THURSDAY 25, APRIL 2013

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DNA uncovers Britons buying Nigerian babies

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NEWS •Couple jailed for child smuggling Page 4

•1.7m candidates to write JAMB

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VOL. 8, NO. 2468 THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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Olufunmilayo TOMORROW IN THE NATION Adunni Olayinka A 16-PAGE COMMEMORATIVE PULLOUT

Jonathan tells Boko Haram Committee: perform magic Borno massacre: President warns security officials

Ekiti Deputy Governor in tumultous return From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

FTER about three months of absence, Ekiti State Deputy Governor Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka made a final return to Ado-Ekiti the state capital, yesterday.

She got a tumultous welcome. There were crowds – of prominent citizens, government officials, politicians and ordinary folks.

From Fajuyi Junction, residents of Ado-Ekiti lined the road all the way to Ajilosun.

Although the glittering Mercedes Benz hearse, which bore the remains of the late deputy governor did not arrive from Lagos through the Akure Airport in Ondo State until

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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NOTHER major step towards resolving the insecurity in the North was taken yesterday, with President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurating a dialogue committee.

He told the members: “All Nigerians are expecting this committee to perform magic and we pray that Allah should give you the wisdom to do so, because without peace we can’t develop, no matter how committed we are.

Without peace we cannot progress as a nation.”

Also inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, besides the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, was the Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

In a tacit reference to the massacre of about 185 civilians in Baga, Borno State, last Friday, the President warned security agencies to be mindful of the citizens when carrying out their assignments so as to eliminate the negative impact of their interventions.

The incident sparked a global outrage, with the United Nations and United States, among others, condemning the killings.

Continued on page 2

•The hearse on arrival in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

Continued on page 2

Opposition governors may pull out of Forum •Saraki meets Amaechi, Akpabio, Yuguda

F

ORMER Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chairman Bukola Saraki has launched a rescue mission for the group, amid fears that members in opposition parties may pull out of it.

Senator Saraki has met with his successor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda.

The outcome of the meeting may lead to a reconciliation session between President Goodluck Jonathan and

From Yusuf Alli,

Amaechi, The Nation learnt.

But pro-Amaechi governors are strongly canvassing a secret ballot system for the NGF poll next month.

There were fears last night that opposition governors might pull out of the NGF - if the Presidency goes ahead to impose a chairman on the Forum.

According to sources, Saraki met with the three actors in the NGF politics between 7pm and 9pm on Tuesday at his Lake Chad Street home in Continued on page 2

•Zenith Bank Plc Chairman Sir Steve Omojafor speaking at the bank’s 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday. With him are Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Godwin Emefiele and Executive Director Adaora Umeoji

•100 KILLED IN BANGLADESH P59 •MOBIL IN 500MW POWER PROJECT DEAL P11

2

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

NEWS Saraki meets Amaechi, Akpabio, Yuguda on how to save NGF

Ekiti Deputy Governor in tumultous return Continued from page 1

about 4 pm, an army of residents had lined the route since about 1 pm.

Numbering thousands in reality and far more in effects, they were united in the mission to capture a glimpse of the coming of the late Mrs. Olayinka who died on April 6 at St. Nicholas Hospital after a protracted fight with cancer. She was 52.

Some of them, in groups sang dirges for the late deputy governor brought unprecedented development, as noticeable in Ado Ekiti, her birthplace.

A resident, Baba Ajileye, in his 60s, said: “I believe this woman was great. I doubt if anyone has ever been this honored in the state. I have been here (Ijigbo junction) since 1:30pm.”

The hearse marked “Moremi Ekiti”, arrived at Ajilosun at the head of a long convoy of vehicles, bearing various posters of the late Mrs. Olayinka.

The motorcade snaked its way through Ijigbo, Old Garrage, Okeyinmi, Ojumose and Okesa to the Governor’s Office.

Even at the Government House, the crowd refused to disperse. With swollen eyes and drenched in their own perspiration, many talked glowingly about “a humble and great achiever”, referring to the late deputy.

In Ekiti dialect, they sang: “ Ayiye omo lo, omo ku isehin de” (A good child is gone; we’re mourning).

At the Governor’s office, the body was received by the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, with whom the late Mrs. Olayinka worked between October 15, 2010 and April 6, 2013.

Fayemi said the people must thank God for giving them the late deputy governor whom he said gave much in ensuring the transformation of the “Land of Honour”.

The Senator representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly and a kinsman of the deceased, Babafemi Ojudu, led family members of the deceased who were conveyed in a Coaster bus.

Many civil servants waited to witness the arrival of the body, even after they had officially closed from work at 4.00 pm.

At about 5.20 pm, sounds

of music, drumming and trumpeting, which signalled the arrival of the funeral train, were heard around Okesa near the the Governor’s Office.

Many people wept profusely as the hearse arrived at the Governor’s Office.

Many of them recounted the good deeds of the late Mrs. Olayinka during her twoand-half years stint as the state’s number two citizen.

Fayemi, in an emotional voice, said: “We thank God for her sacrifices. This was her office where she gave her all to the people. All of us, adults, young, male, female; we cannot thank Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka enough.

“The wise words of the elderly say that the best tree never lasts in the forest. She lived an eventful life. Life of courage, life of sacrifice.

“We know that heaven is the recompense of the faithful and we thank God for giving her to us. The Bible urges us to thank God for everything and we thank God for taking her to a good place, a safe place where there is no room for these challenges.

“We pray God to give her

Continued from page 1

•The late Mrs. Olayinka

dear husband, her childrenYeside, Lolade, Olamide - the Olayinkas and the Famuaguns the grace to continue with the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

“She fought a good fight, she did her best and we need to keep fighting for those things she believed in-abundant life for our people, transformation and service delivery.

The train departed the Governor’s Office around 5.45pm.

Thousands of youths embarked on a candle possession from Fajuyi Park round major streets of Ado-Ekiti.

Maitama District in Abuja.

It was gathered that Saraki expressed concerns that the prevalent crisis among governors might lead to the disintegration of the Forum. He pleaded with the leaders to look at the broader objective of the NGF than the tussle over leadership.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “I think the peace meeting was at the instance of Akpabio who feels that PDP must be united ahead of 2015 than the present culture of wrangling and uncertainty in the party.

“Each of the governors explained to Saraki the genesis of the wrangling within the NGF. They all agreed that ambition is tearing the Forum apart.

“They also expressed the need to put the Forum in order ahead of its election in May or else those in the opposition might pull out of the NGF. “They offered their readiness to sink their differences and sacrifice for the sake of the survival of the Forum.”

The meeting also resolved to reconcile President Jonathan with the leadership of the Forum.”

Asked of the outcome of the meeting, another source said: “I

JAMB may cancel UTME in troubled states

Jonathan to committee: perform magic

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike, Abuja

Continued from page 1

Any security operative found wanting would face the wrath of the law, the President said.

His words: “The establishment of this committee re-affirms the readiness and commitment of this administration to bring the state of violence and insecurity we have witnessed to an end.

“Let me also use this opportunity to re-echo what I have been saying all over the world, at the UN, AU (African Union) and other platforms, that the effect of small arms and light weapons in Africa is worse than the effect of nuclear weapons because most African states are so unstable because of the free flow of small arms and light weapons.

“And we plead with these countries, especially the industrialised nations that manufacture small arms and light weapons and push them into Africa are not doing good to the world.

The effect is as bad as production and distribution of (harmful) drugs, because the free use of small arms and light weapons is threatening. I believe that it is even more devastating than that of drugs.

“Without the free flow of small arms and light weapons, leading the war against drug trafficking would have been easier for states. So, we use this opportunity to urge the UN to again come out with compre-

T

•President Goodluck Jonathan (fourth from left) and Vice President Namadi Sambo (third from right) with (from left) Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Mrs. Aisha Alkali, Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Kabir Taminu Turaki and others during the inauguration of the committee...yesterday.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

hensive approach to the control of small arms and light weapons.”

The dialogue committee is to establish the link and open up dialogue with members of Boko Haram – the fundamentalist Islamic sect whose insurgency has killed thousands. It is also to develop a framework through which disarmament will take place, thus they should work out sustainable option that could lead to granting amnesty to this group.

“They should also have to develop a comprehensive victims’ support programme, be-

cause a number of people are victims of the excesses of Boko Haram, he said, adding: “They must also come up with suggestions on how to address underlining causes of the crisis in order to ensure that as a nation we do not face a similar threat in the future.

“In as much as we appreciate that in any human situation there must be disputes, disagreements and conflicts, but if we know about these and we have a good approach early enough, I believe that it will not degenerate to the situation we have today.”

Warning the security agen-

cies to be cautious, the President said: “But let me use this opportunity to also charge the security agencies that while remaining at work, they must also be mindful of the citizens of this country. In attempting to bring peace to the country or any part of the country, they should do so in a manner that will not bring destruction to the third party.

“The issue that affected some part of Borno State that is in the media today is being investigated. I will tell Nigerians and investing community that government will take steps to make

sure that if errors are made, that such people are cautioned and treated in line with our own laws and regulations.”

Thanking members of the committees for accepting the task, he said: “I sincerely appreciate those of you who accepted to serve - In some cases, when you call people to serve they will accept to serve whether you consult them or not.

“In some cases, people raise issues as most of you were not even consulted. But, of course, all of you are aware of the challenges we have as a nation; and Continued on page 58

Security challenges: U.S. suggests comprehensive overhaul of strategies

T

HE United States (U.S.) Consul General in Nigeria, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins, has suggested a comprehensive overhaul of strategies to curtail rising security challenges.

Hawkins made the suggestion yesterday in Lagos at a ceremony organised by the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and other civil society groups in honour of CD President Dr Joe Odumakin.

Dr. Odumakin, is a recipient of the International Women of Courage Award from Michelle Obama, the wife of American

think there will be light at the end of the tunnel. These governors may sheathe their swords ahead of the NGF poll in May.” Notwithstanding the peace brokered by Saraki, some governors who are pro-Amaechi were still working on “Plan B” yesterday.

They want the NGF poll to be conducted in line with the secret ballot method in the nation’s electoral system.

A source said: “We are making a strong case for secret ballot instead of the open system the Presidency is favouring.

“With secret ballot, each of the 36 governors will be able to vote according to his conscience.

“That is the first thing we will push for in May.” But there were strong indications that opposition governors might pull out of the Forum if the presidency imposes a candidate on the Forum.

A source added: “We hope the PDP will not impose a chairman on the NGF. If they do, the progressive governors in opposition cannot be forced to accept such an arrangement.

“The alternative will be for the opposition governors to opt out of NGF until sanity prevails.”

President Barack Obama.

The U.S. envoy said the security strategy by Nigeria should not only be predicated on a force-based approach but should also address the economic and political exclusion of vulnerable communities in the North.

Hawkins said: “The U.S. has also experienced the pain of terrorist attacks, most recently in Boston and we stand by our Nigerian friends as they confront this menace.

“As an ally of Nigeria, the U.S.

is deeply interested in seeing Nigeria remain a stable, peaceful and united country.

“For that reason, we condemn the senseless acts of terror carried out by groups, such as Boko Haram and Ansaru.”

The envoy cautioned that the use of force could strengthen the perception that the government is unjust and abusive which extremists could latch on to.

He said that just as security was key to the U.S.’s mission, so too was the empowerment of

women.

“If women cannot participate in the political process, there can be no real democracy.’’

Hawkins said fighting corruption, protecting the rights of women and holding security forces accountable would succeed if Nigeria’s vibrant media operated freely.

Mrs. Odumakin urged security agencies to minimise casualties while containing violence, even as she called on the Federal Government to have a rethink on the leader of the Movement for

the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazurike and others , who he she said, never engaged in violent struggle anytime.

Dr Frederick Fasehun, the founder of the O’odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), lauded Mrs. Odumakin for her consistency in the course of a peaceful Nigeria.

“No nation is made without constructive criticisms,’’ he said.

Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, who chaired the occasion, praised those who honoured women of courage worldwide.

HOSE who enrolled for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in some troubled Northern states may not write the test on Saturday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) hinted yesterday.

JAMB Registrar and Chief Executive Prof. ’Dibu Ojerinde told reporters in Bwari, Abuja, that the board “may not hesitate to stop the examination “if there is any security problem”.

Ojerinde said 1, 735, 720, candidates, including 209 foreigners, registered to write the examination.

He said: “The examination will hold simultaneously in 378 examination towns in Nigeria and six foreign centres.

“The countries are Ghana, Cameroon, Republic of Benin, United Kingdom UK), Saudi Arabia and South Africa.”

Ojerinde said the examinations would take place in Nigerian embassies in the designated countries.

He said 143 candidates would write their test in Bua, Cameroon and in Cotonou, Benin Republic, 30 candidates would sit for the Paper Pencil Test (PPT); seven in Accra, Ghana; seven in Johannesburg, South Africa; eight in Jeddah; Saudi Arabia; and 10 in London, United Kingdom (UK) will sit for the Computer Based Test (CBT).

The PPT and Dual Based Test (DBT) questions will be different from CBT questions Continued on page 58

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Continued on page 58

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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NEWS

DNA uncover s

•From left: Minister of Environment Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, Minister of State Foreign Affairs 1 Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Minister of Interior Comrade Abba Moro and Minister of Lands & Urban Development Ms. Ama Pepple , at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. ..yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

DNA tests are catching out desperate British couples using false papers to procure newborns, writes Sunday Times of London.

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•From left: Minister of Special Duties Kabir Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Mines and Steel Development Mohammed Musa Sada, Minister of Transport Senator Idris Audu and Minister of National Planning Dr Shamsudeen Usman , at the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•From left: Director-General, National Agency for Control of AIDS Prof. John Idoko, Executive Director of the Global Fund Dr. Mark Dybul and Ambassador, Friends of the Global Fund Africa Mr.Emmanuel Babayero, during a news conference in Abuja ... yesterday.

•Consulate General of Italy , Lagos Mr Stefano De Leo (middle) addressing reporters during the Pernod Ricard launch news conference at the Italian Consulate, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday. With him are Creative Director Mrs Caterina Bortulossi (left) and Pernod Ricard’s National Sales and Marketing Manager Mrs. Maria Martinez.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

RITISH couples desperate for children are illegally procuring newborn babies in Nigeria and bringing them back to the UK using false documentation.

A former Oxford University lecturer and his wife are among 12 British couples investigated by police for trying to bring babies into the UK claiming they are their own, in breach of immigration law.

The couple were caught after the British High Commission in Lagos introduced compulsory DNA testing for Britons applying for a passport for a newborn baby in suspicious circumstances.

When DNA sample did not match, officials in Lagos called in the Serious Organised Crime Agency to investigate.

Bharti Patel, chief executive of Ecpat UK, a charity that works with victims of child trafficking, said she believed that it was likely that many more cases would follow the introduction of DNA testing at embassies.

“It is encouraging to see these 12 being reported,” she said.

The first of the 12 to come to court in Britain involved Simon Heap, 47, an academic expert in African studies, and his wife, Gladys Effa-Heap, 52, a nurse.

Last week, the couple, who live in Oxford, pleaded guilty to a breach of immigration law. They admitted they had lied when they applied for a passport for a baby girl at the High Commission in Lagos in 2010.

The couple had used a fake birth certificate and claimed the baby, who was just a few days old, was their daughter. DNA tests showed the child was not related to either of them and she was taken away.

Heap, who lived for a number of years in Nigeria, was previously a fellow in tropical African studies at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford. He now

A

LTHOUGH oil theft and illegal refining of petroleum products are not new to Nigeria’s oil industry, the current level is, nonetheless, quite alarming.

For instance, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) says that it loses more than 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily to oil thieves.

The company threatened to shut its Nembe Trunk Line, citing the rising wave of oil theft along its pipeline network in Bayelsa State for its proposed action.

Mr Mutiu Sumonu, the Managing Director of SPDC, urged the Joint Task Force (JTF) to step up its activities in the fight against oil theft.

Besides, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on March 23, shut down its onshore operations in Bayelsa “over unbearable level of illegal bunkering activities’’.

NAOC said its closed facilities hitherto produced about 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

The firm said more than 7,000

•Blessing Francis, with her boyfriend, says h

Couple jailed f

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HE British High Commission yesterday said a British couple - Simon and Gladys Heap from Oxford - have been convicted by a UK court for attempting to pass off a Nigerian baby as their biological child in a bid to smuggle it into the UK. The couple, said the High Commission in a statement yesterday, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 250 hours of community service after pleading guilty on April 16.

Gladys, 52, and her husband, 47, entered Nigeria in July 2010 and went to the British High Commission in Lagos to apply for a British passport for the baby girl, claiming Gladys had a baby just a few days after entering the country.

The staff at the High Commission

works at the London office of the Japanese government’s aid agency.

The couple were given 12-month suspended prison sentences and 250 hours of community service. Next month, a couple from Degenham, east London, will appear in court on similar charges.

Detective Inspector Kate Bridger, who leads the Paladin team, a joint unit made up of Metropolitan Police officers and officials from Border Force which investigated the Heap case, later

How to c

By Nathan Nwakamma, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

barrels of its daily crude oil production were lost to oil thieves in Bayelsa, adding that this necessitated the closure of the facilities.

However, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the JTF spokesman, said the outfit would never relent in its efforts to stamp out illegal oil activities in the Niger Delta.

He said facts showed that this year alone, 260 suspects, eight vessels, nine barges and 90 boats had been apprehended.

“We have also destroyed 452 illegal oil refining points. The JTF has not in any way relented in its task of combating oil theft in the region,’’ he said.

Nwachukwu said the JTF had adopted a pragmatic strategy in combating oil theft and illegal oil bunkering.

This, he said, entailed advocacy, enlightenment campaigns, and surveillance of oil installations and pipeline networks.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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NEWS

r s Britons buying Nigerian babies ‘

Girls who get pregnant are lured to the home with rosy promise of compensation when they deliver.

Also young girls who need money are also convinced to get pregnant and deliver the child and be paid some amount of money

ays her child was taken from her by a charity.

PHOTO: GEORGE OSODI

’

d for attempting to smuggle baby into UK “...DNA tests later confirmed that neither adult was related to the child. A birth certificate they had presented was also found to be fraudulent.

They flew home without the baby.” were suspicious.

The statement issued in Abuja reads: “...DNA tests later confirmed that neither adult was related to the child. A birth certificate they had presented was also found to be fraudulent. They flew home without the baby.”

The statement was silent on how the couple came about the child, but implied that the child may have been purchased.

An investigation by a joint Border Force and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) led to the couple’s arrest. They were charged with facilitating a

breach of immigration law. They were sentenced by the Isleworth Crown Court.

The head of the Border Force at Heathrow, Mr. Marc Owen, described the case as shocking.

“Thanks to the close co-operation between Border Force, the Metropolitan Police and staff at the British High Commission they were stopped and we were able to bring them to justice,” he said.

The leader of the investigation team, Detective Inspector Kate Bridger, said the couple tried to cir-

cumvent the adoption system and deceive the authorities.

“A child should not be treated as a commodity to be bought and sold,” she said, adding that the system is in place to protect children.

The child has remained in Nigeria.

Heap, an expert on Nigeria, works with companies trying to forge international trade links. His wife is a nurse.

Heap has a BA in History from Cambridge University, an MA in African Studies from the University of London and a PhD in History from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He also studied History at Oxford University.

He previously worked as a researcher for child rights organisation, Plan International; a fellow at the University of Ibadan

referred to police suspicion that there is a trade in babies. “A child should not be treated as a commodity to be bought and sold,” she said.

Andy Elvin, who runs the charity, Children and Families Across Borders, said some British couples were paying middlemen in Nigeria up to 12,000 (pounds) for a baby.

“Sharply-elbowed middle-class parents” fool consular officials in Lagos into issuing passports for the children”,

he said.

In the past, a handful of cases have emerged after GPs or social services became suspicious about children already in Britain. Last October, a High Court judge ruled that a London couple, who were unable to conceive, could keep a baby girl born in Nigeria.

The woman’s GP became suspicious after they returned home and DNA tests showed that they were not the child’s biological parents.

They successfully argued that they had been duped into thinking that a Nigerian witch doctor had helped them conceive. The woman said she had been given drugs by the witch doctor to stimulate labour pains.

The British court cases come amid growing concern in Nigeria over an illicit trade in newborn babies. Hundreds of childen are believed to have been taken at birth from vulnerable young mothers and sold to childless

and is c u r rently a senior researcher at the developm e n t agency Japan International Cooperat i o n Agency.

couples including foreigners.

According to some Nigerian reports, girls as young as 14 are kept on “baby farms” until they give birth. They are paid as little as 10 pounds for their babies. Others agree to sell their babies to avoid their families finding out they are pregnant or because they are too poor to pay for healthcare.

Earlier this month, 32 pregnant girls were discovered at an alleged baby

•Simon Heap

farm, The Seat of Happiness Care Centre, in a remote area on the edge of the city of Aba, in southern Nigeria.

It described itself as a charitable home for single mothers and orphans. They were housed in bungalows with metal bars on the windows behind a tall security fence topped with barbed wire.

Commandant Ben Dikuro, from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, told Nigerian newspaper The Sun: “Girls who get pregnant are lured to the home with rosy promise of compensation when they deliver.

“Also young girls who need money are also convinced to get pregnant and deliver the child and be paid some amount of money.”

The owner of the home, Nnenna Mba, denied she had ever forced mothers to hand over their babies or sold them.

She told the newspaper the home was properly registered and that any adoptions were dealt with by the authorities.

“We only act as intermediaries,” she said. “They (the mothers) are all conscious. I did not force them.

I am a qualified nurse.”

Nkiruka Michael, head of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) office in Enugu, a state capital in southern Nigeria, said last week that NAPTIP was campaigning for the law on child trafficking to be tight-ended up.

Lack of resources was hampering efforts, however. The agency has only one vehicle to cover the five states supervised from her office.

“The situation is terribly bad... baby factory operators now enjoy free rein,” she said.

The Sunday Times has learnt that NAPTIP is investigating another charity that is alleged to have put pressure on vulnerable young mothers to give up their babies. The Refuge, Girls Home in Calabar, in the far South of the country, was set up to help teenage girls with unwanted pregnancies by Mothers Against Child Abandonment, a charity run

by Obioma Liyel Imoke, the wife of the governor of Cross River State.

Imoke described allegations against the home as “false, malicious and defamatory” and politically motivated. “We have never, I repeat never, cajoed nor enticed nor forced any of our housemates to give up their babies for any monetary gains or otherwise,” she said.

The charity says all the girls are given the option of keeping their babies or handing them to the authorities for adoption, which it does not arrange itself.

•Additional reporting: Tokunbo Olajaide

o check oil theft, illegal refineries in the Niger Delta In the meantime, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has promised to partner with the military in the fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the state.

The governor, who gave the assurance when the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, visited him in Yenagoa, said the government’s assistance to security agencies would boost the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

He said the government had invested heavily in security, adding that the investment is yieldng results.

“Bayelsa has transited from being a constant national flashpoint to being on the vanguard of stability and security within the past one year,’’ he added.

Dickson acknowledged the prevalence of illegal bunkering, crude oil theft and illegal oil refining in the state, expressing the government’s determination to deal with the development.

He said the government would ensure that the 15 fast-moving patrol gunboats, which it recently acquired and presented to security agencies, were put to

use soon.

However, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), a non-governmental organisation, said it had begun consultations with communities in the Niger Delta area on how to stamp out oil theft and the operation of illegal refineries in the area.

Dr Godwin Ojo, a Director at ERA/ FoEN, said in Yenagoa that oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil had become a major economic concern.

“I think the issue of oil theft, in terms of illegal oil bunkering or bush artisanal refineries, is fast becoming topical in Nigeria.

“It is a thing that is coming to the limelight; so, we want to promote discussions around this topic so that the government and stakeholders will come together and find a lasting solution to the problem.

“From the law books and government’s perspective, oil theft, in all its ramifications, borders on crimi-

nality and economic sabotage but here in the local communities, the perception is different altogether,’’ he said.

On why previous efforts to combat oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil have been unsuccessful so far, Ojo said the communities were not carried along in the campaign.

“Our concern is that there is no discussion, the dialogue has been onesided and the use of force will not necessarily stop these illegal practices.

“For example, the bush refinery has makeshift equipment and it is easy to be installed. If you destroy one refinery; in a few hours, another one is set up.

“Therefore, we think that dialogue and getting to the root of the issue are central to solving the problem,” he added.

All the same, an operator of a local oil refinery in Bayelsa said the passage and implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would curb the menace of oil theft, while

advancing local oil refining capacity.

Mr Roland Kiente, who operates a local refinery in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, said the involvement of oil communities in oil production processes, as proposed in the bill, would make them partners in the oil industry.

“The 10 per cent equity to oil communities would drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the issue of oil theft and bush refineries; we are involved in it because of neglect but if we are given a part of the business, then the government has nothing to worry about again.

“Besides, there will be no need for the JTF, the communities will simply rise to secure their equity and investment. The bill will definitely change the face of oil and gas in the Niger Delta,” he added.

Kiente said under the emerging approach, the artisanal refineries could be legalised and standardised to ensure environmentally sound practices.

He said when the local refineries were

recognised, they would source crude oil from approved channels, thereby boosting the government’s revenue.

He said under the current arrangement, community refineries purchased crude from oil thieves who burst oil pipelines.

Besides, Kiente said the community refineries could be harnessed to create employment and make refined petroleum products more available in the market.

“It will also end the scarcity of petroleum products in the country and boost our domestic refining capacity; we cannot continue to depend on imported fuel when the refining technology is available and the crude is within reach,” he said.

With the growing impact of oil theft on the economy, analysts insist that it has become somewhat imperative for oil firms, oil communities, government and the citizenry to collaborate to find lasting solution to the problem.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

6

NEWS Senate to amend tinted glass law

Ikuforiji: Judge adjourns sine dine

By Joseph Jibueze

•Proposes 90-day grace From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

S

HOULD the amendment to the tinted glass law scale through, vehicle owners with such glasses would be required to obtain police permit within 90 days instead of two weeks.

With the amendment, offenders would now pay a fine of N50,000 instead of the current N2000 as stipulated by law.

These are some of the provisions of a Bill for an Act to amend the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act CAP M21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2011 and for other matters connected therewith” which scaled second reading in the Senate yesterday.

The Bill was sponsored by Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East).

Enang argued that while the reasons behind the extant laws are appreciated, there is no distortion between factory and manually fitted tints.

He said: “This is making it rather far-fetched, particularly when it is clear that the person who buys the car did not have a hand in fitting the car with the tint as different from a person who voluntarily fits the tinted glass.

“It is clear that the police have commenced impounding cars that are fitted with tinted glasses - factory or manually fitted.

“This operation which the police are currently carrying out is now being seen by the citizens as a sort of discrimination.

“The Principal Act, under which the Nigeria Police Force is currently exercising the powers against the driving of tinted glass vehicles, limits the exercise of such discretion as to permission and exemption to the twin conditions of health and security in Section 1(2)of the Act. “Conceding that there are security considerations in the exercise of this discretion, it does not follow that such security consideration should constitute a serious affront to the fundamental rights of every other Nigerian against discrimination as enshrined under Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Most Senators supported the proposed amendments.

•Ikuforiji

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HERE was a twist yesterday in the trial of Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his aide.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, adjourned further proceedings sine dine (indefinitely).

He surprised the packed courtroom when he gave a short impromptu ruling, as none of the parties had brought any application for which a ruling was expected.

The judge accused the prosecution of delaying the trial, adding that rather than being “blackmailed”, the case would be transferred to another judge “in the interest of justice”.

After the case was called for proceedings to begin, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

David Ide and that of Ikuforiji Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) announced their appearances.

They waited for the judge to prompt them to proceed with

the case, but Justice Okeke, instead, spent about 10 minutes writing on a notepad.

When he raised his head, he said: “This case has witnessed an unprecedented delay by the prosecution and tactics set by persons to blackmail this court.

“In the interest of justice, I’ll transfer the case to another judge and hearing notices will be issued at a later date “This matter is hereby adjourned sine dine”.

It means the trial will begin de novo (afresh) before another judge, and the defendants will have to be re-arraigned.

The witness who has also testified for the prosecution will be recalled to repeat his testimony.

The court was filled with men, women and youths who came in solidarity with the Speaker. Many stood in the courtroom as seats were not enough. Outside the courtroom and around the premises, many more waited.

Justice Okeke will retire on May 18, The Nation learnt.

EFCC charged the Speaker and his aide Oyebode Alade Atoyebi with allegedly accepting over N500million from the Assembly without passing through a financial institution, an allegation they denied.

Most of the adjournments have been at the instance of the prosecution, leading the defence counsel to ask that the matter be struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

•Alleges blackmail Oyetibo had said: “This is a case where the defendant is begging to be prosecuted. I urge your Lordship to dismiss this case.”

On February 18, the prosecution, led by Godwin Obla, had asked Justice Okeke to stand down the matter till 11am “to allow counsel for the prosecution appear in a highly contentious public interest fundamental human rights proceeding…” before another judge.

Opposing the application, Ikuforiji’s counsel Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) recalled that on last October 21, the court said it was prepared to hear the matter from day to day.

“The prosecution failed to show up on 20th of November, 2012. We lost at least 15 days at the instance of the prosecution.

“I submit that the defence has never asked for an adjournment in this matter,” Oyetibo said. However, the court adjourned at the instance of the prosecution.

Again on March 25, the prosecution was not in court. Oyetibo complained, and recalled other adjournment requests by the prosecution.

He said: “On 6th November, 2012, the prosecution failed to appear in court to continue this case. He (Obla) wrote for an adjournment. The case was adjourned to 20th and 21st November 2012 as requested by the prosecution.

“On 20th November, the prosecution failed again to ap-

pear in court (stating) that he mixed up the date and my Lord graciously accepted the date.

Rather than coming here, he asked for another adjournment and my Lord adjourned till 17th and 18th December 2012.”

Obla said on February 18, the prosecution wrote two letters, one of which was the matter be transferred to another judge as Justice Okeke would soon retire.

The judge, he said, called Obla from another court, and the lawyer said he was not with the Ikuforiji casefile and that the prosecution witness was not in court.

The case was again adjourned till February 19 and 20 at the prosecution’s instance.

On February 19, the prosecution asked for yet another adjournment to “to be in Makurdi on the 20th of February.”

All other dates fixed for trial after February 20 were vacated and the case was adjourned again till March 19 and 20. On those days, the court did not sit and the case was adjourned till March 25.

Obla had said in court on March 25: “The first Defendant is the sitting speaker of the House of Lagos State. The case ought to be given accelerated hearing so that the people of Lagos State can know within a reasonable time his guilt or innocence.

“The prosecution is taking steps to frustrate these proceedings because he knows my Lord-

ship will be retiring this year.

“What the charge is saying is that the money did not go through a financial institution and not money laundering or that he stole, and that the accused did not conduct the business of the House in line with Money Laundering Procedure Act. “Flowing from this, I urge your lordship to either dismiss this charge or close their defence.’

The court did not dismiss the charge as prayed, but adjourned till April 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25 and 26.

Obla later withdrew from the trial. In his letter dated April 5 to the court’s registrar, he said the manner in which the court fixed dates would deny him the ability to diligently prosecute the case.

Obla, who was not present in court on March 25 when the dates were fixed, said the 13 days was scheduled without considering his commitment in other cases at other courts.

“The new dates clearly conflict with those long-scheduled obligations,” he wrote. His withdrawal forced Justice Okeke, who will retire next month, to cancel the dates.

Head of EFCC’s Legal Department, Mr. Alli Yusuf, said he was informed late about Obla’s withdrawal and would need three weeks to study the file.

Oyetibo complained that the EFCC was handling the case with levity, asking the court to dismiss the charge for lack of diligent prosecution.

Lagos, NRC partner

By Yinka Aderibigbe

AGOS State Government and the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) have agreed to collaborate and put an end to activities of illegal passengers who choose to hang or sit on train coaches.

Managing Director of the corporation, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, spoke after a meeting with officials of the state government, led by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, at the state secretariat, Alausa.

Sijuwade said the NRC team had come to discuss ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing safety and security along the inter state rail corridor from Iddo to Ijoko.

L

•L-R: Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode; Author, Lanre Alfred; his wife, Omolara and Publisher, Ovation, Chief Dele Momodu, at the presentation of a book: High Life: Amazing Lifestyles of Nigeria’s Rich and Famous by Alfred in Lagos... yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

My Pikin teething mixture: Prosecution closes its case

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HE prosecution in the trial of producers of “killer” teething syrupMy Pikin Teething Mixture, yesterday closed its case before a Federal High Court, Lagos.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) charged Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, its Chief Executive Officer, Gbadegeshin Okunlola and two of its employees – Adeyemo Abiodun and Egbele Eromosele-before Justice Okechukwu-Okeke.

Okunlola, a pharmacist, died last October 27. He was 58. His name has been struck out from the charge.

By Joseph Jibueze

The remaining defendants were re-arraigned on January 7, following the amendment of the charge. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

The teething syrup was alleged to have killed over 80 children.

The alleged offences contravene Section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs, (Miscellaneous provisions) Act No. 25 of 1999.

Testifying yesterday, the last prosecution witness, Musa Ibrahim, who said he was an expert in laboratory

instrumentation, reiterated that the teething syrup was produced with deadly “contaminants”.

He said he conducted a test on a sample of the syrup, with Batch No. 02008. The result, he said, “was not satisfactory as it contained a contaminant.”

The defence counsel, Osaro Egobamien (SAN) said the witness’ testimony contradicted his statement to the police.

The lawyer, in the statement made to the police, said the witness saw that it was My Pikin Paracetamol Syrup that was tested by NAFDAC, and not a “teething mixture.”

But Ibrahim said the names did not matter. “My Pikin Paracetamol Syrup is the same as My Pikin Baby Teething Mixture,” he said.

On Tuesday, another prosecution witness, Mr Momodu Segiru-Momodu, said the medication’s components were found to be harmful after a laboratory analysis.

The witness had told the court that on January 2009 at the Yaba office of NAFDAC, he received a sealed package containing samples of My Pikin Teething mixture with batch number 02008.

The witness stated he was deputy director in charge of laboratory at that time and

therefore took the samples for laboratory analysis. According to him, the samples were analysed in line with normal scientific testing procedure.

He said the analysis showed the product contained contaminants called “diaethylene glycol”.

The witness said samples were again taken to the NAFDAC central laboratory at Oshodi for confirmation by a qualitative and quantitative estimation of the products.

He said that at Oshodi, an advanced analytical technique was employed using an instrument called “gas liquid chromatograph”.

“The result of the analysis at the Oshodi Central Laboratory proved to be the same with that conducted in the sister laboratory at Yaba.

“As a result, we came to a conclusion that My Pikin baby teething mixture was contaminated with diaethylene glycol.”

The witness told the court that “diaethylene glycol” is a toxic substance which is unacceptable in food or drug preparation.

“Diaethylene glycol belongs to a group of substance called glycol and there are four closely related glycol with common characteristics.

The defendants are expected to open their defence today.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

7

NEWS Senator to partner govt on ICT

•From right: Deputy Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Mr. Segun Odusanya; Executive Director, Regional Business, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie; Executive Director, Corporate Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Emeke Iweriebor; Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi; Managing Director, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Brett Goschen and Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Pascal Dozie, at the signing of $3billion Medium Term Funding Facility agreement provided by FCMB and other banks to MTN in Lagos.

Nigeria good at importing what it can produce, says Sanusi

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ENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said Nigeria has a dysfunctional economy which propels it to import what it can produce and export what it does not produce.

Sanusi said there was need for leaders to refocus the country towards the right direction for the nation to become great.

The CBN governor said the leaders needed to look after Nigeria’s teeming youths, if it hopes to become an exemplary nation.

Sanusi noted that Nigeria

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

has given Liberia a free and fair election, as an export to the West African country while it is still battling to get same right in its land.

The foremost banker spoke in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, at the Ochendo Youth Empowerment where he delivered a lecture entitled: Youth Empowerment as Panacea for Insecurity in Nigeria.

Sanusi said Nigeria is known for giving people of other nations things that im-

prove their lives to the detriment of its own people.

He said there are large numbers of youths in Nigeria who are ready and courageous to do things that can make life better for the country.

“But we put our priorities in the wrong direction, thereby making our youths to become restless and insecurity to be the other of the day,” Sanusi said.

According to him, the youths form the engine room of the labour force and represent the future and the prospect of any nation.

Sanusi said: “A vision of prosperous, peaceful and technologically advanced society is, therefore, unrealisable in an environment where the youths are not properly groomed and positioned.

“We are the largest producer of petroleum, yet we are busy importing fuel on a daily basis. We have large expanse of land and the youth to grow rice, but we import rice from Asia. We produce tomatoes in large quantity, yet we import tomato paste.

“We need to build our industries to scale to enable us

Presidency, National Assembly not in battle, say Jonathan, Mark

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President David Mark yesterday canvassed a stronger collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature.

Jonathan and Mark underscored the fact that the Executive and Legislative arms of the government are not in any supremacy battle as erroneously assumed in some quarters.

Both spoke in Abuja at a two-day conference on Executive-Legislature relations, with the theme: Strengthening Executive-Legislature Collaboration in Governance.

The conference was organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters.

Jonathan, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambon, noted that the conference was part of efforts

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

to improve good governance and development in the country.

He said it underscored the need for harmony in politics between the Executive and the Legislature.

While Jonathan insisted that the Executive and the Legislature are not in a competition or in a battle for supremacy, Mark said there was no competition between the two arms of government.

Mark emphasised that both arms of government were on the same wavelength, adding that the only difference, sometimes, is that they view things from different perspectives.

He said it is the minor difference that sometimes gives the impression that there is a

friction between them.

The Senate President noted.

“This difference is necessary for democracy to survive because, if you allow excess power in one direction, we all know the result: there would be tyranny, there would be misuse of power and abuse of power”.

Jonathan said he looked forward to the conference because of its significance in his administration’s philosophy.

The conference, he said, is another avenue to promote the common agenda of transforming the country’s political, economic and social spheres.

According to him, it is agreed that no perfect form of government exists for now.

He added: “There is no better alternative to democracy, where people are allowed to freely elect their representatives through the ballot, which

employ the teeming youths and help them to move away from kidnapping and other violent crimes, such as the one that was visited on Abia State some years ago. But this youth empowerment will help to refocus the youths of the state.”

The apex bank’s governor noted that the energy, skills and aspirations of youths are invaluable assets that no country can afford to squander.

He said youths are agents of change because they are enthusiastic, creative and zealous to contribute to the development of the nation.

Christian group urges govt to tackle poverty

By Jeremiah Oke

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•Jonathan

gives democracy clear advantage over other forms of government.

“As elected representatives of the people of Nigeria, we hold power in trust for them and we must exercise this power responsibly and to their benefit. Power, I must emphasise, belongs to the people, not to those who the people elect.

That is why no matter the form or level of power entrusted in us, we have a duty to put the people first in all that we do.

HE Chairman of the Winning Christian Initiative Committee, a religious group promoting godliness in governance, Elder Biola Popoola, has said the poverty in Nigeria is a satanic irony that needs to be redressed.

The cleric noted that if leaders served the nation according to the will of God and remember that they would give account of their stewardship to God, they would rule with the fear of God. He sought the support of the private and public sectors to fight deprivation and suffering in Nigeria, where he said resources abound to end the suffering of the masses.

Elder Popoola addressed reporters in Lagos on this year’s Godliness in Governance seminar.

The cleric said the tragic experience of poverty and hopelessness in Nigeria was of concerns to the group.

He said the workshop would feature men of integrity from all walks of life to discuss and suggest the way out of the myriad of the problems facing the nation.

Popoola said: “We need men of integrity at the helms of affairs in Nigeria because when nobles rule, the people are blessed; and the converse also holds true.

“The tragic experience of poverty and hopelessness in our nation, so blessed as we are with human and natural resources, is a satanic irony that needs urgent attention. We believe that by promoting godliness in governance, we shall be contributing positively towards redressing this anomaly.

NLC advises workers to be more diligent

Elumelu endows N1.5m award at UNILAG

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ORMER United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Managing Director, Mr Tony Elumelu, and his wife, Awele, have endowed a N1.5 million annual legacy fund for the Best Graduating Students in selected departments of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The prize will be disbursed through the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Buhari Abiola emerged the best in Economics; Ojukutu Seliat won the prize for the best in Medicine and Isiaq Ol-

By Nneka Nwaneri

ubukunola won the prize for the Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

The maiden edition of the prize-giving ceremony was held on Tuesday at the Senate Chambers of the university.

Eleumelu and his wife are UNILAG alumni.

Elumelu said the award would bring back meritocracy to the system and give him a sustainable legacy.

The banker noted that the award’s categories were fo-

cused on the fields that have shaped him and his wife: Economics and Medicine.

He said: “We are who we are today because of our yesterday. All we were taught have shaped us to be who we are. So, it is just appropriate that we go back to our roots and the community where we started our lives from.”

Elumelu debunked the notion that Nigeria no longer has qualitative education.

According to him, it is institutions, such as UNILAG, that have groomed talents locally, given them a sense of

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Gilbert Nnaji, has promised to partner relevant government agencies to transform the nation into a modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub and investment destination.

The senator said he was using Enugu-East Senatorial District as the pilot scheme.

Nnaji addressed heads of parastatals under his committee.

He also announced that 25 secondary and tertiary institutions, besides the communities in his senatorial zone, were benefitting from the first phase of his Schools and Rural Information and Communication Technology Empowerment Initiative.

The programme is being facilitated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

According to him, computer knowledge and awareness are necessary in every household in this era of globalisation.

He said this would enable them to remain relevant and productive, adding that the initiative would make learning and research easy to produce well equipped candidates for competitive employment, wealth creation and technological breakthrough for national development.

belonging and enabled them to compete with other people across the globe.

The banker said human capital development is significant to the economy as people with positive attitude need to ne raised and nurtured to manage it.

He said: “In rewarding those of the next generation, we create a network of people experienced to mentor the young ones.”

He added that the foundation would open a business school at UNILAG to assist indigent students.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday urged workers in the state to show more commitment to duty in the collective interest of the people.

The union’s leadership spoke at the NLC state Secretariat, Yidi, Ibadan, the state capital, at a media briefing to mark the beginning of this year’s May Day celebration.

The state NLC Chairman Dr. Bashir Olanrewaju said: “I seize the opportunity provided by this occasion to call on all workers to brace up on their job and contribute their quota towards the development of the state.

“We are working round the clock to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers. In Oyo State, labour stakeholders are working tirelessly for an enhanced salary package that can take them home.”

The Labour leader noted that despite the problems confronting its members, the Abiola Ajimobi administration deserved kudos for being worker-friendly in the payment of 13th month salary, introduction of free transport for public servants and other developmental projects.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

NEWS

‘Olayinka’ll be remembered for her good works’ “

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HE late Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, will be remembered for her efforts to better the life of her people, her beauty and her gentility”.

Those were the words of the outgoing Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West, Rev. Peter Adebiyi, who delivered the sermon at a commendation service held for the deceased yesterday at the Anglican Church of the Ascension, Opebi, Lagos.

Describing her as a “dogged deputy”, Bishop Adebiyi said: “The late Mrs. Olayinka’s beauty attracted people to her, so she was noticed and known, but was never arrogant. Despite her political position, she served the Lord and has returned to the God she served.”

The cleric urged the people to live worthy lives, so that they would be remembered and celebrated after their death.

He urged the deceased’s family to take solace in the fact that she “lived well”.

At 10:15am, the grey casket bearing Mrs. Olayinka’s remains, which was decorated with the Nigerian and Ekiti State flags, was wheeled out of the church and taken to

•A crowd waiting to receive the remains of the late Mrs. Olayinka in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

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Cleric: I’m not interested in who emerges deputy governor

HE Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Ajakaiye, has said he had no candidate for the seat of the deputy governor.

He was reacting to a newspaper report that he had a preference among the candidates for the position.

The report claimed that the bishop was in support of the Provost of the College of Education, IkereEkiti, Prof. Francisca Aladejana, a Catholic, who is said to be one of the possible choices.

In a statement yesterday, the cleric said he was not

By Nneka Nwaneri

Ado-Ekiti , the deceased’s home town.

At the service were the wife

Ajimobi advocates inclusion of rulers in governance

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday advocated the inclusion of traditional rulers in governance.

He said it would help sustain democracy in the country.

