPPRA should, within two weeks of the adoption of this Report, conduct a performance assessment of All Companies involved in the PSF scheme and publish such reports.

25. The Committee is firm in its view that if any petroleum products is deserving of subsidy, HHK should enjoy a pride of place.

It therefore recommends the immediate reinstatement of subsidy for kerosene not later that second quarter, 2012 at pump price of N50 per litre.

26.The Committee recommends that the sum of NGN5557.70 billion should be provided for as subsidy in the 2012 Appropriation Act, while the sum of N249.0006B should be provided as subsidy for HHK (Kerosene).

Evidently, 445,000 bpd allocation to NNPC is sufficient to provide the nation with 40 MPPD PMS, 10 MLPD

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

3

NEWS SUBSIDY PROBE REPORT

PPPRA defrauded Nigeria’ These who obtained FOREX but did not import Petroleum products NAMES OF MARKETERS 1.Business Ventures Nig. Ltd. 2.East Horizon Gas Co. Ltd. 3.Emadeb Energy 4.Pokat Nig. Ltd. 5.Synopsis Enterprises Ltd. 6.Zenon Pet & Gas Ltd. 7.Carnival Energy Oil Ltd. 8.Crownlines9.Ice Energy Petroleum Trading Ltd 10.Index Petroleum Africa 11.Ronad Oil & Gas W/A 12.Serene Greenfield Ltd. 13.Supreme & Mitchelles 14.Tridax Energy Ltd. 15.Zamson Global Res.TOTAL HHK, 8.97 MLPD LGO, 0.62 MLPD LPG and 2.31 MLPD of FO at the current NNPC refining capacity of 53%. It is only AGO that daily consumption in full could not be achieved. Since AGO has been deregulated, other marketers can make up for the 3.03 MLPD shortfall.

27. The Committee recommends that FIRS should follow up on the companies listed earlier to pay their taxes with due penalties in line with the provisions of the Companies Income Tax Act. 28. The PSF Guidelines should be revised to make Tax compliance a mandatory pre-qualification requirement for all participants under the Scheme.

29.

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 the FOREX for: (SEE TABLE 1) 30.

The following Companies that participated in the Scheme and refused to appear before the Committee and never submitted the required documents as was repeatedly announced during the hearing are to refund the various sums against their names. It is believed that these companies deliberately refused to appear because they had something to hide. The relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies should ensure full recovery: (SEE TABLE 2) 31. Payments for PMS with effect from the second quartr of 2012 should be based on certified truck outs at depots confirmed at the retail outlets and no longer on discharges from vessels into tank farms. Consumption should be defined in a way to exclude what I s imported but only what is put in the tank.

32. The markets of opportunity situated within Nigerian territorial waters which are designated “offshore Cotonou” or “offshore Lome” to quarlify for FOREX payment and to evade payment of appropriate levies, due and taxes to the Nigerian government should be discontinued forthwith.

33. A Marine Transportation System should be put in place that is safe, secure, reliable, cost effective and efficient to reduce the present high cost of doing business in Nigeria.

34. Any importation without permit or where the difference is above approved quota should not be entitled to any amount on the Template.

35.It is strongly recommended

2010 $ 22,927,339.96 20,735,910.81 6,606,094.30 3,147,956.19 51,449,977.47 232,975,385.13

2011 $

51,089.57 4,756,274.94 2,131,166.32 6,438,849.64 4,813,272.00 4,813,360.75 16,947,000.00 15,900.000.00 8,916,750.00 337,842,663.86

64,767,763.22

•Speaker Aminu Tambuwal

that Marketers without storage facilities and retail outlets should be excluded from participating in the PFS Scheme as this will end the bazaar that constituted a serious drain on the nation’s economy and created room fro abuses.

36.The services of the accounting firm of Akintola Williams, Deloitte and Olusola Adekanola & Partners should be discontinued with immediate effect for professional incompetence on this particular assignment.

(MDA’s) for a period of three years.

37.

This Ad-Hoc Committee shall in its monitoring state conduct extensive and thorough investigation into the operations of the PEF (MB) in order to ascertain the management of the bridging funds under the subsidy regime.

38.

Penalties should also be indicated for non-compliance and promptly imposed to ensure the smooth operation of the Scheme.

39. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should be encouraged within a time frame to improve on the draught level of the Nigerian waters to encourage the berthing of ALL types of vessels so as to eliminate the present ship-to-ship (STS) transfers by importers of petroleum prod-

Marketers To Make Refund

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

NAME OF COMPANY Mut-Hass Petroleum Ltd Nepal Oil and Gas Service Oilbath Nigeria Techno Oil Ltd. Somerset Energy Services Stonebridge Oil Limited Mobil Oil Nigeria Ax Energy Limited Cah Resources Association Limited Crust Energy Limited Fresh Synergy Limited Ibafon Oil Limited Lottoj Oil and Gas Limited Oakfield Synergy Network Limited Petrol Trade Energy Limited Prudent Energy & Service Limited Rocky Energy Limited TOTAL

AMOUNT 1,102,084,041.30 2,353,911,979.10 1,019,644,138.97 1,036514,387.08 3,015,221,487.94 1,784,158,258.14 14,934,371,661.76 1,471,969,643.31 1,052,466,415.28 1,192,651,581.76 1,417,029,059.70 4,687,730,540.46 1,427,429,910.95 988,920,219.15 1,471,027,874.73 1,360,898,638.10 1,620,110,167.58 41,936,140,005.31

•Hon. Lanre Odubote.... yesterday

ucts.

40. All those in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Director-General Budget, and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation involved in the extra budgetary expenditure under the PSF Scheme (2009-2011) should be sanctioned in accordance with the Civil Service Rules and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

41. The payment of N999,000,000 in 128 times within 24 hrs (12th & 13th January, 2009) by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation should be further investigated by relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies.

43.The National Assembly should enact an Act to criminalise extra budgetary expenditure.

44.CBN and the Federal Ministry of Finance should critically examine and review the policy guiding payment for importation of petroleum products to avoid the current fraudulent system that allows importers to bring in products from off-shore “Lome” or “Cotonou” to qualify for forex payment.

45.The Committee notes that several alarms were raised by the CBN on the escalation of subsidy figure but these early warning signals were ignored by relevant agencies.

The Committee wishes to encourage whistle – blowing by regulatory agencies on threats to the economy with the hope that proactive measures could be taken.

46.The Committee recommends that the PPMC Management be overhauled. In furtherance to above recommendation of the committee, institutional mechanism be urgently developed to ensure the monitoring of actual delivery of kerosene to the Nigeria masses 47.The PPMC should deploy modern sate-of-the-art devices to protect its facilities and pipeline to eliminate wastage arising from vandalism. In the short-term, however, PPMC should establish a surveillance system which should incorporate Community-protection and using part of the bridging funds on the PSF Template to finance this.

48.All the extant circulars preventing the Nigeria Customs Service from carrying out its statutory functions be immediately withdrawn by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

49.The Committee recommends that NNPC takes immediate action to pay N46billion owed the Nigeria Customs Service and the N6billion owed to the Nigeria Ports Authority.

50.The failure of NPA to provide this Committee the vital vessel data particularly the IMO numbers is an indication that either NPA has a very poor record keeping system or that it was a deliberate poly to cover up the collusion between its officials and importers. We recommend an investigation into the operations and activities of this Authority.

51.The port operations of the Nigerian Port Authority be investigated with a view to determining the extent to which its officials are complicit in the classification of maritime areas for reception of Nigerian bound petroleum products as “offshore Cotonou” and “offshore Lome” in the face of evidence that these vessels never did lighter at those Ports, includuing the use of the data from Llyods List Intelligence resulting in the cases so far reported. However given the scale of connivance and collusion by government officials involved in the certification process, the Committee believes that further investigation will reveal more cases. It is therefore recommended that all the data obtained in the course of this investigation, especially from the Llyods List Intelligence be forwarded to relevant anti-corruption agencies for a more detailed investigation.

53. The present management of PEF (M) B should be overhauled and the Board when constituted should comprise of persons of impeccable integrity who should be knowledgeable in aspects of its mandate. This is without prejudice to the coming into force of the Petroleum Industry Act. 54. PEF (M) B should establish a tracking system on all trucks from point of discharge (retail outlets) and direct that all trucks involved with transportation of products should install approved tracking devices on them.

55. It is hereby recommended that the regulatory capacity of the DPR be strengthened. The National Assembly should commence the process of amending the Act to make the agency autonomous.

56. The DPR should take immediate steps to bring all facilities and depot owners into compliance with international best practices by ensuring the installation of modern metering gadgets and sealable and non-return valves, to eliminate the rampant cases of round-tripping.

57. The DPR should brace up to its role of repulation and compel the NNPC/PPMC to comply with all the regulations issued to ensure transparency and accountability.

58. In order to reduce and gradually eliminate lightering, associated inefficiency and cost, Government should invest in the provision of Single Point Mooring (SPM’S). This provision should be followed up by instituting regulations to compel owners to develop pipeline throughput availability to facilitate direct delivery of imported products by heavy vessels, in-shore Nigeria.

59. There should be deliberate policy by government to encourage the utilisation of gas in automobile, domestic (cooking), and industrial facilities.

60. As a matter of urgency and in furtherance of our national security requirements, a national strategic reserve should be immediately be enhanced so as to accommodate a 90-day stop-gap strategic reserve.

61. We strongly recommend that relevant Standing Committees of the National Assembly should be more proactive in their oversight responsibilities to forestall future occurrences.

4

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

NEWS

•President Goodluck Jonathan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a joint news conference in Berlin ... yesterday PHOTO: STATE HOUSE Continued from page 1

support of the international community, Nigeria can overcome the insurgency of the sect that has claimed responsibility for the series of attacks and killings across the North.

President Jonathan, who is rounding off a three-day visit to Germany today, said: “As a nation, we have security challenges because most investors talk about security. At present, we have the local terrorist group, code-named Boko Haram.

From publications on this terrorist group, it paints a very gloomy picture as if the whole country is in tatters.

These terrorists operate in some states in the Northeastern part of the country but go into other states from time to time.

“But what I can assure the global community, especially our investors from Germany, is that the government is working very hard to bring it under control.”

The President said the sect’s activities surprised the nation, explaining that their mode of operation was alien to Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria needs to deploy superior technology to counter the menace of the fundamentalist sect.

He said: “The area we expect our development partners es-

Jonathan seeks German aid to fight Boko Haram

•From left: Mr. Tony Elumelu, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Penelope Lewis, World Bank Adviser on Foundations; and World Bank President Robert Zoellick in Washington DC during the Advisory Council of Global Foundation Leaders meeting ... on Tuesday

pecially countries like Germany to help is in terms of our security architecture, training and providing us with some modern equipment. You have to fight terrorists with technology because terrorists do not need to come with a rifle and you confront them one on one.

They will surprise you; they will not come to engage you except to defend themselves occasionally.

“So, you must have superior technology to monitor them and know how to relate with them. And these are the areas we believe that countries like Germany and others and even the United Nations (UN) can assist us.”

The German Chancellor promised to work with Nigeria to halt the Boko Haram menace.

She said Germany agreed with Nigeria on the dangers posed by members of the sect and the threat to Nigeria’s reputation.

Chancellor Merkel said the newly established bilateral commission between Germany and Nigeria would discuss the issue and come up with details on the areas where Nigeria may need help.

“But I think what is most important is the resolve of the Nigerian government to deal with such a group and to remain on top of the situation and protect the peace-loving people of Nigeria who suffer most from such attacks. Wherever we can be helpful, be it in training, be it in logistics, we will certainly be glad to do that, and the details can then be worked out by the bi-national commission,” she said.

Dr Jonathan, also allayed the fear of investors and potential tycoons. He said his administration was packaging measures that would guarantee good returns for their investments.

He addressed representatives of the private sector and German Business Association at a breakfast meeting.

The President assured the gathering that Nigeria was an investors’ delight because of its favourable investment climate.

Dr Jonathan said: “For those yet to take advantage of opportunities available in my country, I challenge you to take the plunge today and you would be glad you did. As they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating.”

of this category of participants under the PSF Scheme.

“It appears to the committee unlikely that this category of stakeholders exists, especially in the light of the following: •the widely reported many cases across the country of domestic fire as a result of adulterated HHK and the vehicle engine knocks attributed to the availability of adulterated fuel in Nigeria; and •the inability of any of the government agencies to produce incontrovertible evidence of or even present any consistent data on the quantity of products imported into Nigeria provides a firm basis to conclude that these Independent Inspectors are non-existent.

“The Committee tasked itself to specifically identify marketers and the transactions that gave rise to claims to subsidy on products that may not have been brought in.

“The Committee identified that the marketers were often awarded superfluous quantities of products to supply but often did not meet the target.

“In 2009, PPPRA approved a supply of 11,341,507,500 litres of PMS for the marketers. However PPPRA confirmed the marketers discharged only 5,085, 206, 983 litres or 55.16%

The two promoters came together and incorporated Eco-Regen Ltd. on 3rd August 2010 with corporate address as 3rd Floor, UAC Building Central Business District Wuse, Abuja, applied for PPPRA registration on 11th September, 2010, got its first allocation of 15,000 mt on 20th January, 2011 and was paid N1, 984,141,091.10 as subsidy for products not supplied.

‘We were under pressure’ Continued from page 1

Abbas Tajudeen.

The lawmaker also debunked speculation that the Presidency offered to facilitate his ascendancy to the governorship position in Kano State on the platform of the PDP in 2015 if he could water down or truncate the subsidy probe report.

The 205-page Fuel Subsidy Management Report was laid before the House on Wednesday.

“No one offered me a governorship position, I wasn’t interested in the position not to mention anyone offering me such a position for that purpose,” he said.

Lawan said in spite of the pressure on his committee to jettison their conscience in the cause of the probe, the committee refused to compromise its integrity for pecuniary gains because of the importance of the national assignment.

His words: “They tried to reach out to some of us but

when that failed, some of them did not come. There was pressure from government officials and marketers who wanted to reach us through some of our colleagues. If we had compromised, we wouldn’t have had the courage to ask them the questions we asked them.”

The lawmaker described as untrue the media report which accused the panel of doctoring the report before it was laid before the House.

“The report has revealed a lot of things; we are asking Mr. President to reorganise the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources considering the spate of corruption revealed during the probe.”

He said the committee also asked the Presidency to dissolve the Boards of NNPC and PPPRA in the bid to sanitise the sector.

“When you look at our recommendation as regards to the NNPC, it is the same as our recommendation with regards to minister of Petroleum Resources. We said the ministry of Petroleum should

be completely re-organised. I don’t think it takes any lesson in English language to know what that means.

“Mr. President does know what we mean and that responsibility was given to Mr. President. The instance where we said ‘with regards to some of the infractions, we said those responsible should be further investigated and where found culpable, prosecuted’. We said management and board of NNPC. We have defined it in our report.

He maintained that there is “no need for importation of petroleum products for local consumption, if the NNPC can effectively manage the local production.

He said government was losing too much money granting licence for importation of petroleum products.”

The lawmaker said the committee discovered proliferation of companies that partook in the subsidy sharing during the period his committee investigated.

Continued on page 60

Panel: waste disposal company got N1.9b fuel subsidy

Continued from page 1

market.

But the committee reprimanded a former Chairman of the PPPRA, Senator Ahmadu Ali, and the board members (2009-2011) for their “decision which opened the floodgate for the bazaar” in the agency.

It did not recommend any sanction against Ali, a former National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the erstwhile board members.

These highlights are contained in the report of the committee that was made available to the media yesterday in Abuja.

The report reads: “The PPPRA is expected to assign independent inspectors interchangeably referred to as Independent Monitors/ and or Industry Consultant to measure and certify the quantity of products imported and supplied by the importercompanies. They are also required to analyse the quality specifications of the products and ascertain the quantity of Bunker Fund in the Vessel to avoid adulteration and volume distortions.

“The committee could not confirm the presence or the identity or even the existence

‘

under-discharge.

“Despite being aware of the under-performance by the marketers in 2009 or the defect in its procurement process and management, PPPRA increased the 2010 Approved Deliverables to 12,410,955, 000 litres. The marketers delivered only 6,226,586,543, that is 49.8% under performance. In spite of the under performance, there were no crises of product availability throughout 2011.

“This same ugly trend was maintained by PPPRA in 2011 during which it increased its approved quantity to 13,589,510,000 litres but, however, confirmed a delivery of 9,317,145,231 litres, an under performance by 31.4%. “(i) By PPPRA’s representation, the marketers received N680.982billion as subsidy for supplying 9,317,145,275 litres of PMS in 2011. (ii)Curiously, PPPRA made another presentation that the marketers were

’

paid N975.896billion for supplying 12,488,789,611 litres of PMS in 2011.

“Between (i) and (ii) above, PPPRA has confirmed that N294, 914billion was paid on 3,171,644,336 litres of PMS that might not have been supplied.

“The anomaly is hereby referred to the relevant anticorruption agencies for further investigation.

“The situation in 2011 wherein it was deduced that PPPRA may have paid subsidy higher than what the bank reflected, is a pointer to the fact that the official bank accounts disclosed by CBN may not be the only ones used by PPPRA during the subsidy regime.

PPPRA was identified to have received payments from PSF account in 2009 and 2010.

“It is clear that PPPRA had no good understanding of effective procurement procedures and management and may have adopted incremental budgeting

process in determining Approved Quantity without recourse to the performance in preceding periods.

“The PPPRA staff in charge of procurement between 2009 to 2011 should be reprimanded and punished according to Civil Service rules.

“We established that subversion of the PSF guidelines propelled by unashamed urge to swindle and defraud government were the real reasons the subsidy claims rose dramatically.”

The committee condemned the subsidy bazaar in the PPPRA where novices and unregistered firms were allowed to import fuel.

It cited an example of two promoters from a waste disposal company in the US who came into the country with a different proposal but got N1, 984,141,091.10 as subsidy for products not supplied.

It said 121 oil marketers should be investigated by anti-graft agencies.

They are as follows: •17 marketers that did not obtain FOREX but claimed to have imported petroleum products.

•15 marketers who obtained FOREX but did not import petroleum products.

•71 oil marketers to face probe and refund N230.1billion

•18 oil marketers benefited from the fuel subsidy but failed to appear before the committee. They also refused to submit relevant documents The report added: “The PPPRA Board Chairman (2009-2011), Senator Ahmadu Ali (GCON, fss) admitted before the committee that the Board under his chairmanship decided to proliferate importers to allegedly break the stranglehold which major marketers had on system.

“He also explained that the increase in number was meant to flood market with the products as a result of the scarcity at that time.

“This was done without setting a target volume, leading to supply glut in the quarter and throughout the year.

The figure then became a baseline which was increased at every successive year.

“This carte blanche for entrants was the singular most devastating decision of the Agency. The PSF guidelines on prequalification and monitoring completely broke down and the Scheme became an avenue for all forms of patronage. The number of importers increased from an initial figure of six in 2006, 36 in 2007, 49 in 2009, and 140 in 2011.

Continued on page 60

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

5

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

NEWS

Fed Govt: 2015 campaigners unserious From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

THE Federal Government yesterday urged Nigerians not to take serious politicians who have been campaigning for 2015 elections.

The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, addressed reporters in Abuja on activities for the May 28 Democracy Day and the first year anniversary of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

According to him, the government finds the campaigns disturbing as there is no rationale for such in the first year after last year’s elections.

He noted that seriousminded individuals should be more interested in the present than the future, saying the government is committed to delivering on its mandate.

Maku said: “We just finished elections last year, and some politicians have started campaigning for the 2015 elections. They want to distract the government.

“No politician should be taken seriously who go about campaigning for 2015. This is time to work. You just failed an election, you then want permanent electioneering campaign without any season.

‘Eight years of mainstream politics curse on Southwest’

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FORMER Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof.

Olukayode Oyediran, yesterday blamed the stunted development and the attendant “suffering” in the Southwest on the participation of the region in “mainstream politics” in the past eight years.

Oyediran, who spoke in the Ikenne home of his father-inlaw, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, during the emergency meeting of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), noted that the “glorious years” of the Yoruba race remained the period they were in the “opposition’.

According to him, the fortunes of the region dipped when it herded itself into “political mainstream”.

He said: “Over the years, the false notion has been spread that the Yoruba had suffered

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HID decries killings in the North

HE Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), an umbrella body of Yoruba socio-cultural groups, has condemned the incessant killings in the North.

YUF Chairman and matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (HID) spoke yesterday at a meeting of the group at the Awolowos’ home in Ikenne, Ogun State.

She said: “Our people and other non-natives in the North are becoming an endangered specie, and we keep praying for their safety whenFrom Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

because they were in the opposition rather than the political mainstream in Nigeria.

“The indisputable fact is that during the last 50 years or so, the most glorious days of the Yoruba occurred when they were in the opposition but were led by people who pos-

ever we hear of persons killed in the North.”

Mrs Awolowo urged the Yoruba to unite.

YUF set up a 50-man committee, headed by Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, to serve as its intellectual engine room.

At the meeting were: Senator Anthony Adefuye, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, former Lagos State Deputy Governor Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Chief Olu Falae, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, and Dr. Tokunboh Awolowo-Dosunmu, among others.

sessed and demonstrated attributes of Omoluabi (the thoroughbred).

“Furthermore, the present nadir to which Yoruba has sunk has been reached precisely when the Yoruba spent eight years, not only in the political mainstream, but at the political centre of gravity in Nigeria.

The Professor of Medicine

reminded the people of the old Western Region that the pantheon of Yoruba politics, the late Chief Awolowo, resolved that he would shun mainstream politics if it was found to be bereft of ideals and programmes that could transform the region.

Prof Oyediran said: “Again, it is instructive to note that during the First and Second

World Bank to boost agric with $900m From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

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Jonathan confirms NRC MD’s appointment

By Eric Ikhilae

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed the appointment of Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade as Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

Sijuwade has held the position in acting capacity since his appointment in August, 2009. Before then, he was Consultant and Project Director to the Federal Ministry of Transport on the Railway Modernisation Project.

In a statement, the NRC Assistant Director, Public Relations, David Ndakotsu said Sijuwade has provided quality, dynamic and strategic leadership for the successful implementation of the ongoing rehabilitation of the nation’s rail network and revitalized train operations across the country.

The NRC chief is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 25 years’ experience in large scale construction projects, including railways, roads, utilities, oil and gas sectors and commercial developments.

He has a vast experience as Management consultant in Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the rail sector.

•Birthday Boy: Agunsoye (third left) being assisted by Ekiti State Deputy Governor Olayinka (second left), Agunsoye’s wife, Olayinka (fourth left), Chief Akinnola (right) and Agunloye’s children: Ademide (left), Oluwaromade (third right) and Adebade, cutting the PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN cake…yesterday

Tinubu: Federal Govt must decentralise power

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ction Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday revisited the flawed federal system and urged the Federal Government to decentralise powers to the state and local governments in the true spirit of federalism.

He called for the repositioning of the local government system to enable the third tier of government discharge its constitutional responsibilities well at the grassroots.

The former Lagos State governor spoke at the presentation of a book: Local Government Administration: My Reflections, written by former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye. It was chaired by the Lisa Jigan of Ondo Kingdom, Chief Bayo Akinnola.

The highlights of the event included a lecture entitled: Trends In Federalism and Place of Local Government,” delivered by a university don, Dr. Olu Aransi, and the cutting of the 50th anniversary cake by Prince Agunsoye. The celebrator was accompanied by his wife, Olayinka, and children: Ademide, Oluwaromade and Adebade.

The book reviewer was Prof. Zaccause Ogundare of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

Dr Aransi called for the establishment of more local governments to bring governance to the doorsteps of the people.

I

•Sijuwade

Republics, Papa Awolowo consistently insisted that he and the political parties, which he led, could and would not accept ministerial positions in any government unless there was a prior agreement on the policies and programmes which would be executed.”

According to him, Awolowo never advocated the “political unity” of all Yoruba people but “practised healthy, constructive political opposition as a virile democratic dispensation”.

He attributed the deterioration in the Southwest to the “aggravating” exploitation of weak spots among the Yoruba by external forces as well as the distorted federalism in the country.

The academic said the way out is not for the Yoruba to move in one direction in the name of mainstreaming or unified political affiliation but that everybody or group should choose whichever political group to belong to.

•Don calls for creation of more councils

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

He said: “The best form of government that guarantees good governance, democracy and development is local government.

Decentralisation of power to the local government will enable it to play the role of a catalyst of development at the grassroots and bring development to the local areas.”

The university don noted that the people should be the focus of any developmental agenda, urging federal and state governments to deploy more resources to the councils.

Tinubu, who was represented by a former Health Commissioner Dr. Leke Pitan, described local government as the closest to the people. He said it should be repositioned for efficient service delivery.

He added: “Development can be felt by the people, if they are allowed to take their place in true federalism. People who serve at the council level should serve with diligence. The book written by Agunsoye has put local government on the front burner. Rather than concentrate power at the centre, resources should be deployed to the states and councils for proper development.”

HE World Bank will support the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government with $900 million, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said.

The minister spoke yesterday in Abuja at a briefing on the outcome of the just-concluded Nigeria Agricultural Forum in the United States.

He said $500 million would be used for agriculture and the remaining $400million is to support the irrigation system.

Adesina said: “I met with the senior directors of World Bank and the Country Director of Nigeria. They are excited that Nigeria is diversifying its economy through agriculture and they have agreed to support us in the direction we are going.

“The World Bank has expressed its willingness and readiness to consider raising a facility of $900 million that will cover the agricultural value chain we are working on and look at irrigation infrastructure that will support Nigeria. The team to look into this will be in the country in two weeks and they will finalise that.”

Adesina, who revealed that the apex bank also showed interest in giving its support in developing staple crops processing zones in the country added that further attention would be given to rice, cocoa and sorghum production.

IGP Abubakar begins reorganisation of police units

NSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubarkar has begun a massive reorganisation of the police force.

It was gathered that the reorganisation would begin at the Force Public Relations Office (FPRO), where a new helmsman is expected to be announced soon. Others are the overhaul of the Operations Department, which was formerly headed by the late Deputy Inspector-General (DIG)

By Jude Isiguzo

Haruna John; and the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

All the sections and units under the FCID are to be overhauled too.

Abubakar was said to be particularly unhappy with the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos.

Sources at the Force Headquarters told The Nation that the IGP was worried about the

high level of corruption, which has damaged the image of the department.

It was learnt that Abubakar was angry about how some detectives bungled investigation into a N385million fraud case.

According to the sources, a man petitioned the police on a company that was paid to supply him diesel but failed to do deliver after receiveing N385nillion.

The managing director of the company was reportedly arrested but released when he allgedly bribed the detectives.

It was gathered that the petitioner contacted the office of the IGP, who ordered the transfer of the case to the FCID annex at Kem Salem House, Obalende, Lagos.

But it was gathered that the matter was transferred without the suspect. This reportedly forced the IGP to order the

arrest of the Superintendent of Police handling the investigation.

The police officer was ordered to be arrested by Mr Chris Ezeike, an Assistant Commissioner, Mr Chris Ezeike, was ordered to arrest the superintendent of Police on Wednesday morning.

Abubakar is said to be aware of many other cases of corruption against some police officers and is said to be on top of the cases.

THE NATION FIRDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

6

CITYBEATS

Three train passengers held

THREE persons were arrested yesterday by plain-clothes police officers for hanging on a train. They were arrested at the Sogunle train station on Agege motor road.

Seven were arrested on Wednesday night in a similar raid, targeted at stopping indiscriminate hanging on the Mass Transit Train (MTT) coaches and wagons. One of the plainclothes police officers, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the arrest of the seven.

He said the police was working to stop passengers from hanging on moving train.

The officer added that those arrested would be charged to court for attempted suicide today. ``These passengers risk three months in jail or a N10,000 fine each. `But the magistrate is at liberty not to grant any option of fine,`` he said.

He said the police had resumed their raids on stubborn passengers on the Ogun/Lagos MTT service route.

Mr Ademuyiwa Adekanmbi, the spokesman, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Lagos District Office, said it was suicidal for any passenger to hang on a train.

He said hanging had become common on the train route from Ijoko in Ogun State to Apapa in Lagos State.

NRC, he said, was doing everything within its power to stop the bad practice.

Adekanmbi said those arrested would be charged to court in accordance with the law. It was learnt that many people have died from accidents caused by hanging on trains.

It was also gathered that those who preferred to hang do so to escape paying the N150 fare.

Some others hung on the train to enable them smoke marijuana along the way.

Toyota Camry stolen A BLUE Toyota Camry Saloon car with black bumper and registration number AKD 160 AE, belonging to Olalekan Idowu was snatched at gun point by robbers last Monday, at about 8:30pm.

The incident happened on Doyin Omololu Street, Ketu, Lagos. (directly opposite Deeper Life Bible Church).

Idowu was taken along with the car and dropped off unharmed at Onikan round about, near Muson Centre.

The robbers took the car away.

The car’s engine and chassis numbers are 447022061 and 471BG22K7YU942092.

Any information that could lead to the recovery of the car should be passed to the nearest police station or call 08068566980 and 07034789877.

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

Track down killer cop, slain woman’s family urges police

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HE police have been implored to deploy all their resources to track down the fleeing Inspector Sunday Iluegben, who allegedly killed his wife, Caroline, in Lagos about two weeks ago.

The bereaved family said facts at its disposal showed that Iluegben intentionally committed the crime.

The family said it was in possession of notes which indicated that the inspector carefully planned the killing.

It said it had handed over the notes to the Police.

Iluegben was also said to have boasted that he cannot be arrested by the police and would never be incarcerated. Iluegben allegedly killed his wife at his Olosan Police Barracks home, Mushin, Lagos and fled.

The Lagos State Police Command spokesman Joseph Jaiyeoba said the command is more worried than the family and is doing its best to fish out the fleeing Inspector.

Sources said the late Mrs

By Ebele Boniface

Iluegben passed the night with her husband at the Olosan Police Barracks penultimate Thursday.

They slept in the living room while the children slept in the bedroom.

According to one of the daughters who spoke to the police: "Mum and Dad had separated due to a quarrel, but mummy usually comes to see us and at times sleeps over.

“On Thursday night, she came as usual and slept with dad on the • same mattress in the living room.

There was no quarrel between them that night.

“Dad woke up at 5:30am and left for work at 7 am. When I didn't see mum come out, I went to the living room and saw mum's mouth covered with a scarf soaked in blood. She had been stabbed on the head and neck. I raised the alarm that attracted our neighbours and with their assistance we rushed her to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where she later died at 2 pm on Friday.”

•Iluegben as a Corporal

Police absolve man of complicity in doctor’s death

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HE Lagos Police Command has absolved the husband of a woman who died shortly after child birth od culpability in the killing of Dr. Adegboyega Rufia, who took her delivery.

The late Rufai was killed in his office two days after the woman’s death.

The Police had been working on the theory that the aggrieved man may have arranged the doctor's assassination.

Police spokesman Jaiyeoba Joseph, said the man cannot be linked to the doctor's killing, because no suspect was arrested at the scene.

He said: "The man was in Imo State, where he had gone to bury his wife. He was neither at the crime scene, nor was anybody arrested at the scene that confessed that he hired them.

"The man has reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, and has made statement. We are still

M

By Jude Isiguzo

searching for the doctor’s killers.

When we get them and the man is mentioned, then we will arrest him."

Rufia was killed a fortnight ago at his hospital at Oko-Oba, Agege, by unknown gunmen.

He was shot dead inside his consulting room.

It was gathered that the doctor delivered the woman of a baby on Friday morning, but she later died of internal bleeding.

Sources said early on Sunday morning, three men walked into the hospital, demanding to see the late Rufia.

It was learnt that as they were ushered in to see the late doctor, one of them pulled out a gun and shot him severally and left.

Two of the nurses on duty were arrested and detained at the SCID for questioning. They were released after making statements.

•Bhasin addressing expectant mothers at the event

‘Nigeria can eradicate malaria’

ALARIA will be a thing of the past in Nigeria, if expectant women and others maintain an hygienic life.

Speaking at a fight malaria campaign which held, in Lagos, the Managing Director, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Nigeria Ltd., Mr Ashok Bhasin, said Nigerians can eradicate malaria just like some other countries have done. The event which held at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Marina, was attended by over 200 expectant women.

Bhasin said there was need for all hands to be on deck to kick malaria out of the country because of its worrisome trend.

By Yinka Aderibigbe

The firm organised the campaign as part of activities marking the World Malaria Day, which comes up next Wednesday.

Bhasin, who is also the firm's General Manager for Central Africa, said: "Statistics released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), on maternal and infant mortality, shows that while three million pregnant women are infected by the malaria parasite, 800,000 children, die of malaria every day. This worrisome data informed our company's decision to partner with the government to enlighten pregnant women on the need for hy-

gienic environment and prevent the breeding of mosquitoes."

He said the firm is committed to promoting healthy living.

"We are committed to enlightening pregnant women on the nexus between clean environment and healthy living. Our mission is to partner with the Lagos State government in its mission to eradicate malaria. If malaria can be eradicated in other parts of the world, there's no reason why it cannot be done here," he noted.

Speaking on the campaign, cross over musician Omawunmi Megbele, urged pregnant women to abstain from self medication when they have malaria.

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

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.

“There is need for a clean environment, but when malaria strikes, please abstain from self medication.

Keep the house free from dirt, throw away all containers that could be a breeding space for mosquito larvae, use approved insecticide treated nets all the time, to prevent your babies from mosquito bites and spray the house with insecticides to further reduce the presence of mosquito in the house."

Mrs Megbele urge all to keep the state clean, by ensuring that all canals and neighbourhood drains do not become waste dumps.

The Acting Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Olufemi Omololu, praised the firm for the initiative.

Responding on behalf of other pregnant women, Mrs Oluchi Akaegbochi, thanked the firm for organising such a campaign for the benefit of pregnant women many of whom she said die of ignorance of the disease.

She said more companies and non government organisations (NGOs) should be involved in creating awareness campaign against the malaria scourge particularly in the rural areas where high incidences of malaria related deaths are frequently recorded.

THE NATION FIRDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

CITYBEATS

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

After rainstorm, succour for community

Council shuts dirty markets

By Kunle Akinrinade

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HE mourning of the Ojota community in OtoAwori Local Council Development Area of Lagos State has turned to joy.

Two months after a canoe mishap in which 10 school pupils and two women died, the community now has cause to smile, following the opening of road linking it to Ese Offin, which has a secondary schoo.

With the creation of the road, Ojota pupils no longer need to cross the river to get to school.

To further lessen the difficulty of walking four kilometers to school daily, Governor Batatunde Fashola, represented by the Commissioner for Rural Development Cornellius Ojelabi, yesterday donated three tricycles for the community’s use.

He also gave cash gifts to the bereaved families. The government promised to provide electricity to the community in four months.

• Ojelade presenting the tricycles to the community leaders... yesterday

By Nneka Nwaneri

The small island, with a population of about 200 people, was ecstatic when the government officials visited. Women and children danced in joy and sang

Fashola's praise.

They presented their guests with fresh mangoes, coconuts and fish.

There was also masqueraders parade.

Ojelabi said the government came to the aid of the school children by opening up the roads and providing them a means of transportation following the prediction of 235 days of heavy rainfal in the state this year.

"This year's rain will be very heavy as predicted, so let's prepare for it. We should be aware of our responsibilities and be prepared for the challenges ahead because these children are our assets for the future. We are working on a link bridge from Etegbin to Egan.

"The electrification of the Ojota

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Lagos Assembly stops demolition of community

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AGOS State House of Assembly has directed Land Bureau, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and other relevant agencies to stop the proposed demolition of buildings in Odo-Nla community in Ikorodu pending the outcome of its investigation.

The House gave the directive on Monday at plenary when residents of the community stormed the Assembly to protest proposed demolition of the community by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

According to the leader of the protest, Mr. Fred Fapetu, "we come back home on Monday 2nd April, 2012 to meet demolition notice with forty- eight hours ultimatum pasted on our buildings, we are only pleading for your human feelings to consider our case and the gloomy future we are bound to face if the demolition exercise is allowed to go on".

Mr.Fapetu said about three Hundred inhabitants living in the Com-

7

By OziegbeOkoeki

munity with the owners are mostly retirees and old.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. KolawoleTaiwo who received the protesters on behalf of the speaker, Hon. AdeyemiIkuforiji assured the protesters that the House would look into the matter with a view to resolving it urgently.

Taiwo said, "Any portion of land to be acquired by the public should be verified in the Ministry of Lands before embarking on construction of any building. Your problem emanated from acquisition of land from those who do not have proper document from the government before they start building". He however urged the residents not to take laws into their While contributing to debate on the floor, Hon. RotimiOlowo suggested that the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development should come up with a master plan that would differentiate between government land and the individual property.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

community has been approved. It will be done through direct labour, supervised by the ministry. We hope that in the next four months, with your corporation, the project would have been completed," Ojelabi said.

The commissioner urged the community's indigenes to return and develop their roots and charged the community development areas (CDAs) to be alive to its responsibilities.

Chairman of Oto-Awori LCDA Mr Robert Bolaji thanked the government, saying the tricycles would go a long way in alleviating the stress the people go through daily moving from place to place.

He urged the community to take good care of the relief materials.

HE Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Shuaib Ajidagba, has shut down some markets for non-compliance with the weekly environment sanitation.

He ordered the closure during an assessment tour.

Ajidagba said the tour became necessary to assess the environmental sanitation compliance level of the traders. He said: "We cannot afford to close our eyes to the disobedience of an exercise meant to promote hygienic environment in the markets and help rid the council of diseases through food items sold at the markets.

"Secondly, the tour would also afford us the opportunity of having a first hand knowledge of the problems and challenges being faced by the various markets.”

Some of the markets visited include Suru/Alaba, New Alayabiagba, Layeni, Olaniyonu, PCI Paints Industry, Javolk Pipes, Patching Nig. Ltd. At the Suru/Alaba and new Alayabiagba markets, he visited the newly public toilet built by the council and charged the managers to always keep the conveniences clean.

Olaniyonu Marble market was closed down for what Ajidagba described as "unwholesome practices inimical to clean and hygienic environment, coupled with defective structures dangerous to human habitation."

The level of non-compliance with environmental regulation also led to the closure of the P.C.I Paints Industry.

Ajidagba said they would not be opened until the market and company met the level of cleanliness stipulated by the government.

Lagos earmarks N19m for artisans

AGOS State Government has earmarked N19million to train artisans and tradesmen as well as arm them with modern technology.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Seye Oladejo, who made this known yesterday, said 780 artisans are in the first batch of the programme which begins today.

According to him, the training which covers nine different trades, comes up under the state’s tradesmen and artisans capacity building scheme.

Oladejo said the areas to be covered in the first batch are garment making, hairdressing, automotive technology, bricklaying, tiling and block moulding.

Others, he said, included vulcanising, furniture making, interior decoration, baking and pastries.

He said the programme was borne out of government’s desire to address artisans’ problems.

Oladejo said: "Some of these people have obsolete skills, poor attitude, poor entrepreneurial skill, lack of decent work spaces and access to credit facility among others.

He added: "The programme has three components, each designed to address identified problems.

These are; Lagos State Tradesmen and Artisans Capacity Building Scheme; Lagos State Tradesmen and Artisans Equipment Acquisition Scheme; and Lagos State Tradesmen and Artisans Insurance Welfare Scheme."

