April 30, 2015

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AND MORE ON •140 suspects arrested over Ilorin violence •PAGES 7,9,58&59 •Ekiti lawmakers cancel peace parley with Fayose •Coscharis to release Oduah’s armoured vehicles papers •Kebbi House serves governor impeachment notice

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VOL. 10, NO. 3200 THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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•LAGOS CANCELS THIRD TOLL PLAZA ON LEKKI EXPRESS WAY P9 ‘I’M READY FOR PROBE’ P58

Jonathan angry as Buhari seeks reports on agencies President-elect demands overview on NPA, CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and FIRS Joda heads 19-man transition panel I’m in charge till May 29, says President THE TERMS OF REFERENCE •Review the balance sheet of government ...the status of assets and liabilities; cash flow; public domestic and external debt; outstanding contractual obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects.

•Preliminary assessment of security challenges and the counter-insurgency measures.

•Assessment of the counter policy measures in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes. The status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order.

•Provide a brief overview of CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and FIRS. •Suggest “quick fixes” which will result in visible and practical measures so that CHANGE will be seen.

•From right: Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Gen. Buhari, Mallam Joda and Chief Odigie-Oyegun during the inauguration of the committee THE 19 ‘WISE MEN’ in Abuja…yesterday.

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday scolded the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration, accusing it of trying to set up a parallel government.

Dr. Jonathan’s anger was obviously over the terms of reference of the transition

From Augustine Ehikioya and Tony Akowe, Abuja

committee set up by Gen. Buhari. He told the committee to give him an overview of some government agencies, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Customs and the Nigeria National Pe-

Military evacuates rescued girls, women

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HE military yesterday evacuated the 293 women and girls rescued from Boko Haram camps in Sambisa Forest to the hilly border town of Gwoza, as it seeks clues to the whereabouts of the Chibok schoolgirls whose abduction last year provoked international outrage.

From Joel Duku, Maiduguri

The 200 girls and 93 women were freed from four camps during an army operation in the forest, believed to be Boko Haram’s final stronghold.

The military said on Tuesday that initial enquiries suggested the freed women Continued on page 4

troleum Corporation (NNPC).

The All Progressives Congress (APC), The Nation learnt last night, will reply the Presidential comments today.

Minister of National Planning Suleiman Abubakar, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Continued on page 4

‘

The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government ...the magnanimity of Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice

’

•Mallam Ahmed Joda•Mr. Dalong •Dr. Doyin Salami •Mrs Bola Adesola •John Odigie-Oyegun•Mr Wale Edun •Lai Mohammed •Mrs Nike Aboderin •Rotimi Amaechi •Dr Ogbonnaya Onu •Mr Boss Mustapha •Sen. Hadi Sirika •Abubakar Malami •Sen. Audu Ogbeh •Mr Festus Odimegwu •Prof. Tam David West •Mallam Muhammad Hayatuddin •Brig.-Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa From left: President and Executive Director, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada; Commissioner, Social Affairs Department, African Union Commission, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kalokol; Director, Sponsorship and Communication, AFRIMA,Matlou Tsotestsi at the unveiling of the 2015 Calendar of AFRIMA at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia …yesterday.

•COURT CONVICTS IGBINEDION P5 P577 OIL MARKETERS TO GET N156B TODAY P11

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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NEWS

Our case against Beyond the mere release of the controversial PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) forensic audit report on the missing $20 billion oil cash, Nigerians want President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to take measures that will instill financial discipline in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), report EMEKA UGWUANYI, OKWY IROEGBUCHIKEZIE and CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

•Lagos Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello addressing a news conference on the activities of his ministry in commemoration of the eighth year anniversary of the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja...yesterday. With him are: Information & Strategy Commissioner Lateef Ibirogba (right), Managing Director Lagos State Park & Garden Agency, Dr. Titi Anibaba (second left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

•From left: Marketing Manager, Smartphones, Lenovo Technologies West Africa, Mr. Bolade Oyekanmi; Sales Manager, Mr. Shadrack Otura; Ms. Nkechi Okolo; Executive Director, Mobile Business Group, Middle East & Africa, Mr. Shashank Sharma and Sales Manager, Independent Retailers, Mr. David Akindele at the company’s inaugural breakfast meeting with the media and the introduction of the Lenovo S90, Lenovo S60 and Lenovo P70 smartphones in Lagos...yesterday.

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HEN President-elect Muhammadu Buhari spoke of plans by his administration to revisit the alleged missing $20 billion oil money, not a few Nigerians were excited. Since the release of the forensic audit report carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on Monday, there have been criticisms, comments and reactions from stakeholders. The consulting firm, which expressed its frustrations in the course of forensically auditing the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said in the report that $1.48 billion was not remitted into the Federation Account by the Corporation. Nigerians were dumbfounded by other shocking revelations in report’s executive summary.

Amidst the furore generated by the controversial report, PricewaterhouseCoopers has clarified that what it did was a mere review and not a forensic audit per se.

Dr. Austin Nweze, an analyst and economist with the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, feels conducting a further probe into the NNPC will be a waste of time because the more one looks into the NNPC account, the more one is lost and confused. He advised the incoming Muhammadu Buhari-led government not to further probe the alleged missing $20 billion. He said should Buhari go into probing the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), he will spend the entire first four years doing that because NNPC stinks. Nweze stated that doing so will be a serious distraction and disservice to the nation.

Nweze urged Buhari to exert his energies on identifying the loopholes through which public funds are siphoned and plugging them.

He said: “From the beginning, NNPC has been a conduit pipe through which government officials divert public funds. It didn’t start today. It was like that under the military administration. NNPC is where every government goes to get money.

Everything about the corporation stinks and the mess didn’t start today.

The issue of corruption in NNPC is beyond PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report. The report could have covered a longer period, from at least 1999, because no such report had been done in the past. My advice to Buhari is to overlook the report and focus on identifying the loopholes. If he focuses on probing NNPC activities, his first four years will be dedicated to the rot in the Corporation.

“Subsidy should be removed completely because it adds undue extra cost on fuel. Besides, the removal of subsidy will encourage competition among entrepreneurs in that sector. It will encourage local investors to build refineries in the country. Oil marketers can import and sell at a competitive price. There will be free market entry and exit. Nigeria refines its crude in Singapore and it gets the right quality and quantity. In other countries, the government gets less. The removal of subsidy will stop all these on the long run as enough crude will be refined locally, thus reducing production cost.

“Also, if Buhari wants to probe the NNPC from the beginning, the cul-

Another approach to the South African attacks

•Representative of Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr. Nkiruka Odunukwe ; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olubunmi Otubanjo; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris and Category Manager, Pestcare, Healthcare and Aircare, RB West Africa, Qaiser Rashid at a symposium in commemoration of World Malaria Day at the NIMR Auditorium, Yaba, Lagos...on Tuesday.

•From left: Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Michael Ibadin; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bufferzone Limited, Mr. Akin Fadeyi; Zonal Coordinator, Southwest, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mrs. Olajoke Balogun and CMD, Muhammed Abdulahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Kano, Dr. Munkaila Yusuf at the Health Access Season II Talk Show of the NIHS in Lagos...on Tuesday.

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU offers some diplomatic solutions to the row between Nigeria and South Africa over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and black Africans in the former apartheid enclace.

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HE destructive attacks in South Africa on Nigerians and other sub-Saharan Africans are tragic and mindlessly wrong. The assaults sorely bruise the objective of inter-African harmony. They also put an eraser to the idyll of progress and domestic tranquility many people saw when gazing at South Africa. The xenophobia is actually a lethal show of misdirected anger. The attacks point to deep, underlying ruptures within the South African political economy that actually have little to the presence of Nigerians or other black Africans in that nation. Nigerians have become scapegoats in a fundamentally domestic struggle.

The black populace is boiling because their economic plight has worsened since the end of apartheid. If prosperity had come to them, they would not have come to this. The political and economic accommodation between the traditionally white-controlled economic superstructure and the postMandela black political elite is under challenge. This model of governance

has failed to make adequate provision for the bulk of the black population.

Due to his unique status, former President, the late Nelson Mandela was able to give the black population succour and hope while counseling them to be patient. That great man is no longer there. Gone with him is the succour he gave and apparently the patience of the people. South Africans thus lashed out in frustration. They attacked Nigerians and other Africans not so much because our people were the cause of their woes. They attacked our people because they could do so much easier than they could attack the actual sources of their ire and economic predicament. It is easier to destroy the wares of the local shopkeeper than to change the political economy.

The former merely requires an eruption of anger; the latter requires sustained political organisation, vision and dedication. Thus, although they want political economic reform, all they did was to attack non-South Africans who provided goods and services to them at the neighborhood level.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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t the PwC report on NNPC, by Nigerians ruption in NNPC was already in the public domain, even as he commended the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for making the report public to douse the rumours and controversies it has generated.

Udeagbala, an oil and gas sector operator, urged the incoming administration to hire another firm to conduct a fresh audit into the operations of the NNPC.

‘‘

NNPC is where every government goes to get money. Everything about the corporation stinks and the mess didn’t start today.

The issue of corruption in NNPC is beyond PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report.

‘‘

Release of audit report overdue •Akabogu

prits may plan against his government. It is a high-stake risk because of the caliber of people involved. My advice is that he should leave the sleeping dogs. But he should take measures to prevent institutional looting and stealing.”

On the transferred assets to NNPC subsidiary, the National Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Nweze said the company should be compelled to provide all the required documents for a thorough audit. He also pointed out that the Federal Government is disadvantaged in the joint venture arrangements because it accepts whatever the International Oil Companies (IOCs) declare.

He said: “The government gets only about 20 per cent after the IOCs have deducted all their expenditures.

“The government lacks the expertise and the technological know-how to determine the quantity of oil being produced.

Matters arising from the report

Also baring him mind on the proposed further probe, the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyepkere said: “It is a welcome development that the president-elect will upon assumption of office probe the purported missing $20 billion oil cash.

This will help to arrive at the veracity, truth, or otherwise of the allegation; expose and punish the culprit(s) as

•Yusuf

well as restore public confidence in the oil and gas industry.

“The demand for this fresh probe is accentuated by PwC’s affirmation that it was unable to give an opinion or attestation to the figures and it did not claim it had done an examination in accordance with the generally accepted accounting standards. It therefore did not vouch for the veracity and accuracy of the figures.

“It is unfortunate that the release of the PwC audit report did not come voluntarily but was forced by the president-elect’s threat to order a new probe. For an administration that signed the Freedom of Information Bill (FoIB) into law to be shielding such a document from the public speaks volumes of the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

“However, what the sector needs is more than a probe of the missing $20 billion and the CSJ is calling for a probe of the entire NNPC management since the return to civil rule in 1999. There are no corresponding developments and disbursements to revenue accrued to the country in the last 15 years.

“Beyond the probe, CSJ calls for a fundamental restructuring that will separate the regulator from being an active player, introduce private sector efficiency and pave the way for investors to finance long-term transactions and projects in the oil and gas indus-

try.

“It is a positive process of liberalisation that will create opportunities for Nigerians and their partners to be in a win-win situation and this will remove the constraints on Nigeria’s development.

“This will be a PIB (Petroleum Industry Bill) type of reform. It will addresse fundamental issues in the sector without creating new bottlenecks.

It will yield more rents and taxes into the Federation Account, make gas available for power generation and increase the storage of processed gas for domestic use by industries and for export.

“This is not going to be a complex exercise. The foundations of this quick reform have been laid since 2005. All it takes is to dialogue with the incoming National Assembly on the PIB and the modification thereof, get same approved and assented to within two months after the inauguration of the new National Assembly.

“It is a shame that the outgoing administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) produced the president, the majority and leadership in the National Assembly but could not muster the political will to pass the PIB and act in the interest of Nigerians. Posterity will remember the men and women who had the opportunity to improve the economy of Nigeria but chose to play politics of retrogression in place of emphasising development.”

complement enhanced efforts to provide consular services, liaise with police and security and ensure that affected Nigerians receive proper restitution.

We should also talk to major South Africa businesses resident in Nigeria.

It would help to douse tensions and ill-will here if they announced a plan to contribute to the restitution of affected Nigerians.

diminish the daily pressure on the government in Pretoria. The more we diminish the pressure is the less we can positively influence that government’s action. Pulling out envoy decreases, not increases our diplomatic leverage in this particular circumstance.

Also, much of the world and many Nigerians in South Africa will perceive the move negatively; they will think we are abandoning our citizens during the height of their travail. This might demoralise them to a material degree. The absence of the High Commissioner for an appreciable period of time will undermine the efficacy of our diplomatic mission at the moment when that mission should be doing its utmost for that segment of our Diaspora in South Africa.

Recall not first step

•Asiwaju Tinubu

While the government of South Africa may be questioned about its continued adherence to a political economic model that appears to have exceeded its best-use (expiry) date, it is completely wrong to say the South African government even had a hand in instigating the unrest.

Thus, recalling the Nigerian High Commissioner is inappropriate and counterproductive. Instead of pulling the diplomat, Nigeria should name a high-level special envoy to visit the nation and engage directly with President Jacob Zuma. Nigeria should also send an Interagency Coordinated Action Team (ICAT) to South Africa to

•Nweze

Some observers have questioned the swiftness and efficiency of the South African government’s response to the mayhem. Such is their right to do so.

However, the South African government did not cause the problem. They had no reason for it. To blame the government is to increase tension and confusion, not douse them.

Recall of an envoy is usually prompted by an adverse act by the host government itself. It is not good practice to recall a High Commissioner for a tragedy the host government could not have prevented and one for which it appears to be working in good faith to end.

The recent social upheaval should be likened more to a natural disaster as the government had no proximate control over its eruption. To recall our High Commissioner might satisfy our sense of outrage; it would do little else, however. The move implicitly signals to the South African government that we blame it for causing the outburst or for being negligent in the aftermath.

Such a move would make it harder to encourage the South African government to act as we would like toward affected Nigerians. The more we diminish our presence is the more we

Special envoy A more constructive step will be to designate a presidential special envoy to liaise directly with President Zuma and appropriate cabinet-level officials in South Africa.

The official should be a well-known statesman preferably with a prior relationship with President Zuma. A former head of state or someone like former Commonwealth Secretary Chief Emeka Anyaoku will be ideal for that task.

This step will underscore Nigeria’s concerns for its citizens abroad. It will also signal to the South Africans that this episode cannot simply be left to fade into memory as it happened in the past. The envoy will press to ensure adequate security is availed the Nigerian community to prevent further incidents in this time of tension.

The envoy will also explore ways the

•Onyekpere

Ammendment of Fiscal Responsibility Act necessary Mr. Muda Yusuf, the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), who hailed the release of PwC report, said the incoming administration has a lot of cleaning up to do in the corporation.

Yusuf said: “It is important that we do away with this regime of fuel subsidy payments. The report has shown that the bulk of fraud emanated from fuel subsidy management. To prevent the economy from further haemorrhage, subsidy should be discontinued with and the savings used to provide critical infrastructure.”

The LCCI chief stated that the report also showed the dangers in taking an economic decision that allows government agencies to earn revenue and disburse same without first remitting such accruals.

He suggested that revenue-yielding agencies should be barred from spending whatever they generate without approvals.

Yusuf called for the amendment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act as a way of curbing extra budgetary disbursements by agencies.

In his remarks, the Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. John Udeagbala, said the report has been over flogged. He said the alleged corNigerian community can be better integrated and accepted in South Africa.

Most importantly, he will press the South African government to improve its ability to ensure such things do not repeat themselves on such a large scale.

ICAT Complementing the efforts of the special envoy will be a working level Inter-Agency Coordinating Emergency Team (ICAT).

The ICAT will be comprised of the police and other security officers who will liaise with their South African counterparts at the operational level to ensure adequate security for the Nigerian community and that the authors of violence will be apprehended.

The team will also have a strong consular component. Nigeria should use this as an opportunity to reach out to the Nigerian community in South Africa to get a better idea of its numerical dimensions and the locations where that community is most concentrated. A warden or communication system should be established within the community so that people can be quickly apprised of emergency situations or major events.

A small legal team with experience in comparative criminal and civil law should be part of the team. On one hand, the lawyers will check to make sure that those arrested are to be prosecuted. The lawyers should also investigate the proposals for the restitution the South African government will make for affected Nigerians.

South African businesses in Nigeria

To douse tensions here and show

Obiora Akabogu, a Lagos-based lawyer and public affairs analyst, said the release of the report was long overdue.

“The exercise is timely. For a long time, NNPC’s account has been in the dark and the corporation has been a drain pipe to rip off Nigerians,” he told The Nation.

He noted that “this monumental fraud would have been swept under the carpet” but for the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi, who blew the whistle.

The lawyer, who accused the National Assembly of compromising on its oversight function by giving NNPC a clean bill of health, urged the incoming administration to take advantage of the audit report by beaming its searchlight on NNPC. According to him, taking such a measure will serve as a deterrent.

“I believe that economic rejuvenation of Nigeria should start with proper sanitisation of NNPC. It should no longer be business as usual,” Akabogu said. He described Buhari’s victory at the polls as a divine mandate to restore NNPC’s glory.

Asked whether the release of the report has any political interpretation or undertone, coming after a recent alarm by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that there were clandestine moves by the outgoing administration to doctore the books, Akabogu said the APC did the normal thing by drawing public attention to perceived corrupt tendencies.

“There is no timeline for combating corruption,” he said. goodwill, major firms in the South African business community here should be encouraged to develop a fund to restitute affected Nigerians. This fund should be contributed to the Nigerian government.

Conclusion In such a circumstance, our policy approach should not be determined by anger. Our policy should be founded on a wise, dispassionate assessment of how best to protect our countrymen when they are imperiled. Recalling our top envoy does nothing to protect them. We must do better and more than just express anger.

The steps outlined above – Special Envoy, ICAT and South African Business Restitution Fund - are practical actions that can actually help our people and the South African government. Nigeria and South Africa are the two major subSaharan African economies. We should attempt to work cooperatively to the extent possible, even in tense times. This show of cooperation and assistance serves our longer-term strategic interests.

We should extend our hand of cooperation because that is in the best interests of our people in South Africa.

If the South Africans rebuff these, or similar overtures, then we can examine the need to recall our High Commissioner. However, recall should have been the last resort not the first one.

•Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a one-time governor of Lagos State wrote this article before the Federal Government said it did not recall the High Commissioner but only invited him for consultation.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

NEWS 29 APC chairmen reaffirm support for Umana

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•From left: Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa, Senator-elect Monsura Sunmonu, Hon. Samson Baderinwa, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator-elect Buhari Abdulfatai and Senator-elect Olamilekan Adeola at the 2015 induction certificate course on legislative studies at Hilton Hotel, Abuja...yesterday

Military evacuates rescued girls, women Continued from page 1

did not include the 219 Chibok girls.

A military spokesman said the rescued girls would be transported for final checks in Abuja or Maiduguri.

“We will take them to Abuja or Maiduguri for further investigation to determine whether Chibok girls were among them and where they come from,” military spokesman Colonel Sani Usman told Reuters.

Colonel Usman said many of them were traumatized. The military is flying in medical and intelligence teams to examine them, he added.

On Tuesday night, he had indicated that none of the 219 Chibok girls were among the rescued females. But yesterday he said he was not categorically saying none of the Chibok girls was among the rescued females and that they still needed to be questioned to determine their identities.

“Most of them are traumatised and you have got to put them in a psychological frame of mind to extract information from them,” Col. Usman said.

Shettima, Chibok community: hope rises for Chibok girls

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima said yesterday that the news of the rescued women is gratifying even if they are not the Chibok schoolgirls.

In a statement by his spokesman Mallam Isa Gusau, the governor said: ”The lives, safety and well-being of all citizens of Borno are of equal importance to me. I celebrate news about the rescue with so much excitement in a manner I would celebrate when the military succeeds in freeing the Chibok schoolgirls.

“I was so full of excitement, gratitude to God almighty and commendation to our gallant armed forces for this great humanitarian feat.

For me, the lives, safety and welfare of all citizens of Borno State are of equal importance.

These rescued women are daughters, sisters and perhaps also mothers whose lives are important not just to their loved ones but also to me as Governor of Borno State whose mandate is to cater for the welfare of all those living in any part of Borno State regardless of who they are, their faith, gender, age, geopolitical origins and other background elements.

Women abducted by the group have been forced into sexual slavery or combat, Amnesty International said in a report to mark the anniversary of the Chibok kidnapping.

For parents of the missing Chibok girls, news of the liberation of hundreds of wom-

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

“They are important to us and words cannot explain how pleased we are. We are very particular about Chibok schoolgirls because of the peculiar manner in which they were kidnapped and how that kidnap has redefined the Boko Haram insurgency. The Chibok schoolgirls are very dear to my heart because they were kidnapped while they were in school. Their kidnap is very symbolic because their kidnappers are opposed to western education especially female education. The entire world especially myself, is desperate about the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls in order not to allow the ideology held by the insurgents to thrive and to encourage education which is the foundation of any human or society that seeks to develop. However, this rescue is also very dear to me. I am as pleased as much as I would be when the Chibok schoolgirls are rescued by the special grace of God. “I am very optimistic, prayerful and supportive of the military’s ongoing rescue and counter insurgency operations. We won’t give up on the Chibok Continued on page 59

en fired hopes of seeing their daughters alive.

“Since I heard the news it’s like I’m in heaven,” said Esther Yakub, whose daughter Dorcas was kidnapped. “I’ve never doubted the possibility of getting her back despite the news that has been flying

around about all manner of dangers that could have befallen them.”

“I’m just waiting for the moment when they hand her over into my arms.”

Amnesty International described the ‘rescue’ of the Continued on page 59

HAIRMEN of 29 chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have reaffirmed their support for the party’s governorship candidate, Obong Umana Okon Umana.

This was contained in a communique issued yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, by the party’s chairmen after a meeting under the auspices of the Forum of Local Government (Chapter) Party Chairmen of APC. They denied a report that they had shifted support to the Labour Party (LP).

The chairmen described the publication, which was aired

by Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) radio as the handiwork of political jobbers claiming to represent the APC Chapter Chairmen Forum but were deceiving the public.

They said the authors of the publication, Amah Joseph and Monday Jackson Akpan, were neither party members nor local government party chairmen, having been expelled for “anti—party activities”.

The communique said: “We reiterate our support and loyalty to APC and Obong Umana Okon Umana and stand fully, confident in our success at the tribunal.”

The APC chairmen rejected the outcome of the April 11,

By Adebisi Onanuga

2015 governorship elections in the state.

They expressed support for the party at the national and state levels, adding that the elections be cancelled.

The chapter chairmen said they were not unaware of the destructive tendencies and intrigues by Governor Godswill Akpabio to sabotage the chances of APC and its candidate, Umana, at the tribunal.

They noted that this was “to parade miscreants as local government party chairmen in the state and stage-manage a defection soap opera on AKBC in support of Udom Emmanuel (the PDP candidate)”.

The APC chairmen also dissociated themselves from a media briefing where congratulatory messages were sent to Udom Emmanuel as governor-elect.

They insisted that the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state were neither free nor fair, adding that those who addressed the briefing were neither members nor chapter chairmen of APC in the state.

The communiqué added: “They were impostors and hirelings of the PDP. Authentic chapter chairmen of the APC are those who signed the communiqués dated April 19, Continued on page 59

Protesting workers lock out Anyim over N1.2b allowances

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HERE was a protest yesterday at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The workers are demanding the payment of N1.2 billion allowances.

The staff who had earlier planned the protest for Tuesday postponed it till yesterday as SGF Anyim Pius Anyim was away from the office.

The angry staff blocked all the entrances around 2pm when Anyim arrived the office.

The staff said they had petitioned Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Chair Ibrahim Lamorde over the matter.

The EFCC Chairman, it was said, visited the SGF after receiving the petition. This could, however, not be confirmed last night.

The angry civil servants gave Anyim a 24-hour ultimatum to pay the allowances.

When contacted on telephone last night, the Special Adviser on Media to the SGF, Sam Nwabasi, told The Nation that the office was surprised Continued on page 59

Jonathan angry as Buhari seeks report on agencies Continued from page 1

Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Dr. Jonathan, insisted that Jonathan is still in charge till 29th of May, 2015.

Speaking as a member of the Transition Committee, he said that the Jonathan administration was not comfortable with some terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee, which tend to create a parallel government.

To this end, he said that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) have been directed to follow the terms of reference of the present government and not those of the incoming administration.

He also claimed that the magnanimity of President Jonathan does not amount to cowardice.

The Minister also urged members of the Council to continue to do their work without any intimidation.

He said: “I’m speaking as member and chairman of subcommittee of transition committee. Council discussed the state of the transition programme and as chairman of sub-committee of transition committee, we were asked to update council on the progress

Joda heads 19-man transition panel

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RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday inaugurated a 19member Transition Committee to liaise with its Federal Government counterpart to ensure a smooth handover of power on May 29.

The committee is headed by one-time Federal Permanent Secretary Mallam Ahmed Joda.

The committee has been meeting with the Federal Government committee headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo before yesterday’s inauguration.

Other members of the committee include Dr. Doyin Salami of the Pan African University (Vice Chairman); All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and party spokesman Lai Mohammed. The secretary is Mallam Adamu Adamu.

Others are Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Mr Boss Mustapha, Mallam Muhammad Hayatuddin, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, Brig.-Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Sen. Audu Ogbeh, Mr. Dalong, Mrs Bola Adesola, Mr Wale Edun, Mrs Nike Aboderin, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Mr Festus Odimegwu and Prof. Tam

report.”

“We did receive from in-coming government the transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And ýcouncil did agree

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

David West.

The terms of reference of the committee includes to develop a clear framework for liaison with the out-going administration for purposes of a smooth handover/takeover and to receive handover documents from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the in-coming government.

Other terms of reference are to: •review and make preliminary assessment of the balance sheet of government with particular emphasis on the status of assets and liabilities of government; cash flow position of the government; quantum of public domestic and external debt of government and their deployment; government’s outstanding contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects; •undertake a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the government thus far;

that the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remains the current government of this country.”

“The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the gov-

•assess the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area. In particular, the status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order.

•provide a brief overview of CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and FIRS; •suggest “quick fixes” which will result in tangible, visible and practical measures so that CHANGE will be seen after 30 days, after 100 days, after six months of the Administration taking office; •make any other observations which in view of the Committee would be helpful to the transition and take-off of the new Administration.

The committee has two weeks to conclude its work.

Gen. Buhari urged the committee: ‘’Assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy. It is a simple matter that you must have the right information, if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions.

ernment is still on. We take exceptions to some utterances, to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.”

Continued on page 59

Continuing, he said: “Council frowned at ýmost of the statements, most of the provisions and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current

government.”

“Council members are also told that the terms of reference as formatted by our transition committee should be strictly complied with.”

“When the incoming government takes over government they can come out with their programmes, they can come out with their own ýagenda, they can decide to come out with policies with the way they feel like.”

“This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects ýit is pursuing and the government will continue to do that until the morning of May 29th.”

Abubakar said that the Council also enjoined members to be steadfast and come out with programmes, projects to be commissioned, and those that need to be inspected.

The Minister also said that they were asked to continue to work as government and perform their work without intimidation.

Continued on page 59

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

5

NEWS Acting IGP warns policemen against road blocks, others From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

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•From left: Registrar, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Dr. Taiwo Ipaye; Pro-Chancellor Prof. Jerry Gana; best graduating student Korede Akinpelumi and vice chancellor Prof. Rahaman Bello, at the institution’s 2013/2014 convocation.

Buhari to National Assembly: your support crucial to fixing Nigeria

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RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday solicited the support of members of the National Assembly in the fight against corruption and other challenges facing the nation.

Gen. Buhari especially sought the collaboration of the lawmakers on the budget process and restructuring of the public sector.

The president-elect spoke in an address at the on-going induction of newly elected senators and members of the House of Representatives in Abuja.

He said collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature on the budget process and the restructuring of the public sector would enable the country to collectively tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense of capital and human development.

President-elect recognised the legislature as a critical component and necessary ingredient of democracy and good governance.

He added that the legislature, by nature, is inherently democratic in the sense that all members are equal and are elected representatives of the people.

Gen. Buhari said: “As President-elect, I recognise this fact and believe that legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with all the seriousness it deserves.”

He noted that for a president to be successful in addressing community development and general welfare of the various people, he or she would benefit from working closely and in harmony with the legislative arm of government.

“I, therefore, commit myself to working with the legislature as development partners motivated by the desire to deliver

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

good governance,” he said.

He listed some challenges facing the country to including “general insecurity and insurgency that has caused extreme human hardship and destruction of lives, livelihoods that may take us over a decade to rebuild across most of Northeast and some parts of Northwest.

“Devastation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area, which must be attended to.

“Decline in revenues due to fall in oil prices, which pose a threat to government’s capacity to deliver on reconstruction of devastated areas and the new government development agenda.

“Endemic corruption, which has crippled human and infrastructure development for decades. Unacceptably poor provision of power supply, which has had a crippling effect on development of small businesses and indeed the wider economy.

“De-industrialisation for the past three decades leading to closure of many industries and migration of many to other African countries.

“Unacceptably high levels of unemployment, especially youth unemployment reaching over 40 per cent.

“High cost of governance that has been crowding out capital and human development.

“Erosion of public social services such as infrastructure, health and education; and “Lack of development in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors.”

He described the “these development challenges as the

mission of my Presidency” and asked for the support of the members of National Assembly “on the battle front.”

On the way forward to tackle the challenges, Gen. Buhari noted that “first and foremost, appropriate policies needed to be put in place and such policies may have to be translated into laws.”

Secondly, he said the oversight functions of the legislature were critical in ensuring that policies were implemented effectively and transparently.

He added: “Therefore, my mission to bring integrity into governance would better succeed if complemented with a strong culture of transparent oversight.”

He listed the “need to collaborate on the budget process and restructuring of the public sector so as to collectively tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense of capital and human development,” as the third step to tackle the problems.

He highlighted the urgent need to contain the high state of insecurity in the country.

“All of you are representing various communities. We need to work together to address the problem from both its roots and manifestations.

“The strongest mitigating forces at this point are to redress the power sector deficits, encourage investments that are job-creating and focus on human development and reconstruction. We also need to deploy efforts in conflict resolution and peace-building in all our communities.

“I am here today, to invite you to work with the Executive as partners in progress, as champions of good governance and development and as

warriors for change. Together, we can make this nation great and as a role model in Africa and other emerging economies and democracies.”

Congratulating the senatorselect and House memberselect “for being found worthy to be elected by the citizens in a fair and transparent election process”, Buhari said he was very pleased to be part of the induction programme and to address the elected members of the 8th National Assembly.

He said: “I am delighted to say that we stand on the threshold of history. For the first time in our post-independence history, power is going to be transferred from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party.

“This is in spite of predictions of calamitous outcomes. Nigerians have indeed proven once again that they are a united people and stand resolute to protect its growing democracy.

“I wish to specifically acknowledge and laud the maturity exhibited by the political class, the professionalism of our security agencies, the competence and resilience of INEC, but above all the doggedness of Nigerians and their commitment to ensuring that their wishes are represented and respected.

“I daresay, it is equally a victory for all political parties and their leaderships for according due respect to the electoral process and accepting the results in most cases. I wish to specifically acknowledge the role played

by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for accepting the results of the election before final announcement was made.”

Senate President David Mark pledged that the National Assembly would work with Buhari for the country’s benefit.

HE Acting Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has said police road blocks breed corruption.

He warned that any policemen caught mounting road blocks anywhere in the country would be made to face the law.

The IGP spoke in Abuja yesterday, just as he announced the re-opening of the Nigeria Police Intelligence School in Enugu, which was shut down about a year ago.

Arase, who spoke during his inaugural meeting with senior officers of the Force, highlighted long-term plans for the police in the days ahead.

He said: “The drive will be clear, coordinated, massive, firm and sustained and it will target and tackle issues relating to commercialisation of bail process, the nuisance of road blocks, abuse of police powers, particularly, in relation to pre-trial detention.

“I wish to in clear terms, re-emphasise that police road blocks remain banned. They are public nuisance, points of corruption and source of police-citizens’ frictions.

“The loss of public respect and confidence in the police as well as our inability to effectively tackle crimes in the most ethical and professional manner have been widely attributed to the challenge of corruption with the policing system.”

Arase noted that Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in whose jurisdiction illegal road blocks are detected would be personally held liable and strict disciplinary actions would be initiated against them.

President-elect not informed about AIT’s ban

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HE President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has instructed all his aides, including the personnel attached directly to him, to steer clear of all dealings with the media, and leave all media affairs to his official media team.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Buhari aligned himself with the pronouncement of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which had earlier expressed disagreement with the temporary barring of the African Independent Television (AIT) from covering his

media affairs.

“I would like everyone to henceforth stay within his/her defined area of responsibility,” the president-elect said.

The president-elect added that his media team should be left to deal with their media colleagues.

According to the statement, Gen. Buhari was neither consulted nor informed about the AIT barring, and only became aware of the matter after the public uproar it generated.

“The time of change has come and we must avoid making the same mistakes that the outgoing government made,” he added.

Clark, Hezekiah varsities approved From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of two private universities.

They are Edwin Clark University in Delta State and Hezekiah University in Umudi, Imo State.

The Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, broke the news at the end of the FEC meeting.

According to her, the establishment of the universities was aimed at meeting the high demand for admissions into tertiary institutions.

Bayero replaces Abdullahi at NPA

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PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero as the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Sanusi, a lawyer, from Kano State takes over from Mallam Habib Abdullahi, who has been relieved of his appointment as the authority’s Managing Director of the NPA.

A statement yesterday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the appointment of the new NPA Managing Director takes effect from tomorrow.

“President Jonathan thanks the outgoing managing director for his services and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” the statement said.

We won’t support withdrawal of fuel subsidy, say NLC, TUC

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said they will not support any move by the Federal Government to inflict further hardship on Nigerian workers through the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

Both houses of the National Assembly passed the 2015 Appropriation Bill without allocating any money for subsidy payment, a clear indication that government was preparing for full-scale removal of subsidy

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

on petroleum products.

NLC Deputy President and Chairman of the joint May Day celebration of the two labour bodies, Peters Adeyemi, told reporters that the organised labour believed that the Federal Government has never subsidised petroleum products.

He said the bane of the sector was corruption, noting that past government had tried without success to address the issue.

Adeyemi added that the un-

ions did not have the mandate to support the removal of petroleum products.

He said: “If you are asking whether we will back the removal of fuel subsidy, the answer is no. It is not as easy as that. You know that it has been a very contentious issue over the years. We have always said there is nothing like subsidy.

It is all about corruption.

“Let me take your mind back and say that this same issue has been something that numerous governments have embarked upon without an end. During

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, this exercise was embarked upon about 11 times and both the NLC and the TUC engaged the government.

“So, it is like the more you look, the less you see. For us in labour, we are not going to support that because it is outside our mandate as leaders. We hope that the incoming government, in a desperate bid to look for money, will not look for money in the wrong place.

“We don’t believe that government is providing subsidy.

It is all part of the corruption.

So, for now, we don’t have the mandate to support that and we will not support it.”

He said the incoming government should be ready to diversify the economy and look for other sources of revenue rather than rely on oil alone, adding that there are several other countries surviving without oil money.

Adeyemi said the workers intend to use the May Day celebration to let the government know that the minimum wage was due for renegotiation, adding that N18,000 could no

longer take the worker home.

He said: “Even before the end of this administration, we are already talking and making them realise that the minimum wage is no longer anything to write home about.

“For workers under the NLC and the TUC, May Day is a happy and symbolic day when we join our comrades all over the world to celebrate the dignity of labour. On May Day, we gather en mass to celebrate working class solidarity and to show working class unity.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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NEWS

Auditor-General blames ‘presidential interest’ for not releasing NNPC audit report T HE forensic audit report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the alleged missing $20 billion could not be released before President Goodluck authorised it because of special interest.

Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) Samuel Ukura blamed the inability of his office to publish the report several months after PriceWaterhouseCoopers Limited

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

completed investigations “because the Presidency has a great interest” in the report.

Presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati, 24 hours after President-elect Muhammadu Buhari vowed to revisit the audit report, released it on the order of President Jonathan

“to demonstrate that the present administration has nothing to hide over the matter.”

The auditor general, in a response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by online medium Premium Times, blamed the long delay by his office in releasing the full audit report on the Presidency.

In response to Premium Times

request for the document, days before the Presidency released it, Ukura said he was not in a position to release the report.

“After a careful review of the information, it is my considered opinion that the Presidency has a great interest in the information,” the auditor general said through his representative, Uche OkaforAgbi.

He advised Premium Times to redirect its request for the report to the presidency, which had custody of the document.

“You may wish to channel your application accordingly,” Ukura said.

His letter was apparently dispatched to the online medium hours before the Presidency released the audit report, but it arrived at its office

hours after the document had been made public.

Although the Constitution does not provide for the AuGF to submit audit reports to any arm of the Executive, but to the National Assembly, Ukura, on February 5, presented highlights of the report on the orders of the president.

Apparently deferring to the Presidency, he failed to forward the report to the National Assembly as demanded by the constitution.

Jonathan swears in two commissioners From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has sworn in two federal commissioners.

Ambassador Toye Olofintuyi from Ekiti State was sworn in as commissioner in the Civil Service Commission (FCSC), representing Ekiti, Edo and Ondo states.

Ambassador Abudullahi Shinkafi from Zamfara State was sworn in as commissioner, Federal Character Commission.

President Jonathan charged the two commissioners to bring their wealth of experience to bear in their new assignment.

•Olofintuyi and Shinkafi taking Oath of Office at the Presidential Villa...yesterday.

Protracted fuel scarcity likely as oil marketers demand subsidy debt

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•Govt to pay N154b today

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HE citizens may need to get ready for a protracted fuel scarcity as the oil marketers under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) have refused to shift ground on their decision not to import fuel.

They requested the Federal Government to pay 70-80 per cent of the N354 billion subsidy debt owed them.

The Ministry of Finance, which pays subsidy on fuel imports made by oil marketers, however, described the “no pay, no import” stance of the marketers as unfortunate and unpatriotic, “considering the efforts of the Federal Government to ensure the debt is cleared”.

The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Thomas Olawore, in an interview with The Nation, asked the ministry when it has become a crime for a creditor to ask for his money.

He said: “Nobody is denying that they (Ministry of Finance) are paying us. They told us they have spoken with the banks, assuring us the banks will help us open letters of credit to be able to import. The banks refused to give us letters of credit despite appeals made by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Even the posted-dated instrument of N98 billion, which matures tomorrow (today), the banks refused it; insisting until it matures.”

Olawore said the marketers have not done anything wrong or unpatriotic by asking for their money.

He added: “The government owes us. Therefore, we are unable to import. They owe us N354 billion and we owe our contractors (transporters) N20 billion. The transporters said they will not lift and bridge fuel across the country until they are paid. Because of the transporters’ strike, the little stock we have is not lifted and distributed.

“We are of the view that the government has to pay substantial part of the debt - at least 70-80 per cent - to encourage us. Even if they (government) pay the N98 billion post-dated instrument and the N56 billion

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

they promised tomorrow (today), it will amount to N154 billion, leaving N200 billion, which is still huge. If the government can pay us N254 billion at least, leaving an outstanding N100 billion, we will flood the market with product.”

Olawore denied whether the removal of subsidy by the National Assembly was partly responsible for their refusal to import fuel for fear of non-reimbursement.

He stated that there would always be cushion on importation, adding that the National Assembly has done its own job.

“But the Executive arm of the government has not told us about that and until they communicate us on stoppage of subsidy payment, we will continue to import,” Olawore added.

But, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, who spoke to The Nation, expressed dissatisfaction over the way the oil marketers were going about the subsidy debt.

Nwabuikwu said: “The public comments by MOMAN on the issue of payment for fuel imports are deeply disappointing because government, in spite of the well known resource constraints, has made payments to marketers a priority. For instance, oil marketers have been paid N31 billion for interest differentials. They have also been given an IOU (I Owe You) of N100 billion backed by Sovereign Debt Notes which will be honoured end of April (today). Other payments are also being prioritised.

“Let us not forget that in December marketers were paid over N300 billion in two installments. So, the false impression that government doesn’t care, which they (marketers) are giving in spite of many meetings, reassurances and agreements reached with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and other government representatives is really unfortunate.”

Workers accuse NTDC’s DG of plotting to sell agency’s property

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HE Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Sally Mbanefo, and some of her top management officials were yesterday accused of allegedly initiating a “secret process” to sell off some of the agency’s property.

A worker of the corporation, who revealed this to The Nation in Abuja on condition of anonymity, listed the items that have been “secretly put up for sale” as including no fewer than five new buses and the corporation’s FM Radio transmitter.

The source said workers became suspicious when prominent transporters started besieging the agency’s headquarters in the last few days to find out the category of buses to be sold and their prices.

He said it was wrong for the corporation’s top echelon to be making moves to sell the items barely a month to the handover date by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The source noted that Jonathan had directed all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to write and submit their handover notes ahead of the May 29 date for the handover of power to the President-elect, Muhammadu Bu-

•Corporation denies allegation From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

hari.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had decried allegations of last-minute looting of the nation’s resources, hurried recruitment into the public service and rushed privatisation of key financial institutions by some officials of the Jonathan’s administration, warning that such actions would have serious repercussions.

APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement, said the party had been inundated with calls and messages by concerned Nigerians, alerting it to the unscrupulous actions of some officials of the outgoing administration.

But, the source said: “What we are seeing here is beyond us.

Transporters have been coming here to make enquiries of late concerning the buses despite the fact that there is no circular about proposed sale of the items by management. Why are they trying to secretly sell off some of the corporation’s property without due process?

“Apart from the fact that it is against public service rules to do that, it is also unethical to

carry out such a transaction at this time that the present government is about to hand over power.

“Besides, the five transport buses and FM transmitter they want to sell are among the valuable assets of the agency.

“We are really worried about the development because those buses have been very useful for both the corporation’s activities, workers, official and personal engagements.

“The question is, how did transporters who have been making enquiries manage to know that the corporation is about to sell the items without any official statement to that effect? Or is it because of the fear of losing their positions under the new government that they are now trying to cripple the corporation?”

The corporation’s directorgeneral could not be reached for comments as calls placed to her phone said “not reachable at the moment”.

When contacted, the Head, Public Relations Unit of NTDC, Mrs. Grace Ukah, denied the allegation.

Mrs. Ukah, who spoke on phone said: “I am not aware of

that. I don’t think such a thing is going on here. If there is, they would have put up a notice and all staff will know. There is nothing of such.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Board of NTDC, Alhaji Adamu Attah, said he was also not aware of any such development.

Attah, in a text message in response to enquiries by our correspondent, said: ”I am not aware and no approvals were sought. The BOD (Board of Directors) have not met since Q3 (Quarter 3) 2014. The DG (Director General) has insisted that there is no funding for board meetings.”

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Edem Duke, also denied knowledge of the alleged plot to sell the buses and radio equipment.

The minister said he would order an investigation to determine the veracity or otherwise of the claim.

Edem said: “I am not aware and I did not approve anything.

I don’t know anything about it at all.

“I don’t know anything about it absolutely. Now that the media is sending an enquiry, I will ask the permanent secretary to investigate.”

Fasonranti’s Afenifere defends support for Jonathan

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HE Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s faction of Afenifere has said the decision to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the just-concluded general election was taken in the overall interest of the Yoruba race and the country.

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group said this in a communiqué issued by the group and read by Chief Korode Duyile to reporters shortly after its monthly meeting held at the residence of Pa Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Afenifere said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the President-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

elect, Muhammadu Buhari, himself would attest to our not being induced in supporting him in 2007. We were certainly not induced to support President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Our decision was based on our age-long commitment to support a presidential candidate committed to restructuring of Nigeria.

“Afenifere supported Buhari in 2007 when he agreed with Afenifere that he would restructure Nigeria and President Jonathan in 2015 because

of his support for the National Conference and devolution of power.

“We will continue to make representation to the Presidentelect to implement the 2014 Conference resolutions, particularly with regards to restructuring and reduction of recurrent expenditure.

“We call on Yoruba people, irrespective of their political leanings, to continue to pursue the implementation of the report.”

It reiterated its commitment to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, as its own and called on

members to continue with its principled philosophy of being the conscience of the nation.

The group urged the incoming government not to discriminate in its fight against corruption.

It said the issue of corruption was so evident and pervasive in Nigeria that it needed to be seriously addressed if the country must move forward.

Afenifere, who congratulated Buhari on his victory in the presidential election, appealed to him to implement the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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NEWS

APC to resolve power-sharing soon, says Atiku

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ORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will soon agree on an acceptable power-sharing.

Atiku spoke with reporters after a meeting with the P r e s i d e n t - e l e c t , Muhammadu Buhari, at the Defence House, Abuja.

He told reporters that the party was working on zoning the National Assembly seats, adding that all issues

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

related to it would soon be resolved.

Asked what he discussed with the President-elect, he said: “We just discussed some private matters.”

He said he did not discuss zoning of positions with the President-elect.

“That is too early. Moreover, it is something that the party’s leadership is handling but I believe it will be

resolved before the National Assembly reconvenes,” Atiku said.

When asked to advise the leadership of APC on how to manage the success recorded at the elections, Atiku asked: “Are we not managing it? We are managing it and I believe we will be successful.”

Reminded of the high expectations of Nigerians, Atiku said: “The only thing is that change will not occur

overnight. It will be gradual but definitely there will be changes and positive changes for that matter.”

The former Vice-President said he was elated over the rescue of nearly 300 girls and women from the Sambisa forest.

Atiku, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, said it was unacceptable that hundreds of women, girls and boys were abducted by the insurgent group, Boko

Haram, in the last couple of months.

“While we rejoice in the rescue of the women and girls yesterday, we urge that our military continues steadfastly in the operations until all abducted Nigerians have been rescued and territories recaptured,” Atiku said.

He expressed support for the military forces in its mission to restore peace.

•Atiku

Covenant uses Card Readers for exams •Student wins Africa contest

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•Fuel queue at filling station in Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

OVENANT University has deployed Smart Card Readers in the conduct of the 2014/ 2015 Omega (Second) Semester examination.

University’s Director, Centre for Systems and Information Services Pastor Abolade Afolabi said the Smart Card Readers would help students to avoid the rigour of printing out Course Evaluation Forms and prevent malpractices.

A statement by the university said: “Prior to the Card Reader, students were expected to complete their course registration and clearance on the portal and print out the Evaluation Form, which are presented to invigilators at exams venue.

“However, with Card Readers, the challenges associated with registration and

Funsho Williams: Court quashes bid to reopen investigation

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USTICE Rita OfiliAjumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out a suit seeking to reopen investigation into the murder of Funsho Williams.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Williams was murdered on July 27, 2006, at his 34A Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, home.

The applicant, Bashir Junaid, sought an order of Mandamus compelling the inspector-general of police to reopen investigation into the assassination.

But Justice OfiliAjumogobia struck out the application for want of diligent prosecution and awarded N25,000 cost against Junaid.

The Lagos State High Court in Igbosere last June 30 discharged six men

None of the staff can tell you that the ‘court is ill, because I have never been ill in this division. What kind of illness will make the order not to be signed? ’

By Joseph Jibueze

charged with the murder.