Ajimobi said the traditional institution was relatively stable, enduring and closer to the people and, as such, constitute a veritable vehicle for any government to reach those at the grassroots.

He spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while speaking at the annual Correspondents’ Chapel week.

Ajimobi, who spoke on The Role of the Traditional Institution in the Sustenance of Democracy, said there was need to accommodate the traditional institution in governance because it was the custodian of the people’s history and culture.

He said: “The place of traditional rulers in a democracy, which is founded on the government by the people for the people, cannot be over-emphasised.

“First, traditional rulers’ proximity to their people cannot be ignored. That they are custodians of the past, the culture and tradition of their people is also not in doubt. Thus, if any government wants to get to its targeted audience - the people, it would be foolhardy to ignore or relegate the importance of the natural rulers.

“More fundamentally,

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

governors come and go, but traditional rulers are always constant and the government can benefit from their residual knowledge, proximity to the people and practical examples of how things have been done in the past to articulate a compass for the future.”

Ajimobi, who was represented by his Special Adviser (Media), Dr. Festus Adedayo, blamed the military for the woes of the traditional institution, adding that “during subsequent military rules, traditional rulers’ roles were relegated to that of a mere advisory organ”.

Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Yusuph Olaniyonu, who represented Governor Ibikunle Amosun, urged the National Assembly to see how it can harmonise the “seemingly contradictory position and demands” of traditional rulers.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

involved in the selection of a deputy governor to replace the late Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka and warned people against dragging him into partisan politics.

Bishop Ajakaye said he was concerned about the progress of the state and the country but not partisan politics.

He urged journalists to exercise “the freedom of

of the Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and her counterparts, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) and Dame

Abimbola Fashola (Lagos); Senators Oluremi Tinubu and Babafemi Ojudu; Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs.

the press with responsibility”.

The cleric said: “How could I have demanded that?

The governor is a Catholic and to demand that his deputy must be a Catholic is uncalled for. Moreover, I do not dabble into such issues. I am for everybody, no matter your religious belief. Being partisan is not in my character.”

Most of those believed to be possible replacements for the late Mrs. Olayinka are from AdoEkiti.

Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo and activist lawyer Femi Falana, among

others.

The late deputy governor’s remains will be interred tomorrow in Ado-Ekiti after a funeral service.

Adopt Osun youth employment model, ACN urges Fed Govt T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State has urged the Federal Government to adopt the Osun youth employment model.

It said unemployment was at the core of the nation’s security challenges.

The party said: “If the government takes, at least, 50,000 youths off the streets annually in each state, the army of the unemployed will reduce yearly by 1.8 million.”

ACN was reacting to the worsening security situation and a newspaper report that the unemployment figure rose to over 40 million last year.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Director, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, the party said the high unemployed population was a fertile ground for breeding robbers, insurgents and kidnappers.

ACN believes that if the Federal Government studies the Osun Youth Employment Scheme (OYES) and adopts it, security will improve in the country.

It said only a multiple approach could curb the nation’s security challenges.

The party said besides mili-

Aregbesola to rehabilitate mentally-ill people

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State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration will rehabilitate all mentallychallenged residents.

He said the administration will continue to create jobs and alleviate poverty to prevent depression, which can result in mental illness.

Aregbesola spoke in his office in Osogbo, the state capital, while hosting a team of the Care and Rehabilitation of Mentally-ill People (CAREMI) Foundation, led by the former Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Roger Makanjuola.

He said: “My administration is concerned about mentally-ill people. It is not that we have surplus resources, but we feel they are part of the society and may pose a danger to SUN

tary option, a creative way of pulling youths away from crime must be found and one of the most pragmatic approaches was OYES. It said: “OYES has reduced unemployment and prevented crime in Osun. It would have a similar effect on the nation, if adopted by the Federal Government. The scheme was not only designed to keep the youths busy by earning a living, it of-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

people, if they are not rehabilitated.

“One of the factors that facilitate this illness is unemployment and we are addressing that through a series of programmes. It is to me a basic responsibility as the government, but this is not without a huge cost. We are stretching our meagre resources to better the lot of the people.”

Makanjuola said his foundation partnered the state because of the government’s seriousness to rehabilitate the mentally-challenged.

He said the foundation was impressed with the rehabilitation centre under construction.

Makanjuola suggested that the programme be taken up at the regional level.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs Biyi Odunlade said the government had rehabilitated over 40 mentally-ill people.

fers them skill acquisition training at home and abroad to prepared most of them for self employment.

“The government also assists them financial to start their private businesses. If one of the poorest states in the federation can do this and create jobs for 40,000 youths in two years, then the Federal Government should be able to double that figure in the 36 states.”

ACN said the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) of the Federal Government was ineffective because only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths were benefiting from it.

Urging Mr. President to adopt the OYES model, ACN said: “Unemployment has become life-threatening in Nigeria and the only solution is to address it pragmatically before it destroys the country.”

Stop idle talks, Ibikunle Amosun tells opposition parties GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday told the opposition to engage in constructive criticisms and stop idle talks about his administration’s performance.

Amosun was reacting to allegations by the opposition that council chairmen were not performing.

He spoke with reporters while inspecting projects executed by the Ogun Waterside,

O

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Ijebu East, Ipokia and Yewa South local government councils.

They included the 11kilometre Ajebandele Electrification Project, the Fotedo Health Clinic, the Tigbori Borehole, a block of three classrooms and head teacher’s office in Itele, Igan Ipabi Health Clinic, drains at Odonopa, 10 lock-up shops under construction at Ijebu-

Mushin and open stalls The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, said: “The opposition is idle, so it must criticise the performing government just to be heard. Let them say what they have to say, we will continue to do what we have to do.

“I urge the people to continue to pray and support this admin-

istration, both at the local government and state levels. We are here to meet your needs and we will get there with your support.

“You can see all the projects and I am proud of them. In anything one does, there is always room for improvement. Even Nigeria has paucity of funds, not to talk of local governments.

The local governments will look inwards and think out of the box to improve on their Internally-Generated Revenue

(IGR), while the state government will continue to support.

“They got some money outside their IGR and gave us a list of projects they are going to embark upon with the fund. It behooves the ministry to monitor how they spend the money.

“If councils were bubbling you during the last administration, it was because there was excess crude oil funds. But now, there is paucity of funds at the federal level.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

9

NEWS My case is intact at Appeal Court, says Ondo Rep From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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HE member representing Akure South/North Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, yesterday said his case on the Federal High Court’s order that he should vacate his seat in the House is intact at the Court of Appeal.

The lawmaker’s seat was declared vacant last May by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Gloria Okeke (rtd) because he defected from the Labour Party (LP), the platform on which he was elected, to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Abegunde filed an order for a stay of execution at the same court, but the case was not heard as the judge retired two weeks after the judgment.

The lawmaker headed for the Appeal Court.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Saka Yusuf, Abegunde condemned a report by a local television station in Ondo State that the case was dismissed by the Federal High Court.

He said the case was struck out because the suit is now at the Court of Appeal.

Abegunde said: “It is on record that I filed an order for a stay of execution of the judgment, which was filed on June 4, 2012. However, Justice Okeke retired from the bench two weeks after she delivered the judgment.

“Her retirement created a lacuna and the application before the court could not be heard, so I compiled my documents and moved to the appeal with a similar order, which is presently before the Court of Appeal.

“The lower court has become functions officio, as events have overtaken its earlier action. It lacks jurisdiction to entertain a case already before the Appeal Court.

“We appreciate the concern of the public, party members, friends and relations. The matter is a constitutional issue that will terminate at the highest court of the land, so there is no cause for alarm.

“The LP administration should face the petitions on the credibility of its purported re-election before the Governorship Election Tribunal and spend the little time it has left on putting smiles on the faces of the people.”

Man, 31, arraigned for 'attempted murder'

By Adebisi Onanuga

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31-YEAR-OLD man, Okeowo Dare Coker, has been arraigned before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for alleged armed robbery and the attempted murder of Mr. Abayomi Ekerin.

The prosecutor, Mr. Akin George, alleged that the defendant, armed with dangerous weapons, robbed Ekerin of his Camry Saloon car on December 23, 2010, around 6:30am at Baruwa Abulegun Street in Ipaja, Lagos.

George valued the car, marked MBC 777AA, at N1.4 million.

He said Coker attempted to kill Ekerin at Mangoro bus stop, when he stripped him naked and pushed him into a canal.

Coker, who lives at No. 9, Shofoluwe Street, Ipaja, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Olabisi Akinlade remanded the suspect at the Kirikiri Maximum prison.

The case was adjourned till July 11.

• Ajimobi (middle) inaugurating the buses...yesterday. With him are the State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Taofeeq Oyerinde (left); his Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) counterpart, Mr. Kehinde Adeyemo (right) and others.

Ajimobi inaugurates 100 buses O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday inaugurated 100 mass transit buses to revitalise the transport sector.

The buses will be distributed to transport unions.

The inauguration was held at the Government Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital.

It was witnessed by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), as well as stakeholders from the 33 local governments.

Ajimobi reiterated his administration’s determination to revolutionise transportation.

He said cable cars and a light rail system would be introduced into the sector.

•NLC urges workers to be dedicated From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

The governor said another 100 luxury buses to be christened “Pacesetter Transport Services” would be introduced and managed by the government.

He said more motor parks would be built for transport unions and members issued with identification cards and uniforms to sanitise their operations.

Ajimobi urged the people to pay their taxes promptly, so that the government would have enough funds to execute projects.

Stressing the need to keep the environment clean, he said mobile courts had been created to try envi-

ronmental sanitation offenders and that they would begin next week.

Chairman of the Forum of Local Government Caretaker Chairmen Mr. Yekeen Popoola said three buses would be distributed to each council and urged the beneficiaries to maintain them well.

Also yesterday, the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) urged workers to rededicate themselves to their duties.

The union gave the advice at its State Secretariat Ibadan, while speaking with reporters on activities marking this year’s May Day celebration.

Its Chairman, Dr. Bashir Olanrewaju, said: “I urge workers to brace up themselves on their jobs

‘I lost N1.5m in Ibadan fire’

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MIDDLE-AGED woman, Mrs. Aminat Afolabi yesterday counted her losses in the fire that razed about 20 houses, shops and vehicles, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday evening.

Mrs. Afolabi said she lost goods worth N1.5 million in the fire.

She was said to have narrowly escaped death, while trying to salvage some of the goods in her shop.

Her shop, located at No. NW5/149, Daramola Compound in Omitowoju, and a storey building opposite it were completely burnt.

A fuel-laden tanker emptied its content in front of the storey building and it resulted in a fire.

Narrating her ordeal to The Nation,

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Mrs. Afolabi said: “I do not have much strength left in me anymore. I have been weeping since this fire brought sorrow and pain into my life. Where do I start from? Who will save me?

“I went to the market last Saturday and re-stocked my shop. The truck that brought the goods parked right here as the goods were off-loaded. I sell assorted fruit drinks in cartons. I purchased over N1.5 million worth of goods, which were brought into this shop, last Saturday. See my life; all I have left is the cloth I am wearing.

Please help me, I am ruined.”

Mrs. Afolabi’s landlord, Alhaji Daramola Sumonu, stood gazing in astonishment at the rubble that used

to be his building.

Sumonu, a textile dealer, said he inherited the building from his father and had been living there since 1956.

He said: “I was in my shop in Gbagi market, where I sell textile materials, when a neighbour phoned me and said I should come home immediately. I asked what the matter was and he told me that my building was on fire. I rushed home around 6.50pm, but nobody could go near the fire because it was intense. We were helpless. Some tenants tried to save some of their goods, but it was too late.”

Sunmonu urged well-meaning individuals, the local, state and federal governments to help rebuild the house and assist other victims.

Lawmaker slams Okupe for comment on Buhari, Tinubu

L

AGOS State House of Assembly Deputy Whip Rotimi Abiru has criticised the comment made by the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, on former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Earlier in the week, Okupe said the two elder statesmen were a liability to the country.

Speaking with reporters in his office at the Lagos Assembly Complex, Abiru said Okupe’s “outburst” was an insult to the politicians.

He said: “Okupe’s statement is an insult to Buhari and Tinubu, who are prominent elder statesmen. Okupe lacks the credibility to talk to Buhari, a former Head of State and Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State.

“It is unfortunate that in his bid to

By Oziegbe Okoeki

justify his pay and please his paymaster, Okupe has resorted to outright falsehood and disrespect for elder statesmen.

“The Presidency should address issues and tell people the truth, instead of attacking the opposition. For instance, the security of the country is an issue Okupe and his paymasters should look into and stop attacking the opposition.

“A few days ago, the State Department of the United States, in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 identified pervasive impunity and corruption as the hallmark of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

“The State Department maintained that impunity remained widespread at all levels of the Jonathan administration. That should be enough for Okupe and his paymasters to ponder abour. He should stop disrespecting elder statesmen.

•Okupe

“The Jonathan-led Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are afraid that they are gradually losing their hold on power. They know that the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) will wrestle power from them in 2015.

“No amount of Okupe’s blasphemy about our leaders can change the mind of Nigerians, because they are tired of this administration and they are ready to vote out the PDP in 2015.”

and contribute to the development of the state. We are working round the clock to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers. In Oyo State, labour stakeholders are working tirelessly for an enhanced salary package.

“Despite the problems confronting our members, we must appreciate the Ajimobi administration for being worker-friendly in the payment of the 13th month salary, introduction of free transportation for public servants and various developmental projects.

“This year’s May Day celebration is significant because it coincides with the country’s celebration of its 100 years of existence as a nation.

This accounts for the celebration’s theme: 100 years of nationhood: The challenges of national development.

Distressed building: Lagos occupants get two-week quit notice

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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HE Lagos State Government yesterday issued a two-week quit notice to the occupants of three “distressed” two-storey buildings at Jakande Housing Estate, Oke-Afa, Ejigbo, Lagos.

To cushion the effect of the eviction, the government paid them a token to rent apartments, pending the reconstruction of the buildings.

Each of the 15 families occupying the buildings were given N200,000 each. They are to vacate the buildings on or before May 7.

About 16 buildings have been identified as distressed in the estate after the state government conducted integrity tests on them last year, following the collapse of a two-storey building in the estate last November 20.

Two people were killed in the building collapse.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the distressed buildings would be demolished and rebuilt.

He said: “We discovered that certain blocks are severely affected. We subjected them to integrity tests and they would have to be rebuilt. Occupants of the buildings should vacate them in two weeks. They have been given a stipend of N200,000 to pay one year rent for accommodation. After the buildings are rebuilt, they will be handed over to their owners after negotiation has been made.”

President of the Oke Afa Housing Estate Landlords Association Alhaji Abdul-Ganiu Taiwo said they were in support of the government’s decision.

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THE NATION THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2013

NEWS Three killed in communal crisis From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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HREE persons have been killed and scores injured in Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government of Delta State, following a leadership tussle by rival youth groups.

Some of the victims are receiving treatment at the Koko General Hospital.

An eyewitness, Tony Timokpe, said shops, schools and markets were closed while social activities have been paralysed.

The Nation gathered that the two groups, which were involved in the leadership tussle could not reach a compromise, prompting intervention by elders of the community.

Following this development, an interim committee, headed by Victor Buwa, was inaugurated by the elders to pilot the affairs of the youths for 90 days.

The Buwa-led interim committee, it was gathered, refused to relinquish power after the expiration of its mandate.

A victim, Luke Komeni, said: “I was walking in the street when a stray bullet hit my right arm.

“I don’t belong to any of the groups. By the grace of God, I am responding to treatment.”

A source said 30 persons were arrested at various locations in the community.

He said many youths have fled the community for fear of being arrested.

Police spokesman Lucky Uyabeme said he was away on an official assignment, adding that the command was unaware of the incident.

Delta Assembly hailed

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GROUP, G9 Delta Alliance (GDA), has hailed the decision by the Delta State House of Assembly to override Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s veto on death penalty for kidnappers.

It described the lawmakers’ action as “patriotic, a tonic for a safer Delta State and essentially, a vote against criminality.”

Twenty six of the 29 lawmakers voted to pass the bill into law.

Section 100 (5) of the 1999 Constitution empowers the House to override a governor’s veto by a two-third majority vote.

A statement by the GDA Chancellor, Edward Dibiana, reads: “The Assembly, by taking this step, is not only making a bold statement against kidnapping but also protecting and preserving the dignity of the victims.

The GDA urged the Delta State Government to “work out a partnership between security agencies and communities to develop a protection mechanism to encourage community intelligence gathering system.”

ACN, PDP ‘battle’ in Anenih’s stronghold

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HERE was tension yesterday among members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Esan North East Local Government of Edo State as election results were being collated.

Esan North East is the stronghold of the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, Minister of Works Mike Onolenememen and House of Representatives member Friday Itulah.

It was among the local government where elections were rescheduled to hold yesterday.

The local governments are Esan West, Esan North East, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo.

There was massive turnout of voters, who waited for several hours before accreditation began.

Six injured in PDP clash

S

IX people were injured yesterday in a clash among supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government of Edo State.

Eyewitnesses said there was a confrontation between supporters of two PDP candidates at a bar yesterday on the Upper Sonkpoba Road.

A party chieftain, Amos Omoregie, who claimed to be the authentic PDP candidate, said last week the police invited Edegbe Ugbogbo, who left the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the PDP. Omoregie said: “After winning the primary and being recognised by the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSEIC), I was surprised to hear that Ugbogbo has been pa-

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

rading himself as the PDP candidate.”

Speaking to reporters at the police headquarters, Omoregie said his name is on EDSIEC’s list for the election.

“I wish to state categorically that any person parading himself as the PDP candidate is an impostor.

“I have not withdrawn from the race and the PDP has not substituted my name. I am still the PDP chairmanship candidate for today’s election.”

But Ugbogbo said he and his lawyer are working on the issue. He said Omoregie is working for the ACN to destroy PDP’s chances in the elections.

•Boycott in Esan West • 20 arrested From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Commissioner of Police Folusho Adebanjo and State Director of State Security Services (SSS) Bakori Tukur

led the security team that monitored the election.

Adebanjo confirmed the arrest of 20 persons during the election.

He said they were arrested

with offensive weapons. No official results had been released.

The PDP boycotted the election in Esan West Local Government.

When reporters went round to monitor the exercise, they saw voters at polling units and electoral officers accrediting them.

In some polling units, there was low turn-out of voters.

PDP leaders could not be reached for comments but a youth leader said they no longer have confidence in the electoral process.

The ACN Chairman, Thomas Okosun, who hails from the locality, said they were not bothered about PDP’s boycott.

ACN candidate Henry Irumundonon said boycotting elections is allowed in politics.

He challenged anybody to prove that electoral malpractices occured during the elections.

He said the people rejected the PDP and expressed optimism that more people would turn out to vote.

‘Don’t award contract to Samsung’

A

Chief Executive Officer, Mibod Global Resources Limited, Chantel Joseph (left); Ms Abiola Okoya; Cross River State Governor’s wife Mrs Obioma Imoke; Chief Executive Officer, Star Crest Group, Fifi Ejindu and President of M and M Dyson Marcia Dyson, at the second international conference on Africa Woman Empowerment in Paris, France

Senate rejects additional perks for ex-presidents, others

HE Senate yesterday threw out a bill, which seeks to provide additional remuneration for former presidents and former presiding officers of the National Assembly and the judiciary.

In throwing out the bill, the Senate cited the duplication of constitutional provisions as its main reason.

The bill was passed during the fourth, fifth and sixth National Assemblies, but it failed to receive presidential assent.

Some senators opposed the proposed law, which also sought to deny former military Heads of State and their deputies from benefiting from the remuneration package, by repealing the provisions of CAP6 LFN 2011.

The bill provides that only democratically elected former presidents are entitled to benefit from the additional remuneration package.

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, in his lead debate, noted that the military regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar on May 10, 1999 decreed a remuneration package for former leaders.

Ndoma-Egba said the

T

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

fourth, fifth and sixth National Assembly removed former military Heads of State and Chiefs of General Staff who came to power through coups.

The Senate Leader noted that the bill also provides that those removed from office would not benefit from the package.

“I think the time has come for us as a country to begin to acknowledge the services of people, who rise through hard work and commitment to certain positions constitutionally.

“One way of recognising such persons is to provide for them after office so that there is life for them after office,” Ndoma-Egba said.

Senator Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South) opposed the bill because it excluded former military rulers from the list of beneficiaries.

He said: “Today, we are enjoying the democracy that was enabled by the military.

This democracy was be-

queathed to us by Abdulsalami Abubakar, who handed over to a civilian administration in less than a year. We should restore remuneration for former military heads of state.

But Senate Ayogu Eze said: “If people have served and give their best to the country, they should not live in penury and lamentation.

In his contribution, Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) supported the Bill.

Adeyemi said: “I have reservations about some of the aspects as presented by the Senate Leader.

“I believe this bill is good and the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, when passed into law.

Senator Aisha Al-Hassan said former military rulers should benefit from the package.

Senator Ganiyu Solomon wanted to know why successive governments refused to assent to the bill.

He said, “If you look at the Judiciary and the Executive, from time immemorial, that has been benefiting from

this gesture.

“The only arm of government left out is the legislature.

“Should the president refuse to assent to it, we should overturn his veto.”

But Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, reminded Adeyemi that “everybody is entitled to speak his mind and everybody here is covered by privilege.”

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri supported the bill on the premise that it would strengthen democracy and “remove corruption from the system.”

The Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, said he supported the bill because it was necessary to compensate those who had served the country meritoriously.

But for Senator Chris Ngige, Section 84 already provided for remuneration for former Heads of State and no law should be made to contradict it.

Ekweremadu made spirited efforts to persuade his colleagues to allow the Bill scale second reading.

Curiously, a resounding “nay” greeted the question of whether the Bill should be read the second time.

NIGER Delta group, the Ijaw Concerned Citizens (ICC), has opposed the award of the Egina Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) project in Bayelsa State to Samsung.

The group said the job should have been given to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Company, as Samsung has allegedly “never done any FPSO project in Nigeria.”

ICC, in a statement by Chief Opokroye, Chief E. Jonathan and Commander Okpokmodudu, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to “rectify this anomaly”.

The group said HHI was recommended to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as the technically-qualified lowest bidder and the “only justifiable bidder” last April at the conclusion of a commercial evaluation process.

The National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and Total recommended HHI, ICC said.

“The recommendation of NAPIMS is the culmination of an international due process bid, which lasted two years, involving the project owners, bidders and all government regulatory agencies,” the group said.

It said NNPC, despite HHI’s qualification, recommended Samsung for the award of the contract at a negotiated price of $3,143,499,498.

“In a deliberate and calculated bid to discredit NAPIMS’ recommendation, the Group Executive Committee of NNPC was misinformed that Total Upstream Nigeria (TUPNI) added $238million to Samsung’s tender and that no amount was added to HHI’s tender,” the group said.

“We of the ICC also affirm that HHI has already opened a welding school in Yenagoa, with several indigenes as candidates.

“Strangely, Samsung has absolutely no institutions to help Bayelsans and no presence in Bayelsa State,” ICC said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira falls on corporate demand

Mobil signs Qua Iboe 500MW power project agreement

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HE naira reached its lowest in five weeks against the dollar as companies increased demand for the dollar after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold less than the amount offered at an auction yesterday.

The naira declined 0.2 per cent to N158.95 per dollar, the lowest since March 14, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg.

The CBN sold $272.3 million, less than the $300 million on offer, apex bank said in an e- mailed statement.

The regulator sells dollars at auctions on Mondays and Wednesdays to keep the naira within a three per cent band above or below N155 per dollar.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria restricted sales to importers it adjudged as having genuine import documents or confirmed letters of credit,” Kunle Ezun, analyst at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated in Lagos, said by phone. “Other importers resorted to the interbank market for dollars, putting pressure on the naira.”

Nigeria relies on imports to cover 70 per cent of the fuel needs because of inadequate refining capacity.

Those shipments into the country are a source of pressure on the naira, according to the CBN. Borrowing costs on the country’s 16.39 per cent domestic bonds due January 2022, fell six basis points to 11.36 per cent, according to yesterday’s data compiled

by Bloomberg.

Yields on the nation’s $500 million of Eurobonds due January, 2021, declined six basis points to 4.06 per cent yesterday.

Following the approval of Federal Executive Council, we have concluded arrangements to commence the construction of not just one, but five brand new world class international airport terminal.

- Ms Stella Oduah, Minister of Aviation

• Committee on power submits report today, says Obi

By Emeka Ugwuanyi, Lagos and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

• Jonathan

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OBIL Producing Ni geria Unlimited (MPN), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) / MPN Joint Venture, has signed a seller’s representative agreement (SRA) for the 500 megawatts (MW) Qua Iboe power project, located at MPN’s Qua Iboe terminal, in Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement, the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Paul Arinze, quoted the Managing Director of MPN, Mark Ward as saying that the project is a demonstration of MPN’s commitment to Nigeria, and supports President Jonathan’s priority of providing electric-

ity to the country.

The signing of the SRA, it explained, is a critical part of the overall commercial framework that enables MPN to undertake power activities and facilitates the sale of power by MPN to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc for itself and on behalf of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

He explained that the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the project, have been concluded, while commercial tenders for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) are nearing completion.

Exxon Mobil Corporation is the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, and uses technology and innovation to help

meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil is one of the largest oil producers in Nigeria through the operations of two upstream affiliate companies - Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

The two companies have notable history, proven experience and a strong record of contribution to Nigeria’s development, the statement, added.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Council Committee on Reinvesting Plan for Power Sector is to submit its report to the VicePresident today, Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said.

The Governor, who is a member of the Committee spoke after the meeting held to review the reports of the Committee at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Obi, who declined further

comments on the issue, insisted that it is only the Chairman of the Committee, the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke that should address the press, if need be.

He said the Committee was set up as part of efforts by the government to find lasting solutions to power problem in the country.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governors are committed to resolving the problems of power in the country, and are doing everything possible to find lasting solutions to the issue. “In view of how serious the President as well as the Governors take the matter, I assure you that the power problem will soon become a thing of the past,” he said.

On snippets from the report, Obi said: “ I am not the Chairman of the Committee. It is only the

Port Harcourt, Enugu, others get CAC’s online services From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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

• From left: Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Habib Abdullahi; General Manager, Eastern Ports, Mr Sonny Nwobi and Port Harcourt Manager, Rivers Port, Mrs Carol Ufere, during the facility tour of the Managing Director in Port Harcourt ... yesterday.

$100m foreign investments coming

MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N10.6 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -9% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending -22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $48b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

Chairman that can do that.

In any case, the report will be presented tomorrow (today). why not wait and the entire report will be made available to the press,” he added.

The Committee was set up

by National Executive Council to review the technical report on the power sector and to recommend best ways for investment in the sector.

Chaired by Imoke; the Governors of Anambra, Peter Obi; Kogi, Idris Wada; Katsina, Ibrahim Shema; Minister of National Planning, Dr, Shansuddeen Usman; Chief Executive of Transmission Company of Nigeria, Don Priestman; Principal Consultant, Energy Sector Practice, Dr. Cezley Sampson,; the Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding, J. A Olotu, among others, were present at the meeting.

A

CONSORTIUM of for eign investors has told the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that it plans to invest $100 million in Nigeria soon.

The news was broken when the team and their Nigerian technical partners visited the CBN in Abuja.

The ten-man delegation led

by Chief Tony Osagie Hicks of Anita Energy limited, told the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability (FSS), Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, that the visit would bring massive investments in the region of $100 million to the country.

He said the investment “is expected to add value to the transformation agenda of the oil and gas infrastructure, power generation, fast speed

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst.

Editor)

train, telecommunications and the establishment of a Merchant Bank.

“This would be done in partnership with APEC Logic Investment Limited, an Australian funding investment partner and SINOPEC, one of the largest oil and gas corporations in China,” he added.

Moghalu told the investors that foreign investments in Nigeria could only be useful if they address skills and infrastructural development.

He said the CBN had undertaken far reaching reforms of the banking sector to make it strong, resilient and be able to serve the needs of the real economy, adding that this is a departure from the past

where some individuals enriched themselves to the detriment of the economy.

He said one of the four pillars of the banking reforms, is to enhance the quality of banks and also establish financial stability through the creation of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) which absorbed the toxic assets of the deposit money banks.

He observed that the banks today have clean balance sheets and are able to lend to the economy once again.

Moghalu, said the reforms are also intended to facilitate the evolution of a healthy financial system through the new banking model that categorises them into commercial, merchant and specialised banks. The merchant banks,

he said “were established to ring - fence depositors funds from trading, while the fourth ensures that the banks contribute to real economy.”

He told the team of investors that there was a meeting point between the banking reforms and the desire of the investors to establish merchant banks expected to facilitate concrete investment in Nigeria, observing that this would strengthen the relationship between the financial sector and real economy.

Moghalu assured the delegation that the CBN would provide the needed support to ensure that the investment plans bear fruits and process the banking license application, provided the requirements, were met.”

HE 24-hour start–tofinish registration service in Lagos-the part of the four-point agenda of the Corporate Affairs Commission, which emphasises ICT–has become a model in ease of doing business, the CAC has said.

Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna are to get CAC’s online start-to-finish services this quarter, as the commission embarks on total upgrade of internet network to fibre optic The Registrar-General, CAC, Alhaji Bello Mahmud maintained that Lagos is an important commercial nerve centre of the country, considering its strategic importance, the Commission established two offices in Lagos at Yaba and the recently commissioned another at Alausa.

In a statement by the Head, Public Relations, Churchill Williams, the focus of the agenda comes against the backdrop of the fact that ICT infrastructure is the key factor to achievement of the Commission’s objective, adding that ICT infrastructure will ensure greater efficiency of the system and high data integrity.

“In order to actualise its ICT thrust, the Commission embarked on total upgrade of its WAN from VSATbased network to a more reliable fibre based system.

This was meant to improve availability and also enhance transaction,” he added.

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

BUSINESS NEWS

Agric research: Govt targets Brazilian model

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HE Federal Govern ment will transform the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) to the Brazilian model – Embrapa, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said.

Adesina said the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation has contributed immensely to developing Brazil’s agricultural sector, adding that the ARCN will soon become Nigeria’s Embrapa as the research body was able to convert its savannah to green vegetation.

“Nigeria must learn how Brazil did it and one of the things we can take with us is know how to transform our own northern savannah which is the northern Guinea

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

Savannah similar to that of Brazil to fertile land.

“Today the savannah region contributes more than 70% of the beef cattle production in the country and thanks to irrigation and soil correcting techniques; it is also an important production centre of grains, mainly soya, beans, maize and rice,” he said.

Adesina who was in Brazil with selected directors from the Ministry went to study source of the country’s agricultural successes.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Information, Greyne Anosike the delegate discovered the Embrapa played signifi-

cant roles to Brazil’s food sufficiency.

However, he identified the need to build solid partnership with the Brazilian government.

Embrapa is the acronym for “Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária”.

It reads in part: “The main achievement of Embrapa, according to the Minister was to turn the ‘cerrado’ also known as savannah to green vegetation.

“When Embrapa started, Brazil’s savannah was said to be regarded as unfit for farming by then as they seemed too acidic and too poor in nutrients but it was amazing the way Embrapa turned things around.

“Brazil’s agricultural

miracle did not happen through a simple technological fix. No magic bullet accounts for it, all the interventions worked together. Improving the soil and the new tropical soybeans were both needed for farming the cerrado; the two together also made possible the changes in farm techniques which have boosted yields further, so I see no reason the ARCN should not perform the same function in Nigeria”.

Meanwhile, Adesina has begun talks with Brazilian farmers for a shared knowledge on the use of farming technology. The Minister has also persuaded the Brazilian investors to explore opportuni-

ties in the nation’s agricultural sector.

Speaking with Brazilian investors and stakeholders in agribusiness in Sao Paulo, he said the move to understand how Brazil developed its agriculture became imperative given the advanced technology adopted by its farmers.

“Brazil was a net exporter of food just like Nigeria few years ago and that if Brazil could rise above her challenges then Nigeria has no reason to remain where it is today.

“The growing influence of Brazil in global economic fora is linked to her ability to feed herself and export to the world community,” he said.

‘Govt loses N9.7b to rice smuggling’

By Daniel Essiet

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HE Project Manager of Cassava: Adding Value for Africa(C:AVA) Dr Kola Adebayo, has asked the government to stop the smuggling of cheap rice, estimated at 80,000 metric tonnes into the country.

Adebayo said government was losing about N9.7 billion monthly to the illegal trade, warnibg that government’s goal for self-sufficiency in rice may be threatened if the practice was not arrested.

He said rampant rice smuggling was occurring at the ports, particularly in Seme where shipments come from other countries.

He urged the Customs to rise to the challenge and curb the rampant entry of smuggled grains.

H e u r g e d t h e government to help farmers and other allied sectors by supporting them with direct credit, sustained subsidy for production inputs, development of irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities, extension services, and research and development to improve local production.

He warned that if the trade continues and farmers and millers close shop since they could not compete with smuggled rice, then the government’s desire for the country to be self-sufficiency in rice production, will remain a mirage.

Because of the entry of smuggled rice into the country,local rice m i l l e r s a r e not selling their products a s do importers of foreign rice, Adebayo, said.

Airtel commissions new express shop From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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EW days after the launch of the new Mo bile Number Portability (MNP), Global System network for Mobile phone operator, Airtel Nigeria has commissioned a new express shop at Utako District, in Abuja.

The Managing Director/ CEO Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya disclosed that Airtel Nigeria opened the Express Shop in order to allow customers who wish to join the Airtel network to port easily while still retaining their mobile numbers.

Ogunsayan said the network has already ported three customers just few days after the launch of MNP in Lagos. He urged customers to join the “red train” because the network is one of the best in the country.

He said: “Why we need customers to join the red train, we have been selected as one of the best networks in this country. We are not only saying we are good, the regulators said so. It is another thing to say you are good, it is more important for the person who is recognised as the official regulator to say so. Ncc confirmed that we made all their parameters.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

THE NATION

e-Business 08111813065 e-mail: lukajanaku02@yahoo.com

Six years after the idea was mooted, the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) took off on Monday. Its implementation holds a lot of promises for subscribers, the regulator and operators, reports LUCAS AJANAKU

How mobile number portability will work H

ISTORY was made on Monday when the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) was launched at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

At the historic event, stakeholders listed the benefits MNP to global system for mobile (GSM) communication subscribers.

Director, Regulatroy Affairs and Special Projects, Airtel Nigeria, Osondu Nwokoro, said the MNP would “enable a mobile subscriber to migrate from one service provider to another while retaining the phone number allocated to him by his original/former service provider.” He added that the mobile number is a unique means of identification, such as the Social Security and National ID Numbers in other organised jurisdictions.

He listed four major stakeholder groups that would benefit from MNP. They are subscribers, operators, Federal Government and the NCC. Experts say subscribers will have the opportunity to retain their numbers and have the freedom to choose and benefit from high quality service, tariffs, coverage and product range which will be induced by competition.

Operators would profit from the upgrade of their infrastructure for optimal use, showcase innovative product offerings and services and increase their market share, they added.

With the MNP, the Federal Government would boost its contributions to social overhead capital and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign direct investment (FDI). This, analysts said, would lead to improvement in national communications infrastructure, described as one of the cardinal objectives of the government.

For the NCC, it would take the burden of regulation off its shoulders as the industry would self-regulatory in terms of quality, coverage, competition and tariffs.

It would also lessen the resources allocated to address industry concerns while the resources saved can beused for other industry issues even as there will be less enforcement actions.

To ensure a seamless operation of MNP, the NCC engaged the services of Interconnect Clearing House Nigeria Limited (ICN), also a licencee of the NCC, to handle the porting in (migration of a subscriber into a new networ) and porting out (migration of subscribers form its old network) process. The firm also partnered Telcordia and Saab Grintek to implement the scheme.

ICN Chief Operating Officer, Uche Onwudiwe, described the porting process as simple. He said all a willing subscriber that is dissatisfied with his/her service provider needs to do is walk into the shop of the recipient operator (the network service provider into which a subscriber ports in) and request for form which is filled.

After the completion of that formalty and

•Madueke

•Juwah

•Ojo

presentation evidence to prove that the owner of the SIM is actually the person requesting for porting, an SMS in which port will be sent to 3232 from where it will be picked for action by the ICN which will begin the process of completing the process by contacting the recipient (the network service provider into which a subscriber ports in). Upon the completion of the process, a new SIM card would be given to the subcriber by the recipient network operator while the subscribers would be required to register the new SIM again.

According to him, the process will take a about 48 hours to complete, adding that no operator has the right to stop the process from going on.

MTN Nigeria Cief Executive Officer Brett Goshen said the telco would leverage on the experience it has gained in its operations in other climes where MNP had been introduced, adding that customer care officials had been trained in all the telcos’ shops to attend to subscribers who want to join the network.

His Airtel counterpart, Segun Ogunsanya, said its network is prepared to accommodate new subscribers. Also, Olayinka Olafimihan of Glo and Ndidi of Etisalat said their companies were prepared for MNP. Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Eugene Juwah, said the commission has developed guidelines for the process. “It is pertinent to mention that there are rules governing the process of customers porting from one network to another and regulating the implementation by network providers. These rules are contained in the Mobiel Number Portability Business Rules already published and available on the commisssion’s website. In addition, the commission has also developed Regulations for Mobile Number Portability,” Juwah said, adding that the documents would provide guid-

ance, promote transparency and healthy competition among service providers.

ICN Chairman, Admiral Allison Madueke (retd), said the firm has its main data centre in Lagos and a disaster recovery centre in Abuja where subscribers’ porting information would be stored.

He said the data centres are secured against cyber attacks. “The number of fireworks we have created is adequate to protect everybody that is porting and the process of porting needs a lot of screening.

When you go to the porting centre, you will be given a from to fill,” he said, adding that the attendants will have to check the authenticity of the information that has been provided.

Director, Regulatory Affairs and chair, Implementation Committee, MNP, Ms Josephine Amuwa, said subscribers intending to port must first exhaust the airtime on their phones. On the requirement that a subscriber would have to remain on the network, once ported, for 90 days, she said. It is for the ICN to recover the cost of doing the porting, she said, adding that porting is free.

Chairman House of Representatives Communication Committee, Hon Oyetunde Ojo and his Senate counterpart, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, described the introduction of MNP as marking a new dawn in annals of the country’s telecoms sector.

They pledged to continue to work with the regulator to ensure that the subscribers get vaue for the money they spend on making calls.

Chairman, NCC board, Peter Igho, said MNP is a scheme on which the Nigerians are in agreement, adding that the commission embarked on extensive consultation before implementing the project.

Originally conceived by the former executive vice chairman of the NCC, Ernest Ndukwe in 2007, it could not be implemented because there was no data base

as subscribers bought SIM cards without registering them before use.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest mobile market with tremendous growth potential given that penetration was just 57.4 per cent at the end of 2010. With the rapidly improving mobile infrastructure and intense compettion among mobile operators, it is expected that the numbers of mobile subscribers will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 15 per cent during 2009-2014, with a penetration rate exceeding 88 per cent by the end of 2014. Latest figures from the NCC show that subscriber base has passed 113 million.

Analysts say the success of MNP scheme may be undermined by the fact that many Nigerians have more than one mobile phone and SIM cards, which enable them to enjoy the services of two or more service providers.

Aside Nigerians getting used to clutching more than one phone (as status symbol as well as a result of inefficient service), there is also the problem of long delays before porting. Forty-eight hours are certainly a long time to complete the exercise and the requirement that the subscriber will have to acquire the SIM of the recipient network, engage in another round of registration may too unwieldy for prospective porting subscribers.

Added to this is the level of awareness.

While it is true that virtually all mobile phone users in the country know about the problem of persistent poor service quality, it may not be true that they have been sufficiently informed about the new freedom being given to them through MNP. Against this background, the NCC, operators and the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) would need to do more by creating public awareness. This could be through newspaper adverts, radio jingles and distribution of handbills written in all the major languages of the country.

It is said of the about 62 countries that have introduced MNP, few have seen more than 30 per cent of subscribers in the market using the service.

But sector analysts say the success rate should not be judged by the number of customers that port, but by the quality of infrastructure and competitiveness that will be generated in the telecoms sector.

‘The number of fireworks we have created is adequate to protect everybody that is porting and the process of porting needs a lot of screening.

When you go to the porting centre, you will be given a form to fill’

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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INDUSTRY

UNIDO unveils N31.8b year budget for Nigeria, others

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HE United Nations Indus trial Development Organisation (UNIDO) will spend $200 million (about N31.8 billion) to industrialise Nigeria and other African countries over the next six years, its DirectorGeneral, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, has said.

A summit speaking out in Abuja, Yumkella said since 2008, the organisation has spent $100 million (about N15.9 billion) on the industrial sectors in Africa, adding that another $200 million (N31.8 billion) is in the pipeline.

He said the organisation is working with the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and the private sector to implement rice husk fuel plant project in Ebonyi, a $820,000 shoe factory in Delta State and mini-hydro power stations, among other projects across the country.

He said the money would be spent on some of the organisation’s industrial projects, such as energy,tradecapacity building, pharmaceutical manufacturing and the Accelerated Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development Initiative (ADI) Yemekella said: “There has been a significant increase in the number, types and quality of

Stories by Toba Agboola

programmes that we have delivered in Africa. All of these activities fit within the overall framework for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA), formulated by the African Union Commission with UNIDO’s assistance, and endorsed at the 2008 Summit. We have worked with various commissioners to consolidate the economic pillars of AU’s Mandate.

“We supported the AU to institutionalise the Conference of African Ministers of Industry (CAMI). The Secretariats of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and the governments of Egypt, South Africa and Algeria, provided significant political leadership and technical support to ensure that CAMI becomes a viable organ of the AU,” he added.

He said the goal of the ADI is to have an agriculture sector in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) that are expected to join the highly productive and profitable agricultural value chains by the year, 2020.

Yumkella blamed the crisis in the power sector on inconsistent policy by previous administrations.

He described government’s attitude to power problem as adhoc, without clear-cut strategy on how to provide lasting solutions to the problem.

“When power supply goes off, we get the generator. We never sat down to ask where we want the nation to be in the next 20 to 25 years, how fast we want it to grow, how much jobs we want to create and what sectors of the economy we need to develop.

“Instead of putting the generators on, you would have built the hydropower plant since Nigeria has a lot of water resources,” he said.

He regretted that most hydropower projects embarked upon by the country were abandoned, while funds allocated for the projects were not accounted for.

“We surveyed the water basins and started some hydro projects, they were never completed.

Some were about 90 per cent completed, but were never turned on. Those dams could be used for irrigation and water supply in cities. So, you have to link energy access with the ambition of Governors to transform their states. We also need to convince the politicians that energy transformation is not a quick fix.

It is a long-term strategy of 20 to 30 years,” he added.

Govt spends N88b on rice, sugar import

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HE Federl Government spent N88.15 billion on rice and raw cane sugar importation between October and December last year, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said. In its fourth quarter 2012 trade statistics.

Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale, said N56.91 billion was spent on importation of semi-milled or wholly-milled rice in packaging of more than five kilogrammes, or in bulk; while raw cane sugar in solid form took N31.24billion.

It put the total merchandise trade for the fourth quarter of 2012 at N7.185 trillion, representing an increase of N6.4 billion or 0.1 per cent over what was recorded in the third quarter of last year.

“The total value of Nigeria’s external merchandise trade for the fourth quarter of 2012 stood at N7.185trillion, showing a slight increase of N6.4billion or 0.1 per cent over the previous quarter.

“At the end of 2012, Nigeria’s

external trade was N28.071trillion.

This was 4.3 per cent lower than the corresponding figure of N29.333trillion recorded in 2011.”

The development, the NBS said, was due to a sharp decrease of 43.1 per cent in the value of imports from N9.89trillion in 2011 to N5.62trillion in 2012.

In spite of the decrease in the value of imports, experts have lamented that N88billion was still spent on the importation of rice and sugar in the last quarter of the year.

This, according to them, is a stark reflection of the country’s dependence on food imports.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said the country had become a dumping ground for imported food, adding that Nigerians were spending N2trillion yearly on food importation.

He had said: “It is a shameful thing that Nigeria has become a net importer of food.

Nigeria to manufacture auto spare parts

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HE Federal Government plans to begin local manufacturing of auto spare parts soon.

Making this known to reporters in Lagos, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Muhammed Sada, said the ministry would incorporate products from local manufacturers to realise the plan, aimed at creating jobs.