He said the training would be conducted in partnership with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board

By Miriam Ndikanwu

(LASTVEB), stressing that the capacity building would be carried out in Ado-Soba, Ikorodu; Ikotun, Agidingbi and Odo-Mola ( in Epe).

He said the syllabus of the training would cover Trade Theory and Practice; Entrepreneurship, Functional Communication in English Language; Information and Computer Technology; Right Business Attitude; and Safety Health.

Oladejo said the participants were selected through their various trade associations and subsequently screened by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and LASTVEB. He urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to develop themselves and broaden their knowledge and skills, bearing in mind the huge public funds expended on the scheme.

LASTVEB Executive Secretary, Olawunmi Gasper, said the programme was about re-skilling and upgrading of artisans.

He said: "Technology does not wait for anybody. For example, electronics in vehicles are more than the mechanical components in vehicles nowadays and if mechanics are not trained in the modern technology, they may end up being irrelevant.

"This is why the efforts of the government in upgrading the skills of the artisans must be commended. It is also aimed at sustaining the security of artisans, who may be adversely affected if they are driven out of their businesses by modern technology."

He said the programme was different from the school leavers' scheme which was inaugurated recently, pointing out that while the former was for who were unemployed, the latter targeted the artisans who need more skills to carry on with their vocation.

The sustainability of the programme, he said, would depend on how the first batch of beneficiaries conducted themselves.

Industry Nite hosts anniversary INDUSTRY Nite, the weekly platform for showcasing talent, networking and engagement, has been chosen as the platform to mark the second anniversary of Nigerian Entertainment Today newspapers. The event, which will be hosted by Tee-A, will hold at Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday April 25, and will feature an exclusive listening session of 2face Idibia's upcoming album, as well as performances from some of today's most promising music stars.

"We're beyond excited. We're only just two and it looks like we've been here forever. The

celebration isn't really for us, it's for the entire media and music industry. It is a celebration of our readers, friends, advertisers and partners," says publisher Ayeni Adekunle.

NET, which clocks two on April 26, 2012, was founded by media entrepreneur Ayeni Adekunle.

Before establishing NET, Ayeni had been a journalist with Encomium, Thisday and The Punch.

"As our name suggests, Industry Nite is a platform for the entire industry, and we're proud to be part of the second anniversary of this great newspaper," Industry Nite founder Matthew Ohio says.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

8

NEWS Alaafin hails Jonathan on Almajiri schools

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HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi II, has said the Federal Government’s investment in the education of almajiris would curb insecurity in the country.

Oba Adeyemi spoke yesterday in his palace while receiving the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who was on an inspection tour of almajiri schools under construction in Oyo State.

The monarch thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the project and urged Nigerians to support him.

He described the President as “a committed leader, who wants to provide quality education for the less privileged”.

Alaafin said: “I am happy that Mr. President is committed to keeping to his electoral promises. His dedication to the education of the almajiri will benefit the nation.”

Wike said education is central to the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration.

He said the President is determined to empower the less privileged through education.

Wike also visited the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odunlana, who also thanked the Federal Government.

Wike was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Modibo Ahmed Mohammed.

•From left: Wike; Alaafin and Mohammed ...yesterday.

Non-indigenes back Agunloye

N

ON-indigenes resident in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, under the aegis of Special Interest Group, yesterday endorsed the governorship aspiration of former Minister Olu Agunloye.

Speaking during a rally at the Igbara-oke office of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), leader of the group Alhaji Razaak Abidoye said Agunloye is “a man of impeccable character, who can deliver good governance”.

He said only an Omoluabi

‘ACN on rescue mission in Ondo’

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

of distinct character can “pull the state out of the woods which it has found itself with the deceit of the Labour Party (LP) Government.”

Defectors from LP were received into the ACN by the party’s Chairman in the council, Chief Adejimiroye; Secretary Olu Oladegbaye and other members of the executive.

Adejemiroye assured the new members of a levelplaying field.

F

ORMER Ondo State Commissioner for Finance Wale Akinterinwa has said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is on a rescue mission in the state.

He said only ACN can reposition the state for development.

Akinterinwa said he resigned his appointment to save his name from the alleged financial mismanagement rocking the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The governorship aspirant spoke when he visited ACN executives in Southern Senatorial District.

He alleged that the mis-

Fayemi to deliver Fifth Adefarati Memorial Lecture From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi will, today, deliver the Fifth Memorial Lecture of former Ondo State Governor Adebayo Adefarati.

The lecture, entitled: “Justice and Fairness as Panacea to Peace”, will hold at B.T.O Hall on Ilesa Road in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by 12 noon.

The keynote address will be delivered by former Lagos State Governor and National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The special guests of honour are ACN National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Adams Oshiomole (Edo); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).

Former Secretary to the Ondo State Government and ACN chieftain Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire, a.k.a Omo Ekun, will chair the occasion.

A memorial thanksgiving service will hold tomorrow at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Akungba-Akoko, followed by a reception at the Estate of Peace in AkungbaAkoko.

Hearing in Ekiti rape case May 15

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HE next hearing in the alleged sexual assault case involving two students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Tope Adeniyi and Cosmas Betiku, and a female student (17) on July 1, 2011, will come up on May 15.

A

•Akinterinwa: why poverty level is high From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

management of funds by the Mimiko administration is responsible for the high level of poverty in the state.

Akinterinwa said: “You all know why I left the government; any progressive person will never steal tax payers’ money. Progressives are following the footsteps of the late Obafemi Awolowo, the late Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and all these people did not steal government funds.

“They focused on improving the life of the poor and

that is what ACN preaches.

The party remains the only alternative for good governance.

“We do not promise and fail, and we would not promise what we cannot achieve. You all know Mimiko promised to turn Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area to a mega city by building a 1,000-vehicle capacity park there. The last time we saw the governor here was during the foundationlaying, it has been three years now and there is still no park.

“The people of Southern Senatorial District have been neglected, despite their contri-

butions to the state’s economy. Mimiko preferred to place the management of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) in the hands of someone like Debo Ajimuda, so that the whole money could be siphoned.

“We still have much to expose about the financial recklessness of the present government. ACN must rescue the state because Mimiko lacks the knowledge to govern.”

Akinterinwa said whoever emerges the party’s candidate would be supported by other aspirants.

Ajatta urges EFCC to probe Mimiko

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Mr. Jaiyeola Ajatta, yesterday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged financial recklessness of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration.

He accused the Labour Party (LP)-led government of planning to pile-up debts for an incoming government.

Ajatta spoke in IkaramuAkoko, Akoko North West Local Government Area, while receiving defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and LP into the ACN.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

He said the state government inherited over N38 billion from the Olusegun Agagu administration and has received over N500 billion from the Federation Account in the past three years, but has nothing to show for it.

Ajatta said: “I do not know why someone who claims to be the ‘master of all’ has refused to better the lot of the masses. But God has exposed how our money has been mismanaged. I commended EFCC for arresting the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission

(OSOPADEC) Chairman Debo Ajimuda over an alleged N61 billion fraud.

“This is how the Mimiko administration has been wasting our funds. The governor’s aides steal our money and spend it on exotic cars and mansion, while thousands of our youths lie idle.

“Mimiko promised to revive all moribund industries, but it has been three years and we are yet to see any of them functioning. He recently claimed that the Tomatos Industry is back to life, but it has been revealed that nothing is going on there.

“Our governor has been spending billions of naira on the Oba-Adesida-Oyemekun

Road for three years, yet it has not been completed.

When the project was flagged off, he said the road would be rebuilt into six lanes, but where are the six lanes?

“Mimiko has been celebrating some projects, such as the Fiwasaye and Ondo Roads, but these projects belong to the past administration, which had already paid the contractors 70 per cent of the contract sum. All the roads flagged off by the present administration are still on-going, such as the Arakale, Ondo and Owo roads.”

Ajatta urged the people to vote-out the LP in the next election.

Senate did not ask police to probe Lamorde, Waziri, says EFCC

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said the Senate did not ask the Police to probe the agency’s Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, and his predecessor, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

The commission said it has not stopped its probe into the N182 billion pensions scam.

In a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC said its chairman never took estacode from the Pension Task Force to travel abroad for a biometric exercise.

The statement reads: “The EFCC has observed with concern, reports in sections of the media alleging that the Senate has directed the police to probe Mrs. Waziri and Lamorde for perceived wrongdo-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

ing in the pension probe.

“It was also reported that the commission has been directed by the Senate to hands-off further investigation of pension matters.

“These assertions, which made headlines in some national dailies were gross misrepresentation of what transpired at the public hearing of the Senate Joint Committee on Investigations into Pension Administration on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

“The Commission wishes to state that at no time did the Senate committee or the Senate as a whole, order the police to probe Lamorde and Mrs. Waziri. Neither did it request the EFCC to hands-

•Agency:pension scam probe ongoing off pension matters. Reports to the contrary, may have been promoted by interests to achieve certain nefarious ends.

“For the benefit of millions of Nigerians who may have been misled by the falsehood published bysome sections of the media, the following represent the true account of events at the public hearing: “Lamorde appeared at the hearing in response to invitations by the committee. For Lamorde, it was his second time.

When he first appeared before the committee some weeks back, he was confronted with a document that alleged that he col-

lected estacode to travel to the United States (U.S.) for a biometric capturing exercise by the Pension Task Team, a claim which he vehemently denied.

“The EFCC chairman said he never travelled abroad on any biometric capturing assignment and did not receive any estacode from anybody for that purpose.

“Even the head of the Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was present on the occasion, confirmed that Lamorde did not travel and did not collect a kobo in estacode. The EFCC chairman said he was sure the documents and claims regarding his person were forged.

“That puzzle was resolved on Tuesday, when the Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee, Aloysius Etok, announced that his panel has found the person that collected the estacode in Lamorde’s name.

“Christian Madubuike, an official of the Police Pension Office, was unveiled by the Committee as the one who received the money.

“And in his open testimony, Madubuike confirmed that his account was used to collect the money under Lamorde’s name and that he collected and handed over the money to Mr. John Yusuf, an Assistant Director in the Police Pension Office, who is also a member of the Maina-led Pension Task Team.”

9

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

NEWS

Our adoption of ‘State of Osun’ has not violated the constitution, says Aregbesola

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OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola yesterday defended the adoption of the “State of Osun” as the identity for the state by his administration, insisting such step has not violated any aspect of the constitution.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been critical of the adoption as against “Osun State”, which it linked to the promotion of a state anthem and flag as a secession plot.

But Aregbesola in statement by his media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon blamed the opposition’s accusation on acute ignorance.

Speaking in Osogbo at the opening of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, the governor wondered the crime in following the culture of advanced democracies and federal structures in the world.

He said: “Is it a crime to do what is right? In all other Federal Republics of the world, states are not called the way we call them. Where do we get our own? I do not think it is wrong to do what is right. We have

Oranmiyan Group counsels Southwest PDP

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NON-GOVERNMENTAL Organisation (NGO) Oranmiyan Group Worldwide, has urged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest to be honest and patriotic in their criticism of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) –controlled states.

The Groups’ President, Prince Felix Awofisayo, in a statement on yesterdaday, expressed shock at the various allegations from the PDP, particularly against the Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.

He counselled the PDP leadership to apply ‘decorum’ in their quest to rescue the daily dwindling fortune of their party in the geo-political zone.

He decried the “low intellectual and uncivilised” approaches to criticism of the party’s National Vice Chairman in the Southwest, Segun Oni, about the developments in Osun State.

From Soji Adeniyi, Osogbo

not in any way violated the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“What is the difference between the “State of Osun” and “Osun State”? I wonder why people will not understand simple things because of politics.”

Reminding Nigerians of the position of the constitution regarding

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Faulting Oni’s allegation that Aregbesola was planning secession, Awofisayo, recalled that Oni, during his tenure as governor in Ekiti, also created an identity for the state, an intention, he said was not misconstrued by the CAN. He alleged the Oni administration created a new Coat of Arms, a new flag and anthem for Ekiti state with a slogan “New Begining... Greater Future.”

Prince Awofisayo, who asked Oni to explain whether his action then was a secession plan, urged the PDP to stop being jittery over their “continued rejection by the people of the Southwest going by the dismal performance at the last general elections.”

Obasanjo, Babangida, others for national security conference

the states, he said: “What does the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria say about the name of a state? The Constitution says Nigeria will have 36 states. And the states are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom and so on.

“There is no “state” before and there is no “state” after. So, if we choose to do what is right by calling it the way other Republics call their states, I think we are not

Boko Haram kills seven in Maiduguri

Osun monarchs to residents: don’t be misled by rumours

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

R

OYAL fathers under the auspices of the Osun Divisional Conference of Obas had a piece of advice for residents of the state yesterday.

They were told to resist the attempt to pit them against Governor Rauf Aregbesola by rumour mongers.

Rising from a meeting on Wednesday, the executive committee of the Obas, in a communiqué, also urged the people to cooperate with the state government in its effort to develop the state.

The communiqué reads: “We have attended many state functions with the state governor in attendance and contrary to the recent reports, the governor was always accompanied by his security details - police and members of the State Security Service (SSS).”

No fewer than 16 traditional rulers signed the communique.

They included: the Orangun of Ila, Oluwo of Iwo, Ataoja of Osogbo, Timi of Ede, Akirun of Ikirun, Olokuku of Okuku, Olufon of Ifon, the Akire of Ikire, Olojudo of Ido-Osun, Olufi of Gbongan, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Onirun of Oke-Irun, Owa of Igbajo, Olobu of Ilobu, Owa of Otan-Ayegbaju and Elerin of erin-Osun.

The monarchs noted the spate of infrastructural development across the state since the inception of the Aregbesola administration.

“We note that for the past one and a half years, Osun state has witnessed peace, harmony and concord. There is no political or religious disturbance of any sort.

“So, contrary to the recent insinuation, we note that the adherents of all the religions - Islam, Christianity and Traditional religion - are co-habiting in paece and harmony.

“This is to the credit of Mr. Governor, who always insists openly and privately that Nigeria and indeed Osun State are secular entities and that it cannot be otherwise.”

•Shettima

B

OKO Haram – the dreaded fundamentalist sect struck again in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, raising the number of the people killed between Wednesday night and yesterday, to seven. The development caused panic among residents.

The casualties include six civilians and a Customs officer.

The gunmen according to sources laid siege to Silimanti, Polo area of the town, the location of a bakery at about 8.30am and fired gun shots at those working at the bakery, killing five people.

One of the residents of the area

Ibori’s conviction national embarassment, says Falana

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CTIVIST-Lawyer Femi Falana has described Tuesday’s sentencing of former Delta State governor James Ibori in a London court as a national embarrassment.

He spoke at a seminar entitled: “Can the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act ensure a corruption-free society?” organised in Lagos by the state Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Friedrich Elbert Stiftung, a German independent non-profit organisation committed to the promotion of social justice and democracy worldwide.

According to the lawyer, “James Ibori was convicted but Nigeria was also convicted.”

Denouncing the role of reporters and lawyers in aiding corruption in the country, Falana said Ibori did not easily decide to plead guilty but did so on the advice of his British lawyers.

This he said was in contradiction with the way some Nigerian professionals such as reporters and lawyers act.

“Justice Aondoaka wrote to the

By Joe Agbro Jr.

Metropolitan Police that Ibori had no case to answer... A judge also said Ibori had no case to answer,” Falan said.

He said the James Ibori case will likely to go into the Guinness book of World records. “This is the first time,” he said “that a man, his wife, his sister, his mistress, and his lawyer have been jailed. But as I have said, it is not Ibori that was jailed, it was Nigeria that was convicted. “ Falana however highlighted the various ways which the FoI Act could be invoked but observed that many media houses have not started to take advantage of the law.

“We didn’t have any (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) EFCC in the 80s. The media were our EFCC and (independent and Corrupt Practices Commission) ICPC.” The FOI Act was signed into law in May, last year by President Goodluck Jonathan but Mrs. Remi Ihejirika said, “we need to ask ourselves frankly whether the FOI Act has been effectively implemented in achieving what it set out to achieve?”

wrong.

Aregbesola said states in the United States (U.S.), Brazil, Mexico, among others do not carry “state” after them listing the “State of California, “State of Florida” and others as instances of how states are identified in older federal structures.

Using the opportunity to disabuse the minds of the former civil servants over alleged plans to Islamise the state, the governor said it baffled

•Aregbesola

him that his accusers were so much in a hurry to scandalise him that they could not wait to re-examine the Yoruba cosmogony which had made people of different faiths to co-habit without any hindrances.

“It is not possible for any Yoruba person to go into serious acrimony on the issue of faith because our culture, our ways of life are against it,” Aregbesola said.

At the event were: the first female Head of Service in the old Western Region, Princess Tejumade Alakija; former Military Administrator of Osun State, General Leo Ajiborisha; former Head of Service in the state, Chief Moses Aboaba, and other retired permanent secretaries and Heads of Service.

According to the Chairman of the NUJ, Deji Elumoye, “the law ordinarily should make public records and information freely available, but for the Official Secret Act, which prevents public officers from disclosing certain kinds of information.”

Falana, however, said “there is no law in Nigeria preventing anybody from asking for information.” He thereby urged journalists to continue to “ask for information every day.”

Meanwhile, the planned return of $250 million stolen by the former governor to Delta State has sparked protest by Nigerian at home and in the Dispora.

Their grouse in that incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will misappropriate such surely being Ibori’s cousin and “stooge”.

A statement by the UK-based Anioma Diaspora, a Nigerian sociocultural and good governance campaign group, said that “returning Ibori’s loot to Delta State would be senseless and counter-productive in the light of the fact that the present governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, is a blood relation of Ibori.

who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assailants must have driven into the bakery quietly in a Gulf saloon car, and sneaked away.

Describing the development as unfortunate, he said: “I guess they have been monitoring activities at the bakery for some time and knew when the men usually resume and close work.”

Spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Lt Col Sagir Musa could be reached yesterday for an official confirmation, but a military source hinted one of the gunmen was eventually killed and another arrested.

The State Police Command

through its spokesman, Samuel Tizhe confirmed the killings, insisting that “investigation have since commenced into the killing.”

Tizhe said: “ I can confirm to you that a Customs officer and a water hawker were shot dead yesterday while five people were shot dead by suspected Boko Haram members at a bakery this (yesterday) morning.”

Governor Kashim Shettima said the battle against the notorious sect required multi-faceted approaches which include a blend of military solution and dialogue, even as recommended the institutionalisation of good governance as the lasting solution.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

10

NEWS 13 parties praise Amosun for developing Ogun •Governor urges corporate bodies to partner state •‘We’ll support the elderly’

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From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

HIRTEEN political parties in Ogun State have said they are impressed by the efforts of the Ibikunle Amosun administration at rebuilding the state in the past 10 months.

The parties, under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Ogun State chapter, hailed the governor for rebuilding the state, despite all odds.

In a statement by their Chairman and Secretary, Patrick Oyatayo and Biola Martins, the parties distanced themselves from a report by two political groups and 13 unknown others that criticised the Amosun administration.

IPAC, which said it is the only group legally recognised to speak on behalf of all political parties in Nigeria, added: “Having carried out our investigation on OGSIEC, we discovered that its members did not compromise politicians as alleged, but are people of high integrity and credibility.

“There are visible projects being carried out by the present administration in the areas of education, health, infrastructural development, employment generation, among others.”

The statement was signed by the chairmen of the 13 political parties.

Amosun has urged corporate organisations to support his administration’s mission to rebuild the state.

The governor spoke in Abeokuta, the state cpital, when he received the management of Keystone Bank Plc during a courtesy visit to his office.

He said the state was open for genuine partnership in education, health, agriculture, housing and urban development.

The governor said the state has improved its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), adding that it plans to be financially self-sufficient instead of relying on the monthly federal allocation.

Amosun said: “Our government alone has invested over N4billion on security. We have not taken a kobo from the Security Trust Fund. We all know how bad things were before we came on board. We want to ensure that all residents, including bankers, transact their businesses in an atmosphere of security and peace.”

The governor yesterday restated the determination of his administration to support the elderly in the society.

The governor spoke yesterday in Abeokuta when he received renowned accountant Chief Akintola Williams, who was on a courtesy visit.

He said the free treatment for the elderly is part of his administration’s health programme and promised that Ogun State would sustain its legacies of being first in all endeavours.

Amosun hailed the initiative of Gloryland Trust International, an estate for the elderly on Kobape Road in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state, promising to ensure its smooth take-off.

T

Lagos ACN berates PDP over Osun security report

HE Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its “dirty politics that culminated in its instigating a false security report on Osun State”.

ACN decried PDP’s desperation in subjecting state institutions to insidious manipulation for its selfish interests.

In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe, the ACN noted that the PDP knows no decency once its “bestial interest beckons”.

It added that the PDP has destroyed every worthwhile institution in Nigeria in its quest for unlimited power to loot and plunder the country.

ACN warned the PDP that it would reap the whirlwind of its mischievous acts, if it persists in its dangerous acts, such as the one that culminated in its employment of the Department of State Security (DSS) to author a fictitious report that has no basis to further whatever remains of the PDP’s interest in the Southwest.

•’Stop playing dirty politics with Nigerians’ The statement reads: “The report, which claims that Governor Rauf Aregbesola wants to Islamise Osun State is stupid, idiotic and specious, and it flows from the same dead thinking that has almost crumbled the country in 13 harrowing years of PDP’s perilous rule.

“For a party, whose members and high echelon have been summarily implicated in the Boko Haram uprising, MEND’s armed confrontation, introduction and sustenance of kidnapping, political assassination, electoral roguery, to now start crying wolf on such a nonsensical and baseless allegation, tells the level this cabal can go to muscle through its selfish interest. It shows the hollow thinking that abounds in PDP, which is reflected in the way and manner they have plundered and run a well-endowed country aground in these regrettable 13 years.

‘A student of Nigerian politics and a casual observer knows that the PDP is a party that is ridden with mischief and such other quaint tactics once it sets its eyes on any selfish interest “A student of Nigerian politics and a casual observer knows that the PDP is a party that is ridden with mischief and such other quaint tactics once it sets its eyes on any selfish interest. Given the desperation to wake its dead horse in Osun and indeed the Southwest, we are not surprised at its latest tactics. We are not surprised that a party that owes its strength to stolen electoral results is authoring an outlandish and specious report with the hope it will help it steal back

power in the Southwest. We are not surprised that such childish approach is receiving the blessings of the rank and file of the PDP, who work under the impression that Nigerians are perpetual fools that will tolerate the many nauseous frauds the PDP has brought to deface democracy in Nigeria these past 13 years.

“We understand why the PDP should author this tendentious report. It is scared of the frankness and noholds-barred mien of Governor Aregbesola and sees him and indeed the ACN as potent threats to their dream of everlasting rule to complete the ruination of Nigeria, which has been at a frenzy since their unfortunate coming in 1999. PDP and its outposts, like the DSS, are already plotting dirty for 2015 when they have hardly justified one year in their 13 years’ evil rule...”

Oyo ACN, Akintola, ex-commissioner mourn Fayemi’s mum

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HE Oyo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has condoled with Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and the people of the state on the death of his mother, Mrs Dorcas Aina Fayemi, last Sunday. She was 83.

In a statement by its Chairman and Publicity Secretary, Chief Akin Oke and Dauda Kolawole, the party noted that Mama Fayemi’s death was painful.

It said the governor’s mother died when her inestimable experience of life was mostly needed for selfless service to humanity”.

“It is indeed a big loss to our dear nation,” the statement added.

The party urged the family to take solace in the fact that Mama lived a fulfilled life. It prayed for the strength and wisdom of God for the children, the family and the people of Ekiti State to bear the irreparable loss and for Mama’s gentle soul to rest in perfect peace.

A lawyer, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), has condoled with Dr Fayemi on the death of his mother.

In a statement in Lagos, Akintola said: “I received with shock the news of the passage of the governor’s mother.

“At 83, Madam Dorcas Aina Fayemi was old. But you know that does not lessen the grief. No matter how old our loved ones are, we are never happy to see them go.”

The lawyer urged the governor to be comforted that his mother lived long and left a good legacy.

“I wish to condole with the governor, the entire Fayemi family of Isan Ekiti and the people of Ekiti State who, by the way, are my dear in-laws. May God grant Madam Fayemi complete rest.

Also a former commissioner in the former Governor Ayodele Fayose administration, Mr. Kayode Otitoju, has commiserated with the governor on the death of his mother.

In a statement, Otitoju said: “On behalf of my wife and children, I wish to condole with you on the passing to glory of your mother, Mrs. Dorcas Fayemi.

“Although I never had the privilege of having a personal contact with Mama before she passed on, there are some traits you exhibit, despite the fact that you are a governor, that reflect the quality of your parents’ socialisation. Your humility, respect, devotion in the Catholic doctrine and magnanimity are just some attributes that strike me in particular.

I make bold to tell you that not minding the shocks of Mama’s death, these enviable personality traits are already internalised in her children, particularly you.

“My prayer is that Almighty God will accept Mama into His bosom. She lived and played well her part.

“May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.”

* Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (left) greeting Ekiti State Association of Local Government Chairmen, Mr. Kayode Adekamimo (Ikere-Ekiti); Mr. Sunday Ibitoye (Ado-Ekiti); Mr. Kolawole Genge (Ekiti South-West); and Major Tajudeen Awe (rtrd.) (Irepodun/Ifelodun), during a condolence visit to the governor on the death of his mother, Mrs. Dorcas Aina Fayemi, by the 16 council chairmen in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

Allegation against Aregbesola ridiculous, says Lanlehin

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HE Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, yesterday described the allegation of a secession plot levelled against Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as wicked and ridiculous.

The lawmaker, who represents Oyo South in the Senate, noted that the Aregbesola he has known for over 30 years is so passionate about the unity of the country that he cannot plan ill against the nation.

Lanlehin, who spoke in Abuja, warned those behind the allegation not to provoke mayhem in the Southwest through unfounded allegations.

He noted that the governor ranks high among those who have placed their lives on the line for the unity of the country.

According to him, those behind the false allegation are mischief makers whose primary aim is to distract

‘Alleged plan to Islamise Osun absurd’

P

RESIDENT of International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) in Osun State, Prof. Idowu Odeyemi, has said the allegation that the Osun State Government was planning to Islamise the state is unthinkable and absurd.

In a letter to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, entitled: Islamisation of Osun State?

Laughable! the academic said there was no time in the history of the Yoruba that a government attempted to impose a particular religion on the people.

He said: “At no time in the history of the Yoruba people has any government strived to impose a particular religious tenet on the polity. In the case of Osun State in particular, all governments that ICIR has interacted with since its creation have promoted religious harmony among its citizens.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

“In the same vein, since the inception of this administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ifa Council has received collaboration and support for the unhindered development and growth of Ifa religion alongside other religions.

“The Yoruba race is one of the most tolerant of the religious views of others. This is why in a single family, we often find members of Ifa, Christian and Islamic religions coexisting peacefully under the same roof.

“As it is, Ifa Council has not found any signal to the effect that this government is about to turn Osun into an Islamic state. We consider such thoughts and rumours laughable in the extreme. Osun State, as presently constituted, is the bedrock of Ifa religion and Yoruba spirituality before it was spread to every corner of the globe.”

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Aregbesola from the good work he is doing for the people of Osun State.

Lanlehin said: “The allegation is ridiculous, knowing very well the person we are

talking about. I have known Aregbesola for over 30 years.”

The senator noted that because Aregbesola agitates for true federalism, devel-

opment of each zone, according to its ability, resources and priorities should not make anyone to accuse him of planning against the unity of the country.

BUSINESS

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

11 The PHCN in complaince with the power reform programme has ceased to exist but it has not been liquidated as that can only be done by a court order, which currently has not been executed.

- Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

Telecoms operators decry multiple taxes

‘19 states comply with pension scheme’

From Adekunle Jimoh,

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From Adekunle Jimoh,

Ilorin

ULTIPLE-TAXA TION has been a great challenge to most companies in Nigeria, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators in Nigeria (ALTON), Engineer Gbenga Adebayo has said.

Gbenga, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal FM, Ilorin, spoke with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

He said the association has provided inputs to the joint tax force on taxation to check the challenges of multiple taxation.

He added that the current state of insecurity of life and property was too poisonous for any business to thrive.

He said “the challenge is a major step to the stability of investment. Security demands all round attention to guarantee life and property.

According to him, security of life and property is not negotiable. When people take life they should be punished according to the laws of the land. No investor will stake his money in an unsafe environment.”

“Multiple-taxation is a problem for all companies in Nigeria. Taxes are defined in the act of the Federal Inland Revenue services, taxes and levies are defined by state and local government laws, but there must be transparency. The way government introduces new taxes, new levies and new collection regime makes a mess of any business enterprise. People pay certain tax to federal government, the same tax is being demanded by the state and local government.

What this goes to show is that there is simple inconsistency in our tax environment and that is not good.

With this no serious investor will take us serious,” Adebayo said.

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

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•From left: Wael Ammar, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi, Chairman Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State and Lucas Dada, Director, Product and Services, Etisalat Nigeria at the unveiling of Etisalat Experience Center at Ikota, Lekki, Lagos ... yesterday.

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Customs introduces new policy on imported vehicles

HE Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) has in troduced a new policy that would henceforth guide importation of vehicles to stem revenue leakages and enhance the ability of the service to meet its targets.

Addressing reporters on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi at Customs zonal headquarters, Yaba, Lagos, yesterday, the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of the zone, Victor Gbemudu outlined that under the new policy, all shipping companies must put the

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chassis number and the year of manufacturing of all imported vehicles on their manifests to be submitted to Customs for proper declaration.

He said that any shipping company that violates the new policy on imported vehicles would be penalised as Customs officers have been mandated not to board all affected ships.

Gbemudu warned that the measure became necessary to block revenue leakages and meet the 1 trillion rev-

enue target given to Customs by the Federal Government this year.

Last year, the Assistant Comptroller General said, the service generated over N800billion and assured that the N1 trillion revenue target set for the service by the national government is achievable.

Gebmudu, who harped on the need to re-focus and consolidate as the nation’s leading non-oil revenue earner, said the service will demonstrate a zero tolerance for all the vices that have dented the image of the ser-

vice and reduced its revenue generation.

He urged clearing agents to educate importers on the need for proper declaration to boost the trade facilitation policy of the Federal Government at the ports.

He said the service concealed the controversial benchmark on cargoes based on the popular opinions. He appealed to clearing agents to advice importers to make proper declaration of their goods as the service is set to pursue its revenue collection drive with renewed vigor.

NSE wants oil majors to list

OREIGN oil majors such as Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp should have secondary share listings in Nigeria, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said.

Speaking at the Reuters Africa investment summit, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh, said 80 percent of government revenues come from the oil industry but it makes up only five per cent of the stock market.

By persuading the national oil company, NNPC, and

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By Oluwakemi Dauda

foreign oil companies to list a portion of their joint ventures, the stock market would better reflect the economy for investors and Nigerians could have greater ownership of oil firms.

“We’re in discussion both with NNPC as well as the oil majors as to listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange,” Oteh said in Abuja.

Industrial firms and banks make up most of Nigeria’s current stock market capitalisation.

Oteh said oil companies could be encouraged to list shares by the pending Petro-

leum Industry Bill, which aims to increase local participation among sweeping changes. Oteh said it could focus oil firms on when to list on the exchange.

But the bill has been blocked in parliament for years. Few think it will pass this year despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s order to get it get it through quickly.

Oteh also said a plan was also needed for the listing of power distribution and generating companies, which are scheduled to be privatised by government.

The government has said

it will privatise 17 companies in the sector although the plan is months behind schedule and faces opposition from powerful vested interests in the country of 160 million, where most people live without electric light.

“It is important to democratise the success of these companies and we believe power is going to be bigger than telecommunications,” Oteh said.

Nothing has demonstrated Nigeria’s promise as a market more than the success of telecommunications companies like South Africa’s MTN.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie,

He lamented that of the 22 oil companies operating in Delta State non had its headquarters in the State.

He said incessant crises galvanized the ministry into a series of meetings between host communities and oil companies.

He lamented the absence enabling laws in the Oil and Gas sector to sanction erring oil companies.

He said his ministry is working hard at ensuring

laws are enacted to deal with such cases.

He said his ministry is working on a policy that will not conflict with existing Federal Government Laws to promote Local Content in the State.

According to Pirah, plans have reached advanced stage for the first Delta State Oil and Gas industry stakeholder’s forum to review and share experiences on best practice in the industry.

Oil firms lose N1.2tr in 4 months

IL firms operating in the Niger-Delta re gion lost more than 77 million barrels of crude oil worth N1.2 trillion between August and November 2011.

Commissioner, Oil and Gas, Delta State, Mr. Omamofe Pirah quoting statistics from Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) said oil companies lost 77,525,099 barrels at a total cost of $7,752,509,900.

Speaking at a press brief-

Asaba

ing in Asaba, Pirah said the losses were due to communal misunderstanding, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

He accused some oil companies of insincerity in their dealings with host communities, stressing that oil companies adopt “divide and rule system” to cause disaffection in host communities.

Ilorin

INETEEN states have so far fully complied with the implementation of new national pension scheme, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed has said.

He pointed out that only one state have not complied at all, while others are at various stages of compliance.

Ahmed also hinted that the pension asset base in the country had hit the sum of N2.5trillion.

Ahmed, who spoke yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State,at the Talk - Shop organized by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ilorin branch, assured that the system is now corruption free According to him, with the operating system of the present PENCOM it is very difficult to perpetrate any fraud as all the monies are being kept with the Central Bank, unlike previously when funds were kept with the commercial banks.”

Represented by Head, Research and Policy Unit of PENCOM, Dr. Tunde Alayande, the director-general noted that PENCOM had come to stay and urged the beneficiaries to have confidence in the scheme as safe keeping has been guaranteed to ensure continuity.

Fed Govt registers16, 472 firms in Q1 From: Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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HE Federal Govern ment registered 16,472 companies within the last three months.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, who confirmed this in Abuja, also said that a total of 15, 045 business names and 1, 378 incorporated trustees were registered within the period under review.

He noted that the Ministry of Trade and Investment was currently expanding the scope of online operations of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to enable it perform optimally.

According to him, the ministry was working with all the stakeholders, including the private sector and the Department for International Development to reduce the cost of starting a business by making it possible for both Nigerians and foreigners to start their businesses within 48 hours, and ultimately 24hours.

“The reform that is ongoing in the Nigerian business environment, including the setting up of the ‘Doing Business and Competitiveness’ and Investor Care committees will reflect in an improvement in the nation’s Doing Business ranking very soon,” Aganga said.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, ARPIL 20, 2012

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Obi procures waste disposal trucks

Police steps up anti-crime operation

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Anambra

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Bayelsa

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

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•Chief Amos Osunbor presenting a motorised wheelchair to Rita Peter

Motorised wheelchairs for the less privileged in Edo

OTORISED wheelchairs have resolved the challenge of movement for some physically challenged persons in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

Smile returned to the faces of six people living with physical disability in the local government as the lawmaker representing Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Rasaq Bello-Osagie presented them with the mechnised wheelchairs to ease their movement. It was part of his empowerment programme for members of his constituency.

Also, 10 tricycles dubbed ‘Keke Rasaq’ were given to 10 unemployed persons during the launch of the lawmaker’s job

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

scheme in the council.

Speaking at the launch, Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyasere of Benin, urged lawmakers to always remember those that voted them into office.

Chief Igbe said lawmakers should emulate the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in delivering dividends of democracy to the people they represent and also to help fight poverty.

In a remark, Bello-Osagie said he launched the Keke Rasaq Empowerment Scheme to assist the less privileged as well as assist Governor Oshiomhole in reduc-

ing poverty in the state.

He explained that the first phase of the distribution of tricycles was to reduce the menace of motorcycle accidents.

He said: “I felt pains each time I saw bike riders involved in an accident. We will continue to increase the numbers.

I will continue to deliver on our core values of integrity and better services.

“To whom much is given much is expected. I am a beneficiary of the mandate of the people. It is a franchise freely given to me by my people to •Continued on Page 48

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HE cloud of gloom has lifted for no fewer than 1000 widows in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, thanks to a senator, Emmanuel Obi Anosike. The lawmaker provided them with rice, clothing and cash.

On the day Anosike met with the widows, over 1000 of the needy women gathered at the Central Primary school Umueri in the local council, singing and praising God for the joy the legislator brought to their lives.

Some of them especially those without much help from anyone, were in tears when they sighted the items, which included bundles of wrappers, bags of rice and N5000 to each of them. There were other items.

Dignitaries witnessed the event including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prof. Viola Onwuliri, her husband Prof.

Onwuliri of the Imo state Universities and former Minister of Transport Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

The benefitting widows were drawn from across the seven local government areas that make up Anambra North Senatorial zone and also from the Igboadagbe clan.

For Madam Grace Aghadinuno from Umuaturu, whose husband died after the war, her happiness knew no bounds. “Nobody has done this kind of thing for us before now,” she said.

Mrs. Chinwe Igboamalu from Oyi Local government Area who lost her husband in 2007, thanked God for bringing out somebody like Senator Anosike to the widows.

She said: “Only God will bless him for remembering that we should cover our nakedness with wrappers; Emma Anosike will be bigger than he is today; anybody that dreams or thinks of any evil against him will fail”.

Others who spoke to Newsextra were Mrs Ijeoma Udenka from Nando whose hus-

•Some of the widows at the event

A lift for Anambra widows 1000 needy women get food, cash From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

band died in November, 2011 and 37-year-old Nkolika Onyeawasi from Umudioka in Awka South Local Government Area.

Speaking with Newsextra, Minister of State for foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri said what Anosike had done was in line with

the federal government policy of empowering women in general, and not just widows.

This, according to her, is being championed by First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

Onwuliri commended the Senator for remembering the widows especially those who she said have nobody to help them.

She called on wealthy Nigerians to emulate what she described as the think-home philosophy of Senator Anosike.

Maduekwe told Newsextra that Anosike has done what many people have refused to do. He said that people should not only be brother’s •Continued on Page 48

•Anosike

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

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Uduaghan gives N1b agric loan

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• From left: Mr Akano Dauda, Branch Manager Lagos Nestle Plc; Iquo Ukoh, Marketing Service Directorof the company ; Mr Olaleye Abiodun Channel Category Sales Development Manager during the Lagos raffle Draw of Nestle Shopping Promo at Arena Shopping Complex Oshodi, Lagos .

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Women urged to promote social justice

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OMEN have been enjoined to act as agent of change as well as support and strengthen initiatives that would promote the growth of social justice in their communities.

These were the words of the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Larry Okori Odey at a two-day workshop tagged: Gender Accountability and Constituency Building workshop for Parliamentarians in Calabar, Cross River State.

The workshop which was organised by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) in collaboration with Cross River State House of Assembly, was held at Tinapa Resort, Cross River.

According to Odey, the state being aware of the plight of women, has set pace for the promotion of gender equity, social justice and human rights through the enactment of propeople policies. He said: “Cross River House of Assembly has passed into law bills which has greatly enhanced and strengthen the rights,

well being and participation of female gender in the affairs of the state” He said some of the laws include Female Genital Mutilation (prohibition) law; Child Rights law, Female Persons Inheritance Law, among others.

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has given N1 billion agriculture loan to farmers with a warning not to divert the loan to unproductive purposes such as marrying new wives and buying cars.

Uduaghan, who gave the charge during the disbursement of Federal Government and Central Bank Agriculture loan scheme in Asaba, said diverting the loan would be fatal as it would be difficult for them to re-pay it at the projected period.