The suspects were freed after eight years by Justice Ebenezer Adebajo (now retired), who held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

In the suit, FHC/L/CS/ 137/14, Junaid listed a former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; All Progressives Congress (APC) Legal Adviser Dr. Muiz Banire; Mr. Babatunde Edu; Mr. Dele Alake, Mrs. Modupe Shasore and Oladele

Ajomale as defendants.

Others were the inspector general of police, the attorney general of Lagos State and the Lagos commissioner of police.

Junaid, who was detained during preliminary investigation into Williams' death, sought N5 billion exemplary damages for his alleged illegal detention and psychological trauma.

He claimed the police disregarded his statement, which he said could have assisted to unravel Williams' killers.

Junaid claimed that the concrete evidence that he tendered were discarded by the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Alagbon, Lagos.

The plaintiff's counsel, Miss O. Benjamin, referring to an earlier order by the court, said: "My Lord, the matter is for mention today, unfortunately, we've not been able to obtain the order as we were told that the judge is ill."

But Justice OfiliAjumogobia denied being so ill as to be unable to sign the

order.

"None of the staff can tell you that the court is ill, because I have never been ill in this division. What kind of illness will make the order not to be signed?

"A copy of the order is in the file, why would you not come to court and ask for your order? This and such utterances will not be condoned," she said.

Counsel for the police and the Attorney-General, K. Uwandu, urged the court to strike out the matter for want of diligent prosecution and to award N50,000 cost against the plaintiff.

The judge held: "This matter is struck out for want of diligent prosecution. I award N25,000 cost in favour of the first and fourth defandants. I make no order as to cost for the eight and ninth defendants as the counsel did not specify a definite sum."

printing of Evaluation Forms have been eliminated.

After students do evaluation on the portal, they will present their Identity Cards to the invigilators, who will then place the card on the reader to ascertain the student’s eligibility to write the exam.

“The Card Readers use a highly-secured cryptographic technology commonly used for devices that perform secure transactions, such as payment terminals.

The devices contain Green List, that is names of students, who have been evaluated.”

Director, Academic Planning Unit, Dr. Akan Williams, added that with the Card Readers, examination malpractice had been curtailed because there would be no room for students to smuggle any material into the exam hall.

A 500-level Petroleum Engineering student, Miss Zainab Titus, has won the Undergraduate Category at the 2015 SPE Africa Students Technical Paper at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Miss Titus was selected through a rigorous process in which the SPE considered over 170 submitted abstracts from African students in universities across the continent.

She presented an abstract on “Analytical Model for Improving Completion Efficiency and Production Optimisation”, a newly developed diagnostic tool with wide industry applications.

The winners in both categories will represent Africa at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) in Houston, Texas, in September.

This was the first appearance of Covenant University in the contest.

Oduahgate: Court orders Coscharis to release details of bullet proof cars’ purchase

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HE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered Coscharis Motors to provide purchase details of two bullet proof cars acquired by a former Aviation Minister Mrs Stella Oduah.

A group, Enough is Enough (EiE), had applied for details of the purchase under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act but was denied.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa directed Coscharis Motors to provide the information to EiE on the 2013 controversial purchase.

Dismissing the company’s argument that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit, Justice Yunusa

By Joseph Jibueze

held that the FOI Act was applicable to Coscharis Motors.

Coscharis said the 30-day period within which the information ought to have been provided was not extended by the court suit as provided for under the FOI Act. The court, however, did not grant the order asking the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), to commence criminal proceedings against Coscharis Motors for wrongful denial of access to information.

The two BMW bulletproof cars were said to have been purchased by the Nigeria

Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at N255 million for Oduah.

In its argument against the suit, Coscharis Motors stated through its Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, Ndubuisi Chito, that it was a fully indigenous private limited liability company with no government investment in its equity, adding that it is not funded by tax payer’s money or any other type of government subvention.

It said it was not engaged in any type of public service.

While contending that the FOI Act cannot be applicable to it, the company stated that it was not bound to provide EiE the informa-

tion requested by the group.

But counsel to the EIE, Ayodeji Acquah, insisted that regardless of the position of Coscharis as a private company, and since it had benefited from the import duty waiver and consequently used public funds to purchase the bullet proof cars, the firm falls within the purview of sections 2(7) and 31 of the FOI Act. The applicants prayed for: “A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by Coscharis Motors to disclose or make available to EiE the information requested in the organisation’s letter to the company, dated October 28, 2013, is a violation of EIE’s

right of access to information guaranteed by Section 1(1) and Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

“A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by Coscharis Motors to give EiE a written notice that access to all or part of the information requested would not be granted and stating reasons for the denial and the section of the FOI Act upon which the company relied to deny EiE access to the information it requested amounts to a flagrant violation of the Act and is therefore wrongful.

“An order of Mandamus compelling Coscharis Motors to disclose the informa-

tion requested in EiE’s letter, dated October 28, 2013, namely the invoice(s) and landing documents for the two BMW vehicles acquired by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044; and details of the payment for the vehicles, including whether they were paid for in full or hire purchased as reported by the media.

“An order compelling the attorney-general of the federation to initiate criminal proceedings against Coscharis Motors for wrongful denial of access to information to EiE under Section 7(5) of the FOI Act.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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NEWS

APC: labour plotting to frustrate impeachment

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday claimed that it has uncovered an alleged conspiracy between the government and labour leaders to instigate workers into a prolonged strike to prevent Governor Ayo Fayose’s impeachment.

The party said the deal was reportedly struck at a meeting of April 27 with the leadership of the state Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC).

The APC claimed that the prolonged labour crisis is designed to shut down all government offices to prevent the 19 lawmakers from going ahead with the impeachment against the governor.

However, labour has denied the allegation, describ-

•’It’s not true’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

ing it as “highly mischievous and illogical”.

A statement by APC’s Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun said it was “wicked and selfish for labour leaders to secretly negotiate a multimillion naira deal for their pockets while herding their colleagues on partisan protest that is clearly against the service rule”.

The APC said the meeting considered two options, which included a declaration of 10-day holiday from May 29 till early June.

The second option was for the government to pay civil servants half salary, which the labour leaders would reject and thereafter declare an indefinite strike.

Calling on labour leaders not to drag Ekiti workers into politics, the party expressed dismay at their partisan roles in flagrant abuse of labour laws.

The party alleged that labour leaders had abandoned the interests of their members to hobnob with the government.

The APC said it was aware that some labour leaders collected N30 million from the government for various solidarity rallies in the last six

months.

It condemned the alleged agreement of some of these labour leaders to instigate innocent workers to a politically-motivated industrial action.

The APC noted that this was exactly the politics behind the strike of the local chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which paralysed courts across the state.

The party called on workers to remember that there is life after Governor Fayose’s administration, stressing that it is wicked for labour leaders to trade off their future for a mess of pottage that does not guarantee their growth and job security.

State NLC Vice-Chairman Kayode Akosile said: “The allegation is highly mischievous and illogical. Who wants to impeach the governor? Is it the APC in the Diaspora or those in the state?

“There is nothing logical in the allegation, how can somebody be paid or induced to go on strike. Labour leaders can reason very well.

“The governor has been given a mandate to rule for four years, he should be allowed to exercise his mandate so that the people can get dividends of democracy.

“The allegation is mischievous, if workers will go on strike, it will be because they have issues with the government.”

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RESH and returning undergraduates of the Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU) will resume for the 2014/2015 academic activities on May 17 and 31 .

A statement by the institution’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, said: “The university administration has concluded arrangements and put facilities in place for the lectures of the Harmattan Semester, which starts on June 1.”

He quoted the vice-chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, as enjoining the students to make judicious use of their time and desist from behaviour capable of extending their stay.

Oyo traditionalists greet Ajimobi

‘Stop maligning Senator Ojudu’

From Jeremiah Oke, Ibadan

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HE civil rights movement in Nigeria has expressed solidarity with the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu, who is being maligned for leading the campaign to sanitise Ekiti.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos, the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), a coalition of 35 civil rights groups, praised Ojudu for his stand as a tireless defender of truth and liberty, a trait that has won him global fame.

The statement by the NHRC Director of Publicity, Akinola Gbadamosi, urged the Ekiti people not to be distracted by the conscious efforts of Governor Ayo Fayose to discredit one of the most outstanding icons in the battle for liberty in Ekiti.

“Senator Ojudu has a clean record spanning over three decades. He was the journalist who exposed Fayose during his first term in 2004.

“Senator Ojudu did not only write an investigative story that exposed the killing of a pregnant woman for rituals, an unspeakable crime involving top government officials in the administration of Fayose, he went the extra mile to ensure the arrest of those involved.

“The stories were published in The News magazine. The horrendous crime was swept under the carpet by the authorities. From that moment, a seed of discord was planted between Ojudu and Fayose.

“We are following with keen interest the developments in Ekiti State. Fayose wants to do everything to destroy Ojudu’s richly deserved reputation. This task will fail.

“We, in the human rights community, support Mr Ojudu’s crusade against despots in power in Ekiti State. It is a right step in the right direction.

No amount of blackmail should stop Mr Ojudu because his battle is righteous and just. History will definitely absolve him.”

OAU resumes May 17

•From left: Representative of the wife of the governor, Mrs. Ladun Ogunbanwo, winner of the 2015 Spelling Bee Competition, Master Idowu Sonoiki, Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyonmbo at the presentation of gifts to Sonoik.

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Court dissolves marriage over infertility

N Abeokuta Customary Court in Ake yesterday dissolved a three-year-old marriage between Femi and Kemi Olayiwole, due to infertility, deceit and frequent fighting.

Olayiwole told the court that his wife deceived him to marry her, knowing that she could not bear him a child.

He accused his wife, who had failed to appear in court after being summoned several times, of living a false life.

“My wife had been deceiving me since we got married.

I have never seen her period.

“Anytime I ask to sleep with her, she would give an excuse to back up her refusal. Meanwhile, we have been praying to God to give us children.

“My wife did not tell me anything about her condition before we got married, until February when she confessed to me that she has never had her period.

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•31-year-old arraigned for ‘sodomy’ “I thought she was lying, so I went to see her parents who told me it was true, and that they thought their daughter explained to me before we got married,” Olayiwole told the court.

He pleaded with the court’s president to dissolve his three-year-old marriage. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant was absent, despite several summons by the court.

The court’s President, Olalekan Akande, dissolved the marriage, saying both parties had made up their minds to part ways.

Akande said both parties were free to remarry, adding that the document of the marriage dissolution should be sent to Mrs. Olayiwole.

A 31-year-old man, Samson Ndubuisi, who allegedly had

canal knowledge of an 11year-old boy, yesterday appeared before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

Ndubuisi, a resident of No. 3/4, Umuaka Close, Ilufe Junction, Alaba Market, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and sexual assault.

The Prosecutor, Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 12 at his apartment.

Ojaokomo said the accused had canal knowledge of the boy without his consent.

“The complainant said on the fateful day, he went to fetch water at Mrs Doris Ezenwa’s company.

“He said while he was fetching water, the accused called him and took him to a room where he forcefully had canal knowledge of him.

“The boy said each time he went to fetch water Ndubuisi would take him to the usual spot and have sex with him.

“The complainant also said the accused also bribed him with N100 each time he slept with him.

“The 11-year-old boy said they were caught by two men, who were Ndubuisi’s colleagues, at the water company.

“The boy said the accused threatened to kill him if he told his parents about it,’’ he said.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

NAN reports that Section 259 prescribes life imprisonment for sexual assault by penetration.

The Magistrate, Patrick Adekomaiya, granted the accused bail of N 50,000 with one surety.

He adjourned the case till May 28 for trial.

HE Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWA) in Oyo State has congratulated Governor Abiola Ajimobi and other public officials on their victory.

In a statement by its Chairman, Dasola Adefabi, the group said: “We, traditional worshippers, use this medium to congratulate Governor Abiola Ajimobi on his re-election. He has broken the second term jinx.

“We also wish him the best while steering the ship of Oyo, the pacesetter state, towards prosperous greatness..

“We prayed for the sustenance of peace and harmony in the state as we urge all stakeholders to work harmoniously to make the state a true pacesetter that it is known for.”

‘Go and get your licences’

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

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AXI operators yet to obtain their licences should do so immediately at the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) zone where they were accredited, the Lagos State government has said.

Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa, who gave the directive yesterday, said the collection point was decentralised to reduce the stress operators might go through.

He said operators could go to any of the 14 VIS zones for the collection.

The zones, according to him, are: Onigbogbo (Anthony), Apapa, Iponri, Isheri, Ikorodu, Mushin, Ejigbo, Mile 2, PWD, Oko-Oba, Epe, Adekunle, Eti-Osa and Badagry.

Opeifa said only licence holders would be able to operate in the state.

Two robbery suspects die on Third Mainland Bridge

HERE was confusion on the Third Mainland Bridge yesterday afternoon after two men alleged to be motorcycle robbers died in an accident.

The victims, who were said to be riding against traffic, rammed into a wine Toyota Sienna belonging to a policeman.

They were alleged to be members of an eight-man gang that robbed motorists at the Adekunle end of the Bridge.

•Police: no evidence to prove they were robbers

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred at 1:30pm.

It was learnt that the suspects had operated on four motorcycles with which they barricaded the Adekunle end of the bridge, inward Lagos Island for almost an hour.

But when the suspects tried to stop the Sienna, the driver sped off. The hoodlums pur-

sued him.

Unfortunately, the hoodlums got crushed by the driver just as they were about to catch up with him.

The driver, it was learnt, crushed the first motorcycle carrying two of the hoodlums, who died instantly.

A big pair of scissors was reportedly found on them.

Security operatives, comprising Federal Road Safety

Corps (FRSC), police and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency ( LASTMA), evacuated the bodies to Mainland General Hospital Mortuary.

The motorist was said to have been taken to a nearby hospital for check-up. His vehicle was moved to the Adekunle Police Station.

But the police said there was nothing to indicate the deceased were robbers.

Police spokesman Kenneth Nwosu said no weapon was found on them.

He said: “It was a fatal accident. Two guys on motorcycle were driving against traffic.

“It was not a police vehicle.

It was a bus belonging to a police man. The victims died on the spot.

“It is not confirmed if they were armed robbers. Nothing was found on them to suggest they were robbers,” said Nwosu.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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NEWS Certificates for Lagos lawmakers

By Musa Odoshimokhe

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HE Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Akin Orebiyi, has urged the lawmakers-elect of the Lagos State House of Assembly to render selfless service to the people.

Orebiyi gave the advice yesterday at the presentation of Certificates of Return to the 32 All Progressives Congress (APC) members and their eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, Lagos.

“It is important for the new administration and members of the Assembly to cater for all, whether or not they voted for them.

“Service to all should be the key goal for all of us.

“We must thank all the

•The lawmakers at INEC office...yesterday.

contestants who gave their best in the contest, rather than resorting to self help.

“Those who had grievanc-

es have filed their complaints at the tribunal. Lagos was tipped as one of the battle ground states but incidental-

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

ly it became of the most peaceful states during the elections.”

Responding on behalf of the lawmakers, Mrs. Funmi-

layo Tejuoso (Mushin 1) said the House was one family.

She said the Eighth Assembly will not be different.

The lawmaker praised INEC for ensuring that the elections met the people’s expectations.

Lagos sinking funds reserve hits N100.7b APC lawmakers cancel peace meeting

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HE Lagos State government yesterday said it was working to ensure that it repays its loans.

It said N100.73billion has been reserved in the state’s sinking fund reserve.

Commissioner for Finance Ayo Gbeleyi, at a briefing in Lagos, said of the N225 billion currently outstanding in its debt issuance programme, over N100.73 billion is in its coffers.

He said: “Fifteen per cent of monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is transferred to a Consolidated Debt Service Account (CDSA), managed by independent trustees, with N100.73 billion accrued in Sinking Fund reserve for repayment of outstanding issues, while coupons are serviced

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•Govt cancels Third Toll Plaza on Lekki Expressway

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

regularly.

“The state has accumulated over N100.73 billion in the CDSA for the redemption of the outstanding three tranches of bonds, of which the next redemption comes up in April 2017.”

The commissioner said the government got the approval of the House of Assembly for the buy-back of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, adding that the negotiated the price for the transaction is N15 billion.

Gbeleyi said: “The transaction came to closure last June.

In terms of completing other conditions precedent for government to take over the project

and effect the final payment because the payment was done in two tranches of N7.5 billion each.

“We paid the second tranche last December. And from that date, the government took control of the project.”

The commissioner added that after listening to residents’ demand, the government decided to cancel the initial planned third toll plaza on the road.

“On the road, we have about N40 billion outstanding to this consortium of senior lenders, which include eight financial institutions, including the African Development Bank (ADB), Stanbic IBTC, First Bank and others.

“Thus, even though the state bought out equity interest in the transaction, the debt exposure must still be honoured.

“We must send the right signal to the community of investors and we must respect the sanctity of contract, rule of law and predictability of investment, if we must continue to attract the right investors to the state.

“Across other PPP transaction ranging from the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the five IPPs and various real estate, including the Eko Atlantic City and others, almost $20 billion has been made in investment commitment.”

Man electrocuted in Osun

MAN, Opeyemi Ogundele, was electrocuted yesterday in Ilesa, Osun State, as he attempted to illegally re-connect electricity to his house.

It was gathered that workers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) had disconnected the house over unpaid bill.

The deceased believed to

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

be hired by his co-tenants allegedly charged N1500 for the illegal reconnection.

He reportedly rented a ladder for N200 and was left with N1300.

Eyewitnesses said Ogundele mistakenly touched the live wire on the pole and was electrocuted instantly.

His co-tenants deserted the house after the incident.

The remains have been deposited at the mortuary of the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa.

Police spokesperson Ms Sade Odoro said investigation have commenced into the matter.

Another man, identified as Bolaji, reportedly shot

himself with his dane gun at Itagunmodi in AtakunmosaWest Local Government Council.

The local hunter was said to be trying to shoot a bush rat, when his dane gun exploded and hit him in the abdomen.

He is said to be receiving treatment at the Wesley Guild Hospital.

Synagogue: Coroner concludes inquisition of witnesses

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HE Lagos Coroner investigating the last September 12 collapsed building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has concluded taking evidences.

It adjourned sitting till June 2.

The coroner court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, said the adjournment was for submission and adoption of final written addresses from counsel.

The coroner court was instituted by the Lagos State government under the state Coroner’s System Law No.7 of 2007 to investigate the death of 116 people in the building collapse.

It is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the appropriate authorities.

The court, which commenced sitting last October 13,

By Adebisi Onanuga

had taken evidences from many witnesses, including National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Red Cross Society, State Fire Service, State Transport Management Authority, State Building Control Agency, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ministry of Works and the Surveyor-General.

Others were the SCOAN building contractors, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ministry of Tourism, the police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Chief Medical Director of the State University Teaching Hospital.

The founder of SCOAN, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, however, declined to testify before the coroner

court throughout the seven months it court sat.

Joshua, through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, challenged the court’s jurisdiction by filing an application dated November 11, 2014 before the high court, seeking a judicial review of the Coroner’s Inquest into the building collapse.

He had asked the court to declare that the coroner exceeded its jurisdiction as a coroner court by delving into areas that were beyond its scope.

Joshua’s application was eventually dismissed by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, who ruled that the coroner court has the power to invite any person or institution it deemed fit would assist it in carrying out its assignment.

Not satisfied with the court’s decision, Joshua headed for the Court of Appeal to

contest the ruling. The appeal is still pending in court.

At the last sitting, the church faulted a technical report submitted by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).

The BCPG, in its technical report, submitted to the coroner court said the guest house collapsed as a result of structural failure.

Ojo argued that the group’s conclusions were based on mere suspicion.

The SCOAN counsel said the BCPG could not have been correct in its report because its investigation and finding were based on materials suspected to be remnants of the collapsed beams at the building collapsed site.

Ojo said the BCPG’s conclusion cannot be correct since it was based on suspicions, which cannot be established in court.

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HE 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Ekiti State House of Assembly have cancelled a peace meeting brokered by Chief Afe Babalola slated for today at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

The cancellation followed a secret plan to use the meeting as a booby trap to seize the members as they approach the university campus.

Sources said Governor Ayodele Fayose was celebrating with his aides last night that he had “gotten over his impeachment plot”.

He was quoted as saying that the lawmakers will be arrested without even seeing Chief Babalola and they will be in detention until June 1.

Security sources confirmed last night they could not guarantee the lawmakers’ safety and advised that they should watch their movement.

The lawmakers have already contacted Chief Babalola to shift the meeting to Abuja and that they would be willing to foot the bill.

Fayose withdraws anti-impeachment suit From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

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KITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday withdrew one of the two suits he filed before the Federal High Court, •Fayose Abuja, to stop the ongoing impeachment move against him.

His lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, who is also representing the other plaintiffs, told the court yesterday that his clients filed a notice of discontinuance on April 24.

He urged the court to strike out the suit. Adedipe was, however, silent on why he applied for a withdrawal.

Plaintiffs include Dele Olugbemi (who claims to be the Speaker), the House of Assembly, Fayose and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola.

The Speaker, Adewale Omirin, Inspector General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, were listed as defendants.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed faulted the objection raised

by Omirin’s lawyer, Terence Vembe, on the ground that the plaintiffs were permitted, under the court’s rules, to withdraw their case.

The judge struck out the case.

Fayose and others still have a similar suit pending before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/3612015, has the seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Assembly as plaintiffs.

The 19 APC lawmakers, the IG, the Clerk, House of Assembly and INEC are defendants.

On April 23, Justice Chukwu, upon an exparte motion by the plaintiffs, ordered the defendants to show why he should not grant the plaintiffs’ prayers for orders restraining the defendants.

The judge also ordered parties to maintain status quo ante bellum “as at April 23, 2015”, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions equally filed by the plaintiffs.

Justice Chukwu refused to grant the plaintiffs’ prayer for an order setting aside all actions taken by the 19 APC lawmakers, including “the purported commencement of impeachment proceedings and notice of alleged misconduct against Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose and his Deputy”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

10

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

We want them back alive, Chibok girls’ mothers say

Advice for Muslims

By Basirat Braimah

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UESDAY’s rescue of 200 girls and 93 women by the military in Sambisa Forest buoyed their hope of being reunited with their daughters, who were abducted over a year ago by Boko Haram insurgents.

On hearing the news, their faces lit up in smiles; but their joy was short-lived.

When they learnt that the Chibok girls were not among the rescued, they were crestfallen.

They became traumatised again and their blood pressure rose.

Mrs Hanatu Dauda and Mary Musa appeared shattered when The Nation met with them in Lagos on Tuesday.

They were in town for “urgent medical intervention” through Gabasawa Women & Children Initiatives (GWCI), a non-governmental organisation, assisted by Macedonia Initiative (MI), a global humanitarian body.

Among other ailments, they had been battling with are anaemia and ulcer, our reporter learnt.

But they have been getting succour from GWCI and MI since their ordeal began.

“Since late in the evening yesterday (Tuesday) when the Army broke the news, (rescue of 200 girls and 93 women), they prayed till after 2am today (yesterday). Now, they both earnestly wish their children are among the lucky ones; this is why they have remained fervent in prayers,” said GWCI President, Mrs Doris Yaro.

Mrs Musa, 45, whose 17-year-old daughter, Hauwa, was abducted with 275 others from the Government Girls Secondary School (Girls)

'I'm tired of my wife's attitude'

By Basirat Braimah

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43-YEAR-OLD mechanic, Kamoru Bolaji, has prayed the Lagos Island Customary Court to dissolve his 16-year-old marriage to Monsurat because of her alleged repulsive attitude.

He is accusing her of being unfriendly with neighbours, adding that they have rented two different houses because she fought with the landlords and tenants.

"It got worse to the extent of raining curses on a tenant who mysteriously died just as my wife said, In fact the late Kola Olawuyi visited our house then to ascertain the truth behind the woman's death but my wife ran away and I also dodged from being interviewed," he said.

The petitioner said he had always reported his wife's case to her father but she refused to change.

He said they stopped living as a couple in 2008 when things got worse.

Bolaji pleaded with the court to stop his wife from visiting his shop to collect their children's allowance because the last time she came, "something terrible" happened to him.

The court's President, Chief Awos Awosola, said since the respondent didn't appear in court after series of summons, the union will be dissolved.

Awosola ordered that the three children should be in the respondent's custody.

Bolaji is to deposit N10, 000 monthly for the children's upkeep and be responsible for their education.

•Mrs Musa

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

in Chibok, Borno State on April 14, last year, expressed confidence that she would one day reunite with her.

“When I got the news from the Army, it only reinforced the belief I have in God that one day, I would see my daughter again. I see her in my dreams very often. My daughter is industrious. She would encourage me on my farming business and always discuss how she would key into the system later to make me and her father proud of the promising child she is,” she said.

Mrs Musa added: “We live in Mbalala where over 30 girls were kidnapped; transport costs N500 from there to Chibok. There are other towns including Mblabam, Sikakura, Leho, Gatamwawa, Kautikari, Ndnaga, Payesu, Payampu, Peyimi, Ngadarma, Kupubula, Jajal and Nglang. All were invaded, but people only talk about Chibok because it is the headquarters of the local government.”

As she shook her head and fought tears, the reporter asked: “Why madam? Why?”

•Mrs Dauda

•Mrs Yaro

She answered: “It is sad that one percent of the brutalisation meted out to us in the towns is not open to the public. For over one year now, were have seen hell. Our homes and farmlands were burnt; we sleep in the bush in fear with nothing to eat, added to the pains of losing our beloved children. For long now, my husband has been bedridden without any medical care. Is this life?”

She praised Mrs Yaro for “immeasurable constant love and compassion”, saying beside that no other help had come their way. They have also not been invited to Abuja for any help, she added.

“It is painful when you see fraudsters flooding Abuja to collect money on our behalf without reaching out to us at the end of the day.

God is watching them. We had thought that the government and its agencies would have come up with palliatives like health facilities, food and such other things to give us relief. We have seen nothing except to hear that some people have been collecting things on our behalf in the name of “Bring back our girls” campaign. Now, I don’t even need anything from the government; all I need

is to have my daughter alive,” she fumed.

Despite her plight, Mrs Musa is still moved by the story of Mrs Dauda whose daughter, Saratu, is also in captivity. One of her sons was “callously shot” and another daughter was raped and put in the family way.

Recalling her last moments with Saratu, Mrs Dauda said: “Even while the insurgency was raging, she would always urge me to pray for her to be successful in life. Her dream is to become an ‘accomplished fashion designer’ after her education; that is why she would always encourage me on my farming so that I could procure her a sewing machine. For over a year now, the dream has been cut short.

“We have remained useless for that long. Hunger has been biting hard. My other children cannot go to school. No light, no water, it has been untold suffering on all fronts. All we do is cry everyday with no relief in sight. And bad enough, government has disappointed us as it has done nothing to give us hope. Apart from urging the government to find us our daughters, we are tired of empty talks without action.”

We're being terrorised by thugs, traders allege

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OME traders at the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Shopping Complex in Mile 2, Lagos, have called on the state government to rescue them from the market's Babalaje, Alhaji Saheed Abiola.

The traders alleged yesterday in Lagos that Abiola has been terrorising them with thugs.

Alhaji Abass Yusuf, the Babaloja General of the market, said the traders could no longer open their shops for fear of being attacked by the thugs.

Abiola, he claimed, is not a member of the market's executive, but he has been going about claiming to be the Babalaje.

According to him, anyone who challenges him is thoroughly flogged by his boys.

Abiola, popularly known as "Zyid Ultimate", Yusuf alleged usually orders his boys to flog even old men

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

and women who challenge him.

Mrs Catherine Omotoyosi, the women leader and Iyalaje of the market, claimed that Abiola sent his thugs to beat her up.

Mrs. Omotoyosi said male traders have refused to join in the protest for fear of being beaten up by Abiola's thugs. ``We have reported this matter to the Festac Police Station and the Amuwo Odofin Local Government but nothing has being done. Abiola claims that the police and the council chairman cannot do anything to him because they are his friends and on his payroll,'' she said.

According to her, the market executive has asked Abiola to leave, but instead he sold shops to people between N200, 000 and N300, 000.

Mrs Omotoyosi said they have pe-

titioned the government and also reported the case to the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo. She said Tinubu-Ojo promised to look into the case.

But Abiola described the allegations as baseless, adding: ``there is no iota of truth in them.''

He said Yusuf and Mrs Omotoyosi were envious of him, claiming that he is the Babalaje of the market. ``I am partially blind, I cannot see well. I can only see shadows of people, how then do you think I will be going about terrorising people with thugs.

As the Babalaje of this market, my concern is to rebuild this market and move it forward in the way the Lagos government has been building model shops,'' he said.

He asked Mrs Omotoyosi to name those who assaulted her, saying: ``She should know those who beat her up and cut off her electricity.''

Woman, 80, 20 others charged with stealing, arms possession

A

N octogenarian, Basiratu Balogun, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N7,000 and frightening her neighbours with a single barrel gun.

Balogun, who could not walk unaided, was docked with 21 others before Magistrate O.O Fowowe-Erufiase on seven counts of conspiracy, stealing, illegal possession of firearms and breach of public peace under Sections 51, 52, 53, 285, 328 (D) and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011, and Section 398 (3) of the Firearms Act. Others are Wasiu Owotutu; Balogun Surajudeen; Bashiru Ayotayo; Giwa Ganiyu; Ajani Wasiu; Badamus Adeola; Habib Olojo; Abdulrasaq Olatunji; Jejelaiye Agunrege; Gbenga Adesanya; Kayode Azeez; Babatunde Oyebanji; Segun Taiwo; Rasheed Okulaja; Jimoh Ishakwu; Tajudeen Adekoya; Hassan Latifu; Muyideen Agunrege; Adeleke Odole; Mosuru Odumade and Suraju Olukayode.

They are accused of trespass and taking possession of the complainants’ land.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

The defendants, according to prosecuting Police Corporal Innocent Odugbo committed the offence on April 26, at Igando Orudu, Abule Foli Village of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

He told the court that the defendants unlawfully displayed the single barrel gun and cutlasses which they used to terrorise the Agbaje and Elesho families.

Odugbo said the defendants also stole N7, 000 from Waidi Agbaje.

The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted N100, 000 bail with a surety each in the like sum.

Magistrate Fowowe-Erufiase said the sureties must be gainfully employed; depose to an affidavit of means and have their addresses verified.

She adjourned the matter till June 10.

HE Chief Imam, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Murtala Bidmos has urged Muslims to be of good conduct and lead an exemplary life.

He gave the advice during the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta Muslim Alumni Association (FUNAAMAA) 17th annual national convention at the LCCI building in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Bidmos, who said the two values that Nigerians lack are education and unity which could be accessed through the study of the Qur’an, advised that “we must not fail to capture the essence of education in the gaunt of our religious practices. With education, we would understand our religion better and practise it well.”

The two-day convention featured lectures, visit to Bab-Es-Salam Home and an interactive session.

Chairman FUNAAMAA, Lagos chapter, Abdul’Lateef Iginla said it is a platform to extend Islamic brotherhood.

FUNAAMAA National President Dr. Abdulrazaq Adebowale said the theme was an exposition of the divine order, worldview and ideology that allow all men, Muslims and non-Muslims, to interact to achieve sustainable harmony, peace and orderliness in this world.

‘Consider people’s expectations’

A

FORMER Chairman, National Union of Air Transport Employee (NUATE), Lagos Chapter, Comrade Sunday Akintunde, has urged the in-coming government to consider the expectations of Nigerians with seriousness.

Also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege, Akintunde said Nigerians’ expectations are high because Nigeria had been retrogressing since the 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “That is why people yearned for change and the change has come to stay. So, the incoming government must work tirelessly to fix power by increasing megawatts of electricity to an appreciable level that will have multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy. This act will boost micro-industries and reduce unemployment,” he said.

Akintunde frowned at the removal of fuel subsidy, noting that “fuel subsidy removal by the current administration is synonymous with scam, saying: “We export our crude oil to be refined in another country; why should government subsidise only PMS? What happens to other by-products from the refined oil? The huge amount of money wasted on fuel subsidy can be channeled to infrastructural development that will alleviate poverty in our country. All the people indicted in fuel subsidy scam have not faced the law because of weak institutions.”

Code of conduct

T

HE Community Support Brigade (CSB), formerly WAI Brigade of Nigeria, has been charged to enforce the public code of conduct among the citizens.

Speaking during a workshop in Lagos, Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Prince Waheed Ishola, said: “CSB must ensure that they maintain peace orders and fairness to all and shun partisan politics.”

The State Commander, Comrade Gabriel Adeoye, who witnessed the investiture of Dr. Joseph Ebowusim, Executive Director, Phamatex Industries Limited, described him as a man of integrity.

Those in attendance were: “Deputy National Commandant, CSB, Alhaji Jimoh Yakub (AMCP) and Dr. Cyril Osuala Anomneze, National Patron of Igbo-speaking Community in Lagos State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Commercial banks are not manufacturing-friendly as their interest rates are usually very high; therefore, commercial banks remain a major challenge to the sector. Even the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) framework, which pegs interest rate at nine per cent, only finances machinery acquisition; it does not cater for working capital.

-MAN President, Dr Frank Jacobs

Fed Govt to pay marketers N156b subsidy claims today

T

HE Federal Govern ment will today pay N156 billion to major petroleum marketers to defray the I Owe You (IOUs) entered into with them and their interest rate differentials.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke to reporters while leaving the Conference of DirectorsGeneral of Customs of the West African Region of the World Customs Organisation in Abuja yesterday, said the papers were ready.

“Let me tell you. On the issue of the oil marketers, we have really been working with them. We have been dialoguing with them all along. We paid them N350billion in December, we have paid them N21billion for foreign exchange differential, and by tomorrow (today), we will be paying them

From John Ofikhenua and Ayorinde Hope, Abuja

the N100billion for which we gave them IoUs as well as their interest rate differentials of N56billion. So I am about to go and sign to get that paid.”

The minister recalled that in December last year, the Federal Government paid N350billion to the marketers in addition to N21billion that was also paid as foreign exchange differentials.

Iweala said the Federal Government was making frantic efforts at accommodating the oil marketers despite the revenue paucity in the country.

The marketers, according to her, are part of the Federal Government’s priority for the citizens not to suffer.

The minister however urged them to reciprocate the gesture by being patriotic and cooperating with

the government.

She said: “And I think Nigerians will agree that the government is making maximum efforts to accommodate the oil marketers.

They are also Nigerians, and they also need to cooperate with us.

“In this very difficult environment where revenue are constrained, we are doing our maximum. We have prioritised them because we don’t want Nigerians to suffer . Now, they too have to cooperate with Nigeria, isn’t it ? And and also be good and patriotic citizens.”

Asked what was happening to Federal Government workers salaries, the minister said: “As I speak, salaries are being paid. So between today and tomorrow, you will get your alert.”

Marketers had blamed ongoing scarcity of petroleum products on the failure of government to them

• From left: Head, Health, Safety and Environment, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Benjamin Ighomereho; Group Head, Customer Experience Service Group, Mrs. Titi Ogundipe and Chairman, Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Commander Timothy Nwaogu, during a press conference on the 2015 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, in Lagos.

Customs revenue generation up 20 per cent From John Ofikhenua, Ayorinde Hope, Abuja

• Dikko

W

ITHIN one year, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) increased its revenue generation by 20 per cent, the Secretary General, World Customs Organisation for the West and Central African Region, Kunio Mikuriya has said.

Speaking at the Conference of Directors-General of Customs of the West African Region of the World Customs Organisation in Abuja yesterday, he saidNigeria has demonstrated that Customs can be efficient and effective.

He said: “Nigeria has shown that Customs can be efficient and effective in revenue collection. After one year, I heard that your revenue has gone up by 20 per cent.”

According to him, the conference would focus on topical issues such as the Ebola disease and insurgency.

Mikuriya said: “We talk about Ebola and even for this disease tragedy, Customs has to show solidarity and coordination at the borders.

“These days, it is about security. Unfortunately, security concern is there.

“The security is of course part of the economic competitiveness. We are now looking at security and how the Customs can contain it.

Illicit trade is also there so there are so many challenges and expectation from the Customs community.”

Speaking, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala explained that the NCS had not been able to make much revenue in the past from nonoil sectors.

She said trade facilitation is one of the steps that the service has now adopted to boost revenue generation.

The minister said the conference was not solely about trade facilitation and

economies, it would also table cooperation across boarders for the control of diseases and insurgency.

Iweala said: “In this conference, we are bringing stakeholders from the region; so it is not only about trade or about economies but we discuss how cooperation across borders for control of epidemic, diseases and for control of insurgency. And you have got all those customs agencies from East and Central Africa gathered around us here. I think that it is also crucial to discuss things about security and diseases.”

The Comptroller-General of the NCS, Inde Dikko Abdullahi said the service will sign an agreement that anything that is coming into Nigeria, the Customs will escort it officially and hand it over to Nigeria.

With this, he said compliance will be assured and there will be increase in revenue generation.

According to him, 27 revenue offenders were prosecuted last year. “I am sure we still have some in the court so we are going on,” he said.

what they are being owed.

But the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had blamed the industrial action which the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) embarked upon for the scarcity.

It alleged that the tanker drivers refused to lift petroleum products from the depots in protest of the huge debt resulting to fuel scar-

city across the country.

“We are, however, working towards a speedy resolution of the issues to ensure a hitch-free distribution of products across the country,” NNPC said.

NNPC appealed to NARTO and PTD to call off the strike in the interest of the country and not unleash unnecessary hardship on Nigerians.

According to NNPC, it has enough stock of petrol to service the country for 27

days at a national daily consumption rate of 40 million litres even as it has stepped up efforts to end the distribution challenges in the fuel supply system.

Its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegebe in a statement, said the corporation has sufficient stock of petrol at its coastal depots in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar besides the stock it holds in the national strategic reserves.

Power supply drops to 2,834.30Mw

P

OWER supply that was 3,137.67 Megawatts (Mw) on April 20 has dropped to 2,834.30Mw, statisctics posted yesterday on the website of the Federal Ministry of Power has shown.

The ministry said it was the record of the electricity market as at April 26.

It also said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) could only evacuate 2,834.30Mw out of the 2,896.91Mw leaving a wheeling gap of 62.61Mw. In the period under review, the ministry said the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) dipped to a

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

peak generation of 2,896.91Mw, resulting in a decline of 194.2Mw from April 20.

Commenting on the power situation in the country, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi blamed inadequate power supply to gas shortage and pipeline vandalism.

According to him, low quantity of power supply is also responsible for lack of metering in the market.

He said: “Two things are holding back aggressive

metering; financing and quantity of power. If you are selling 60,000Mw, you have more money to finance metering. But if you are, because of pipeline vandalism and others, we are selling 3,000Mw, then you have less revenue for metering.

“Let’s be realistic, if we are generating 3,500 or 4,000 Mw, there is no way.

We don’t have adequate power for reasons you know. Some of them gas.

We are still building the power plants. So even if you have 6,000 Mw you will not still have 100 per cent power supply. “

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THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Even before his inauguration on May 29, the deluge of demands from operators in various sectors articulating areas they would like Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to address is enough to scare the lion-hearted. But industrialists and members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) say Buhari’s ability to meet and even surpass expectations depend largely on the level of priority he accords the real sector. CHIKODI OKEREOCHA and OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE report.

Why real sector ’ll be vital to Buhari’s govt F

OR President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Less than a month to his inauguration on May 29, this year, the pressure seems to be on. His administration is already choked by the volume of demands by various interest groups and operators from all the sectors outlining areas they expect him to address as soon as he settles down to business.

The tasks before the retired General are, indeed, enormous. It could not have been otherwise. Buhari is mounting the saddle at a time the economy is facing unprecedented crisis caused by plunge in oil prices and devaluation of the naira; which is why expectations are so high that stakeholders and operators are impatient for a quick turnaround.

Indeed, no one envies Buhari. For instance, the value of the naira to the dollar has depreciated to an all-time low, requiring immediate measures to shore it up.

Apart from persistent pressure on the naira exchange rate, the outlook for many macroeconomic indicators is not bright, with foreign reserves dropping below $30 billion.

Corruption is endemic.The crisis in the energy sector has never been this bad, at less than 3, 000 Megawatts of electricity for a country of 170 million.The sector has defied all measures so far put in place to break the jinx.

Privatisation has not seen any significant improvement in electricity supply to residential and industrial consumers.

That is not all. Unemployment rate has assumed a scary dimension and is believed to be contributing largely to the insecurity that pervades the nation.The mortality rate of manufacturing firms in the country is also very high because of high operating cost and poor infrastructure. Investors’ confidence has also drooped. Although the anxiety and uncertainty that characterised the business environment before the elections are gradually coming under control, most local and foreign investors are still holding back, waiting to see the policy direction of the in-coming government.

Although these issues present significant challenges to the in-coming Buhari administration, particularly in managing expectations, industrialists and members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) say that the new government has no reason to fear if only it could pay closer attention to the challenges facing the real sector.

At present, oil prices are plunging, compelling the Federal Government to shift focus to the real sector in the hope of reversing the trend where oil revenue accounts for more than 75 per cent of government’s revenue and close to 90 per cent of foreign exchange income. For real sector operators, this is the most auspicious time to unlock the massive potential in the manufacturing sector and increase its productivity.

The thinking is that if the new administration could reposition the real sector by ad-

•Bello

•Boyo

•Ayim

dressing its many challenges, it would ride on it to deliver on its campaign promises, particularly those relating to job creation, security and diversification of the economy.

Some of them, who spoke with The Nation, noted that one of the major steps is for the Buhari administration to close the huge infrastructure gap, particularly power that has been a thorn in the flesh of manufacturers.

The consensus is that the power sector reforms embarked upon by the out-going administration failed to offer manufacturers the needed succour.

President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alhaji Remi Bello, last week, lampooned the power sector reforms, insisting that the burden of high cost of energy for investors have persisted and remains one of the biggest issues in the investment environment.

Hear him: “The power sector reforms and the privatisation that followed have not achieved the desired result. It has, therefore, become necessary for the incoming administration to undertake a holistic view of the power sector reform.This should cover the processes of the reform and the capacity of the major institutions in the power delivery chain.”

Economist and industrialist Mr. Henry Boyo is no less disappointed by the crisis in the power sector. “We haven’t seen much of improvement in power supply,” he told The Nation, noting that the most worrisome aspect is that after selling the distribution andgeneration companies (Discos and Gencos) Nigeria ended up with a loss of N400 billion. He said it is curious that almost two years privatisation, government continues to breastfeed the Discos with selective interest waivers, which have regrettably not guaranteed low tariffs or improved performance.

He therefore, called on Buhari to take a closer look at how Nigerians were left with over N400b debt after the privatisation. While advising on the need to prioritise government expenditure to boost investments in critical infrastructure, President, Lagos Chamber of

Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alhaji Remi Bello, said the challenge of high cost of governance and collapse of the rail system demand urgent attention.

He also called on the incoming administration to sustain the momentum of the war on terrorism and insurgency in some parts of the country. Bello noted that the high cost of doing business and low productivity have become too burdensome for real sector operators, attributing the situation to macroeconomic factors, institutional challenges and structural issues.

LCCI’s Director-General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the incoming Buhari administration should carry out performance audit of key regulatory institutions whose activities impact on the private sector. This, he said, was necessary to ensure that these institutions deliver the desired value to the private sector and economy at large.While calling for guidelines for accessing intervention funds and urging its review by making it less stringent, he said there is need for a level playing field for all investors across all sectors on import tariff, funding opportunities and tax incentives, among others.

In addition to ensuring the sustainability of selected policies and programmes of the outgoing administration, which offer value to the economy, Yusuf wants a robust consultation with private sector bodies for input into policy formulation processes and a universal application to all investors in a given sector.

The Director-General/CEO, Nigerian Youth Chamber of Commerce (NYCC), Comrade Peter Ayim, canvassed a similar position.

Noting that there is obvious gap in the system in form of lack of synergy between the public and the private sector, he said there is need to mainstream youths into the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector through robust policy advocacy and constructive engagement with the government and development partners. “There should be constructive stakeholders’engagement on policy advocacy to promote global best practices in youth entrepreneurship promotion and de-

velopment,” he told The Nation.

Ayim emphasised that with a predominantly youth population of over 70 million, “there is the urgent imperative for a functional publicprivate partnership that will facilitate a robust, dynamic and sustainable enterprise development eco-system in line with contemporary trend and global best practices in the promotion and development of youth entrepreneurship. He said the in-coming administration will do well to develop a result oriented and sustainable policy framework and intervention mechanism targeted at supporting the accelerated promotion and development of functional youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

The NYCC boss believes that if this is done, Buhari stands a chance of delivering on his campaign promises of massive job creation.

He expressed optimism that with 70 million youth population, what is required to give them the needed impetus to ignite a revolution in employment creation, is for the in-coming government to deliberately create the enabling environment that will remove all the barriers that impede youth-led micro enterprises. To him, this approach is a critical pathway to growing the economy, generating jobs and creating wealth, thereby combating and reducing unemployment, hunger and poverty. This, he said, would also halt the rising restiveness and insecurity.

However, for the real sector to regain its teeth under the in-coming administration, Boyo said the new government must respect the sanctity of monetary stability or fail woefully, if not more woefully than the outgoing government. “The pillar of any economy is monetary policy and the pillar of monetary policy is interest rate, inflation and exchange rate. When you get those ones right like in other countries you will fix the economy,” he declared, adding that “high interest rate makes it impossible for the real sector to grow”.

The renowned economist and Managing Director of Cocosheen Nigeria Limited told said for a start, Buhari must stem the crisis of excess liquidity in the system, which are responsible for the high interest rates, inflationary pressure, and devaluation of the naira.

According to him, excess liquidity in the system is caused by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “crazy, merciless, insensitive, and unilateral policy” of substituting naira allocations for dollar-derived revenue.

He said CBN’s conscious, deliberate and misguided payment arrangements result in market imbalance, which ultimately weakens the naira exchange rate.

‘

The pillar of any economy is monetary policy and the pillar of monetary policy is interest rate, inflation and exchange rate. When you get those ones right like in other countries you will fix the economy,” he declared, adding that “high interest rate makes it impossible for the real sector to grow

‘

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

Pressing issue that Buhari must tackle

Voodoo audit •The NNPC audit revealed a reckless regimes handling our finances and we call for a new one T was a gratuitous attempt to lay to rest the ghost of a seething scandal.

On Monday, President Goodluck Jonathan ordered the office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation (AuGF) to unveil the findings of the PricewaterHouseCoopers (PwC) audit on Nigeria’s big pot, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

What came out was an anti-climax of a most horrendous cover-up, and a mockery of an investigation. It abused every standard of auditing integrity. It insults our sense of arithmetic with its addlebrained accounting. It reveals the failure of a political class that has turned the people’s patrimony into a private fiefdom.

At bottom, it tells why not enough drugs, not enough roads, not enough schools enjoy the benefits of our money. It was called a forensic audit when it was not. It was called comprehensive when it was comprehensive only in its failures.

It is the tragedy of a nation that a government elected by the people could turn the people’s wealth into a charade of public waste in the midst of characters in government noted for their vanities and impressario than serious business.

For an administration that has always maintained that it has nothing to hide, it was a travesty of transparency. The development only came after newspapers reported the resolve of the President –elect, G e n e r a l MuhammaduBuhari to reopen the chapter of the missing funds announced as $20 billion dollars, $10 billion or even lower.