He said: “We are working on some projects whereby some of the major automobile manufacturers would be invited to speed up activities in the production of basic spare parts for the motor industry with the hope that we would build it to the level where we would be able to produce motor vehicles.

“This is where the local manufacturers will come in. We would not be thinking of this kind of programmes without the local manufactuers . They would be part

of the framework with which the automobile framework will be built.

“We are in a strong partnership with them, which we believe would develop the industry, and most importantly, providing the required jobs for the Nigerian people.”

The minister said the government had decided to leave the development of the steel industry to the private sector, adding that the government would only serve as regulator for the activities within the sector.

“This has led the government into privatising most of the operations in the sector. The idea is to ensure that a level-playing field and an enabling environment is created for businesses to progress and grow and be the drivers of the achievements that are found in the sector,” he added.

Lafarge votes 450m euro for building cities, products

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•From left: Dankwambo; Executive Director, Operations, BoI, Alhaji Muhammed Alkali; Executive Director, Business Development, Mr Waheed Olagunju and Ms. Oputu, at the event.

BoI, Gombe N3b entrepreneurship scheme enters phase two

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HE Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Gombe State Government have begun the second phase of the N3 billion Gombe State Government/Bol Entrepreneurship Development Scheme.

Speaking during the kick off of the scheme, the Managing Director of BoI, Ms Evelyn Oputu, said transparency and transformative strategy should be deployed in the disbursement of the loan.

She praised the strict professionalism deployed by officials and the 13-man Loan Monitoring Committee in ensuring that the loans are repaid a promptly, adding that this has made the state to carve a niche for itself in fund management.

Ms. Oputu while pledging the support of the bank to ensuring that the newly established

industrial cluster gains access to renewable energy through the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), called on the Dankwambo to consider the provision of land for cotton production, saying the Bank was in talks with investors from Madagascar and Malaysia who are willing to come because the state is rich in cotton production.

She said in line with the objective of the government to encourage the exploitation of the state’s natural resource endowment, 80 per cent of the approved loan has been committed to agribusiness, with the balance reserved for construction and asquisition of chemical products Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo said his administration, two years ago,

took the step by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BoI to reposition the economic fortunes of the State.

He said the move entails the creation of a “Matching Fund” of N1 billion through a joint contribution of N500 million each by the state government and BoI to Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in value addition activities in fertiliser blending, groundnut oil processing, rice, poultry feeds, fish feeds and tomato processing.

Others are cosmetic manufacturing, aluminum long span roofing sheet manufacturing, poultry farming, printing, metal fabrication, block/interlocking moulding, carpentry and furniture making.

He said the fund would provide soft and affordable loans to indigenes of the state, to invest in.

AFARGE WAPCO is invest ing 450 million euro in the development of value-added products, construction systems, solutions and services to meet some of the challenges of urbanisation.

In a statement, the company said its plan to contribute to building better cities, would be supported by innovation in line with its 2012 to 2015 plan.

It said by 2050, about 70 per cent of the world’s population, estimated at nine billion people, would be living in towns and cities, compared to over 50 per cent today. “ Urbanisation on such a scale will be a challenge and we will do everything we can to reduce the challenges.

This will be done most especially in

countries where the group is strongly established,” the statement said.

Addressing five main challenges, the group noted that its ambition to contribute to building better cities, includes solutions contributing to more housing in cities; to address the issue of housing for all, including affordable housing; more compact cities, with the construction of vertical buildings which help reduce urban sprawl.

Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc had, against the backdrop of speculations from market watchers, that the company may shut down its plants following alleged glut of cement in the country recently said that it remains in operation and has no intention of shutting down its plants.

RMRDC urges Fed Govt on exploitation of solid minerals

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HE Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has called on the Federal Government to be more resolute on exploitation of solid mineral resources, as no nation can boast of sustainable development if the economy is import-dependent.

Speaking at a workshop on entrepreneurship training for mineral raw materials exploitation and development in the Northwest in Sokoto, the Director-General, RMRDC, Prof. Peter Onwualu, said the volatile nature of the oil market has made it imperative for the country to diversify its mono-product economy.

He said mineral resources form a basis for the industrial develop-

ment and prosperity of any nation, adding that more priority should be given to the exploitation of solid minerals by encouraging private sector’s participation.

According to him, to ensure that optimal benefits are obtained from the mineral resources, steps have to be taken to ensure continual development of these resources for industrial development.

“Time has come for us to be more pragmatic on the issue of exploitation of our mineral resources as no nation can boast of sustainable development if the economy is absolutely import dependent. “

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Honoring a ‘red line’ in Syria over chemical weapons

PDP’s dream •An unwanted ruling party wants more states

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S if oblivious of the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is daily losing credibility among Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the party to add nine more states to the 23 that it presently controls, in the 2015 elections. While the PDP chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said that the directive is doable through “hard work”, the chairman, board of trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, added a frightening dimension that the party “will do what we know how to do best”.

For a party that is fast losing control of itself and that of many of its members nationwide, the “hard work” to “capture” at least 32 states, in spite of the general disillusionment of the electorate with the party’s woeful performance for 14 years, must be rigging of the election. The PDP has done this consistently over the years such that Anenih’s statement is easy to understand.

Expectedly, the party has been under severe criticism since the presidential directive was made public. The national publicity secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Emma Eneukwu, said “Nigerians are not fools who can be deceived by mere boast by a party that had plunged the country into terrible darkness. The day of reckoning is approaching”. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) simply advised PDP to stop its empty boast and stop day-dreaming, considering the condition on ground.

The party’s spokesman in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, said “No reasonable person could even think of PDP’s chances in 2015 after wrecking havoc on Nigeria for

14 years.” “You don’t capture with votes but with arms and ammunition,” said Jide Awe, ACN chairman in Ekiti State.

For Lai Mohammed, ACN’s national publicity secretary, “I don’t think that the word “capture” is a lexicon that should be used in a democracy. That belongs to the military era and that is the mindset of the PDP”.

Sensing that the PDP’s threat was the result of fear of the victory for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015, the Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, advised President Jonathan “to prepare his hand-over note as the era of rigging was over because what happened in 2011 election will never happen again”.

These and other criticisms for Jonathan and the PDP have exposed the party exactly as the late Bola Ige called it: “a party with leprous hands” that nobody wants to shake. The widespread disillusionment with the PDP government has become so widespread: Under the party, Nigeria has been plunged into darkness as a result of lack of electricity supply; millions of Nigerians lack access to potable water; billions of pensioners’ funds have been stolen while the beneficiaries have died and are still dying, of criminal neglect by the pension ‘house of horror’.

These are not all; there is near collapse of education and medical care; infrastructure; dirty environments in rural and urban areas, disease and squalor and the now frightening phenomenon of general insecurity that has made life in Nigeria totally unpredictable. Yet, the PDP hopes

to add nine more states to its present 23!

On what spectacular performance did the party base its boast of capturing nine more states? Where, precisely, will the PDP get the 32 states in 2015? Well, PDP has the right to engage itself in self-delusion or day dreaming, but we should warn that it is extremely dangerous for a non-performing party to boast of winning 32 out of 36 states in a country where general awareness of the situation in the country by the electorate is very high.

We also advise that the PDP should stop beating the drum of war through its use of military terms and its politics of “do or die” in a country where the electorate may have made up their minds about the kind of government they need and want, come the 2015 general elections.

‘On what spectacular performance did the party base its boast of capturing nine more states?

Where, precisely, will the PDP get the 32 states in 2015? Well, PDP has the right to engage itself in self-delusion or day dreaming, but we should warn that it is extremely dangerous for a non-performing party to boast of winning 32 out of 36 states in a country where general awareness of the situation in the country by the electorate is very high’

Worrisome body-snatching •Three abductions in Lagos in one week is sure to make stakeholders wary

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IRST, it was Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos, that was abducted Monday last week and released five days later, after his family had reportedly paid a ransom of N15 million. Last Tuesday, a 16-yearold pupil of American International School, Lagos, was reportedly kidnapped on his way to school. There was no clue as to his whereabouts up till the end of last week and no demand was yet made. The third case was a lady by the name of Nnena Edu said to have been kidnapped in front of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, Sunday, last week. She was released three days later.

It is not that there had not been cases of kidnapping in Lagos State, but they were few and far between. Witnessing three successive and, shall we say, successful cases in one week in different parts of the

‘Lagos has represented a model city state for the rest of the country in the last few years; it has been an exemplar of how governments should be organised in nearly all ramifications as it created templates that have been widely copied across the country. We urge the state government to run critical reviews in some of its systems, especially the laudable security model which had functioned considerably well’

city portends a sad augury. All stakeholders - from the government, security agencies, corporate bodies and Lagosians generally - must be wary of this monster creeping, so to speak, into their city.

Kidnapping for ransom has been a Nigerian scourge for well over a decade now, ravaging the south-south and then the South-east parts of Nigeria. Emanating as part of the Niger Delta youth uprising and militancy when expatriates, especially in the oil sector were abducted routinely to press home their point, kidnapping soon spread to adjoining states and regions because it turned out quite ‘lucrative.’ It soon became the rave in the south-east zone, as unemployed youths and tertiary institutions’ students found in it, a relatively easy and risk-free means of getting rich quick.

As we have canvassed on this page several times, the syndrome of kidnapping for ransom is merely symptomatic of the malaise in the polity. Ineffectual leadership, flailing economy and massive corruption have left a multitude of youths jobless and untended. There is hardly a modicum of governance or economy in most of the 774 local government areas (LGAs) across the country. This is a vast swathe of the country left unharnessed and unproductive. While a few city centres seem to thrive, the LGAs have become comatose, if not moribund. Huge commercial activities that ought to take place in the LGAs in a proper three threetier structure are non-existent.

By the same token, the security agencies, especially the police, have become overwhelmed and incapacitated by the much daunting environment they operate in. Over the years, they have become poorly trained and ill-equipped to be able to contain the kidnapping scourge. What

therefore started in the Niger-Delta as a symbol of protest has metamorphosed into a huge criminal enterprise and spreading into nearly every part of the country. Virtually no day passes without a case of kidnapping in states like Anambra, Imo, Edo, Delta and now, in the south-west states.

Though cases of abductions have been reported recently in states like Ekiti, Ondo and Osun, the recent manifestations in Lagos would leave not a few residents worried. The mega-city, with her more-than-capable governor has long been considered as the model state in terms of maintaining order, peace and security. With a well-oiled security fund managed by a well-appointed committee, the Babatunde Fashola administration has managed to keep the city under control within tolerable limits. Vice and criminal activities had hitherto been within bearable levels.

But this seems to be changing recently.

Armed robbery gangs have threatened to overwhelm the state and violent street gangs have been on the increase, causing deaths and much unease in many neighbourhoods. And now it is abductions. Lagos has represented a model city state for the rest of the country in the last few years; it has been an exemplar of how governments should be organised in nearly all ramifications as it created templates that have been widely copied across the country.

We urge the state government to run critical reviews in some of its systems, especially the laudable security model which had functioned considerably well.

We refer particularly to the incipient surge in body snatching and suggest a holistic approach and an entirely new template in order to nip it in the bud.

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HREE MAJOR U.S. allies — Britain, France and Israel — have now concluded that the Syrian regime of Bashar alAssad has very likely used chemical weapons.

This would cross a “red line” drawn by President Obama not once but on multiple occasions. An Israeli general said Tuesday that “the regime used lethal chemical weapons against gunmen in a series of incidents in recent months,” including a March 19 attack near Aleppo where a “sarin-type” substance was employed. The British and French governments reported to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that they had corroborating evidence, including soil samples, of chemical-weapon use in three instances since December.

Though his policy on Syria has been weak and muddled, Mr. Obama has been very clear that the United States “will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people,” as he put it last month. He has said that such use would be a “game-changer.”

Yet the administration now declines to join the analysis of its close allies. Perhaps it is the case, as White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday, that “conclusive evidence” is still lacking. Administration officials point out that the British, French and Israelis are not saying they are certain. No one wishes to repeat the mistake of intervening in Iraq on the basis of faulty intelligence.

But another danger is that the Assad regime will conclude that Mr. Obama’s warnings were never serious. Many analysts believe the relatively limited use of chemical weapons until now was intended to test international reaction. If there is no response, Damascus may decide that it is free to use its chemicals on a larger scale.

Mr. Assad suggested something like that this week in a meeting with a Lebanese delegation.

According to a Lebanese newspaper report, he said, “The Americans have been pragmatic from the very beginning and never pursued any course to its logical conclusion. They would eventually side with the victor.”

In truth, Mr. Obama has been inching toward more decisive action. At a meeting of opposition supporters last weekend, Secretary of State John F. Kerry announced a doubling of U.S. aid for the opposition to $250 million, including direct funding for rebel forces.

Yet U.S. support for the rebels remains far below what would be necessary to accelerate the downfall of the Assad regime. Syrians are furious at the United States and increasingly supportive of an al-Qaeda militia that has won a string of battlefield victories. If Mr. Obama waffles or retreats on the one clear red line he drew, U.S. credibility across the region will be severely damaged.

With Syria blocking a U.N. investigation and few assets on the ground, it can be difficult to determine what happened in the reported chemical-weapons attacks. But it is important that the United States reach a conclusion, and soon.

– Washington Post TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Yomi Odunuga •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: “The youths are the future of this nation.” This has been a popular saying that has been used on so many occasions to re-create the impression that the youths hold the key to not just the future but a bright one.

No doubt, this popular saying has been abused by all including the youths who realistically know that the future is out of their hands and that darkness has already set on their chances to change their destiny and that of their nation.

With the plethora of challenges, problems and issues facing the teeming youths, it is conspicuous that they are no longer the future of the nation. They have been relegated to the seat of redundant spectators in the administration of the country hence the maladministration that characterises the day.

The situation Nigerian youths find themselves in is saddening and disturbing. Their current status has confirmed that the future of the nation is bleak. The big question begging for answer is where does the future lie? Or with whom does the much talked about future lie?

The worst scenario is that most Nigerian graduates remain unemployed. This is because they are the reflection of the decayed Nigerian educational sector. Universities on

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What future for Nigeria’s youths? yearly basis churn out graduates yet, employing them remain a mirage. These graduates now compete for the little poorly remunerated jobs available.

Consequently, fraud, armed robbery, prostitution and other criminal activities have become the order of the day. So sad, government has always sang the song “be self

employed” even when they create no environment to realise this. The same government further turns these youths into thugs to achieve their objectives.

My questions to our leaders at all levels are: were they brought up this way? Have they forgotten that posterity will judge them? Are their children also facing the same

problems with majority of other youths whose futures are dwindling seconds after seconds? Why have they turned issues affecting or regarding the youths into rhetorical jamboree? I wonder if they know that those who live in glass houses do not throw stones. They have forgotten that the neglect of the youths has resulted into the

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• Owolagba Blessing IBB University, Lapai, Niger State

Varsity lecturers should supervise WAEC exams IR: What transpired in various centres in the recent West African Senior School Certificate Examinations shows that examination malpractice in the country has snowballed into an unimaginable proportion. If the ugly trend is not drastically checked, the aim of making education a sublime phenomenon and affordable to every Nigerian by the year 2015

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would be a mirage. The scenario is now depicting a different ball game as teachers and supervisors are grossly involved in the heinous act.

Students pay for signing fee to supervisors and invigilators before they could sit for their exams, while the invigilators reciprocate by allowing the teachers assist their students in the hall. On most occasions, the invigilators supply the answers

themselves.

Secondary education plays a very important role in the lives of students for it is the only forum where their characters could be moulded in order to place them in the right perspective for further academic pursuit. Government should therefore source another means of arresting the situation if the target to attain the 20:2020 status is in their

Jonathan unfair to health professionals IR: With the recent constitution of the governing boards of federal health institutions as reported in the media and the exclusion of other health professionals such as nurses, Medical laboratory scientists, Pharmacists, etc, on the boards, it is clear that the present administration has remained biased, ill-focused and not willing to change its style and tactics in handling the crisis rocking the health sector.

It is very unfortunate that the president seem not to understand

abundance of problems that afflicts this nation.

The time is ripe for leaders at all levels to admit their incompetence in handling youths’ issues and most importantly failure to provide the poor youths the future they deserved. They should know that the country was not handed over to them by their founding fathers the way they have made it to be.

With the current scenario in the lives of Nigerian youths, they are so frustrated to the extent that they are no longer dreaming of the future not to talk of a bright one.

the intricacies/consequences involved in matters like this and allowing Prof Onyebuchi to be misleading him!

This is not a military regime where things are done anyhow.

How can you constitute a board without incorporating the different stakeholders in the health sector as members?

It is clear that the President does not wish the health sector well. It will be recalled that the different health sector unions had earlier called for the removal of the health

minister but this feel on the deaf ears of the president.

In line with these developments, I think it is right time the various unions declare a total strike if they are serious in pursuing their legitimate rights. They constitute the majority in any health establishment and the majority will always carry the vote!

The case in UCH is also an eye opener to the various illegalities being perpetrated. The president seems to be aiding and abetting in these crimes and illegalities. A total strike action by all concerned will

be the best to address this nonsense!

Things were not like this during exPresident Obasanjo period. It is therefore very necessary for all the unions to enlighten their members on who to vote for as the next presidential election approaches because politics sure has a role to play in the struggle. The president has disappointed health professionals in the country by his recent action and with the continued retention of Prof Onyebuchi as health minister.

• Joshua A. Anunibe Ijegun, Lagos.

master plan.

The story in our tertiary institutions is not different. Students are now tied to the apron strings of some unscrupulous lectures who compel them to read only the text books authored by them if they must sail through in their exams. In most cases, assignments are not submitted without money changing hands between student and lecturer. The practice of confining students to only pages of their self-authored books would drastically affect their reading culture as they would no longer have the zeal to make research to improve their educational standard.

However, in order to bring the unwholesome act currently going on in WAEC examinations to an end, the authorities concerned should adopt Professor Attahiru Jega’s formula by engaging university professors in the supervision of WAEC exams.

I believe this measure would help in no small measure to bring the trend to minimal.

• Nkemakolam Gabriel Port Harcourt

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

21

COMMENTS

Hegemon in a peripheral region: Future of Nigeria’s foreign policy (4) DDED to this trend was Nigeria’s support for the removal of Muammar Ghadafi and his eventual killing which raised the question of whether Nigeria’s foreign policy in recent times has been hijacked by the West and whether Nigeria was sensitive to the question of sovereignty which our postcolonial leaders fought bravely for. Of course Muammar Ghadafi and Gbagbo were bad leaders, and Ghadafi in particular may not have wished Nigeria well in his past actions, but their removal by extra African forces, establishes a principle and a precedent that could perhaps haunt us in the future. This is why we must tread softly in our present entanglements in Mali, even though we are supporting a worthy cause and a principle of the non-violability and non-changeability of inherited African colonial frontiers. But care needs to be taken, so that whatever we do in Mali is not perceived as supporting Western led campaign and war against terror, in which some may misinterpret as war against Islam. Already, there is already a growing murmur in some parts of the North that Nigeria is in League with western countries to attack Muslims in Mali. This is not going to be the first time the bona fides of Nigeria would be called into question. In 1989 when there was a border skirmish between Senegal and Mauritanian forces following the migration of Mauritanian black citizens (haratin) into Senegal after their brutalisation by the Moorish regime in Nouakchott, Nigeria’s criticism of Mauritania was resented by some of our Muslim brothers right inside our foreign policy establishment. This was despite the fact then as it is now that black Malians, Senegalese and black Mauritanians are 98% or more Muslims. This lack of unanimity in our foreign policy seems to be a permanent feature of our relation in areas where religion directly or indirectly can be manipulated to undermine the unity of direction of our foreign policy.

Future of West African integration and the role of Nigeria Leadership carries a cost. There would never have been a Euro-

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‘The proliferation of small arms in the region is something to worry about. This problem has increased exponentially since the overthrow of Muammar Ghadafi in Libya and the infestation of the Western Sahara by terrorists allied to either the Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb or al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa’

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VEN journalists, who are known to have a thick skin, were shocked on hearing the news. 185 persons killed in the border town of Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State! It sounded unbelievable. ‘’How can 185 persons be mowed down in one fell swoop?” some wondered. ‘’Haha, and you believe that such a number can be killed just like that when we are not at war”,others said.

This was the situation in many newsrooms on Monday when news filtered in of the killing by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) of 185 persons. Who are they? Boko Haram members?

Children? Old men and women?

For now, their identities remain a secret because they have been buried in line with Islamic injunctions, which stipulate that the remains of the dead should be interred within 24 hours. The MJTF was said to have unleashed its firepower on people of the town in its bid to smoke out members of the Islamic sect Boko Haram from the community.

The task force’s brief is to castrate Boko Haram at all cost.

So, when it heard that members of the sect were in the border town, it moved in to clip their wings before they became a menace. According to reports, when the task force got there, the Boko Haram elements opened fire, killing a soldier. Since the task force operatives comprise soldiers from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, we are yet to be told the nationality of the killed combatant.

As a bloody civilian, I respect soldiers a lot because they don’t usually go about showing off that they have the skills to kill in over 1000 ways, as some of them are wont to say. Well trained soldiers

pean Union without the sacrifices of France and Germany and the division in Europe in particular and the historicity of that division is much deeper than the colonially imposed linguistic division of West Africa. It is in Nigeria’s enlightened self-interest to support economic integration of West Africa as a prelude to political integration and union. The logic here is that Nigeria must continue to make sacrifices for the good of the region and in doing so; its leadership must carry along with it the entire citizenry.

The population of West Africa is just slightly over 300million and less than the population of the United States. This population is very complex and we must not overlook this complexity, but if we create a situation in which all stakeholders see an advantage in economic integration, then, integration can become realistic practical politics. Nigeria should champion adopting a regime of a Customs Union (Zollverein) and it must be prepared to support countries that are not economically viable, through a distribution of custom duties on a demographic basis as well as basis of need. As at present, the neighbouring country of Benin, in particular, derives its economic well-being on smuggling of goods to and from Nigeria. A Customs Union would obviate this. The Customs Union should be the first step towards Economic Union. Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries for more than four decades have talked and planned the introduction of a common currency. In spite of the difficulties that dog this plan, it should not be seen as insurmountable and the goal should be fast-forwarded so that adoption of a common currency becomes a foreign policy goal in the future.

There are other areas in which resources can be pooled together by governments and business people. This would depend on economic policies of the constituent governments in the region. Nigeria should lead the way in supporting a market economy in the region, without necessarily abandoning the role that states can play in the economy. We should not be glued to the orthodoxy of a market economy in which the state has no role at all. Even serious economists in the West are now beginning to see the positive role states can play in the economy through appropriate regulation of the market and the economy generally.

Going hand-in-hand with economic integration should come ideological re-orientation of the politics in the region. It is now clear that development must be anchored on democratic rule. It is now proven that without adherence to fundamental human rights and the basic liberties and freedom, man would not be free to think through problems and to innovate and these are

necessary conditions for development in a knowledge based world. In the past and even under military rule, Nigeria pursued a policy of spreading democracy in the region; a system of government denied its Jide citizens at home. We Osuntokun must never in the future be in this invidious situation. In our sub-region, Senegal, Ghana and Benin are well ahead of us in the march towards democratic governance. We must do something about our democratic credentials so that laggards like Guinea, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Mali, Burkina-Faso, Togo, the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia do not find solace in our undemocratic practices, particularly, rigging of elections. It is by strictly adhering to correct democratic practices that we would make military intervention in politics a thing of the past; and unless Nigeria gets it right, it would be impossible for us to impose democracy in states in our region when anti-democratic parties seize power.

Democracy should be seen in terms of peaceful co-existence of all the states in the region. Democratic states usually do not fight one another. This has been recognised as far back as the nineteenth century when Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) wrote about “Pacific Federations” (foedus pacificum). He wrote that it is only when there is no democracy that war breaks out; and that it is when there is no democracy that the war party of the Bourgeoisie and the military fight war of expansion and conquest. This of course would not apply totally to Nigeria because Nigeria is a satisfied and contented country and has no imperialistic design on her neighbours. But the point of the peaceful nature of democratic government should be embraced by all and should be a driving force behind our foreign policy in the region and outside; and should be a fundamental factor of our relations with other African and non-African countries.

Without security, there can be no development. The proliferation of small arms in the region is something to worry about. This problem has increased exponentially since the overthrow of Muammar Ghadafi in Libya and the infestation of the Western Sahara by terrorists allied to either the AlQaeda in the Maghreb or al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa.

Death at a border town

are cool-headed; they are not moved, no matter the provocation to unleash their power on the defenceless. It is the ability of a soldier not to give in to anger or undue provocation in any situation that makes him stand out in any gathering. The hallmark of a soldier; a good soldier at that, is his levelheadedness even in war.

A good soldier is expected to exercise restraint in the face of provocation. In any situation, when others are losing their heads, he is expected to keep his because if he should do otherwise, the end result will not be palatable. With what happened in Baga, we have seen what the uncontrolled anger of a soldier can lead to.

If soldiers are not levelheaded, they will commit a lot of atrocities during wars, especially among the civilian population.

But because of their training, which forbids them from killing, except if extremely necessary, we often don’t hear of extra-judicial killings during wars. Where we hear about such acts, as some soldiers will still behave irrationally, they are few and far between.

Those are the soldiers who give the military a bad name.

These are the soldiers who kill old men, women and rape girls in full public glare under the pretext of military operation. I wonder what kind of military assault will approve of the killing of innocent children and the raping of women. When such things happen, soldiers are no longer soldiers but savages. It is only a savage that will stoop so low as to kill the aged, both men and women, as well as children and also rape young girls. If such are

permissible in war, what about in peace time?

Nevertheless, such sadistic acts are disapproved of in war, so why must they happen when we are not at war? What happened in Baga last weekend is despicable. From the look of things, it was a premeditated act of murder. The soldiers deliberately went out to avenge the killing of their colleague without a thought for the consequences of their action.

They probably did what they did in order to teach the civiolian populace a lesson that you don’t shield those who kill a soldier.

But that was a wrong approach.

In 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo adopted a similar strategy when he ordered the levelling of Odi in Bayelsa State over the killing of some soldiers. Yes, Odi was levelled; children, old men and women were killed, but what did he achieve?

Did the action serve as a deterrence? As a former soldier, I appreciate the show of esprit de corps

by Obasanjo, but he more than any other person ought to know that you don’t achieve anything through force.

This is why till today, I respect the soldiers who arrested the late Yusuf Mohammed, the former Boko Haram leader, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in 2009. The soldiers treated the late Mohammed well and even treated him of his wounds.

But when they handed him over to the police, the story changed.

Mohammed was killed in police custody and the Boko Haram members became madder than ever. This is, however, not to justify the sect’s insensate actions ever since.

If the soldiers could treat the late Mohammed nicely just four years ago, what could have happened to their temperament between then and now? Before the late Mohammed was arrested in 2009, members of his sect had killed many soldiers, yet when he fell into JTF’s hand, he was not skinned alive. He was treated like a gentleman and granted his full rights.

In peace keeping as in war, soldiers have rules of engagement.

The rules differ for both operations. These rules do not sanction the invasion of a community under the guise of hunting down suspects even where soldiers are killed. This is so because in a purely civilian setting as is the case with Baga, the collateral damage that may be done will be enormous during such invasion.

In the MJTF’s desperate search for the killers of a soldier, they virtually wiped out a village. here is no way the soldiers can justify their action.

Yes, we feel for them over the killing of their colleague, but the solution to that does not lie in killing innocent people. Those

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‘A good soldier is expected to exercise restraint in the face of provocation. When others are losing their heads, he is expected to keep his because if he should do otherwise, the end result will not be palatable’

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204

killed may not know anything about Boko Haram. Or are the soldiers saying that all those killed were Boko Haram members? We are yet to get the full picture of this massacre. We may be in for a big shock when the full details of this gruesome act become public.

For now, all the soldiers, who took part in that bitter enterprise, should be withdrawn from this mission and courtmartialled.

They should be made to tell us why they took part in these extra-judicial killings. Whether the carnalthy figure is one, 25, 37, 185 or 300, a life is a life and it should not be taken so cheaply.

Soldiers more than any other professional should know that life is precious.

How can they justify the killing of this lot for the death of a soldier, who knew from the day he joined the army that he had signed away his life? Some people are tried for war crimes in other climes for offences not as grievous as the Baga massacre; so nothing should stop us from getting those who committed this atrocity.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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COMMENTS HAT President Jonathan is a deeply religious leader is not totally unexpected because his life has been a testimony to God’s special kindness. From a ‘shoeless’ school boy, God paved the way for a very rewarding position of an OMPADEC Assistant Director. From there he became Deputy Governor through the goodwill of his mentor, Alamieseigha. Obasanjo then became God’s instrumentality to change Jonathan’s life to a life of bigger testimonies.

Obasanjo after jailing Jonathan’s boss, for stealing his people’s money first installed Jonathan Governor and later moved him up as vice president.

Jonathan, the apple of God’s eye without struggle became president following Yar’Adua’s death. And in spite of PDP zoning policy and resistance from the real owners of PDP, he won a landslide victory in the 2011 election. Dame Patience Jonathan also enjoys God’s special grace. She recently gave a testimony of how God gave her another chance by raising her from death after eight days in a German hospital.

One can therefore understand why the president not only believes in miracles but also in the existence of ‘evil forces’ working towards the disintegration of Nigeria. This also explains why Jonathan doesn’t give a damn about the alleged weakness of character of his close associates including much reviled Tony Anenih, Doyin Okupe Bamanga Tukur and Ahmadu Alli and their troublesome sons.

Jonathan knows men count for little but ’with God all things are possible’.

In 2010, instead of reducing the presidential palace to just a house of intrigue, like his predecessors, he set up inside Aso rock an annual prayer session as ‘a forum to establish God link at the Presidential villa’. Two weeks ago after one of such sessions, he alerted the nation about the evil forces trying to derail Nigeria.

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‘The Igbo, hemmed at all sides and detested by less competitive groups have no place to go outside the greater Nigerian nation.

They like the Jews thrive more in other peoples land. And as Achebe puts it, they only ‘run home when calamity befalls the owner of the land, leaving behind the owners of the land who know how to appease their own gods”’

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Jonathan and the evil forces within

I think we must pay special attention to what was by all account a revelation to President Jonathan after a powerful prayer session. This is to prevent the president’s advisers from reducing this serious revelation to name calling and witch hunting of groups and opposition parties. We must not forget they once misled him on serious policy issues such as removal of phantom fuel subsidy and bail out for the aviation sector instead of the manufacturing sector.

Let me therefore as a social scientist and stakeholder in the Nigeria project help our god-fearing president to isolate groups that are not likely to support disintegration of Nigeria and identify areas where he should pay greater attention to avoid unnecessary dissipation of energy.

First, neither the dominant nor the minority ethnic groups including the oil-rich states want a disintegrated Nigeria. I think what each group wants in line with the dream of our founding fathers is fairness, justice and freedom to manage the affairs of their respective nations within the greater Nigerian nation.

First, the Hausa/Fulani in the event of Nigerian disintegration have nowhere to go.

When the intemperate Murtala Mohammed leading northern soldiers in the wake of the vengeance coup of 1966 attempted to take the north out of Nigeria, Britain and the US counselled them to fight for survival within a greater Nigerian nation. Today, there is no more a monolithic north. Secondly, the greed of today’s northern leaders have replaced the selflessness of Ahmadu Bello, the very personification of feudalism who nonetheless practiced egalitarianism by sending children of the poor and underprivileged in the north to the best schools in the world. Almost 50

T has recently become fashionable to embark on painstaking research and socio-psychological study of dramatis personae that influence and drive public policies.

An incontrovertible finding reveals that a person’s background, experiences and idiosyncratic make-up contribute largely to his approach in governance and life’s issues. For Abia State governor, his mastery of the socio-political milieu (as a home boy) and the challenges he encountered, have culminated to his transformational leadership exemplified by the numerous legacy projects.

Governor T.A. Orji has been severally described as a cat with nine lives. The booby traps and landmine that trailed his quest to govern his people turned out blessings in disguise. By a twist of fate, (Ochendo as fondly called) is usually placed in underdog positions in virtually all his political fights but remarkably and out of the blues, he has consistently emerged triumphantly, to the chagrin of the spin doctors of the opposition.

Typical of the journey to the seat of power in Nigeria, Orji’s ascendancy to Government House was bumpy, tortuous and attracted a barrage of nasty onslaughts. Of course, the ‘all-powerful nature’ of Nigerian State and its unfettered capacity to dispense favours and punishments alike, are at the root of concerted manoeuvrings and war-like dispositions in the political chessboard.

With a thorough-bred academic and civil service background, his candour and administrative finesse when he served as the Chief of Staff at Government House were legendary. His infectious smile and disarming humility attracted silent admirers for him. Most obviously, his knack for details and fine sense of operational balance in handling state affairs (usually intertwined with divergent interests), elevated the office as a veritable buffer ground and meltingpot for crystallization of policy in-puts.

Interestingly, when it was mooted that he would fly the gubernatorial flag of his political party in 2007, it was not difficult to market his candidature given his huge store of goodwill across the state. Not long, the preponderance of genuine support groups for Ochendo was witnessed in all parts of Abia. His intimidating profile and wide acceptability became worrisome to the opposition. They conspired and took him out of circulation on trumped up charges in the build-up to the 2007 elections. The shenanigans in the name of litigations and unprovoked campaigns of calumny that followed his first term were enough distractions. The family dynasty that held the state down for years gave him no breathing space either. The political economy of the state that was under ‘mamacratic’ stranglehold obviously became unbearable to him. Of course, Orji in his characteristic frank-

years after the venerable Ahmadu Bello’s death, the new northern leaders and beneficiaries of his foresight need Nigeria if they are to survive the wrath an army of unemployed and uneducated youths forced to embrace Boko Haram.

The Igbo, hemmed at all sides and detested by less competitive groups have no place to go outside the greater Nigerian nation. They like the Jews thrive more in other peoples land. And as Achebe puts it, they only ‘run home when calamity befalls the owner of the land, leaving behind the owners of the land who know how to appease their own gods”.

That has also changed. Today, they are marooned in Boko Haram-besieged north. Back home, their hostile land has been taken over by an army of unemployed youths whose major occupation is kidnapping children and the wealthy for ransom.

Of course the Yoruba in spite of clamour for regional integration need Nigeria more than any other group. An area P C Loyd said was more urbanized than Europe at the time of the colonization achieved that cultural advancement by their accommodation of strangers. It has always been the case since Obatala, according to myth descended with a rope from heaven or Oduduwa according to Ifa came with a new wave of immigrants from Mero near today’s Egypt. . Their cities and villages have today become havens for Nigerian internal immigrants from the besieged northeast and those driven by commerce and kidnappers from the south- east. The Market women yam sellers are at peace with itinerant Hausa yam sellers, motorists wait patiently for Fulani herdsmen and their flock while crossing the busy express ways, prop-

erty rate has soared in Banana Island and I am sure Governor Fashola has factored into his Atlantic City Project, Igbo property speculators.

The South-south will need more than vandalisation of oil pipelines to survive a disintegrated Nigeria. Amaechi, Imoke are some of the governors with Igbo names ruling some of the oil producing states. President Jonathan won more votes in Imo than Governor Okorocha because of his wife’s Igbo factor. In other words, a disintegrated Nigeria is an open invitation for the landlocked East to start from where they stopped before the civil war and finally resolve the outstanding issue of Port Harcourt abandoned properties.

And finally, to exorcise the evil spirit bent on disintegration of Nigeria, the president should take a closer look at himself and his PDP. He may for instance discover that the real source of despair in our nation is PDP and its leading lights who as beneficiaries of present anarchy, stand against fairness, justice and are opposed to a national conference to discuss our differences.

What else can be a greater threat to survival of a nation than a group of greedy men sharing of our blue chips firms on which the nation had invested over a hundred billion dollars for a pittance or when an exercise designed by World Bank to create seven million jobs became an avenue for amassing huge family wealth while millions of unemployed youths roam the streets of our major cities?

The evil forces bent on destroying Nigeria include the president’s PDP colleagues who appointed over 140 fuel importers including their siblings some of whom defrauded the nation to the tune of about N1.7 trillion without importing a pint of fuel. And of course, the evil spirit will include senior members of the judiciary smiling to the banks for shielding felons from facing justice.

In league of the president elusive evil spirit bent on destroying our nation are the president men who without recouping the tax payers’ billions of naira given out as bail out to the airlines embarked on another wasteful venture of borrowing millions of dollars to buy aircrafts for mismanaged air lines owned by members or sympathizers of PDP. And finally, if the president stopped closing his eyes during his well meaning night vigils, he may discover to his pleasant surprise that in the league of the ‘evil forces’ are some pastors who exploit the fears of our jobless youths they fraudulently reassured of miracles in spite of God’s injunction that we all must live by our sweats, and those who buy private jets with the help of governors as ‘thieves in state houses’ and bankers who stole depositors funds.

Deconstructing the architect of Abia’s modernisation

By Moses Nna ness admitted that his first tenure in office was the years of the locust.

Determined to jumpstart the state from its doldrums, he led the crack team of progressive elements in the state to chase away the merciless foxes bent on milking Abia to stupor. In fact, T.A. Orji imbibed the ideals of ‘winning without bloodshed’ as enunciated by Sun-tzu, the author of the ancient Chinese classic, The Art of War. His unassuming but amiable mien and broad-based engagement of stakeholders helped matters; as he walked the talk with unassailable commitment to leapfrog Abia from the backwaters of mainstream national politics. Expectedly, a groundswell of support for a momentous march to excellence ennobled his avowed readiness for revolutionary governance and set the stage for a giant leap and speedy modernisation processes.

The new Abia under Orji is marked with consensus building, mutual respect among the elders and management of political differences with maturity. The state now enjoys unprecedented peace which has brought about a convivial atmosphere for development activities. The investment climate in Abia is very inviting. Abia is unarguably, one of the safest states in Nigeria. It used to be a hotbed of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes until Orji did a rejig of his security strategies.

Mindful of the strategic importance of road infrastructure to economic development, Governor Orji has embarked on massive construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads across the 17 LGAs and most importantly, at Aba where over 18 roads are being worked on. Some have been completed. Besides the over 250 health centres scattered in all nooks and cranny of the state, the newly constructed Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia recently got the approval of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for training of medical interns.

The evacuation of power from Ohiya Power Station has increased electricity supply in the state capital and its environs while the Alaoji National Independent Power Project and Geometric Independent Power Project in Aba are part of

the gains of good working relationship with the Federal Government and enabling environment that is a sine qua non for public private partnership. When these projects become fully operational, they will boost economic activities of small and medium scale enterprises and act as catalysts to industrialization.

On the strength of Orji’s robust vision, Abia State has turned into a huge construction site with the erection of offices and edifices for the conduct of government businesses. The double three-storey secretariat, the world class international conference centre, the new government house, the new court rooms and offices, the JAAC/ASUBEB building, the new office complex for the State Broadcasting Corporation are indicative of the fact that Abia State is poised to gain a befitting status for accelerated development. Before now, the state capital- Umuahia had retained a despicable status of a rural setting.

As a welfarist par excellence, Orji, at the beginning of his administration, had put smiles on the faces of civil servants by promoting all cadres of workers to one salary grade level and presently, he has sustained the payment of the highest minimum wage of N21,100 in Nigeria. It is equally on record that Abia workers under his administration have never embarked on industrial action as a result of healthy relationship and mouth-watering welfare packages. The tuition free education for primary and secondary schoolchildren has increased school enrolment of Abia pupils and students just as Abia students have excelled in national and international competitions.

No doubt, the task of rebuilding Abia from the scratch is a daunting one. But the good news is that the man at the helm of affairs is conscientious and is adequately prepared to clean up the Augean stables. The unfolding development strides in Abia portend a good omen. True, the radical departure from the entrenched self-glorification and empire-building by a tiny family cabal is Orji’s greatest legacy that marks the beginning of an end.

• Nna contributed this piece from Obi Ngwa LGA, Abia State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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THE NATION

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

INSIDE

Varsity may lose accreditation

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Students of the Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, are up in arms over an increase in their fees. They say the hike is ‘steep’, but the university claims it is minimal, KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE and ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA report .

ANAMBRA State University, Uli, may lose the interim accreditation of its Law faculty, unless urgent steps are taken by the government to forestall such development. And if such happens, it will jeopardise the plans of trainee lawyers in the school to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.

-Page 26

Report saves school COMMUNITY Primary School, Obuozu (CPSO), in Abia State has had its fair share of abandonment by government for about a decade.

-Page 39

CAMPUS LIFE •An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

Voyage of discovery BY 7am last Wednesday, the buses were on stand-by. In no time, some students had gathered at the main gate of the Ikorodu Campus of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) with their luggage. Where were they going? They were heading for tourist sites in Oyo State on excursion.

-Page 29

•Babcock gate

Babcock students protest fee hike online •Increment is minimal, says varsity T HESE are testy times at the Babcock University, IlishanRemo, Ogun State. The university and its students are on the warpath over the hike of fees. In protest, the students have taken to the social media to condemn the action. They claimed that under the new fee regime, medical students are now to pay N3 million; Nursing, N1 million; Law, N2 million; Accounting, N1.5 million and others, N860,000.

A 100-Level student who declined to reveal her identity in a posting on a popular online blog wrote: “I am a 100-Level Mass Communication student. I am going to 200-Level next semester, and my school fees now amount to N747,300 as against N584,000 I formerly paid. Babcock University is being run like a family business. With the new fees, now, I am scared to tell my dad.

Suffice to say this is a faith-based university?"

A 400-Level Medical Laboratory Sciences student, wondered how from N560,000 she paid in 100-Level, it has skyrocketed to the current amount.

She said: “We in Medical Laboratory are, henceforth, to pay N1.5 million. I just thank God I'm in 400Level. I have only one more year and I'm gone. If we protest (against the new fees) we will get suspended for two years or more. All we can

THEIR CLAIMS

COURSES Medicine Law Accounting Nursing Others

BABCOCK N2 million N763, 000 N763, 000 N763, 000

do is cry inside and pray that God provides for our parents until we graduate. I started 100-Level with N560,000, but now it has skyrocketed. If I had known the school fees would increase this much, I would have settled for admission in a state or federal school, don't blame us or call our parents dumb."

An alumnus of the university, who simply identified herself as Odunpie, said as a student, she experienced such steep increase resulting in over N100,000 increment a year before she graduated.

"You students must learn to adapt.

May God enrich your parents. I am also a graduate of Public Health of Babcock, 2012 set. When I was in 300-Level, N115,000 was added to our fees without any explanation

STUDENTS N3 million N2 million N1.5 million N1 million N860, 000

My department then helped us to talk to the Bursar who promised to refund the money. But maybe it will be refunded tomorrow. That's Babcock for you," she said.

The university is aware of the students’ online protest and has debunked claims of steep fee increment. The Director, External and Community Affairs, Mr Joshua Suleiman, in a statement on the institution's website, described the claim of steep increment as ‘false’.

The statement listed the fees the students are expected to pay as well as other charges, except for professional charges for some programmes. 100 and 200-Level students are to pay N380,000, 300 and 500-Level, N310,000, for all programmes except medicals.

It said Medical students are to pay N2 million and not N3 million for tuition, accommodation, meals, and laboratory. The statement added that Law students and their Accounting and Nursing counterparts are to pay N763,000 against the claim that they are to pay N2 million, N1.5 million and N1 million. The school described the increment as ‘minimal’.

The statement said the students’ claim of a huge increment was a demarketing strategy to discredit the institution.

Contacted, the National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary Prof Julius Okojie said the regulatory body does not stipulate fees for private universities.

“The National Universities Commission does not have the power to regulate the fees charged by private universities. The commission acknowledges that education is capital intensive. However, NUC has always advised private universities not to overcharge their students because education is demand-driven and if they are too expensive, the students will not be able to access their services,” he said.

In an interview, a parent, who does not want his or his ward's name in print, lamented the increase, which he said would further tax •Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

26

EDUCATION Osun launches ‘Opon Imo’ May 9 THE Osun State government will formally launch the distribution of customised computer tablets called, “Opon-Imo” (Tablet of Knowledge) to SS1SS3 pupils in its public secondary schools on May 9.

The initiative is aimed at improving learning among secondary school pupils in the state and helping them to prepare for external and internal examinations.

The tablets, which are designed like iPads, are to be given to the pupils free-ofcharge.