He, therefore, called on beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the loan in increasing food production so that the purpose of the exercise would not be defeated.

He also called on Deltans to take to farming in order to increase food production saying: “Everyone must farm so that we can feed ourselves, if everyone farms we will be able to achieve that aim .

“The important thing about peasant farming is that we will be able to feed ourselves, this will reduce hunger, there will be reduced anger and violence, some of this crisis we are having today will not exist.”

Uduaghan said that his administration would continue to encourage agricultural development programmes so as to build a state without oil, stating that his

NAMBRA State government has procured 10 compactor trucks, 10 hooklift trucks and waste receptacles to facilitate evacuation in Nnewi and Awka.

The Commissioner for Environment,Dr Michael Egbebike, told journalists in Onitsha, that the refuse equipment cost the government more than N300 million.

Egbebike said the government also bought

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Police officer honoured

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HE Divisional Police Officer in charge of Gowon Police Station in Lagos, Mr Julius Okoro Alawari has bagged three awards from a publishing outfit.

Presenting the awards, the chief operating officer of the Lagos Network publishing company, Otunba Gbenga Adebayo, said the clamp down on criminals in Gowon Estate, Federal Low Cost Housing (Shagari) and their environs by the police, informed his organisation to bestow the prestigious awards on the DPO whom he described as an epitome of humility, integrity and hard work.

•Ayinla at the cite of one of the boreholes.

•Uduaghan

Anambra more than 100 pieces of 10-tonne receptacles to be hook-lifted by special hook-lift trucks when filled with wastes.

It bought more than 500 pieces of three-tonne small receptacles to be emptied by the compactor trucks.

The commissioner said the trucks and receptacles were meant for Nnewi and Awka while the government would maintain its contractual agreement with a private company in keeping Onitsha and its environs clean.

“But again, massive enforcement is also required. We need to spend a lot more money in enforcement, so that our people might be slapped into re-alignment.

“It must be done, and we are heading towards the right direction.

“Now, we have procured vehicles, 20 vehicles. So that is a big boost.

“Here we have 10 compactor trucks and 10 chain hook (trucks) and hundreds of those big bins for Awka and Nnewi,’’ the commissioner said.

Egbebike said that the environment ministry was committed to providing a healthy and eco-friendly environment, which would help enhance the health and living condition of Anambra people.

Group elects exco

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By Oziegbe Okoeki

Ayinla added that he has been doing other programmes for the people and that he has been able to provide jobs for 13 youths in the area. He explained that the water projects are being sited in places, where generators would be provided and that BYA Ambassadors would be getting diesel or petrol across to the operators, but that generators would be provided, where non-exists.

He said further that there are spare pumping machines for any one that goes bad, while there are emergency numbers people could call whenever there is problem with the machines.

“People voted for us, they struggled and we gave them promises, this is part of our electioneering promises to them. You have to fulfill your promises as the people’s representative. For the youths, apart from giving them jobs, we have vocational training centre for them in Mushin.

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Obi procures waste disposal trucks

Lawmaker drills 50 boreholes for constituents T

HE lawmaker representing Mushin Constituency 11 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, has extended the dividends of democracy to his constituents with the provision of 50 boreholes for the 10 wards in the area.

While flagging off the project at Olaide Awoye Street, Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos ,Ayinla said water is the major problem of the people in the area, which was why he decided to embark on the multi-million naira project to ease the suffering of the residents.

According to him, “LASEPA tested about 500 water sources in Mushin and only 15 passed.

When I realised this through my group, BYA Ambassadors, I decided to embark on this project. We are starting with 10 boreholes in 10 wards, and we started from here being the ward of the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in my local government area and being my ward too. We are starting the rest tomorrow and the first phase would be completed in 13 days.”

Imo to attract foreign investors

Delta administration has empowered farmers through the Youth Empowerment through Agriculture, (YETA), Farmers Support Programme (FSP) and FADAMA III project.

The governor noted that his government was encouraging agriculture in order to improve food production and diversify the economy, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture would monitor the farmers to ensure that they make judicious use of the loan.

Speaking further, he said if the loan was effectively used the state government would give out more loans to farmers appealling to beneficiaries to be focused and pay attention to the viability of the project in order to be able to re-pay the loan within the specified period of seven years.

•Director, Chi Limited, Mr. Jerome Shogbon, Chief Executive, Mr. Rahul Ravi and Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal during a courtesy visit to the commissioner's office, Ikeja.

Group canvasses community development

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HE new leadership of the Man O’ War has promised to introduce new reforms in its operation to meet with the challenges facing the country. This pledge was made by the National Commander of the organisation, Mr Ikenna Chidoka.

Chidoka said there was need for the youth to be fully engaged in community development as a way of meeting the challenges. He stressed that when he was approached for the job, his immediate reaction was to avoid it but later had to take it up as a patriot.

He said: “I didn’t want to take up the job. I was first appointed national patron of the Man O’War last year, I accepted without much ado. But when I was approached to be the national commander of the organisation I was reluctant to accept it. I was however, convinced that Man O’ War needed a young leader to re-organise and return it to the forefront of promoting the ideals of modest development”.

He maintained that his mandate was simply to return the voluntary youth organisation to its enviable height as projected by the founding fathers. “Most of the countries we admire and aspire to be like in terms of development have strong voluntary organisations which help in building schools, community centres among others.”

Chidoka, who is a graduate of Sociology, explained that he would bring his immense experience as a private entrepreneur and founder of Change 180, a non-governmental organisation to

By Musa Odoshimokhe

rally the youths in the country for positive change.

This, he noted would complement government effort at engaging the youths who in most cases take to crime due to idleness. “We want to play a key role in reducing youth restiveness that is manifesting itself in forms such as terrorism, violent crimes and kidnappings. We want to properly train Man O’ War members so that they can in turn mobilise people especially the youth.”

The National Commander remarked that the youths were in high spirit to salvage the country, saying: “A good example of mobilising people during emergencies is the Christmas Day bombing at the St. Theresa Catholic Church.

Man O’ War members were the first organisation to get to the scene because we have members in almost all thelocal government areas in the country. Our members helped in stabilising some of the victims because they can administer first aid” He stressed further that: “Our target is to go back to the original concept of Man O’ War which is community •Chidoka service.

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LOR Development Initiative has elected a new executive council to run the organisation for another two years.

They are:Engr C.C.Oyeaka (Chairman), Chief Azubike Okeafor (Vice- Chairman) Prof Emeka Ezeonu (Secretary), Barrister Bona Oraekwe (Asst Secrtary), Mr Jachike Ojukwu (Fin-Secretary), Chief Chijoke Uzoekwe (Treasurer). Others include: Dr Augustine Afuekwe (Social /Pub secretary), while Barrister Ngozi Udodi and Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) were provost and Legal Adviser respectively.

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has pledged to open up the state to foreign investors by putting in place business-friendly policies that would encourage businessmen to tap into the human and material resources of the state.

According to him, his administration has received positive endorsement by countries in Asia, Middle East and Europe to partner with the state for the mutual benefits of its citizens.

“We have already signed agreement with the governments of Slovenia and Kosovo to supply agricultural products and arrangements are on to sign a number of bi-lateral agreements that could fetch Imo State 1 billion dollars a year”.

Okorocha, who spoke at a meeting with government functionaries, announced that the intention of his administration is to make Imo a self-sufficient state in terms of revenue generation, ability to feed its people and a net-exporter of agricultural products to Europe. “Right now, the Sam Mbakwe International Airport is undergoing

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From: Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

renovation. The night landing system has been installed and every necessary facility is being put in place to ensure that the airport becomes a regional hub for agricultural export for both the South- South and South East”.

He said that as part of efforts to diversify the economy of the state, his administration will encourage large exportation of palmoil and maize.He promised to reward communities with accelerated development if they comply with government directives.

“Government will not only compensate the communities financially but will introduce infrastructural development because the production of maize and palm oil could generate more revenue than crude oil to the state”.

He said the state has concluded arrangements with Malaysia and Thailand to plant new varieties of palms that would be harvested in

•Okorocha two years. Most of our present trees will be cut down and new high yielding variety planted”, he said.

Briefly

Church marks anniversary

•Hon. Hakeem Abiodun Muniru, (left) with Alhaji Wahab Raji, chairman ACN Isolo council area and Chairman, Isolo Local Council Development Area and chairman Isolo, Mr Shamusudeen Olaleye at the closing ceremony of Hon. Hakeem Muniru’s Free Medical Screening and treatment programme in Lagos.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

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HE President General of Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State, Chief Ebere Ubani, has called on all sons and daughters of the Igbo origin to be proud to speak their language anywhere.

He also charged parents to wake up to their responsibility of inculcating in their children the ethics and morals of the society through effective use of the Igbo language, saying this would go a long way in eradicating some of the social vices being perpetrated by youths today.

The president, who stated this during the Nnoko Igbo Community/Chieftaincy

Scholar warns against inciting religious intolerance RENOWNED Islamic scholar Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’I has chided the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Osun State chapter for fanning the ember of crisis in the state.

The Iwo-born cleric urged the opposition party in the state to look for dignified ways of playing its role rather than engaging in campaign of calumny.

Sheikh Shafi’I, the Chairman of Hajj Mabrur Ventures and Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) described the allegation of planned secession by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as mischievous.

“How on earth can the PDP descend so low to accuse Governor Rauf Aregbesola of planning break away from Nigeria while other states that surround Osun will still be under the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This allegation is too cheap to be called blackmail.

The role of the State Security Service (SSS) in this matter is even worrisome if the report in Saturday Sun is anything to go by. Are we saying the SSS has abandoned professionalism for tittle-tattle?” he queried.

Sheikh Shafi’I warned the party not to exploit religious differences amidst the inhabitants of the state to cause chaos.

“No doubt, we have been living in peace with our Christian brothers. The state is even

Imo

THE True Covenant Church of God a.k.a.

Omo Majemu Ministry marks the maiden edition of its Anniversary/Thanksgiving service on April 29. The venue is House of Glory, 1 Ayodele Odulate Street, Behind Kith and Kin School, off Beach Road, Ojogbe, Ikorodu, Lagos. The event has as its theme: From Grass to Grace.

The programme will be a week-long revival session with services at 10am, 5pm and 8pm respectively.

Speaking, the chief host, Prophet Olufemi Otusanya (Omo Majemu) said: “We are thanking the Lord Almighty for all He has done in our lives. He is a covenant-keeping God, He has made good His promises to his servant. The promises are built on solid rock of ages with a purpose to preach end time salvation.

He stated that his ministry is an offshoot of an outreach he began since December 16, 2009.

Igbo community urges use of language

By Ambrose Nnaji

Award Ceremony held in Lagos, also disclosed the intention to give monetary rewards to teachers of Igbo language both at the primary and secondary school levels as well as those who would accept to offer Igbo language as a course in the university and other institutions of higher learning.

The Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos is a socio cultural organisation comprising of seven Igbo speaking states in Nigeria including Imo, Abia, Eboyni, Anambra and Enugu states. The organisation primarily represents the interest of all the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State Nnoko Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State, he said, was the platform to unite all

Ndigbo in the state and ensure use of the language which according to the United Nation’s Educational and Social cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) estimation is going for extinction.

It is hoped that the forum would act as a means to re-invent and reinvigorate the spirit of oneness among the Igbo speaking communities in Lagos State which he said has been the bedrock of entrepreneurship.

He said: “For the Igbo to get their fair shares from the host community, they must embrace peace and always avoid the occasion of avarice, selfishness, internal rangling, division and suspiciousness among themselves.

“Let me remind that the power of a people is in their unity.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

peaceful more than what it was used to be during Olagunsoye Oyinlola PDP-led government and air of development is now breezing across the state unlike Oyinlola’s administration whereby development was stagnant.

“The PDP should be reminded that opposition role can only be played in a peaceful society. In a situation where there is break down of law and order, we can only talk about disaster due to loss of lives and properties.

“There are so many problems facing the nation that the PDP controlled Federal Government is yet to address. Are they not worried by the millions of youths on the streets looking for unavailable jobs. Federal government is not creating job for thousands of additional university graduates but a state government that employed 20,000 people within 100 days in office is in trouble for bringing sanity into governance,” he said.

The revered cleric hailed various Christian organisations that have joined hands to condemn the action of the PDP, noting that era of using religion to score political points in waning.

•From left: Deputy President, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State, Chief Osita Agu; President of the group, Chief Ebere Ubani and Chairman, Organising Commiittee, Engr. Patrick Mba at a press conference on the forth coming of 'Nnoko Ndigbo' speaking scheduled for place in Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, ARPIL 20, 2012

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

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AGRO-BUSINESS

Scaling the hurdles in agribusiness

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N agric expert, Dr Utiang Ugbe, has said the agribusiness industry needs to overcome significant challenges to stay competitive.

Ugbe, the Country Representative, Research into Use (RIU), said farmers have to be self-sufficient and have the ability to adapt to changes to survive in the industry.

He said the government needs to create and maintain conditions that favour investment in agri-business and agro-allied industries for the sector to experience meaningful growth, adding that value chain challenges exist and many farmers have to use creative ways to get products to markets.

Given the existing challenges globally, he said the industry is not well placed to leverage off the future food security trends.

He stressed the need to strengthen agric-led growth, saying it would be

NRI’s 4.7m euro project to boost food security in Africa

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By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

difficult to achieve set targets without strengthening linkages across the sectors.

He said as agri-business and related industries develop, they inevitably impact on traditional farming and marketing systems.

He noted that it is necessary to increase agricultural productivity and modernise agri-food chains to allow efficient production and supply of foodstuffs to the growing urban dwellers.

The Chief Executive, Agricultural Business Concepts Limited, Kayode Ekundayo, said agri-businesses have many challenges, including lack of functional transportation systems and infrastructure, among others He said there is a disconnect between funders and agricultural opportunities.

•Ugbe

He said the development of agribusiness and agro-industries will require a substantial infusion of fixed investment and working capital, calling on the government to facilitate increased investments in the agri-business and agro-industries’ sector.

MALL farmers are the focus of a new and innovative ECfunded 4.7 million euro project entitled: Farm Risk Management for Africa (FARMAF), that will be testing exciting new financial instruments to manage farmer risks.

A consortium of AGRINATURAEEIG institutes, led by NRI, is implementing the project with farmers' organisations, including the Pan Africa Farmers Forum (PAFFO).

Efforts to increase agricultural productivity in Africa are often hampered by inadequate public investment and restricted access to finance, which make it difficult for farmers to take up available productivity-enhancing technologies.

This lack of financial support can be attributed in part to the high risks to which smallholder farmers are exposed, including droughts, floods, pests and volatile markets.

The objective of the FaRMAf project is to make various tools available to smallholder farmers to enable them manage these risks. By doing so, farmers will be able to leverage finance, procure and use productivity-enhancing inputs and adopt marketing strategies which will assure them of better returns. Output and productivity growth will become

more sustainable, thereby assuring improved food security and livelihoods of the rural poor in Africa. Special attention will be paid to women farmers, who are responsible for a large proportion of agricultural production in Africa.

The project will be implemented in three countries: Burkina Faso, Tanzania and Zambia. However, in the long-term it is expected that through lesson-sharing, over 285 million smallholder farmers across Africa will benefit.

The FaRMAf project will promote schemes that will enable farmers to manage pre and postharvest issues, including a weather-indexed insurance which will be linked to input credit, as well as innovative marketing systems such as the warehouse receipt system, which in Tanzania has improved marketing and finance for agricultural commodities such as coffee and cashew.

FaRMAf will also promote collective marketing by smallholder farmers so they can sell into markets that require larger volumes than they are able to produce as individuals.

Such groups can even sell through agricultural commodity exchanges, which will be promoted in some of the participating countries.

‘Farmers should be part of strategy to combat drought’

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•Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Commissioner for Agriculture and Coperatives Lagos State, Mr Gbolahan Lawal; Olu of Agege, Oba Kamila Oyedeji Isiba and Chief Segun Elegushi at the inauguration of the farm service centre in Lagos.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

Delta disburses N1 billion loan to co-operatives

ELTA State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has disbursed N1 billion agriculture loan to farmers, with a warning to them not to divert the loan to unproductive purposes such as marrying new wives and buying cars.

Uduaghan, who gave the charge during the disbursement of Federal Government and Central Bank‘s Agriculture loans in Asaba, said diverting the loan would be fatal as it would be difficult for them to repay at the projected period.

He, therefore, called on beneficiaries to judiciously use the loan in increasing food production so that the purpose of the exercise would not be defeated.

He called on Deltans to take to farming to increase food production, saying “everyone must farm so that we can feed ourselves. If everyone farms, we will be able to feed ourselves”.

“The important thing about peasant farming is that we will be able to feed ourselves. This will reduce hunger. There will be reduced anger and violence. Some of the crisis we are having today will not exist,” he said.

He observed that his administration would continue to encourage

D

agricultural development programmes to build a state without oil, stating that his administration has empowered farmers through the Youth Empowerment through Agriculture (YETA), farmers support programme (FSP) and FADAMA III project.

The governor noted that his government was encouraging agriculture to improve on food production and diversify the economy, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture would monitor the farmers to ensure that they make judicious use of the loan.

He further said if the loan was effectively used, the state government would give out more loans to farmers. He appealed to beneficiaries to be focused and pay attention to the viability of the project to re-pay the loan within the specified period of seven years.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Misan Ukubenyinje, said agriculture holds the key to rapid economic development through the provision of enough food and employment.

He said the loan was an initiative

of the CBN in collaboration with the Federal Government and state Ministry of Agriculture to farmers co-operative societies, adding that 934 co-operative societies would benefit from it in the state.

He charged the co-operative societies not to divert the loan for any other purpose, stressing that it would be re-paid within seven years at an interest rate of nine per cent yearly.

“The loan is meant for agricultural purposes not to be diverted for any other purpose and note that the loan repayment period according to CBN guildline is seven years from the date of disbursement,” he said.

“You are advised to optimise the use of the loan for it to have a multiplier effect on food production in the state. You should reciprocate this government’s kind gesture by promptly repaying the loan assistance extended to you,” he said.

Responding, a beneficiary Chief Fidelis Ugba thanked Governor Uduaghan for being farmersfriendly by encouraging agricultural development programmes in the state.

He promised that he and his colleagues would make use of the loan for their benefit and that of the state.

N expert in crop science, Dr Daniel Gwary, has said farmers need to be part of the drought preparation plan.

Gwary, who is of the Department of Crop Protection, University of Maidugari, said a drought plan is a key part of the agricultural policy. Drought has cost this country dearly through the loss of onfarm jobs, slashing’s economic growth, and placing individuals, families, businesses, local communities in the north under enormous stress as farm production has plummeted.

He said local farmers are used to climatic variability, adding that getting their input into the plan would enhance local adaptation.

He said the involvement of farmers is necessary from policy development to effective drought preparedness and contingency planning.

He said the plan needs to be provided through options suitable to farmers and their particular circumstances.

According to him, increasing temperatures and frequent droughts in the north has made things difficult for the farmers. Climate change has resulted in higher temperatures and prolonged droughts and has meant that farmers have had to adapt along with these changes. This has caused pastoralists move to higher grounds in search of greener pastures.

He said the government has developed a plan to help safeguard farmers and livestock during such season.

He stressed the importance of adopting a participatory approach based on co-ordinating the efforts of different departments and operators in the sector to find appropriate solutions to various issues.

Bauchi farmers praise Kafin Zaki dam project

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ARMERS in Filin Shagari in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State have expresses delight at the prospects of the proposed Kafin Zaki Dam in their locality by the Federal and state governments.

The residents in Kafin Zaki, said they were already enjoying the benefits of all year-round availability of water, which has resulted to the bumper harvest in grains and vegetables in the area.

Malam Adamu Tungal, the Vil-

lage Head of Filin Shagari, said the huge commercial activities in agricultural produce had been going on in the area in the past 20 years, when the idea of the dam was first muted by the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.

He said businessmen and farmers from in and outside the state besieged the village daily to either trade or participate in agriculture because of the produce and the fertile land.

Edo to hold summit

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HE maiden edition of Edo State Agribusiness Investment Summit will hold in Benin City on Monday.

A statement jointly signed by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Abdul Oroh and Executive Director, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Igbinidu Inneh, says the summit will be attended by leading international and national professionals in the agribusiness chain.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole is expected to declare the summit open while the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Ayodeji Adesina, will present the keynote address.

The summit will be chaired by Chief Audu Ogbe while Dr. Patrick Kormawa, UNIDO Representative and Director, Regional Office, who is also the author of a seminal book on Agribusiness in Africa, will present the lead paper.

18

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

AGRO-BUSINESS STATE FOCUS

How Edo is revitalising agric

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•From left: Country Director Citizen United for the rehabilitation of Errants Nigeria, Sylvester Uhaa; Food and Agriculture Organisation Representative in Nigeria, Louise Setshwaelo and Muhammad Isa, Assistant Director-General, Nigeria Prison Service, at the conference on Prison reform and agricultural sustainability in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

‘Agric, education key to rapid development ‘ N IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu has advised the public and private sectors to focus attention on agric to ensure rapid development.

Aliyu stated this when the participants of the Senior Executive Course number 34 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, visited him at the Government House, Minna.

He said: “Whether we like it or not, in this country, we must go back to agriculture and education as the foundation for our wealth and development.

“We are rich because we identified the potential to be

By Daniel Essiet

rich and the potential are agriculture and education.”

He said a situation where a graduate cannot construct a simple sentence was unacceptable.

The governor assured that the security challenges facing the state would not deter him from providing the developmental needs of the people.

“The development challenges we have must not discourage us from providing the much needed development in our state,” he said.

He urged the people of the state to work co-operate, irrespective of their ethnic background and religious beliefs, to surmount the security challenges facing the state.

“We must do everything possible to really surmount the security challenges facing us today,” he said.

Aliyu described poverty as another serious security challenge that the Federal Government must tackle.

“So, we must all fight poverty; we must ensure that we mechanise agriculture and

also ensure that our educational sector is working,” he said.

Earlier, Prof Tijani Bandi, the Director-General of the institute, who led the team, said the members were in the state to understudy diversification of its economy and how it could assist in sustaining the socio-economic development of the country.

“The course is all about how to manage our available resources to give us sustainable development,” he said.

He also called for the development of the agricultural and power sectors of the economy, saying that they are key to sustainable development.

Farmers to get fertiliser, seeds

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ARMERS in the south are to redeem their Growth Enhancement Support (GES) fertiliser and seeds through the electronic wallet system from April 30, this year, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, has said.

He disclosed this at the flagoff of the GES programme in Abuja, adding that the seeds to be disbursed are rice, maize and soy bean.

The GES programme is an initiative of the Federal Government aimed at subsidising the cost of major agricultural input.

Tijani, who spoke through a representative of cellulant firm, who manages the e-wal-

From Olugbenga Adanikin and Adebowale Adenike, Abuja

let, disclosed that the beneficiaries would redeem the support through their voucher cards.

He said: “The farmers that have been registered in the farmers’ database in southern states researched on will receive their fertiliser and seeds commencing from April 30.

“The farmers will receive the support through their voucher which will contain their names and number.

They will receive an alert that the programme has started in their location and that the fertiliser is now available in their area.”

However, Tijani stated that

northern farmers would also redeem their GES support from April 25, 2012 after a meeting with fertiliser companies in the region.

The Minister, who described the initiative as a reality of the new Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

He said the medium and large scale farmers have a bigger platform that makes funds available for them.

His words: “This is the reality of the new agricultural transformation agenda for Nigeria, which for now, as far as the GES is concerned, it is targeting small holder farmers. The medium and large scale farmers have windows, which are far bigger than

what we have under the GES platform.

“If we can recollect, the commercial agricultural credit scheme where large scale farmers were given amounts of their request in state driven from N1billion to N4billion to small scale farmers. The second window, which is larger than the commercial agriculture scheme is rated under the Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) project of CBN internal use of agriculture. This is a facility of N450 billion, which cuts across the agricultural sector, but mainly to support very large scale farmers, medium scale farmers and small holders farmers.

Rising prices threaten food security, says Fashola

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola has warned that spiraling food prices could threaten food security.

He spoke through the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at the inauguration of a Farm Service Centre in Lagos.

He said rising food prices are tightening the squeeze on population already struggling to buy adequate food, demanding radical reform of the food system.

He said the food system must be overhauled if the

By Daniel Essiet

nation to overcome the increasingly pressing challenges of spiraling food prices. He urged for immediate action to forestall a repeat of the 2007 and 2008 crisis that led to riots in dozens of countries around the developing world.

He said urgent steps are needed to hold down costs and boost agricultural production as food prices continue to rise.

To support farmers, Fashola said the government has distributed vari-

ous agricultural inputs worth over N32 million at 40 per cent subsidy.

He said the government is working with the sector to respond to rising food prices by paying to improving seed quality to boost agricultural production, as well as educating farmers on the best practices.

He stressed that food security of one of the cardinal programmes of the 10-point agenda of his administration. Lagos, he said, is working not only to feed its populace, but also to ensure that

its produces at least 25 to 35 per cent of its food needs and hope to target 60 per cent by 2050.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said the government saw the need to further broaden the attention and services rendered to farmers by establishing the farm service centre.

The Centre, he said, will support the government’s goal upgrading training and capacity building of farmers to meet the challenges of ensuring food security.

GRICULTURE occupies a significant place in Edo State . It is the predominant occupation of the people.

The major cash crops are rubber, cocoa and palm produce. In addition, it produces yams, cassava; rice, plantains, guinea corn, and assorted fruits and vegetables.

The state’s climate, rainfall pattern and soil types sustain a wide range of agribusiness enterprises, including: tropical and temperate horticulture; inland aquaculture; production of grains, oilseeds and fibres; grazing and feed lotting of livestock; thoroughbred breeding, forestry and the production of timber products.

The demand for higher value products, spurred by a rapidly growing upper and middle class, and export opportunities, offers new avenues to revitalise the agriculture sector through diversification and value-addition. These higher value products include fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and fish.

Edo enjoys several advantages.

Its central location. Proximity to trade routes. The government supports continual innovation in farm machinery, sophisticated plant and animal breeding programmes.

Over the years, the production and exports of agro products have increased significantly in response to growing local demand. The state is a source for agricultural products.

The farming community represents a reliable supply chain partner for local and international customers. The state offers excellent opportunities for international businesses seeking to invest globally.

Edo remains an attractive destination for investment.

The government is working to make sure the needs of the agricultural communities is e given equal footing with the needs of the environment.

The government is preparing an enabling environment for investment and innovation to enable Edo farmers to remain among the most productive and efficient primary producers in the nation.Right now, the outlook for the year is positive.

The economy remains stable due to very high economic and strength. The agriculture sector has continues to grow both its food and fibre production and its contribution to the nation’s economy. The contribution farmers make is of vital importance. The sector has enormous strength and potential that can be explored to meet the challenges ahead.

These challenges are among the key priority areas for the state and the reasons it is outlining the blueprint for agricultural development–ensuring, operators have a clear direction of the industry the potential of supply chain, and how the state can achieve a strong and sustainable future. New technologies such as hybrid species are expected to be a major factor in food produc-

tion increase. The state is supporting such efforts as it redirect resources to achieve various development objectives such as reductions in poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Highly productive fertiliser have been introduced.

This has assisted farmers from widespread use of machines and s, large-scale exploitation of farmland .

New opportunities are emerging for the private sector to participate in agribusiness, agro-processing, value addition and in linking farmers to the markets. There are also opportunities for seed, fertiliser and crop protection services supply.

Opportunities for large private investment in agricultural research and development are welcomed. There are evolving commercial and investment opportunities arising from s growing appetite for higher quality foodstuffs and desire to achieve supply security.

As the population grows, rising incomes and an expanding middle class are creating a multitude of food related business opportunities.

The government is supporting policy reforms to improve the investment climate; investments in market infrastructure and services to enhance market efficiency; and capacity building to meet emerging challenges such as food safety, sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards, and zoonotic diseases.The government is making efforts to link farms to roads and other forms of transport.

A critical step to achieve this sector growth, and meet the changing demands of the overall economy, is s implementing a renewed rural development strategy, that builds on synergies in the agricultural, and non-farm sectors.

Agriculture will remain the mainstay of the population in the next decade. Promoting more rapid agricultural growth, is important as the government seek to lifting large numbers of agricultural households above poverty.

The government has a plan for putting the state ‘frontand-centre’ in overcoming the food shortage and generating lasting economic prosperity.

By investing in agriculture, the state wants to stimulate the economy and address the food situation. The government is highlighting opportunities in the state.

•Gov Adams Oshiomhole

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Kim’s kingdom • A new President of the World Bank emerges

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HE emergence, this week, of Dr. Jim Young Kim of the United States as the President-elect of the World Bank was not unexpected. Kim was the preferred candidate of the United States which has produced World Bank presidents ever since the World Bank was established in 1944. The U.S. could count on the backing of its European and Asian allies to provide the votes that would ensure that the eventual victory of its candidate was guaranteed.

However, the selection of the latest World Bank helmsman was characterised by several new features, the most significant of which was the emergence of serious challengers from other parts of the world. They were Nigeria’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Jose Antonio Ocampo of Colombia. Okonjo-Iweala, in particular, ran a relatively credible campaign in which her qualifications and experience were widely adjudged to make her the most suitable person for the job. She received the backing of member-states of the African Union (AU), former senior members of staff of the World Bank, and several of the world’s emerging economies.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was also very articulate in the way she expounded her vision for the institution she had hoped to lead.

She spoke of seeking to strengthen the bank’s commitment to its core mandate, namely the reduction of poverty in its member-countries, particularly those of them in the developing world. She emphasised the nature of her candidature as an acid test for the world’s readiness to uphold its newfound belief in meritocracy in all aspects of global governance,

as well as its ostensible commitment to the laudable principles of inclusiveness and equity.

Although she did not achieve her aim, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s efforts have clearly demonstrated the inherent injustice in limiting the scope of candidates for the post of World Bank president in such a ludicrously narrow manner. Not only is the pool of prospective candidates unnecessarily reduced, the monopoly of the position by one country is an unrealistic reflection of current economic realities.

America’s economic pre-eminence has been significantly affected by the emergence of new economic powers like Brazil, Russia, India and China, among others, who rightly believe that they ought to have a greater say when decisions are being made about global economic and fiscal policy.

It is to be hoped that Dr. Kim’s selection will represent the last time that the head of the World Bank and other global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are chosen in such a fashion. A reform of the shareholding structure of such institutions is vital to ensuring such transparency, which can only help to ensure that they perform their roles more efficiently and with greater awareness of the peculiar needs of their members.

In spite of the controversy surrounding his accession, however, Dr. Kim has much to recommend him. While he may not have a background in economics or finance, he does has an impressive track record, distinguished by hands-on managerial ability and a penchant for solving problems in the most pragmatic and costefficient way. His initiatives in the areas

of public health have provided him with vital insights into the way poverty is implicated in most developmental issues, and his role as president of an IvyLeague university makes him familiar with the importance of education and other social infrastructure in the development process.

As the new World Bank president, Dr. Kim must ensure that the bank steps up its efforts to ensure that developing countries are better able to overcome the challenges of poverty and under-development. It is particularly important for the bank to work with recipient countries to create viable solutions which take greater account of their peculiarities than is currently the case. If he makes the World Bank better attuned to the needs of developing countries during his term, he will have justified his selection.

‘It is to be hoped that Dr. Kim’s selection will represent the last time that the head of the World Bank and other global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are chosen in such a fashion. A reform of the shareholding structure of such institutions is vital to ensuring such transparency, which can only help to ensure that they perform their roles more efficiently and with greater awareness of the peculiar needs of their members’

Two deaths, one fate •Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi (1916-2012); Akin Omoboriowo (1931-2012)

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N April 10, Chief Akin Omoboriowo (1931-2012), Second Republic deputy governor of old Ondo State (now Ondo and Ekiti states), died in Lagos. He was aged 81. On April 11, Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi (1916-2012), famed medic, founder of St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, former Minister of Health and Administrator of Western Region in the First Republic, also died in Lagos. He was aged 95.

Dr. Majekodunmi was at least 14 years older than Chief Omoboriowo. While Dr. Majekodunmi operated in the First Republic (1960-1966), during the Action Group (AG) crisis in 1962, Chief Omoboriowo featured in the Second Republic (1979-1983), during another schism in the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), a successor party to the First Republic AG. Both parties were headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

But even beyond this parallel, fate has yoked together this pair as otherwise no-

‘Dr. Majekodunmi and Chief Omoboriowo took private decisions in politics that led to the grief of many. Their reduced stature in the eyes of many of their compatriots should be a lesson to similar otherwise good men (and women), used for dubious causes in the public space’

ble men doomed by their rather ignoble roles in the political affairs of their day.

Almost every commentator and even those who knew Dr. Majekodunmi directly testify to his nobility of spirit and his decency. He himself, in an interview with The Guardian to commemorate a previous birthday, laid much store by his acknowledged even-handedness during his stint as administrator of the troubled Western Region from June- December 31, 1962.

Faced with pressures to “deal” with AG members, he flatly told everyone he was not in the West to fight the AG but to maintain neutrality.

On the surface, that was quite commendable. But looking deeper, it was not good enough. Dr. Majekodunmi accepted the job, knowing the swirling partisan political intrigues that created it. As Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa’s personal physician, federal health minister and Balewa’s viceroy in the West, he could not, in all good conscience, claim to want to remain neutral.

Even if he was, he still ended up subverting the interest of the AG, to the benefit of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola’s Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).

Despite the pious cant of the Balewa Federal Government, there was absolutely no doubt which side the Prime Minister was backing in the Western Region conflict.

That subversion led to a chain of events that buried democracy and triggered the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970).

So, as it would recur times without number in Nigeria’s political evolution, Dr. Majekodunmi was the good man who allowed himself to be used for evil deeds.

That singular act appeared to have blotted out the many goods he did, including his sterling contribution to choice in medical health delivery, through his St. Nicholas Hospital, started in 1968.

Chief Omoboriowo might not have had the aristocratic profile of Dr. Majekodunmi but he too was perceived as a decent political rising star – until he faltered during the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) gubernatorial nomination crisis of 1983.

His supporters claimed he won the UPN Ondo gubernatorial primaries, against the incumbent Governor Adekunle Ajasin. That alleged injustice led to his defection to the rival National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the then federal ruling party. But not even his most zealous of supporters could claim he won the 1983 Ondo gubernatorial election, which the NPN “federal might” brazenly rigged.

For Chief Omoboriowo, that electoral perfidy was the turning point. He was another good man hoping to reap from electoral evil. But it all turned a tragic fiasco that haunted him to the end of his life. A chastened Omoboriowo, however, turned down a ministerial appointment offer from President Shehu Shagari and kept politics at arm’s length for the rest of his life.

Dr. Majekodunmi and Chief Omoboriowo took private decisions in politics that led to the grief of many. Their reduced stature in the eyes of many of their compatriots should be a lesson to similar otherwise good men (and women), used for dubious causes in the public space.

The big spill, two years later

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RIDAY is the second anniversary of the explosion at BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 workers and spilled upwards of five million

barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Thanks partly to nature’s resilience, some progress has been made.

The gulf is open to fishing, beaches are mostly clean and President Obama has resurrected an ambitious oil exploration plan that he shelved immediately after the spill.

But the healing from this extraordinary act of corporate carelessness is far from complete, and there is important work to be done to minimize the chances that such a disaster will happen again. Here are central issues that remain unresolved: THE GULF Scientists believe that the oil has mostly evaporated, been consumed by bacteria or dispersed in deep water. Yet oil has poisoned Louisiana’s salt marshes and wetlands, which are vital fish nurseries, and visibly damaged deep-sea coral. The toll on the gulf and its marine life may not be known for years.

The herring population of Alaska’s Prince William Sound did not crash until three years after the Exxon Valdez spill.

REGULATION The spill exposed serious structural flaws in federal oversight of offshore drilling, including the cozy relationship between the oil industry and its regulators in the Interior Department. The department has since been reorganized to eliminate conflicts of interest, and it has agreed to give environmental concerns higher priority in the planning, leasing and drilling process.

By contrast, Congress’s response to the spill has been truly pathetic. It has not passed a single bill to prevent another catastrophe, according to a report issued Tuesday by former members of a presidential commission that investigated the spill. Congress has failed even to codify the Interior Department’s sound regulatory reforms, which could be undone by a future administration.

SAFETY The administration has developed new standards for each stage of the drilling process — from rig design to spill response — insisting that operators fully prepare for worst-case scenarios. But the commissioners’ report notes that the new equipment systems have not yet been tested in deep-water conditions.

REPARATIONS BP has paid $14 billion in cleanup costs and $6.3 billion in damages to individuals and businesses, with another $7.8 billion pledged. The company is also likely to owe several billion dollars for damages to natural resources under the Oil Pollution Act, and somewhere between $5 billion and $20 billion in penalties under the Clean Water Act, depending on the level of negligence.

BP may well prefer a negotiated settlement of these damages to a long and potentially damaging trial. If so, the Justice Department should press for the best possible deal from what is still a deep-pocketed company. Congress must make sure that the bulk of this money is used not only to address particular damage from the spill but to carry out a broad program of ecosystem restoration — the wetlands and barrier islands that had been weakened well before the spill by industrialization and mismanagement of the Mississippi River and by Hurricane Katrina.

The commissioners seemed encouraged by steps the administration had taken to strengthen the regulatory machinery and improve safety standards. (Their report also includes a strong note of caution about dangers of drilling in the Arctic, where harsh conditions would present even more difficult challenges in the event of a spill.) What disturbed them was the appalling refusal of this bitterly partisan, antiregulatory Congress to join the effort.

– New York Times

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THE NATION FRIDAY, ARPIL 20, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: These are unusual times in motherland, Nigeria. Things are just no longer at ease no matter how much we pretend to the contrary. Everywhere one looks, there seems to be frightening signs of lunacy all around. There seems to be madness everywhere and every time. The last time Her Excellency was around to ‘thank Lagosians’ at the Ocean View Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, overzealous security men, were on hand to show Lagosians how not to say thank you.

Those that daily pass through the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway, Oshodi-Apapa Road among others, will surely be familiar with a new kind of madness in town known as the menace of trailers and tankers drivers. These are men who are above the law. Lords in their own special way. One of them recently blocked the Ibafo end of the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway with his tanker just because he had an issue with a commercial bus driver, leaving behind an avoidable gridlock.

We live in a strange country where madness has become an integral part of our daily routine.

In recent time, the National Assembly has become a good ground for students who are willing to research into the prevailing insanity across the country. Revelations from numerous public hearings organised by diverse committees of the National Assembly are enough to attest to the madness pervading the land. The rate at which people that are entrusted with public fund breach the public code of ethic is one that can only take place in a land where insanity reigns supreme. We recently heard tales of public officials who kept cash going into billions of naira of public funds in their private homes.

One of them claimed she made the billions of naira found in her home selling bottled and ‘pure water’!

Recently, a 400 –seater Anglican

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 1000 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.com

Ending the culture of madness Church building was donated by a construction firm, Gitto Construztioni Limited to Otuoke, hometown of President Goodluck Jonathan Nigeria contrary to public service code of conduct laws.

Clergymen in the said church referred to anyone who criticized the gift as satanic. Presidential aides fall on each others to defend their principal. Today, many of those involved in the collapse of some banks and other financial institutions in the country are walking freely in the land. Yet, this is a country where thousands of less con-

nected people are languishing in jails, across the country, for far lesser crimes.