Merely on the strength of the 16-week time-table announced by Finance Minister and Coordinator of the Economy, NgoziOkonjoIweala for the firm to conduct the exercise, the report ought to have been turned in last October particularly in the context of the rage fuelled by the allegation of the missing money. Instead, it fed Nigerians with a waiting game and chose February – barely few weeks to the election - for a mock show of public presentation. It was released not to the millions of the citizens who had sought to establish the truth of the matter and at whose instance the exercise was undertaken, but to the AuGF who, the President insisted, needed to work on the report ostensibly to help Nigerians understand its conJonathan tent! This was after the administration had cherry-picked and made public aspects of the findings that suited it.

If that approach was sneaky and reeled with hypocrisy, the release of the entire report has since confirmed our worst fears about the pervasive footloose accounting, the general lack of accountability and the brazen outlawry that have defined the operations of NNPC. More than that however is the administration’s culpability in the making of the grand larceny and the attendant bad faith while the so-called exercise lasted.

As it is, the PWC audit has itself raised more questions than address specific queries Nigerians had sought answers. To begin with, we are exasperated at the import of the third paragraph of the covering letter of the so-called audit to wit: “The procedures we performed did not constitute an examination or a review in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or attestation standards.

I

Accordingly, we provide no opinion, attestation or other form of assurance with respect to our work or the information upon which our work was based”.

If we may dare to ask: Where lies the merit – or rather, the utility of an exercise whose authors would gleefully disclaim as falling short of generally accepted auditing standards? Does it not smack of an attempt by the investigators to play Pontius Pilate – a lie in the name of investigation!

Even more curious is the auditors own admission that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), shunned the auditors’ request for the bank statements. According to PWC, “up till the time of writing this report, our request for bank statements from CBN was not responded to”. It opted rather to rely “on the account statements obtained from other stakeholders to carry out our independent check on the remittances made”. It was an investigation with roots. Remittances could not betraced. It was a reconciliation audit to fulfil a fraudulent script.

Of course, it still went ahead to establish wide-ranging discrepancies in record and general book-keeping although it fell astoundingly short of naming culprits. Even when it had good leads to follow, it sought

solace in the alibi of alleged institutional inscrutability.

Overall, the exercise touted as “forensic audit” and for which millions of taxpayers’ money was possibly paid, falls short of what was expected as set out in its scope of work.

We must say that we find nothing unduly

restrictive in the scope of work viz; Analysis of remittance shortfalls from NNPC into the Federation Accounts; Analysis of submissions made by key stakeholders in relation to these alleged shortfalls; and, producing an independent Forensic report detailing our findings.

The issue is that there are too many gaps which a more diligent exercise could have filled; the same way that we find the ready recourse to alibis by a supposedly worldclass professional body not only untenable but outrageous. That is why it is tempting to conclude that Nigerians were conned into assuming a perfunctory reconciliation exercise for a proper forensic investigation.

Moving forward, we can only hold the incoming administration to its promise to revisit the entire audit exercise. In this, the PWC report can only be the starting point.

At this stage, we can only urge that the firm be helped to complete the work that it started. Already, it has enough leads on the basis of which to proceed with the job. Perhaps, a good way to begin is for the incoming administration to get the identified uncooperative agencies to respond to the specific queries meant for them. We refer here to the CBN, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA), and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation – the prospecting arm of the NNPC whose operations not only remain shrouded in mystery but is known to act oftentimes outside of the ambits of the law.

How much did the nation actually lose? $20 billion or $10 billion? We wish anyone knew. Yet, it is not something we consider as impossible to establish. The same way the nation was able to establish the fuel subsidy scammers, the government only needs to look into its records to fish them out. The missing link has always been the political will to identify and prosecute those known to be behind the rape of the nation’s treasury. We expect things to be different this time. For once, Nigerians seek to identify those behind mismanagement of the nation’s patrimony if merely to put closure to the sordid era.

We must of course deprecate the role of a section of the media in trivialising the entire saga. Only the death of outrage would explain the mindless celebration of the disgrace that the PWC’s finding is. To say that only $1.5 billion – as against $20 billion – was indeed stolen is egregious folly. That a medium would dare to underplay the grand larceny would seem to us a case of moral abnegation.

‘What came out was an anti-climax of a most horrendous cover-up, and a mockery of an investigation. It abused every standard of auditing integrity. It insults our sense of arithmetic with its addlebrained accounting. It reveals the failure of a political class that has turned the people’s patrimony into a private fiefdom.

At bottom, it tells why not enough drugs, not enough roads, not enough schools enjoy the benefits of our money. It was called a forensic audit when it was not. It was called comprehensive when it was comprehensive only in its failures’

S

IR: Let me use the opportunity to congratulate the president-elect on his recent victory at the poll. His tenacity and perseverance has indeed paid off; his victory it is hoped, will indeed offer Nigerians the opportunity to enjoy his robust programmes, which he has over the years sought to implement if given the opportunity to govern the country. That opportunity has finally presented itself.

Power, plays a fundamental role in the life of every nation. Due to its importance, countries of the world invest heavily in the sector. According to a 2012 report, countries like Uruguay, Mauritius, Costa Rica and South Africa, were the largest investors in renewable energy. South Africa generates close to 40,000 MW, 98% of which is from coal. In Mauritius, a workable plan between the government have seen the Island enjoying stable electricity. In 2013, 2,575 MW was generated, representing an increase of 3.2% when compared with the year 2012. The country’s electricity consumption for that period was less than 1000 MW. Eighty percent of the electricity in Mauritius is generated from thermal plants, while the remaining 20% is from hydro-power. The government has a 15year plan, which hopes to see power generation increase steadily. In Uruguay, power generation has increased from 2500 MW to 2900 MW, between 2009 and 2013. Sixty-three percent of the generated electricity is derived from hydro-power. These are countries that have invested greatly in the power sector, and they have been reaping the benefits that come with stable electricity.

In Nigeria however, the opposite is the case. Electricity generation is at a disappointing level. Despite the huge investment in the sector, darkness remains prevalent in the country. Corruption has destroyed the power sector; the high level of corruption in the power sector, makes a ridicule of the huge investments in the sector. For instance, according to a 2013 report, the government of Nigeria has invested $31.45 billion, from 1999 to 2013, and all that was generated within that 14-year period is just 2500 MW; thus taking the total electricity generation in Nigeria to around 4500 MW. This is a far cry when compared with the output by other countries within the same 14 year period. Brazil invested $58 billion in its power sector between 1994 and 2008, while its power generation is about 100,000 MW! With the amount invested in the sector thus far, Nigeria and Nigerians deserve more in terms of power generation.

The incoming government therefore, has a job to do; and it must start with the power sector. That it must provide stable electricity for Nigerians is non-negotiable. It must show us that it is different and must get things right. One expects a complete overhaul of the entire sector, and putting mechanisms in place in order to get the desired results. A situation where billions of naira is invested with little result to show for it must stop. The privatization of the sector has yielded little or no result. Nigerians are paying more for electricity they hardly use or consume. This must change!

There should also be a diversification of the means of power generation. The countries mentioned above do not have oil. Yet, they have been able to provide a steady power for their people. It is therefore shameful that despite the huge deposit of resources in Nigeria, the country is still lagging behind in terms of electricity generation.

•Frank Ijege frankijege@yahoo.com

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: I congratulate Benue State governor-elect, Dr. Samuel Ortom on his victory at the April 11, governorship election.

His election to mount the leadership saddle of the state for the next four years is a clear manifestation of his acceptability to the Benue electorate as well as God’s divine intervention in the Benue project.

I wish to use this medium to make a few suggestions that will help the governor-elect in defining the direction of his administration in the first 100 days. This is because the first 100 days of his administration are very crucial days- in fact, the defining period of his administration.

The security of lives and property of Benue citizens should be taken very seriously. It is worth noting the fact that there can be no development in an atmosphere devoid of peace. As a result of that, holistic approach should be taken and no stone left unturned in ensuring that adequate security is provided in the state, as this is the primary responsibility of any responsive government. Concerted efforts should be made to tackle once-and-for-all the crisis between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in some rural communities of the state for our people to have a secure environment under which to carry out their farming and other

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

An open letter to Benue Governor-elect lawful activities without any form of harassment or intimidation.

Another area deserving urgent attention is water supply. Water is regarded globally as life, and it an essential commodity in the life of human beings and other living things. Despite this fact, the supply of potable water in the state still remains a mirage. Even though, the out-going administration has constructed water works in some parts of the state, access to potable water is elusive even in the state capital city. The Ortom/ Abounu administration should therefore; as a matter of urgency ensure that Benue citizens have water within their reach. This can be achieved by completing the Greater Makurdi Water Works and those in Katsina-Ala and Otukpo towns as well as reticulating of the essential commodity so that the good people of the state can easily access to it.

Also, the Ortom-led government should reactivate the Benue Print-

Calling on Ibadan Poly

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IR: I wish to use your reputable medium to appeal to the Federal Government to order the authorities at The Polytechnic, Ibadan to release the remuneration to students that underwent the compulsory four months Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) programme from November 2009 to February 2010.

Before the students proceeded on the programme, they were asked to drop their account numbers and bank sort codes and that immediately after the completion of the programme, the money will be deposited into their account but this has not been fulfilled by the school authorities.

After much pressure from the students, they were told that the money has not been released from Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and that immediately it is released, their accounts will be credited but unfortunately nothing has been heard from the school authorities.

From the look of things, it is evident that the authority at The Polytechnic, Ibadan is playing pranks with the students hence reason for the appeal to the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the students so as not to let their sweat be in vain as the payment is long overdue.

•Adedamola Kazeem, Ring-Road, Ibadan.

ing and Publishing Corporation, publishers of The Voice newspaper; Benue Television Corporation; Benue State Library Board and Radio Benue. The resuscitation of these organisations would position them better to perform their statutory functions including acquisition, organisation and preservation as well as dissemination of information resources and services to members of the Benue commu-

nity and beyond, among others.

More professional staff should be recruited for these organisations where necessary and adequate funds made available for them to operate optimally for the benefit of all and sundry.

More so, the incoming administration should accord civil service the necessary attention it deserves.

This is because a robust civil service is the engine that drives the

programmes and policies of government. Therefore, particular attention should be given to the welfare of civil servants with payment of salaries and other entitlements occupying topmost position. In addition, retirees should also not be left out. Their gratuity and pensions should be paid to them as at when due. The administration should be mindful of the fact that a well motivated civil service in the state would improve even the socio-economic well being of people. To this end, the incoming administration should make sure that it clears several months of salary arrears owed civil servants by the out-going regime.

• Akawe, Moses Makurdi, Benue State.

Pirates and audacity of criminality IR: Recently, a group of Nigerian artistes took their protest against piracy to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. Their goal was to seek the assistance of the Governor in curbing the evil activities of pirates who are bent on taking them out of business. The actors, who were led in the protest by leading cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, complained bitterly against what they described as the menacing activities of pirates in the country. As part of their demands, the actors requested that a state of emergency be declared on piracy in the country. They also demanded a declaration of piracy as an economic crime. This is in addition to making those who buy and sell pirated works accountable to the law. They equally wanted more government commitment to the copyright law in Nigeria.

Of recent, the onslaught against piracy has taken a global dimension.

Across the globe, various strategies ranging from raids, seizures, destruction of pirated works and arrests are geared towards curtailing the global plague that has cost individuals and organisations billions of dollars in income losses. The subject of piracy, which centres on unlawful and fraudulent production and circulation of original works, cuts across almost every sector. Be-

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fore now, discussions on piracy are often restricted to works of art. But, the reality is that piracy rears its ugly head in such sectors as fashion, manufacturing, media and films, pharmacy, medicine, technology, publishing among others.

From the way things currently stand, it seems as if pirates have learnt the art of beating not only the law of the nation but equally the custodians and enforcers of the law. Or else, how does one explain a situation where vendors of pirated movies hawk such on the streets of Lagos and, indeed, other cities across the country, with such amazing audacity and bravado? The situation becomes even more worrisome considering the revelation by some of the Nollywood actors that they know the particular place where the piracy of their work take place on a massive commercial scale in Lagos, but have tried unsuccessfully, even with the aid of law enforcement agents, to deal with the culprits.

This, of course, is a dangerous trend which if not properly tackled might be sending a bad signal that crime pays while hardwork counts for nothing. In an already battered economy and a nation where creativity is not well appreciated, giving pirates the freedom to operate without restraint could destroy the promising Nollywood industry in

the country. Doing this would be counterproductive as the movie industry has the potential of generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs for different categories of people in the country.

There is, therefore, an urgent need to strengthen the various laws against piracy in the country. It is, for instance, rather ridiculous that the few pirates that have been prosecuted, after over six years of money and time consuming legal tussles, were sentenced to just three months of imprisonment with an option of N10, 000 fine. With a weak legal framework like this, piracy would certainly continue to thrive. In India, piracy is a capital offence that carries death penalty. Also in the United Kingdom, there is an antipiracy squad that regularly clampdown on pirates. In America, anyone found guilty of piracy is sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. As it has been demanded by the movie producers, piracy should be elevated to the status of an economic crime, which it really is in reality, and should be made to attract stiffer penalties.

• Tayo Ogunbiyi Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

19

COMMENTS

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YMBOLICALLY, Professor Tamuno was one of the few lines in the colors of rainbow, the arch in the middle that formed in the sky for us to see and admire. He constituted a shield linked with the cosmos, the extraordinary being of colours, dispersed by the sun’s light, blessed by water droplets from the far sky. We cannot chase the rainbows, as they are too far high in the sky, but Baba Tekena Tamuno brought the lines and colours closer to us, making them reachable and touchable, and ever projecting as well as displaying his light and sunshine.

He was not easy to imitate, and impossible to clone, for no one can ever garner the rainbow of medals that adorned his walls; and no one can ever come close to the rainbow of love that filled his heart and chest. We have to keep struggling to reach the silverlining of his illustrious clouds and the gold located at the end of his rainbow. I won’t even try, for his resilience is uncommon, his patience is legendary, and I am too small to learn at his feet.

A master of long narratives, his nuanced conclusions were openended, elastic, and never threatening. Our personality can be embedded in our intellectual projects and self affirmation, as it is possible to link Wole Soyinka’s iconoclasm to Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron. Professor Tamuno was probably seeking to imitate some aged saints or, like a riverine man, he was guided by the calmness of the sea. The rough waves possibly frightened him, and he rather stayed at the banks. That calmness of the sea crystalized into a “Tekena formation” that became defined as the “Tamuno’s humility.”

There was one Saint Humility during the European Medieval Ages, a real saint, not an imaginary one. In fact, I am suspicious that Professor Tamuno, at one time or the other might have read about this saint! For, as those who knew him well, as I did, would attest to, he had multiple faces to his personality: one face that looked to spiritual forces, humbling himself before God and His agents. Grace becomes superior to one’s achievements, as Professor Tamuno magnified his own limitations. But there was also the leveling equality with fellow men, in which he constantly lowered his being and self in relation to his colleagues, superiors, and subordinates.

Being agreeable is no sign of weakness. The definition of a place in history, in space and time, is a recognition of one’s influence.

Walking gently, to avoid hubris, does not compromise pride. Recording a life history devoid of narcissism is no limitation to being grounded in humilitas. As one thinks of all of these unique qualities, what comes to mind is the Tamuno magic!

Professor Tamuno’s writing and life-style became the way to encode the spirit of humilitas, a careful use of oneself to teach practical ethics. I visited his house at Ibadan where he wore his simple top and shorts with many pockets, showing me his plants, his fruits, and his seeds. On one occasion in 2005, in the company of Professor Chris Ogbogbo, the amiable Head of the History Department and Professor Ademola Dasylva, both of the University of Ibadan, Professor Tamuno tried to recruit us into his way of thinking and lifestyle, warning us to be cautious, to exercise restraint, to cultivate wisdom. He invited me to dinner the next day, an appointment that I was unable to keep, thus denying myself of valuable fatherly lessons.

As younger scholars, the moment we entered our car, we were united in our conversations, engaged in comparing Professor

I

T has been one long dark night for our country. The abduction of the Chibok girls from their school in the wee hours of April 15 last year threw us into darkness.

Their abduction was a slap on the face of constituted authority because the kidnappers - the Boko Haram insurgents - went too far.

Before it struck in Chibok, a sleepy community in Borno State, Boko Haram had tested our will as a nation severally and got away with it.

So, the group was ever ready to do the unthinkable since it knew the government will not lift a finger against it. The Jonathan administration never felt that anything was amiss with the girls’ abduction.

Its stance informed its lackadaisical approach to the handling of the girls’ case.

No government treats matters concerning its nationals with laxity the way the present administration did with its initial handling of the Chibok girls’ case. Where a citizen’s life is involved, the government is expected to be proactive to ensure that such citizen does not come to grief. Here, we are talking about over 200 lives. By their nature, girls are fragile and as such should be treated gingerly. This is why the world is outraged over the Chibok girls abduction. The message it has been sending across to us is that the feminine gender is not supposed to be treated like that. The

381 DAYS AFTER

WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

Tamuno: The sacred canopy of our rainbow coalition – 2

By Toyin Falola Tamuno to another professor we visited before him, who was full of arrogance and vain words; we chose instead to praise Professor Tamuno’s wisdom. He was modest in prosperity, honorable in status, and graceful in moderate opulence. The visitation, one of many, triggered a series of reflections in me: the Kantian formulation of linking truth-telling with humility; and the Jesusian formulation of death and agony as sacrifice and redemption.

If the great Professor Tamuno learned from history, and he prospered by it, let us learn from him as well. In violating the tenets of his modesty and humility, I want to create a template for the Tamuno model of living: love Nigeria; read and cultivate skills; use talents; promote virtues; be meek; think of and appreciate others; make your ego small to realize your true humanity and place in the universe; and appreciate your smallness, but remain steadfast and true to your principles!

Nietzsche, the philosopher, will quibble with my generosity, for he sees humility not as a virtue but as a weakness, a strategy of survival, deployed by the weak to minimize the damage done by the strong, the Übermensch. Professor Tekena Tamuno would be a dysfunctional element in the pool that Nietzsche studied made a study of. To the contrary, Professor Tamuno recognized my own talent and was in praise of it, just as he recognized the talents of others. He did not deny others their honor, even when he was unjustly attacked. He did not build a cult of individualism and never asked anyone to worship him.

Our star has relocated, not extinguished: you and I are like dust, insignificant, but hopeful: hopeful that what he wanted, a peaceful and united Nigeria, will surely, eventually be created.

Professor Tamuno, sleep well, the great one, and permit me to sing a dirge: The honey eater Looks not at the edge of the axe The astute trader Bothers not with the din of the marketplace The egg lover Regards not the anus of the hen Thirsty throat befriends weeping palm tree Stretch out your calabashes I have poured libation Come join the spree Baba, rejoice, for you are already fit to receive grace: Poet, sing your song To the resonant din of the bell Ko ko, ko ko, ko ko, ko ko At its instance, the rhumba Là là, ko ko, là là, ko ko The earth must open for the earthworm

Là là ko ko fè fè, là là ko ko fè fè The potter must get her clay And the painter his colors With a face and nose to the ground The writer surely must find his words To make flow the rivers of ink Là là, là là, là là, là là Là là, ko ko, là là ko Professor Tamuno, I offer a promise: we will keep history alive: If we stay alive, songs and drama will come from Mouths of truth that seek no rewards Enduring pain without any gain.

Great one, we will serve others as a constant reminder of your humility and greatness: Judge us: this is all that you know Condemn us: the passion of your spirit We forgive: when we cross the passage of Time, asking questions: Were you with us in the grasslands?

Who laughed with us in the savannah?

Who cried in the forest?

Did you hear the story before the stream?

What did we say at the bank?

Did you cross the river with us?

Sir, be assured, we will descale our obsequiousness but enscale our memory of you: Flourish Greenfingers Like the cornstalk Rising in its season Flourish, Greenfingers The years of your triumph Call for celebration The labour of truth Is evergreen.

Flourish, Greenfingers The one Who has earned His purple robe Swirl, Sway, Swirl Greenfingers Ignore the heads in the clouds The sure footed Must reap bountiful harvest Swirl, Sway, Swirl, Greenfingers With royal gait As you arrive to dine At His pavilioned regal tables.

•Falola is Distinguished Teaching Professor at The University of Texas at Austin

The Sambisa mission world expects Nigeria’s leaders to rise promptly and rescue the girls.

It is still waiting to see that happen.

Little wonder that many were praying on Tuesday night that the Chibok girls would be among the 293 rescued by the military in Sambisa Forest.

It is understandable why the girls’ case generates excitement all the time. There is this feeling that any of the girls could be our daughter or sister. So imagining our daughter or sister in the position that these girls have found themselves in the past one year is torturous to many families. To those in power, the girls can rot in captivity for all they care.

Recall that by the time government raised a panel to go to Chibok and ascertain the veracity of the abduction, the girls and their abductors were far, far gone. Because it had all the time in the world to disappear to wherever it wanted with the girls, Boko Haram started boasting about what it would do with them.

Calling on Allah’s name, its leader, Abubakar Shekau, claimed that the Supreme Being had directed him to marry off the girls. He added that the girls have converted to Islam. To buttress his claim, he released a video footage, showing the girls dressed in hijab and flowing gown.

The girls’ abduction remains to date, Boko Haram’s biggest catch; so it is ready to do anything to protect its gain. It knows that as long as the girls are in its custody, it can always get the government to do its bidding. The group has used proxies to collect millions of dollars from the government under the guise of a cease fire. It ploughed the

money into buying more arms to unleash terror on Nigerians. By the time the government resolved to fight Boko Haram things had gone bad, real bad. hat is more. It made its move because of the then approaching elections. Although the elections have been won and lost, the government cannot, at this stage, stop its ongoing onslaught against Boko Haram to avoid comments, such as, ‘’we knew all along that it was all because of the elections’’. So, the battle must be fought to the end until the incoming administration takes over on May 29. People held on to the cheery news from Sambisa Forest, with the hope that the Chibok girls will be among the rescued.

Although the military said it was still profiling those rescued, hope was high that the Chibok girls might be among them. They were not. We beg to ask: when will they be rescued considering that time is no longer on the Jonathan administration’s side to clear this mess before it leaves?

sorts. They panel beat stories to make them readable and publishable. Among those on the rewrite desk in the early and mid-90s was Coffie Ammuako-Annan. Kofi, as we called him, was an expert. Patient and unassuming, he went through reporters’ scripts with care.

He was painstaking and thorough.

Never one to shout at you no matter how bad your script was, Kofi worked as if his life depended on the job. He was so loved by our bosses - Solomon Odemwingie and Tunde Ipinmisho (a master rewrite man) - for his thoroughness. Kofi whose mother hailed from Ogbomoso in Oyo State was everybody’s man because he hardly got angry, no matter what anybody did to him. In the wee hours of April 13, I got a text message from Mr Ipinmisho that Kofi, a gentleman to the core, is dead. He died in Ghana; he was 65. I doff my hat to a thoroughbred professional and master of the game. May you find rest in the Lord’s bosom.

Kofi Nene

JOURNALISM has a way of killing talents without knowing it. Many good writers are often sent to where we call Siberia (the old timers will know what I mean) where they cannot display their skills. They are either made sub editors or proof readers, where they do the job, while others take the glory. A few lucky ones break out of the mould to make their mark in the writing world. One of such persons is my friend, Ebere Wabara. Ebere had done virtually everything in Daily Times as a behind-the-scene man on the production sub desk be-

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THE way the Daily Times newsroom was structured, it was easy to spot some people at a glance because of their vantage position in the large hall. The news editor was in charge and his desk showed that.

Flanking him were his two deputies. In that set up were others close to the power base that made the newsroom tick. These were the rewrite men, who were always at the beck and call of the news editor, to clean up badly written stories. The rewrite men were panel beaters of

Triple author

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

fore he got his break, which came when he started writing Wordsworth, a column which spots and corrects newspapers’ grammatical errors. Since then, there has been no stopping Ebere.

It was while handling Wordsworth that former Daily Times Administrator Mr Peter Enahoro spotted him and made him front page editor. He left that seat to edit The Post Express and do other great things. Ebere is the author of Wordsworth & Essays (2001) and My Country, The Media (2005). His third book: Media Gaffes & Essays will be presented on Tuesday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos. May your pen never go dry, my brother.

‘When will the Chibok girls be rescued considering that time is no longer on the Jonathan administration’s side to clear this mess before it leaves?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

20

COMMENTS

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BASANJO and Jonathan, his estranged godson, have nothing but contempt for the Ekitis and their professors. The former first inflicted a dim-witted Fayose, a student of Lamidi Adedibu, the PDP garrison commander of Ibadan politics whose idea of a governor is a public pugilist who can also swear to falsehood with the Holy Quran without qualms. Obasanjo probably did that to compensate the man who doubled as the head of Ibadan thugs for his support for the 2003 ‘do or die’ elections. And for the latter, Ekiti experiment supervised by an ambitious clowning man who knows no fear, can be used as a template for 2015. This probably failed because of a fortuitous rift between godfather and godson, the threat of the international community especially the US and Britain, and the resolve of Jega to be on the right side of history.

Except the Supreme Court with its bizarre judgment, and perhaps Fayose’s thugs, the Yoruba even without the benefit of ‘Ekiti-gate’ audios, now know Fayose is an impostor. It is all embedded in our rich culture. We know for a fact that when the slave usurps the throne, institutions of state and its people are imperiled. Between 2003 and until his impeachment in April 16, 2006, Ekiti knew no peace. The period was marked by violence, kidnapping of a traditional ruler and assassination of his close PDP rivals such as Dr. Ayo Daramola, a World Bank consultant and Tosin Omojola. Ekiti sons for fear for their lives deserted home.

Referring to the sordid past during his inauguration on Thursday October 16, 2014, Fayose had confessed: “All my property were left in the Government House because I had to flee”, adding that during “seven and half years of my political wilderness,” I was “taken to court about 59 times aside the 45 days I spent in detention over EFCC charges”. But because of what President Jonathan has conveniently described as “the the slow pace of justice that grinds slowly in our environment”, in other to shield his thieving PDP members, Fayose like many accused PDP stalwarts ,instead of ending up behind bars moved on to become governors, senators, minister and party leaders.

Ayo Fayose shortly after losing a senatorial election was said to have trounced his highly rated sitting rival in all the 16 LGA. Shocked by his victory he could not but describe it as “a rare miracle”, adding “having a second chance is very rare. My return to government is not common in history; I will not allow this position to go into my head or use

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Fayose: Time to end Ekiti nightmare it to oppress anybody; I don’t have anybody in mind to punish battle with or fight in any way; I won’t allow sycophants to derail me again”.

But that was short-lived. His desperation at holding on to ill-acquired throne through various acts of impunity and constitutional breaches since his second coming is enough reason to believe Fayose is a usurper. And here once again, the Yoruba culture pointedly tells us that “omo Oba ki jagun bi eru”, literarily translated the heir apparent even in the thick of a battle is conscious of is responsibility to the state and the besieged enemy’s territory in contrast to a slave who has no stake and is prepared to risk all. Fighting like a slave without grace is exactly what Ayo Fayose has been doing since his second inauguration. As governor-elect, he had led a band of thugs to assault a judge presiding over his eligibility case, tearing his robe and shredding his case files.

His next action was to ferry seven PDP lawmakers in government bus protected by 300 policemen to the state House of Assembly where they whimsically pronounced the speaker backed by 19 lawmakers impeached and hilariously proclaimed one of the seven lawmakers a speaker. Moments later, Fayose dressed like one of his thugs was telling a bemused nation that he has recognized the new speaker. He then proceeded to chase the 19 lawmakers out of town. With the help of the police, he has continued to sustain this illegality. An attempt by the lawmakers to return home was frustrated. Fayose, drunk with power sent thugs to manhandle the law-

HE victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2015 polls has necessitated many permutations on the shape of government that will come into being as from May 29. One of the issues is what kind of therapy would the Buhari government be putting forward to address some of our pressing national problems. Gradually, the attention of Nigerians is shifting to the National Assembly which its current leaders will vacate their seats at the end of the Seventh Assembly in June. Given the majority status that the APC has now acquired in the two chambers of the National Assembly, the expectation and following the tradition, the party will produce both the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President.

Meanwhile, going by the mood of the nation, the issue of who becomes the next Senate President in June has generated concern and all kinds of calculations have appeared in the political circles and the media. Although the final shape of what would happen have not emerged, two names, among others, have featured prominently on the list of those aspiring to succeed David Mark from the North Central Zone. This piece is however concerned with the candidacy of Senator Bukola Saraki. While I agree that all ranking senators from the preferred geo-political zone are entitled to the seat, the thrust of this piece is on Saraki, a foremost candidate from the North Central Zone.

He is a political giant in Kwara state where he has, in two elections and in spite of stiff opposition, led his political parties to victory in 2011 and 2015 and thus establishing himself as a strong political force in the state. I must confess that when he joined other PDP stalwarts to walk out of the PDP Convention in 2013 and later defected to APC, I was one of those who had expressed some reservations on how he could emerge from the crisis without losing some political mileage. But as events have shown, he did his calculations well before taking the political risk. The end of the two rounds of elections this year has firmly established his total control over the politics of Kwara State as all the posts/ seats contested for were won by the candidates of APC. What this means is that he has a solid home base and his position as a leader of APC cannot be contested. This naturally should qualify him for the post of Senate President.

Shortly before the presidential election his sister, Gbemi Saraki, is already giving a good backing to her brother in consolidating the hold of Bukola Saraki on the politics of Kwara state. This represents a significant political statement and stronger support base for Dr. Bukola Saraki given Gbemi’s considerable influence in the Senate where she had served as a two-term Senator.

Any one familiar with Yar’Adua presidency would recall the immense role the then Governor Saraki had played in

makers at a boundary town between Osun and Ekiti.

Fearing the victory of Buhari will put an end to his acts of impunity, he became paranoid. First it was Buhari’s certificate. Then it was his age. He even went on to conclude that because his 70-something years old mother was afflicted with a strange disease that makes her resort to the use pampers, Buhari also must be using pampers. He falsely claimed Buhari was in London hospital and in fact trailed him down spending public money. He then changed strategy. He wanted President Jonathan, to relieve Jega of his duty as INEC chairman for insisting on the use of card readers. He did not forget to remind President Jonathan that ‘heaven will not fall’, if Jega was illegally removed, just as beyond opposition noise, heaven did not fall following Jonathan’s illegal and immoral removal of Justice Ayo Salami for ruling against PDP stalwarts that stole other peoples mandates.

Living in a fools’ paradise and believing there will be no consequences for his actions, Fayose who is too dim-witted to know fear (apology to Ali Mazrui) scared away most serious contestants in the last parliamentary and state assembly elections. PDP that was in opposition in Ekiti six months ago has now become the only party in Ekiti winning all available elective positions.

Fayose and his PDP supporters and okada riders in Ekiti are behaving like NNDP of the first republic who having rigged an election, dared the people counting on the false sense of security provided by the police. As a young boy, it is difficult to forget the horror of that

era.

We watched in horror as men and their children were routinely locked up in their cars and set ablaze right in front of police stations.

Three months after military take-over and cessation of hostilities in other parts of the West, mud houses and cocoa farms were still being torched in Ekiti. The late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, leveraging on his being an Ekiti man had to take a tour of Ekiti town and villages appealing to his people to stop the mindless killing.

Tragically, this is the past the Supreme Court by its last week bizarre verdict tried to encourage. In their wisdom, Fayose was not properly impeached in 2006. But since they didn’t say their verdict was retroactive, it stands to reason that Fayose was not qualified as at the time he contested the election in June 2014. The Supreme Court’s wise men were silent on Fayose’s constitutional banditry.

Perhaps as a consequence, Fayose has moved on to mobilize his church congregation, touts, market women, okada riders who have by last Monday taken over the state House of Assembly. It is not clear if the Supreme Court wise men are also asking the besieged people of Ekiti to resort to self-help.

But Fayose and his thugs currently behaving like lunatics must be reminded Ekiti people hardly forget. They equally don’t forgive traitors. He had the luxury of escaping in the boot of his car last time around. The scene he probably remembered when during his inauguration he gave an undertaking to be of good behavior. But Fayose cannot give what he has not got. He is ill-equipped, ill-mannered and ill-tempered to manage society.

With the criminal conspiracy of the out-going government, it is time the new inheritors of power got the police authorities to allow the lawmakers do their job and if necessary to put an end to Fayose’s buffoonery. Ekiti as the butt of expensive joke world over have suffered enough. Waiting until after Jonathan’s exit on May 29 may be too late. By then aggrieved people may forcefully attempt to demolish Fayose’s fraudulent structures.

‘With the criminal conspiracy of the out-going government, it is time the new inheritors of power got the police authorities to allow the lawmakers do their job and if necessary to put an end to Fayose’s buffoonery’

Saraki’s quest for Senate top job

By Hassan A. Saliu stabilizing the regime. As a loyal friend of the late President and at a time when many had deserted the late President on account of his ill-health, he made some visits to Saudi Arabia and remained a friend to the President until he breathed his last. The import of this is that the President-elect as well as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu can rely on Senator Saraki to play even a greater role in stabilizing the in-coming Buhari government.

The now famous Doctrine of Necessity that brought the second Acting President to power in the country in February 2010 was greatly facilitated by the Nigerian Governors Forum that was headed by the then Governor Bukola Saraki.

The kind of crisis that later gripped the forum may not have happened if Saraki were still to be in the saddle based on his track record of always being lucky at resolving political conflicts. This trait still endears him to his peers, former governors who have memorable occasions to share on his ability to fix problems.

One recalls that a coup of sort was hatched by some members of the Forum in 2010 apparently to humiliate Governor Saraki out of office on account of his presidential ambition. Surprisingly, both Adams Oshiomhole and Raji Fashola of the defunct ACN resisted and spoke against the unorthodox way of changing the chairman of the forum by rendering the efforts of Governors Gabriel Suswan and Gbenga Daniel, the purported beneficiary of the conspiratorial effort, a nullity. He survived the premeditated attacks and retained his chair of the Governors Forum. Such a man that is adept at boardroom politics is needed at this point in time to build bridges across party lines for the smooth take-off of the Buhari government. He can be relied upon to work through complex political situations to arrive at a seamless consensus. No doubt, some challenges await the APC in managing its electoral successes and the kind of officiating personnel that are put forward will go a long way in giving Nigerians the needed succour and relief.

As a Senator, he has been known to back popular causes.

One of these is the lid that he blew open on the huge and largely unaccounted money that was being spent on oil subsidy. The disclosure especially the aspects dealing with budgetary provisions necessarily made him to enter into a political bad weather with the consequential inconveniences but he showed character and conviction. This made Senator

Adefuye Adeyeye to commend him on the floor of the Senate for his bravery and he went ahead to draw a comparison between what Dr. Bukola Saraki did by raising alarm on the overshot of budgets on subsidy provisions and what his father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, had done under the Second Republic on the issue of missing oil money.

To be sure, Dr. Saraki has a rich credential and the relevant experience to become the next Senate President. With his network of friends in the Senate and among the ranks of exgovernors who are increasingly finding the Senate more attractive coupled with the fact that he was one of the architects of the APC’s victory at the polls, he will add value to the party and be a good reference and rallying point for PDP’s members who defected into the APC. The new ruling party in the country has more to gain by giving the nod toDr. Saraki to fly its flag as the next Senate President.

I am aware of the issue of shortcomings that some people have raised concerning the candidates that are in contention for the position. My position, however, is that the contest for the position of Senate Presidency is not all about shortcomings. Rather, it is about harnessing all potentials of our politicians for the greater interest of Nigeria. It is in this regard that one argues that it was the potential that people saw in the current Senate President, David Mark that made him to be preferred for the job in 2007. The issue of Benue politics came up. Some others had complained about his elitist orientation borne out of his remarks on telephone users in the country. Notwithstanding, on the aggregate, David Mark has made the North Central Zone and indeed, Nigeria proud by his sterling performance. Let the baton now pass on to Saraki to consolidate on the good performance of David Mark as Senate President.

It is possible for Senator Saraki to impact on the office by bringing more substance and relevance to it. There is also a high chance that the broad mindedness that the office requires will rub positively on him in a manner that would change some aspects of his politics that are distasteful to the people.

He deserves the support of all citizens especially people of the North Central geo-political zone, a part of the north that he had the rare privilege of serving as the chair of the Northern Governors’ Forum between 2003 and 2007.

• Saliu, is of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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COMMENTS

S

INCE the victory of General Muhhamdu Buhari at the presidential elections, I have taken time now and then to brush up on my readings on development. I have focused, not so much on the development stories of particular countries, but mostly on the broad issues of development – why some countries succeed and others fail.

I have read, re-read, and looked up the reviews and commentaries on the following books, and I urge leading citizens of my country to find one or two of them and, at least, browse through them: Guns, Germs & Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond; Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed also by Jared Diamond; Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity & Povertyby Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson; The Elusive Quest for Growth by William Easterly; and The Wealth & Poverty of Nations by David Landes.

Each of these distinguished authors offers his own profound thoughts on the question that is most important to Nigeria today – the question whether we Nigerians will make our Nigeria a success or a failure. Altogether, the summary of the studies and thoughts of these authors is that we Nigerians are absolutely able to make our country succeed and to make it fail. To put it in another way, we have all we need to make Nigeria succeed brilliantly; and we have all we need to make Nigeria fail disastrously.

The choice is entirely in our hands, and we are free to choose either way.

Needless to say, various factors beyond human power are important - factors such as geographical advantages or hardships, ethnicity, ethnic culture and history, availability or non-availability of natural resources, a country’s ethnic/cultural homogeneity or diversity, religious homogeneity or diversity, etc. But, in the final analysis, the ultimate determinant of whether a country shall succeed or fail is the choice made by its people, the institutions they set up, and the integrity or non-integrity of their operation of those institutions.

To make Nigeria succeed or fail: it is our choice For instance, being located in a desert makes development difficult for a country – but it does not make development impossible. The small state of Israel is a desert country, but its people have made it one of the most productive small countries in the world, agriculturally and technologically.

Having two or more different nationalities (each with its own homeland) in a county makes stability and development difficult, but it does not make them impossible. Switzerland in Europe has no less than four nationalities, but it is one of the most stable, and one of the richest, countries in the world. Being richly endowed with natural resources is good for development, but it does not guarantee development. Nigeria is one of the richest countries in natural resources in the world, but it has been relentlessly declining, with the masses of its people becoming poorer, since independence.

The key – the secret – in each case is the choices made by the people and their loyalty to those choices, and the institutions they give their country.

In short, our Nigeria has been declining since independence and becoming less and less stable, and over 70% of our people live in absolute poverty today, because we have been making the wrong choices, setting up the wrong institutions, and denying integrity to our institutions. Of course, the biggest of the wrong institutions is our federal government. Essentially, because we have hundreds of ethnic nationalities, our best choice was a federal structure. And since some of our nationalities are large and many are small, our best arrangement should have been to make each of our large nationalities a state and, with caution and respect, we should have helped our small contiguous

‘Whether our country revives and survives, or whether it continues to decline until it perishes – both depend on the choices we make in the next few years. That means that Buhari can lead us in ways that continue the decline one way or another’

A

S the All Progressives Congress (APC) is coming out of the euphoria of the victory recorded at the polls and the Peoples Democratic Party is recuperating from the shock of defeat especially given their delusion and egoism, the horrendous task ahead has dawned on the APC. I refer to the task of nation-building and re-uniting Nigerians divided along ethnic and religious leaning and towards achieving a common goal of peace and development.

It was Nelson Mandela who said in 1994 after his victory at the poll in the first nonracial elections in post apartheid South Africa that “ it is after climbing a hill that you will realize that there are many mountains to climb”. Mandela realized that a lot is expected with change. Having fought against an apartheid system instituted in 1948 after the victory of the NP (National Party) led by Dr. D Malan, a system that dehumanised and denigrated the black and colored people in South Africa, a system that oppressed and repressed the native people of South Africa, Mandela and his comrades realized that there is the need to heal the wounds and injustices of the apartheid regime. Mandela was magnanimous in victory, as he emphasized on national reconciliation and forgiveness through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission led

by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

In the light of the foregoing and in line with the existing realities in Nigeria, there is an urgent task of nation-building and national reconciliation. Nigeria needs to be purged of corruption and the indignity of impunity. Nigeria needs a general overhaul of the security system to tackle the menace of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists. The economy needs to be diversified, and the naira strengthened through sound and potent economic policies. There is an urgent need to create

nationalitiesto form reasonably sustainable states. We ought to have borne in mid the danger of having too many states and too many state governments – and thereby putting too heavy a load of administrative costs on our country. (India with a population of about one billion at independence, carefully carved itself into 28 states, and gave most of the burdens of development to the state governments).

But, unfortunately, it suited the purposes of some our most influential policy makers to carve our country into smaller and smaller states, so as to transfer more powers, resources and assets to the federal center. That paved the way for horrific inefficiency and corruption at the federal centre, turned our states into impotent entities forever at the mercy of the federal center, destroyed most development energy at the state and local government levels, and plunged our country into deeper and deeper poverty. The old regional responsibilities and assets (like universities, export crop management, some crucial highways, control over schools and school curriculum, etc) that were transferred to the federal centre mostly floundered and perished.

Those who controlled the federal centre arrogated to themselves the prerogative of deciding who would rule the states, and election rigging by federal agencies (INEC, police, secret service, and even the military) became part of our political culture. Similar relationships developed between each state and its local governments. Federal agencies, as well as the departments of the federal government, eminent institutions like the Central Bank, the state and local governments, all lost integrity. Leadership whims, caprices, and impunity, ruled over our country. We ceased having a country worth the name. Most observers began to say that our country was a failed state that somehow kept standing – a failed state that would soon crumble.

A new day can soon dawn in Nigeria. As the swearing in of Buhari and Osinbajo draws near, optimism and hope rise over our country. Understandably, most of our

Gbogun gboro people are looking forward to see Buhari crush corruption. Buhari’s former stint at ruling our country, and his general reputation and body language, fuel the anti-corruption expectations. But, hopefully, Buhari understands that to crush corruption fully and abidingly in this country, we must reorder and revamp the institutional roots and fabrics of our country. The wrongly chosen, distorted and corrupted institutions are the roots of our country’s problem. Redraw, restructure, and straighten up, our institutions and, not only will corruption perish, our whole country will begin to rise again.

But, of course, our country can continue to decline – and can decline until it crumbles.

Whether our country revives and survives, or whether it continues to decline until it perishes – both depend on the choices we make in the next few years. That means that Buhari can lead us in ways that continue the decline one way or another. For instance, he could choose to revive and reinforce the ambition of Northern domination of Nigeria, reinforce the accumulation of power, assets and resource control in the hands of his federal government, and even make the states more in number and weaker in stature – for instance, adopt the insane proposal that the number of states be increased to 54! He could, out of loyalty to a section of the country and to a political party, sustain the culture of election manipulations. He could do all or any of these and more – and pave the ultimate path to Nigeria’s disappearance.

But he could guide and lead us in totally different ways, and give our country a new lease of life. To build or kill Nigeria – it is our choice.

Kogi and the imperative of change

By Ohiemi Onuche Gabriel Mayor job opportunities and work upon the existing progress made in the agricultural sector. Corruption, like a cancer has over the years thwarted our growth and crippled the economy. Public corruption has now become the norm of public service. Corruption has to be exterminated through harsh punitive measures to deter public office holders from corrupt acts. All these and many more are the issues the All Progressives Congress President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari will have to contend with and with the help of God, surmount.

In Kogi State, the election result was a product of the collective will of the people.

The people voted out the three PDP senators from the three senatorial zones and in the House of Representatives. The success of the APC in Nigeria and Kogi is not a fluke.It is the result of selfless leadership and purposeful commitment of the party leaders and members. Many thanks to the national party leaders and party stalwarts.

Sincere gratitude goes to the father of the broom revolution in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu the former governor of Kogi State, a man known for his verve and vivacity, with a cult like followership.

Though often times misquoted, loathed and misinterpreted, he remains an enigma and a puzzle for the few who profiteer from the current clueless regime in Kogi State. The people’s prince is known for his strong political ideology. When others quit the party for fear of victimization and

oppression, Prince Audu stood his ground, fearless, unbowed and unbroken despite his persecution in the hands of anti-graft agencies who for many years acted the script of their paymasters. He remained in the party to grow and nurture it. He remains a shining example of the few politicians who have shown undiluted patriotism and loyalty to the party. His charm and charisma, guts and untiring spirit has always endeared him to the people that loves him so much. Many thanks to all party leaders and all ambassadors of Change!

The people have never been happier like now. For all the times Prince Audu has been rigged out, the people will repay him with their votes when the time come. My hearty congratulations to all the APC victors in the election in Kogi State and in Nigeria in general.

The “broom revolution” is not over, the wind of change that swept like the northern sirocco is not over. The governorship election is yet to be conducted. The people of Kogi State are still ready with their PVCs to end this circle of bloodless revolution and effect the much needed change in the political space of Kogi State. When it is time, we will flush out the PDP and the titular governor of Kogi State that has for long

crippled the state economy, plundered her resources, deepened poverty and under developed the state through inept, clueless policies, and corrupt leadership orchestrated by the PDP. The “People’s Prince “ is currently under pressure from the good people of Kogi State to contest for the December gobernatorial elections in Kogi; the good people Kogi State are asking for change.

They don’t want to be left out in this circle of change that is sweeping across the country. It is our prayer that the people’s prince will throw in the hat to save the state from imminent collapse, rot and ruin. When South Africa needed healing and rejuvenation, they called on Mandela, when Singapore needed economic turnaround and development, they tapped Lee Kwan Yew, Kogites need a leader like Prince Abubakar Audu to save her from the doldrums of underdevelopment and the conundrums of hopelessness and poverty. It will be a rescue mission, one necessitated by a hunger of a people for a visionary leader to bring back the old glory of the state. Let the man with the “midas touch” do it. Let the “ People’s prince” do it.

•Comrade Ohiemi is former Personal Assistant to Audu, former governor of Kogi State.

‘The success of the APC in Nigeria and Kogi is not a fluke.It is the result of selfless leadership and purposeful commitment of the party leaders and members. Many thanks to the national party leaders and party stalwarts’

22

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

INSIDE

Kwankwaso opens boarding school for 100 Borno orphans

A university is a citadel of learning and research. The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, is living up to this billing. It no longer patronises Information Communication Technology (ICT) solution firms for its software needs.

It relies on a highly-experienced team of in-house scientists to develop applications that suit its needs. With the team’s success, the university is now providing solutions for other establishments, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE (Kaduna).

-Page 28

LASU debunks resumption rumour THE management of the Lagos State University (LASU) has debunked the rumour that the recess it declared on March 25, has been called off.

‘The recess is still very much in force,” noted a statement titled: ‘LASU recess still in force’ and signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Ronke Osho on Monday.

-Page 37

CAMPUS LIFE •A 10-page section on campus news, people, opinions etc

Anti-xenophobia protest hits South Africa embassy

•Some of the softeware applications. Inset: Prof Junaidu

Not a varsity in name only •ABU develops software for self, others

P -Page 29

ROFESSOR Abdullahi Mustapha will leave office today as vice chancellor (VC) of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, a happy man.

One of the fruits of his five-year labour at the university is the development of about 14 software applications to manage in-house administrative issues.

The project, which started about five years ago, is now contributing

substantially to the university's internally-generated revenue (up to N30 million) by providing ICT solutions for the school and others.

Impressed with its success, the university held a ceremony to launch the software and reward the 25-man team that handled their development penultimate week.