Speaking on the government’s readiness to launch the initiative, which she described as a milestone in the history of educational development in the country, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori who also oversees the education portfolio, noted that the Rauf Aregbesola-led government is determined to ensure that students are effectively prepared to meet the high standards needed for them to excel in the world of learning and research.

The tablets, she further noted, “are installed with software of all the subjects being offered in secondary schools, incorporating different text books and lesson notes as well as past questions and answers on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Examination Council Examination (NECO), as well as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which will help facilitate the students’ preparedness for these examinations.

“The launch of the computer tablets which will be distributed to Senior Secondary School Students across the various public secondary schools in the state is a further attestation to the resolute pursuit of innovation in the state’s education sector, according to the findings of the Senate Committee on Education which recently described the education policy of the government of Ogbeni Aregbesola as the best in the country.”

A

Anambra varsity may lose Law accreditation

NAMBRA State University, Uli, may lose the interim accreditation of its Law faculty, unless urgent steps are taken by the government to forestall such development. And if such happens, it will jeopardise the plans of trainee lawyers in the school to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.

However, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Anambra State has cried out to Governor Peter Obi to assist the university provide for the basic requirements needed to earn full accreditation from the Nigerian Council of Legal Education.

In a letter to Obi on Monday, signed by the CLO state chairman, Comrade Aloysius Attah and Secretary, Justus Ijeoma, the group la-

local and foreign), recommended furniture for students and lecturers, as well as efficient and qualified staff.

Nevertheless, the CLO hailed Obi for improving the infrastructural deficits that had plagued the institution at both Uli and Igbariam campuses prior to assuming office.

The group therefore, urged the Governor to maintain the tempo by stepping in to avert the impending loss of accreditation.

According to the statement “Accreditation withdrawal or denial is a loss situation which neither serves the interests of the government nor that of the people hence the need for this to be averted by any means possible.

“Most importantly, the Law Faculty of the Anambra State Univer-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

mented that the interim accreditation has already elapsed while the regulatory body has extended its visit to the campus to June 2013.

The group noted that six departments in the university recently lost their accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) as a result of failure to meet the required standards, resulting in and anxiety among students and lecturers of the law faculty.

The requirements for full accreditation of the Law Faculty by the Nigerian Council on Legal Education include: a functional elibrary, a law library stocked with certain required books, journals, periodicals and Law reports (both

•Obi

sity has gained reputation as one of the best law faculties in the country in terms of performance of it’s graduates at the Nigerian Law School and such a shining light must not be allowed to fade through an avoidable situation.”

Babcock students protest fee hike online ‘ We in Medical Laboratory are, henceforth,

•Continued from page 25

parents' finances. He also blamed the indiscriminate fee increment on the failure of the public tertiary education system which has forced parents who could afford it to patronise private institutions.

He said: "If you have a child in an institution and all of a sudden fees are increased, will you be happy?

Early or late last year, the students wanted to protest so they reduced it. If not we would have been paying over N1 million. I think I am paying N900,000 for now. We are at the mercy of private institutions because public institutions are failing us. That is why we go to schools where there is no strike, cultism or students’ unrest.

"These children enter school early nowadays. At the age they are getting into the university, you cannot allow them to go to public institutions because of concerns about cultism. But the private schools have rules and regulations to guide how they behave at every point in time, so your fears are reduced."

Another parent, whose child also attends a private university, said any steep increase would be difficult to accept.

Prof Ernest Orji, who teaches at the Obafemi Awolowo University

to pay N1.5 million. I just thank God I'm in 400-Level. I have only one more year and I'm gone. If we protest (against the new fees) we will get suspended for two years or more. All we can do is cry inside and pray that God provides for our parents until we graduate. I started 100-Level with N560,000, but now it has skyrocketed (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State described the new tuition fees as simply outrageous.

Orji whose first daughter Ernestine, 18, studies Medicine at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), said even the N750,000 he pays as tuition is by virtue of his position as an accomplished scholar. He wondered how he would have coped if the tuition is increased halfway into his daughter’s education.

"I think that amount to me is simply outrageous. Though here (OAU) is a public university, our

‘

students pay just N14,000 across all medical courses (excluding feeding and accommodation). But, if my daughter's tuition is increased halfway, I won't have a choice than to look for extra source to raise the money until she finishes, and then I may not try that school again for any of my children. But, I must say that even this N750,000 that I'm paying as her tuition, I'm only able to because of my privileged position as a professor."

Dr Amos Adeowo, a medical doctor with two children at Babcock (one has graduated), sees no reason

for complaints. Though he admitted that he was unaware of the hike in tuition, he said he would not raise eyebrows over it as the institution is private and does not owe any one any apology should it increase its tuition overnight. He urged parents to take their children elsewhere should they feel so aggrieved.

"Running a private university is like running a private hospital", Adeowo said. " It is not compulsory that people must come because they don't expect the fees to be low. Since there are other options, parents who are not okay with the decision are free to take their children elsewhere.

That is how I see it.

"I am not aware of this new tuition; you are the one informing me.

But what will I do? My son is already in the school and I have to pay. I already factored in that the school can increase its tuition anytime so such decision did not come to me as a surprise. Today, we have many private secondary schools that charge up to N500,000 as fees and parents still pay. Even public universities are now increasing their tuition with other miscellaneous fees, or are you aware of any price-control measure in Nigeria today?" Adeowo added.

Educationist lists evils of exam malpractice

O

LUGBENGA Adebiyi, Executive Director, Gemsland Learning and Development Centre, has said if exam malpractice is not curbed, the present generation of Nigerian students will end up producing incompetent professionals, including doctors who will forget scissors and towel in the stomach after surgical operations.

"As long as malpractice is prevailing, it will also produce students with Alphas in WASSCE results; first class honours in the universities without a single knowledge in any defined course or subject. It will produce teachers who are unable to spell the names of their schools correctly. This generation will end up producing lawyers who cannot differentiate between an accused person and the complainant," he said.

Adebiyi who spoke at a seminar organised by Gemsland for secondary school pupils writing the WASSCE at the Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, Ikeja, said the candidates needed to be informed about the evils of examination

By Medinat Kanabe

malpractice and how to avoid them.

Apart from exposing them to the ills of malpractice to deter them, Adebiyi taught the pupils how to prepare properly for the examinations, approach various questions and avoid temptation in the examination hall.

Also speaking, Mr Chuks Okonta, Adebiyi's partner, said the seminar would help the pupils be confident in themselves ahead of any examination so they know they do not have to cheat.

"Through this programme we just came into the system to bridge the gap. For a while we have had issues with examination malpractice. Many organisations believe that the menace has come to stay with us. But we believe that we can do something to prepare the students ahead of the exam so that they will know those things that they have to forestall not to be victims of exam malpractice. This is because candidates write exams and their results are withheld even

•Adebiyi with some participants after the seminar

when they do not get involved in exam malpractice. The public or government has the perception that anything that has to do with

Nigerian examination must be fraudulent. This is what we are trying to checkmate. If the student know their rights, and the dos or

donts it will really help to curb the menace that has eaten deep into the Nigerian education system.

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

EDUCATION

B

ABCOCK University, IlisanRemo has emerged winner of the maiden edition of Nigeria Private Universities Debate (NIPUD).

Represented by Okezi Uwede Meshack (400-Level Law), Nisisi Madu Chibuzor, 300-Level (Computer Technology) and Olusile Christiana (400-Level Economics), the university won with 250.2 points.

Western Delta University (WDU) Ogharra, Delta State followed closely with 231.8. The team was represented by Edwina Peters, Isreal Christabel Esosa and Igbinobaro Paula.

Thirteen private universities participated in the competition.

They debated the topic: "Nigerian's Vision 20:2020 is only practicable after the present rural urban migration is reversed." Babcock University opposed the motion while WDU spoke for it.

Fondly called Obama by his colleague, Meshack, the first speaker for Babcock University, said Nigeria's rural areas are blighted by poverty. As a result, he said there are no career opportunities for professionals, no access to quality health care, education, technology. He also said rural areas lack the quality of man power needed in the urban centres.

Babcock University's second speaker, Christiana said rather than blame rural-urban migration for societal ills, the government should spend time and money correcting factors stopping the country from achieving vision 20:2020.

The third speaker, Chibuzor said there is no need for the reversal because it will promote the appreciation of landed poverty which helps to develop the economy.

"No country is free from ruralurban migration. It is a continuous process around the world and not all areas of the country must contribute to the economy

•NIPUD Challenge Ilorin Zone debaters from Babcock, Fountain and Achievers universities

Babcock shines at private varsities debate

By Medinat Kanabe

of a nation," she said.

Supporting the reversal of rural-urban migration, WDU team argued that continuous migration would deplete rural resources.

Its lead speaker, Edwina Peters said if there is rural-urban migration, villages will go into extinction, there would be an increase in crime rate, increase in poverty, decline in agricultural sector, decline of trado medicine, cultural erosion, and increase in hardship.

Christabel, the second speaker, said there would be a strain on infrastructure in the various cities they are running to leading to overcrowding of the cities, emer-

gence of ghetto and shanties and epidemics.

"There should be development in the rural sector too so that businesses can expand to those areas," she said.

Paula, the third speaker from WDU argued that migrants usually face social problems so they should remain in their villages and job opportunities should be provided for them.

"Government should promote agriculture in the rural areas, improve infrastructures, provide security, make land reforms to make them have access to lands, provide credit facility for them, improve communication and transportation system so that they can market their produce," she added.

Addressing the students, former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, ProfAdebisi Balogun said the debate is a way of transmitting knowledge among people.

"It brings people together and is an important academic activity. I am happy that the private university is bringing back the debate into the academic culture," he said.

Balogun who represented the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie said there can't be a vision 20:2020 if Nigeria does not embrace the knowledge economy.

In his own remarks and speaking on behalf of the National President, NIPUD, Prof Femi

Old students donate library

German firm to run Rivers TVE centre

•Inaugurate BOT

T

T

HE Rivers State government has signed an agreement with a German firm, Zentralstelle fur die Weiterbildung im Handwerk ZWH to manage its new Technical/ Vocational Educational training centre in Port Harcourt.

The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi and the Attorney General of the state, Wogu Boms signed on behalf of the Rivers State government while ZWH President Holger Puchalla signed for the German firm last Friday at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Port Harcourt.

The new centre will offer training in Fashion design, hair dressing and cosmetics; Construction (brick laying, sanitary/plumber, electrical, tiling, stucco plasterer), Metal work (including welding and marine welding), and Woodwork (cabinet making, carpentry/joinery). Along the line, Mechatronics will be added.

Dame Lawrence-Nemi said the TVE centre is part of the government's economic reform agenda to equip youths with skills that can help them get self or paid employment.

Commending Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for initiating the project, the Commissioner noted that the state's focus on TVE is as a result of recommendations from the Rivers State Education Summit that held last month.

"The state is desirous of reviving technical education so as to equip the youths with different vocational skills that will empower them financially. Technical and Vocational Edu-

Ajayi, Pastor Agape Sunday Dominic, NIPUD national treasurer said that the theme: "Nigeria's Vision 20:2020 - The Farce, The Facts and The Figures" was chosen for season one of the debate due to its relevance to the Nigerian polity.

He lamented that some graduates from the Nigerian tertiary institution were apologies to the country's education system, as they cannot communicate in the simplest of English language.

Prof Ajayi noted that the NIPUD Challenge initiative is aimed at empowering the Nigeria University undergraduate outside the structural academic learning that was confined to the lecture room.

From right: Dr Ofuru, Herman Roder, Holger Puchalla, Dame Lawrence-Nemi, Boms, and members of the legal drafting team

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

cation is one of the key resolutions of the 2013 Rivers State Education Summit in Port Harcourt," she said.

Calling on youths to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the government to empower themselves, Dame Lawrence-Nemi said candidates only need to possess the West Africa Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) to be admitted at the centre. She also said that the state will upgrade the other technical centre located on Aba Road stressing that an Israeli firm will manage the school after the upgrade.

On his part the Attorney-General of the State, Wogu Boms explained

that the contract would be executed in phases - with the Phases A and B already agreed upon.

He said the centre will be operational from next month.

The President of ZWH, Holger Puchalla said that their aim of coming to Nigeria is promote vocational education, stressing that the firm will bring German standard to the vocational centre so the state has qualified manpower to run its economy. He added that agreement will yield huge profit for the two countries.

"Rivers State is an emerging state, where economy is really prospering and which is heading for the right direction. But we all know and this is

not a secret to the world that economic prosperity depends on qualified and skilled employees", he said.

Giving the vote of thanks, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr Richard Ofuru said that the centre will afford many youths the opportunity to learn different vocational skills on offer in the school.

The training curriculum, which will meet Germans standards, will accommodate local conditions and.

The programme of engagement, are divided into phases A,B,C and D. Part of the objectives of the programme is to provide trainee with management and entrepreneurial skills.

HE Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye will be the Special Guest of Honour at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Akoka High School Old Students' Association (AHS) scheduled to hold today at the school premises.

According to a statement issued by the chairman, planning committee, Mr. Kayode Yeku, the event will also coincide with donation of the school library refurbished by the association with the assistance of organisations like Laterna Ventures Ltd, Edysyl Bookshop, Mobile Knowledge Solutions Ltd, Rite Foods Ltd , Promasidor and well meaning old students.

The refurbished library has been stocked with motivational/ educational books, desktop computers equipped with e-learning software/virtual educational cinemas, educational tablets/Pcs loaded with the approved school curriculum, self tutor lecture videos, free e-books, WASSCE question papers for the past 25 years among others.

Other dignitaries expected at the occasion include the Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Association, Hon. A.O Jimoh, and theTutor General/Permanent Secretary, District IV.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

EDUCATION Crescent File New hostel completed

A

NEW female hostel has been completed at the Crescent University, Abeokuta.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kehinde Okeleye, said in a statement that with two more hostels, nearing completion, the university can accommodate its increasing students’ population.

The Parent Forum has also donated another building which is under construction. Prof.

Okeleye added that an additional building was also being constructed to cater for the x-ray section of the university clinic.

Varsity preaches religious harmony

P

ROPRIETOR of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Bola Ajibola, has preached peaceful co-existence and harmony among adherents of different faiths, noting that religion had been misused by many for their own vested interest to cause disharmony in the land.

The former International Court Justice said he has used his university to foster cohesion between northern and southern Nigerians as the institution has admitted students from the 36 states.

He described Crescent University as the most developing Islam-based university in the country.

Delivering the institution’s Seventh Founder’s Day Lecture entitled: Religious harmony: The position of the Scriptures, chief lecturer, Academy of Islamic Propagation, Alhaji Yusuf Adepoju, emphasised that if God had so willed, he would have created everybody a Muslim or Christian, noting that God was cognizant of multiplicity of religions among mankind.

Adepoju said: “If Muslims and Christians understand their respective faiths well, differences in religion will never be a cause for conflict”, adding that as human beings were created with choice, people would always differ.

To ensure peace, he advised people of different faiths to dialogue always.

He said: “In a world of different religions, castes, creeds, sects, ethnicities, colours, races, languages, gender, nationalities, inter-religious dialogue is a uniquely potent instrument of achieving mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence, especially in a heterogenous community like ours”.

The lecture coincided with Prince Ajibola’s 79th birthday.

Okonkwo makes case for reformers in education

T

O reverse the fortunes of the education system in Nigeria, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo has urged the government to allow seriousminded professionals run the system.

In an interview with The Nation, the cleric said the government should not play politics with the appointment of public office holders in sensitive areas such as education.

He added that people like Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, who served as Minister of Education in 2006/2007, could help bring about the improvement the government is seeking in the sector.

He said: “The only way government can assist is for the Ministry of Education to be serious. People like Oby Ezekwesili could have done a lot for this country. We need people like that who understand the system and who also weep over the challenges that this country faces. I remember when she came for one of our programmes, Building Leaders for Empowerment and National Transformation (BLENT), which we hold regularly, to look at the different sectors of the society, she came here with some data that were so shocking to me of some of the things that happen in the schools, like students sitting on the floor in classes.

“I believe that people like that would have been able to put their foot on the ground, who are not looking for anything but to ensure that this nation becomes what it should be. Until the government stops playing to the gallery and people who hold offices truly love this nation, I cannot see how we can change because if you truly want to change things, then we must have genuine, sincere and passionate VCs who are not there because they just have to take a job or looking for money."

Speaking on this year's edition of the Bishop Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, the cleric said he was looking forward to learning what secondary school pupils think are the solutions to Nigeria's insecurity.

He is confident they will have insightful suggestions as they tackle the topic: "Overcoming the Nigerian security challenges: A panacea for national growth and development" for

•Okonkwo (right) presenting a trophy to Ahia Fego, winner of last year’s essay competition as the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola applauds

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition which closes May 31.

In the past decade since the competition was instituted as part of activities to celebrate his birthday, the cleric said he had been impressed by the depth of reasoning past winners had displayed in dissecting issues of national relevance.

He said: "The whole essence is to make our young people think outside the box rather than in straightjacket. That is why topical issues are the yearly theme, which ordinarily you will think they would not know anything about. And these secondary school students are even thinking beyond their scope of learning. And it is done in such a way that

young people in the future will be able to address issues concerning our nation because you never can tell which of them God will institute strategically in a government agency and be able to impact our nation.

“So, apart from serving as a tool to encourage reading and writing, the competition has also given the students the opportunity to make contributions on issues significant to the socio-economic development of our nation.”

To ensure the participants really wrote themselves, Okonkwo said the academics that judge the competition subject them to a second round of tests and the best pupils still remain outstanding.

"There are obvious improvements for me because when you read some

‘The only way government can assist is for the Ministry of Education to be serious. People like Oby Ezekwesili could have done a lot for this country. We need people like that who understand the system and who also weep over the challenges that this country faces’

of the essays, you will think they were written for them but we follow it to the lowest common denomination. Our chief examiner, which is one of the professors in the University of Lagos, after the first stage of selection, we bring those selected to write on another topic to know whether somebody wrote the first one for them and we have been surprised to see that it is the same way they wrote the first entries," he said.

Bishop Okonkwo is also impressed that in the past decade, many of the past winners have entered for and won the competition more than once, an evidence that they find value in it beyond just winning the prices on offer.

"Given the way people come back, there are some of them who got a second or third position in an edition, but reapplied the following year because they were pushing to get the first position. So, I think we are getting the result.

The winners of the 10th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition will be rewarded on September 5 at the 14th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture as part of activities to mark the Bishop's 68th birthday.

Senator lauds Aregbesola’s education programme

T

HE Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Babajide Omoworare, has lauded the education programmes and activities of Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, saying his foresight is signalling brighter future for the students and the state.

He spoke while presenting a lecture on the theme: "Youths and culture", focusing on the relevance and importance of investing in education as the bedrock for development of economy and infrastruc-

ture in any nation.

The lecture, which was part of this year's annual week of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), covered the reasons behind the socio-economic and political crises in the country and praised Aregbesola's efforts in education as the right step to salvage the situation.

He praised the governor for what he described as an unprecedented all-round development of the state, and noted that his current reform of the education policies and pro-

grammes would transform the state for better.

"Without education, a society cannot advance; productivity will be low and intellectual workforce will be missing. And as important as this sector is to nation building, it will be inadequate without the needed and supportive infrastructure that can give it a real meaning. Without well-equipped, spacious, and serene classrooms, impacting knowledge will simply amount to a difficult task for the tutor.

"Resolving this is what our fo-

cused governor has been busy doing since 2010, when he resumed office as the legally elected governor of the state, especially with the building of 50 model elementary schools, 31 middle school and nine high schools within the first phase; the distribution of free uniforms for all pupils of public schools and provision e-learning tablets which contain all the needed textbooks for senior secondary school students in the state and their teachers," Omoworare explained.

Don makes case for ‘Afri-English’

I

T is high time Africa broke away from the conventions of the English Language, as left behind by her colonial masters centuries ago.

To attain full liberation therefore, she must tropicalise English language to meet her social, economic, political, education as well as other needs, Prof Charles Ogbulogo, Dean of Post Graduate Studies, Covenant University (CU), Ota-Ogun State, has said.

If achieved, Ogbulogo said the benefits for Africa will include: integration, deep knowledge, wider experience, social relationship and better expressions.

Delivering the third CU Inaugural Lecture with the theme: Language engineering and the destiny of man in Africa, at the univer-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

sity’s postgraduate hall last Friday, Ogbulogo, a professor of English Language, also believes in the possibility of a indigenised English, as Africa’s medium of communication, and means of selfdiscovery, provided nations that make up the black continent can shelve parochial interest, get statistics of local dialects in existence and reach a compromise on which dialects with common linguistic or orthographic features can best be adoted to represent her.

“It is not that the languages are many, but we haven’t understood what they are. We don’t have an idea how many they are and we have not analysed any of them. We just talk about issues without deep

knowledge. If Europe with its development is still thinking about Euro English, Africa should not be an exception in coming up with afro-English. If you look at the literatures available in that area (Euro English), you will be shocked to know what has happened.

“It is possible to have a one unifying African language. Europe did it. Before, it had 24 languages that are very standard. But they (Europe) are now building Euro English because of the cooperation of the level of European Union.

Those African languages cannot develop until Africans agree to develop them. We must,” he added.

Among several other factors in this drive, Ogbulogo canvasses

development of many African dialects, for wider use along broader spectrum since, according to him, the locals still associate with them more than their so-called official languages.

To this end, Ogbulogo argued that such language(s) must be written, standardised, popularised and carry a system of numeration.

“In Nigeria for instance, following the reports of the Federal Bureau of Statistics in 1996, literacy rate in English is about 49 per cent. That means that the critical mass of people will still be reached in their local languages. Major issues relating to the constitution, electoral process, health care delivery, economic imperatives and inter-group relations will be better appreciated if delivered in African languages,” he said.

•Prof Ogbulogo

29

*CAMPUSES

Man O’ War bounces back

Behold the whizz kids Page 31

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 34

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Students of Oyo State origin studying at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) and Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto-Ijanikin, have visited their root on excursion. They visited several tourist sites in Oyo. TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE (HND II Computer Science, LASPOTECH ) reports.

‘I discovered my talent at five’ Ifeanyi Ojike is a bundle of talents.

The graduate of Sociology from the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) writes and sings gospel music. He is also a model. He told DAYO IBITOYE how he got into music.

•The students having fun under the Iyamopo Hill

PHOTO: TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE

Voyage of discovery B

Y 7am last Wednesday, the buses were on stand-by. In no time, some students had gathered at the main gate of the Ikorodu Campus of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) with their luggage. Where were they going? They were heading for tourist sites in Oyo State on excursion.

They are origins of the state studying in LASPOTECH and AOCOED. The Pace Setter state, which has a rich culture, is endowed with many tourist sites such as natural geographical phenomenon; historical and archaeological centres; battle grounds and old settlements.

It is a routine in the federation of Oyo State Student Union (FOSSU) to embark on such a trip every year. Last year, the students went on a similar trip to the state. From Ikorodu, they went to the Isolo Campus to pick their waiting col-

‘Everything I have learnt in the course of this trip is not something a student can learn in the classroom. One should always visit historical sites to appreciate the culture and past of our roots better’ leagues. They were led by Niyilola Akanji and Alalade Idris presidents of the union in LASPOTECH and AOCOED respectively.

The journey was enlivened by members of the Kegites Club, who were part of the trip. From Lagos to Ibadan, the students sang gyration songs.

When they got to Ibadan, their first port of call was the 200-yearold palace of Baale of Irefin.

The palace, which was built with

mud and has 185 rooms, is one of the enduring legacies in the ancient town. The first Baale of Irefin, the late Ogundeyi Ogunlade Irefin, was a warrior, who detested robbery.

According to legend, the late Ogunlade rid Ibadan of bandits. He was said to have migrated from Owu, a village close to Iwo in Osun State.

Mr Abdulfatai Ogundeji Irefin, one of the late Ogunlade’s grandchildren, conducted the students

round the palace. They were shown kobi (entrance) and igbejo (court yard) .

They visited Bower Tower, also in Ibadan, the same day. The tower, which is 997 feet and 303 metres high, was erected in honour of the late Captain R.L. Bower, the colonial officer who administered Ibadan metropolis.

The monument was erected in December 1936 at Oke-Are to appreciate the late Bower’s effort in curbing kidnapping, human sacrifice and inter-communal strife.

The late Bower’s administration was also said to be instrumental to the provision of fundamental freedom and education.

On the second day, the students arrived in Oyo Town and visited the Old Oyo National Park on Isokun-Iseyin Road.

On entering the park, the stu•Continued on page 30

•Ifeanyi

•See page 30

•OAU council visits Ooni of Ife -P32•Varsity inducts radiographers-P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Why we need Pushing Out paradigm shift with

in learning

“I

Agbo Agbo

F a man empties his purse into his head no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interests”.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) One of the clearly distinguishing characteristics of human beings is our remarkable capacity to learn. It may seem a bold statement to make, but I would venture to say that everyone learns. While each individual possesses the ability to learn, it is recognised that we learn in different ways and develop different learning behaviours and patterns.

It seems that from an early age learners begin to develop individual methods and strategies by which they learn best. These characteristic learning behaviours and patterns are often referred to as learning styles; these styles change as research are carried out to ascertain the best that suits a society.

While other societies are able to change and adapt positively to a rapidly changing world where the acquisition and application of knowledge is the driving force, Nigeria is not easily susceptible to change and believe in doing the same old things that has consistently led nowhere. Why are we scared of change? Why can’t we face our fears and allow rational thinking take us out of the woods? Why will our tertiary institutions continue to churn out “graduates” we all know cannot fit into the workings of a technologically driven world? Why do we love playing the ostrich with the future of generations of Nigerians? I can go on with questions throughout this piece today and the answers may remain elusive.

But something deep down tells me we know the right things to do but from an inexplicable standpoint we often lack the “political will” to carry out fundamental and critical reforms that we urgently need. Close watchers of our tertiary education system have for years been pointing out that the

08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com present system of churning out “unemployable” graduates (apologies to Prof Charles Soludo) will only compound the crisis of unemployment in the country, but we often turn a blind eye and pretend we are making “progress” clinging to the old system.

So it was a bit surprising to me when Prof Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) challenged lecturers to move away from “facultycentred and lecture based paradigm” to practical learning and teaching. “This” according to the Prof “is in line with the global trend where faculty members become learning environment designers and students are taught critical thinking skills”. He spoke at an event organized by the university to appraise its blended learning support programme (Leaning).

He told his colleagues to support students by adding to their intellectual growth and by instilling in them the awareness of important social issues and supporting their ability to become more productive members of society and life-long learners working toward a common good. He also challenged them to fully embrace the use of ICT in order to equip students and co-learners to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Some readers may wonder why he said that. He said that, I believe, because we still have lectures who have not embraced the role technology is playing in the field of learning.

For those of us who have been studying the system for years we are aware that the Prof did not say anything new, but that he was bold enough to say the simple truth was what captured my attention. I have written in this column in the past that employers are expressing

increasing dissatisfaction with the degree to which our graduates can access, evaluate, and communicate information; can use information technology (IT) tools effectively; can think critically; can solve problems; and can work well in teams and with people from different cultural backgrounds.

This is why a change of instructional paradigms — from passive to active (authentic) learning strategies, such as project-based learning, problem-based learning, or inquiry-based learning — is clearly needed in Nigeria today.

However, changing instructional paradigms is fraught with problems no doubt. Faculty members for one are busy, many are not comfortable with using information technology (IT) tools, and most cling jealously to the traditional lecture-based instructional paradigm.

Elsewhere in the world, times have changed for tertiary education. From the de-emphasis on thinking about delivering instruction and the concurrent emphasis placed on producing learning, to using technology to expand distance education, to the recognition of the importance of sense of community strides are being made. Today, serious nations are well along the road of creating that new “schoolhouse” not constructed exclusively of “bricks and mortar”. Universities are thus moving away from a faculty-centered and lecturebased paradigm to a model where learners are the focus, where faculty members become learning environment designers, and where students are taught critical thinking skills.

In this new schoolhouse, the role of professors is to serve their students by ensuring student learning is of paramount importance.

They support their students by attending to their intellectual growth and self-autonomy, and by instilling in them an awareness of important social issues, thus supporting their ability to become more productive members of society as lifelong learners working toward the common good. This need for classroom change to allow students to acquire more significant kinds of cognitive learning, particularly critical thinking skills is the driving force for the success of western and Asian societies. Recollect that in the past Indian certificates were frowned upon worldwide, including Nigeria; our certificates were held in higher esteem then.

India later went to the drawing board and to-

Voyage of discovery dents came face to face with two huge ostriches. Mr Lukman Durosimi, a worker in the park, conducted the students round the museum, showing them various historical items.

He recounted the stories behind the objects. The tourists saw a tortoise called papa, which has spent 99 years in the park.

In Ogbomoso, the students went to pay homage to Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III, the Soun of Ogbomoso. They were welcomed into the palace by Alagba – a tortoise said to have spent 350 years in the palace. The tortoise is the oldest member in the palace.

At Igbeti, the headquarters of Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo State, the students saw the beauty of nature. Igbeti is an ancient settlement located by the hill of the woodland forest. It is about 84 kilometres northwest of Ogbomoso and surrounded by hills, the tallest of which is Iyamopo Hill.

During their trip to Igbeti, the students visited Agbele rock formation, which depicts a picture of a woman carrying a load of dried sliced yams and a baby on her back. The rock’s historical significance is rooted in the tradition of Igbeti people.

The students also visited Ogunjokoro, a mysterious iron, before they returned to their base in Igbeti town.

During their visit to Iyamopo Hill, Chief D.O. Ogunbiyi, told them that Sango Olufiran Ajala Iji was the first person to settle on the hill be-

‘I discovered my talent at five’ •Continued from page 29

H

•Continued from page 29

•Students posing with Alagba, the 350-year-old tortoise

fore the Alaafin of the old Oyo Empire in the 13th century took over the hill. The major occupation of the natives is hunting.

Chief Ogunbiyi told the students how the people came by the name, Igbeti.

He said: “One of Iji’s children, who had no male child to inherit the throne after the death of their progenitor, was instructed by Ifa (oracle) not to hunt again because he had killed many lovers of Iyamopo (mother who knows problems of people),who assisted them to settle in the area. So, if people asked him why he did not have dried meat, he would tell them: Mo ti pagbeti (I have stopped hunting)’. So people started calling him Baba Pagbeti.”

The students climbed the Iyamopo Hill to see some historical places like Iyamopo well, the palace of Iyamopo,

which is a cave under the hill. It is spacious and can contain 50 people.

The students also saw a mysterious tree, which has an entry and exit.

Afeez Gazali, one of the tourists, told CAMPUSLIFE: “Everything I have learnt in the course of this trip is not what a student can learn in the classroom. One should always visit historical sites to appreciate the culture and our roots better.”

Oluwadamilola Ayoade, another student, described the excursion as “very educative”, saying she learned new things about her roots as an Oyo State indigene.

FOSSU presidents praised their colleagues for their peaceful conduct during the trip, advising them to be serious with their studies.

day their universities produced some of the best graduates in Medicine, ICT and other disciplines.

If we envision a university education as education in the conduct and strategy of inquiry, then the university becomes society’s unique site where students learn how to think, learn, produce, and evaluate knowledge, providing the basis for lifelong, independent learning.

Important implications of this shift from our normal read and pass examination system, are the need for a recommitment to creating an ideal learning environment for students and employing new pedagogies and technologies, where appropriate.

In implementing change, one reality seems clear; the world has changed tremendously and is now less safe than it was years ago as civilizations clash. Universities have a critical role to play here as they deepen their knowledge of cultural studies with new paradigms to explain the growing cases of conflicts and terrorism. Western universities have for long imbibed this paradigm by equipping their graduates with tools for the real world. We face our own challenge with Boko Haram, so what are our tertiary institutions doing about it?

Pushing for a paradigm shift will no doubt be resisted as some scholars. In many cases, professors teach as they were taught and resist change, often using academic freedom as an academic crutch. Since faculty promotion and tenure, at present, are largely based on research and publication, some professors and lecturers zealously feel that they should not take away from their research or writing time to change curricula and pedagogy, for the potential rewards are not worth the time or risk to them. Consequently, many professors still use the traditional lecture as their instructional strategy of choice.

Learning is central in the process of entrepreneurial development; learning styles therefore play an important role in learning entrepreneurship at university. It is noteworthy that some universities in the country have taken steps to establish or have already established entrepreneurial development centres with the aim of bridging the lacuna between what employers want and what the system is churning out. As an advocate for a paradigm shift there is the need to stress that learning must be culturally relevant to our society so that we do not lose our identity by creating a new problem while trying to solve another.

OW would you describe your kind of music?

My music is a blend of contemporary and traditional gospel.

When did you discover that you can sing?

I actually started singing when I was five. I could not remember vividly but my mom would tell me I would grab a comb to use as microphone and start to sing; people would listen. So, it means my music made little sense at that age. I just knew I loved to sing and at that young age I was passionate about it.

You are nicknamed Nuefy, how did you come about that name?

Nuefy is my stage name. It is an acronym from my name which is Emmanuel Ifeanyi. I took the “nue” from Emmanuel and “fy” from Ifeanyi.

You have performed with some known gospel artistes, how would you describe the experience?

By God’s grace, I have performed alongside international gospel artistes, such as Don Moen, Kurt Karr, William Murphy, Sammie Okposo and Sinach, among others.

I recently did a duet with Frank Edwards. It has truly been an awesome experience for me to meet such accomplished artistes.

Who would you say is your greatest inspiration?

There is no other person except God. He is my greatest inspiration. I get my inspiration from Him daily through attendance of fellowship and devoting time to Him. I am not ashamed to ascribe my achievements to God. One of your songs, Gon-gon, is being played on radio nationwide, what inspired the song?

Gon-gon has given me more fame than any of my singles. I would say God gave me the inspiration to do that track. I was looking for a track that people could dance to and then the song came. Gon-gon, I would say, is universal. My producer, GospelOnDeBeatz, did a good job because the song has become a hit.

Do you think the Nigerian music industry is competing favourably with its counterparts across the world in gospel music?

I honestly believe Nigerian musicians are some of the best in the world. There is hope for gospel music in this country. Even though the present situation is so devastating but I know God is raising good, honest and sincere talented musicians who will rise up to the task. The face of gospel music will change soon and junks will give way.

You are also a model, how do you combine singing and modelling?

Modelling has always been part of my life. The truth is that when something is part of you, you don’t need to struggle to do it. Just like I am in love with music, I also like modelling because it is a passion. I prioritise my activities to combine the two talents.

You can be said to be popular in the Abuja music circle, how do you manage this stardom?

Did you say popular? Well, I think I am still on my way to stardom. I cannot say I am there yet. One of my mentors would say: “Never allow people clap for you too soon.”

What is your advice for the youth?

Stay focused and be consistent with your passion. Be determined and fast to make your dream come true. Above all, be faithful and diligent in all you do. Don’t forget to always put God first in everything.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

•Four of the computer wizards. From left: Kingsley, Fredrick, Oluwasayo and Damilola

Behold the whizz kids Five undergraduates of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have unveiled an online application that allows users to read news from various websites at the same time. WILBERFORCE AREVORE (400-Level Language Arts) writes.

F

IVE years ago, the quintet were admitted into the faculties of Education and Engineering of OAU. Since they are from different backgrounds, Oluwasayo Oladeji, Kingsley Adio, Damilola Akapo, Onaopemipo Aikomo and Fredrick Atoyebi never knew fate would bring them together years later.

Last Monday, the undergraduates made history in their quest to break into the Information and Telecommunication Technology (ICT) world. They launched a mobile application that simplifies dissemination of news to users.

The computer programme, BooshParrot, is a mobile application with a web client that fetches news feeds from websites and blogs within and outside Nigeria, and

presents them to the user in one single view. The application provides subscribers the opportunity to read different stories from different websites at the same time and also simultaneously follow their friends’ comments and feeds on other websites.

The application, which is designed to work on Nokia S40, Android and Blackberry smartphones, has an array of features, including personalisation that allows users to create profiles and set profile pictures.

It also has a social network section where users can search and follow other users’ comments and activities.

It allows synchronisation of users’ profiles with the mobile device applications.

Oluwasayo, 500-Level Computer

Science and Engineering, is the team leader. Kingsley, also a final year student of Computer Science and Engineering, is in charge of the Java ME application (Nokia S40 series) and the Blackberry versions of the application.

Damilola, 500-Level Computer Science and Engineering, works on the development of the native Android version of the application Onaopemipo, also a final year student of the department, is responsible for the web client and graphical designs of the application used by the team.

Fredrick, who is the project manager and also a final year student with Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), is re-

•Screen shot of the application

sponsible for co-ordinating the team and making sure the application meets required standard.

On why they embarked on the project, Fredrick told CAMPUSLIFE: “Getting the day’s headlines and breaking news from numerous blogs, online newspapers and news websites in Nigeria and beyond has been a challenge for the busy person until now. Going through bookmarked websites, one at a time is time consuming, strenuous and

sometimes costly.

“Hence, we saw the need for a platform where headlines and snippets from popular and trusted sources are aggregated and collated and delivered in real time to the user. We sincerely hope the application will make it easier for users to read articles as they are written.

For us, it is not just an achievement; it is our way of contributing to the digital demands in Nigeria,” he said.

Students of Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos have elected their union leaders, UCHECHI LEKWA (300-Level Mass Communication) reports.

•PLASU building

•Students waiting to vote

Plateau varsity holds maiden union election

T

HE first Students’ Union Government (SUG) election has been held at the Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos.

The university suspended operations in 2007 due to academic problems and returned in 2010.

Since its return, students affairs had been administered by a caretaker committee. When the management’s plan was unveiled for the election, the students were happy.

The management inaugurated Plateau University Students’ Electoral Commission, headed by Mr Tony Ngwen, the Students’ Affairs Officer.

Three days to the election, the

commission held a manifesto night, where aspirants intimated their colleagues with their programmes. The manifesto day, which started at 12pm, was held outside the students’ centre last Friday.

Five candidates contested for president. Except the General Secretary, Welfare Secretary and Public Relations Officers (PRO), other offices had two to four contenders, a development which made the poll to be keenly contested.

Last Tuesday, the election was held beside the school clinic. The turnout was massive as students defied the rain to to elect their leaders. As the process was going

on, supporters of some candidates violated the electoral regulation by canvassing for votes as voters moved in to exercise their franchise.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Daniel Dubi, described the process as transparent. He praised the students for conducting themselves peacefully during the process.

He said: “What I am seeing shows that the students are wellorganised and in the right manner, the election is going on in a very peaceful and transparent manner. Whoever wins should be congratulated by the opponents.”

Students enthusiastically waited after casting their votes but the re-

sults were not released until 9:45pm. Declaring the results, Ngwen announced Maren Ishaku, 300-Level Sociology, as the winner of the presidential post, defeating the first runner up, Mitchell Ngukop, 300-Level Political Science, and three others.

Others elected included Daniel Nankin, Vice President, David Nabasu, General Secretary, Dayol Kirnan, Assistant General Secretary; John Na’anyil, Financial Secretary, Junior Akaso, Director of Socials, Raymond Longdiem, Director of Sport, David Mimiap, Welfare Secretary, and Nehemiah Damar, PRO. The only female candidate, Tongshakap Akila, emerged as Treasurer of the

union.

Maren, who made history having been elected as the first SUG president of the university, said his administration would address the welfare of students and take the institution to a greater height.

He said: “All that we need to do is to work out all modalities to see how we can build a strong relationship between students and the management. Our aim is to attract donor agencies as well as corporate firms to develop the school.”

The union leaders will take over from the caretaker committee constituted in 2011 during the administration of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Nenfort Gomwalk.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

ASUU honours retired members From Sam Ibok UNICAL

T

HE University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has honoured retired members. The event took place at the International Conference Centre of the university.

In his opening address, Vice-Chancellor Prof James Epoke praised the leadership of the association for the initiative.

The ASUU chairman, Dr James Okpliya, said the event was aimed at recognising former members who served the union.

In a lecture titled The struggle continues, Dr Ndubuisi Osuagwu described the honorees as worthy ambassadors of the union, who left unforgettable marks in the struggle. He enjoined members to build on the legacies their retired colleagues left through ideologically-based struggles.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Prof Bene Madunagu expressed appreciation to the organisers and pledged the retirees’ allegiance to the union.

The event also witnessed the presentation of cheques to the awardees.

Varsity welcomes freshers

•Oba Sijuwade flanked by Prof Omole (left) and Prof Ndoma-Egba during the visit

OAU council visits Ooni of Ife

T

HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has stated his readiness to support anybody or group of people willing to use their talents, intellect and resources to project the image of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, to the world.

The monarch gave the commitment in his palace when the new Governing Council of the institution visited him.

Led by the Pro-Chancellor and chairman of council, Prof Roland Ndoma-Egba, members were charged to use their wealth of experience to take OAU to a greater

From Dhikiru Akinola OAU

height among its peers.

Oba Sijuwade thanked the council members for the visit, praying that OAU would witness and experience unprecedented progress, success and development during their tenure.

The royal father, who observed that the personality of the chairman and the workaholic nature of his team would make the job of the ViceChancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, easy, showered the council members with royal blessings, and presented gifts to Prof Ndoma-Egba.

Prof Ndoma-Egba extolled the monarch’s virtues, praising him for using his royal stool to bring development to Ife, Osun State and Yoruba race in general. He said: “Kabiyesi, your reign has brought peace, development and stability to this kingdom of Ife and the Yoruba human race. We depend on your royal blessings and wisdom to succeed in everything we shall do here.”

The chairman, who praised the contributions of the Ooni of Ife to the development of OAU, said his team would ensure the institution maintained its academic standard.

From Imoleayo Oyedeji AAUA

T

HE management of the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Akungba-Akoko, has held a three-day orientation for freshers.

The event was held in the multipurpose hall.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, congratulated the freshers and urged them to jealously guard their admission.

The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, said the aim of the programme was to familiarise the students with the rules and regulations of the institution. She urged the students to see their admission as an opportunity to excel and prepare themselves adequately for life after graduation.

She warned them to shun cultism, examination malpractices and other conducts that may endanger their studentship.

The Bursar, Mr O. T. Akinterinwa, enlightened the students on some of the financial regulations of the institution, method of payment of tuition fee and the implications of non-adherence to payment deadlines. The Librarian, Mr W.A. Akinfolarin, on the other hand, explained the significance of the use of library to their academic excellence.

Educating the students on academic programmes, the Deputy Registrar, Mr M.S. Ayeerun, enlightened them on how best to achieve academic excellence. The Director of the University Health Centre, Dr. E.I. Medunoye, told the students to always visit the centre whenever they have medical issues.

On the last day of the programme, the students were taken on an excursion to Idanre Hills.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, one of the students, Blessing Bademosi, 100-Level Mass Communication, praised the management for the orientation.

•Students being addressed by union leaders during the congress •Members of the electoral commission collating the ballot papers after voting ended

S

TUDENTS of the Department of Optometry at the Imo State University (IMSU) have elected new officers into the vacant posts of their association. 383 students were accredited by the Nigerian Optometric Students Electoral Committee (NOSEC) to participate in the process.

The election, which lasted five hours, started after a debate between the two presidential contenders, Nnanna Diogu and Gift Nwanaga. During the debate, the audience asked for the candidates’ achievements in the previous posts they held. The debate was followed by manifesto reading.

Dept elects leaders From Ekene Ahaneku IMSU

The NOSEC chairman, Wisdom Atulegwu, said 100-Level students would not be allowed to participate in the process because they did not have Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) at the time of the election. But the students contested the rule, which made the electoral body to rescind the decision.

When the results were announced, Gift was returned as the president-elect with 246 votes, de-

feating Nnanna, who had 131 votes. Other positions were also won.

A 500-Level student, Kelechi Anusiem, said: “The process was peaceful and I must praise my colleagues for displaying maturity during the election.”

Felix Onwudi, 400-Level student, said: “Today’s election is actually the best I have ever witnessed in this faculty. There was true evidence of transparency, accountability and responsibility. The students showed full commitment and unity.”

UI students beg for break From Hammed Hamzat UI

S

TUDENTS of the University of Ibadan (UI) have asked the management to extend their first semester examination by two weeks.

Our correspondent gathered that some students were yet to settle for lectures after five weeks of resumption, a situation allegedly caused by the no-cooking policy in the Halls of Residence, which made many students to seek accommodation off-campus.