A nation that is built on falsehood and deception will continue to breed nutty and uncultured people. No matter how much we try to pretend, almost everywhere is rotten in the country. Even in religious places, where one expects a reasonable degree of uprightness, the story is not different. Pay a visit to government hospitals, where government spend a fortune to put in the right equipment and ensure the well being of medical workers, you will be

amazed at the attitude of the workers there. On our roads the situation is not different. Everybody drives as if there are no rules governing traffic. Operators of the informal sector are not exempted from this culture of madness. If you have ever given your car to a mechanic to fix or you have had course to deal with plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc you will understand the resourcefulness of the average Nigerian in cutting corners!

There is no point in passing the buck. We should stop the blaming game. If we are to fulfill our

potentials as a nation, we have to collectively change our orientation.

We have to change our value system. Everyone has to play his part well. The ruling class has a greater role to play in this respect. The way forward, is for every one of us to have a rethink. If some are building and others are pulling down, the building will definitely collapse. The political class has to eschew bitterness. No matter what happens, this is the only country that we can call our own.

It doesn’t matter where we are, we can get to where we ought to be if we are determined to build a new nation that will be the toast of coming generations. We can do it. We have the potentials. We have the resources. All we need is a strong resolve to start afresh.

• Tayo Ogunbiyi Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Questions on the new pension scheme

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IR: University of Ilorin organized an interactive session on the new pension scheme that is supposed to ease the problem of retired workers going through hell to get their retirement benefits. Some excruciating experiences were related by some of the participants whose chosen administrators kept saying the Pension Commission had not given them any remittance.

The contribution was said to be 7.5% of the consolidated (total) monthly earning, and not just of the basic salary. 7.5% is deducted from every participant worker, and the employer adds 7.5% to it monthly. Some of the participants asked questions about how the Commission could determine people’s life expectancies; what happens to those who have been Professors for 15 or more years and

used to earn their last salary amount for the rest of their lives; and above all, what security for the savings?

There was abundance of assurance that the savings are secure, and that no worker would be shortchanged at the end of the day. But some of the participants who transferred from other institutions had nothing in their retirement accounts since 2009 till the second half of April 2012 when the interactive session took place. Some of those who appeared to be getting regular statements from their administrators also saw that the amount was short of various sums. Some participants expressed frustration because at some point the administrators appeared unable to resolve their problems.

I would suggest that all irregularities be straightened-out by PenCom, and then we resort to the

original picture. I remember that originally we were told that the Retirement Savings Account would operate like regular banks. Later we were told one will have a PIN that must not be known by anybody else. What nonsense! Let’s go by the normal account number, name, photograph, and signature, to be as secured as with the regular banks. Then we can check the remittances and total balance monthly, across-counter, with the proviso that the workers can add to their retirement savings if they want, but cannot get from it till retirement.

Pen-Com must ensure regular and accurate remittances. What a person does with his or her retirement savings should be left to him or her after retirement. A person may spread it over a number of years and put himself or herself on

monthly salary by personal decision. The question on those who have spent 15 or more years as Professors can follow a similar practice with other sectors, such as the Judiciary and the Army.

Another question asked at the interactive session was what happens to dismissed persons who are not supposed to earn any retirement benefit, based on certain misdeeds. I suggest there should be a proviso that a person cannot access retirement savings after retirement without clearance from the employer who may have a just cause to tamper with it or appropriate it.

Yes, that may engender occasional litigation, but the employer must also protect the system.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph.D, University of Ilorin.

THE NATION FRIDAY, ARPIL 20, 2012 16

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Reality Bites S

Olatunji Ololade

OMEDAY, Ngozi OkonjoIweala will become a bore.

When she does, her enormous bulk shall depend on the infinite immensity of her name or otherwise to matter us. Only then shall she discover that she is neither deity nor godlike. Perhaps she would invoke the passing tribute of a sigh more often than not but when our hearts run over in silent worship of Nigeria’s greats, the aged but sceptred sovereigns who still rule our future by their past deeds, Okonjo-Iweala will be conspicuously absent in our thoughts.

And this is neither doomsday prophesy nor spite; in the epoch when Okonjo-Iweala becomes totally forgettable to us, she would simply be getting her due as she did recently when she lost the Presidency of the World Bank.

You get what you deserve. If Okonjo-Iweala stood in good stead

‘If Okonjo-Iweala thinks herself an economic goddess of 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 clear-sighted ones; their deeds and their words are the best of their time. Are her deeds and her words the best of our time?’

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to clinch the number one seat of the World Bank, she accepted defeat few hours before the selection of the candidate for the top job. “It is voting with political weight and shares, and therefore the United States will get it,” she told reporters at a briefing on the country’s 2012 budget.

Okonjo-Iweala said that although she expected her challenge to the US’s nomination to fail, the process “will never ever be the same again” claiming “So we have won a big victory…we have shown we can contest this thing and Africa can produce people capable of running the entire architecture.” Simply put, she gave up on herself.

It would be enlightening to know that inwardly, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance knew that she had a worthy competitor in the newly elected President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim and the US’s nominee.

Contrary to widespread perception among Nigerians and OkonjoIweala’s supporters in the so-called “third world,” Okonjo-Iweala had a profound foreboding of her eventual loss.

Just a few days ago, she sounded the alarm that the nation where she serves as the minister of finance is broke. Why would anybody in the world vote a person into a sensitive position knowing that she has failed woefully in her current office? Nigeria is the seventh biggest producer of oil in the world and the country is broke, according to the country’s minister of finance yet she intended to become the president of the World Bank strictly by “merit.” How did she expect to pull that off?

WO events in the pension sector have dominated the airwaves in recent times, and have the potential to lead to erosion of confidence in the pension system if the issues are not put in proper perspective.

The revelations of malfeasance in the administration of pensions in the public sector coming out of the National Assembly’s probe and the other, no less damaging, are reports of inability of contributors in the nascent pension scheme to access their funds immediately they retire. These stories tend to portray the pension industry as one that is plagued by poor corporate governance. Even more worrisome is the escalation of the fears of some contributors in the new system who are concerned about the safety of their contributions and payment of their pensions after retirement. .

Without mincing words, the pension industry is robust, safe and is poised to help retirees live well after their active life in employment. The aforementioned storied issues are mainly related to pension administration under the Defined Benefit Scheme (“DBS”), which era came to an end when the Pension Reform Act of 2004 was signed.

This law changed the entire pension system from one in which employees looked forward to their employers paying their gratuity and a reasonable pension on retirement, to one in which what the employees get when they retire is what they contributed to their pension fund when they were in active employment. Called the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), the new scheme to a large extent placed in the hands of the contributor (and of course, their employer), the responsibility for the contribution that is available in the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) upon retirement.

Therein lies one of the major differences between the previous system and the new system.

This difference accounts for why, for instance, rather than pensioners queuing up at government offices for verification and collection of their monthly pensions, pensioners in the post-2004 CPS do not need to queue up to be verified. Their monthly pensions are paid straight into their bank accounts. Another major difference is that

Goddess in embryo (Keeping faith in Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) Okonjo-Iweala never deserved the post anymore than the other candidates. She simply lost to a better candidate irrespective of any intellectual gibberish or racist claptrap her apologists would perpetuate about her loss. Funny she claimed the selection was not based on merit knowing that the US nominee as a Medical Doctor and administrator has had experience in management for a long while. Okonjo-Iweala’s apologists may check out his C.V. You do not have to be an economist to manage a monetary position.

Economics is an everyday enterprise that ordinary people come across.

Okonjo-Iweala should prove her mettle by turning around the Nigerian economy not fleeing for the comfort of a well organized banking outfit that has attained sound financial and administrative footing over the decades.

Shame that she lost the job. Shame that in the wake of her loss, OkonjoIweala is still not adequately in grasp of her impotence as an economist and Nigeria’s minister of finance.

And so may I in the same arbitrary manner in which she aided and supported the imposition of fuel subsidy removal on poor, helpless Nigerians declare that it was only fair that she was fed a generous dose of her own poison; after all, she should be used to political subterfuge and high-handedness by now.

The tragedy of Okonjo-Iweala’s loss is that there is no tragedy in her loss; she couldn’t really mourn the loss what of what she never truly deserved, could she? How would Nigeria gain from her ascension to the post of President of the World Bank? Why would she persistently counsel Nigerians to be patriotic and painstaking and seek to jump ship at the slightest opportunity? Are her

much-advocated NEEDS, SURE and arbitrarily enforced removal of fuel subsidy not the next best palliatives to Nigeria’s ailing economy anymore?

Had she won the World Bank’s most coveted seat, what would have happened to her hyperbolic policies and economic reforms? OkonjoIweala has lost faith even in her own ability to heal Nigeria’s ailing economy, it would seem.

Has she really managed the Nigerian economy with the candidness she loves to affect? Is she blind to the fact that Nigeria is broke because of the senseless greed and corruption at the top? Will she ever admit that she only does enough to look good to the outside world?

Funny that she wouldn’t advise Mr. President to slash the outrageous salaries and expenses of Nigeria’s serving state officers – the two of them inclusive. Funny that she could conveniently awe him to submission and acceptance of the dangerous illusion that once fuel subsidy is removed, the Nigerian economy would begin to thrive but wouldn’t adopt a similar method and awe him to cut back on recurrent expenditure and other profligate spending.

Funny that Okonjo-Iweala’s annual remuneration remains a best kept secret as does the emoluments of her colleagues. Funny that as a public servant, Okonjo-Iweala could be mistaken for a public idol; a selfstyled economic deity to be precise.

If Okonjo-Iweala thinks herself an economic goddess of 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 clear-sighted ones; their deeds and their words are the best

Nigeria’s pension sector in perspective

By Demola Sogunle while pensioners in the old system travel long distances to be verified, the local office of the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) manages that level of interface without any stress, thereby removing the need for continuous verification of pensioners.

One of the most fundamental differences between the two is the fact that the post2004 era avails the contributor or pensioner a lot of information, ranging from monthly balances and contributions, the lump sum available upon retirement, to monthly pension. Pensioners in the pre-2004 era depended on pension authorities to tell them what they are entitled to. Information is knowledge; and with this comes power, which has been placed in the hands of contributors and pensioners.

The post-2004 CPS is experiencing the challenges that most systems in transition go through: people caught up in the old era who cannot be absorbed quickly enough in the new scheme are unfortunately suffering from the inadequacies of the previous system, and this tends to rub off negatively on the new system. When you read, or hear of stupendous sums meant for pensioners diverted to other uses, it is symptomatic of the old system.

When elderly men and women who should be in the comfort of their homes travel long distances for verification, and some of them suffer health-related problems due to the difficulties experienced in the process, which sadly has led to death in some cases, is also a carryover from the old era. Indeed, it was the myriad inefficiencies in the old scheme that led to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government reforming the pension system, which culminated into the Pension Reform Act 2004.

The CPS has operators (Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custo-

dians, ‘PFC’), a regulator (PENCOM), subscribers (employees and employers) and beneficiaries (pensioners). There are checks and balances in the system, and the various regulations passed by PENCOM over the years have been geared towards more openness, transparency and empowering contributors and beneficiaries of the scheme to be the major players in the pension industry, unlike in the previous era.

That is why, for instance, there is stiff but healthy competition among PFAs for market share, and the competition will become stiffer in the months ahead with the opening of a window that makes it possible for RSA to be transferred from one PFA to another.

Competition in the pension industry is fostering innovation, more transparency, and accountability. All these are geared towards engaging contributors as well as pensioners so that there are no gaps in the information flow because when gaps exist, rumours and misinformation thrive. It is not possible, not by the longest stretch of imagination, for the sort of malfeasance that took place in the previous era, to be perpetrated in the new scheme. The operators, regulators, subscribers and beneficiaries are too deeply inter-twined and the system is too tightly regulated for funds to be misappropriated on such a grand scale.

There have also been stories about pensioners in the new scheme not being able to access their funds immediately they retire. There have been enlightenment fora, one-on-one engagements, and many more that have been carried out by PENCOM and some PFAs geared towards preparing contributors on how to access their funds when they eventually retire. More needs to be done.

If contributors start processing their pen-

of their time. Are her deeds and her words the best of our time?

Okonjo-Iweala is remarkably endowed, no doubt, particularly in her intellect, considering her résumé.

She is well-made, knows it, and is willing to set off to the best what nature and personal effort has bestowed but like every ambitious human, she is vain, to the detriment of the positive faculties of her will.

Despite her vanity, the most remarkable thing about OkonjoIweala is that she truly has potential. What she needs now is character. Had she character, she would understand that there is no such thing as a great brain without indefatigable strength of mind. Had she character, she would understand and seek to affect modesty in fervor, fortitude in toil, serenity amidst storms, inflexibility in faith in the power of the Nigerian dream.

But like a timid, shy girl aching to become a woman of resolute character, she scurries from the troubles that badgers every young Amazon into a “man” thus her willingness to ditch her fatherland at the slightest opportunity.

It’s about time she grew up and channeled her energy to truly heal and reposition the Nigerian economy. She has the potential to achieve that in spite of all the people who claim she can or cannot do that.

There is no arithmetic to the attainment of that save honesty, perseverance, sacrifice and tact. Only when she begins to affect these can she become our nearest incarnation to the eye of God. But today, she remains a fleeting fracture of the immensity she’s supposed to become. Shame.

SMS only 08038551123 (tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk)

sion papers at least six months to the date that they will retire, they will certainly start accessing their pensions the very next month after retirement. On the contrary, when contributors wait till they retire before commencing the paperwork, it will take some time before all the paperwork is concluded; and by then anxiety would have set in. When the lump sum and pension cannot be accessed a month after retiring from work because the requisite paperwork is still ‘work-in-progress’ at the time, some contributors may have the erroneous impression that the PFA is withholding the funds.

It is important that these headline-grabbing stories emanating from the probe of the administration of pensions are published and analysed in their proper context by the media. These reports are manifestations of gross inadequacies and inefficiencies of a bygone era, which we hopefully will put behind us, sooner rather than later, because the new pension system is very robust and will deliver on the objectives underpinning the Pension Reform Act 2004.

• Dr. Sogunle is CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Lagos.

‘It is not possible, not by the longest stretch of imagination, for the sort of malfeasance that took place in the previous era, to be perpetrated in the new scheme. The operators, regulators, subscribers and beneficiaries are too deeply inter-twined and the system is too tightly regulated for funds to be misappropriated on such a grand scale’

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION Ambition is the grand enemy of all peace.’

———-John Cowper Powys (1872 - 1963) British novelist and poet.

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VERYBODY on that Lagos route and allied ones was sweltering on that day. Meetings were cancelled; the state economy lost millions while cars’ gaskets got damaged due to overheating in the prolonged but needlessly avoidable traffic snarl in the Victoria-Island area stretching to Lekki and beyond. The above were the repercussions of Dame Patience Jonathan’s visit to thank South-South women in Lagos for voting for her husband in the 2011 presidential election last week Thursday.

The event was reported to be part of a peace advocacy programme put together

by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa in the state.

For an orchestrated ‘thank you’ visit to South-South women in Lagos, this Dame and her security goons made lives of thousands of Lagosians struggling to make an honest living miserable for hours. Commuters, office workers, local and international investors got stuck in hours of endless traffic and detours just because of one

‘It is an incontrovertible fact of public knowledge that there was an election in April last year in which the president was elected supposedly by the people of Nigeria. But the question is; should it take the wife of the president a whole twelve months to realise that she should come and thank south-south women in Lagos?’

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OW that the lavish parties are over, the drums have been rolled back in and hangovers have dissipated, it just might be beneficial to all concerned to take another (clear-eyed?) look at this phenomenon of our time known as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A phenom he is indeed since quitting his plum job to dive headlong into Nigeria’s murky politics nearly a quarter of a century ago. His political trajectory has been leveraged on the wings of hawkish tenacity, long-view strategic thinking and a dash of what may be described as liberal progressive principles (very rare in most politicians today). It is a combination of these elements that has made him the most significant, if not the most influential political figure of our time today.

His story is well known to those who ought to know: from the rarefied atmosphere of oil and gas multinational, Mobil to the Senate of the Federal Republic, to the NADECO movement, to two-term governor of Lagos State and currently, national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); the chief opposition and second largest political party in Nigeria, his has been like the path of a guided thunder. While some of his gubernatorial peers are still hankering after ambassadorial and ministerial appointments, he has built an alternative political platform for Nigerians.

It was as the governor of Lagos State for eight years (1999 to 2007), however, that he came to his own. It was during this period that he matured politically and showed the wily political stuff he is made of. Running the most complicated state in the country, Lagos, it could be said that it was the then President Olusegun Obasanjo’s crude politics and maladroit ways that honed Tinubu and brought out the best in him. It is indeed, a quirky twist of irony that to some extent, Tinubu has Obasanjo to thank for turning out the polished gem he is today.

Were Obasanjo a touch cerebral, had he any vision whatsoever, had he not been driven by megalomania, if only he had spared a thought for the people or cared a hoot about history and legacy, he would not only have been the authentic leader of the southwest today but the quintessential Nigerian statesman revered all over Africa and globally.

Had Obasanjo risen to the call of history,

A First Lady’s lust for 2015

• Patience Jonathan

person-the imperial wife of President Goodluck Jonathan of the great Nigerian defective federation.

It was as if John Cowper Powys (1872 1963), a British novelist and poet had Dame Jonathan in mind in his book ‘The Meaning of Culture’ when he said: ‘Ambition is the grand enemy of all peace.’ Quite clearly, it is obvious from what happened on that day that the president’s wife is being driven by ambition to have her husband return at all cost as the leader of this country in year 2015 when his present tenure will expire.

Just because of this ambition as observed

by Powys, the Dame has turned herself to

be the enemy of peace in Lagos state. The poser: Why do wives of occupiers of executive positions in the country turn themselves into public nuisance in most cases bringing to question the reputation of their husbands in the process?

It is an incontrovertible fact of public knowledge that there was an election in April last year in which the president was elected supposedly by the people of Nigeria. But the question is; should it take the wife of the president a whole twelve months to realise that she should come and thank south-south women in Lagos?

Even if she decides to come and do that, should it be done with impunity- in a way that created obstruction to the free flow of traffic in and that also impeded the country’s economic nerve centre’s commercial activities. What is even the benefit of that event to the wellbeing of Nigeria? Why can’t such a frivolous outing be fixed for a weekend and not a working day? Can it be assumed that there is more to the visit than what Ita-Giwa wants the whole world to believe?

One clear manifestation from that frivolous visit to Lagos by Madam Patience to merely thank sectional women is that she has nothing worthwhile that she is doing as First Lady. That trip is nothing but an arrant misuse of a working day and that of state resources. At a time when the country is trying to douse ethnicity tension, it is sad that the wife of the president of Nigeria is fanning the ember of ethnic dis-

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS O8181624757, email:steve_osuji@yahoo.com

Asiwaju at 60: after the parties had he been able to take the beautiful stage providence so generously provided him, Tinubu would at best, now be a bright star in Obasanjo’s cosmology. But Obasanjo suffered the Pharaoh disease: he was single-mindedly obdurate. Otherwise, why would a president in this age reject the judgment of his country’s Supreme Court? Why would a president withhold local government funds in blatant contravention of the constitution? Why was his number one minister and chief law officer hacked to death in cold blood and he never issued a coherent response and to cut a very long tale of misrule short, why did he contrive a roguish plot to hijack his Southwest zone by hook and crook in the 2003 elections when he had four years to win the people’s heart through quality performance and brilliant leadership? For eight years, it was as if Obasanjo had his head clad in a wooden balaclava which impeded the functioning of his brains. He wasted our time.

It was on this Obasanjo political manure that Tinubu’s political seedling flourished. And come to think of it, Tinubu was not even a damn good governor or, more advisedly, he was not a governor after my heart. I remember as the editor of New Age, I had written a few scathing pieces in my column concerning his numerous shortfalls and unfulfilled promises at the time. Apart from rebuttals from his media team (Kehinde Bamgbetan and Segun Ayobolu), he took my ‘unconstructive’ criticism in his stride and he never denied my newspaper the usual courtesies and invitations extended to other media houses.

From hindsight, perhaps Asiwaju was not meant to be a good governor but a great leader as evidenced by the manner he managed his succession. He was faced with what was veering into a bloody battle of succession for the Round House, Alausa. But Tinubu’s move at this moment of history was a masterstroke and his decision on that matter would probably remain the apotheosis of his political life. In a field of highly wired politicians, carpetbaggers, age-long buddies and all sorts, Tinubu settled for a certain apolitical and disinterested Babatunde Raji Fashola.

From this point onwards and considering Fashola’s transcendental performance under our political milieu, those who didn’t think much of Asiwaju must have been forced to think twice. Very few leaders of our time have been able to manage succession not to speak of choosing a quality successor. Just as Obasanjo gave fillip to the Asiwaju phenom by default, Fashola’s stellar qualities bolstered it, giving it great momentum. Perhaps aware of his shortcomings as a manager, Tinubu conscripted a good, disciplined manager to run the shop while he provided political leadership and won more territories. There is no doubt that a lot of what happened in the Southwest these past few years would not have been possible were Lagos not running well as a model of what is possible.

Keen eyed political scholars ought to have already taken note of the political paradigm which may have been responsible for Lagos working fairly well over this period. Nigeria’s democracy has failed to deliver positive

cord. Otherwise, why should she come and thank south-south women along for voting for her husband in the 2011 election in a multi-ethnic society like Lagos. Is she saying that women from the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and other tribes in Lagos that voted for her husband in that election deserve no thank you? What an ungrateful conduct from the supposed mother of the nation if at all she deserves to be accorded that appellation. At a time political ethnicity is in the front burner in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Madam Dame’s inauspicious visit to Lagos on that day should confirm to the northern feudalists that her husband will not abide by the rotation agreement of their party that caused so much rancour among its leadership last year.

In the field of politics, 24 hours is usually assumed to be a very long period. This assumption to be candid has been tested overtime. In the murky waters of Nigerian politics in particular, we have seen situations in which what is wished in the afternoon gets changed at night. This has led to the general presumption in politics that it is not over until it is over. As mortals and political animals, human being can in good reason believe that anything is possible like Dame is surreptitiously making us to believe. However, there is limitation to human suppositions for where they end, God’s intervention begins.

In an unabashed display of human frailty, she still erroneously believes that she and her husband can outsmart even God. Unfortunately, this woman is not thinking seriously of how to support her husband to combat the cankerworm of Boko Haram that has made the northern part of the country havens for the lawless.

Dame is not thinking of how to support initiatives that will alleviate poverty in the nation. The problem of child mortality ravaging the land does not seem to concern this woman. All she has her eyes on is how her husband will get a return ticket in 2015. Nigerians are watching while this opportunity is being seized here today to remind her at this juncture that she should stop creating problems in Lagos next time she visits. dividends because 90 per cent of time and resources is devoted to fruitless politics. Since 1999, hardly any president, governor or council chairman has excelled, why? Ruinous politics. The manner Tinubu extricated the Lagos State government from partisan politics, allowing the executive to focus on work is remarkable and worthy to be given further academic investigation. It is a paradigm that can be fine-tuned for greater results.

But all that Asiwaju has achieved so far may just be easy victories. The duel of his life may well lie ahead. There is still a little to be done to affirm his position as the undisputed Yoruba leader. He still has to spread his wings farther afield across the nation. He still has to convince the common man that he really cares for him.

However, the greatest challenge, I dare to wager, may be at the homestead. The caterpillar that devours the leaf lives under the leaf, our elders say. Succession in home territories may get very tricky and unsettle the party. Turncoats will emerge sooner than later. And finally, it may be necessary to adopt one or two party-wide cardinal programmes because not all governors can perform at the same pace or quality. There is too much talk and a tendency to grandstand right now among ACN governors. They must show a class apart; they must outperform their counterparts in other parties by miles to make reelection easy and help the party grow further afield. But sorry to say that from the look of things, that seems a tall order. Many of them have already taken off on a wrong template.

All said, there is no denying that we are in the Asiwaju era of Yoruba politics. Will he achieve what Awo, Abiola and Bola Ige could not? Would he undo the harm done by Obasanjo? This is indeed an interesting time and the next ten years will be even more so.

Here is my belated birthday wish to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the man of our time. May you fulfill your destiny; Amen.

LAST MUG: At World Bank, A is for abracadabra: in school they taught us early that A is for Apple but we have to grow up to learn that A is also for a lot of other things like… Abominable. The United States and Europe ought to cover their face in shame the way they shunned merit and fair play in the World Bank job. Point noted

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

25

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SEVEN-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Last Tuesday, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, stood still for the funeral of the former administrator of the old Western Region, Dr Moses Majekodunmi, who died in Lagos on April 11. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports.

Obasanjo, Soyinka, Amosun, others see off Majekodunmi H E was more of a professional than a politician. But politics thrust him into the limelight when he was named Administrator of the Western Region in the 60s. With that appointment, Dr Moses Adetoyejo Majekodunmi, First Republic Health Minister and renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist, joined the political trap of that era. He however acquitted himself well in the discharge of his duty in those turbulent days.

Majekodunmi died on April 11 in Lagos and his remains were buried in Abeokuta, his home town in Ogun State on Tuesday. His death marked the exit of another titan and a major political figure in the First Republic The funeral began at 9:35am when the black hearse bearing his remains left Ibara GRA, Abeokuta for the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Ikereku, a few metres away.

Six pall bearers carried his remains into the church for the service. His remains were accompanied by his children, friends and Anglican faithful.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; his Oyo and Ondo counterparts, Abiola Ajimobi and Olusegun Mimiko; former Governor Olusegun Osoba; Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Lamido Sanusi Lamido; former Attorney-General of the federation, Prince Bola Ajibola; Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Medical Centre Dr Dapo Sotiloye; Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Chief Niyi Adegbenro, captains of industry and representatives of the Lagos White Cap Chiefs, were on hand to pay their last respects to the late Majekodunmi.

During the funeral service, the cleric eulogised the late Majekodunmi as “a man with the fear of God who was not corrupt throughout his career in public service.”

Majekodunmi was born in 1916 in the Ikereku District of Abeokuta. He died in Lagos where he ran the high-profile St Nicholas Hospital.

The funeral service saw Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka and former governors of Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states - Segun Agagu; Segun Oni and Olagunsoye Oyinlola – in attendance.

The Bishop of Egba Diocese, Anglican Communion, Revd Emmanuel Adekunle, who officiated the service, extolled the late Majekodunmi’s virtues.

He described him as an exemplary public servant, true nationalist and a man who feared God and raised his children in that manner.

Revd Adekunle said since death would come to man one day, it would be better for mankind to live as visitors on earth, ready to meet their Lord whenever it pleases God to call them home.

The Bishop described the late Majekodunmi as a “faithful philanthropist and true nationalist, who contributed immensely to the development of his home state, Ogun, and Nigeria.

According to the cleric, the deceased fostered unity among Yoruba as he put himself forward as a rallying point for all.

He said the late Majekodunmi’s exemplary character, contribution to health care delivery and the establishment of St. Nicholas Hospital singled him out as someone the present leaders should emulate.

“The late former Health Minister served the nation meritoriously and was never accused of corruption. He was also a devout Christian who brought his children up in the fear and knowledge of God. The present leaders should emulate the virtues of Pa Majekodunmi,” Revd Adekunle said.

The deceased’s son, Desmond, who noted that his father exited the earth peacefully, described him as a “disciplinarian, a thorough and meticulous per-

•Deceased’s widow Katsina flanked by her children Femi and Ms Delice Claude-Ennin

•From right: Governor Amosun; Chief Obasanjo; Mrs Bola Obasanjo; Aremo Osoba; Governors Mimiko and Ajimobi

son who would be missed greatly.”

According to him, his daddy was God fearing and a competent gynaecologist who helped to develop the Southwest region and the country.

In his funeral oration, Amosun said Pa Majekodunmi, the Otun of Egbaland, lived a fulfilled life.

“Baba was not only an icon of the Majekodunmi clan. Even in death, he remains one of the leading lights of Ogun State,” Amosun said.

He said the success story of the top-class private health centre established by the deceased - St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos - was a testimonial to the exceptional entrepreneurial skill of the late minister.

“That hospital has continued to be a reference centre in medi-care services not only in Nigeria but the entire west coast of Africa,” Amosun said He lauded the contribution of the deceased to the socio-economic development of Egbaland, describing him as one of the leading lights of Ogun State and Nigeria who made remarkable impacts on the lives of many.

Amosun added that the late Egba High Chief lived a fulfilled life in his chosen career and other endeavours.

“He was a role model to the younger generation,” he said.

In his tribute, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, described the late Egba chief as an illustrious son who would forever remain ever green on the minds of Egbas.

The monarch's tribute was read by the Secretary General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Seriki of Egbaland Dr AbdulLateef Adegbite.

Majekodunmi, Oba Gbadebo said, contributed to the unity, political stability, economic development and social harmony of Nigeria.

He recalled the noble role the late former Sole Administrator of the old Western Region played, saying that he discharged his epic mandate impartially.

"He followed the footsteps of his great father, J. B. Majekodunmi, "Baba Oju Opo", the rich, respected and influential chief who was himself an Otun Egba."

Mallam Sanusi said the death of Chief Majekodunmi was a personal loss to him considering their relationship that dated back to the early 60s.

The CBN boss said that his late father and Majekodunmi were close friends.

•The late Majekodunmi

"I could not remember the number of times he had assisted me in life while growing up. It is a personal loss. In fact, I was planning to visit him before the information got to me that he died. I shall definitely miss him and no doubt the entire people of Egbaland and Nigeria will miss him too", he said.

His remains were laid to rest in Ikereku,his hometown.

26

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

SOCIETY

•Bride’s parents Mr and Mrs Joseph Ogunsemi

‘Her smile attracted me’ •Groom’s parents Mr and Mrs Wole Owoeye

•The couple Oluwaseun and Olusegun

The Holy Matrimony between Oluwaseun Olayemi, daughter of Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, former Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, and Ilesha-born Afolabi Olusegun, son of Mr Wole Owoeye, took place last Saturday in Lagos, NNEKA NWANERI reports.

S

HE works in a bank and when their paths crossed in her workplace, they never knew they would end up as husband and wife. Oluwaseun was only doing her job by attending to Afolabi when he walked into the bank where she works.

But Afolabi, who was struck by Cupid’s arrow as soon as he set eyes on Oluwaseun had other plans in mind. Hear him: “As she attended to me, there was something about her own customer service. Hers was impeccable. She enlightened the atmosphere with a smile that can light up a night. I was captivated by her beauty and the way she spoke and I told her I would like to see her again; and here we are today.”

He could not hide his joy as he spoke to The Nation last Saturday during their wedding.

Though he met Oluwaseun in April last year, their relationship began in August.

The solemnisation of the union that took place at the Christ Apostolic Church, Egbeda, Lagos, last Saturday climaxed the yearlong relationship.

The pretty bride in her long flowing gown was the cynosure of all eyes. With every question The Nation asked her, she burst into smiles, showing her gap-tooth.

“He’s a wonderful person and I love him; I pray to be a wonderful wife and try to make him happy,”

she said.

Filled with joy and gratitude to God, family members and friends of the lovebirds came out enmasse to witness the union.

With the opening hymn Ogo ni fun Oluwa, the service began at 11 am.

The officiating priest was Pastor Joshua Odedele, whose sermon dwelt on the reasons for marriage.

Afterwards, the couple exchanged marital vows.

The cleric touched on the virtues of marriage which has its ups and downs. He prayed that theirs would be fruitful and a good example for others to emulate.

With the hymn Blessed Assurance by the congregation, the couple filed out of the church with their guests.They posed for photographs amid ‘congratulations’ from wellwishers.

The reception was held at the Estate Festival Hall, Gowon Estate.

When it was time for the couple to enter the hall, they did so in style.

They glowed with happiness, dancing to the beats of Whizkid’s Pakulumo all the way to the front of the hall, where a strategically built tent housed them all through the occasion.

The chairman of the event and former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal congratulated the couple.

Lawal urged the bride to emu-

•Dr Tae-Lawal

•Hon Israel Adekunle and wife Yemisi

•Olori Abosede Adebiyi

•From left: Kunle Oyatomi; Mr Victor Ifijeh, and Mr Demola Osinubi

late her father’s efficiency at work which endeared him to many.

He described the groom, Afolabi as a “lucky man”.

“Do everything in common.

Afolabi, this woman is your baby and she cannot offend you. By the grace of the Almighty, you will do what your parents are doing to your children,” the guests shouted Amen!

PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

The three -layered cake was cut under the supervision of the wife of the Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Mrs Yemisi Adekunle.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

27

SOCIETY

When the women wing of Nasrul-Lahi-Li-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) gathered in Abuja for its third biennial national conference, top on its agenda was a discourse on peace and harmony KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE was there

•Cross-section of participants at the event

In Allah’s name they gathered M

EMBERS of the Nasrul-Lahi-LiFatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) came out in colourful and beautiful attires.

They appeared stunning in an all-white apparel with the insignia of the organisation boldly inscribed on it.

The dress was complemented with lovely blue hijab and matching pairs of shoes.

As expected, many were seen with Tesbih (rosary) chanting attributes of Allah and singing praise songs.

Wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, also appeared in the same outfit.

Hajiya Sambo led other eminent dignitaries to the third Biennial National Women Conference of NASFAT, Women’s wing.

The four-day conference hosted by the Abuja main branch lived up to its billing as it featured discussion on various topical issues all through.

A television presenter and lecturer at the Nasarawa Polytechnic, Alhaji Abdulfattah Adeyemi, moderated a segment of the conference.

All the speeches and papers presented showed that Islam is a religion of peace and that Muslims are peace-makers.

The event was held at the National Women Development Centre, Abuja.

Among guests who graced the event were Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Zainab Maina; Prof Wosilat Abdurrahman; Hajiya Maryam Mohammad Tahan and Alhaja Rekia Ibijoke-Ajao; Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of NASFAT, Alhaji Olawale Olasupo; Mrs Kafayat Abdul-Razaq; Dr Ummulkhayr Abdullah; Rahmatu Musa Sani; Hajiya Aisha Aliko Mohammed and Hajiya Wulemat Alabi.

After the opening prayer by NASFAT National Missioner Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode, Hajiya Sambo declared it open.

Alhaji Akinbode, an erstwhile school teacher-turned cleric, prayed for peace and guidance in the country.

He prayed Allah to direct the leaders to the right path in their activities.

Afterwards, the society’s President, Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf, hailed the women’s wing’s efforts at ensuring an egalitarian society.

Alhaji Yussuf said the conference’s theme Role of Women in Peace Building and Conflict Resolution “is another indication of the depth of intellect we have within the Women’s wing of NASFAT.”

•Hajiya Sambo flanked by Hajiya Maina (left) and Alhaja Arogundade

He regretted that the country has, in the recent past, been facing serious security challenges, especially with the spate of mindless, unprovoked attacks on innocent citizens, Muslims and Christians alike.

The National Women Affairs Secretary of NASFAT, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade, said this year’s gathering was to sensitise women on major issues and their role in nation building.

According to her, the conference is to create a forum for Muslim women to dialogue on their roles in creating an atmosphere of peace in the society and to brainstorm on peace-building processes with mitigation of conflicts as a fulcrum.

“We want to sensitise women on the advantages of religion with emphasis on moral upbringing as a major step in the prevention of conflicts and to address matters of common concern to Muslim women in a multi-religious community,” Alhaja Arogundade said.

Hajiya Sambo congratulated the women for successful organisation.

Flowing from the conference theme, she tasked women on the need to ensure peaceful and harmonious co-existence.

Describing the conference theme as relevant to the present security challenges facing the nation, she stressed that it is the natural role of women to remain as peace arbitrators and promoters.

“The unfolding violence and agitation across the country have the potential to rob us of our peace and capable of tainting our timeless traditional and religious pristine values.

“Women by the special creation of the Almighty Allah are naturally gifted with virtues such as intuition, wisdom; patience, vision, perseverance, kindness and courage which make us fulfil effectively the role of peace building in the society. Our status as mothers should propel rather than hinder

•Hajiya Tahan

•Alhaji Akinbode

us from contributing our quota to the process of guaranteeing a more secured, peaceful and prosperous society,” Hajiya Sambo added.

Emphasising that Islam is a religion of peace that forbids violence, killing of innocent people as well as gender discrimination, Hajiya Sambo said “women must become promoters of ethics, values and norms.”

She urged women to act as peace-corps in the home front, neighbourhood and community.

Corroborating, the Abuja Chairman of NASFAT, Shewudeen Giwa, maintained that “Islam does not promote

transgression, perfidy, terrorism, kidnapping, immorality etc. “It does not support harming those who are not at war with us.

It encourages understanding, mutual respect, love, kindness, humility, modesty, self-esteem and liberty of faith. This is why as Muslims we must condemn evils and discourage attitudes capable of creating misconceptions of our stainless religion.”

Hajiya Maina urged members to prioritise women empowerment.

She said empowering women was vital to national development, adding that the workshop should be extended to people IN the rural area.

PHOTOS: KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

28

WHAT AND WHERE? Coronation

A

CTIVITIES marking the first coronation anniversary of Olu of Arigbajo, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Timothy Mosaku, starts today with a Jumat service at the Central Mosque in Amoriwako Quarters.

The ceremony will also witness a fund raiser for the completion of a new palace of the monarch while there will be installation of chiefs cum reception tomorrow.

A thanksgiving service will hold at St. John African Church, Arigbajo on Sunday.

The Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo;

•Oba Mosaku

Olu of Itori Oba Fatai Akamo, Olu of Afowowa Oba Mufutau Hamzat are among some of the royal fathers expected at the occasion.

Fidau

T

HE fidau for the late Mrs Sariat Otunoiki, mother-in-law of Lagos Central Mosque General Secretary, Alhaji Rajee Adenowo will hold tomorrow at the CMS Compound, Mowe quarters, Ijebu-Isiwo, Ogun State.

It will be coordinated by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim and supported by clerics in Lagos Central Mosque.

•The celebrator assisted by Oloris of Oba Adeyemi (in Aso-ebi) and his wife to cut the cake

Oyo Commissioner hits golden age The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, was agog as the Oyo State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, celebrated his 50th birthday at the Palace. DAMILOLA BAMIDELE reports.

I

T was his day of joy and Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, the Oyo State Commissioner for Works and Transports left no one in doubt that he was in happy mood.

The expansive palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has always hosted big events.

Akintunde’s birthday was no exception.

Even the passers-by along the palace knew that the Aclass is having an occasion; going by the posh cars that thronged the palace.

Security personnel were fully on ground to ensure a free flow of traffic.

Guests appeared in nicelooking outfits.

Among them were the State’s Deputy Governor Chief Moses Adeyemo; Sec-

retary to the State Government Alhaji Waheed Olajide; Commissioner for Finance Mr Zaccheus Adelabu; former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Mr Bayo Ojo (SAN); member House of Reps Hon Kamil Akinlabi; Chairman of Atiba Local Government Prince Akeem Adeyemi and his Oyo West counterpart Hon Soji Ojuawo.

They were seen exchanging banters with the celebrator.

The event featured goodwill messages, prayers and cutting of the cake.

There was also a band stand dishing out various melodious songs for guests.

The host monarch Oba Adeyemi congratulated the ‘birthday boy’.

He described him as a pride to the state.

He expressed satisfaction with Akintunde’s conduct in the cabinet of the State government.