In an interview with The Nation, leader of the software development team Prof Sahalu Junaidu said most of the software were web-based and

designed in such a way that they could be used from anywhere by various categories of users, including admission seekers, students and others.

He said: "Now, there are over a dozen software applications that we developed for use by students, academic and non-academic workers and other stakeholders. We have documentation for them. There are e-forms for applicants to apply into the university; we also have software

for recruitments; pay easy application (a payment system that enables students/people to make payment when it is due); there is exams logic which is used to process examination results and send them to the student portal. There is also the student portal, the human resource management information system, and one for the alumni to apply for their transcript online, the CBT application and many more."

The university management assembled the team sometime in 2010 to start the development. Before •Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

26

EDUCATION

Okebukola: if I had Gen Buhari’s ears

I

MMEDIATE past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola has urged the president-elect, Gen Muhhammadu Buhari, to take advantage of the country's depressed state to invest in areas that would spur growth and socio-economic development.

Okebukola, who said this on Monday while delivering the convocation lecture of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), titled: "Taking advantage of a depressing Nigeria economy to accelerate socioeconomic development", on Monday, identified seven areas he believed would restore Nigeria's glory, referring to them as "what Nigeria should have done better".

He said the country needed to accelerate socio-economic development within its resources by prioritizing its investment in the four basic areas of education, power, agriculture and solid minerals.

The professor, who now lectures in the university's department of Science and Technology Education, however underscored the importance of quality education to the economy.

"We must invest heavily in education or all other sectors would come to naught. Doubling leakagefree investment in education in the next four years at the federal, state and local government levels will translate to 30 per cent improvement on all socio-economic indicators in the next 10 years," he said.

On power, he called for more creative investment beyond the present reforms, which he said have been tardy in yielding positive

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

returns.

For the oil sector, the professor advised the incoming administration to: "Plan for a 45 dollar per barrel oil price for the next two years cutting down on corruption by 80 per cent, reduce the cost of running government by 45 per cent, diversify the economy by a factor of two point five. The resultant will be the same as if we were earning 124 dollar per barrel form oil."

He also advised Buhari to build upon the achievements of the past administration in the agricultural sector looking into expanding its scope, revenue capabilities and food and nutrition security.

Okebukola enjoined the new administration to appreciate the efforts of his predecessor for some of the progress made in key sectors. He said: "Surely, there are still huge gaps but humans are not God and cannot be perfect."

• A cross-section of some first class graduands of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) during Day One of the 2014 Convocation held at the Multipurpose Hall of the university.

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

NECO host communities disown rejection of new registrar

G

ROUPS from the host communities of the National Examinations Council (NECO) headquarters in Minna, Niger State, have dissociated themselves from the purported rejection of the appointment of Prof Monday Joshua as the new Registrar/Chief Executive of the council.

A delegation from the host community, Gidan Mangoro, and another group from Minna paid a solidarity visit to the new Registrar on Monday and assured him they

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

were not averse to his appointment.

The visit came on the heels of a protest last week by the Niger State chapter of Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) that opposed the appointment of non-indigenes as NECO chiefs.

Mallam Ahmed Adamu, spokesperson for Gidan Mangoro Community said the community has nothing against the new Registrar.

He pledged their cooperation and solicited for assistance in the area of employment for the unemployed in

the community.

Similarly, leader of the other group, Alhaji Danladi Maikaza said that they were more concerned with being given a fair share in appointments than bickering over who heads the council, bearing in mind that NECO is a national institution.

The groups pledged their unalloyed support to the new registrar and wished him God's guidance in the discharge of his duties.

Responding, Joshua said that, before he arrived Minna, he was told that the people of Niger state are hospitable.

He maintained that hosting NECO should be seen as a privilege and that the host community should protect it with all zeal.

Joshua reminded them that they have a responsibility to protect NECO- its physical structures and personnel, especially as the examining body has no doubt stimulated economic activities.

ABU: Not a varsity in name only •Continued from page 25 2010, the university outsourced most of its ICT solutions need to third party firms. However, now it has started selling software to other institutions.

He said: "At the beginning, the university had outsourced the development of what it called eduportal for student registration and many other things in 2006. But up to 2009, that portal still had problems.

So we that started that earlier development came together and wrote a proposal to the university management that we can develop an alternative edu-portal for the university in-house. We made presentation to university management, they considered and gave us the go ahead; and within five to six months, we came up with that edu-portal that has been used since 2011till today."

For the outgoing vice chancellor, the team's ability to produce the software was a relief. He said the lack of ICT solutions was a huge challenge when he took over as vice chancellor.

“When I came on board, the major challenge I faced was that of ICT application. Then the first thing I did was to assemble the best brains available in the institution’s ICT unit to carry out the projects to enable us adopt the global trend of ICT compliance,” he said.

Apart from two applications, the school manager and the Exams Logic software, which the team developed before 2010, one of which was marketed to Kaduna and Katsina state governments, Junaidu said the other software applications are also generating patronage.

He said: "Before you came in, the thing I was printing were documents.

One, to two organizations - a university and a government parastatal.

The government parastatal has given us a contract to develop similar system for them. We did it for SBRS Funtua, Jigawa Polytechnic. A division of agricultural colleges in Kaduna are

using some of the applications.

"I also mentioned earlier to you that the Kada legend is a school manager for secondary schools. We deployed it long time ago to some schools in Katsina state and Kaduna state. They are already being used by other people but we are going to be doubling our effort so that we get these applications marketed far and wide."

Speaking on how the software applications operate, Junaidu said, many of the applications are integrated to 'speak to themselves' so record keeping in the university is nearly seamless.

He said: "If you look at other portals, it shows you your current records but this one shows you the whole records since you became a student of the university. Even when you graduate, we leave some of these records like the courses you registered, fees paid and accommodation for you to access.

"These applications also communicate with each other. The Exams Logic can be web based; it can also be used in the traditional way, on your desktop. Once the results are ready, you can now push them to the students' portal so that students can read from their portals.

"All these applications talk to one another seamlessly. The user of the students portal does not have to know that the student portal talk to the exam software, staff portal, facility manager. All of them are integrated."

Members of the team, who are programmers or scientists teaching in the university, described the project as an exciting contribution to their careers and the university's

development.

One of them, Muhammed Shuaibu Umar, said the failure of the first students' portal, contracted to a bank was what provded the opportunity to the team.

He said: "Initially, the university contracted a bank to develop software for it, though it was a kind of joint development between the bank and the university. You know software development is like building a house.

You need an architect and a builder to implement. So, we were like the architects of the program and the banks were the builders. The program was supposed to last for five years, but unfortunately, it couldn't continue.

So, the management of the university challenged the team from the university to come out with the solution within a short period of time.

"Some of us are actually computer scientists, that is, programmers; some are engineers and two people from registry and bursary. We formed a team that developed a portal. Because of the urgency, it was developed in about three to four months.

"It was a fantastic experience working with the software development team. You see young men coming together to develop such a huge software within the shortest possible time. Sometimes, we use to go for retreat in Kaduna. It was a very interesting experience, we learnt a lot from each other.

"Some members of in the team are actually very experienced. For example, I have been into programming for the past 20 year?s.

When the software program started, I was the head of MIS then, that is the

•e-exam taking place in the university’s computer centre.

development of thefirst portal brought by the bank."

Another team member, ?Dr.A.F Donfack Kana said everyone was dedicated to the project.

"The development was very interesting. We gave it our best to develop our own software in-house without involving outsiders to solve our problems, and today, we are happy that we have achieved what was our target.

"Having studied our problems, we started most of our software from the scratch up to completion. We sourced the team of professionals from within the university and it took us time to come up with those software.

"Today, the software are huge success to the university because the problem of processing result is no longer a problem in the university.

We are conducting post UTME with

‘The software are huge success to the university because the problem of processing result is no longer a problem in the university. We are conducting post UTME with our own software and we also use it for UTME itself’

our own software and we also use it for UTME itself. So, we can say students are using the software, staff are using it and they are all enjoying it," he said.

A member of staff of the university, Mallam Auwwalu Umar told The Nation that the software applications are user friendly and has eased access to information that used to take days to get.

"Even from the comfort of my hom,e and even on my bed, with the use of my mobile smartphone, I can get any information I need about the institution, the staff strength, the students population, promotion, retirement and own personal information.

"In the past, there was information that you had to queue to access, even as a staff. Students use to queue to buy forms, register and even pay school fees. But, all that has been completely wiped out with the development of the softwares," he said.

On her part, Adikwu Elizabeth, a student of Quantity Surveying, also agreed that the applications have helped to save students a lot of time.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

EDUCATION UNIBEN's ex-VC's wife now registrar

UNILAG’s best set record •Graduands share future plans

I

T was a celebration of firsts on Day One of the 2014 convocation of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where at least three of the 125 first class graduating students confessed to be the first to complete university education in their families or villages.

One of them, from Borno State, Mohammed Abdul-Rahman, who was the best student of the faculty of Environmental Sciences, disclosed that he was the first graduate in his family.

The 25-year old plans to go to his village, Kumaga, in Kala-balge Local Government Area of the state to contribute to development and social welfare.

The graduate of Urban and Regional Planning has big dreams, including becoming Nigeria's president.

He said: "I feel great but at the same time, I am looking at it as nothing because, to me, the best is yet to come. I am a nation-builder and I want to be the president some day.

In 2021, you might see me running for a political office. I chose to do Urban and Regional Planning right from the onset because in my region, the Northeast, we lack development, good leaders, among other things so with my degree, I can go back and develop the place."

Another best, Margaret Adeogun, this time from the Faculty of Science, who bagged awards worth over N200, 000, was excited about being the first holder of a degree in her family. She has also embraced the employment opportunity her institution has given her to be a

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

THE Governing Council of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has appointed Mrs. Otasowie Oshodin as the eight substantive registrar of the institution.

A statement by the outgoing registrar, Mrs. Gladys Ogboghodo, indicated that the appointment takes effect from May 7, 2015 when her own five-year tenure ends.

Mrs. Otasowie Oshodin, spouse to the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.

Osayuki Godwin Oshodin brings to the job vast experience gained as Deputy Registrar, Council and Committee; Deputy Registrar, Staff Training and Labour Relations which was her immediate last posting, amongst several others.

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

graduate assistant though she is only 22 years-old.

The Ogun State born graduate of Microbiology whose CGPA was 4.90, said: "I am the first to hold a degree of any kind in my house and I feel great that hard work actually pays. What helped me were God, diligence and focus. When you have something to achieve and you pursue it with your entire mind, nothing can stop you."

Stephen Oriakhu, the best graduate produced by the faculty of Arts with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.56 was happily shocked at being the first holder of a first class certificate in his village and shared some advice with Nigerians.

"I am the only son and the fourth child of my family. My uncle told me this morning that I am the first to graduate with a first class in my village, which made me feel like I had done something truly substantial," he said.

The Philosophy graduate said he hoped to help re-orient Nigerians to believe in themselves and their

•Stephen

•Margaret

country.

"I feel the major problem we are facing in the country starts from our mindset. We have to create the habit of learning and relearning things.

Knowledge evolves. Most people keep saying the nation is bad but are

not making efforts to make any changes. So we need more therapists in the country to help people reset their mindsets. My mission is to help Nigerians believe more in themselves and in their nation, because other developed countries do the same and that helped them to grow. No idea should be written off as stupid," he said.

At this year's convocation, which would end today, the institution graduated 10,600 students, 45 per cent of who were from the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS).

Among other feats, the institution made the decision to give automatic employment as graduate assistants to the best two students from all the programmes of the institution.

‘I feel great but at the same time, I am looking at it as nothing because to me, the best is yet to come. I am a nation-builder and I want to be the president some day.

In 2021, you might see me running for a political office’

Buhari urged to appoint tested educationist as minister

P

R E S I D E N T - e l e c t Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to appoint a seasoned educationist as the ministers of education to enable the government formulate an educational policy that would improve standard.

He was also advised to ensure that professionals are employed as teachers in public and private schools.

The proprietress of Oloruntele Integrity College, Meiran, Lagos,

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

Mrs. Kehinde Oluwakemi Otuyemi, who spoke in Lagos on Monday while presenting a policy paper on the way forward in education, at the school's appreciation day, decried the dwindling quality of education.

Mrs Otuyemi, a retired teacher, said it was regrettable that Nigerian schools do not rank among the best in the world and called for an urgent intervention to stop the trend.

"I advise President- elect, Buhari, to appoint a tested educationist as the minister of education. This is the only way the fall in the standard of education can be addressed.

It is the only way forward. Government should revert to the past when only trained teachers were employed in private and public schools."

Mrs. Otuyemi attributed the poor quality to poor teaching, over pampering by parents and indulgence in malpractices. She said that was why institutions produced half-

baked graduates.

The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Deacon David Otuyemi, enjoined the Supervisory Unit of the Ministry of Education to be alive to its responsibility by paying unscheduled visits to private schools, to monitor their activities.

He advised parents to visit their children during school hours to curb truancy, saying the incoming administration should prioritize education to enable the country attain technological advancement.

Colombian educationist for AUN graduation THE American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, has announced Columbian educationist, Ms. Vicky Colbert, as the speaker for this year's Commencement programme holding May 9.

AUN President, Dr Margee Ensign said the university looks forward to learning from Ms Colbert's experience in designing the Escuela Nueva model of education, which she has also succeeded in adapting to the culture and policies of other countries.

Escuela Nueva is a social innovation that provides cost effective, replicable, and scalable solution to the issue of low quality education. The model encourages a strong relationship between the school and the community. Flexible promotion allows students to advance from one grade or level to another and complete academic units at their own pace.

Dr Ensign said: "We are all so happy that an educator as internationally known and distinguished has found the time to visit us. As Africa's first 'development university', we are anxious to hear of her wonderful experiences in the developing world, where her work has brought education and hope to so many millions of children across the globe."

First conceived in 1975 to provide complete primary basic education in Colombia and to improve the quality and effectiveness of schools, Ms Colbert's model became her professional life project.

New Quality Assurance instrument for Lagos schools

T

HE recent reorganisation of the Lagos State Ministry of Education that birthed the Office of Education Quality Assurance (QA) has been greeted with enthusiasm by stakeholders.

The director-general of the newlycreated office, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, met with about 40 participants selected from the unions, professional associations, school owners’ associations and QA officers at the Education Resource Centre, Ojodu, Lagos, last Monday to brainstorm on the instrument to be used for evaluating schools.

Mrs Soyombo said the sensitization workshop was oganised so stakeholders could contribute to the evaluation schedule for schools will know what would be assessed in the areas of leadership and management, achievement and standards, behaviour and safety, as well as teaching and learning.

“By the time we start publishing the instrument, it is not a resource that we have prepared on our own.

And we followed the Federal Government instrument, because it is the Federal Government that has done for all education schools. But what we have done is to review and revamp it to suit the needs of Lagos State, and that is what we have called stakeholders,” she said.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Mrs Soyombo added that schools would be graded after the assessment, which would help categorise them.

“If it is properly done in different schools, if a school has come out as outstanding, we would be able to actually give you outstanding award.

So, we are going to be grading schools. That is another development that is coming to education. It is going to be wow because our vision is to strive for excellence; to make all schools in Lagos State to actually be excellent schools,” she said.

Many of the participants are also optimistic about the new initiative.

Mrs Omotunde Olayinka Lawson, President, All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Lagos, said it would ultimately improve schools “Nothing could have been better than this. I see it as a way of better improving the quality and the standard of teaching and learning process in the schools for better and greater outcomes; for greater efficiency on the part of the school managers and teachers; for improvement on the attitude and behaviour of students; to engage services of all stakeholders; so at the end of the day, you have improved performance both for teachers, heads of schools; and the

•Mrs Soyombo addressing the participants.

students,” she said.

Mrs Mosun Owo-Odunsi, Proprietress of Amville School, Ilupeju, said it should soon become the national standard.

“Definitely, it can work; and it should work. It is the only way forward for the nation. And since it is starting up in Lagos State, I am sure other states will latch on to this,” she said.

Mrs Oyindamola Shomola, who represented Soms Creative and Edu-

cational consultancy and Christ Redeemers Schools movement, the umbrella body of schools owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, said the instrument would teach many administrators about how to run schools.

She said: “We have a lot of educationists, a lot of schools that have no clue concerning the major practice of quality assurance. So I believe that what has been done here, bringing

in stakeholders to have an input and to even have more understanding about what it means, for example, leadership and management, I feel that for those who have come today would know that it goes beyond just seeing the one in authority, sitting in the office. It is more about sharing ideas, delegating authority and backing it up and delegating responsibilities. Also about standards, a lot has been learnt.”

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

EDUCATION

Kwankwaso opens boarding school for 100 Borno orphans

FUNAAB FILE Grant from Lagos govt THE Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola, has presented a grant of N4 million to researchers at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to fund a study on environmental profiling of land-filled sites in the state.

The research team is being headed by Prof Toyin Arowolo of the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM).

Shedding more light on the grant, the Director of Grants Management (DGM), Prof Kolawole Adebayo, who represented the university at the occasion, said the government instituted the research programmes to sponsor researches that fit into the state’s development plan as well as research ideas, innovations or anything would make the state a better place.

The Arowolo-led team submitted a proposal on environmental profiling of land filled sites to the Lagos State government, which looked at sites where Lagos State had been using as dump sites by assessing the water, air and soil in those areas to determine how hazardous they are to the community and what could be done to remedy the situation.

Fifty per cent of the grant has been released upfront.

K

ANO State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has inaugurated a boarding school that would house 100 orphans selected from the insurgency ravaged Northeastern states.

At the event held at the state government house, the governor said that the boarding school is a part of the government's special intervention programme in collaboration with its Borno counterpart to provide them with quality education, good health and shelter.

He disclosed that, the boarding fa-

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

cility would admit children aged 5-8 who were selected from various camps for Internally Displaced Persons(IDP) in Borno State.

Kwankwaso noted that the motive behind the relocation of the children to Kano was prompted by the need.

Commenting on how the initiative would be sustained, Kwankwaso disclosed that the state government has entered into a memorandum of understanding with its Borno counterpart to ensure that the children acquire quality education from pri-

mary to tertiary levels.

He said medical, academic and social personnel have been recruited to provide services to the pupils.

"These children were rescued from a horrible condition. I have ordered medical experts to attend to them immediately," Kwankwaso said.

The governor task the incoming administration under Muhammadu Buhari to roll out a marshal plan to address the educational and security challenges created by the insurgency in the troubled Northeast region.

He added that the region is in dire

FUTA students okay library THE ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library of FUNAAB, has been described as very conducive and one of the best in tertiary institutions in the Southwest because of its good ventilation and lighting.

This was the conclusion reached

by Miss Adefolalu Deborah, a 400level student of Architecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and her classmates, who studied: “Measurement of Artificial Light Levels in Library Buildings of Federal Universities”.

She said FUNAAB’s Library was very spacious and encourages good reading even when there was no electricity because the natural lighting through the windows was adequate to illuminate the reading areas of the library.

She also praised the clean environment in FUNAAB. “The arrangement of the buildings was unique compared to the ones we have seen before. They are remarkable. I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. The campus is very clean,” she said.

On his part, a FUTA lecturer that accompanied the students, Afolami Adewale, an architect, appreciated the work of the architect and other professionals that designed the FUNAAB Library.

need of a plan that would revive economic activities.

Three of the beneficiaries, Ibrahim Meina, Saidu Ishaqu and Mohammed Idris, thanked Kwankwaso for the gesture.

UNIOSUN don heads chemistry group

P

AAU President counsels varsities THE President of the Association of African Universities (AAU) and Vice-Chancellor, FUNAAB, Prof Olusola Oyewole, has challenged universities in the country to be well-positioned to contribute their quota to the socio-economic transformation of the nation, like FUNAAB. Oyewole said FUNAAB has positioned itself well by maintaining a tradition of excellence – evident in the quality of its graduates, as well as being made a World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Agriculture.

He also said FUNAAB is favoured by many admission seekers, including international students, many of whom have won scholarship to study in the university. He spoke of plans to started a Distance Learning Programme to meet the demand for access to university education.

• Kwankwaso

•Fayose (middle), standing with Prof Aina (second left) and other principal officers while addressing EKSU workers.

G

OVERNOR Ayodele Fayose's visit to the Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti, recently may have put an end to the ambitions of those hoping that he would remove Prof Oladipo Aina as vice chancellor.

Since he took over as governor from Dr Kayode Fayemi, who ratified Aina's appointment, Fayose had been under pressure to remove Aina.

However, Fayose's verdict at the end of an impromptu visit to the university, which he described as a private assessment of developmental work in the university, was a pat on Aina's back.

The visit was coming 10 years after he attended his last official ceremony as the Visitor to the university when he first became governor.

Aina led the governor on a tour of projects, both completed and ongoing, starting from the College of Medicine.

The governor inspected the multi million naira medical library, which Aina said has received positive reviews from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the medical students' hostel, laboratories and departmental buildings.

He also visited the newly constructed school of Postgraduate Studies, university library, and the Faculties of Management Sciences, Science and Social Sciences and shared suggestions with the contractors on site.

Fayose commended the architectural work at the new Faculty of Education, Entrepreneurship Centre and the students' hostel which is a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement. He also praised the students' union building donated by an alumnus of the university, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Amnesty.

Fayose praised the Aina-led management for its prudent management of resources in the past three and a half years it has been in the saddle. He added that he was impressed with the remarkable growth

Fayose praises EKSU VC •Warned critics to stop calling for his sack

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

recorded in less than four years of leadership.

"Sometimes it is not about the volume of resources but the managing of resources. This vice-chancellor has performed excellently well and those who have been sending text messages to me urging the removal of the vice-chancellor should stop send-

ing such text messages," he said.

Fayose assured the university community that he would constitute a new Governing Council for the institution soon.

The Ekiti State governor who noted that he was back in the university after 10 years expressed gratitude to God for giving him such a rare opportunity to be the governor and the Visitor to the university again.

‘Sometimes it is not about the volume of resources but the managing of resources.

This vice-chancellor has performed excellently well and those who have been sending text messages to me urging the removal of the vice-chancellor should stop sending such text messages

ROF. Adekunle Bashiru Okesina, a distinguished Professor of Chemical Pathology, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo has been appointed as the President of the African Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC) for 2014-2015.

The group is the umbrella body of clinical chemistry societies on the African continent, and a regional society of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC).

At present, the membership spreads across 15 countries: Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ten of these countries are Full Member Societies of the IFCC. Okesina will serve on the board of the AFCC with the immediate past-president: Prof V Steenkamp (South Africa), President-Elect: Prof RT Erasmus (South Africa), Secretary: Prof HT Marima-Matarira (Zimbabwe), Treasurer: Prof A Amayo (Kenya), members-at-large: Mr H Lumano (Zambia) and Dr M Charles-Davies (Nigeria).

Meanwhile, Okesina is currently in Harare, Zimbabwe, presiding over the 4th conference of AFCC ending today at Victoria Falls.

The theme of the conference is: "Integrating Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine in Evidence Based P4 Medicine".

He also had the opportunity of participating in the pre-congress courses held in Harare last week, which covered Quality Laboratory Management Genomics and Proteomics, MetabolicsInformatics 'Hands On'; Atomic Absorption Spectrometry in Endocrinology and TDM, Drugs of Abuse and Toxicology; Young Scientist Networking and Paediatric Pathology Including POCT and Nanotechnology in Clinical Chemistry.

MBA students protest omission from UNILAG ing met all requirements, was omitS the University of Lagos (UNILAG) bubbles with ac- graduands’ list ted from the convocation list. We

A

tivities marking its 2014 convocation, some post-graduate students are not happy that their names were omitted from the list of graduands this year.

They threatened to disrupt the event with a court order over what they called the "deliberate omission" of their names from the convocation list.

The aggrieved students accused the coordinator of the Master's of Business Administration (MBA) of failing to send their results to the Senate for ratification, describing the action as callous and unfair.

The students threatened to approach the court should the school fail to listen to their complaints.

One of them, Akinyemi Alebiosu, said: "We started the MBA programme in 2011, hoping to be

By Wale Ajetunmobi

awarded the degree within two years. There were industrial actions within the period, which pushed the graduation time longer than expected. We wrote our final examination in March 2014 in line with the school's calendar and defended our projects at different times within the year as scheduled by the MBA School coordinator.

"We also held a meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and the coordinator of MBA programme, where we were promised our names would be sent to the Senate for ratification, having fulfilled all obligations.

"To our greatest surprise, we found out 70 per cent of the MBA students due for graduation, hav-

tried to reach the authorities at the MBA school, but they would not attend to us."

Alebiosu said that the affected students were told their results had been forwarded to the Post-graduate school. But on visiting to the Post-graduate school on April 17, the Sub-dean told the students that their results were "stepped down" by the Senate because the MBA School did not present the results on the e-platform.

The Nation learnt that the MBA School is yet to correct the error but the affected students said they are victims of inefficiencies of UNILAG workers. They are demanding immediate approval of their results.

UNILAG's Deputy Registrar for Information, Olagoke Oke, could not be reached for comment at the time of this report.

Tapping ocean’s ‘hidden’ resources

*CAMPUSES

Creating exemplary leaders

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 42

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

University of Lagos (UNILAG) students on Monday marched on the South Africa High Commission in Lagos to protest the xenophobic violence in which scores of immigrants have died in that country. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

•Students at the South Africa High Commission during the protest

Anti-xenophobia protest rocks South Africa mission I T is not the first time xenophobic attacks will be witnessed in South Africa. When they broke out again about three weeks ago, the world was shocked.

Reason: they thought the South African authority will live up to its promise to avert a recurence.

In the latest attacks, many foreigners have been killed or maimed. Many are in hiding or living in heavily fortified displaced people’s camps in Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial nerve centre.

The attacks have been condemned by the South African government and the United Nations (UN), yet there are reports of xenophobic incidents in far-flung cities.

To show their displeasure over what is happening, staff and students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Monday, marched on the South Africa High Commission on Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, to protest against the attacks.

The protesters, led by leaders of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), picketed the high commission’s gate. They demanded stop of the attack. They described the attacks as bestial and inhuman, urging the South African government to punish the per-

petrators.

The protesters, carried placards with inscriptions, such as: “Is this how South Africans will pay back people who stood by them during apartheid?”, “Do South Africans still remember the numbers of their citizens who were educated and sheltered in Nigeria?”, “Without the material, financial and emotional solidarity from African governments, could the anti-apartheid struggle be won?”, “Is South Africa suffering from acute amnesia?”, “How so soon have they forgotten the over $61 billion injected

into their economy during the antiapartheid struggle?”.

They warned that failure to stop the attacks would lead to a boycott of South African interests in Nigeria. According to the protesters, there is need for social cohesion to guarantee development in Africa. The immigrants, they said, should not be seen as enemies in South Africa.

They said Nigeria did not deserve to be paid back in a bad coin, having supported South Africans’ effort to rid their country of colonialism. South Africa, they said,

owed its independence and everything it has achieved to the help of other Africans during the apartheid.

The SUG president Abiodun Martins said the demonstration was to condemn the incessant xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, which he noted, violated the victims’ rights. Martins said: “No level of economic hardship and social discontent can justify the xenophobic violence against immigrants by South Africans. Nobody has monopoly of violence but we plead for calm and peace, and demand the open trial the perpetrators. Justice must be done to the victims of this senseless crime.”

•Continued on page 30

•UNILAG students protest blackout•Rain of tributes for teacher-P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Lessons from Singapore Pushing

“M

Y definition of an educated man is a man who never stops learning and wants to learn.”- Lee Kuan

Yew One of the key principles guiding my life is imbibing positive attributes and traits from mentors and people I admire and jettisoning the negatives. I give similar advice to the young men I have, or still mentoring. As fallible humans, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. As is true with humans, so it is with nations which explains why some succeed and others fail.

So much has been written on the life and times of the late Singapore leader, Lee Kuan Yew’s achievements, both in and out of office. This great leader was ranked among the best leaders of the 20th century because of what he did for his tiny landlocked city state by turning it into one of the most developed countries of the world. One key area he focused on – which is often overlooked – is the huge investment in education. How did he do this?

The strategy that the late statesman adopted was “to develop Singapore’s only available natural resource, its people.” It is therefore instructive to note that as a result of this strategy Singapore ranks among the top performers in educational attainment, as measured by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD’s) Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Moreover, though a city-state of just five million people, Singapore boasts two universities among the top 75 in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the same number as China, Japan, and Germany.

Lee Kuan Yew did not just wave a magic wand and everything suddenly fell into place.

No, his was a deliberate, calculated and targeted effort of a mind that is aware that with disciplined efforts man can actually move mountain. As expected, it was not easy starting, especially for a landlocked country without any visible natural resource.

Though a nationalist, Yew ensured that the country’s education system was built on the very solid foundations inherited from Singapore’s British colonial past. In contrast to many of his contemporaries among postcolonial leaders, Lee Kuan Yew was not afraid to embrace whatever elements from that past that would prove useful to the nation-build-

Out

ing enterprise. Like most nationalists, he detested colonialism, but he was smart enough to realise that there are elements beneficial in national transwith formation.

In line with this, many of the country’s premier educational institu08116759750 tions – for example, the National Uni(SMS only) versity of Singapore (founded in1905), Raffles Institution (founded in 1823), •aagboa@gmail.com and the Anglo-Chinese School (founded in 1886) – significantly predate independence in 1963. Moreover, the cur- titude. The country is rightly proud of its elite riculum for secondary education is modeled secondary and tertiary academic institutions, but on the British O level and A level qualifica- one could argue that the hidden gems of the tions (with some adaptation to account for the system are the hundreds of neighborhood generally higher average attainment levels of schools, institutes for technical education, and students in Singapore). And, though infrastruc- polytechnics that provide high-quality educature is by no means neglected, the primary tion for all.

Not losing track of a rapidly changing world, focus of educational investment is students and Singapore’s education system is relentlessly forteachers.

To cap it, a national system of generous schol- ward-looking and in tune with the times. Take arships enables the best students to avail them- the language of communication as an example; selves of an education at some of the world’s the country adopts a bilingual approach with premier universities, even as Singapore devel- English, in addition to the mother tongue of ops its own world-class institutions. Moreover, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. These are used to with starting salaries above the national me- relate with mainland China and Malaysia. This dian, the teaching profession attracts, devel- is further driven by the focus on science, techops, and retains some of the best graduates. nology, engineering, and mathematics which This was deliberate and it has paid off in the are better known by the acronym STEM. It helped propel the country from a third to a first long run.

Standards were also crucial to this strategy world nation in less than two decades.

Why English and not Chinese since a substanas the education system is uncompromisingly driven by merit which some have criticised as tial number of Singaporeans are from mainbeing elitist in its focus on identifying and de- land China, some may be tempted to ask. The veloping the very best talent and, equally im- choice of English was driven by history and a portant, directing it toward public service. To multiethnic society’s need for a common lanensure that the state gets the best from recipi- guage. But it was also a prescient recognition of ents, government scholarship recipients are English’s rapid emergence as the lingua franca obliged to serve in the public sector for a mini- of global commerce and science, and that once mum of two years for every one year of study. entrenched it was likely to remain so for deA system driven by merit will expectedly cades, if not centuries, to come.

In this regard, too, Lee Kuan Yew distinhave higher standards governing the training, development and promotion of teachers. Cri- guished himself from other post-colonial leadteria are created where top-performing teach- ers of his generation. Rather than pandering to ers are given leadership responsibilities with- narrow nationalist sentiment and opting for the out excessive regard to tenure, and there is a majority language and culture, he and his colrevolving door between the education minis- leagues chose to adopt a global language for a try, classrooms, and school administration. Edu- global city.

As things began to change globally, cators are frequently seconded to carry out policy work. Many subsequently choose to return to Singapore’s education system began to change from the 1990s, as policymakers, concerned that the classroom.

The elitist tendency in Singapore’s education their approach to education might be somewhat system is tempered by the fact that quality edu- regimented and overly focused on STEM, becation is available for all levels of academic ap- gan to provide avenues for excellence in the

Agbo Agbo

humanities, arts, and sport. That rebalancing is still ongoing, with a new emphasis on identifying ways to foster creativity and entrepreneurship.

As a forward looking country, policymakers learnt from the Asian financial crisis of 1997.

The world economy was shifting to a global knowledge economy, the competitive framework of nations was being redefined and national progress would increasingly be determined by the discovery and application of new and marketable ideas. The growth of the global knowledge economy required a paradigm shift in Singapore’s education system towards a focus on innovation, creativity and research.

All these would not have been achieved without funding which is why education spending usually makes up about 20 percent of the annual national budget. The government subsidises state education and government-assisted private education for Singaporean citizens and funds the “Edusave” programme (part of a scheme to maximise opportunities for all Singaporean children. It reward students who perform well or who make good progress in their academic and non-academic work, and provides them and schools who qualify with funds to pay for enrichment programmes or to purchase additional resources).

The country also created a new educational vision, “Thinking Schools, Learning Nation.”

This major milestone in Singapore’s education journey recognised former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong’s belief that “a nation’s wealth in the 21st century will depend on the capacity of its people to learn.” The vision encompassed a wide range of initiatives over a number of years that were designed to tailor education to the abilities and interests of students, to provide more flexibility and choice for students and to transform the structures of education. Career paths and incentives for teachers were revamped and teacher education upgraded.

To those who believe that large-scale change in educational performance is not possible, Singapore has shown several times over that significant change is possible. Singapore has developed a high-quality system in terms of educational retention, quality and efficiency.

The country has taught the third world that to become and remain high-performing, they need a policy infrastructure that drives performance and builds the capacity for educators to deliver it in schools. Singapore has developed both. Where She is today is no accident, it is the result of several decades of judicious policy and effective implementation.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADUATES The Nation, Nigeria, in collaboration with African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) and Network for a Free Society (NFS), is calling for entries into the 2015 essay competition.

Details are as follows: Topic: Government regulations and controls are the biggest threat to jobs in Africa today. Discuss using practical examples Participants must discuss the topic using contemporary examples.

•Security operatives attached to the High Commission addressing the protesters

Protest rocks South Africa mission •Continued from page 29

In a protest letter addressed to the South African High Commission in Nigeria, the students said they would ensure all South African products are boycotted if the “barbaric massacre” is not stopped.

The letter reads: “We urge the South Africa government to stop the spate of senseless attacks on Nigerians and other black Africans residing in the country. The consequences of failure to prevent the spread of the xenophobic violence against our compatriots will be grim and we shall ensure that commercial activities will be halted at Shoprite, Pick ‘N’ Pay, Mr Price, Woolworths and other investments linked to South Africa. Our

people will also be sensitised to boycott DStv, GOtv and MTN. These measures will be taken to make South Africans know that immigrants in their country are human beings and not animals.”

The students urged Nigerians to join in the struggle to force South Africa to take drastic actions against xenophobia.

A protester, Charles Igwe, said: “We must be united at this time to force the government of South Africa to bring the perpetrators of the xenophobic attacks to book. We need to bear in mind that an injury to one of us is an injury to all of us. Even if the government has been insensitive to the crime against its citizens, Nigerians must be united to fight for the rights of their brothers and sisters residing in South Africa.”

Qualification: Participant must be a student in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and technical schools) in all African countries. The format of the text should be in Microsoft Word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested student can visit: www.networkforafreesociety.org for useful background materials on the theme of this contest. Be informed that no participant is allowed to lift materials directly from works of any author and claim to be his/her own. Plagiarism automatically disqualifies any entry, which contains work of another author.

If any text or sentence is copied from another author’s work, it must be shown in quotation marks and writer must credit the original author at the bottom of the paper.

On the first page of the completed essay, participant must write his/her full names, department, and year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and functional mobile phone number.

All entries should be sent to: adedayo.thomas@gmail.com Entries will be received between March 26 and June 26, 2015. Late entries will not be accepted.

Winners will be announced on July 29, 2015.

PRIZES 1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 2nd-Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 3rd-Franklin Cudjoe (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to23, 2015 4th- The Nation CAMPUSLIFE (Media Bronze Prize): $300 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 We also have eight consolation prize of $50 each.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE The Department of Microbiology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has partnered with two Chinese universities to conduct researches that will harness marine resources to boost cassava and drug production. INYA-AGHA EGWU reports.

Tapping ocean’s ‘hidden’ resources

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EYOND fishing, man is now poised to get more from the ocean. Some resources found in the Atlantic Ocean can be harnessed to produce drugs.

This is the essence of the collaboration between two Chinese universities and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), which culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The idea is to embark on research on how to harness marine resources in Nigeria for drug production.

There will also be a research on ways to cultivate and process cassava for industrial and domestic uses.

Scholars from the Department of Pharmacology of Capital Medical University in Beijing, and Starch Chemical Research Institute of Gunning University, China, are in the country to access resources to drive the process.

Speaking on the partnership, the UNN Head of Department (HOD) of Microbiology, Prof Anene Muoneke, said the research would be in the areas of staff and students exchanges, and provision of research materials and equipment.

“The target is to improve food security and drug production, and our partners want to get started immediately, using local resources as raw materials for the researches,” he said.

•From left: Prof Muoneke, Prof Joshua Lao from the Department of Pharmacology, Capital Medical University Beijing, Prof Igbokwe, Prof Bi, Prof.

Xiukwu Lin, and the Dean, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Prof Eyo

According to Muoneke, scholars from the Starch Chemical Research Institute are interested in cassava processing and value addition, but those that came from Capital Medical University in Beijing will explore marine resources for the production of anti-cataract drugs.

He said the partnership was part of the department's drive for excellence in knowledge-based research and education. He said through collaborations with globally recognised institutions and exposing the faculty's lecturers to global method of research practices would make the UNN to remain in its position as best institution for knowl-

edge and academics.

During a courtesy visit to the office of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration, Prof Edwin Igbokwe, who received the researchers, urged the team not to restrict the collaboration to the Department of Microbiology alone. He urged the team to extend the partnership to faculties of Agriculture and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which have similar objective with the theme of the researches - cassava and drug productions.

The Director of Starch Chemical Research Institute, Prof Gu Bi, said cassava provided good raw mate-

rial for food industry and could be used to prepare staple food series for the local market.

Prof Bi, who spoke at a lecture with staff and students at the Department of Microbiology on Making delicious food with cassava, listed some of the food series that could be prepared from cassava to include noodles, dumpling and steaming buns, bread, pizza and cake, among others.

While sweet cassava, Prof Bi said, could be used for staple foods, bitter cassava could be fermented to produce alcohol and starch for industrial uses.

Some workers and students,

who shared their thoughts after the lecture, said they looked forward to the partnership that would add value to the production of cassava in Nigeria.

Prof Jerry Ugwuanyi, a senior lecturer, said: “The use of cassava is centred on traditional food process. The value addition is very low, but we have learnt other methods by which cassava can be utilised. This is very encouraging and we hope that the technological cost would be low.

There is need to add value to cassava production in Nigeria in order to encourage our peasant farmers.”

Candidates vying for positions in the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Students’ Union Government (SUG) participated in a debate organised by the Junior Chambers International (JCI) to sell themselves to their colleagues. EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (400-Level Pharmacy) reports.

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OLITICS, to some, is a dirty game. But, when it comes to students politics, it tends to be both dirty and fun. At the justconcluded debate for candidates vying for positions in the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Students’ Union Government, these features were highlighted.

The debate was organised by Junior Chambers International (JCI) in collaboration with the union’s electoral committee.

It was nothing short of a reality show as it bore the semblance of a national presidential debate.

There was tension and suspense in the air.

In his opening remark, Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA) Prof Francis Osagiede, represented by the school Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Michael Osasuyi, advised the students to make their points with decorum and desist from using foul language. He said the debate would enable students know the programmes of the incoming union executive, urging members of the audience to note all points made at the event for them to be able to assess the tenure of the union.

Prof Osagiede said: “This is the second presidential debate to be held. The office of the Dean of Students’ Affairs will ensure a level playing field and fairness to all students vying for the union leadership to make their programmes known to their colleagues. We have encouraged the organisers of this event in all possible ways to ensure this event is successful. We should all embrace decorum as this is the only way this event can be meaningful.”

•Students listening to the debaters

Frills and thrills at union’s debate The moderator read the rules to the participants, some of which elicited reactions from members of the audience.

The moderator said: “Members of the audience are not supposed to clap or shout at any candidate as he tries to answer question.”

But, this did not go down well with the students, who told the moderator to cancel the rule. Some of them said that they came to the event because of the candidates and it would not be appropriate if they were not allowed to clap for

or sing the praise of any candidate who made good points.

The panel of judges comprised staff and students, including Deputy Chief Security Officer, Mrs Ruth Osa-Osifo, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Prince Harrison, Nkechukwu Otike-Odibi, a 400-Level Law student and Sunday Erhonmwonse, a 300-Level Optometry student.

Before the debate began, Daniel Omola, the electoral committee’s secretary, urged candidates who do not make it to take the decision

in good faith and join effort to move the union forward.

The JCI president, Ugochukwu Ekeleke, gave the reasons for the debate, saying it would create room for discipline, transparency and accountability in the union.

When the debate was about to start, disqualified students tried to stop it as they marched to the podium to disrupt the event. But, Osasuyi appealed to the aggrieved students to allow the event to go on and promised them that their grievances would be looked into

by the management.

Answering questions from the audience, Victor Yimlang, a candidate vying for Director of Sports, told the students how he intended to get female students participate in sports.

Victor, who recently won UNIBEN Cross Country Marathon, said: “It is uncommon to see ladies participating in sports on the campus. Those who show interest are not encouraged. In the just-concluded UNIBEN marathon, it was said that the first female participant came after the 43rd male had arrived and that may sound satisfactory to some, but it is not.

“If I am voted into office as Director of Sport, I would introduce a weekly sport exercise for women to showcase their talents. Those who perform well will be encouraged; by this they would have a mental consciousness that sport is not an exclusive preserve for the male.”

Sessions of the two leading presidential candidates, Endurance Asemota, a student of Faculty of Agriculture, and Raymond Omorogbe, a student of Faculty of Life Sciences, were greeted by exciting questions and mockery, which almost turned the event to a comedy. Students threw all kinds of funny question at the two candidates; their responses were no less amusing, drawing intermittent applause from members of the audience.

The organising committee chairman, Victor Okoroafor, said the event was a success despite the move to disrupt it by aggrieved students. He praised students for tuning out for the event and urged all candidates to be peaceful during the elections.

2015 polls: Nigerian students meet in London THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE

UNILAG students protest blackout CAMPUSLIFE

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TUDENTS of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Sunday, protested the blackout on the campus. They left their hostels at 7:50pm and moved round the campus, chanting: “We want light”.

The students, who said they spent the whole day without electricity, marched to the campus power office.

About 15 minutes into the protest, electricity was restored, but this did not stop the protesters from taking their complaints to the Administrative Office.

The protest started from the Fac-

From Kawthar Babatunde UNILAG ulty of Education, close to the main gate. Chants of “no light, no lecture” rent the air as the protesters headed to the Senate building.

Last week, the Students’ Union Government (SUG), through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), announced that there would only be power supply in Halls of Residence between 7pm and 10am daily. But this arrangement, the protesters alleged, has not been honoured.

A protester said what sparked the demonstration was students’ inability to use their electric cookers at the weekend. “Being weekend, they should not expect us to buy food, we should, at least, be able to cook using our electrical appliances,” he said.

The SUG President, Martin Abiodun, called for calm, assuring the protesters that the union was “making effort” to resolve the issue. Although the protest was peaceful, some students harassed motorists, asking them to turn off their headlights.

man is writers’ president

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HE Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State chapter of the National Association of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) has elected officers to pilot its affairs for a year. Richard AduraIlesanmi, a CAMPUSLIFE correspondent in the school, was elected president of the writers’ association.

Richard, also the Editor-in-Chief of a campus-based ECHO newspaper, was elected at the extraordinary meeting of the association at the Relaxation Centre of the Department of Mass Communication.

Ezekiel Adesawe is Vice President for Administration; Toyin Adeyemo, Vice President for Editorial; Abiodun Adewale, General Secretary; Jadesola DayoAderinto, Director of Finance; Zainab Yekini, Welfare Officer; Promise Inumisan, Features Editor; Olawunmi Olaosun, Production Manager; Samuel Akinola and Adekunle Ewaoyenikan, Director

•Richard

From Yomi Aiyeleso AAUA of Publicity 1 and II. The immediate past president, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, urged members to support the officers to fast-track the association’s growth.

In his acceptance speech, Richard promised progressive leadership to achieve the objectives of the association. He urged for members’ cooperation to achieve his goals.

Richard said members must see the association as a project demanding utmost commitment, charging members to give in their best for the cause.

Mass Comm elects woman president

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•Freshers at the orientation

Dream big, AUN freshers told

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T is only quality education that can guarantee a brighter future for Nigeria, freshers of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, were told at their orientation.

The AUN Students’ Government Association President, Joseph Oladimeji, urged the freshers to dream big and study hard to achieve their dreams. He expressed confidence that the intake would be trailblazers in their discipline, assuring them that the university would support them in their careers.

Oladimeji said Nigeria’s challenges could only be solved if the nation could provide quality education for its citizens.

Some of the freshmen shared their aims with their colleagues during the orientation. Mackson Ubin, who was admitted into Software Engineering department,

From Basil Abia AUN said he wanted to strike a balance between his passion for music and his academic discipline. He believed AUN was the right place for him to explore his music talent and combine it with software engineering.

He said: “I am very passionate about anything that has to do with computing. The same goes for music, and I hope to use my time at AUN to make big plans for my big dreams.”

Mayor Onuagha, another fresher, has big dreams to chase.

He was admitted into Communications and Multimedia Design department but he said he would like to influence on the world with “my craft”. His interests are in animation and 3D multimedia effects. He asserted that AUN was

the right place for him to build a career in Information Technology.

A Petroleum Chemistry major, David Musa, plans to use his opportunity at AUN to get firsthand experience in using energyefficient and innovative ideas to solve challenges in the nation’s petro-chemical industry.

He was excited about what he called “career flexibility” at the AUN, adding that it was possible for him to hone his talent in music, which he intended to use as a tool to redeem the youth from destructive vices.

At a dinner for the freshers and their parents, Lucy Okonkwo, a returning student of Economics, told the excited audience that it was important for the students to lean on the AUN family for support and encouragement to achieve their dreams.

‘Africa has no thriving fish market’

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FRICA has no lucrative market, Prof Samuel Zelibe of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka, has said.

He was delivering the 42nd inaugural lecture of the university at its 1000-seater auditorium.

Speaking on: Fish: The wealth in water, Zelibe said despite lack of an adequate regulatory and growth-promoting framework for aquaculture industry, the implementation of the Special Growth Enhancement Support scheme of the Federal Government for fisheries and aquaculture had helped to provide cheap seeds and

From Ese Okoduwa DELSU fertilisers to small holder fish farmers.

The scheme, he said, has also improved productivity in fertiliser value chain, observing that the absence of viable market for fish products was the constraint undermining efforts to boost the market.

Zelibe, a professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture, said despite the huge water space the nation is endowed, importation of marine products thrived until when the

government introduced the scheme to unlock the wealth in the nation’s waters.

He said despite having over 600 species of edible fish, Nigeria was yet to explore its ornamental fishes that could fetch it a huge income.

Zelibe said the country did not have sustainable professional support scheme that could enable youths practice fishing profitably and boost self-employment.

He advocated the need for policies to make aquaculture sector vibrant to make the country dominate fish market in Africa.