During a congress held last week, President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Babatunde Badmus was asked by students to present their cases before the management. Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said the two weeks break would enable them prepare adequately for their exams.

Our correspondent gathered that the union and management had agreed to a week’s break at a meeting of the two parties recently.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

33

CAMPUS LIFE NIPR gets students chapter

T

HE Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Plateau State chapter, has inaugurated a students’ section of the institute at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

At the induction held in Law auditorium, chairman of the chapter said the idea was to enable students have a better understanding of what the profession entails in the global environment.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, praised NIPR for preparing the students for the challenges ahead.

The guest speaker, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo, a member of NIPR Governing Council, spoke on Stepping Into the world of PR: The benefits and responsibilities. He outlined various attributes of a public relations practitioner to include integrity, reputation, creativity and law-

•Students during an exam session

Students groan as institute ends exams

S

TUDENTS of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, have finished their first semester examination.

During the exercise, the management changed the sitting arrangement by making the students to sit individually on a seat. This was against the normal practice, which had two students sitting on a bench.

Students, who spoke to

From Princewill Jacob PTI

CAMPUSLIFE, expressed mixed feelings about the examination.

While some were satisfied with the conduct, others lamented the strictness of the invigilators.

A student in ND II Welding and Fabrication Department, said: “This examination is the toughest I have ever written in this school. I wrote it with adequate attention as if I was just admitted into the

school. After my first paper, I knew I was totally on my own, and so I had to do my best.”

Another student in Petroleum Engineering Department, Peter Chiwenke, said the examination for him was “cram, pour, refresh the brain and start cramming again for the next course”.

A student, who spoke under anonymity, said: “I could not write very well as the examination conditions were not favourable.”

UNIJOS holds 56th inaugural lecture

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PROFESSOR of Pharmaceutics and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Musa Ibrahim, has called for vigilance by manufacturers to monitor fake drugs and unwanted reactions from their products.

He made the call during the 56th inaugural lecture, which he delivered.

The lecture was titled: Self thinking medicines: Automating pharmacotherapy for eliminating unwanted effects.

He urged governments to sponsor pharmaceutical scientists to the developed nations to acquire the needed

From Esther Mark UNIJOS

abiding.

He said public relations practitioners have the responsibility of portraying the image of an individual, organisation and government in good light and to maintain positive client relationship, develop media contacts, write and issue press releases periodically, plan appearances and events as well as ensure that the organisation added value to the lives of the citizens they serve.

NIPR national president Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, said UNIJOS students were the first to benefit from such a gesture. He added that public relation is about truth and courage.

The event also featured the presentation of certificates of membership to the new members.

From Princewill Jacob PTI

skills to combat the spread of adulterated drugs in the country.

He added that natural and synthetic polymeric materials had been used frequently in the development of advanced drug and that Nigeria was blessed with abundant sources of natural polymers, many of which were being used to prepare edible soups such as okra and ogbono; carbohydrates from food stuffs like the tubers and grains; cellulose from many fibrous materials and their waste like sugar cane, groundnut and rice husks and proteins from animal skin and bones, among others.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, congratulated his deputy for the successful presentation and urged other lecturers, who were yet to deliver their lecture to do so and contribute to knowledge.

Yoruba students crown Oba

Y

ORUBA students at the Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Yola (MAUTECH) under the aegis of Yoruba Students Association (YOSSA) last Saturday dressed in various traditional attires to mark the crowning of a new king (Oba) and the inauguration of executives of the association.

Bayo Nurudeen, 500-Level Information Technology, is the new king.

The occasion, which started at 11am, in front of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, attracted a large crowd of students and staff, including the patron of the association, Prof Babatope Alo. The outgoing president, Olatunde Jeje, 400-Level Electrical Electronics Engineering, thanked his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to serve them and for making out time to attend the event.

He reminded them of the goal of the

•Some of the graduands at the ceremony

Varsity inducts radiographers

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HE Department of Radiography and Radiological Science at the Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar (UNICAL), has inducted 42 graduates into the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN).

The ceremony was held at the International Conference Centre.

Acting Registrar of RRBN Mr Michael Okpalaeke presented the new radiographers for induction.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, congratulated the graduating students and urged them to practise their profession with ethical standards as prescribed by the board.

He said: “The induction signifies the professionalism in education as reflected in the results and performance of our graduates.”

The Provost of the College of Medical Science, Prof Saturday Etuk, admonished the graduands to be focused.

From Stanley Uchegbu UNICAL

The Dean of the faculty, Prof Anne Asuquo, described the inductees as great men and women endowed with sound academic and professional wisdom. She said the graduates had been trained to choose the path of excellence through hard work and commitment.

In his congratulatory message, the Acting Head of the Department, Dr Nneoyi Egbe, charged the graduates to be good ambassadors of the department.

The event featured award presentations to Prof Epoke, Prof Asuquo and Prof Etuk.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students, Christian Udo, who bagged four awards as the best graduating student, thanked the staff of the department for their effort and encouragement throughout their stay.

From Philips Ogbaje MAUTECH

association, which is to promote unity and love among Yoruba students in the university, irrespective of their states of origin. He charged them to always promote their culture and desist from acts that could taint the image of the association and the race.

The incoming president, Sunday Ajibade, 300-Level Construction Technology Education, promised to work closely with the Oba and his council to ensure that the goal of the association is achieved.

Others crowned included the Olori (king’s wife), Nurat Mahmud, 500-Level Information Technology; Otunba (king’s right hand man), Oladimeji Buhari, 500Level Microbiology; Asiwaju (a chief), Opeyemi Ajibade, 400-Level Economics and Yeye of Yoruba students (women leader), Kafayat Oyewole, 400Level Accounting.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADS The Nation CAMPUSLIFE in collaboration with Blantyre newspaper, Malawi, AfricanLiberty.org and Network for a Free Society, is calling for entries into an essay competition. Details are as follows: Question: Nations which are economically free out-perform non-free nations in all indicators of well-being. Discuss.

Eligibility: All students in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and vocational school) in Africa.

The format of the text should be in MS word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested student should please request for the background material from Adedayo

Thomas at adedayo.thomas@gmail.com, Wale at campusbeat@yahoo.com and Brian Ligomeka at bligomeka@bnltimes.com.

On the first page of the completed essay, please write your full name, department, year of study and name of institution.

Also include your email address and GSM line.

Send your entries to adedayo.thomas@gmail.com.

Entries will be received between March 28 and June 11, 2013. Entry sent after the deadline will not be accepted.

Announcement of winners: July 18, 2013. All participants will get a free CD of “Ideas for a free society”, which contains 100 textbooks on various field of studies.

Prizes: 1st - $1,000 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 2nd - $700 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 3rd - $500 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 4th - $300 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 5th - $100 We have eight consolidation prizes of $50 each.

34

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

CAMPUS LIFE

Man O’ War bounces back •Cadets being trained by senior officers

.Cadets displaying the banner of the Man O War

The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has lifted the ban on Man O’ War after a two-year proscription resulting from the role the outfit played in the violence on the campus in 2011. EMMANUEL AHANONU writes.

T

HE ban placed on the Man O’ War outfit by the authorities of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has been lifted. But when the news hit the students, the response was not welcoming. Many said: “The bad guys are back again.” But for the cadets, it is a new era when the organisation would engage students respectfully.

The outfit was banned following the killing of students around boys’ hostel in August 2011. The development led to violencea and the university was closed for six months.

Immediately the ban was lifted, the co-ordinator of the outfit, Emeka Onu, 200-Level Law, ex-

tended an invitation to students and students’ union officers to join the paramilitary organisation.

In the batch “A” recruitment of the outfit, about 34 male and female students joined the organisation.

An orientation was held for the recruits. As early as 5am, the inductees jogged from the female hostel to UNICAL staff quarters, then to the school farm, which share a boundary with Cameroon. The cadets chanted songs as they moved from one point to the other.

The jogging, which lasted for 75 minutes, stopped at Abram Odia Stadium, where the orientation was conducted.

Mr Nsikak Effiong, Welfare

Offiver, Cross River State command of Man O’ War, was appointed to drill the cadets and teach them necessary skills. He advised the command to avoid what led to the proscription of the organisation in 2011, urging members to engage students respectfully without undermining the security of lives and property on the campus.

Emeka, who spoke on how the ban was lifted, said the outfit would be administered on a new structure and ideology.

He said: “It was stressful getting the Man O’ War back to the school. Taking cognizance of our past, we want to avoid incidents that led to the ban, which is why

we are recruiting new members into the organisation. Currently, 34 members have been recruited under the Batch “A” exercise.”

Emeka said old members had been banned by the management to join the outfit because of their “improper behaviour”.

He said the criteria for membership included physical and mental fitness, and matriculation number.

He added that any member who could not perform “fall-out” five times would be dismissed.

Aside the coordinator, the outfit does not have executive officers.

Emeka said: “For now, we have no official members; it is after the training that test will be conducted

to choose who will be officers. Let the students know that Man O’ War is back in a different form. We urge anybody to report maltreatment by Man O War members to the school security.”

The outfit is now under the command of the school’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr Boniface Adie.

The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Eyong Eyong, inaugurated the new cadets.

He advised the cadets to obey the rules and regulations of the school and work hand-in-hand with the school security outfit to checkmate crime and indecent dressing on the campus.

Members of the Kegites Club International converged on the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) for their annual conference, which was held for three days at Fajuyi Hall. SEHINDEMI AJOSE (300-Level English Literature, OAU) reports.

Embrace entrepreneurship, students told

Uniting the ilyas

From Sam Ibok UNICAL

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F

ROM various destinations, they walked into the campus clad in white and green Agbada with different shades of traditional caps to match. They were members of the Kegites Club International visiting the campus for their annual Chiefesis conference.

As the programme was about to begin, they all chanted: Egbe le gbe awa o, sewele o, ko ma n se egbe okunkun, e lo so fun araiye, ko ma n se egbe iya, egbe le gbe awa o, sewele, sewele, ka ro wo ra moto (our club is not a secret society, go and tell the world; we shall get money to buy car)”.

Though short, the song was a memorable line which will linger in the memory of the residents of Awolowo Hall in the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, the headquarters of the Kegite Club nationwide.

The club’s chiefs came from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the conference, which was held in Fajuyi Hall café.

The event was not without power plays and politicking common at such conferences.

The theme of the programme was The comradium I used to know, which the World Life (head), Ganiu Adekoya, 500-Level Mechanical Engineering, OAU, said was chosen to find answers to the question of absence of love, camaraderie, mutual trust and selfless interests, which the founding members of the club envisioned.

Speaking on the theme, he noted that there was no camaraderie among members of the club unlike when the club was established. He said the club used to be one which propagated love and unity among the chiefesis, senior fellows, life se-

•Cheifesis on the opening day of the conference reciting the club anthem

‘We must know that good decisions will affect our ilyas and comrad positively.

Strict adherence to sealations (the club’s rules) will save the club from extinction, and reminding comrads of the norms of the club will make the world know the truth about our motive, which is to promote African culture and never to destroy it’ nior fellows, patrons and matrons.

“Then, the purpose of the club was never defeated and your best friend might be from another Ilya (district) but mistrust is now the order of the day,” he said.

He added that a situation whereby a chief or comrad (member) of one ilya could not ensure his safety in another ilya made him ask the question: “Where have we got it wrong?”

He said for the society to move

forward, the chiefesis needed to see themselves as ambassadors of the club. His words: “Let us check ourselves and let us correct our wrongs because no one is a saint on this issue.”

He said: “We must know that good decisions will affect our ilyas and comrad positively. Strict adherence to sealations (the club’s rules) will save the club from extinction, and reminding comrads of the norms of the club will make the

world know the truth about our motive, which is to promote African culture and never to destroy it.”

Ganiu decried the presence of cultists among the club members, saying their activities in the society was responsible for the bad image the Kegites Club was known. He urged the chiefs to carefully admit new members.

The conference presented some of the new members the opportunity to know the headquarters of the club.

During the event, members deliberated on the way forward and programmes in their calendar year including new sealations.

The club was founded in 1962 by seven students of the then University of Ife, when the institution was at its temporary site, which presently houses The Polytechnic, Ibadan. The objective of the club is to promote African culture, which colonial masters believed was inferior to Western culture.

HE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof James Epoke, has advised students to embrace entrepreneurship to be self-reliant after their programmes in the school.

The VC gave the charge at a summit organised by Global Youth for Change Development Initiative (GYCDI), held at the International Conference Centre.

The theme of the event was Becoming an Academic Leader and Entrepreneurial Icon.

Prof Epoke said the university had initiated a GSS course on entrepreneurship development and a training centre for the acquisition of practical skills in entrepreneurship. He charged the organisers to ensure that the summit addressed academic excellence, employability skills and entrepreneurial achievements among students.

In his remark, chairman of UNICAL Hotel Board Prof Emmanuel Uko said the summit was designed to enable youths discover a new life of value, innovation and creativity in a competitive world.

In a paper presented by Mr Julius Afolabi, which was titled Leadership: An ultimate necessity to changing positions in a competitive world, he implored youths to take charge of their lives and fight rising unemployment.

The Executive Director for Change Development Initiative (CDI), a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Mr Jerry Offor, said the mission of the organisation was to identify, build and deploy agents trained to create a knowledge economy by promoting wealth creation, leadership and building a sustainable future for the youth.

The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Eyong Eyong, who spoke on Towards a greater Nigeria: The role of students said a student with great leadership qualities and entrepreneurial skill was an asset to the society. He charged students to embrace entrepreneurship and contribute to national development.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Presidential pardon as excuse for corruption

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S Nigeria battles to stop corruption in all facets of national life, the people woke up recently to the news of a controversial pardon by the President.

Former Bayelsa State Governor Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and others were pardoned by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Alamieyeseigha was arrested for money laundering by the London Metropolitan Police in 2005. While on bail, the Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation as Alamieyeseigha is referred to by his loyalists, disappeared from London and re-appeared in Yenagoa, the capital of Beyelsa State. He was given a heroic welcome by the people, who felt he was being persecuted by the powers-that-be.

Perhaps, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly members were not impressed by that fake heroism; he was impeached and, immediately, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) picked him up for prosecution.

He was convicted and sent to jail.

It is necessary to note that Alamieyeseigha never admitted that he deserved the punishment he got. Instead, in one of the interviews he granted Newswatch, the Ijaw Chief blamed his “woes” on Obasanjo. He only pleaded guilty

to corruption charges to let him off the hook as reportedly promised by the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration.

The question: whether or not he had been found with one million pounds in his London home was never answered. Following his impeachment, Dr Jonathan became the new helmsman in the state.

The jail period has elapsed and Alamieyeseigha has reportedly been “helping” the Federal Government maintain peace in the creeks of the Niger Delta. Jonathan cited Alamieyeseigha’s personal undertaking as the reasons he granted presidential pardon to him.

No sooner had the pardon document been signed than Nigerians criticised the presidency for granting such a “dubious” pardon.

Expectedly, presidential spokesmen were up in arms, looking left and right for anything that would look substantial in defending the president’s decision. Then they settled on the constitutional provision that grants the President the right to grant pardons to criminals.

But the people were neither convinced by the skewed argument.

Neither was I. First, Alamieyeseigha never – at least to my knowledge – admitted

that he is a criminal that needed to be pardoned. In that regard, his comrade-in-crime and former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tafa Balogun, ranks higher in deserving a pardon. The former police chief was reported to have admitted his guilt and apologised to the people of Nigeria.

How do you pardon someone who sees his travail as political persecution? While Alamieyeseigha was traversing the length and breadth of the Niger Delta, whipping up sentiments that he was “disgraced” because he had opposed President Obasanjo’s third term bid, a controversial pardon was hastily given to him.

No one doubting the constitutionality of the President’s decision, but everyone, except maybe the President and his cabinet, knows that the pardon was not in the nation’s best interest. Apart from the common argument that it will simply encourage corruption, it sent a wrong message across the country.

We may not have the “constitutional” powers to question the criteria the President used in determinining those who merited his pardon, but we have the moral right to do so. The convenient argument by the presidency that the

decision was “constitutional” reminds me of a similar decision taken a few weeks earlier by a judge of an Abuja High Court, who asked the former Director of the Police Pension Fund, Mr John Yusufu, to pay N750,000 for stealing N37 billion.

No one disagreed that Justice Talba’s judgment was constitutional, but everyone knows it was not morally right. The President’s and Talba’s decisions are against the expectation of the long-suffering people of Nigeria. The President knows the Constitution; Justice Talba knows his law books, but the masses have a sense of morality.

To create the impression that a constitutional decision is always a moral decision regardless of the circumstance speaks of the shallowmindedness in the presidency. And if we are going to depend blindly on the Constitution as though we have lost our sense of right and wrong, then we may have to add certain clauses to the Constitution to encompass, for instance, a code of dressing for the President. Lest, President Jonathan might put on low-waist dress to an African Union summit and his aides will simply laugh off the outrage at home and dare us to show them

By Msonter Anzaa where it is “unconstitutional” for the President to dress that way.

For granting Alamieyeseigha a pardon he does not deserve, Dr Jonathan may not have committed any “constitutional” offence, but he has committed a moral offence for which he must beg for pardon from the people. But whether the long-suffering masses will pardon him or not will be known in the months to come.

Msonter, 200-Level Medicine, BSU Makurdi

Must Corps members suffer for allawee?

By Moshood Isah

I

WILL be doing a great disservice to myself and my colleagues serving in Gombe State, if I fail to write this. Or maybe I should even beg them to pardon my laziness for waiting this long before writing.

Sometimes, I wonder how life will turn out for us after we pass out in October. Perhaps, I may not won-

der for long, given the discouraging fate of the thousands being churned out by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yearly. Many have passed out without being gainfully employed.

For the Nigerian youths, it is all suffering from the university to National Youth Service. If it is not, why would Gombe State directorate of the NYSC always delay in paying Corps members the monthly allowance - token given to us as appreciation for abandoning the convenience of our homes to “serve” our fatherland? As at last Tuesday, Corps members were yet to receive their allowance for the month of March when their counterparts in other states had already been paid.

This is gradually becoming a normal occurrence in the state.

Also, I find it rather unreasonable for the state government to pay N1,000 as stipend to the youths serving in the state. There is no gain

saying the fact that Corps members lack incentives to meticulously deliver selfless service to the nation.

But, they get discouraged with the way they are shabbily treated. I, for instance, do not get a boost from my place of primary assignment, which is in a remote area in Gombe State.

The geography of the school and its welfare for permanent staff will not make a mere Corps member to expect anything from the school.

When I resumed for my primary assignment, all the management of the secondary school could give me was dingy mud accommodation with a small window. The ceiling was padded with nylons of some Yale products. The key to the room was “formally” handed over to me as though it was a star prize from a bonanza in Abuja.

The local government lodge came to my rescue. But then, the rooms provided by the municipal authority were meant for Corps members posted to work in the local council.

To appreciate the serving youths, the council authority gives them N2,000 every month but some are left out. Quoting an official of the council, “the local government is not under obligation to pay all Corps members N2,000 but it is doing so as a form of gratification.” The council only pays 13 out of several serving in the area.

Thus, I find myself in a scenario where my colleagues with whom I serve in the same school is being paid by the council while I am not.

Now, I wonder what many of us will be going through, serving Nigeria in such a remote environment without being paid on time.

This is not what is obtainable in other local governments in the state.

In my local government, it is believed that if one’s place of primary assignment is the secondary school, so, it is the state government that must provide the incentives for such Corps member. But the pupils being taught are residents of the lo-

cal government. The local government should explain why it pays only 13 Corps members out of many teaching its children?

Anyway, I don’t know if I deserve the local government’s allowance, even though my colleagues are paid. The state government allowance is too small to agitate for, even though some states pay as much as N5,000.

All we want is that our federal allowee, which is our real entitlement, must be paid as at when due.

Since they always tell us national youth service is not meant to subject Corps members to suffering, we demand that the money must not be delayed again. The state and local government may hold on to the ‘peanut’ they pay to Corps members, but the Federal Government must not make us to suffer before we get our allowee.

Moshood, a Corps member, NYSC GOMBE

Writers as agents of growth

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EADERS are leaders, but not all leaders read. A man who reads is, no doubt, a shining light among his peers because he will always set the pace for others to follow. As the Bible remains the source of wisdom, books remain the greatest sources of knowledge because, through reading, we unlock coded ideas and concepts about life and its elements. Without reading, ignorance flourishes.

William Elliot, a writer, once said: “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors and most patients of teachers.”

Since books enlighten us about what we are ignorant about, then one can say that William Elliot was right.

Despite having the power to enlighten us, books will be meaningless if we do not develop a passion for reading. We might be facing a problem at present. While the solution to the problem may lie in a book, if we do not read the book,

we may never get the answers to puzzles.

At every point in time, we should always read books because the entire world is anchored on knowledge. Even great inventors, such as Michael Faraday et al, explored the world of knowledge, which is why their inventions still solve human problems centuries after their demise.

History shows that noble men, who achieved greatness and became masters in their disciplines, read fervently to achieve the feats.

In African literature, two giants that bestride the literary firmament are Prof Wole Soyinka and the late Prof Chinua Achebe. These men, despite their rich knowledge in literature, never abandoned their habit of reading books.

We can only be enlightened through reading; we cannot seek to help others without knowledge. For a writer, the only way he can inspire others with the content of his brain is to continue to write.

Through reading of his articles,

people can acquire knowledge and can even nurture their own writing skills.

Just as readers are leaders, writers are life-changers and agendasetters. This is because they shape and re-shape the society and influence the masses to behave in a particular way through their writings.

They educates and inform the society of new ideas; they correct societal ills through what they love doing. Writers are builders of the society and no community can progress without having people that will write its story for its denizens.

To succeed as a writer, one must be observant and proficient in the usage of his or her desired language of communication. This is because language is the most effective tool that determines the success of writers’ works. And since the official language in Nigeria is English language, its understanding and deep knowledge becomes imperative for anyone, who wishes to inspire great mind through writing in this clime.

As an aspiring writer, who

wishes to educate, inform and build his society through writing, one must effectively understand the syntax of English language and take cognizance of its rules and elements.

Audience will determine writers’ usage of diction and language. If one is writing for pupils, one is expected to employ simple words in communicating the message. But if one is writing for undergraduates, one must write in a way that will develop the readers.

In case one is writing for a cross section of readers irrespective of age, educational status and background, one must consider the Cs of effective writing, which include clarity, conciseness, concreteness, completeness and concord when writing. One must write in a simple and easily-understood language, which will be devoid of unnecessary language. One must avoid wordiness and promotes pleasure through right proportion, sense of form and good choice of words.

And lastly, one must avoid high-

By Imoleayo Oyedeyi sound or complex words.

As stated earlier, if we all desire to move the world to a greater height, then we should all imbibe the habit of constant reading and also share our ideas and inspire others through writing.

Imoleayo, 400-Level Mass Communication, AAUA

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

36

CAMPUS LIFE School marks 20th anniversary

S

CHOOL of Technical Education (STE), operated by the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), in affiliation with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has marked its 20th anniversary with a seminar.

The event was tagged: Vocational technical education programme: A sustainable tool to poverty alleviation.

It was attended by the Rector, Dr Margret Ladipo, who was represented by her deputy on administration, Dr Ma’roof Adebakin ; Deputy Rector (Academic) Innocent Akhuemonkhan; Dean of the school Mrs H.A. Akanbi; former Director Dr Patricia Akumabor and Head of Education Foundation Department, Dr Taiwo Omomia.

Others were the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Mr O.T Raheem; Dr Lucas Ojo, Managing Director, Desmonarch Microfinance Bank,

By Mark Orgu YABATECH

Mrs Geraldine Ojede, and Mr Austin Okon.

Mrs Akanbi praised the partnership with UNN, saying the Technical Education programme was designed to train vocational science teachers.

Dr Ladipo, who spoke through Dr Adebakin, said STE had grown from strength to strength through joint efforts of the collaborating institutions.

Her words: “It is on record that many of the students of the programme have graduated with impressive results and have excelled in their various establishments.”

She said poverty could be eliminated in Nigeria if government formulated and implemented policies on vocational education.

•Members of the school management after the programme

The guest speaker, Mr Chris Igwe, said Nigeria could attain sustainable development through vocational and technical education with em-

Mass Comm elects leaders

FUTO holds 23rd inaugural lecture

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EMBERS of the National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMSCO) at the Imo State University (IMSU) have elected new officers. The election was preceded by an accreditation.

Charleson Ovoh was elected the president with 126 votes, defeating his opponent who got 115 votes.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Charleson said: “I am so excited by the result. This election is a reflection of the confidence reposed in me by members.”

A member of the electoral committee, Maxwell Okorie, said: “The election was transparent and

phasis on entrepreneurship.

He said: “No nation would make any meaningful socio-economic stride without viable educational

T

•Students jubilating after the election results were announced From Ekene Ahaneku and Chidiebere Enyia IMSU

the students voted candidates of their choice. Obviously, the elec-

tion reflected the choice of the students.”

HE Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has held its 23rd inaugural lecture with the topic: Chemical pathway: Small changes that made a difference.

The lecture was delivered by a professor of Chemistry, Prof Goody Onuoha.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, said the lecture was in line with the current developments in chemical technology and how it affected living organisms and the environment.

The lecture was centred on the relevance of chemicals to industrial, residential, commercial, agricul-

institutions.”

President of the Vocational Technical Education Association (VOTESA) Kunle Taiwo praised the management for its achievements.

From Sani Mohammed FUTO

tural and other outfits.

In conclusion, Prof Onuoha said government should provide support to ensure that basic sciences were adequately taught in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. He called on corporate bodies to finance scientific research and turn them into ventures that would create employment and alleviate poverty.

Vincent Chimezie, who attended the programme, said: “I have learnt a lot and now appreciate the importance of chemicals in our life and how research and development can unearth beneficial chemical compounds to support our ever- growing needs.”

For Victor Uchenna, a student, the lecture was inspiring and a platform to better appreciate the role of chemistry to humanity.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•The Corps member during the training

Corps members trained on vocation

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HE Oyo State chapter of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a Community Development Service (CDS) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has trained Corps members on vocational skills.

The event, which took place at the NYSC secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, was organised to acquaint members with skills necessary to achieve the millennium development goals in their host community.

The participants were taught

From Taiwo Adebulu NYSC IBADAN

production of liquid soap, air freshener, insecticide, tie and dye and batik.

President of the group Mr Emmanuel Okere said: “Investment in skill acquisition is key to making MDGs successful. To eradicate poverty, we want to train men and women on capacity building.

So, it is important we train ourselves first.”

A member of the group, Temitope Taiwo, who is serving in Ibadan, said members were mandated to repeat the skills learnt in their host communities.

In a closing remark, the Vice President of the group, Mr Abdulfatai Olumegbon, urged members to put into practice what they learnt to leave lasting impacts on locals of their host communities.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

37

EDUCATION

Don’t tempt us, says new FUNAAB Pro-Chancellor S ENATOR Adeseye Ogunlewe, the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has charged members of the university community not to go out of their way to impress council members with benefits they are not entitled to.

The former Minister of Works spoke at the inauguration of the governing councils of 21 federal universities in Abuja.

Speaking after he was inaugurated as chairman of the FUNAAB Council by President Goodluck Jonathan, Ogunlewe appealed to lecturers, workers, students and others not to bend university rules in their favour.

“Please I want to beg you, anything that we are not entitled to, don’t give us. Don’t bend the rules because of us, don’t attract us with any largesse, we don’t need it, don’t tarnish our image by giving us concession that we don’t deserve”, he declared.

Having served as a former Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Civil Service, Ogunlewe said he had learnt that a public servant

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

who allows civil servants to spoil him with undeserved largesse does so to his peril.

“I have been in the Civil Service from 1966 to 1991. I was Permanent Secretary in Lagos. I started as a clerk; I was working in 1965, joined the University of Ibadan and came back. I moved from level eight to seventeen and I became a Permanent Secretary. I know what all of you can do if you want to catch us.

You give us concession that you know we are not entitled to and we believe that you are nice people. If civil servants want to catch you, they are nice but when it turns to enquiry now, you will say, ‘I showed them oo. I showed them the regulation they said no.’ We are not interested. Once you are caught with that kind of thing you can never escape. Guidelines and rules are sacrosanct in government, once you go outside it you are culpable, there is no explanation,” he said.

Rather than ‘tempt’ or ‘trap’ them, the Pro-Chancellor enjoined other stakeholders in the university to guide the Council from go-

ing astray to give FUNAAB credible leadership.

“We can assure you, if you guide us properly we will not infringe on or perpetrate illegality in the university,” he said.

Earlier, when inaugurating Council, the Minister of Education, Prof. Raqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i who represented President Jonathan, said the council, which should serve for four years, can be dissolved by the Visitor at anytime.

“The councils so constituted shall have tenure of four years from the date of its inauguration provided the council is not found to be incompetent or corrupt. The powers of the Council shall be exercised as in the law and statues of each University. Government constitutes the governing councils for good management, growth and development,” she said.

In his remarks, Prof Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) admonished members of the new councils to be accountable, and maintain good relationships with their university managements to collectively address the challenges in the university system.

FUNAAB FILE

Pact with US agencies

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•Senator Ogunlewe

Okojie, who was once Vice-Chancellor of UNAAB now FUNAAB, urged the Vice-Chancellors not to run unaccredited programmes, stating that President Jonathan had given the Commission instructions to sanction any Vice-Chancellor who disobeyed the directive.

Other members of the FUNAAB Governing Council include Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abb’a, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Kayode Akindele, Professor Femi Otubanjo and Alhaji Abba Dasuki.

College appeals for take-off grant, 15 years after •Fed Govt spends N12b on micro labs

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S the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze in Anambra State graduated 2,855 students, its Provost, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, has appealed to the Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufa’i to facilitate the release of its take-off grant.

Ogbuagu, who said the non-release of the grant is affecting the expansion of the 15-year old college, also urged the Federal Government to upgrade the institution to a university.

“It may be pertinent to inform the Minister that the college was not provided with any take off grant and this hinders the provision of the necessary infrastructure needed for a conducive learning environment. The college is passionately appealing for a special grant to quicken the rate of development in the college.

“I also use this forum to make an explicit request for you to upgrade the college to a university of education. It is quite gratifying to inform you that we have the men, the materials and the land mass to take off as a university,” he said In her speech at the convocation, which was the 15th for Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) students who graduated between 2006 and 2012, Prof Rufa’i said the Federal Government has approved the construction of macro teaching computer laboratories in 59 colleges of education across the country at the cost of about N12 billion.

The minister, who inaugurated the college’s e-library and inspected other projects, said government is focusing attention on Technical and Vocational Education as well as teacher training to improve skilled manpower to operate, maintain and sustain the nation’s economic activities for rapid socio-economic development.

“The aspiration of the Federal Government is to see better funded, equipped, motivated staff and students in our institutions. The Ministry has taken a bold step to confront the challenges of the education system headlong. Two major focal areas of the plan are Teacher Education and Development, Technical

ANAGEMENT of the University of Maryland, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Bioprocess Engineering and Food Safety Extension (U of MD/NFSC); Parker Associates Global LLC (PAG); and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) have jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to stimulate economic growth among Nigerian-based small and mediumscale farm enterprises.

Backed by mega companies like Etisalat, MTN, Procter & Gamble, Dizengoff, Western Union, Skye Bank and Chevron amongst others, the MoU is expected to strengthen the international competency of FUNAAB faculty, students and curricula. In addition, it is to advance the knowledge of Ogun State farmers in systematic approaches developed to minimise food safety risk with the complex food supply chain, among other benefits, through its Regional Farm Training Centre in Odeda, Ogun State.

Components of the agreement include a Train-the-Trainer extension programme, youth entrepreneurship programme, women empowerment programme and integrative wellness programme among others. Similarly, the programme is designed to feature a student-exchange programme.

Farmers are to benefit immensely as the programme promises to provide a telecentre where farmers can get regular information through the use of their mobile devices.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole reiterated the preparedness of the university to give the needed support towards achieving the objectives of the collaboration.

Praises for agricultural input

S • From left: Anambra State Deputy Governor Mr Emeka Sibeudu; Minister of Education Prof Rufa’I andOgbuagu at the convocation.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

and Vocational Education and Training,” she said.

She, however, regretted that despite of government’s effort to improve the sector, there is still a dearth of technical and vocational teachers in the nation’s educational institutions.

She said: “Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria has a sad experience under the colonialists as it merely fed the economy and political ego of the western world and ironically starved us of our technological needs for development.

“It is, however, sad to note that whilst many technical teachers are produced from our various institutions yearly, there is still dearth of this caliber of teachers in our classrooms nationwide.

“It has been painfully noted that many qualified teachers upon graduation opt to remain unemployed rather than practice their profession.

With this development, government policy of popularising science and technical studies in schools has suffered set back.”

Earlier, the Provost of the college,

Prof Joseph Ogbuagu, charged the 2,855 graduands to be good ambassadors.

Ogbuagu, who resumed office in February 2010, pledged to continue to re-engineer, re-position, restructure and transform the college, noting that many challenges still confront the institution including access roads, ecological, water, and electricity problems. He appealed to the Federal Government and spirited individuals to assist the college.

In a remark, the state Governor, Mr Peter Obi, represented by his deputy,

Mr Emeka Sibeudu, pledged the commitment of the state government towards the growth of the college.

“Granted that it is a Federal Government institution, we assure you of total commitment of Anambra government in ensuring relative stability and welfare support to the college,” Obi said.

Some of those who graced the occasion were former governor of Anambra, Dame Virgy Etiaba and member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Mr Ben Nwankwo, among others.

TAKEHOLDERS have praised the contributions of FUNAAB in restoring the lost glory of agriculture in the country.

Commending the Management of the university on a radio programme on OGBC 90.5, tagged Sunday Morning Live on FM, listeners who called into the programme, said the university has impacted its host community and environs through its research activities.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oyewole, who featured on the radio programme, had earlier lamented that agriculture, which used to be the mainstay of the country’s economy before the oil boom, has been relegated and abandoned particularly by the youths.

He said: “Despite all that is happening today, agriculture is still the future of our country. We will need to re-orientate our people to have an attitudinal change as a people and as a nation.”

ExxonMobil trains 20 varsity tutors

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N order to enhance the quality of locally trained Geoscientists in the country, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil has embarked on the training of 20 Nigerian lecturers drawn from seven universities in the Southwest under the University Partnering Programme (UPP).

Under the programme, ExxonMobil will also provide necessary funds and equipment to the universities in order improve the skills of map makers and interpreters, thereby creating high

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

quality geological education in the country.

The benefiting universities include the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, University of Ado-Ekiti, University of Lagos and University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

Addressing the participants at the opening ceremony of the programme tagged “Train-the-Trainer Work-

shop”, Mr Goodluck Adagbasa, the Manager, Deepwater Production, Geosciences, EEPNL, said the programme is designed to expose the participatants to current and best practices in geoscience which will in turn impact positively on the quality of geoscience graduates coming out of their tertiary institutions.

He noted that the workshop was necessary to help universities in balancing the dwindling standard of education in the country, especially in geosciences.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

ACE FILE

Provost praises community

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HE Provost, Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), (Ondo) Prof Adeyemi Idowu, has ascribed the success of the institution’s 32nd Convocation to the cooperation and support of members of the community.

In his remarks during the April edition of the Monthly prayer meeting of the college, Idowu said the last convocation was well-organised and attracted good commendations from his colleagues that attended.

He also commended the just-concluded Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union National Delegates Congress held in the college.

The Provost expressed his faith in the power of prayer and challenged staff of the institution to make it a point of duty to attend the monthly prayer meeting.

He also charged them to take care of their health, be security conscious,

‘Ignore unregistered organisations’

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EW students of ACE have been advised to ignore any invitation by unregistered organisation and groups.

Speaking with the freshmen on: Student activities: Voluntary organisation and counselling services in the College, ACE Counselor, Mr Adedayo Ademikanra, enumerated four registered groups, which the students are legally permitted to associate with.

They are non-governmental organisations, religious groups, the students union and paramilitary groups.

APPROACHING DEADLINES UK Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme Masters Degree Brief description The UK Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme provides scholarships for international students from developing Commonwealth countries who wants to study a postgraduate degree in UK Universities. It is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (with funding from DFID), and UK universities.

The Scheme allows them to contribute toward the development of their home countries. Awards are for taught masters courses only. No awards will be made for undergraduate or doctoral study.

the participating institutions.

Target group Nigeria and Nationals of Commonwealth Developing Countries

Scholarship value/inclusions DFID and participating United Kingdom institutions will jointly meet the full costs of an award holder's study in the United Kingdom including air fares to and from the United Kingdom. Maintenance allowance is paid by the scholar's host institution, at the level set by the UK Government: £1,134 per month for scholars based in London and £917 per month for the rest of the UK. A grant of up to £225 to cover thesis (Master's) costs is available; also available is £200 for study travel.

Fields of study The cost of up to 10 Kilograms of excess baggage Shared Scholarship Scheme (SSS) Awards are (books only) is available for scholars returning home offered only for subjects relating to the economic, at the end of their awards. No additional allowances social and technological development of a are paid for spouses or other dependents. candidate's country.

Eligibility Number of Scholarships Applicants should be hold a first degree at either 170 Scholarships will be offered distributed to first or upper second class level, have not previously

studied for one year or more in a developed country; not be employed by a government department (at national level) or a parastatal organisation (employees of universities are normally acceptable, however); be willing to confirm that they will return to their home country as soon as their period of study is complete.

Application instructions Applications should be made directly to the institutions at which candidates wish to study.

The sponsoring institutions will be the judges of academic calibre and will forward their nominations to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for its agreement.

Deadlines : no later than 30 April 2013 Contact information All enquiries should be addressed to the University at which you wish to study.

Source link: http://www.scholars4dev.com/ 2834/commonwealth-shared-scholarshipscheme-for-developing-countries/ #ixzz2HxdasBAl

Union threatens strike over interim mgt

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HE College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED), Oyo, has given the state government a 21-day ultimatum, to provide substantive principal officers for the college, or risk industrial action. The ultimatum took effect from April 5.

A communiqué signed by the union Chairman, Dr. Olugbenga Ayena, at the end of its Congress, noted: “Interim” arrangement that should have ushered in a substantive management within a predetermined period of

•Oyo gets 21-day ultimatum From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

time, has outlived its usefulness and is, therefore, “illegitimate, boring, frustrating, and unproductive.”

“The union, specifically identified some fallout which have emanated from the stand-in arrangement to include no specific terms of reference and tenure for the arrangement that has been in place for about 20 months now, and inability of the

interim officers to act in substantive capacity thus further creating problems.

“Others include the non-release of capital grants for the 2011\2012 academic session, gross understaffing of some academic departments both at the main campus, and Lanlate campus, as well as infrastructural decay.

“The union noted the apparent inaction of the Governing Council on this issue despite persistent com-

plaints made, and unequivocally condemned the apathy of the council to it,” he said.

However, COEASU praised the government’s landmark achievements in the tertiary education sector, and significant improvement in the performance of state-owned secondary school students in both West African School Certificate(WASCE) and National Examination Council (NECO), describing it as, “noteworthy and a great achievement, which is indicative of the success of government education reformation agenda.”

About 100 participants, who attended the fourth edition of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) annual international workshop, have described it as timely. It addressed gaps in teaching techniques in the 21st century, writes ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

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HE fourth international workshop of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) ended on a good note with participants agreeing that the right teaching techniques must be combined with state-of-the-art infrastructure and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the overall academic improvement in higher education.

Themed: Learning in the age of rapidly changing technology, the three-day interactive sessions were held between last Wednesday and Friday.

Participants argued that for education to be more qualitative at the higher level, more attention must be paid to the secondary schools curriculum, with their teaching and learning methods. They canvassed for government funding of private universities.

These, among others, were contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the workshop.

Signed by ABUAD Vice-Chancellor Prof Sidi Osho, the communiqué also recommends that aside good dress and sound reading culture, both students and staff, must be engaged in sports as another means of promoting and sustaining their health, positive behaviour and cordial relationship.

The communiqué reads in part that: • Academics play a major role in determining the future of higher education. Therefore, in a democratising polity like Nigeria, it is recommended that academics must be insulated from undue political pressure and the attendant political manipulations to enable them effectively and dispassionately play their role towards the achievement of “world class” institutions of higher learning; • Academia must strictly adhere to the highest educational standards encompassing unassailable integrity, solid reputation, transparency, equality, fairness, accountability, honour,

•Participants at the workshop

‘Right teaching techniques must match infrastructure’ quality of teaching, learning and research impact on the society; • That the government should include the provision of facilities and support for research in both public and private universities in government policy as there are no “private Nigerians” and that of all the aspects of governance, one of the most important duties is the promotion and protection of the teachers, students and the higher institutions of learning; • The Federal Government should sponsor and support this annual workshop on improved teaching and learning methods initiated by

ABUAD; • Academics should return to their various institutions and encourage improved teaching and learning methods based on the experience from this workshop; • The Federal Government should amend the law setting up Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to enable Private higher institutions benefit from it for research and development; • Specialisation should be encouraged with a view to promoting professionalism and specialisation in Nigerian higher institutions of learning as lecturers cannot efficiently

teach all courses; • More emphasis should be placed on learning outcomes, continuous feedback from students, peer review and the development of programs to improve teaching skills.

Papers presented include: Academics and the development of a world class institution of higher learning by ABUAD Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Micheal Omolewa; The making of a world-class universities in Nigeria;

by Dean of Faculty of Arts Adeleke University Ede Osun State Prof Ibikunle Tijani; Understanding and developing best mentoring practices in a private university by Prof Joe

Babalola; and Enriching delivery system in the classroom by former NUC Executive Secretary Prof Peter Okebukola.

Others were: Integrating ICT into classroom and communication practices co-presented by Prof Emmanuel Ademola and Dr Titus Olaniyi; Teaching Research and Community Services: The ideal balance by Prof Benjamin Osho; Health, Safety and Conducive Environment in Learning by Provost Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State Prof Adeyemi Idowu; and Discipline and Indiscipline in higher education system by Prof Alice Jekayinfa of the University of Ilorin, among others.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

EDUCATION Firm out with teacher-school Attendance central to writing leadership services, others WASSCE, says Osun Deputy Governor

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SUN State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori has enforced a high school attendance by senior secondary pupils as a precedence to allowing them sit for the May/June 2013 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

She made this statement in Osogbo during an interactive session with principals of secondary schools.

She lamented that rather than attend school some pupils resort to commercial motorcycle operations during school hours.

“A student who refuses to comply with the 90 per cent attendance requirement would not be allowed to sit for the final examinations,” she said She urged principals to be diligent with record keeping. This would enable them establish the identity of those who stayed away from classes.

The Deputy Governor also said the government’s investment in education is paying off as performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) improved by 76.42 per cent in 2011.

In 2010, she said only 6,773 out of the 44, 388 candidates who sat for the May/June WASSCE made credit in five subjects including English and Mathematics.

•Mrs Laoye-Tomori

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

In 2011 May/June WASSCE, her first year in the saddle as the Commissioner for Education, she said 11, 949 of the 54, 810 pupils that sat for the examination recorded credit level passes in five subjects including English and Mathematics, which she said showed a 76.4 per cent increase in performance.

Counseling pupils to be serious, she said they cannot be indifferent to their studies and still expect excellent results in their academic

pursuits.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori advised principals to be friendly with the community and ensure their pupils are not deployed as political thugs during elections.

She urged principals to be honest in their dealings and stop illegal registration of candidates from private schools to take the WASSCE in public schools .

In her presentation, President, Osun State Chapter of the All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools ANCOPSS, Mrs. Moji Olagunju, advised that the office of the Tutor-Generals should be saddled with the administration of schools’ grants. She requested for increased funding for capacity building and solicited for the employment of non- academic members of staff. She intimated the deputy governor about the resolution at a meeting of principals to punish any of their colleagues found guilty in examinations mishap.

In a another development, Mrs Laoye Tomori assured a gathering of the Association of Proprietors and Heads of Schools in Nigeria, Osun State Chapter that the re-categorisation of schools in the state would not lead to job loss. She urged head teachers to desist from peddling rumours about retrenchment .

The Nation’s report saves derelict school

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NEW education consultancy firm, First Veritas Educational Content Delivery Limited, has launched a line of education products aimed at boosting quality content delivery in education.

The products include: teacher and school leadership services, e-learning solution, book content, question bank, the school manager and the Veritas Teachers Institute.