The revered royal father urged the government to put in place an effective monitoring system to checkmate the activities of its officials.

He noted that the conduct, action and deeds of political office holders at all time are reflections of such government.

The foremost traditional ruler said if the government preached prudence to the public, such must reflect in the conduct of its officials as well.

Afterwards, traditional drummers played for the

monarch.

He appreciated them with new notes.

Bevies of beautifully dressed ladies ensured the guests had a fulfilled outing.

An elated celebrator, Alhaji Akintunde was overwhelmed by Oba Adeyemi’s eulogies.

He said he would always be grateful and appreciative of the Oba’s gesture.

“When Baba told me he wanted to mark the birthday for me, I never knew it was going to be this elaborate until I saw the number of advertisements in various newspapers and the very large preparation in the palace, I will always be very grateful to you, sir, for being there for me at all times,” he said.

•Sheikh Akinola

Funeral

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ODAY, the wake keep for Madam Eunice Baderinwa Alabi will hold at the Elere’s compound, Isale Popo, Ikire, Osun State.

A church service in her honour will come up tomorrow at the Holy Catholic Church, Ikire. The internment follows at her residence in Ikire same day while guests will be entertained at Ayedade Grammar School, Ikire.

Awards

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HE New Expo Hall, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos will be filled with hosts during the Eighth edition of African Music Academy Awards (AMAA) 2012 on Sun-

day.

This year’s award is theme Africa Rising.

Obsequies

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ODAY, The All Saints Anglican Church, Yaba, Lagos will host family members and friends of late Chief Alfred Bandele Alabi to a commendation service in his honour.

The wake will hold at his Ido-ani residence, Ondo State.

The funeral service will takes place tomorrow at the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity Ido-ani, Ondo State.

Dinner

MARITAL BLISS

•Justice Akande

T

ODAY, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch will round up its annual Law week with a dinner

and award night at the Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, Lagos.

It will be preceded by a special Jumat service at the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque.

The dinner is organised in honour of the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande.

Governors of Ogun, Imo, and Oyo; Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Rochas Okorocha and Senator Abiola Ajimobi are expected as special guests on the occasion.

It will be chaired by the first Female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke.

The week long activity has as theme The quest for true federalism in Nigeria: How attainable.

Meeting

S

OCIETY of Petroleum Engineers will hold its April 2012 distinguished Lecture and Technical meeting at Protea Hotel, Oak Hood Park, Lekki expressway in Lagos today.

The President of Tetrahedron Incoporation, Mr Waqi Alam will deliver a lecture on Cost-effective environmental solution for the petroleum industry.

•From left: Groom father Mr Yomi Obadimeji; the couple Mr Lanre and Mrs Jope Obadimeji and groom mother Mrs Olubunmi Obadimeji during the wedding at Jakande Estate, Lagos

•Compiled by Damilola Bamidele, Aminat Adesina and Abike Adegbulehin

29 FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Vol 3 No. 148

•Crystals, one of the Star Quest Bands, performing during the event at the Fameland.

Frills and thrills of Star Quest finale Tomorrow, lovers and followers of Star Quest, the nation’s first and only bandbased competition, will decide the fate of other bands in the competition. JIMI DAVID previews the event.

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OMORROW, the winning band of Star Quest 2012 will emerge via audience votes. It has been a long, hard search for who will wear the crown as the winner of Nigerians first and only band-based talent hunt competition.

Indeed, the prestigious Star Fameland, where the bands’members have been sequestered for four weeks, will produce the winner of the exciting competition. It will be a dream fulfilled for the winning band. It will also be the end of the road for the losing bands.

Indeed, the event will witness the climax of the Nigeria’s foremost talent competition that has kept the nation on the edge of its seat.

The Star Quest hurricane swept from Makurdi to Enugu, to Benin and then to Lagos, gathering some of the brightest musical talents across the country in its wake. The regional auditions attracted thousands of wannabe music stars who thronged the audition venues seeking to impress the panel of celebrity judges comprising Waje, KC and Paulk ‘Play’ Dairo.

Some of the aspirants succeeded. Thousand others failed. Only 55 hopefuls made it to the Grand Regional Auditions in Lagos. After a particularly thrilling and competitive singing competition, only 36 of them qualified for the next round into the prestigious Star Fameland.

There the 36 individuals grouped themselves into six bands comprising six band members. While two of the bands, Da Blingz

and D’Rays, were eliminated four groups were left to slug it out for who becomes the ultimate winner.

For the four bands, this would be probably the defining moments of their fledging careers. One band that is being tipped to emerge as winners of the competition is the Crystals.

The band, made up of rapper, Romeo Ukwudike, Civian Afolayan, Emmanuel Oghenakogie, Damniel Onibudo and Godwin Edim Inyang, the band leader, has certainly had a good run in Star Quest. They would be hoping to stretch the run into success today as the show ends.

With the entertaining duo of Civian Obehi and Atinuke Afolayan, spicing up their performances with scintillating, if daring dance steps, and Romeo Ukwudike, growing in stature with his rap skills, the Crystals are certainly in a good position to walk away with the grand prize. Just ask any of the other rival bands and they are likely to tell you that Crystals represents their greatest threat

in the competition.

Quantum Vibes on its part is made up of Fatola James on the lead Keyboard, Michael Ayobamidele Leramo on the bass Keyboard, drummer Theophilus Otevwogbiku, Akinola David, the lead guitarist and Wakpor Aghomishe along with Tega Apochi acting as vocalists. Tega and Apochi have continued to evolve a connection that is certainly working to the advantage of the band. Both vocalists, who incidentally hail from Delta State, have formed a chemistry which, coupled with their impressive vocals is pitching Quantum Vibes another band to watch out for. The band also has David Akinola, who is arguably the best guitarist among his peers.

Soul Rhythm has no less chance winning the competition. In Chris Paul, they have one of the best male vocalists in the house. On his day, Chris Paul can hold his own with the best singers in the world. He has emerged the standout performer in the band throughout their performances. Soul Rhythm

‘The stage is set for the battle royale between the four bands. Mouth-watering prizes await the winning bands.

A N7.5 million record contract, N3.6 million, a brand new minivan, one year accommodation in Lagos and the opportunity to perform in Star sponsored activations’

also has in its fold, Stessi Chima, the only female rapper in the group. In spite of the highly competitive Grand Auditions, Stessi Chima emerged as the only female rapper.

She is certainly doing her reputation no harm with her performance thus far in Soul Rhythm.

Then there is Naomi Oboyi, the second female vocalist in Soul Rhythm. She made history as the first contestant to qualify for Fameland via a wild card. Will she go one step further by clinching the ultimate prize along with her band? That will be determined today The last band in the Fameland, Golden Clef, has had a pretty much undistinguished stay in Fameland. That does not take anything away from the talents of Franklin Ivory Chijioke and Amaka Nwokeabia. Both vocalists have done well since the competition started, seeing the band through the though series of performances both in Fameland and the public appearances. They also have a motivator in band leader and drummer, Sunny Francis Igwe on the keyboards.

So, the stage is set for the battle royale between the four bands. Mouth-watering prizes await the winning bands. A N7.5 million record contract, N3.6 million, a brand new minivan, one year accommodation in Lagos and the opportunity to perform in Star sponsored activations.

Indeed, Star Quest has become a unique way for Star to engage its teeming consumers.

Apart from engaging its audience, Star Quest is also empowering youths through the fantastic prizes on offer.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

30

Brandnews

Agencies jittery over NB multi-billion naira media account

B

EFORE the end of this month, the result of the pitch for the multi-billion naira Nigerian Breweries Plc (NB Plc) media buying and planning account will be out.

And this is already creating panic between Starcom Media and Sharemind. The two media buying and planning agencies pitched for the account.

By Wale Alabi

Both agencies have been handling the account worth about N10 billion.

However, sources close to the brewery giant informed that the reason for the pitch, which held last month was due to the fact that NB has decided that rather than continue sharing the account be-

tween the two agencies, it makes more economic sense and far more manageable when consolidated in one agency.

What further makes the brewing giant’s media buying account more attractive and juicier is the fact that the conglomerate recently went on an acquisition binge which culminated in putting six more breweries across the country

in its kitty.

The newly acquired breweries include Sona Breweries, Benue Brewery, Consolidated Breweries, Champion Breweries, International Beer and Beverages Industries and Life Breweries Company.

Thus apart from working on the main brands and products of NB, the agency that emerged winner

will also work on the products of the newly acquired breweries. At present, products on NB list include Star, Gulder, Maltina, Amstel Malta, Fayrouz, Heineken and Legend.

Following the acquisition, however, these products will join the list: ‘33’ Export , Hi Malt, Maltex, Turbo King, Goldberg, Malta Gold, Life, Williams.

Etisalat CSR Centre Centre to host talks ent on development

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TISALAT CSR Centre and ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited are drawing experts from the local and the international agricultural industry to Lagos to discuss sustainability in agriculture for national development in a Thought Leadership Breakfast Series on Sustainable Development tagged, Sustainable Conversations.

The theme for the second in this series is: Driving sustainable agriculture for national development and it will bring Nigeria’s agricultural sector under the spotlight with a critical review of past successes in agric through comparative analysis with modern innovations with emphasis on economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Conversations is a Thought Leadership series on Sustainable Development and seeks to access the roadmap to this auspicious revival by creating a platform for promoting discussions and thought leadership for national development through sustainable agriculture.

Also, expected are policy makers, experts and stakeholders in the sector and allied industries with the aim of engaging, understanding, interrogating and supporting the road-map to execute national policies on agric.

Discussants include Zano Mataruka, Head Agribusiness, International Finance Corporation; Onajite Okoloko, Group Managing Director, Notore Chemical Industries; Larry Umuna, West Africa Representative, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition; Lucy Kanu, Executive Director of Idea Builders Initiative and Mr. Rasheed Sarumi, Founder of SARO Group.

The discussions will be moderated by an International agric expert, Mr Alex Aligbe.

•Obi of Ute Ogbeje, Obi Jikeme; Obi of Obior, Obi Ofulukwu; Asagba of Asaba Prof. Edozien, and his Queen and Obi Chukwumalezie, Obi of OnichaUgbo at the just-concluded Anioma Cultural Festival sponsored by Grand Oak Ltd, in Asaba, Delta State.

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Guinness inaugurates mini-water works in Anambra community

HE people of Awba Ofemili in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State have become the newest beneficiaries of a miniwaterworks comprising boreholes, overhead storage tanks, water treatment plant and reticulation network, powered by solar energy, courtesy of the Guinness Nigeria Water of Life project.

This is the first solar powered Water of Life project in Nigeria.

At the inauguration of the project in Awba Ofemili, Innocent Nwaononiwu, Field Sales Director who represented the Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, said the provision of potable water to local communities in

Nigeria is an integral part of Guinness Nigeria’s corporate citizenship agenda.

He further said the project is part of the company’s contribution to resolve the concern of accessibility to clean drinking water in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to “halve the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2015”.

“This is our own way of enriching the economic and social lives of people in local communities. It is also our way of supporting our

dedicated distributors, especially where their homesteads are challenged with the lack of potable water”, he said.

Awba Ofemili is the hometown of Chief Edmund Nnamdi Okafor, Managing Director, Edinho Nigeria Ltd, one of Guinness Nigeria’s top distributors.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Ilozumba, Anambra State Commissioner for Works, commended Guinness Nigeria for its efforts in meeting the needs of rural communities through the provision of sustainable potable water, adding that this would im-

Ehingbeti 2012: Insight, Chain Reactions win Ad, PR accounts

L

EADING advertising agency, Insight Communications, has been adjudged winner of the advertising campaign pitch held for the Sixth Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti 2012), which holds between April 22 and 25, this year in Lagos.

However, Chain Reactions Nigeria clinched the public relations campaign. The result was announced recently by the media committee of the event.

According to Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Media, who heads the committee, Insight and Chain Reactions were picked because “the two agencies made robust presentations in which they aptly demonstrated depth of insights and creativity that speak to the real needs of Ehingbeti 2012.”

“For a summit of this nature, the

firms did not only show what they can do, they sufficiently demonstrated what they have done in the past while laying the backbone for what needs to be done to host a world class international economic summit that is befitting of

Lagos as Africa’s fastest growing megacity,”Bello said.

Three agencies including Insight Communications, BatesCosse and Noah’s Ark participated in the advertising pitch while Chain Reactions, Absolute PR Limited and

Sesema PR took part in the PR pitch.

The theme for the Lagos State Economic Summit is “From BRICS to BRINCS - Lagos holds the key.”

Investors from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world are expected to attend the event.

C&F Porter Novelli trains PR interns

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HE first batch of graduates under the C&F Porter Novelli Public Relations Fundamentals Internship Programme which kicked off last year has graduated.

At the graduation, the Chairman of C&F Porter Novelli, Mr Nnaemeka Maduegbuna, said the initiative was borne out of the need to contribute to the development of public relations industry in the country.

According to Maduegbuna, C&F

does this by identifying talented persons who are willing and interested in pursuing careers in public relations. This crop of interns selected after rigorous tests are taken through a year of paid tutelage encompassing both academic and practical aspects of public relations.

The maiden edition of the programme opened in February last year. Out of the over 200 who applied for internship, four were shortlisted and inducted.

While presenting certificates to

the graduating interns, Maduegbuna said: “Nigeria is suffering a deficit of public relations talent making it difficult to staff and develop the industry. There is a need to foster a pool of talented and innovative individuals who can be identified and engaged by the public relations industry. The annual internship programme seeks to help develop talent and generate thought leadership on growing the industry.”

prove the socio-economic wellbeing of the people. He also urged other corporate and non-governmental organisations to emulate Guinness Nigeria in improving the welfare of Nigerians.

“To succeed in the socio-economic development of Nigeria, both the private sector and government must work together,” he said.

The event was witnessed by important personalities such as Mr Godfrey Ezenagu, Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture and Chief John Modimma, Chairman Awka North LGA, as well as traditional rulers, prominent chiefs and indigenes of the town.

Chief Anaelo B. Nwanelo, the Onosolueze of Awba-Ofemili, said the kind gesture of Guinness Nigeria was timely as the community experiences continued hardship in getting good water. The main source of water supply for the community is River Enyiocha.

He stated that the use of the river water was unhealthy “We are very happy that Guinness Nigeria has come to our aid. With this project in place, we expect an improvement of the livelihood of our people in the community. Guinness Nigeria has done us well,” he said.

Ngozi Ife Anene, Corporate CommunicationsManager, Guinness Nigeria, stated that the company had completed several water projects in over 13 states, serving over a million people in households across the nation. They are located in Abia, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Nasarawa, Edo, Benue, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Kwara, Ekiti and Anambra states.

SHOPPING

31

THE NATION

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

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

e-mail: janicenkoli@yahoo.com 08033349992 sms only

email:- shopping@thenationonlineng.net

• Electronic cash register

• Sx-690 used at eateries

133 years after, cash registers still dominate businesses Many decades after its introduction to the market, the cash register, otherwise known as the Point of Sale (PoS), remains an indispensable device in many shops. Retailers love it because it helps them to track sales. Its approved link for electronic funds transfer has enhanced its status. JANICE NKOLI IFEME writes.

• Touch screen mega PoS

•STORY ON PAGE 32

A feel of the new iPad ‘If you desire longevity, take tea’

Stores go for reusable shopping bags Page 32

Page 33

Page 34

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

32

SHOPPING

133 years after, cash registers still dominate businesses

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HE cash register has been in existence for 133 years. If you enter any mall or major eatery, you cannot miss it at the point where you pay for your items. It is popularly called the Point of Sale (PoS). This multipurpose device has continued to meet the needs of the hospitality and retail industries with dynamic technological innovations.

It has an approved link for electronic funds transfer with chip and pin facility, which ensure that shoppers with credit cards are served efficiently. With this innovation, one could shop anywhere in the world with an approved credit card, such as the master card or visa card, among others.

The first cash register was invented by James Ritty in 1878. In 1883, he sold the business to Jacob Eckert and, a year later, it was sold to John H Patterson who formed The National Cash Register Co. The company, later known as NCR, went on to provide the world with professionally-trained personnel.

The practice was continued by companies, such as IBM and Xerox because they were originally run by ex-NCR people.

With advancement in technology, the Electronic Cash Register (ECR) came to be. It is computer driven and can take more data. It provides sales and product information.

Above all, it ensures that goods and services are properly accounted for and payment received in full.

In today’s Internet box-shifting society, customers are often more concerned about the price than the usefulness of the product.

Manufacturers have contributed to this mindset by making cash registers ever more cheaply and selling them in the same way as television sets, video recorders and other domestic electronic products they manufacture.

Business owners need to control their stock and money so it is advisable that the product be purchased from professional salesmen to enable you to purchase the one most suitable for your business.

Speaking on the PoS, a retail solutions expert, Mr Peter Eleazu, said: “Cash registers originally called tills are still the most popular and versatile means of collecting payment. In its electronic form (ECR), it can collect cash, cheque, credit cards; charge a combination of payment systems with attached magnetic card reader. When linked to back office computer with a software package, the process of collecting and analysing sales information becomes EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system”.

Eleazu, the Chief Executive Officer, Retail Solutions Limited, which has been at the forefront of retail management for the hospitality and retail industries across West Africa,

said: “PoS is the industry technical jargon where a computer system is used as a cash register.

PoS as cash register, requires a software that is tailored to the individual business requirements in terms of operations and reports. Other hardware will depend on the nature of the business-80 column printers, bar code scanners, cash drawers and pole display, among others”.

He added: “The continuing success of most customer- oriented companies is based on the simplicity and efficiency with which customers are attended to.

We specialise in providing equipment and training that make this possible”.

The outfit pioneered the installation of the PoS in major fast food companies, such as Mr Biggs, Sweet Sensation and Tantalizers.

According to him, the company adopted a name to reflect its commitment to proffering solutions to retailing problems with the ever-developing sales, stock and personnel management technology.

It emerged as a result of the necessity of matching the need of the industry with dynamic technological innovations. “I can sit at my sitting room with a glass of wine and get my report via my phone. You can track your sale from any part of the world,” he said.

He noted that the continuing success of most customer- oriented companies is based on the simplicity and efficiency with which customers are attended.

We specialise in providing equipment and training that make this possible. We serve such enterprises as fast food outlets, restaurants, clubs, hotels, food stores, supermarkets, pharmacy shops, electronic shops, dry cleaning and laundry outfits and other money collection points.

“We only deal with internationally-tested and approved products both hardware and software packages, in order to ensure maximum efficiency and satisfaction for our customers.

“Our procedure is to find out what you have, what your problems are and applying our numerous years of experience to customise our systems to suit your particular business. In

• AX - 200 - mostly used by retail outlets

the case of new outfits, we can offload our full industry experience when we have understood what the owner wants. Solving your business problems using technology is our delight,” he said.

Touch screen terminals With the touch screen register, you would not require the use of keyboard or mouse, but can manipulate the system by directly touching the screen. When connected to a systems unit, the touch screen monitor will also work as keyboard and mouse.

Stores go for reusable shopping bags Reusable shopping bags are being used by retailers as a branding strategy in many stores. TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

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ANY stores package shoppers’ purchases in reusable shopping bags. As the name implies, the bags can be reused. Eco-friendly institutions promote its use in place of paper and nylon, which pollute the atmosphere. They are called earth bags because they help in reducing waste. They prevent air and water pollution as well as potential hazards to animals.

For many shoppers, it is stylish and convenient. Some stores design the bags with their products and the company logos as a branding strategy. Some departmental stores offer promos and discounts for the use of their bags.

They are made of long, soft fabric handles that are easy to hang on the shoulder, leaving the hands free for other things. They are made with strong environmentally-friendly, washable fabrics, which are non-toxic and durable.

They help keep chemicals away from food items. They are capable of enduring many shopping trips and could be used for tasks other than shopping. They could be used to

• Shopping bags

sort clothing or move to a new apartment. It also educates shoppers on better ways to carry items and can be used to present gifts to loved ones.

A shopper at the Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, Surulere, Lagos, Mrs Obideyi Afusat, a lawyer, said: “I live at Mafoluku.

Ordinarily, I love shopping close to my house.

But, sincerely, I can hardly get a store that would sell items with this kind of bag I am carrying. Should I say it is ignorance or the

kind of orientation in the area where I live? I hope this trend of using reusable shopping bag catches up with more and more people.”

For Mr and Mrs Pius Ikechukwu, who are self-employed, it might be for small retail shops on the streets to catch up with the trend.

“I doubt if those small retail shops on our streets would be able to understand, not to talk of practising it. They would tell you they are just starting and are not as rich as the big supermarkets and as such would not be able

With ordinary LCD monitors or the old tube monitor, you will require the use of key board and mouse to work on the system.

The SX pro range This gives you the opportunity to show your customers what a professionally designed, high-quality cash register system can do for their businesses. It combines EPOS power with ECR simplicity, reliability and price. It is the end result of 12 years development and more than a million pounds’ worth of software investment. to venture into such. Some will say, how much I dey sell or na wetin I dey sell? I beg who no fit take this my small black nylon, make hin go.” He laughed.

His wife, Cecilia added: “My dear, let’s leave things the way they are. Have you forgotten that we have the high class and the low class in Nigeria? We have the rich and the poor.

The rich can afford and venture into certain things that the poor wouldn’t dare to. I mean the more successful retail shops.”

“I know retail stores use the bags as a means of projecting their products, which is very good. But, let’s call a spade, a spade. How many of the retail shops on our streets even want to advertise? Apart from the fact that they might not be able to afford it, they believe they have enough patronage around them and as such would make their usual sales,” she added.

A shop owner at the Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, Mr Osas Ohenhen, noted that reusable bags are stylishly spreading the economy friendly message. “Here, we carry the message of re-use to a world ready for a brighter ecological future”, he said.

Mrs Sarah Okeke, a staff member of one of the shops at the mal, said: “There is no question that reusable bags are now an essential household item. I simply love how convenient they are. They are, indeed, very attractive” But a car spare parts dealer, Mr Chukwuma Ejike, has a different perception. He said there is nothing wrong with nylon bags; that it is just a way for the big stores and the producers of the bags to exploit people. “These canvas bags are just to make money from us. These stores have added the bag price to each item sold. Thus, as they give you a reusable shopping bag, their items are very expensive and sold at exorbitant prices. What do I need the bag for anyway? Let me buy in the regular nylon and then pay less,” he said.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

SHOPPING

The new iPad With the new iPad, one can touch up photos, read a book and play the piano. JANICE NKOLI IFEME writes on the new Apple iPad 3.

Shopping Right with Defining consumer preference

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• Apple iPad 3

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ECHNOLOGY giant Apple has introduced another iPad into the market.

Named iPad 3, the device, an improvement on iPad 2, is already warming its way into many homes and offices.

Its fundamental elements - display, camera and wireless connection – have been made better; all of which make the new, third-generation iPad capable of so much more. The result of laboratory tests by Consumer Reports rated it as the best iPad it has ever tested, whether from Apple or any other manufacturer.

It has a display that renders colour and detail superbly, better than its predecessor, whose display ranks among the best. The new Retina display squeezes 3.1 million pixels into the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen, four times the number of pixels in the iPad 2.

In further tests, the display also proved its mettle on games. When both were running the same sophisticated video games, the higher resolution of the new iPad made for smoother edges to people or objects, especially when they were in sharp contrast to the background. And there was also more detail apparent in those backgrounds.

Apple has also replaced the dual-core processor in the iPad 2 with a quad-core A5X graphics processor in the new model. That processor allowed the new iPad to render those sharper images with no degradation in smoothness.

It showcases a new game tagged Air Supremacy, which looks more realistic than ever. It is believed that some new games might look even more realistic on the new iPad than on the iPad 2.

The quad-core processor serves another purpose: The iPad’s high-resolution display requires more power and the efficiency of the A5X should help mitigate the battery drain it causes.

Among the other improvements to the device is an upgraded camera, one with five mega pixels compared with less than one mega pixel for the iPad 2. Besides its edge in resolution, the new iPad yielded very good images in preliminary camera tests, compared with fair images produced by the iPad 2.

Consumer reports states that Apple has taken an excellent product and improved it significantly, though not dramatically.

Mini-washing machine to the rescue A mini-washing machine can assist one to wash clothes fast, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

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AND washing is not what everyone enjoys. As a result, some people seek the help of local dry cleaners popularly called washerman or woman. But with a mini-washing machine, one can get one’s clothes cleaned at one’s convenience. It could be placed anywhere in the house so one needs not worry about space.

It has an original pressure system that forces detergent into the fabric at high speed.

It is ideal for campers, single persons and even housewives. It is also good for students in boarding schools and those who have concerns about privacy, safety and health. Mothers-to-be would appreciate it as they would be washing more clothes after delivery.

It is suitable for delicate materials, such as woolens, silks, knitted dresses and cashmere. It does not require special wiring. There is no need for one to hire a plumber or to find an expensive contractor. It works right out of the box. Each machine comes fully assembled. All one needs do is bring it out and use.

It is user-friendly and affordable. One can get it for N15, 000. It is easy to use and carry; saves money, time and space • A mini-washing machine with 1kg washing and washes in a couple of minutes. capacity

VERYONE is a consumer - from the company CEO to the shopper buying fruits at the local store. How, then, within the cultural and political context of a given country, can a government define aggregate consumer preference for products or product attributes?

Historically, the consumer is king in both international trade and business management.

Preferences play a pivotal role in economic and political arguments for free trade.

As agricultural trade proliferates and border barriers are reduced, industries continue to seek new ways to influence world trade patterns and protect domestic markets. Growing consumer access to information and promotions of specific product attributes elevate advertising and consumer-information campaigns to new levJANICE NKOLI IFEME els. Consumer preferences gain additional influence as a determining force in international ment response: providing choices to consumtrade. ers, limiting choices to consumers and moniInformation flows influence product selection, toring the information provided to consumconsumers are always seeking information ers to make choices. from a variety of sources, including some genIf consumers do not have specific preferences, erally perceived as objective (for instance, unigovernments argue that banning product enversity, government resources or third-party try is a valuable service. certification) and some with more persuasive Each consumer’s spending decisions make components such as advertising. Consumer only marginal impacts on aggregate trade information campaigns have become more visflows. Yet, firms, industries, or even governible in international trade, particularly where ments have rich opportunities to determine cross-boundary relationships among firms are aggregate ongoing buying trends. Consumer reducing the domestic-industry protection. advocacy may have noble goals, but its purEven though multilateral suit can be manipulated and agreements and governments influenced by other politiare addressing domestic ‘If the consumer is cal and economic interests. policy and structural barriers king, then the role of Motives for negative to trade, they have yet to adconsumer information dress the last and perhaps national governments campaigns are often quesmost fundamental, bastion of is to assure that contionable, especially if suptrading products worldwide: ported by protectionist doinfluence over consumer sumers access to the mestic producers. preferences. maximum number of If consumer preferences Are consumers king-drivbecome a recognised force choices and the inforers of the food system-or in evaluating international merely a pawn of advertisers mation needed to trade policies, then and/or protectionist intermotivations arise to influmake those choices.

In ests? ence those preferences.

Historically, the consumer reality, this is the road Have consumer informais king in both international less taken. An altertion campaigns now moved trade and business managethe arena of tradenate role is to limit into ment. policy discussions? AssessIf the consumer is king, then consumer prefer- ment of technical barriers to the role of national governtrade and relevant issues ences’ ments is to assure consumers suggest the answer is yes. access to the maximum Regardless of whether connumber of choices and the information needed sumer-information campaigns are new or just to make those choices. In reality, this is the road another policy layer, how to recognise and less taken. An alternate role is to limit congovern the influence of consumer preferences sumer preferences. on trade policy are growing matters of conThe business management literature has also cern. touted consumer preferences as a driving force If the consumer is king, then why so much in the economy. In Management Challenges controversy? If we truly believe that consumfor the 21st Century, Peter Drucker argues that ers will vote with their pocketbooks and move customer values are the foundation of any busithe economy towards greater efficiency, why ness decision and that consumer expenditures isn’t there a rush to provide consumers with will determine business survivability. Today’s the maximum number of choices? consumers are increasingly vocal and discrimiIt’s high time that the government identinating in demanding specific food-product atfied and took necessary steps to bridge the gap tributes. Wealthy, educated and ethnically diin implementation of an otherwise friendly verse consumers, who are concerned about consumer protection act because only then will food safety and nutrition, have access to food the very purpose of the act be fully achieved products across the international market place. and the consumers garner its benefit.

Many consumers seek more personalised atIf well implemented, the act is a handy tention from retailers. Discriminating conweapon for consumers to ensure accountabilsumers lead to discriminating retailers who ity as well as compensation for defective goods will impose new demands on domestic and and deficient services. It is one of the nicest gifts international suppliers. we, through our government, could give to ourYet, consumer preferences are becoming a selves as consumers. greater force in trade policy disputes.

Many people have been able to get back their As consumer preferences become more immoney from sloppy builders, dishonest shopportant, some traders will attempt to influkeepers, shady sellers of all kinds and even from ence those preferences. Past negotiating posipublic utilities such as electricity boards, transtions suggest at least three types of governport corporations and others.

Write to us, express your views, observations and experiences. Let’s have your comments about shopping. Your comments, questions and answers will be published first Friday of every month. With your full name and occupation, send e-mail to: janicenkoli@yahoo.com SMS - 08033349992

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

SHOPPING

‘If you desire longevity, take tea’ Promasidor Nigeria has introduced four variants of its leading tea into the market. Its Marketing Director, Mr Onyekachi Onubogu, in this interview with YINKA ADERIBIGBE, speaks on the new products.

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ow will you rate the tea market?

Unfortunately, tea is a brand that has been adversely affected by changing consumer habit. A few years ago, our breakfasts were basically made up of primarily two options- coffee or tea. But in the last 10 to 15 years, we have seen a plethora of options that accompany breakfast and one thing that has happened is that the demand for tea has further reduced. I would say that over time, the market has consolidated, but it has not been growing as fast as its competitors. What we have thus tried to do is to energise and entice the market because hitherto, it has been dull. We’ve brought dynamism into the market.

Given the economic challenges, would you say the chances of the tea segment is bright?

It is a market with exponential growth. In many markets across the world, tea has evolved into many variants. It has even evolved into other segments such as the carbonated drinks; we now have iced tea and other variants. We have not got there yet, but we have decided to jump start the process. I think we have the best tea in the market and this is not because I work in Promasidor, but that is what research in that segment has shown. We are the first indigenous producer of round tea bags and in terms of evolution; we are by far the fastest growing producers. We are determined to meet the consumers at the point of their needs.

Your company has introduced some new variants Yes, we just launched four new productsthe black tea which is the black bag tea; we launched the black variant that is in an envelope, which is designed for hotels and those who might want to have their tea handy anywhere. We also launched the ginger tea and the lemon/lime tea.

Given the low disposable income of consumers, tea, is fast disappearing from the breakfast tables. Do you think the tea market is lucrative?

What has impacted on the culture of tea drinking is the plethora of options that are available to the people. When we were growing up, the only thing we knew was tea, but today, a lot of kids have a number of other options that accompany their breakfast. Sec-

ondly, the industry has not been dynamic.

For several decades in this country, what you have was one tea brand and it retained the same format for close to 50-60 years. In every other place in the world, there has been changes in packaging and format, in the way your tea is delivered- in the format of diffusion, flavour and things like that, but in Nigeria it has not been so. The brand has done nothing else to stimulate the market despite the tremendous goodwill it enjoys; that is, why the tea segment has not grown. Tea was positioned only for the rich, but Top tea has come to change that.

What informed your decision on the new variants?

In terms of the quality of products we deliver to consumers and options available to them, we have realised that people want taste and flavour. From research, we have realised that women want lemon in their tea.

Before now, we found that women would squeeze lemon or lime into their tea. We have also discovered from research that men love to take ginger because they feel that it promotes male potency. In Promasidor, we are driven by what consumers want. We are interested in giving them what is important to them. We would constantly develop products that would meet consumers’ needs and taste. We would give them multiple flavour, if that is what they want.

Are the new products all about flavour?

If you look at our communication, we say: ‘start something new with Top tea’ and that is what we intend to offer. But beyond that, tea also has a number of healthy properties.

It has been the reason the Chinese are among the longest living people in the world, because they take more than 10 cups of tea per day. Tea is everything that can promote your health and wellbeing. It is an antioxidant. It contains riboflavin and is good for your heart. It also reduces obesity and the risk of heart attack. There are a lot of benefits from tea. Naturally, it is herbal. You know that tea is from leaves, so it is something that we should certainly drink more often, but you know Nigerians merely take tea in the mornings. We want to take tea away from the breakfast only; to a beverage they could take at any point in time whenever they have the need to quench their thirst. It is healthy and

nutritious.

What is the share of Top tea in the market?

We are the number two brand in the market as recorded by Nielsen, a global rating company, in the last two or three years. We are the fastest growing brand; we are growing faster than the number one brand and our vision is to become the number one brand in the market in the next two or three years. Going by the fact that we are a young brand of about 13 years and competing with a brand that has been in the market for 50-60 years, our stride has been phenomenal.

What are your challenges?

Well, coming into a developing market like Nigeria is challenging. Pitching your tent to compete in a market with a product that is about 60 years in the market is another.

How have you been able to succeed?

We are driven by our commitment to quality. We know our consumers want quality; they want their tea to diffuse well, bring out the rich black colour of tea. With our teabag you can make two mugs of tea. But more than that, they diffuse faster, last longer and are richer. These are what we are giving the consumers. When you do not compromise quality and make your products available and you keep pushing the message of consistency, the chances are that consumers are likely to beat their way to find you. I daresay that you could put a bag of Top tea and a bag of our competitor in a mug of hot water, see how fast our tea diffuses, and how long it takes others, you would see that ours is significantly better than others, that is what has carried us thus far and is the bedrock of what we do.

How would you get the message of health benefit of tea to your consumers, especially the low income bracket?

Tea is not an exclusive of the rich. In fact, as far as we know, tea is one of the few drinks that cut across all segments, from the low income to the chief executive and even the President. But you are right that the perception has been that tea is only for the rich.

Our job is to communicate this message. The reality is that all of us love our lives; after all, people take agbo, the bitter herbs for all sorts of ailments. Tea has such healing properties as well. It is beyond contention that the Chinese live longer simply by taking

Tips on getting a bridal gown A couple, on their wedding day, can be judged by the appearance of the bride. For a good impression, care should to be taken when shopping for that wedding gown, writes OMOLARA MOFESOLA OMONIYI.

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ANY believe that the conventional wedding gown should be white.

Some insinuate that a bride putting on a gown that is not white during her wedding has been defiled. But this is not true.

You do not have to follow the crowd. You can shop for a cream or brown gown to look unique. But if the white is preferable, go for it.

You can put tiny drops of a different colour to make your wedding gown look attractive. It is best when you use the colour of the tie of your spouse, who definitely will be using the same colour with the best man.

This will make your wedding look more interesting.

You do not have to expose your body to look beautiful. Put on a very beautiful gown that is modest.

It is advisable to buy the wedding gown at a period not far from the wedding date. If the wedding gown is purchased long before the wedding date, it could end up either being oversized or undersized, as the bride could put on weight or lose it within the period.

According to Major Jude Agbede, whose daughter will be getting married soon, “we cannot purchase the wedding gown now, because, my slim daughter could grow fat between now and the wedding date. So I will

rather wait until two weeks to the day”.

The thickness of the gown should be chosen putting the weather condition into consideration. If the wedding, especially the reception, will be done in an open place, the gown should be light to avoid a sweaty bride, which could be a form of discomfort or embarrassment on her happiest day.

High heel shoes will make you look gorgeous, but should be avoided if they make you uncomfortable.The make-over should be light and beautiful. Silver shoes will do your dressing a lot of good depending on the colour you have chosen.

‘You can put tiny drops of a different colour to make your wedding gown look attractive.

It is best when you use the colour of the tie of your spouse, who definitely will be using the same colour with the best man. This will make your wedding look more interesting’

• Bridal gown

• Onubogu

lots of tea, and if we know and communicate this to the consumers, we would break the barrier. Our job is to communicate these benefits. I challenge anyone to go and search for knowledge on the benefits of tea and let us all spread the message, and interestingly, all that you need to get tea is hot water. Even today, you can put your teabag into cold water and get it diffused. Nigerians are very knowledgeable and discerning. They would gladly take anything that would improve the quality of their lives. The fact is that just anybody can afford to buy tea. Our box of 26 teabags costs N100 that is the average cost of one bottle of soft drink. For just N100, you can get over 50 cups of tea. But, we have a pack of two, for those who would love to take it, but could not afford to part with N100 at a go. The two sachets can make you four cups of tea. So, our task is to tell the people about the benefits of tea. Nobody has done it before in Nigeria.

Are your innovations backed up by research?

Yes, 100 per cent. Research is the bedrock of our innovations. It formed the basis for our new offerings. We discovered that there are a lot of other variants and drink options that consumers want, but of course, you can’t launch all of them in one day. So, we are gradually developing options for our consumers. In the next couple of years, we would ensure that there is a phenomenal growth in the options that would be available to tea consumers irrespective of their categories.

We are not doing anything that can’t be done, that’s why we are always on our toes with research into defining what our consumers want.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

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Brandnews

Lagos to open Traffic Radio May 29

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EXT month, the Lagos State Government will launch a new radio station devoted to traffic and transport news reports and features.

It is the first of its kind in Nigeria The FM radio, which will be fully operational on May 29 begins test transmission in the first week of May. The station, which will be on the 96.1FM frequency will be headed by Mr Isr ael Ogunlade director, finance at the Lagos Radio and Television. He

is to be assisted by Mr Yinka Adagun deputy director (Editorial) at Radio Lagos/Eko FM while Mrs Tinu Ayanbadejo, who oversees the Radio Lagos/Eko FM, will also have direct oversight function on the new station being part of the state’s radio services apparatus.

Brandweek gathered that 70 LASTMA staff have already been co-opted to provide up-to-date traffic situation reports in various points in Lagos State. However, information will be pro-

vided in areas of transport in the state. The LASTMA staff that will work with the new station staff will be made to undergo short term training on the need for accuracy and immediacy requirements of the station.

At a meeting with the pioneering staff selected for the station, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr Remi Ibirogba, congratulated the new staff on being part of history.

He said they should be pre-

pared to be Spartan in their approach to operations as the government will not be able to provide the kind of funding to run such a station now. Hence, he urged them to be creative and persevering as their hard work will not go unrewarded.

He urged them not to disappoint the Head of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe, who staked his career for government to establish the station.

Among the reporters to flag off

the station is Akin Akinlade, a veteran aviation correspondent, who runs a programme, The Cockpit on Radio Lagos/Eko FM. The Cockpit is sponsored by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Lagos Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola will unveil the new radio station on May 29 in commemoration of his administration’s transformation agenda for Lagos.

Seaman’s Royale backs Anioma fiesta

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O align with its consumers, Seaman’s Royale, the drink from the stable of Grand Oak Ltd, participated in the just-concluded Anioma cultural festival.

Speaking on the brand’s involvement with the event, Marketing Director, Grand Oak Ltd, Aare Fatai Odesile, explains that Seaman’s Royale is a brand that closely align with the culture and tradition of our people.

“Seaman’s has great value and respect for the culture of our people; that is why we are supporting Anioma festival, being one of the biggest cultural festivals in Delta State”.