OR the second time in two years, members of the National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS) at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State have elected a woman president.

Miss Idowu Owoseni, a 400-Level Public Relations and Advertising student, won the association’s presidential contest with 97 votes to beat her male rival, Olaniyi Agun’s 85.

The election was held at the department’s Relaxation Centre.

Jamiu Abubakar defeated his opponent, Mary Ayerun, to become the Vice President.

Others were elected unopposed.

They are Bukola Akinpelu, Treasurer; Seyi Atere, Director of Social; Samuel Oluremi, Sport Director; Charles Abeoluwa, Public Relations Officer; Tolulope Adeyemo, Welfare Director and Raphael Ojo, General Secretary.

Idowu, who was excited, dedicated her victory to her colleagues, describing the election as free, fair and credible.

She promised members a robust leadership, saying she had programmes that would better their lots.

Olaniyi berated the Electoral

•Owoseni

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA Committee headed by Endurance Idowu, for bad preparation, which he claimed contributed to his loss.

He said: “I bear no grudge against the winner, but the electoral process was badly managed and this is my concern. If we could not conduct an election in a credible manner, I wonder the kind of foundation we are laying. I spoke with an observer from the English Department and he was very disappointed.

The exercise was marred by rowdiness and this tells us that the electoral committee was ill-prepared.”

Olaniyi, however, praised the winner’s courage. He advised her to provide the good leadership that would reposition the association.

Omodunni Alero was the first woman president of the association.

Osun varsity matriculates 2,315

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HE Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has matriculated 2,315 students for the 2014/2015 academic session.

At the ceremony, the Acting ViceChancellor, Prof Jelil Oguntola, advised the students to face their studies, saying anything could happen between matriculation and graduation. He charged the students to put in their best effort to graduate from the school within apportioned time.

His words: “You have to make great sacrifices in time and efforts.

There is no shortcut to success; hard work is the prerequisite for success.

God can only bless the efforts you put in, but please strive hard to maintain your studentship.

“You must adhere to the letters

From Abideen Olasupo UNIOSUN of the oath, which you have taken as well as abide by the code of conduct in dressing. Violation of any rule would be met with the appropriate sanction.”

The delighted VC also informed the students and their parents that the school had enshrined non-discriminatory policy in its activities and promised that the institution would not relent in implementing the policy.

He added: “This policy notwithstanding, the authorities is poised to ensure a high quality standard in teaching and learning, for which the university is reputed. We will continue to strive for excellence in our activities.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE

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HE much-anticipated “Great Ife Application” was unveiled last Friday by the outgoing leaders of Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The software would enhance communication and interactions among students, alumni and lecturers.

The computer application, according to the union leaders, is the first of its kind in the nation’s higher institutions. It was unveiled at the school’s ICT Building.

The union’s outgoing General Secretary, Olatayo Shittu said the Isaac Ibikunle-led administration had fulfilled its promises to students with the launch of the computer application.

He said: “Ibikunle has fulfilled both his traditional roles to students and modern role through

Rain of From Afees Lasisi, sustain to enable the university to leave the union better than it tributes for connects to its past students eas- met it.

OAU “We made a lot of promises when teacher ily. this initiative and innovation. He Lukman Fasasi, a 200-Level we came on board. We promised to

Union unveils ‘Great Ife’ Apps

has achieved beyond the expectations of many and I am happy that I am part of the successes recorded by the team. Many will criticise this great idea, but when we all leave the school, we will know the usefulness of the application and we will be remembered for good.”

The guest speaker, Prof Ganiyu Aderounmu, who is the Director of Information and Communication Technology unit, said described the application as a good idea and innovation that will benefits members of OAU community. He said: “This is a good innovation that the upcoming administration must

Management and Accounting student, said: “I believe when the application is launched on the May 1, students will appreciate what the union leaders have done. Getting jobs will be easier and interaction between students and lecturers will improve.”

Another student, Fatai Shuaib, said he could not wait to download the application on his android phone, saying: “I heard a lot about this application, but I will reserve my comment until I download it.”

Earlier, Ibikunle said his administration had kept to its promises

build an application that will connect all members of the university community. We have just unveiled the application and this initiative is to create an online professional platform through which alumni and students can interact. It will also aid lecturers-students interactions, linking alumni together and makes information dissemination easy with jobs advert from Jobberman,”he said.

At the event were Deputy Director of ICT unit, Mr Olakanmi Adewara; Chairman Encomium Technologies, Habib Lawal, and members of the incoming SUG administration.

Old students discuss alma mater’s challenges

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HE old students of defunct Osford Comprehensive Secondary School in Aba, Abia State have held a reunion. At the meeting, the students discussed the challenges facing their alma mater, which include the tussle over the school name and declining population of pupils and facilities.

The school has since been renamed Merit Base Christian College.

The old students, under the aegis of Golden Elites of Osford, met at Freeman Hotel in Aba to discuss how they could help the school to regain its lost glory. The school proprietor, Dr Onyike Onyike, was represented by Miss Ogochukwu Okafor.

The proprietor urged the old students not to relent in praying for the school and rendering any help they could, including publicity.

Okafor informed the old students that the management decided to change to the school

•Some of the old students after their meeting

From Emmanuel Ahanonu NYSC ENUGU name to Merit Base Christian College, because Osford, she said, was having negative spiritual effect.

The former students lamented the change of name, saying they could not cope with the new

name. They resolved to write the proprietor to restore the former name.

The old students elected officers into the offices of their association. Emmanuel Ahanonu was elected the president, while Ogochukwu Okafor became the Vice President and Treasurer.

Others are Emmanuel Chibuzor, Secretary General; Amarachi Kalu, Assistant Secretary; Aaron Okonkwo, Financial Secretary; Onyeka Olia, Public Relations Officer (PRO); Chijioke Egeonu, Provost; Chidinma Ojukwu, Director of Welfare and Chibuzor Nnanna, Director of Social.

UNILORIN students dance against child abuse

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HE yearly inter-faculty dance was held on Saturday at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Students renewed their commitment to the war against child abuse at the event, held at the Management Lecture Theatre. It was attended by students from all faculties, who participated in a dance competition held to commemorate

From Zainab Yusuf UNILORIN the event.

The contest, which is scheduled to hold for four consecutive Saturdays, is organised by Strictly Street Dancers (SSDC).

The panel of judges, comprising students and some professional dancers, said the contest was to

show the world that war against child abuse could be won through dancing.

Contestants introduced different styles of dance during the contest, including hip-hop, traditional and contemporary dance steps. The judges said the contestants would be assessed based on their costumes, attitudes, stage management, precision and

crowd response.

The judges said beyond entertainment, the dance steps would make people to have a sense of responsibility and make efforts to stop child abuse.

The participating students came from faculties of Arts, Education, Science, Engineering, Business and Social Sciences, Communication and Information Sciences.

•Director of African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) Adedayo Thomas (fourth right) joined by a hip-hop artiste Adol (second right) to receive an achievement award presented to him by members of the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of African Liberty Students Organisation (ALSO) at GloryView Hotel in Ibadan, Oyo State.

From Samson Uwala NIJ ROVOST of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Mr Gbemiga Ogunleye led others to pay tribute to a teacher, Christopher Ugochukwu Ogbodo, who died last month.

They spoke highly of Mr Chris as he was fondly called by students.

Ogbodo died on March 13 after he slumped. A family source said he suffered high blood pressure.

Some, who spoke at the session, described the late lecturer as gentleman, who was ready to devout his time in helping others. Students described him as a nice and caring lecturer.

Ogunleye said though he did not know the deceased, he added that testimonies of his colleagues showed Ogbodo was a dedicated staff.

He said: “And this is a lesson for us who are still alive; we should strive to leave good legacies.”

The Deputy Provost, Mr Jide Johnson, said: “I knew the late Ogbodo to be a gentle man, kindhearted and good listener. When he joined NIJ, he distinguished himself through hard work. He never complained or grumble over tasks given to him.

“I even introduced him to the provost when he resumed as someone that would make my job easy. He was to be considered for the Acting Head of Department of Mass Communication before his death.

Ogbodo was a good man and everyone can testify to this.”

Mr Femi Oribamise, a lecturer, said he shared many things with his late colleague. “We attended the University of Lagos (UNILAG) together; we got job at NIJ the same period and share same office food.

What I know is that death is the end of mankind. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

The Deputy Registrar, Patricia Kalesanwo, described the late lecturer as a helper, brother and friend, who helped students whenever they were in distress.

A former student, Olubunmi Adeyera, spoke about how the late Ogbodo paid the balance of his school fee in final year. “He never asked me to pay him back the money. He supported my career and made me to write my final examination. I will always appreciate you Mr Chris,” Olubunmi said in his tribute.

In his exhortation, a lecturer, Jack Amaso, who is also a pastor, urged staff and students to lead a good life. “How are you spending your life? When death comes, where will it catch up with you? Remember a life to live, a judgment to die; every man should check his life,” he admonished.

Students sang and rendered poetry in honour of the late lecturer.

A memorial football match was also played between the staff and students. Staffs won the match. The event ended with a candlelight procession held within the Institute.

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•The late Ogbodo

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

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O stop violent unionism, the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State has held a workshop for Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders. The yearly seminar, the institution said, would equip the students and keep them abreast of the best methods for making their demands.

The training was organised by the Students’ Affairs Division and its aim was to make students leaders responsible after their election.

The training was held at the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in Ondo town, with the theme: Leadership and responsible unionism. It was attended by all union members.

Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, said the training was designed to integrate the students’ leaders into procedures of unionism to ensure effective representation and performance.

He said: “We gather students’ leaders every year to introduce them to best practice in students’ unionism and to show them the workings of executive, legislature and judiciary to prevent friction between the arms of the SUG and ensure effective representation and performance.”

The VC, who was represented by the Deputy VC for Academics, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, said the training would enable the students’ leaders to deliver their promises to students and also ensure the peaceful, responsible and effective students’ union administration.

He congratulated the participants for being part of the training, urging them to deploy their wisdom and strength in the service of their colleagues and humanity. He assured them of

Creating exemplary leaders The management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has held a workshop for Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders. YOMI AYELESO (300-Level Business Administration) reports.

•Some of the students’ leaders at the training

management’s support in building a university they would be proud of.

The VC said: “Over 14,000 students of the university have given you their mandate to take decisions on their behalf. They have surrendered their rights to you to act on their behalf. My candid advice to you is to embrace and imbibe the spirit of responsibility, transparency and fairness.”

The Acting Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Dr Bolanle

Ogungbamila, said the training was to breed responsible leaders for unionism. He said the effort had yielded good results, because the school did not witness disruption of academic calendar in the last three sessions.

Ogungbamila said the training was necessary in view of dearth of ideology and tolerance among politicians. He said: “The political landscape is characterised by low political ideology, intolerance and low level of sportsman-

ship. The combination of these behaviours has resulted in the negative political attitudes that are detrimental to national development.”

The training, he said, will help the participants become responsible leaders and prevent the school from becoming a recruitment ground for political thugs and misfits.

The school management brought resource persons from government agencies and

A Corps member in Enugu East Local Government, Kate Chinyere Okorie, has tied the nuptial knot with her beau, Ernest Ogbonna, whom she despised years ago for what she called “selfimportance”. EMMANUEL AHANONU (her colleague) attended the event.

‘His self-important attitude disappeared the day I fell in love with him. I cannot differentiate between somone I love and the one I used to despise. He is a wonderful man’

Struck by Cupid’s arrow

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HEY were like cat and dog in Achara Secondary School in Ihechiowa, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, where they were classmates.

Kate Chinyere Okorie, a Corps member in Enugu, confessed to dislike Ernest Ogbonna Ben with passion for what she called selfimportance. But, little did she know that Ernest would be her husband in future.

She later fell in love with her estranged classmate and they tied the nuptial knot, last weekend, at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The couple approached the altar after almost 10 years of courtship.

All Corps members in Enugu East Local Government Area literally relocated to Umuahia for the wedding. Reason: Kate is believed to be a jovial and influential Corps member. She is the Vice President of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Community Development Service (CDS) group in the local government, where she is undertaking her primary assignment.

During the church service, the officiating minister, Reverend Jacob Orji, who titled his message: Demand for a peaceful home, urged the couple not to take money and ma-

terial things as the foundation of their love, but Jesus Christ’s words.

Reading from 1st Peter 3: 1-7, Rev. Orji advised the couple to keep fidelity to the vows they took before men of God, saying it is sacrosanct and must never be broken until death part their ways. He urged them to be prayerful for God to fight their spiritual battles and keep their love for ever.

At the reception at the premises of Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, Ernest described Kate as a “dependable soul-mate”. He pointed out that his bride’s strong spirit kept the relationship strong, noting that he treasured Kate’s confidence, dedication and good qualities. “She is everything to me,” he said.

Kate said she agreed to marry Ernest because she found him exceptionally humble and caring.

Beaming with smile, she added: “This wedding is the Lord’s doing.

In our home, I expect love, prosperity, long life and more importantly, peace of mind.”

Asked how she would feel being with someone she formerly despised, Kate answered: “His selfimportant attitude disappeared the day I fell in love with him. I cannot differentiate between somone I love and the one I used to despise.

parastatals to talk to the participants on the theme of the workshop.

Chairman, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Prof Olugbenga Ige, who spoke on Redefining the role of 21st century students’ union leaders, said students’ unionism is the interface between students and management, saying it has the sole objective of ensuring that the rights and welfare of students are protected.

Prof Ige said: “Students’ union leaders have duty to let the management know what the students need at a given period and present their colleagues’ opinions about the school policy to the authority for proper action. They also have duty to make students see reason to accept management’s policies.

In doing so, the union plays role of a middle man.”

In breeding 21st century students’ leaders, Prof Ige said it requires clear definition of responsibilities, providing access to appropriate professional development and acknowledging the union’s role in improving image of the school and students’ academic performance.

The ODIEC chairman said the student leaders must listen to feedback from their colleagues to take right actions. He also urged the management to reward the union leaders for their good deeds.

Some of the participants, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, described the training as educative, praising the management for sustaining the workshop.

The SUG president, Olukayode Ogunade, said: “The event has been a huge success, which I believe has imparted on us positively. I want to appreciate the management for this training to make us better.”

On his part, the union Senate President, Joseph Akinkuotu, said he learnt new methods of practising unionism from the training.

•Kate and Ernest cutting their wedding cake

He is a wonderful man.”

The Corps members were resplendent in their Aso Ebi (uniform attires). Some of them, who spoke with our correspondent,

described the marriage as a wonder of God. Frances Clement, who is serving with Kate in the same zone, described her as adorable, kind and

greatly inspiring. She said Kate’s jokes endeared her to many in the community.

Babatunde Taiwo, Kate’s colleague, said: “She is a nice person, friendly and highly disciplined. I admire her personality.”

But Damilola Ayegba, her colleague, said: “With Kate around you, you feel at home because she always has good advice in any circumstance you find yourself.”

The Corpers’ Liaison Officer (CLO) in Enugu East Local Government, Kennedy Uzoma, said of Kate: “She is friendly and I have known her for long. We went to the same school and we were in the same department. I attended the wedding because she’s worthy to be honoured as a friend. She is generous and influential. She attends to everyone’s need without being tired to do so.”

The bride’s father, Dr E.I. Kalu, who is Head of Department of Microbiology at the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, said: “Kate is precious to me and she is worth everything to me.” He prayed for the couple to have a peaceful home.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

35

CAMPUS LIFE

South Africa’s war against neighbours J

UST when Nigerians were celebrating the relatively peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections and the emergence of a people-oriented government, we all woke up to news of the infamous xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

As I pen this piece, my heart is with those Nigerians and other Africans who are victims of this condemnable attack. Until now, I have personally rated South Africa as a leading African country where democracy has found firm roots. The country, over the years, has given the world the impression of a perfect ground to advance the cause of democracy and human freedom.

But recent developments have given the world a true picture of the nation called South Africa. Even though there have been reported cases of violence against foreigners in the past, one can hardly imagine that a nation which Nigeria stood by in its trying moments can quickly turn against it, slaughtering its citizens at will and carting away their legitimate and hardearned properties in broad day light. Nigeria issued at once, hundreds of passports to South Africa’s asylum-seekers in the dark hours of apartheid. Nigerian musician, Sonny Okosun in 1977 wrote the hit song, “Fire in Soweto” in honour of black South Africans during these trying times. The gravity of attacks against Nigerians in the ongoing crisis in South Africa is at

C

HILD abuse is the physical or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child. It is a series of acts of commission or omission by a parent that results in harm, or threat of harm to a child.

Child abuse can occur in different places such as homes, organisations, schools or communities which influence the child’s socialisation process.

A couple of colleagues and I embarked on an investigative exercise recently in Bida, Niger State, to ascertain the menacing proportion of child abuse in our part of the world.

We observed that over 35 percent of female children fall victim of child abuse more than their male counterparts, and that the alarming rate of child abuse in the communities visited poses far-reaching implications for the social fabric of Nigeria.

According to the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, a leo child abuse is when the right of a child is oppressively denied or not being treated in accordance with laid-down legal provisions. He stated that the effects

T

HERE is no doubt that Nigerians have seen their long anticipated hope of changing the direction in government. The wind to make this change was set since 2003 but it was believed not to have been strong enough to effect that change then. But after gathering momentum and strength for many years and overcoming different obstacles, it has now gathered the vigour to make the change.

With all sincerity and responsibility, I must confess that the change came as a result of the resilience of both the electorate and the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The just concluded general election which has been adjudged by both local and international observers as free, fair and credible in the history of Nigeria is a clear testimony to the law of karma which our political leaders are expected to learn from. It has also renewed the confidence electorates repose in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The result of the election demonstrated the rise and fall of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) which has been in powers the past 16 years. It would be recalled that the party took

By Mark Alani-Bambe best virulent, brutal and overwhelming. This is definitely not the best way to reward a people who had made indelible contributions to the survival of South Africa.

For foreigners, life in the Republic of South Africa is now hellish, brutish and short, just like Thomas Hobbes aptly captured it.

Until now the realities of the word xenophobia was already fading away and being replaced by less offensive words like ethnicity. But the people of South Africa have however brought it back to the front burner. Wikipedia has described Xenophobia as the unreasoned fear of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange. It further says Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions of an ingroup towards an outgroup, including a fear of losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity. The people of South Africa have exhibited all of the above, including a devilish purity.

Zulu King Godwill Zwelithi’s utterances on March 23 can be said to have launched the Zenophobic attacks in South Africa and he had refused to apologise, even after finding out that his people have maimed, killed and destroyed busi-

nesses belonging to black foreigners which he claimed were not his intentions. He insists that foreigners should go back to their countries but tried to save face by saying attacking the foreigners is not how to chase them away. He wants the government to do it legally.

The Zulu king was quoted to have said: “we are requesting those who come from outside to please go back to their countries. The fact that there were countries that played a role in the country’s struggle for liberation should not be used as an excuse to create a situation where foreigners are allowed to inconvenience locals. I know you were in their countries during the struggle for liberation. But the fact of the matter is you did not set up businesses in their countries.” If not coming from a King, I would have by any means considered such a statement irresponsible, I would rather say it is insensitive, resentful, full of hate, largely acrimonious and rancorous.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action speaks loudly and urges all governments to take immediate measures and to develop strong policies to prevent and combat all forms and manifestations of racism, xenophobia or related intolerance, where necessary by enactment of appropriate legislation including penal measures. The Republic of South Africa is privy to this but has acted far

from it.

However, if South Africa has any genuine reason to banish foreigners and isolate itself from the comity of nations, it is free to do so.

The Zulu King captured his genuine feelings when he said his three major complaints and why he wanted foreigners to go. One, South African traders in the townships said they could not compete with the prices that foreign-owned businesses were selling their products.

Two, foreigners were involved in violent crimes. Three, lack of respect shown by foreigners to locals.

The Republic of South Africa as a sovereign nation and it is free to pursue its foreign policies with little or no interference and whenever it wants foreigners on its land no more, it should be done with and within the ambit of the law without gashing of flesh and spilling of blood. Meanwhile, let’s see how far it can go in doing this.

“It is safe to first pursue the thief from without before dealing with the traitor from within” says the Yoruba adage. As much as we castigate the government and people of South Africa, we should not spare the Nigerian government of the blame as successive governments have squandered and embezzled the common wealth of the nation.

The irresponsible nature of the Nigerian governments has continued to gradually and systematically force its citizens to migrate to other

Effects of child abuse

By Maureen Abonyi of child abuse can cause social stigma and depression, especially in the last stages of a child’s life.

Such persons naturally grow up to be antagonistic to the society.

Speaking on some of the laws made by the State House of Assembly, Adamu said the legislature has passed a number of child protection bills, including a proposal to amend the Child Right Law of 2010.

He said that the new laws would proffer stiffer punishment for offences of rape and empower the magistrate to hand life imprisonment to offenders.

The Speaker also emphasised measures the government needed to put in place to reduce child abuse to the barest minimum, adding that the government plans to enhance educational standard, pro-

mote enlightenment programmes and collaborate with various bodies to protect the rights of the child.

There are various ways to achieve this. Gender rights groups could collaborate with Non-governmental organisations to speed up the rate of advocacy. Advocacy groups could explore the radio and online platforms to amplify the sour consequences of child abuse.

A psychologist who spoke to this writer disclosed that child abuse has serious implications not only on the child but the larger society.

Children who are abused are likely to be deficient of vital moral values and this foretells potential disaster to a society’s social structure.

In an interview with Miss Enechi Charity, a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, she said emotional abuse constitutes the most serious cruelty against a child, adding that its effects could last for

a lifetime.

Highlighting the effects of child abuse, the psychologist said the consequences could include an immediate physical and psychological effect which includes higher rates of chronic conditions, health behaviour, shortened lifespan and cases of maltreated children turning out as abusive adults. “Researches have proven that 75 percent of abusive adults were once maltreated as children,” she said.

In a chat, Miss Zainab Abdulliah, a resident in Bida, argued that asking a child to hawk consumables on the streets does not constitute child abuse, saying it is a means of sustaining the family. She said it was not compulsory for every child to go to school or toe the path of western education. For Zainab, the teachings of Islam are enough to mould a total person.

Some of the hawkers, who pleaded anonymity, expressed dissatisfac-

– even smaller countries for various reasons, with the quest for greener pasture and qualitative educational topping the list. Nigeria has been turned to an infertile nation infested by cancerous politicians who have torn our national fabric into shreds and left its citizens hapless. It will be close to the truth to say that it is the dream of every Nigerian to either work, study, live, seek medical attention or even die abroad. That is the height of shame for a country which prides itsekf as the giant of world’s most populous black continent.

However, as it is, all hope is not lost. Nigeria will be great again.

Our dry bones shall live again. Our cultural and moral lorry shall be restored. Nigerians will be proud to be Nigerians again.

Nigerians have clamoured for a change and they have seen its realisation. General Muhammadu Buhari is the beacon of hope, and Nigerians should trust him enough to spearhead the much need change.

Once again, I commiserate with the victims of the infamous xenophobic attacks in the Republic of South Africa as I call on the whole world to condemn the people of South Africa to have led such an inhuman onslaught on legitimate people in search of meaning for their lives.

God bless Nigeria.

Mark writes from Abuja tion over their plight, adding that they had to accept their fate since they were left with no alternative.

Miss Enechi explained that one of the causes of child abuse is marital strife. She said parents who physically abuse their spouses are more likely to physically abuse their children. The psychologist said that there are measures that need to be put in place to prevent the incidents of child abuse in the society.

Miss Enechi advised the parents to take adequate care of their wards and monitor their socialisation process closely. Parents should watch the kind of friends their wards keep.

The Speaker called on everyone to take the plight of children serious and expose anyone who infringes on the rights of the child.

He called on parents to wake up to their responsibility with the understanding that as guardians, we are accountable to what befalls our children.

Maureen, HND II Mass Comm., BIDA POLY

The rise and fall of an empire the mantle of leadership of this nation in 1999 when it produced General Olusegun Obasanjo as president after a long period of military rule. The plan of the party was to hold on to power for 60 years as as boasted by one of its national chairmen. But alas, little did they know that their long term dream will be abruptly brought to an end after spending 16 years of controlling the machinery of government.

There is indeed lots of food for thought from the just-concluded general election by both our leaders and Nigerians as a whole. Among the lessons our leaders are expected to learn is that there is a limit to what money can buy. Even from the primaries, Nigerians were made to grapple with the cash inducement that dictated the outcome of candidates who became flag bearers. Delegates were treated to a potpourri of desperados who daggled their fat carrots just to win votes. This was repeated during the general elections without knowing that the electorates had already made up their mind in their choice of candidate. Our leaders have failed to un-

derstand that the electorate has learnt from their past mistakes and will not allow themselves to be seduced with material benefits during the electioneering process anymore.

However, a great lesson in General Buhari’s victory is the power of determination. It has shown that in the race of life, one is not expected to give up as a result of challenges encountered because the road to success is usually paved with detours and hurdles. If not for his resilience, he must have given up after contesting thrice and lost without knowing that he would make history in the fourth attempt. This is what anybody will hardly want to subject himself to.

GMB is certainly Nigeria’s Abraham Lincoln of the United States of America.

The victory of the APC is surely a sign of change the electorate had desired, yet the party should get to power and forget its campaign promises. This is because the electorate that voted it to power a strong belief in its ability to right the wrongs of the past leaders.

However, if these wrongs are not corrected, these same voters will not hesitate to vote them out of office come 2019 as the change is bound to continue. This change could be seen as a “bloodless war” to borrow the terms of the poet, Lenrie Peters in We have come home.

Furthermore, I must not fail to congratulate President Jonathan for his maturity and sportsmanship by conceding defeat. His action is a clear testimony to the words of Abraham Lincoln that: “the people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them”. We must not fail to understand that the government of President Jonathan allowed us to effect the changes we all yearned for.

All said and done, while congratulating our President-elect, we urge him to live up to his campaign promises. That is a clarion call, we must agree. But we equally must support his efforts to build a nation for all. He can only achieve

By Mubarak Ibrahim this when he surrounds himself with honest people who are ready to work irrespective of differences in religions ethnicity and ideas. His emergence is not an end, but a means to achieve a greater end – the prosperity and freedom of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, social standing and ideological leanings.

Mubarak, has just finished from General Agriculture, UDUS

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

36

CAMPUS LIFE Students bemoan strike in KSU, CRUTECH

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HE National Association of Universities Students (NAUS) has condemned the closure of the Cross Rivers State University of Science and Technology (CRUTECH) and the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, over workers’ unpaid salaries.

The association’s national president, Jonathan Adekunle, said it was illegal for the schools to be shut against students’ wishes, calling on the CRUTECH’s and KSU’s managements to re-open the campuses in students’ interest.

His words: “Let it be known that NAUS strongly condemns the closure of the schools. We see the action as ungodly and embarrassing because the closures are against students’ wishes. We also condemn

•Jonathan

From Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN treatmented out to students of the affected schools. We believe the welfare of workers remains the ob-

ligation of the government and ask the governors to pay their workers immediately.”

Through the statement, Adekunle said NAUS had passed a vote of no confidence on Governor Liyel Imoke for his lackadaisical attitude and failure to adhere to the letter the association submitted to him last month to meet with the aggrieved lecturers for resolution.

He also appealed to Governor Idris Wada to immediately resolve the crises rocking the KSU, stressing that NAUS was worried over the failure of government to pay workers their entitlement.

The association gave Imoke a week ultimatum to re-open CRUTECH, failure of which would lead to a protest.

UNIOSUN is 20th best varsity

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SUN State University (UNIOSUN) has been ranked as the 20th best stateowned school in Nigeria.

Webometrics, a global ranking body, rated the institution higher in research and academics in its latest release.

Webometrics is an independent body which provides reliable and useful information about the per-

From Abideen Olasupo UNIOSUN formance of universities across the world based on their web presence and impact.

The latest ranking by Webometrics shows that UNIOSUN is ranked as the 20th best university and second best state-owned university in Nige-

ria. In terms of presence, UNIOSUN is ranked seventh, while it is ranked 17th in openness.

Also, three UNIOSUN academics are ranked among the 500 researchers in Nigeria. They are the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Jelil Oguntola, Prof Olukoya Ogen and Benedict Falana.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Tijani (right) being presented with the title certificate

NANS president bags traditional title

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HE Attah of Igala Michael Oboni II has honoured the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Tijani Usman Shehu, with a, traditional title. Ogah Ochonia Agah 1 title on last Friday for his

From Temitope Yakubu ADO POLY bravery in an event witnessed by his friends and students from various campuses.

Tijani said the honour was a call to service, promising to do his best to contribute to the development of Igala tradition. He thanked students, who made it to the occasion, saying: “I sincerely thank all those present here today for coming to show love and support for me. May God Almighty continue to bless you abundantly and protect you back to your various campuses.”

APCON team visits Redeemer’s varsity

D

ELEGATES from Ilorin, the Kwara State office of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) last Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to the Department of Mass Communication of Redeemer’s University (RUN) in Ede, Osun State.

The APCON team met with top management officers of the school at the Vice-Chancellor’s office. At the meeting were the APCON’s zonal head, Mr Rahman Rahim, Deputy ViceChancellor, Prof Kayode Adekeye, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Debo Adeyewa, Registrar, Bolatito Oloketuyi, Dean, College of Management Sciences, Prof Ebenezer Akinnawo and Head of Department of Mass Communication, Prof Bayo Oloyede, among others.

Rahim said the purpose of the visit was to assess the level of the development of the school’s programmes, especially Mass Communication, which, he said, was accredited for five years.

He said the APCON team was

From Inimfon Otung RUN also interested meeting students on career talk, where top advertising practitioners would share their experience with the students. He emphasised on innovation, saying: “There is always job for creative graduates.”

He noted that RUN is among the first set of universities to be accredited by the body, urging Mass Communication lecturers to be members of the body.

Oloyede described the team’s visit as historic, saying APCON was one of the regulatory bodies to visit the university after it moved to permanent site.

He said the department had recorded great achievements in the past few years, saying, the department won the Best Student Documentary Prize at the First Nigerian Film and Television Awards and International RogerHatchuel Academy.

According to Oloyode, the department has enjoyed close relationship with APCON since 2011 it got accredited.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

37

EDUCATION EKSU FILE LASU debunks resumption rumour PG applications extended

•SU demands immediate re-opening

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HE management of the Lagos State University (LASU) has debunked the rumour that the recess it declared on March 25, has been called off.

“The recess is still very much in force,” noted a statement titled: 'LASU recess still in force' and signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Ronke Osho on Monday.

The statement assured students that despite the recess, those who have completed their degree programme would be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch A scheduled to commence on May 5.

"They are being duly attended to by the relevant service areas in the university," the statement noted.

However, students not being mobilised for NYSC as well as workers, were warned to stay away from the campus while it is still shut.

The university management closed down the school following a protest by workers on March 16 when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa was forced out of the school premises.

Meanwhile, the LASU Students' Union (LASUSU), has vowed to 'act decisively' if the institution is not reopened immediately.

The students' leaders lamented

By Adegunle Olugbamila

that the continued closure of the university, is already taking its toll on them.

In a statement titled: 'Students' Union Demands Re-Opening of Lagos State University', made available to The Nation, LASUSU President Adeyemi Wasiu Onikoro, said it was unfair of the management to declare a recess because of the elections without announcing a resumption date.

He said: "It should be noted that upon the announcement of the said recess, the union had urged the management to give a specific date of resumption, but it declined. The political atmosphere has been calm and peaceful and as such, we believe the management should have towed the part of other higher institutions that declared election recesses and thereafter, resumed activities.

"However, the Students' Union is worried about this development.

The tradition in LASU that students are rushed into writing exams eight weeks after resumption due to crises management would no longer be accommodated, as it does not allow real preparation for such exams."

The students are concerned that the continued closure would

LAUTECH alumni lay foundation for 1,000-capacity centre

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T was an historic and joyous moment for students, members of staff and management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, last Thursday, when the university's alumni association laid the foundation of a 1000-seater capacity civic centre.

The day was special because it was exactly 25 years that the school was established through an edict signed by the Late Colonel Sasaenia Oresanya, who was the governor of the then old Oyo State.

Known as Oyo State University of Technology, the school started with four faculties and admitted 436 pioneer students.

President of the alumni association, Mr Jide Bewaji, said the civic centre, which would be completed and inaugurated before next year, would serve as an income generating venture for the association.

Apart from the hall, the centre would have a mini-library, which would document the auto biography of alumni, who have excelled in their

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

chosen careers.

The centre is being built on a portion of the 3.3 acre of land assigned to the association by the university management for the 'alumni village', which would also house a four-star hotel and an ICT laboratory.

Laying the foundation of the first block on the proposed site, ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Wale Omole saluted the creativity and commitment of the alumni executives.

He urged them not to relent in their efforts to complement the management team in building a greater LAUTECH. Omole praised the association for coming up with programmes designed to address unemployment in the country, pledging to support them. Though the university has achieved a lot, Bewaji, who took over as president of the association in November, said it was not yet time for merriment, but to work hard in collaboration with the management

adversely affect final year Law students, who are expected to join other colleagues in the law school, as well as the convocation which would have held last month, but was postponed indefinitely in the wake of the crisis.

To this end, the students called on the management and the workers to seek a common ground.

They also called on the government to promptly revisit demands made by workers.

"If truly LASU must continue to be great, students, staff, management and Lagos State government must work in unison.

Self aggrandisement, personal gratification and self glorification should be cast aside. We should not forget that the main objective of establishing this citadel of learning is purely for academic purpose and to produce quality graduates, who will add value to the larger society.

Any other objective is complimentary.

"Finally, we want to state emphatically that the Students' Union leadership and the student populace would no longer tolerate any further delay that will impend the quick resolution of the ongoing crisis," LASUSU submitted.

A fortnight ago, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), LASU arm, called on the management to reopen the 31-year old institution since the workers are not on strike.

THE School of Postgraduate Studies, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, has extended the deadline for the submission of application forms into all its programmes for the 2014/2015 academic session from April 24 to May 22.

A statement by the university noted that all forms purchased or submitted after the new date would be processed for the 2015/2016 Academic session.

Details of the programmes and courses are on the University Website.

Institute holds first matriculation THE maiden matriculation of the Institute of Peace, Security and Governance, EKSU, took place last Friday.

At the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Aina enjoined the students to be part of the positive development of the institute and the university.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Prof Victor Adeoluwa, the Vice-Chancellor said: "The most reasonable way to do this is to exhibit good character at all times as students of the institute."

The Vice-Chancellor warned students to be law abiding, shun cultism and eschew misconduct such as examination malpractices, cultism and other vices, which might lead to disciplinary measures against them.

The Registrar, Mr. Adebisi Ogunyemi, administered the matriculation oath on the fresh students at the occasion, which took place at the Oodua Hall of Ekiti State University

Certificates ready THE new policy of the EKSU management that graduates of the university would always collect their certificates after graduation, has suddenly turned the Examinations and Records Department of the university into a bee-hive of activities.

Graduates besiege the office daily to obtain their certificates, which have already been signed by the Vice-Chancellor.

•Prof Aina Some of the graduates expressed joy at the development and praised the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Aina for fulfilling the promise he made two years ago that graduates would receive their certificates at the venue of the convocation if they satisfy the necessary requirements. The Vice-Chancellor not only cleared the backlog of certificates, he has signed all certificates till date.

•Prof Omole laying the foundation ! for the centre.

• to the university the best in Africa and the world at large.

He pledged to continue to improve the welfare of alumni and students of the school and urged other alumni to seize the opportunity to give back to their alma mater.

Bewaji said in a matter of weeks from now, graduates of the university

can also apply, process and collect their transcripts within 24 hours as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed to lighten the burned experienced over the years.

Present at the ceremony were the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Sulaiman Adeniyi

Gbadegeshin, the deputy vice chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, members of the governing council and executives of the alumni association among who were Owoyokun Samson, Charles Farayola, Kamal Oloso and Segun Owolawi. The 25th anniversary cake was also cut to climax the celebration.

FUTA forestry students tag trees

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S part of its contribution to the beautification of the environment and education, the International Forestry Students Association, (IFSA), Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA) chapter, has embarked on the tagging of all exotic and indigenous trees that dot the university campus.

The name tagging exercise is one of the activities marking the 2015 IFSA Week.

Flagging off the event, the Dean, School of Agriculture & Agricultural Technology, (SAAT), FUTA, Prof Shadrach Akindele, lauded the students' initiative, describing it as a noble drive worthy of emulation by students of other universities.

The Head of Department, Forestry and Wood Technology,

Prof Tunde Ajayi, said the name tagging would enable members of the FUTA community and visitors to identify the names and uses of the trees at a glance. He explained that some of the trees were planted while some were pollinated.

IFSA President, Opeyemi Adaramoye, said the students decided to tag the trees to beautify the environment, broaden knowledge and give practical expression to what the students are learning.

The association vice president, Rebecca Adelola, is optimistic that the project would make the students and their course of study relevant locally and globally.

IFSA is a worldwide body with headquarters in Europe while the Nigerian headquarters is domiciled in FUTA.

• •Prof Akindele being watched by Adaramoye, Prof Ajayi and others while tagging a tree during the programme.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE ACE FILE

Provost praises pension scheme THE Provost of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, Prof Olukoya Ogen, has lauded the Cooperative Pension Scheme of the workers of the institution.

Ogen, who was represented by the chairman, Committee of Deans, Dr Gbade Ikuejube at cooperative 28th annual general meeting of the group, described the scheme as an excellent relief package for retirees as they leave service.

The Coop Pension Saving Scheme is a retirement saving scheme organised to ease the immediate problem encountered by workers after retirement. The scheme was fashioned in such a way that a retiring officer, who had contributed to this scheme, will collect his contributions, plus the dividend.

Congratulating the society at its AGM, Ogen urged them to explore other areas of investment in order to enlarge their horizon.

The provost also admonished members to patronise the cooperative loans, which are more convenient than banks with interest rates that are moderate.

In his report, president of the society, Mr. Enoch Orunko, said the society made a net surplus of N15,106,012.50 last year compared to N14, 595,001.24 made last year.

Honour for Anglican bishop THE School of Arts and Social Sciences, ACE has honoured the Archbishop of Ondo Ecclesiastical Province and the Bishop of Ondo Dioceses, Most Reverend Latunji Lasebikan with an award.

The 'Exemplary Leadership and Outstanding Achievement' award on Lasebikan was part of the opening ceremony of the seventh national conference of the School of Arts and Social Sciences.

The conference themed: "The Nigerian economy and the sociopolitical challenges” will be declared open by the Provost, Prof Ogen.

UNILORIN to host world poultry summit From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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HE World Poultry Science Association will hold its fifth Nigeria International Poultry Summit (NIPS) at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). The event will start on Sunday, May 10 and end on Thursday, May 14.

A statement by the secretary local organising committee of the summit, Dr Eunice Sola-Ojo, said the occasion would proffer solutions to various challenges facing the poultry industry such as poultry production (health, bio-security, nutrition, breeding and genetics and biotechnology) through presentation of findings of scientific researches, and reviews of past researches.

She added that graduate of animal science will be specially trained on how to build careers in poultry science.

"I so much believe that this programme will be of immense benefits to the masses, poultry farmers and students of animal science in Nigeria tertiary institutions," she said.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE Bournemouth University is provided to learn any of the courses by the Bournemouth offering Vice-Chancellor's offered University in UK. Course Level: This International Scholarship for scholarship is available for pursuing postgraduate (Masters) degree level at 2015 academic year THIS scholarship is available for pursuing postgraduate (Masters) degree level. Scholarships are open for the students who have applied to study a full-time taught postgraduate (Masters) degree at BU and who are resident in one of the following countries: Colombia, India, Nepal, Nigeria and Vietnam. The scholarship will provide full tuition fee waiver.

The deadline for applications is 31 May 2015.

Study Subject(s): Scholarship is

UI wins moot contest

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HE duo of Joseph Ogunmodede and Francisca Walter of the Faculty of Law University of Ibadan (UI), have beaten other contenders to win the inaugural Olasupo Shasore Moot and Arbitration competition. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), came second while University of Lagos (UNILAG) took the third place.

The contest was in honour of Olasupo Shasore (SAN) the former Attorney-General of Lagos State and Chairman, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Committee of Business Law of the Nigeria Bar Association.

It was organised by the Mooting Society, Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos,(UNILAG).

Of the five participating universities, UI and UNN emerged finalists and Omeye Emenike and Nwanneka Michael of UNN both slugged it out at the Ayo Ajomo Hall of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) of UNILAG law faculty.

Challenged on the theme: "Arbitration as an alternative to disputation in Nigeria court of law; challenges and prospects" Ogunmodede's team, which represented the respondent party in a court setting, opposed the claimant party to appeal as a right to the Federal High Court after arbitration has taken place.

Following heated arguments, the two parties submitted dispute to arbitration panel, where the judgment passed was in favor of the respondent. Emenike and Nwanneka were not satisfied with the judgment.

They, therefore, sought a review at the court, which after hearing the parties’ briefs rejected the claimant appeal in line with the terms and conditions of arbitration.

• Workers in the Exams&Records Unit of the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo issuing notification of result to graduating student of the university ahead of the mobilization for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

Bournemouth University in UK. Scholarship Provider: Bournemouth University, UK Scholarship can be taken at: UK Eligibility: Students resident in the following countries at the time of application who are classified as 'overseas' for fee purposes are eligible to apply. Colombia, India, Nepal, Nigeria and Vietnam.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Students from Colombia, India, Nepal, Nigeria and Vietnam are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Scholarship Description: BU Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship - 2015 This scholarship is offered to students who have applied to study a full-time taught postgraduate (Masters) degree at BU and who are resident in one of the following countries: Colombia, India, Nepal, Nigeria and Vietnam.

Number of award(s): One Scholarship is offered.

Duration of award(s): Not Known What does it cover? The scholarship will provide full tuition fee waiver.

Selection criteria: Applicants must be able to demonstrate an exceptional academic profile (equivalent to UK 1st Class Honours degree as assessed by NARIC)

•Applicants must be able to demonstrate an outstanding personal profile as evidenced in their personal statement.

Notification: Successful applicants will normally be informed within one month of the closing date.

Applicant's award cannot be formally approved until they hold an unconditional firm (UF) offer.

How to Apply: Applications should be send via e-mail and also by post.

Scholarship Application Deadline: The deadline for applications is 31 May 2015.

Read more: BU International Scholarship for Postgraduates in UK, 2015 Scholarship Positions 2015 2016 http://scholarship-positions.com

"I felt elated when my name was mentioned. My self-confidence was boosted and it gave me the assurance that it is not how far, but how well. During the preparations there were times I asked myself whether I will ever make a good lawyer, but it extinguished my doubts. When I remembered Winston Churchill's quote 'success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts' The president of UNILAG Mooting Society, Oludare Amusan, said the school won similar competition

conducted by it recently. Though it did not win the contest, Amusan said their representatives, who are in their third level, made the school proud as they have not yet come across arbitration and company law in their courses.

Amusan said the programme would encourage the up and coming lawyers to dabble into arbitration in order to give their clients more options for settling their disputes. Also it will create opportunities for students to learn about arbitration, which is not a course in the school.

• Ogunmodede (right) receiving his award from Mr Bello Salihu

By Jane Chijioke

Ogunmodede said his team actually participated to learn and not to win.

"As a team, we didn't prepare to win. It is in the policy of the Moot and Mock Committee of University of Ibadan to go to competitions to learn rather than focus on winning.

The fact that all participants from my school participated for the first time is just a clear pointer to the fact that the motive was to learn the procedural aspect of law.

Rector warns against environmental degradation

T

HE Rector of Ogun State Institute of Technology,(OGITECH), Igbesa, Dr Olufunke Akinkurolere, has implored Nigerians to be more environmental-friendly in their approach. This, according to her, would guard against the depletion of the ozone layer.

Akinkurolere spoke at the inaugu-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

ral meeting of Nigeria Environmental Society (NES) which OGITECH hosted.

She said people should be conscious of their action with respect to environmental hazard especially at a time where the planet earth has become a victim of environmental challenges.

Akinkurolere described environ-

mental protection as a science which should start from homes, adding that OGITECH will remain in the forefront in the quest for environmental friendliness. She admonished NES to consolidate its relationship with the institutions'chapter.

Akinkurolere affired that OGITECH have been working tirelessly since 2007 to ensure that Igbesa community remains environmentalfriendly.

The Chairman, Lagos Island Chapter of NES Mr Ekoko Oritsetimeyin John, promised that the Ogun State chapter of NES would be launched before the World Environmental Day in June. The inaugural meeting forms an integral part of development as it creates forum to further interact with existing and intending members, Oritsetimeyin added.

Oritsetimeyin who represented by Ms Mayowa Ajayi, an administrator with NES, said Lagos Island chapter will strengthen their relationship OGITECH's. Since there is no chapter in Ogun State, OGITECH chapter, Oritsetimeyin assured, would be made the state headquarters which is expected to birth others.

The protem chairman of the association, Mr Henry Anwan, said the membership of NES rose from two when it was established in 2008 to 28 members at present. Mebebrship, he added, is opened to students and graduates.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

EDUCATION

Kogi loses N239m WAEC fees to fraudulent government officials, says committee

T

HE chairperson of the Committee on Reconciliation of WAEC Fees set up by the Kogi State government, Hajia Ladi Ibrahim, has claimed to have unravelled fraudsters in the state ministry of education who defrauded government of huge sums meant for examination fees for the final year pupils of public schools in the state.

She disclosed this in Lokoja while presenting the committee’s report to Governor Idris Wada.

From James Azania, Lokoja

According to the committee’s findings, only the cumulative sum of N278.7 million was required for the payment of the WASSCE fees as against the N515 million quoted by the ministry officials.

The Nation had earlier reported the suspension of the payment of WASSCE fees following government’s decision in January.

Some of the officials of the ministry of education, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, how-

ever, denied culpability, saying that remittance of fees, aside money for logistics, is by direct payment to WAEC The document further stated that a number of factors accounted for the rise in the WASSCE fees over the last three years, which include official annual increment in fees.

Mrs Ibrahim noted that the fee rose from N8, 050 per pupil during the 2012/2013 session to N11, 450 in the 2014/2015 session. “This represents about 30 per cent rise,” she added.

She accused ministry officials for allegedly doctoring the rules governing the unified eligibility examination, stressing that its violation gave rise to the inclusion of noneligible candidates in examination bills payable by the state government.

She added that there was poor regulation of the establishment of private schools, and their inclusion in the examination bill to the government.

The report also fingered the overbearing influence of those it de-

scribed as unscrupulous officials of the ministry of education, who imposed pupils on principals for the WASSCE, which she said accounted for the sharp practices.

Mrs Ibrahim urged Governor Wada to, as a matter of urgency, organise a stakeholders’ meeting on education to address the challenges in the sector.

She advised government to employ qualified teachers, provide infrastructural and institutional facilities and enact all-encompassing educational law for the state.

It would be recalled that the governor had suspended the payment of WASSCE fees for the final year pupils in public secondary schools, hinging his action on sharp practices in the system, which necessitated the setting up of the committee.

Igbobi College fetes parents at ‘Open House’

T

EACHERS and pupils of Igbogbi College, Yaba, played host to prospective parents and pupils at an open house event organised by the school last Friday.

It was an opportunity for the management of the college to showcase the changes and improvements that the college has undergone.