Launching the range of products at its headquarters in Ibadan last Tuesday, the firm’s Managing Director, Mr Gbenro Adegbola, said the firm evolved to meet specific needs identified in the education sector.

He further explained that the products are not just aimed at helping teachers gain more efficiency but to also use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to deliver contents faster, easier and in most effective ways to learners.

He stressed that the company would also lift the standards of school management through its products thereby making impact on learners, teachers and school

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

owners.

Giving some details on the book content product, Adegbola assured the firm would work on many curriculum-based workbooks and textbooks that enhance teaching and learning. He added that the firm would explore e-publishing for authors to make the content available to many more readers across the world.

On Question Bank, the firm has compiled many past questions of various subjects in public examinations with study tips with inbuilt assessments opportunities.

While the School Manager helps proprietors enjoy easier and more effective management of their schools, the teachers institute specialises on training and re-training of teachers – all at affordable prices.

Launching the products, renowned medic, Prof Akin Mabogunje praised Adegbola and his team for the initiative. He particularly praised the team for using ICT to deliver its products.

Sokoto, Bauchi understudy Lagos education

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DELEGATION of directors drawn from various departments of Basic Education Board of Sokoto and Bauchi states are in Lagos to understudy the state’s education system.

The team leader, Dr Garba Ibrahim said they are in Lagos to exchange ideas and gather experience on how to replicate the achievements of Lagos in the education sector of their states.

According to him, Lagos, no doubt, is the Centre of Excellence and first amongst equals in terms of development which should be accepted and acknowledged by all.

Speaking further, Dr. Garba disclosed that the delegates have come to rub minds with the state Ministry of Education in order to gain more experience not only in the educational sector but in all aspects of development.

He said he was amazed by the transformation in the education sector in Lagos despite its very large

number of schools and students population in the face of straining economy.

Welcoming the teams, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye told the delegates that the achievements recorded so far by the state were made possible through the commitment of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, who, according to her, committed the little resources of the state on developmental projects.

Oladunjoye added that, the state is focusing on PATH (an acronym for Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing) development i.e. as prioritised and agreed at the 2012 Ehingbeti Economic Summit. She said the adoption of PATH will be the only route to success, if Nigeria is really joining the great states.

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo highlighted the structure in the ministry and the core activities of the departments, achievements effectiveness and challenges.

Fed Poly, Bida matriculates 3,146

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•New block of classrooms constructed by SUBEB

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OMMUNITY Primary School, Obuozu (CPSO), in Abia State has had its fair share of abandonment by government for about a decade.

The pupils and teachers of the school have sad stories to tell about the consequence of infrastructural decadence on basic schools in Nigeria. However, its predicament would have remained the same but for the report by The Nation in February last year, highlighting its poor facilities.

Shortly thereafter, the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ABSUBEB) through the local government area responded, giving rise to a new hope for not just the pupils and teachers, but also parents whose wards attend the school. Concerns of the school Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA) equally made some impact.

Today, the school wears a new look with the construction of a five classroom block with toilets and offices for the staff, and another refurbished block of classrooms, courtesy of the local government with support from the state.

The UBE has equally complemented government’s effort by furnishing the infrastructure.

There is the construction of classroom blocks with offices and office equipment such as tables, chairs, desks for pupils among others. There is equally the installation of toilet facilities as a part of the development.

A flashback to CPSO located in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State10 years ago simply revealed a grim picture. Children squat on the floor during classes. Whenever it rains, they would be sent home by their teachers because of the leaking roofs and rickety walls, dripping water from every corner. They usually sat under the tree whenever the classrooms were flooded. They had hard times facing school lives due to infrastructural decadence and less concern by the government of the day.

An elder in the village, Chief Chidi Ogbonna who earlier spoke to our correspondent, said the school serves both children of Obuozu as well as outsiders Said Ogbonna: ”The CPSO is the only presence of the government in

Obuozu community. Our children as well as other children in nearby communities come to the school because of its closeness to the people. The parents may not have the means to send their children to other schools in town so they send them down here.

“The government places more attention on schools located on the outskirts and gives less attention on those in the interior,” said another source who did not want to be named.

Speaking on the new development, Education Secretary of Ukwa East Local Government Area, Mr Roland Ajere said: “We thank God that the scope of teaching and learning in the school has now been widened.

He added that the school’s library has been equipped with sufficient textbooks and instructional materials.

The CPSO head teacher, Mrs Samson Chinyere confirmed that she received a computer set for the school. She pleaded that more should be provided as a computer cannot serve both students and teachers’ needs.

HE Federal Polytechnic, Bida has matriculated over 3,000 students for National and Higher National Diploma programmes for the 2012/2013 academic year.

Administering the oath on the students, the Rector of the institution, Abdullahi Sule, warned the new intake not to get involved in any act capable of expulsion from the school. The Rector warned that the institution would not hesitate to summarily expel any student found involved in any of the vices in compliance with the Federal Government prohibition of secret societies in schools since 1979.

Congratulating them, Sule, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Abubakar Zukogi, told them that the management of the institution exhibits zero tolerance to any form

By Jide Orintunsin -Minna

of vices or anti-social activities such as cultism, examination malpractice and drug abuse.

Sule also warned the teaching staff that the ban on sale of handouts still subsists, ‘’Sale of handouts in any form is banned and it is not mandatory for any student to buy handout. Students are advised to report any staff who violates this directive to their respective heads of department or the Dean of Student Affairs.’’

The National President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Lanre Gbadebo also advised the new students to be conscious of the fact that they were in the school primarily for academic pursuit and shun any act inimical to their primary purpose.

Online academic competition

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IRECTOR of Business, Measures Limited, Anuoluwapo Awojobi, has urged senior secondary school pupils and undergraduates to enter for Andrew Challenge, which he claims to be the first real-time and online academic competition in Nigeria.

He said through the website, www.andrewchallenge.net, students can participate in the competition from any location.

Already, Awojobi said almost 1,000 students participated in Sea-

son One of the competition held from November 24-December10 last year. Six outstanding students, three each from secondary schools and higher institutions emerged as winners and were rewarded with scholarship prices in each category. The best students received N100,000, first runners up got N75,000 and N50,000 for the second runners up.

For each attempt, a student is to answer 10 questions in Mathematics, English Language, General Knowledge, Science and Art.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

40

EDUCATION

Don seeks revival of counselling centres A

UTHORITIES of universities in Nigeria have been advised to rejuvenate their counselling centres to address examination malpractices and other vices.

The call was made recently by a professor of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan (UI), Elizabeth Emeke, during her inaugural lecture entitled: Psychology in evaluation and the evaluation in psychology: The experiences of a counsellorevaluator delivered at the Trenchard

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Hall of the university.

She said:”This becomes imperative in view of the role the centre can play in curbing examination malpractices and the effects on the society”.

Noting that examination malpractice had become a hydra-headed monster that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society, she said the role of the counsellor in addressing

the challenge cannot be over-emphasised.

The counselling centre, according to her, should be well-staffed and equipped to help students. She stressed that it should provide training on self awareness, life skills and values, which should be made mandatory in the first year.

She said: “The course will help students acquire understanding of selfknowledge, boost self esteem and unlock hidden potentials.”

•Pupils displaying the Hausa cultural dance

School celebrates cultural heritage

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HE Cultural Day programme of the City Pride School, Amuwo Odofin was as interesting as it was colourful. The programme featured cultural dances of many tribes in Nigeria including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Calabar and Edo. The event witnessed a large turnout of parents and guests who praised the pupils as they twisted their waists, flapped hands and twirled to the beats of drums tailored to the cultures of each tribe. The parents appreciated not only the dances and music but the way the pupils were dressed. Their colourful costumes and hairdo decorated with beads made for a perfect photograph and parents struggled for space with one another, sometimes obscuring the view of the audience to get that perfect shot of their wards dancing.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The programme was not limited to showcasing only the Nigerian culture as the pupils also featured dances from Scotland, Japan, South Africa, India and Ghana.

Proprietor of the school, Mrs Monica Lori said the aim of the programme was to familiarise the pupils with their cultures and even the foreign cultures so they can fit into any cultural setting they find themselves.

“This is about the sixth time we are holding the Cultural Day programme. It is held to help the pupils know their culture and cultural practices from other parts of the world,” she said.

Underscoring the importance of children learning their culture, Head of School, Dr Emah Sunday said by learning the way

of lives of particular cultures, they would know what is acceptable behaviour or otherwise.

“The programme is to create awareness of different cultures, not only in Nigeria but other parts of the world. This will help the children determine what is right or wrong – the right way of dressing and the acceptable behaviour. It is really to harness our cultural heritage – Africa as a whole. We must not be relegated to the background,” he said.

He cautioned parents against promoting foreign culture over their own, saying: “We realised that sometimes until we teach the children Yoruba, some that are Yoruba do not know how to greet in their language. So we called parents and told them to teach their children their language,” he said.

LearnAfrica exhibits Nigerian books in London

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EARNAFRICA Nigeria Plc, formerly Longman Nigeria Plc, has restated the commitment to continue to celebrate indigenous authors at home and abroad.

At the just concluded 2013 edition of the London Book Fair, LearnAfrica was the only Nigerian publishing company that hoisted the country’s flag.

The books exhibited at the fair, include Dayo Oladele-Ilori’s Cruel Passion, Wale Okediran’s After the Flood, Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike’s Conspiracy of Silence, Femi Osofisan’s Twingle Twangle, Dibia Humphrey’s A Drop of Mercy, Uche Bialonwu’s The Long Claws of Fate, Iheanyichukwu Duruoha’s Eaters of Dust, Ifeoma Okoye’s Chimere,

Grace Akpan’s Spider Web, Bayo Williams’ The Year of the Locusts and Emeka Nwabueze’s Guardian of the Cosmos, among others.

According to Mr Allwell Nwankwo, the Head of Marketing of the company, the fair is a global marketplace for rights negotiation, sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels.

While saying that the fair attracted more than 1,500 exhibitors from 113 countries and over 25,000 participants, Nwankwo said: “We are here to show the world, once again, the quality of content from Nigeria, especially in creative writing.”

He added: “That’s indeed the

least we can do for a country that has produced iconic writers that are respected across the world. We have a rich history of producing world class works and we should continue to make them available at global publishing forums like the London Book Fair, in addition to other channels we currently use.

We appreciate the great enthusiasm visitors to our stand have shown.”

The company, he noted exhibited its popular Tenderfoot series for children comprising, Nigerian language texts in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba and other creative writing series such as Gong, Leopard and Palm Library, all of which captivated the attention of visitors.

EDUTALK

with

Combating sexual abuse HE trauma that comes with sexual abuse is not easily overcome. So to think that it is on the increase in Nigeria is truly worrisome, especially when school-aged children are involved.

Stories abound of heart-rending cases of abuse of toddlers, nursery, primary and secondary school puKofoworola pils by caregivers, teachers and even relatives.

Sexual intercourse is such a sensitive act that requires each party inKofosagie@yahoo.com volved making a conscious decision 08054503077 (SMS only) to participate - fully taking into considerations the consequences or otherwise that may follow.

Even for adults mature enough to exercise their judgment based on their marital status, beliefs, religion, and relationship with the person involved, a mistake can be devastating - and I am not talking about rape.

If adults can become depressed, suffer emotional or nervous breakdown because something goes wrong with their sexual relationships, for minors, the experience could scar them for life. That is why parents, teachers and other adults need to be alert and sensitive to the experiences of growing children among them.

I have read of stories of daughters telling their mothers of fathers, stepfathers, cousins, family friends, or teachers touching them uncomfortably only for them to be hushed. Rather than confront their husbands or relatives with such accusations, out of foolish fear or love or whatever other reason, some mothers would leave their wards in the woods.

However, even when the mother (or the father as the case may be) is willing to act, it is usually too late - after the damage has been done or the abuse has gone on for a while.

I read a pathetic story of how a father continually abused his teenage daughter because she told his girlfriend to leave him alone (the mother was transferred to another state at her place of work so the man used the opportunity to romp around). The girl, then in SS2 bore her burden, fear, disgrace, and pain alone for a long time because her father threatened to kill her if anyone got to hear. He even stuffed her mouth with rags during the act to prevent her silent tears from being heard. He would have continued for God knows how much longer but for a vigilant neighbour who noticed the girl had become miserable and reticent. Had the woman not asked the girl pointedly (having had similar experience growing up) whether her father was sleeping with her, she might likely have been too afraid to speak out.

It is not only girls who are susceptible to abuse. Many years ago, I read a confession of a former domestic servant in the papers. She said she used to have regular sexual intercourse with the less than 10-year old son of her employers. This continued until the boy took ill and was diagnosed with STI. Unfortunately, the careless parents did not investigate to find out how their son came about the infection. The story continued that when he got married, he could not father children because his reproductive system had been damaged because of the disease. It threw his marriage into disarray with his parents running from pillar to post. The storyteller told the story out of guilt that she had borne children but was the cause of untold sorrow for an innocent man.

To curb sexual abuse, children, both boys and girls, need to be taught sexuality education at home and school from an early age. They have to be told what parts of their bodies are private to them and should not be fondled indiscriminately by adults or even peers. They also need to learn to cry for help - even when threatened with death or bodily harm. Threat of death, violence, withdrawal of favour and the like is a common denominator used by many sex offenders. If children understand that threat is just a tool used by the abuser to avoid detection and that he can be prevented from carrying it out, they would speak out.

Parents, especially, cannot afford to be careless in this regard. They need to be close to their children so they (the children) are not afraid to discuss their problems. Complaints by children should not be treated with levity.

If a child is properly brought up, he or she would not lie about sensitive issues. Also, young children are not likely to tell outright lies about sexual experiences.

Schools need to be alert as well and be careful about teachers they employ. As suggested by an expert, school authorities should not hire teachers with records of sexual misconduct. In addition, they should not tolerate such behaviour. There are some teachers, especially males, guilty of fondling their female pupils or making x-rated statements that embarrass them. That is enough to earn a teacher dismissal.

There is so much that can be done to reduce sexual abuse in our society and it starts with education. Armed with information, even young children can make the right decisions.

T

Belo-Osagie

‘To curb sexual abuse, children, both boys and girls, need to be taught sexuality education at home and school from an early age. They have to be told what parts of their bodies are private to them and should not be fondled indiscriminately by adults or even peers. They also need to learn to cry for help - even when threatened with death or bodily harm. Threat of death, violence, withdrawal of favour and the like is a common denominator used by many sex offenders’

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Health Forever among Nigeria’s fastest O 50 growing firms TUNBA Olajuwon Okubena, representing Health Forever Products Limited, has been invited to this year's AllWorld Summit at Harvard, where AllWorld entrepreneurs and partners will spend three days from June 24 to 27.

The company and other organisations will test their competitive spirits in the AllWorld Adventure race, build partnerships with AllWorld winners, and spend time with Professor Michael Porter, who developed "Shared Value" strategy.

They will also participate in discussions with Harvard faculty members, investors, and corporate leaders from across the world as well as national and international VIPs. The speakers include Tarun Khanna, the author of Winning in Emerging Markets: A Road Map for Strategy and Execution and Grand Circle Travel Chairman, Alan Lewis, who grew his business 20 per cent a year for 20 years, to name a few.

The attendees will on June 27 spend some time in New York city with the staff, fund managers and high net worth clients of Credit Suisse.

As an AllWorld winner, Enterprise Ireland has also invited about 15 entrepreneurs to meet top agriculture, health and technology entrepreneurs in Ireland. The event is scheduled for June 21 and 22.

Health Forever would be represented by Otunba Okubena.

Last month, AllWorld Network and the Tony Elumelu Foundation announced the Nigeria 50 winners.

Health Forever was among the winners.

AllWorld systematically identifies private growth companies and ranks the fastest growing for the Arabia 500, Africa 500, Asia 500, Eurasia 500, Latin America 500 and Nigeria 50.

Being on an AllWorld ranking puts companies on the world map, drawing the market to them - what we call Visibility Economics. Ranked companies "go public", attracting new investors, customers, joint venture partners and talents so they continue to grow and get to scale.

•From left: Mr Falade, Otunba Okubena, Mrs Okubena, Ms Okubena, and Dr Abia-Okon.

On March 21, Nigeria 50 winners were recognised at the Nigeria 50 awards and summit in Lagos.

The event featured a panel of discussants with Tony Elumelu and Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter and a Gala Awards Event attended by winners, business and government leaders including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga.

Health Forever was represented by Otunba Okubena, Mrs Bisola Banjoko Okubena, Mr Abimbola Okubena, Ms Ololade Okubena, Dr David Abia-Okon and Mr Lanre Falade.

Representing over 10 industries and growing at an average of 100 per cent a year, the Nigeria 50 are at the leading edge of a new form of competitiveness. By being on the Nigeria 50, winners gain access to a

global network of entrepreneurial peers and world famous academics and investors.

The company's product, Jobelyn, is an extract from West African sorghum, which may provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects and immune benefits. It also offers food colour and nutriacosmetic potential, according to new data in peer-reviewed journal publications.

Health Forever Product Limited in the past 15 years developed the popular Sorghum bicolor dietary supplement branded as Jobelyn from a traditional folk medicine that has been in use for centuries to treat diverse ailments, such as, anaemia, diabetes, arthritis, sickle cell anaemia, cardiovascular problems, and others.

Based on scientific investigations and tests performed by NIS Laboratories (USA), Dover Sciences (USA),

and Health Forever Products, it has been proven that the unique properties of the West African sorghum go beyond a simple content of antioxidant polyphenols and water-soluble pro-inflammatory glucans.

The complexity is illustrated by the presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in both the aqueous and ethanol-based extracts, and the presence of immune modulating compounds with selectively different biological effects in the aqueous versus ethanol-based extracts.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Health Forever Products, Ademola Okubena, in an interview, said the supplement was positioned for the anti-oxidant market. This is because it was confirmed through peer-review publication that it was four times more powerful than the

current American champion, i.e.

Acai berry. It is also confirmed to possess strong anti-inflammatory and immune boosting support.

He said the ingredient is sourced locally in Nigeria from the company's plantation. "Nigeria is a major sorghum producing country in the world, with a capacity to produce sufficient sorghum sheaths to meet world demand," he added.

According to Okubena, Jobelyn is the most popular dietary supplement in the Nigerian market for over a decade and it is being prescribed by orthodox medical practitioners to treat anaemia, sickle cell anaemia and other diverse ailments.

"The lack of awareness about the potential of sorghum, particularly in the American market where it is only used for animal nutrition, contributed to the slow growth on the internet market and with adequate scientific backing and orientation, the awareness should launch the product significantly in the immediate future."

According to the data published in the Journal of Food Science last year, the researchers from the Soil and Crop Science Department at Texas A and M University indicated that the sorghum contains high levels of the polyphenol antioxidant, 3deoxy-anthocyanidin, which may offer an intense red colour for food and beverage formulators, adding that the pigment content is resistant to pH changes and bisulfate, while many other natural colourants, such as anthocyanin, do not tolerate these changes.

Okubena said the ingredient could also be used as a nutricosmetic product. This followed the report of a study from Brunswick Laboratory, corroborating that the ingredient has collagenase inhibition which is 15-fold that of Vitamin C, eight-fold potency of Idebenone and 30-fold potency of ferrulic acid. The elastase inhibition is 22-fold potency of Vitamin C; eight-fold potency of ferrulic acid and one-and-a half-fold potency of quercetin.

‘Water is good for the body’

T

HE intake of water is useless if it cannot get into the various body cells. A loss of 20 per cent of body water (dehydration) can lead to death.

Not only that, as water removes waste from the body through urine and sweat, if the body does not have adequate water, the waste products can end up as a disease in the body, for example, colon cancer. Hence, it is advisable to drink eight glasses of water daily.

A senior lecturer, Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Dr Oyewole Oyediran, stated this at a training for teachers on healthy hydration as an important component of healthy kids promotion organised

by Nestle Nigeria Plc. Oyediran said the process of providing adequate intake of liquid, especially water to the body cells, is referred to as hydration.

“The importance of good hydration to the body cannot be

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

over emphasised. It transports nutrients and oxygen into the cells. It moisturises the air in the lungs and it helps with food digestion; protects vital organs; helps organs to absorb nutrients better and cools the body temperature.

He identified signs of poor hydration to include: dark urine, either dark yellow or orange in colour. Dry lips and skin, thirst, hunger and lastly, fatigue.

He said: “Urine is generally pale yellow when you have sufficient water intake. Dark colour or strong smell indicates that you need to drink more water. Dry looking/cracked lips may be one of the signs of poor hydration, especially if it occurs when there is no harmattan. A very dry warty skin may also indicate poor hydration.

“The skin is the largest body organ and requires its share of water. Thirst is the most obvious sign that you are already

•From left: Creative Shared Value Officer, Bola Audu, President, Federation of African Nutrition, Prof Tola Atinmo, Assistant Director, Training SUBEB, Mrs Morenike Famakin and Oyediran at the event.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

dehydrated. It is always a good practice to drink more water when you are not thirsty, don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Most people mistake hunger for the indication to eat more, whereas, in actual fact, they may be dehydrated. Before you have your meal, grab a glass

of water. Water supports the release of energy from food through digestion and absorption.”

He identified drinking of water, beverages and other consumable liquids as ways through which the body can be hydrated.

Oyediran said the body gets

dehydrated through excessive urination, sweating through the skin and breathing through the lungs.

The others are excessive blood loss in case of injury/accident and faeces (especially watery stool as in diarrhoea).

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

45

NATURAL HEALTH

Some nutritional answers to infertility problems (3)

L

IKE nail polish, nail polish remover, hair treatment chemicals, liquid dish wash soap, mosquito sprays, coils and rat poison, what business does lipstick have with a woman's inability to get pregnant or miscarriage.

This is an important question today in many modern fertility clinics. Here, the doctor isn't looking only at laboratory test results which indicate such problems as hormonal imbalance Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) inflamed womb and tubes, blocked tubes, endometriosis, fibroids and stuff like these. He would pay attention to nutritional deficiencies, all right. But in one corner of his thoughts would be one looming, possible larger picture‌ chemical toxicity.

Dr Hulda Clark, in her CURE FOR ALL DISEASES, offer the case study of a young infertile woman in whose ovaries were discovered substances from paraffin (kerosene) lamp smoke! She used this lamp for lighting at home, unknown to her that some of the smoke she inhaled now and then could ever find the way to her blood and reproductive system. When I remember the case of this woman, I think of many Nigerian women who put off kerosene stoves by sprinkling water on the burner. They end up inhaling offensive smoke from the stoves. And where would the chemical components of this smoke go? Of course, they would end up in the lungs, causing cough or asthma in extreme cases, the blood and cells, probably in those of the reproductive organs, including the ovaries.

Thallium, a poisonous chemical found in lipsticks, nail care products and rat poison, among many other sources, unleashes untold havoc on the ovaries. But before I come to it, I'd like to quickly and briefly mention other fertility inhibitors such as mercury, aluminum, cadmium and copper.

Mercury This is a terrible heavy metal to which many of us are exposed at unsafe levels. Many Nigerian women pick up mercury from bath soaps which lighten skin. In my high school days, we massaged the lather of one of such dangerous but popular antiseptic soaps on the face and left it overnight to destroy pimples and other face skin blemishes. Sometimes, it burned sensitive skin or wrinkled it. Many thanks to Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti. As Health Minister in Ibrahim Babangida's military government, Prof Ransome-Kuti educated us about the dangers of mercury-laden soaps on the liver and other organs. Now, we know mercury damages the mitochoodiria. These are sites in a cell where energy is made for the cell. Thus, if mercury damages cells of the nervous system, one may experience severe nerve pain, sluggish response to stimuli, visual deflects and communication between the brain and many parts of the body. Mercury is also formulated into many body creams which Nigeria women still use to beautify their skin. When doctors advise that their patients avoid red meat and poultry, for reasons I will soon explain, especially oily fish with a lot of Omega-3 potential, they need to forewarn those patients of the likelihood of their exposure to mercury thereby, and then offer them suggestion about how to rid their bodies of mercury they had ingested or are likely to.

Marilyn Gtenville Ph.D., suggests in her NATURAL SOLUTION TO INFERTILITY that mercury exposure from mercury amalgam tooth filling may be what we call a child's play, compared to contamination from other sources.

There isn't any doubt, as she reports, that the women in a dentist's clinic who mixes dental amalgam for tooth fillings have been found to be less fertile than women in the same office who perform some other tasks. In Japan, where, like Hong Kong, a lot of fish is eaten, researchers have established links between fish consumption, mercury overload and sub fertility.

Dr Granville reports: "Here, scientists found a significant link between the level of mercury in hair and male sub fertility. Eating mercury contaminated fish over a number of years stopped sperm development in many Hong Kong men."

Dr Granville presents the case study of a woman whose fertility appeared troubled by mercury. Terasa had no problem getting pregnant, but she had to undergo D & C in the 10th week because of a blighted ovum. She was found to be deficient in zinc and selenium. Her spouse was magnesium deficient and had above average level of mercury. "He told me that, as a child, he had played with mercury," says Dr Granville who adds: "Mercury is an unusual metal, in that it is liquid at room temperature and forms small balls as it flows. Over the four months of the Preconception Plan, they both took specific nutritional supplements to correct their deficiencies and Teresa's partner had extra antioxidants and support for his liver in order to elimate the mercury. They now have a baby boy.

I have stated often in this column how much I regret my frivolous acceptance of a dentist's suggestion that I fill six wearing teeth. He told me they'd all have holes in about six months if I didn't, and I may then lose them. That was about 25 years ago. I had gone to see him for "scaling and polishing". It was after he had begun to drill' the third teeth that I realised what was going on, and I declined to let him tamper with the other three. Those other three are still intact and healthy today. In other words, I exposed myself needlessly to the risk of mercury poisoning. In Europeme where tooth filling was big business, the boat rocked when it came to light at a conference in Germany that mercury amalgam was vapourising and, therefore, dangerous to health. Many patients sued their dentists. Dentists then switched over to plastic refills. But as time will tell and as

we may soon discover, will plastic be any safer?

I learned to help myself detoxify mercury with zinc chelation and EDTA and by supplying the body more CoQ10 than normally presented for mitochondria building, and hope I am doing well.

I almost forgot to mention that there are many more sources of mercury exposure, including drinking water, which is why water from bore holes need to be well-tested before it is used for anything.

Lead Also a heavy metal, lead was used in antiquated medicine to induce abortions. A dangerous side effect of this procedure was that the women involved either became infertile or suffered from miscarriages. There is a high level of exposure to lead in traffic fumes. In many European countries, the lead content of petrol was reduced drastically to reduce this danger. Lead helps petrol burn longer and this brings good saving on fuel to the motorist. In Nigeria, lead content of petrol is still at its peak. Vehicle inspection Officers (VIOs) no longer get "smoking" vehicles "off the Road" Lead is known to cause brain damage and other problems, and this was why lead water pipes were replaced with plastic water pipes. Before lead pipes, asbestos was abandoned for lead when it became obvious that asbestos causes cancer.

Plastics This is another toxic substance which may inhibit fertility.

Now, thanks to BlackBerry cell phone, the message has gone out dar and far that the doors of a car parked outdoor should be open for a while to let hot air flow out before passengers take their seats. The reason is that heated plastic releases a poisonous chemical called benzene.

For the same reason, bottled water shouldn't be left in a locked car parked outdoor. But what about the menace of "pure water" sachets left in the scorching sun for hours?

Watch any canteen. You'll discover the benzene - loaded water they give you to wash down a meal. If you avoid this poisoned water, what about the palm oil in plastic kegs or bottles? If you can avoid these, also, what about the plastic pipes which brought your home supply of water from the waterworks? If you could avoid this also, what about the overhead plastic storage tanks? I once lived in a house with underground aluminum water tank coated on the inside with coal tar to prevent rusting! I screamed the day I discovered this, knowing that tar causes cancer! You can ask: why haven't we all died or become maimed by these atrocities? I will reply that only those who have been hit can tell. Isn't diseases rate escalating. Aren't more young women dying at childbirth than before? Isn't infertility on the rise? If we are still on our feet, hale and hearty, we probably have the benefit of more antioxidants in our diet without knowing it, than other people do. It is possible, also, our livers and kidneys and other excretory organs are working much better than those others. Above all, we must thank the Good Lord for His Grace which enables us to know what to do, which we do consciously or otherwise, or the Grace which guides our decisions and action. The story of plastics continues with another sub stance, Zenoestrogens, which they also release into food.

Zenoestrogenes These are synthetic estrogens. Estrogen is one of the complementary female hormones. Zenoestrogens or artificial estrogens occur in pesticides and plastic. In the animal kingdom, Zenoestrogens have been known to "grow both male and female sex organs", according to DrGranville.

Zesoestrogens are pumped into cows to make them produce milk every day and into the feed of poultry chicken to make them lay eggs almost every day. Therefore, men and women who consume cow milk and poultry, egg or flesh, run the risk of increasing their estrogen profile, as resiues of Zenoestrogens are loaded in egg and milk. That's why infertility patients are advised to abstain from milk and egg in particular, especially where the infertility is due to

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

estrogen overload.

Dr. Granville tells us that a 50 per cent decrease in sperm count worldwide in the last 10 years is most probably due to Zenoestrogen havoc. In this period, also, a significant rise in the cases of testicular cancer has been documented.

So has the phenomenom of early puberty. In days gone by, puberty occurred at about the age of 15. Today, girls as young as eight are known to have begun menstruation, growing breasts and pubic hair.

Dr. Granville says puberty may occur much earlier in children whose mothers had high blood level of two synthetic chemicals, PCBs and DDE, when they were in the womb.

Between 1962 and 1981, says Dr. Granville, the cases of baby boys born with undescended testes have about doubled. An implication of undescended testes is that, as men, these boys would be unable to produce sperm. In this period there has been documentation of boys with the urethra is not at the top of the penis but at the side. The urethra is the tube which brings urine from the bladder for voiding. In this period, also, some babies have been born with both male and female organs.

The list of Zenoestrogen havoc is almost endless. Please permit that I add one or two more, from Dr. Granville. She refers to the use of DES (dithethylstilbestrol) to treat cases of repeated miscarriages. DES is a Zesoestrogen. Baby girls exposed to DES in the womb develop cervical abnormalities as adults which lead to "recurrent miscarriages or infertility with some eventually suffering from cervical cancer. Boys are luckier, but they, too, suffer from "mild general abnormalities."

As Dr. Granville adds: "Further evidence comes from Professor Anna Soto in Boston, USA, who was studying breast cancer cells stored in large incubators. These cancer cells started to divide and multiply as if estrogen was present. But when the laboratory changed the tubes on the incubators the cells sopped dividing. It turned out that ponyphenol, a synthetic estrogen similar to those widely used in paints, toiletries, agricultural chemicals and detergents had been used in the manufacture of the tubes.

"In another example of the power of these chemicals, some male workers developed breasts after inhaling dust containing biphenyl A, a synthetic estrogen used in a wide range of packaging (e.g. water, and even babies bottles" When you go down the list of the havocs of plastics, you would, if you are a man, refuse any food your wife wraps or cooks in cellophane. When I was a boy, our mothers cooked moinmoin in leaves. As a father, I learned that, when boiled in water and the fluid extract of their chemical substances is taken; this is a remedy for some liver problems associated with neonatal jaundice. Maybe, one day, our researcher would give these leaves a thought, and we would discover a lot of medicines in them.

ODAY'S woman has abandoned the leaf. On her way home from work in boisterous Lagos, she buys hot food (rice, beans etc) in cellophane shopping bags.

That's a lot of Zenoestrogen going into her food‌ and body. She buys moinmoin cooked in cellophane, and gets booster Zenoestrogens. Other foods such as Eba, Fufu, Agidi now come cooked in and wrapped with cellophane. She drinks "pure water," which is anything but pure, and increases her estrogen load. Her period is painful; she may suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in addition with swollen, sore breast. Inevitably, her hormones become imbalanced, and pregnancy eludes her. If others unlucky, estrogen fire ignites cancer in the breast. Her doctor will most likely advise that her ovaries be blasted. That is another language for saying the ovaries should be killed.

It is widely believed in medicine that some breast cancers are estrogen driven. And since the ovaries make estrogen which fuel breast cancer, it is better to eliminate them, cut off the breast and save the patient’s life. Not enough consideration appears to be given to the fac t that estrogens may be coming into the system from other sources, as Professor Anna Soto discovered. It is little realised, also, that the breast, like all fatty organs, is a storage of toxins, and those micro organisms (Candida, Bacteria or viruses) and flat worms found in cancerous tissue. Perhaps they intend to eat the toxins and save the tissue, as some researcher's ague in their defense. Perhaps the job took too long and their own wastes, too, became offensive and poisonous. In Alternative Medicine, a therapist would rather balance the estrogen fractions (estrione, estradiol and estriol) to elevate the ratio of esteriol, the weakest of the trio, and down play the aggressive estriadiol and estrione plant estrogens would be given to further reduce the human estrogen load. Plant estrogens are about two per cent as active as human estrogens. The body prefers them, and shuts the door against human estrogens in the presence of plant estrogens. The liver is then strengthened to pulverize human estrogen and fiber is given to evacuate them in the stool. What the health menace in the world in which we now live teaches us as that.

(1) We can hardly avoid total exposure to poisons, but we can minimise them.

(2) We can strengthen the eliminative organs (skin, liver, kidneys, lungs and bounds and empower the immune system.

WELL, the day is gone again, with many carry-overs of last weak unresolved and some from today, including the lipstick, nail polish, and all those things which make women feel great before men. The lipstick for example, contains lithium, found also in rat poisons.

Well, this is a matter for another week.

To be continued.

T

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

CENTRE FOR THE RULE OF LAW, EQUITY & JUSTICE 48, Falolu Street, Surulere, Lagos. Tel: 07052392755 E-mail: centre4theruleoflaw@gmail.com

RE: NJC DECIDES ON 23 JUDGES ON APRIL 23 Introduction We read with interest recent media reports about the plan by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to sit in judgment over the petitions against 23 judges across the country.

According to the reports, the Council has fixed April 22 and 23 to consider reports on the judges alleged to have been involved in the “sale of judgment”. It is not every judge that has a petition against him that is guilty of the allegations. More often than not; most of them are frivolous, vexatious and unfounded. At other times, they are borne out of the inability of litigants to have their way in the open court.

However, given the fact that some unfortunate instances had brought the judiciary into disrepute, all well-meaning Nigerians should support any initiative to sanitise the Third Estate of the realm.

As an organisation committed to the observance of the Rule of Law, Equity and Justice, irrespective of the socio-political leaning or status, we have watched with keen interest the media attention that the activities of the NJC has attracted in recent times.

The task before the NJC Much as the NJC cannot be stopped from performing its statutory role, we wish to advise that it must be done with utmost caution, vigour, thoroughness and above all, the fear of God. No man should play God. This time, the NJC has a duty to guide against the tales of untidiness which trailed its last outing. It would be recalled that on that occasion, one of the judges, Justice Charles Archibong, who had hitherto been commended by the Performance Evaluation and Monitoring Committee of the same NJC, was recommended to President for compulsory retirement. This was in spite of the fact that the NJC Investigation Committee merely recommended that he should be issued a “warning” for what was termed “procedural irregularities and misconduct in his utterances and conduct of cases”. Besides, there were issues of lack of fair hearing wherein Justice Archibong was said to have appeared before the investigative panel when, according to him, he did not.

A Dangerous Trend Again, we are constrained to join the fray because we have noticed a new trend that is playing in our polity. The style is: once a litigant loses a case or an order is made against him, rather than exercise his right of appeal or wait for it to decided one way or the other, he, in cahoot with his lawyer, hurriedly puts together a spurious petition, sends same to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the NJC, and the next day he publishes it in the newspapers. The NJC owes a duty to the society and the judiciary to shoot down frivolous petitions with sanctions against the authors, and reward for the maligned judicial officers.

We are not by any stretch of imagination advocating that grievous errors or a miscarriage of justice should be condoned in any form. Our considered opinion is that where genuine errors are made as a result of the pressure of work or other extraneous factors, judicial officers should not be made to look like common criminals in order to satisfy the whims and caprices of some people. At most, they may be reprimanded, according to the statutes and not made an object of public ridicule. No one should play God. To do so is tantamount to throwing away the baby with the bath water.

It is even more confounding that more often than not, the petitioners use fictitious addresses and names – a development which belies their claims. One example will suffice: when our team of monitors saw the petition by a group known as Three-Realms Monitoring Group in the Nigerian Tribune of 3rd April, 2013 at Page 10, we, as we are wont to do, dispatched two of our monitors to No126, Herbert Macaulay Road, Yaba, Lagos, which they gave as their office address (See the picture below). Our intention was to collaborate with them in campaign to rid our society, not just the judiciary, of corruption. But to our utmost surprise, no such organisation exists there. Nobody in the neighbourhood has ever heard of it or knew the signatory, one Donatus Emeka Nwogu. In fact, the two-storey building, painted in green, is residential. It has a shop on the ground floor where Paints are sold.

Again, there is no such place as Herbert Macaulay Road in Yaba. Rather, the only Herbert Macaulay Way in that axis is in Ebute-Metta. Perhaps, it is high time the veil on such fake petitioners was lifted and such characters made to come forward and substantiate their claims. Ordinarily, the relevant security agencies ought to have been engaged to establish some basic facts before proceeding to treat such petitions at all.

With the benefit of hindsight, it would be safe to conclude that the campaign of calumny, dubbed in garb of a petition, was a commissioned job to plead the course of the sacked National Secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The same orchestrated campaign is being launched by the same person against the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami. It is almost becoming his stock-in-trade.

And what this brazen act of petition-writing does is to encourage people to cast aspersion on the judiciary and instil fear into upright judicial officers without exhausting the option of appeal available to them. For they would not know what decision they would take that would cause a petition to be written against them.

Matters Arising This practice is being taken a notch higher. Highly-connected petitioners now peddle their influence within the corridors of power, as if to rein in any judicial officer who fails to do their bidding.

During the course of our work, our attention was drawn to another issue involving the Chief Executive of a bank. The ban executive was recently involved in a legal cum media war with an estranged customer. We learnt he is boasting that he would use his contacts and connections to end the career of one of the most hardworking and incorruptible judicial officers around. To make good his threats, we were reliably informed that he has caused a petition to be written against the judge.

According to sources, this is in spite of the apologies tendered to the judge in the open court by counsel to the plaintiffs and defendants when the fact was brought to their knowledge.

We were told that the crux of the matter was that the judge, after perusing the documents placed before him, made an order which was meant to protect the integrity of the judiciary.

Needless to mention that the same court has had to make rulings in favour of the bank when it was so persuaded.

The attention of the court had been drawn to documents filed before a foreign court by the bank wherein it tried to justify the resort to a foreign by stating that the Nigerian judiciary is in the pocket of an individual.

The questions begging for answers are: would any patriotic member of an institution, group or organisation watch and allow the institution he represents to be so brazenly rubbished without lifting a finger? Would any judge worth the name fold his hands and allow the institution he represents to be so ridiculed, more so when his orders were being flagrantly disobeyed? Certainly, neither the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court nor the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN) would condone or encourage such brazen lawlessness.

Indeed, from the little we have heard of some of these judges, they are easily some of the best crop of judicial officers in the bench. They conduct their proceedings without fear or favour. They are bold and courageous.

It is worthy to note that this resort to subterfuge is almost becoming typical of the bank and its top echelon. Just a couple of days ago, a foremost traditional ruler in one of the Southwestern states alleged a plot by the same bank to dupe him over some margin loan issues.

This matter is already a subject of litigation at the Federal High Court, Lagos. Recall that the bank’s acquisition of another bank is still besmirched in controversies.

Not too long ago, CBN auditors found that the bank headed by the same man granted credit to its directors and their companies, without security. Or where there was, it was inadequate.

The apex bank auditors also discovered that the bank violated the single obligor’s limit by lending more money than it should to its directors and their related companies.

These grievous infractions which bother on insider abuse, among others, made the CBN to impose a N3million fine on the bank which it promptly paid.

Yet, the Chief Executive of the bank, who presided over these shambolic dealings, is said to be angling to become the Governor of the CBN. What would be the consequences of bank owner becoming the chief regulator of a sector where he is a key player? Your guess is as good as mine.

But is anyone above the law? For how long shall we continue to put up with influence peddlers? Shouldn’t what is good for the goose be good for the gander? Or was it not the same infractions or even lesser that led to the sack of Dr. Erastus Akingbola, Mr. Sebastian Adigwe, Mr. Francis Atuche, Mr. Okey Nwosu, Chief (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru and Dr. Barth Ebong?

Conclusion Given the facts enunciated above, we urge that the NJC should tread softly and cautiously; less it runs afoul of the same infractions the judges are accused of. Our humble view is that if care is not taken, its actions and/or inactions are capable of throwing up more problems than they were meant to resolve. The commission has to resist the temptation to play to the gallery in order to satisfy the hounds and mood of the times. Every shred of evidence should be scrutinised and tested before a decision is taken. Fair hearing which is the cardinal principle of jurisprudence should be the watchword. It is only then that the course of justice would not only be served but seen to have been well-served.

As for the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar, we pray that the Almighty God will give her the wisdom of Solomon and the courage of Deborah to be able to sift the wheat from the chaff so as not to bring down the whole house in her much vaunted efforts to reposition the judiciary. She guide against being manipulated to subject the judiciary to public opprobrium under the guise of sanitising it.

Signed COMRADE JAMIU AGBABIAKA Executive Director

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

•Fashola, Okorocha, Amosun and Aregbesola at the convention

History was made at the terminal national convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos where delegates voted in favour of the merger of the party with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). EMMANUEL OLADESU, AUGUSTINE AVWODE and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examine the challenges ahead for the new party.

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What next after ACN convention?

ATURE was kind to the 4,761 delegates who converged on the Onikan Stadium, Lagos for the his toric convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The weather was benevolent. It was a carnival of a sort. Drums, trumpets, colourful banners, a huge crowd of party supporters jubilating and chanting the slogan of change. For the party, it was the end of an era and begining of a new journey to progress.

Battle for change The convention showed that the commitment to the merger was beyond rhetorics. The national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, explained to the party faithful that ACN was shifting its gear.

“We are convinced that merger is the way to go, if we must rescue our country from decay”, he said, urging them to gird their loins for the 2015 electoral challenge.

The national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, spoke in the same vein. “Things must change or we sink”, he said. “For the good of Nigeria, this must be the last and final convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)... When history writes its tale of the past decade, it will say the ACN preserved Nigerian democracy when it came under great threat,” he added.

The defining moment was when the motion for the endorsement of the party leadership’s decision to merge the ACN into APC was moved by the National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Kari from Gombe State. It was seconded by Tonia Anwam, a lawyer from Ebonyi State.

Without any dissenting voice, the delegates approved the motion. With that resolution, ACN made a great sacrifice in the national interest.

An unprecedented partnership Opposition figures were locked in sober reflection.

United by the common threat by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they reiterated their commitment to the liberation struggle. Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who hailed ACN, urged Nigerians to brace up for change.

“APC is my party in which I am well pleased. Let me assure you that the lack of power, the deep seated corruption in the land and manifested cases of inequality before the law shall be banished by APC”, he said. To prove that APC will not disappoint the nation, he made references to the performance of the APC governors across the geopolitical zones.

“Our governors have done well. They have given their people quality standard of living. they have carried the people along in the discharge of their duties and render ed account all the time to the people.”

The National Chairman of Congress of Progressive

Change (CPC), Prince Tony Momoh said the collaboration will work. “The journey that we start today is toward 2015. We merged because we wanted a change. They have said they want to capture 32 states. I believe they were misquoted. Let me tell you, they will lose 32 states by 2015. We must all work hard because we have chosen to make sacrifice.

“I will have to leave my office two years before my tenure expires; this is part of the sacrifice we have to make.

So, anybody who thinks they can take APC from us is joking”, he added.

His All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) counterpart, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu said that Nigeria will no remain the same again. “Those who say they will be in government for 60 years should be prepared to be in the opposition as from 2015. The misrule of PDP has caused problems for the country which the APC is poised to address. Nobody will be above the law; this is the reason why APC is born.”