Anioma Cultural Festival is a symphony of culture from the nine local government areas in the Delta North Senatorial District. It features different kinds of popular Anioma dance arts from diverse groups in a friendly competition among participants starting from the zones for a place at the grand finale which held in Asaba, Delta State.

Category Manager, Grand Oak Ltd, Ayodeji Abiodun, explained that the brand puts its weight behind the event as a festival of dance, music, fashion and creative arts of historical values because it serves as a rallying point for the unification of Delta’s diverse population.

According to the Category Manager, an event like this defines us as a people and allow us allows us to pass from generation to generation our culture and tradition.

According to Mr Paddy Ugboh, Vice-President, Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), (OFAAC), the festival celebrates Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage for tourism and sustainable national development. ”More importantly, it is a testimony to the passion for culture as tool for sustainable community and national development and we are grateful for the enviable role played by Seaman’s Royale and Grand Oak Ltd,” Ugboh added.

Akingbade, Oke for service brand workshop

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ERVEWELL Ltd plans to host a top level workshop on “Marketing of Service Brands: how to master it”, at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Its Head Consultant, Mr Ayo Owoborode, said the workshop will help marketing professionals and owners of service brands to get the best results from their efforts. ”There is a difference between product brands and service brands.

This, therefore, calls for the generation of new strategies and tactics in order to prosper the service brands. Do customers get value from service brands? Is the pricing of service brands to customers realistic and equitable?

How competitive are the various service brands performing in the market place? How do you conceptualise and develop new service brands? What special communications skills are needed for service brands to deliver on promise? These and many more are the core issues to be dissected at the workshop” says Mr Owoborode. Participants are expected to include: agency strategy managers, agency brand managers, agency creative seniors, agency media planners, marketing managers, sales managers, customer service executives/ managers, brand managers, customer relations executives, account officers/marketers, relationship service managers, branch managers/heads, corporate affairs executives/managers, marketing executive/managers,

senior commercial managers, business development managers He revealed that the faculty at the workshop is made up of seasoned marketing and marketing communications professionals who will enrich the participants with uncommon knowledge and skills.

These include Mr Bola Akingbade, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of MTN Communications, and a former Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, Managing Director of 141 Worldwide Ltd. Mrs Oke has about two decades experience of managing the marketing communications for many local and global brands.

The coordinator is a marketing communications practitioner with over three decades’ experience and past President of AAAN and past Council member of APCON.

•From left: Amaka Ikenna-Gina, Station Head Enugu, Red Star Express; Dr. Chimanronke Udeichie, one of the winners of Scratch for Gift promo and Marcel Mba, Regional Manager Southeast Region, Red Star Express, Chinyere Emetuche and Emeka Jossiah, Operations Supervisor, Red Star Express, at the presentation of gift to a winner in Enugu.

Firm gets new external relations chief

A

PROCTER and Gamble Nigeria (P&G) has appointed Mrs. Tope Iluyemi, as its new external relations leader for West Africa.

A graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, she started her career with P&G Nigeria in 1998 as an account executive. Since then she has distinguished herself with consistent outstanding results, earning her leadership positions in different roles within the

organisation.

Some of her previous duties include customer business development management, supply chain management both in Nigeria and also in South Africa. E a r l i e r , she held the same role for 22 other countries in the P&G West Africa.

She assumed duties last month. She will manage P&G external relations disciplines including government relations,

Honda pitches for digital agency

H

ONDA is seeking a digital and creative social media agency that can work with its team to create an online agency.

Tara Berry, social media and PR comms executive at Honda UK, said: “I want the chosen agency to work with me to revamp and refresh our social media strategy and platforms.

“The agency must be able to think creatively and be able to create one-to-one relationships with

our customers through social media.

“I want us to engage with our customers with the personality that stems from our advertising – the personality that makes Honda a fun, energetic and creative brand, not a corporate one.”

Berry admitted that the brand had a ‘very corporate’ feel online and that Honda’s new social strategy should help people ‘want to talk to us and engage with us – not

Cannes Lions names juries for branded content, others

T

HE Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the final three juries for this year’s event: Branded Content & Entertainment, Film Craft and Mobile Lions jury.

Its members will meet in Cannes in June where they will join their jury presidents to view, debate and award the work.

brand public relations, corporate communications, consumer relations and regulatory affairs for the 23 countries in West and Central Africa.

She is happily married with two children and in her spare time enjoys travelling, reading and dancing.

She is also a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and is into various local community projects.

Avi Savar, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Big Fuel, USA, will chair the first-ever Branded Content & Entertainment Lions jury; Ivan Zacharias, Director of Stink, UK, will lead the Film Craft Jury; and Tom Eslinger, Digital Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide, takes the helm of the inaugural Mobile Lions

jury.

Terry Savage, chairman, Cannes Lions, says, “This is an exciting year for Cannes Lions, not only does Mobile become an awards category in its own right, but Branded Content & Entertainment Lions is launched. We very much look forward to welcoming the esteemed members of these two new juries.

just be spoken to’.

The chosen agency will work with Berry and others in the core business areas of customer services, marketing, PR, sales and aftersales to implement the new digital strategy and develop creative online campaigns. The agency will not be needed for social media monitoring or buying.

Honda is aiming for the agency to be in place by June.

All interested parties should send in creds stating why they would like to work for Honda and what their vision is for the company’s online presence.

The brief will only be sent to shortlisted agencies with two to five of those being invited to pitch.

Berry said she hoped to have the agency in place ahead of events and launches planned for later in the year, as Honda looks to begin its European fightback after suffering production and supply problems following last year’s Japanese tsunami and floods in Thailand.

36

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Cooking made easy A product is not a product unless it sells. Otherwise it is merely a museum piece. – Ted Levitt

T

O housewives, restauranters and others in food business, the fear of

deregulation is the beginning of wisdom.

Since deregulation crept into the country’s economic lexicon, this group of people have been bemoaning their fate.

Government’s insistence on leaving the prices of household energy products such as kerosene, gas and diesel to market forces has shot up the operational costs of restaurants and hotels, while housewives are left with no choice than to adjust the family’s budget with the times.

Statistics have shown that unlike before, with deregulation, more than a third of the average family monthly budget, goes into buying kerosene, gas and other energy resources for cooking.

To get out of the problem, families, especially in the low income group, as well as ‘bukaterias’ and restaurant owners have returned to the old method of cooking with firewood. This development could have negative effects on the society.

For one, the rich forest resources would be massively depleted and this could lead to deforestation with the attendant dangers of erosion, drought and heating up the ozone layer.

However, to forestall this potential danger and wipe the tears from housewives and the legion of bukateria and restaurant owners, a new cooking device has been introduced. Gypa, the cooking coal pot, which comes with charcoal and firelighter, is set to change the art of cooking for good.

Marketed by Musa Raymond (Nigeria) Company Limited in Nigeria, the company, according to its Chief Executive, Mr Musa Raymond, has tentacles in other parts of Africa. He said of the new cooking utensil: “Today, the cost of cooking both for domestic and commercial purposes has been on an upward swing as a result of the everincreasing cost of domestic prices of fuel, no thanks to deregulation. This situation, therefore, has brought about a renewed quest, especially among low income Nigerians for a cooking device, which is affordable yet environmentally friendly, healthy, durable, clean and cool and above all does not rely on conventional fuel such as petrol, kerosene, diesel or gas.”

The search for a cooking device which meets the above yardstick seems to have come to an end with the introduction into the market of Gypa cooking coal pot. The product is

affordable and could be adopted for both home and commercial purposes.

It operates on charcoal. But unlike traditional coal pot, it uses less charcoal.

The Gypa stove saves 50 per cent of the total cost of charcoal it could have used if it were a traditional coal stove.

Other advantages of Gypa are that its charcoal is smokeless and does not make walls and ceilings dirty. It cooks fast, lights fast and the heat generated by the stove can be regulated. Also, its by-product – the ash – is clean and is stored at the base of the stove. And while in use, the temperature of the environment does not rise unnecessarily.

The Gypa cooking stove is complemented by the fire lighter. The lighter, which comes in cubes, is 50 per cent cheaper than kerosene. It does not combust unnecessarily, as its flame comes out naturally. The fire lighter could also be used to roast yam, fish and meat as it does not emit any odour.

And the charcoal has been processed and the quality perfected to meet with international standard and leaves utensils clean after cooking. Also, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) will find the device useful when on patrol or at accident scenes at night.

Since the product hit the market, it has been testimony galore for Raymond. Daily, its demand has been on the increase and the firm is striving to cope and meet customers’ demand.

As parts of its marketing strategy, the company has subdivided the country into zones with distributors appointed for different zones. Its medium of advertising is print media, in addition to handbills, posters, T-shirts and fez caps.

But beyond this, the company would have to embark on massive marketing activities to position its product as a brand, stave off and be ahead of competition.

Given the importance of this product to the livelihood of the average citizen, this is one device that should be endorsed and encouraged by government, especially as a model for empowering the rural areas dwellers where the purchasing power is low.

One word for the producers though.

They should not, as a result of rising demand for the product, choose to take Nigerians for a ride by reducing the quality of Gypa coal pot and its allied products.

‘The Gypa stove saves 50 per cent of the total cost of charcoal it could have used if it were a traditional coal stove. Other advantages of Gypa are that its charcoal is smokeless and does not make walls and ceilings dirty. It cooks fast, lights fast and the heat generated by the stove can be regulated’

Cashless banking for dummies

S

HE lost. No, she did not lose. She was not going to win from the onset; as such, you cannot say that she lost.

“What difference does that make? She is still the Finance Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not the president of the World Bank”. You would not understand. She lost the nomination, but won the election. She stepped up to the kingmakers, toe to toe, eye ball to eye ball. She did not bow to the white imperialists who requested her to step down so that a consensus candidate could emerge. She did not bow to pressure, to armtwisting, to their wile.

She lost the post. But she did not lose her dignity. She did not lose confidence in her strength as a woman. Could that be why she was not nominated for the post, and another favoured Korean-American got it instead? As it turned out, the preferred one is a physician; our own is an economist. It goes without saying that health was promoted ahead of wealth. Health heals.

Wealth wanes. Health is for everyone.

Wealth is for the few. Everybody needs health; only few can be wealthy. Take it.

Shove it. The message is clear. Or? So, how does that affect cashless banking in Nigeria? Methinks you should know, you should see the issue from this side, and, besides, sharing this with you would tinkle your interest. Aside, what affects one, affects all. What concerns her, concerns you.

She is a sister. She is a daughter. She is a mother. After all, the world is now a global village. What happens in one country, ultimately, flows to another. Whatever happens in Washington concerns you in Nigeria. In fact, the process affects cashless policy because it did divert your attention from the banking halls to the political hallowed halls.

That is why you were not aware that the implementation of the sanction, not penalty, imposed by the CBN on withdrawal above certain limit has commenced. Hush, the policy didn’t say you cannot take cash. No, it simply says you would pay if you take more than it is allowed. In other words, if you want to take a large volume of cash, there is a charge attach to it. Listen, in Nigeria, there is no cashless policy. The cashless policy, as it is announced, is for dummies.

Here is how No society operates a cashless economy.

Either in Europe or America, cash still reigns. So there cannot be a total eradication of cash in Nigeria. This is what is obtainable: The CBN has not said you cannot carry huge cash around. It says there is a cost attached to processing cash, and such charges would be passed onto you if you decide to carry huge cash around either in a GMG or a Bullion van. That is why there is more cash withdrawal on the ATMs than other payment channels. More people withdraw from the ATMs. It is convenient. It is available. It is ubiquitous. It is an alternative payment channel. It makes your money available to you whenever and wherever you need it. It also shows that our people can embrace alternative channels.

But happenings in most banking halls are not encouraging. The bank tellers act like lords, instead of giving direction courteously, a customer is tossed about like a pawn on a chess board. For a simple transaction that should take less than five minutes, a customer spends one hour or more; and no one seems to care. To make it quite clear, let us move into the banking halls and walk the floor:

Letter writers The Post Master-General needs to learn

few tips from the bank teller. Now, in most banking halls, if you have any complaints the teller promptly tells you to go write a letter. Therefore, kindly go with this flow: If your ATM card got stuck? Write a letter. Is your account debited in error? Write a letter. Did you type the wrong PIN? Write a letter. Have you lodged cash into your own account and your account was not credited?

Write a letter.

Did you lodge cash into a third party account and the recipient thought you were being smart by half because his account was not credited? Write a letter. Do you need a drink of water from the decanter? Write a letter! Are you expecting your cheque booklet? Write a letter. And if you cannot write a letter, hire a ghost-writer! Scenes like these have turned the entire cashless banking policy into a huge joke told by a bow-legged comedian, and turned several bank customers into letter writers.

Foreign in-flow hiccup While it was difficult for local beneficiaries of fund transfer to receive their remittances, what do you think would happen to foreign transfers? You had to engage in a needless bank-travel. You were at the banking hall repeatedly to confirm an in-flow from a neighbouring country. The teller kept saying the same thing like a cracked CD. “No inflow in your account”.

However, when the originator of the transfer kept calling to inform that the in-flow had left his account, what do you do? You returned to the bank, back and forth, back and forth. Frustrated, you confronted the customer service officer and showed evidence of the transfer, a computer printout, which declared details of the transaction.

At that point she called the headquarters, and, practically reading from the printout to convince the headquarters that the transaction did, in fact, take place.

After a 30 minutes delay, the headquarters confirmed the transaction, saying that the lodgement was yet to “drop” into the local account. “May be tonight”, she said.

Why? It had to be done in batches. That, in a nutshell, is cashless banking for you!

Where is the trust?

Trust is the crust of the matter. Bank customers do not trust the bank, and the bank does not trust the customers. In most cases the bank is usually the first to betray the trust reposed by the customers. An illustration would suffice: A customer came with a third party cheque. The instrument is genuine, but the teller is having difficulties with communicating with the host bank where the account is domicile.

While the teller battles with the network hassles, she is oblivion of the cheque customer, as she had not communicated with the customer. She attended to other customers whose accounts are domicileD in that branch. The cheque customer spent up to 30 minutes just waiting to cash, wait for it, N5000 only.

The cheque customer was an artisan, whose livelihood depends on that cheque.

He could not complain. He could not protest. He did not have a voice. So, he could not cash the cheque that day. Question: Do you expect him to trust the system next time?

He would not, and he would use what he has to frustrate the system. How? He would share his experience with those who are within his sphere of influence through word of mouth. Yes, word of mouth. That is a powerful tool. Isn’t that what the imperialists used to persuade the board, and denied our economist the presidency of the World Bank?

*Editor - Wale Alabi *Consulting Editors - Rarzack Olaegbe, Sola Fanawopo * Correspondent-Jimi David * Business Development - Kenny Hussain * Legal Adviser - Olasupo Osewa & Co Brandweek is powered by Brandz Republic Consulting and published every Friday in THE NATION newspaper.

All correspondence to the editor - 0808.247.7806, 0805.618.0040, , e-mail: korede2000@gmail.com © All rights reserved.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

37

SOCIETY The sprawling compound of the Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Political Matters, Nze Patrick Onuoha, at Umuchieze, Ihitte Afor Ukwu in Ahiazu Mbaise Council area of the state, was filled with important personalities, who gathered to witness the traditional wedding between his daughter, Linda and Francis Nwafor, penultimate Tuesday.

CHINAKA OKORO was there.

•Bride’s parents Nze and Lolo Patrick Onuoha

‘Our union is ordained

by God’ •Eze Onuoha and his wife Ugoeze

•The couple Francis and Linda

T

HE weather was clement. The sun shone mildly. The breezy wind comforted relations, friends and wellwishers who came from distant places to be part of the event. Welcome to the traditional wedding of Francis Emeka Nwafor and Linda Zerenyi Onuoha.

Linda, daughter of Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Political Matters Nze Patrick Onuoha and Nwafor, a businessman from Abagana, Anambra State tied the nuptial knot on April 3 in Imo State.

The expansive compound of the bride’s father in Umuchieze Ihitte Afor Ukwu, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government was painted white — the walls, the building and even the canopies had white covers. The white chairs were covered with light yellow silky materials. It was in a celebration mood.

Guests relished the cool rhythm of old school music supplied by ZB band.

One of the major features of Igbo traditional wedding is the search for the prospective husband by the bride. With palm wine in a native cup which her father gave her, the bride and her retinue of maids, walked round in search of the groom who deliberately sat in a secret corner.

In due course, she saw where he hid. She knelt down, handed the cup of palm wine to Francis who sipped from it, and together they danced to where the bride’s parents were seated to present her would-be husband to them. The couple then knelt down for parental blessings.

The groom clad in flowing red long-sleeve native attire, a red cap, white and brown traditional beads on his neck and white beads on his wrist while the bride wore a two-piece red wrapper, brown pair of shoes, white lace blouse, red head-gear, white necklace, brownleather bag, white-surfaced chronometer and a white horse tail.

Onuoha, in white traditional outfit and a red chieftaincy cap, congratulated the couple.

“You have publicly agreed to marry each other. Nobody forced you. We pray that God Almighty would bless your marriage with children and wealth. But our most important prayers are that you should live in peace, have trust in each other and undiluted love for the well-being of your home.”

The arrival of Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha thrilled the guests.

Okorocha decked in a black French suit, a black cap and black pair of shoes to match, urged the couple to always love each other.

One of the greatest secrets for a successful marriage, he said, is the ability to wake up

every morning and seek the face of God in prayers.

The governor said: “Any marriage based on material wealth does not stand the test of time but becomes tossed by the wind of instability till the final stage when it crumbles like a pack of cards.

“Such marriage is usually a source of broken home and wayward children which affect the entire society adversely. But when a marriage has its foundation on genuine love, care, tolerance and openness, the entire society benefits from its products, as a good and responsible home is always a microcosm of the larger society.”

He added that “those entering into marriage have agreed to ‘partner’ with God in the business of creation, for it is out of marriage that the society is populated. So, this contractual agreement must have love, understanding, and patience as some of its cardinal doctrines.”

Some of the dignitaries at the event were Deputy Governor, Imo State Chief Martins Agbaso; Deputy Speaker House of Reps Hon Emeka Ihedioha, who dressed in an ash colour native attire and his usual green cap; the state Chief Judge, Justice P.A. Njemanze; former Military Administrator of Katsina State Navy Captain Emma Iheanacho; Senator Chris Anyanwu; former Minister of Education Prof Fabian Osuji; former Deputy Governor of Imo State Mrs Ada Okwuonu; Chief Deputy Secretary to Imo State Government Prof Tony Gozie Anwukah who dressed in light-blue stripped traditional wear; former Minister of Establishment Chief Innocent Nwoga; former Federal Commissioner National Population Commission (NPC) Imo State, Chief Joe Ndu; Special Assistant to Governor Okorocha on Advanced Protocol Chief Ewe Echifugha; Hon Nnanna Igbokwe; Emeritus Prof M.E. Enyiegbulam of Federal University of Technology, Owerri and his wife Ezinne; Managing Partner Pat-Same Partners Mr Sam Apakama and Dim Gburugburu Mbaise High Chief Chidi Ibe. Also in attendance were former Chief Judge of Imo State Justice Duke Njiribeakor; Nze Adiukwu; Chief Cletus Onwuegbule; Dr Kevin Anyanwu; Senator Bright Nwanne; Hon Chinedu Emeh; Hon Anaechi Onu; former Director Imo State Council for Arts and Culture Chief Sokey Ohale; US-based specialist in Agricultural Engineering Mr Paul Okoroji; Mrs Pet Okoroji of Federal University of Technology Owerri.

Eze Enyeribe Onuoha, Eze Udo 1 of

•Chief Chidi Ibe

•Secretary to the Imo State Government Prof Tony Anwukah

•From left: Emeritus Professor Enyiegbulam; his wife Rose and Mr Sam Apakama

Umuchieze Ahiazu Mbaise; Dr Bede Ezenwa; Revd Patrick Iwejue; Prof Ada Obi-Obasi; Chairman/CEO ABC Transport Company Chief Frank Nneji; Ikemba Ahiara Dr Jude Agunanna; and Managing Director , Hygitec Investment Nigeria Limited, Mr Hyginus Okoro also graced the event.

Others were Prof. Nnamdi Oguneri; Hon Nze Dan Uzor; Dr Chidimma Uwajimogu; elder brother to Governor Okorocha Chief

Gerald Okorocha; Chief Eddy Anyanwu; Traditional Prime Minister of Ogbe Chief Isidore Ihuoma; Chairman Transition Committee Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area Chief Tony Atudume; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Owerri zone Hon Ugochukwu Onyeukwu and former Chairman Governing Board Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Chief Ogboko.

38

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

SOCIETY The Aguata Anglican Diocese in Anambra State last weekend was a beehive following the investiture of 43 members of the church and their wives into the Knighthood of St. Christopher and the Ladies of Bethany, reports ADIMIKE GEORGE.

Enter the new knights

B

Y 8am, the uncompleted Anglican Cathedral Church of St. John, Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, was filled for the investiture slated for 10am.

Well-wishers, friends and relatives of the would-be Knights gathered to witness the ceremony.

By 9.45am, the procession into the cathedral began with the novices and their wives as they were called.

They marched in, wearing black trousers and white shirts with their wives in black and red dresses.

They joined the Archbishop of the province in a solemn procession to start the activities that will make them soldiers of Christ.

Inside the cathedral, the Knights proceeded to their pews while the Archbishop and other clerics ascended the altar. Then began the liturgical celebration in which they were all called to take their vows into the Order of the Knighthood of St. Christopher and Ladies of Bethany.

For the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Prof Godwin Onu and others, who were called into the Order, service to humanity and God has just begun.

Kneeling in front of the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Revd.

Christopher Efobi, last Saturday morning, they pledged to abide by the rules of the Order and to live exemplary lives.

This elicited ovation from the congregation, who had gathered to witness the second investiture into the Order.

While examining them, Bishop Efobi, who is the Archbishop of the Niger Province of the Church, asked them if they would endeavour to bring upon their lives in the home, profession or occupation and in their social environment all the implications of Christ's faith and in accordance with the examples of St. Christopher.

“Do you fully understand that the well-being and ultimate success of the Order of the Knighthood of St Christopher depend on the individual service, willingly, freely and constantly given by its members; and are you prepared and willing to serve?" Bishop Efobi asked the

•A cross-section of the new Knights taking their oath

•Bishop Efobi flanked by Prof Onu and his wife

•From left: Nsionu; Obi and Aniekwe

elated novices who enthused that they will so endeavour to serve, God being their helper.

The Archbishop after the investiture charged the new Knights to bear in mind that they have been chosen to be defenders of the faith of Christ, adding that they are now the soldiers of Christ and the Church.

He told them that God has chosen them to fight the good fight which is a fight against evil, injustice, insecurity, corruption and bribery, among others, adding that they have been called to be vigilant.

The Prelate noted that Knights are peace makers, peaceful and live righteously.

He urged them to strive to serve

other than the Archbishop as a privilege.

“I'm highly delighted,” he said.

He said initially he was skeptical of accepting the offer but after scrutiny he discovered it was another avenue to serve God and man.

"I want to give all the glory to God who in his wisdom felt I should be part of this exercise. "This is another opportunity to expand the frontiers of this service into other areas that please God. I also see it as God's way of preparing me for the greater task ahead. I feel happy and delighted that I was nominated by the Archbishop. I never lobbied or requested for it.

So, I had to think deeply before I accepted believing it is another way

God, the Church and humanity.

“Let your lights shine among men. Knights don't receive bribe.

Indiscipline, bribery and corruption among other vices abound. But God knows his people. You have been chosen and have been given the bible which you are to read and digest. Knighthood does not consist in putting only the robes as it is said that the hood does not make a monk. A knight is not an adulterer. Knights are united, focused bridge builders. A good Knight pays his tithe and belongs to the grassroots," he admonished.

Onu said he was humbled by the honour.

He described his nomination into the Order of the Knighthood by no

of serving and thanking God,” Onu stated.

He decried a situation where people use money to lobby for titles in Nigeria, insisting that title recipients should always be screened and edited to prevent charlatans from being conferred with honours not befitting them.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic Oko Chapter congratulated their Rector, the Archbishop and the congregation of Aguata Diocese.

The union’s Chairman, Dr Onyeka Uwakwe, thanked God for making the event possible, expressing confidence that the Gospel will surely continue to spread.

BIRTHDAY The celebrator Olori Lydia Adza assisted by her husband Oba Bamidele Olatunji Adetutu-Ajayi, Ajayi and members of their family to cut the cake during her 50th Birthday at Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos.

2012

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

39

SOCIETY He is 90 but his dexterity on the dance floor belies his age. The Baba Egbe of the Christ Apostolic Mission Church (CAMC), (Oke Igbala), Elder Israel Adeyemi, was a delight to watch on the dance floor. He thrilled guests at the CAMC, Mushin, Lagos where a birthday service was organised for him last Saturday. AMIDU ARIJE writes.

• Otunba Olukoga (left) and Mr Fola Adeyemi

• The celebrator Elder Adeyemi and his wife Victoria cutting the birthday cake

90 hearty cheers to an icon

T

HE road sides were jam-packed with posh cars.

So, it was no surprise seeing the church’s auditorium filled to capacity.

Melodious songs wafted through the air and passersby could not help nodding to the songs by the choir.

And with a clement weather, the activities marking the 90th birthday of the Baba Egbe of the Christ Apostolic Mission Church (CAMC), (Oke Igbala), Elder Israel Adeyemi, started on a good note.

It was held at the church's auditorium in Mushin, Lagos.

Family members and well-wishers turned out in large numbers to rejoice with the nonagenarian.

All his children came from far and near to make day memorable.

The proceeding in the church was presided over by The President of CAMC, Pastor Adesoji Ajayi.

The highpoint of the church service was the thanksgiving.

The celebrator's wife, Victoria, was by his side. They both moved to the podium where

the thanksgiving basket was strategically placed to drop their offerings.

Elder Adeyemi after appreciating God with his offering took to the dance floor.

He was joined by his children, members of the family and guests.

The cleric congratulated the celebrator for his longevity.

Pastor Ajayi described Elder Adeyemi as a peace-loving and devoted Christian.

He enjoined the congregation to take a cue from his enviable qualities.

Afterwards, Elder Adeyemi's first son, Fola, gave the vote of thanks.

He thanked the church for their support.

Fola pledged on behalf of his family to replace the old louvres in the church with modern ones; the congregation shouted Halleluyah!

The church choir gave the closing hymn.

The train of the celebration moved straight to the New State High School, Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos for the reception.

The venue was well-decorated with beautiful satin clothes. Guests turned out in various attires. The female children of the

• From left: Mrs Nike Adeosun; Alhaja Bose Odeyemi and Mrs Funmi Adeniyi PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

celebrator stood out in chocolate colour Iro and Buba with headgear to match while their brothers turned out in white lace with caps.

The celebrator was the cynosure of the eyes.

He wore a beautiful lace with a befitting cap.

He looked younger than his age and walked without a walking stick.

The reception was anchored by ace presenter Bashiru Adisa (aka Baba Gboin).

His articulate clownish styles added life to the occasion.

The Taproot Band entertained guests with tuneful songs.

The occasion was chaired by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga.

Olukoga supervised the cutting of the cake.

He said the virtues of the celebrator cannot be over emphasised.

He described him as a thorough and disciplined person whom he looked up to.

If leaders can emulate the virtuous qualities of Elder Adeyemi, Olukoga said, the country will know peace and development.

"We will come to meet you to tap from your wealth of wisdom and use it to develop

Lagos State and Nigeria at large,” he said.

A younger sister of the celebrator, Mrs Oluwafunmilayo Adeniyi, described him as a liberal person.

“He is a straightforward person and prayerful; people can hardly believe that I am not his biological daughter because of his love for us all,” she said.

Fola described his father as a loving and caring man.

“He is a father cum mother to me. He is an epitome of goodness, hard work and truth and everything one desires in life,” he said.

The celebrator thanked God for sparing his life till date. He attributed his youthful look to God. “I don't know what makes me look young.

It is the grace of God,” he said.

His wife, Madam Victoria, described him as a loving and caring man.

“He is not just my husband, he is like my father because, he cares a lot and is very loving. He does not like lies. He is a straightforward person,” she said.

“I wish him a long life and prosperity,” she added.

53RD BIRTHDAY OF SPEAKER, OYO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HON. MUSURAT SUMONU AT IBADAN CIVIC CENTRE, AGODI, IBADAN, OYO STATE

•Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the celebrator Hon. Musurat Jumoke Sumonu

•Chairman on the occasion Oba Otudeko delivering a speech while Oyo State Governor Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajumobi (right) and his deputy Hon. Moses Alake watch

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

40

COMMENTARY

F

OR Nigerian Muslim Ummah it was like thawing a stubborn ice block in Abuja last week. A twoday conference (Saturday and Sunday April 14 to 15) entitled ‘NIGERIAN MUSLIMS AND DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE’ (NMDC) was held with a sigh of relief. The venue was the Auditorium Hall of the National Mosque Complex, Abuja. The theme of the Conference was ‘THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF MUSLIMS IN DEMOCRATIC NIGERIA’. A total of six papers were presented, three on each day, and all were thoroughly discussed. Present at the inaugural session of the Conference were His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; the former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and a host of representatives of some Governors as well as scholars and professionals in various fields of human endeavour, including your sincerely.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, Organising Committee of the Conference, Prof Ibrahim Naiya Sada, disclosed thus: “This Conference hopes to discuss and review how the Muslim Ummah has fared in the last 12 years of democracy in Nigeria. The Conference will look into and proffer solutions to the major political challenges facing the Ummah in Nigeria. The Conference hopes to come up with a single forum for all the Muslim Organisations where our inexhaustible resources are pooled together to improve our effectiveness and play the role we deserve in shaping the destiny of our nation in line with and commensurate to our size…”.

In his own brief opening speech as the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Dawood Olatokunbo Shittu Noibi, OBE, FISN, FIAC, the Executive Secretary of Muslim Ummah of the Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) said: “We would all agree with the organisers of this conference that the values of honesty, transparency, accountability, hard work, contentment, humility and courage have been eroded and consequentially the quality of governance has not only declined but actually hit the rocks. In a country blessed with abundance of natural and human resources, poverty is visible everywhere. This situation is recognised by reasonable people of goodwill in this country and abroad as the real cause of the security challenges we are facing. The Prophet’s warning that rulers are accountable before Allah for the manner in which they deal with their people seems to have been ignored…”

And in a keynote address the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal opined as follows: “…It is appropriate at this point to avert our minds to the famous words of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, on the need to recognise our differences, and not pretend that they don’t exist. To recognise them is to respect them, and to take them into recognition when discussing issues that can potentially affect the whole nation. To recognise them is to be mindful of the various groups that live in a nation such as ours and not take any group for granted. However, it does not mean that we should dwell unduly on our differences or allow them to jeopardise our progress. But we cannot close our eyes to the fact that such differences do in fact exist and that we have had problems in the past when we became insensitive to these realities…”

His Eminence the Sultan and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, in his own remark said: “… Our religion, political culture and history should inspire us to participate in these kinds of civic engagements. We have specific instruction to cooperate in AL-BIR WATTAQWA, acts of righteousness and piety (Q.5:2); to cooperate with all stakeholders in matters which affect the

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08122697498

Excerpts from Abuja conference

•Map of Nigeria

well-being and security of our country.

This calls for the unity of the Ummah. It also calls for dialogue across religions and cultures. Dialogue itself calls for understanding, patience and perseverance…”

About the conference In what is better called a preamble to the deliberations at the conference, the following observation was made by the organisers to guide the trend of those deliberations: “In the last twelve years, Nigerians have seen how their hopes were raised and dashed. A country with great potentials, has consistently failed to utilise those potentials while its peers, with far less resources, like Brazil and Malaysia, have gone far ahead to industrialise and position themselves at the cutting edge of technology. While its peers were growing geometrically, the so-called “giant of Africa” has been deindustrialising, its economy shrinking and its stature dwarfing. Its development indices have continued to get

poorer; the level of poverty has doubled in the last 12 years of democratisation; all these in the face of unprecedented revenue from oil sales. Big time corruption, rigged elections and deepening cynicism are accelerating institutional collapse. All these are pointing towards a frightening trend, a failed state.

Time and again we have been told that these are actually mere symptoms even as the real disease is the decline, some would say, collapse of leadership. The major Muslim part of this country has had a long tradition of state formation and state administration, spanning some ten centuries back. Even during the colonial period these infrastructures, experiences and skills were put to the service of colonial administration.

In the immediate post independence period, these pre-colonial leadership values informed the first generation of the leadership, who have, on records, laid good foundations and built institutions, which gave this country the stability at home and the respect of its peers abroad.

Today, however, these values of honesty, transparency, accountability, hard-work, contentment, humility and courage have been eroded and consequentially the quality of governance has not only declined but actually hit the rocks. The Muslim Ummah has been the worst for it, not only has it lost that political edge that these Islamic values had given it, but worse it also lost that cohesion, sense of community and leadership. It has therefore failed to address the myriad of perennial problems, which include poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. With the highest number of children out of school, the lowest literacy rates, a poor public educational system, abandoned by its elite, the Muslim Ummah becomes a soft target, a punching bag, a trash can where all manners of refuse are dumped. The numerous Muslims Organisations have not been to any avail because they are scattered, disorganised with many burnt candles at two ends. Clearly, there is a dearth of leadership and these Muslim Organisations must come together to provide a sense of collective aspiration, effective planning, focus

‘Today, however, these values of honesty, transparency, accountability, hard-work, contentment, humility and courage have been eroded and consequentially the quality of governance has not only declined but actually hit the rocks. The Muslim Ummah has been the worst for it, not only has it lost that political edge that these Islamic values had given it, but worse it also lost that cohesion, sense of community and leadership’

and leadership.

Leadership is and has always been ‘key’ to the development of any society.

The problem of Nigeria has been correctly diagnosed as the problem of leadership. It is so because leaders provide the direction, the mission and strategies for attaining desirable goals in the interest of all. This is why all societies that desire to achieve greatness invest in producing outstanding leadership. Political leadership is of particular significance because of the fact that it has the greatest impact on the society as it ultimately defines its destiny. Beyond this, it outlines the anatomy of power, and the prospects for the expansion or contraction of the social space within which individuals can express themselves and realise their full potentials as members of a community.

For us Muslims, Islam places a high premium on leadership that even if three persons set out for a journey, they should appoint one of them as the leader. Sheikhul Islam, Ibn Taimiyya, captured the essence of leadership when he noted that leadership is one of the greatest religious obligations. As it were, both religious and worldly affairs cannot be established and straightened without leadership. The general good and prosperity (Maslaha) of mankind cannot be fully secured except through good and selfless leadership. What is therefore needed to address our problems today is a process of ensuring the emergence of good and selfless leadership; a leadership that has the capacity to appreciate the future, the commitment and determination to deploy the resources at our disposal and the ability to sustain the efforts and remain focused over time and not to succumb to digression and provocation.

But this process today is entirely in the hands of political parties and these political parties are largely informed and driven by material motives, not service. As someone puts it “today our political parties have no contents, no conscience and no courage.” From what we have seen so far it is difficult for the process to throw up good people who can fit our description of good leaders.

We must therefore find ways of engaging the current political process to ensure that those who will eventually come to the parliaments and the executive arms of government fit our description of good leaders even where they are not Muslims. In 1999, there was a similar effort around a conference with clear proposals but which was not followed through. We can’t give up on these efforts, Allah has clearly warned us not to give up [see Qur’an 15:56].

It is in this respect that we wish to propose another conference to discuss this issue and to pursue this important objective. The proposed objectives and themes of the conference are clearly stated. Indeed this conference is to provoke discussions that will produce and enrich a clear road-map for Muslims’ political future. This is why this conference is being hosted and organised

by Muslim Organisations on ground.

These are mainstream Organisations that are not exclusive to others, Muslim Organisations that accommodate other Muslim views and even partner with non-Muslims for the common good of all Nigerians as directed by Allah in the Qur’an: “Allah does not forbid that you be kind and just to those who did not fight against you on account of religion, nor drove you out of your homes, Allah loves those who are equitable” [Qur’an 60:8].

We urge Muslims to hearken to the words of Allah, the Most High, when He said: “Help one another in acts of righteousness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression” [Qur’an 5:2].

Some of the six papers presented and deeply discussed at the Conference not only by erudite scholars and seasoned administrators but also by technocrats among Muslim women and youths who were present at the conference may be published in this column in the near future in sha’Allah

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Yobe State was adjudged one of the peaceful states in the federation before the emergence of the insurgent group, Boko Haram. This has taken its toll, in terms of socio-economic challenges. Governor Ibrahim Gaidam explains to JOEL DUKU the measures being taken to address insecurity and youth joblessness.

Gaidam: Govt and Boko Haram must dialogue H

OW has your administra tion confronted youth joblessness and peace building?

I am a strong believer in the capacity of our youth to improve the nation’s economic fortunes.

What they need is support and guidance and we are committed to doing that in Yobe State.

Currently, many of our youth who have graduated from polytechnics and universities need jobs to practice what they have studied in school. There are also thousands of others who are not particularly skilled but who also need jobs to support themselves and families.

We have programmes for both categories.

For those who have diploma and degree certificates, we have asked them to submit applications through the office of the Head of Service. Applications received are being processed.

Those received a little earlier had been processed and appointment letters issued. We recruited 194 diploma and degree holders.

Most of them were deployed to teach in our secondary schools.

Back in 2010, we recruited 600 holders of similar certificates, including 250 holders of NCE. So, the office of the Head of Service is going ahead with the processing of the applications being received and we are awaiting a submission on that, to act straight away.

As for those without formal school certificates, there is a programme of skill acquisition going on in the past four years.

What we normally do is to receive nominations from the local government areas, screen and send them to the Sani Abacha Youth Empowerment Center, Kano, where they train in knitting, GSM handset repairs, carpentry etc. Upon completion of the training, we bring them back and give them tools, specific to their areas of training. We give them the tools free of charge and position then to set up their businesses.

This programme has been largely successful, we have decided to set up our own Skill Training Centre in Yobe so that more youth could benefit. This Center is coming on stream this year.

You should equally be briefed that there is youth farm empowerment programme where 10, 000 youth have been engaged in agriculture over the past farming seasons.

But your administration had equally banned the use of commercial motor cycles in major towns with the multiple effect on youth...

There is no doubt that the ban on ‘Achaba’ or commercial motor cycle operators have affected many youth engaged in the business. We took the decision to ban motorcycles in selected towns of our state only because we had to. It was a painful but necessary measure to address emerging security challenges which we were facing at the time we took the

• Gaidam

decision. As soon as these challenges are successfully addressed, we will review the policy but the overriding objective is the safety and security of our people.

It was in order to cushion the effects of the ban on Achaba that we introduced the Keke NAPEP, tricycles. So far, 500 such tricycles have been deployed to the five major towns where the use of motorcycles is banned. We gave out the motorcycles at 50 per cent discount to the beneficiaries and we involved the leadership of the Motorcycles’ Riders Association, so that their members are enlisted among those to benefit from the programme.

The truth, however, is that government alone cannot replace all the motorcycles in those towns.

Private individuals also have to get involved. This is why I called on the wealthy and business people to complement government effort by buying and bringing in the Keke NAPEP, so that more and more people could get to ride and use them as drivers and passengers and our State will be the better for it.

The ban on motorcycle was to address security challenges, has it really helped?