Speaking at the event, the vice principal Mr Lawrence Ade Babanubi, extolled the giant strides the school had taken, in terms of infrastructure, and general aesthetics.

He took prospective parents on a tour of the school facilities, showing them the laboratories, library, ICT centre, including the recently refurbished junior hostel, fully equipped with modern toilet facilities and very spacious rooms.

Other facilities include the football and basketball pitches, volleyball and lawn tennis courts, which are still under construction, courtesy of the college old boys association, among others.

Parents were also allowed to see for themselves various works undertaken by the school through self

By Pascal Okezu

help. Such include the water treatment system, as well as the various renovation works, being carried out in the hostels.

Babanubi told parents that 75 per cent of workers live within the school premises, thereby ensuring adequate monitoring of students' activities. He explained that one of the reasons the school encourages students to be fully residential, is to give them an edge academically as teachers are always around to help them understand better what they had been taught in class.

Igbobi College principal Rev. Oludare Adeboyeji, said the school introduced Cambridge exams to help students enjoy admission opportunity into universities in the United Kingdom, thereby enhancing their exposure.

Mr. Thorpe Olanrewaju, who is an old boy of the school, told The Nation why he took one of his sons to another school in order not to have a biased opinion with respect to his alma mater academic standard.

"One of my sons could take decisions for himself, while the other could not. Also the one in Igbogbi

•Parents being conducted round a newly-renovated hostel at the college.

(College) could adjust to any situation while the other could not,” he said.

The chairman of the board of governors, Dr Olufemi Ogunsanya had this to say: "Morals cannot be over emphasised and so, Igbogbi

College aims to first of all educate and instill morals into our pupils.

We want them to grow up to be men of integrity.”

The highlight of the event was the presentation of free entrance forms each worth N10.000 to eight

students from God's Grace School, Somolu, who were on excursion to the school. The forms were formally presented by a member of the board of governors, Sir Olusegun George and the PTA of the school.

No plans to stop school feeding programme, says Aregbesola NGO’s forum for girl T child tomorrow

HE Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said there are no plans to stop the Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme called O MEALS. Describing media reports on the stoppage as false, Aregbesola said none of the policies that have brought laurels to the state would be stopped.

Aregbesola said this in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.

“OMEALs has been one of our most socially impactful programmes.

How can a responsible government like ours think of reviewing a

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

programme that has been adjudged as one of the best to come out of the best in the country? Does that not stand logic on its head?

"We have been able to improve our state's economy through the school feeding of over 250 thousand elementary pupils every school day.

The programme has directly employed 3,007 women and over tens of thousands of farmers in the state.

"Osun is attracting local and international attention for implementing an initiative that has not only increased enrolment in its primary schools, but has also provided employment opportunities for

farmers, majority of whom are women."

The governor emphasised that the programme has impacted positively on school enrolment with an increase of 38,000 pupils, representing 25 per cent in four weeks of its introduction.

He added that enrolment of pupils increased from 155,318 on May 31 2012 to 194,253 by June 30 and December of the same year, government decided to extend the programme to cover pupils in primaries 1 to 4 bringing the total number of pupils being fed to over 252,000.

He also denied setting up a ninemember committee to review the school feeding programme.

The statement, however, noted that labour unions in the state had suggested that the state should seek alternative sources of revenues because of the current national revenue crisis. It added that it could not have been interpreted as a plan to stop the scheme.

Aregbesola had been lauded at an event at the British House of Commons for implementing the school meals programme across the state.

Aregbesola averred that with Nigeria focusing on a school feeding programme that will boost local food production, create empolyment boost enrollment and thereby enhance learning, the scheme has come to stay.

• Director, Africapitalism Institute, Tony ElumeluFoundation, Prof. David Rice with some pupils and management staff of Edidot College, Awoyaya, Lekki-Epe, Lagos during a Girls' Future Talk held at the school.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Y

OUTH Advancement Forum, a Non-Government Organisation for girl Child (female) will hold a special event for girl child and mothers tomorrow.

The event tagged: 'Femine Rapport' holds, at Frankids Amusement Centre, Festac Town, Lagos.

The programme, which hits its 11th edition, is held in conjunction with Soul Mate Industries Limited, Lagos.

The founder of YAF, Mrs Olayinka Adebayo, said of the event: "It is an interactive forum for female -which will be an interaction between young girls and their aunties and mum role model.

We know that there is need to create a role model between old and new generation, to build a continum of positive development.'

YAF was founded in 2007 to : "contribute to the growth of the Nigerian youth" on one hand and "produce educational materials that will help in educating the youth and by extension, help in morally bringing up female children.

Since its establishment, YAF has organised various programmes ranging from success tips, independent anniversary parties, in addition to inspirational talks among others.

"Our emphasis has been on the advancement and moral upbringing of the girl child," Mrs Adebayo said.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

EDUCATION EDUTALK with

How AAU can grow, by NUC

T

HE National Universities Commission (NUC), has outlined measures to be taken for the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, to grow.

It said the management of the 35year-old university should pay attention to quality of its workers, facilities and intake of students as well as the environment where teaching and learning take place.

Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof.

Julius Okojie, said this at the 19th convocation of the university held last Saturday.

Okojie, who was represented by Deputy Executive Secretary, Prof.

Chiedu Mafiana, urged the institution to judiciously utilise funds it gets through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He said funds from TETFund should be used to build commodious buildings and invest in research and staff development.

Okojie called for the construction of more hostels within the campus through the 'Build, Operate and Transfer' system to solve accommo-

Learning from ABU's ingenuity

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

dation problems of students.

Warning students to check approved programmes with the commission before applying to universities, Okojie said any student that studies in unapproved programmes would not be mobilised for NYSC and the certificates not recognised for the purpose of unemployment.

On his part, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, said the institution's Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Cordelia Agbebaku, has turned around the fortunes of the university.

He said: "I have a fair recollection of the state of this university before Prof. Cordelia took over affairs of the university. The worst critic of this VC will agree that he has run this university effectively. Cordelia has given her own to the university that made her with very meager resources.

"Before she took over as the Vice Chancellor, it was either one problem of students' riot to staff protests. But she has demonstrated uncommon courage, fearlessness,

•Prof Okojie

prudence and accountability in managing the university's fund and brought in so much peace and stability."

Those honoured by the university included Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, (Doctor of Letters) and business mogul, Chief Lee Ikpea, who bagged the Doctor of Business Administration degree.

Founder of Believers Love World, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who was to be honoured with a degree of Doctor of Science, was absent but a special event would be organised for him at a later day.

A N5billion endowment fund was launched at the ceremony.

•A cross section of the participants.

AIESEC marks 40th anniversary

T

HE International Association of Students in Economics and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC) in Lagos, has provided a platform for students to meet top business leaders through its 1st Lagos Youth to business forum.

The forum tagged: "21st Century Leadership", was part of activities to celebrate the association's 40th anniversary.

Over 500 students from various institutions in Lagos and environs attended the programme, which featured three sessions-Inspire, Engage and Act. Giving a brief overview of the association, its leader, Ugo Modum, said the interaction between business leaders and the students was expected to generate new and actionable ideas that would become businesses.

The chairman of Omolayole and

By Everistus Onwuzurike

associates, Michael Omolayole, who gave the opening speech, said 40 years of age is attributed to age of wisdom. He added that AIESEC has come of age with a lot of achievements.

He recalled that he joined the youth forum when it was introduced to the University of Ibadan in 1960.

"The confidence that has AIESEC has exhibited is quite commendable as it shows leadership qualities. The aim is to provide a platform where both parties can discuss, brainstorm and proffer solutions to social issues affecting the state," he said.

Omolayole, however, advised the students to develop ICT skills as it would dominate the century.

"Young people should choose fame rather than fortune, as fame is everlasting and fortune transient.

Speaking at the event, the Founder, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), Hafsat Abiola, urged members to understand the western societies first. She added that communication is a tool that matters a lot in development.

"The system changes when people change and people have to take ownership of Nigeria," she said The forum also featured a panel discussion made up of social entrepreneurs or venture capitalists that support these entrepreneurs.

AIESEC is the largest student organisation in the world with a global network of 70,000 undergraduates and recent graduates. It is an international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potentials so as to make a positive impact on the society

Provost warns new students

T

HE Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA), Dr Samson Odedina, has read the riot act on cultism, examination malpractices, rape and thuggery to new students of the institution.

He spoke at the 2014/2015 matriculation held at the college campus where he urged the freshers to shun all vices that have bedeviled tertiary institutions across the country. The matriculation was the first since Odedina assumed office as Provost in January.

The provost said the matriculation

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

conferred on the students full membership of the institution with rights and privileges.

He, however, said the benefits demanded certain obligations such as respect and obedience to rules and regulations, reporting criminals to the college authority for appropriate action, and protection of the college property, among others.

He expressed his determination to improve teaching and learning facilities in the college, especially the

deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching.

Besides, Odedina pledged that the library would be renovated and stocked with current publications including reputable local and international journals.

He assured that most of the obsolete equipment for practicals would be replaced with modern farm tools in the next couple of years.

Odedina urged the students to be peaceful and dialogue when there are issues to resolve.

I

T is to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria that we turn for inspiration this week.

The university is doing something that all other tertiary institutions need to emulate, if they do not already have similar initiatives.

About five years ago, the university looked inward for solution to its Information Communication Technology (ICT) administrative needs. Its vice-chancellor, Prof

Kofoworola

Belo-Osagie Kofosagie@yahoo.com 08054503077 (SMS only)

Abdullahi Mustapha, who hands over to Prof Ibrahim Garba today, inaugurated the software development team that has built over a dozen applications that serve various purposes, including to run the student portal, deploy online examinations, document examination and personnel records, and manage payments, among others. It is to the team's credit that the university has been able to save money that would have otherwise been spent servicing contract firms; and is now making money from selling its products to other institutions.

In this age of technology, tertiary institutions have had to evolve ways to do things faster and more effectively. Many started by introducing online registration portals; then Computer Based Tests (CBT) for the post - Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), then e-examinations, then distance learning, and the like.

However, not all these solutions were developed in-house. Many institutions rely on ICT firms to develop the software applications, deploy and maintain them. They contract out these tasks for huge sums of money.

But the ABU example has taught us that local capacity can be built to address the problems. It is just about the management having faith in the institution's human resources and giving them a chance to prove themselves.

My challenge to ABU is to include students on the software development team so that they can come up with refreshing ideas, and put into practice aspects of the theoretical concepts they are taught in the classroom. Such platform would also give the students the opportunity to gain useful experience while still in school.

I know of another university that is also looking inward to solve its problems and that of the host community, and carrying the students along. Dr Margee Ensign, president of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State said the institution engages its students in its community develop initiatives, which range from developing apps in local languages to teach indigenes to read/write, to participating in the disbursment of food items to over 200,000 InternallyDisplaced Persons (IDPs) weekly. By exposing the students to real-life challenges, they get the chance to think out of the box and get out of their comfort zones to seek solutions. At the end of the day, they gain exposure, maturity, experience, and a whole lot of technical and soft skills that the classroom alone cannot provide.

The Lagos State University (LASU) also deserves a mention for allowing a software developed by students to be used for electronic-voting of students' union officials last year. The software in question was upgraded for use a second time because of the success recorded when it was first deployed. This is the kind of progress such chances create. It supports development because the parties involved would be encouraged to improve on their performance.

I hope that after reading this piece, universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education administrators would take a look at resources within their institutions that can be exploited to solve problems, and give them the chance to do so.

Quality Assurance buzz in Lagos State

T

HE excitement that the new office of Quality Assurance is generating in Lagos State is infectious. School owners, teachers, principals, and quality assurance experts are optimistic about the positive effect it would have on both public and private primary and secondary schools in the state.

The new QA template promises to revolutionalise what school inspection is all about. Rather than wait for inspectors, now called QA officers, to come and expose problems in an overbearing manner that encourages window dressing, schools are meant to do a selfassessment of their facilities, practices, processes and others before they receive the visitors. Through the assessment, they know where they stand and can take measures to improve. The QA officers are only to validate what the schools have assessed and proffer solutions on what should be done to resolve issues they may have.

If this is implemented properly, the Director-General of the Quality Assurance office says the assessments would lead to the grading of schools, which would be a welcome development. It would help parents to know what to consider while choosing schools so that they do not end up being victimized by high-fee collecting schools that lack substance.

I think the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other accreditation/regulatory agencies need to learn from the Lagos QA system. We have heard too many stories of schools renting equipment and workers for accreditation purposes only. After the exercise is over, they return the items and continue operating in poor environments that fail to produce good quality graduates. Tertiary institutions should be made to assess themselves - and be supported by the regulators to meet the desired standard - and not to put up a show.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

44

SHOWBIZ

Amaka Excitement at Igwe’s last Desperate film Housewives Africa’s premiered screening

By Ovwe Medeme

• The late Amaka Igwe

S

TARTING today, television viewers across Africa will start watching Desperate Housewives Africa, an adaptation of Desperate Housewives, the multiple award-winning ABC television drama hit series.

At the premiere of the series which held at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on Wednesday, guests watched life on Hibiscus Lane, the fictional location of Desperate Housewives Africa.

The success of the ‘sneak peek’ was resounding as guests cheered and clapped at what the producers said was only a foretaste of a home-grown remake of the multiple award winning TV series.

The evening also featured red carpet interviews, music, cocktails, light refreshments and cut-to-the-chase addresses and remarks.

According to the Executive Producer, Mo Abudu,

By Joe Agbro Jr.

the premiere was the culmination of an 18-month discussion with owners of the series, The Walt Disney Company Africa. Abudu who presents Moments with Mo, said that the series is about celebrating not only Nigerians but Africans in general.

“We have put in a lot to maintain our premium home-grown quality of production,” said Abudu who is also the Executive Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV, “and our viewers can absolutely look forward with great delight to watching a most riveting adaptation of the multiple-award winning version from Africa; one with a uniquely African essence that closely mirrors the format and storylines of the multiple award winning American version.”

Loaded with scandals, secrets and glamour of the af-

• Life Coach and Director EbonyLife TV, Lanre Olushola; Executive Chairman and CEO EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu; Celebrity Fashion Designer, Mai Atafo, at the Premiere of Desperate Housewives Africa, on Tuesday.

fluent, Desperate Housewives Africa aims to bring plain everyday life to the screen.

When successful Rume Bello, played by Marcy Dolapo Oni, commits suicide, her friends continue their everyday lives and, as seen through Rume’s eyes, the story mysteriously unravels in a dramatic, comedic whirlwind.

Earlier on, there were remarks from the sponsors of

the series, and two winners won an iPhone 6 and a washing machine respectively courtesy of Airtel, and Procter and Gamble.

The night ended with the introduction of Cast and Crew, followed by closing remarks and photo call.

Five different versions of Desperate Housewives have been produced for EMEA and Latin American audiences, however Desperate House-

wives Africa is the first to be produced in English, the language of the original.

The original Desperate Housewives won both the 2005 and 2006 Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and was created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios.

The series airs at 10pm CAT on EbonyLife TV, DSTV Channel 165.

Artistes, others remember Oronto Douglas

• Oronto Douglas R.I.P

F

By Jane Kolade

speech about the inability of the populace to give honest feedback to their leaders, pointing out how he found Oronto Douglas to be cut from a different cloth.

The diversity of speakers who testified to the lifestyle of the late Douglas in a brief video in his honour testified to his humility, love, work ethic, intelligence, intellectual acumen, commitment to Nigeria, and his fellow Nigerians.

The outgoing president of Nigeria, his Excellency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Vice President Alhaji Namadi Sambo, old school friends and colleagues of Oronto testified to the fact that he had friends in high and low places, even while bestriding the corridors of power.

Tributes poured in from Nigerians from all walks of life, with most of the speakers breaking down in

Do not remix God Win, fan urges Kukere, Davido’s Korede Bello Iyanya’s Dami Duro, Olamide’s First Of

OLLOWING the massive success received by his single, God Win, Bisola Alawode, a blogger with entertainment website, Pulse has urged the singer not to remix the track.

Alawode, who said he did not appreciate the popularity of the song until almost all politicians who emerged victorious during the just concluded elections adopted it as their ‘unofficial victory anthem’, urged Korede and Mavin Records to ‘Leave the song as it is.’

“Please do not remix it. Do not get me wrong, I’m not saying remixing the song will be a bad thing, I just feel it would be unnecessary to make a God Win remix. Some might argue that a remix might actually make the song last longer in the minds of music lovers. An example to support this case would be Patoranking’s Girlie O ft.

Tiwa Savage. The remix was so good that most people forgot about the original. But let us also not forget that

By Ovwe Medeme

major hit songs like Oritse Femi’s Double Wahala,

All, and Kiss Daniel’s Woju had remixes that were considered outright failures in every sense. Even though they all featured ‘A list’ musicians like Akon, Dbanj, Tiwa Savage and Davido,” Alawode wrote.

According to him, “Though Korede might not realise it, he has made a song that would be around for a long, long time. You know your song is a hit when you are invited to perform it in churches. Though some pastors might consider it a ‘secular’ song.”

He also lauded Mavin Boss, Don Jazzy’s input in the success of the song, describing him as the proverbial wine that gets better with time.

tears while speaking.

The event kicked off at 7.30 pm, and was interspersed with musical performances by top Nigerian musicians like Sammy Okposo and his band, with a rendition of Elton John’s Candle in the wind, Timi Dakolo’s moving rendition of Faith Evans’s Missing You, and the Soulful negro spiritual, Goodbye Friends.

It also featured Dare Art- Alade’s soulful rendition of the popular classic My way.

In memory of the book he planned to write in defence of the rights of Nigerian women titled the Orgasmic Rights, the trio of Monalisa Chinda, Rita Dominic and Hilda Dokubo performed the Fertility Dance.

The Honourable Minister of Tourism; High Chief Edem Duke gave an impassioned eulogy to the memory of the dearly beloved departed Oronto.

• Tunde and Wunmi Obe

I

T was a night to remember as Nigerians from all walks of life, especially the Nigerian Movie Industry turned out enmasse to celebrate the life and times of Oronto Natieh Douglas; lawyer, environmental activist, author, philanthropist, and arts patron. The tribute night, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Tuesday, was anchored by Kate Henshaw and Charles Novia.

The roll call of attendees spanned the length and breadth of the Nigerian economic, political and academic class with a massive turnout of the Nigerian entertainment industry; musicians, actors/ actresses, producers, directors, all resplendently turned out in all white, to honour this illustrious son of Nigeria, and champion of the Niger Delta cause.

Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi gave a brief anecdotal

• Korede Bello

I

T Happened To Me, the last film written and produced by late filmmaker, Amaka Igwe, has premiered. The premiere of the movie, which happened online yesterday, was held to commemorate the first anniversary of Amaka Igwe’s passing.

The15-minute film, which was produced in conjunction with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and directed by writer cum director Chris Ihidero, is based on real life events.

Speaking with The Nation, Ihidero said that though it is too early to decide how much the film is trending, it had been premiered in Paris in 2013.

“The film was originally premiered at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in November 2013. It is a short film, so it is never going to be sold.

We will be giving it out as free content to individuals and television stations,” Ihidero said.

It Happened To Me tells the story of Dike, a 23-year-old apprentice trader based in Abuja, and his long-time girlfriend, Sochima the village belle. Sochima and her younger sister Ebere, die within six months of each other and the community is quick to ascribe their deaths to the cultural myth, Ogbanje.

However, Kene, Dike’s best friend and third year student of Laboratory Science at the university, is curious about his best friend’s sudden weight loss and convinced that Ogbanje has nothing to do with the deaths.

Shot in Umuada Community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, where Amaka Igwe’s family hails from, It Happened To Me features upcoming acts like Tochukwu Okafor, Desmond Onunwa, Jane Obi and Chidinma Igweani.

The movie is produced as part of the Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) project of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and is aimed at strengthening youth involvement with HIV and AIDS prevention activities in Nigeria, using culturally appropriate strategies.

Tunde and Wunmi Obe to drop fifth album

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IGERIA’s most celebrated showbiz couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, aka T.W.O, is set to release their 5th studio album titled T.W.O Plus. The couple recently announced that the new album will be released on Tuesday, May 5.

Having enjoyed what can be termed a successful career spanning over 25 years. They have been involve in different areas of the entertainment industry.

From working as TV hosts, to producers and musicians with four albums to their

By Adewoyin Adeniyi

credit.

According to T.W.O, the forthcoming album boasts of 15-tracks with high powered collaborations with the likes of Tuface, 9ice, Dammy Krane, Teniim, Segun Obe, Floss and Brace.

In August 2014, they dropped the visuals to their single Wedding Day featuring Teniim which was directed by popular video director Clarence Peters.

The couple’s last album, titled T.W.O Legit had songs like Fine Bara, Zombie, Atewo, God’s Time among others.

THE NATION THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015

45

There has to be continuity of the good work that the APC National ‘Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, started in 1999, which was continued by Governor Babatunde Fashola. The people of Lagos State are hopeful and expecting higher performance from the incoming administration ‘

DELTA POLITICS

The race for the Speaker of the House of Assembly in Delta State is gathering momentum.

Six legislators are in the race. Correspondent MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines the contest.

Who becomes next Delta Speaker?

A

S the legislative session draws to a close, the battle for the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly has

begun.

In pursuant of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is expected to follow the policy of rotation and zoning of elective offices.

Deltans expect the next Speaker to come from Delta Central, to balance the political equation in the state. The governor-elect is from Delta North and the deputy governorelect is from Delta South.

The House of Assembly Majority Leader, Hon. Monday Igbuya, is likely to slug it out with Mr. Efe Ofobruku, the daughter of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, Erhiatake Ibori, Mr Sam Mariere, Mr. Eric Oharisi and Sheriff Obovworhowrhi.

Who does the cap fit? Who should be the presiding officer of the PDP-dominated House in June?

Predictions are already streaming in about the possible outcome, leading analysts to tip the former Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area as the next Speaker.

Igbuya contested the Sapele Constituency seat on the platform of the PDP and he defeated Chief Felix Anirah, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chief Lucky Ayomanor, who contested on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

Analysts say Igbuya has the requisite qualification, aptitude and experience to become the Speaker. “I appreciate Igbuya’s civility.

He has a clear, exciting idea of where he is going and knows the feelings and difficulties of the people,” Dr. Mike Ofuokwue, a political strategist and analyst said. “Hon. Monday Igbuya has demonstrated leadership and integrity. He will use the position to quicken the delivery of “democracy dividends” by ensuring a smooth relationship between the House and other organs of government,” Chief Magnus Ogbechi, leader of Anioma Forum, said.

The voicing of support for Hon Igbuya did not start today. In December, top Okpe leaders described the Majority Leader as a blessing to the state. Chairman of Okpe Political Leaders Forum (OPLF), Mr. Darlington Ebireri, in a statement issued in Sapele, said the leaders praised Hon. Igbuya for protecting the people’s rights through quality representation, job creation and poverty alleviation.

“You have done us proud. All we can do is to acknowledge and thank you in our modest way by asking you to continue in Delta

State House of Assembly,” the leaders said after a meeting of stakeholders in Okpe kingdom.

The leaders described his performance in the assembly as wonderful.

The statement added: “Igbuya is a good ambassador of Sapele Local Government Area and his performance has spoken volume. He has defended the cause of Sapele at the Assembly and if given another chance, come 2015, Sapele Local Government Area and Delta State in general will be great.

“He will do a lot for the people in terms of legislation that would further unite Delta State and laws that will attract the desired investment, laws that would create employment opportunities and encourage private sector participation in the economy.”

In February, Urhobo leaders under the auspices of the Urhobo Political, Businessmen and Professional Forum berated those blackmailing the Majority Leader, describing the lawmaker as an embodiment of respect, loyalty, honesty, progress, peace and prosperity in Delta Central.

The group said: “In the Delta State House of Assembly, Igbuya has distinguished himself as a leader on a variety of issues important to Deltans, particularly Sapele people. He has earned a reputation as an articulate and powerful voice for economic and political development of the people.

“He is committed to boosting access to more affordable health care, improving educational opportunities for all, strengthening the state’s economy, expanding job opportunities, keeping taxes low and reducing spending.”

The “spokesperson of the forum, Mr. Darlington Ebireri, praised the lawmaker for meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

“A clinical appraisal of Igbuya’s footprints for the past seven years reveals that he has worked so hard to make life meaningful to the people. He has gained respect around the state and among his peers. He is a brilliant achiever,” the leaders said.

Obviously, Deltans want him to lead the House come June 2015. “We need leadership that is going to represent the people because this is their House. I hope to see the Sapele representative elected as Speaker of the Delta House. He will represent the interests and the desires of the people,“ Abell Minna, a financial consultant said.

“Picking up the speaker’s seat is a lot. We have a great candidate.” Victor Oki, an industrial relations expert said.

“Igbuya has been doing a great job as Ma-

•Igbuya

The voicing of support for Hon. Igbuya did not start today. In December, Okpe leaders described the Majority Leader as a blessing to the state jority Leader,” Julius Odita, a social commentator said, “and I can’t wait to see him in the Speaker’s position. He knows how to lead.”

“As an exemplary figure, I think he could do a very good job as speaker,” said Raymond Akpomughe, director of the Center for Strategic Studies, Asaba. He added: “He has a lot of experience in leadership. He has been in leadership for years and has the vision to do the job.

“In Delta State, the PDP is the party with

the largest tent, and it has a lot of strengths. I think it’s about putting the right person with the right strengths at the right time. Igbuya is a proven leader, having served as chairman of committees and as Majority Leader, a role that is usually a stepping stone for the top job in the chamber.

“The role of Speaker is critical. Igbuya has the ability to unite members and move the institution forward. He is certain to be the next Speaker,” Dr. Donald Okpunor, a political science teacher said. “As Speaker, Igbuya will build consensus,” he added.

His victory in the April 11 House of Assembly elections in Sapele has been described as a welcome development. For instance, stakeholders under the aegis of Delta State Political Leaders Forum (DSPLF) praised the Majoerity Leader for serving the state dutifully. They also called on the leadership of the PDP and incoming members of the Assembly to make Igbuya the next Speaker.

A statement by the Director of Communications of the DSPLF, Mr. Sylvester Oguma, said the leaders based their choice of Igbuya as the next Speaker on the core attributes of competence, integrity, courage, initiative and focus.

The statement said: “Igbuya has all it takes to preside over the House. He possesses a profound knowledge of precedent, procedure and how the legislature operates. He is a strategist; his word means a lot. He will advance public policy, maintain order and effectively conduct general business of the House.

“Let us pick a man who would be beholden to no constituency greater than that of the state. Igbuya will bring to the Speaker’s office the value of working together and respect.

He will always meet with the other leaders in crafting major legislation to deal with pressing issues and problems.”

On the way forward, the statement said: “We are working very hard, consulting with the political parties and ethnic groups to actualize the objective of making Igbuya speaker.”

The leaders urged Deltans at home and abroad to support Igbuya. “Call your Representative and demand that he or she supports Igbuya for the position.”

The friendly Majority Leader and former chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, would be the favorite to succeed Peter Onwusanye, given his familiarity with the process and deep knowledge of the House rules.

All Progressives Party (APC) chieftain in Lagos State Mrs. Mojisola Maciver spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the role of women in the recent general elections.

N

OW that that the APC has won the governorship election in Lagos State, what are your expectations?

My expectations are that we must provide good governance for the people of Lagos State. There has to be continuity of the good work that the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, started in 1999, which was continued by Governor Babatunde Fashola. The people of Lagos State are hopeful and expecting higher performance from the incoming administration.

Many women were unable to make it to the National Assembly and the Lagos State House of Assembly. What is your view on this?

It’s a very dicey and unfortunate situation because lots of women came out to contest. This of course has been the tradition right from the Action Congress of Nigeria

‘Women aided APC’s victory’ (ANC) days. We were assured that there would be full women representation, that at least we would get 30 per cent of the women affirmation. So, lots of us came out and we did our best, but unfortunately most of us were not able to make it to the elective office. In the appointive office too, we have not been fully represented.

What are the problems facing women in politics?

Some of the problems we encounter have to do with funding. Again, the men are not ready to accept us.

They still look down on us, they feel we cannot perform. But, I believe that we can do better than the men, if we are given the opportunity to serve. Though, funding is the major factor confronting us, others fac-

tors cannot be ruled out. The groundwork on the outcome of the election is premised on money. The mobilisation of people, campaigning materials and moving from one point to another require money.

How would women get over this problem?

Women need to come together; we need mentorship to be able to align ourselves with the realities of our dream. The rich ones among us must be ready to come out to sponsor those who are willing to take part in the politics.

The APC will control the government at the centre this time around. What is your expectation on the 35 per cent women affirmative action?

I believe that our leaders are al-

ready looking into the matter. We expect that things will be better than what we currently have. We hope our party should be able to do better than what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has done in terms of women affirmation. So, we are expecting 40 per cent, not even 35 per cent at the appointive offices because the elective offices have gone. For instance, no woman from Lagos State under our party will be in the House of Representatives. So, we expect that our leaders should look into the matter.

Was the impact of women felt during the electioneering?

Of course, yes. Women were mobilised during the campaign and elections. They came out enmasse to vote. We had to plead with

40 - 44 POLITICS ( FREE II) - 30-04-2015 - THURS

•Maciver

women that they should not be disappointed because their expectation in terms of elective office was dashed. We tried to assure them that when our party wins, they will be considered. Women gave their support and actually came out to vote the APC during the elections.

46

THE NATION THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015

The dramatis personal in the Ondo State impeach‘ment saga are part of the bad eggs in our society ’

Former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adelabu Onibiyo, represented Alimosho Constituency II between 2003 and 2011. In this interview, he speaks on the recent general elections and its implications for the consolidation of democracy. Oziegbe Okoeki met him.

‘Tinubu is fulfilling his calling’

W

HAT is your general impression about the just concluded general election?

The election has come and gone.

We are grateful that nothing unprecedented happened in Lagos State.

That notwithstanding, we must commend the INEC for the way the election was concluded. Though there are teething problems, but, I believe with time, we can always get over it. Yes, Lagosians too, I think there were skirmishes here and there, but people were magnanimous enough to just overlook it. They didn’t react to any of these things and they went to vote, that is a good development.

A lot of people believe President Goodluck Jonathan did something extraordinary by conceding defeat to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. What is your reaction?

Well, I must thank you for asking that question, because all over the place when you hear that he conceded even before the result were declared, I say he did the normal thing that we are not used to doing.

So, it wasn’t any thing unusual that he did. Probably because he never did anything better before, people now saw that and they want to over blow it. That’s my own understanding of it. But, whatever it wasn’t any thing, it was obvious, looking at the results, he knew the game was up, over two million votes ahead and the few results coming, he knew he would probably take one and the rest would still go to Buhari. So, it was obvious for him not to delay issues, that is number one. Number two also is to cover up the misdeeds of Orubebe, because that was something that was painting the image of the nation negative and he must have been seeing all of that. Rather for them to continue to escalate it, of course he saved the situation which otherwise would have boomerang on him as president of the country. So he did whatever was normal and obvious.

Why do you think people are so optimistic about change under Buhari’s leadership?

Even, the Israelites when they were under bondage, their thought was towards liberation, looking for whatever that could help them. When you go back that line, and what happened when Moses came. The first thing is the thought and feelings of the people, the whole nation have been looking for a way of getting rid of the PDP element. It was obvious, even in the campaign sessions of the president, when he talks, you can see that he was only talking from the head. Everybody saw through PDP, what is it that they wanted that they could not have achieved in the last 16 years according to them. And I could feel it, because when you look at the election, whether from the North, South, whether South South, there were problems. So the will of the people is what was expressed this time around.

And to the glory of the Almighty,it went in such a way that nobody believed. You know we all were apprehensive, some people were buying foodstuff, some travelling and a lot of things, but nothing happened.

Naturally, the Lord took over and we saw the end of PDP in Nigeria.

In your own view, what difference do you think Buhari and APC government can make?

That was why I made reference to the Isrealites in the first instance. The will of the people is always what determines the path they would tread.

And so, you could see that even after the election naira firmed up, these are small, small indications and what have you. But because of that will, the leaders will be guided as to the aspiration of the people they are to channel their efforts towards. And I also have that believe strongly that better times are here. It is just natural, it is our wish that will shape the way we will pass in life. And so the will of the people is towards change, they will be ready. I mean if you look back, when Governor Tinubu came into office in 1999, Lagos was full of filth all over the place, but the expectation of change and the leadership too, they were guided somehow and the filth in Lagos was overtime reduced and cleared up before they now started something major. And so again for Nigeria I don’t expect anything less, a country that is so blessed with so many resources, human and otherwise and yet we can not make ways for ourselves, we can not, what becomes of sacrifice a nation should make if the leadership would not even sacrifice. So the problem we had was the issue of leadership and one believes that with the person of Buhari coming in and the focus that I believe that the likes of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, honestly we are in good times.

How can the political class heal the wounds of ethnicity and religion after the general eletion?

In the public domain, what the Oba of Lagos said was taken as a curse though we were not there. My take is very simple, we are all Africans and we are Nigerians; if the Oba says something as an African, even if he is wrong, he is the Oba, he has said it, that is his feeling and he will express his feeling. So, to me the Kabiyesi did what was okay to him and you can’t fault him. However, if you want to fault him, did you not see the result in the way the Ibos went ahead, even if you see their activities here in the Estate, Ibos who normally come to vote without bringing water, they now prepared food. A day before they were distributing indomie and what have you in Agbado Okeodo, they were distributing generators, phones, money,

I mean if you look back, when Governor Tinubu came into office in 1999, Lagos was full of filth all over the place, but the expectation of change and the leadership too, they were guided somehow

Otti queries credibility of Abia election

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HE All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate for Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has criticised the conduct of the April 25 supplementary elections, saying agents of Governor Theodore Orji conducted themselves in a shameful manner.

Otti, who spoke in reaction to claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the conduct of Governor Orji and his agents amounted to “colossal abuses aimed at truncating the will of the people. He said: “Let me make it very clear: I will defend the sanctity of your civic acts of having voted for me and for APGA within all lawful and constitutional means.”

Also, he cited what he has characterized as “the unfolding violations of Nigeria’s electoral laws in Abia State and the outright and blatant rigging of the governorship election and gross threats to inflict deadly violence against anyone identified as APGA supporter during the April 11 and the April 25, elections.”

Otti said: “We believe and know that the agents of these unlawful acts which have included the despicable display of real coffins with invocations of death and killings for anyone that voted APGA. Sadly, this is where the state PDP gang with the outgoing Governor has reduced a once glorious Abia to primitive fetishes and occultic symbolisms.”

Nevertheless, he commended the people of Abia for their courage in coming out to vote for APGA, in spite of the threats and intimidation.

‘I remain Ondo deputy governor’ •Adelabu

everything; why? Was it because they love Agbaje, no! It is because Ibos are behaving to type. That is my own understanding. Even on that day there is an Ibo chap I use to relate with, I said, what is happening, he said, if the Oba says we are going to end up in the Lagoon, we will end up in the Lagoon; and we don’t mind. You know we have been fighting all the time and we are here to fight again.

The way he was talking I was shocked that its a deliberate thing they are doing and they have an agenda. And for me I have always looked at the Ibos as stigmatised people, they are stigmatised people and nobody has done it to them, they have done it to themselves. And they are the first race here in Nigeria that would always talk of marginalisation and whatever. They have this coarse language that they use. And when you look at it, you will now wonder who is doing what to whom. Now in the case of the APC, were they not invited to join in, didn’t they feel it was Jonathan all the way because they thought they have everything, so they followed their own agenda, at the same time they now want to blame somebody. So, the Ibos, for me we should understand, they are brutalised people and that comes from their past. Nobody would deny today that in all sections of Nigeria only very few people want to deal with the Ibos; when you say Ibo! Ah! Its like, you know. And so they behave to type, I am not surprised, it is because they are low people, but they try to justify something they want.

They talk more, they do more of these things, you know; they talk in the air and when the chips are down you find them crawling again. So we should not allow them to trigger us into some bad manners. You know to fight a dwarf you must be very careful handling him otherwise people will end up blaming you. Ibos are by nature dwarf, I don’t really see anything magnificent about them.

And what they do is feast on others.

Whatever relationship they had with Jonathan was to feed on him, to feed on the South South thing. That is the Ibo man for you that is the way they think. So a lot of us have to now look at the past and the present to be able to know how to deal with every Ibo man you come across. You know, and they pride themselves over nothing. In fact, this election has really helped me to finally analyse the Ibo man as he is.

I

Impeached Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi has said that his removal is a nullify.

“In a statement by his lawyer, Oluwole Kayode, he said: It is an exercise in futility. It has happened before, where people engaged in civil disobedience to challenge authoritarianism, abuse of power and breach of the constitution. It is time for Nigerian to begin to whip people who claim to be exercising power on their behalf to follow the law.

“The dramatis personal in the Ondo State impeachment saga are part of the bad eggs in our society and by whose characters the international community judge us as a people. It is shameful.

“It is the worst legislative and ju-

•Olanusi

dicial proceedings in the whole world. It will not stand. The people of Ondo State are fully prepared to organise a robust reception for Alhaji Ali Olanusi whenever he returns from his trip.”

I was attacked by politicians, says Plateau REC

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HE Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Godwin Kwanga, has revealed that highly placed politicians made him a subject of attack before and during the elections.

Kwanga made this known in his opening remarks at the presentation of Certificate of Returns to winners of the National Assembly and state assembly elections in the state.

According to Kwanga, “Politicians in the state launched several verbal attacks on me during the preparations for the 2015 elections.

But I thank God today that the choice of the electorates was the decider of the results of the election.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos “People just think I can determine the voting pattern of the people and that I can determine the results of the elections. But I kept telling them I don’t have that power. My resolve to remain neutral throughout the process even fuel the attack on me.

“I thank God that I was able to consume the attacks and at the end of it the results reflects the choice of the people, I am vindicated” The certificate of return were presented to the electoral victors

by INEC national commissioner representing Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi state Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi.

Isoko group congratulates Okowa

T

HE Igbide Political Elite Forum, an Isoko grassroot political pressure group, has congratulated the Delta State Governor-elect, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on his victory in the April 11 governorship election.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Daniel Egwero, the group stated that Okowa’s victory was expected, not only because the PDP is the only party on ground in the state, but also because of his goodwill and popularity across the state.

The statement said: “The good people of Delta State have through the ballot box identified you as the man who can be trusted with bringing the much-anticipated infrastructural development in Delta State, the big heart of Nigeria.

“Okowa is a God-fearing man with a kind heart. He is very knowledgeable about Delta politics. He has gannered the requisite experience from being a local government secretary, chairman, commissioner, secretary to state government and a distinguished senator of the federal republic of Nigeria. He is a grassroots person and he has a vision about what he has set to achieve.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

47

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Pass Traditional Medicine Bill, expert pleads HE passage of theTraditional Medicine (TM) Bill will help practitioners and also rescue the sector from quacks, a Professor of Ophthalmology, Mrs Olubukola Adefule-Ositelu, has said.

She said modern medicine is short of new treatments. “And it takes years for a new drug to get through the research and development pipeline to manufacture and the cost is enormous. And growing drug resistance, in part caused by the misuse of medications, has rendered several drugs such as antibiotics and other life-saving drugs useless. Both these trends mean that scientists and pharmaceutical companies are urgently looking for new drug sources and are increasingly turning their eyes to traditional medicine,” she said.

The professor of Ophthalmology who uses bitter cola (garcinia cola) to treat glaucoma said integrating traditional medicine into modern healthcare should be taken seriously by the administration of the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

The in-coming administration, she said, should endeavour to pass the TM Bill into law, to regulate the practice, adding: “Because the lack of regulation means there are just as many fake remedies and false practitioners as there are genuine treatments. And that can have fatal results. For example, last year, two people died and nine were hospitalised after taking fake anti-diabetic traditional medicine, used to lower blood sugar, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China.

“We that know our right hand from the left have come under an umbrella- National Experts Committee on Research and Development in Natural Medicine (NECRADMN), initiated by the late Prof Yemisi Akin-Adewo, chaired later by Otunba Olajuwon Okubena and now my person. This is because for most of the past decade, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been working to develop international guidelines and technical standards to help countries formulate policy and regulations to control traditional medicines.

“NECRADMN is collaborating with National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian National Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), National Association of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Association (NACAMA), Research Institute of traditional and Alternative Medicine

T

•Prof Adefule-Ositelu

(RITAM), Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and development (NIPRID), Lagos State Tradional Medicine Board (LSTMB) and various agencies and departments to push for the standardisation of the practice. It is time for the emerging government to Implement Traditional Medicine Policy prepared in 2007 with technical assistance of the World Health Organisation (WHO). With that everything will fall in place and the National Health Bill of 2014 can be effectively implemented. Nigeria has rich fauna and flora that can become breakthroughs for the pharmaceutical industry, just as in other lands.

Mrs Adefule-Ositelu continued: “A few major triumphs have stoked interest in traditional medicine as a source for highly successful and lucrative drugs. The best known of these is artemisinin used to treat malaria. Artemisinin is traditional

medicine’s blockbluster drug.

Artemisinin, which is extracted from Artemisia annua or Chinese sweet wormwood, is the basis for the most effective malaria drugs the world has ever seen. Western researchers first became aware of the compound in the 1980s, though it had long been used in China to treat malaria. But it wasn’t until 2004 that the World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsed its use worldwide. Much of this delay was because of the skepticism about the drug, and different research groups spent years validating the claims of Chinese traditional healers.

“Artemisinin is proving useful against other diseases too and has been shown to have great potential in treating cancers and schistosomiasis. Across the globe, researchers, policymakers, pharmaceutical companies and traditional healers are joining forces to bring TM into the 21st century. In some ways, it is already here in Nigeria. Nearly a quarter of all modern medicines are derived from natural products, many of which were first used in traditional remedies.”

The passage of the Bill will also encourage traditional practitioners to release their preparations for clinical trials, so the issue of protection and piracy would be addressed.

She said: “One of the most striking differences between traditional and modern medicines is the legal protection given to knowledge. Traditional practitioners have historically shared their knowledge and experience freely. Modern medicine, on the other hand, has stringent intellectual property laws and a highly evolved patenting system used to protect knowledge about drugs or medical techniques. As Western researchers realise the wealth of knowledge stored in traditional medicine systems, and the need for new drugs becomes more urgent, many scientists have begun searching indigenous sources for new drugs: a term dubbed ‘bioprospecting’. In some cases, researchers have sought patent

‘And it takes years for a new drug to get through the research and development pipeline to manufacture and the cost is enormous’

Want to boost immunity?

Take fruits, veggies RUITS and vegetables are the best immune boosters, a naturopath, Dr Lambo Adebisi, has said. He said fruits and vegetables contain anti-oxidants, which help the body to withstand free-radicals, especially during the rains when people come down with cold and flu, among other ailments caused by germs.

“Antioxidants can be man-made or natural substances, which may prevent some types of cell damage in the body. Free radicals are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons. They are deleterious to the body,” he said.

He said fruits can help to mop up free radicals, and as such promote wellness.

Adebisi spoke of regular consumption various fruits as minerals and vitamins providers, adding that they are full of many health benefits, especially strengthening human system against diseases.

The traditional medicine practitioner said orange, guavas, peppers and dark green vegetables are major suppliers of vitamin C to the body.

“People who take them do not experi-

F

protection for medicinal compounds that had already been used for centuries to treat disease. An example is the 1995 patent on an anti-fungal neem derivative commonly used in Indian traditional remedies. The European Patent Office (EPO) granted a patent to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the multinational WR Grace and Company. The Indian government convinced the EPO to revoke the patent on the basis of prior use, but it took five years and millions of dollars. This plundering of freely available indigenous resources has been termed ‘biopiracy’ and is a strong example of the challenges facing efforts to take traditional medicine mainstream. Many other countries have, or are considering establishing, similar databases to protect their local resources, including China, Ghana, Malaysia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and some nations in the Middle East.”

Mrs Adefule-Ositelu added: “NECRADMN is full of people that know that onions, hence it is forging unity among practitioners; has done researches widely in the tertiary institutions on Nigerian natural vegetations. A lot has been done per products formulation, but mainly for promotion exercises, so I will suggest manufacturers should be approached and the products collated for clinical evaluations for their efficacies.

“That effort will lead to an enormous bank of herbal remedies that can promote traditional medicine in the management of various ailments in the country, and boost FOREX. Such will enhance economic growth in this sector; will reduce quackery and fake productions; it will meet the needs of our people; encourage more traditional medicine practitioners to release their preparations for clinical trials as the Passed Bill now guarantees their intellectual property (IP).”

She said if the passed, the new government would fund traditional medicine, promote research in cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and asthma, among others. It would also establish training institutions, model clinics in local governments, collaborate with health research institutes and universities, international organisations, encourage the establishment of a regulatory body for practitioners and strengthen ties between traditional and conventional health practitioners to avoid stifle.

“Promote and encourage the establishment of regulatory body for practitioners of Natural medicine, she added.

By Wale Adepoju

ence scurvy and dental problems. Inability of many to consume fruits and vegetables regularly have made them to become deficient in various vitamins,” he said.

He said vitamin C also prevents cold and flu, adding that it rebuild bones and blood vessels, as well as boost brain function.

“It also hasten the healing of injuries,” he added.

Besides, some people are suffering from vitamin deficiency anaemia (VDA) also known as megaloblastic anaemias because they do not take fruits.

This, he said, usually occur when the body does not have sufficient vitamins needed to produce adequate numbers of healthy red blood cells (RBC).

RBC, he said, carry oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body.

VDA, he said, can occur when somebody’s diet is lacking in certain vitamins.

Moreover, the body cannot properly ab-

•Adebisi

•Fruits

sorb the nutrients from the foods people eat if they are not beneficial.

Adebisi cautioned people against eating artificial food, stressing that they are the cause of most diseases affecting people.

He enjoined the people to eat organically grown food because they are natural and

have been proven to be beneficial to the body than synthetic food.

“Thus, sweetners and food kept through preservative should be avoided because they are deleterious to man’s life. So they should eat only naturally grown food,” he added.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

NATURAL HEALTH

Anti-aging tips for Buhari in Change era (4) Gingko biloba

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HIS ancient blood circulation herb is still ringing bells of sonorous sounds in many ears and brains. Last Thursday, it featured in this series as a star brain herb for moving blood and oxygen to the micro units of the brain, thereby waking them up, if they are sleeping or dying, improving memory, alertness, vigour and…. I used Ginkgo biloba as a food supplement ( I still do) in my work days as editor and never for a movement experience foggy or faded thought. Today, Gingko biloba is a star anti–aging, antioxidant prescription for the brain, going by several scientific studies worldwide. It is an indispendable food supplement, also, for people who are recovering from stroke or any other brain trauma.

And for many of us who rely almost exclusively on the cell phone for telephone communication, Gingko should be a feature of the daily diet. I got this impression some years ago when I watched a documentary on what the cell phone may be doing to the brain. It is said to be powered on the energy frequency on which the microwave oven functions.

That means that any time we hold a cell phone close to the ear during a telephone conversation its energy actually “cooks” the brain as the microwave oven cooks food.

Microwave cooking damages or at best alters the molecular structure of food. It is the structure of the food molecule which performs such functions in the human cell which corresponds with the structure of the molecule.

Thus, an altered molecular structure will produce nothing other than an altered molecular functions. And an altered molecular function means an aberrant or deviant or abnormal cell. Is this why critics of the cell phone believe it can predispose its users to cancer? Is this why cases of brain tumour are growing? The Russians may know what the rest of the world doesn’t know or are pretending not to know.