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun said the convention would be a prelude to the APC national convention in Abuja.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the convention had stamped the emergence of APC. He said the battle to reclaim the country would start in Anambra State next year. “We are here to celebrate the end of darkness and APC will take over Anambra State by 2014. Nigeria belongs to all of us. We must all mobilise to take over Anambra. I must say with what has happened today, a change has come to Nigeria.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola berated the ruling party for threatening to capture 32 states, through its unconventional methods. “We have heard from them that they will do what they know how to do best. But let me notify them that the people are now wiser and watchful and would defend their votes.”

Aremo Segun Osoba remarked that the convention attracted followers of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, and the late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, which he said, was an indication that the people had to save Nigeria.

ACN chieftain, Chief Audu Ogbe said APC will offer a better alternative to the country. He advised the masses to join the party. “The party shall provide the platform for the youth to participate and make their contribution in the policies and implementation of the party’s programme.

“Nigeria has been turned into a grave yard of unemployment and hopelessness. You must register and make your impact in the country. APC is the place where we can achieve the hope, I urge you to wake up from your sleep and support the party.”

The Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, said: “Today Nigerians can go to bed to sleep. We are here for the purpose of restoring hope to Nigerians. Through this

merger we will remove despair from the lives of the people and they will be happy.

“Let me say that the infraction and contradictions of the PDP will destroy PDP, this is because they have not been sincere and that is why they can’t get their act together, “ Akume stressed.

Former Imo State Achike Undenwa said that the convention was a milestone. He assured that APC will fulfil its promise to salvage the country.

Former Governor of Edo State Chief John Oyegun said: “Hope has finally returned to the people. The prayers of the people have been heapresidential candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarua, urged Nigerians to embrace the opportunity for change, progress and posterity.

The great metamorphosis From now till the time the new party is registered, the opposition leaders will face challenges. The CPC leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has disclosed that the party and the ANPP will hold their national conventions simultaneously on May 11. The CPC delegates will converge on Abuja. The ANPP forces will hold their convention in Zamfara State.

The ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, itemised the stages in the next battle for the APC registration. He said that, following the conventions, which was witnessed by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the chairman and secretary of the ACN will now apply to the electoral commission for a merger into the APC. He said the conventions are critical conditions which were being fulfilled by the parties.

“The relevant provision for merger is stated in the Section 84 of the Electoral Act as amended. It says that, if any two political parties want to merge, they shall give the commission 90 days notice of their intention to do so before the general election. What it means is that, if you give the notice of your intention to merge less than 90 days before the general election, such a merger cannot be accepted. “ However, the defining provision in the Section 84 (3), says that “a written request of the merger shall be sent to the chairman of the commission, jointly signed by the national chairmen, secretaries, and the treasurers of the different political parties proposing a merger and shall be accompanied by a special resolution passed at the national conventions of the political parties proposing to merge and approving the merger. “The proposed full name and the acronym, logo or symbol, constitution, manifestoes and the address of the national body of the party and evidence of payment of the party must also be forwarded to INEC. We will meet all these conditions,” he said.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

POLITICS Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson spoke with reporters on the activities of his administration, the crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and how to tackle insecurity in the country.

EMMANUEL OLADESU reports the exerpts.

‘Why crisis persists in Governors’ Forum’ W

HAT are the challenges confronting you as the governor of Bayelsa State?

The challenges are enormous. We knew in this state that things were not right. There was the absence of governmental structures and core values.

We have a mindset to build. Don’t forget that this area, Bayelsa, was the least developed part of Rivers State when it was created. The governors of the old Rivers State were mainly from Bayelsa, but they were not parochial people. Ijaw man is not parochial. So, they concentrated critical development in the old Rivers State. So, when Bayelsa was created, the challenges were many. You now have limited resources that cannot match the cost of developing this very difficult terrain. Yes, we earn more than other states. That is what a lot of people look at. But they don’t look at the challenges and match it. Because when God gave this place oil resources, God also knew that our problems-the cost of developing this area-is more than some other parts of this country. So, because of that dislocation, we have issues of funding, which we are addressing.

That is why people call me ‘tight hand governor’ because we have to manage the available resources prudently and be very clear on our priority that is what we are doing.

What is your position on the proposed amnesty for the Boko Haram sect?

I want to commend the President for his large heartedness in proposing amnesty, even for Boko Haram members. Of course, what is driving Boko Haram is different from what was driving the Niger Delta militants.

Whereas the insurgency in the Niger Delta was premised on economic isues, rights and deprivation of rights; the one in Boko Haram is religious fundamentalism. I think we should give amnesty a chance. Those who say amnesty should not be extended to Boko Haram members also have a very strong point on account of the mindless, criminal, despicable and wanton destruction of property and lives. And even now, from what we are reading, they seem to say they have not done anything wrong and they are rejecting amnesty. But the President has done well by proposing amnesty. Let that not be the excuse for not getting all hands on deck to address that issue. Let us not politicise anything and everything in this country, particularly something as critical as national security. We are going through very serious trying moment in this country and I get bothered when senior political leaders and opinion leaders in this country, because they want to get an advantage, they want to play politics, even with amnesty, Boko Haram and national security.

What is the implication of the intraparty crisis in the PDP, especially in the face of the on-going merger of opposition parties and the birth of the APC? Crises and conflicts are inevitable in politics and in a big party like the PDP. In politics, you are managing, not just a clash of ideas and vision, but there will also be clash of ego. So, democratic politics promotes diversity and diversity sometimes generates conflict and tension. But the democratic system must be managed in such a way that democracy and the rule of law will prevail. . On the APC, I want use this opportunity to urge the leaders of the opposition to work hard to bring about a virile, effective and viable opposition; an opposition that

will play by the rule, an opposition that will be in a position to confront the ruling party in a market place of ideas and vision. We are looking forward to virile debates on various issues; on the economy, on national security. If they are viable as a party, we want to engage then and let us see the alternative viewpoints that are contending for the minds and hearts of our people beyond issues of religion, ethnicity and zoning. The whole political engagement is all about grandstanding, manipulation, positioning and it sickens me, really. I’m not speaking for my party. But I will be very happy to see a very virile, effective and well organised opposition because a democracy without an opposition is dictatorship. There must be a viable opposition in democracy. Instead of rumours, blackmail and propaganda, I look forward to an engagement; an organised opposition that can confront us and then present an alternative vision. We have to develop that tradition in this country. I’m not a spokesman for the PDP. I don’t see any reason why anybody in the PDP is supposed to be scared of the APC. We just need to focus on what we are doing and, at the end of the day, if the electoral process is free and fair, and Mr. President has always promised Nigerians that, Nigerians will decide who wins power.

Why did the PDP come up with the PDP Governors’ Forum?

The governors’ forum is primarily a mechanism for peer review of governors who are equal. You do not have to be a member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to be a governor. It is just like your association, the NUJ. Whether you are there or not, you are functioning. So, the Governors’ Forum is a platform for peer review mechanism. It is a platform for collaborating with the federal government on the critical issues of development, national security and other challenges that come up. The Governors’ Forum is not and should not be a platform for the control of national politics because we are not elected to run the country. We, as governors, are elected to manage our states. So, the Governors’ Forum cannot be allowed to go on as a trade union. Of course, that is wrong. What has happened is that people are taking advantage of the development and discontent in our system to manipulate it to suit their individual whims and caprices. But what is wrong is wrong. Look at the United States Governors’ Forum where we even copied it from, you don’t see Governors’ Forum there

coming to tell President Barack Obama what he should and what he should not do. We are provincial players, governors because our mandates is to lead our states, not to run the federation. Those who have a mandate to run the Federation are the President, Vice President, the elected members of our National assembly and the political leadership of the parties. Those are the people who have a platform.

And, if as a governor I have any strong view on the things that go on at the federal level, we have avenues; informal, formal. We have the National Economic Council. Over the years, I think what has happened, particularly in the PDP, and it is very unfortunate.

It is unfortunate that it is rubbing off on the governors from the opposition parties. What has happened over the years is that governors of the PDP who became chairmen of the Governors’ Forum attempted to use it as a platform for playing national politics; a platform for occupying the national political space. It is wrong. It shouldn’t be allowed. That’s why the idea of the PDP Governors’ Forum became necessary. You see things being manipulated as if anybody is disturbing anybody, instead of saying no, this thing you guys are doing is wrong. People are saying as if there is a crisis and somebody does not want somebody.

No. The Governors’ Forum is simply a peer review mechanism; no more, no less. PDP governors have the right to have their own group because the associative right is a first thing in a democracy. ACN governors and others, even councilors, have associations.

There is so much focus on what goes on in the PDP. If you are in the PDP, you will meet at the structure of the PDP to resolve problems, if you are not in the PDP, you concentrate on your party and work hard to defeat the PDP. You don’t operate outside the PDP and control the PDP or want the PDP to do things according to your own wish. But people want to stay in PDP and still play the role of a political opponent. That is indiscipline. If you cannot be a good PDP member, you will not be useful, even to any opposition party and these opposition party leaders are very experienced politicians. I had the honour of playing politics with most of them. I have a lot of regard for them. They know what they are doing. They are serious Nigerians. They mean well for this country and they also know the charlatans.

What effort is being made to reconcile President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor Rotimi

• Dickson

‘We, as governors, are elected to manage our states. So, the Governors’ Forum cannot be allowed to go on as a trade union. Of course, that is wrong. What has happened is that people are taking advantage of the development and discontent in our system to manipulate it to suit their individual whims and caprices. But what is wrong is wrong’ Amaechi?

You press people should not equate a provincial player with the elected President of the Federal Republic. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria cannot have misunderstanding with a provincial player as a governor of Rivers State or any other governor for that matter. As governors, we are elected to run our states, no more, no less. If you want the mandate to run Nigeria, you contest an election for it. Don’t do it through the back door. If you want to be a leader of opposition, you go to the opposition. What is happening is that people are taking advantage of our weak institutions and our fledgling democracy such that sometimes, you don’t even know who belongs to where. I’m not aware of any misunderstanding between the President of Nigeria and a provincial player like myself who is a governor of a state. You are demeaning the Presidency and you shouldn’t do that in this country. He brings in the President as if he is at the same level or at par with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Whether that is right or not, Nigeri-

ans will talk. But what we know is that, for you to be a good leader, you must be a good follower first.

Rivers State and Bayelsa states have not resolved the dispute over oil wells. What is the situation now?

People are playing politics with critical issues that can explode. They play politics with anything and everything.

This thing you talked about has been in existence for long, even before the creation of Bayelsa State. Even when these two local governments were in the old Rivers State, commissions of enquiries were set up. As a governor, your responsibility is to use the existing institutions to solve problems.

What I have been doing is to call for peace and I’m using our existing channels, both within the Ijaw system, because these people are all Ijaw people in case you don’t know; the Kalabari are Ijaw people, the Nembe people in Bayelsa are Ijaw people. Just because of the way the country came into being and states were created and today, we now find ourselves, some in Rivers and some in Bayelsa, they are not enemies.

Ndoma-Egba: Amnesty is a better option

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ENATE leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has advised Nigerians to support the proposed amnesty to the members of the Boko Haram sect.

He said the move will herald dialogue and usher in peace in the troubled northern eregion.

Ndoma-Egba, who represents the Cross River Central District, spoke with reporters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the setting up of a presidential committee on Boko Haram to develop a framework for the amnesty.

He described the proposal as a viable initiative that should be embraced by Nigerians, maintaining that it will bring a lasting solution. Lamenting the killings and destruction of property,

Udoma-Egba said efforts must be made to avert further blood-letting.

He added: “The government must be supported in this current effort to restore peace in the north and resolve the crisis of insecurity in the country.

“We cannot allow this incessant killing of innocent Nigerians to continue. Whatever we need to do must be done to stop this dastardly act. That is why I think it is very much important that we give this option of amnesty a chance and see whether it will succeed or not.

“We hope that it succeeds because we cannot continue to watch our countrymen and women being sent to their early grave, due to the activities of the Boko

Haram sect. It is an unusual situation that every Nigerian will like to see an end to.

“So, our approach will also be unconventional. But while trying to bring the situation under control and the phenomenon to an end, we should also know that there are victims of the acts of this group. So, the victims must also be in the picture of whatever strategy the government is putting in place.”

Ndoma-Egba said that the purported rejection of the amnesty was not beyond expectation. He stressed: “That was the reaction I expected. You won’t expect them to just jump at it. At this point, it is always like that. They will say we don’t want to talk. Everywhere you have had this kind of

•N00doma-Egba

situation, that is the initial reaction. So, it is not an unusual reaction. But I think it will be good for them to accept the offer in the interest of peace and unity of the country.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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NEWS Group faults suspension of Bauchi Assembly member

Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill 14 Tiv farmers in Benue

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From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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USPECTED Fulani herdsmen have killed 14 Tiv farmers and destroyed property worth millions of naira in an early morning attack in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The villages the herdsmen allegedly attacked include Mbasende, Uhembe and Tsegbe, in Mbayer-Yandev ward of the local government.

A victim, who fled to Makurdi, the state capital, Orseen Abagi, told The Nation that the herdsmen were armed with sophisticated weapons.

He said they stormed the villages at 3am on Tuesday.

Abagi added: “We were asleep. Suddenly, we heard sounds of heavy guns. They were accompanied by the torching of our homes. As the people ran out of their homes, the attackers, who had positioned themselves everywhere, shot and killed those who attempted to escape.”

The villager said many of the attackers spoke Hausa while others wore military uniform.

He said they abducted some women and children who have not been seen since the attack.

A member of Benue State House of Assembly, representing Guma State Constituency, Dave Iorhemba, condemned the killings.

Police spokesman, Daniel Ezeala, a Divisional Superintendent of Police (DSP), told The Nation that he had not received the report of the incident.

Suspect in Rimi’s wife murder gets five-year jail term

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USTAFA Rimi, the suspect in the murder of the late Kano State Governor Abubakar Rimi’s wife, was yesterday sentenced to a five-year jail term for theft.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspect is not the biological son of the deceased, Hajiya Sa’adatu Rimi, nor that of the late governor.

Justice Lawal Wada of Kano State High Court 7 ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide against the suspect.

He said the body of evidence before him indicated that the suspect only committed theft.

Wada said the case of theft was established because the accused was found in possession of the deceased’s two handsets.

He added that the jail term would start from the date of warrant of the sentence.

The judge condemned the handling of the case by the prosecuting counsel, adding that they failed to establish the charges against the suspect beyond reasonable doubt.

The counsel to the defendant, Ibrahim Nasarawa, told reporters after the verdict that they would review the judgment to seek a possible redress.

The lawyer said the suspect “appeared to have been punished unfairly, considering the number of years he has spent in detention”.

•From left: Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Othman; Bauchi State Deputy Governor Sagir Saleh; Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Nwabueze Okafor; Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Malami and Bauchi State ALGON Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Baba-Maji, at the inauguration and handing over of the association’s seven comprehensive primary health care centres to the government in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi...yesterday

Fulani, Berom leaders meet on Plateau killings L EADERS of Fulani and Berom communities in Plateau State met yesterday in Jos, the state capital, after years of clashes that have resulted in several casualties on both sides in parts of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that efforts to bring together the fighting communities had been unsuccessful. But with the bloodbath taking its toll on both sides, they finally agreed to talk yesterday.

Senator Gyang Pwajok (PDP, Plateau) spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the meeting hosted by Police Commissioner Chris Olapke.

The senator said it was a "very fruitful discussion that was very revealing".

Pwajok added: "Both sides aired their grievances and appeared finally willing to reach a truce. The Fulani accused the Berom of killing and rustling their cows and the Special

Task Force (STF), which is charged with maintaining the peace in Plateau State, of complicity in the killing of their people. The Fulani also wanted unmitigated access to grazing fields for their cattle.

"On their part, the Berom leaders accused the Fulani of destroying their farmlands and killing farmers working on their farms in addition to midnight attacks. Incidentally, the Berom also accused the STF of taking sides with the Fulani to unleash mayhem on its people. In fact, both groups called for the removal of the STF commanders in Riyom and Barkin-Ladi, the two areas most hit by the violence."

Pwajok, who promised to play the "very crucial role of mediating between the feuding communities", said he had begun personal contacts with key leaders from both sides to win their confidence.

He said: "From the tone of the submissions by both groups, I suspect there are external mercenaries fuelling the violence because the two communities have been together for centuries. So, clearly, an external force must have infiltrated them.

"What I suspect is that some external parties could destroy blooming farms or kill cows because they are sure that either of the parties will go for the jugular of the other to vent their anger, when that is done.

Also, the brutality and persistence of the attacks, the sophisticated weapons from both sides suggest that the locals are not alone."

He said, however, that the most frightening dimension was the total destruction of settlements, the emergence of new ones to replace them and increasing impunity in the exchange of gun fire.

"We also have cases of women attacking security men or taking over the road to prevent them from reaching crises zones.

"I also suspect the infiltration of Boko Haram elements into the area and this appears to be worsening the threat, while some other communities are also grieving over the complete lack of basic infrastructure," he said.

The senator said that leaders of both communities were asked to proffer possible solutions to the disputes and table same at a roundtable conference slated for April 29.

"At that meeting, we shall have a solution-drive interface. With the frankness exhibited by both sides, I think we are heading somewhere," he stated.

Pwajok, however, cautioned the groups against equating human lives with animals and expressed reservation over a situation where people would consistently brandish figures of animals

Kwankwaso gives ultimatum on school’s renovation

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ANO State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has given a three-month ultimatum to the management of the State Polytechnic to transform the environment of the School of Technology.

The governor, who paid an unscheduled visit to the institution, noted that its buildings as well as other structures needed renovation.

He noted that the students’ conveniences in the institution were poor and directed authorities to maintain an hygienic environment.

Kwankwaso directed the institution’s authorities to mobilise students of the Building Department to upgrade its structures because they would not only save money but also broaden their skills.

He told the workers and students that his administration

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

was interested in technical education because of its desire to make the teeming youths of the state more creative and selfreliant.

The governor advised the students not to play with their academic activities to avoid wasting the state’s investment and their parents’ in their education.

The Rector Prof Alhasan Yahya said the institution was working to transform its structures as well as introduce new courses, especially in the School of Management Studies.

Also, the governor inspected new faculty buildings and lecture rooms at the Aminu Kano School of Islamic Legal Studies as well as adult literacy classes at Hasiya Bayero Girls’ Secondary School, both in Kano.

Kogi ACN urges SIEC to display voters’ register

T

HE Kogi State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday urged the state Independent National Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) to display the voters’ register in the 21 local governments or suspend the local government election.

Addressing reporters in Lokoja, the state capital, a former House of Representatives member Melaiye Dino said the register would allow the electorate to see their names as eligible voters.

He said: “The SIEC has to display the voters’ register before a week to the election, which is scheduled for May 4. So, it has to be tomorrow (today), as far as the Electoral Act is concerned.”

Melaye alleged that the SIEC’s steps so far have

From Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja

shown that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would manipulate the process.

The politician also alleged that the removal of the electoral officers of Ijumu and Adavi Local Governments and their replacement by PDP members indicated that the SIEC would rig the election.

He said: “These areas were some of the places where the PDP was sure to lose. Therefore, they want to put persons who will aid them in their plan to hijack the election.

“But we want to assure the PDP that ACN will this time match them strength with strength, power with power and with any other thing they can think of.”

Melaye said the people’s votes must be allowed to count in the election.

He urged the KOSIEC to urgently display the voters’ register, as required by law.

The former lawmaker also alleged that the plan by KOSIEC to announce the results of some local governments in Lokoja, the state capital, was unacceptable and would be resisted by the ACN. He said the non-display of the list was an attempt to disenfranchise some voters in the council poll.

According to him, the leadership of ACN was privileged to the information that the PDP was planning to arrest some ACN members and brand them as thugs.

Melaye described the ACN as a peaceful party, adding

that it would not sit back and allow the wishes of the people to be manipulated.

The politician said ACN would use every legal means to challenge the PDP in its plan to manipulate the poll.

He said: “We also want to call on KOSIEC to, not later than tomorow (today), display the voters’ register for posible correction. We are aware that they want to manipulate the register.

“We want to state very clearly that the May 4 local government election is not riggable. We will do everything within the armbit of the law to protect our votes and ensure a credible election. We have made up our minds to guide the election materials, because no amount of military from any mechanised di-

NON-governmental organisation (NGO), the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has faulted the suspension of the only female member of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Mrs Rifkatu Samson Danna.

The lawmaker was reportedly suspended last February, for opposing the transfer of Tafawa Balewa Local Government headquarters from Tafawa Balewa town to Bununu.

HURIWA noted that the suspension was “unconstitutional” because it is “a breach of Chapter 4 of the Constitution on the fundamental freedoms of thought and expression” for the male-dominated Assembly.

A statement by its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Director of Media Affairs, Miss. Zainab Yusuf, said the suspicion raised by the only female member of the Assembly during the debate on the proposed bill to relocate the council headquarters “led to her being referred for investigation by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges”.

HURIWA expressed shock that the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the National Assembly Committees on Women Affairs and the Office of the First Lady of Bauchi State have remained silent and allowed the only female voice in the Bauchi State House of Assembly to be extinguished”.

The group urged Governor

Lamido begins 10-day vacation

J

IGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido yesterday began a 10-day vacation, an official said in Dutse, the state capital.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Babandi, told reporters at the end of the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting that the vacation was part of the governor’s routine annual leave.

Babandi said Lamido would use the vacation period to perform Umrah (lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, adding that the leave would end on May 4.

He said the governor would complete the remaining days of his leave later in May. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lamido had left Dutse for Lagos on his way to Saudi Arabia.

•Melaye

vision will stop us from stopping rigging.”

He therefore urged all ACN supporters to make their votes as their police, soldier, power and come out and vote ACN.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-04-13

Shareholders applaud Zenith Bank

S

HAREHOLDERS of Ze nith Bank Plc yesterday applauded the management for their 2012 financial performance which yielded the dividend payout of N1.60 to their investors.

Speaking at the event, a cross section of shareholders said they were really pleased with the bank’s quality dividend payout of 68.42 per cent increase from the N0.95 that was given in 2011. The proposed dividend stood at N50.234 billion as against N29.827 billion in 2011.

Commenting on the performance, co-coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sir Sonny Nwosu, said that the bank has done well but the issue remains the ability to manage the success achieved so far.

“The board has successfully out performed its predecessor and that to me is a good performance,” Nwosu said.

He however said that the regulators of the banking sector on both sides are not good managers of those they are managing.

He was of the opinion that the bank could have done better by giving as much as N2 as dividend to shareholders but that the regulators have been vindictive and as such would not allow the banks in general to give their opinion on certain things.

He however said the management should make provision in their annual reports for any amount of money paid to the regulators and also for them to disclose electronic fraud if there were any.

“Any money paid to the

•High-cap stocks rally equities to N111b gains

By Tonia Osundolire

regulators, we demand it should be disclosed in the book. We are not happy with all these frivolous expenses. We believe the bank would have given us more money than they have given. Money paid to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and others should be disclosed. We must have full disclosure to help you safe yourself. All of you act deaf and dumb when it comes to the regulators because of their vindictive nature to those they are regulating,” Nwosu said.

Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele said the comments from all will act as catalyst for the management to do better noting that rather than losing market share the bank will gain more.

“We would work far harder that not only the savings of the bank will improve but that the deposit would not drop from the present level,” Emefiele said.

He added that the management will try to work on the operating expenses to be under control to allow the bank to give more to shareholders.

Meanwhile, gains by highly capitalised stocks helped the stock market back to the positive yesterday, adding N111 billion to market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities rose by 1.05 per cent to close at N10.687 trillion as against its opening value of

N10.576 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI) appreciated by 346.39 basis points to close at 33,432.68 points as against its opening index of 33,086.29 points.

The market was boosted by gains by stocks such as Dangote Cement, FBN Holdings, Unilever Nigeria and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria. The market responded positively to the 2012 earnings report of Dangote Cement, which was released yesterday.

The board of Dangote Cement has recommended dividend per share of N3. The company posted a turnover of N298.45 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2012 as against the N241.41 billion posted in 2011. Dangote Cement’s share price rose by N4 to N160.

Unilever Nigeria trailed with a gain of N3.50 to close at N56.50. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria placed third with a gain of N1.30 to close at N49.

FBN Holdings rode on the back of anticipatory trading in expectation of its 2012 earnings report. It added 99 kobo to close at N20. CAP gained 70 kobo to close at N38.70.

On the other hand, petroleummarketing companies dominated the top losers’ list with MRS Oil and Gas leading the slackers with a loss of N2.01 to close at N18.15. Mobil Oil Nigeria dropped by N1.20 to close at N118.80. Conoil lost N1.10 to close at N23 while Flour Mills of Nigeria dropped by 89 kobo to close at N76.01.

Unity Bank was the most traded equity, accounting for 59.10 million shares worth N34.78 million. It was followed

by Access Bank sold 41.74 million shares valued at N375.77 million. Zenith Bank came third on the activity chart with a total of 33.96 million shares worth N689.16 million. In all, investors staked N4.615 billion on 365.823 million shares in 5,476 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-04-13

55

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

MONEY LINK CITN holds workshop on taxation

Oxford Group: banking reforms’ll enhance investment climate

B

ANKING sector reforms in troduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to enhance investment climate in the country, Oxford Business Group (OBG) has said.

In a report obtained by The Nation titled: Nigeria -2013 Report on Economic Reforms’, the firm said the rolling out of wide-ranging reforms across Nigeria’s economy is prompting investors to take a “fresh look” at the country.

Also, the Canadian Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, said Nigerian government’s privatisation and anti-corruption reforms will create better opportunities for investors.

“These ongoing changes will cre-

Stories by Collins Nweze

ate better opportunities for all Nigerians and for investors from around the world. Canadian businesses are taking a fresh look at Nigeria and the opportunities it presents. They see that the environment is good for business, including a fair and strong regulatory framework to support and protect them,” he said.

He said Canada is working closely with African state governments to address issues relating to security as such would help the Nigerian-Canada Business Association in its bid to double the volumes of trade to $6 billion by 2015.

“It is important that security threats are addressed, particularly

T

because security and prosperity go hand-in-hand,” Fast said.

The minister added that while Nigeria’s extractive industries remain a focal point of interest for Canadian businesses, other sectors such as information communications technology (ICT), were playing a growing role in bilateral trade and investment.

“While diversified trade and investment are vital to our bilateral relationship, the extractive sector can also be an important driver of sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries, provided that an enabling environment is created,” he said.

The report was produced with

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

research assistance from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Cordros Capital Ltd and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

ECB wants EU to support ailing banks

Unity Bank’s profit rises to N6b

U

NITY bank Plc has grown its Profit after tax (PAT) to N6.18 billion as at December 31, 2012, the bank’s audited account filling at the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE). The result is up from N2.69 billion result recorded in 2011.

In a statement, the bank said it grew its profit PAT by 130 per cent, in the 2012 financial year as it improved on all other ratios. The bank’s gross earnings stood at N53.76 billion up from N46.27 billion in 2011, representing a growth of 16 per cent. Interest and similar income grew by 30 per cent from N31.71 billion in 2011 to N41.24 billion in 2012.

Total operating expenses declined by eight per cent from N32.23 billion the previous year to N29.67 billion in the year under review.

Financial analysts believe that this has impacted positively on cost to income ratio which improved from 81

per cent in 2011 to 79 per cent in the year under review. This improvement is on the back of continued optimal resource allocation and cost efficiencies, they maintained.

The bank’s loans and advances rose by 60 per cent from N117.88 billion to hit N189.04 billion in 2012. This growth is mostly in the real sector in line with national economic imperatives of making more credit available to that sector.

According to the Audited Accounts, customers’ deposits grew by 1.19 per cent from N266.88 billion as at December 2011 to N270.06 billion in December 2012. Overall total assets of the bank grew by six billion from N372.93 billion in December 2011 to N395.72 billion in December 2012.

Unity bank continued financial improvement has also reflected in its first quarter Account just published. As a further reflection of customer’s con-

T

HE European Central Bank urged governments to press ahead with setting up a “strong” central authority to handle bank failures in the euro area, saying that progress in the project is essential to bolster lenders and spur growth.

“Mere coordination between national authorities is not sufficient for cross-border resolution in crises,” Vitor Constancio, the ECB’s vice president, told lawmakers yesterday at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The currency bloc needs a “single resolution authority” with “independent decision-making powers that would enable prompt and decisive action,” Constancio said.

The authority should be backed by a “privately funded European resolution fund,” he said. The ECB’s call for decisive action to build a common resolution system for crisis-hit banks runs counter to warnings from Germany that setting up a central authority with independent powers would require changes to the 27-nation bloc’s treaties.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told counterparts this month at a meeting in Dublin that the EU is approaching the limit of what it can achieve under its current rulebook to build a so-called banking union with common oversight and backstops for lenders. “Progress in these elements of a future banking union is very important in the present economic environment of low growth,” Constancio said yesterday in Brussels.

The setting up of a “single resolution mechanism” equipped with an authority and fund will contribute to “the desirable separation of banks and sovereigns,” he said.

tinued and growing confidence in the brand, it sustained growth in the key growth indicators in its 1st quarter 2013 financial result.

Loans and advances grew by 95 per cent from N139.27 billion as at 31st March 2012 to N201.70bn in the first quarter of 2013 while customers’ deposit rose by 12 per to close at N299.32 billion from N267.38 billion in the corresponding period of 2012.

Gross earnings grew by 16 per cent from N12.69 billion in first quarter of 2012 to N14.71 billion in 2013 while profit before tax stood at N2.50billion up by eight thousand from N2.31 billion in the same period of 2012. Overall, the first quarter Accounts indicated that the total assets grew by 11 per cent from N395.72 billion in 2012 to N433.56 billion in 2013.

FGN BONDS

DATA BANK

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

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 24-04-13

SYMBOL ABCTRANS LEARAFRCA NAHCO UNILEVER FBNH PRESTIGE STANBIC AGLEVENT ETI GLAXOSMITH

O/PRICE 0.61 1.83 5.60 53.00 19.01 0.62 12.35 1.54 15.00 47.70

C/PRICE 0.67 2.01 6.00 56.50 20.00 0.65 12.92 1.60 15.45 49.00

CHANGE 0.06 0.18 0.40 3.50 0.99 0.03 0.57 0.06 0.45 1.30

MRS IKEJAHOTEL CAPHOTEL CUSTODYINS LIVESTOCK WEMABANK JOHNHOLT CILEASING RTBRISCOE MAYBAKER

O/PRICE 20.16 0.71 5.09 1.83 2.70 1.42 1.49 0.57 2.02 1.85

C/PRICE 18.15 0.64 4.59 1.66 2.45 1.29 1.37 0.53 1.88 1.75

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

350m

150m

150m

155.2

2-7-12

350m

138m

138m

155.8

27-6-12

350m

113m

113m

155.7

22-6-12

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N)

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

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% 11.8%

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY • ARM AGGRESSIVE

LOSERS AS AT 24-04-13

SYMBOL

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) will today begin a media workshop for the media. In a statement, the institute said the objective is to enlighten the public on their rights, duties and liabilities in relation to taxation.

It said the media has constitutional responsibility to hold government accountable to the people, a role which made the institute to partner with the media on the training.

It explained that taxation, like any other discipline or profession, has its peculiarities, technicalities and terminologies, which are incomprehensible to the uninitiated.

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 138.34 143.59 0.80 1.15 1.07 100.00 1,000.00 1,805.48 15.86 1.39 1.87 10,855.53

9.08 1.00 137.92 144.38 0.78 1.15 1.05 100.00 1,000.00 1,799.18 15.09 1.33 1.80 10,528.92

• KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 2.01 0.07 0.50 0.17 0.25 0.13 0.12 0.04 0.14 0.10

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

•

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2012

07, Aug, 2012

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

57

NEWS Bi-Courtney’s hotel: Unions dissociate selves from FAAN workers

T

HE National Headquarters of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and a pressure group in the aviation sector, Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) yesterday dissociated themselves from the alleged demand of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch of ATSSSAN to convert the hotel project, owned by BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), to FAAN headquarters.

The two groups made their positions known while reacting to the alleged demand, said to be contained in a solidarity message by the FAAN branch of ATSSSAN, reportedly sent to the management of the agency following its announced seizure of the project in which a court had ordered it to stay clear.

But reacting to the workers’ alleged demand, a national official of ATSSSAN, who craved anonymity, said “only the national body of ATSSSAN can speak on a matter as weighty as the Conference Centre and Hotel projects at MMA2, not the local branch at FAAN”.

An anonymous official of FAAN branch of ATSSSAN was quoted in a reports in some national newspapers as confirming that workers of the agency had demanded that the hotel be converted to the agency’s headquarters, despite a court order obtained by Bi-Courtney stopping FAAN and others from tampering with the project.

According to the national official, the national body was not briefed by the local branch before the conversion request was made, adding that ATSSSAN “as a law-abiding union would not want to jump the gun until all issues surrounding the two projects are amicably resolved”.

He said all the association was after was to ensure a crisis-free aviation sector, where everybody would play his or her own role in a conducive atmosphere.

He, therefore, urged local branches of the association to always “consult and wait for decisions on important national issues from the national headquarters of ATSSSAN before commenting”.

Fed Govt deploys troops in Anambra, Kogi boundary T

HE Federal Government yesterday deployed armed policemen and soldiers to restore peace to the warring communities in Anambra and Kogi states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many lives and property were destroyed in clashes between communities in Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State and Ibaji Local Government of Kogi State over a disputed oil-rich area.

Anambra police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka, who confirmed the deployment of

troops in Onitsha, said the troops included mobile policemen, soldiers and plaincloth operatives.

Clashes between the two communities erupted shortly after the inauguration of the Orient Petroleum Refinery in Anambra State by President Goodluck Jonathan last year.

Chukwuemeka said: “Police are there, they have been detailed to do what they are expected to do to ensure that there is peace. We have our

men and our patrol vehicles there.

“There is also a joint Task Force, comprising the army, the police and other security agencies in place.

“We also have our Divisional Police Officer (DPO) there, who is also covering to ensure that there is security of life and property.

“We also have plain-cloth policemen there for intelligence purposes.

“And then, we have been

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (right) receiving a plaque symbolising good governance from the Chairman, State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Achebe at the Councils’ seminar in Awka.

Sanusi: lack of social security responsible for youth restiveness T HE Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido, has blamed youth restiveness on governments’ inability to provide social security.

Speaking at the first Ochendu Youth Empowerment Lecture Series held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday, Sanusi said: “Governments at all levels are unable to address this because there is no realistic social security programme in Nigeria to meet the people’s basic needs. “This often provides the basis for the desperation and criminally minded activities.”

The CBN governor lamented that the unemployment situation in Nigeria has remained worrisome, rising

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

“from below 15 per cent from 2002 to 2008 to over 20 per cent in the period 20092011, according to information from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

“This coincided with the period of heightened insecurity in the country.”

He said certain state-based institutions (security agencies) “appear overwhelmed and are being overstretched.

The situation is compounded by improper funding as well as governance challenges in the hierarchy of some of the security agencies.”

The problem within the

security agencies, Sanusi said, has “manifested clearly in lack of a strategic vision, inadequacies of enrolled men, modern communication equipment, sophisticated arms and ammunition and capacity-building.

“Also, there are raging issues on service conditions which are said to be below the standards obtained in other jurisdictions, and hence tend to dampen officers’ morale.”

Sanusi said: “The spate of kidnapping across the country, the incessant wave of crime and robbery points to the fact that insecurity is a big challenge to development in Nigeria.”

Why Vision 20: 2020 may not be realisable, by Minister

U

NLESS certain infrastructure is put in place Nigeria may not join the club of 20 industrialised nations in seven years, Minister of National Planning Dr. Shamsudeen Usman has warned.

He told the national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the dream of Vision 20:2020 was waning by the day.

Dr. Usman spoke while presenting the scorecard of his ministry to the party on Tuesday.

According to the minister, the power sector, which is the most vital component of the Vision, suffered neglect under the military for more than three decades.

doing quite a lot to stem the tide of communal clashes there.”

The police, he said, had also begun a stop-and-search operation in and out of the major routes leading to the feuding communities.

A visit to Otuocha community in Anambra East Local Government showed heavy movement of soldiers in three trucks around the disputed boundary area.

Armed soldiers had taken over security at the Orient Petroleum Refinery complex and its drilling sites.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

He, however, said the efforts being made by the present administration in the sector would yield positive results in the nearest future.

Usman told the party that Nigeria, which occupied the 44th position in the ranking of developed economies in 2009, moved to the 39th position by the end of 2011 and became the 36th by the end of last year.

He said: “We were No 44 in 2009. By the end of 2011, we moved to No 39 by the end of 2011 and moved to No 36 by the end of 2012. This is progress.

“We made quite a lot of

progress. In other areas we are not. I don’t want any of you to meet me in 2020 and say you are the one telling us that we are going to be among the top 20. If Nigeria gets to No 25 by 2020, I will be a proud man.

“The reason is because we are consciously moving and doing all the necessary things to move up there. It’s not saying we must be there. What it’s saying is if we get there then these are the actions we must need to take as a country.

“We must do this and that in governance, in human development, in infrastructure.

That is what the document is saying and we are actually taking those steps and if we

are, what progress are we making?”

Regretting that Nigerians are not getting the full benefits of the several bilateral agreements signed with other countries, the minister said inadequate funding was hampering the performance of the various ministries.

Responding, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, noted that it’s only through adequate planning that the ruling party could navigate its manifesto.

Tukur reminded the minister that Nigerians expect rehabilitation of infrastructure and the implementation of government policies by the various ministries and agencies.

As a result, encouraging Nigerian youths “to realise and exploit their full potential through access to productive employment and decent work”, he said “is a prerequisite for poverty eradication, sustainable development and lasting peace.”

The CBN, he said, has introduced several schemes to help address youth unemployment.

Sanusi recommended solutions to the problem of youth restiveness.

These include: the enhancement of human capital development, improvement in infrastructure, agricultural incentives for young farmers, improved fiscal support for SMEs, provision of social safety nets and the improvement of the effectiveness of security agencies.

NEMA recovers body of 15-year old boy

By Precious Igbonwelundu

THE body of a 15-year-old boy, Fouad Feyisetan Owonifari, who drowned in the Oniyanri River, Owode, Ikorodu, Lagos, was recovered yesterday by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and officials of the Merchant Navy (MN).

Owonifari, a JSS II student at the Ikosi High School, Ketu, was said to have drowned at about 10:30am on Tuesday, while swimming.

His mother, Mrs. Kemi Owonifari, a member of the state’s Neighbourhood Watch, who said the boy had gone to bath in the river with his brother, accused emergency agencies in the state of not responding to her distress call.

“It was the brother who came home to report that he had drowned. Several calls were put across to the emergency response agencies but there was no response,” she said.

Officials of NEMA and MN told The Nation that they received the distress call from Mrs. Owonifari said: “We learnt the incident occurred around 10:30, but only got the information around 4:30pm.

NEMA’s South-West information officer, Ibrahim Farinloye, said: “We got to the scene and tried the best we could do, but we did not succeed in the recovery. We suspended the operation and continued Wednesday morning and by 10:59am, we recovered the body. NEMA handed over the body to the Vice Chairman of Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA), who handed the body to the family of the deceased.”

Council chief remanded in custody From Osemwngie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

THE Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government of Edo State, Emma Momoh, was yesterday remanded in Auchi Prison by the Fugar Magistrate’s Court.

The police alleged that Momoh was involved in the Fugar crisis, in which two people were killed and three houses and several cars burnt.

The lawmaker representing the constituency in the House of Assembly, Johnson Oghuma, alleged that the police hurriedly rearrested Momoh on Tuesday and charged him to court yesterday.

PUBLIC NOTICE IRASUSI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under PART C, of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Honorable Babatunde Mabawonku 3. Mr. Olukayode Apako 5. Mr. Oluwatoyin Kazeem 7. Mr. Olumuyiwa Kalejaye 9. Prince Adebayo Quadri Sotonwa

2. Alhaji Kolawole Ogunnaike 4. Mr. Dayo Enijesiku Ogunlowo 6. Mr. Kehinde Ayinla Yinusa 8. Mr. Sesan Efuwape Akinriola 10. Honorable Nurudeen Odulele

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To protect and ensure the wellbeing of every member of the villages comprising of the Irasusi Community.

2. To preserve the culture and value system of the Irasusi people.

3. To ensure the protection of the cultural artifacts and ancestral lands and the environment of the Irasusi people from degradation, pollution and land grabbers.

4. To ensure a safe and pollution free environment in Irasusi Community.

ANY objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 194, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: THE SOLICITOR

58

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

NEWS

Baga massacre: JNI wants offenders punished

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HE Muslims’ umbrella body in the North - the Jama’atu Nasril Islam yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan and the security agents to fish out those responsible for the massacre in Baga, a border community in Borno State. No fewer than 185 persons were said to have died in fighting between the military and Boko Haram at Baga last weekend.

The organisation said the masterminds should be punished in accordance with the laws.

The group also urged security agencies to curtail the rising violence across the country and be guided by the rules of engagement of the military by not using excessive force on the citizenry.

In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Sheikh Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, the JNI said the massacre was a clear act of unleashing terror on helpless citizens under the guise of fighting terrorism.

The statement reads: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) once again received with shock and consternation, the devastating news of a senseless attack on the Baga Community of Borno State. The attack is utterly condemnable and reprehensible.

“The act is a clear act of unleashing terror on helpless citizens. The way things are un-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

folding now, Muslims have been put on the receiving end.

Muslims with one voice call these reprehensible attacks uncalled for, senseless and barbaric.

“After all, why should a villager in Baga, whose fellow Muslims had disproportionately suffered in the hands of the security agents in Maiduguri be hacked to death as a result of sporadic gun attacks?

“The dastardly act continued unabated for over 30 hours with several sprees of painful attacks on innocent lives at Baga leaving behind hundreds of houses burnt and about 200 Muslims lives lost.

“The JNI sends its condolences to His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno and Deputy President-General, JNI, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, the Borno State government and the good people of Borno State over the unfortunate recurring attacks on innocent citizens.

“Once more, we condemn very strongly in unequivocal term, this heinous attack on Baga and call on all and sundry to be steadfast, prayerful and remain law-abiding in all circumstances.

“Furthermore, the perpetrators of this heinous crime should be fished out and punished in accordance with the law.

“However, the pervasive way security upheavals are being handled in Nigeria needs serious introspection.

JNI further calls on security agencies to curtail the violence guided by the rules of engagement of the military by not using excessive force on the citizenry.

“To this end, the JNI calls on all Imams to begin Al-Qunuut prayers in all their five daily prayers for ease and relief and we pray that Allah forgives the dead and may He grant them al-Jannah.”

The military and the police yesterday placed their men on the red alert.

It was learnt that the commands held series of meetings at the various headquarters of the security agencies in Kano apparently to discuss the development in Baga.

The police met at their headquarters of Zone 1 on BUK Road at the instance of Assistant Inspector-General of Police AIG Mr. David Omojola.

The 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Kano reportedly met at its Bukavu Barracks headquarters.

The AIG was reported to have held discussions behind closed door with police commissioners in his zone, comprising Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) were also in atten-

dance.

The Kano State Police Commissioner Mr. Musa Daura, who spoke after the meeting, said the security gathering was informed by the Baga massacre. He pointed out that since the militants are unpredictable, the police were taking all precautionary measures to avoid being taken unawares.

His words: “We just finished holding meetings with the area commanders and the DPOs on the incident, and this was at the instance of the AIG in charge of the zone because we don’t want to have any spill of the Borno incident to Kano, so we have placed our men on red alert , we have also increased our vehicular patrol and stop and search action.”

JTF spokesman in Kano, Captain Ikedichi Iweha said: “We are not leaving anything to chance. So, we have always advised members of the public to avoid unnecessary gathering that could provide cover for terrorist that might use such a gathering as human shield.

“We will continue to maintain high security build-up in Kano to protect lives and properties of the people. We have always evacuated women and children to safety first before any attack is contemplated against the militants in the event of resistance, but where they surrender to JTF there is no point for any shoot-out.”

Insecurity: JAMB may cancel UTME in troubled states Continued from page 2

because of the difference in the dates of the examination to avoid malpractices.

“One of the problems in the conduct of the examinations has been the unwholesome activities of some officials who encouraged malpractice,” he stressed.

Ojerinde appealed to supervisors and invigilators to

study the rules guiding the conduct of the examination in the manual given to them for a hitch-free examination.

According to him, 1, 629, 102 candidates applied for the Paper-Pencil Test (PPT), 15, 008 candidates applied for the Dual Based Test (DBT) and 91, 610 candidates applied for the Computer Based Test (CBT).