In specific terms, we are giving all the security agencies deployed to the state maximum support, including logistics support to ensure the protection of life and property. We have given the police and other security agencies, for example, more than 100 Toyota Hilux Four-Wheel vans for security patrols.

More significantly, we have asked people in our communities to continue to pray fervently for

God Almighty to see us through these difficult times. Since November 2011, people in our state have been holding special prayer sessions in mosques and churches for the restoration of peace and security. God Almighty is All-hearing and we are confident that Allah (SWT) will answer our prayers.

What do you make of the moves by the Federal Government and concerned citizens for a dialogue with the Boko Haram as a way of addressing the current problems?

Dialogue is a very potent means of resolving conflicts and achieving peace. In a democracy, this is even more important. We believe in dialogue and we sup-

port the Federal Government to engage in dialogue. Dialogue has worked in many other conflict situations in the past and there is no reason why it cannot work now.

I want to particularly call on the Boko Haram members to embrace dialogue and to always remember that Islam is always a religion of peace. There is no justification for the shedding of blood of the innocent whether by the Boko Haram or by any other party. There is no justification for violence and wanton destruction of property. Every nation moves forward only by what it can build, not by what it destroys. So, let’s all embrace peace.

Like many other states in the north, Yobe has lagged behind educationally, what are you doing?

Giving our children sound education, we are doing a lot in this regard but due to time constraints I will dwell on only a few of the significant measures we have taken.

We are improving primary education by enrolling many primary school teachers in special training programmes. Students are only as good as the teachers that teach them. We have a programme called Special Teacher Upgrading Programme (STUP) designed for the purpose of improving the capacity of our teachers to teach effectively.

We have also increased the amount we pay for student feeding in our secondary schools per day. Many of our schools and especially female secondary schools, have been totally renovated. We want to encourage girl-child education by providing an environment conducive to teaching and learning.

We have also set up an international-grade secondary school called Yobe College, Mamudo to rapidly address the problem of many of our youth not securing the minimum requirement for entry into institutions of higher learning. Admission into this

school is competitive and administered solely by our Nigeria Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) partners who are currently managing the school under an agreement.

Students selected competitively through a three-level examination get their scholarships paid by the government.

In addition, we are paying scholarships to our students studying both at home and abroad regularly. From 2007 to date, we have paid well over one billion naira in student scholarships.

Our state’s university also continues to get the highest attention of government with funds periodically disbursed for the execution of projects such as staff quarters, faculty and departmental buildings etc. We are now rated as the fastest growing university in the north.

All these efforts are ensuring that our school enrolment rate and student performance in examination are steadily improving. Of course, we have more to do and we are determined to continue to do everything within our power to make education widely available and accessible to our youth the state.

It was said contract teachers in the state’s secondary schools have been relieved of their appointments. What informed this decision?

Not all contract teachers have been relieved of their appointments. Those whose contracts are still subsisting are still doing their work. Those affected were those whose contract periods have expired. Even among them, we have around 34 who have been retained.

The reason we took the decision is to create an opportunity for our own youth who have graduated with university degrees to be employed by the government. Our resources are limited, so we have to strategise and use them effectively. But I can assure you that all our schools will be fully staffed, so that our children will benefit from that.

• From left: Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu, Minister of Land and Urban Development, Ama Pepple, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina and Director General of Public Procument, Emeka Eze during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN Presidential Villa in Abuja.

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Inventor seeks support Out of sheer idleness, Alfred Butts, an American architect, invented the scrabble game during the depression.

Out of pure boredom, too, Kingsley Offiong Ekpe, a Nigerian university drop-out, may just have invented what is sure to become popular in most homes, if his devise ever takes off, writes MIKE JIMOH

K

INGSLEY Offiong Ekpe is used to taking long walks.

Ever since he left school abruptly 18 months ago, there has been nothing but boredom. To kill time, he takes to the roads most of the time, patrolling the neighbourhood like a politician on the stump but without the obligatory backslaps and glad-handing.

There isn’t much to look at in Tedi community, Lagos State where he lives with a cousin, Charles Otum.

Apart from the countless commercial motorcyclists meandering here and there, goats and sheep lying indolently on the mostly sandy Tedi roads, there isn’t much to draw your attention. But that is for ordinary folks. Though a drop-out, Kingsley seems to have a keen sense for the unusual.

In his daily rounds around Tedi and nearby communities, the 26-year-old saw what seemed obvious to others, which they had always taken for granted anyway. As is the practice, most houses have their PHCN bills pasted on their walls or fences so that when officials of the electric firm come calling, they know at a glance who has paid and who is defaulting.

Kingsley noticed that some of the bills were in various stages of disintegration; some were glued to fences with cellotape; some washed off completely by torrential downpours or

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MO State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has explained the redeployment of some workers to the fourth-tier of government newly created in all the communities of the state, saying the move was aimed at fasttracking development in the rural areas.

The governor who stated this while addressing Imo workers at the state secretariat complex along Port Harcourt road, Owerri, maintained that the policy is not intended to sack workers as peddled in some quarters.

“Let me state it clearly that this policy is not aimed at sacking anybody, rather more people will be employed. We are posting some civil servants to more pro-

bleached to an indelible blur by the scorching sun. Some houses had no bills at all – a source of constant bickering between residents and PHCN officials who threaten to disconnect users if bills are not properly accounted for.

“An idea immediately came to me that such rift between consumers and PHCN officials can be avoided if you have something like a protective plastic cover cut slightly more than the size of PHCN bills where they could be attached to walls or fences,” Kingsley said.

Though not a design student, Kingsley immediately set to work.

Days after, he had what he thought he wanted, a drawing of a slide that you can screw to walls or fences where bills will fit in snugly. Also not an engineer, somebody had to bring Kingsley’s design to life, or make it real. He found one, at Yaba.

But there was still a hurdle to cross – cash to pay the engineer for a prototype.

“He wanted N3,800 for the design to be made real for me,” says the school drop-out. “Of course, I had no money.” Kingsley approached his cousin, who turned him down because “he distrusted me, thinking I was up to some pranks.”

Convinced more than ever about •Continued on Page 50

•The wrappers donated to the widows

A lift for Anambra widows •Continued from Page 13 keeper but also their sister’s and widows too, adding that God would replenish his pocket many fold.

Senator Anosike told Newsextra that all thanks should go to Almighty God for giving him life and fame.

He described it as the beginning of new things to come the way of the widows in those in those areas,

adding that he equally had other plans which he failed to disclose to Newsextra.

Furthermore, he said he did it out of Love and concern he has for the widows adding that the welfare of widows in those 12 Local government areas had been giving him sleepless nights.

Whether it was a ploy to garner support from his people for 2014, Ngozi Agudozi, one time Acting

State Publicity Secretary of the then Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) said what Anosike did had no political undertone.

He described him as somebody who has always had the heart of helping not only the down trodden in the society but everybody.

Anosike represented Anambra North Senatorial zone at the Senate between 2003 and 2006 before the Court of Appeal removed him.

‘Why we deployed workers to communities’ ductive areas so that our manpower will be well utilised. The fourth-tier government will definitely elicit development and promote agriculture at the rural communities,” he said.

He disclosed that a committee will be set up with representatives of the ministries and labour to further harmonize the practical framework of the policy, adding that his administration has directed the Civil Service Commission to address all issues relating to workers welfare and promotion.

Gov. Okorocha expressed grati-

tude to Imo workers for their resolve to contribute in the transformation of Imo Rescue Mission by queuing into vision of the decentralization policy and FourthTier Government proposed by his administration.

“I am happy today that the civil servants have queued into the visions of the present administration by agreeing to kick-start the fourth-tier government with the view to encouraging the agricultural sector. I am very happy that they understand it clearly.

‘Before now, it appeared that they didn’t understand the policy

but now they have believed that it is a good programme and policy for the state. In the next couple of days, some civil servants will go to their communities to drive the visions of this present administration, Gov. Okorocha said. “ He added that a maximum of civil servants will be retained in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) based on need and capacity.

“A maximum of civil servants will be retained in ministries depending on need. The idea of having over 10 workers as store keep-

Motorised wheelchairs for the less privileged •Continued from Page 13

represent them at the National Assembly. I have looked at some of the challenges. This effort is to support the initiative of the government. Our people must come first over personal interest. It is response time to the enormous goodwill built by my people around me.

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi flanked by Chief Justice of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi (right) and Acting President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Samuel Nwachukwu Okoye during the governor’s visit to the jurists PHOTO: CLETUS OBI

ers is a waste of manpower and resources. There are some ministries that don’t need more than 40 workers. It is a new thing on how to kick-start development at the rural areas. This drift from rural to urban area is creating much pains and poverty in the nation and that’s why we want to begin to go back to land so that the rural people will begin to take charge in the areas of agriculture, security, education and health. This step will no doubt create tremendous development in the rural communities of Imo state,” he added.

“From my heart, I have given to the people. This is my modest support to the people. This is the first batch. The Keke Rasag Empowerment Programme (KREP) is an initiative to support the empowerment of our people who can become Keke owners.”

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Andrew Hayble said they were glad the motorised wheel chair.

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Inventor seeks support •Continued from Page 48 his device, he next approached his cousin’s wife. “I took time to explain to her the purpose for which it was meant and begged her to support my invention.”

She acquisced and finally gave Kingsley N3,000, with which he paid for the prototype. Now, the device – still nameless – is in his possession, but then, there is a bigger hurdle; in fact, the biggest hurdle since he left school almost two years ago.

Kingsley was not one of those who lived in monkish seclusion as a student of Accounting in the University of Calabar. From his first year in 2008, he had always shown promise, either in course work or social occasions. He admits he was a wee bit stubborn, too. By the time he got to 300 level, he easily won the nomination for Director of Socials in the Student Union Government.

The second of four children (the first is a female, Nya, and a graduate of Cross River State Polytechnic) born to a busniessman father, Chief Offiong Ekpe, dealing in medical equipment which he buys from the

United States of America and sells in Nigeria. The father also lives parttime in Texas.

One day, before the SUG election, Kingsley told his father he wanted to use one of the family cars to run his campaign in school. His father refused, because of a nightmare he had the previous day in which his son had a fatal accident.

But stubborn as ever, Kingsley took the car anyway and promptly ran into the school gate. That was the end of his education. “My father froze my student account after he paid the bills incurred during the accident. He was also very angry with me that I disobeyed him.”

Apart from the psychological trauma all of that caused him, Kingsley insists he could not pay his tuition, boarding or buy books, and much else. The consequence was his coming to Lagos to live with his cousin. And then, the long walk!

Today, the drop-out insists he owns the franchise to the as-yet-unnamed device. Sure of his product, he went to a Chinese company to see if they could do a mould for mass production. “They agreed to do three differ-

Kingsley approached a PHCN staff to see what the energy company can do to help out, either by buying off the device or a kind of joint effort. The PHCN staff told him his device was great but it didn’t go beyond that

E

BONYI State Governor Martin Elechi and billionaire businessman Dr. Olawale Babalakin have donated four luxury buses to Ebonyi State University (EBSU). They made the donation during the institute’s third convocation ceremonies in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The governor handed over the keys of the three of the buses he donated, while Babalakin added one more after the presentation of Diplomas and Degrees to 10,212 graduating students of the 12-year-old university.

To further support infrastructural development efforts in the university, Babalakin, who was commended for donating an 80-bed hostel to the University of Ilorin, an-

ent moulds, which will cost approximately N3 million,” says Kingsley.

Of course, he hadn’t that kind of money, especially for somebody still dependent on relations even for feeding.

Also, he approached a PHCN staff to see what the energy company can do to help out, either by buying off the device or a kind of joint effort.

The PHCN staff told him his device was great but it didn’t go beyond that.

In a tidy yellow T-shirt and spectacled (he started wearing medicated glasses after the accident because it affected his sight), Kingsley’s English is good, better than the average undergraduate you find in most Nigerian univeristies today. He looks focused, too, with the wide-awake visage you sometimes find in morethan-average students.

Kingsley’s headstrong nature is perhaps most discernible in his protruding temples, as if the content within is forever disagreeing with the cranium. The glasses gives him a headmaster-ish look. Asked why he has not approached his father – a wealthy man by every standard – to fund mass production of his device, he says he has not spoken with him since he left school. Besides, Chief Ekpe is always in and out of the country on one business trip or the other.

Kingsley intended going home to Calabar this Easter to see his father because he was home from the US but, again, the son was hobbled by money matters. “I am still trying to see if I can get some money to travel home. For now, I don’t have that.”

Kingsley’s major concern now is to find a company or somebody who is interested in his device for mass production. “It could be the state or fed-

•Kingsley and his electricity bill preserver eral government. It could be a corporate body or an individual. The device itself is marketable in any part of the country.” He also intends to go to Calabar to finish his course in Accounting.

For now however, Kingsley insists that rain or shine, bills will be safe and secure in his unnnamed protective, transparent plastic slide – if only it can take off by way of mass production.

Elechi, Babalakin donate buses other 80-bed hostel in Ibogun, Ogun State, a 500-seater auditorium to the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, and an elaborate scholarship scheme for over 200 students in Nigeria and 40 students abroad, pledged to sit down with the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor to identify a project that will contribute to the development of the University.

The 2-day event, which began on Friday, ended on Saturday with the award of honorary degrees to three distinguished Nigerians, Prof.

Chinua Achebe, Dr. Babalakin, and

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Fund (TET Fund).

While congratulating the recipients, the governor, who is the Visitor to the school, said: “You have received several awards from other institutions in the past; ours is a mere attempt to join the greater society of Nigerians and the world at large, who have honoured you variously, to register our appreciation of what you have done and are still doing for this country and Africa.

“You have demonstrated that re-

•From right: Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale; HRM Oba Y.A. Ayeni, the Onisiwo Abagbo, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Justice Sector Reforms, Mr. Olarenwaju Tasleem Akinsola at the Amuwo Odofin Interactive Forum on Tips for Small Business Growth and Importance of Local Government Levies to community development at the secretariat

gardless of circumstances of birth, we can attain any height; your posture of global outlook which transcends your tribal, religious and community instincts holds out great hope for world peace and better human relations. This is the message we are inviting you to impart to our students.

Your profiles are too great for me to venture into. May you continue to inspire our generation, and future generations, to the greater glory of God and to the benefit of mankind.”

After conferring the honours on the recipients, former Vice President of Nigeria and the Chancellor of EBSU, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, said: “The institutional transformation we must be working assiduously to achieve is to be accomplished primarily, through academic excellence, attitudinal reorientation, aggressive fund-raising drives, courteous service delivery, prudent resource management and investment ventures; coupled with institutional commitment to excellence in every area and individual commitment to ownership of the vision.”

Babalakin, who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the honorary award recipients, said: “Today marks a landmark in the life of this great institution, and in that of the awardees.

Let me not fail to mention that I don’t

know any state university in Nigeria that has the combination of officers that you have in this university, ranging from chancellor to pro-chancellor, to vice-chancellor. It’s simply a reflection of the leadership of the state.

I’m told that the governor was an outstanding student himself. So, he’s very comfortable in the midst of scholars.

We have witnessed here unbelievable serenity, and remarkable discipline, which shows that there’s rule of law, discipline, and decorum, which are basic things for a good learning environment.”

While commending the governor, who also donated three buses to the institute three years ago, the ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Dr. Igwe Mike Ajanwachukwu noted that Ebonyi State receives the lowest Federal allocation, but pays the highest subvention in the country.

According to him, the subvention has been increased from N120million to N240million.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frank Idike, thanked the Federal Government for extending over N400million, through TETFund, to the university, for infrastructural development. He also thanked the governing council for “bringing home N200million special grant”.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Over time we have about 20 cultists and all their weapons, including cutlasses in our net, and that is why so far Bayelsans have been having proper sleep

Bayelsa police step up anti-crime operation

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HE police in Bayelsa State have stepped up anti-crime operations. It is also making efforts to ensure that the Police and members of the public collaborate more in fighting crime in the state.

The renewed effort has yielded fruits, as 31 suspected criminals have been apprehended for various alleged offences. Two females were among the suspects who were alleged to be involved in the sale of drugs such as cocaine and Indian hemp.

Parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police Mr. Chris Olakpe explained the need to arrest drug dealers in the state, saying there is a strong connection between drugs and crime.

Others paraded included a three-man gang of car snatchers and suspected cult members including a suspected kingpin of the Green Landers Cult who was trailed to Abuja where he was arrested and brought to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The gang was said to have also snatched a High Lander Jeep at gunpoint in Yenagoa and escaped to a community in Delta State where they were arrested on a tip-off. Alleged pipeline vandals were also arrested.

“Our activities have paid off again with the arrest of these armed robbers who robbed this vehicle right here in Yenagoa up to Oghara in Delta State .This vehicle was recovered after a tip-off and the men under police custody are helping us to unravel other members of the gang,” Okakpe

I

MO State government has disclosed plans to engage in massive rice production under the agricultural transformation programme.

This was made known by the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha at Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

said.

“We also have a group of cultists from whose arms have been recovered who have been terrorising the whole of Bayelsa. Over time we have about 20 cultists and all their weapons, including cutlasses in our net, and that is why so far Bayelsans have been having proper sleep.

“But this feat could not have been achieved without members of the public. So, I say thank you to Bayelsans who have been giving us useful information and identifying the hideouts of these men of the underworld. They are all in police net and we hope in due course they will be prosecuted.”

On the suspected leader of the Greenlanders Cult, the Police Commissioner said: “this is the kingpin of the Greenlanders, after committing several crimes against humanity he found his way into Abuja, was tracked down and arrested. He has confessed to several killings, several dastardly acts against humanity, helping up to locate other members of the gang”.

He assured members of the Bayelsa community that the police was ready to protect them. “We can assure Bayelsans that they can now sleep well with two eyes closed and Bayelsans should support us in this battle to sustain a crime-free society”.

Alakpe also explained the launch of 10 phones for crimefighting. “These lines will go to

•Olakpe (left) receiving a souvenir from Governor Dickson during the governor’s visit to the Police Officers’ Mess

every police station including the state CID and Operations,” he said. “This is to bring the police closer to the people and the people closer to the police. For cases of emergency these lines will be reached.”

He said plans were being made to extend similar phone services to the creeks.

A victim of the of robbers, Mr. Ken Ogbise whose Highlander Jeep was snatched, told reporters that the incident occurred at about

10pm around the NNPC area of Yenagoa where he was blocked with a Mazda 323 car by the robbers who then made off with his Jeep at gunpoint.

The state governor, Seriake Dickson has promised to help the police in its battles against criminals in the state.

Dickson made the plan known to the Police hierarchy in the state when he met senior police officers at the Police Officers Mess in Yenagoa, urging them to flush out

cultists in the state.

“You must flush out these cult people,” he said. “I am a man of the law; I do not have anything to do with the cultists. I do not belong to them. We have to work hard to rid the state of criminals. All the support you require, my government will give you.”

Olakpe said the police are tracking down criminals in the state but will require logistics support from the government to facilitate patrol of the waterways.

Imo to embark on massive rice production From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

Government Area while speaking in a thanksgiving church service in honour of the member

representing Ideato Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Eddy Mbadiwe.

The governor stated that government has entered into negotiations with some experts from

•From left: Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Management, Dr. Nelson Uwaga; President and Chairman of Council, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole and Secretary to State Government of Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, Prof. Nkpa Nkpa when the institute paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at Umuahia

Thailand to commence massive production and processing of rice at a location in Arondizuogu, Ideato North.

His words: “As I am speaking, the state government has commenced negotiation with a team of experts in rice production who are already in the state. Our intention is to ensure that we produce enough rice for local consumption and commercial purposes.

Therefore, the Arondizuogu Rice Mill has been taken over by government and with the aid of these experts, we will commence cultivation and processing of rice in a commercial quantity.”

Okorocha added that similar steps have been taken to ensure that each community in the state plants at least 20,000 improved palm seedlings.

The governor, however expressed that the state under the ongoing agricultural transforma-

tion would be economically independent even as massive job opportunities would be created for the teeming unemployed youths.

He restated the commitment of his administration to remain focused in the bid to rebuild Imo into a model state with vast investment opportunities.

The Lawmaker representing Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency, Hon. Jerry Alagbaso enjoined all Imolites to support the governor in his good work, describing Gov. Okorocha as a ‘detribalized man’ who sees the entire Imo as his constituency.

Speaking, the member representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Hon. Onyewuchi Ezenwa urged the governor to remain focused with his massive transformation projects, adding that the governor’s economic programmes will make Imo an economic viable state with great investment opportunities.

The state government has commenced negotiation with a team of experts in rice production who are already in the state. Our intention is to ensure that we produce enough rice for local consumption and commercial purposes

THE NATION FRIDAY, ARPIL 20, 2012

53

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 19-4-12

Equities gain N94b as investors shift HE Nigerian stock billion in 4,006 deals, to stocks N3.119 market rallied further compared to 339.61 million

T

yesterday as equities rode on the back of intense bargain-hunting to add N94 billion in new capital gains, pushing the average year-todate return at the market to 3.18 per cent.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted companies trended upward from N6.727 trillion to N6.821 trillion, representing an increase of 1.40 per cent.

The All Share Index (ASI)which tracks all quoted equities, rose similarly by 1.40 per cent from 21,094.51 points to 21,388.88 points.

The three-day rally came on the heels of recent corporate earnings reports, which showed appreciable growths in key fundamentals of many stocks including First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, and United Bank for Africa among others.

With 33 gainers to seven decliners, the market was overtly bullish yesterday, a trend market pundits attributed to increased demand for equities as investors rebal-

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

anced their portfolios.

First Bank gained 51 kobo to close at N10.7. First City Monument Bank also rallied a gain of 25 kobo to close at N2.25. Others on the list were Glaxosmith, Presco, UBN, NCR, GTB, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank and NASCON. On the losers’ side, Berger paint lost 40 kobo to close at N7.68. UTC also dropped by 2.0kobo to close at N0.50.

Also on the table were CCNN, FO, Custodian and Allied Insurance, Fidson and PZ. The upturn was equally boosted by value gains over moderate volume posted in some mid and large capitalised stocks which includes Nigeria Breweries, FCMB, Stanbic-IBTC, Nigeria Breweries, Access Bank, UACN, and Guinness Nigeria.

In all, the market’s total volume transacted dropped to 288.800 million, valued at

shares, worth N2.57 billion, exchanged in 3,696 deals posted on Wednesday. Volume dropped by 15 per cent while value on the other hand grew by 22 per cent.

In terms of volume of transactions, the banking stocks dominated the top trade for the second day on the trot. First Bank led with 43.41 million shares, valued at N464.88 million in 418 deals. Zenith Bank, FCMB, GT Bank and United Bank for Africa followed serially to complete the top five.

The breweries sector was also on the upbeat. Robust demand for NB led to a further 1.9 per cent mark-up, while institutional purchases firmed up Guinness with a 3.1 per cent gain. Unsatisfied demand for Guinness could result in further appreciation.

The food and beverages sector was also in line with the market trend, with more gains than losses recorded.

NASCON led the gainers list for the sector with robust demand at its maximum price. Also on the uptick in the sector were Dangote Sugar, Dangote Flour and Cadbury, closing with gains of 2.8 per cent, 4.7 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 19-4-12

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

First Bank, UBA, Diamond to issue $1.2b Eurobonds

F

IRST BANK of Nigeria, United Bank for Africa and Diamond Bank will be issuing $1.2 billion Eurobonds this year. First Bank has already appointed Goldman Sachs and Citi Bank to manage the sale of a $500 million Eurobond, its chief financial officer, Bayo Adelabu told Reuters.

The new bond would replace a $175 million Eurobond, which it

Stories by Collins Nweze

retired last month. “We’ve appointed advisers for the bond Goldman Sachs and Citibank to launch the $500 billion Eurobond,” Adelabu said.

The United Bank for Africa also plans to issue a $500 million Eurobond in the final quarter of this year or early next year to finance its for-

eign currency assets and expansion in Africa. Likewise, Diamond Bank has said it will seek approval to raise $200 million in bond issues.

Speaking at the Africa Investment Summit, Citibank Country Officer, Emeka Emuwa said Nigerian banks had stabilised after a financial crisis that led to a $4 billion bailout of nine lenders in 2009 and several mergers in 2011. He said that some

of the banks were looking to tap international debt markets to issue bonds in order to support their businesses and continue to grow.

“Over the last year or two, we’ve seen a number of mergers, we have seen the banking sector stabilise, and post this stabilisation, I expect to see a number of banks to go out to raise capital,” Emuwa said. “We will be

GTB pays N25b dividend to shareholders

S

HAREHOLDERS of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc have approved a final dividend payout of N25.02 billion to its investors for the 2011 financial year.

The payment ratified yesterday at the bank’s 22nd Annual General Meeting translates into a dividend of N0.85 per 50 kobo share and brings total shareholder receipts for the year to N1.10 per share, when added to the interim divi-

dend payout of N0.25 per share it made last year.

Shareholders at the meeting reaffirmed their confidence in the management of the bank and were confident that it will continue to generate positive returns for shareholders in the future.

The Group’s financials for the 2011 financial year show Gross Earnings of N188.8 billion and a Profit Before Tax of N65.6 billion. In addition, the

bank’s total assets and Contingents increased by 35.6 per cent to N2.1 trillion from N1.6 trillion in the previous year, and it closed the year with a balance sheet size of N1.6 trillion.

Profit after tax and extra-ordinary item for the period was N52.7 billion, representing a 37.3 per cent improvement over 2010’s N38.3 billion.

The bank’s Managing Director, Segun Agbaje said the bank has consistently returned the best results

within the sector for the last three years and intend to maintain this trend in the future.” Our successes over the years can primarily be attributed to teamwork, discipline and passion. Our Board is actively involved in the Bank’s operations, our Management team believes in our vision to be the best bank in the country and our staff are committed to go the extra mile in ensuring customer satisfaction,” he said.

PIC to invest $250m in Ecobank Transnational

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HE Public Investment Corpo ration (PIC), on behalf of Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), has said it will be investing $250 million in the common equity of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank Group.

A statement from the firm said the investment will represent PIC’s first major direct investment outside of South Africa and is in line with GEPF’s investment strategy that has identified Africa as the next frontier for investment growth.

“Our continent is ripe for investment”, says John Oliphant, GEPF’s

head of investments and actuarial.

“With over one billion people and a rapidly growing middle class, Africa, in tandem with the rest of the developing world, presents exciting investment opportunities for investors looking for good returns. With an almost stagnant growth recorded in developed economies, Africa has strongly emerged as the next frontier for investment growth,” it said.

The transaction will bolster Ecobank’s tier one capital and further enhance its ability to grow its business across the African continent. The $250 million share purchase will be affected by the issuance of 3,125,000,000 shares in

Ecobank representing 19.58 per cent of the total outstanding number of shares. Following this investment, the PIC is expected to take a seat on the board of Ecobank.

Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Arnold Ekpe, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Ecobank Group, stated that “we look forward to welcoming the GEPF as a shareholder. Along with our existing shareholders, we will now have a slate of highly reputable local, regional and international shareholders and our equity capital raising programme is coming to an end. Our unparalleled presence across sub-Saharan Africa and our knowledge of local markets

will also facilitate the GEPF’s investment plans for Africa.”

Chief Executive Officer of PIC, Elias Masilela said: “We are excited about the proposed investment we will make in Ecobank.

We strongly believe that this is a significant step that will complement the Africa strategy of our major client, GEPF, which seeks to take advantage of private equity opportunities on the continent. With this one investment we will be immediately optimising our footprint on the rest of the continent, an action that would otherwise require multiple investments and huge effort as well as resource allocation.”

FGN BONDS Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 19-4-12 SYMBOL

FIRSTBANK FCMB GLAXOSMITH PRESCO UBN NCR GUARANTY IBTC ACCESS NASCON NAHCO UBA SKYEBANK

O/PRICE

10.20 5.00 19.00 10.01 3.41 13.66 14.68 7.20 5.56 4.55 7.82 2.56 3.63

C/PRICE

10.71 5.25 19.95 10.51 3.58 14.34 15.41 7.55 5.83 4.77 8.19 2.68 3.80

113m EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

7.9-10% 10-11%

CHANGE

0.51 0.25 0.95 0.50 0.17 0.68 0.73 0.35 0.27 0.22 0.37 0.12 0.17

Year Start Offer

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

O/PRICE 8.08 0.52 5.31 10.06 1.33 0.91 22.43

C/PRICE 7.68 0.50 5.16 9.82 1.30 0.89 22.00

Current Before 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

CHANGE 0.40 0.02 0.15 0.24 0.03 0.02 0.43

Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

Date 29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

LOSERS AS AT 19-4-12

SYMBOL BERGER UTC CCNN FO CUSTODYINS FIDSON PZ

L

OVONUS Microfinance Bank Limited is promising excep tional banking experience to small businesses in the country.

The bank said this will be achieved through an array of products and services carefully tailored to migrate such businesses to medium and large scale concerns earlier than projected by the owners.

The chief executive of the bank, Usman Onoja, said it was established primarily to revitalize savings and entrepreneurship in Nigeria through a business model that stands the test of time and ensures that the bank is always there for the customer in an era where many have closed shop no sooner than they opened.

The bank is there to fill a gap in the industry by offering savers and borrowers, a high standard and best practice transactions platform; one they can access their funds from anywhere in the country and get credit at a highly affordable interest rate, he said.

Usman, who was speaking at the inauguration of the bank in Lagos recently said: “Lovonus operates mobile banking and has given its marketers mobile phones which they use to collect deposits and lodge into customers’ accounts.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

Lovonus MfB woos small businesses

DATA BANK

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

working with a number of banks raising capital in international markets primarily Eurobonds” he said.

Emuwa said he expected the power and electricity companies to follow the banks to tap foreign debt markets to raise capital with ongoing reforms aimed at opening up the sector and the huge amounts of capital needed.

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.59 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 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

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

56

NEWS

•Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (middle) with the newly sworn in commissioners at the Government House, Yenagoa...on Wednesday

Police kill two suspects in Delta

Delta Assembly sued

By Eric Ikhilae and Precious Igbonwelundu

THE Delta State House of Assembly has been sued for its alleged refusal to fix a date for the conduct of local government elections.

Executive Director, SocialEconomic Rights Action (SERAC) Felix Morka and Edwin Okoh of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) are contending that the House’s failure to announce date for the elections since April 28 last year, when the councils were dissolved amounted to a violation of the provision of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution.

The applicants, in the suit filed before the High Court, raised four issues for the court’s determination. They are seeking three declarative reliefs and an order of mandamus compelling the House to announce a date for the elections.

The duo are praying the court to, among others, decide whether the exercise of the powers of Ika South Local Government as envisaged by Section 7 of the constitution by the Head of Personnel of the local governments is not undemocratic, unconstitutional, null and void.

Edo PDP women’s leader resigns •’She was suspended’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THE Women’s Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Ms. Lucy Omagbon, has resigned from the party.

Ms. Omagbon was a former Commissioner of Education under the Lucky Igbinedion administration.

Her resignation is coming six months after she was elected State Woman Leader.

In a letter to the PDP state Chairman, Dan Orbih, Ms Omagbon said her selfrespect and values have been eroded since serving as state executive of the PDP. She said her journey in the PDP left a sour taste in her mouth except the period she served as commissioner.

But the party said Ms Omagbon was suspended for anti-party activities.

Assistant Publicity Secretary Mrs. Bisi Idaomi said a panel would be set-up and if she is found guilty, she would be expelled.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

O

•President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi at an interactive session with Nigerians at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Berlin, Germany... yesterday.

Benin monarch endorses Oshiomhole’s re-election

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HE Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa, has formally endorsed Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the July 14 governorship election.

Oba Erediauwa gave his endorsement yesterday when Oshiomhole led leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the palace for blessing and support.

The Benin monarch, who spoke through his top palace chiefs, said: “One good term deserve another.”

In a prayer by Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyasere of Benin Kingdom, the Oba urged Oshiomhole to start celebrating.

He said: “We will not reward evil with good. God will give you strength. The only way to thank you for what you have done is through our votes. Whoever wants to contest this election should come and say what he has done.”

The Esogban of Benin, David Edebiri, said he refused to be at the palace when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Maj-Gen Charles Airhia-

•World Bank gives state $100m grant From Osagie Otabor, Benin

vbere, visited because he did not want to pray for him.

Esogban said it does not matter whether he was accused of being partisan and described Oshiomhole as ‘a Benin candidate’.

“What is it about that we are involved in politics? The Oba of Benin is the embodiment of politics.

“We want to appreciate Oshiomhole by voting for him. I pronounce him our candidate. The oracle has

T

spoken. Anybody who wants to go against the decision of the oracle should wait for the battle,” he said.

Oba Erediauwa said: “My chiefs have spoken through prayers. We are waiting to see what happens. Goodluck to you.”

Oshiomhole told the monarch that the World Bank has approved $100million grant for the Benin Storm Water project.

Oshiomhole noted that World Bank representatives were happy with the level

of work done, adding that it (World Bank) hoped to urge other states to emulate the state’s design.

“We will discreetly restructure Benin City so that during your reign, you will see a beautiful city. With your support, I will take Edo State to the next level.

“We believe we will do better in our second term because we have a House of Assembly that is supportive. Even the international community has recognised out efforts.”

NEMA officials visit Gambia

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has approved the deployment of two technical officers to The Gambia to support the country in the take-off of its National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).

NEMA’s Director-General Muhammad Sani-sidi spoke yesterday at the beginning of a three-day visit to The Gambia to formalise the partnership between the two countries.

He said: “The essence of the collaboration is to implement the Hyogo Framework of

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

Action, The African Regional Strategy and its Plan of Action 2006 – 2015 and the ECOWAS Policy on Disaster Risk Reduction.

“The agency might consider offering placement to some officers of Gambia’s National Disaster Management Agency to participate in a Master’s programme in Disaster Management.”

The DG also met with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Gambia, Mrs. Chinwe Dike.

PERATIVES of the Delta State Police Command have killed two kidnap suspects after a gun duel.

Police spokesman Charles Muka, who confirmed the incident, said the police working with a local vigilance group ,received information at about midnight on April 18 that armed men were operating on the DSC Expressway, Udu Local Government.

According to Muka, the police got to the scene and engaged the suspects in a gun battle.

He said the police shot dead two of the kidnappers while two suspects escaped with bullet wounds.

The spokesman said the police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing gang members.

Items recovered from the gang include an AK47 rifle, two live ammunition.

The police said it recovered a grey Toyota Camry, AQ99UGH, snatched from Udu Ochuko.

An abandoned Nissan Primera was recovered.

CJN denies resigning From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

T

HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, “contrary to speculations, has not resigned his appointment”, his Media Adviser, Mohammed Adamu said yesterday.

He was reacting to a report which claimed that Musdapher has resigned.

In a statement in Abuja, Adamu said: “The CJN had April 11 written to the National Judicial Council (NJC), to give three months notice of his retirement from service.

“This, as the CJN indicated, is so ‘that the necessary processes will be commenced early enough to enable the swearing in of a new Chief Justice’ by July 16.

“It is public knowledge that by the provisions of Section 291(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the CJN shall cease to be a Judicial Officer on July 14 when he would be 70,” he added.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

57

NEWS

Ekiti PDP crisis to grow as NWC ratifies faction •Ogun PDP disagrees with NWC’s directive

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From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

HE crisis in the Ekiti Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to escalate, with the National Working Committee (NWC) ratifying the State Executive Council faction led by Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe.

Ogundipe hailed the NWC for standing by the popular verdict attested to by the election, which gave him victory in the state congress.

He expressed gratitude to the Alhaji Bamangar Tukur-led NWC for supporting what he called “a just cause”.

According to him, the decision will help “in deepening internal democracy within the party”.

Following the March 18 state congress held at Petim Estate on Adebayo-Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti, the Ogundipeled executive emerged. But a faction, led by the defeated chairmanship candidate, Mr Akin Omole, also emerged.

The Omole group faulted the conduct of the congress and vowed to unseat the duly formed exco.

The NWC said the “genuine and validly elected SWC” in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Publicity Secretary of the splinter clique, Mr Jackson Adebayo, denied knowledge of the NWC pronouncement.

Efforts to contact Omole yesterday were unsuccessful as he refused to pick his calls.

The Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the PDP, Bayo Dayo, has faulted the “illegal” directive of the NWC. It urged the Southwest Zonal Executive Committee to take over the affairs of the party in the state, contrary to the rule of law mantra of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

In a statement yesterday, Dayo said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement and newspaper publications of that statement which is attributed to the NWC of our great party.

“We cannot believe that any member or officer of the PDP will engage in a brazen criminal activity that the publication attributes to the national leadership of our party. If indeed the NWC of our great party took such an unfortunate decision, asking the illegal Southwest Zonal Executive Committee, led by Segun Oni, to take over the functions and duties of validly elected officers and organs of the party in Ogun State, it is most regrettable and an ominous sign for the future of our party at the national level, and casts a shadow over the integrity of the national leadership of this party in the handling of the affairs of the party, especially in the crucial period before the national elections in 2015.

“I make this statement with all seriousness and sense of responsibility on the basis of valid and subsisting judgment and orders of the Federal High Court, which expressly and unequivocally confirmed the legality of the congresses conducted in Ogun State in March 2012, from which the new leadership of the party in Ogun State, including my humble self as chairman, have emerged.”

“For clarity, let me reiterate the terms of the judgment of the Federal High Court in which the court declared that ONLY the Dayo Soremi Harmonised State Executive Committee of the PDP in Ogun State could conduct the congresses of the party and restrained the national organs and officers of the party from interfering in any manner whatsoever with the Dayo Soremi Executive Committee in the performance of their functions under the constitution of the party.

“Therefore, since that judgment was delivered, there has been no contention or dispute as to the appropriate organ of the PDP to conduct the congresses of the party in Ogun State. And it was on this basis that the same NWC forwarded in writing the names of the monitors appointed to monitor and participate in the conduct of the congresses in Ogun State. And it is on record, as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observers, that these congresses were held peacefully and democratically.”

SSANU begins two-month protest

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HE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday began a twomonth protest over the nonimplementation of an agreement reached with the union by the Federal Government in 2009 .

The protest, which kicked off yesterday at the University of Ibadan, was led by the Chairman, Olu Omolona.

Movement of vehicles was hindered and academic activities suspended.

The peaceful demonstration will be observed simultaneously every Thursday in all universities in the Southwest.

This decision, which was taken at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, last weekend, was meant to show SSANU’s displeasure for government’s attitude to workers’ welfare.

The university workers later converged on the en-

From Joseph Okwuofu, Ibadan

trance of the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewoye.

Omolona told the workers that the new approach would be observed for two months with the hope that the government would show positive concern.

He said the failure of the government to act on their demands would mean a fullblown strike by the union.

Adewoye hailed the protesters for maintaining peace.

He assured them of the management support in their struggle for the implementation of the agreement.

The VC said he was convinced that the Federal Government would implement the agreement . ”But I cannot say when”.

Adewoye said the Bursar would travel to Abuja on Monday to pursue the monetisation arrears.

Lawmakers not fit to write new constitution, says Oyebode A PROFESSOR of Law, Akin Oyebode, has said it is not lawmakers duty to write a new constitution for the country but that of a duly convened constituent assembly.

Oyebode spoke against plans by members of the National Assembly to begin the framework for a new constitution.

He said the exercise would not work.

“Our lawmakers can continue to make laws for the peace, order and good government as currently mandated by the Decree 24, masquerading as the 1999 Constitution but thus far and not more.