They do not eat microwave food. I too, do not. In the said documentary, the colour of the parts of brain irradiated, so to say, by cell phone “Microwaving” change for some time.

It normalises after a while, perhaps after the cells fight back to repair the damage. Inflicted upon them by this seemingly indispensable modern technology.

It is possible the cells mobilize all the antioxidants at their disposal to fight off free radicals unlashed upon them by the cell phone. That process is called ionization . The complex cell is being reduced to its component parts. It is a feature of electro pollution in our modern age. Every cell in the human body produces, electricity of a particular frequency. Electricity of a higher frequency can break down the cell and its electric energy. That’s why people get electrocuted when they are exposed to high voltage electric current.

How many men wonder what may be happening to their brains. ‘During a haircut, when the barber runs an electric clipper over their heads? Is brain cell frequency “jammed” by the frequency of electricity in the clipper’s electric motor coil? What protection have they in the brains or from dietary supplements such as Gingko biloba? As president, Gen Mohammodu Buhari (rtd) will make and receive many cell phone calls every day. Gingko biloba will surely help him.

But so will also many other antioxidants.

ADIES and gentlemen, we are discussing how a president of Gen. Buhari’s age can cope with the pressure of office without slacking or slurring in the job or suffering a health break–down. Remember the age, 70 something, was an election campaign subject for the government party, the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) which did not expect him to survive rigours of the campaigns in opposition, I expect the PDP to continue to hammer this subject.

Already, its members are making a mountain of post election statement by Gen. Buhari that he should not be expected to perform miracles. A President Buhari can knock the bottom out of this drive.

Happily, as shown last Thursday, anti–aging researchers have found that we age rapidly and suffer health deteriation largely because we do not have enough antioxidants to overcome free radicals which we ingest from food, air and water, which our immune system unleashes on germs and which they, too, unleash on the immune system, and from the waste products of our body’s metabolic processes.

Thinking about this war of antioxidants and free radicals going on within us, which we hardly know about until we are down from free radicals fire power. I remembered an interesting book, The wonderful world within, written by Dr Roger Williams, whose research led to the discovery of some vitamins, including, I think, pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5). Later, I may return to this vitamin for the benefit of people who are mangled by stress.

Now, I wish to think about the question which one of the readers of the column asked after reading last week about how free radicals make us age and die prematurely and about how a rich store of antioxidants can extend our lifespan, as they have extended those of some experimental animals about five times or more, and make us disease and pain free even at close to double the present span of earth – life.

The question was if mother nature is wise and perfect and kind, why didn’t she not equip our bodies naturally to fight free radicals for as long as she expects us to live?

I asked this question in the 1980s when all the doctors I sought help from for my grandmother’s breast cancer said there was no cure for cancer. I just couldn’t believe that the good Lord would have permitted the human body to come into being without adequate safeguards of its health being provided prior to that great event which, from many creation stories, was actually the last event in the creation pro-

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cess. I was to learn while searching for the grains of truth of life for the care of the healthy human body that neither drugs nor injections but the right kinds of foods and drinks bring lasting health. “These right kinds of foods and drinks” are the natural edibles mother nature provides for the replenishment, always, of natural antioxidant complexes she factored into our bodies. Thus, each one of us was endowed from birth with three major, if not more, antioxidant complexes and must maintain them in high store if we are ever to win the battle with free radicals. Another lesson for me in this scenario is that we cannot avoid exposure to free radicals.

We can only minimize the exposure and maximize our antioxidant response to them. For free radicals are like criminals and antioxidants like policemen who must hold them in check. In which society are there no criminals and policemen?

Antioxidant complexes S usual, we will listen to our two best–seller author friends, whose books I again recommend for the health section of your library. They are Judy Limberg Mcfarland, author of ‘Aging without growing old’, and Jean Carper’s ‘Stop aging now’. Before they take the floor I will like to say that three of SOD natural antioxidant complexes found in every cell of the body are: •Glutathione, •Super oxide Dismutase •Catalase Glutathione: This antioxidant produced by the body, Judy Limberg Mcfarland says: “Glutathione” is manufactured in the liver by three naturally ocuring amino acids. Cysterine, Glutamic Acid, and Leucine. Glutathione is a power house of antioxidants. A lack of it in the cells is considered by some researchers to be the foremost cause of premature aging. It protects every cell, tissue, and organ in the body. In one study, those with 20 per cent higher blood levels of Glutathione had only one–third the rate of arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, circulatory symptoms, diabetes, stomach symptoms, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) when compared to those with lower Glutathione levels.”

Dr Mara Julius, the author of this finding at the University of Michigan, said even in every old age, people with the highest levels of Glutathione bounce back from diseases and accidents, the same way much younger people do. They are just more vigorous. In a section in the “Anti–aging: Benefits of Glutathione”, Judy Mcfarland quotes researcher Jean Carper as reporting that Glutathione offers the following health benefits: •Protects from cancer •Rejuvenates immunity •Blocks damage to the cells by breaking down from free radicals •Rejuvenates old and weak immune system •Prevents lung injury from free radicals fights against the free radicals produced by rancid fats •Keep blood cholesterol from oxidizing and becoming toxic •Cures some form of type II diabetes •Helps prevent macular degeneration and •Maintains healthy immune function Comments Glutamic acid, Glycine and cysteine, components of Glutathione, are amino acids. Some researchers argue that Glutathione blood levels are not boosted by Glutathione food supplement as it is boosted by the consumption of Glycine, Glutamic acid and cysteine. For this reason, they suggest these three amino acids be consumed from diets rich in them or from amino acids food supplements which contain them.

In the light of this, and given the fact that amino acids make up the proteins in our bodies, the health food industry has striven to provide us with amino acids in forms we can easily absorb them without the need to obtain. The get them from meat, fish or other flesh sources which leave lots of toxic and free radical waste in the body. One of the provisions is known as FREE FORM AMINO ACIDS. They come in softgels or sauce past. There are also plant sources, of which SPIRULINA is a prime asset. This blue–green algae

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e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

was discovered by Europeans in the lake chad region. European researchers were surprised that inhabitants of this region aged gracefully, had a long life span and were not disposed to many of the diseases of modern life. They ate little of beef and egg. Their staple was SPIRULINA. Now, Spirulina has been found to have one of the richest plant sources of Beta carotene, an antioxidant, and it has all 23 amino acids (including Glycine, Glutamic acid and Cystane) in an easily digested and absorbable form. On Glutathione, Jean Carper says: Glutathione is made up of three amino acids and is produced in all cells of the body. Its main purpose is to break down and dispose of potentially dangerous toxics that invade your body. It is an antioxidant that cleanses fatty foods of free radicals hazards in the digestive tract and protect cells everywhere against free radical harm. Because Glutathione is a natural substance, it is also found in certain foods. Additionally, Glutathione has been synthesized and made into supplements. Therefore you can combat aging both by eating Glutathione in food and by taking it as a supplement. Further, you can up your bloods levels of Glutathione by ingesting certain vitamins and other compounds that are building blocks the body uses to synthesis Glutathione. If you have low Glutathione, one, you are one third more likely to have chronic diseases a sense of poor health, decreased functions and early death.

Two, fully 77 per cent hospitalised with chronic diseases had a low Glutathione defiency. In one study, taking fat boosts your need for Glutathione, thus the more that you eat, the greater your expected defiency of Glutathione. A drop in Glutathione as we age allows free radical activities to heat up unchecked, causing a gradual decay of immune functioning. Yet, by replenishing Glutathione, you can abort and reverse this inheritability. When tufts researchers, Dr Simin Meydani added Glutathione to the white blood cells of elderly people, immune activity revived up nearly equally that of cells of much younger people. Specifically, Glutathione boosts the ability of cells to divide, enabling them to mount stronger attacks on the foreign invaders. How utterly devastating shortages of Glutathione can be to cells was dramatically illustrated by experiments at Stanford University School of Medicine. When deprived of their normal Glutathione, T. cells (the warriors of the immune system) of healthy individuals became so disturbed, they could no longer appropriately respond to signals to wage war on microbes: the famished cells eventually became so confused that they actually killed themselves, a phenomenon researchers call programmed cell death.

Post Script:

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LUTATHIONE has such a powerful effect that, in test tubes it stops the replication or spread of the AIDS virus by about 90 per cent. AIDS patients are typically low in Glutathione thus, the antioxidants is being tested on HIV patients to see if it can partially restore immune functioning. Glutathione is the Rambo that rushes in to safe your cells by neutralising and breaking down free radicals. So they are harmlessly flushed out of the body. It can deactivate at least 30 cancer–causing substances, according to Dean Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Emory University School of Medicine. Glutathione even acts as a prophylactic against the formation of free radicals by destroying peroxides that are parents to free radicals. Glutathione formidable powers, as a free radicals terminator may help explain why eating fruits and vegetables, naturally high in Glutathione, is so often tied to lower rates of cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases. In a resent study, people who are the most Glutathione rich raw fruits and vegetables were only half as likely to develop oral cancer as those eating the least. Jean Carper says, also, that “sufferers of some Type II diabetes can be helped by Glutathione. Especially spectacular, Glutathione can help save you from the harmful consequences of eating rancid, dangerous fats” she says. “Glutathione actually detoxifies or cleanses food of oxidized or rancid fats in your intestinal tract preventing it from detonating into showers of free radicals to attack your cells.

In a striking study by, Yee Aw Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physiology at the Louisiana State University Medicals Center, put oxidized fats into animals intestinal tract. When she added Glutathione the amount of free radicals that were metabolised and released from intestinal cells into the blood, strain fell dramatically.

The moment rancid fats enters the cells, explains Dr Aw, Glutathione destroys it. If there is enough Glutathione to destroy all the rancid fats that enters, none is left to go back out to circulate through the blood. But if your cells in the G.I tract have so little Glutathione, and you eat too much rancid fats, or both, the defense collapses, releasing harzardous oxidized fats to circulate throughout your body, promoting all the torment of aging. “In an exciting breakthrough researchers at Duke University Medical Centre actually cured Type II (adult onset) diabetes in animals by boosting Gluthathione levels. In the experiment, diabetes – prone mice on high fat diets developed diabetes. The reason, explains Biochemist Dike Opara, when mice burned the gobs of dietary fats, high amounts of oxygen free radicals were generated. These radicals interfered with or shut off the body’s ability to metabolise sugar. This led to an overload of sugar in the blood causing the diabetes. Increasely, the diabetes disappeared when the mice were fed glutamine, a natural amino acid that caused levels of gluthathione to skyrocket.

The gluthathione then mopped up the destructive free radicals so they no longer hindered sugar metabolism.

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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INDUSTRY

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2020 target unrealisable, says NACCIMA

HE 2020 target set for industrialisation under the Transformation Agenda of the outgoing administration cannot be achieved, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has said.

The body said despite the programmes of the administration to improve the lot of the average Nigerian, alot is left to be done to tackle the challenges which range from insecurity, unstable exchange rate, unemployment, unstable power supply, inflation, decline in trade volume and devaluation of the naira.

The association said these challenges have slowed the realisation of the government’s Transformation Agenda and the nation’s quest to become one of the 20 most industrialised nations in the world by 2020.

Addressing reporters in his Lagos office, its President, Chief Bassey Edem, said while capacity utilisation remained at 51.96 per cent, local and external debt stood at $49.12 billion and $9.52 billion, with liquidity ratio at 30 per cent. inflation rate stands at 8.5 per cent.

He regretted that there had been delays in the budgetary process, adding that it has affected planning

by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and business operators, whose plans and projects depend on the budget.

Edem called for diversification of

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

the economy from over-dependence on crude oil to avoid volatile oil prices.

“The government needs to work assiduously towards making the required investment that would boost the growth of other non-oil sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, solid mineral development and transport, which hold greater prospect of yielding huge revenue to the economy if properly harnessed,” he said.

Edem said crude oil prices were negatively affecting the nation’s revenue base and budget, thereby affecting businesses. “We have been very consistent in our warning against the country’s over reliance on export of crude oil as a major source of revenue, which price is prone to volatility due to factors, such as the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota, unrest in the Middle East, pipeline vandalism and demand substitution,” he said.

The NACCIMA Acting chief criticised the high cost of governance, saying it increased the recurrent expenditure of the government, thereby decreasing the government expenditure on public project in vital sectors of the economy.

He called for a reduction in the cost of running government by pruning political appointees as well as the expenditure of the National

Assembly.

His words: “It is important for the incoming administration to start considering ways by which the country’s recurrent expenditure can be reduced beginning with a lean and efficient government administration.

“Agriculture is a major and most certain path to economic growth and sustainability and its importance cannot be over emphasied. We counsel that the incoming administration should, as a matter of priority, consolidate on the gains recorded in the sector and initiate additional policies that will make the sector a source of food security and economic development for the prosperity of the Nigerian people.”

He urged the diversification of sources of power, such as solar, wind energy and coal to boost power supply.

He continued: “There is need for the incoming administration to recognise the importance of power to the survival of industries in this country and ensure the reforms in the sector are improved upon so as to deliver to the generality of the Nigerian populace the much desired stable power supply.”

Edem also canvassed a policy dialogue session with the private sector to discuss input into the budgetary development process as it was before.

The need for this interaction, he said, had become imperative for a successful Public-Private Partnership (PPP) process to further develop the economy.

FIIRO advises unemployed to patronise its research products

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HE Federal Institute of Indus trial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos has called on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), retirees and unemployed graduates to patronise its research products to create employment.

Its Director-General, Dr Gloria Elemo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that industrial research and food technology are capable of creating employment to jobless graduates and their likes.

The institute’s training programmes, according to her, are unique and capable of generating employment for Nigerians.

“At the moment, FIIRO has over 250 research products waiting to be utilised and this is a better platform for youths to embrace research to create jobs,” she said.

Dr. Elemo said the institute has about 20 training programmes,

which can give immediate employment to trainees. Some of the programmes, according to her, include cassava flour processing; electroplating and plug refurbishing; pounded yam flour making; fresh fruit juicing and preservation, and packaged palm wine production.

She listed others to include snail farming, smoked fish processing and packaging, and assorted laundry soap production. She said each of the programmes cost between N15, 000 and N20, 000, adding that the beneficiaries had formed cooperative society through which members accessed fund.

FIIRO helmsman urged the incoming government at all levels to prioritise industrial research as a panacea for employment generation.

Oil marketers insist on deregulation

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HE deregulation of the down stream sector of the oil and gas industry has remained the best option to move the economy forward, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), has said.

Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, who spoke in Lagos, said deregulation would bring investments into the sector, adding that only deregulation would encourage the establishment of private refineries in the country.

According to him, the Federal Government should have the courage to fully deregulate and remove subsidy or embark on continuous subsidy regime payment as at when due. “If the government likes, they can introduce gradual removal of subsidy, but it should not go beyond six to 18 months period,” he said.

Olawore said if fully deregulated, Nigeria will have serious investors coming in to invest adequately. According to him, deregulation is the answer and the government must talk to the people and let them understand the advantages.

“The government must also show that in the areas where there is deregulation, people are gaining and that whatever comes in as funds will be used for the benefit of the people. People should know that

subsidy refund is not dash money.

It is what you have paid for and somebody is paying you back because you have been told to sell below the market price,” he added.

He said members of MOMAN were hoping that they will be paid back on time, but the refund is being delayed indefinitely, even as banks are demanding for their money and interest. He also said the foreign exchange element affected the business.

“When you buy a product at 160 to one dollar, for instance, and you don’t get the money until the exchange rate has been raised to 240, it means that you incur a huge loss.

Who bears that?” the executive secretary asked.

He said there was need for government to pay marketers as at when due to underscore the need for a hedge fund that would enable importers to cover such losses.

“There is no hedge fund that will give us protection for one year because increases come up, so many feel that once there is a hiccup it will lead to increase in price,’’ he said.

Olawore said passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) remained the best option that would usher in deregulation, adding that even if the current PIB was not perfect, it could be amended after the passage.

IFC, Guinea-Bissau sign pact on finance

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•IBD Registrar, Paul Ikele, (right) presenting a plaque to Executive Director Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri at a recent NSE closing gong ceremony in Lagos.

‘Why CPC cannot register products’

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HE plan by the Consumer Pro tection Council (CPC) to reg ister manufactured products in the country has been condemned by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).

Condemning the move, the chamber said the law did not support CPC and that the exercise smacked of usurping and duplicating the roles of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food Drugs and Control (NAFDAC).

“Compelling businesses to register with the CPC is, therefore, most unnecessary and an additional regulatory burden on the private sector.

“We call on the relevant authorities to prevail on the CPC to discontinue this course of action. It is,

in fact, imperative for the incoming administration to undertake a comprehensive audit of the regulatory environment to identify and eliminate all areas of overlapping functions of regulatory agencies,” LCCI President, Alhaji Remi Bello, said.

Briefing reporters in LCCI Lagos office, Bello took a swipe at the power sector reforms, insisting that the burden of high cost of energy for investors have persisted and remained one of the biggest issues in the investment environment.

“The power sector reform and the privatisation that followed have not achieved the desired result. It has, therefore, become necessary for the incoming administration to undertake a holistic view of the

power sector reform. This should cover the processes of the reform and the capacity of the major institutions in the power delivery chain,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged the profound financing gap in the economy, noting that the gap exists for investment in both the private and public sector. He said: “The emphasis on the drive for foreign investment should be on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and investment in infrastructure.

In recent years, the economy has witnessed a disproportionate inflow of portfolio investments, which turned out to be a major source of volatility in the economy, leading to significant shocks.”

FC International Finance Cor poration and the Government of Guinea-Bissau have signed a cooperation agreement to inaugurate the second Africa Leasing Facility programme to ease access to finance to small businesses in the country.

The event marked the official launch of the programme in the Republic of Guinea. It seeks to promote and establish a leasing industry that meets the needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and smaller businesses to better equip them to contribute to the post-conflict reconstruction of the country in a meaningful way.

Under the agreement, IFC will provide advisory services to the stakeholders and help the government of Guinea-Bissau to reform the legal and regulatory framework for leasing and to build the capacity of technical partners in order to achieve effective access to finance for SMEs and smaller businesses.

“We welcome this timely agreement, which will help improve access to finance of SMEs and strengthen the private sector,” the pact stated.

Guinea-Bissau Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Geraldo

Martins, who signed the agreement, said support to SMEs and smaller businesses for the development of the private sector is a key component of IFC’s commitment to GuineaBissau, along with directly financing projects in sectors that drive growth and public private partnerships to improve the country’s infrastructure.

“We believe that access to finance will be substantially improved and allow SMEs to acquire production equipment and as a result, contribute to the economic recovery as evidenced in all countries where a leasing programme operates,” added Jérôme Cretegny, IFC Country Manager for Guinea-Bissau. Leasing is an innovative access to finance mechanism that is tailor-made for SMEs and smaller businesses in Africa that lack sufficient collateral or credit history to access conventional financing tools.

During its first phase, the Leasing programme was active in 15 countries. ALF II, the second phase of the programme launched in 2013, focused on 10 Fragile and Conflict-Affected States, including GuineaBissau.

Since 2013, Africa Leasing Facility II has benefited from the financial support of SECO, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

THE NATION

e-Business e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

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

lukajanaku02@gmail.com

Since the liberalisation of the telecoms sector over a decade ago, subscriber figures have risen to nearly 150 million over the period. Feature phones have given way to smartphones. Social media platforms too have grown with huge data generation. In all these, battery life of smartphones has become a big headache as a result of power challenges. LUCAS AJANAKU writes on how subscribers are coping.

Smartphone users and battery headache P

RAISE Kokumo was stranded at Oshodi Bus Stop a few weeks ago. She had an important meeting to attend at Obalende on Lagos Island and was pressed for time. Desperate to leave the bus stop notorious for harbouring all manners of characters, ranging from pick-pockets to petty thieves, she flagged down a private car. The driver, a reporter, offered her a ride.

No sooner had she settled in the car that she reached for her bag, unzipped it and brought out a mobile phone car charger. “Sir, if you don’t mind, I’d like to charge one of my phones. I use three mobile phones and all the batteries have gone down. I couldn’t get fuel to run my generator and charge them. That is the condition we find ourselves now,” she told the reporter.

The reporter was bewildered because for one, she does not own a car.

Even if she owns one, since she was not driving, she was supposed to leave the charger in the car.

Kokumo is not alone.

Ask smartphone users in the country to list three things they do not like about their phones, there are chances that one will be battery running down far too quickly.

A friend recently narrated the story about his Nokia 3310, which he misplaced somewhere in his home in 2001. He later discovered it two weeks later and was shocked that its battery still had two bars left on it.

In Nigeria, many people seem to have resigned to charging their smartphones every day, plugging it overnight for it to be ready the following morning. People have even identified this and have taken advantage of it to come up with power bank. So, while the phone is being charged, the power bank too is charged along so that when the phone runs out of battery, they resort to the power bank. To those, who like going out light, power bank is certainly an additional burden.

In time past, BlackBerry phones battery often lasted for between three and four days between charges. The situation has since changed, no thanks to its a failed attempt to ape Apple and Android.

Phone users will certainly never get back to that “last-all-week” stamina of pre-smart handsets. Battery life has become quite miserable nowadays for users.

According to PC Pro, an online ICT industry platform, when choosing a new phone, there are a few things one should consider in order to get as much runtime as possible.

The first, pretty obviously, is to pick the phone with the biggest battery.

Most manufacturers seem to be in a race to produce the slimmest units possible. For example, each new iPhone is always a little slimmer than the previous one – but as the phone becomes slimmer, so does the battery inside.

A few manufacturers have tried to buck this trend, such as Motorola with its various Maxx handsets, which avoids svelteness for stamina; for example, the recent Droid Maxx has a 3,500mAh battery beneath its back cover. Unlike some of the earlier Maxx phones, the Droid Maxx isn’t

•Batteries

•Desk top charger

•Solar-powerd charger

•Power banks

particularly porky at 8.5mm thicker than the ever-popular Samsung Galaxy S4 (7.9mm).

This ability to fit bigger batteries into more recent phones is also partly due to larger screens – as they become bigger, there’s more space behind them for a battery. HTC’s One max, which has a whopping 5.9in screen width, packs a 3,300mAh battery.

Of course, there’s a trade-off for having a bigger screen. More pixels require more battery juice to switch on and off, and the bigger graphic processing unit (GPU) is needed to keep those pixels updated also uses more power. A GPU is a single-chip processor that creates lighting effects and transforms objects every time a 3D scene is redrawn. A bigger screen will also need a bigger backlight, making it tricky for handset manufacturers to achieve the right balance.

Extended battery According to PC Pro, if there’s a particular phone you’re after that doesn’t have a huge battery, all is not yet lost. So long as that phone battery is replaceable, there’s always a chance that an enterprising manufacturer will

have produced an extended replacement.

If there’s a particular phone you’re after that doesn’t have a huge battery, all is not yet lost Usually these will be physically larger than the original, so they’ll ship with a replacement back cover for the phone housing a bulge to accommodate the extra bulk.

It is reported that such a battery has been successfully fitted to the Samsung Galaxy S4 with excellent result.

An alternative solution, however, is to carry a rechargeable battery pack, which is though burdensome along so that one can top up the mobile phone if it gets low and there is neither the charger nor the electricity supply from the national grid.

Another alternative is the use of solar-powered chargers. This would have been most appropriate for Nigeria being in a tropical climate, it is however not popular as the manufacture of solar-powered chargers have not been manufactured on an industrial scale in the country. The few available are mostly corporate gifts.

•Car chargers

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

51

e-Business

Broadband is next ICT industry revolution, says NCC

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HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the next revolution in the information communication technology (ICT) sector is broadband, adding that its availability and affordability will have multiplier effect on the economy.

Its Deputy Director, Projects, Bashir Idris, who spoke on the sideline after receiving Government Agency of the Year Awards on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr Eugen Juwah in Lagos, said with the level of support the regulator has received from stakeholders, the broadband revolution will be fruitful in the coming years.

He said the revolution will benefit the entire Nigerian populace as it will open up new vista of opportunities such as job creation, health, agriculture and so many others.

He said the NCC will not relent in its efforts at ensuring that subscribers get the full value for their money through improved quality

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

of services. “Subscribers should expect quality service provision, improved service quality, pursuit of broadband development, which is the next phase of our development,” Idris said, adding that companies are already keying into the broadband revolution.

“In the next couple of years, there will be pervasive broadband and the consumers will be the best for it because they will be able to do whatever they want to do easily and affordably,” he said.

He said it is a thing of joy to be recognised as it is a sign that efforts of the NCC at providing level playing field for all the operators and encouraging innovations are being acknowledged, adding however that the regulator will not be carried away by the awards but would remain focused to ensure that it delivers on its core mandates.

He said: “It is gladdening to be recognised. It is however not go-

ing to be our limit as we will continue to do more. We will continue to strive to beat what we have achieved so far. I must add that the achievement of the industry is a function of the cooperation of all the stakeholders in the industry. This has made the agency to be of foremost recognition both in the country and outside the country. We thank the operators and service providers for cooperating with the NCC by ensuring that the rules are obeyed so that we have less friction in the industry.”

The event was largely attended by telecommunication experts including Chairman of Teledom International, Emmanuel Ekuwem; Managing Director of VDT Communication, Biodun Omoniyi; Chairman of Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Gbenga Adebayo; while CEO of Zinox Technologies, Leo-Stan Ekeh chaired the event.

DHL, Unified Payments, Jumia, GTBank, Vodacom Business also won in different categories at the award.

•From left: Head, Compliance Monitoring & Enforcement, Efosa Idehen; Asst Director, Human Capital, Mrs. Edith Ndukuba; Idris and Chairman, Zinox Technologies, Leo-Stan Eke at the Beacon of ICT Awards in Lagos.

Mobile money remittances to Nigeria, others to hit $33b

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LOBAL remittances will grow slowly this year, but accelerate again between next year and the year after. However, remittances are projected to reach $586 billion, at a slower growth rate of 0.4 per cent due to economic conditions.

In sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya has shown strongest growth.

Remittances to the continent are projected to grow by 0.9 per cent to reach $33 billion this year while the stagnation in remittances to Nigeria was offset by strong growth in Kenya (10.7 per cent), South Africa (7.1 per cent), and Uganda (6.8 per cent). Last year, Kenya received $1.5 billion in remittances.

According to a World Bank data on the state of global remittances (Migration & Development Brief) analysed by online money transfer service WorldRemit, remittances are however, expected to accelerate again to reach an estimated

$636 billion in 2017.

Fees remain far too high: the average cost of sending $200 to sub-Saharan Africa remains at 12 per cent (far off the G20’s target of five per cent); largely due to the cost of bricks-andmortar agent networks of traditional firms. There is a huge potential for mobile technology to reduce costs on both the send and receive sides, the global lender report indicated.

Reading these findings in conjunction with a recent report by the Global Service for Mobile (Communication) Association (GSMA) 2014 State of the Industry Report on Mobile Financial Services, Mobile Money will grow to play a huge role in remittances and help to bring down fees: Global Mobile Money usage is exploding: 261 mobile money services are now live across 89 countries with 103 million active users as of December last year. More than half of these

services currently in operation are in sub-Saharan Africa. 90 per cent of money transfers to Kenya on WorldRemit go to MPesa mobile wallets.

Mobile Money helps to reduce remittance fees: the GSMA reports that the median cost of sending $100 via Mobile Money is $4.0, less than half the average cost to send money globally via traditional money transfer channels.

Mobile Money remittances are growing fast with last year witnessing a steep increase in the number of international remittances via mobile money.

The value of Mobile Money remittances represents a tiny fraction of total flows, but was the fastest growing of all Mobile Money services last year.

One in five international remittance transfers to mobile money accounts in December last year went via WorldRemit.

Mobile Money is WorldRemit’s fastest growing receive method.

Glo partners 800 medics for mobile insurance

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LOBACOM, has partnered with the National Health Insurance Scheme to unveil a national mobile health insurance product that will make access to health care more affordable and readily available.

Speaking during the launch of the scheme in Abuja, its Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni, said the package was developed in partnership with the NHIS to take health care of millions of Nigerians through their mobile phones.

“There are millions of Nigerians, who are yet to tap into the immense benefits of health insurance.

This initiative will open a viable avenue for some of these people to come under the health insurance coverage, enabling them to sign up for one of the many Health Management Organisations accommodated in the scheme,” said Israni.

According to him, Glo subscribers who wish to enjoy the benefits

will have to dial *616# on their mobile phones and be instantly admitted to the Glo Health platform, where they can follow a simple registration process.

Once they subscribe, Globacom customers will be able to use their mobile phones for pre-defined medical treatment for, which affordable premiums are remitted through the subscribers’ mobile phone.

The platform, according to him, also guarantees Globacom customers and other Nigerians free medical consultation and medication in over 8,000 hospitals in the country.

Israni said Globacom’s package comes with supply of drugs free of charge from NHIS accredited operators across the country for subscribers who are consistent in the payment of their premiums.

He explained that the premiums have been deliberately made affordable for virtually everyone. He said subscribers can pay N35 per day, N250 per week or N1000 per month to qualify to benefit from the mobile insurance package.

Samsung’s Digital Village for Nigeria

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AMSUNG Electronics West Africa is set to launch its first Digital Village in the Oban community located in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State. The project, which is part of the company’s strategic corporate citizenship programme, will provide access to innovative healthcare and educational needs for the community, with the aim of improving health outcomes, strengthening education delivery and increasing the economic potential of Oban, a statement from the firm explained.

Its Managing Director, Brovo Kim, said the Samsung Digital Village is innovative in its design due to its use of alternative energy, which remains a major challenge in Nigeria and is often an obstacle in implementing such initiatives in rural communities.

He said: “The Digital Village demonstrates our innovative approach to investing in people and their communities. This initiative offers a complete educational infrastructure, comprehensive healthcare solution and power generation capabilities that will spur the growth of small businesses and harness the energy of the sun to minimise running costs, among others.”

The Digital Village consists of five key integrated solutions that work together to benefit a commu-

nity in the delivery of health care services, education and employment. They include: a Solar Powered Internet School, Solar Powered Tele-Medical Centre, Solar Powered Dental and Blood Analysis Clinic, a Solar Power Generator, as well as an Administrative Centre.

The Solar Powered Internet School consists of a container fully equipped with complete education curriculum and smart school technology; it seats 24 students, providing them with access to education using interactive technology.

The Solar Powered Tele-Medical Centre is equipped with ear, eye and mother and child assessing facilities, while the Dental and Blood Analysis Clinic has a state-of-the-art blood analysis machine for on-the-spot diagnosis, as well as tools to treat dental complications. Specifically designed for rural areas, the centre offers professional medical treatment, quick medical diagnosis and health education. It also helps minimise the need for rural dwellers to travel to urban areas for medical attention.

A Solar Power Generator has also been deployed to supply power to the host community to boost small businesses in the area. The generator does not emit pollutants and has negligible maintenance costs, which will lower the environmental impact and reduce overall operating costs.

Intel, Ericsson partner on security to telcos

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RICSSON and Intel Security are working together to make security solutions available for telcos to bundle with the existing services they provide to enterprises, the firms announced in a statement.

Combining Ericsson’s managed services expertise, global delivery capability and network security expertise with Intel Security’s broad portfolio of consumer and enterprise security solutions will enable enterprises to strengthen their security posture.

It explained that from the enterprise perspective, telcos will contribute their regulatory compliance expertise, ability to combine communications services with security, and local response capabilities. Initially, intrusion prevention system services, email security and web security solutions will be available.

By supporting networks that connect more than 2.5 billion subscribers and carry more than 40 per cent of the world’s mobile traffic, Ericsson is helping to realise a truly Networked Society. Increased connectivity is unlocking massive value for people, busi-

ness and society, but also exposing people to new potential risks.

Together with Intel Security, Ericsson aims to make it easier for telecom operators to support their enterprise clients in protecting valuable intellectual property, data, devices, and identities.

Senior Vice President and GM of Intel Security, Chris Young, said: “Telecommunications networks are a critical component of the economic and social infrastructures that we rely upon. Together, Intel Security and Ericsson are working to keep the well over three billion people across the globe that use these systems safe and secure.”

Vice President/Head of Managed Services at Ericsson, Jean-Claude Geha, said: “Intel Security has an exceptional, end-to-end consumer and enterprise security product portfolio.

Ericsson is the leader in telecom managed services with the scale, skills and people required to make Intel’s security solutions available to telecom operators around the world. Together, we will be able to provide exceptional managed security solutions to telecom operators.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Workers’ Day: Any hope for Nigerian workers?

As Nigerian workers join their counterparts across the world to mark this year’s Workers’ Day tomorrow, insecurity of lives and property, casualisation, minimum wage issues, abuse of expatriates’ quotas, unemployment as well as effects of an ailing economy are some of the issues that dominate discourse within labour circles. TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

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OMORROW, Friday, May 1, Nigerian workers will join millions of their counterparts the world over to mark the 129th anniversary of May Day, a day set aside to mark the struggle of working people internationally against horrible living and working conditions. As it was the case in previous May Day celebrations, a number of issues agitating the minds of Nigerian workers would be in the front burner of national discourse. This is so considering the various promises that have been made in the past with regards to the welfare of Nigerian workers, most of which remained unfulfilled. Till date, the verdict of many Nigerians is that the working condition of the average Nigerian worker is yet to improve. Crappy offices, poor equipment, un-conducive environment, poor salary, casualisation to mention but a few, are issues still haunting Nigerian workers.

Exploitation and Casualisation Recently, the organised private sector unions released alarming data indicating that over 70 per cent of the nation’s workforce in the private sector is casualised. Casualisation is the practice of employing temporary workers for short periods rather than making them permanent staff.

This phenomenon is aimed at saving costs. Under the arrangement, the worker is not entitled to benifits such as transportation, leave, medical allowances or special benefits or packages. Besides, the worker’s takehome pay is so miserable that it can hardly take him/her home.

In the private sector, the conditions of workers are not different. Job insecurity has become the norm, as private employers are banking on the army of unemployed to exploit those working and drive down wages. From manufacturing to banking, insurance and financial sector, casual and part-time employments have become the order of the day.

The recent story of an airport cleaner, paid N8, 000 monthly, but could only be compensated with meagre N4, 000 for returning N12 million lost by a passenger, highlights the horrible conditions many workers face.

In the banking sector, there is job insecurity as unreasonable targets are set for workers, more than 50 per cent of who are casual or contract staff. Retrenchments are now rampant in banks and financial institutions. In various factories from Lagos to Aba, Kano, etc., tens of thousands of workers are working under terrible conditions that take better parts of their health and agility.

In many of these factories, aside the poor salaries and insecurity of jobs, there are health hazards that are hardly addressed by employers, and worse still labour leaders.

To make matters worse, government that is expected to stop these horrible situations are now taking cue from private employers, to carry out massive casualisation of jobs. In several states, tens of thousands of young people are employed as casual workers under terrible working conditions, under the guise of empowerment schemes. Aside the poor pay, mostly around N10, 000, casual workers do not have basic workers’ rights. The Federal Government has also institutionalised this into its labour policy, in spite of government’s own labour law that prohibits casual labour.

Today, in several Federal Government agencies and establishments,

•Workers during May Day.

thousands of workers are employed on casual basis, either by government or private job contractors. Example of this includes the SURE-P and now defunct Federal Teachers’ Scheme employments, where thousands are employed on poor wages of around N15, 000. Added to this is the privatisation gale that has led to massive retrenchment of workers and casualisation of several others as seen in the privatisation of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), seaports and airports.

General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Peter Oso Ezon, said at least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide, saying that the 9.8 million are exploited by private agents, including more than 2.4 million in forced labour as a result of human trafficking. Another 2.5 million are forced to work by the state or by rebel military groups. According to him, the situation also shows that traditional slavery is still found in some parts of Africa, while forced labour in the form of coercive recruitment is present in many countries of Latin America, and in some parts of the Caribbean.

The National President of the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association (CANMPSSA), Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed, said casualisation is more terrible than unemployment, as it only provides short term relief. His words: “Casualisation is evil, worst than unemployment. An unemployed is free, but a casual is limited in freedom. Anywhere we find it, we confront it head on. In most cases the workers themselves are intimidated by their managements and in such instance we go in to give management ultimatum and we have achieved quite a lot in confronting the menace.”

Minimum wage imbroglio Minimum wage has continued to be a point of disagreement between employees and employers as well as the government and organised labour groups. It is one issue where both parties do not meet, even after an agreement is reached. Last year, the Federal Government through the National Conference tried to amend the constitution to fall in line with

the present day reality, thereby altering a section which put labour issues under the exclusive list, which is under the jurisdiction and supervision of the Federal Government. Among this is the issue of wages.

This has drawn the ire of the organised labour as well as other employees in the private sector. However, just as one man’s meat is another man’s poison, employers as well as the Federal Government seem elated at the resolution. The organised labour has so far threatened fire and brimstone if the proposal sails through.

National President, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr. Bobboi Bala Kaigama, called for total resistance of the move by the federal lawmakers to further impoverish Nigerian workers by withdrawing the meagre national minimum wage through the back door. “We urge the trade union movement, the civil society groups, religious leaders, royal fathers, and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the National Assembly to reverse its decision to decentralise wages in the interest of peace in the country. It is surprising that the National Assembly wants to complicate the security challenges in the country by inviting millions of Nigerian workers to take to the streets by its insensitive decision to decentralise wages,” he said.

The out-going Chairman of the Kwara State Chapter of the union,

Comrade Farouk Akanbi, said all efforts have been deployed to address it to further forestall the unforeseen contingencies that may arise in the interest of Nigerian workers. Comrade Akanbi noted that no state was bound by the minimum wage stipulated at the federal level, but it all depends on the state’s financial buoyancy and negotiating dexterity with workers.

Recently, NLC President, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, emphasised that the N18, 000 minimum wage is no longer realistic, considering the nation’s economic situation. Wabba said the negative impact of the falling price of crude oil at the international market on the country’s economy made it imperative to review the minimum wage. He said with the devaluation of the naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the purchasing power of the average worker had reduced.

Wabba added that in the face of dwindling economic fortunes, the labour movement would dialogue with the Federal Government and other employers of labour to protect the workers’ interest. At the moment, most states are yet to fully implement the N18, 000 minimum wage won by workers since 2011.

Retrenchment Following the fall in oil prices, there are fears that government may be tempted to reduce its workforce, a situation the NLC has already

warned will be resisted. Labour, in a reaction, warned government not to take such step, urging it to instead manage the budget by reducing the cost of governance. Labour said the bloated emolument of political office holders must be cut. A statement

by NLC said: “Mr President and the State House must lead in this regard.

The size of the presidential fleet, the cost of running the State House and the retinue of political jobbers can all be reasonably cut without reducing the effectiveness of the Presidency.”

President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Mr Olusoji Salako, said banks will begin to look at what they can do to reduce their expenses, adding that job loss would be part of it. “You know in Nigeria we don’t have good temperament for economy summersault. If somebody invests and things are not working fine, the next thing is to remove people working with him.

In other climes, people will persevere, but here in Nigeria people don’t persevere when it comes to such issue. We are bracing up and also monitoring the employers to ensure that if it becomes necessary to lay off workers, due process must be followed and people affected must be well compensated so that they can function in any part of the economy,” Salako said.

NLC election Activities within the NLC in the last four weeks have further shown that all is not well within the body. The earlier conference to elect the new leadership of the Congress in February ended in chaos due to error in the printing of ballot papers, among others. The two NLC body, recently, held separate inaugural Central Working Committee (CWC) meetings, in Abuja and Lagos. One was presided over by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the other by Comrade Joe Ajaero. This further confirmed fears that there is disunity in the number one labour centre. The two groups have since been holding meetings and issuing press statements separately.

The other election is the 2015 general elections that have seen the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated in a keenly contested election. A researcher and State Secretary, Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), Kola Ibrahim, said the fact that power has moved into the hands of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not automatically solve all the challenges facing Nigerian workers.

Unions protest sack of its leaders

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VIATION workers acting under the aegis of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) andAir Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) yesterday staged a peaceful protest over the dismissal of four of it union leaders. The unions were calling for the review of the conditions of service of their members.

The protest, which held at the headqauters of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), follows the refusal of the company to commence discussions on the review of the conditions of service of the workers and refusal to revert the dismissal of

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

the four union leaders. The leaders were agitating for improved conditions of service for the workers.

The unions, led by the Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Olayinka Abioye arrived at SAHCOL headquarters in the early hours of the day but could not shut down business activities at the company head office.

Abioye stated that there will be no discussions until SAHCOL reinstate the dismissed workers, adding that the management of SAHCOL is reluctant in resolving the issue.

“I think the situation is even getting worst because the manage-

ment of SAHCOL is feeling very recalcitrant to listen to all our pleadings to come to the negotiation table The four union leaders who were allegedly dismissed and disclaimed in the newspaper as not being staff of the company have to be reinstated before we can have any discussion with the management of SAHCOL,” he insisted.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, SAHCOL, Mr Basil Agboarumi alleged that the affected workers have no respect for legally constituted authority.

He said the workers have constituted themselves into a parallel management in SAHCOL.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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MONEYLINK

Nigeria, others lose $50b yearly from illicit financial flows, says EFCC

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IGERIA and other Af rican countries are es timated to be losing more than $50 billion annually in illicit financial flows (IFFs) annually, Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde has said.

He said Nigeria is ranked first among 10 African countries by cumulative illicit financial flows, which is about 30.5 per cent share in Africa’s total IFFs. Speaking during the AntiMoney Laundering Workshop organsied by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Abuja, he said the flows relate principally to commercial transactions, tax evasion, criminal activities like money laundering, drugs, arms and human trafficking, bribery, corruptions and abuse of office.

He said: “If the report is not put in context of our immediate environment, and treated as any other body of statistics purveyed by ideal armchair

Union Bank’s PBT rises 11% to N4.94b

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NION Bank’s unaudited results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 showed a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N4.94 billion, up by 11 per cent compared to N4.45 billion for first quarter of last year.

The bank’s total assets was up four per cent to close at N957 billion while net loans and advances was up 16 per cent to N350.1 billion. Customer deposits was up six per cent to N539.4 billion while net interest income was flat at N12.5 billion. The banks also recorded a loan book growth of 16 per cent and also improved cost to income ratio.

Its Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, said: “During the first quarter of 2015, Union Bank was focused on delivering critical operational and technology initiatives. We have completed migration to Oracle Flexcube UBS 12.0, the latest version of the Flexcube banking platform, which will eliminate previous system redundancies and enable faster customer service and turnaround times in our branches once full integration has been achieved by mid-year. In addition, we continued to focus on growing our corporate and commercial businesses and enhancing our retail product offering.”

He said the bank’s new platform enhances efficiencies, and will focus on growing the retail business with a revamped product portfolio, enhanced marketing communication and an evolving branch network, which will include four of our, high tech, self-service banking centers, Bank of the Future (BoTF).

He said the BoTF centres enable customers to open and fund their accounts instantly using self-service kiosks and ATMs, and also get product information and one-on-one customer service using interactive screens.

Further commenting on the first quarter numbers, Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Oyinkan Adewale said: “Once again, the bank has been able to translate its operational efficiency improvements into strong financial results.”

Stories by Collins Nweze

academics and alarmist politicians, we are likely to completely miss the point”.

He said the Global Financial Integrity, in its December, 2014 report, IFFs from The Developing World: 2003 to 2012, posited that developing and emerging economies lost $6.6 trillion in illicit financial flows from 2003 to 2012, while illicit outflows are increasing at a staggering average rate of 9.4 per cent per year-almost twice as fast as the global GDP. “These statistics all considered, are enough cause for worry as, Nigeria is in a very precarious position, considering our size, autochthonous cultures and deviant religious practices, which reinforce the practice of not looking a gift horse in the mouth, questionable business prac-

tices, weak regulations and peculiar enforcement environment. If we throw in the myriad of other challenges that we have as a nation, then we would begin to see the faint outlines of the monstrosity that we face in money laundering,” he said.

He urged every institution or agency represented here today to commit to apply our Ant-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) measures.

“It behooves all of us stakeholders therefore to put in more efforts to make the Nigerian AML/CFT regime the reference in the comity of nations. But, even as we continually strive to get that which we desire, I believe that we would make an appreciable impact if we faithfully engage the AML/ CFT regime that we currently have in place,” he said.

He explained that while the

crime of money laundering may be subtle and seemingly inscrutable, many of the

crimes that predicate it are not so unobtrusive and certainly, the effects of each and

every one of them are deleterious to the individual and the nation.

•From left: Country Head, Advantage Banking, Dammy Oruwari; Group Executive, Patrick Akinwuntan; Deputy Managing Director, Anthony Okpanachi ; all of Ecobank Transitional Incorporated, Executive Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo; MD/CEO Jetlink Ltd, John Nwosu and Executive Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Umadia during the launch of Advantage Banking by Ecobank in Lagos.

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THE NATION THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015

NEWS Xenophobia: Why Fed Govt suspended Perm Sec, by Minister

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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•Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff protesting unpaid allowances at the Commission’s office, Yaba, Lagos State...yesterday

Fed Govt demands bodies of Nigerians executed in Indonesia

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HE Federal Government has demanded the repatriation of the bodies of the four executed Nigerians from the Indonesian government.

The government said it made the request for them to be given decent burial by members of their families.

It expressed regret that the Nigerians along with four others were executed by firing squad on Tuesday for drug-related offences despite pleas for clemency by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The government extended its condolences to the families of the deceased, according to a

statement from the Public Communications Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with deep disappointment, news of the execution of four Nigerians, Messrs Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe by the government of Indonesia for drug-related offences.

“These executions have taken place despite spirited pleas for clemency made at the highest level by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and

more recently, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on April 21, during the 10th anniversary of the new Asian-African Strategic Partnership Summit, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“The Federal Government wishes to express its condolences to the families of the deceased. It has asked the Indonesian government for the repatriation of the remains of the executed persons, so that they can be accorded decent burial in their various communities.

“The Federal Government

seizes this opportunity to once again, warn all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences that attract maximum punishment in several countries of the world. The Federal Government will continue to promote the welfare and protect the lives of Nigerians abroad, no matter their circumstances.

“Furthermore, the government is committed to engage the government of Indonesia and other friendly countries regarding the conclusion of Prisoner Transfer Agreements and other bilateral means of safeguarding the interest and welfare of Nigerians.”

DSS assaults APC chieftain in Anambra

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N All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Anambra State, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nwokoye, was allegedly beaten up by men of the Department of State Security (DSS) on Monday.

Nwokoye, who almost got blind from the assault, was battered for refusing to release information about the 22 expatriate doctors invited

by Governor Willie Obiano for the treatment of indigent persons.

He said he was bundled with his wife, Jessica, to their office at Amawbia, and abandoned naked.

The APC chieftain said they hit him with guns, helmet and others until he fainted.

“I was handcuffed like a criminal; I have never seen

•’He held our men hostage’ From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

such a thing in my life, my retina has been damaged, I was humiliated for no offence.”

“I was in the hotel when three people walked in, saying they had information that expatriates were quartered in the hotel.

“I demanded their identities and told them the expatriates were there on government’s directive.

They refused and one of them said they will deal with me.

“At that point, I moved outside the room, called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and ordered that the gate be locked. But I think they called for reinforcement because

about 20 minutes later, I heard sirens outside the hotel compound.

“They beat me up, bundling my wife and I into their vehicle. At their office, we were dumped in the cell. Later, they brought me out, removed my clothes and left me naked.