Ojerinde said 1, 503, 931

candidates registered last year.

He said JAMB had engaged the services of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside independent examination watch groups to monitor the examination.

Asked if adequate security had been provided for candidates who will take their examinations in the North due to the the Boko Haram insurgency, Ojerinde assured that security had been provided but vowed to cancel the examination if there is any crisis.

Besides, he said the results of the examination would be ready in less than two weeks.

Jonathan to committee: perform magic Continued from page 2

when your names were mentioned, you willingly agreed to play your own part to see how we can stabilise the country; to bring peace and development in our country. On behalf of the government, we thank all of you for accepting to serve.”

Rights activist Shehu Sani and Cleric Datti Ahmad refused to be on the committee.

Sani said he was not consulted.

Besides, he faulted the process.

Datti said the membership of the Boko Haram Committee should not have had government officials.

Jonathan said the Small Arms and Light Weapons Committee should establish links and cooperation with similar institutions and other agencies that can help to build capacity; enhance information sharing and develop multi-level international support relationship as well as strengthen regional cooperation.

“The committee should also focus on putting forward policy situations as well as reviewing existing ones and recommend implementation strategy to combat illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons as well as measures to enhance border security, proposed legislations and regulatory framework to strengthen control of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in line with international standard.”

Responding, the Minister of Special Duties, who chair the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said: “The inauguration of our committee this morning has provided a veritable platform for genuine and sincere resolution of the crisis in the North.”

Turaki urged Nigerians to assist the committee with information to enable it carry out its assignment.

The chairman of the Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe promised that it would not fail.

Members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North are: Sheik Ahmed Lemu; Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed; Col. Musa Shehu (rtd.); Sheik Abubakar Tureta; Senator Sodangi Abubakar; Senator Ahmed Makarfi; Mohammed Matawalle; Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim; and Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed.

Others include: Mallam Adamu S. Ladan; Dr. Joseph Golwa; AVM A. I. Shehu; Mr. R. I. Nkemdirim, Deputy InspectorGenaral of Police (DIG) P. I. Leha; Prof. Nur Alkali; Malam Salihu Abubakar; Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga; Ibrahim Tahir; Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo; Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda; Group Capt. Bilal Bulama, rtd., Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Aisha Wakil, Bilkisu Yusuf and a representative of Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (OSGF) as Secretary.

The Small arm and Light Weapons Committee has Ambassadors Martin I. Uhomoibhi, T. Dan Hart, Ghali Umar; B. G. Wakil, Mr. Opelusi Olureti, representative of the Interior Ministry, representative of the National Security Adviser (NSA), representative of the Director-General (DG) of the State Security Service (SSS); representative of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and representative of Federal Ministry of Justice, Others are: representatives of the Ministry of Defence; Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); Nigeria Police Force; Nigerian Customs Service, OSGF; and the Director, International Organisations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was named as committee secretary.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

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ello everybody and welcome. Today we continue with our introduction of new novelties for the month of April and beyond, and we will kick off with pheromones.

Pheromones are perfumed sexual attractants capable of attracting the opposite sex to you, if you are looking to start a relationship.

They don’t work like magic. Wearing a pheromone does not mean women or men will chase you like bees after honey.

Pheromones make the opposite sex interested in you sexually, based on the way you smell. This means that when you make a move on them, they are more open to giving you a chance or saying yes. This makes the process of befriending people easier especially for shy folks who find it hard chatting up a girl or boy.

For women, we have the Simply Sexy Pheromone and the Crazy Girl Pheromone Body Mist. Both are very popular and powerful.

For men we have the Namiko Pheromone Cologne, an equally powerful sexual attractant for men.

New games to aid romance in relationships have also arrived.

Often couples complain about their love lives being boring and this is one of the reasons couples cheat. But thanks to these games, there will never be a dull moment and there are hundreds of sexual ideas that couples can explore in their private moments.

These new games are the Mile High Club, Pleasure Island and Sealed with a Kiss game.

And finally for the day, we have new aphrodisiacs for women.

Very often, male libido problems and solutions dominate our weekly discussions but women do have libido problems too. The first of these new aphrodisiacs is the Rock On Daily Supplement, a natural sexual enhancer in capsule form capable of lifting energy and libido levels at any age while enhancing sexual pleasure and satisfaction for women. Rock On Daily Supplement is very good. The second aphrodisiac is a stimulating gel called the Mood Tingling lubricant. Mood Tingling eliminates vaginal dryness and the related sexual pain while arousing female users for more pleasurable and orgasmic results.

We will continue with more new products in the coming weeks. Let us take a few questions from our readers.

I am newly married and I will like to learn more about how my wife and I can have a successful long term sexual relationship.

Do you conduct seminars? Tayo Tayo at the moment, we don’t do seminars. But you will find the information you are looking for in books such as Sex Secrets and movies like Great Sex for a Life Time. The advantage movies and books have over seminars is that you get to see some of these sexual ideas and recommendations demonstrated and not just talked about.

Sex is very physical after all – Uche I take Xzen 1200 to make my erection and performances stronger.

So far so good but I will like to know if it has side effects when used for too long – Samuel Samuel manufacturers always advice regular users of aphrodisiacs to give a one or two week break after using it for one month before continuing again. This will enable the body flush out any unwanted residues or toxins that may accumulate over long periods of time, if any. Xzen 1200 is 100% natural and safe. The human body processes natural supplements like natural foods , which is why we recommend them – Uche I use condoms during sex and on few occasions, the condoms have broken during intercourse. Can you recommend something more reliable? Jonah Jonah this is why more people are using penis sleeves instead.

Sleeves such as the Glow in the Dark Sleeve and Nasstoys Penis Extender are thicker than condoms, stronger and can be reused.

They also prevent premature ejaculation – Uche Adults in need of these treatments and novelties can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

FOREIGN NEWS Darfur war crimes suspect rebel killed

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SUDANESE rebel charged with war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been killed, his defence team has said.

Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus died on Friday afternoon during fighting in North Darfur, the statement said.

He was due to go on trial in May 2014 over a deadly attack on African peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007.

The BBC’s Anna Holligan in The Hague says the court must get proof of his death before the case is dropped.

Other suspects at large Mr Jerbo and fellow Darfur rebel leader Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain face three war crimes charges relating to the killing of 12 African Union peacekeepers in an attack on the AU’s Haskanita camp in September 2007.

The two men, who voluntarily surrendered to the ICC in 2010 to face the charges, have been free to leave the Netherlands and appear before the court when summoned.

In 2011, a pre-trial chamber found that there were “substantial grounds” to go ahead with their trial.

Mr Jerbo was chief of staff of SLA-Unity rebel group at the time of the 2007 attack but is currently in the Justice and Equality Movement group, the ICC says.

His defence team said he died in the north of Darfur on the afternoon of 19 April 2013 and was buried on the same day.

“Mr Jerbo was killed during an attack on his location by forces of the Justice and Equality Movement faction led by Gibril Ibrahim,” AFP quotes the defence team’s notification to the ICC as saying.

Iraq: 28 dead in clashes •Debris of a collapsed factory building in Savar, outskirts of Dhaka Bangladesh...yesterday

Bangladesh factory building collapse kills nearly 100 A

BLOCK housing garment factories and shops collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, killing nearly 100 people and injuring more than a thousand, officials said.

Firefighters and troops dug frantically through the rubble at the eight-storey Rana Plaza building in Savar, 30 km (20 miles) outside Dhaka. Television showed young women workers, some apparently semi-conscious, being pulled out.

One fireman told Reuters about 2,000 people were in the building when the upper floors slammed

down onto those below.

Bangladesh’s booming garments industry has been plagued by fires and other accidents for years, despite a drive to improve safety standards. In November 112 workers died in a blaze at the Tazreen factory in a nearby suburb, putting a spotlight on global retailers which source clothes from Bangladesh.

“It looks like an earthquake has struck here,” said one resident as he looked on at the chaotic scene of smashed concrete

and ambulances making their way through the crowds of workers and wailing relatives.

“I was at work on the third floor, and then suddenly I heard a deafening sound, but couldn’t understand what was happening.

I ran and was hit by something on my head,” said factory worker Zohra Begum.

An official at a control room set up to provide information said 96 people were confirmed dead and more than 1,000 injured.

Doctors at local hospitals said they were unable to cope with the number of victims brought M o h a m m a d Asaduzzaman, in charge of the area’s police station, said factory owners appeared to have ignored a warning not to allow their workers into the building after a crack was detected in the block on Tuesday.

Five garment factories employing mostly women - were housed in the building, including Ether Tex Ltd., whose chairman said he was unaware of any warnings not to open the workshops.

How to combat security challenges in West Africa, by experts

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ECURITY experts from across Africa and Europe last weekend converged at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA) Lagos, to deliberate on how to combat security challenges in the West Africa sub-region, Precious Igbonwelundu reports.

The need for West African countries to promote partnership in capacity building on security in order to tackle crimes at sea and in the land as well as attract economic opportunities, was the thrust of the West African Maritime Security and Development Conference, held at the Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.

Experts who attended the conference organised by NIIA in collaboration with Chattam House, noted that maritime crimes robs the sub-region of $2 billion annually; while the region loses about $1.5 billion annually on illegal fishery, with Nigeria alone, losing about N600 million to the activity annually.

At the event were the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Admiral Dele Ezeoba; the British High Commissioner, Dr Andrew Pocock; Consul General of France, Francois Sastourne; Director General, NIIA, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa and Head, African Programme at Chattam House, Alex Vines.

Others include, Regional Coordinator, Sea Around Us Project, Duncan Copeland; researcher, Freedom Onuoha; lecturer, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; lawyer, Ms. Funke Agbor and Director of fisheries, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Foluke Areola.

Ezeoba, who delivered the keynote address said that the Nigerian Navy (NN) has in eight months impounded 40 vessels over alleged illegal activities within the nation’s maritime environment.

Ezeoba expressed hope that the fight against crimes in West African Maritime environment would be achieved through the provision of effective and efficient MDA capabilities, which can be achieved

through the integration of all existing MDA capabilities across the sub-region into a common loop that would ensure seamless domain awareness architecture.

He said: “Sustained presence at the sea remains the main thrust of our current efforts to combat all forms of illegalities in our maritime space.

“Similarly, efforts are in progress to increase the deterrence of the NN through acquisition of additional Ships, including Offshore Patrol Vessels for enhanced operational capability.

“The NN has adopted a collaborative approach of engaging other maritime stakeholders in its campaign against maritime crimes and a mechanism for ECOWAS sub-region was in progress.”

He said the use of Privately Contacted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP), onboard ships in high risk area is a welcome development, although he cautioned its implications within the coastal maritime environment.

Sastourne said the French Navy has been permanently stationed at the Golf of Guinea to help tackle insecurity.

He said: “Pirates do not know boarders and to fight them within boarders can never be efficient. We need to transcend boarders through regional corporation.”

Pocock noted that insecurity in land and at sea within the coast was worrisome, just as he said the West African countries do not need new institutions to address these problems.

He said all they needed was to harness existing institutions, both national and regional effectively, adding that, joint exercise and patrol as well as mutual assistance must be extended to gain result.

Pocock, who expressed worry over the increasing insecurity in Niger-Delta, urged security agencies to intensify efforts.

He said the British government would continue to support security agencies with equipment and training for effective performance.

M

ORE than two dozen have been killed in an outbreak of violence that started around Iraq yesterday.

The fighting came a day after security forces stormed a Sunni protest camp in the town of Hawija, sparking deadly clashes and a spate of other attacks, mostly targeting Sunni mosques, that killed at least 56 people.

The unrest is heightening Sunni-Shiite tensions and raising fears that the country could be headed toward a new round of all-out sectarian violence.

Wednesday’s fighting broke out after tribesmen blocked roads leading to the Sunni town of Qara Tappah, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of Baghdad.

Iraqi troops arrived to try to clear the city. Fierce clashes erupted, and helicopters fired at the gunmen.

Police say 15 gunmen and seven soldiers were killed.

In other violence, three gunmen were killed when they attacked a security checkpoint near the former al-Qaida stronghold of Mosul, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

Later, a car bomb struck a police patrol north of Baghdad, killing a policeman and two civilians, according to police.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information to reporters.

The Tuesday raid in Hawija drew harsh condemnations from Sunni leaders and foreign diplomats, raising fears that Iraq is being pushed back toward all-out sectarian fighting like the underlying conflicts in the civil war in neighboring Syria.

ECOWAS election observer mission gets automated

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HE Economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) election observer mission has been automated.

This follows the submission of a database that will house the records of all professionals in the region in the areas of election monitoring and evaluation by the Electoral Assistance Division of the ECOWAS commission on 17th April, 2013 in Abuja.

The database was developed with the assistance of GIZ, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and will help harmonize the record process, making the selection process more transparent, impartial and geographically balanced while eliminating human intervention.

The Electoral Assistance Division of the ECOWAS commission has over the years assisted member states in strengthening their capacities in Election monitoring and evaluations for the efficient management of electoral process to enable

From Vincent Ikuomola, and Nike Adebowale, Abuja

them conform with best practices.

Electoral Assistance to members states is part of the ECOWAS approach to the promotion of democracy, good governance, human right protection and the rule of law since elections are an essential component of a functioning democracy which foster peace and development in the region.

The division uses Election Observation Missions (EOM) as a mechanism for ensuring that member states conducting elections do so under the principles enshrined in the 2001 ECOWAS supplementary protocol on Democracy and good governance and the 2008 ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF).

In the spirit of these instruments, the commission has established relevant initiatives to assist member states technically and financially in the preparation of credible and transparent elections.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

I carry scars of torture, says Bamigbetan

•Abducted council chief holds thanksgiving

“I

N the last 72 hours, I have discovered that traumatic experiences like this leave a large scar not only on your body, but in your mind. As I stand here, I still carry with me the trauma of being beaten till blood oozed out of my nostrils while the hands I could have used to wipe them were tied to the arms of the chair of punishment."

Those were the words of Kehinde Bamigbetan, Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State at a thanksgiving sevice at the council secretariat yesterday.

A crowd of worshippers, council workers and well wishers watched in awe as he relived his ordeal.

The service was to appreciate God for the safe return of the council chief who was abducted on April 15, on his way home from work.

Many members of the audience sighed as Bamigbetan made his emotional speech. In the audience was the Ojon of Ejigbo and Ijon land, Oba Morufu Adisa Adekunle.

Some held on to the edges of their seats.

Others screamed. Women, mostly, held their heads in both hands as Bamigbetan spoke.

"I carry the scars of being turned into a reptile, demoted to lying prostrate on the floor like a lizard while the eyes I ought to use to find my way were blindfolded and all I could see was pitch, black darkness.

"I cannot forget the coldness of the violent

‘

I cannot forget the coldness of the violent steel, the AK-47 • Bamigbetan and his wife, Fatima ... yesterday pressed that the powers of darkness may reign, but against my the reign will be only for a short time that devious rule will be cut short by the forccheek, then put into my the es of goodness." mouth to actualise the idea He thanked Action Congress of Nigeria National Leader, Asiwaju Bola of biting the bullet, which (ACN) Ahmed Tinubu, for "showing so much intermy development." until then, had been a safe estHeinalso thanked Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and his wife, Abimbola for idiomatic expression "the sacrifices they made to make sure that I

By Seun Akioye

‘

steel, the AK-47 pressed against my cheek, then put into my mouth to actualise the idea of biting the bullet, which until then, had been a safe idiomatic expression," he said.

Bamigbetan attributed his release to God, saying the people’s prayers crushed the force of darkness. "Within five days, God showed

did not disappear like smoke." He was full of praises for the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and others.

He promised to rededicate himself to the service of his constituency, saying, "Now is the time to get back to work, to continue to fulfil the promises we made to the people on roads, drainage, education and health. For

PHOTO: SEUN AKIOYE

us, the welfare of the people is the first principle of progressive governance."

The service was the last in the series of events to celebrate the release of Bamigbetan, who returned to work yesterday amid rousing welcome from council workers.

At the service were: Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ejigbo chapter, Rev. Peter Fabusoro; Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, the Osolo of Isolo; Chief M.A Taiwo, ACN leader in Ejigbo and Imam Muizudeen Alawiye, the Muzir Morcaz of Ejigbo.

Rev. Fabusoro said the experience was a test of faith for Bamigbetan and prayed against any reocurrence. Imam Alawiye urged the chairman not to be bitter but to know that "it was God's way of purifying you." He advised office holders to provide good governance.

Businessman kidnapped in Lagos

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IDNAPPERS have struck again in Lagos. They abducted on Tuesday night, the owner of a multi-million naira furniture outfit in Festac Town, on the outskirts of the city.

The victim was reportedly kidnapped by five gunmen while driving home in his white G-Class Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked EJ541LND. Sources said the man was coming out of Baff Club 77 at the end of 1 Close, 21 Road around 10:45pm when his abductors intercepted him.

The victim is said to be a member of the club.

Eyewitnesses said he was ordered out of his vehicle and forced into his abductors’ Toyota Sienna bus.

Passersby, The Nation learnt, did not understand what was happening until the kidnappers, all armed with AK47 rifles, shot into the air to scare them away.

A source said: "We just finished watching

By Jude Isiguzo

the Barcelona and Bayern Munich match and we were analysing the result when we noticed a space bus blocking other motorists. 1 Close is always busy because of the number of liquor joints there; so, if there is anything disturbing the flow of traffic, one would know immediately.

"At first, we thought it was a fight. Suddenly, we saw two hefty men with AK47 rifles alight from the bus. They moved towards the Lexus SUV and used the nozzle of their guns to hit on its window glass, ordering the occupant to come out. Immediately the occupant came out, he was dragged into the waiting bus. They shot sporadically into the air and everyone abandoned their drinks and scampered for safety".

It was gathered that the abductors went away with their victim, abandoning his vehi-

cle at the scene.

Sources said some members of the club later pushed the victim's vehicle inside the club premises.

The Nation learnt that after officers of the club informed the victim's family, his son came to take his father's car home.

A source at Area E Command, Festac Town, said the matter had not been reported to the police.

Residents now live in fear as nobody knows who may be the next victim.

A resident, Kola Ishola, told The Nation: "We all know that when you talk about kidnapping, we only hear it happen in the Niger Delta area. It is a new development in Lagos and must not be allowed to continue. The police should engage a more proactive manner to tackle this new wave of crime."

Police chief Umar Manko has assured Lagosians that there is no cause for alarm.

EFCC, NCC partner against crimes

NCC chief seeks reading culture

A

T

HE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have signed an inter-agency pact aimed at strengthening the implementation of the nation's laws on copyright, economic and financial crimes.

Both agencies formalised the partnership at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja.

NCC's Director-General, Mr. Afam Ezekude, and Chairman, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, signed the document at a ceremony witnessed by key management members of both parastatals.

The MoU which indicates that either party could terminate the pact after one month's notice, provides that they shall cooperate in executing anti-piracy operations in the country.

Other key terms of the MoU are: That the NCC shall share with the EFCC, for further investigation and action, relevant information obtained in the course of investigating a copyright infringement, which may contain elements or likelihood of the commission of economic and financial crimes by any persons or corporations.· Ezekude expressed the hope that the signing of the MoU would engender a robust and long-

• Manko

• Ezekude and Lamorde ... after signing the MoU

standing relationship between the agencies with a view to boosting the NCC's zero-tolerance policy on copyright piracy.

He said NCC's partnership with the EFCC was in line with NCC's tradition of building strategic collaboration with its sister enforcement agencies, adding that a similar inter-agency partnership between the NCC and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has so far resulted in the confiscation of a total of 16 containers of suspected pirated works estimated at over N6 billion.

Lamorde who decried the massive importation and local mass production of pirated copyright works, gave assurance that the signing of the MoU would strengthen cooperation between the EFCC and the NCC at leadership and operational levels.

He assured that under the MoU, the sister agencies would carry out a lot of intelligence and operational interventions to effectively check piracy of copyright-protected works in Nigeria.

S the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) chooses Port Harcourt, as the World Book Capital 2004, the Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. Afam Ezekude, has urged Nigerians to embrace reading culture.

Ezekude, who made the call in a goodwill message marking the World Book and Copyright Day which holds on April 23 every year, noted that UNESCO's choice of Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital for the year 2014 "is a source of national pride and inspiration for better appreciation of books and the invaluable benefits of cultivating the reading culture among Nigerians and the citizens of the rest of the global community" He stated that as the regulatory and enforcement agency for copyright protection, the NCC had been alive to its mandate of facilitating the emergence of a favourable environment for entrenchment of a development driven copyright community in the country.

He canvassed the continued support of all stakeholders and development partners in the creative industries in the national drive towards revitalising the country's copyright industries.

"This year's celebration focuses on ways to better disseminate the culture of the written word and guarantees access to it by all men, women and children. We are being enjoined in the message of the UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, to appreciate the fact that books are our allies in spreading education, science, culture and information worldwide", he stated.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Royal family, developer quarrel over land

T

HEIR relationship was cordial until the land deal between them went awry.

The Akinsemoyin family of Lagos and a developer, Alhaji Tolani Bakare, are quarrelling over the sale of land in Idiagbon Alayande village, Eti-Osa Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

A former member of Lagos State House, Olayiwola Akinsemoyin, who is spearheading the family’s case, accused the developer of breach of trust.

Akinsemoyin, who was in the assembly from 1979 to 1983, said: "My family sought the services of Alhaji Bakare to secure a village extension for our property and community, but he turned back to sell the land to unknown persons without the consent of the family. He has refused to explain his complicity in the illegal sale of our land to the head of our family till date.

"When we discovered that he had started selling the land, we confronted him, but he could not provide any

‘My inheritance is being hijacked by a stranger. Bakare should stop selling our inheritance in the interest of peace because we have paid him for his services. He has no right to sell our property’

By Kunle Akinrinade

reasonable answer. It was at this juncture that he was invited to our family house by its head. Surprisingly, he refused to come. Yet, as I speak, he is still selling our property when he is neither a member of our family nor have the author-

'Be security-conscious'

T

HE President/Chairman of Council of the Corporate Institute of Risk and Safety Management (CIRSM), Senator Levi Nwokeafor, has urged Nigerians to eschew habits that are inimical to environmental safety.

He spoke during the induction/ investiture ceremonies of five fellows, 40 members, 17 associates and four corporate members of the institute at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

Nwokeafor who was represented by the institute's vice president, former Chief of Army Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia, stressed the need to sensitise Nigerians on the importance environmental consciousness because Nigeria is under threat at all fronts.

"CIRSM is aimed at being a change agent in the silent revolution to meet the yearnings of Nigerians for a secure environment for lives and property. Our nation today is confronted with threats to human survival, economic stability and investment. Hence, the institute has set for itself the agenda to be the ultimate think-tank for training, research and develop-

T

The ceremony will feature Homecoming/Fund Raising and Thanksgiving Dinner. It will hold at the Lagoon Restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is expected as Special Guest of Honour.

'Protect the common man'

HE Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace and Social Justice in Nigeria has urged judges to shun corruption and stick to fairness in protection of the common man.

The group, in a statement signed

by Secretary General, Comrade Kenneth, noted that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and admonished the judges not to betray the trust reposed in them by the people.

"We are proud of Nigerian judges. We monitored activities of Justice Abdul Kafarati of Abuja Fed-

T

ment of ways of minimizing risk and promoting safety.

The guest speaker, who is a principal lecturer at the Department of Health, Safety and Environment, Gateway Industrial and Petrogas Institute, Oni Ijebu Waterside, Ogun State, Kadiri Shamusideen, said: "it is what we give to the environment that the environment gives back to us. The quality of our environment affects all of us no matter where we live.

The environment is our home and if it is not healthy, we will not be also. When people abuse the environment, this affects us all. A safe place to work and live is the key element of environmental safety."

Mrs. Bisola Agboola who represented the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Omolara Odebunmi Dominga, who said it is impossible to separate safety from health and health from safety, enjoined government to prevent disaster rather than responding to it.

Award for old students

HE Birth Freeman High School Old Boys Association (BIFOBA) will on Saturday honour some of its members. Among them is an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Dr. Kayode Oluruntola. They will be honoured for their contribution to the school’s growth.

T

By Nneka Nwaneri

eral High court as a model and our findings revealed that he stands out. It is our hope and prayer that other judges across t he country will emulate Justice Kafarati and carry out their duties with utmost sincerity, fairness and fear of God".

"To us as an organisation which will not hesitate to condemn corrupt individuals no matter how highly placed, we have the responsibility to also identify those that are doing well and appreciate them so as to encourage them."

Vehicles' owners warned

THE Lagos and Ogun States Police Commands have warned owners of accident and abandoned vehicles parked at Ogijo, Abattior, Agege and Ikorodu divisions to remove them or risk losing them to the public through auction within two weeks.

The vehicles are: Unregistered Toyota Camry, Mazda XH895KJA, Ascona Opel EA60KRD, Honda Accord XV402MUS, Mazda 323

BB533AGL, six unregistered Boxer Bajaj motorcycles and Jincheng QX935KJA. Others are: Volkswagen Golf BK393EUN, Rover car KS617AAA, Volvo AA585DAL, Benze BX891LND, Toyota Starlet AS697RDJ, Benze BM716GGE, Benze Shagari Model EG284AAA, Mitsubishi car unregistered, Varagon XD453KSF and Audi Quattro car HJ537KJA.

ity to carry out such transactions on our behalf."

"The implication is that my inheritance is being hijacked by a stranger. Bakare should stop selling our inheritance in the interest of peace because we have paid him for his services. He has no right to sell our property,” Akinsemoyin added.

Denying the allegations, Bakare said: "While it is true that I had helped the Alayande family secure a village extension from Lagos State, it is not true that I had encroached on, or sold their land. The truth of the matter is that the family did not have enough land to secure the village extension and this made them negotiate with another family, Abijo.

“Subsequently, both parties agreed to a sharing formula. Abijo family was to get 45 per cent of the land, leaving Alayande family with the remaining 55 per cent of the land.”

"As part of the deal,” he further

By Adebisi Onanuga

•Akinsemoyin

explained, “I was asked to take one and half per cent plot of land per acre and my own share is what I have taken from the land. Their own portion of the land is there

and I cannot sell it. They have since been selling their own portion of the land. Their allegations against me are unfounded. I never sold their land."

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

63

SPORT EXTRA Attah grateful to CAF U- 17: Eaglets through to final Shorunmu, German Embassy for visas •Dispatch resilient Tunisia 4-2 G S OLDEN Eaglets of Nigeria, in Morocco

today qualified for the final of the ongoing CAF U-17 Championship when they thrashed resilient Tunisian team 4-2 at the Grande Stade de Marrakech. Nigeria will now face Cote d’ Ivoire who also spanked host nation Morocco 2-1, in the final on Saturday.

Kelechi Iheanacho opened scoring in the 2nd minute of the match to take his goal tally to four, while the lead scorer Isaac Success scored his seventh goal of the tournament in the 21st minute to take his goal tally to seven.

The surprise Man of the Match, was, however, attacking midfielder Musa Yahaya who got a brace in the 11th and 58th minute of

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

the game.

The Eaglets have now confirmed their pretournament rating and ready to take the Trophy for the third time after winning their last championship under late Coach Yemi Tella in 2007,

when they went ahead to win the FIFA U- 17 World Cup that year.

Success’ second goal in the 89th minute was ruled offside by the referee but the Nigerians had already done enough to wrap up the game.

The Tunisians, however, fought desperately from the

second half to save the game but the watertight defence of the Nigerians was their bane.

Eaglets’ Coach Manu Garba who incidentally was Tella’s first assistant coach in 2007 has the opportunity of repeating the feat of 2007 and he has the quality players backed up with seasoned coaches Emmanuel Amunike and Nduka Ugbade to repeat the success of 2007.

NPFL WEEK 8: Victory in sight, Eguma assures fans

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HE Team manager of Dolphins football club of Port Harcourt, Stanley Eguma has assured their fans that the club would be going for nothing short of victory as they confront Nasarawa Utd in the week eight of the Nigeria Professional Football League at the Liberation stadium

•Kelchi

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt.

today.

In a chat with NationSport, Eguma whose team is not in a comfortable standing in the League season is quite sure that only victory can salvage the situation in which the club currently finds itself.

The former U-23 coach noted that his team's poor finishing is the reason why the club has lost some crucial points.

"We in Dolphins we create a whole lot of chances but the problem is in converting it. I know that we will do our best to ensure that we win our match against Nasarawa Utd because at this point in time, nothing short of victory is expected from us in all our matches, especially the ones at home because our position on the table is not good at all.

"We believe that its victory that can spur us up and we are working hard to ensure that we grab a victory", he said.

Speaking on the League management in the new season, Eguma said there's improvement but believes

that it can still be better, especially in officiating where he agreed that the referees have not done too badly.

He also commended the improved attitude of the fans as away wins has increased without fans putting up unbecoming attitudes.

"The League has improved.

There's a lot of improvement in the areas of officiating, players and team performance as no team is a push over anymore.

"I commend the attitude of the fans too because we have not gotten serious cases of hooliganism, and I believe that gradually, hooliganism will be a thing of the past. I also commend the league body for making sure that their authority is stamped. To the referees, they still need to improve, so far they've done well and its possible they could be perfect and that is what we're praying for.

"We the teams will try our best to ensure that we improve on standard of play to improve on our football better than in the past".

Suarez handed 10-game ban for bite on Ivanovic

L

IVERPOOL striker Luis Suarez has been banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.

Suarez pleaded guilty to a Football Association charge of

Ondo to host international youth soccer

A

S part of efforts to revive youth soccer in Ondo State as well as the entire country, a group, the Caring Heart Foundation, has initiated plans to introduce an annual U-18 football tournament This competition, which is named Dr. Olusegun Mimiko U-18 International Competition, is scheduled to hold between June 5 and 12.

According to the vicechairman, Local Organising Committee, Akin Akinbobola, the tournament is aimed at reviving sports, particularly football in the country.

He said the teenagers, who will play alongside their counterparts from other African and European countries, will be better exposed and groomed to limelight.

Akinbobola said: "It is being organised by the Caring Heart Foundation.

"The tournament is named after the Governor Mimiko because the foundation believes he has done well in terms of sports development especially in establishing the first football agency in the

By Precious Igbonwelundu

state to discover talents from kindergarten level and developing same to tertiary level that will expose them to international limelight."

Teams, he said, will feature from the six geo- political zones in the country, as well as countries in Africa and Europe.

"The tournament will be played in Ondo State from June 5 to 12. Right now, from within the country, we have about 51 teams that wish to participate but unfortunately, we are going to reduce the number to 10.

"We have also received assurances from teams from Egypt, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon, Cyprus, Turkey and England, among others, which we have to reduce to about five or six because only 16 teams will participate.

"Three teams will feature from Ondo. The trophy to be won at the end of the day is already making a tour of the local governments in the state and it will tour Abuja and Lagos before the tournament.

"The tournament, which is designed to be a yearly event,

will not only improve football in Ondo state but across Nigeria.

This is because it will reinvigorate youth football, which are abound in every nook and cranny of this country.

"Moreover, the youngsters who will make it to the tournament will feature alongside their counterparts from across the world. "So, it is like exposing under 18 boys to international soccer here in Nigeria."

violent conduct on Tuesday but rejected the governing body's claim that an automatic three-match suspension was "clearly insufficient".

A three-man independent regulatory commission met on Wednesday to decide the Uruguay international's fate and upheld the FA's assertion that further punishment was warranted.

The incident, which occurred in the closing stages of Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield - a game in which Suarez rescued a lastgasp point for his side - was not seen by the match officials and was reviewed retrospectively.

Suarez has until midday on Friday, 26 April to appeal the additional seven-match suspension.

Police shoot Kano Pillars’ fan •Heartland clash ends abruptly

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HE Nigeria Professional Football League week eight game between Kano Pillars and Heartland ended abruptly following the tragedy that hit the venue.

A fan believed to be Pillars' was shot by Police, and the game was immediately halted. After several minutes, who calm seemed to have returned and the match officials called for the resumption of the game.

According to reports

reaching futaa.com, the home team, Pillars returned to the pitch, but their opponents Heartland refused for fear of attack.

The referee waited for some minutes, but the Nazi Millionaire insisted on not getting back to the pitch, forcing the referee to call off the game abruptly.

The match commissioner will submit his report, and the NPFL is expected to decide on the matter as soon as possible.

UPER Eagles’ Goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu and Eagles Team Coordinator Emmanuel Attah has showered praises on the Germany Consular for the prompt attention the Embassy gave the 12 home based Super Eagles and the officials that stormed the Embassy in Lagos yesterday to process their visas for the team’s camping that is expected to commence in Germany on May 16th, 2013.

The Eagles would kick start preparations in Germany on the said date for June’s World Cup qualifiers and FIFA Confederation Cup with matches lined up against Mexico Kenya and Namibia.

Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi made public the list of 30 players with 18 coming from Europe, while 12 others are from the home front.

The 12 home-based stars stormed the German Embassy in Lagos yesterday together with the team coaches and backroom staff, among who were assistant coach Daniel Amokachi, goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu, team secretary Dayo Achor Enebi, team Coordinator, Emmanuel Attah, team curator, team doctor and

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

physiotherapy.

Shorunmu, however, gave kudos to the German Embassy staff for the prompt attention they gave to the Eagles.

“I am particularly happy and impressed with the reception accorded us by the staff of the German Embassy. I am using this medium to say a very big thank you to them”, Shorunmu told NationSport from Lagos yesterday.

The Team Coordinator also showered encomiums on the Embassy. “The German Embassy staff are wonderful.

We are very grateful for the way they treated us and our promptly processed of the visas. We are sure of getting back our International Passports with visas in them in few days”, the amiable former FCT Football Association Chairman disclosed.

The players and officials would face the United States of America Embassy on Tuesday (April 30, 2013) for visas for the Mexico friendly game. Officials are also optimistic of getting the visas on time before departure for Germany on May 16, 2013.

DORTMUND 4 MADRID 1

Lewandowski runs riot on Real

R

OBERT Lewandowski scored all four goals for Borussia Dortmund as they smashed Real Madrid 41 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie in Germany.

The Polish striker's awesome display put Dortmund on the verge of an all-German final at Wembley following Bayern Munich's 40 crushing of Barcelona on

Tuesday.

Lewandowski opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he diverted Mario Gotze's cross in at the far post before Cristiano Ronaldo pulled Real level just before half-time.

But the forward stole the show in the second period with three more goals at the expense of Jose Mourinho's shell-shocked side.

•Lewandowski

El Kanemi Warriors get second win

E

L Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri recorded only their second win in the Nigeria Professional Football League, when they humbled Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-0 in a Matchday 8 tie.

The travelling woes of the Ibadan side seem to continue, as they conceded the two goals with less than 30 minutes played.

Bamai Bukar scored the first goal for the Maiduguri side after just two minutes, when his header off a corner kick caught Laide Okanlanwon, in goal for Shooting Stars, napping.

The Oluyole Warriors fought back, but the efforts yielded no goal.

There was a bit of controversy in the 28th minute, when El Kanemi went on score the second goal through Babalo, with Laide Okanlanwon, Shooting Stars goalkeeper, on the turf, and the assistant referees' went flag up.

The assistant referee, who was hounded by Shooting Stars players to disallow the goal, would later insist that the flag he raised was just to call the attention of the referee to the fallen goalkeeper, and not to disallow the goal.

The Oluyole Warriors battled back gamely in the second half, and had the lions share of the possession, but it all came to nothing.

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

RIPPLES LOOK FORWARD TO NEW IMPROVED POLICE FORCE–IG tells Nigerians

...BORN-AGAIN police?

VOL.8, NO.2,469

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

A

FEW weeks ago, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, was reported by some newspapers as saying that the objective social and economic conditions in Nigeria called for a change, but that Nigerians were too timid to bring about such a change by directly challenging their leaders.

Coming from such a highly placed public official, a state governor, his comments must be regarded as surprising and strange. He did not specifically call for a violent change, but came quite close to it. Many will be disposed to consider his comments as hypocritical, self-serving, and a gratuitous insult to his people, the same people who, through years of personal sacrifice, brought him to power after decades of military rule in Nigeria. The same views regarding possible future violent political change in Nigeria had been expressed earlier on by the respected Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, who was reported as saying that a violent change was not possible in Nigeria. Well, the Catholic Church has not been known to be in support of violent change, except when it serves its interest. In general, it has always been in support of the Establishment.

The conclusions reached by the two prominent figures raised some eye brows in both official and unofficial circles. This paper actually wrote an editorial in support of Governor Amaechi’s comments that Nigerians were too timid to force a change in the country. But I think Governor Amaechi missed the point by his explicit dismissal of Nigerians as being too timid to organise themselves in revolt against the authorities. There is no basis for his comments. A revolution occurs only when the objective conditions warrant it. That is not yet the case in Nigeria. There are far too many cultural constraints that would make a violent change difficult. The nation and its people are too badly divided.

Now, I have never met Governor Amaechi, but my impression of him, drawn from his frequent press comments, is that of a youthful, energetic, and thoughtful leader eager for a change in the country, precisely what the nation is in dire need of. He may be having some political problems in his state and with his party, the PDP. But one must share his concerns about the lack of progress in the appalling social and economic conditions of the poor in Nigeria.

Obviously his observation about Nigerians being a timid lot, though erroneous, came from the heart and one must respect him for his concerns.

However, there is no historical basis for Governor Amaechi’s conclusion that Nigerians are too timid to force a change in the country. They will do so if the objective conditions exist. But that is not quite the case now. Both before and after Nigeria’s independence, the Nigerian public, particularly the poor, played a crucial role in Nigeria’s political history, challenging the authorities whenever there is a compelling rea-

TODAY IN THE NATION

‘The Igbo, hemmed at all sides and detested by less competitive groups have no place to go outside the greater Nigerian nation. They like the Jews thrive more in other peoples land. ‘

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Amaechi’s political prognosis on Nigerians

•Amaechi

son to do so. And it is only the people who can make that judgment, not their leaders inciting them to do so. They will only resort to a rebellion if they are united about it and consider it to be in their interest to do so. It is unlikely that they can be goaded into it.

Nigeria’s political history shows that, at various times, the Nigerian people were in open rebellion against British colonial rule in Nigeria and their own post independence governments, both civilian and military. Examples of this include the violent protests at the coal mines in Enugu, the riots in Abeokuta, led by Mrs. Ransome Kuti, over the introduction of direct taxation, and the 1946 Labour strike in Lagos that virtually paralysed the colonial government. The Nigerian people participated fully in the independence movement under the leadership of the various political parties and organisations. It was the support of the masses that made Nigeria’s independence from British colonial rule possible. Without their active support the struggle

against foreign domination would have been more difficult.

After independence and at crucial moments the Nigerian people took their destiny into their hands by challenging the excesses of both civilian and military rule in Nigeria. One may recall the Agbekoya resistance movement in the Old Western Region against the unpopular Akintola government foisted on the people by the Balewa federal government. The Agbekoya movement made the state ungovernable and virtually paralysed the unpopular Akintola government. During the long period of military rule, determined resistance from the people made our military rulers very uncomfortable. They knew they did not enjoy the support of the people. More recently, under civilian rule, the federal authorities had to back down on the issue of fuel subsidy, following mass protests and demonstrations in Lagos and some other state capitals. Had the Jonathan PDP not given way on this issue it would have faced the danger of an open insurrection. So, time and again, the Nigerian masses have shown great courage in challenging the establishment where they are forced into doing so by being pushed to the wall.

However, it should be admitted that in the context of Nigeria’s tribal politics, it can be quite difficult to mobilise the people for the purpose of challenging the authorities and forcing a change in the country. For this to happen, two things are necessary. First, there must be shared values among the various Nigerian tribes on governance and the limits of government. This is not the case now. The massive public corruption in Nigeria, the source of much public irritation, has been tribalised and cannot, therefore, be addressed squarely by mobilising the people against it. Corrupt pub-

HARDBALL

I

N spite of the controversy surrounding the Friday clash between Boko Haram militants and soldiers of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) in Baga, Borno State, enough is known to lead us to question the attitude of the federal government to the crisis. Though President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a full-scale investigation, it is disturbing that four days after the clash, there is still no authentic list of casualties. If the Jonathan inquiry is to be relevant, it should grapple with more fundamental questions like the factors that triggered the clash, whether rules of engagement were breached or not, an assessment of the magnitude of force used, and how the militants deployed themselves in Baga.

There are at least two other very important issues that require the attention of both the government and people of Nigeria. One is the issue of the operations of the MJTF itself. Nigerian military authorities had admitted shortly after the clash that Nigerien and Chadian troops were involved in the Baga operation. It is, therefore, important to probe the MJTF’s operations in order to get answers to the following puzzles: when was the multinational agreement signed,

JIDE OL UW AJUYIT AN OLUW UWAJUYIT AJUYITAN

lic officials often get away with it because they know they can count on the support of their own people. Though a potent force, corruption is unlikely to be the source of violent change in Nigeria.

The second condition for forcing a change is that this must be led by a cohesive and detribalised middle class among which there are also shared values. Again, this is not the case in Nigeria. The economic reform programme of the late 80s set the emerging middle class in Nigeria back by several decades.

Their incomes and status fell dramatically to the extent that, today, there are really only two classes in Nigeria, the rich and the poor. It worsened the social and economic conditions of the poor, even endangering their very existence.

For them, their survival is the first order. After all, the poor cling even more tenaciously to life than the rich and will not put themselves in harm’s way by resorting to violence, the outcome of which is by no means certain. In the event of a violent revolution, the poor will suffer even more than the rich.

No one can be absolutely certain that a violent change will not occur in Nigeria in the light of the appalling social and economic conditions in which the vast majority of its various peoples live. In the last few years, Nigeria’s economic growth rate has been impressive, showing an annual average of 7 per cent. But there has been very little trickle down effect of this significant growth in its GDP. The economic conditions of the people have worsened. This is why it is imperative for the various authorities in Nigeria to take necessary economic measures to avert it. We already have in various parts of the country kidnappings, assassinations, violent crimes and insurrections, such as those of Boko Haram, MEND, MASSOB, and others, that openly challenge the legitimacy and moral authority of the government and the viability of the nation. Cumulatively, all these may lead to violent protests and mass demonstrations that can spiral easily into a mass revolt.

But no one can predict with any degree of certainty when this dire security situation might lead to a direct revolution, as most revolutions are triggered off rather suddenly and at a time least expected. In fact, in most cases revolutions occur just when the economic conditions of the people, begin to show some improvement; hardly ever before. The ‘Arab Spring’ that is currently sweeping through the Arab world is sufficient confirmation of this. It was when economic conditions began to improve in most of the Arab countries that the people went into a rebellion against their governments.

• For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Still on the bloodbath in Baga, Borno and what are its outlines? When did it take effect, and what has been the experience so far? Does the agreement empower multinational troops to enter one another’s territories? What role did Chadian and Nigerien troops play in the Baga invasion?

The second issue involves the obnoxious and unacceptable lockdown of Baga after the invasion, thus preventing relief and medical help and supplies from reaching the ravaged town and its deeply traumatised victims. Is that behaviour consistent with the rules of war, especially in domestic crisis? Reports from Borno State indicate that by Tuesday, humanitarian agencies were still struggling to be allowed access into the town to offer succour to distressed residents. The fighting took place last Friday, but four days after, significant help was yet to reach the town. Perhaps the federal government needs to be educated afresh on the purpose of government.

While it is necessary to ask all these questions and receive answers to them, it must be pointed out that the involvement of Nigerien and Chadian soldiers in the attack, if it is of any significance, does not absolve Nigerian troops of responsibility

for extra-judicial killings and deployment of irrational force in the pacification of the town. While the investigation ordered by the government continues, it is important for the National Assembly to also inquire into the clash along the lines itemised above. They will find it imperative to censure the president for his unhelpful public utterances during his belated and angry visit to the twin states of Borno and Yobe.

After all, those who used the media to incite the Rwandan genocide were later tried for crimes against humanity.

The last has not been heard of the Baga battle. But the people and governments of Nigeria, and especially the National Assembly, must ensure that such killings never reoccur. While it may be necessary to use firm measures to combat insurgency, care must be taken to ensure that such measures do not become counterproductive nor aggravate the insurgency in the region. Meanwhile, the JTF should be compelled to allow relief into the town. The state government has a responsibility to urgently take the lead in the provision of that relief if we are not to become a cruel, barbarous and unfeeling people.

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