“They can even amend

By Adebisi Onanuga

that document as many times as they wish but it is neither their place or function to write a new constitution for the country.

“That job belongs to a duly convened constituent assembly or whatever designation it is given in consonance with existing practice all over the world”, he said.

Oyebode spoke yesterday at the Alao Aka-Basorun annual lecture in his paper titled: “True Federalism as a Panacea for the sustainability of Democracy in Nigeria” delivered as part of activites marking

the 2012 Law Week of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), Ikeja branch.

The professor said there is no correlation between federalism and democracy, except within the context of a sovereign national conference.

Oyebode described the 1979 and 1999 constitutions as illegal and dysfunctional because they were imposed by the military.

According to him, while insertions were made into the 1979 constitution, that of the 1999 was drafted by a 25-member committee set up by the military.

Oyebode argued that Nigeria is still far from being

•SSANU members...yesterday

a democracy.

“Elections do not make democracy. A fortiori elections which are neither free, fair, credible nor transparent cannot enthrone democracy and the rule of law.

“Democracy flourishes where and when people are aware of their rights and are ready, willing and able to defend same,” he said.

The Chairman, NBA Ikeja, Adebamigbe Omole, said the failure of the government to allow the people have a say in their own affairs, through which the structure of government will emerge, has resulted in resistance, bloody confrontations and conflicts.

PHOTO: NAN

‘PHCN officials hiked my bill deliberately’

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HE younger brother of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Abdulrahaman Danbazzau, yesterday told the public hearing on metering organised by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for Kaduna zone that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) deliberately hiked his bills.

Jafaru Bello Danbazzau told the panel that PHCN officials hiked his bills to about N1.5 million monthly on suspicion that he was earning his salary in hard currency.

Danbazzau said he works as a medical attaché to the G77 nations in Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso.

He said he was surprised when his monthly PHCN bill at his Abuja residence went up from N22,000 to N1.5 million.

“I promptly lodged a complaint with the PHCN authority which reversed the bill. “I didn’t pay that bill. I wrote officially to the headoffice at Zone 4 and it was resolved.

“They established a board of enquiry into the matter.

In fact, they found out that it was somebody who whispered that I had gone abroad to make dollars. So, based on that it was reversed to

Military, police owe N1.99b From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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ILITARY and police offices and barracks risk electricity disconnection if they fail to pay over N1.99b they are owing the PHCN within one month, the House of Representatives has warned.

The Ministry of Finance has also been directed by the lawmakers to begin deducting from the said debt from source from the military and police monthly allocations as well as other affected Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDA).

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Patrick Ikhariale (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo).

According to him, the debt owed PHCN by government MDAs is crippling the activities of the company capable of threatening danger to its sustainability and its other allied entities.

Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers) said the development has made the usage of pre-paid meters more imperative.

The House is to investigate the management of the National Housing Fund (NHF).

Committees on Housing and Habitat, Finance and Banking and Currency were given the mandate to ascertain the contributors, the amount of money so far contributed since inception of the scheme, and whether or not employers remit same as required by law.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

N22, 000 from the N1.5million.”

Danbazzau also told the panel that the Mahuta community where he lives in Kaduna contributed N183, 000 which they gave to a PHCN worker to fix a faulty transformer.

But the worker allegedly disappeared with the money, leaving a series of excuses.

Efforts by the Assistant General Manager (Technical Services), Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Godwin Igwe to defend his defaulting worker was rebuffed by the panel Chairman, who told him to accept

the blame and apologise to Danbazzau.

Igwe appologised, saying “our worker is at fault, he will face a discliplinary committee.”

Another consumer, Mrs Bamidele Tanimu, told the panel how PHCN billed her for a property under construction for several months.

She said her husband acquired a land for a building project and applied for the pre-paid meter to be used when the building is complete, adding that even when the meter had not been acquired and mounted, the bill started coming to the building site.

Chairman of the Committee Bamidele Aturu said the committee was set up by NERC to give consumers the opportunity to speak out on the problems in the sector and proffer solutions .

He said: “This is not a judicial commission of enquiry or a public trial of any person or organisation.

“We are basically a fact finding committee. We promise to be thorough and fair in our recommendations no matter whose interest, and this include NERC. “ We will state the fact as we find them and we will make our recommendations as we honestly believe.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

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NEWS

Gunmen kill three MASSOB members T HREE members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were killed yesterday by gunmen in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

T h e i n c i d e n t o c c u rre d

From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha and Emeka Odogwu Emeka, Nnewi

barely 24 hours after the burial of five members of a vigilance group, who were also killed by gunmen.

An eyewitness said the

deceased were killed by about eight gunmen, who operated in a Hummer bus.

The source said there was a woman among them and they were dressed in Army, Police, Customs and Navy uniforms.

It was gathered that the deceased were trailing the robbers with motorcycles, when the hoodlums stopped and shot them.

MASSOB’s Director of Information Mr. Uchenna Mmadu said the hoodlums would be apprehended.

Vice President of Oba Development Union Mr. Dozie Nweke urged the police to investigate the incessant killings in the area.

Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Group backs Boroffice

By Adeola Ogunlade

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POLITICAL group in Ondo State, Owena Collective, has endorsed Senator Ajayi Boroffice as its candidate for the governorship election in October.

Boroffice is aspiring to contest the election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Speaking with The Nation yesterday in Lagos, the group’s spokeman, Mr. Yomi Apata, said they chose to support Boroffice after assessing all the aspirants.

Apata said: “After looking at all the aspirants jostling for the ACN’s ticket, we have come to the conclusion that Boroffice stands taller than others.

“He is vastly experienced as a public servant and a former director-general of an important parastastal of the Federal Government.

“It is needless to go into his standing as a competent scholar.”

Apata said Boroffice’s intellect and integrity stand him out as the best candidate for the position.

Boroffice is representing Ondo North Senatorial District in the Senate.

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (right); his deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun (left); and first Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chief Akintola Williams; during Williams’ visit to the governor in Abeokuta...yesterday

•Mrs Anifowose (middle) with her supporters at the rally...yesterday

Students get scholarship

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot appreciate the achievements of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration because it is made up of biased persons.

The party was reacting to PDP’s criticisms of the state government.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN said: “It is understandable that a government that is building 199 roads across the state cannot excite the PDP. “A government that has treated over 350,000 persons through its free health programme cannot amount to much in their parlous estimation.

“A government that has changed Oyo from a state that was notorious for violence between motor park touts to a peaceful one cannot rank much in the PDP’s estimation.

“A state that is building a world-class overhead bridge, the first in the history of a civilian administration in the state, cannot win their trophy.

“A state that has succeeded in getting investors’ interests, so much that Oyo was named by the Financial Times of London as one of the top 10 investment destinations in Africa cannot attract the charlatans.”

The party said it is regrettable that there is hardly anyone in the PDP, who can be relied upon to speak intelligently.

ACN said: “Check out the PDP Publicity Secretary, who issues their statements. He was a member of the House of Assembly during the infamous brigandage in the House against former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

Oyo to get skill acquisition centre

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HE lawmaker representing Akoko North-West Constituency II in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Joseph Aladetimehin, has awarded scholarship to 150 indigent students from the four wards in the constituency in various higher institutions in the country.

While presenting N10,000 to each of the students at Ese-Akoko in the council, Aladetimehin said it was in fulfilment of parts of his electioneering campaign promises.

He said while the scholarship scheme is going to be a yearly affair, the amount and the number of the beneficiaries would be increased next year.

Besides, he promised that he intends to institute an empowerment scheme for artisans, market women and widows, adding that his presence in the House is not to amass wealth but to better the lots of his constituents.

Present at the colourful ceremony were the Commissioner for Sports, Yekinni Olanipekun, member representing Akoko North-East in the House of Representatives, Fatai Olotu (a.k.a. Orege) and others.

‘PDP is blind to good governance’

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•

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Anifowose joins Ondo governorship race

ORMER Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State and daughter of the late Governor Adekunle Ajasin, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, yesterday joined the governorship race.

Mrs. Anifowose, who recently resigned as ACN chairman, planned to declare her intention at the City Hall in Akure, the state capital, but was reportedly barred from using it.

It was learnt that the police fenced the premises on “an order from above”.

The event was moved to customs area on Ondo Road, Akure.

Addressing her supporters, who were dressed in white vests and fez caps, at the rally, Mrs. Anifowose described her decision to serve at the highest level as “a sacrifice by a truly genuine mind”.

She said: “It is the choice to bring change, hope, opportunities and redemption to a thoroughly embarrassed and

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

exploited people.

“Most times, as we have seen in the last three to four years, people seek office with nice words and grand presence, only to unleash the worst experience of unquantifiable indolence, needless showmanship, reckless grandstanding and wanton waste.”

The former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice said the people want good governance, “not fake presentations and sweet propaganda songs”.

She said: “What we need is accountability and transparency in public accounts, not the disgrace of the hunt, arrest and detention of the men and women to whom our public trust is invested.

“I was born Olajumoke Ajasin. I am the daughter of the late Chief Micheal Adekunle Ajasin. You know him very well; he was a great man, a fine leader - disciplined, incorruptible and compas-

sionate. He was the husband of an equally compelling woman.

“I declare my intention not entirely in the name of my father, but with my personal principles, which my late father, your hero, inspired. I have had leaders and mentors, but I have never stabbed them in their backs.

“I have a vision for the state; I have a mission to accomplish and most importantly, I have the character, the courage and heart to see them all through.”

Mrs. Anifowose promised to invest in early childhood and secondary education. She said instead of using N365 million to build a mega school, she would build affordable, decent and functional schools.

An ACN leader, who served in the late Ajasin’s administration as Commissioner for Information, Prince Olu Adegboro, urged the people to support Mrs. Anifowose and remember the legacy her late father left behind.

He said: “The late Ajasin

served humanity with all sincerity and without discrimination. So, we believe his daughter will do the same, if elected. This is the right time for Ondo people to honour Ajasin by supporting his daughter.”

Adegboro condemned the attitude of the state government, who he alleged stopped the aspirant from using the Akure Hall.

Dignitaries at the rally include a representative of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Abubakar; two ACN governorships aspirants, Olayato Aribo and Akinfehinwa-Awodeye Apatta; Senator Ayo Lawrence; and ViceChairman, Ojokoro Local Government in Lagos State, Mrs. Fausat Olajoko.

Others were ACN National Financial Secretary, Mrs. Ronke Balogun; Mr. Tunji Oshati; Ondo ACN Women leader Erelu Modupe Johnson; and women leaders from all the Southwest states.

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his administration will establish a skill acquisition centre at the orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Iseyin.

The governor spoke on Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital, while receiving NYSC Director-General Brigadier-General Nnamdi OkorieAffia in his office.

Ajimobi praised the NYSC management for introducing entrepreneurial training into the scheme.

He said it would enable graduates acquire skills to help them earn a living.

Ajimobi said: “I assure you that Oyo State will establish the centre for the NYSC. the governor promised.

“NYSC is one of the most successful projects of the Federal Government. The skill centres will encourage our youths to be versatile.

“It will empower them to contribute to the country’s growth.”

OkorieAffia said he was in the state for a pre-mobilisation workshop for graduates.

He thanked the state government for completing the permanent orientation camp at Iseyin.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

NEWS Two Kano policemen injured From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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USPECTED members of the Boko Haram sect struck again yesterday in Kano, injuring two policemen.

The attack reportedly occurred in the early hours at the Eastern bypass in the Kano metropolis where the policemen were said to be on duty.

Spokesman for the Kano State Police Command Magaji Majia confirmed the incident, but denied reports that two policemen were shot dead.

He said the gunmen opened fire on the two police officers who were on duty at the time of the incident, leaving one seriously injured. The second policeman has been treated and discharged.

According to him, the mode of attack made it difficult for the police to respond promptly, because retaliation would have resulted in a huge causality.

The attack coincided with the visit of the Minister of Police Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade and the Acting Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to the Police Academy, Wudil.

Almakura signs 2012 budget From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

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ASARAWA State Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura yesterday signed the 2012 budget of N104 billion.

The amount represents an upward review by the state Assembly. The governor had earlier presented N97 billion budget.

Signing the first budget into law at the Government House, Lafia, Almakura pledged to adhere strictly to budget discipline.

He said: “The days of flagrant abuse of resources are over and our focus is the fear of God, adherence to the rule of law, accountability and transparency.”

Police varsity takes off Sept From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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HE Minister of Police Affairs Navy Capt.

Caleb Olubolade yesterday said in Kano that contractors handling projects in the Police Academy, Wudil who failed to meet the deadline would be arrested.

He said he gave the warning following the slow pace of work at the academy. The minister and the Acting Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar were on an inspection of the academy.

Olubolade, who warned the contractors to ensure that work is completed between July and August, said the Federal Government is determined to meet the September take-off date of the academy as a university.

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FRSC boss arrests traffic offender

HE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Osita Chidoka, yesterday arrested a traffic offender, Amehson Suleiman, who was subsequently sentenced to five days imprisonment.

According to a report from the Abuja Sector Command of the FRSC, the defaulter with a

grey colour Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number FA 288LND drove in a reckless manner at the NICON junction in the Federal Capital Territory, thus exposing himself and other road users to traffic hazard.

The offender was arraigned before a Special Traffic Offences Court presided over by Mr.

Emmanuel Uyanna and was sentenced to five days imprisonment or an option of fine of N53,000.00. He paid the fine and was released.

The Corps Marshal reiterated FRSC’s commitment towards enthroning safer road culture in Nigeria through strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.

He urged Nigerians to sup-

port yesterday’s approval by the Federal Executive Council for the infusion of road safety education into school curricular and specific standard for school buses.

Chidoka said the approval would initiate a process for improved compliance with road traffic rules and behavioural change among road users.

Baptist holds 99th convention THE Nigerian Baptist Convention will from April 21 to 26 hold its 99th Annual Convention Session with the theme: “Kingdom Mandate: Advancing in God’s Power”.

Its General Secretary, Rev. (Dr.) Olasupo Ayokunle, said the session, which will hold at the Baptist Academy Ground, Obanikoro, Lagos, will have delegates from over 10,000 churches of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

He assured delegates and participants of a fulfilling experience, adding that the 99th convention will have various spirit-filled programmes such as teaching, preaching, singing, etc.

Funeral for Ado-Ekiti chief •From left: Representative of former Gov. Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, Mr. Ademola Seriki; widow of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Ganiyat; and Chairman of the occasion, Prof Itse Sagay, during the presentation of a book: 'Gani; Crusader for Justice' in Lagos... yesterday.

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

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Ondo, shareholders clash over management of Okitipupa Oil Palm

RISIS is brewing between Ondo State Government and shareholders of the Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc over the management of the company.

A group of protesters allegedly instigated by the government invaded the premises of the company and drove out the General Manager, Mr. Henry Olatudoye, to pave the way for the assumption of a new Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Niyi Ogunwa, deployed by government.

The chairman of the Board

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

of Directors, Mr. Adewale Osomo, decried Ogunwa’s appointment, saying Okitipupa oil Palm Plc is not owned by the Ondo State Government.

He said: “The company has lost about N200 million since this illegal take-over of the company by the government.”

Osomo, who said the board had met and reported the faceoff to the Securities Exchange Commission, said litigation may be the only way out.

Ondo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industries Tayo Akinjomo told reporters in Akure, the state capital, that the former General Manager was removed because he was not living to expectation.

He said: “The investment of the Ondo State Government is very heavy and government cannot fold its hands as the place is collapsing.”

But Osomo objected to Olatujoye’s arrest by the police on the order of the Ondo State Government, recalling that after the humiliation, po-

lice found out that the pettition allegedly written by the commissioner against him was false.

He frowned at the invasion of the company by thugs to force Olatujoye out of office to pave the way for Ogunwa, claiming that the succession procedure foisted on the company by the government violated the due process of law.

Osomo said government had used the police to abort the meeting of the board of directors on the company premises.

Jonathan, Ahmed condole with Belgore

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with Justice Alfa Belgore, the retired Chief Justice of the Federation, on the death of his wife, Fatima.

The President according to a statement signed by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the late Hajiya Fatima served the country diligently through her work in the health sector and provided a peaceful home for the retired jurist.

He prayed that God should comfort the Belgore family and give them the fortitude

•Ex-CJN’s wife buried in Ilorin From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja and Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

to bear the irreparable loss.

President Jonathan also condoled with Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed, the government and people of Kwara State.

Governor Ahmed has also commiserated with the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Belgore, on the death of his wife.

Ahmed, who described the

Ex-director of Reckit Benckiser dies

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HE death has been announced of the former marketing director of Reckit and Colman (now Reckit Benckiser) Francisco Durojaiye Lakanu. Born on May 10, 1943 in Brazilian quarters, Lagos, he attended Holy Cross Elementary School, Lagos and proceeded to St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, Lagos for secondary education and Loyola College, Ibadan for higher education.

Immediately he graduated from the University of Lagos, he joined Shell Nigeria Limited. He retired as the market-

ing director of Reckit and Colman (now Reckit Benckiser) in 1996. He was the first Nigerian to hold this position.

He was the president of Lions Club, Victoria Island, from 1997 to 1998.

The deceased was the elder brother of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu.

A Christian wake will be held in his honour on May 10 at 7, Kingsley Emu Street, Lekki, Lagos. Funeral service takes place the following day at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, while interment follows at Ikoyi Cem-

incident as painful, prayed to Allah to grant the deceased Aljanat Fridaus.

He also prayed that Allah should give Belgore and the family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.

Hajiya Belgore, 70, was a retired Deputy Matron at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.

She was buried yesterday in Ilorin.

The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, performed the burial rites.

•The late Lakanu

etery.

He is survived by his wife, Titi and four children, Tayo, Dipo, Funke and Lana.

Dignitaries on the occasion included ex-Appeal Court president, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, former Supreme Court judge, Justice Saidu Kawu, Chief Wale Babalakin and Corps Marshal-General of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka.

THE death has occurred of Chief Festus Kayode Akinwumi. Pa Akinwumi was born 72 years ago in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Funeral service will be held for him today at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Oke-Ila, AdoEkiti.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren among who is Mrs. Olayinka Akinwumi-Ani.

Woman dies at 73 AN advocate for the under-privileged and improved welfare of children, Dame Emily Ahunna Obiyo, is dead.

She died on April 13. She was aged 73.

The deceased was the President of the Anglican Children Ministry, pioneer member of the Scripture Union, Nigeria and member of the service units within the Anglican Communion.

She is survived by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Multinet Group Limited, Chief Uzoma Obiyo, among others.

Kano Assembly to sack three officers

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ANO State House of Assembly is planning to sack three Interim Management Officers(IMOs) in Garko, Dawakin Tofa and Ajingi councils for alleged involvement in contract inflation and incompetence.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and member representing Madobi Local Government, Zubairu Mamuda, presented the report during the adoption of the first quarter (June- August) report of four councils in the state.

The House noted that local governments should comply with proper record keeping and improve in their revenue collection.

The Clerk of the House

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

has been directed to produce the principal law of Kano State Local Government, 20006 for review, to ascertain the tenure of IMOs in the state.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NWAOKOBIA I, formerly known an addressed as Miss Margaret Ogochukwu Nwaokobia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Margaret Ogochukwu Mbanefo. All former documents remains valid. General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to notify the general public that the Original Agis Regularisation of the Land title Acknowledgement letter in respect of plot 7, Utako District (B05) Belonging to Associated Bus Company Ltd is missing. If found, please contact the nearest police station or the above address.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

NEWS Governors shun PDP parley

Niger Delta groups challenge North’s leaders on Boko Haram

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

MOST of the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday failed to honour invitation by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for a meeting in Abuja.

Six of the 23 governors attended the meeting. Only three of the absentees were represented by their deputies. The meeting was called to discuss what the party described as “very important issues”.

The governors who showed up were: Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Idris Wada (Kogi); Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Jonah Jang (Plateau) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta).

The three governors represented by their deputies were those of Niger, Katsina and Taraba.

‘We were under pressure’ Continued from page 4

According to him, the increment in money spent on fuel subsidy manifested when the committee decided to extend the scope of the investigation to 2009.

Lawan said extending the scope further than that would have consumed more time.

“If we decided to go to 2005 it would have taken us more time considering the expectations of Nigerians,” he said.

Zakari Mohammed, chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs said the House would not allow the report to be swept under the carpet or be doctored adding that though resolutions do not have the force of law, the House would use all means to get the Executive to implement the recommendations.

“We can make it a precondition for the Executive when it requires the assistance of the National Assembly,” he said.

Funeral for Ibadan chief’s mum THE Oyewole family of IleOdejobi , Itutaba, Ibadan, Oyo State has announced the funeral plans for the late Madam Alice Bolatito Oyewole (nee Molomo), who died early this year.

A statement by the family said the programme will begin with a Christian wake on April 26 at 5pm. Venue is the Oyewole family house, N5A/260B, Ile-Odejobi, Itutaba, Ibadan.

Funeral service will hold the following day at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral at Light, Agodi Gate, Ibadan. Time is 11am.

The remains of the late Madam Oyewole will be interred at the Methodist Church Cemetery, Oke Ado, Ibadan immediately after the church service.

Entertainment of guests takes place at K.S. Motels, Total Garden and Police Barracks Parade Ground, Yemetu, Ibadan.

The late Madam Oyewole is survived by many children and grandchildren including Elder Bode Oyewole and Dr. Oluwole Toyobo.

By Eric Ikhilae

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•From left: Member, Board of Directors, Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc, Mr Olusegun Onayiga; Chairman, Mr. Adewale Osomo and General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Henry Olatujoye, at a briefing of the forcible takeover of the firm by the Ondo State Government, at Gbagada, Lagos...on Wednesday

Akume: we’ve not reconciled with Suswam

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ENATE Minority Leader George Akume said yesterday that there is no truth in claims that the Benue State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has compromised the people’s mandate.

He described as untrue that he and the ACNgovernorship candidate in the last election Prof. Steve Ugbah have reconciled with Governor Gabriel Suswam.

Akume, who reacted in a statement by his Media Constituency aide, Mrs Bechie Orpin, urged AC N support-

ers to ignore the false report.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume has been drawn to some misleading media reports, chains of alarming text messages and e-mails circulating on some social networks and the rumors being peddled that, Senator Akume and the ACN governorship candidate in Benue, Prof. Steve Ugbah have not only negotiated and reconciled with Governor Gabriel Suswam and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); but have also compromised

the mandate, the Benue people gave to Prof. Ugbah and the ACN in the April 26, 2011 gubernatorial election.

“Distinguished Senator George Akume is deeply saddened and surprised that those who are supposed to be leaders, who should ordinarily possess some integrity, will twist facts and stand truth on the head by misleading the masses with inaccurate, false and malicious reports and messages; and wishes to stress that these allegations are not only untrue, but are an affront to the sacrifices he,

•All staff in Procurement Unit of PPPRA between 2009 and 2011.

The report added: “All staff of PPPRA involved in the processing of applications by importers, and verification, confirmation and payment of imported products and NNPC should be investigated/prosecuted by the relevant anticorruption agencies.

“The Executive Secretaries, 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.

“We strongly recommend that the Executive Secretaries, who served from January 2009 to October 2011 should be investigated and prosecuted by the relevant anti-corruption agencies.”

On the NNPC, the report said: “It became apparent to the committee that the operations of the NNPC were opaque and not transparent.

The implication on this is that it created room for abuses, inefficiencies and manifest lack of accountability.

“Although NNPC confirmed that it makes some savings of about N11 per litre refining locally than importing, it could not be established that the corporation reflects this cost differential in its claims to subsidy.

“The implication of this is that NNPC may have been collecting excess subsidy on locally refined products as the corporation appears to collect the same amount of subsidy on both the locally refined and imported products.

“Thus, NNPC acted as importer, marketer, claimant, payer and payee. Simply NNPC was not accountable to anybody or authority.

“The Committee recommends that the accounts of the Corporation be audited to determine its accounts profits and solvency. NNPC’s petroleum products processing of 445,000 barrels of domestic crude should be subjected to further inquiry by the committee during its monitoring exercise.

“The Committee recommends that NNPC be unbundled to make its operations

Prof. Ugbah and many other eminent Benue citizens are making to rescue the Benue people from the shackles of bad leadership in the state.

“Senator George Akume herebyrefutes these false allegations; and would like to state therefore that: “The media reports and messages are not only false but a deliberate attempt by some elements to dampen the high spirit of the ACN supporters in Benue and to also stall the mandate recovery process embarked upon by the ACN.”

‘Waste disposal firm got N1.9b fuel subsidy’ Continued from page 4

“A representative example was that of two promoters who allegedly received an email and came in from the USA with a proposal of waste management with NNPC. Instead, the two promoters came together and incorporated Eco-Regen Ltd. on 3rd August 2010 with corporate address as 3rd Floor, UAC Building Central Business District Wuse Abuja, applied for PPPRA registration on 11th September, 2010, got its first allocation of 15,000 mt on 20th January, 2011 and was paid N1, 984,141,091.10 as subsidy for products not supplied.”

The committee recommended sanctions for some PPPRA chiefs.

• Ex-PPPRA Executive Secretaries, Mr. A. Ibikunle (August 2009 to February 2011) and Mr. Goddy Egbuji(February to August 2011) for further probe and trial by the EFCC, ICPC •PPPRA’s GM Field Services, ACDO/Supervisor-Ullage Team 1 and ACDO/Supervisor-Ullage Team 2

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 all the infractions identified for the years 2009-2011 should be investigated and prosecuted for abuse of office by the Code of Conduct Bureau.”

The report recommended that “Mr. President should reorganise the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to make it more effective in carrying out the much needed reforms in the oil and gas sector.”

Regarding the Pipelines Products Marketing Company Limited, the report said: “The management of PPMC appeared not to be alive to its responsibilities and on top of its duties. A case in point is the embarrassing failure of the Managing Director to provide the Committee with the retail market price of Kerosene, even though the nation solely depends on the company for the supply and distribution of the product.”

WO Niger Delta groups have urged northern elite and politicians to speak up against the activities of the violent Boko Haram sect.

The groups, in a statement signed by Amachree Odiedim, Chairman, Southsouth Youth Leaders Forum and Mike Udofia, Co-ordinator, Association of Ethnic Nationalities in Niger Delta said the continued silence of the north’s leaders in the face of growing threat to the nation’s security was condemnable.

In the statement title: “Nigeria can not survive any attempt on the life of President Jonathan”, the groups condemned what they described as display of disrespect on the person and office of President Jonathan.

“We wish to state here that we have strong ground to suspect the silence of the Northern political leaders, elites and opinion leaders on this sensitive issue of threat on the life of the president, which is not only a slap on the faces of Nigerians at home but also abroad.

“At this stage, the opinion, political and religious leaders in the North can no longer successfully deny their support for the faceless terrorist group (Boko Haram), especially as they are yet to publicly condemn their treasonable action of threatening to bring down the President.

“It is therefore no longer secret that the activities of Boko Haram, are part of the antics of disgruntled politicians in the North to take over power and to frustrate the the present administration, by way of ensuring that it does not know peace even for a single moment.”

They urged the Acting Inspector General of Police to urgently declare the leaders of Boko Haram wanted, with an ultimatum to arrest him.

Their other demands include •That security operative immediately take steps to publicly prosecute all those arrested in connection with Boko Haram .

•That Northern Governors should as a matter of urgency publicly condemn Boko Haram, and its activities, especially the insult on Mr. President.

•That Islamic religious leaders, youth leaders, and women group publicly dissociate them selves from Boko Hram

Doctors remove four extra limbs from baby who was born with six legs

A

BABY boy born with six legs has had a successful operation to remove his four extra limbs, doctors said yesterday.

The youngster from Karachi in Pakistan was believed to have had a parasitic twin, which had not developed properly in the womb, resulting in the extra legs, the Daily Mail reported.

A team of five doctors fought to save the boy’s life at the National Institute of Child Health in Karachi.

The head of the NICH, Jamal Raza, said the abnormal birth

was the result of a genetic disease which would affect only one in a million or more babies.

‘It was strange that apparently an abnormal baby with six legs was as normal as other children,’ he said.

Before surgeons could operate, they said they had to work out which of the limbs belonged to the boy and which to his twin.

Doctors examined MRI, blood tests and CT scan reports before deciding to perform the surgery. The operation lasted eight-hours and was per-

formed in stages.

The baby had been in an intensive care unit ward since he was born last week to the wife of an X-ray technician.

Imran Shaikh, the baby’s father who lives in Sukkur, said he was grateful his son was treated.

‘We are a poor family. I am thankful to the government and doctors for helping us successfully operating my baby,’ he said.

Shaikh and his wife of four years live in Sukkur, around 280 miles north of where his son is being cared for. His wife is re-

•The baby

ported to be recovering well from the birth and in a good state of health.

His wife - who is also his cousin - has been unable to travel because she had a caesarean section delivery.

He said they were planning on naming their son Umar Farooq.

The Sindh provincial health department said they were examining if he needed any further treatment to live a normal life.

THE NATION FRIDAY, ARPIL 20, 2012

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TOMORROW IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘Obama has seized every opportunity to tell us as the supposed giant of Africa and most populous black nation in the world that he would have nothing to do with us until our leaders have shown some seriousness in the art of governance..’

VOL. 7 NO.2101

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

CONTESTED for office of governor of Kwara State at the last election under the banner of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). My party and I challenged the results of that election all the way to the Supreme Court and the outcome of that challenge is all too well known. That is a matter for another day.

I am here motivated by how I felt while innocuously watching A.I.T on March 25. I cannot remember what I was watching, but I remember the breaking news items that were rolling in at the bottom of my television screen: 1 “President Jonathan congratulates Macky Sall, says its triumph for democracy and that by that election the Senegalese people have confirmed that their democracy is a mature one.”

2 “Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade concedes defeat and congratulates Sall.”

3 “Ghana to start a six-week biometric voters’ registration exercise for the December 2012 general elections.”

While these breaking news items were coming in, I saw Prof Attahiru Jega hosting a twoday African Election Managers’ Conference in Abuja. Addressing the participants, the Vice President, on behalf of President Jonathan, told the gathering that: “When we invest the electoral process with credibility and transparency, we would be able to effectively overcome the adverse implications of political and governance crises. Enduring peace and stability would necessarily engender growth and economic development.”

Jega on his part said the conference was aimed at replicating best practices, facilitating exchange of information and encouraging development of professionalism in the continent’s electoral process.

On the Internet, I came across a statement issued on behalf of Wade that went as follows: “My dear compatriots, at the end of the second round of the vote, the current results indicate that Macky Sall has won. It is the whole country that has just won… this is a big moment for democracy and President Abdoulaye Wade has respected the voice of the people”.

The context of Sall’s victory and Wade’s exemplary concession is worth examining.

Wade was elected President in 2000 for a seven-year term. In 2001, a new constitution was adopted which limited the tenure of the President to five years and set a term limit of two terms. In 2007, Wade was re-elected for another five-year term. By a constitutional amendment in 2008, the Presidential term was increased back to seven years. In 2009, Wade indicated that he would run for a further term, “if God gives me a long life.” He was 83 at the time. This provoked widespread protests and precipitated a constitutional legal battle.

Wade argued, and Senegal’s Supreme Court agreed, that he was entitled to run for a “third” term, as, according to him, he was not caught by the limit of two terms set by the 2001 Constitution, as he was elected for his first term under the old constitution.

Sall was Wade’s political protégé and to Wade he owes his political career. He held various cabinet positions under Wade, leading to his becoming Prime Minister from 2004 – 2007 and President of the National Assembly from 2007 – 2008. Significantly, Sall had also been the director of Wade’s re-election campaign for the 2007 Presidential elections.

The two men were close but they fell out over the handling of public funds by Karim, the

OPEN FORUM By

MOHAMMED DELE BELGORE

A credible electoral system for Nigeria

•Jega

President’s son, and over the widely held belief that Karim was being groomed to succeed his father.

No outright winner emerged after the first round of voting, and in the ensuing run-off election, Sall won with the support of his defeated opponents (there were no less than eight of them, including the support of the disqualified candidates, one of whom was the world renowned musician Youssou N’Dor. Closer to home Ghana has commenced a biometric voters’ registration exercise ahead of its general elections in December. On the website of the Electoral Commission of Ghana is information on how long the registration process would take; where to register (registration points, demarcations of electoral constituencies and polling units are stated); how to vote etc. It even contains the challenges made since 1995 by voters and political parties to the voters’ register. But what I found most instructive is the fact that the website contains voters’ registration figures since 1992 and the results for every Presidential and parliamentary election since 1992.

Would a Mackay Sall in Nigeria have been able to successfully challenge and defeat his mentor, the incumbent President? Memories of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar”s travails in 2007 at the hands of former President Obasanjo for daring to vie for the Presidency are still fresh in our minds. Had Mackay Sall been a Nigerian, would the EFCC & Co. not have been used to thwart his ambition?

Would he not have been vilified as a traitor?

And in the unlikely event that he was able to mount a challenge and win, would he have

been declared winner? Memories are again fresh of June 12, 1993 when M.K.O Abiola won what was widely regarded as the freest and fairest elections in Nigeria. He was never declared winner. Rather, the elections were annulled. Since a Mackay Sall in Nigeria would never have been declared winner in the first place, the question of the incumbent calling to congratulate him is clearly fantasy.

And what about INEC? Its website is pathetic and is a national embarrassment. Unlike that of Ghana’s Electoral Commission that is packed with necessary and useful information, INEC’s website has next to nothing and what it has is of very little use. Under the caption “Voters’ Registration” all you will find are two speeches by Jega in 2010, espousing the need for a credible voter’s register and that conducting a credible election is a national emergency. Whilst Ghana openly parades its voters’ registration list on the Internet and even publishes challenges made to that register, in Nigeria our own register is shrouded in secrecy. To date, INEC is yet to publish an authoritative figure on it and how it was arrived at. INEC’s website has no results for the April 2011 elections, not to talk of those of earlier elections. The only results you will see are those for the recently concluded governorship elections in Kogi and Adamawa and those of the Rivers East Senatorial re-run elections. Yet foreign-hosted websites have published the results of the April 2011 general elections.

Ghana, we’ve seen, is going through a biometric voters’ registration exercise to ensure that the electoral system delivers one-man, onevote. This is an irreducible minimum deliverable for any credible electoral system. This is what Professor Jega was supposedly appointed to deliver after the fiasco of Maurice Iwu’s 2007 elections. Jega was given a whopping N87 Billion (about US$585 Million at the prevailing exchange rate at that time) in August 2010 for that purpose. Although our fingerprints were taken during voters’ registration, biometrics played absolutely no part in the elections with the result that the basic deliverable of one-man, onevote was not and could not have been delivered.

Since then what has happened to that effort?

INEC has told us nothing and nobody is asking.

Surely, it cannot be that we lack the ability and resources to deliver such a credible electoral system. If countries like Ghana and Senegal can do it, why can’t we? We are fond of calling ourselves giants of Africa and we arrogantly claim superiority over everyone else on the continent, yet we are light years behind sev-

HARDBALL

S

SINCE the Federal Government unleashed the fuel subsidy ghost upon Nigerians on January 1, neither the spectre itself nor Nigerians have rested.

Before January 2012, one litre of fuel was sold for N65. On New Year’s Day, the government of President Goodluck Jonathan felt that the best gift it could give Nigerians on that day of goodwill to all men was to raise the price of fuel to the intolerably high N141 per litre. A string of street protests followed, culminating in the eventful and hugely popular carnivals that brought new dimensions to the democratic expression of dissent.

But in spite of the arbitrary increase of fuel price and the suppression of dissent,

Fuel subsidy ghosts go marching in the subsidy controversy has simply refused to go away. Indeed, it kept bouncing back every time it was about to abate, marching spectrally to the elegiac tunes of the jazz funeral song “When the saints go marching in” popularised in the 1930s by Louis Armstrong, the United States jazz genius.

Now, as reports start to roll in from various probe panels set up by the National Assembly, earth-shaking findings have roused the old subsidy ghost again. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up to investigate the petroleum subsidy matter submitted its findings.

Among the inconsistencies and anomalies it said it discovered, the committee found overwhelming rot in the oil sector and in subsidy administration. It also discovered that some 35 firms collected allocation without registration. It then recommended that three audit firms be blacklisted, even as it indicted Budget and Accountant-General offices.

But by far the most startling discoveries were that subsidy in Fiscal 2012 should be much less than N600 billion and that the NNPC, PPPRA and some 72 fuel marketers must be made to refund within three months about N1.1 trillion they looted from the Federation Ac-

VINCENT AKANMODE

eral of these countries in our attitude to elections and with our electoral system.

What is really lacking is the political will.

How many of our political office holders today owe their positions to legitimate election results? How many would be elected if we had conducted our elections on the principle of oneman, one-vote?

Prof Jega has been quoted a few times as saying “we are doing our best”; “the electoral law today does not allow for electronic voting”. These are puerile excuses. Jega was appointed to deliver a credible electoral system that meets or at least comes close to international best standards. Can anyone honestly say that the 2011 elections were an N87 Billion improvement on Maurice Iwu’s highly discredited 2007 elections? N87 Billion is a colossal amount of money. For public accountability and transparency, a full and frank account of how that money was spent ought to be published and subjected to debate.

Today, electoral malpractices are no more about violence and thuggery, but about multiple thumb printing and falsification of results.

None of this can be carried out without INEC’s complicity. INEC records the results, INEC announces them. The only exception is the farcical situation where Professors are brought in to act as returning officers. This in itself is the height of deception. There is nothing professorial about that role as the hapless Professors merely read out the results they have been given. Therefore, today, elections cannot be successfully rigged without INEC’s involvement.

The Electoral Act and our criminal law contain a whole range of offences that cover acts of electoral malpractices. High-profile prosecution and conviction of some erring INEC officials would send out a strong message to the public that INEC means business and would also serve as a deterrent to other electoral officers.

Also INEC ought to conduct a postmortem of the 2011 elections and evaluate its own performance. In every election petition that was filed, INEC was made a party and there were allegations (meritorious and unmeritorious) against it. Whilst most of the petitions did not succeed, their failure do not amount to an affirmation or praise for INEC’s conduct. INEC ought to look into each and every allegation made against it in each case and take steps to address them. The dismissal of an election petition does not equate to a pass mark for INEC’s conduct of the election. INEC must engage in some self-examination and recrimination if it is to improve its performance.

Without deluding ourselves, we cannot in all honesty say that we have an electoral system that is capable of delivering credible and genuine results. And we cannot create one with mere platitudes. The President and Jega’s speeches show that they fully appreciate the value of a credible electoral system to the proper functioning and development of the country, but so far, their will to deliver such a system is questionable. The period between elections is the time to improve and perfect the system.

That period is now. A fire brigade approach months before the next general elections will not give Nigerians the electoral system that we can be proud of.

Just as the James Ibori conviction by a London Court is an ugly slur on our morality and values and our standing in the comity of nations, so also is a deliberately inept electoral system. We must therefore act now.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above count on the pretext of funding subsidy.

Some other horrendous malfeasances were unearthed, enough in other democratic climes to create a political tsunami that should rapidly bring the government down.

The subsidy ghost is unable to rest in peace.

And so we wait to see whether the House of Representatives ad hoc committee report will go the way of other probe panel reports, or whether in fact the more than N1trillion the Reps said was stolen can be collected from the oil thieves and subsidy managers.

We also wait to see whether Nigeria’s economic managers will not be deeply mortified by their own dubious subsidy calculations and economics.

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