“One of the men kicked me at the lower part of my body and I fainted, but their boss ordered that I be clothed.

When I regained consciousness, I was on a stretcher in their clinic,” Nwokoye said.

He said he would press charges and demand justice.

But DSS Director Okeiyi said Nwokoye kidnapped his men when they attempted to rescue their colleagues

whom he held hostage in his hotel.

“He sustained injury in the struggle to rescue my men.

My men went to the hotel on legitimate duties and that is the norm everywhere.

“People should learn to respect security operatives because we are working for them. ‘’Securing Anambra is at a cost, people should help us; our men are being targeted by hoodlums all the time,” Okeiyi said.

The DSS boss said the command would press charges against Nwokoyo for assault, occasioning harm and hostage-taking.

NFORMATION Minister Patricia Akwashiki explained yesterday why the Permanent Secretary, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Danjuma Sheni, was suspended. She said Sheni had no authority to recall Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa.

The President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration was caught in an imbroglio with its South African counterpart following the recall of Nigerian envoys as a result of Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.

Mrs. Akwashiki, while briefing reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, said only the President could recall an ambassador.

She said there was a breach in that procedure, which earned the permanent secretary a suspension.

Citing the phone call saga with the Moroccan King, the Minister said diplomacy had not been handled well by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, adding that the government was investigating the issue.

The minister said: “It was discussed in council and the President made it clear that as President and indeed a Government, you do not allow any of the political functionaries or civil servants mess things up.

“The way the South African/Nigerian issue was handled by the Foreign Affairs ministry did not go down well with the President.

“As a government, we took a decision to suspend the Permanent Secretary pending investigation as to what transpired.

“Already, it was obvious that diplomacy at that level was not well managed. What we have in South Africa is not High Commissioner, it’s Charge D’Affairs.

“If the Foreign Affairs ministry is providing a structure not in existence, it may amount to annihilation of Nigerians.

“Investigation is on as to the management of diplomacy at that level between Nigeria and South Africa. I want to assure you that President Goodluck Jonathan and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa are talking; they are on talking terms and the various nagging issues that gave a semblance of fisticuffs have been resolved.

On reasons for the sack of the Permanent Secretary instead of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Akwashiki said the former was the accounting officer of the Ministry.

“The Minister was not in the country; he was out on an international programme when it happened. The Minister is the political head while the permanent secretary is the accounting officer. So, the stick had to fall on him,” she said.

Osun APC appeals to workers to HE All Progressives be patient Congress (APC) in

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Osun State has called on workers and labour leaders to be patient with the government.

It assured that the economic crisis facing the state will be resolved in less than 60 days.

In a statement by its spokesman Kunle Oyatomi, the party said the incoming administration has given assurances that it will look into states’ allocation to the incidence of unpaid salaries.

The party said: “However, whatever is within the capacity of the government to do before then, it will certainly do to ease workers’ plight.

“The long and difficult battle to defeat the forces of evil that have squandered the nation’s wealth has just been won comprehensively. This has now paved the way for a new, progressive and responsible APC government to take over the affairs of the country and end the suffering which PDP’s corruption, mismanagement and treasury looting have brought on Nigerians, including Osun workers.

“This is a pleasant transition moment that requires sober, intelligent and calculating responses from all stakeholders so that we do not turn victory into

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

sorrow by engaging in actions that will create more problems than solutions.

“Mohammadu Buhari has promised to solve this problem, it is our duty to exercise patience and trust the integrity of the new President to deliver on his promise.

“So, we urge labour and civil servants to give the new leader a breathing space to demonstrate his integrity and progressive credentials, which is not in dispute.”

The APC admitted that it is stressful to celebrate in a situation of crisis but also posited that “to create further crisis within a ‘crisis’ is not the wisest thing to do.”

According to the party, the stage is set for a solution but said that dialogue would best address the details of effecting that solution, not strike or demonstration or violence.The APC, therefore, called on all stakeholders to give peace a chance so that Osun will return to the glorious days when the Aregbesola-led APC government paid salaries promptly.

Chukwumerije was passionate about ORMER Special Adhis job, says Ita-Giwa viser to President

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Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters, Florence Ita-Giwa, yesterday, described the late Uche Chukwumerije as a passionate lawmaker, who abhorred injustice.

Eulogising the late elder statesman, Ita-Giwa said Chukwumerije was passionate about the plight of the Bakassi people.

According to her, Chukwumerije learnt on the job and understood legislative procedures thoroughly.

“Death is a necessary end

By Precious Igbonwelundu

but I join Nigerians in mourning a distinguished senator, colleague and politician.

“I have fond memories of my encounters with him and it is sad he left at a time the nation would require more of his political input and wisdom, especially as we transit to another administration.

“Chukwumerije was a good lawmaker, who learnt on the job and contributed

tremendously to the democratic stability of the nation’s polity.

“He was always on hand to advise me while I was the special adviser on National Assembly Matters to two former Presidents.

“As a lawmaker, he was passionately concerned about the plight of my people and he supported the struggle. I take solace in the fact that he was a good man and he left his footprints on the sands of time,” Ita-Giwa said.

•Oyo State House of Assembly member-elect Mr Olusegun Olaleye (left) receiving his certificate of return from the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Oyo State, Ambassador, Rufus Akeju in Ibadan...yesterday

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

57

NEWS 25b Surveillance job: Urhobo ex-militants bomb pipelines Alleged fraud: Judge

A

N Urhobo militant group, under the auspices of Urhobo Gbagbako, yesterday bombed two major trunk lines of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) at two locations between Afiesere/ Ekredjebo in Ughelli North and Otedo/Edjovwe in Ughelli South local government areas of

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

Delta State.

The group’s spokesman, Priest Omodjuvwu, in an email yesterday, said the action was a resentment to those it called “the traitors” the NPDC was sending to Urhoboland to manipulate their peaceful communities.

Omodjuvwu said: “These petty crumb eaters can only cause pains to the NPDC, Shoreline and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in a so-called promised sham settlement to this lingering crisis to the companies and government agencies.

“In believing the empty

promises of these evil doers and traitors, you continue to slowly drive your companies (NPDC, NNPC, Shoreline) into a certain abyss you will never recover from. We, the Urhobo nation, will continue to demand our own fair share of the pipeline surveillance contract job for the sake of equity and

justice.

“We, the Urhobo Gbagbako group, a militia group of all former militants, youths, women and elders of Urhobo ethnic nationality, did not give any individual or group to speak on our behalf on any issue as it concerns the pipeline surveillance contract job.”

Gunshots as INEC ad hoc workers protest unpaid wages

G

UNSHOTS reverberated and tear gas canisters were fired yesterday when ad hoc workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stormed the commission’s office in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, demanding payment for their service.

The pandemonium occurred when armed policemen tried to dismiss the protesting, placard-carrying ad hoc workers.

But the protesters, mostly postgraduate students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), said they would not leave until their money was paid.

Their spokesman, Odey Pascal, said: “We worked for INEC during the elections. We did the Presidential and National Assembly as well as the Governorship and House of Assembly elections. But we have not been paid until now.

“We came some days ago and met with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). He said he would get all names to ensure that we are paid. But till now, we have not been paid. It is up to a month now. Some of us worked as presiding officers; others were assistant presiding officers, among others. Those of us who worked so hard have not been paid.

•From right: House of Representatives Speaker and Sokoto State Governor-elect Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu (behind Tambuwal); President-elect Muhammadu Buhari; Senate President David Mark and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the induction course for the Eighth National Assembly members-elect in Abuja...yesterday.

•Lagos State Finance Commissioner Ayo Gbeleyi (second left) after rendering account of his ministry’s stewardship as part of activities marking the eighth anniversary of the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa secretariat, Ikeja...yesterday. With him are: Accountant-General /Permanent Secretary David Sunmonu (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Oluwatoyin Adegbuyi–Onikoyi PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

“When we met with the REC, last week, he told us he was going to have a meeting with some of his officials and that the list would be submitted for him to pay. Unfortunately, a list came out today (yesterday) that some people had problems with their accounts, which is not true. My account, for instance, has been functional for years. It is unfair.

“We had met with the REC and he promised to do something about it. He said before Wednesday we would be paid and, today, we still have not been paid.

What we are asking for now is on the presidential election. But as time goes on, we would also have to get our money for the governorship election. But if they can pay both at once, it would be better.

“We have been peaceful.

We have shown our anger peacefully, unfortunately, one policeman started shooting. We are unhappy about that. Security men should be well educated to handle a situation as this.

But this man was uncivil and used weapons on us.”

On why the ad hoc workers had not been paid, INEC’s Head of Operations in the state, Mr Chris Okereke said: “The fact is

that we are paying through the banks; we are not paying cash. They were asked to submit their account numbers, even from the time of application. We had paid some money to the banks and the banks returned some of the money because of wrong information. Some of these people had wrong account numbers.

“Also, some gave wrong names from what were in the bank accounts. You know the banking system, that once the names do not tally, they will not pay. So, what we have done is go to the bank, collect those lists returned and publish them here and asked the people

to check their names and correct whatever mistakes they made. But, of course, they would submit that to the Electoral Officer (EO), not to us directly, because it is the EO that would confirm whether they worked or not.

“It is just about having a little patience and correct whatever mistakes they made. They wrote their names and account numbers themselves and made mistakes. As soon as they correct those things, we’ll go back to the banks and they will get their money.”

Also, INEC issued Certificates of Return yesterday to winners of House of Assembly election in Calabar.

convicts Michael Igbinedion •Defers sentencing From Osagie Otabor, Benin

JUSTICE Mohammend Liman of the Federal High Court in Benin, the Edo State capital, deferred till today sentencing Michael Igbinedion and others to prison custody in the N25 billion money laundering suit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against them.

Micheal is a younger brother to Lucky Igbinedion, who was Edo State governor between 1999 and 2007.

He served the governor as his Personal Assistant on Special Duties.

Micheal and others, including Patrick Eboigbodin, a former Accountant-General of the state and their four companies - Gava Corporation Limited, Romrig Nigeria Limited, PMI Securities Company Limited and PML (Nigeria) Limited - were arraigned on 81count charges bordering on money laundering, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and abuse of office.

In a judgment that was read for over three hours, Justice Liman convicted Micheal on counts 79, 80 and 81, which bordered on collecting cash payment above N500,000.

Patrick and PML (Nigeria) Limited were convicted on counts 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 58, which bordered on the collaboration to conceal the origin of funds amounting to millions of naira paid into their private accounts.

Justice Lima said the prosecution proved the alleged collaboration beyond reasonable doubts.

But the judge discharged the accused on other charges because the prosecution failed to prove the allegations.

He said the prosecution only proved suspicion and failed to prove illicit origin of funds deposited in some banks.

Justice Lima said he could not sentence the accused after reading the judgment.

He adjourned the matter till today.

WAEC sacks three officials From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

THREE officials supervising the 2015/2016 West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Rivers State have been dismissed.

WAEC’s Zonal Coordinator in the state, Humphrey Obaka, told reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that the officials were sacked for their alleged involvement in examination malpractices.

Obaka said he would clamp down on teachers extorting money from pupils sitting for the WAEC examination.

He said: “Actually, it is true that is not only WAEC permanent workers that are on the field; we have ad hoc workers as supervisors.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

58

NEWS Police arrest 140 suspects over Ilorin fracas

Kwara to get agency on IGR From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

F

OLLOWING consistent shortfalls in the revenue accruing to state governments from the Federation Account, the Kwara State Government has said it will soon establish an agency for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive.

It was learnt that N2.8 billion was slashed from the state’s April Federal Allocation.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed spoke on the plan when members of the House of Assembly and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) visited him on his April 11 election victory.

He said a bill would soon be submitted to the Assembly for the establishment of the agency.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Abdulwahab Oba, said: “A new law that will set up a new internally generated revenue platform is being put in place. The new law will birth an institution that will be charged with the responsibility, independent of any ministry, to drive the state revenue to set targets.”

Fatah urged the local governments to key into the initiative to boost their internally generated revenue to meet their developmental challenges and other obligations.

The governor told the local government chairmen that it was only when their revenues increased that they could approach either the money market or the capital market for support through various funding windows.

Ahmed added that given the gloomy economic reality of today, the next four years would be tough.

He said success would be hinged on resourcefulness rather than availability of resources.

Kano donates N3.5m to collapsed bridge victims From Kolade, Adeyemi, Kano

T

HE Kano State Government has donated N1 million cash to each of the three families of the victims of the collapsed Dorayi pedestrian bridge.

The operator of the commercial tricycle, who was injured when the bridge caved in the second time, got N500,000.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, presented the donations to the affected families yesterday on behalf of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The SSG said the token was not a compensation but a sign of succour to the bereaved families.

Bichi, who was accompanied by Works Commissioner Abba Kabir Yusif, visited the homes of the families of the victims at Dorayi, Fagge and Kura local government areas.

He said the government was disturbed by the incident, adding that it was taking measures to prevent a recurrence.

T

•Bishop, Lagos West (Church of Nigeria) Anglican Communion, James Odedeji (third left); Residential Canon, Ven. Abraham Odumuyi (left) his wife Lydia; Dean of the Cathedral, Rev Abel Ajibodu; Rev. Stephen Adesoye; (second right) Ven. Goke Agara (right) and other Priests after a service marking the Second Anniversary of the Bishop’s Enthronement held at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

What we want from Buhari, by ACF

T

HE umbrella body of the North, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday rose from its meeting in Kaduna with an agenda for Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari.

The forum said the incoming President should prioritise security of life and property, agriculture, unemployment, education and fight corruption.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, said Nigerians placed high ex-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

pectations on Gen. Buhari because of his track record and knack for transparency, integrity and selfless service.

ACF’s National Executive Council (NEC) said: “With the mandate freely given to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on March 28, 2015, Nigerians place high expectations on the new administration in view of his track record and knack for transparency, integrity and selfless service.

“ACF, therefore, expects the new administration to

seriously consider, as its top most priority, the issues of security of lives and property, agriculture, unemployment, education, infrastructure and the need to stem the wave of corruption, which has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society. “...Despite the apprehension of people on the 2015 general elections and threats by some enemies of democracy, Nigerians have expressed their desire for change through the most transparent, free, fair and credible elections ever held

in Nigeria.

“For this feat, we must give our gratitude to God Almighty who, in His infinite mercy, made it possible for us to have peaceful and successful elections without any rancour or disaffection on the part of the contestants and their supporters. This has really united Nigerians more and strengthened our young democracy.

“ACF, therefore, urges Nigerians to be more prayerful and support the incoming government of Gen. Muhammadu to achieve its vision.”

Police confirm illegal thumb-printing of ballots in Gombe T HE Gombe State Police Command has confirmed that some youths bearing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) symbols were found thumb-printing ballot papers at the Government Science Secondary School (GSSC) in Gombe.

The command pledged to fish out the culprits.

Police spokesman, Fwaje Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the report was brought to the notice of the command by the school authorities.

Atajiri said the police had begun investigation into the incident.

He said: “You came promptly yesterday (Tuesday). But today, we were able to find out that the people that came into the school were

•PDP fingered in electoral malpractice

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

wearing PDP polling agents’ tags and carried a camera to cover the thumb-printing.

“It (the incident) did happen because we have eyewitnesses who saw them. We are working hard to ensure that those behind this are apprehended.”

The spokesman said the command had the capacity to find the perpetrators of the crime, adding that it had deployed enough surveillance and patrolmen to fish out future perpetrators.

Mohammed Salisu Ahmed, a Senior Secondary School pupil, was said to have just re-

turned from ongoing SSCE (Chemistry practical) examination when he saw the perpetrators.

The pupil reportedly “saw some people with PDP polling agents’ tag hanging on the necks come in”.

He added: “They requested students to assist them in thumb-printing and promised to pay. I suspected foul play and o reported to the school authorities and the security.

“When I was returning with the security, eight youths saw us coming to them; so, they escaped through the fence.”

One of the school’s teachers Abubakar Baba said he spoke with the youth while Salisu reported the incident.

Baba said the boys confessed to him that they wanted to implicate some people an play back the video recording of the thumb-printing they captured.

But PDP State Secretary Shanu Buba Usman said the act showed the political desperation of the perpetrators.

He said it was unfortunate that people could go to any length, even using minors to create evidence.

The PDP secretary said Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo was one of the most popular governors in the country.

He said many people across party lines voted for him because of his popularity.

Kebbi lawmakers serve Dakingari impeachment notice

M

EMBERS of the Kebbi State House of Assembly rose from their emergency meeting yesterday with a resolution to impeach Governor Saidu Usman Dakingari. The lawmakers constituted an impeachment committee, which drafted six-count impeachable offences and served them on the governor.

Dakingari has just one month to end his tenure.

The charges against the governor were signed by a simple majority of the As-

sembly’s members and copied to reporters in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

The lawmakers accused Dakingari of violating the provision of Section 5(1)(a) of the Kebbi State Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Bureau Law, 2008, whose chairman is supposed to be a retired civil servant.

The notice said: “But you (Dakingari) appointed Aminu Usman as the Chairman of that bureau while he is (still) the Permanent Secretary/Solicitor-General of the State Ministry of

Justice, and hereby committed a gross misconduct.”

The second charges reads: “You, Dakingari, obtained a loan facility to the tune of N2 billion from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Support Fund, set up by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without obtaining necessary confirmation from the House of Assembly.”

The third charges says: “You also violated Section 7 of the Constitution of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which enjoins you to ensure the existence of democratically elected local government areas, but you continue to work with unelected local governments in the state.”

The fourth charges reads: “Between January 2015 and April 2015, you misappropriated N1,800,862,872 from the Kebbi State Government’s funds in the name of then general elections of 2015 and there is no provision for that expenditure in the Appropriation Law, 2015.”

HE Kwara State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 140 suspects over last weekend’s fracas in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Three persons were reportedly killed in the fracas while property worth million of naira were destroyed.

The suspected mastermind of the fracas was said to have led his gang on a reprisal attack at the family compound of two operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who were on the team that raided marijuana smokers’ den at Idi-ApeBaruba area last Friday.

Police spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told reporters yesterday that the command had arrested some suspects on the matter.

He said: “We are still mopping up the areas. We are still looking for the suspects. But we have made more arrests. The operation is still going on; it continues today.

“As at Sunday (this week), the command had arrested 80 suspects. I can tell you that we have arrested no fewer than 140 persons.”

Okasanmi hinted that the command was getting closer to apprehending the suspected mastermind of the fracas.

I’m ready for probe, says FCT Minister Mohammed From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

T

HE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has said he is ready for a probe of his tenure in the past five years.

The minister was reacting to alleged “last minute” projects in the city, including the installation of new traffic lights and recruitments.

Addressing State House correspondents yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Mohammed said his administration had been accountable to the people with records and documents of what it had done since assumption of office intact.

According to him, there is nothing shady about the contract for the traffic lights.

Mohammed wondered why issues should be raised on the contract.

The minister said the project was donated by the Chinese government, with the involvement of the National Planning Commission.

He said it was not a hasty or “last minute” contract.

Mohammed urged the incoming administration to maintain the project, adding that it should be sustained.

59

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

NEWS Military evacuates rescued girls, women Continued from page 4

women as an encouraging development but only a small step in securing the safety of the thousands of women and girls abducted by the armed group since 2014..

The organization urged the authorities to ensure that the trauma of those ‘rescued’ is not exacerbated by lengthy security screening in detention.

“This development is just cause for celebration and undoubtedly an immense relief to

the women, girls and their families. But this is just the tip of the iceberg; there are thousands more women and girls, and men and boys who have been abducted by Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay, Africa Director, Research and Advocacy.

According to a recent Amnesty International report, more than 2,000 women and girls have been abducted by Boko Haram. Drawing from interviews with those who escaped, the report reveals how

civilians were executed, tortured, raped and forced into marriage in camps and towns controlled by Boko Haram.

In previous cases where women and girls have escaped from Boko Haram they have been detained for weeks on end for security screening.

Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to ensure that their physical and psychological well-being is paramount.

“The trauma suffered by the women and girls is truly hor-

rific. Some have been repeatedly raped, sold into sexual slavery or indoctrinated and even forced to fight for Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay.

“What they need now is medical and psychological care and support and privacy.

The government must now ensure that it doesn’t add to their suffering with lengthy detention and security screening which can only add to their suffering and plight,” he added.

Joda heads 19-man transition panel Continued from page 4

‘’Needless to repeat, that your Committee - and indeed our Government - are not on a witch-hunt or engaged in faultfinding. We want the facts

and nothing but the facts.

What has been done can not be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past and attempt to avoid similar.’’

Gen. Buhari hailed the cali-

bre of the committee’s membership, saying they represent some of the best Nigeria can offer. He described the committee chairman, Joda, as one of the few surviving links between

First Republic civil service to the present day, a man whose versatility includes farming, industry and 21st Century IT and one of Nigeria’s precious assets.

Jonathan angry as Buhari seeks report on agencies Continued from page 4

He said: “Government, especially civil servants, directors, directors-general should see this government as the current government and not to do anything that will rock the boat so as not to put this country in a bad light. These are issues before the transition committee, these are are issues that were raised on the transition programme.”

“The magnanimity of Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice and that is why

Mr. President and indeed council members enjoined Nigerian people to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and international community as a way of keeping this country intact, as a way of ensuring peace in Nigeria and, as such, whatever the outcome of the election, what is important is Nigeria’s national interest.”

“And that national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are. These are issues that bother on transition pro-

gramme discussed in council.”

But Abubakar noted that the chairman of the incoming transition committee, Mallam Ahmed Joda, had a very robust discussion with the chairman of the transition committee of the current government, Vice President Namadi Sambo, on Tuesday.

“They are working together as a family and I want to believe for the good of this country things will work,” he said He said that as at 28th April, almost all the MDAs that ýwere

advised to submit briefs, handing over notes have compiled, except for one or two ministries.

Said the minister: “The committee is having on ground right now two versions of presentations; we have the executive summaries of all the MDAs handover notes ýand the entire handover notes from almost all the MDAs.” “The transition process is on course in terms of handover notes and briefs; we have covered almost 80 per cent of our assignments,” he said.

Benue House plots speaker’s removal

L

ESS than six weeks to the inauguration of the eight State Assembly, the Benue State House of Assembly may change its leadership.

Eighteen members have signed to impeach Speaker Terhemen Ayua.

The Assembly did not sit yesterday, members held a closed door meeting .

It was gathered that the

grouse of the lawmakers stemmed from the fact that the Speaker has not been able to defend the interests of the members before the governor.

The impeachment, which is led by the Minority Leader, Hon. Benjamin Adanyi, is also believed to have been stemmed from recent bills passed by the assembly where members of the opposition walked out of

the sitting during deliberation of the Local Government, Benue Internal Revenue Service ( BIRS ), Chieftaincy Bills.

Meanwhile, the closed door session ended with a resolve to sit by 6pm, but unknown to the members, the Clerk of the House had directed his staff to lock the Chambers to forestall any unplanned occurrence.

Last month revealed that the

state Assembly have been in a running battle with the state governor over owed three months salaries and allowances.

A member of the house disclosed to Per Second News last month that members have vowed to frustrate any bill sent by the governor in protest and consequently led to the walkout which has culminated into this current crisis.

Shettima, Chibok community: hope rises for Chibok girls Continued from page 4

schoolgirls like I said two weeks ago. No sane parent gives up on a missing child. I have daughters and I know the love of a parent to the girl child.

“For now, it is better to allow the military handle things, conduct their investigations and ascertain the identity of those rescued but irrespective of the identity of the girls, we are very happy they have been rescued whether they are citizens of Borno or any where else. I kindly urge the media to refer to the military for updates on the matter so that there are mixups at any point. I kindly call on all citizens of Borno and other fellow Nigerians to pray for our armed forces and volunteers to succeed so that good will triumph over Evil.”

The Director of Publicity for Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), a pan organisation of Chibok people worldwide, Dr. Allen Ma-

nasseh, told our correspondent in Maiduguri on telephone that the rescue of the 293 women had cleared doubts about the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.

Dr. Allen who expressed hope that the Chibok girls will also return someday said: “What happened yesterday is cheering news for all of us. It has given us hope that the Chibok girls too will be rescued one day. The incident has also helped to clear the mind of some doubting Thomases that there was no abduction of the girls.

“At least it has shown that apart from these girls, there are several other women that were kept in captivity by the Boko Haram.

“The Chibok community is also happy with the families of the released victims and it is our hope that they will be rehabilitated and reunited to their families as soon as possible,” Dr. Allen informed.

29 APC chairmen reaffirm support for Umana Continued from page 4

2015.”

The party chairmen said it was shameful that those who claimed to have won elections were burdened by the crisis of legitimacy to the extent of going round to hire dishonourable men to congratulate them.

“Induced congratulatory messages and procured show

of support will not be part of admissible evidence for defence at the tribunal,” the chairmen said.

They urged Emmanuel to prepare to defend his purported victory at the tribunal, adding that Akpabio should stop wasting the state’s scarce resources on frivolous congratulatory messages.

Protesting workers lock out Anyim Continued from page 4

with the figure being thrown up as no money has been mentioned in the earlier discussions between the unions and the management.

According to him, the union had earlier demanded for 18 items, including erecting an ATM machine and a canteen in the office.

He said that management had looked into their demands and communicated back its responses to the union. They have been waiting for them to make their views known to management on the proposals.

But rather than come back to the management, he said that they took the action and made the spurious monetary allegations.

59

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

NEWS Military evacuates rescued girls, women Continued from page 4

women as an encouraging development but only a small step in securing the safety of the thousands of women and girls abducted by the armed group since 2014..

The organization urged the authorities to ensure that the trauma of those ‘rescued’ is not exacerbated by lengthy security screening in detention.

“This development is just cause for celebration and undoubtedly an immense relief to

the women, girls and their families. But this is just the tip of the iceberg; there are thousands more women and girls, and men and boys who have been abducted by Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay, Africa Director, Research and Advocacy.

According to a recent Amnesty International report, more than 2,000 women and girls have been abducted by Boko Haram. Drawing from interviews with those who escaped, the report reveals how

civilians were executed, tortured, raped and forced into marriage in camps and towns controlled by Boko Haram.

In previous cases where women and girls have escaped from Boko Haram they have been detained for weeks on end for security screening.

Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to ensure that their physical and psychological well-being is paramount.

“The trauma suffered by the women and girls is truly hor-

rific. Some have been repeatedly raped, sold into sexual slavery or indoctrinated and even forced to fight for Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay.

“What they need now is medical and psychological care and support and privacy.

The government must now ensure that it doesn’t add to their suffering with lengthy detention and security screening which can only add to their suffering and plight,” he added.

Joda heads 19-man transition panel Continued from page 4

‘’Needless to repeat, that your Committee - and indeed our Government - are not on a witch-hunt or engaged in faultfinding. We want the facts

and nothing but the facts.

What has been done can not be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past and attempt to avoid similar.’’

Gen. Buhari hailed the cali-

bre of the committee’s membership, saying they represent some of the best Nigeria can offer. He described the committee chairman, Joda, as one of the few surviving links between

First Republic civil service to the present day, a man whose versatility includes farming, industry and 21st Century IT and one of Nigeria’s precious assets.

Jonathan angry as Buhari seeks report on agencies Continued from page 4

He said: “Government, especially civil servants, directors, directors-general should see this government as the current government and not to do anything that will rock the boat so as not to put this country in a bad light. These are issues before the transition committee, these are are issues that were raised on the transition programme.”

“The magnanimity of Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice and that is why

Mr. President and indeed council members enjoined Nigerian people to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and international community as a way of keeping this country intact, as a way of ensuring peace in Nigeria and, as such, whatever the outcome of the election, what is important is Nigeria’s national interest.”

“And that national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are. These are issues that bother on transition pro-

gramme discussed in council.”

But Abubakar noted that the chairman of the incoming transition committee, Mallam Ahmed Joda, had a very robust discussion with the chairman of the transition committee of the current government, Vice President Namadi Sambo, on Tuesday.

“They are working together as a family and I want to believe for the good of this country things will work,” he said He said that as at 28th April, almost all the MDAs that ýwere

advised to submit briefs, handing over notes have compiled, except for one or two ministries.

Said the minister: “The committee is having on ground right now two versions of presentations; we have the executive summaries of all the MDAs handover notes ýand the entire handover notes from almost all the MDAs.” “The transition process is on course in terms of handover notes and briefs; we have covered almost 80 per cent of our assignments,” he said.

Benue House plots speaker’s removal

L

ESS than six weeks to the inauguration of the eight State Assembly, the Benue State House of Assembly may change its leadership.

Eighteen members have signed to impeach Speaker Terhemen Ayua.

The Assembly did not sit yesterday, members held a closed door meeting .

It was gathered that the

grouse of the lawmakers stemmed from the fact that the Speaker has not been able to defend the interests of the members before the governor.

The impeachment, which is led by the Minority Leader, Hon. Benjamin Adanyi, is also believed to have been stemmed from recent bills passed by the assembly where members of the opposition walked out of

the sitting during deliberation of the Local Government, Benue Internal Revenue Service ( BIRS ), Chieftaincy Bills.

Meanwhile, the closed door session ended with a resolve to sit by 6pm, but unknown to the members, the Clerk of the House had directed his staff to lock the Chambers to forestall any unplanned occurrence.

Last month revealed that the

state Assembly have been in a running battle with the state governor over owed three months salaries and allowances.

A member of the house disclosed to Per Second News last month that members have vowed to frustrate any bill sent by the governor in protest and consequently led to the walkout which has culminated into this current crisis.

Shettima, Chibok community: hope rises for Chibok girls Continued from page 4

schoolgirls like I said two weeks ago. No sane parent gives up on a missing child. I have daughters and I know the love of a parent to the girl child.

“For now, it is better to allow the military handle things, conduct their investigations and ascertain the identity of those rescued but irrespective of the identity of the girls, we are very happy they have been rescued whether they are citizens of Borno or any where else. I kindly urge the media to refer to the military for updates on the matter so that there are mixups at any point. I kindly call on all citizens of Borno and other fellow Nigerians to pray for our armed forces and volunteers to succeed so that good will triumph over Evil.”

The Director of Publicity for Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), a pan organisation of Chibok people worldwide, Dr. Allen Ma-

nasseh, told our correspondent in Maiduguri on telephone that the rescue of the 293 women had cleared doubts about the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.

Dr. Allen who expressed hope that the Chibok girls will also return someday said: “What happened yesterday is cheering news for all of us. It has given us hope that the Chibok girls too will be rescued one day. The incident has also helped to clear the mind of some doubting Thomases that there was no abduction of the girls.

“At least it has shown that apart from these girls, there are several other women that were kept in captivity by the Boko Haram.

“The Chibok community is also happy with the families of the released victims and it is our hope that they will be rehabilitated and reunited to their families as soon as possible,” Dr. Allen informed.

29 APC chairmen reaffirm support for Umana Continued from page 4

2015.”

The party chairmen said it was shameful that those who claimed to have won elections were burdened by the crisis of legitimacy to the extent of going round to hire dishonourable men to congratulate them.

“Induced congratulatory messages and procured show

of support will not be part of admissible evidence for defence at the tribunal,” the chairmen said.

They urged Emmanuel to prepare to defend his purported victory at the tribunal, adding that Akpabio should stop wasting the state’s scarce resources on frivolous congratulatory messages.

Protesting workers lock out Anyim Continued from page 4

with the figure being thrown up as no money has been mentioned in the earlier discussions between the unions and the management.

According to him, the union had earlier demanded for 18 items, including erecting an ATM machine and a canteen in the office.

He said that management had looked into their demands and communicated back its responses to the union. They have been waiting for them to make their views known to management on the proposals.

But rather than come back to the management, he said that they took the action and made the spurious monetary allegations.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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FOREIGN NEWS

Japan pm voices ‘repentance’ on WW II

Togo’s president wins third term

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OGO’S President Faure Gnassingbe has been reelected for a third term, electoral officials say.

Provisional results show that he gained 59% of the vote, extending his family’s 48-year hold on power.

Observers from the African Union and regional bloc Ecowas said the election was free and fair, despite opposition complaints of voting irregularities.

Mr Gnassingbe has ruled since the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who took power in a coup in 1967.

His main rival, opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre, took 35% of the vote.

Mr Fabre on Monday called for a delay in announcing the results, citing widespread irregularities.

But later, he said that he would leave the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) “to do its work”.

The results still need to be confirmed by the country’s Constitutional Court.

Turnout was around 53-55%, according to Ceni - at least 10% lower than the last elections in 2010.

Campaign posters with Faure Gnassingbe say that Togo is “on the way to progress” The 2005 elections, which brought Mr Gnassingbe to power, were overshadowed by fraud allegations and violent protests which left at least 400 people dead.

RIME Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday expressed “deep repentance” over Japan’s role in World War Two, even as he declared Tokyo’s emergence as a global security player in the face of China’s rising power in Asia.

Using the high-profile platform of a landmark speech to the U.S. Congress, Abe insisted that Japan must not avert its eyes from the suffering of Asian peoples from its wartime behavior but he stopped short of issuing his own apology, instead upholding statements by his predecessors.

With Abe’s comments on

Japan’s war record unlikely to satisfy critics who had demanded he go further, the conservative premier chose to focus more on the future of the U.S.-Japan military alliance and press skeptical lawmakers to back a long-delayed Pacific free-trade pact.

“We now hold high a new banner that is a‘proactive contribution to peace based on the principle of international cooperation,’” Abe said a day after he and President Barack Obama cemented new guidelines for Japan’s military to support U.S. forces beyond its waters. He has proposed changes to Japan’s pacifist post-

war constitution to make this possible.

Receiving a warm welcome from lawmakers reflecting Japan’s status as America’s staunchest Asian ally, Abe, the first Japanese prime minister to address a joint meeting of Congress, used his speech to send a stern message to China, which is locked in maritime disputes with Japan and other Asian neighbors.

Referring to the “state of Asian waters,” Abe called for adherence to principles of peaceful negotiation, saying countries must not “use force or coercion to drive their claims.”

Australia recalls ambassador

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USTRALIA has recalled its ambassador from Indonesia after two Australian men were executed for drug smuggling.

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were among eight people from several countries executed by firing squad in the early hours of Wednesday on the prison island of Nusakambangan.

Brazil’s government also expressed its “deep dismay” at the execution of one of its citizens, Rodrigo Gularte.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday

B

that the executions were “cruel and unnecessary”, adding that Chan and Sukumaran had been “fully rehabilitated” while in prison.

“We respect Indonesia’s sovereignty but we do deplore what’s been done and this cannot be simply business as usual,” he said.

This is the first time Australia has recalled an ambassador from Indonesia, and its firstever recall over the execution of one of its citizens abroad.

Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo defended the executions, saying

Abe’s speech to Congress was a moment deeply symbolic of the reconciliation between former World Two enemies who are now the closest of allies.

Abe spoke from the spot where President Franklin Roosevelt asked for a declaration of war against Imperial Japan after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The speech also coincided with Japan’s national holiday marking the birthday of its wartime emperor, Hirohito.

Abe, who has sought to cast Japan’s aggressive World War Two-era conduct with a less apologetic tone, can expect in-

T

•Abe

tense scrutiny of his speech for how he handles history.

REMEMBERING VIETNAM

his country was fighting a “war” on drugs.

Indonesia is an important country to Australia, the BBC’s Jon Donnison says, with the two working closely together on asylum seekers and terrorism issues.

Indonesia risks souring relations with other nations over its hardliner approach, as it has already with Australia, home of two of the smugglers. But Indonesia’s new president appears willing to take the risk, even if it means tarnishing his own reputation as a liberal, reform-minded leader.

Baltimore riot update

ALTIMORE’S riotous streets have given way to calm. Police backed by 2,000 National Guardsmen restored order in the city. There were some minor skirmishes, but all in all an overnight curfew held. Police arrested two people for looting and one for

disorderly conduct, but most of the 10 arrests made after the 10 p.m. curfew were for curfew violation.

The city exploded on Monday after the funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who mysteriously died on April 19, a week after Baltimore Police arrested him.

Nepal quake: Man freed after 80hrs in rubble •Nearly 60,000 US soldiers died in Vietnam, with more than 300,000 injured. For the Vietnamese, though, the figures were far higher, with estimates of more than half a million killed and many millions wounded. The war ended exactly 40 years ago today.

PHOTO:AP

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ESCUERS in Nepal have pulled a man from the wreckage of a building where he was stuck for a staggering 80 hours after the devastating earthquake that hit the country Saturday.

His survival is unusual, as experts say it’s rare for injured people who are trapped to hold out for longer than 72 hours after a disaster.

The man, Rishi Khanal, was saved after a French search and rescue team found him under the rubble on the outskirts of Kathmandu, the capital, around noon Tuesday, said Pushparam K.C., a spokesman for the Armed Police Force of Nepal.

The team used specialized gear that detects signs of life, he said.

But it took about 10 more hours for the French team and police officers to dig him out, the spokesman said.

A police video of the rescue showed the teams drilling through concrete to reach Khanal’s location and then hauling him up through the hole.

They then carried him out of the ruined building on a stretcher.

“It seems he survived by sheer willpower,” said Akhilesh Shrestha, a doctor who treated Khanal, according to the Reuters news agency.

Khanal, 28, was possibly suffering from a broken leg, Reuters reported.

His story of survival isn’t the only one to emerge from the terrible destruction wrought by the quake, which has killed more than 5,000 people.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

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THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 10, NO. 3200

I

T all seems quiet now. The last vestiges of the campaigns – posters, banners and billboards – are being removed. Gone are the street parades, the town hall meetings, the throbbing rallies and the hot beer parlour arguments that often ended in broken heads and bloody noses. The prizes have been won and lost.

But, can we really forget the elections? The lessons are instructive as they are compulsive.

In Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Attahiru Jega we saw the beauty of equanimity amid provocative turbulence and tension. General Muhammadu Buhari’s courage is exemplary – he ran four times before getting the trophy and he never wavered from his goal despite all those irritable comments and intrigues. By the way, has anybody seen Femi “Amebo” Fani-Kayode and his cousin Dr Doyin Okupe? Are they in town?

President Goodluck Jonathan would not behave like a punch- drunk boxer with a stubborn chin; he threw in the towel even before the bell went off. Wisdom. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was, like an experienced marathoner, tenacious in his reformative struggle, despite all the mines on the way.

Many Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) front liners could not wait for its demystification.

Lacking in principle and character, they jumped ship – in droves. Fair weather friends all.

There are many other lessons. Elder Godsday “the bully” Orubebe – is it true he is a church leader? - showed us the futility of desperation and irascibility. Now, there is a hilarious video of three kids re-enacting the scene in which the former minister grabbed the microphone and created a huge scene at the collation centre.

Besides the lessons, there are also those words and phrases which will remain with us for a while. The All Progressives Congress (APC) came with the battle cry “change”. Everywhere its leaders went, they sang “change”.

To their opponents, the slogan was derogatory and they used it to deride the APC. First Lady Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan – I understand she is busy preparing her handover notes as the president of the African First Ladies Peace Mission – taunted APC chiefs about the slogan. She told a crowded rally: “They are crying for change; are they conductors? U enter their bus?”

Will she still see “change” as an empty Lagos bus conductor’s language? I doubt it. General Martin Luther Agwai will also never joke with the word “change”. He was fired from his SURE-P job for saying at former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s birthday that “the only permanent thing in life is change”. To the President, that was an affront too contemptuous to stomach. Gen. Agwai was fired – just like that. He was confounded by the rapidity of it all and the fact that no explanation was given as to why he got the push. Poor guy.

Unlike Gen. Agwai who was not told why he had to go, the Ugbo monarch, Oba Obateru Akinrutan, knew why he was being scorned all over town. He was accused of snatching a

RIPPLES

COURT DISSOLVES 5 YEAR OLD MARRIAGE, ORDERS WIFE TO REFUND N10,000 DOWRY–News

Hmm N10,000 after 5YEARS...I bet, the man doesn’t deserve more than N2000

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘With the criminal conspiracy of the out-going government, it is time the new inheritors of power got the police authorities to allow the lawmakers do their job and if necessary to put an end to Fayose’s buffoonery’ JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (DAME)

Reminiscences

•Prof. Jega

•Orubebe

ballot box during the elections. One had thought this style of rigging elections was obsolete, courtesy of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC). The kabiyesi had to address the media, saying he never did that, adding that his adversaries were carrying the rumour just to malign him. Imagine his majesty in full regalia of his exalted office - beads, crown and all storming a polling unit and, in the full glare of all his subjects and officials, grabbing the ballot box and fleeing like a common thug, angry youths in hot pursuit. What a way to denigrate the royalty. Thankfully, the press conference put the matter to rest.

His royal majesty, I am told, was among the monarchs whose help President Jonathan sought to “capture” the Southwest. Did he “deliver”? Many of them did not. To deliver, for the sake of refreshing our memory, is to promise that your candidate will triumph at the polls and actually ensure that he does either through fair or foul means, thereby justifying the “mobilisation” that you must have got.

Many PDP chiefs, who failed to deliver after collecting hefty “mobilisation” are now being asked to refund the cash they got. This, I learnt, is partly responsible for the gale of defections that hit the ruling party.

But then, when is a “defection” no more a mere change of parties by an individual or a

group? When does it become an “exodus”? The answer has been found in the terrible fate that suddenly became the lot of the PDP as many of its leading lights jumped ship and the party sank in a sea of electoral misfortune.

Many were surprised at Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola’s wit. On the hustings, he proved himself a master of repartee and wisecracks. To Akinwunmi Ambode’s opponent Jimi Agbaje’s camp, his appellation J.K. is enough to rouse the crowds at the campaigns.

“J.K. we know, J.K. we trust”, they screamed in colourful posters. Then, Fashola unravelled it all and J.K. becomes “Just Kidding” – an uncharitable allusion to the PDP candidate’s hazy views of the workings of the government and his ability to do the job. Of course, we all saw how APC chiefs were sweating and swearing and screaming when they realised that the fellow wasn’t kidding. While APC got the prize, we got a new phrase. Now whenever somebody dreams big and we are not convinced he or she is serious, we say he or she is “just kidding”.

President Jonathan knocked everyone for six when he called Gen. Buhari to congratulate him even before the final results were announced.

There was jubilation in the land as the news broke that Dr Jonathan had conceded defeat.

Instantly – without any deep reflection, some insist – he was pronounced a statesman. Not so fast, said the critics. Was it not a Hobson’s choice? Was it not so glaring that even the blind

DASHED HOPE

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HEN the major news channels flashed the “breaking news” on Tuesday night, the world was gripped by a strange excitement, the type that greets a royal birth. But it was short-lived, like the morning dew.

The military announced that they had rescued 200 girls and 93 women from the Sambisa Forest. First, they were not sure if the Chibok girls were among them. Later, they said the girls were not among the lot.

The news came after the military said troops couldn’t advance on the Boko Haram stronghold because the insurgents had laced the place with mines. Were these 293 women freed by their captors or rescued by our gallant troops? Who are they? How were they pulled off the hook? Casualties? When will reporters be given access to them?

I salute our troops’ gallantry in fighting this war, but the question remains: will the Chibok girls ever return?

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

HARDBALL

O

UR forbears in their wisdom had determined that when an abomination subsists for a season, it often becomes the norm. This dictum appears most true for the people of Bauchi and their handsome, urbane governor, Isa Yuguda.

This two-term helmsman of the land of the exotic Yankari is also a technocrat; at least by Nigeria’s definition of that much abused word.

Prior to his delving into politics, he was a banker who rose to the very apex of a now defunct merchant bank in Lagos. He was indeed well horned among the elite of corporate Nigeria and was well schooled in best business and organisational practices.

This is why Hardball is flummoxed – to use a kind word - that Mallam Yuguda turned out the ‘transcendental’ Nigerian politician he turned out to be after eight years at the pinnacle of power in a large sprawling corner of Nigeria. It is a form of apotheosis of a Yugudan kind when you contemplate his rare political and administrative trajectory. It is an especially extraordinary method that must be subjected to scholarly interrogation now that he is leaving office.

The story is that Governor Yuguda has dis-

could see that it was all over? Has a mere telephone call become the restitution for all the sins of the administration?

Even as the arguments on statesmanship raged, Dr Jonathan yesterday roared that he is still in charge and that Buhari should not form a parallel government-all because of a transition committee's terms of reference.

Easy. Dr Jonathan easy. You have been in charge for six years. That a committee is directed to do an overview of some agencies shouldn't be a big deal; should it?

There was no agreement on the matter of what makes a statesman, but the President’s action set off a series of such as many others conceded defeat. Kaduna State Governor Ramalan Yero admitted to being beaten by the garrulous former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nasir El-Rufai.

Senator Teslim Folarin conceded defeat in Oyo. Senator Rashidi Ladoja keeps crying that he was robbed. Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam surrendered to Senator Barnabas Gemade. In Niger, Umar Nasko conceded defeat to Abubakar Sani Bello.

Former Information Minister Labaran Maku refused to toe the line. He described his loss as a coup against the people. Really? Interesting.

In Kwara, Labour Party (LP) candidate Mike Omotosho said the result contradicted the people’s wish and many were asking: how?

Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the Ijaw leader and President Jonathan’s sidekick , has said he can’t kill himself because his man lost the election. That’s the spirit.

Until last Saturday, the governorship elections in Abia, Imo and Taraba were said to have been “inconclusive”. In other words, they needed to be rerun. But in Akwa Ibom, a winner has been announced in the governorship election, which was run concurrently as the House of Assembly elections on April 11.

Now the question is: where are the results? If the Assembly elections are inconclusive and the results are left hanging somewhere in space, why and how did we get results for the governorship election. Can one be “conclusive” and the other “inconclusive”? Or is the word a mere euphemism for some fraud, which in this case seems to have blown up in the face of its perpetrators? We don’t really know.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Yuguda’s multitudinous aides missed his “well over 2000 aides,” leaving only few on special duties. If you think that this number of political appointees by a governor is outrageous, consider that in his first term, he had no fewer than 4000. This does not include commissioners, permanent secretaries, head of MDAs and board appointees.

Though Nigeria’s presidents and governors often spray appointments like confetti as soon as they get to power, being part of the political largesse in a starkly impoverished country, there is nothing to compare with the Yuguda example. There is a telling anecdote about former President Bill Clinton of the US on one of his visits to Nigeria during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s time. Clinton was said to have marveled at the size of Obasanjo’s aides and advisers, noting that Obasanjo was lucky as his work had been made light. Obasanjo was said to have retorted in his usually raucous manner that Clinton missed the point.

He told Clinton that while their role may be different in America, here in Nigeria, he advises his advisers.

How did Yuguda manage his multitude of aides? Were they ever issued appointment letters? Did he know them all? Did they have office space to work from? Did he build a special conference hall to meet with them?

Did he pay them? Hardball has a dozen troubling and indeed troublous questions to ask Mallam Yuguda.

Well, let’s conjecture some answers: he didn’t have to manage them (there is only one manager in the land); he didn’t need to give them appointment letters since most of them may be ‘ghosts’ anyway; what do they need office space for if they are ‘ghosts’; do you have meetings with phantoms and finally, he pays them into ‘ghost’ accounts.

Pity, after eight years one only remembers Yuguda for his ingenious folly in a Bauchi that has the unsurpassed potential of becoming a world tourism destination with its Yankari Game Reserve; Lame/Burre Forest and Game Reserve and Bagam Wetlands.

Yuguda was unremarkable in a remarkable way.

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